December 26th

(Note: I took liberties with Mundungus Fletcher, used something from canon and made up the rest)

Harry woke up into darkness, completely disoriented. He sat upright, blinking. He couldn't remember how he had got to his room last night. With a start, he realised that he actually hadn't made it to his bed. He was still on the couch.

He scratched the back of his neck. He tried to remember the last night; his fuzzy brain provided him a memory of a small lonely lion cub wandering around in the desert, and the feeling of being overstuffed with pop-corn. He must have fallen asleep during the movie.

He noticed that he was covered with a quilt. He was probably in for a sound round of teasing tomorrow. Or today, actually.

He took out his wand and tried the Tempus charm. It was nearly five in the morning. It was pointless to try to get back to sleep. He had been sleeping for how long? Some nine solid hours? Wow. He couldn't remember sleeping soundly for such a long time for ages, not without the help of a potion. Not since Cedric.

He had been extremely lucky that he hadn't had a nightmare and hadn't woken up the whole house with his screams. Usually, he put a silencing charm over himself, but of course, last night he hadn't. Merlin! If he screamed and woke the Snapes up, Snape would finally snap and kill him dead.

Harry sighed, and produced Lumos to try to find his glasses. The light should reflect in the glass. Ah, there they were, resting on the top of the back of the couch.

He went to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea. Well rested, he allowed himself to be slightly optimistic. This should be a great day – Snape should be out of Harry's hair, mostly. He would be on a ski trip the whole day, returning only for dinner. Hopefully he would be too worn out to pick on Harry. Afterward he would leave for that charity event. How long could a banquet last? Harry hoped for at least three hours. By then, Harry would be in his bed. A Snape-free day… Bliss.

The water started to boil and Harry made a pot of tea. He realised he was famished, and decided to take yogurt out of the fridge. He was sure Chris wouldn't mind.

Soon, he was feasting on yogurt and honey, and experimentally tried to mix in some cereals. Not bad.

He was half through the bowl when the shoe dropped. Figuratively speaking.

Snape stepped into the kitchen, clad in his pyjamas, and barefoot.

It was like a freaking déjà vu. Harry was staring at the man's toes in dismay. Did the bat ever sleep?

This was it. This was the very last time Harry stepped into the kitchen early in the morning. Since today, he would rather starve and suffer from thirst till the rest of the house was up, than risk another ambush.

Snape didn't seem to be in a talkative mood. He retrieved a cup and helped himself with tea from Harry's pot. Well, technically Snape owned the pot, but still, Harry felt it would be nice to hear at least 'by your leave' from the foul wizard.

Harry concentrated on his meal, hoping that he would be done and gone before Snape woke up enough to attack.

It was naïve, of course. For one, bats didn't sleep at night, and for two, Snape didn't need to be awake to torture people.

"My wife informed me that you questioned her about the Ministry." The sentence was delivered neutrally enough to leave Harry wondering if Snape was displeased for Harry's nosiness, or for bothering Chris, or both.

Harry nodded, leaving that without an answer, because, honestly, what there was to say?

Snape continued, "as a matter of fact, I support my wife's belief that the Ministry would like to take control over you by claiming your guardianship. Minister Scrimgeour strives for positive publicity since he was elected. I don't think his intentions go further than cleaning your profile and then using you as a mascot. Of course, as you deducted, it might come to worse than that, as the Minister's position is not as stellar as he would like it to be."

Harry nodded. His mind was buzzing with questions, but he didn't dare to ask them.

As if Snape heard his thoughts, he prompted, "If you want to ask something, do it now, and don't pester my wife."

Oh, that explained it, then. Snape was informing Harry not for his sake but for Chris'. Harry idly noticed that Snape hardly ever called Chris by her name. Always 'my wife'. As if she was his prized possession. As Harry put it into thoughts, Snape probably did consider her his prized possession. Snape totally didn't deserve her, and he had to be aware of it.

Harry wondered, not for the first time, how Snape managed to snare such a good wife. She was obviously a very open-minded pureblood, and Snape had been a Death-Eater by the time they married and had their first sons. He was sour, and she nice. She gave Harry a chance even though he was dumped on her rather unceremoniously, whilst Snape had detested Harry before he even met him. She smiled, and he scowled. He was ugly, and she nice - not beautiful, but nice enough. She could do better than Snape.

