Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Sorry for the shorter chapter but we are almost at the end of this story and it just seemed like the right cut off point, hope you enjoy! =)
Madame Pomfrey was right, growing bones was nasty business. It had been a painful night, though it would have been worse if not for his dad's potions. The professors had not found Harry's attacker, although some of the portraits had reported seeing a figure in all black run out of the castle. Whoever it was, they were long gone. Harry had put it out of his mind as he wanted to focus on Christmas with his family. Draco had been a little quiet but after needling him, Harry had found out the blonde felt guilty for his getting hurt. After reassuring him that it was in no way his fault, Draco had perked up and both boys focused on Christmas.
Narcissa had flooed through on Christmas Eve and fussed over the boys before Severus finally managed to convince her that they were just fine. They had had dinner together and spent the evening hanging their stockings and playing games, like chess and exploding snap. After drinking hot chocolate and watching the lights on the Christmas tree twinkle, the boys finally headed for bed.
As soon as they were sure the pre-teens were asleep, Severus and Narcissa put out the presents.
"Oh, I've been looking forward to this," Narcissa said as she stood back and surveyed how pretty it looked to have all the gifts laid out under the tree.
"At least you restrained yourself," Severus said wryly as he looked at the pile of presents.
Narcissa looked at him a little guiltily. "I did better than I usually do," she defended herself. She was trying not to spoil the boys too much but it was a difficult habit to break.
Severus pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. "Well, it is our first Christmas as a family. It is special."
"Exactly," Narcissa beamed. She grew more serious. "The boys don't seem too traumatized after what happened. Harry appears fine after being attacked. He isn't having any nightmares, is he?" she asked anxiously.
"No, I do not believe so," Severus said. "He bounces back pretty fast. Draco was having a little trouble getting over it, he felt he should have been able to prevent it but Harry talked to him and made him feel better."
"I'm so glad they are getting along now," Narcissa said with a smile.
"Me too," Severus agreed.
HP
The next morning, Harry and Draco eagerly woke up their parents so that they could open presents. After making sure the boys had their dressing gowns and slippers on, the family settled down to open presents with a tray of hot chocolate and sticky buns, courtesy of the house-elves. Severus charmed a camera to float around and snap pictures as the boys opened their presents. They got many things such as clothes, books, broom compass's, puzzles, mini toy brooms that had a Quidditch player sitting on top that flew around the room, a warm, beautiful quilt done in each of the boys House colors and more.
"Hermione got us a homework planner?" Harry said as he held it up. "Oh, she made them herself."
"This is actually pretty brilliant," Draco said as he looked over the planner. "It reminds you to get your assignments done."
"We have dad for that," Harry teased.
"Funny." Severus threw a crumpled up piece of wrapping paper at him. "Her gift is practical and something you can both use."
"Yeah but I like Ron's gift to us better," Harry said, holding up the broom servicing kit. He and Draco opened their next gift.
"Who got you two those?" Severus asked in distaste as he surveyed the Fanged Frisbee's each boy held.
"Sirius," Harry said, looking a little apprehensive. He eyed his father, knowing that when he had mentioned wanting one of these, his dad had been against it.
"Figures," Severus muttered. "Now I do not feel at all guilty for the dog biscuits I sent him."
"Severus, you didn't!" Narcissa scolded, a small grin forming.
Severus lifted one shoulder in a shrug.
"Don't worry boys, I got him a very nice bottle of wine," Narcissa said, with a smug look at Severus. "Same with Remus."
"Remus got us these quills that change color!" Draco said, holding his up.
"Much better," Severus said approvingly.
"What is that?" Narcissa was now the one who looked disapproving.
Draco and Harry looked up from the game they had received. "Uh, it's called Reusable Hangman." Draco answered.
"Yeah, the wooden man climbs the stairs to the gallows every time you miss a letter," Harry said enthusiastically.
"I see," Narcissa pursed her lips. "And who gave you that?"
"The Headmaster," Harry and Draco answered together.
"I should have known," Narcissa sighed.
"Regretting the lemon flavored liqueur we gave him?" Severus asked innocently.
"No," Narcissa huffed with a laugh.
"Do you think he liked our gift?" Draco asked eagerly. "The gift basket of sweets?"
"Of course he did," Harry said confidently. "He loves candy. I bet Sirius and Remus like the ones we sent them too."
"Good," Draco said happily.
