Author's Note:

Note to reviewers who mentioned the Dementors — no, they don't affect the castle itself, but they affect the grounds and anytime someone goes outside of the castle, they can feel that melancholy and darkness pushing at the boundaries; not enough to have a reaction from the Dementors, but enough to stir up memories and enough to have dreams when one closes their eyes at night.

I used the Fantastic Beasts book and liked the description of the zouwu when I wrote this; after I saw the film, I decided it's the cutest fucking thing in the world and was so happy that by coincidence I had chosen the same animal.

Oh, and Happy Christmas! The fact that it's Christmas is a complete coincidence (just not that I waited to post until today — LOL)!

Reviews and Comments: To alix33: Tonks can definitely make Remus blush still. Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you! To storp930: I think the Dementors did affect people in the books. You could see it on some of the reactions the staff and students, it just wasn't discussed as such. I think Harry would benefit from seeing a Mind Healer, yes, but he's not ready. Thanks! I was confused by the Aquaman scene so it makes more sense that you met Occlumency LOL. Thank you! I'm glad you're liking my Theo and Draco, we will see more of them as the story unfolds. To love reading20613: Thank you so much for saying this story is still going strong and hasn't lost it's charm! I hope it continues to do so! To coloredwords: Harry does want Zee to join them for Christmas and he's disappointed she won't be there. Thank you! To WarMunger98: Thank you! I agree, there is some shady stuff happening. Thanks for being interested in Dean and Seamus, I do have a plan for them, but right now those boys are not ready to admit they might fancy each other. Thank you!

To speedsONEandONLY: His unfinished thought was definitely it would be nice to have grandparents. Thanks for loving Theo! I think he and Blaise are good influences on Draco and we will definitely see more of that Slytherin trio! No, Draco won't show up at Andy's for Christmas. Close to canon and different from canon. Yes, we are going to lose people. No, I won't tell you who they are. To Steelcode: Lucius is a scaredy cat. Sirius is amazing! I wish he was my dad too! Thank you! To MMMARGEAU: Thank you! Things are getting crazy! To Red-Hot Habanero: I'm sorry that I made you cry, but Sirius and Harry have indeed shared some emotional moments. I'm glad that Zee is your favourite character! Thanks for saying this story is so well developed that even though you're a Drarry shipper you're still loving it. FUVP is the coolest name for an operation (at least I thought so, but I might be biased). Remus' fury little problem will get found out, yes. Thank you! To Guest: Thank you! To Guest: I like Draco questioning things, too. Thank you for loving my Theo! He holds a special place in my heart and we'll see more of him soon! I have so many ideas for his story! Thank you!

Thank you to my Beta — SilverStarwolfe!

Thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you!

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO:

The One with Nyx

Harry was making a pot roast for the first time when Tonks stepped into the kitchen, breathing in the scent.

She sniffed the air appreciatively. "It smells heavenly in here, Harry."

He grinned at her as he mashed the potatoes. "Thanks. I think I like cooking."

She took a seat at the table with a grin. "I think I like you cooking, too."

He laughed as Sirius and Remus came into the kitchen. "Dinner's just about ready."

"Excellent!" Sirius exclaimed, clapping his hands together. He moved to set the table and helped Harry serve up the food. Once they were seated at the table, he smiled at his godson. "Prongslet, I've been meaning to ask… how's Snivellus been since we gave him our message?"

Harry smirked at them. "Seething."

Remus chuckled. "Padfoot, if you had seen his face that day. I don't think I've seen him that angry since Jamie hired that hairstyling witch before the Yule Ball in fifth year and had him show up at the school and request Snape for his appointment."

Sirius grinned. "Ah, memories."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, he was really mad, Uncle Padfoot. But the pranks were brilliant! Everyone loved them, and on top of it, your howler for Neville was great."

"I am so proud of that kid, standing up to old Snivellus like that."

"Snape's been good though, honestly. I mean, he's been stewing, that's for sure, and we can see that he's angry — but he hasn't taken away house points for anything that was undeserving — and he's stopped picking on both me and Neville. Luna said he's stopped picking on the students in her class as well. He's just been teaching and it's been great."

Sirius looked pleased with this. "Excellent."

