Harry Potter Junior Level: Year Two

Ch. 23

Christmas Excitement

After enjoying dinner with Sirius and Harry, Draco is dropped off at his quarters by his uncle.

"Goodnight son. I'll see you tomorrow if you come by." Sirius says with a wave as he and Harry continue walking home.

"Bye Uncle Sirius. Harry, come for me tomorrow and we'll do something fun."

"I will, but it has to be either lunchtime or after. Dad makes me do homework first. I'll let you know if I'm coming after lunch." Harry calls back.

"You boys need to talk to each other while you are near each other and not shout down the corridor." Sirius scolds them, shaking his head in exasperation.

"Yes sir. Sorry." Draco answers as Harry replies "Yes, Dad. I'll stop."

Opening and closing the door quietly, Draco heads for his room. As he reaches his bedroom door he hears "Draco? Are you feeling alright, son?"

Turning to see his Dad in the living room eying him curiously, he answers "Yes sir. I'm feeling fine."

"I'm glad to hear that. Come on in here and sit with me then." Severus tells him. When Draco obeys, he asks "If you are not ill, why are you heading to bed this early? I usually have to threaten to put you in a body bind to get you to go to bed at all. Did something happen downstairs, son? Are you worried about something?"

"No sir. I just didn't want to disturb you again. I thought if I went to my room to read awhile I could stay quiet and stay out of your way."

"Stay out of my way? When were you ever in my way? OH! This is about this afternoon. I'm sorry I snapped at you. I was reading over sixth year essays when you called to me. Those student's papers irritated me and I took it out on you. I apologize for that, Draco.

"You've been really irritable for weeks, not just tonight, Dad. I'm ready for a break from school because when you are here you are not much fun. You were more fun in the summer."

"Yes, I know I have been behaving differently. I should have explained my actions better. You haven't been living with me during a school term so I'm sure I seem different. It's like this, son. Here, I'm not just your Dad. I'm responsible for all of my classes, to see to it they learn and don't harm themselves or someone else. I'm also responsible for the Junior Slytherin dorm, remember? I have let these responsibilities get to me and apparently taken my feelings out on you. Although, you must agree there have been some times, such as the dragon incident, when my behavior was warranted."

"I know, I deserved some punishment for that but I think you went overboard on it! Thank you for explaining Dad. I'll know next term when you get all cranky that it's everyone else making you that way and not me."

"You are an insufferable brat, Draco. You do know I love you anyway, correct? Severus asks grabbing the boy and tickling him into squeals of laughter.

Well, young man now that you are all rosy cheeked and breathless, let's calm down. Did you enjoy decorating tonight?"

"Yes Dad, it was really fun! I helped weave red ribbon through a garland and then Headmaster used a duplication spell on it. He made six garlands out of two. He let Harry and I help him chant the spell too. We floated them up the grand staircase. It really looks beautiful now! The house elves hung more garland and wreaths along the corridor. It smells so good down there. All fresh and woodsy."

"That's a good description, son. I too, enjoy the smell of fresh cut trees and garlands. When we get to the manor, you and I will go find the perfect tree for our Christmas."

"Will we buy it at a tree lot, Dad? I think I know where Mum got our trees from. It's a place called Silver Meadows. Is that a place you know?" Draco asks.

"I'm not familiar with it but we won't be buying our tree. You and I will go out on the property and find one. There are many cedar, pine, juniper or fir trees to choose from. How does that sound?"

"It sounds as if it will be fun. I've never gone tree hunting or chopped a tree before. Dad, do you have house elves at the manor?"

"I will be doing the chopping, young man. You will not. Yes, I have a couple of house elves, why do you ask?" Severus replies.

"I just wanted to know, is all." Draco answers looking dejected now.

"Why the long, sad face, son? What is it you are thinking?"

"If you have house elves, they will get to do the decorating won't they?"

"In the manor, you and I will do the decorating. This will be our first Christmas together as a family so I want it to be special. I'm sure you have been thinking of gifts, already. Is there one special thing you'd like to get from Father Christmas this year?"

"Dad! I'm too old to believe there's such a thing as Father Christmas. I'm almost eleven now, remember? That's almost a teenager."

"You don't believe in Father Christmas? How do you expect to get presents? He has to deliver them."