After a hearty breakfast, the four of them went outside to play in the snow. They made a snowman and then Harry and Draco began a snowball fight, directed at their parents. However they were in over their heads as soon both boys were practically buried in snow as their parents laughed at them. Later they joined the rest of the school in the Great Hall for a grand feast that consisted of roasted turkeys, chipolatas, boiled potatoes, roasted vegetables, thick gravy and cranberry sauce. To make the evening better, Sirius has shown up to have dinner with them.
"So good," Harry groaned as he filled his plate for a second time.
"It really is," Draco said, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Don't overdue it, there are pies for later," Severus cautioned, although he looked amused as the boys devoured their food.
"So Sevvy," Sirius said from the opposite side of the table as he refilled his drink. "Thank you for the cookies you gave me for Christmas."
"Don't call me Sevvy," Severus snapped.
"You got him cookies? What kind?" Remus asked.
"Really good ones," Sirius beamed. "In the shape of dogs. I brought them to share with everyone."
"What?" Severus's mouth dropped open.
Sirius snickered. "Just kidding. But actually I probably will like them when I am Padfoot, so thanks."
Remus began laughing. "You got him dog biscuits, didn't you?" He said to Severus.
Harry and Draco were chuckling as Severus gave Remus a smirk. "It was out of the goodness of my heart."
"You are just like children." Narcissa playfully scolded them.
Later that night after the boys finally fell asleep from total exhaustion, Narcissa told Severus she needed to take them to get their robe fittings in two days for their upcoming wedding.
Severus hesitated. "I have a staff meeting, can we go a different day?"
"No, they have an appointment," Narcissa said. "I can handle taking them." She assured him.
"But -"
"There has been no sign of Bellatrix," Narcissa said gently. "She has not tried to reach out to me at all. And I will take Dobby with us for extra protection."
"I suppose it will all right," Severus sighed. It didn't feel all right to him, but it wasn't worth arguing about. The attack on Harry weighed on his mind but that could have been a isolated incident. It was true that no sign of Bellatrix had been found. He was sure he was just worrying for nothing, his family would be fine.
HP
"Come on boys, you'll be late for your fitting," Narcissa said as she walked briskly down the street in Diagon Alley.
Harry and Draco glanced at each other and sighed. "I don't mind being late," Draco said. "I don't mind missing it altogether."
"Really, Draco," Narcissa scolded. "It will not take long and then we will go for ice cream, all right?"
Harry perked up. He could suffer through a robe fitting for ice cream!
"Well, in that case..." Draco grinned.
Suddenly Dobby popped in front of them. "Danger!" He squeaked.
"What's wrong?" Narcissa asked in alarm.
"Stupefy!" A voice called out and Dobby fell over unconscious.
"Dobby?" Narcissa gasped, going for her wand. "Boys, run!"
Before they could, all three were hit with the stunning spell. Screams erupted on the street as two cloaked figures picked them up and disapparated.
HP
"Cissy, wake up dear," A sing song voice said.
Narcissa blinked her eyes open and looked around the dingy room she was in. She frowned as her memories caught up with her.
"Hello sister. Miss me?"
"Bellatrix?" Narcissa said in alarm. She felt her pockets for her wand but it was gone. She then saw her boys lying next to her, starting to wake up. "Draco! Harry!"
"Mum?" Draco looked confused before seeing his aunt. "You!" His eyes went wide.
Bellatrix cackled. "Come give your Aunt Bella a hug!"
Draco frantically shook his head no.
"Where are we?" Narcissa quickly asked, hoping to distract her sister's attention.
"Just a little safe house of Dorian Nott's," Bellatrix answered, twirling her wand. Her eyes focused on Harry. "I've been waiting to meet you for a long time." A cruel look crossed over her face.
"No," Narcissa stood, pushing the boys behind her. "Leave them alone. Let them go, Bella. I'll stay."
"Really Cissy," Bellatrix smirked. "Protecting wittle Hwarry Pwotter?" She asked in a childlike voice, her dark eyes focusing on Harry again. "Don't worry, dearie. You and I will play later," She said ominously. "Someone wants to see his family first."
And then Lucius stepped into view.
"No!" Narcissa gasped in shock.
"Did you miss me, Narcissa?" Lucius asked with a mocking smile.
"How is this possible?" Narcissa whispered. "You're dead!"
