Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Black Roses	By : BlackDawnRose Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 16093 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters only this plot, no money is being made from this story

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Hi all, here’s my third update for the week and I hope you enjoy it. Sorry for the long wait, I’ve had to focus on my own life for a while. Enjoy and please review xxoo

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That afternoon after they arrived back from Hogsmead Harry snuck over to his garden and spent a little time tending it before cutting three blooms which were far too beautiful to waste and heading back to the castle with a disguise spell and a preservation spell over them. He wasn’t meeting Severus until later so headed back to the Slytherin dorm to put them away and see what the others were doing. He found Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Theo, Neville, Astoria, Daphne, Ginny and Hermione sitting around the Slytherin common room. They invited him to join their conversation which he agreed to once he’d made a stop off at his room.

He placed the flowers in some water and headed back out to the common room, locking the bedroom door behind him. When he reached the common room Draco and Ginny moved to make room for him and he got comfortable before asking what they were talking about.

“Actually we’re discussing Christmas,” Hermione replied. “A lot of us don’t have family to visit so we thought we should do something ourselves, whether we do it here or somewhere else is what we’re currently trying to decide.”

“Where were you thinking of going?” Harry asked.

“We don’t know, away somewhere maybe,” Pansy replied. “We thought about renting out a house by the sea in Australia or maybe one in Italy somewhere. We just thought, somewhere a little different, somewhere that won’t remind us of our parents,” she finished sadly.

“Well, I’ll come,” Harry replied. “I mean I don’t mind staying here over Christmas but I understand why you wouldn’t want to. Your parents are going to Romania aren’t they Gin?” he asked the young Weasley.

“Yeah,” Ginny replied with a nod.

“So we just have to choose where to go. Are Italy and Australia the only options so far or have we come up with others?” he asked.

The group discussed their options and eventually decided they’d look into a few different places, see what was available and come back together in a couple of days with that they’d found. Pansy also suggested they invite Severus along for the trip as she figured the ministry and Dumbledore would be concerned about a group of children holidaying together alone. Of course that was only what Pansy said was the reason, Harry knew why she was really doing it and he couldn’t help but smile at the girl when the others weren’t watching. Christmas with Draco, Hermione and Ginny would have been amazing enough, but having Severus along as well as some of his new friends, Harry couldn’t think of anything better. Now all Harry and Draco had to do was convince Severus to come with them, he hoped it wouldn’t be too hard.

XX

That night after dinner was over Harry and Draco headed down the prefects corridor to Severus’ room and slipped in the secret door, calling out to the head of house that they were there.

Severus greeted them at the entry way to the living area and after staring at Harry in shock for quite a few seconds he pulled them both into a long hug which they happily returned, snuggling into the potions master’s sides and enjoying the feeling of being loved. This had become quite a common place interaction for them and with how long Severus held them Harry was pretty sure he enjoyed it just as much. He didn’t know everything about Severus’ past, they hadn’t spoken about their childhoods yet, but when Harry had fought back during that occlumency lesson and seen the potions master’s past he’d felt how lonely the man had been, so he didn’t imagine it had been a nice childhood.

Just thinking about that day reminded Harry of all the awful emotions that had surrounded it and he tightened his grip on the other man slightly, something Severus obviously noticed because he returned the gesture, pulling Harry in closer and running a soothing hand along his arm. When they parted Draco excused himself for a glass of water leaving Harry and Severus alone for a few seconds, something he did every time they came together. Once he was out of the room Harry looked up at the other man and offered him an adoring smile.

“Hi,” he greeted quietly.

“Good evening, Harry,” Severus replied with a smile, reaching out to gently stroke Harry’s face. “You look lovely,” he complimented.

Harry leant into the touch, his smile widening, and brought his hand up to take Severus’. They tried not to be too touchy feely around Draco, keeping their contact to small, simple gestures after the initial hug to keep him from feeling left out or uncomfortable. “So you like the new look?” Harry asked.

“I do,” Severus replied.