"You know better, Dad. That's for babies and little kids. I stopped believing at six years old. Father sat me down and told me I was too old to believe in fairy tales such as Father Christmas. You don't need to pretend for me."

"Draco, I have always believed in the spirit of Christmas. Father Christmas is the spirit of Christmas. Why don't you let him know what you want just in case he does remember you."

"I'll do it for you, Dad. I still don't believe though."

"Thank you, son. Now, if you plan to meet Harry for lunch or afterwards tomorrow, you need to be up early. You'll have to have your homework finished beforehand. I think it is time for bed. We've been talking an hour already. You may read for a time, but I want lights off by nine o'clock."

"How did you know we were planning to get together?" Draco asks in surprise. "I didn't tell you."

"You two let me know with all the loud talking back and forth. It's a good thing no one else has quarters on this corridor. They might complain with two young wizards yelling back and forth on the outside of their door. Sirius was right to scold you both."

"Yes sir. I won't do it again. I promise."

"That's a nice idea, let's try to keep it. Shouting is for outside not inside. Now, I need a hug before you head off to bed. It's been a trying day and your hugs help me get in a better mood."

"They do? I'll remember that and give you a hug the next time you start to punish me. By the way, an eleven year old is really too old to be spanked. You probably didn't know that just like you didn't know eleven was too old for Father Christmas. I'm just letting you know, Dad."

"Thank you, son." Severus says with a grin. "Now I'll let you know something. As long as the child deserves a spanking, he will continue to get one. If he doesn't want spankings, he should not behave in a manner that requires one. End of discussion, bedtime for all people under twelve." Severus replies giving the young boy in front of him a pat on the back as he steers him to the bedroom.

The following two weeks were extremely busy for the two boys and their Dads. There were end of term assignments, studying and tests for the boys. Their Dads had to create the tests for their students end of term and then grade them. Finally all coursework was completed and both families were packing to go away for the three week holiday from Hogwarts. The students had left two days previously so Draco and Harry were the only children in the castle.

"Dad?" Harry asks coming into Sirius' room from packing his last bag. "I'm finished packing. May I go see Draco for awhile? We're not leaving yet are we?"

"We'll leave in the morning. I've already sent Dobby to ready the manor for us. Yes, go have fun with Draco, just be back by time to help prepare supper. We'll eat at five tonight, son."

"Hi, Harry, When are you and Uncle Sirius leaving? We're leaving at lunch tomorrow. Dad has to go into Hogsmeade first and we're going to leave from there. Did you ask if you could come over before Christmas?"

"We're leaving in the morning so I won't see you tomorrow. I asked and Dad said we'd be able to get together he just didn't know when yet. I'll owl you and you can write back. What do you want to do on our last night here?"

"I was hoping you'd go with me to the staff room. I want to see what Professor McGonagall was so upset about." Draco answers.

"I'm not supposed to go up there. It's a private room."

"I know, I'm not either but most of the professors have left so I don't see why we can't just go take a quick look. C'mon Harry! Who's to know, anyway?"

Climbing up one of the moving staircases to the fourth floor, Harry tells Draco "I've only been in there one time. I came with Grandpa once when I stayed with him. It's not really much of a room. Just a bunch of sofas and tables. The professors use it to have meetings. Your Dad hasn't mentioned it?"

"He doesn't talk about what goes on with other professors much. I've been on this floor many times, but I've not seen a room like you are describing."

"It's down at the opposite end of the corridor from the classrooms. All the way at the end, follow me and I'll show you."

Walking down to the room, Harry stops and motions for Draco to be quiet as he listens at the door. "Okay, I don't hear anything, let's go inside." he says opening the door.

"I can't see anything, it's so dark in here. Where are the wall lanterns?" Draco whispers.

"Lumos!" Harry chants holding up his wand. "Now, we can find the lanterns. Here's one, I'll turn it up. You do the one on the wall by the door."

Turning to look at the room now that the lanterns are casting light, Harry and Draco stare open mouthed.

"MERLIN! Look at that!" Draco gasps.

"I'm looking. I've never seen a tree like that one or swags either. I hate to say it but Dad was right. This is blinding." Harry whispers. The two boys stand looking around the room at the purple, silver and gold material draped on the walls. Each section also has two large flashing stars in gold and silver hanging from deep purple ribbon.