"What about after the holiday?" he said aloud. "Where will I go for the Ministry not to find me? And how was Grimmauld Place compromised?"

"Until Minerva arrives, there is no point in speculating. Ideally, your family will be fine and there will be no need to hide you any longer. If not, we'll act accordingly." Snape informed him, for once refraining from open insults, and sarcasm. Harry wondered how long it would last.

He nodded mutely. McGonagall would arrive tomorrow morning, so Harry guessed he could wait that long.

Snape continued. "The headquarters of our Order were compromised by Mundungus Fletcher."

Harry raised his eyes in surprise. Snape volunteered a piece of information? It was the first time he looked Snape in the face.

"Dung." He frowned. Well, that wasn't all that surprising, was it? "What did he steal this time?"

Snape raised his eyebrow, probably taken aback by bitterness in Harry's voice. "Meaning?"

Harry figured out he had better chances to learn something from Snape if he explained, and so he informed the wizard, "He was stealing Sirius' things, old and expensive stuff, and selling them."

Also, Harry never forgot that if Dung hadn't left his guarding duty a few years back, Harry wouldn't have had to fight Dementors, and could have saved himself a very unpleasant conflict with the Ministry over his use of underage magic. Harry wasn't mentioning this to Snape because it would be too much like whining for his liking.

"I wonder how much Black cared for his heirlooms," Snape mused, "he was rather vocal about hating his family and its ways."

"Robbing the dead is awful, whether they cared for the stuff or not," Harry pointed out heatedly. Merlin, what was wrong with Snape?

"Unbecoming," Snape agreed.

"So, what has Dung done? Sir?" Harry returned back to the important matter. The house was now his, after all, even if Harry didn't care much for it either.

Snape finished his tea, and was looking inside his cup as if it contained leaves and he wanted to read them. "Make more tea, Potter," he ordered. "Or better yet, make me some coffee."

Harry, Snape's personal House-elf, he thought sarcastically. Nonetheless he stood up obediently. He still hoped to learn about the Headquarters. Arguing with Snape about House-elves' rights would get him nowhere. Unconsciously, he grinned, remembering his bushy-haired righteous love.

"Fletcher added gambling to his collection of bad habits," Snape's voice interrupted Harry's thoughts. "He apparently wasn't clever enough to stop in time, or ask Albus for help. He found himself owing way too much to some very dangerous people."

Harry paused with a teaspoon full of ground coffee, staring at Snape. Something in the manner of the wizard's speech implied that Dung was making business with the Death-Eaters. Just how dense was the man?

"If you could get the coffee today, Potter," Snape once again interrupted his musings.

"Milk?" Harry asked, not bothering to take offence. This was Snape at his best, no kidding.

"No, thank you."

Did Snape say 'thank you'? Harry probably shouldn't feel as surprised as he felt.

Harry carefully sat the coffee down before the Potions master. He eyed the wizard curiously, "So, Dung revealed the Grimmauld Place to the Death-Eaters?" He prompted.

"Well deduced," Snape said in a way that conveyed the opposite; something around the lines of 'even an idiot would have deduced this eons before you'. "A slip of paper with the address was in his possession, and he used it to bargain for his life."

Harry nodded. He remembered reading the note, written by Dumbledore, that had enabled him to see the hidden house the first time. Wizards' ways always seemed to be so nifty and fool proof, yet they never were, he mused sadly. Just like his parents' Fidelius.

"Was anybody hurt?" Harry asked hesitantly. "When they attacked the Headquarters?" He nearly hadn't found the courage to ask. But he had to ask. He had to know. Harry wasn't sure why. But this was his war. His fate. His task. The longer it took him, the more people would get hurt or killed.

"No. Fletcher did the right thing in the end. He persuaded the creditors that he would keep bringing them information. They insisted on an unbreakable vow; upon betraying them, Fletcher would lose his magic."

Harry stared at him horrified. He had the feeling he knew where the story was heading.