"Plus Ginny says that Snape teaching Luna is actually the best thing ever to begin with because Luna is so insanely nice that he doesn't know what to do with her. Apparently last week she decided to add butterfly wings to a potion instead of lacefly wings because the butterfly wings had a better energy and made the potion a more likeable colour. Ginny said that she thought that Snape was going to have kittens," Harry told them with a grin. "He insisted that she make the potion correctly for her own safety and not worry about the bad energy and she responded with something along the lines of Snape radiating a bad aura and that he should reduce the stress in his life and maybe take up yoga."

Sirius busted into laughter. "That is priceless! I love that girl."

Remus grinned. "Luna Lovegood is a delight to teach. She's very intelligent, but so carefree and everything is so matter of fact with her, I can never quite tell when she's joking."

"Luna's never joking which makes it so good," Harry told him. "She also told Snape not to worry about the mysterious pranksters and that she thought the pink curls did wonders for his complexion. He gave her detention and she thanked him for the opportunity to spend more time in his potions lab."

Sirius smirked. "Merlin, I love it! So, he listened to us though? He's being well behaved."

"Yes, Uncle Sirius, he's been good. Just his usual miserable self which is fine, if he started giving out candy I would be worried."

Sirius nodded. "Good."

"Does he know it was you two? I mean, does he know that you guys are Padfoot and Moony?"

"Yes," Sirius said. "We used the names all the time when we were in school. Plus he found our map once when James dropped it when he was under the invisibility cloak. He managed to take it back, but Snape had already been insulted."

"Insulted?" Harry asked, looking at them bewilderment.

"Oh, yeah," Sirius said with a grin. "Didn't we ever tell you that it insults you when you don't know how to open it?"

"No," Harry said with a grin.

"Do you have it?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, it was in my pocket when I came home."

"Go up and get it and Tonks can try it out."

Harry grinned and ran up to his room to find the jumper he had been wearing the day before. He pulled the map out of the pocket and hurried back downstairs and passed the piece of parchment to Tonks.

"Now, what is this map you guys have been speaking of?" Tonks asked, accepting the blank parchment from Harry.

"I'll explain after, Tonks, try to get it to reveal itself first," Sirius said with a grin.

Tonks rolled her eyes and tugged her wand out, tapping the parchment. "Revelio!"

Cursive writing began to fill the parchment.

"Read it aloud," Remus instructed.

"Mr Moony congratulates you on your attempt, but thinks someone as sexy as you could do better."

She turned to grin at Remus who blushed.

"Guess it's still connected to our magic."

"Keep reading," Sirius instructed.

"Mr Wormtail wonders why you bother even trying if you're going to use 'revelio' to find your answer. Mr Padfoot thanks you for your attempt but insists a smart-arse like you should prank better. Mr Prongs offers you his smile and says: Neener neener neener." Tonks smirked at them. "What is this?"

Remus tapped his wand on the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The maroon coloured lines flowed across the parchment and Tonks' eyes widened.

"This is Hogwarts!"

Harry grinned at her. "It's a map of the entire school and it's completely brilliant! They created it when they were at school."

"See, it says so right here, Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," Remus said with a smile. "Filch confiscated it in our last month of seventh year and Fred and George Weasley stumbled across it."

Tonks grinned widely at Remus. "I wish I would have had this at school. Do you know how much fun I could have had?"

Remus rolled his eyes. "You had enough fun impersonating Snape and other professors!"

She grinned. "Did I ever tell you about the time I morphed into Snape and made out with a statue on a dare?"

Sirius busted into laughter. "No! Please tell me someone saw you!"

"Oh, yes, I made sure it was quite public. There were some interesting rumours after that."

Harry smirked at her. "That's brilliant!"

Remus handed the map back to Harry after closing it again. "Anyway, Snape does know it was us and he's well aware that he's being watched. Dumbledore and McGonagall have both spoken to him about his behaviour to the students. I'm glad to see that he's following through."

"If he doesn't, Prongslet, you tell me. I want to know and I will have words with him."

Harry nodded at his godfather. "Okay." He smiled at Tonks as he helped himself to some more of the pot roast. "Did you ever morph into Dumbledore?"

Tonks grinned at him. "Once. Dumbledore told me I did a good job, but next time he was going to put me to work. He was chill about it."

"Who else?"

Tonks laughed. "Professor Sprout once and I gave Hufflepuff permission to throw a massive party."

"Did it work?"