“Apparently Draco and Pansy decided I needed it and everyone else agreed,” Harry explained. “My morning in Hogsmead was a little crazier than I’d expected, but not in a bad way.” He smiled. “I like it; I think it makes me look less like my father, which is kind of nice. It gives me a bit more of my own identity and I thought it would be easier for you, you know, not seeing so much of him when you look at me.”

Severus’ look turned serious. “Harry, you don’t need to change anything about yourself to please me,” he said in a stern but caring tone. “I stopped seeing James when I looked at you back in your fifth year and even if I hadn’t it would be my job to overcome that not yours. It’s not what you look like that draws me to you, Harry, I hope you are aware of that.”

Harry smiled up at the potions master. “I know,” he assured the older man. “I am very aware that you like me for myself just as I know you are aware that I feel the same for you.” He reached out and gently stroked the potions master’s ebony locks. “That spell, or potions accident, or whatever it was, changed nothing for me. It made you closer to my age which is nice, it hopefully means we’ll have longer to spend together which I’m thankful for, but that’s it. I didn’t do this because I felt I needed to change myself to please you. I get sick and tired of everyone comparing me to my father, because they expect me to turn out just like him and I don’t want that; I want to turn out like me and nobody else. The fact that this might make things easier for you was just a lovely fringe benefit.”

Severus smiled warmly, taking his hand and leading him over to sit on the couch in front of the fireplace which was already flickering away comfortingly. They settled down next to each other, their hands still linked and Harry smiled at how happy he felt just being so close to the other man. After a few moments he thought about what he’d smelled in his room that morning and knowing Draco would be at least another minute or two he asked.

“Severus, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” Severus replied looking down at him.

“Were you in my room at all last night?” Harry asked.

Severus’ expression didn’t change but Harry saw a small flicker of something that could have either been fear or embarrassment flash through his eyes before the man looked away and cleared his throat. “Yes, I was,” he finally replied, still not looking at Harry. “I apologise for invading your privacy. Are you upset with me?” he asked.

“No, no not at all,” Harry replied, reaching up to place a gentle hand on Severus’ cheek and coax him to face Harry once more. He smiled at the caution he saw in the potions master’s eyes. “You can come and see me any time, I didn’t mind, not in the least. I only asked because I woke up this morning and I could smell you, as strange as that sounds,” he told the other man with a grin. “Did you just come because you wanted to see me or..?” he trailed off, leaving the question open.

“No,” Severus replied, reaching up to take the hand Harry had resting on his cheek and hold it gently to his chest. “I was … dreaming … not a pleasant experience … about you and Voldemort,” Severus explained hesitantly. “I wanted to ensure you were safe.”

Was it Harry’s imagination or did the other man sound almost upset? Harry leant his face against Severus shoulder and tightened his grip on the man’s hands. He knew all too well what it felt like to wake up from a nightmare like that and not know if the person involved was safe or not. He knew the conversation was bothering Severus so he changed the subject slightly. “I was dreaming about you too.”

Severus’s expression turned to fond amusement and he replied. “I was aware; you talk in your sleep.”

Harry felt himself blush and Severus chuckled slightly. Oh Merlin what did he say? Did he say…? “Did I … um … say something stupid or embarrassing?” he asked hoping the answer didn’t make him want to run for the door.

Severus’ smile softened, “No, nothing stupid or embarrassing,” he replied and Harry knew immediately what he’d said to the potions master. The man didn’t seem bothered by it but…

“Oh, Merlin,” he said softly looking down at his lap and feeling more than a little mortified. “I said … I said … that to you didn’t I?” he asked, feeling his face burn.

“You did indeed,” Severus replied softly slipping his hand under Harry’s chin and tilting his face up to look at the potions master again. “And I responded,” Severus added, running his thumb over Harry’s cheek.

“Oh,” Harry said, feeling a lovely warm sensation flow through him. “In my dream you did but …but I thought it was just a dream … just wishful thinking on my part.”

“It wasn’t,” Severus replied, then added, “It may take a while before I am able to say it to you while you’re conscious though, I hope you understand.”

