An - Erm… sorry for the cliffhanger? So, aside from people wanting to kill me for the last chapter, I hope everyone is still enjoying this story. We're coming to the end now, I'm not sure if there's going to be another few chapters, or just one more and an epilogue. We'll see.

WC - 1764

Heaven Sent Presents

"I want him dead, Kingsley. Through the veil," Harry snarled.

Despite the fact that he was wearing tatty jeans and a polo shirt, had dried tear streaks visible on his face, and his hair a messy halo around his head, the raw magic emanating from Harry was enough to make even the strongest wizards eager to please the young Lord.

"And I want to know where he got the amulet that helped him cross the wards on the manor without us being notified! Anybody that was involved with this plan will be found and punished or there will be hell to pay!"

Kingsley held his hands up in surrender, trying to ease Harry's temper. "As soon as he wakes up, we'll question him thoroughly, Harry, I swear."

Before Harry could reply, Lucius appeared at the door of the Healer's office they'd acquired to discuss what was happening.

"Is he okay?" Harry asked immediately.

Lucius nodded. "He's fine, Harry. There's not even a scar. He wants to see you."

Nodding his head, Harry turned back to Kingsley. "I know it's not your fault, but I'm angry right now. Find me when you have an update."

Kingsley nodded. He felt guilty, because it was his department that had failed to keep Amos Diggory in custody, so the blame did fall with him at least in part. "I will, Harry, as soon as we know anything."

Harry left the room, walking down the short hallways to the room they were holding Tom in. In the time that Harry had been with Kingsley, he'd got himself out of bed and into a clean robe. Harry couldn't help but shake his head at his husband.

"You're supposed to be resting," he chastised lightly, stepping into Tom's outstretched arms.

"And you're stressed beyond reason and need to relax," Tom retorted, hugging Harry into his chest. "Where is Severus?"

"Outside," Harry replied, nodding to the door. "He's been with me since we arrived here," he assured Tom. "But Diggory is in magic suppressing cuffs and is still out cold."

Pressing his lips to Harry's neck, Tom replied, "Then there is nothing for us to do at the moment. We'll go home and attempt to enjoy the holidays."

Harry frowned. "Tom -"

"There's nothing to be done, Harry. At the moment, I would very much like to curl up with you in front of the fire and forget that this even happened, if only for a little while."

Pulling back to look at the tired face of his husband, Harry nodded. "Okay, we can do that. Kreacher should have finished cleaning by now."

Lucius chose that moment to return to the room with a healer, who, while grumbling about impatient patients, signed the papers for Tom to leave.

Harry dismissed Severus for the rest of the day, while Tom promised Lucius he would be in contact, and the two left the hospital to go home.

Washed and in clean pyjamas, Harry lounged between Tom's legs on the comfortable sofa, his back to Tom's front. Tom's arms were wrapped around him, and Harry stroked the smooth skin on his bare arm.

"You saved my life," Tom said quietly. "You could have let me die, and have the war end and your freedom, but you chose to save me."

Harry turned his head to look up at Tom. "I was never just going to let you die. Even if… we signed a contract, Tom. I have more honour than to just let you die. Even if…"

"Even if…" Tom prompted, stroking his fingers down Harry's cheek.

Harry swallowed hard. "Even if I didn't love you, I wouldn't have let you die."

Silence reigned for a moment, before Tom tightened his grip, pressing his lips to Harry's shoulder.

"I almost lost you," Harry choked out, suddenly overcome by the realisation that it could have turned out very different. "I almost lost you before I'd even fully realised that I love you."

Turning Harry in his arms, Tom pressed their lips together in a sweet kiss.

"I already knew," he admitted. "Just because I hadn't said it before, it didn't mean it wasn't there. When I said it… I didn't want to die knowing that you didn't know how I felt."

Harry smiled softly, even as a few tears fell from his eyes. "I think I knew too."

"He's going to trial," Kingsley said, sitting down at the kitchen counter. "Terrorism and attempted murder, breaking and entering, and a whole host of other charges."

"Save time, toss him through the veil," Harry replied, even as he knew that they couldn't do that. "If you're about to ask me to give up my seats, Kingsley, you can save your breath, I'm not doing it."

"You'll be a witness, Harry, you can't sit in judgement," Kingsley replied, accepting the tea that was offered him.

"Actually, under the rules of the Wizengamot, I can indeed do both because I sit under more than one title. I've already checked."

"Okay," Kingsley replied. He hadn't realised there was a loophole, and said as much.