"Hello there boys, come to see my beautiful handiwork, have you? Let's go closer so you can see it correctly." Dumbledore says from the doorway.

"Hi, Grandpa. We wanted to come see the room. Is it alright with you for us to be here?" Harry asks anxiously.

"By all means. I should have brought you here earlier today when the sun shone in the windows. It was brighter then."

"Brighter?" Draco asks sounding a little horrified. Catching himself and trying not to insult Dumbledore, Draco says "Headmaster, the long deep purple, bright gold and shining silver sparkling material for the wall swags ... uhh...brighten up this room. How did you get them to drape in arches this way?"

"Magic, my boy. Everything is so much easier with magic. Take the tree decorations. Those purple unicorns are made from transfigured plums and solidified. The large gold stars are real ornaments I found in the attic at my family home, years ago. The purple and gold bells are something I found on a shopping trip. The hanging tinsel, I saw that on the telly once and conjured some along with the flashing gold and silver tinsel rope garlands for our tree. I think the silver really stands out on the lime green tree, don't you? Everyone has the deep green so it's nice to have a light green here. Now, the balls are spelled to alternate with silver, purple and gold bright blinking lights. I want to find some of those old clip on candle holders so I can add purple candles. I haven't found any yet. I'm afraid to conjure them as they may catch on fire. I added the blue, gold and white electric lights this year. I have over two hundred lights here. Minerva complained it was too bright. I don't agree."

"Well, thanks for letting us see your decorations, Grandpa. Draco and I have to go home now. Our Dad's are leaving tomorrow so we have to help get ready. Will I see you during the Christmas celebration this year?" Harry asks.

"I'll have to check my schedule, Harry. I'll be letting your Dad know if I can come. Happy Christmas, boys."

"Happy Christmas, Headmaster." Draco answers.

"Grandpa? I want to ask you something privately. Can you cast a silence bubble?" Harry asks.

"Now, that's not very polite to Draco, Harry."

"Drake? It's about the family names we talked about. Do you mind?"

"No, I don't, go ahead, sir."

Inside the bubble, Harry asks "Can Draco call you Grandpa too? He says he's never had a Grandpa or Grandma either. Can he, please?"

"Of course he can. I would be honored. Let's tell him." Dumbledore replies cancelling the silencing bubble.

"Draco, my boy, I would be proud to call you my grandson. Will you do me the honor? May I be your Grandpa too?"

"HONEST? I can call you Grandpa, just like Harry?"

"Honest! I would be so happy if you did. Let's walk down and tell your Dad."

"Ummm, Grandpa? We weren't supposed to come into this room and we did. Our Dads might not be too happy to know that." Harry tells him.

"We won't tell them you were here before me. We'll just say we met here. That's the truth, isn't it?"

"Yes sir. Happy Christmas, Grandpa " both boys answer, smiling.

Three days later, Severus and Draco are out in the woods behind the manor looking for the perfect Christmas trees to cut.

"Here Dad, this one is perfect for the main room! It's tall and has lots of full branches. What kind is it?"

"A fir tree, son. I agree it's the best of the three we've chosen. We'll take the others for the dining room and the foyer. I'll let you be in charge of decorating this tree."

"I'd enjoy it if you'd help me. I'm not good at decorating, remember? I told you how Mum hired it done."

"Well, I think you'll do an excellent job but I'll help some. What did you think of the Headmaster's decorating skills? I've seen the staff room this year so I know what it looks like."

"Dad, Grandpa loves bright colors and that was very bright. Personally, I'm not sure of dark purple as a Christmas color. Silver and gold are but he used them too often. If you put so much out you can't see, then that's too much! Don't you agree?"

"I'm partial to traditional decorating but I will let you decorate our tree however you wish, within reason. I have my family ornaments and if you want to use any of them you may. I will also order in anything you desire to use. This is your project, son."

"So you are saying you wouldn't mind if I use the deep purple color, the blinding flashing silver or gold stars and the gold or silver flashing rope tinsel?" Draco asks saucily.

"I suggest, not using those if you want to see your next birthday, my son." Severus drawls, eliciting a giggle from his son.

After finishing the decorating, exploring the manor, enjoying the outside for several days, Draco becomes bored.

"Dad? I'm lonely. May I invite Harry to come visit, please? We still have a week before Christmas Eve and that's too long to wait to see him. Please?" Draco asks a few days later.

"Sirius and I talked earlier and we'll all to go Christmas shopping together in Diagon Alley. We're meeting Harry and Sirius there tomorrow morning after breakfast.

Diagon Alley:

"Well now that we've all arrived let's split up, shall we? Sev, if you'll allow me to take Draco, you and Harry can pair up. The boys wish to do shopping for us and each other." Sirius informs Severus.

"Draco, here's four galleons. You don't need to buy anything more expensive than that. Obey Sirius."

"I will Dad. Let's go, Uncle Sirius!" Draco interrupts as Sirius is talking with Harry.

"Yes, Your Highness, Sirius at your service, my Lord!" Sirius quips with a mock bow, causing Harry to burst into giggles.

"I apologize for my bossiness Uncle Sirius. I'm just eager to shop! May we please get started?" Draco asks, after receiving a glare plus a low warning of "Draconis!" from his Father.

"We're off! Have fun Harry and don't buy out the Alley. I don't have room in my closet for everything you know. I just might have to take over one of yours if you buy too much!"

"Bye, Dad. I'll watch what I spend. You only gave me four galleons to spend, also. Let's see if I was in America that's about forty dollars. That's not a whole lot of money, Dad."

"We're not in America anymore and Diagon Alley isn't as expensive, son. Spend it well." Sirius replies walking off with Draco.

"Alright Draco, where is it you want to go that is about to vanish? You are making me just about sprint to keep up with you." Sirius asks the child next to him.

"I need to put distance between me and Dad so he won't see where I am going. Uncle Sirius, I want to go to Knockturn Alley." At the stern look he receives at that admission, he quickly adds "I know, I'm not to go there but I've been with Dad before and I think it would be alright if you were with me. I need to go to that Potions shop. I want to get a potion made for Dad to use on his hair. We went by there once and the man told Dad he had one that would stop the potion fumes from getting his hair all oily. Dad said he didn't want to spend the money. Please may I go get it?"

"That's a fine idea, Draco. I know just the place to go. It's not the Potions shop in Knockturn Alley either. Come with me, son and we'll get just the thing."

"Uncle Sirius? This doesn't look like a shop to me." Draco exclaims as they stop in front of what looks to him like a cottage.

"It isn't a shop, it's Professor Slughorn's home. Now come along and let me do the talking."

"Good Afternoon, Professor. Remember me?"

"Sirius Black! What are you about? You aren't here to prank me, are you?" The older man answering the door asks.

"No Sir, I'm an adult now, not a child. I came on a mercy mission. I need a potion for my friend who has a hair condition. He has the unfortunate job of Potions Professor at Hogwarts and the fumes are making an oily mess of his hair.

"Potions Master Severus Snape is who you are referring to are you not? I'll have you know Potion's Professor is not an 'unfortunate job', it's a calling!" The elderly professor snaps.

"My apologies, Professor. His son, Draco, here, is wishing to purchase an oil control potion. Would you do us the honor of creating one?"

"Yes sir. I want to give him the potion for Christmas sir. He could brew it himself but I want to have it as a gift." Draco speaks up when the man looks his way.

"Well, what a nice idea. I'll brew it for you for ten sickles and have it owl'd to you in two days. Would that be agreeable, young man?"

"Yes sir, thank you very much. My name is Draco Snape and we are staying at Snape Manor, sir."

"Very well, I'll have it delivered there. Good day, Gentlemen." Slughorn replies closing the door in their faces.

"Curmudgeonly, isn't he?" Draco whispers as they walk away.

"Yes, but he's an excellent Potions Master. He was our Potion's professor in school. Where do you wish to go now?"

"I need to get Harry something. Would you go help me decide at the Quidditch shop?"

"I will indeed. I need to pick up something there myself. You just look around while I get my purchases and then I'll help you, alright?"

"Yessir. Do you think Harry likes to play with a toy snitch or would he rather have something to read about the game? I can't decide."

"Which one would you prefer for yourself?"

"Me? I'd rather play it than read about it but Harry like to learn facts and team histories. He even reads the books about History of Magic and it seems boring to me! I like to read but I want adventure stories."

"Draco, don't tell Harry this, but I feel the same way you do about History of Magic. I'd fall asleep during Binn's lectures. Be happy the Junior Level isn't required to have that class yet." Sirius whispers after pretending to check for anyone listening.

Meanwhile, Severus is helping Harry choose a present for Draco.

"Okay, Uncle Sev. I've picked three books that I know he would like. The problem is I can only buy one of them. Which one should I get? This one is a book about a knight slaying a terrible dragon, this one is a collection of tales of knights, the other one is a fact book about dragons. I can't make up my mind because he's into all of those."

"HMM? He's into them?"

"I mean he likes all of those things, Uncle Sev. You've got to keep up with the lingo. You won't ever know what we mean if you don't." Harry tells him cheekily.

"Cheeky brat, aren't you?"

"Yep! Now which should I get?" Harry answers with a smile.

"You get one and I'll buy the other two. That way he'll have all three he's 'into' as you say."

"Good plan, old chap!" Harry says grinning widely.

"Call me old chap again, young pup and I'll bust you one on your bum!" Severus replies with a fake glare that just causes Harry to snicker.

"I think Draco will be so excited to get them all. I hope Dad likes the dictating quill I bought. I think having a quill that writes what you say would be brilliant! It's too bad students can't have one. I got him a gag gift too. Did you see that soap on a rope I bought?" At Severus' nod, he continues "It smells normal until you use it then it makes you smell like you had a fight with a skunk!"

Meeting Draco and Sirius at The Leaning Lantern for lunch, Draco whispers to Harry "Did you get that item I asked you to get?"

"Yes, I got one for me to give too. I also found a gag gift." Harry whispers what he bought to Draco.

"That's a funny joke. I need to find something like that too. Not the same thing, though. Do you think they'd let us go over to Gambols and Japes alone?" Draco whispers back.

"We can ask after we eat. I'm starved! I'm getting a Wizards Whopper, what are you getting?" Harry asks.

"I want the junior Elephant Ear sandwich. It's not really elephant, Harry." Draco explains at the look of revulsion he sees. "It's called that because it's shaped like an elephant ear. It has two meats, two cheeses, onion, pickles, tomatoes and lettuce."

"Well boys, are you ready to submit your order?" Severus asks the two still whispering boys.

"Yes sir. I want a Wizard's Whopper with chips and a chocolate shake." Harry answers only to hear Sirius say "Make that a glass of lemonade, no shake."

"Dad, no fair! I wanted a shake!" Harry complains.

"No chocolate. No whinging either or I'll change your order to a lobster salad with cucumbers and radishes!"

"Dad! That's disgusting!"

"Draco, your order please?" Severus asks sharing a smile with Sirius over the boy's heads.

"May I have a junior Elephant Ear sandwich, a bag or potato crisps and butterbeer, Dad?"

"You may except for the butterbeer, you'll have lemonade as Harry is having."

"Yessir." Draco answers with a brief scowl.

After finishing lunch, Harry asks "Dads? We want to go to Gambol and Japes to shop for Ron and Neville. May we go, please?"

"Thirty minutes and straight there and back. Nowhere else at all, understand me boys?" Sirius asks with a stern look at his son.

"Forty minutes, Please? It takes awhile just to get waited on after we find what we want." Draco replies with a pleading look at his Dad.

"Alright, we'll extend it by ten minutes. Mark my words though, you do not want to be late. Here me, boys?" Severus asks in a tone the two boys know well.

"Yessir, let's go Harry." Draco replies, quickly walking towards the door.

Once inside the joke shop, Harry says "I've got to go somewhere. You pick the gifts for Ron and Neville and I'll pay you my share. I'll meet you outside at the black cauldron statue in thirty minutes."

"What'dya mean you have to go somewhere? We're to stay right here! You get found somewhere else and your Dad'll have your head!"

"I'll risk it. I need to get a Christmas gift for your Dad. Don't tell where I am. If something happens and they come looking, stall them!"

"How could I tell when I don't know where you are going? I'll do my best but you better be here in thirty minutes!"

Outside the shop, Harry quickly casts a notice -me- not charm on his face to stop anyone from recognizing him. Running, he turns down Knockturn Alley to the shop known as Borgin and Burkes. Inside the shop, he approaches the counter where a pock marked man is glaring at him.

"Young man, I do not speak to blurred faces. Now, show yourself!"

"Sorry sir, I forgot to remove the charm. I need to purchase a silver wand holder with engraving on it."