Harry nodded. “I do. Don’t’ worry it’s going to be hard for me too,” he assured the other man. “It doesn’t matter. I know now, that’s what’s important.”

The pair shared a smile, then, Harry spoke again. “Well, just so you know you can drop in on me while I’m sleeping any time you want, although I’d prefer you wake me when you do so I can see you too. I missed you yesterday. It’s hard when I don’t see you, even if it’s only for a day,” Harry confessed quietly.

“Take heart in knowing you are not the only one who feels that way,” Severus assured him, squeezing Harry’s hand gently.

Harry smiled, thinking about just how much he wished school was already finished so he could kiss the gorgeous man sitting beside him. Not wanting to dwell on that thought too long Harry changed the subject. “I bought you another present today which I’m going to have Hedwig bring you tomorrow evening since I won’t get to see you outside of class.”

Severus smiled once more, “I look forward to it, although as I’ve told you several times, Harry, you don’t need to spend so much money on me.”

Harry returned the smile. The pair had gone through this conversation several times in the last couple of months. Despite Harry’s confessed desire to make the DADA professor feel special the man wasn’t an overly materialistic person and had told Harry on several occasions that he shouldn’t be spending so much money on him. Harry’s response was always the same, he didn’t care, he wanted to and his family vault could definitely handle it. He said this to Severus, just as he had every other time they had this argument and the man shook his head with a chuckle.

“You are an unusual young man, Harry Potter,” he said.

“Yeah, I know,” Harry agreed just as Draco returned to the room and sat down beside him on the couch.

“Have you asked him yet?” the blonde asked.

“No, not yet,” Harry replied before turning hopeful eyes on Severus, an action Draco immediately mirrored.

Severus’ expression turned cautious. “What?” he asked hesitantly.

XX

Long after the two young men had left the room Severus lay in bed thinking about their request. Christmas with his god son and his soul mate; to say the idea thrilled him was falling far short of the truth. Since his first year at Hogwarts he’d spent all of his Christmases there, having no desire at all to go home and no one to spend them with outside his fellow Hogwarts students and the teachers who didn’t leave the school for the festive season. After so long of being alone he’d given up on the hope of ever having someone to spend his Christmas with and now that hope was being returned to him with an offer from the two most important people in his world.

He understood their hesitation when they’d asked the question earlier in the evening. It wasn’t just the two of them he’d be spending Christmas with, it was also Granger, Ginny Weasley, Parkinson, Nott, Zambini and Astoria Greengrass, a relatively small group of students in the scheme of things, but still more people than Severus usually liked being surrounded by. He also knew his going would mean being responsible for them, their actions and their safety. But honestly, they were all good young men and women who’d never really given him much trouble, despite what he’d said to Granger over the years, and he didn’t anticipate them making his holidays difficult.

He’d told Draco and Harry he would think about it, but in all honesty that was because he was so surprised by their request that his brain wasn’t functioning properly to form a response. He knew the moment they asked him that his answer was going to be yes. Other students or not this meant spending Christmas with Harry and Draco and he wouldn’t turn that down, not for anything.

Smiling to himself he thought about the upcoming festive season and what he should give his two favourite young men. He wanted it to be something special, something to remind them of their first Christmas together for years to come. Severus knew he was probably jumping the gun thinking about their future together as a family but he couldn’t help it, this all felt so right to him and he could no longer imagine his life without them in it. He silently cursed his mother for the sappiness her spell seemed to be filling him with, but it was half hearted. He was happy, and despite how this started he wouldn’t change a thing.

XX

The east coast of Australia, right on the beach, in a warm, inviting, comfortable looking house that would easily fit them all but wasn’t too large. Yes, this was where Harry knew they should spend Christmas and after a great amount of discussion the group had all agreed. The house was booked by himself and Draco when they went into Diagon Alley to meet with the jeweller Draco had spoken about, to design Severus’ watch. The agent who was renting the property to them showed them pictures of several potential properties and after much perusal he and Draco finally managed to select one.

It was a relatively large, wooden house, set atop a cliff face overlooking the beach. It had five bedrooms, all of which had their own bathroom, a kitchen, a large, open planned living area, a media room (which Draco scratched his head over but had Harry grinning like a Cheshire cat), a deck on the bottom level that wrapped around the entire house, individual balconies jutting out from each bedroom, a generous, fenced back yard, private access to the beach, forest surrounding it on three sides and not a single other life form for several kilometres. It was perfect; private, but close enough to town that the group could walk there if they wished. The town itself was muggle, something they’d been hesitant about but had eventually decided they liked as it meant less possibility of the paparazzi following them and hanging around. There was also a wizarding bar in the middle of town which they could apparate to if they didn’t feel like walking into town.

Both boys were very pleased with their choice and handed over the money to rent the property for the two weeks before heading out of the office with the keys and large, matching grins on their faces. Severus had agreed to come along on the holiday and Harry couldn’t wait to spend some time with the man outside of Hogwarts, even if they would be doing it with an audience and therefore had to be careful.

They reached the jeweller and headed in, both of their heads full of what they wanted to design for Severus. The jeweller was a lovely man and very talented as Draco had said. He sat down with the boys and listened to their ideas before coming up with a sketch they all agreed upon. They chose the metal and other smaller design bits and pieces before thanking the man and heading out. They both wanted a chance to shop for their other friends and each other as they hadn’t found all the things they wanted on their trip to Hogsmead the previous weekend, so they agreed on a time and place to meet up before parting ways.

Harry headed off to Flourish and Blotts hoping to find some of the books Severus still needed to replace. He was also hoping to find a certain book Hermione was after, and if not, hoping he could order it in before Christmas. He was almost there when he heard a familiar voice speaking to someone in Dotterton’s Pet Emporium and headed in to see if it was the person he thought it was. As it turned out it was, and Harry wasn’t sure if he was happy about that or not.

Ron.

Harry hadn’t spoken to him in weeks and wasn’t sure if now was a particularly good time to be doing so. Still, he was here and alone for once and it was probably one of the only chances he’d get to have any kind of conversation with the other boy without being interrupted. He approached the counter where Ron was talking with the proprietor about a bird the man had in a cage behind the counter. Harry recognised the bird immediately as an Australian Black Cockatoo, a very rare bird that was almost impossible to import and Ginny had wanted one forever. Ron was talking to the man about the price and whether there was any room for negotiation.

“I’m afraid that’s as low as I can go, Mr Weasley,” the proprietor said.

“But my sister loves these birds, she’s wanted one forever and I really want to get it for her. Isn’t there something else you can do?” the boy all but begged and Harry found himself feeling really sorry for him. Ron had never had a lot of money, he worked really hard at his brothers’ shop to get what he had and it wasn’t much. Harry was still angry at the boy for what had happened with Hermione and the boy’s constant unpleasantness toward everyone of late, but seeing Ron so desperate to get this bird for Ginny gave Harry some hope that maybe he was letting go of his anger and that meant there was a possibility, no matter how small, that he was going to stop being such an ass toward them eventually.

“How much is the bird?” Harry asked, finally drawing their attention to his presence.

“One hundred Galleons, Sir,” the proprietor replied without really looking at him. Ron on the other hand whirled around the moment he heard Harry’s voice.

“How much does he need?” Harry asked keeping his attention solely on the proprietor, although he could feel Ron’s eyes boring into him.

“Another 40 galleons, Sir,” the man replied, taking a proper look at him this time, his eyes widening comically when he realised just who he was talking to.

Harry fished 6o Galleons out of his pocket and dropped it on the counter. “Give him the bird,” he instructed.

“I don’t need your charity,” Ron grumbled and Harry finally turned to look at him.

“This isn’t charity,” Harry replied. “This if for your sister. Charity would be buying the whole bird myself, which I’m not doing, even though I could easily afford it and would happily do so if you’d allow me. I know you won’t though and since I know your sister wants one of these birds and you can’t afford it on your own I’m paying for some of it. You can give it to her from both of us or you can pay me back, even though I don’t want or need your money and you can give it to her just from you, which might be a nice idea considering how you’ve been behaving lately, or I will buy it for her myself. Either way it doesn’t really matter because Ginny’s still going to get her bird, which will make her really happy and you can’t put a price on happiness. So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to let me help you or are you going to carry on like you have over the last couple of months and have me being the one to give her the pet she’s wanted forever?”

