Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews and adds!
Christmas dinner at the Weasley house was once again a lively affair with a table full of delicious food made by Mrs. Weasley. Harry had brought his Quidditch book and after dinner he, Ron, the twins and Ginny were pouring over it. Ron had practically hyperventilated when he had seen the rare book. Percy had just rolled his eyes as he thought Quidditch was a waste of time and chose to sit with his older brothers, Bill and Charlie, listening to them share interesting stories about their jobs.
Severus sat with Arthur and Molly, drinking coffee and talking about the ministry's efforts to find Sirius Black.
"How does he keep evading everyone?" Molly asked in frustration. "When I found out he had been in the boys' dorm, I almost pulled the children out of Hogwarts!"
"I don't blame you; I myself did move Harry out of the dorms." Severus said quietly. "There have been protective measures put on the Gryffindor dorms but I feel better having Harry with me."
"This whole situation has been a nightmare. The ministry is growing very frustrated with the lack of progress in finding Black." Arthur sighed. "They don't understand how he is able to hide from the Dementors."
Severus scowled. "I wish the ministry would take those creatures away from the castle. They cause more danger in my opinion." Especially to my son, he thought sadly.
"I agree." Molly said quietly. Her heart had almost broken when Ron had told her what happened to Harry when a Dementor got too close to him. "Severus, do you really think Sirius sent the Firebolt?" She suddenly asked.
Severus snorted. "You heard about that did you?"
Arthur chuckled. "Oh yes. Ron sent us a letter asking us to talk some sense into you. I had to stop Molly from sending a howler to him in response."
"I did send him a letter telling him exactly what I thought of his caring so much about a broom rather than his friend's welfare." Molly said grimly.
Severus raised an eyebrow in approval. "Thank you, I appreciate that. It took awhile but Harry accepted my decision about the broom. He knows I am trying to keep him safe."
Molly's expression softened. "He looks so happy Severus. So do you, if you don't mind my saying."
"I am happy." Severus nodded, his eyes finding his son who was laughing with his friends. "Harry is everything to me. The only thing that would complete my happiness is if Lily were here."
"She would be proud of you both." Arthur said with a sad smile.
Severus cleared his throat. "Yes well, I appreciate how much you care for Harry and for letting the both of us join you on Christmas once again."
Molly smiled softly. She knew the potions master was not used to sharing his emotions with other people. "We care for both of you." She corrected him as she refilled his coffee cup. "And we love having the two of you here. You are honorary Weasley's after all." She teased.
Severus refrained from rolling his eyes as he remembered the twins wanting to refer to him as "Uncle" when he had been in disguise in Hogsmeade. "Lovely." He took a sip of his coffee, ignoring Arthur and Molly's laughter. He set down his cup. "I do have something to ask you."
"Yes?" Arthur asked interestedly.
"I was hoping the two of you would agree to be Harry's godparents." Severus said slowly. He didn't want them to feel pressured to say yes. "I know he considers you family and I trust you to take care of him if something were to happen to me. If you need time to think it over-"
Molly's eyes immediately filled with tears and Arthur grinned. "Of course we will be his godparents!" Molly cried, grabbing Severus's hand and giving it a squeeze.
"We would be honored." Arthur added. "Like my wife said, you are honorary Weasley's. You're family to us now."
Severus merely nodded as he picked up his cup and took another sip of coffee. "Thank you." He said finally. "We-we feel the same about you." He admitted and sighed at the happy looks on Molly and Arthur's faces. "However, I refuse to be called Uncle by your children."
HPHPHPHP
"This is the most amazing book ever." Ron said as he flipped through Quidditch through the Generations.
Harry laughed. "You look like Hermione when she read Hogwarts, a History."
"No comparison mate. This book is actually interesting." Ron stayed riveted on the page he was reading. He briefly looked up. "You are going to bring this to school right?" He asked anxiously.
"Of course." Harry knew he would have a hard time reading his school books when he had this masterpiece to read through.
Ginny peered over Ron's shoulder. "Wow, look at some of the flying moves this book illustrates! Are you going to try any of these Harry?"
Harry nodded until he saw his Dad's frown. Darn his immaculate hearing, Harry thought with a sigh. "Um, only under proper supervision." He grinned at his Dad who snorted and rolled his eyes in response.
"Mum, can we have a snowball fight?" Fred eagerly called out.
Molly looked out the window with a frown. "How about if I charm snow in the house like last year? It's dark and cold out."
"Aw, you can cast light around and we can all have warming charms. In the house we have to be careful." George whined.
"What's the point of a snowball fight-"
"If you have to watch where you throw?"