Snape nodded, "Fletcher went to inform Albus immediately, and the Headquarters were vacated just in time."

"He lost his magic," Harry whispered. He should be horrified. He was, actually. But at the same time, he thought Dung had made it out pretty easily. Millions of Muggles were living their lives without magic every day. He should be grateful that the Death Eaters didn't ask to shield the vow with his life.

"He would have lost his life, if Poppy wasn't nearby," Snape commented, as if he followed the train of Harry's thoughts. "Grown wizards – or witches – are too used to magic. Their bodies cannot withstand the shock, unless dosed heavily with supportive potions."

It made sense.

"What's with him now?" Harry asked without really meaning to.

"Shouldn't you inquire about your house instead?" Snape pointed out. "As it is, I have to inform you that you are a happy owner of a piece of undeveloped land in the middle of London."

"They destroyed it?"

"Annihilated is a more accurate word." Snape corrected him, observing him like an insect under a microscope. Did he expect Harry to start lamenting over the creepy house?

"Isn't that a Muggle word?" Harry asked with particularly innocent expression. He wanted to add something about the lines that Slytherins shouldn't use Muggle terms not to soil their mouths, but then he decided he wasn't suicidal enough.

"Hm." Snape mumbled non-committally.

Harry bit his lip, as a thought occurred to him. "What about the surrounding houses. And the Muggles?"

"A few Obliviates, nothing more," Snape answered to Harry's relief.

"What about Dung?" Harry insisted. He didn't like the dingy man, but he could understand that it must be a shock for him.

Snape's gaze intensified. "Albus will hide him somewhere in the Muggle world." He commented. "Why? Would you like him to rot in Azkaban?"

"What? No!" Harry exclaimed. "No!" he repeated silently, after Snape had hissed at him to tune it down. "Of course not."

They finished their drinks in silence. Then Snape glanced at the clocks above the kitchen door, sighed, and stood up. Harry checked the time too. It was six in the morning. He wondered when the others were going to get up. It was still dark outside, and it would be for about two more hours. Were the Snapes insane enough to start their trip before the dawn?

Snape took bacon and eggs out of the fridge. "Are you hungry?"

Harry was taken aback. He wasn't really hungry, after eating the yogurt. He would like to have some bacon and eggs, though. On the other hand, now was the best time to make a tactical retreat to his room. He hesitated a second too long.

"I'm not going to poison you, Potter," Snape told him with a hint of exasperation. "Not today, at least. Two or three eggs?"

"Two, please," Harry answered, feeling off balance. He watched Snape to take a huge pan, putting it on the stove and covering it with generous layer of bacon. Yesterday the man nearly bit his head off for nothing and today he was making him breakfast. What the hell he was playing at?

"Do you want me to help with something?" He asked uncomfortably. It was too odd to sit down when Snape was working. It went against every experience of Harry's past.

"You can prepare tea for the trip. Take two thermo flasks out of the cabinet above the sink, and fill them with tea with milk and four spoons of sugar each," Snape ordered.

The thermos were too high for Harry to reach, so he moved a chair to climb on.

"Are you wizard, or not?" Snape halted him. "A simple summoning charm, Potter, if you ever heard about it."

Harry blushed. What was wrong on Muggle ways of life? At least one got some exercise! And if the flasks weren't of Muggle origin, Harry would eat his wand.

He was watching the water, and mused about everything he learnt this morning. "If we built a new house on the place, could the Death Eaters see it?"

Snape looked at him as if he was completely daft.

"I mean, if we put it under a new Fidelius charm," Harry hastened to explain. "Would they see it, because they already knew about the place?"

"No, I don't think they would." Now it was Snape who was looking pensive, "Otherwise nobody could charm a building in an older settlement. Not as if we have time to build houses now."

"I know. Sir." Harry agreed readily. "But, theoretically, if they knew something was there, even if invisible, and unplottable could they destroy it? Like, destroy the houses both on the right side and left side and everything that is between them?"

"A remarkably violent and destructive thought," Snape criticised. Harry thought the man was just trying to gain time. Was it possible that the wizard didn't know?