Ron glared at him but Harry kept his expression neutral knowing glaring back wouldn’t do him any good. He hadn’t intended to start a conversation with the boy that way, but apparently he was still angrier at the redhead than he’d realised. Finally Ron looked back at the proprietor and mumbled, “We’ll take the bird.”

“Very good,” the man replied with a cheerful smile, obviously not bothered by the tense atmosphere surrounding his two customers.

“Throw in a cage, food and anything else she’ll need for him too,” Harry ordered the man as he was ringing up the total cost.

“Will do, Mr Potter,” the man replied happily and Harry turned his attention back to Ron who was studiously studying his shoes.

“So, how do you want to do this?” Harry asked.

“We’ll give it to her from both of us,” Ron mumbled.

“Fine,” Harry agreed and waited a few moments to see if the other boy would say anything else. When he didn’t Harry figured he was intending to carry on with his unpleasantness and spoke instead. “Well then, I’m going to look at the cats. Tell the proprietor I’ll pay any extra needed or retrieve my change if there’s not when I’m done.” He turned to walk away then but Ron’s voice stopped him.

“How’s Hermione?” he mumbled.

“She’s doing better,” Harry replied. “Now that she knows her stuff isn’t going to get destroyed the moment she leaves the room and she’s got people around her who aren’t glaring and judging her for something that’s none of their business.”

He saw Ron wince slightly at his words but the redhead didn’t reply and figuring that was all he was going to say Harry turned to leave again. “Are you guys happy together?” Ron mumbled, causing Harry to stop again and look back at him.

“What?” he asked, not quite following the question.

“You and Hermione, are you happy together?” Ron asked slightly louder.

“We’re happy, for the most part, but we’re about as together as we’ve ever been meaning not at all,” Harry replied, wondering how the boy was going to react to that news.

“What?” he asked, looking up at Harry dumbfounded.

“There’s nothing but brotherly/sisterly love between Hermione and I, Ron, I thought you’d have known that by now,” Harry explained.

“But she said … she said … and … you guys are always together and-”

“We were always together before this, you just used to be there too,” Harry cut him off, wondering if the boy’s time away from Hermione had made him slower.

“But…but…Oh Merlin,” Ron stammered.

“Is that what your problem’s been the last couple of months? You’re this angry because you thought Hermione left you for me?” Harry asked incredulously. “Merlin, Ron, you think the stupidest things sometimes!”

“But … but she said she was gay … and Lavender told me that’s just what girls say when they want to let you down gently,” Ron argued.

“So instead of believing Hermione, a girl who has always told you the truth, you took the advice of a girl who is scarily obsessed with you and somehow, in that empty space where your brain should be, came up with the idea that ‘I’m gay’ meant ‘I’m with Harry’?” Harry demanded with a shake of his head. “That’s just … you know what, no, okay, just no!” Harry snapped, angry that the boy who’d been his best friend for years hadn’t had the decency to talk to him about it before carrying on like an asshole. “I can’t believe you! We’ve been friends for 7 years and you couldn’t just come up and ask me, you had to behave like a royal twat and destroy our friendship for nothing. And what about poor Hermione? All she did was tell you the truth and you attacked her for it, you even had other people attack her for it. That was just pathetic, Ron, she didn’t deserve that. They destroyed everything she owned, her books, her clothes, even the photos of her family and they’re all she has left of them now. They burnt whore and slut into her mattress and her bed frame, how do you think that made her feel? She’s none of those things, you know she’s not!”

“I…I didn’t know,” Ron stammered.

“What do you mean you didn’t know?” Harry demanded. “You saw the way they were treating her-”

“No, I didn’t know about her stuff,” Ron interrupted him. “They told me they’d ransacked her bed and wrote things on it, but they didn’t say anything about destroying all her stuff, I didn’t know about that.”