"I was severely inured and kept the fact I had survived a secret," Lucius gave her a fake smile. "I hear you've moved on. I'm heartbroken."
"I doubt that," Narcissa hissed.
"Draco? Are you not pleased to see your father?" Lucius glared at his son.
"My father is Severus!" Draco snapped. His heart was pounding in fear but he didn't want Lucius to see that. He remembered how cold and cruel his father had been and seeing him now terrified him.
"You little brat...Crucio!" Lucius cast with a cruel smile.
Narcissa stood in front of Draco and took the curse, falling to the ground with a pained groan.
"No!" Harry and Draco both knelt next to her.
"Mum?" Draco asked anxiously.
"I'm okay, Dragon," Narcissa said, wincing as the curse slowly faded. She had forgotten how painful the Cruciatus was. She was distracted by Harry, who stood in front of her and Draco.
"Leave them alone!" Harry yelled at Lucius.
"The boy-who-lived," Lucius mocked. "It will be a pleasure to watch you die."
"No!" Narcissa yelled as she scrambled to stand up. "You will not hurt either of them."
"Oh?" Lucius looked amused.
"Just kill them," Dorian Nott said from the corner where he stood, watching. He had helped Bellatrix stun them and bring them here. It had been a lucky coincidence that they had been disillusioned in Diagon Alley, ready to cause a little mayhem when they had suddenly seen Narcissa and her brats walking down the street.
"Trust me, I will. But first things first," Lucius flicked his wand and Narcissa and Draco went flying into the wall. They both crumpled to the ground.
"First, a little torture for the one who killed my master," Bellatrix said with a mean smile, her wand pointed at Harry.
Cringing as he waited to be cursed, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. A small smile formed when he saw a familiar black, shaggy dog bound into the room. The dog ran and and immediately attacked Bella, knocking her wand out of her hand as she fell.
"Ah! Get this mongrel off of me," Bellatrix yelled as she struggled to get the snarling dog off of her.
The dog transformed into Sirius, who glared down at Bella. "Leave my godson alone!"
"What?" Lucius asked in shock as the door burst open and Dumbledore, Severus and Remus rushed in.
"Lucius Malfoy!" Severus spat out, appalled to see the man alive. They hadn't known who had taken Narcissa and the boys but of course, had suspected it was Bellatrix. Thank Merlin for the tracking spell he had placed on them...
"But...but I warded the place!" Lucius protested.
"Your wards were no match for me, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said as he easily disarmed him.
Sirius stepped back and a loud crack could be heard.
"My wand!" Bellatrix gasped. "You broke it!"
"Oops," Sirius smirked.
"Harry!" Severus ran over to his son.
"I'm okay," Harry assured him. "But Mum was hit with a curse and she and Draco were thrown into the wall!"
Severus hurried over to Narcissa and Draco. "Are you all right?" He asked as he helped them up.
"Yes, we're fine," Narcissa assured him.
"No, this isn't how it was supposed to go!" Dorian shouted from where he stood in the shadows. Lucius and Bellatrix were already bound and he knew his part in everything would now be revealed. Everything was now lost. "You are traitors!" He screamed at Severus and Narcissa. "Avada Kedavra!"
"No!" With panic, Harry ran in front of his family. He couldn't lose them, he loved them too much! The green light hit him and he fell over.
"Harry!" Severus ran to his son as Dumbledore quickly disarmed Nott and cast the Incarcerous spell on him. "No, Harry," Severus whispered in a choked voice. "Please."
"Severus?" Narcissa dropped down next to him, her horrified gaze on Harry. "Is he -"
"He's gone," Severus whispered.
Narcissa broke down into tears as Severus scooped Harry into his arms and slowly rocked him back and forth.
Draco began sobbing, dropping to the ground, his legs not steady to hold him. Tears streaming down his face, Remus quickly hurried over knelt down next to him, putting his arms around him.
"Pup," Sirius said in grief, a hand over his mouth. His eyes were on his godson. "No, not my pup."
Dumbledore's eyes filled with tears and he put a hand on Sirius's shoulder in silent comfort.
Severus continued to rock his boy back and forth, not wanting to believe he was really gone. "My Harry," he said softly, tears streaming down his face as he looked down at Harry's peaceful face. "I love you so much. So much."
"Sev?"
Severus looked up and his eyes widened. Standing in front of him was Lily.
TBC: