Chapter 22 - Family
To Severus Snape's surprise, life with Harry Potter was actually quite pleasant. As luck would have it Harry's annoying dog-father and the Wolf were away on missions for Dumbledore more often than not, so he rarely had to deal with his childhood nemesis.
As for Potter - they butted heads on occasion, and Severus found himself reacting with difficulty to the increasing attraction he felt for the young man who shared his bed, but he also came to enjoy his company in the quite hours when both of them were working on their daily tasks of life. More and more, the boy became comfortable enough to begin talking a bit more with him, and though he tried not to let on too much, Severus found his conversations welcomed. He'd lived a remarkably solitary life, and with the sudden company thrust upon him, he began to realize just how lonely he had been throughout most of it. Even the addition of Harry's owl Hedwig, who had taken to watching him in the mornings from a perch by the fire, was a welcomed change.
For the most part things were quiet on the war front - though Severus had to sit through numerous Quidditch matches along side Slytherin parents who had reason to hate the Gryffindor Seeker. The day Harry had taken the Eye of Odin from Voldemort's hand several parents of his Slytherin students had lost their lives - to sit beside their spouses at a school game when his loyalties were now publicly known while they watched the boy who had brought so much defeat to their lives trounce their home team proved to be a nail-biting experience. Albus, however, always made certain to come to the games himself, and with him came all the other teachers of Hogwarts and numerous Order members so nothing ever happened beyond the life threatening reality of rogue bludgers.
However life with Harry Potter, also meant life with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. It wasn't until late October that Harry first invited his friends into their quarters for a late night study session. Since Severus knew they were working on Defense Against the Dark Arts (this year's teacher was as bad as last year's), he really didn't have cause to stop them. He had commended Hermione Granger on the outside research she had done to help Harry - knew that these study sessions from last year were what had saved Harry's life time and time again. He could hardly complain when they asked to use his private library - something that technically Harry had full right to explore. His quarters were now Harry's quarters though he might resent it.
Again, surprisingly, he found he didn't mind the company of the other two Gryffindors either. Granger was extraordinarily intelligent, and the few times she'd braved his presence to ask him a question about something she didn't understand, he had been impressed by her grasp of magical theory. And though he found Ron Weasley annoying, he had to admit that the boy had an amusing sense of humor and a startling grasp of strategy. Severus had watched him playing wizards chess against Harry a couple of times and had been impressed by how quickly he had defeated the Gryffindor golden boy.
When Harry approached him early one evening at the beginning of December with a somewhat pensive look on his face, Severus had been worried that perhaps something had happened to disturb the status quo they had managed to maintain the last few months. He'd been sitting by the fire reading a new potion's manual when Harry had entered their quarters alone and sat down across from him in the chair that had become 'his' over the weeks.
"Something wrong?" Severus asked when he realized that Harry was staring at him.
"No," Harry said quickly, then shifted uncomfortably. "I wanted to ask you about Christmas."
Christmas - a holiday that Severus had little use for. His family had of course celebrated the various solstice rites, but since that holiday was a time for family Severus had fallen out of the practice. It hadn't been an overly happy time when he was a child, though he did remember some pleasant evenings with his sister. Since his falling out with his family he had never done much for the holiday - though he supposed now he might try to at least pay his sister a visit. Julius, now under the influence of Severus' curse, was not speaking to him. Claudius and Marcellus were also under a powerful monitoring spell, but were actually more angry at his failure to reopen Snape Manor. He supposed eventually he would have do so, but it could wait for a time when he was not so busy.
"What about it?" Severus asked. No doubt Harry had some ridiculous Gryffindor ideas about trees and presents and various different Yuletide games. He knew that the Weasleys wanted him to spend the holiday at the Burrow this year - Albus had already talked to him about it and he supposed Harry had just heard.
"The Weasleys invited me to the Burrow this holiday," Harry explained. He stared at Snape expectantly.
Severus frowned - this was the problem with being forced into a marriage with someone so young. "Are you asking for my permission to go?"
Harry gave him a hesitant smile. "I guess," he admitted uncertainly, looking uncomfortable. Severus suspected that asking for things wasn't a common occurrence for Harry - he could just imagine what happened with the Dursleys when he made a request of them. He looked now as if he were expecting Severus to refuse him and was marshalling whatever arguments he might have to sway his mind.
"Harry," Severus sighed. "I told you long ago, I am not your father or your guardian. I am your bond-mate. You do not need my permission to spend the holidays as you see fit. However, considering who you are, it would be wise to investigate certain security measures for such an arrangement."