Tom wrapped his arms around Harry's waist. "When will the trial be?"

"We thought we'd ask what you'd prefer. We can do it on the twenty-second of the month, with the possibility of it slipping over onto the twenty-third, or we can wait until the new year."

Harry wanted it over and done with as soon as possible, but he looked to Tom for his wishes.

"I don't want this hanging over us for Christmas. The sooner the better, Auror Shacklebolt."

Harry pressed a soft kiss to his cheek in thanks.

Harry watched Amos Diggory standing in front of the Veil with a blank face. He and Tom were at the front of the crowd of observers, their hands linked in a sign of unity and also comfort.

"Amos Diggory, you've been sentenced to death by a jury of your peers for crimes against the Wizarding World. Do you have any last words?"

Diggory sneered at Dumbledore, before he shook his head, turning his eyes on Harry and Tom. He glared at them for a moment before straightening his spine and turned back to the veil.

Harry watched him step through and felt a wave of relief. Generally against death as a rule, he couldn't help but be satisfied that the man who'd tried to take his husband away was no longer a danger to any of them, or to the world at large.

"Let's go home, Harry."

Christmas morning dawned to find Harry watching Tom sleep. He'd woken early and been unable to get back to sleep, though they'd had quite a late night at the Malfoys.

Lucius had offered them a room for the night, but, tired as they were, they'd declined immediately, sure that the only thing they wanted for Christmas was to wake up in their own home.

"How long have you been awake?" Tom asked, blinking his eyes open to look at Harry, his voice sleep rough.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Not long."

Tom pulled Harry closer, pressing sleepy kisses along his shoulder. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart," he murmured.

"Merry Christmas, Tom," Harry replied, returning the kiss.

They lay together in silence for a few minutes before Harry sat up, his stomach churning with nerves. "Come on," he said, leaning over to press his lips to Tom's. "Presents."

They quickly made their way through the morning routines, pausing occasionally to exchange soft kisses and touches of the hands, before settling themselves in the living room.

"I, uh, I wasn't sure what to do about Christmas," Harry admitted, looking at the four gifts he'd put on the table. "And then I was told about the cornerstone tradition."

Tom smiled, placing four presents on the table too. "You have no idea how happy it makes me that you followed this tradition, Harry. Thank you."

Harry nodded. "So. Homemade first, right?"

Tom nodded, and the two exchanged gifts. Harry watched as Tom carefully unwrapped the quill he'd made from Fawkes feather. He saw the moment Tom made the connection and the smile on his face made Harry's stomach settle some.

He opened his own gift to find two journals, bound in leather. When he looked up at Tom, the older man grinned. "One is for you, and the other for me. When you write in one, it immediately appears in it's twin. I am tired of not being able to speak with you of a night time."

"I love it, thank you."

"Thank you," Tom replied, gesturing to the quill.

They swapped clothing next, each buying the other a travelling cloak with their many combined house emblems stitched into the left side.

For jewellery, Harry smiled when he realised they'd both chosen bracelets, though the one Tom had made him was gold to Harry's silver. As soon as he put the bracelet on, he could feel the essence of Tom surrounding him, a protective, comforting bubble that made him feel safe.

He hadn't realised how encompassing it was to wear jewellery infused with a loved ones magic.

Finally they were down to the last presents for each other, the gifts that would show they each knew the other.

Harry opened his first, staring at Tom when he saw what was in the envelope like package. Two tickets for a two week holiday to destinations unknown.

"We're going on holiday?"

"Wherever you want, whenever you want," Tom promised. "Just me and you, and no responsibilities."

"That sounds like heaven," Harry admitted.

"So… do you know me?" Tom asked, flipping his own envelope over in his hands. "Shall we see, since I'm thinking that this is what is making you look positively green with nerves?"

Harry chuckled. "I just… hope I got it right."

Tom smiled at him before opening the envelope, reading the contents quickly. The look on his face as he discarded the envelope and scooped Harry into his arms told Harry that he had indeed got it right.

"The rest can wait," Tom said, nodding to the pile under the tree from their friends. "Right now, I want to open my last present from you?"

When Harry raised his eyebrows in question, Tom smiled ferally. "I want you, Harry."

As Tom carried Harry back to bed, the envelope containing the letter allowing for Harry's return home every night slipped from the sofa to the floor, and the only sounds in the house were laughter, followed by pleasured moans and whispers of love and adoration.

It was the best Christmas either of them had ever had.