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Chapter 21 – Best Christmas Ever

Tom rose from the bed with a sigh. Harry rolled over and clutched the sheets closer to his chest still fast asleep. Tom smiled at his mate then went to his wardrobe to get dressed. He didn't want to leave his mate again so soon, but he wanted to apologize to him for losing control. And he also needed to wrap his gift. His smile grew at that thought.

He traveled down the hallways of the manor until he came to a stop at a painting of a quiet countryside. There was a snake, barely visible, in the grass.

"Open." Tom hissed, the snake lifted its head, its eyes glowing.

The painting swung forward. Revealing an entrance with stone steps descending into darkness. Tom lit his wand and began to walk downwards. The floor evened out onto a long corridor. As he walked past cells he heard a whimpering sound coming from the last cell. It was this cell he came to stop at.

The once plump face, now thin, looked at him and whispered, "Master, please…"

Tom only sneered, "It seems I've finally found a use for you…Wormtail."

XXX

Harry opened his eyes and squinted against the sunshine pouring in through the window. He rolled over and found the space beside him empty. He frowned and rolled back over to reach his bedside table to get his glasses. His hand hovered over his glasses, staring at the newspaper under them.

What's this?

He put on his glasses and pulled the newspaper into his lap. The title said: "Peter Pettigrew Caught, Sirius Black Cleared" And underneath was a picture of Wormtail clutching at bars.

A sudden jolt went through him. Excitement flung him from the bed and he was half-way out the door before he realized that he was naked he quickly grabbed his pants from yesterday. Harry raced down the stairs to the first floor and ran into the living room where he skidded to a stop in front of Tom reading a book and sipping tea on the couch. Tom was already looking at Harry with a smile on his face.

"Happy Christmas, Harry." Harry leapt on him and buried his face in Tom's neck. Tom was laughing at this and said, "Calm down, I'm spilling my tea."

Harry mumbled, "Sorry."

Tom laughed again, "It's okay."

Harry turned and looked at the flames cracking in the fireplace and the thing beside it.

"Where did that tree come from?"

"I transfigured a vase."

It was Harry's turn to laugh. Then he stopped. Tom looked down and saw that he was frowning.

"What is it?"

"I left your present at the Weasleys'."

"Well, I left yours in a dungeon." Harry bit his lip. "Well, I'm sure there will be a tomorrow."

Tom and Harry spent all of Christmas Day together and, at one point, they even had a snow fight. Neither was sure who won because they both came in completely wet. For dinner they sat down to a modest feast.

Before he went to bed, Tom went into his study and wrote a note, "Dear Hermione, Harry left his present for me at the Weasleys'. Perhaps it is in his trunk? If you can, bring it with you when you all arrive tomorrow. Sincerely, Tom."

He rolled up the note and gave it to his eagle owl.

"Take this to Hermione Granger at the Weasleys' residence."

The owl hooted and flew out of the window through the cold air.

XXX

The next morning Harry's and Tom's breakfast was disturbed by a shout from the Entrance Hall.

"Harry!"

That sounds like Hermione. Harry thought. He got up from the table and walked into the Entrance Hall, Tom followed him.

Hermione was standing in front of the fireplace and she smiled when she saw Harry and ran to him, before Harry could stop her she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her in amazement then turned back towards Tom.

"Why didn't we faint?"

Tom smiled in a friendly manner at Hermione, "I suppose its because she has only family feelings towards you, not romantic."

Harry nodded, "Right."

"Oh, Harry! Here." Hermione handed him a black and red wrapped present and a green and red wrapped present.

Harry frowned, then smiled. He wasn't sure how Hermione knew about Tom's present, but he was grateful nonetheless. "Thanks, Hermione!" He unwrapped the green and red one and found that she had given him a book on famous bonded pairs. His eyes widened and his smile grew. "Thank you again!"

"You're welcome, Harry."

He picked up both presents and said, "I'll save this one for later." He glanced at Tom, who had an eyebrow raised in question, trying not to smile.

Harry ran upstairs to their room and threw the presents on the bed. When he got back, Ron, Ginny, George, and Fred had arrived.

He greeted them each in turn, then asked, "What are you all doing here?" He looked at Tom, "I thought you didn't allow visitors here?"

Tom smirked, "Well, I figured I wouldn't be taking much of a risk inviting children here."

"Hey!" George said.

"We resent that!" Fred cried.

Tom just smirked again, "I'll be in my study if you need me, Harry." He turned to the other teens. "Try not to destroy my home, okay?" Then he walked up the stairs and through a doorway.

It was quiet for a moment until Hermione, rocking back and fourth nervously, said, "Why don't you show us around, Harry?"

He nodded in a slight daze. "Sure…"

The day went relatively smoothly. Harry was surprised to find that Fred and George were behaving themselves until the house elves came to get him half-way through the tour to tell him that pans and pots were flying around the kitchen. After a glaring contest between the twins and Ginny and Hermione, they lifted the spell and Harry, anxious now, began the tour again.

They played a few games of gobstones and chess, then went outside to play Quidditch.

Harry was pleasantly exhausted when it was time to say goodbye to his friends.

XXX

"How did your day go?" Tom asked Harry while they waited on the couch for their dinner guests.

"Best Christmas ever."

"Really?" Tom commented and brushed a stray strand of hair away from Harry's face. "How so?"

Harry shrugged. "I guess, because this year feels better…and I don't have you trying to kill me for a change."

Tom smiled, "Yes, I agree. I'm no longer wasting my valuable time coming up with plans to kill you."

The fire in the fireplace roared and then turned green. Harry and Tom got to their feet when Severus Snape stepped out. The three greeted each other, then waited for Lucius, Draco, and Narcissa to appear. When they did arrive, they went to sit at the dinning room table and were presented with a feast.

Harry and Draco said little as the adults talked about their days at Hogwarts and about life in general, smoothly avoiding the topic of death and Death Eaters, and the war altogether. Gratefully, Harry sat and smiled with the rest as they reminisced. He was particularly interested in Narcissa's stories, mostly because this was the first time he had seen her since the World Cup. At the World Cup she had looked annoyed. As if she didn't want to be there. Now, though she was far more relaxed. Still slightly anxious when any talk came to Harry or even whenever she had to be near him. Tom, in turn, tensed a little, but didn't address it.

It was a while before he realized something. They're like the Weasleys, Harry thought. Morally, no. But…from the family angle, yes. Although, he didn't think that either family would appreciate having anything in common with the other, so he kept that opinion to himself.

Harry also observed another part of his potions' professor. At school, Snape was always on guard. Either by keeping himself emotionally at arms length from other people or defending his classes from potions gone wrong. But in this setting he seemed to take everything in stride. Harry was pleasantly surprised about this. Maybe there's hope for you after all, Snape.

Around midnight everyone finally left, and once again, Tom and Harry had the mansion to themselves. But the only thing they really felt like doing was sleeping.

When Harry and Tom entered their room, however, Harry saw Tom's present sitting on the bedside table.

"Oh!" Harry raced over to get it while Tom, smiling, got ready for bed.

Harry brought it over to him and he waited until he was sitting comfortably in bed before unwrapping it.

Tom laughed as he turned the leather bound book around in his hands. He saw his name, his real name, stamped in silver on the bottom right hand cover. He opened it to find blank pages.

"I thought, since I ruined your first one, you could use another one. Although, try not to use this one for evil, okay?"

Tom kissed Harry, "As you wish."

As the couple settled down for the night, it was a while before Harry realized, "Gallant's still at the Weasleys'!"

XXX

So, what do you think? Not as good as my other chapters, but it gets the story across...

Next chapter: Harry goes back to school, stuff happens.