"I just wanted to know if the place was spoiled forever," Harry defended himself. Then a thought came to his mind, "And the place in Godric Hollow where my parents- " he took a breath. "where they were hiding. It was theirs, right?"

Snape didn't look up from his work of cracking eggs into the pan, but still he seemed to be uncomfortable. "I believe it belonged to Potters, but I don't know for sure. Your barrister haven't informed you?"

"I have a barrister?"

Now Snape looked up from the pan, and Harry wished he hadn't.

"I know, I know," he raised his hands in surrendering gesture, "how stupid I can get."

Snape shook his head. Harry thought he had washed his hands over him.

After a short silence, Snape asked grudgingly, "Has anybody talked you about your inheritance?"

Harry shook his head mutely.

"Finances? Reasonable spendings? Economy?" Snape tried, his expression turned more dismayed by the second, as the only answer he got from Harry was apologetic shaking of his head.

"Well, that's rather remiss of Minerva. I'll be sure to tell her tomorrow." Snape smirked at him. "I'm sure she'll find time for a proper lecture."

Ouch. It didn't sound very exciting. On the other hand, it might bring new information about his parents, even if it was wrapped up in a boring economic lecture. Harry informed Snape with Gryffindorish braveness, "I'm sure it'll be very helpful for setting up my own household."

"Planning on starting a family soon, Potter?" Snape asked sarcastically. Then his smirk turned devilish, and added, "Have you gotten a talk about – erm- planning a family?"

Harry's jaw fell slack. Somewhere inside, he started seriously panicking.

"That is, in simpler words for your feeble mind to grasp, the talk about the birds and the bees?" Snape was clearly enjoying himself.

Harry turned red as a tomato. Then he imagined McGonagall giving him that lecture, and felt sick.

"Uh- " he rasped, "I think I'm not hungry anymore."

Snape laughed. Laughed!

"As amusing as the idea is, I feel I cannot ask that of Minerva." Snape's mouth returned to their favourite shape of sarcastic smirk. "The woman is positively vicious in her retributions. I'll lend you a book that you will read- " he paused.

Harry nodded fervently.

"- and have trust in Miss Granger's knowledgeability."

"Yes, she's very knowledgeable," Harry agreed quickly. He was so totally regretting staying here for the eggs!

XxxxX

Harry spent the whole morning playing with the smallest twins. The older Snapes had left for the trip. Chris still looked somewhat tired, so Harry offered to take the babies outside.

They had some serious snow fun with a series of competitions. They tried who can throw the snowball farthest; who has the best aim, throwing snowballs at the tree that was declared a target. Then they had a build-a-snowman competition; Harry was making one and the babies the second one. Harry's was slightly bigger, so he insisted himself to be a winner. The twins retaliated by declaring a snowball war. It was hard to tell who won the battle, so they decided on peace and went inside to have some food.

Chris had stuffed them with fruits and hot chocolate. The babies then dragged Harry to their room to show him some more toys, and maybe 'have a battle or two'.

They wanted to continue after lunch, but Harry was growing restless. There was war going around, he should be studying with all his might, not playing through his days.

"Sorry, guys," he said gently, sending an apologetic look to Chris, "I need to study. I have some serious exams after the holidays."

"Awww," the babies drawled. "Everyone is studying all the time."

"Enough of that," Chris admonished them. "Learning things is important. On that note, I believe it is time to open your book about magical animals again."

"Alright," Sasha agreed immediately, to Harry's astonishment. He was surprised and even little hurt – he realised – though he couldn't figure out why.

"You can read us about dragons again," Mark suggested.

"Or owls," his twin countered.

"Or thestrals!"

"Kneazels!"

"Acromantula!"

"Unicorns!"

Harry grinned, his previous feeling forgotten. The babies were so amusing!

He wondered with a hint of sadness what it would have been like if his parents hadn't died all those years ago; if they had survived and had more children. Harry would be a big brother, bossing his little brother or sister around and protecting them.

He shook his head, trying to clean it of nostalgia. What was wrong with him? He had made a deal with himself not to 'what if' a long time ago. It was just a way to hell.

"May I practise some spells?" Harry asked Chris timidly. "I'll be really careful. Mostly I want to work on my silent casting."

