As Severus Snape and company arrived in the living room of the Black ancestral home, #12 Grimmauld Place, they were surrounded by most of the Weasleys, including Arthur and Molly. The odd thing was, the usually boisterous family were all subdued and quiet. The reason for the quiet came from shouts emanating from the kitchen.

"...his godfather!" that was Sirius voice, his anger sprinkled with a fine variety of curse words. "Harry belongs to me!"

"You're a wanted man, Sirius! Be reasonable!" shouted Remus Lupin's voice.

"James would NOT have wanted this! My gods, Moony! It's Snivellus!"

The kitchen door burst open as Sirius Black angrily stomped into the living room. Wearing torn clothing and smelling as though he hadn't bathed in weeks, it was obvious he'd just come in from hiding out in the wild, most likely in his Animagus form, that of a dog. The second the wild-eyed man saw Snape he lunged madly for the man. Both wizards fell to the ground but even before Sirius had a chance to land his fist into Snape's face, the wild-haired man shot upward toward the ceiling.

"Let me down you bloody bastard!" shouted Sirius down at Snape.

"I'm not the one hanging you up, you imbecilic mutt!" cursed Snape furiously as he rose to his feet.

Sirius didn't see a wand. In fact, no one had a wand out. He did see a beautiful, young woman with amazing green eyes stepping toward him. The look on her face was as dangerous as any scowl he'd ever seen on Snape's ugly mug. She held out a slim hand and abruptly flicked it sideways. Sirius let out a shout as the living room and the people in it began spinning wildly around. When he stopped, it was with a stomach roiling jerk.

Snape's fist suddenly, and dramatically, connected with Black's face. His nose crunched audibly and he let out a pained and angry shout.

"DAD!" Harry finally yelled through the mayhem of shouts from the Weasleys, and cheering from the twins sitting between their parents.

Hearing Harry refer to Severus Snape as 'Dad' worked better than any silencing spell. There was absolute dead silence in the living room.

Still hanging in the air, Sirius stared at Harry. "No, Harry," he said softly, the hurt in his eyes too evident. "He's not your father. James is. This would kill him."

"No it wouldn't, Sirius," Harry stepped up next to Snape and to the man's surprise, Harry wrapped his arm possessively around Snape's forearm. "I love you, Sirius, but you've no idea what Dad's done for me recently. I'm not asking you to be friends with him, but I am asking you to respect what I've chosen. I have a real family now and I know my parents would approve. So, can't you at least try and be happy for me?"

"He's a Death Eater, Harry," argued Sirius plaintively. "He always hated James and he's treated you like shite for the last three years! What the hell could he have...?"

Sirius was interrupted by the timely arrival of the Headmaster. "Ah! It appears that everyone is here. I think the children ought to go and occupy themselves upstairs while the adults come with me in the kitchen. An explanation is in order." Dumbledore turned to Lyrica. "Madame Snape, would you mind letting Mr. Black down?"

She smiled sweetly to Dumbledore. "Of course, Headmaster."

Gravity claimed Sirius with a vengeance and he slammed with an 'oof' to the floor. Snape smiled wryly and kissed his wife's cheek as he led her over Black's prostrate form and into the kitchen. Remus scrambled over to Sirius and helped him up and did a healing spell on the man's broken nose.

"Moony? That's not Snape's squeeze? She's too beautiful for that greasy git!"

"Sirius, do you think you could act your age while we find out what's been going on?" Remus glared angrily at Sirius who pouted and scowled.

Remus grabbed Sirius by the arm and wrinkled his nose as he got a whiff of the man. Taking out his wand, he waved it over the scruffy wizard. "Scourgify!"

"Hey! Ow!" griped Sirius. "You put a bit too much force into that spell, Moony!"

"You reek, Sirius, and I for one, am not going to be trapped in that stuffy kitchen with you. Scourgify!"

"Dammit, Moony! Don't do that again!" Sirius quickly inspected himself. "I think you took a layer of skin off that time."

"Padfoot, why have you been lurking around Hogwarts in your Animagus form when you could be here, in your house?"

Sirius grimaced at his friend. "Have you seen this house? It's wretched. It's a good thing Kreacher decided to run away when he did. I was about to wring his neck and add his head to my mother's trophy wall of elf heads."

Remus nodded. "That elf gives a bad name to all house elves."

Arthur's head popped out from behind the kitchen door. "We're waiting," he smiled uneasily.

Remus followed Arthur, dragging Sirius behind him. In the kitchen, Molly had busied herself making hot chocolate for everyone. Sirius took his cup, but didn't drink it as he glared nastily at Snape and then eyed the man's wife.

"I'll blind you, Black, if you keep staring at my wife like that," warned Snape.

Sirius ignored Snape. "Interesting trick you pulled on me, Madame," he smirked as he addressed Lyrica. "And no wand, either."

"Ley Line Magic, Mr. Black," replied Lyrica, conversationally. Under the kitchen table she laced her fingers through her husband's and squeezed.

"Huh? Never heard of it." scoffed Black.

"Natural magic, Mr. Black. My mother was a practitioner, as am I. I rarely use a wand."

Dumbledore spoke up. "Madame Snape, I'd like for you to meet two other people that are important to Harry. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Gentlemen, this is Lyrica Snape."

"Very nice to meet you," said Lupin, somewhat shyly. Lyrica inclined her head to the man who was a bit ragged around the edges, but affable looking. Severus had told her that Remus was a werewolf.

"So, who were you before you married the Death Eater?" Black asked rudely, causing various gasps around the table.

Before Snape could react with another fist, or a curse, Lyrica's voice cut sharply at him, "I was almost your great-grandmother, Sirius Black!" Snape chuckled softly at the rebuke and the puzzled look on Black's face.

