Hello! I'm back! It's my birthday so I thought I would treat myself with a Snarry.
Hope you all enjoy.
Harry looked at the decorated fir tree in the corner of his sitting room, tiny lights twinkling brightly, carefully wrapped gifts around the bough and sighed. The near constant heaviness in his chest seemed to get worse the closer Christmas Day came. Loneliness and defeat seeped into his very bones, leaving him listless.
He pressed on though, if not for his sake, then for the sake of his 3-year-old daughter asleep upstairs. She was the reason he got out of bed every day and got on with his life. It was also the reason he found himself facing the holiday season on his own.
Six months earlier, Harry had been visiting the orphanage he had helped to build after the war. In the playroom, he caught site of a little girl, sitting on her own, eyes downcast, while the other children played around her. Something in his heart clenched and Harry felt compelled to go and speak to the orphan. Large brown eyes met green as he sat down beside her and introduced himself. The small child remained silent as Harry continued to chat away to her.
Seeking out the manager of the orphanage, who happened to be a former classmate of Harry's, he asked about the little girl and her situation.
"It's so sad" Hannah Abbott had said solemnly, leading Harry into her office. "Her mothers' parents were devout followers of Voldemort; they were killed during the final battle. Their daughter a Slytherin a couple of years behind us, fell pregnant, with little Alina".
"Who was the father?" Harry interrupted.
"Rumour was he was a muggle" Hannah replied "anyway three months ago, both of them were killed by a wand happy, overzealous Auror who was trying to make a name for themselves. As Alina had no other living relatives, she came here".
Harry recalled hearing something about a witch and a muggle being killed during a routine patrol gone wrong. It was after he had left the Auror Corp, so hadn't thought much about it. "Was Alina there when it happened?" Harry asked tentatively.
"No, she was with a friend of her mother's thank Merlin" Hannah said.
"What was her mother's name?"
"Amelia Higgs" Hannah told Harry.
"Terrence Higgs' sister" Harry murmured "His family were in the Malfoy's inner circle, if I remember he died in Azkaban a couple years ago?"
"Don't know" Hannah shrugged "can't say I remember him".
"Count yourself lucky" Harry said grimly "I take it Amelia didn't follow in her parents or brother's footsteps then, if falling pregnant to a muggle is anything to go by?
"No" Hannah said shaking her head "Aurors spoke to the friend, she told them Amelia had tried to distance herself from her family's beliefs and got to safety before the final battle broke out".
Over the next month Harry visited the orphanage on an almost daily basis, to spend time with Alina. He took his time in getting to know the small girl, slowly encouraging her to trust him. The day Alina presented Harry with a picture she had drawn upon his arrival was the day Harry knew he wanted this precious angel to become his daughter.
After a month of paperwork and formalities, Alina Jade Higgs, became Alina Jade Potter. Father and daughter returned to Harry's cottage on the outskirts of Cornwall and settled into their new lives together.
Harry had shared his news with friends old and new, and while most were delighted that he'd achieved his lifelong dream of having a family, Harry couldn't help but notice that two of his oldest friends and those he considered family, slowly began to distance themselves from him and his daughter. Whenever Harry questioned their distance, the response would be they were both busy and oftentimes didn't find time to socialise. Harry ignored their odd behaviour and concentrated on making a home for Alina.
His newer friends, that consisted of three Slytherins no less, offered the most support and doted on Alina, doing all they could to help Harry adjust to life as a father and Harry was grateful, even he wished that things extended beyond friendship with one Slytherin. He wouldn't dwell on it, having friendship was more than enough.
A week earlier, Harry had run into Molly in Diagon Alley, Alina had been spending the morning with Draco and Neville, so Harry could get some shopping done in relative peace.
When he'd asked the Weasley Matriarch, if there was anything she wanted to him to bring to the burrow for Christmas Day, older woman had replied in an even tone, that perhaps it wasn't a good idea to attend the festivities, as she felt it would make things awkward if he brought his child along (the woman couldn't even bring herself to say his daughters name)
Ginny was likely to become distressed at seeing Harry with a small child, when her dream of having a family with Harry had been crushed after their breakup. She gave him a sad smile and moved further down the cobbled street.
Harry stood there stunned for several minutes, trying to contain his anger, lest he take out half the alley with his magic. Calling on Ron and Hermione before he went home cemented the notion that everyone was agreeable to not having Harry at the Burrow for Christmas Day.
Hermione had tactfully pointed out that it wasn't a good idea to be seen associating with a child of a former death eat er. Ginny's supposed fragile state had been mentioned again, but Harry knew that it was his daughter's lineage that was in question. He said as much to Hermione in challenge, but she had just shaken her head and hit him with more of her logic.
Harry left with his anger almost at boiling point and his emotions threatening to erupt at any time. In the woods behind his cottage, Harry expelled his anger and grief casting spell after spell at unsuspecting trees and mistakenly a small badger that was wandering past, Harry thought it was more startled than injured.
After an hour of erratic spell casting, Harry put on a brave face and went to collect his daughter, not mentioning to conversations he'd had with Molly or Ron and Hermione to Neville and Draco, Harry went home. He wouldn't let anyone's Christmas be ruined by his unfortunate situation. He would spend Christmas Day with Alina, then see the others on Boxing Day as planned.
Lowering the flames in the hearth, Harry trudged upstairs, checked on Alina, who had gone to sleep in the normal fashion of having her little butt hiked in the air. Smiling to himself despite the ache in his chest, Harry went into his own room and settled into bed, ready to face whatever the next day threw at him.
