A/N: I am going to speed it up a bit to Christmas. I wanted to have Harry have his first real Christmas with Minerva, Poppy, Albus, Hooche, and Severus. It is important. I also think I may speed it up even more to have it where he is in his first year and how he has to keep his identity a secret from the Malfoys and the rest of the Slytherins. There is so much one could write about the first awkward year adjusting to a normal life.

I could not pass up Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer done Minerva and Harry style. I hope you like it!

Harry and Minerva went Christmas shopping in Hogsmeade the week before Christmas. The streets of Hogsmeade were busy with wizards and witches of all ages shopping for presents for one another.

"Mum, what is Christmas?" asked Harry. Minerva simply looked at the boy and smiled.

"Christmas is an exciting time when boys and girls get presents from Santa Claus and everybody exchanges presents and candies with each other," explained Minerva.

"Oh," Harry smiled as they walked by Flourish and Blotts. "Who's Santa Claus? Is he that big red man with a white beard?" "Yes," said Minerva. "He also drives a sled with eight tiny reindeers-well nine now with Rudolph. I have the book at home and I can read it to you when we get done shopping."

"Okay," said Harry as he looked in the windows.

"Harry, you will love this Christmas," said Minerva as they walked by the stores. They went into the Candy shop and bought Albus a bag of Lemon Sherbets.

"Mum, why don't we get Aunt Ro some Chocolate Frogs?" suggested Harry. Every time he hung out with Hooche, she would have a candy dish full of Chocolate Frogs waiting to be eaten. She also collected the Wizard cards that were in the packages.

"I think that will be a good idea," said Minerva as she picked up a couple of Chocolate Frogs for Hooche. "We can tell her they are from you."

"But I didn't buy them," said Harry.

"Well Harry, you're only a child. When you become of age and have a job, you can buy them yourself," smiled Minerva.

Harry smiled and knew that she was telling the truth.

When they got done with all of the shopping, Harry sat on the couch and waited for Minerva to bring out the book to read to him.

"Here it is!" she said as she blew the dust off it. "It has been put away for a while. Now we can read it together."

She sat on the couch next to Harry and opened the book. The reindeer in the book were entering one-by-one.

You know Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?

"Is it Rudolf, mum?" asked Harry.

"Yes," said Minerva.

Rudolf the Red Nose reindeer, had a very shiny nose.

And if you ever saw it, you would even saw it glowed.

"Like a light bulb?" asked Harry.

"Yes, son, like a light bulb-what ever that is," laughed Minerva.

"Then I guess I should say 'like a flame,'" chuckled Harry.

All of the other Reindeer, used to laugh and call him names.

"Like thunder head?" asked Harry.

Minerva just laughed and continued reading.

They never let Poor Rudolf, join in any Reindeer games.

"Like Elphaeba," said Harry.

"Whose Elphaeba?" asked Minerva.

"The green witch I go to school with," said Harry.

"I hope you are nice to her."

"I am."

"Good," Minerva sighed with relief as she continued reading, anticipating Harry's next question about Rudolf. Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say

"Rudolf with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee

Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, you'll go down in history

"Like Nicholas Flamel!" laughed Harry. Minerva laughed too and kissed his forehead.

"Oh Harry!" she laughed. "I certainly would never think of this story the same!"

"Did my mum ask the same questions too?" asked Harry.

Minerva knew that this day would come soon. She sighed as she held him tighter. "Your mum actually gave me this book. Originally, it was a Muggle book and she and James, your father, actually gave this to me as a gag gift. A gag gift is a joke that is meant to be funny. When they gave it to me, the pictures were not moving. It threw me off so by the end of the night, I thought I fixed it until your mum and dad were laughing about the book not supposed to have moving pictures," Minerva smiled. "When I look at you, I see your dad, but you have your mum's eyes." "I never got know what my real mum looked like," sighed Harry.

"Just wait right here," said Minerva as she went to her bookshelf and pulled a photo album off the shelf. She sat next to Harry and opened it up for him.

"This is your mum, Lily and your father, James," said Minerva as she pointed to the man and woman dancing together near a fountain in an autumn setting.

Then Minerva showed Harry more pictures of his mum and dad while they were growing up and going to Hogwarts. Then she showed him his baby pictures.