"For a while, until the real Sprout showed up and shut it down and found out 'she' had given permission. I spent a full month in detention, but it was worth it."

Remus smirked and squeezed her hand. "Troublemaker."

Tonks merely looked at him. "Me? Mr I Made My Own Map of Hogwarts to Prank and Cause Mischief?"

He blushed and kissed her cheek. "I have no idea what you're implying. So, Harry, what are having for dessert?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Tonks only smirked at him.

~ ASC ~

By the time Christmas Eve came, Harry was anxious to get started on their little family traditions. They built a Quidditch pitch out of the gingerbread this year and Sirius enchanted the little pieces of gingerbread to fly around the pitch. When they were done, Sirius put on Queen's A Night at The Opera as they cleaned up and made lunch.

Remus and Tonks showed up after lunch to join in on the snowball fight, Harry and Tonks against Remus and Sirius. They voted it to be a tie when the four of them were left lying in the snow, laughing and breathing heavy. They ate dinner and then the four of them curled up in the living room as Remus started to read A Christmas Story.

Harry woke up early on Christmas morning, eagerly running down the stairs and turning on the wireless to listen to the Christmas music special and cranking up the sound. He put the kettle on for tea, grinning at Sirius who came into the kitchen.

"Happy Christmas!"

Sirius smirked and pushed his hand over Harry's face. "I remember when you slept late on Christmas."

Harry grinned at him, shoving his father's hand away. "Presents!"

Sirius laughed and nodded at the tree. "Go check out your stocking, Prongslet. I'll go wake Remus and tell him to get his arse down here."

Harry hurried into the living room and grabbed his stocking from the fireplace to explore the insides. Remus yawned as he stepped down the stairs ten minutes later, grinning at Harry who was munching on chocolate. "Happy Christmas."

"Where's Tonks?"

"She's spending Christmas morning with her parents," Remus told them with a smile. "We'll see her this afternoon for dinner."

The three of them exchanged gifts and Harry grinned as he opened up new clothes, a new bottle of cologne, new toiletries, chocolates and candies, and to his surprise some new posters for his treehouse. Sirius got him the newest team posters for Pride of Portree, the team that Harry supported in the Quidditch League.

He opened the next box and grinned when he recognized the blonde busty model for the Nimbus Broom Company riding the Nimbus 2001 in open Quidditch robes with a matching bikini underneath.

Sirius shrugged when Remus hit him. "I thought he could use some of his own posters."

Remus snorted. "That woman's tits are practically hanging out of her top, Sirius! Like anyone would ride a broomstick dressed like that."

Harry only looked closer at the poster, blushing, and then he saw the muggle one beneath it of a woman wearing overalls and nothing else as she held a large drill in her hand, breasts spilling out the sides of her overalls provocatively.

"Uncle Sirius, where did you even get these?" he asked, his ears red in embarrassment.

"I shop around." He winked at his son. "They're fun posters. I figured you could pin them up in the treehouse or in your room. Nothing wrong with pretty women hanging on your walls. Could maybe even bring a few to your dorm."

Remus only rolled his eyes. "Supplying masturbatory material is another thing altogether, Padfoot."

Sirius elbowed him. "I wasn't thinking of that, you prat! I just thought that he likes my posters so, I'd give him some of his own!"

Harry just grinned at the posters. "I like them and the Quidditch ones especially." He opened the new Quidditch Monthly magazine that Sirius had bought him a subscription to and saw the poster of Lexie Longhorn, Portree's newest Chaser. She was wearing her Quidditch robe, but it was open across a tight black dress showcasing her very attractive figure. Across the top it declared her the league's newest secret weapon. She had long dark brown hair and big brown eyes. Harry thought she was gorgeous and said as much to his fathers.

He opened some more Gryffindor decor for the treehouse, a few new novels to read, a wand holster from Tonks, as well as some new refills for his journal, and then Sirius smacked his hands together and grinned at him.

"We have one more gift for you, Prongslet."

Harry grinned at them. He had already gotten quite a lot for Christmas and he couldn't imagine what else they had gotten him. Sirius moved into the sunroom and came out carrying a long rectangular wooden case with a big red bow on it.

"This is from me, Uncle Rem, Tonks, and Zee. Happy Christmas, Harry," Sirius said as he placed the box down on the coffee table.

