December 8

BOOKS

Harry Potter - Harry/Snape

Title: Gifts of the Yuletide-- Part 3
Author: Altaira
Date:
Fandom: Harry Potter / Books
Pairing: Harry/Severus
Rating: overall R
Summary: When the holiday seasons starts off just plain bad, Severus and Remus set out to fix up a bit of Yuletide cheer for Harry Potter.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to JK Rowling. I just took them out to play for a bit.
Feedback address:ajmummy@yahoo.com
Advertisement: Part of the SAC-2004 at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm
Note: This is the third of four parts which will all be up on the calendar. Also, Harry is 17 and of age in the Wizarding world and England, and is considered such for this story.
Beta: Thank you so much to Claudia and Penny for the wonderful work they did. All left over mistakes belong to me.





Thursday, Dec. 25th

Severus had the house elves fill Amy’s stocking full of nuts and fruits and hard candies. He’d bought her some Muggle pencils with silly prints all over them and a small manual pencil sharpener. Her mother had sent some perfume for her stocking, and her brothers had sent two small porcelain dolls. Remus contributed a new set of cards to play exploding snap with.

Severus brought out the Father Christmas gifts for Draco, Blaise and Harry. He’d gone with the Muggle theme again and bought them each jigsaw puzzles and different card games he’d found at his friend’s store. After placing oranges on top of each gift he picked up the box from Harry and headed to his rooms.

Severus opened the paper to find a wooden box inside. He examined the box in his lap. It was a small chest, about a foot deep, eight inches wide and eighteen inches long. He opened the latch and lifted the lid. A note sat on top what looked to be a shallow tray turned upside down, covering the contents.

Dear Professor

It’s really hard for me to find a way to thank you for all you have done for me the past few years. First, though, I would like to formally apologize for everything I have done to you that needs apologizing for. Especially the pensieve issue back in fifth year. I wrote you an apology then, but I don’t know if you ever received it. Summer after fifth year happened and things are a little bit fuzzy from that time. One thing that is clear from that summer is you and Remus. I know I would not have made it without your help. Poppy has made sure I am aware of that. She tells me I have you to thank for being alive. You’ve got quite the champion in her, you know.

But it wasn’t just the care and potions you provided my body with that I recall from that time that I need to thank you for. I remember you holding me many times when the nightmares came, or something around me sent me into reliving what Uncle Vernon and Dudley and his friends did. Likewise, I know you continue to look after me as much as you can just day to day. I have you to thank for helping me see that the taunting between Draco and Us was as much our fault, so I could make sure to correct that. I have you to thank for the potential friendships I might be able to build with Draco and Blaise. Most of all though, Thank You for being willing to care for me, Harry, for being willing to look past the Potter name. That means more to me than I can express to you. Thank You for making surviving that summer worth while for me.

With a grateful heart and with love,
Harry

Severus stared at the box in his lap, then at the note, for several minutes before lifting the cover. In rows were vials, already filled. This top layer held inch diameter two inch tall vials in a handled tray, which Severus pulled up to reveal another layer of three inch tall vials, wider ones in the center with a row of thin vials framing them in what was another lift out tray. The bottom was filled with 10 five inch high, 3 inch diameter bottles, also full. On top of the bottom layer sat another note.

Dear Professor

I hope you can use these ingredients. I asked the Headmaster to help me find out how to best collect and preserve them. Charlie Weasley helped for much of them, and Remus provided a few in his alternate form. Bill added some from Egypt, as well. Hagrid helped me collect some from the forest. Headmaster Dumbledore himself accompanied me to collect a few times too. Some items I found at the apothecary and I just thought sounded interesting, so I added those. The owners were of great assistance when it came to bottling and storing what I had collected, I didn’t tell them who it was for though, beyond assuring them that only a Master would use the items. The trunk opened up for you this time, but you will need to trigger the set wards and password protect it. To trigger the wards, say redemption. Then when the box glows purple, say the password you choose. Then to open it next time, press the latch down twice while saying the password.

Harry

Severus pulled up one of the vials on the bottom and found dragon scales, labeled by gender and age as well as date and type. Another vial had dragon claw clippings, and yet another had mummy wrappings. He didn’t look at any more of the bottom layer, instead replacing the middle tray and pulling out one of the thin vials. It was full of sand from the base of a pyramid, and a fatter one, which was full of unicorn hair, freely given. He picked the vial next to the unicorn hair and found werewolf fur, freely given as well. Remembering it was the middle of the night; Severus replaced the top tray and picked up a vial of phoenix tears labeled Fawkes and the year. He was surprised to feel tears on his cheeks, amazed at the gift sitting in his lap.

He closed the box, set the wards and gave a password. To Life. He went to sleep to dream of stolen kisses and smiling green eyes dancing under sparkles.

*************************

Harry awoke pretty late, but figured everyone else must be just waking or still sleeping as well, since no one had come to get him. A small gold package was sitting on the pillow by his head though, so someone had been in the room.

He opened the note, smiling. He had started looking forward to each day’s note almost more than the gifts.

Harry,

On the fifth day of Yuletide thy true love gave to thee,
Five golden rings.

Ok, Ok. All the rings aren’t golden, and true love is probably over doing it, but someone who cares for you greatly has given you five rings. The signet ring would have been given to you for your O.W.L. scores by your parents. It is tradition. The platinum ring with the three stones matches ones I have given to Draco and Blaise, and all three are linked to one I will be wearing. It is charmed with protection spells and health spells, and yours includes a location spell anchor. That way if you are ever missing, I could do the location spell and call up the anchor name and find you. I hope you don’t mind or find that too presumptuous of me. The final three Remus found tucked in Sirius’ vault. We thought you should have them.

Severus


Harry opened the gift, which contained three small boxes. The first was the platinum ring. It had a red stone, a green stone and a blue stone. He rather figured red was him, green Draco and the blue was for Blaise. It fit onto his middle right finger perfectly. The next one he opened contained the signet ring. It was of medium width and was white gold with his initials on the widest spot of the ring, on a flattened oval area. The largest of the three boxes held two plain gold wedding bands and a matching ring set with a diamond and two opals. A small note was tucked on in the top of the box.

Harry,

Your parents gave these to me to give to you when you grew big, in case the Fidelus charm didn’t work. They loved you so, as do I. It is their wedding set. Remus and I helped James pick out the engagement set. James had his heart set on just a huge diamond, but Remus talked him into a smaller diamond and the opals after finding out they were your mother’s favorite stone. I could have told James that as well, she has a set of opal earrings that she always wears. Remind me to have Remus tell you about getting the engravings done when I give these to you. That story won’t fit on this note.

Sirius

When Remus came to collect Harry to go down stairs, he found Harry sitting on his bed still, crying. The box with the wedding rings was clasped in his hands. Remus went and sat by his side, rubbing his back until his tears stilled.

“I’m sorry, Harry. I thought you’d be ok with those.” Remus said

“You didn’t look inside the box did you? Look on the top.”

Remus opened the box and when he saw the note from Sirius, his eyes became a little misty as well. He hugged Harry and few moments.

“I’ll tell you that story later, little one. Think going downstairs and opening your presents would be a good idea yet? Meds and wash up first.”

Harry nodded and went off to the bathroom. He was back within a minute.

“I only had to drink the amber stuff. I can do the other tonight. Let’s go.” Harry said racing out the room.

Remus caught up to him and stopped him. “You alright, Harry? Sometimes you worry me with these abrupt mood changes.”

Harry cocked his head to the side, thinking. “Well, I can’t ruin Amy’s Christmas, and crying all over the place would do that. Besides, it was mostly just the surprise and how it read, you know. Like he was going to be right there with me when I opened them. That was upsetting somewhat. But while I was quaffing down that icky stuff, I realized I was glad to have that note. It just caught Sirius’ personality perfectly, and I have little of Sirius that does, and it caught images of my mum and dad too. Why be sad about it anymore?”

Remus ruffled his hair. “You, my boy, amaze me.”

Draco met them at the library door and Harry had to laugh. Draco with bed hair was just a wee bit funny. Blaise and Amy were already waiting. Harry and Draco found their Father Christmas gifts and sat beside them. Severus came in with house elves and trays of food.

“Can I have my stocking? Can I? Can I?” Amy said bouncing around him.

“You will not be getting anything if I spill this tray all over myself.” Severus growled.

Remus laughed, took the tray from Severus and handed him the coffee off of it. “Drink that before you terrorize everyone.”

With the cup of coffee in his system Severus went about distributing the gifts while Amy dug into her stocking. When everyone had their pile in front of them, he let them just tear into the gifts.

Harry was the last one still opening gifts. He’d simply been too enthralled watching everyone else to concentrate on his own. He loved watching Amy’s face as she opened her t-shirt from Harry. It had a big pink bear with a rainbow across it’s tummy on it and had a stuffed toy bear that came with it, something called a Care Bear. He was even happier at the smile that was on her face as she opened the crystal. The gifts from her parents were just fun to see. There were two complete rooms full of furnishings for a doll house, and they were incredible. There was even a tiny wizard’s clock that ran. The clothing didn’t interest him too much.

Draco and Blaise’s load of stuff was almost as interesting. One of the things he noticed most about it was there were several boxes of Lego’s. They received their rings from Severus for Christmas. There were also several Muggle CD’s, and lots of clothes and books.

Harry made sure to be watching as Severus and Remus opened their gifts from him. Harry wanted to be sure Remus would like the books, some Muggle mysteries he had found, and the chess set, and Remus did. He also made sure Harry saw how pleased he was with the robes Harry had bought him, a set of navy for winter and light grey for summer.

Severus smiled as well when he opened the mugs from Harry. It was a set of three oversized mugs, with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate written on them. He raised eyebrows at Harry when he opened the gift certificate. Harry smirked back. Harry hadn’t realized he’d missed him opening the books until Severus came over and sat by him.

“Are you going to open your gifts?” Severus asked Harry. “Thank you for those books Harry. I thought there was no way I was ever going to see either of them, there are so few copies left.”

“I heard you and Dumbledore talking about the Norman Potions book at an order meeting, and thought I’d remembered seeing its name when Gringotts informed me of the Potter vaults. Remus remembered the other one being mentioned as well, so when I asked him if he could think of any other titles you might like he mentioned it. When we found that it had once been in the Black collections, I had Remus go and see. That is why he took so long yesterday. I just hope you can use them and they will help.”

Severus brushed a strand of hair out of Harry’s face and tucked it behind his ear. “They will. The box you gave me last night is unbelievable as well. The note meant even more to me, as did the fact that you saw to the collection of so much of the stuff yourself and directly asked the help from those who helped. Thank you.”

Harry beamed, and Severus had to stop himself from kissing him on the lips. Instead he settled for Harry’s forehead. “Now open your gifts!”

“But I don’t know if Draco and Blaise have opened their gifts from me yet or…”

“Open.” Severus cut in.

Harry giggled. “You know, I’m just not used to having so much to open. I thought I’d have a lot less this year, but this is more than I’ve ever had before.”

He opened a selection of candies from Amy, as well as a small model baby dragon, which looked a whole lot like Norbert. She’d also bought him a book full of Wizarding child’s fairy tales, with moving pictures and some of the pages talked back at you. Draco and Blaise had gone shopping together and found Muggle board games somewhere. Harry got Battleship from Draco and Clue from Blaise. They also each bought him a shirt, button down silk in green from Blaise and in red from Draco. Together they gave him a Slytherin scarf and glove set, and the most interesting set of clothing Harry had ever received, complete with accessories.

Harry held up the black leather pants, with raised eyebrows.

“It’s a clubbing outfit. We gave you a black silk tank top as well as the mesh shirt, just incase you don’t feel comfortable having your chest on display. The collar and cuffs have warming spells on them so the metal of the studs aren’t too cold against your skin. Those are ear cuffs, but if you’d like we could get you some Wizarding non pierced earrings. That way you don’t actually need the hole in your ear. We wear them when we go out. The boots will spell themselves to the right size when you put them on.” Blaise said.

Harry pulled out the studded black leather collar and put it on. “How does it look?”

Severus was close to drooling, and Blaise and Draco both smiled rather worrisome smiles. Remus just laughed and told him his mum would be proud, but his dad would be rolling in his grave.

Tonks had given everyone calendars which had several spells on them that could be activated. You chose what you wanted to activate. Harry’s had different water scenes, and one of the spells you could activate was voice controlled sound. Harry rather liked it. Severus showed Harry his, which had different pasta recipes on it for each month. Albus had given Harry a book about the Potter Family, and a book about how to do Muggle family history research. There was even a gift from Madame Pomfrey, full of different strengths of headache and sleep medicines, and a bunch of chocolate frogs.

Remus’ gifts were the next in the pile and everyone was watching him by then. The first from Remus was black Quidditch robes, with an extra layer which could be worn to keep a player warmer in the winter. He also got Harry tennis shoes, and a jumper. His last gift was Harry’s baby book. Remus told him he’d found it in the vault when looking for the Potions book for Severus. Harry tucked it away to look at later, and started on the rest of his gifts, the ones from Severus.

The first gift he opened was a cauldron, filled with the ingredients most used in class, and all those required to have. There were scales and different stirring rods, as well. A book about potions which described how things react and how stirring and timing affects potions was included. Harry laughed when he saw the book.

“You’ll make a potions expert out of me yet sir.” Harry said.

Then he opened a brand new bag, filled with texts from the earlier years which had not been replaced, and a few other books on subjects which Severus would have chosen for texts had he been teaching those topics. Defense Against the Dark Arts was especially well represented by extra texts Severus would have chosen. Harry picked it up, and smiled.

“Spelled to weigh little no matter how you fill it. There are pouches for ink bottles and potions, which seal when filled and will not allow spills. The top has a large pocket which is the exact size for rolled parchment, which also seals so it can’t be ruined by spills. There are pockets for quills, and whatever else you can think of to tuck into pockets. The strap can be over an arm or you can change it to a knapsack. The incantation is written on a card somewhere in a side pocket.”

“Severus, this is great! I love it.”

The final gift from Severus was a collection of Wizarding puzzles and games. There was a capture the dragon board game where the Dragon kept moving unless you found the clues to keep the Dragon pinned to a certain spot that Harry really liked.

By the time they had collected everything and moved it to their rooms where the stuff belonged, sans all the different games they’d all collected, it was lunch time. Max‘s family came up for lunch, and the children opened their gifts. Harry was happy they liked the ones from him and Max pulled him to the side to thank him for them, insisting he hadn’t needed to. Harry laughed and promised Max it’d been his pleasure. Tessa gave all the boys hair care products and lotions and such, in light scents which weren’t too feminine. Remus told them that making products like that was Tessa’s job. She made lotions and soaps, shampoos and conditioners, incense and candles which she sold in both the Wizarding world and Muggle world. For Amy she brought up some light make-up and lotions.

Max also brought up a bunch of packages that had been delivered to the gatehouse. It ended up being gifts from the Weasley boys and the boots and gloves from the Quidditch store the day before. The twins had given everyone samples of their products, and Bill had given everyone Egyptian trinkets which were antiques and had old protective charms on them. Charlie had sent everyone a charmed dragon tooth on a cord to wear around the neck, which turned warm if there was anything odd in food or drink. For Harry each brother had sent another gift as well. Charlie gave him a Wizarding book entitled “Capturing Your Guy and What to do With Him Once You Have Him”, with moving pictures. Harry promptly sat on it so no one could see it. Bill gave him a set of charmed snake bracelets and arm cuffs. Harry found he could talk to them and tell them where to settle. The twins sent a box which had the items of theirs which changed appearances. There were hair color caramels, and eye gumballs, which changed eye color. There were extras which weren’t on market yet which affected hair length as well. They included Muggle make-up the perfect shade to hide Harry’s scar, and cards with charms for short term eyesight fixes.

Tessa was intrigued by the twins and insisted they set up a meeting. While the rest of them were a bit leery, Remus thought it a wonderful idea. They both had similar products, really, and could share advertising ideas and such. Lunch was pleasant and all the kids played for a while in the Library. Max’s kids were as entranced by the lights on the tree as Harry was, making Harry feel a little less like a Muggle. Max’s kids also liked the Muggle jigsaw puzzles as much as Draco and Blaise. Harry played Clue with the kids and Amy. Remus showed off his Star Wars Chess set.

Late in the afternoon Max dragged his family back to their own home for their traditional huge Christmas dinner, to which they invited Amy. Since Severus had sent the house elves down to help at the gatehouse, Harry, Severus, and Remus put to use the pastas and sauces that had been purloined from the gift that had been meant for Mrs. Weasley. Harry made garlic bread, Remus made a salad, and Severus went and found the perfect wines from the cellar. Draco and Blaise just watched, and decided that cooking might just be a good skill to develop at some point. They ate in the kitchen as well. After dinner, Harry cleaned up. Severus headed off to his lab and the rest went to the library. When Harry was done he decided to see if Severus would be willing to have company. He knocked on the door to the lab.

Severus told him to come in. After agreeing to company, as long as Harry put himself to work, they worked into the night. Remus came to find Harry a bit later, when Amy had come home and peeked in. Severus was standing behind Harry, arms around him, showing him how to stir a potion properly. Harry was listening to whatever Severus was telling him intently. Severus moved back and showed Harry how to add something correctly, stirring with one hand and adding with the other. Harry copied his motions and Severus came over to peek into Harry’s cauldron. From the way Harry’s face lit up, Remus could tell Severus had just given him an actual compliment. Severus helped Harry bottle the potion, and Harry helped Severus bottle his. Then they sat next to each other, leaning on the table…Harry gazing into Severus’ eyes as Severus talked to him. Remus smiled and went back to library, picking up one of the books Harry had given him. He was finding it a rather intriguing story, set in the United States West, on a Native American reservation.

Amy, Draco and Blaise went off to bed long before Harry and Severus came into the library, still talking potions.


Friday, Dec 26th

Severus woke Harry up, even though they’d been up late the night before, rather early.

“Harry, I know it’s early but would you like to participate in an old fashioned Boxing Day?” Severus asked.

“A what?”

“If you get up and come with me, you’ll see. I’ll wait for you here while you get ready. Wear something nice but warm.”

Harry got out of bed and left to go to the bathroom. It took him a few minuets longer than the day before when Remus came to fetch him, as he had to take his meds, both the cream and potion. He’d fallen asleep before putting on the cream the night before so figured twice the next day would work. Blushing he came back into the bedroom in just his boxers, a silk pair from Draco. He pulled on his pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and then the jumper Remus had given him.

“What are we doing?” Harry asked as he put on his boots.

“We are making Baskets for those families in the villages that look to Snape Manor who are having hard times this year. Max gave me a list of five families who are in need. In the baskets, we always include flours, sugars, beans and peas, and salt and such. For the Muggles we have canned goods, which include coupons for cases of the canned goods at the local grocery store. For the wizard family we have given year long supply vouchers. I always add little games or puzzles for the children of the families. Max has already made sure they had Christmas or Solstice gifts. Then we always put in some sort of meat. This year we have hams, large ones. In the Wizard families we also add a stay fresh goose and some stay fresh roasts.”

“Is it rude to ask why the families had a hard year?”

“The Muggles? Various reason, one had a father who was seriously injured in a car wreck. He hasn’t been able to work for half the year. The mother has had a hard time finding work; she’d only ever been a mum. Two families were caught up in a local factory closure. That left them without work for most the year, although both have very recently found work again. The last Muggle family has just had a rough few years. The father died two years ago, and the mother lost both her parents this year, as well as a sibling. She works long hours and has four young children. The Wizarding family, well…the father got caught up in deatheater raid this summer. She has three small children and hadn’t even known her husband was a deatheater. She does a little bit of work for Tessa, but her baby is still nursing, was just a newborn when her husband was jailed, and she has not been able to find near by work which would still cover the childcare costs.”

Harry nodded, and they set about filling the baskets. Half the house elves worked with them, and the other half were fixing breakfast. Harry and Severus ate breakfast when Remus joined them. Then all three went out to deliver the baskets. They decided to walk, and Remus and Severus both carried two baskets while Harry only carried one.

The first house was the Wizarding family. Severus and Remus both chatted with the young mother while Harry played with the children. Severus smiled as he watched Harry holding and jiggling the baby, making him laugh and squeal. Harry gave the baby back to his mum and left with Severus and Remus to go to the next home, which was in the same village. This was the family whose father had been in the car wreck, Harry chatted with the father and one of the teenage boys. Remus and the mother were talking about the different meds the father was on and Severus was taking notes. Another boy came in and asked about what it was like up at the Manor house, and Harry talked a little about how what it was like for him after never having been in that grand of accommodations before. Severus took more notes on the different music types the boys mentioned, and the other things they talked about.

As they were trying to decide whether to walk or catch the small bus which linked the villages of the area to each other, Severus asked “What’s a PlayStation?” They chose the bus. Harry spent the short ride describing what a video game was, so he could actually answer Severus’ question about what a PlayStation was.

The next two baskets were left with the families who had been laid off when the factory closed. They both had teen girls. The visits were short because none of them knew how to talk to teenage girls very well. Severus left feeling very grateful Amy was not a Muggle teen girl. They walked to the last village and the last house, Severus telling them the history of the villages and what each village was known for. The last village had lots of little shops and was a rather touristy type spot. There was an artist guild area within the town, which held conventions and such. Harry kept getting sidetracked by the different shops. Remus finally got him to hurry along by promising a trip to one of the art galleries one the way back to the Manor.

They knew the house as soon as they reached the yard. Four children in various states of undress were running about the yard and a young woman with flour all over her hair and front was standing in the doorway shouting at them. They helped her get her kids into the house and chatted with the oldest child as the mother got the others dressed. She was almost nine years old, and told them all about the baby doll her mother had given her and her sisters for Christmas. They had been up to the Manor for Solstice, and she told Severus all about how cool it was to have a Yule log that size. Her little sister came to join them, showing Harry her doll. They were homemade and Harry thought it was adorable. As Harry played with the kids, except the youngest, another little girl who wouldn’t leave their mother’s hip, Severus and Remus chatted with the lady. Remus gave her Tessa’s name, and told her to ask Tessa if she could use someone to help in her shop during the day. Remus reassured her that they had sort of a crèche in the back of the store as many of those who worked there had small children.

As promised, when they left the final house they went to one of the art galleries. Harry pointed out to Severus the type of art he’d been attempting. Remus bought a bunch of note cards of famous art work, to add to his collection of Muggle things Wizards should be able to recognize. Then Harry asked to stop at Tessa’s shop. Tessa wasn’t in but it was open, and Harry bought a set of scented lotions to give to Madame Pomfrey when he saw her later that day.

When they made it home, Draco told them they needed to get in touch with Albus. There was an Order meeting that night, and Poppy would be at Headquarters. She agreed to do Harry’s check up then, and Harry, Draco and Blaise were to be there anyway. Everyone ate lunch, and then decided to go shopping. They hit Madame Malkin’s in Diagon Alley first, where Harry was passed a note.

Harry,

On the sixth day of Yuletide, one who cares for thee,
Grants you a six robe shopping spree.

Love, Severus

Harry laughed, and the Madame Malkin came out to greet them. “Hogwarts robes, Dear?”

“No,” Severus answered. “We need three sets of everyday robes, one set of dueling robes, one set of dress robes, and one set of work robes. Two winter, one summer for the everyday robes. The dueling robes need to be cut for movement and with pockets for vials and an extra wand. The work robes need to be spelled to withstand potion and herbology work, as well as all the other classes, and detentions.”

Madame Malkin went to the back and pulled forward the specialty robes. She waved them off to look for dress robes and everyday robes on their own. Amy won the small prize Severus was giving away for finding the perfect dress robes the quickest. They were a simple cut, made of blue velvet with silver detailing to it. Draco managed to talk Severus into buying him ones of the same style in silver with a different detailing pattern in blue. Remus and Blaise decided on a set of dark grey robes for Harry in the summer, and some navy wool robes as one of his winter sets. Harry chose a deep red set of robes for his other winter robes. His work robes were black, and Severus chose them using the rather unique way of throwing spells and hexes at them. Harry wasn’t sure Madame Malkin approved the method, but he enjoyed watching. Draco and Severus picked out the dueling robes, as well, in a deep forest green. Madame Malkin fitted the robes to Harry there in the store and they carried them out with them. They stopped off at the book store, where Harry pointed out some of the books he had had that were non school books and had been destroyed when his stuff was vandalized, as well as books he wouldn’t mind having. Amy used a gift certificate her parents had sent. They were about to leave and head off to the apothecary so Severus could pick up more supplies when Severus caught Draco and Blaise trying to knock over the stacks of books towering along the walls.

By the time they got back home, Severus was ready for a few hours peace, and suggested some quiet time with everyone in their rooms occupied by quiet activities. Draco and Blaise decided to spend their time together in Blaise’ room, so Harry asked Amy if she’d like to hang out in his room. They played cards and Battleship, and Amy told Harry all about her doll house. Harry told her about what kids learned in Muggle lower levels, and about what type of school books they had. Everyone ate in their rooms. Not long after dinner Remus came and collected Amy, who would be spending the night down at the gatehouse, due to the order meeting. Amy told Harry she was glad she got to spend the afternoon with him; he’d make a great substitute brother. Remus smiled as they left, telling him to be downstairs and ready to go in twenty minutes. Harry went and took his nightly set of medications, putting the lotions and medicated cream on as well as taking the amber liquid again. He found some wrapping paper and wrapped the gift for Poppy, hoping she didn’t mind silver paper. He was downstairs just as Remus was coming back into the Manor. Severus came in and sent all the youths back upstairs to put robes on as well, telling Harry to wear the red ones he picked out.

Within five minutes everyone was back downstairs and ready to leave. Severus had them wear the cloaks too, since he wasn’t sure where the port-key they’d been given would take them. They popped in to an alley way about four houses down from 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry marched the right up to the door and walked through it without knocking. Draco was about to comment, he and Blaise always had to go through such a fuss when they came to headquarters, when Severus answered the unasked question.

“It is Harry’s house. He lets it still be used at Headquarters, but Sirius left it to Harry.” Severus stated.

Harry smiled at him. “Most of the time, Remus lives here.”

The door shut behind them, and Harry shouted, “Honey! I’m home!” Tonks came barging in from the sitting room and gave everyone hugs, including Blaise and Draco. Harry decided Severus was the one who handled it worst; of course Harry could have sworn Tonks winked at him as she pinched Severus on the rear. Charlie and the twins came through to the hall as well, greeting them and thanking Harry for the gifts. All of them showed Charlie the teeth he’d given them, which they were wearing. Harry had on the arm cuff from Bill as well.

“It is tense in there, so be on your toes. Good start though; everyone in robes will make a good impression on some of the order members not usually here.” Charlie warned, quietly as Harry’s group joined them. Harry took everyone’s cloaks and headed towards the kitchen, but Charlie stopped him. “Severus, don’t let him go anywhere alone tonight. My folks and the younger kids were here all day on Christmas Eve; we didn’t realize that until Christmas morning. There was some sort of Ministry gala that night, and Percy managed to get them all invited. Mum brought them all over to give Bill and his wife the night alone. We all met back up at the Burrow Christmas morning. Apparently Dumbledore gave them permission to use the house before he realized what was up, probably even before the start of the month.”

“Hmm, no couldn’t have been that early. At the start of the month we were still supposed to be picking Harry up from your house by port-key. We were going to dose him with a calming potion and...” Remus trailed off, before looking towards Harry and Severus. “Hey do you realize we’ve used almost half a dozen port-keys this week and Harry hasn’t reacted badly to any of them!”

Charlie watched with amusement as Harry cheered and Draco and Blaise patted him on the back. Severus swept him into a hug and Remus swept him into another as soon as he was put down again.

“I didn’t even know he had a problem with them, but I can understand why he might. Anyway, just keep someone with you all night long. I might be over cautious, but better that than sorry.”

So Harry and Severus took the cloaks to the kitchen. As Harry looked at all the other cloaks, he thought taking them off to his room would be a better idea. They were at his door, and Severus was reaching for the doorknob when the cuff on Harry’s arm tightened and grew hot.

“Severus! Don’t touch the knob!” Harry yelled, putting his hand on Severus’ and grasping it back.

Severus looked at him and Harry pointed to where the cuff was on his arm. Severus nodded and took his wand out, casting a multitude of detection spells. He looked over to Harry.

“Let’s just go downstairs and get Remus. We’ll tell Draco and Blaise to stay by Tonks or the twins.”

Harry and Severus went back downstairs and Harry stood right outside the sitting room while Severus fetched Remus. Remus’ door was safe and his room checked clear according to all the detection spells Remus and Severus ran, so they left their cloaks in there, putting extra wards on the entrances as they left.

They took Remus to Harry’s door and he ran the detection spells with the same results.

“Do we say something now, or wait?” Remus asked.

“We will have to let Draco and Blaise know our cloaks are not in Harry’s room. I don’t know. I think we need to play this by ear. I will tell the twins so we can find out if they thought to bring antidotes with them.” Severus said.

“Let’s go then, they are waiting on us to start the meeting. Charlie was right; I haven’t felt a meeting this tense in a long time. It’s going to be a long night. Harry, I want you to sit by me. I know Severus works even better than myself as a comforter, but I think tonight it had better be me. Besides, Severus might have his hands full keeping Draco and Blaise and possibly even the older Weasley boys from exploding.” Remus took Harry’s hand in his.

Severus came to stand in front of him, and took his face in his hands, tilting it up so Harry was looking him in the eye. “Remember Harry, you are our priority now. I know both Remus and I feel this way. We will not let them continue to hurt you, but tonight might hurt a little bit. Make sure you let Remus and I know if something we are doing hurts you though. Concentrate through your ring. And I‘ll feel it.”

Harry nodded, took a deep breath, straightened his shoulders and marched straight into the sitting room, where everyone was. Severus swept in behind him and went to sit next to Tonks, Draco and Blaise. Remus walked in and the found a seat over on the other side, next to Bill and his wife. Bill gave a very small smile and nod to Harry, but that was his only acknowledgement of him.

Dumbledore started the meeting and introduced five new members. One of them was Bill’s wife. He asked for any questions and the room erupted into chaos. Harry saw Poppy for the first time in the evening, arguing with Minerva. Professor Sprout seemed to be agreeing with Poppy. Molly was yelling at Severus and Tonks, Fred and George were in a heated discussion with Shacklebolt, Vance, and some other members Harry didn’t know well enough to be able to name this far away. Madame Bones was there talking with Flitwick in one of the only calm conversations happening. Harry sat in silence, leaning against Remus who was talking very quietly with Mr. and Mrs. Tonks. Other order members were in various states of agitation as well. Suddenly the lights went out and in the dark Dumbledore screamed “Enough!”

Dumbledore brought the lights back up and said in a calm and collected voice. “We will visit each issue tonight, but in a calm and orderly manner.”

“Get those children out of here!” Mrs. Weasley yelled.

“No, not tonight Molly. You were asked to bring your children to tonight’s meeting as well and refused. I asked specifically for these youths to be here, because what we are here to discuss involves at least one of them.”

Mrs. Weasley huffed, and turned her back on Dumbledore.

“Sorry, that is not gong to work tonight, Molly. Next?”

Hands shot up all over the room. Madame Bones was chosen as the next to ask her question.

“Susan has said all sorts of horrid things about Harry Potter, are any of them true?”

“You will have to be more specific Madame Bones; I don’t know which things Susan has come home saying.” Dumbledore answered. Remus put his hand on Harry’s leg as Harry tensed beside him.

“Susan said he’d taken all sorts of things from the Weasleys and never paid them for the stuff he’d taken, and never showed them any hospitality even though they were always having him over. She said he’d insulted Ron and Ginny and that he was a freak of some sort.”

“Well, let’s see. I can’t think of anything that would classify Harry as a freak, Parseltongue aside. It was revealed that Harry just might like boys, and I do believe certain children called him a freak due to that. However, those of us who are adults should know better than that. As for the other…Molly?”

Molly glared at Dumbledore and refused to talk.

“Arthur, has Harry ever taken anything from your family?” Dumbledore asked.

“Not that I know of. He has always been a wonderful child when he has come to visit and stay with us.”

“And how long has he stayed with you?”

“Hmm, he stayed with us for a few weeks after his first year, and after his third year.”

“Any other times?”

“No.”

“Did you do anything extraordinary during those stays?”

“We went to the World Quidditch Cup after his third year.”

“Who bought the tickets?”

“No one, got them from work because I did someone a favor.”

“Where did Harry stay the other summers?”

“He stayed at Diagon Alley after his second year, and he was here at headquarters after his fourth, fifth and sixth years.”

“The whole summer?”

“No, he always spent the first half of the summers at his Aunts and Uncles house, except after 6th year. I believe he came directly here that year. After his 5th year he didn’t get here to headquarters until about a week before school started. He spent most of that summer in the infirmary at Hogwarts.”

“Where did your family spend the summers after Harry’s fourth and fifth year?”

“Here at headquarters.”

“How much of the summer?”

“All summer.”

“Why didn’t you spend the summer here last summer?”

“Harry invited us to, but Molly said she didn’t want to be away from the house too long. Bill’s wife was to be coming to stay with us and they wanted to be free to do wedding stuff and such without being in everyone’s way.”

“And we wanted to do it without too many people constantly giving unwanted suggestions or being around people who could taint it somehow.” added Molly.

“It had nothing to do with what had happened to Harry the summer before?” Dumbledore asked Molly.

Molly glared and refused to answer.

“So, Harry has never taken anything from the Weasleys, who have actually spent as much time in Harry’s home, when it was Harry’s, as Harry has spent at the Burrow. They have spent more time at headquarters than Harry has ever spent at the Burrow. We can’t find anyway in which Harry is a freak, so what are we left with?”

“Insults to Ron and Ginny.” Madame Bones reminded him.

“Did she ever say what the insults were? What did she hear Harry say?”

“She never said, just that they said Harry insulted them.”

“I move we drop that point until those supposed insults are actually given, since Ron, Hermione and Ginny are not here to tell us what the insults Harry gave them were. Next?”

“About Harry liking boys?” someone shouted, but Harry missed who it was.

“What about it? Why not ask Harry if you think it is so important?” Dumbledore said.

Whispering and nudging took place in a knot of people across the room, and Kingsley was the one who finally asked the question.

“Harry, do you like guys?”

Harry answered. “Not that it is anyone’s business really what gender I like, although I do admit it might be peoples business who I like, the fact is I think I probably like both. I have never dated a guy, and I’ve only been on one disastrous date with a girl. I wasn’t at the point where I could even think about anyone that way until just the last few months, not after fifth year. Kiss wise though, I’d have to say I enjoyed kissing males better than females thus far. Of course she was blubbering all over me and he wasn’t. Maybe I do, but it’s still all my choice.”

Whispering and nudging took place in the knot of people again, but they all seemed to accept the answer just fine.

Madame Bones spoke again before Dumbledore could. “May we know what happened the summer after Harry’s fifth year?”

Remus wrapped his arm around Harry and brought him close to his chest, whispering soothing noises in his ear. Harry was trembling. Dumbledore looked at Harry and Harry gave a quick nod, then closed his eyes and tried to shrink into Remus.

“Yes, the summer after Harry’s fifth year, he went home to the Dursleys like always. Words were spoken at the train station with his uncle, in an attempt to protect Harry from the abuse and neglect he’d suffered there previous years. It backfired. His uncle started beating him that day, and his cousin Dudley had met some new friends. No one stopped the boys, and Harry became a toy. He was raped and beaten for close to two weeks. Remus started demanding we go in and check on him the third day when no letter came, but everyone sadly just assumed Harry was still acting out in his anger over Sirius’ death by giving us the silent treatment. After another week, he went to Severus. Remus believed with Severus’ background he could ease Remus’ mind, but when Remus told him what happened at the train station Severus told him that they should be worried. If they confronted an abuser like that odds are he went home and abused the boy more severely than before. Severus and Remus badgered me for two days straight before I agreed to a surveillance mission. They never saw hide or hair of Harry, but they saw a steady stream of young males going in and out of the house, accompanied by Harry’s cousin and his new friends. That night they broke into the house and found Harry chained to the wall in his room, spread eagle so he would be easy to access. Vernon beat on both Severus and Remus and they sustained substantial injuries themselves, but they got Harry out and they brought him here. Poppy came here, but we ended up taking him to Hogwarts before the first night was over.” Dumbledore finished.

The room was silent. Besides Severus and Remus, Molly and Arthur had been the only ones to know the extent of what had happened, and most of the others never had any idea that anything had happened at all.

“This brings us to recent events, Albus.” said Poppy. “The last Friday in November there was an assault on a student. There have been further assaults on this student, as well as attacks on his property since then.”

“And why is this order business?”

“Because that student is Harry Potter, and one of the assaults upon his person and property involved a project the Order had been working on, which we dropped because of the danger to Order members.” Poppy said.

“Back up. What?”

Fred spoke up. “A few months ago we were working on several potential weapons for the Order in our labs, as well as other potential Order items. You now, those eye gumballs, which change eye color temporarily. We discarded one of them, some charmed glass shards. We couldn’t form a way for Order members to safely handle them and extrapolating them from the body wasn’t very fun, in fact it was rather painful. The night we decided this at the Order meeting, before we could destroy our last three samples, our lab was broken into. Several other potentially lethal prototypes were taken that night as well, and we lost four other projects completely, because we didn’t know who had them.”

“Anyway,” Poppy started up again. “Harry Potter was brought to me the last Friday in November with boot and fist prints all over his body, especially his upper torso. He had three broken ribs and a punctured lung.”

“It is a house mater!” Minerva yelled at Poppy.

“No, it isn’t.” Draco yelled back. Severus cupped his hand over Draco’s mouth. Harry was still shaking in Remus’ hold.

“Minerva, it might have been a house matter, if Ron Weasley hadn’t beaten Harry Potter to a pulp. It still might have been a house matter, even when those boys destroyed everything the boy owned that wasn’t warded with specialty wards set up by many grown adults. Maybe had actions been taken to firmly take care of the matter, it could have stayed that way. But it became a school matter when Ronald Weasley stood up in the great hall and turned people away from Harry Potter by telling lies and calling him names, by turning what is a normal way of being in the Wizarding community into something evil and dirty. You sat and did nothing while they did this. If I had been in the room, Ron Weasley would have been stopped. It was an issue when the rumors built and built and parents were brought in and Harry’s name was dragged through mud on NOTHING but a few vague insults and accusations. It further became a school issue when Ron Weasley got together members from two other houses and proceeded to molest Harry in the Quidditch changing rooms a week later. Yes, you all heard me, Ron Weasley would have raped the boy again except for the brave actions of two of Harry’s other roommates, who acted mainly because they didn’t want to be dragged into trouble again. However, did it stop there? No….it became an ORDER issue when those stolen glass shards turned up dumped in Harry’s trunk, onto his clothing.” Poppy yelled.

Molly was being held down by Arthur and Bill. “It’s Harry’s fault. He ruined our plans. Of course Ron would be upset. For seven years he’s worn hand me downs and played second fiddle to Harry Potter, but he did it because Harry would marry Ginny and we’d be as a pureblood family should be again. It was to be just perfect, James and Lily all over again, and Harry went and ruined it.” Molly screeched.

Minerva crumpled, and Charlie caught her.

“You mean, there wasn’t any sweet that had gone wrong? Ron said that Harry had gotten into one of the sweets the twins had sent him, and didn’t read the directions and it’d thrown him against the wall. That Harry had lost it and blamed him and started tearing about the room before he collapsed and Neville took him to the infirmary. That the whole split had been because Harry unfairly blamed him for getting hurt and the loss of his stuff and had called them horrid names. They said he was just mad because Hermione didn’t approve of liking guys and Harry was the one the harassing her and calling her names because of that. I just figured Ron was over reacting, but still within his rights when he stood in the Great Hall that day.” Minerva broke into tears.

“Did you ever think to talk to Harry?” Charlie asked.

“Hermione is the head girl, and Ron is a prefect.” Minerva said, as if that settled it.

“Unfortunately,” Dumbledore started again, “None of this tells us what we do next.”

Many voices said to just make sure none of it happened again, but dismiss what had happened so far. Others called for suspension, and a few called for sentences in Azkaban.

Arthur insisted it be dismissed, and he’d talk to the children. Surely the holidays would give them enough time to get over their differences. Most people agreed. As Dumbledore started to give his decision, a voice that had been silent for much the night popped up.

“But they haven’t stopped. They have been overheard saying that as they have gotten away with what they have so far, they can do whatever they want. If you want to just forget about it, and push it under the rug and assume it won’t happen again, I suggest you do NOT go and touch the door knob of Harry’s door tonight. Maybe you all should though, see if your songs change when it is your flesh that is being eaten off your hand.” Severus called out.

Dumbledore swore, so loudly and violently that Harry lifted his head from Remus’ chest, where it’d been tucked since the fiasco had begun. The Headmaster jumped up and dragged the twins out of the room with him, Severus followed them. A second later Fred came and grabbed Kingsley and Tonks as well.

Arthur came up to Harry while they were gone, and apologized to him. Harry nodded and accepted his outstretched hand. Bill’s wife was holding the sobbing Molly and shooting glares at Harry still. Bill came over as well, and Harry told him it’d been the cuff he’d given to him for Christmas that had warned him of the doorknob. All around the room conversations were buzzing and people were looking at Harry, who was curled as small as he could get in Remus’ lap. Draco and Blaise came over and sat beside them, rubbing Harry’s back and trying to get him to respond to them. Dumbledore came in a little bit later.

“We tested all the surfaces we could think of that could have been covered with the goop that was put on Harry’s door. So far it’s only been Harry’s door. Of course we haven’t tested inside Harry’s room yet, but it was sealed and we are pretty certain no one could have got in. I sent Severus off with the twins and Kingsley to get the neutralizing agent from their Lab.”

Poppy talked to Dumbledore and they decided it would be a good time to take Harry off for his check up. She insisted Remus, Draco and Blaise all come. As they were heading up the stairs they heard the clock chime midnight. In Remus’ room Poppy tried and tried to convince Harry to let her check on him, but Harry wouldn’t remove himself from Remus’ arms. Draco and Blaise tried to get him to talk to them, but he wouldn’t. They even tried just chatting amongst themselves for a while to see if he would unlatch from Remus.

Just as she was getting ready to go downstairs and get Dumbledore, Severus walked in the door. Everyone in the room could feel the rage and fury radiating from the man when he first entered, but when he saw Harry, he dampened it down and scooped Harry into his arms. He tucked Harry’s head up onto his shoulder and rocked him back and forth until he felt Harry cry. Then he continued rocking him, whispering to him that he was what they cared about and to remember that. He reminded him of how fiercely Poppy protected him, how she fought for him. He reminded him about how Madame Bones had just dismissed everything Susan had said when she heard the facts. Didn’t even ask him to testify to her that it was all true, just accepted it as so when she heard from a reliable source. As Harry stooped crying, Severus sat him up and wiped away the tears.

“Can you let Poppy look at you now?”

Harry nodded. Harry decided to just remove his trousers and lift his robes. Poppy performed her spell and told him that he was pretty much healed already, but she’d feel better if he continued his medications for two more days and used the cream for about five days more after that. She would check him over when he got back to school, and he could have what ever reactions he liked and do whatever he wanted about them as long as he was careful and made sure to stop if anything hurt. Harry blushed and Draco and Blaise laughed. Harry pulled his trousers back up and then fetched his gifts for Poppy, and gave them to her. He thanked her for all the extra care she’d given him and for standing up for him like she had. Poppy kissed his forehead.

“Harry,” she said. “Every once in while students come through my infirmary who capture my heart. Severus and Remus here did so when I wasn’t long at the job. Charlie and those twins did so as well. You, though, I almost think of as mine sometimes. As much as you complained, you always thanked me in some manner as well, and after that summer I found myself as determined to take care of you as Remus and Severus. I even asked Dumbledore to put my name down as co-guardian once, but he didn’t. I care for you a great deal.”

She gathered Harry to her in a hug. Severus and Remus were beaming. Even Draco and Blaise were sniffing.

Severus cleared his throat. “As much as I’d rather stay up here, the night has taken an even odder tone. We are needed downstairs.”


Saturday, Dec 27th

The clock struck two when Poppy led the group down the stairs. Severus held Harry back a little, and washed his face and straightened his robes. “Remember, you are my priority. You are Remus’ priority. We will not let anyone hurt you. Hold it together for us, now.”

Harry snuggled into the arms that wrapped around him and seemed to siphon strength from Severus while in his hug. Once released he found himself once again able to square his shoulders and walk with his head held high into the sitting room. He saw Kingsley off to the side of the door they came through signaling to Dumbledore, but Tonks and her folks were gone, as well as Emmeline Vance and Madame Bones. He realized he didn’t see the twins either. As soon as they were through the door, Kingsley went back out.

“Harry?” asked Dumbledore.

“Is fine.” said Poppy. “He is also almost completely healed from the molestation he suffered two Wednesdays ago. We weren’t sure for a while there, especially after the glass shards episode aggravated it all.”

“Good. Now, everyone knows we sent Severus, Kingsley and the twins to their lab to get the neutralizing agent for the goop on Harry’s door. We also picked up something else. When they arrived they found the Lab in the process of being broken into. The perpetrators are being held by Kingsley and Fred. George took the Tonks and Ms. Vance back to the lab to check the damage and see if anything has gone missing. I took the neutralizing agent and coated Harry’s door with it, and then checked the rest of the room, which was luckily clear.”

The room erupted again in chatter and flurry. Dumbledore called and called over the voices, but no one was listening. Finally the lights went out again and the room dropped silent. As Dumbledore brought them up once more, he asked that all the commotion be stopped until the would-be thieves were brought in.

Kingsley and Fred brought in four hooded and masked individuals. Madame Bones followed them into the room. Remus and Severus both looked at them and before anyone could speak, spoke together.

“Those are not deatheaters.”

“How do you know?” a shout from the back of the room was carried forward.

Severus rolled his eyes and snorted. “Do be reasonable. What do I do? I happen to be intimately aquatinted with deatheater equipment, and those are NOT deatheater masks.”

“Besides which, deatheaters general don’t push and shove each other and hiss whispers back and forth when walked into a room like this.” Remus added.

“So, who are they?” asked one of the new order members.

“Yes,” said Dumbledore. “Lets see.”

One whispered spell later the masks were removed and cloaked individuals were revealed. Molly started shrieking at them, and Bill’s wife started into hysterics as well. Ron turned and punched his brother in the nose and lunged for Harry. Severus stood and had Ron within a full body bind spell before he could get much past Fred.

“You will NOT harm him again, Ronald Weasley. I will not allow it.” Severus said, in a deadly calm voice. Molly launched herself at Severus, fists flailing for daring to use a spell on her baby. That set Fred off, yelling at his mom over the fact that her precious babies were stealing from the Order, and their Brothers. Harry was still standing there, trembling from head to foot, and Charlie was trying to drag his mother off Severus. Draco and Blaise had their wands out ready to launch spells at Molly. Then, Hermione lunged towards Harry, but Bill caught her in a full body bind. His wife started to hit him and screech at him in Egyptian. Bill just looked at her and yelled “Enough!” She stalked off and sat in a corner pouting. Ginny and Dean, the other two, just set themselves down on the floor. They had no interest in being subject to a full body bind and frankly, it didn’t look like their smear job on Harry had worked all that well, at least not within the Order.

Harry looked at Severus, his nose bleeding and a cut across his check where Molly had been scratching at him. He looked at Draco and Blaise with their wands drawn. He looked at Charlie and Fred, standing off against their family, for him. He looked at Bill, who had yelled at his wife, for him. Finally he caught Arthur’s eye. Arthur, who was just sadly shaking his head and chatting with Dumbledore about the best course of actions to take next, who had apologized to Harry and was willing to let justice be.

“Enough!” Harry shouted, in a voice that held as much command as Dumbledore’s. “I’ve had enough. This is ridiculous.”

Everyone looked at him.

“The fact is, they can’t go to prison. We can’t lose people who are even nominally on our side, if we could, we wouldn’t be trying to win over the ministry and its members. I’m not sure how much of this whole sorry mess I want known anyway, but frankly, even if the whole story comes out, I’m not the one who ends up looking bad. My image will still be about the same. However, the images of those four there are toast, as is Percy’s. Are they willing for that to happen?”

The whole room was quiet. Dumbledore nodded to Arthur, and then to Severus and Remus.

“What do you recommend, Harry?” Dumbledore asked.

“They need to be punished for the thefts. All items they still have need to be handed over. I think some community service at St Mungo’s dealing with people who’ve accidentally ran into stuff like that goop they put on the door knob might be a good idea. Depending on how they were caught tonight, I think it should also be published, with names. I also cannot let what they did to me two Wednesdays ago slide. A friend told me that just because they didn’t technically rape me, just because they were interrupted, didn’t mean I was subjected to anything less horrible than rape. They sexually assaulted me, and they hurt me very badly. It could have been permanent. That has to be dealt with, but we can’t lose potential fighters. I would like it put upon their records and for them to be punished at school. Giving up their Quidditch positions, detentions until they graduate for a good deal of the week, no Hogsmeade weekends. I don’t know about the other parts. I think Ron should be punished for beating me up, and I think more should have been done about the vandalism of everything I owned, but I don’t know how to punish them for what really hurt the most.”

Harry turned from facing Dumbledore, to facing Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Dean. “What hurt the most wasn’t even the loss of you three as friends, although that hurt. I trusted you, I believed you, I believed in you. I don’t know how much more I could have supported you. I trusted in Gryffindor, brave and courageous and forthright. You took the only place I ever considered a safe haven and made it a place of fear. You made me feel like I was worth nothing unless I was everybody’s perfect picture of what Harry Potter should be. You dismissed Harry as a worthless entity.”

Harry lifted his head, and looked at Severus again, then at Dumbledore. He turned to Remus and tucked himself against Remus’ side. “But I am Harry. I am not perfect, never will be. I cannot be the perfect Harry Potter for Ron, and the perfect Harry Potter for the Headmaster, and the perfect Harry Potter for Percy, and the perfect Harry Potter for Madame Malkin at the robe shop, not all at the same time. I need to be the perfect Harry Potter for ME! That Harry Potter is flawed, he’s been abused all his life, he’s been raped, and he even tried to kill himself one night. But that Harry Potter is ok. I’m beginning to like him a lot.”

Remus sat down and picked Harry up and onto his lap, waiting for Dumbledore to finish and everyone to be able to go to sleep. Draco and Blaise came and sat against his legs, one on each side. He reached down to smooth Draco hair as Draco leaned his head against Remus’ leg. Blaise’s head soon mirrored Draco’s.

“If you could hurry,” Remus stated calmly, “I have three sleepy young adults, and a hurt friend I’d like to take care of soon.”

Dumbledore looked over at Remus, and smiled a soft smile. “Remus, why don’t you take them up stairs and put them to bed?”

Harry lifted his head. “I’m not going. Sorry Sir, but, I have to see the outcome.”

Remus looked down at Draco and Blaise, and then over to Severus. “Severus you come here and get Harry. I’ll take the other two upstairs. Harry is right. He deserves to see the outcome of this.”

Severus walked over and Harry stood up. Severus sat down and Harry sat on his lap, leaning his head against Severus shoulder, but still able to look around the room. Severus glared at anyone who dared look at them with any sort of censure. Harry then gave a small frown and touched Severus nose and cheek. He pulled out his wand and heard half of the room gasp. A few healing spells later and the scratch was gone and the blood no longer running from Severus’ nose.

“We can probably use some of my cream on it when we get home to take down the swelling, Sir.” Harry told him.

Severus smiled fondly down at Harry, and Dumbledore smiled at them both. Charlie and Fred had Molly sitting down now, but Ron and Hermione had both been left in the full body binds. Dumbledore now had a large conference going on around him. Fred, Bill and Charlie had joined and were gesturing rather wildly.

The clock struck five, and the small conference surrounding Dumbledore was still going strong. George and the Tonks came back from the Lab. Nothing more had been taken, or touched even, because the four had fallen into one of the traps the twins had placed about their place. Madame Bones was in a heated discussion with Dumbledore now, several of the people around her were agreeing with her. Ginny and Dean were both snoring, although Harry was still wide awake on Severus’ lap, by the time the circle at the other side of the room was starting to break up.

“Are you upset that you are over here with me and not over there taking part of that discussion, Severus?” Harry asked in a small voice while watching Charlie and Bill explaining something to their father.

Harry felt Severus chuckle. “You know what? No, I’m not. I have a fair amount of confidence in Bill and Charlie and the twins, not to mention Tonks, to keep things fair to you and not allow your interests to be overrun in protecting images. Last year, I might have been upset, the year before I would have been livid. This year, though, I am right where I prefer to be.”

Harry leaned back and looked into Severus’ eyes. “You mean that?”

“Yes, I mean that, brat.” Severus said.

The clock struck six and Dumbledore stood up. George pushed at Dean and Ginny till they woke up, so they could listen to Dumbledore as he spoke. “Harry, Madame Bones informs me you could have quite the future in magical Law if you ever choose to. She agrees with what you lined up for the punishment for the thefts except one thing. There will be a story in the paper, and they will have to pay the fines that any regular criminal the Council would have prosecuted would have to pay. However she made stipulations on these fines. They must be repaid by Ron and Ginny, Dean and Hermione themselves. Their families will not be able to pay for them. She also seconds the community service, to be served starting next week, 80 hours a piece, no more than eight hours to be served during a single week but no less than four hours served a week. She found the amount the school asked for on the issue of the vandalism to your property the last weekend of November to be insufficient, however has decided that it is too far past to be a concern now. She has asked that we take a look at your scores for the last few weeks and if any scores are found to be low due to lack of preparation or essays that are too short, or other reasons which are directly linked to the fact you were not given adequate replacements, they are to be adjusted. We were also taken to task for not informing all your professors of the incident.”

“Finally, she agrees with you that we cannot incarcerate these students at this time. She doesn’t have quite the confidence as you do that they will remain fighting for the light though. She and the council will be tapping their wands for the remainder of the school year, at least. Their magical output will be monitored. They will be monitored. If, within six months time, they have reigned in their behavior, they will be allowed to have the monitoring of their person and magical output removed. The tap on their wands will remain until the threat of them joining the Dark Lord has been removed. Ron, Dean and the other students who participated in the sexual assault on you two Wednesdays ago will each be issued four two hour detentions a week till the end of the school year. Ron will be given another six hours a week of detention for that length of time for beating you up in November. We also stand by your judgment on the issues of Quidditch and Hogsmeade, those privileges will be stripped. As will the offices of Head Girl and Prefect that are held by some of them. An announcement will be made during dinner the night we get back to school.”

Dumbledore walked over to Harry and Severus, and stood by them, looking down at the other four students. “Harry will be moved to his own suite of rooms. I have lost trust in this group of Gryffindors to feel confident in his safety without doing so. I considered letting him choose whether or not to be resorted, but I know where the hat would put him and that would carry a whole other set of potential dangers. We have not yet decided what to do with you four from now until the end of the holidays. Therefore for now you will remain here under surveillance. We will cast temporary monitoring spells and wand taps right now, but the official ones will be placed on Monday. This meeting is now finished. Everyone, there are plenty of rooms here which you could bed down in for a few hours before you go home if need be.”

People left and Harry heard many of them heading up stairs to grab whatever beds they could find. The older Weasley boys came over and talked to them for a while before heading off to Fred and George’s apartment, where they were all going to bed down. George was going to write the press release on the thefts, and was rather excited about it. They watched Dumbledore and Kingsley take Ginny and Dean out of the room, leaving Tonks to watch over Ron and Hermione. Dumbledore came back a few moments later and released Ron and Hermione from the full body binds they were in.

Hermione started screeching. “This is your fault, Harry! My life is ruined and it’s all because of you, you freak! If you were only normal everything would have gone as planned and everything would have been just perfect, but you just had to be a freak. Liking your own gender, it’s disgusting. You are disgusting.”

Tonks stepped up to Hermione and slapped her across the face. “Harry is the normal one in this whole deal. You can’t possibly think YOUR actions in all this are normal, can you?”

Hermione was taken out of the room still sputtering. Ron was beyond the yelling point to the turning purple from seething rage stage, which generally exploded, so Harry was glad they were removed before Ron started in. Tonks stopped to tell Harry she was proud of him before following them.

“Let’s go tell Remus they made a decision and go to bed. Maybe we’ll be up for lunch.” Severus said, setting Harry down so he could walk.

Harry nodded, and took hold of Severus hand, pulling him along. They found all three in Remus’ room, on the bed. Remus was in the middle, with Draco and Blaise cuddled up on either side. They woke Remus just long enough to tease him about his bed partners and tell him that the meeting was over and to wake them at noon. They went to the room Severus generally slept in, but it was occupied. In fact, all the rooms were occupied except for Harry’s.

“Come sleep by me, please?” Harry asked.

Severus hesitated.

“Use the excuse that I was overly traumatized by the whole thing and we didn’t have any of my sleeping meds here, so someone needed to stay with me. It’d be close enough to the truth anyway. Dumbledore couldn’t argue that, he’s seen me in flashback mode. You’ll be doing everyone in the whole building a favor.”

Severus laughed and swept Harry into a hug. “Ok, Brat. You win. But we sleep with our clothing on so if anyone comes looking for us they can’t find anything amiss.”

They removed their robes and jumpers. Severus lay down and tucked Harry against his side. Harry snuggled into his hold. Severus pulled the covers over them and did a simple lock on the door.

“Were you overly traumatized, Harry? Should I erect a silencing spell around the bed just incase?” Severus asked, a little worried that the night had been too much for Harry.

“No need, oddly enough you seem to be the best sleep aide there is.” Harry yawned and his voice trailed a bit. “Never seem to have nightmares when you hold me.”

Severus hugged Harry closer, and was starting to fall asleep when he felt Harry awaken a bit.

“Hey! Did that mean you wouldn’t mind if someday I slept by you in a manner that could be assumed to be amiss?”

Severus laughed. “I am not answering that on the basis that the answer would be incriminating. Go to sleep!” However he planted a kiss on the top of Harry’s head and held him closer as an answer.


**************************

Noon turned into one o’clock, and Remus didn’t feel the least bit bad about it. Of course, considering he didn’t wake until almost noon himself and when he did eventually wake found he was comfortably entwined with two delectable youths who were not yet awake; Remus simply wasn’t in hurry to get out of bed. When they did wake, they awarded him with a few kisses and cuddles, and Remus found himself getting out of bed only at about half past. Then he was treated to a very condensed version of what had gone on after he left, told by one of Tonks’ little friends who had way too much energy. The highlight of her tale was the fight between Bill and his wife and Remus was certain he was missing the more important details. He talked for just a few moments with Dumbledore, long enough to find out the four Gryffindor thieves were still in the house, and were under some sort of house arrest type thing until they could get their official spells placed on them on Monday. He grabbed a sandwich, and headed up to wake Severus.

Severus was already stirring when Remus knocked on the door. He grabbed his wand and spelled the door open. He watched Remus smile as he came in.

“Harry sleep well?” Remus asked.

“Not a nightmare to be had, at least none that woke him.”

“We should probably wake him then. As it is, we’ll never get them to sleep tonight.” Remus said.

“I’m already awake and we are not babies you know.” Harry grumbled from Severus’ side. “I’m awake, but I’m not happy. I’ve got a huge headache and don’t feel well because of it.”

Severus hugged Harry near him again and in doing so could feel the knotted muscles in his back, shoulders and neck. “Hey Remus, want to help make Harry feel batter?”

Remus noticed Severus hands started to rub Harry’s shoulders, and remembered the way they used to have to massage the knots out of his muscles while he was healing. “I bet there is lotion of some type in the bathroom. I’ll go check and tell Draco and Blaise where we are.”

Severus made Harry remove his shirt and lie on his tummy. He was rolling up his sleeves when Remus popped back in.

“Um, I decided not to tell Draco and Blaise where we are, but I don’t think they will be leaving my room anytime soon.” Severus noticed Remus’ face was a little flushed.

Dropping the jar of lotion he’d found on the bed Remus rolled up his sleeves as well and settled next to Harry. Remus started on Harry’s arms and Severus started on Harry’s lower back, working the knots out. As Remus finished the arm he’d been working on, Dumbledore knocked on the door.

“Sorry to interrupt but I need to tell Remus everything that was decided last night. I also need to talk with you all after that. We’ll set that meeting for three. I am sorry for keeping you from your holidays, and hope you hadn’t anything planned for today.”

Harry pulled Remus down and kissed his cheek, telling him thank you for the night before, and Remus left. Severus moved the jar and gave Harry a wicked smile which Harry wasn’t quite sure how to interpret.

At first Severus continued as they had started, with a simple massage. He massaged the arm Remus hadn’t done. Then he straddled Harry’s lower back. Shivers ran up Harry’s back and then shot back down and settled lower. Severus’ hands started to caresses rather than massage, lingering and playing against his skin, whereas earlier Harry could tell by the feel of it that it was being done for the sole purpose of relaxing his muscles. Severus’ strong hands then started rubbing his shoulders and neck firmly, and so for a second Harry thought Severus was just going back to the job. Then the touches lightened again, and the rubbing was accompanied with small soft kisses against his back. More lotion was applied to his back, and Severus’ hands slid over his skin from where the older man was letting just the slightest bit of his weight rest on Harry to his shoulders, over and over again, down through the middle of his back then outward to his sides. Harry let the moan he was trying to hold in escape, and it seemed to be the signal Severus had been waiting for. The kisses were back, along with small nips and nibbles. Severus licked his way from the base of Harry’s neck to right behind his ear, and Harry was gasping. Leaning forward, Severus pressed against Harry’s back, allowing Harry to feel that he wasn’t the only one this little massage was affecting.

“Does this answer your question from last night, my little brat?” Severus whispered in Harry’s ear, sucking on his earlobe.

Harry’s answer was a moan and more arching, trying to get more of himself in contact with Severus.