The boy looked startled by his response. "Oh," he blinked uncertainly at Severus. "I. . . does this mean you don't mind?"
"Mind?" Severus frowned. "It hardly matters if I mind or not. Albus has already spoken with me - he's added extra wards to the Burrow, and all the elder Weasley children will be present for the holiday, along with your godfather and Lupin. Provided you do not do anything crazy like wander off by yourself, you should be safe enough. I trust you won't do anything to endanger yourself?"
"I won't," the boy assured him, looking almost giddy with excitement - no doubt he had expected this conversation to go much differently. There was a sparkle in his eyes that Severus had rarely seen, as if he had already been given what ever ridiculous Christmas presents he was likely to be offered come Yule. "Thank you!"
"It had nothing to do with me," Severus shrugged. "Thank the Weasleys and the Headmaster." He turned his attention back to the manual he was reading, wondering suddenly how he was going to endure the silence during the two weeks of vacation while Harry was gone. It surprised him that he was not looking forward to it.
The boy had jumped up from his seat and raced to the door, no doubt to inform the Weasley boy that he could join them for the holiday after all. He paused at the door however and looked back at Severus.
"Severus?" he asked hesitantly.
Severus looked up, a strange shiver going through his body at the sound of his name. Even after these last several months it still startled him when Harry used his name. There were only a handful of people in the world who used his given name - but there was something doubly intimate about Harry doing so, as if it were something almost illicit between them. Those bright green eyes were gazing at him oddly from behind his glasses.
"The Weasleys invited both of us, you know," Harry informed him.
Severus blinked, momentarily taken aback by the very idea. "Both of us?"
Harry nodded. "Mrs. Weasley specifically extended the invitation to you."
"What would I possibly do at the Burrow for two weeks?" Severus asked incredulously. Surely the boy wasn't suggesting he join him? Did he imagine Severus sitting around playing Exploding Snaps with Ron and the twins for two weeks - or perhaps they could all play Quidditch in the snow in the backyard.
The boy flushed in embarrassment. "I just meant for Christmas," he amended. "I know you're probably very busy with school work over the holidays. I meant for Christmas. You could come for Christmas Eve and stay the night - eat dinner with us on Christmas Day."
"Surely you're joking?" Severus just stared at the boy, taking in his flushed features and bright eyes. Harry was biting his lower lip in a way that indicated he was anxious about something - was he afraid perhaps that Severus was going to say yes and possibly ruin the holiday for him?
"Please," the boy said, surprising the hell out of Severus. Please? The boy wanted him to say yes? He stared at him in disbelief. "It's Christmas," the boy continued, his voice taking on a cajoling tone. Merlin, the boy did want him to say yes! "Please say you'll come."
"Why on earth. . ." Severus began.
"We're family now," Harry cut him off, and this time Severus heard something almost pleading in his tone. There was hope burning in his eyes - hope and a touch of wariness as if he feared being struck down for making such a request or making such a claim. Severus tried to imagine what holidays might have been like for the boy before coming to Hogwarts. If the Dursleys were abusive to him the rest of the year, how much worse might they have been on the holidays when families were supposed to pull together? Was the boy so desperate to be part of a family that he was willing to put up with someone he so blatantly didn't like? Severus wasn't certain how to respond.
Harry took a step toward him, looking both shy and anxious, which was odd to see in so brave and brash a young man. "Look," Harry sighed. "I know you don't like . . ." He frowned at that, his gaze turning inward as he thought about how to continue. "Well, you don't like . . . me, or the Weasleys, or Sirius, or Remus, or Christmas or. . . " He sighed again, looking rather defeated all of a sudden. "I guess. . ." he shrugged helplessly as if realizing what a ridiculous request he had made. He looked up and Severus saw that same pleading look in his eyes. For whatever reason, Harry genuinely wanted him to join them for Christmas. He found himself unable to refuse the boy's request - of course if he was honest with himself, he really didn't hate the idea. It might be nice to share Christmas with Harry - even if it meant he had to put up with all the rest of it.
"I am beginning to find you somewhat tolerable," he conceded, amending Harry's long list of the things he didn't like.
Harry's eyes lit up like the sun, taking Severus' breath away. "Then you'll come?" he exclaimed hopefully.
Severus was quite beyond any hope of refusal now. "I imagine I can put up with the annoyances for a day or two," he offered.
The smile on Harry's face seemed to brighten the entire room. "Thanks!" he grinned, and then turned and rushed from the room, leaving a very bemused Potion Master staring after him.