"Well," said the Headmaster, "I think before another fight breaks out and I have to start handing out detentions to adults, we ought to answer some questions. Severus, would you care to begin?"

"Hold it! What did she mean?" snapped Black.

"Sirius, I promise all of your questions will be answered if you'll just behave yourself and quit interrupting," admonished Dumbledore.

Black glowered and smacked his back against his chair. "Fine. Speak, Snape and make it quick."

Snape and Lyrica had decided only a few days after their return to their time that they would tell their story to a select group of people. Those were the people gathered around the kitchen table and the teenagers gathered upstairs. They had settled on an abbreviated version of their trip back in time and chose the Christmas holiday to reveal the story and answer questions. As Snape began the tale with the fist fight that had broken out between Draco and Harry back in September, those two boys were now upstairs with an attentive audience telling almost the same story about their travel back in time.

The end of Snape and Lyrica's story came when he rolled up his sleeve to show the absence of the Dark Mark. Nobody seemed more surprised than Sirius. He still didn't care for Snape and was still jealous of the fact that Harry had obviously chosen the enemy of his childhood friend over him. He did, however, have quite a cowed respect for Lyrica's powerful magic, and in deference to the damage she could easily inflict upon him, he silently vowed to tone down the more caustic of his remarks.

Arthur Weasley seemed pleased and was somewhat smug to know this new side of Severus Snape; a side he felt had been there all along. He thanked Snape for taking care of his son, and Molly, wept happily and gave the usually dour wizard a rib bruising hug.

From there the discussion turned to Natural Magic. Although Lyrica preferred to call it by its more technical term of Ley Line Magic, everyone else seemed to prefer calling it Natural Magic. She explained that she'd been teaching it to her husband and to the children. By far, the most proficient students were Hermione, Draco and Snape. She felt certain Ron and Harry would soon catch up.

"Shouldn't Natural Magic be a course at Hogwarts, Albus?" asked Molly.

"Someday it might, but for now I think it is a power we need to keep to ourselves," replied the Headmaster. "I've spoken at length to the children and they feel that there are other students who do need to learn how to draw upon the Ley Lines to enhance their own powers. I've set them the task of deciding which students ought to be trusted with this power and to form a class for them that Lyrica will teach. In addition, some of the staff will be learning as well."

"Only some?" inquired Arthur.

"A few of the staff members feel they are just too... hmm... set in their ways to introduce a new kind of magic to what they already know." Dumbledore smiled deprecatingly, "Such as myself."

Remus asked, "Will this extracurricular magic class be secret, or a privileged club, Albus?"

"It will have to remain a secret," replied Dumbledore.

"There is another strategy of Defense we want to introduce as well, and keep secret," added Snape. He glanced to Remus and Sirius. "As you know, quite by accident, last year Harry, Ron, and Hermione combined their Expelliarmus spell in the Shrieking Shack. They managed to not only disarm me, but to cause enough damage to throw me across the room and knock me out. Currently we duel with our enemies either one on one and sometimes two or more against one. By combining and coordinating our spell casting, we could not only increase our power and reduce our vulnerabilities, but cause devastating destruction to the enemy and undermine their confidence and guard."

Black sunk his chin in his hands. "That's actually... rather brilliant," he mumbled.

Snape cast a sneer of derision at Black who stuck out his tongue at the Potions Master. Dumbledore managed a quick warning glare between the two men. He truly intended to hit both of them with detention if they didn't stop. "Severus. Sirius. A word, please."

The others took that as a sign that the little meeting was over. They hastily exited the kitchen, leaving Sirius and Snape behind with the Headmaster.

"This grudge the two of you have been nursing for the last twenty years has gone on long enough." Dumbledore saw a brief flicker of betrayed outrage cross Snape's face before his expression became one of implacable stone. "Yes, Severus, I know that I am partially to blame for this hostility between you and Sirius, and I will apologise, again, if it is necessary. However, the two of you need to grow up. Neither of you are children anymore. Making Harry have to choose between you is reprehensible and much worse of a burden than anything the two of you ever did to each other. That boy loves you both, dearly. Don't you dare tear him apart by making him choose."

"He's already chosen, Albus!" snapped Sirius. "Eight months and Harry is calling HIM Daddy? Snivellus treated Harry like he was scum on the bottom of his boots for three years! Where was his compassion then? Not one, single, kind word and now Harry loves him? NO!"

Snape didn't argue or say a word. He knew he couldn't help lashing out at his childhood bully, but he heard Dumbledore's words and knew the man was right. There was a part of him, the gawky kid at school who was an outcast even in his own house of Slytherin, that wanted to jump up and down and shout, 'neener! neener! mutt! He chose me!' Then, there was the more grown up, adult part of himself that knew Black had a point. He had been playing a part, he had told himself day after day, but it had been a poor excuse. He knew his treatment of Harry had been abominable. At anytime during the last three years, he could have spoken to Harry, to let him know that someone other than Dumbledore was watching out for him. He could have done what no one else had done, which was to tell the boy what his mother was like. After all, Sirius and Remus had only known Lily after she began attending Hogwarts. Snape had known her from the time they were both eight years old.

Black spun toward Snape and shouted, "As usual, Snivellus, nothing to say for yourself? Standing there like some damn vampire, so bloody sure of yourself! Is it safe for me to turn my back or are you going to hit me with one of your curses?"

The temptation to do just that was so great that it nearly frightened Snape. That was the old Snape. The one that Harry would cringe from. Snape hadn't realised how close to his controlled surface that old Snape was lingering. His voice was low as he replied to Black, "I won't fight for Harry with you, Black. I won't make him choose between us." He then moved past both men and left the kitchen.

