I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Thirty-Six
Christmas With the Snapes
Harry and Severus had gone to Prince Lighthouse Island to celebrate Christmas. They would have the morning to themselves, and the evening would bring several guests.
Even though Harry had talked Severus into decorations last year the wizard was still stubborn about the Christmas cheer offered by copious fairy lights, holly and ivy, and killing a tree to add additional decor to. Hence, the sitting room of the cottage on Prince Lighthouse Island was a bit bare. Harry had made gingerbread cookies with gingersnap frosting, and Severus had added oil of bayberry, and oil of cedar to the oil lamps, and torches. The fire burned with pine logs, and perhaps the cottage was not overflowing with the visual presentation of the season, but it undeniably smelled wonderful.
There was no snow but there had been more rain than in Summer, and at night the wind tended to stir up the sea. Temperatures in Greece did not lend itself to the cold weather of the British Isles but Harry had realised that just gave him more time to fly. And, sometimes his father even joined him!
Once indoors Harry, intent upon having some sort of decor, had begun sketching, and drawing with his coloured inks the moment term was on a seasonal break at Hogwarts. He hung up drawings of a forest of pine trees, Hagrid's hut in the midst of snow, Thestrals (which both Harry and Severus were able to see) students having snow fights, several couples dancing at the Winter Ball, and a remarkable (and telling, Severus thought) drawing of his father dancing with Poppy Pomfrey.
More of his drawings included realistic portraits of Hermione, Draco, and Ron, and a fantastical portrait of Luna in a meadow with fawns, a stylised hovering of Nargles, and a Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Luna and the Crumple-Horned Snorkack were having tea. That drawing which Severus had first found in the kitchen vanished the next day, and the ex-spy had discovered it in his son's room.
Severus had the sinking feeling that he might have to have "the talk" soon with his son. He would also have to reveal his intention to court Poppy Pomfrey.
Not since the moment he saw the witch at the Winter Ball had she been out of his mind. With his retirement, and the sale of a portion of the basilisk skin, he was beginning to think of a future beyond raising Harry. Severus wanted to add to their small family.
Christmas morning found Harry jostled from his bed at far too early an hour. He had mumbled something about not wanting to exercise but Severus had tumbled Harry from bed, and reminded him of the day. Harry was puzzled not to see any presents at the foot of his bed, as there had been last year at Hogwarts, and so he quietly wondered if there were to be any. He had shopped for his friends, and he had something he had drawn for his father, but he had no idea if Severus had shopped as well.
Harry made his way down the stairs after dressing in a warm dressing gown of quilted velvet, and warm slippers, and was gobsmacked by what he found in the large sitting room.
The walls and mantle had been hung with deep green leaves of living ivy heavy with holly berries. Figurines of straw in one corner represented the creche that both Harry and Severus recalled from childhood, and having seen at a church. Snow fell over the little creche that his father had created. Everywhere twinkled fairy lights in all the colours of the rainbow. Yet, most impressive was a tall, feathery pine Christmas tree (potted so it was not killed, Severus would later point out) that was festooned with chains of red cranberries, holly and ivy, popcorn, and small white candles that burned, but safely so, on various branches. Beneath the tree was a wealth of glittery, shiny, foiled wrapped presents that burst with colours of the season, and bows upon each one.
Severus, still drinking his sparkling cranberry cider, watched with pleasure as Harry dove amongst his presents and proceeded to properly demolish the wrappings. The presents were all from Draco, Hermione, Ron, Fred and George, Ginny, Neville, and gifts that Harry had not expected from Regulus, Remus Lupin, and Albus Dumbledore (the latter being inspected by Severus before he added it to the others).
Severus and Harry both cleared the torn wrappings, and ribbons away, and then went to the kitchen for Christmas breakfast.
In the kitchen Harry found many pretty wizarding and Muggle Christmas cards adding to his own decor of drawings.
"This is all amazing, dad!" Harry gushed as helped to set their slightly shrunken kitchen table. "Did you do all this last night?"
"You sleep as a dead man does, Harry," smirked Severus as he began to heap slices of honeyed ham upon their plates. He then added fluffy eggs, little bowls of fruit, and carafes of three different juices (orange, raspberry, and pomegranate), and one of his sparkling cranberry cider.
Harry chuckled, "I do kind of." He sat down and was about to attack his ham with hungry vigour when the kitchen window rattled with an owl delivery. Harry then slid a round tube across the table for his father. "Merry Christmas, dad."
Severus looked down upon the tube that was wrapped in green foil paper with a silver bow on one end. "You made something for me?"
Harry nodded. "Go on. Open it. I hope you like it."