"Why not go to Ollivander's for it?"

"I was told you had one already in the shop with what I want. It's silver with two snakes intertwined on each side. Do you have it, sir?"

"Yes, it will be four galleons."

"No sir. One galleon." Harry replies,giving his counter offer.

"Preposterous amount for pure silver and engraving! Three galleons and eight sickles."

"I'll take it off your hands for two galleons. I know you've had it a long time. Please sir, it's a gift. I'm in a hurry, sir." Harry answers noticing the time on the evil eye wall clock.

"Fine, I'll accept your offer IF you add four sickles to it. Two galleons four sickles. Accept?"

"Yes sir, and could you shrink it for me with a temporary spell. One that lasts four hours only? I'm with the person I'm buying it for, sir."

"Done. Here you are young Potter-Black. Next time, come with your parent or another adult. It's not safe down here for you alone." The man answers with a wink as he hands over the shrunken package.

"Yes sir, thank you." Harry answers rushing out the front door only to run into someone.

"Excuse me, sir." Harry says seeing only dark masculine robes.

"Harry? What in Merlin's name are you doing here? Not only in Knockturn Alley but in this shop of dark magic? Where is Sirius?"

Looking up, Harry's stomach flips as he sees the furious face of Remus Lupin.

"Dad and Uncle Sev are at The Leaning Lantern. I went shopping with Draco."

"Is Draco down here, also?"

"No sir, just me. No, wait! I can explain, Uncle Remus!" Harry says as Remus grabs his hand and prepares to apparate.

"You just stay right beside me, Harry James! You are in enough trouble already." Remus tells the boy he's guiding through the restaurant.

"Remus! I didn't realize you were in town. I thought you had left for the Alps." Sirius greets his friend with a questioning look at Harry.

"My plans fell through at the last moment. We need to talk privately. Step outside with me, Siri." Remus replies with a brief look from Sirius to Harry.

"Severus? I'll be right back. Harry, sit and stay here. We'll be talking in a few minutes."

"Harry?" Severus asks the woebegone child sitting beside him. "Where is Draco?"

"He's at the joke shop or in front of it at the black cauldron. I told him I'd meet him there."

"Where did you go? You know Remus is informing your Father so you may as well tell me."

"I went to Knockturn Alley for a gift. Can you help me? Dad's going to make sitting a memory for this! Please? it's Christmas!"

"I would be doing the same if it were my call, young man! You know better, Harry James Potter Black!"

Outside, Sirius exclaims "He went WHERE? Thank you, Remus. I'll be talking with you."

"Sirius, Wait! Don't go in looking as if you plan to use the boy for potion ingredients! You'll only frighten him. Yes, he did something stupid and dangerous, I agree. You need to handle this at home, not here. He says he went to buy a Christmas gift if that helps at all." Remus says, with his hand stopping Sirius from marching into the restaurant and confronting his child.

Draco, having noticed the time and not wanting to be late, arrives just as Remus is talking quietly to Sirius. Hearing Sirius' shout of "He went WHERE?" causes him to shiver and sneak past the two men. Breathless, he arrives at his Dad's table to see Harry sitting drinking lemonade.

"Where have you been?! You left me standing outside at the cauldron and didn't show up! Professor Lupin is talking to your Dad. Harry?" Draco asks, just noticing the tear filled eyes of his cousin.

"Leave him be, Draco. He's not feeling like talking at the moment." Severus says quietly.

As Draco ponders where Harry might have gone to get that reaction from Uncle Sirius, the man himself appears.

"Severus, Draco, thank you for a nice day today. Harry and I are leaving now. We will be in touch. Let's go Harry James, now!"

Taking his son by the arm, Sirius walks him out to the street and apparates them both to Black Manor.

"Straight to your rooms, bathe and dress for bed. I'll be in to speak with you afterwards." Sirius tells the tearful boy beside him as they walk inside.

"Daddy, please! I can explain! Won't you listen to me first?" Harry asks.

"You know what you did was wrong. There is not an explanation that would change that fact. Go, do as I said. We'll talk after your bath." Sirius answers, pointing to the stairs.

A/N : Should Sirius take into consideration the reason why Harry went on his little journey? Does that excuse him from putting himself in danger?

How did you like Dumbledore's choices in Christmas decorations? Would you like to have him decorate your home?