"You may, of course." Chris answered. "I trust you to keep yourself and the house safe."

"Thanks," Harry said, pleased and a bit humbled by her trust. In the light in which Snape was presenting Harry, he had been afraid Chris would rather take his wand away than to allow him to practise unsupervised.

XxxxX

"Yes!" Harry hissed to himself in triumph. "Yes!"

He finally did it! He finally mastered silent casting. Apart from a summoning charm, and Wingardium Leviosa, he managed to successfully cast the Illusionist's Trick. The two hours of constant, focused, and yes, stubborn practising finally paid off.

Harry felt wonderful. He couldn't wait to show it to Hermione. He decided to manage as many spells as possible before he headed back to Hogwarts. Learning the first one was the hardest. Now that he knew how to push his magic, how to focus on the spell, it was becoming somewhat easier. Harry decided to make a list of spells he would try to master.

Now, though, he opted for finding Chris and the twins. Enough of studying for one day. It was time to make himself useful.

As if he called, he could hear Chris and the babies in the hallway. He joined them, and before he could ask Chris if she needed some help, the babies informed him, "We are going on a ski trip!"

"Yeah! Will you go too?" Mark asked. At least Harry thought it was Mark.

Harry glanced at Chris, "I would like to."

She smiled at him. "It will be just for one hour. The same trip as the last time. It's nearly three, and it will turn much colder after four, when the sun goes down. Leaving in ten minutes, alright?"

"Sure," he smiled back, and went to change into warmer clothes.

XxxxX

The dinner went as smoothly as Harry hoped. The Snapes talked about the trip at length, and Harry was just silently observing. Only when the babies informed their brothers and father about their morning fun in the garden, Snape's eyes turned to him. The black gaze was completely unreadable as always. Harry relaxed when Snape refrained from commenting and moved his attention elsewhere.

The fun started when the parents left. Harry guessed he shouldn't be so surprised, it would be the same at the Burrow. The Snapes' offspring was so well behaved in comparison to the Weasleys, though, so disciplined, obedient, even.

"Hide and seek!" the babies screamed at the top of their lungs the minute the door shut behind their parents.

"Hide and seek," the middles agreed, laughing. "Who's counting?"

"I should show Harry around first," Andy interfered, "show him some good spots- "

"Don't be a spoilsport," Pavel cut him off. "Harry here will find them by himself, right?"

"Not the hardest ones first, though," Andy objected on Harry's behalf.

"Sure not," Eduard assured him, "we wouldn't want to spend the whole evening on round one."

Harry felt offended, somewhat. True, he had never played hide and seek, but he had practiced hiding from Dudley and his gang often enough. Seeking was just the other side of the same coin. Although, if magic was used-

"Hiding with magic or without?" he asked.

"Without," Pavel answered. "Muggle way."

Kolya proposed, "Harry could be the seeker for the first three rounds. That way he learns about fifteen good spots. If he can't find someone after ten minutes, someone's gonna help him."

Everyone considered that a hilarious idea, so Harry didn't bother objecting. Instead, with Snape in mind, he suggested, "Shouldn't be some places off limit? The lab, at least."

"That goes without saying," Pavel retorted, highly scandalised. He gave Harry a look people normally reserved for child abusers.

Andy explained in much more conciliatory tone, "The lab, and Kolya's photo-lab is off limit. So is the balcony, roof, or going outside generally.

"Where's the photo-lab?" Harry asked. "And Snape's lab?"

"Let's show you the downstairs," Andy decided. They descended, and Andrei showed him the laundry room, the lab, cellar, and the tiny space Kolya used for developing his pictures.

"I would like to know more about wizarding picture making. I don't know the first thing about it," Harry admitted to Kolya once they were back in the living-room.

"No problem." Nikolay grinned. "Good luck seeking. Oh, and go count in the changing hall, so that you can't hear where we are heading."

Harry looked at the coats hanged on the wall, and counted to ten. Very slowly. Then he grinned to himself, opened the door to the living room, and shouted, "Ready or not, here I come!"

Harry was pretty sure he heard one of the babies giggle somewhere upstairs, so it was where he headed first. He found them pretty easily, hiding under their beds. From then on, the little twins were following him, giggling, and giving unhelpful hints.

