Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story, nor the settings.

A/N: I am thoroughly not enjoying how cold it is. I seriously am wearing mittens as I type this because it is so cold in my house. I hope you all appreciate the effort I'm putting into getting this chapter done. Review please.

Chapter 23

Harry sat up and blinked blearily at the pile of shiny objects at the end of his bed. His hand darted out to grab his glasses and stuff them on his face and he blinked in surprise when he saw that the object were presents.

It was Christmas.

And he had presents. It was still a surprise to him that he actually got presents, even after the six years of being at Hogwarts and getting such. He grinned at the pile of presents at the end of his bed. True, it wasn't as much as the large pile by Blaise's bed, but it was still something, still proof that somebody cared for him, and that was all he needed.

Harry reached for the presents and slowly started unwrapping them. He had watched Dudley unwrap his presents so many times, his big meaty hands ripping into them unhesitatingly, uncaring if he accidentally harmed the gift in his rapid unwrapping, and it always drove him insane. His cousin never realized how lucky he was that he got presents and Harry vowed to never be that way. He would take his time and make sure he treated each gift with the love and care that it deserved.

In the end he ended up with a new notebook from Hermione with a small note telling him of her intended use for it, a package of new quills from Ron, along with a couple chocolate frogs, some candy from his new housemates, a package of fudge from Hagrid, and mostly curiously, a kit of potion tools. Harry turned the package around, trying to find the tag.

Snape.

Snape had given Harry a present. Severus Snape. The greasy git. The dungeon bat. Had given Harry Potter a present.

And Harry thought his life couldn't get any stranger. He stood up, reaching underneath his bed to pull out the present he had hidden underneath there. At least now he knew that it wouldn't be totally strange for him to give the man one in return. After all, it was only good manners to reciprocate when one gave you a gift. Harry pulled on his slippers, not bothering to get dressed, and wandered down to the common room and out to the hallway. He made his way to the Potions classroom and paused.

Should he do this though? It was good manners, but would it be awkward? He didn't want the man to think that he owed Harry or anything. He had already helped Harry so much, ensuring that he wouldn't go back to the Dursleys and even letting him stay in his private quarters, and Harry didn't want to mess with this new and tentative relationship and make the man go back to hating him. He turned on his heels, ready to leave, and the door suddenly opened.

"Are you trying to freeze your toes off?" Snape asked, raising a slender dark eyebrow at Harry.

"No, I-" Harry struggled to find the right words. They didn't come so instead he just wordlessly held up the present. Snape's face changed and he turned on his heel, walking to the adjoining door of his private quarters. Harry stared after him in confusion. Did that mean he didn't want a present? Or did he just not want a present from Harry?

"Come in then," Snape said, glancing back at him. Harry hurried forward, following the man into his much warmer quarters. His toes curled up in happiness and he sat down in his usual spot on the couch. It was a very bumpy couch, but if Harry sat just right, with his knees pulled up to his chest, it barely bothered him. Anyway, it bothered him a lot less than the fact that he had a usual spot in Snape's chambers. Well, maybe bothered wasn't the right word. It was more curious than bothering.

Snape came forward and handed Harry a mug of tea that was steaming.

"Why are you up so early?" Snape asked, sitting down across from Harry.

"It's Christmas," Harry said, bouncing a little. Snape smirked at him, though it was hardly malicious, more amused.

"I know," Snape said. "I was just not aware that you still needed to wake up bright and early as if you were a young child."

"Well, I didn't really have Christmas when I was young with the Dursleys," Harry shrugged, looking down into the depths of his mug.

"I was not condemning you," Snape said gently. Harry glanced up at him. "In fact, I seem to remember a certain redheaded girl who was exactly the same, regardless of whether she was a child or not."

"Really?" Harry asked, pleased with the fact that he was like his mother in some way. Besides his eyes, it seemed like people were always saying he was just like his father. It was nice to hear that he had some of his mother in him too, regardless of the fact that he had barely known her. "My Mum used to wake up early?"

"As early as she could without getting in trouble," Snape nodded. "However, we had hoped that you would have slept in a little longer."

"We?" Harry asked, instantly suspicious. Snape gestured to the fireplace that had started spitting and as if on cue it turned green before spitting out Harry's boyfriend. Harry stared at him in shock.

"Merry Christmas," Draco said simply, a smug attractive smile on his face. He held out his arms and Harry rushed into them, holding Draco close. He had missed him more than he thought and after the tumultuous days that had just occurred, he was immeasurably pleased that Draco was back. Draco held him tighter, one of his hands cradling the back of his head.

"But what about your mother?" Harry asked, drawing away slightly. Draco's silver eyes met his and he traced a finger over Harry's lip.

"She was going with her friends to an exotic island anyway," Draco explained. "She just moved it forward a day so I could come to see you on Christmas."

Harry wanted to feel bad that he was keeping her son away from her on Christmas, but with Draco's arms around him, he was far too selfish to feel anything but happiness. This was straightening up to be his best Christmas ever.