The rest of the term went by quickly, soon it was almost christmas,

"Hey guys?" asked Ginny, after reading a letter from her mother one morning a few weeks before Christmas, "Do you guys want to come round my house over the holidays?"

"I'd love to!" Grinned Harry,

"Same here!" Cried Neville

"I'll have to check with my parents..." Frowned Hermione, Ginny nodded,

"Great! At least I won't be stuck with Ron and my brothers." She smiled,

"my Aunt and Uncle won't care," said Harry,

"What about your parents?" Asked Hermione, Ginny winced, glancing at Harry,

"What's one christmas to them?" He asked, raising his eyebrow, "They've missed all the others, no biggie." Hermione bit her lip, but didn't say anything.

"come on, lets get to Charms." Said Neville, easing the tension, the four got up,

"sorry Harry" muttered Hermione, out of earshot of the others,

"what for?" Asked Harry, perplexed

"For bringing up your parents," she said, cheeks flushing

"Don't be sorry," he said, "I got used to them a long time ago, it doesn't matter." The girl smiled at him.

The four children walked into charms, sitting in their normal seats on the back row, suddenly the door banged open and in marched Damian Potter, quickly followed by Ron, Lavender and Parvati swaggered in,

"sorry I'm late Professor Potter." said Damian, not sounding sorry at all, his eyes landed on Harry,

"Professor, Harry Potter has stolen my seat."

"Harry move." Said Professor Potter,

"Professor, I've always sat here." Lilly Potter glanced up,

"Damian, go to your normal seat." She said, before smiling kindly at Harry, Harry blinked, glancing at his friends, who each gave him equally confused expressions. The lesson passed normally, as the children were leaving, Lilly Potter asked for Harry to stay behind,

"Harry, honey," she smiled, Harry blinked,

"Professor Potter?" He asked, wondering if she'd lost her mind

"no need for that outside of class," she smiled, "you can call me Mum." Harry shook his head,

"With all due respect Professor I do not feel comfortable calling you that, You haven't been my mother for a long time." Lilly Potter felt her eyes filling with tears,

"Harry you must understand-"

"Oh, I do understand Professor I understand perfectly. I know where your prioroties lie." Lilly Potter shook her head,

"Harry, Dumbledore advised-"

"Dumbledore is not a Potter, It is none of his business."

"Listen. To. Me." Lilly Potter snapped, "Dumbledore advised that Damian be excluded from punishments, he is under a lot of stress due to his extra training." Harry blinked,

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked,

"So you know that I want to punish him, but I can't" Harry scowled,

"excuses, excuses. They don't do me any good Professor." He turned to leave,

"I'm not finished." Said Lilly Potter, Harry groaned,

"What?" He snapped,

"I know I've been a lousey mother." She started, "More then lousey, I haven't been a mother at all, and I know that. But I want to change things. Come and stay with us for Christmas. We are your family after all." Harry shook his head,

"No. You're not my family. I've got plans anyway." He turned and stalked from the room, Lilly Potter buried her face in her hands and let out a sob, the only sound in the empty classroom.

TBC