“Oh, so that’s supposed to make it okay then?” Harry snarled.

“I didn’t say that!” Ron shouted back.

Harry stopped any retort he was going to come back with. This wasn’t what he’d wanted when he came in here. He didn’t want to fight with Ron and he was going to stop it now. Taking a deep breath he looked over at his former friend to see Ron doing the same.

“Look, it’s done now, it’s over and there’s nothing we can do to change it,” Harry said calmly. “I came in here because you used to be my best friend and I don’t like what’s between us. I wanted to have a civilised conversation with you, but I think it was a little too soon for that, I’m still too angry.” He looked away and sighed. “I’m going to look at the cats now; Hermione’s finally ready for a new one after Crookshanks. Have a nice Christmas, Ron,” he said sadly before turning and walking away.

Ron called out to him but he didn’t look back, he couldn’t, he was too angry and upset. He listened until he knew Ron had taken Ginny’s bird and left before focusing his attention properly on the pets around him. Hermione wanted a new cat and Harry wanted to get her a really nice one. It didn’t take him long to settle on a lovely little Ragdoll with bright blue eyes and he had the proprietor take him for a clean-up and sort everything out for him while Harry continued looking.

He came across a pure white ferret and a grin spread across his face at the thought of what Draco would say if Harry were to show up with it. When he reached the reptile enclosures he stopped to look at the selection of snakes the proprietor had. Harry had often thought about getting a pet snake, after all he was a parcelmouth, he could speak to them, it seemed a shame to waste a gift like that when so few people possessed it. Up until now he’d never wanted one because it reminded him too much of Voldemort and his familiar, now however, with the evil man dead and gone, he knew he had to stop letting the bastard control his life, no matter how small the control may be. Harry liked snakes, he always had and why shouldn’t he have one?

He wandered along all of the boxes listening to what the creatures were saying.

“What’s that?”

“A human boy?”

“What does he want?”

“Maybe he thinks he’s going to be taking one of us home and controlling us.”

“Control, ha! As if anyone’s going to control us.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to control us; maybe he just wants a friend.”

“A friend? When humans want a friend they buy one of those smelly, furry things, they don’t buy one of us.”

“Maybe this one’s different. He smells different. And he’s not looking at us like most of the humans do, it’s almost like he’s listening to us.”

“Listening to us? There’s barely any in the world who can do that and I highly doubt he’s one of them.”

“Maybe he is. Can you hear us human?”

The one who was asking and who’d so far been defending him was a small, black, king snake with beautiful white patterns on her face and down her body. She was lovely and she sounded lovely too. If Harry was going to have a pet why not her? He stopped in front of the box and replied. “Yes I can.”

The snakes around the little black one, who’d been hollering on about how silly she was for even suggesting that he might be a parcelmouth, silenced completely and immediately sat up in their boxes to study him. The little black one did the same, her large, ebony eyes studying him closely.

“I knew it, I knew you were different,” she exclaimed happily.

Harry chuckled at her excitement. “I am indeed. So are you it seems, you’re not as distrustful as the others,” he noted.

“I was bred by one like you, she was kind to me and I was fond of her,” the snake replied.

Harry smiled. “Well you were right; I am looking for a friend. How would you like to come home with me?” he asked.

“Truly?” the snake asked excitedly, sitting up even further in her box.

“Yes truly, I think we could be good friends, as long as you’re willing to live by the rules of the human world of course,” Harry advised.

“See, I told you he wanted to control you,” one of the other snakes grumbled.

“This isn’t about controlling anyone,” Harry replied. “This is about safety. We all have to live by the rules or people and other beings would get hurt far too often.” He turned his attention back to the little king snake. “What do you think? Do you want to come with me?” he asked.

“Very much,” she replied happily and Harry smiled.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Lirael,” the snake replied. “The one who bred me named me after a friend.”

“Well then, Lirael, you sit tight and I’ll go and let the proprietor know you’ll be coming with me,” Harry told her.