Harry grinned and carefully opened the lid and then his mouth dropped open. Nestled in the box on green velvet was a Firebolt. The sleek dark handle made of ash, treated with a diamond hard polish.

"YOU GUYS GOT ME A FIREBOLT?" he exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Sirius shrugged, grinning widely. "Our star Seeker deserves the best broom in the world."

Harry was grinning so wide he thought his face would crack as he turned and threw himself into the arms of Sirius and Remus simultaneously knocking them backwards onto the sofa.

"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"

Sirius laughed and hugged him tight, kissing his cheek. "You never asked for it, but I've watched you read every damn article you could find on it. I told myself I shouldn't spoil you, that a Nimbus 2001 is more than an acceptable broom, but you really do deserve it. You're an incredible flier, Harry, even better than Jamie was, and after all you've been through the last two years, if anyone deserves a Firebolt — its you. And I'll be damned if my son doesn't have his own broomstick!"

Harry carefully lifted the broomstick from the case and hugged it close to him. "I have to try it out!"

He grabbed his coat and boots and was out the back door in less than a minute.

Sirius and Remus stepped outside just in time to watch him soar off into the air, howling in joy.

Harry couldn't believe the speed of it, the feel of it under his hands. It moved at the slightest touch as if it sensed what he wanted it to do. He did a few loops, a sloth-grip roll, and practiced some dives. It was almost thirty minutes later before he finally landed when Sirius called out his name.

"This is the best broom ever!" Harry declared, grinning widely.

Sirius held his hand out with a smirk. "You going to let me try it out or what?"

Harry grinned and passed him the broom and watched the blur that was his father up in the sky above him before he landed a moment later. "Isn't it brilliant?"

Sirius grinned. "It's pretty great, but I prefer my motorbike."

Remus shook his head at both of them. "Speed demons, the both of you."

Harry hugged them both again. "Thank you! I can't believe I own a Firebolt!"

Sirius grinned and kissed the top of Harry's head and Remus kissed his temple. "Make us proud on that broom, Prongslet, and let's win that Quidditch Cup for Auntie Minnie this year."

"Definitely!" he declared.

Remus smiled as he watched his son carefully put his new broomstick back into the case as if it was made of precious glass. "All right, who wants breakfast?"

~ ASC ~

When McGonagall stepped into Black Cottage that afternoon for Christmas tea, Harry presented the box to her with the biggest grin on his face.

"Auntie Minnie, look what I got for Christmas!"

McGonagall merely peered into the box and then her eyes widened. "Is that… a Firebolt?"

Harry nodded, grinning widely. "That Cup is ours this year!"

McGonagall stared at the broom, reaching down to touch it. "It's beautiful!"

Sirius grinned as he leaned against the doorjamb to the kitchen watching her. "My boy deserves the best."

They spent the next twenty minutes discussing the new broom and its many features including how the professional Quidditch teams were all going to be flying on them this season. Harry asked if maybe they could look into tickets for the World Cup this year since it was going to be in Britain, and Sirius only grinned at him and said they would see. Harry then hurried into the sunroom to get McGonagall's gift, which he and Sirius had put in there that morning to hide until she arrived.

"Minnie, Harry and I decided to get you a little something special this year."

"Sirius, I've told you a hundred times, gifts are not necessary."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Oh shush and accept it. It was my idea but Harry picked… well, you'll see."

Harry carefully carried the large box out and placed it on the coffee table in the living room. McGonagall stared at it in wonder for a moment before she untied the bow and lifted the sheet. Beneath the sheet was a large cage with a dark orange kitten with black and white stripes and a long red, feathered tail.

"You got me a cat?" she asked in surprise.

Sirius grinned at her. "You need a pet, Minnie, and a cat seemed appropriate considering the circumstances, but this isn't just any cat."

Harry beamed at her. "She's a special breed that comes from Asia. They're very intelligent and protective. She's part Kneazle, part tiger, and part Zouwu."

"Part… how big is she going to get?"

Harry chuckled. "About the size of a fully grown tiger, maybe a bit smaller."

McGonagall's eyes widened. "Wow."

Sirius smiled. "She will guard you and love you and protect you."

"Sirius, Harry… I hardly need protection."

Sirius wrapped an arm across her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Indulge me."