Christmas morning dawned with watery sunlight and a thick blanket of snow. Harry was awoken by the squeals of his daughter and pulled himself out of bed. Walking into Alina's room, Harry found his daughter all but completely out of her cot.
"Where do you think you're going my little imp" Harry said playfully, removing his daughter from the edge of her cot and peppering her tiny face with kisses.
"Dada I want toast" Alina exclaimed, taking Harry's face in her hands and looking into his eyes
"Toast it is my love" Harry replied, changing and dressing her before going downstairs and putting Alina in her highchair.
"Santa, Santa" Alina delighted, banging her hands on the tray.
"Breakfast then we can open presents from Santa" Harry told his toddler, lighting the hob with his wand.
Harry had just set Alina down in the sitting room, ready to watch her tear into her presents, when he heard the floo chime in his study. "Who could be visiting us at this time" Harry wondered, moving towards the hallway.
"Santa" Alina giggled.
"Maybe" Harry laughed "I'll be back in a moment" turning back towards the hallway.
He didn't get far, instead he was met with five people emerging from his study. Severus, Draco, Neville, Seamus and Pansy walked out into the hallway, wide grins on their faces.
"What are you all doing here?" Harry addressed the group "thought we were catching up tomorrow?"
"We have it on good authority that you're in need of company today" Draco said wryly, eying Harry carefully
"Why didn't you say anything?" Severus asked gently
"I didn't want anyone else's day to be ruined because mine was" Harry said quietly
"You don't have to suffer alone Harry" Severus reminded him, reaching out and stroking Harry's cheek, the wizard could barely suppress the shiver racing down his spine. "We are here for you no matter the problem or the time of year".
"How did you find out?" Harry asked.
"Interesting story" Draco replied as he moved into the sitting room and scooped Alina up off the floor smothering her in kisses.
"I ran into Ron at the ministry" Seamus said, picking up where Draco had left off "he asked what I was doing for Christmas, told him a quiet one on the day and then catching up with you Harry on Boxing Day, seeing as you were spending Christmas day with them. He said that plans had changed, and you weren't coming, when I asked why he said it was better all round if you didn't come. I asked him what he meant by that, but before he answered…"
"Granger came to the rescue" Pansy interjected, cutting Seamus off. "She, unlike her coward of a boyfriend, had no qualms telling us why Harry had been excluded from Christmas Day, that's when I punched her in the face, for having the audacity to suggest my goddaughter is beneath her".
"Merlin Pansy" Harry breathed, shaking his head.
"You think that's bad, Seamus hit Weasley with an engorgement charm" Pansy returned.
"Head as big as one of Hagrid's pumpkins by the time I finished with him" said Seamus proudly.
"Blimey" Harry muttered, not quite believing what he'd just heard "thank you both for sticking up for me and Alina, I really appreciate it".
"That's what friends are for mate" Neville said, pulling Harry into a hug.
"Enough of that" Pansy announced, "time for presents".
"Santa" Alina said excitedly.
"Exactly munchkin" Pansy smiled, settling the little girl on her lap "let's hope Santa has bought Aunty Pansy lots of presents".
"Wouldn't get my hopes up Pans" Draco snickered, taking several small gifts from his pockets and setting them on the ground and enlarging them with a wave of his wand.
Pansy's response was to stick two fingers up at the blonde.
"Let's get started" Harry said, feeling lighter than he had in a long time.
Neville, Severus and Seamus followed suit and placed their own packages beneath the tree. Alina watched the going's on with delight, bouncing on Pansy's knee as Harry distributed the gifts, her eyes bright as she watched the presents being sat in front of her.
"Harry, Gran expects us for tea tomorrow evening" Neville said as he opened one of his presents.
Never one to refuse an invitation issued by Augusta Longbottom, Harry nodded at his friend in acceptance.
When all the gifts had been unwrapped, Harry escaped to the kitchen to get started on Christmas lunch. Tears pricked at his eyes as he retrieved the items from the fridge and cupboards. He couldn't believe that his friends (maybe a more apt description would be family) had all given up their Christmas Day to spend with him and Alina. It made him realise just who his true friends were.
The door to the kitchen opened and Harry caught the scent of lime and sandalwood. His heart thudded in his chest as Severus came to stand at the bench beside him.
"Need any help?" His former potions master asked.
"You could peel the potatoes" Harry replied.
"Of course," Severus answered, but first I have a gift for you".
"You already gave that pencil set" Harry said.
Since leaving the Aurors, Harry had taken several art courses, both magical and muggle. He was now the illustrator for a children's book series, written by a magical author and had designed cover art for a muggle writer.
"This gift is a little more personal than a pencil set" Severus said smoothly, Harry's heart skipped a beat. From his pocket, Severus removed an envelope and handed it to Harry.
Breaking the seal, Harry removed the parchment, unfolded it and read the contents. His breath caught in his throat. "You, you want to court me?" Harry stammered, looking at the official contract in his now trembling hand.
"Very much so" Severus replied, "I want to become a permanent fixture in yours and Alina's life".
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Really, I care a great deal for you and Alina both Harry. I have for quite some time. I could never find the words".
"Me either", Harry admitted "I've dreamed for so long of being more than friends. Now it's coming true. Yes, Severus I would love for you to court me".
Severus swooped and plundered Harry's lips in a fierce kiss. Harry melted against the hard chest, opening and letting Severus explore his mouth. One of them moaned, Harry wasn't sure who, he was content to lose himself in the sensations this kiss was eliciting.
Whistles and giggles from the door, broke them apart, Harry's face was flushed and his heart was racing. Deciding to ignore the comments and snickering, Harry crashed his lips against Severus' once more. This truly was the best Christmas ever.