Severus picked up the tube, removed the wrapping, and bow, and popped the little cap on one end that kept the contents of the tube within. Carefully he withdrew a rolled up painting on heavy linen weave painting canvas. Dropping the tube he unrolled the canvas to reveal a remarkable painting of their cottage and the lighthouse. The colours were made more vibrant by the addition of flower boxes along each of the windows, grass in various shades of green. In the sky were Harry and Severus flying on their brooms.
"It is… outstanding, Harry. Thank you," he continued to study the painting. "I never saw this in your room. When did you…?"
"At school!" Harry grinned smugly. "But don't worry I did my school work first, and then I painted."
"Good," smirked Severus. "I can transfigure a plate into a temporary frame until we get to Gringotts. In your vault, and mine, there are quite a few paintings with frames. We can choose one, and then modify it for your gift to me."
Severus then Summoned a gift wrapped in red and gold for his son. It was heavy and overlarge. "Merry Christmas, Harry."
Harry ripped satisfyingly into the paper, and Severus caught the paper as it fell. A box with a shiny white exterior was revealed. Harry lifted the lid of the box, and then lifted out an entire dress suit. There were black trousers, a long black coat, a deep purple waistcoat with silver and wine-red embroidery, a black cloak of velvet that fell to his ankles.
"Wow!" Harry gushed. He had thought of many other explicative words but what he exclaimed was the best. "Thank you, dad. This is great! I love the purple waistcoat! I loooooove purple!"
At that moment they were interrupted by a tapping on the kitchen window. Harry jumped up to let the owl in, and backed away as more than one owl entered the kitchen, and perched on a countertop with the shrunken gifts they carried.
"These can't be for me," Harry wondered as he touched one box, and it grew to its full size. "This one's for you, dad! I bet they're all for you!"
"So they appear. Give the owls a bite to eat, Harry, and then come eat your breakfast," instructed Severus without any apparent interest in the gifts.
Harry obeyed his father fed the owls, returned to his breakfast, and glanced worriedly at the gifts. "Don't you want to open them, dad?"
Severus sipped his coffee. He would switch to his cider lately but it was paramount to have his two cups of coffee in the morning. "Later, perhaps."
Harry wanted to protest his father's unconcern for the gifts but he decided to keep quiet for the moment. He finished his ham and eggs, and then looked back at the prettily wrapped gifts. "They won't disappear if you don't open them, will they?"
Severus hid a smirk behind his mug of coffee. He could hear they desire in his son's voice to see his father open his Christmas presents. "I am nearly positive all the gifts shall remain, Harry. You need not be concerned."
Harry huffed as quietly as possible, and returned to his meal. By rote he finished his eggs, his bowl of fruit, and a glass of orange juice. At that point Severus was reading The Quibbler as he noshed upon the chunks of fruit.
"Dad?" asked Harry as he glanced at the gifts on the countertop; the owls had all left.
"The rest of the day is yours until our guests arrive at six of the clock, Harry," replied Severus behind his newspaper. In truth he was reading nothing, and simply waiting for his son to mention the presents again.
Harry did not disappoint. He cleared his throat, "Um… yeah. Thanks, dad. I was wondering, though, maybe you ought to unwrap those gifts now? I sort of think you won't want to be sharing such a thing with our friends."
Severus lowered The Quibbler and glanced at Harry who now stood leaning against the countertop that help the presents. "You do make a valid point, Harry. I suppose I shall open them now." Harry beamed at his father. Severus figured that his son would open all the gifts himself, but the Potions Master had to admit, if only to himself, he rather wanted to open his own gifts. "That one with the shimmery pink paper with polka dots. No doubt that one is from Albus."
Harry grabbed the box, and read the card attached to the ribbon aloud, "For Severus, something for the cold nights. Love, Albus." He handed the gift over to his father. "He loves you?"
Severus nodded as he took the gift and removed the garish wrapping paper. "Albus has not always been fair, or even kind to me, but he has also done much for me that no one else did. And, he believes he loves me. Likely he loves you as well, Harry." Severus' eyebrows crawled up into his hairline as he pulled a hand-knitted jumper in various colourful stripes. He grimaced and dropped the jumper. "I would rather freeze on those cold nights."
Harry handed over more gifts and Severus was given Scottish Whiskey and bitter coffee by Minerva. The rest of his colleagues gave him his favourite dark chocolates, a box of living herbs to plant in his garden for Spring, a variety of books, and then there were even gifts from Harry's friends.
Almost missed by Harry was a small scroll that had rolled between the sugar and flour canisters. He stretched to grab it, and then brought it over to his father.