It took time, but finally Harry found everyone.

Kolya was at the top of a very high wardrobe in his room. Harry had actually overlooked him, when searching the room. Only the giggling of the babies stopped him. They were looking up and thus gave their brother away.

"How did you get up there?" Harry marvelled.

"Andy helped," the boy explained briefly. "Hurry up, nearly half of your ten minutes are up."

Andy was laying sprawled over his parents' bed. "I was going for a psychological moment here," he grinned. "Wondered if you dare come in here."

"Before I opened the door, I regretted we didn't make this bedroom off limit," Harry admitted sheepishly.

The rest of the rooms on the first floor appeared to be empty. Harry headed downstairs. He found Eduard eating homemade chocolate in the cellar. As the rest of the boys kept following him, apparently finding his searching amusing, there were six of them cramped in the small cellar. Everyone took a piece of chocolate and they made the search for Pavel a group effort. They found him under the couch in the living room, only a few feet from where they all started.

Pavel was declared the winner of the first round. Harry personally thought Kolya's spot on the wardrobe was better, but he decided it didn't matter.

"Thanks for going easy on me," he said instead, wanting to show them he was aware of the fact. "I'm going to count again."

Over the next hour and half Harry found the boys in various funny places. The house was big, full of large wardrobes, curtains, and dark corners behind tables, armchairs, or doors. He felt like he knew the boys better now. He'd seen their rooms, the stuff they had, and state they kept it in, decorations, too, and yeah, even the insides of their wardrobes in some cases. In a way he felt like he had been living here much longer than in reality.

Later when Harry started hiding, he thought up some good ones himself too. The best one of the hiding spots was probably found by Mark, who closed himself into Harry's trunk. He actually fell asleep there, and didn't even stir when Andy carried him to his bed. Andy then persuaded Sasha to retire also.

Whilst Andy was reading Sasha a bedtime story, the rest of them went around the house to put straight things they had disturbed during the game.

They regrouped in the living room, and the boys started to discuss what movie to watch. Eda won with his suggestion to re-watch Rambo.

"It could give us an edge for the paintball game," he pointed out. "And we haven't seen it in ages."

Harry found himself nodding. He had never seen the movie, but he had heard about it, of course. He was curious what was so special about it.

He seated himself at the couch, someone brought popcorn, and dimmed the lights.

"Good night, Harry," Nicolay quipped when the titles started rolling in.

"Yep! Wanna a pillow, Harry?" Eda quipped.

Pavel joined the teasing, asking if Harry had brushed his teeth already.

Harry sighed theatrically. Everyone laughed. Harry realised he was really enjoying himself with the Snapes – who actually weren't Snapes but Dworkins in name – they took him in, as if he was just a regular guy. They didn't hate him, they didn't worship him. To them he was just Harry.

The movie started, and they fell silent. Harry didn't have any problem to stay awake this time. His eyes were glued to the screen. He was astonished how intensive the movie was, and how real the actors were able to make it, especially the complete breakdown in the end. Harry could honestly say it left him shaken.

After it ended, he excused himself with a 'goodnight'. He didn't react when one of the middles mock-wondered about the fact Harry was still awake.

Andy stood up as well, claiming he would go to check on the babies. Upstairs, Harry realised that the boy must have caught on his mood, and that he went up to check on him, rather than on his small brothers.

"You okay there, Harry?" Andy asked softly.

"Yeah, sure," Harry shrugged, insincerely. Andrei must have thought him mental, breaking over an old movie.

"It was intensive, right?" Andy apparently wasn't fooled. "It was just a movie, though. It wasn't real," he added softly.

"What wasn't?" Harry asked, feeling strangely raw. "The death of his friends, or his inability to live a normal life even when the war ended? Seemingly a winner, but he was just damaged goods, so he was actually a loser."

Andrei hesitated. "I- We opened a big topic here, right?"

Harry shrugged. He was at a loss as much as Andy. "I'm gonna be alright," he said finally. "I think I'll sleep on it."

The other boy seemed to accept it.

"Night, then," Harry nodded at him, and closed his door behind himself softly.