"Bloody bastard," growled Sirius. He then saw the look of utter disapproval Dumbledore gave him and dropped down into one of the chairs, his head in his hands. Dumbledore patted the man's shoulder.

"Think of Harry, Sirius. Think of Harry."

Upstairs Harry and Draco, who had dominated the storytelling of their trip back in time, were finished and the conversation moved on to some new pranks the twins were discussing for the joke shop they wanted to open one day. With parchment, quills and ink surrounding them, they all worked together, planning products and throwing ideas at each other.

Draco came up with a super bad breath chocolate bon bon and was busy discussing aspects of the recipe with George. Fred, Ron, and Harry were trying to figure out uses for a slimy licorice rope Fred had recently formulated.

Ginny and Hermione, not so much fans of the jokes, left for Hermione's room so that Hermione could show Ginny her ring and necklace from Draco. Fred saw the two girls depart.

"Oohh, you're in trouble now, mate," sniggered Fred glancing knowingly at Draco.

Draco looked up, "What do you mean?"

"Girl gossip," replied George.

Ron frowned. "What girl gossip?"

Fred answered, "Girls talk about boys, and their boyfriends. Ginny's going to hear about just how well you snog, Drake."

Draco blushed furiously. "No way! She can't do that!" He started to get up but George yanked him back down.

"It's a rite of passage, mate," said George soothingly. "You date a girl and you can't stop it. They're going to talk."

Draco glared at the closed door. "Hermione would never tell. It's private."

"Hey," said Fred, "Don't get mad at her. You ought to be pleased. When I dated that 6th year Ravenclaw Nyssa last year, she couldn't wait to brag to her girlfriends about my kissing prowess." Fred smiled smugly.

George waggled an eyebrow. "So, how does little Miss Bookworm kiss, Draco?"

"A gentleman never kisses and tells," sniped Draco.

"C'mon..." encouraged Fred.

"No, don't," interjected Ron very seriously. "Hermione's like a sister. Just as I don't want to hear about how Ginny kisses, I don't want to hear about how Hermione kisses. So, shut up you two."

"You know, you've got better ideas for a joke shop than what Gambol & Japes or Zonko's has," remarked Draco, changing the subject. "Any ideas on when to open your store?"

George replied, "We'd like to leave school..."

"...next year. But, Mum would..."

"...kill us," completed George. "Of course, we only have..."

"...230 galleons set aside," finished Fred.

Draco leaned over and whispered in Harry's ear. The two boys whispered back and forth until Harry asked, "Would you accept financial help from investors?"

Fred and George looked at each other and then answered together, "Yes!"

Draco grinned. "I have a personal account at Gringott's and so does Harry. I think, if maybe we talk to Dad, he might let us invest our galleons in your shop."

"Your dad?" asked Fred, his shoulders drooping slightly.

Harry smiled. "He'd never admit it, but he really does think you two are brilliant with the potions you invent. Let us talk to him. We think he might like the idea."

"Mum would still kill us, though," said George with a laugh. "So you might tell your dad he's contributing to our early deaths."

"Painful deaths," added Fred.

"He'd like that," chuckled Draco.

A knock came on the door and it opened slowly. Sirius, who finally had a shower and put on decent, clean clothing, stuck his head in. "Harry? Mind if we talk in private for a bit?"

Harry picked himself up off the floor. "Sure. I'll be back in a bit, guys."

"Okay, Harry. We're going out for a snowball fight in a bit. Us against the adults. You think Snape would play?" asked George.

Harry grinned at Draco who smiled back. Both boys knew the Potions Master would play, but he would cheat. "You can ask him."

Sirius scowled at mention of Snape. "C'mon Harry." He grabbed the boy's sleeve, almost yanking him out into the corridor. Sirius then grabbed Harry by the shoulder tightly and pushed him into his room.

"Let go, Sirius! You're hurting me!"

Black let go immediately. "I'm sorry, Harry, but I have to ask. Did he Confund you? Maybe Imperius?"

"Who?"

"SNAPE!" shouted Sirius and Harry backed up against the door.

"NO! What's your problem, Sirius?"

"I can't believe you'd choose him, Harry. He hated your father and I don't care that that stupid Dark Mark is gone. It doesn't erase the fact that he went willingly to Voldie's side and he hurt people!"

"You hurt him!" Harry spoke sharply.

"What? Snape you mean? Harry, he was a snot-nosed brat that thought he was better than anyone else. He knew the Dark Arts and he didn't care about hurting people!"

"He never hurt anyone until the Marauders started bullying him. Every single damn day, Sirius! And I know you weren't any more gentle than he was! YOU almost got him killed!"

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did and if Remus had hurt him that night, the Ministry would have killed him!"

Sirius blanched, but then forged ahead with his original argument. "That berk followed us, sticking his abnormally large nose into other people's business. James and I saved his worthless hide!"

"Did my mum know Severus came to apologise?" demanded Harry, changing the subject and throwing Sirius off a second time.

"Apologise? For what? When?"

"At the lake. When Dad flipped him upside down..."

Sirius, who was confused at first, smiled at the old memory and laughed. Harry didn't laugh. "It was funny, Harry! And he deserved it too after using that cutting curse on James."

"Answer the question, Sirius. Did my mum know that Severus was sitting outside the Gryffindor common room all night waiting to talk to her?" Harry's arms were crossed and he was angry with this immature man that stood before him.

"Of course not! Lily was asleep and never came back down. I think Mary said she cried herself to sleep or something like that. James told me I ought to let Snivellus in, but he was a bastard for calling her a Mudblood, so I kept him out. Good riddance, I said back then and I still mean it. Your mother was too good and kind for a git like Snivellus."