"Is that a gift?" asked Harry.
"No. I expect it to be a reply to an offer I made," mused Severus as he broke the seal, and read the letter. A smile of satisfaction bloomed across his face. He rolled the letter back up.
"What is it, dad?" Harry had re-seated himself at the table. Elbows on the table, and his fists planted against his cheeks he had kept his eye upon his father. He had worried that it might be bad news but it had made him smile instead. It was good news!
"Get your Winter cloak, Harry. We have a short trip to make before this evening." Severus tucked the scroll into his inner jacket pocket while Harry ran to put on his outdoor Winter clothing. Rising from his chair Severus Summoned his cloak. The black drape of heavy wool flew effortlessly through the air, and the wizard caught it. He slung it over his shoulders, clipped the frog closed, and left to meet his son.
Port Murem, a wizarding village, was once all land owned by the Prince family. As their finances dwindled (due mostly to gambling and drink) the land was sold and Port Murem was born. What Severus had not known until recently was that the land, and the village had gone through several owners until being acquired by Abraxas Malfoy as an 'afterthough investment'. Lucius had seen potential in the village on a cliff over a beautiful beach. He had made thousands of galleons worth of maintenance to the village, and then added a series of platforms that moved from the village and down to the beach.
Upon reaching their portkey destination Severus shrank his and Harry's Winter clothing, and they entered the village. Due to Christmas it was not as busy in the streets as it usually was but there were still families vacationing at Port Murem, and a few of the residents were out and about.
The commerce area of the village was a main road that snaked lazily in a vague 's' shape. Severus led Harry past cafes, bookshops, souvenir shops, sweet shops, a magnificent toy store that was open even on Christmas day.
"There is the ocularist we shall be visiting this Summer to correct your vision, Harry," pointed out Severus.
Harry brightened as he stopped to peek through the windows of the Ocularist's shop. There was nothing really to see but for the empty lobby so he stepped back to his father's side.
"Let us look at this shop, Harry." Severus indicated the dusty appearing shop next to the ocularist on the corner. There was no name on it to reveal what the shop sold. Harry watched with interest as his father placed his palm against the door, and with a flare of magic around his hand the door popped open. Severus pushed the door open.
It was dusty and cobwebbed with a musty smell to it. The shop was empty and awaited its owner to clean it, and fill it. There were shelves against all the walls, and even above the bay windows that allowed light through the multi-paned glass. Towards the back of the shop was a counter that came from one wall and stretched nearly all across the back. It stopped a few feet from the opposite wall to allow access to the back.
Severus pointed to one bay window, and told his son, "I was thinking of creating a place for you to sit with one or two friends."
"What are you going to have here, dad?" asked Harry as he wandered around the empty shop.
Severus smiled enigmatically as he gestured towards a door that led to the rear of the shop space. "Let us go in the back, and then I shall tell you."
With his hand at Harry's back he directed his son towards the back of the shop where he opened the door, and they both walked through.
The large back room had a fireplace against one wall surrounded in marble, and a marble mantlepiece. One wall held a very large Enchanted Window that was blank and just waiting for someone to programme scenery for it to look upon. There was a door to the left, and a second door at the back. Harry went over to the door on the left.
"May I?" he asked his father with his hand on the doorknob. Severus nodded. Harry turned the knob, and pushed through to reveal a long, narrow room. "What is it?"
"I shall make that room into a miniature potions lab," revealed Severus. "Beyond the other door is a small bathroom with a shower, and then a bedroom. I shall always make my way home but on the off-chance we wish not to travel home we have a place to sleep."
"Dad! What are you up to?" chuckled Harry. "A potions lab? You have one at Hogwarts, and at our home. How many do you need?"
"Just two. You see, Harry, I will no longer have access to my private lab at Hogwarts once term ends," replied Severus.
"Wh…" Harry cut himself off. First he frowned as he wondered what his father meant. When his mind got it his smile lit up his entire face. "We're retiring!"
Severus snorted softly. "I am retiring, Harry. You still get to continue school."
Harry gave his father a mock shrug. "Ah well, I'll live I guess. Do you know who's going to teach Potions?"
"What have you thought of Lu… I mean, Professor Lupin?" asked Severus warily.
"He's not you, and he flakes for three days every month but he hasn't been too bad. He does need to get a little braver with us students, though." Harry shook his head. "Your Slytherins are tough!"
"I should hope so," smirked Severus. "And, Professor Lupin does not 'flake' for three days a month."
Harry's lips thinned in disapproval. "Okay, that wasn't nice but he told us that a 'health condition dictates' him leaving for three days. Sometimes he's creepy, but I think that's just towards me. He watches me a lot."