Severus rubbed himself against Harry’s back for a few moments before moving off of him. Harry waited until he felt Severus’ weight leave the quickly flipped himself over and onto the other man. He straddled Severus’ lap, his lips capturing Severus’ lips before Severus could fully sit, and the sudden weight of his armful of Harry sent Severus onto his back on the bed. He brought his arms around Harry, and pressed the young man against his chest. He darted his tongue out to coax entrance to Harry’s mouth, but that mouth was opened to him and a soft, sweet tongue was dancing against his before he reached his original destination. Harry’s hands were mapping out his back in the same mixture of firm strokes and soft caresses Severus had employed earlier during the massage. Harry’s tongue darted into his mouth, quickly darting back out, as if unsure if the motion would be welcome. Severus slid his tongue forward into Harry’s mouth, probing, tasting, caressing, and coaxed Harry’s tongue into following back to Severus’ own mouth. The timid movements when Harry first entered his mouth again released the moan Severus had been holding in, and Harry was soon copying what Severus had done.

Harry finally pulled back, gasping and panting. Severus was trying to catch his breath as well. He lowered his head till he and Harry were resting forehead to forehead.

Harry focused on him. “Wow.” Harry gasped out.

Severus laughed, and pulled Harry into a hug. “We are probably late now, but it was so worth it.”

Harry laughed as well. “Now, that sounded something more along the lines of what I would say.”

They untangled themselves from each other and Severus did a few charms which made them look presentable, or at least not wrinkled. Harry planted a soft chaste kiss upon Severus’ lips, while pinching his read end, before walking towards the door.

Severus groaned. “I’ve created a monster.”

Harry laughed, but then grew strangely quiet. “No, but I will be thinking about you a lot. Every time it all starts to get overwhelming discussing stuff down there today, I’m going to think of us.” A silly sort of smile made its way onto Harry’s face as he did just that. “It will at least fix my mood.”

Severus swept into a huge bow, and said “Glad to be of service.” He held out his hand with grand motions and escorted Harry to the door.

Harry was laughing all the way to the kitchen, where they grabbed lunch. Draco and Blaise emerged from Remus’ room not long after Severus and Harry started eating and joined them. Just as they were finishing Dumbledore came back in.

“Great, we’ll meet in the sitting room in five minutes. I hope this won’t take too long, I am supposed to be back at the school to work on the warding again this evening.” Dumbledore told them all before sweeping back out.

The sitting room was rather full, although not as full as the night before. Madame Bones was there though, as well as all the Tonks family. Remus hadn’t arrived yet, so Harry was particularly glad to have Severus near him.

Dumbledore stood up and addressed the group. “We are running into a few problems, courtesy of Minister Fudge and probably Percy Weasley. They are refusing to place the official magic monitor on our four juvenile delinquents, regardless of the fact that we have the overwhelming support of the Council, unless Harry goes to the Ministry and testifies. Percy spun the Minister the same story that Ron told Professor McGonagall and he refused to believe the testimonies of anyone else. So, Harry is required to either give a pensieve testimony, due to the fact of the nature of the second assault, or go under Veritaserum. I honestly couldn’t tell you what would be easiest for Harry, but I do know that it would better for the Order in general for Harry to give a pensieve testimony. Madame Bones managed to get the person who is in charge of gathering pensieve testimonies to agree to come in tomorrow. Likewise, Fudge is refusing to allow the prosecution go forward on the theft charges unless we disclose “exactly” what it was that was stolen. We do know this is the result of direct interference by Percy Weasley. He first painted a picture of the twins as menaces and nuisances to the whole Wizarding world, and then insisted that last night was a first offense for the four and only done as a dare. If we can list the items stolen and then connect them to the four caught last night though…I think we will have the theft charges covered. The problem for us is that we can’t exactly list what the weapons were.”

“Sir, I have the answer for that last bit. The Weasley twins are known for their products, and their experimental items that blow things up. Why not list them as they are: Weasley products… experimental jokes that had been stolen before they were able to be refined enough to become sales worthy? I mean those nasty glass shards? They were similar to a Muggle Joke product called itching powder; in fact that was my first guess. I thought someone had put itching powder in my clothing. Maybe the twins just hadn’t got the charm perfected on them yet or something, so something that was meant to be harmless was instead rather vicious. I don’t have an explanation for the flesh eating goop yet, but I’m sure someone in this room can come up with one. The same goes for other items they took.” Harry offered up.

“That would work, after all if the Minister can buy the Weasley Treat gone bad story to explain a beating, he will have to also have to accept a Weasley product in experimental phase which was stolen being used against someone in a mean spirited prank. As we are not prosecuting them for the use of the products against Harry, but for the theft, possession and use of stolen items, he can’t use the “it was just a prank” as an excuse either.” Dumbledore conceded. “Harry? Veritaserum or the pensieve?”

“I agree it would be too dangerous for all involved in everything for me to be put under the Veritaserum. However, I demand that my legal guardian and someone who can medically monitor me accompany me and be with me while I give the pensieve testimony.” Harry said.

“We can’t have Muggles in the Ministry Building.” Madame Bones insisted.

“Do you honestly think Dumbledore would allow the Dursleys to maintain guardianship over me after they did what they did to me?” Harry shouted.

“So, who is his legal guardian?” Someone else asked. Harry didn’t catch who.

“Me.” Remus stated as he walked into the room.

“But…”

“Yes, I know I’m a werewolf.” Remus answered the question before it was asked. “Due to Severus Snape’s potion, and a half year of observation of it by Ministry officials, I was declared fit to be the legal guardian of Harry Potter.”

“And Severus is qualified to perform medical monitoring during things like this, so he will be the other one to accompany you.”

“Does that mean we get to come and play with you while they are off at the ministry, Headmaster?” Draco piped up, a wicked smile on his face.

“Hmm….no. I think you can spend the day safely tucked away with the Weasley twins in their lab, helping them strengthen those traps they set.”

“Safely, my arse” Severus muttered under his breath.

“Good, that is settled then. You five are going to have to stay here at Grimmauld Place until Monday. I hope you won’t be too upset or miss anything you had planned.”

“Excuse me sir? I have another charge over this holiday. Sweet little thing, first year, named Amy. Ring a Bell?” Severus snarled.

“Ah yes, Amy. Well, how long can she stay where she is, Severus?”

“Until this evening. The family she is staying with has to be somewhere else and is leaving later this evening.”

“Oh, that does cause some problems. What do you think of the Tonks family?”

“As what Albus?”

“As babysitter for Amy, of course. Oh, or better yet! How about Bill and his wife?”

“Albus, you are giving me a headache. I didn’t know Bill and his wife had a place yet. I thought they were supposed to be leaving for a honeymoon.”

“I figured they could go to Amy.”

“No, no way, no how. How about Amy accompany you to the school, surely one little girl wouldn’t bother the Goblins too much for a night and a day, or you could bring her here.”

“Oh no, Severus, neither those options would work. Everybody, meeting dismissed. I’ll call whomever I need if something comes up before the next meeting.”

Severus threw himself onto one of the sofa’s in the sitting room, in a motion Harry could really only describe as a pout.

“The Tonks? Bill’s wife? In MY house? The man is insane.”

“You know, if we made sure Tonks herself isn’t there, stays here with us, it wouldn’t be too bad. Her folks are really nice.”

Severus sighed. “I suppose you are right, I’ll go ask them and tell Albus.”

Severus managed to get Albus to agree to let him take Mr. and Mrs. Tonks to the Manor, and introduce and settle Amy in with them, as well as bring back clothing changes for those stuck at Grimmauld Place. Tonks was actually excited at the prospect of spending time with Harry, Draco and Blaise, especially when Draco and Blaise started talking about the shop Severus had taken them to and going clubbing. Remus went to go see what he could do with the room situation and dinner. Finding everything that could be used to make a dinner had already been consumed, Remus then went to buy food.

Upon his return, Severus went to find Remus, who was in the sitting room talking to Kingsley about what they were going to be doing about meals and such for the prisoners, as they’d taken to calling Ron, Ginny, Dean and Hermione. Severus put in a firecall to his London residence and managed to get them house elf help, who would be there before dusk. They would have to fix dinner on their own, but the house elf would deliver it to the prisoners. Then Severus went to find the boys.

The sight that met him when he entered the kitchen was truly unexpected. The first thing to hit him was that everything was white. The second, as he dodged a cupful of flour that was flung through the air, was that Tonks, Draco and Blaise were also completely white, and when white, Tonks and Draco looked a lot alike until ones eyes traveled down to the chest area. Same facial features and bone structure. The third thing he realized was that Harry wasn’t white. Then the laughter and shouting penetrated his stunned conscious.

“What are you doing?” Severus shouted. Everyone stopped. Harry turned around, a huge bowl in his arms and long spoon in his hands.

“We’re baking!” Harry said proudly. “Well, I’m baking. They were supposed to be helping, but…”

Severus sighed. “No one will leave this room until they are clean. Now, you can either help Harry bake or go sit quietly in the sitting room.” Severus voice had taken on the calm “you’d better listen or die” quality that made most people wet themselves tone. Harry just giggled.

The flour fight stopped, and Draco, Blaise and Tonks all went to stand by Harry, who showed them how to grease cookie sheets. Soon they were happily rolling out balls of dough and plopping them onto the sheets, and into their mouths. Harry let them finish getting the first batch of cookies onto pans, while he started making a second batch. Severus spelled clean a chair and sat by the door, watching. Blaise went over to Harry, who showed him how to read the directions and follow a food recipe, and then gave Blaise the task of making a third batch of cookies. A timer rang and Harry took one cookie sheet out and put the next sheet of dough in the oven. Draco and Tonks finished putting the first batch of cookies on the cookie sheets to be baked. They seemed to be ending up with about five sheets of cookie dough per batch. Harry handed the bowl with the second batch and showed them how to get that type of cookies ready to bake. Blaise’s batch was soon ready to be placed on cookie sheets as well. The timer rang and Harry switched sheets again. He got Blaise to help him clear the sheets of the baked cookies and put them into some large tins, and after using a cooling charm on the cookie sheets they passed the sheets back to Draco and Tonks to fill up again. The timer went off yet again and as soon as the cookie sheet was cleared and given to Draco to fill up again, Harry started doing the dishes, by hand. That pattern repeated until Draco and Tonks no longer had any dough to place on cookie sheets and the dishes were done, except the sheets still in use. Then, between the timer going off, they started to clean the room, sweeping up the flour and tossing the copious amounts of flour into in the dustbin, wiping down counters and table, washing up the sheets when they became free. Severus watched, admiring the easy way Harry managed to get Draco and Blaise to do manual work, and how he miraculously kept Tonks from causing disasters. Finally the timer buzzed for the last time, and the last sheet of cookies was tucked away into a tin and the last cookie sheet washed. Severus stopped Draco, Blaise and Tonks and kindly spelled them free of flour before the left the room.

“You are amazing.” He told Harry, reaching into the first tin they filled and pulling out a chocolate chip cookie. “And these are delicious. However dinner is going to be late tonight, it’s not even started and it’s well past seven.”

“Not so!” Harry laughed. He stood on his tiptoes and licked a little bit of chocolate from the side of Severus lips. “Dinner is in that ceramic dish thing over there. It’s called a crock pot. Some relative of Tonks sent it to them from America for Christmas. We used one of the recipes that came with it to make Clam Chowder, and Remus spelled it to work without needing to be plugged in.”

Severus just raised his eyebrows. Harry dragged him over to the pot and opened the lid. He was about to taste a spoonful, but stopped short. “Who is we?”

“Remus and I made the soup.” Harry answered, and Severus tasted it.

“Delicious. Now would you like to explain to me why you are not good at Potions?” Severus asked.

“Because, my potions teacher hated me for the first several years, and during those same few years my potions were sabotaged by a Slytherin who we all know and love, and I was best friends with a boy who didn’t encourage any learning so I made no effort so I could remain his friend for those same years. I have spent the last two years regretting those first five tremendously. I think I’d have loved potions had I not been Harry Potter, a Gryffindor and Ron Weasley’s best friend.”

“I guess I didn’t make things any easier. I’m sorry.”

“Severus, I am smart enough to realize that you would have had to act that way toward me even if you had adored me from the start. It’s ok, I just wish I could go back and do all those years over again, with the greater desire to know and learn that I have now, especially in your class.”

Severus pulled Harry to him and kissed him. It was short and involved just lips to lips, but Harry was panting anyway when Severus pulled away.

“I’m going to go announce dinner.” Severus said. Harry smiled and stirred the soup.