"My mother would have listened to him, Sirius. You're the one's a git!" Harry sighed unhappily, allowing the anger over a past that had happened before he was born, leave him. "Sirius, I do love you..." Sirius smiled, for a second, but the fact that Harry didn't wiped the smile from his face. "But, Severus is my Dad. I love him, too. If you can't grow up and accept this, then I don't want to deal with you."

"Harry! You can't mean that!" Sirius fell to his knees, the anguish open like a wound upon his features.

"I do mean that, Sirius. I understand how you feel about Severus, but you've been holding onto this... this feud for way too long and you're trying to bring me into it. I don't want to be a part of it. Severus didn't have to hide behind a mask. He was patient, listened to us, and cared for us. He yelled, and he was frustrated, too, but..."

"He treated you like shite, Harry, for three years..."

"He had to, Sirius. He's the Head of Slytherin House and he's the godfather of Draco, the son of Voldemort's right hand man, Lucius Malfoy. He was spying for Dumbledore. How do you think it would have looked if he'd been nice to the boy that's supposed to defeat the so-called Dark Lord he's supposedly loyal to?"

"But... he's a bastard," Sirius offered lamely.

"No, he's not, Sirius. I love Severus. He's my Dad and Lyrica is my Mum. I'd like you to be part of my family, but if you're going to continue to hurt people I care about, I'm going to choose them."

Sirius dropped fully to the floor, sitting down. His heart hurt horribly. It was a pain almost as bad as the one he'd known since James and Lily had been killed. He didn't want to lose Harry, but to accept Snape? There was a soft shimmer and Sirius changed into the raggedy, black dog Harry had first seen over a year ago. The dog's black nose nudged Harry gently and then he padded out of the bedroom. Harry glanced after the dog whose nails clicked audibly down the stairs. He leaned against the doorframe and swiped angrily at a tear that slipped down his cheek.

"Harry?"

The boy turned to see his mother standing behind him in the corridor. "Mum." He sniffled angrily, determined not to cry in front of his mother.

"I overheard some of your argument with Sirius." Lyrica went to Harry and drew him into her embrace. She ran her fingers through his unruly hair and then tipped his face up slightly to look into his eyes. "You don't have to choose between Severus or Sirius, Harry. Even if neither of them ever have a kind word for the other, it is permissible to love them both."

"It hurts, though. Everytime Sirius calls Dad that stupid nickname, or gets angry with him it hurts me. Why can't Sirius see that Severus really has come to mean something to me and that just because I love him doesn't mean I'm forgetting my parents?"

"You can't force Sirius, or threaten him into seeing and respecting that your love of Severus is not some spell or potion. Sirius is going to have to figure that out on his own. If he doesn't, you can't tear yourself up over it." Lyrica leaned down and kissed Harry's cheek. "Give him time, Harry. And give Severus time, too. This feud isn't all on Sirius' shoulder."

"I know, Mum." He hugged Lyrica tightly, reveling in the moment of having this wonderful gift of a mother to make everything all right.

"Better?" she asked with a soft smile.

Harry returned the smile. "Yeah. Hey, we're going to have a snowball fight. Us against the adults. Think Dad'll join us?"

"If he doesn't, maybe all of you can convince him."

It took the combined effort of the twins, Ginny, Ron, Draco, Harry, and Hermione to get Snape outside and to join the snowball fight. Of course he cheated by spelling his snowballs to hit the other team from behind their snow fortress. As soon as he cheated, though, the twins decided they could, too, and brought out a ghastly spell that covered anyone who was hit by a snowball with coloured slime. By this point the snowball fight degenerated into a mad free for all that left all of them thoroughly wet and everyone liberally covered in slimy colours of red, blue, yellow, green, orange, pink, and purple slime.

Once everyone was cleaned up and in dry, warm clothing, Molly got dinner started. Sirius, still in his dog form, had retired to the hearth of the fireplace while the men set up the tree. Remus brought down several boxes of antique glass ornaments and fairy lights to decorate the tree. Hermione and Ginny transfigured tissues into garlands of ivy and glittering gold and silver tinsel.

"Mrs. Weasley," said Draco coming into the busy kitchen.

"Yes, dear?"

"Could I help you? Hermione's been teaching me to cook and I'm not too bad."

"Of course, dear!" With a wave of her wand, Molly levitated an apron over to Draco. "The dough's ready. Why don't you cut it into biscuits and then you can start preparing the salad ingredients."

As Draco stood next to her chopping the celery she glanced down at the contented expression on his face. She remembered the one time when Draco was a small boy he, his mother, and little sister had visited the same park she took her youngsters to several years ago. With his little sister, Draco had been as happy as any of her own little boys. Narcissa had looked haunted and although Molly had tried to engage the aristocratic beauty in conversation, it had been impossible. A few years later, about a year before her Ron and Draco went to Hogwarts, she'd seen the boy with Lucius. Dressed exactly like his father, he resembled a hard, blemished chip of ice. Molly had never expected to see Draco change. Beside her now was a young, teenage boy who was open and charming that knew how to laugh. He was completely smitten with Hermione and the Weasley matriarch had no doubt the future would see the two of them bound together someday. Molly only hoped that future held only promise and love.

"How do you like your new family, Draco?" she asked.

"They're weird," he said with a smirk.

"Weird?" that wasn't a response she'd expected.

"Yeah. The Boy-Who-Lived is now the son of an ex-Death Eater, also known as 'the greasy git of the dungeons, brother to the snotty Slytherin Prince, also known as the Boy-Most-Likely-To-Become-Dark-Lord-Snake-Food... well, we're just a weird bunch, I think. Mum's probably the most normal of all of us, unless you bring in the fact that she's over 100 years old."

Molly chuckled. "Oh your family is no odder than any other wizarding family. What's important is that all of you care about each other."