Molly sighed. "All right, but warming charms and extra warm clothes for all of you." She said sternly.
The twins whooped. "Harry and Ron are on our team!" Fred grinned. "Bill, Charlie, Ginny and Percy on the other!"
"I'm not playing in some silly snowball fight." Percy sniffed.
"Oh come one Percy. It's Christmas." Charlie said as he stood up. "You can finally get even with the twins for every prank they've ever pulled."
Bill pulled Percy up out of his seat. "Come little brother, we have a game to win!"
An hour later the Weasley children and Harry walked in wet from the snow, shivering despite the warming charm and with happy smiles on their faces.
"We won!" Ron gloated as his mother began fussing over them, casting drying charms and warming charms.
Severus did the same with Harry and wrapped in him an extra thick blanket that he had transfigured from a spare bit of wrapping paper. He suggested warm drinks and Molly agreed, though she refused his offer to help make them.
"It was great Dad!" Harry said enthusiastically as he sipped his hot cocoa once they had all seated at the table. "You should have played with us!"
Severus narrowed his eyes at the Weasley children snickering at the thought of him playing in a snowball fight. "It sounds like you had enough fun for both of us. Although, the thought of burying some of my students in the snow has some merit." He smirked.
Ron paled and exchanged nervous looks with his siblings. Severus smiled in satisfaction and turned back to his son. "It is getting late. Once you are done with your drink we should be going." He informed him.
Harry protested but Severus could see the day's events were catching up with his son by the tired look in those green eyes. Indeed, by the time they stepped from the floo into their own sitting room Severus was practically holding Harry up. I guess this is one time Harry won't be fighting sleep, he thought in amusement as he transfigured Harry's clothes into his pajamas. He tucked his child into bed. "I had a good Christmas." Harry mumbled sleepily. "Love you." He was soon fast asleep.
Severus's heart swelled. "I love you too Harry." He whispered. He left the room and went into his own. He picked up a picture frame that held a picture of Lily. "He is such a great kid Lily." He whispered to her smiling photo. "You would be so proud of the young man he is turning into." He set the frame down and turned in for the night.
HPHPHPHP
Harry would have been content to spend the rest of his vacation reading his new books and flying but he eventually had to take time and tackle his homework. He chose to sit in the sitting room as it felt good with the fire going. The work from McGonagall didn't take too long and he had finished that yesterday but his Dad's essay was another story. He felt like he would never finish.
"Most unfair, cruel essay ever." Harry muttered and he once again wished he had started earlier.
"What was that?" Severus asked from across the room with a knowing smile.
"Uh, nothing." Harry said hastily. "Can I look through the books in our library?"
"May I." Severus corrected. "And of course you may."
Harry scanned the shelves and pulled out two books that looked like they would be helpful to his essay topic. His Dad may assign difficult essays but at least Harry was able to take advantage of their well equipped library. He worked for another half hour and then groaned. "I need a break."
"So take one." Severus said as he took a sip of his Earl Grey tea. He was sitting in his favorite chair as he graded papers.
Harry eagerly threw down his half written essay and went to stand expectantly in front of his father.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
"Do you want to play a game of chess with me?" Harry asked brightly. He wanted to use his new chess set he had received for Christmas. "You could probably use a break too."
"From grading these dunderheaded written essays? Yes, I suppose I could." Severus agreed with a smirk. "Only a couple of games and then it is back to work for both of us."
"Okay." Harry agreed easily as he got the board ready. He made his first move on the board and five games later he was back working on his essay.
"Your chess skills have improved greatly." Severus commented as he continued to mark papers. He scowled deeply at the essay he was currently grading. Apparently the student hadn't felt like reading the required chapters. His new red quill would be getting a lot of use today.
"You really think so?" Harry perked up. "I still haven't been able to beat Ron but I think I've stumped him a couple of times."
"You'll get there." Severus assured him. "How is your essay going?"
"It's getting there. Third year potions is tough." Harry complained.
"Just wait until fourth year potions." Severus remarked with a smirk. He hid a grin at the look of alarm on Harry's face. "All of your classes are going to get harder which is why developing good time management and study skills are important."
Harry gave a long sigh. "I'm supposed to have a two week break from Professor lectures." He said jokingly.
"I am not lecturing you as your Professor." Severus sniffed. "I am lecturing you as your Dad, just as I will be looking over your homework as your Dad."
Harry made a face his Dad couldn't see. That meant corrections would be coming his way after he was done. "You mean as a Dad who is a Professor." He smiled innocently at his Dad's pretend glare and continued working on his essay.
What seemed like an eternity to Harry but was really only an hour later, Harry finished and stood up. "Finally, I'm done!"