“Okay,” she agreed excitedly and Harry headed off to find the owner of the store.

XX

Two hours later found Harry back at the meeting place waiting for Draco with all of his purchases shrunk and in his pockets, with the exception of Lirael who had opted to travel back to Hogwarts around Harry’s wrist and the kitten who was currently sitting in a crate beside him. He’d found several books for Severus as well as a beautiful, hand carved, wooden box designed to hold potions supplies and ingredients, imbued with spells to keep out light, dust and moisture so they stayed good when not in use. Severus had something similar until the night in his office where he’d destroyed it all and as it had ended up in slivers with a lot of the other furniture Severus hadn’t been able to find all the pieces to put it back together. Harry had been very pleased with his find.

He’d managed to find the book Hermione wanted as well as a lovely necklace for Ginny and a bracelet for Molly. He’d bought Arthur a muggle puzzle which he’d had on order for a while, and he’d bought a present for the twins already seeing as they’d found something they wanted earlier in the year. What he really struggled with was what to get for his new friends. He’d bought sweets and the like for most of the group, Ginny had helped him pick something for Daphne and Astoria, he managed to find a book for Neville, but Pansy, Theo, Blaise, and Draco were a different story. They’d all been so nice to Harry and the others over the last couple of months and he really wanted to get them something to say thank you, not to mention most of them would be with him on Christmas day.

Draco had told him that Pansy liked Jewellery, Severus had told him that Draco liked jewellery, clothes and books, Blaise told him Theo liked anything unusual and Hermione, surprisingly enough, had told him that Blaise liked books and animals. That being said Harry had found Blaise a book in Flourish and Blotts, one that apparently all aspiring medi wizards needed and that Hermione had told Harry he didn’t have yet. He’d found a very unusual book for Theo, he’d bought Pansy a pair of silver earrings with Australian black Opals in them and from the same shop he’d bought Draco a white gold bracelet with the Celtic symbol of family engraved in the top, an emerald in the centre and the blonde’s initials engraved at the side.

Harry was happy with his choices and he hoped those he was giving the gifts to were equally happy with what he’d chosen. Draco arrived shortly after and they had lunch while discussing the gifts they were giving each person to ensure they weren’t doubling up and because they wanted to trade opinions on their gifts for each other’s long-time friends. Draco was pleasantly surprised when Harry introduced him to Lirael, the pair liking each other immediately which made Harry happy. When they were pleased with everything and finished with lunch they apparated back to Hogsmead and headed for Hogwarts, keen to tell the others about the house they’d procured for their holidays and to introduce them to Lirael. Harry was also incredibly keen to give Hermione her Christmas present since there was no point keeping it a secret until then.

They reached the school in record time and called the group into the Slytherin common room to discuss the holiday plans. Hermione was thrilled with her new pet which pleased Harry greatly and Ginny, who was the last to arrive in the common room after the meeting was called, almost hugged the life out of him as she thanked him over and over excitedly for her bird. The group then met Lirael before Harry and Draco explained where the house was and what it was like. The evening ended on a high note, the group buzzing with the excitement of their upcoming holiday.

Harry slipped out after dinner to send Severus the flowers he’d picked the previous day and another bottle of honey brandy - since Severus said he’d enjoyed the first one-, then headed back to the Slytherin dorm and curled up in bed with a very pleased Lirael beside him.

Soon he’d be on holidays with Severus. He was so excited; he’d never been on holidays anywhere before and knowing he was going to spend the first of what he hoped would be many with Severus and his friends made him incredibly happy. He spent the next hour or so talking to Lirael and explaining bits and pieces about his world before falling into a happy, contented sleep.

XX

So what did we think?? We’ve got an explanation for Ron’s behaviour now, not that it excuses him in any way for being a prat! Anyway the next chapter will be Christmas and their holiday with lots of lovely warm fuzzy moments. I hope it won’t be too far away but moving house next week so I’ll have to wait and see how long it takes us to get internet back.

Please review and thank you to those who have, I do love them sooo much!

See you soon

xxoo
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Black Roses