Draco scooped the celery into the large salad bowl. "Dad more than cares about me," he said softly. "He saved me."

Molly slipped an arm over the young boy's shoulder, giving him a one-armed hug. "I've always known that Severus was an exceptional man. He is fortunate to have all of you. Including Ron." Molly had noticed a new confidence about her youngest son that she could only attribute to the care he'd received at Snape's side, and that of Lyrica as well. "Cast a cooling charm over the salad, dear. Any thoughts on what we'll have for pudding?"

Draco grinned. "Apple pie?"

"Perfect!" Molly smiled in return.

Back in the living room Snape had levitated all of the glass ornaments with his wandless magic and everyone was watching in delight as he had them dancing around the room. As the ornaments passed the tree, a few would land upon its green branches. Not one ornament fell and within ten minutes all the ornaments were in place on the tree. They all applauded and Snape bowed curtly.

The fairy lights were left to the twins to put up until they managed to put more lights on themselves than the tree. Ron and Harry took over and got all the lights up and soon the tree was glistening with wintry beauty. Lyrica handed out mulled wine to Snape, Arthur, Remus, and Dumbledore, and her special hot chocolate to Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, and Harry.

A little while later, Draco, liberally covered in flour and something that glinted like green and red sugar crystals, announced that it was time for dinner. Everyone but Harry and Sirius filed into the kitchen to eat.

"Are you coming, Sirius?" asked Harry.

The dog shifted form until Sirius was back sitting on the floor. "I don't know if I should eat at the same table as you and Sni... I mean, your... uhm, Snape, Harry."

"Mum says I shouldn't choose between you and Dad," said Harry gently. "Sirius, could you at least try?"

Sirius shook his head sadly. "Not tonight, Harry. Would you ask Remus to bring me something later to eat. I'm going to my room." As Black rose to his feet and started to head up the stairs, Harry grabbed the man in a quick hug. Sirius smiled slightly, touched Harry's head and patted it, then went up the stairs.

"Harry?" Snape stood in front of the kitchen door. The wizard spared a slight glance toward Sirius. "Is the mutt pouting?"

"Dad," Harry glared. "You know, it wouldn't hurt you either to try and let go."

"That's a very difficult thing you ask of me, Harry." He motioned the boy over to him and draped an arm over his shoulders. He noted that Harry was finally beginning to put some decent weight on his body. He wasn't feeling so boney.

"Will you think about it?" asked Harry as he tugged idly on Snape's outer robe.

"I will... think about it." Harry smiled broadly up at his father. "Now, come to dinner. Your brother, it seems, was in charge of pudding."

Harry snorted, "We're all gonna die."

The next morning was a flurry of people going up and down the stairs and taking breakfast. When Lyrica bumped into Ginny, she was introduced to the very rude portrait of Sirius Black's mother as she started screaming about 'mudbloods', 'filth', and so on. Lyrica paused for only a moment before she waved her hand and Mrs. Black was summarily silenced.

"What did you do?" asked Ginny in amazement.

Lyrica smirked, "Take a close look at the painting."

Ginny leaned a little closer and then laughed sharply. "Her mouth's gone!"

"A little re-painting. I hope Sirius doesn't mind."

"Not at all, Madame Snape," said Sirius coming down the stairs. He paused to look at his mother's portrait struggling to speak. "I think she's never looked lovelier." Ginny headed back up the stairs leaving the two adults. Sirius stared uneasily at Lyrica. After several long seconds he spoke, "I didn't get a chance to... uhm... congratulate you, Madame, on your recent nuptials and... the adoptions."

Lyrica nodded graciously once. "Severus isn't the child you once knew, Sirius. He's a good man and he truly loves Harry." Briefly she touched his arm. "I would like to believe the same of you."

Sirius blushed and his gaze fell to his feet for a moment before he looked back into the young woman's green eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if those eyes, so much like Lily's, were what melted the heart of the ex-Death Eater. They were the only thing that reminded him of Lily, though. Lyrica was slightly shorter, not as athletic as Lily had been, and certainly not as boisterous or as loud. She had a polish to her that made her appear elegant, but somehow much more approachable than women of the same mien from moneyed, Pureblood families. He suddenly found that he wanted her to believe that he was a good person as worthy of Harry's love as Snape was. The realisation startled him, but not soon enough for him to say anything more to her because she was making her way down the stairs.

The hair on the back of Sirius' neck prickled and he turned around to see Snape standing at the top of the stairs. "You're a lucky man, Snape."

Snape started down the stairs until he passed Black. "So I have discovered... Black." At the bottom of the stairs, the Potions Master turned back and leveled the Animagus with his ebon gaze. "I propose a truce, Black. For Harry's sake." His arms crossed slowly over his chest, daring the man to refuse his olive branch.

Sirius nodded. "Truce Sni... Snape. For Harry."

Snape turned smoothly on his heel and disappeared into the kitchen. Before Sirius could quite figure out what happened, he was propelled down the staircase by an avalanche of youngsters.

Molly was handling breakfast with the help of Arthur. The wonderful aroma of bacon, sausage, pancakes, maple syrup, and scrambled eggs filled the kitchen. Hermione relieved Arthur, taking over the slicing of oranges to garnish the plates.

Arthur spoke up as he seated himself at the table and shook out his napkin, "Children, your choice. Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade today for Christmas shopping?" Five voices shouted their choices. "One at a time! Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade."

"Ginny?"

"Diagon Alley."

"Harry?"

Harry glanced at Draco and Ron. They each mouthed their choices. "Diagon Alley."

Arthur had seen the exchange and chuckled. "I think I'll refrain from polling you two. Looks like Diagon Alley is today's stop."

