AN - So, I struggled quite a lot with this chapter. It's been a while, I know, and for that I apologise. It's slightly shorter than normal, but I hope you enjoy it anyway :)

Quiet Harry Is Never A Good Thing

Harry woke up warm and comfortable. It was a slow awakening, his mind happily clouded in sleep that he wasn't quite willing to let go of so easily. The arms around him, cocooning him, only made him want to remain where he was that much more.

"Good morning."

Harry wrinkled his nose, blinking bleary eyes.

"It'd be better if I could return to slumber," he murmured, though he pressed dry lips to a soft cheek to show willing.

Tom chuckled, pulling Harry even closer into his embrace, their bodies flush against one another. "I can think of a better way to pass a few hours of a Sunday morning."

"Mm," Harry agreed, his leg sliding over Tom's until it bracketed his hips. Tom waved his hand between them, before he lifted Harry's chin to press their lips together. The wandless, wordless breath-freshening charm was very much appreciated by Harry, who let out a low moan as his husband's tongue slid into his mouth.

Without knowing how, Harry ended up on his back, Tom hovering over him, a smirk on his face.

Harry hummed, smiling slightly. "Looks like you've got me right where you want me," he teased, stroking soft fingers over Tom's naked chest.

"Oh, indeed," Tom agreed, leaning down to nibble on Harry's ear.

"Question is, what are you going to do with me?" Harry continued, tweaking Tom's nipple between two fingers.

Tom growled softly, a harder nip making Harry moan again. "Husband o'mine, you really should know better than to issue such a challenge."

Harry chuckled softly as the blankets slipped down Tom's shoulders, leaving them both bare to the air. The laughter didn't last, and the room was soon filled with panting breaths and soft groans, nonsensical words the only ones spoken for quite a while.

Harry lounged on the sofa, his back to Tom's front. Tom's hand swept through his hair, pausing occasionally to play with a single strand.

"The run up to the elections is going to begin next week," Harry said quietly. "We're going to have to arrange a few public meetings with Amelia, and plan a few well placed quotes for the Prophet."

Tom nodded. "I know. I hope you realise that arranging these things would be much easier if you'd give up on Hogwarts."

"I'm not quitting school, Tom," Harry murmured. "The final exams are important; even for me. You know that."

"You could always take them early," Tom coaxed. "I dislike your absence, Harry. I've grown used to your presence, and in the morning, I'll have you ripped away for the week once more."

Tilting his head to look at his husband, Harry frowned slightly. He'd never thought the Dark Lord Voldemort to be one for open affection, but thus far in this marriage, it seemed the elder man was proving himself to be just that.

"I miss you too," Harry replied quietly. "It's only for nine more months, and there are holidays in between them. Only six weeks until the Christmas Holidays, and I'll be home for two weeks."

Tom slipped his arm around Harry's waist. "You are coming home for Christmas then?"

"Of course. Where did you think I was going to be?"

"I rather thought you might be joining the Red-Headed Menaces you call family," Tom muttered, burying his face against Harry's neck.

"I'll see them, obviously, but… Christmas day will be for us."

"We'll need to arrange a schedule, you're aware?" Tom said, his voice muffled slightly against Harry's skin. "Between your friends, and my followers, we're going to have a few days."

"Send it to me once it's done then," Harry replied with a small sigh. "Set boxing day aside for the Weasleys, please. And Christmas day for us."

Tom nodded. "Are you going to give me a hint as to what you might want for Christmas?"

Harry grinned. "And deprive you of something to obsess over while I'm at school? Not a chance."

The arm around Harry's waist stiffened for a second, before Harry was twitching and giggling against the tickling hand assaulting his side.

Needless to say, not much more work was discussed that evening.

"Ah, Harry my boy," Dumbledore greeted the following morning, when Harry floo'ed into his office.

"Headmaster," Harry greeted with a smile. "How was your weekend?"

"Oh, uneventful for a change, my boy. I must say, it was nice to enjoy Halloween without fear. A rather novel feeling, all told."

Harry grinned. "Yes, Sir."

"Before you head off to your classes, I wondered if you'd had a chance to think about what you'll be gifting Tom with, or if anyone had spoken to you about the traditional gifts for a first Christmas as a wedded couple?"

Harry brow furrowed. "Um… Can't say I'm aware of any such traditions, Headmaster."

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling slightly. "I thought that may have been the case. You see Harry, the Christmas gifts you and Tom exchange this year are somewhat important. Traditionally, there would be four gifts; a homemade gift, usually a potion of some sort; a piece of jewellery, charmed by yourself; an item of clothing, embroidered with your shared houses; and finally, something which shows that you know your partner, that you've listened to their wants and needs."

"Do you think Tom will be following the tradition?" Harry asked curiously, sitting down in the chair across from the Headmaster.

"Undoubtedly," Dumbledore replied. "I'm also quite sure that he won't be expecting you to, but I thought… You seem to be getting on together much better than anyone would have guessed, and not only that, but… you have a good influence on one another. I'd very much like to see you happy, Harry."

"This will make him happy," Harry murmured, more to himself than the Headmaster, though the old man nodded cheerfully anyway. "Thank you, Sir."

"Of course, my boy. If you need any help, you know my office is always open to you."

Harry smiled. "Thank you," he repeated. "Have a good day, Sir."

"And you, my boy. And you."

Harry left the office with much more on his mind than his lessons.

The week passed quietly, with little more than homework and the occasional letter from Tom to keep Harry occupied. He'd spent some time researching the Christmas tradition that the Headmaster had mentioned, and upon finding it and reading it in a little more detail, he was currently pondering his choices.

"You've been quiet this week, Potter."

Harry looked up from the book he'd been reading to see Severus taking a seat at the table.

"I don't like it when you're this quiet. You being quiet normally leads into chaos and doom."

Harry laughed. "I didn't know you were so melodramatic, Severus," he murmured, smirking when the dungeon dweller glared at him. "Besides, I'm up to nothing bad."

"Which means you are up to something?"

"Christmas. The Headmaster mentioned a tradition that I find myself rather taken with. I've been debating my options."

"I should have known the old coot would be behind it," Severus huffed. "I believe you're talking about the Cornerstones tradition? Four gifts for your first Christmas, yadda, yadda, yadda?"

Harry nodded, amused. "The clothing and jewellery are both easily done, but a homemade potion and a gift that shows I truly know Tom… I'm a little stuck."

"The idea of you brewing potions unsupervised is somewhat horrifying," Severus muttered.

"Hey!" Harry complained good-naturedly. "I'm not as bad as I used to be."

Severus just gave him a look that clearly disagreed with Harry's assessment. Harry snorted.

"As for something that you know My Lord wants… what is the one thing he's continuously asked of you since you wedded him, Potter?"

That said, Severus left the library as silently as he arrived, leaving Harry to think over his words. As it clicked into place, Harry smiled.

Perhaps there was something he could give to Tom that he didn't already have. It wouldn't even take much work, hopefully. All Harry had to do was speak with the Headmaster.

Friday morning dawned dull and miserable, but Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione were cheerful despite the weather, chatting around their breakfasts. As the owls swooped overhead, dropping the morning papers to the students who had subscriptions, Kreacher appeared silently beside Harry, handing him his own, along with a message from Tom.

Harry didn't even need to open the message to see what it was about, as his eyes caught the headlines on the front page.

The Peace Is Broken

We won't rest until the Dark Lord is dead say Rebellion Group - The Royal Knights

Looking up at the Head Table, Harry caught the Headmaster's eye. With a single nod, Harry got all the answer he needed and with a glance at Severus, he was out of his seat.

He had rebels to crush.