Harry sat on Neville's bed and watched as Ron packed up his trunk for their trip back home to the Burrow. Harry's things were already waiting down in the common room where Professor McGonagall had promised to meet them with a port key that would take them straight to the Weasley's living room. Normally he never got a chance to go anywhere for the holidays and Harry was excited about the two weeks ahead of him. He was looking forward to Christmas for the first time in years.
"I can't believe you invited him, Harry!" Ron was exclaiming as he haphazardly tossed his things into his trunk.
"I told you, your mother invited him," Harry explained. Ron was horrified of the idea of having Professor Snape in their house for Christmas. He couldn't seem to get his mind around it. Harry on the other hand was quite glad the man had agreed to join them. He'd grown rather fond of the man over the last few months, now that they'd gotten past the endlessly grumpiness and sniping. Harry had begun to enjoy his sense of humor and quick wit, though he wasn't ready to tell Ron that yet. He also hadn't liked the thought of the man spending the holidays all alone. He knew that despite the family reunion back in September, relations were still strained with Severus and the rest of the Snapes. He doubted the man would be joining them for the holidays. His sister was the only one he kept in regular touch with, but Harry had sensed that there was some tension there as well mostly due to Diana's husband.
"Fine, then I can't believe my mother invited him!" Ron grumbled. "And you didn't have to tell him, you know."
"Oh, Ron, get used to it," Harry sighed. "He's not so bad once you get to know him. Or are you forgetting things could be a lot worse."
"Worse?" Ron demanded. "How could they possibly be worse?"
"Well, for one thing, instead of being married to Professor Snape, I could be married to Hermione or you," Harry reminded him mildly.
Ron blanched at that, shuddering with the thought. "Good point."
"Thanks," Harry said with mock insult.
Ron just rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean anything by it Harry," he groused. "I just. . . well, you know. . . "
"I know," Harry laughed. "It's just for two days, Ron. No one should spend Christmas alone. Besides we'll have the rest of the holiday all to ourselves. It will be just like old times. And Remus and Sirius are coming. It will be brilliant!"
"That's true," Ron closed up his trunk. "All right, I'll behave. But he's not sleeping in my room!"
Harry just laughed and helped his friend carry his trunk down to the common room where Ginny and Hermione were already waiting for them. The rest of the tower was already empty - all the other students had headed home for the holiday that morning on the train. They were the last of them to leave due to the need for extra security surrounding Harry. They would be traveling by port key instead of the Hogwarts Express since even the Ministry agreed that it was no longer a safe means of transport for Harry Potter.
"Is everyone ready?" Professor McGonagall asked as she entered the common room through the portrait door. She had an old mitten in her hand. She glanced around the room at the four students and the four trunks. "The port key leaves in five minutes so I hope you have all remembered to pack everything. It should deposit you directly in the living room of the Burrow."
"All ready, Professor," the four students informed her.
"Have you informed your parents, Hermione?" McGonagall asked unnecessary. Hermione had made arrangements to go to the Burrow for the holidays almost a month ago - Harry had no doubt that she'd informed her parents immediately.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione replied courteously. "They're going to join us later."
"Excellent," the woman nodded just as the portrait door opened a second time and Professor Snape came striding into the room. Harry stood up quickly, wondering why Severus was here. The others all turned as well, surprised looks on all their faces. None of them had ever seen Professor Snape in the Gryffindor common room before.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked warily, thinking that perhaps he was going to be informed after all that he could not go with the others.
Confronted with five Gryffindors and a room decorated predominately in red and gold, a very familiar sneer crossed Snape's features. But rather than fire off with his usual insults he just thrust out his hand toward Harry, holding out a heavy fur-lined cloak to him. "You forgot your cloak," he informed him. "It's cold out."
For a moment Harry was stunned speechless. It was such an oddly caring thing to do - like something an overly worried mother might do for a small child. He reached out hesitantly and took the cloak from Severus' hands. "Thank you," he smiled bemusedly.
"You're welcome," Snape sneered, his words belying the expression. He glanced around at the other stunned faces in the room, then nodded stiffly to Harry. "Have fun," he said curtly then turned and strode just as swiftly from the room as he'd entered.
Harry glanced at the others - even McGonagall was staring at him with an expression of surprise. He shrugged at them somewhat bewilderedly.
"Huh. . ." Ron mused. "Must be the holiday spirit."
"Or Old Ogden's," Professor McGonagall muttered under her breath. "Never mind now, all of you take hold of your trunks and touch the port key." She handed the mitten over to Harry while they all grasped their trunks. The others all reached out and touched a finger to the mitten and a moment later they were whisked off across Scotland and deposited safely in the heart of the Burrow.