"Lupin was best friends with your father, Harry, and…" Severus sighed not wanting to ever have to admit anything kind about the man to his son. Yet, he knew that Harry had a right to know. Turning slightly he conjured two chairs, and bade Harry to join him in sitting down. "I have not been… fair to you, Harry. I turned you against Lupin before you had a chance to decide for yourself whether or not you desired to know him more."
"But, you don't like him, dad," said Harry strongly. "He was mean to you when you were both students. I don't want to know anyone that hates you!"
"Harry, I am pleased to have such devotion… however, you need to learn to accept people not based upon how they either feel about me, or were to me when I was younger." Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Severus laid a hand upon his son's knee to forestall him. "I have told you a little about my past, Harry, but I feel that I must impress upon you that but for your mother - for a short time - and Regulus, I was not accepted by anyone. I was ignored by many, and hated by a few." Harry's hand dropped consolingly to his father's hand on his knee. Severus gave his son a small smile of gratitude. "I know that you know that Remus Lupin disliked me as a child but are you aware your father felt the same way?"
Harry shrugged, and glanced down at his feet in shame. "I do know that, dad."
"Do you also know how much your father loved you?" Harry lifted his head in surprise. Severus was not certain that his look could be one of actual astonishment, or that his son simply did not want to acknowledge, at least aloud, that his biological parents cared for him. "He did, Harry, and I knew this. I was not included when he spoke to his friends about his dreams for you, or him looking forward to teaching you Quidditch, or playing with you. Even so, James did grow up. He loved his wife, and he loved you the moment he knew of you."
"I s'pose he did," Harry whispered in a small voice. "But, what's this got to do with Lupin?"
"Professor Lupin, son," Severus corrected gently. "What I am saying, Harry, is that all of us grow up; we change. I doubt I shall ever like Lupin but that does not mean he is an execrable man."
"What does ex-uh-crabuhl mean?" asked Harry in an attempt to distract the conversation.
"Execrable means detestable," replied Severus wryly. "I dislike Lupin and we shall never be friends. However, he is a good teacher, and because of what your father told him about you, and shared with him after you were born, he thinks the world of you."
Harry pushed back against the back of his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest. He glared down at the bare floor as he thought about what his father had told him. He knew his father was making sense but he could see in the man's face that this was a difficult subject for him to speak of to his son.
"I don't think I should see Professor Lupin if you don't like him," Harry said uncertainly.
Severus unconsciously mimicked his son's posture in his chair. "Harry," he asked deliberately, "are you… curious… about meeting Lupin? To know what he has to tell you about your parents?"
Harry quickly shook his head but his negative gesture slowly stopped as his arms relaxed. "I…" his lips thinned, and he frowned. "I… well… I am… maybe a little?" he asked as if to be asking for permission to think as he was.
"It is quite all right if you are curious, Harry. I shall not prevent you from meeting with him… to have tea, if you wish."
"You wouldn't be mad at me or…" his voice dropped to a worried whisper, "...you won't hate me? Dad?"
"I would rather be angry at myself than at you, Harry." Severus opened his arms in invitation, and Harry slid rapidly off his chair, and threw his arms around his father's neck as he draped his arms, and cloak around him as a bat might enclose itself within its wings. Severus then whispered, "I could never hate the child of my heart… never."
That Christmas afternoon Remus Lupin received two owls:
Mister Lupin,
I am pleased to receive your recent owl accepting my offer of apprenticeship. I am arranging even now to effect a change of residence to Hogwarts so we may begin once our laboratory is set up.
I have created a programme that will accelerate our time in the Summer whilst term is out. When term begins, as will your teaching, we shall be a bit more relaxed.
As per our agreement I shall be your assistant during classes.
Please find enclosed the Apprenticeship Agreement, an appointment for you to have your Apprentice Robes made by Madame Malkin, and a recommended reading list of potions material by both myself, and Master Snape. I have also added a few texts relating to your Lycanthropy that you requested as a Mastership Project. A worthwhile study, and one I believe might come to an interesting fruition.
Finally, I wish you to know that Master Snape has never recommended any witch or wizard for apprenticeship so I regard his request of me becoming your mentor as faith that my time will never be wasted. I expect you to be better than any of my apprentices because of this.
Your Mentor,
D'Nali, Potions Master
Egypt
Dear Professor Lupin,
I'd like to invite you to Prince Lighthouse Island for tea with me and my dad on 28 December at noon. You can bring Mr. Dumbledore, too, if you want.
Merry Christmas,
Harry Potter Snape