For the next hour the children tackled their breakfast and made plans as to what stores they wanted to visit. By the time breakfast was over Draco and Harry were deep in a whispering conference. As soon as Molly dismissed everyone, the two boys were the first out of the kitchen and were thumping up the stairs.

"I think I trusted them more when they didn't like each other," murmured Snape with a small smirk.

Molly and Arthur took charge of the boys and Severus and Lyrica took charge of the two girls. The groups split up after agreeing to meet for lunch at a new restaurant on Diagon Alley. The first stop for the boys was Gambol & Japes and right after that Quality Quidditch Supplies. The girls first stop was Flourish & Blotts Bookstore.

"Hermione," observed Ginny, "Do you always buy books as presents?"

"A book provides both entertainment and education, Ginny. And no," she grinned, "I don't always buy books as gifts."

Both girls consulted their gifts list and then parted. Snape started towards the Potions section, hoping to find a first edition of Piltnow's 99 Arcane Uses of Armadillo Bile but Lyrica stopped him. She leaned toward his shoulder and whispered, "We're being watched."

"Aurors," he said softly. "There's been an increase in suspicious activity since Lucius went to Azkaban to await trial."

"Will we be all right?" she asked.

Snape brushed his wife's cheek with his fingertips. "We'll be fine, but just in case, I gave each of the children emergency portkeys that will take them directly to their rooms at Grimmauld Place."

Lyrica smiled and sighed with relief.

Over in Gambol & Japes, the twins were under the spell of a new product called 'Real Fake Holes'. They were discs of varying sizes that would cling to any inorganic surface and give one the perfect illusion that there was a hole in an object. Draco, Ron, and Harry loaded up on Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Sugar Quills, and new Coloured Spit Gum by Willy Wonka. Once that bit of sweet shopping was completed, they had to practically drag Fred and George out of Gambol & Japes and over to the Quidditch supply store.

Always a busy store, the boys took a few minutes to appreciate the new model of broom, the Cosmos X. It was a sleek broom with a handle of carved black ironwood and the long black bristles were made from the beard of the Oriental Dragon. Harry smiled wistfully at the gorgeous and entirely too expensive broom before being yanked into the store by Ron. The boys all immediately split up in various directions as they were obviously buying gifts for each other and didn't wish to spoil any surprises. Finally, the Quidditch shopping was finished.

"Where to next, boys?" asked Arthur.

"Where's a good jewelry store, Mr. Weasley?" asked Harry.

Draco gawped at Harry. "Scarhead! Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No! Well... maybe... but no."

"You're not still pining for Cho Chang, are you, mate?" asked Ron. "She hasn't looked at you once this year."

Draco asked, "Hasn't she been hanging around that big Hufflepuff, what's his name?"

"Cedric Diggory," supplied Ron. "His dad works at the Ministry. Something to do with Magical Creatures, I think."

"Pffft," spat Harry. "No, it's not her. You remember that odd Ravenclaw girl we saw at the Sorting Feast at the beginning of term?"

Draco frowned, "That spacey girl with the white hair?" A dreamy smile suddenly came over Harry's face and Ron and Draco smirked at each other. "The man is smitten, Ron."

"He's a goner," agreed Ron.

Harry's cheeks went red as he realised what an idiot he must look like. "Shut up! I kind of like Luna, but I'm not getting jewelry for her. It's for Mum."

"I know just the place, Harry," interjected Arthur before the twins decided to jump in and tease Harry. Arthur led them further down the street to a small jewelry store.

Draco leaned toward his brother, "You really like Luna, Harry?"

Before answering, he checked to make sure he wasn't being set up for teasing. Draco's grey eyes only showed that he was genuinely curious. "Ron thinks she's an absolute flake, but there's something... sweet about her." Harry shrugged. "And, I do think she's rather pretty."

"Bit young, isn't she?"

"She's a second year. It's not like I'm in my thirties or something weird like that," frowned Harry. Draco only chuckled at his brother's reply.

"Have you asked her out?" Harry looked so terrified at this thought that Draco patted his back reassuringly. "You've at least talked to her, haven't you?"

"Of course," snapped Harry defensively at Draco's amusement. "A few times I've said hello."

Draco snorted. "You haven't said anything more than 'hello', yet she's on your Christmas list?"

"Yeah, but I have no idea what to get her. I want it to be something nice, but not a boyfriend/girlfriend type of gift, but something that will let her know I'd like her to be my girlfriend... and that sounds so pathetic I think I might vomit."

Draco slapped Harry on the shoulder. "You're over-thinking this. Just keep your eyes open. When you see the right gift, you'll know it."

Arthur was holding the door to the jewelry store open. "C'mon boys, you're lagging behind." Draco and Harry hurried on inside and made their way over to Ron who was looking particularly disgruntled.

"Who are you getting jewelry for, Ron?" asked Harry.

Ron was staring down morosely at a selection of bracelets. "Lavender Brown told me I better get her something pretty."

Draco frowned and Harry yelped, "Lavender Brown? You keep telling everyone that she's a 'bloody leech' or a 'vampire'."

"Do you like her?" asked Draco.

"She turns my stomach," admitted Ron.

"Then don't buy her anything, you dolt," chided Draco, "or she'll just think you do like her." Draco fake gagged. "Even Milli Bulstrode has more charm than Lavender Brown." At the mention of the rather un-pretty Slytherin girl, Draco caught a glimmer in the redheaded boy's eyes. "NO! You're kidding, right?"

"What?" asked Harry knowing he missed something.

"Shut up, Malfoy," warned Ron. Draco sputtered, laughing like a loon. "I said, shut up!"

"What? What's he laughing about, Ron?" Ron shot Harry a warning look before stomping away from the two boys. "What the hell...? Will you stop that, Goldilocks? You sound like a stupid hinky-punk."