Dinner was a nice peaceful affair. Kingsley ate with them, as well as another Order member who was rather new and not well known to any of them except for Kingsley and Tonks, who worked with her. She was rather bubbly and Severus wasn’t sure he would ever be able to handle her in large doses. She also almost choked when Draco kissed Blaise at the dinner table, which won her no points on Harry’s scale.
She went off to her room with Tonks for some “girl” talk right after dinner was done. Kingsley went down to take his place outside the door to the room where the prisoners were kept since had the first watch. All the adults would take watches through out the night: Kingsley, Severus, Tonks, the lady from dinner, and finally Remus. The older Weasley boys would take the daytime shifts the next day. Severus’ house elf was brought in by Dumbledore just after 9pm. Severus sent it in with sandwiches for the prisoners, and then it came up and washed up after dinner. It was amazed at the quality of Harry’s soup and the cookies. Severus just about choked when his house elf told Harry he’d have made a grand house elf. Harry just laughed. He told the house elf he’d spent the first eleven years of his life being just that, and then every summer after that until the one after his fifth year getting touch up lessons.

Draco and Blaise went up to bed not long after the house elf discussion, or at least the headed to their rooms. They didn’t stay long. Draco came stomping back down the stairs, dragging Blaise with him.

“I put my head on my pillow and I remembered something!” Draco announced. “Where’s my 7th day?” He crossed his arms across his chest and pouted.

Remus laughed and Severus looked at Draco, rolling his eyes.

“Draco Malfoy, you are such a brat.” Severus said. “I’ll be right back, you three are in luck. I remembered to bring your gifts back from the manor with me.”

He walked to the side of the room where his bags were still sitting. He handed Draco, Blaise and Harry packages. Harry opened the note on his as Draco and Blaise tore into their gifts.

Dear Harry,

On the Seventh day of Yuletide, thy true love gave to thee
Books to keep your mind healthy and free.

Love,
Severus


Harry laughed and tore into his package as well. There were seven books. There was one on the best Wizarding Travel destinations, and another which seemed to be a Wizarding novel of some sort. There were books on potions, charms, transfiguration, herbology, and history of the Wizarding world as well. Harry thought it odd that defense against the dark arts was missing but then remembered there had been several defense texts in the pack Severus had given him for Christmas, not to mention his defense and Animagus books were some of the few he’d not lost to the vandals. They’d been in his special box, because they were mostly from Sirius and Remus and so had too much sentimental value to leave out.

“Hey!” Draco said. Harry looked up from his books and noticed Draco and Blaise were done opening their gifts as well. “Harry gets a long note. Ours say, Draco or Blaise, Happy Seventh. Sev.”

Remus laughed. Severus looked at Draco and asked if he wanted a spanking and Severus to just keep the rest of his days of gifts. When Draco pouted again and covered his rear end with his hands, everyone started laughing. Remus was laughing so hard he was in tears. As the laughter calmed down, Draco and Blaise gathered their gifts so they could head back up to bed.

Draco and Blaise all had books as well. Harry was surprised to see several Muggle novels in both their piles. Draco explained that Severus always gave them one book that was considered a Muggle Classic and one Muggle novel he thought would just be a fun thing for them both to read during the holidays. They both hugged Severus and Remus and headed back up to bed.

Remus followed them quickly as well, since he had to be up at 5am for his watch. Severus had two hours to kill before his watch and Harry decided to keep him company. They played chess, Harry upping the ante by demanding a kiss in exchange for any lost pieces. As a result, Harry was happy to be losing spectacularly. Then they sat next to each other on the sofa, Harry tucked up against Severus’ side, with Severus’ arm around him, and chatted until it was time for Severus’ watch to start.

Harry suggested they put all the bags in his room, since his room would be the easiest to seal tomorrow while they were gone. Severus helped Harry carry them up, and then waited as Harry changed into pajamas. He tucked Harry in bed before going down to his watch, making Harry promise to get someone if he had nightmares. He kissed Harry goodnight and left the room.

Severus’ watch was quiet. He read a book, mostly to keep his mind off Harry. He was glad when Tonks came down and sent him off to bed, until he tried to open the room he always slept in when staying at headquarters. The bubbly girl was sleeping in HIS room. He went to tell Harry, and get his pajamas. When he opened Harry’s door, he saw Harry tossing in his bed. He gently stroked Harry’s face, and Harry calmed straight down. Severus changed into his pajamas, and woke Harry to tell him that he wouldn’t be in his usual room and he wasn’t sure which room he would be in yet.

“Then stay here. My bed is big enough, besides I can’t sleep without having horrible dreams. That pensieve thing tomorrow is scaring me.” Harry said. Severus tried to resist, but the image of Harry tossing in his sleep when he first opened the door stalled the reasons he shouldn’t sleep by Harry before they could gain more solid ground.

“Scoot over then.” Severus said, as he climbed into the bed next to Harry. Harry snuggled against him, and the last thing Severus remembered before sleep overtook him was a small kiss on the side of his chest where Harry’s head was resting.

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Sunday, Dec 28th


Remus came to wake Harry and Severus up after his shift was done. He figured they would at least like some warning before the older Weasley boys arrived. It wasn’t until he raised his hand to knock on the door to the room Severus usually stayed in that he remembered he’d allowed Tonks’ friend to sleep there the night before. He turned away and headed to Harry’s room, figuring if anyone would know where Severus was it would be Harry. He was certain Severus would not have gone to bed without letting Harry know where to find him. He knocked on Harry’s door and then cracked it open. His initial shock didn’t last very long. It made sense that they had slept together, today was going to be hard on Harry. And it just looked too cute.

Harry was sprawled out on his tummy and Severus had draped himself over Harry, one arm wrapped over his back and around his side. Their legs were entwined, and the covers had slid off the bed entirely at some point.

“Severus, Harry…” Remus called from the doorway. “The Weasley brothers are going to be here in probably less than 15 minutes. Get up!”

Harry turned over and ended up face to face, chest to chest with Severus. They stared into each others eyes for a few moments when they heard Remus again.

“15 minutes guys. No time for that. Remember the Weasleys just found out what was causing Harry’s reactions to them, and there was no time for that type of chat yesterday. They will probably want it today. Unless you want the Weasleys to see this, as some sort of assurance Harry really is fine.”

Severus shot out of bed and grabbed clean clothing out of his bag. He tossed Remus his bag, plus the bags for Draco and Blaise and told him to go be useful somewhere else. Harry rolled out of bed and pulled his clothing out as well. They looked at each other, and took his clothing and headed to the bathroom door, kissing Severus as he passed by.

“I would not have been able to control myself had we dressed together, sorry.” Harry said as he left. Severus nodded and swatted his rear as he passed by.

“You know, I might begin to like that and then what would you do?” Harry said popping his head back into the room. Severus tossed his pajama top at Harry, who was behind the door before it even got close.

The sitting room was looking crowded again, but Harry realized it was mostly because the twins were there and they always seemed to take up more space than anyone else. Draco and Blaise had brought out the tins of cookies, and were proudly explaining to the Weasleys that they’d made them themselves.

When Harry came in, he was immediately tightly surrounded by redheads, the owners of which fortunately realized what they were doing. They backed off enough to give Harry enough space to see the individuals.

“We still don’t see why you wouldn’t tell us what Ron did to you.” Fred said. “It’s not like we would have hurt him too much.”

Harry laughed. “You would have ruined Christmas and your family would be even more upset with me than they already are.”

“Dad’s not upset with you, Harry. I actually think he’s quite impressed with you.” Bill said.

“That’s good; I still like your Dad. He’s nice to talk to.” Harry replied.

“I haven’t spent enough time at home to tell you how he is dealing with this.” Charlie said. “Mum was taking everything out on all of us so we didn’t stay. I think I’m going to find an apartment to rent somewhere near Diagon Alley and help the twins with the store when I’m not on Order business, living at home has gotten too annoying.”

“At least you can get out. Mum made us promise to stay and not leave for our honeymoon until after New Years. Of course it took no time at all convincing Sabina of this. Hopefully I’ll be able to fix the harm done by Hermione over the honeymoon; she and Percy have been feeding Sabina the silliest ideas in the name of “real” British Wizardry.” Bill said. “She is furious at me today for coming here and associating with men who are immoral freaks. I am still having a problem getting her accept that we have the same ideas about how love works here as we had within the foreign Wizarding Community in Egypt, and she accepted it there. It doesn’t help that it is a fringe thing within the Egyptian Wizard society. I mean it is there and acknowledged but not fully accepted like it is generally here. Of course they are much more focused on the need to produce a great family. The mortality rate for children is so high there.”

“Do you think she’d give you an easier time about it if she got to know us?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been able to get a feel for how much influence Hermione had on her, let alone my mother and Percy. I am hoping that the 6 months she has spent around them hasn’t given them time to poison her mind too much.”

Harry sighed. “I wish every one would just stop making their decisions about me before actually meeting me.”

“When are you heading out to do the pensieve thing?” George asked.

Harry shrugged.

“Draco, you and Blaise still planning on spending the afternoon helping us booby trap our Lab?” Fred asked, dragging Draco over closer to where they were talking.

Draco and Blaise smiled at each other. “You bet. Sev still isn’t happy about it.”

“Severus is worried you’ll use your ill gained knowledge to cause problems in the Slytherin common rooms, which he’ll have to spend his time fixing. I’ve been listening to you and Remus. I swear you Slytherins are more Marauder like than any of us Gryffindors, except the twins. They would have made excellent Slytherins.” Harry said.

“And we all know what you’d prefer Severus spend his time doing, don’t’ we.” Blaise drawled.

“Oh? Is there something a raven haired Gryffindor would like to be sharing here?” Charlie teased.

Harry blushed. “Ummm. No.”.

Fred and George laughed. “Our little Harry is finally growing up.” Charlie sniffed, wiping away fake tears, in huge melodramatic actions. Draco and Blaise joined in the laughter as well. Harry’s face just blazed a bit redder and he started to shrink in on himself.

Bill reached over and tossed his arm over Harry’s shoulders, giving him a slight hug. Tilting Harry’s head up with a finger he spoke. “You know we’re only teasing, right? We are happy you’ve found someone you can think of like that. Charlie and the twins were really worried about you after they saw you that summer after fifth year. I was worried about you when I saw you at Christmas time later that year. I admit to being afraid sometimes this day would never come, and we’d never be able to tease you this way. We’ve been waiting a long time to tease our little brother, you know.”

Harry turned and gave Bill a full hug. “You don’t know how much that means to me, Bill. I saw you guys as my family and I was so worried and upset that I had lost all my family again before these Holidays started. I wasn’t even sure Remus still loved me until Severus got hold of him and he dropped everything to come to me.”

“You got some new family this season too, didn’t you?” Bill asked, turning Harry to where Draco and Blaise had started to wrestle around with the twins.

Charlie came over and put his arm over Harry’s free shoulder. “I think they are a great addition to your family as well. I think we just might adopt them into ours too”

“Yeah.” said Harry, nodding. “And Amy said I’d make a great substitute brother as well, so I even got sort of a little sister, and Tonks has been great. She’s done a lot this season just because we asked her. So has Poppy, she’s been wonderful to me.”

“There you go. You’ve been through the fire certainly, but you have come out knowing who you can count on and who cares for Harry…not some made up persona who only exists in that individuals mind.” Charlie told him.

“Harry.” Severus said, coming over to them. “It’s time.”

Harry groaned, he didn’t want to face those horrid memories at all, let alone before lunch.

Severus gave Draco and Blaise small rocks. “These are port-keys. If you need them, smash them into the ground to activate the port-key, then touch it. It will send you to the Manor, into Amy’s room. The room will then summon Amy and two house elves and seal itself. Then it will inform all the order members that there is trouble. If Fred and George touch them after they’ve been activated they will be taken along for the ride. Use them only in case of an emergency. Oh, and don’t have too much fun.”

Fred and George left with Blaise and Draco as soon as they were given their port-keys.

“We’ll be back when we are back. The room the four prisoners are in is sealed until Dumbledore releases it, but check on them every few hours just to make sure. None of us trust this house too much. There is a house elf here, her name is Lossy. Send her in with sandwiches around noon. Have her make you something for lunch as well, and feel free to eat as many cookies as you want. I don’t know what they were thinking yesterday.” Severus ran down the instructions for the day.

“We are having fun. Besides, you like them. I’ve seen you eating them when you think no one is looking!” Harry said.

“Go put on some robes. I have your red ones freshened, and they are set out for you in your room.” Severus told Harry.

Harry ran up to his room.

“Is he going to be alright, Severus?” Bill asked as soon as Harry was out of hearing range.

