Chapter 21: Cuddles, Yule, and Christmas Healing
Notes: Hello lovelies and welcome to chapter 21! :D yay~ I really do not have much to say this week, and at the moment not a wake enough to think of anything. So lets thank my beta for the wonderful job of reading over my stupid mistakes, and get on with the chapter!
After getting back from the dinner, Harry had been completely shut down, the happy boy that they had grown use to now was completely numb. Severus sat Harry down on the couch and turned his back for a moment to fetch a calming potion, and when he turned back around the boy had disappeared. Severus was disappointed, the boy had taken off and hadn't talked to him, and it hurt him. He had shown the child that he had cared for him, and at the sight of those muggles, had Harry back into his shell hiding from everyone again. Severus went in search of the young dark haired wizard, determined to show him that he was such more than what those muggles said.
Harry had taken off to the only place he knew he was safe, a room that was given to him by the Malfoys. Of course, he never stayed in there seeing as he liked to sleep in Draco's room. Growing up all alone made him afraid to spend a night alone. Harry wedged himself under the bed, hiding from the world, making himself as small as possible. He thought that the world would be better if he was never found, that the Dursley's should have killed him. He had caused so much trouble for Severus and the Malfoys already, when he was just a freak. He had no mum or dad, and that the only family he had shown him no love, why would these people do something that his own family denied him for so long?
Those dark thoughts surrounded Harry and it felt like he was suffocating under the weight of the world; the memories of the only family and all those names just circled around in his thoughts. Then he felt a sharp pain in his hand and saw tiny sharp teeth drawling blood with the crystal blue eyes looking at him with both fear and anger.
"Neit, do you hate me that much?" Harry asked the small kitten, "You bit me and the look in your eyes says you fear me little one." Harry's voice was rough as his small chest heaved in gasps of air. The little black furball removed her teeth from her master's hand, sadness washed over her blue eyes. She began licking the wound she inflicted, feeling bad, but her human need it. She looked up into Harry's green eyes and gave a small mew before rubbing her face into his hand trying to show that she loved him very much. Harry gave a tight lipped smile to the small creature. It was hard to stay mad at her, she was just trying to cheer him up the only way she could. Harry picked Neit up and place her in his lap, "Thank you girl, I love you too." Harry said in a low voice, softly petting the black kitten.
"It seems as the bugger had beaten me here," Levi said slithering underneath the bed spying the kitten and the speaker, "She was worried when we felt your bond with us start to shake, and took off to find you as fast as she could. It seemed she showed that even though the world seemed that you are alone in this world you have us, your dark protector, even that blond boy."
"I-I know Levi, but I-I saw them again, a-and it scared me." Harry felt a shiver run down his body just thinking about them.
"I know little hatchling, but you do not have to worry about them anymore, you have a family that loves you. You have me and your little black fur fiend as well, so it doesn't matter about them anymore. Just forget about them! We will love you and take care of you, where those people have lacked." Levi hissed at the young wizard trying to get his point across, that this boy no longer had to worry about them, that if they ever tried anything that he would bite them.
"Thank you Levi, Neit, I don't know how I came to deserve you." The young boy said, looking close to tears at what the snake said.
"Harry are you in here?" Harry heard Severus open the door and call into the room. Harry couldn't hold it back any longer, he placed the kitten on the floor and crawled out from his hiding place, and as soon as he could, he threw himself in the potion master's arms. He bawled into those black robes, getting tears and snot everywhere his face touched; but the older wizard didn't seemed to mind one bit wrapping his large arms around the tiny, shaking body holding him close as possible, letting him get everything out of his system.
It was the next day, night to be exact, and tonight was Harry's first time celebrating anything with a family; and this was the first time that the Malfoy's would be celebrating with Harry. Everyone was very happy to show Harry how exactly Yule went, but at the same time, they were not going through the whole ritual seeing as this would involve so much more than the night had to offer. Instead it would be the traditional burning of the Yule log, the only difference from the muggles was that they added drops of blood to the fire, offering their magic to the gods of the season. It was after everyone ate that they made their way into one of the many study rooms but this one was set up so that the wizards can kneel in front of the fire place comfortably, to worship this magical holiday. An elf brought a log and placed into the fire place and left the wizards in peace.
"Alright Harry before we start I want you to clear your mind of everything. I want you to think of nothing but what is happening in this room. Can you do this for me? Mr. Malfoy asked. Harry nodded, and with that Mr. Malfoy tapped the log with the tip of his wand.
The three adults started to chant in Latin, using phrases that Harry had yet study, it sound more like they were singing a promise to the air around them. The room grew warm and he felt the magic in the air began to thicken. The fire of the log, that was burning a bright yellow organ seemed to flicker changing from green to now a purple color flickering as the magic crackles around them. At this point the singing had stopped and the elder Malfoy was brought his hands above the fire, where it seemed to lick his hand but yet not burn the white pale skin.
"Gods and goddess I am your vessel, please bring a blessing upon me and my family for the next year. Allow us to prosper and live, allow our magic to grow and love." As he spoke these words he had cut across his palm of his hand allowing blood to drip into the hissing fire below, as soon as he had finished speaking the fire glowed as brighter wisps of silver shot up to Senior Malfoy's hand. The adults and Draco followed him then it was Harry's turn he took the knife from Draco shifting his body towards the fire.
"Gods and goddess I am your vessel, please bring a blessing upon me and my family for the next year. Allow us to prosper and live, allow our magic to grow and love." He repeated with confidence. It was as if something was guiding him and his body, he brought the knife to his palm, slicing a burning gash and allowing the blood to drip down into the fire. It had done exactly what the others done, but instead of a silver wisps it was gold, as soon as it touched his hand, he felt the magic gather into his body, feeling love and protection, and the feeling of power as well. It was something that he had always needed in his life, it was as if the gods knew this and they had gifted it to him, their protection from the world, but also love that was brought to him in the form of Severus and the Malfoy's.
Drawn from his thoughts, the singing started once again and the magic seemed to fade from the room. Like a switch was flipped in Harry, he felt a calm come over his body, and his eye lids grew heavier with each passing second.
He heard several chuckles, but he couldn't lift his head to see who it was. He felt his body being lifted and he was carried to bed. "Rest well little one, and the gods will watch over you." He felt lips brush against his forehead and heard the closing of the door. He couldn't help but feel a smile brought to his face by the action. It was like a dream for him, one that he didn't want to wake from.
Harry felt a sudden pounce on him and his eyes flew open to come face to face with Draco smiling at him. "Come on! Harry, wake up! It's Christmas!" He yelled at the still half asleep Harry. Harry sent the young Malfoy a glare, he was resting peacefully, was quite rudely awoken.
"HARRY!" Draco yelled right into his ear when his eyes where closing again. "Wake up! We can go open presents today!"
Presents? What was he talking about? No one gave him presents… Harry's eyes flew open today was Christmas, today was the start of spending holidays with his new family! Harry quickly sat up, causing Draco to roll off the bed letting out an "eep" while in the free fall.
"It's Christmas?!" Harry exclaimed, his green eyes wide and glittering with excitement looking down at Draco who was now sitting on the floor rubbing his head.
"Yeah, that's the only reason I am up so early, you git." Mumbled Draco, before standing up, "Let's go wake up mum, dad, and Severus so that we can go open presents!"
Before Harry could reply, Draco took off in the pursuit of waking up the adults of the house. Harry just rolled his eyes at this friend gathering up a jumper and some slippers before making his way out of the room.
At the first turn of the hall, he ran into a smiling Draco and a half awake Lucius and Narcissa, "Good morning," Harry mumbled to the pair giving a small smile. It was kind of funny to see the adults not fully awake and lacking a morning cup of tea, they looked like death warmed over walking around eyes half open.
"Morning Harry, give us a few moments and a cup of tea before we start opening Christmas presents." Lucius said with a yawn, "You can go wake the bear yourself, seeing that if one of us did it we would probably be hexed for it." Harry just giggled at the name Mr. Malfoy gave Sev, since it was true. Even though he seemed like an early riser, he wasn't much of a morning person; always needing a cup or two of tea, even before breakfast at the great hall.
"Yes sir, don't worry," Harry replied before leaving the Malfoy family to make his way to Severus's room.
It was just a few doors down from his own, he carefully slipped the door open before making his way to the slumbering man's bed. Severus looked much younger when he was asleep, all the worry and anxiety seemed to melt away from his face; making him peaceful in his sleep.
"Sev~" Harry whispered, the man stirred a bit in his sleep but not fully waking up, "Sev." Harry tried again poking the man's check this time. The man's eyes popped open glaring at the person who dared to wake him up. Harry had to bite his lip from flinching, even though he was used to it most of the time, it was just a few days ago he ran in them.
"What do you want brat?" Severus asked in a playful gruff tone, Harry only gave him a half smile.
"It's time to wake up, the Malfoy's are already up and down in the Christmas room," Harry said, backing away from Severus' bed as he sat up, groaning as a few joints popped due to the action. "They should have tea waiting for you Sir, you just have to make it a few yards to it." Severus just nodded at the boy, as he made his way out of the room so that Severus could get dressed in peace.
In the Christmas room stood a big fir in the corner twinkling from the fairy's lights as they flew around the tree, collecting its sweet smelling sap. Hanging on the branches where gold and silver ornaments, underneath where tons of wrapped presents all sizes all wrapped in Silver and blue wrapping. While Severus's presents where wrapped in black, the man really didn't like any other color.
A few moments after Harry came in, Severus followed suit picking up a mug before taking a seat, grunting a greeting to everyone in the room before taking a sip of the black mug.
"Can we open Presents now?" Draco whined. He was laying in front of the tree looking at the presents, but not touching since he would have gotten in trouble because not everyone was in the room.
"I guess you can, Draco, Harry, since you had to get us up at the crack of dawn." Lucius said, chuckling at his son's impatience. A cheer erupted from Draco before he dove in the presents head first, ripping away the wrappings. Harry just smiled while he carefully unwrapped his, wanting to savor every moment, remember every detail of his first Christmas; the way Draco squealed at each new present, the way the paper felt in his hands, the way it sounded as it tore away to reveal what was hidden, the way the air around them smelt of coffee and pine, the way he felt that he could fit in somewhere. Yes, he wanted to remember everything, he wanted to remember down to the last detail so that can always cherish these moments, so that when someone asked what a family was, he could tell them with great accuracy.
Harry had been given so many great gifts from the Malfoy's he was given clothes and books, from Draco a broom and cleaning supplies. Severus was the best when he came to his gift it wasn't wrapped like the others, no, it was in an envelope, from the ministry. In the envelope was the papers that they had been working for a while to get done. It was now in front of him in black and white; he was now Severus's son, Severus was his father, it was both in every legal aspect now that he belonged with Severus! He also gave Harry the potion that would even make him his even more so, but it was up to Harry if he wanted to take it. Harry would have jumped at the chance to take it right then and there, but he felt like he owed Severus some information. First, he felt like they have done enough for him, but yet he has told his new father nothing. It was time that he broke his silence about what happened at that small, quiet house. So for Severus, his presents couldn't be wrapped liked the others, no, he would share with him his memories, as much as he could anyways, when the Christmas was over with. Then, and only then, if Severus still wanted a freak like him, he would become his son in every way.