Draco wiped at his eyes, "Ron likes Millicent Bulstrode!"

Harry's jaw dropped. "He called her 'troll girl' in first year!"

"Milli's not a beauty, Harry, but you've got to admit, she's starting to fill out nicely and she doesn't have a half-bad smile." Harry reddened as he recalled that all the boys at Hogwarts had noticed that Millicent had developed some rather plush curves before any of the other girls her age had. Despite her developing figure, though, she was a force of nature when it came to playing Quidditch against Slytherin and even if Ron liked the girl's generous curves, he expected Ron might also like the fact that Millicent loved Quidditch as much as he did.

"Do you think she'd go out with him?" asked Harry seriously as he looked back at Ron who was looking idly at rings.

"I don't see why not. No one's ever thought to ask her out. Doubt she's ever even been kissed. And, as far as Moldy Voldy goes, her family's been kind of neutral like Pansy's." Draco glanced at Harry and saw a calculating look in the boy's eyes. "What? You think we should get those two together?"

"Why not?" He turned away from staring at Ron. Looking down at several necklaces, Harry asked, "Help me find something for mum, Drake?" The two boys turned to the display cases and after several more minutes they decided to split the cost on a necklace for Lyrica.

Outside the jewelry store, Molly spoke up, "All right, boys. One more shop before we meet Professor Snape and the girls. Where would you like to go next?"

Draco spoke up, "Harry and I need to go to the apothecary, Mrs. Weasley."

"Can they go there, Mum, while we go across the street to Myrtle Maggi's Wyld Wydgetry?" asked Fred.

"Arthur, why don't you go with Harry and Draco. Fred, George, and Ron, you're with me."

A few feet up the street, Molly and Arthur split apart with their charges. Harry and Draco only spent a few minutes in the apothecary and then they went across the street to the Myrtle Maggie's. This store appealed to both children and adults. It was a place of ingenious devices such as clockwork animals, Foe Glasses, Sneakoscopes, Anti-Sneakoscopes, Brass Conundrums, and hundreds of other THINGS that glittered in copper, brass, aluminum, then silver, gold, and platinum. After a half an hour, Arthur had to grasp Fred and George by their collars and physically drag them outside or they would have been late for lunch.

The rest of the day was taken up by lunch, where Molly and Arthur switched their charges for Hermione and Ginny. More shopping ensued and then everyone met at the Leaky Cauldron and Floo'd back to Grimmauld Place. Remus was in the library reading, left alone after a restless Sirius decided to go running in his Animagus form. Snape ordered the children upstairs to put their packages away before retreating to the relative silence of the living room. He collapsed upon the couch and was soon joined by Lyrica.

"Tired, love?" Lyrica kissed Snape's brow. His eyes were closed and his head was tipped back against the wall.

"When we have children, we're only having daughters," he declared.

Lyrica smiled, "And why is that?"

"Because boys are idiots and I may wind up cursing my sons before they leave their teen years."

"Does that mean that Draco and Harry's lives are in danger from you?" she brushed a strand of his black hair off his cheek.

"Especially those two. I can do away with them in Potions class, though." Snape opened one eye to peer at Lyrica. "You wouldn't tell anyone of such a nefarious deed, would you, my wife?"

Lyrica smiled mischieviously and kissed the tip of his long, hooked nose. "If they were really awful, I think I'd help." Pulling his wife down beside him, Snape allowed his eyes to droop shut. Lyrica snuggled closer to Snape's chest, sighed in contentment, and closed her eyes as well.

The second and third floor bedrooms of Black Manor all had balconies with wrought iron railings that had begun to show the signs of rusted neglect. Hermione transfigured an empty plant pot into a loveseat and Draco cast a warming spell. They then sat down and Hermione nestled close to Draco's side as they watched the snow falling onto silent London.

"Are you going to tell me now what caused you and the boys to be spelled silent on our way home, my love?" Hermione asked with a smile.

Draco chuckled. "It's Ron's fault. You know, I would never have thought him to be so wickedly brilliant." Draco shook his head and shifted slightly to accomodate Hermione as she leaned into him. "Well, he created a fantastic charm that can make your robes billow almost like Sev... I mean, Dad's robes do. So he charmed all of our robes right after we left the restaurant. Then Harry and I got on Dad's left while Fred, George, and Ron were on the right. He thought it was a little odd we were walking that way, but when people started looking at us, and Lyrica began to laugh, he saw the billowing robes. But, that's not what really got him into threatening to use us as potion ingredients. Colin Creevey was there with his family, and that blasted camera that must be attached to him. He took a photograph of us."

Hermione laughed. "Oh gods, Draco. You really will all wind up in his potions!"

The next day a large, black raven arrived carrying a large package. Remus Lupin was in the kitchen when the bird swooped in and he caught it as the bird dropped it. It cawed sharply at him and flew off without any sort of reward.

"Good morning, Remus," smiled Molly cheerfully. "Is that another present?"

Remus looked down at the label. "It says 'special delivery for one Master Ronald B. Weasley from Rex Henry Tudor. Open at once.' How mysterious," marveled the werewolf.

"I just knocked on all their doors and since Ron is never late for a meal, I'm sure he'll be down momentarily." Molly tied on her apron and began the magical task she was so very skilled at; making breakfast.

A few minutes later the kids were thundering down the stairs followed by Snape shouting "WEASLEY TWINS I'M GOING TO EVISCERATE YOU TWO!"

Fred and George dove into the kitchen and were promptly caught by Remus. "What have you two done to Professor Snape this time?" he demanded, doing his best to suppress the grin that threatened. Yesterday morning they had switched Snape's shampoo out with a shampoo of their own creation that made his hair a lovely shade of purple.