“I don’t know. He’s never even told us fully what happened.” Severus said.

“And, I don’t think he’s dealt with it in any other manner either. His journal and sketch pad were destroyed when they vandalized his room.” Remus added.

“Can he handle it? Yes, I think he can. Can he handle it well? I just don’t know.”

“Did he really try to kill himself?” Charlie inquired.

“Yes, the night Ron got up in the great hall and spouted off. Draco found him in the prefects’ bathroom. Which reminds me, someone must stay with him at all times today, I don’t think Grimmauld Place has those charms set on it.”

“It might, Dumbledore thought Sirius was suicidal, so he might have set them like he did at your places.”

Severus rolled his eyes at Remus. “Do you know for sure?” Severus asked.

“No.”

“Then we will assume this place doesn’t have those spells on it. Oh, Remus, as soon as Harry gets down here, go back up and put his eighth day gift on his bed. It might be of help when we get home.”

Remus nodded.

“Been doing Yuletide for just Harry or all of them?” Bill asked.

“Just the boys, Amy’s family is a purely Christmas family. We had a big Christmas for her, tree and everything. Oh, dear. I wonder if the house elves remembered to leave the lights their treats.”

Harry came back in, dragging his feet. Remus headed up the stairs as soon as Harry went over the where Severus and the Weasley boys were standing. Severus fussed with his hair, spelled his glasses clean and straighter, and asked to see Harry’s wand. Harry gave it to Severus, and noticed it still was still slightly dusty. Severus made him clean it off. Remus shouted from the hall way and they left for the Ministry Building.

It hadn’t changed much, and Harry was just as uncomfortable in it this time as he had been the first time he was there. They were to meet Madame Bones and the lady who took the pensieve testimonies at Madame Bones’ office. They saw Kingsley and Tonks and the lady from the night before in the building on the way, and Harry was caught between feeling safer and more nervous. Madame Bones and the pensieve lady, a Mrs. Domsberg, were waiting.

Severus watched as Harry put on his Harry Potter, the-boy -who-lived, mantle. Harry stood straighter, and pulled his shoulders back. He masked his face into a blank but firm expression and lifted his chin. He opened the door and marched in. Severus put on his Potions Master face, and even Remus’ expression let it be known that they weren’t there to play.

“Ah,” said Mrs. Domsberg. “You must be Harry Potter. Dear Cornelius is very anxious that this be done today. He expects we can get all this unpleasant business over with before it becomes a nuisance you know. Poor sweet Percy is just ill about it all.”

Severus’ eyes narrowed and Remus glared at Madame Bones. Harry backed away till he was leaning against Remus.

“She was the only one who could make it today.” Madame Bones said, shrugging.

“Well then,” Severus replied. “Let us get started. Due to the nature of the memories of which the pensieve testimonies will be taken, I will be monitoring Mr. Potter’s heart rate and breathing. He will be allowed calming potions if his breathing becomes too irregular, or his heart rate becomes too fast. If you don’t approve of me, I will call for someone from St Mungo’s, however that will lengthen the time you spend here on your day off. If at any point Mr. Potter suffers a panic attack, or starts to close himself down, we will stop immediately.”

Mrs. Domsberg started to protest, but Madame Bones stopped her. “Those are the terms which anyone who is giving pensieve testimonies set forth, they are acceptable.”

“Fine!” Mrs. Domsberg snapped. “Here is the list of memories we are to capture to pensieve today.” She held the list in her hand, instead of setting them on the table so everyone could review it. “I have been asked that we take from an hour prior to the start of each listed event to three hours after.”

“Unacceptable. In both cases that length of time after the attacks would carry into medical treatments, and that is against Council laws. If you want testimony for those time periods you will have to gather it from his medical providers.”

“But Minister Fudge said…”

“Minister Fudge cannot overrule Council laws. The capture of the memories will cease when Mr. Potter was admitted into medical care.”

Mrs. Domsberg looked at Madame Bones, who shrugged. “He is correct and you know it. I am not allowed to over ride Council rules anymore than the Minister is. Those rules apply unless there is a reason we can’t get the medical knowledge from the care provider. I do believe the care provider is Madame Pomfrey and she is certainly available if we need her.” Madame Bones stated.

“But…”

“But nothing.” Severus snapped. “This will be done legally, or we will bring it before the Council.”

“Fine! Shall we get started then? The first memories to be retrieved, according to the list, are those of the rapes. Make the boy sit on that stool so I can best retrieve the memories.”

“Wait.” cried Remus. “We should be retrieving a physical assault and a sexual assault, but not a rape.”

“It is on the list: rapes, physical assault, and sexual assault.”

“The rapes will be taken off the list. That instance is not up for prosecution and thus there is no reason for them to be brought forth.” Remus insisted.

“Minister Fudge says otherwise. He refuses to admit any evidence without the memories from that time being captured as well. He insists it’s all or nothing, and if it is nothing he will have to drop the case.” Mrs. Domsberg said.

“I will not authorize this if those memories are being captured. There can be no purpose served by doing so. Madame Bones, if you insist on those memories being captured, we are leaving now and calling forward our legal aide and representatives. We maintain that set of memories can serve no purpose and will in fact only cause Harry great harm. The council will be called to session within minutes and your Sunday will be ruined. Fudge will be called in as well.” Severus said. He had noticed how pale Harry became at the mention of the rapes, and he knew there was no way Harry could relive those memories and still be able to give pensieve testimony on the other two assaults. “Remus, call Dumbledore and see if you can contact Kingsley. Tell Albus that we will need Pomfrey here, as well as Mr. Potter’s specialists from St. Mungo’s. Mrs. Domsberg, if you’ll excuse us. Madame Bones, please come here for a few minutes.”

Severus took Madame Bones’ arm and pulled her off to the side. He watched Remus head out the door and kept his eyes on Harry as he talked to her.

“Someone at the order meeting spoke to Fudge. Fudge never knew Harry was raped. He was still intent on his smear campaign against him and we could not risk that information getting out. If he gets those memories, he will use them against Harry, Dumbledore and the Order, and we all might as well line up at Voldemort’s feet to kiss his robes.”

“I’ll see what I can do, but he is the Minister. I don’t see why the huge fuss though.”

“I know the laws, make them stick. How can you not see the fuss? Those rapes have nothing to do with Ronald Weasley and his actions, and that is what this is about.”

“Yes, but this is Harry Potter.”

“Who was an underage child when those happened, and like it or not, he is not public property. His life is his own, and everything that happens to him doesn’t belong to the whole world. He is not a free access community toy. Making those memories open to the Minister, or whoever demands to see them next, is just the same as raping him again. Would you let the minister pin him down and force his way into Harry’s body? How can he be allowed to do the same to his mind? Those who needed to know about it, who needed to have access to that part of Harry Potter’s life, had access. It is as simple as that.”

“But he is a public figure.”

“Fine. I demand pensieve testimony of Harry’s fifth year from Fudge, starting from the moment the Third task started. It must include all conversations with Umbridge, and Percy Weasley, as well as all conversations with any Malfoys.” Severus said.

“You can’t.”

“Why not?”

“You can’t just demand people’s memories like that. It’s against the law.”

“But it’s not just anyone’s memories. It is Minister Fudge’s, and he’s a public figure. They could possibly be of great importance to the entire Wizarding world, of much more importance than Harry’s rapes.”

“But…”

“Exactly. Neither can Fudge. It doesn’t work that way.” Severus said. He turned his back on her and walked over to Harry, who had pulled his knees up to his chest and curled himself around them.”

“Professor, I can’t do that one. I can’t relive that time and I would have to for a pensieve testimony. Even the counselor has said that. Dumbledore and Poppy extracted them to look at so they could know all the physical harm which was done to me not long after it happened, and it was horrible, and I wasn’t even really fully conscious when they did it. I couldn’t handle it fully aware. What if they won’t take the other without those, what if I can’t do any of them? What if...” Harry’s whisper was getting faster and more panicked, his breathing becoming irregular and quick.

“Harry, stop!” Severus snapped. Harry stopped. “Now take deep breaths.”

Harry did as Severus told him and was soon breathing properly again. Severus kept his eye on Madame Bones and Mrs. Domsberg, who were again talking together. Mrs. Domsberg seemed rather agitated by what Madame Bones was telling her.

“Remus will bring Dumbledore, who was probably expecting something like this anyway. We will find out who talked from the Order meeting, and they will be taken care of. Then this prosecution will go forward, or Albus will do something underhanded that will create the same effect. You’ll see, it will all turn out. OK?”

Harry smiled. “I think the Headmaster was a Slytherin when he went to Hogwarts. Everyone else I know says Gryffindor, but I think he must have been a Slytherin.”

Severus laughed. “I’ve always suspected that as well, but I can not get any solid answer. Even the bloody hat won’t tell me. It just says “oh, he was a hard one to place. Could have gone anywhere.” Of course that hat has all sorts of tales to tell, and I’m never quite sure what to believe from it.”

Harry laughed and Severus smiled. “Much better, young man.”

Remus came back into the room and rushed over to Harry. Dumbledore swept in, followed by Kingsley, Percy, Tonks, and Fudge making the small room rather crowded. Remus took the other chair by Harry, and Tonks perched upon the stool. Dumbledore shortened the desk and conjured an armchair, in which he promptly sat. Kingsley leaned against the door. Percy and Fudge remained standing, looking uncomfortable.

“What seems to be the problem here?” asked Dumbledore.

Everyone glared at each other and no one spoke up. Finally Harry couldn’t stand it any longer.

“The Minister told Mrs. Domsberg over there that in order for any pensieve testimonies to count; she was to retrieve the rapes the summer after my fifth year as well. He wanted them done first. He also wanted from an hour before the attacks upon me to three hours after included in the pensieve testimonies.”

“Nonsense.” Dumbledore said. “The Council has always allowed pensieve testimonies in cases of sexual abuse, or physical abuse where the victim potentially could have been semi conscious during part of the attack. The attacks on Harry fit those circumstances. He had a punctured lung and we cannot be sure when that injury occurred during the attack, so he might have been suffering from oxygen deprivation and thus details might be fuzzy. The second attack was sexual, and thus, the pensieve. You cannot deny him that option, nor can you hinge its use upon any thing else. Council protocol.”

“I am the Minister, Dumbledore. I can require whatever I please.” Fudge snorted.

“No, you can not. The Minister, however grand a position, is subject to the same laws, regulations and Council protocols that apply to every other wizard and witch. If you cannot accept this upon hearing it from me, I have no qualms about calling forth the whole Wizengamot to inform you of this as well. Or maybe we shall ask the public? I’m sure they would love to know you believe that as Minister you can do anything you want.” Dumbledore noted.

“Yes, well…maybe, but I still demand access to Harry Potter memories of being raped.” Fudge stammered.

“Why?”

“Well, because we need to know.” Fudge answered Dumbledore.

“Why?”

“Because it’s our right to know.”

“Why?” asked Dumbledore yet again.

“Because it’s important we know.”

“Why?”

“Because it is Harry Potter!”

“So?”

Percy answered instead of Fudge. “Because if he was raped it means he isn’t capable of being so important anymore. We would have to take him down.”

“Take him down? Being so important?” asked Dumbledore.

“He’d be dirty, and not worthy. Therefore that could have contributed to what Ron supposedly did. Besides, he’s probably just making it all up. He’s always out for what glory he can get.” Percy said.

“Preposterous. Would Penelope be dirty if she’d been raped? Especially if she had been under aged and away from school, where she couldn’t have used her magic to protect herself? Would she have managed to get it to happen just to get attention?” Dumbledore asked Percy.

“No. Well maybe. She couldn’t have been though; I know she isn’t dirty and could never have brought something like that upon herself.”

“Percy, child, I think I shall be sending her a note telling her you feel this way. It might be good for her to know.”

“But..But…Even if she was, you can’t go around telling everyone something like that happened to her. Things like that are supposed to be confidential.”

“Really now? Did you hear that, Harry, Remus? Information about assaults like that, especially upon under aged children are supposed to be...what was that? Oh yes, confidential.” sneered Severus.

“If you need proof of the rapes Harry suffered through during the summer after his fifth year, I will provide you with the documented evidence taken by Poppy, St Mungo’s staff members, and a Muggle police detective squad. It happened in Harry’s Muggle relative’s house, where he could not use magic to protect himself. Due to the absurd prosecution of him the year before for protecting himself, he rightly hadn’t any trust in the emergency use exceptions to the under ages use of magic and no magic in Muggle area laws. The ones responsible for those rapes have been dealt with. It is all over and done with for US, we