McGonagall smiled as she opened the cage and carefully lifted the tiny kitten into her arms. The kitten, no bigger than her hands at the moment, purred happily as she carefully placed her over her heart. "She's beautiful; other than the zouwu tail she looks just like a tiger. I've always wanted a kitten, but I always talked myself out of it… I mean, I can turn into a cat, what do I need a cat for?"

"To play with and to love," Harry said simply.

McGonagall chuckled, gently rubbing the top of the kitten's head. "She's beautiful, thank you both. Whatever am I going to name her?"

"Whatever you want," Sirius said. "Harry thinks that you should call her Mini McG, but I said you wouldn't go for it."

She laughed. "No." She stroked the kitten gently as she stared into her gold eyes. "Maybe… Nyx."

Sirius grinned. "Perfect."

McGonagall smiled at them as she stroked her new kitten. "Well, she's going to have quite the fun running around Hogwarts now isn't she?" She hugged both Harry and Sirius, grinning widely. "Foolish boys," she muttered, but she couldn't quite stop the smile from staying on her face.

~ ASC ~

Three days after Christmas, Harry was arguing with his father. It was the first night of the full moon and Harry had already packed his bags to head to Remus' cottage and sleep in his room and he was surprised when Sirius said no.

"What do you mean, no? I always stay at Uncle Rem's during the full moon when I'm home from school! You two go down into the cellar and I stay upstairs. That's the way it's always been!"

Sirius sighed. "I know, Prongslet, but Tonks wants to be there for him tonight."

"So? She can be there too."

Sirius shook his head. "Uncle Remus asked Tonks to move in with him and she says that she won't do it until he lets her see him as the wolf. You know what Uncle Moony is like, Prongslet. He's stubborn and he's scared that he's going to hurt her. She is determined that he won't hurt her and is insisting on staying in the cellar all night."

"He won't hurt her! When he takes the potion, he's not dangerous."

"Well, that's not exactly true, Harry," Sirius said carefully. "Werewolves are very dangerous creatures, even Uncle Remus, and the potion dilutes that danger because he keeps his mind, he's aware of his surroundings in a way that he's not as the wolf. But, he is the wolf and if something goes wrong or if something alerts the wolf to a danger of any kind, he's going to strike out. When he strikes out, that's the dangerous part."

Harry pouted, not even caring that he was too old for it. "He's never hurt me! He said I'm his pup."

"He feels protective over you and yes, you are his pup, but he is still very dangerous, Harry. That's why we make you stay upstairs. In my dog form, I can be around him safely. Even when he is tamed by the potion, if he were to scratch you or to bite you, it would be very bad. Uncle Moony is very scared for Tonks to be there tonight and to see what he looks like when he becomes the wolf," Sirius explained. "He would feel better if he didn't have to worry about you too."

Harry sighed. "But maybe I could help Tonks! Tell her that he's all right!"

"Harry, I'm sorry, but Uncle Rem wants you to stay away tonight. It's a lot of stress for him to handle as it is. Just stay home," he insisted. "Auntie Minnie says that she'll come by and stay with you."

Harry glowered at that. "I don't need a bloody babysitter!"

"She wouldn't be a babysitter, Harry. It's just that you'd be alone in the house."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm thirteen! I can stay home alone for one night!"

Sirius stared at him. "Harry, it's overnight, not a few hours so, no, you cannot."

"I have Marauder. The house is under every protection imaginable! I'd be fine."

Sirius sighed. "I know this house is safe, but the fact remains that you are not old enough to stay home alone all night."

"I won't be alone, Marauder will be here."

Sirius let out a slow breath. "Harry, Marauder is a wonderful dog, but he is a dog. Now either Auntie Minnie comes over tonight or you go to The Burrow or to Andy and Ted's. You're not staying here alone."

Harry crossed his arms in front of his chest. "If you send Auntie Minnie here, I'll just Floo to Uncle Rem's after the moon rises."

"Uncle Moony doesn't want you there tonight!"

He shrugged. "And I don't want a bloody babysitter!"

Sirius glared at him. "We will talk about this again before I leave tonight."

"I'll be fine alone!"

"Do not argue with me on this," Sirius insisted, his eyes flashing in anger. "I am not fucking leaving you alone in this house and that's final."

Harry simply glared at him and stormed upstairs.

Sirius ran his hands through his hair and let out a long sigh.

Teenagers, he thought; his boy was going to give him grey hair.