"Here you are when you were born," said Minerva. It was weird for Harry to even think what he looked like before he had the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

After they were done looking at the pictures, it was dinner time.

"So Harry, do you want spaghetti hoops, roast beef, or turkey sandwich?" asked Minerva.

"Turkey sandwich," replied Harry.

Minerva summoned up a turkey sandwich and Harry ate that while she had chicken noodle soap with rice.

The next day, Harry went down to the dungeons to meet up with Severus.

"Uncle Sev?" he called. "Where are you?" Severus popped up from nowhere.

"Ah, young Potter," he said. "What can I help you with?" "I need to go to town to buy mum a Christmas present," said Harry. "I don't care what she says, I want to buy her something." "That is very nice of you," said Severus. "How much do you have?" (A/N: I do not know the currency value of Euro money, so I am going to use American currency)

"Five dollars," said Harry.

"All right," said Severus. "If you let me throw in-say-twenty dollars, we can find your mum something nice. Let me clean this last cauldron and then we will take off. Remember, you can't tell her what we are up to, okay?" "Okay," said Harry. "Let me get my coat."

Harry ran back up to his room to get his coat. On his way out, he ran into his mum.

"Where are you going, Harry?" Minerva asked.

"Can't tell you," he said hastily.

"Harry, I need to know where you are going at all times," she said. "Until you tell me, you are not going anywhere."

Harry sighed. "I'm running an errand with Uncle Sev."

"Where to?"

"Can't tell." Then Severus entered the room.

"Ready Harry?" he asked.

"Not quite," said Minerva. "Where are you two going?"

"Out," said Severus.

"Severus Tobias Jacob Snape!" Minerva snapped. "You are not taking my son anywhere unless you tell me where!"

Severus sighed and told Minerva to step aside from Harry.

"Don't tell her!" Harry stated.

"Don't worry Potter," said Severus as he gave Minerva a smirk.

Severus had Minerva step out into the living room away from Harry Potter.

"Harry wants to get you a present and I guess he misunderstood what I meant by not telling you," said Severus.

"I told him he did not have to worry about me!" whispered Minerva.

"Let him," said Severus. "It will encourage the boy more and that is what we want to do."

Minerva nodded and reluctantly agreed to let Severus take the boy shopping.

It was about six o' clock at night when Severus came back with Harry from there shopping trip. Harry came into the chambers and ran to his room to wrap his present for Minerva. Severus went in there to help Harry.

"Now remember, Harry, do not let her have this gift until December 25th," said Severus as he helped Harry tie the bow on the present.

"Okay Uncle Sev," said Harry.

For the next few days, Harry watched as the Great Hall was being prepared for the Christmas festival. He watched as the ghosts floated around the halls singing Christmas Carols, the wreaths magically appearing from the doorways and the holly garlands.

Before Harry knew it, it was Christmas morning. He opened his eyes and crept into the living room of his mother's chambers.

"Wow!" he whispered. He walked into the room and saw all the presents decked out under the tree. He could not believe how many presents there were all neatly wrapped up. Minerva came into the living room and sat next to Harry.

"Some of them are for you," she said as she gave him a hug.

"Mum, what about you?" asked Harry.

"Santa already gave me my gift, you," she smiled.

"Me?"

"Yes, you are my gift, even though I got you months ago," smiled Minerva. "You see, I always wanted to raise you after your mother died and I finally got my wish."

Harry hugged Minerva tightly. "Oh mum! I got you something!" said Harry as he ran to his room. Then Harry ran back out with a package for Minerva.

"Harry, you should not have!" said Minerva.

"But I wanted to," he said.

Minerva opened the gift and saw it was a music box with a cat on it.

"Uncle Sev said that you liked Cats," said Harry.

Minerva wound it up and it played Memories.

"Oh Harry, I love it!" she said as she kissed his cheek.

Harry opened up his other presents. He got sweaters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Children's Book to Magic, Chess, and Chinese Checkers.

After Harry and Minerva opened all there presents, they got out the Chess set and Minerva taught him how to play chess.

A/N: I think I may skip a few more years ahead to Year One at Hogwarts.