"Leave it on the table for me to look at." Severus instructed. "As well as your Transfiguration homework."
"Yes Dad." Harry said with a sigh. "Can I – I mean, may I go flying?"
"Yes you may. I will be keeping an eye on you so no crazy stunts on your broom." Severus warned. He watched Harry run outside a moment later with his broom in hand. He sighed in contentment, wishing the vacation was longer. After all the tension that had occurred between him and Harry it was nice to be away from Hogwarts and at their cottage. Things were back to normal, well as normal as things got for them. Now he just needed Black caught and to find Voldemort while he was still weak and imprison him. Hopefully Lucius would help with that.
Over dinner Severus shared the news of the Weasley's being Harry's godparents. "Do you approve? I trust them to always be there for you whenever you need them." Severus explained.
Harry's face lit up. It was like having an extended family! "I think that's brilliant Dad!" He grinned.
Severus nodded, pleased the happy smile on Harry's face. Unfortunately that look didn't last when Harry noticed all the red ink on his homework and realized he had to redo his assignments. Severus ignored the heavy sighs that kept coming from his son and settled into his chair to read his potion's journal while Harry worked. He felt quite happy with their holiday and wished he could keep Harry safe here at the Cottage until Black was caught.
HPHPHPHP
Upon their return to Hogwarts, Harry once again found himself in the middle of Ron and Hermione's argument over their familiars. He had joined his friends' who were standing at the bottom of the staircase.
"Scabbers has been a nervous wreck!" Ron insisted.
"He hasn't even been near Crookshanks for the past two weeks." Hermione pointed out.
"He's a smart rat; he knew he would be seeing that menace of a cat again." Ron snapped.
"A smart rat." Hermione scoffed. She shook her head. "I've told you, it's a cat's natural instinct-"
"I don't care. Keep Crookshanks away." Ron interrupted.
"Geez, you two sound like an old married couple."
Harry turned and saw Draco saunter up to them. "I have to agree with Granger." He continued.
"Ha, see?" Hermione said triumphantly to Ron.
"Yeah, like I care about Malfoy's opinion." Ron muttered.
"How was your Christmas?" Harry asked Draco politely.
"Excellent as usual. Once again I got more presents than I know what to do with." Draco said in his usual arrogant tone.
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, but did you get Quidditch through the Generations?"
Draco stared at the red-head. "No, that is a really rare book." He said slowly. "Did you receive that book for Christmas?" He sounded shocked.
"No, I didn't." Ron admitted. He grinned. "Harry did though."
Draco whirled around to stare at Harry. "You have that book? Really? Is it here at school? May I look through it? I'll be really careful."
Harry shared an amused look with his friends at Draco's pleading tone. "Hmm…" He pretended to look hesitant.
"I'll pay." Draco quickly offered.
"Deal!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry gave Ron a withering look. "You don't need to pay. You can look through it with us." He said to Draco.
Draco's eyes widened slightly in surprise but he nodded. "Thank you Potter." He turned to leave and then stopped. "Um, thank you for the Christmas present as well." He said uncomfortably. He had been shocked to receive a gift from Potter.
Harry smiled and shrugged. "You're welcome. I'll bring the book to the library after dinner."
"See you there then." Draco brightened and walked away to join Pansy and Blaise.
"You gave that prat a present?" Ron made a face.
"It was just some candy. He's been a lot better Ron. He helped saved Buckbeak." Harry reminded him.
"What if it is a trick or something?" Ron asked seriously. "He is a Malfoy after all."
"Malfoy really seems to be trying to change though." Hermione spoke up.
"Just because he agreed with you-" Ron started.
"I think he has changed." Harry quickly said. "I mean, I don't trust him or anything but if he is trying then I think we should too." Seeing Hagrid he told Ron and Hermione he would see them at dinner and left them to their arguing, which he could hear them continue as he walked away.
"Hagrid, how is Snuffles?" He asked eagerly when he had reached him.
"Snuffles is doin' great." Hagrid assured Harry. "But I haven' had any luck findin' his owners. I don't think he has any."
Harry thought for a second. "I'm going to ask my Dad if we can keep him." He decided.
Hagrid raised an eyebrow. "Do ya think he'll let ya?"
"Well…" Harry trailed off. His Dad hadn't even met Snuffles yet but he was sure he would love the stray dog. "If he says yes, can Snuffles stay with you during the school year? I'll go to your hut to take care of him." He looked hopefully at Hagrid. If his Dad did say yes, he knew Snuffles wouldn't be welcome in their quarters.
Hagrid chuckled. "Sure thing 'Arry. Good luck."
Harry grinned. Now he just had to get his Dad to say yes!
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