Snape, sporting a rather luxuriant and long, black beard, burst through the kitchen door. Seeing that Remus had his two victims by their collars, he drew in his dignity and walked over to the twins mother. "Molly," he addressed the redheaded chef politely. She turned and smiled at the wizard. "Would you mind if I take your two sons and dissect them?"

"Mum! No!" cried Fred.

"You love us, don't you, Mum?" pleaded George.

Molly turned back to her cooking. "I certainly do love the both of you, but consequences are consequences. Their yours, Severus. Anything special you and your wife would like this morning?"

"Whatever you have there will be fine, Molly." Snape grasped the two boys by their collars. "Come with me you identical juvenile delinquents. I've a lovely project for you both in my lab." He yanked them through the kitchen door and vanished upstairs with the twins.

Hermione, Ginny, Draco, Ron, and Harry had been watching the scene and they all laughed. Hermione remarked as she sat down to the table, "If the beard and moustache were trimmed, your dad would look rather distinguished. A little like King Charles the I."

Ginny spoke, "Maybe you could convince him to try it Harry."

"No thanks," chuckled Harry. "I'll leave Dad's looks up to Mum, thank you very much." Harry's eye caught the large package on the table. "Another Christmas gift?"

Remus sat down. "It arrived for Ron a few minutes ago. From someone by the name of Rex Henry Tudor?"

Ron shrugged. "Don't know who that could be."

"It's King Henry, Ron!" said Hermione excitedly. "Open it!"

Ron grinned, knowing what it was. He picked up the package and opened it carefully, revealing the beautiful lute that the ghost of Ashmere, King Henry the VIII had given him. He held the instrument reverently and plucked a few notes out of it.

Molly was distracted from her cooking as she watched her youngest son with the old musical instrument. "It's lovely looking, Ron. Is it true what Lyrica told us that you learned how to play it?"

Ron nodded. "I did, Mum. King Henry taught me to play. Think I can play this evening, maybe?"

"He's really good, Mrs. Weasley," said Draco.

"Well, of course you can play. It will be a nice complement to the holidays. Go and take it upstairs, though, dear. It's much too nice to keep in the kitchen," directed Molly. Ron got up from the table and left the kitchen.

Snape had put the twins to work cleaning his small lab. With toothbrushes.

Fred, kneeling on the floor next to his twin, toothbrush in hand, began scrubbing the lab floor, "So, Forge, what's on the agenda for tomorrow?"

"Double Burp Mouthwash or Fabulous Fangs, Gred?"

They both grinned madly at each other and chorused, "Fabulous Fangs!"

In Snape and Lyrica's loo, Snape sat on the edge of the tub while Lyrica trimmed the beard which would disappear in twenty-four hours.

"At least I'm able to trim it without it growing back in full, Severus."

"If I must, I'll have them clean this entire house during the holidays and once we get back to Hogwarts, the castle will be next," he sneered.

"No sneering, love, or I might trim off a portion of your darling nose."

"Darling?"

She kissed his nose, then his cheeks and finally his mouth. "Yes, darling. Now, keep quiet, I'm almost finished here." Snape reluctantly kept any further thoughts to himself. After several minutes, Lyrica put the razor on the sink's edge and used a towel to wipe off the remainder of the shaving cream. "Husband, you are quite devilish looking, if I do say so."

Snape stood and looked into the mirror. Lyrica had given him a moustache and beard trim that was fashionable in her time and was known as a 'Van Dyke'. He turned his head to the left, then the right, and then he scowled.

"Well?" she asked.

"I think for twenty-fours I could live with it," he mused and winked at his wife.

"Good, because I'm quite hungry now."

Snape slipped his arm around Lyrica and pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly. "Perhaps I may relieve you of your hunger, my lady?"

A couple of hours after everyone else had eaten Molly's breakfast, Snape was in the kitchen making pancakes for Lyrica. They were smiling, talking about nothing terribly important and laughing. In the living room, Harry and Draco were playing chess, Ginny was braiding Hermione's hair, and Ron was playing his lute. Harry glanced toward the closed kitchen door.

"Do I want to know what they're so happy about?"

Ron shook his head. "No, mate."

Harry dropped his head melodramatically into his hands. Draco chuckled and sat down with a book he'd gotten from the library. "Harry, tell us about Luna."

"What?" His head shot up. "Why?"

"I want to know your plans for asking her out," explained Draco.

"My plans? Do I need plans?" Harry looked absolutely panicked.

Ginny laughed. "Of course you don't, Harry. He's just teasing. You'll ask Luna for a date when you're ready."

"Did you get her anything for Christmas?" asked Hermione.

"I wasn't going to," replied Harry, "but I saw something that just seemed right for her, so I bought it."

Draco leaned forward from the couch he was stretched out on, "So, brother? What did you get the little fairy princess?"

Harry blushed slightly. "If Luna likes it, maybe you'll see it when we get back to Hogwarts."

At that moment Fred and George thumped down the stairs and collapsed on either side of Draco on the couch. Draco grimaced and wrinkled his nose. "Ewww! Couldn't you two have showered before coming down here? You smell like rotten flobberworms!"

The twins each draped an arm over the Slytherin's shoulders and leaned into him. "You say..."

"...the nicest things," completed Fred.

Draco jumped up away from them. "Gah! You two really do reek!" He went to sit beside Hermione and quickly kissed her cheek.

"Gred, I think we're not wanted."

"I do believe you're correct, Forge. Let's go see what Snape's cooking that smells so good."

The twins eased off the couch and ambled on into the kitchen and were promptly tossed out by Snape. "Get cleaned up!" he ordered sharply. "I'll save you brats some pancakes!"

Christmas Eve was a difficult night for Draco who had spent most of the day thinking about Lucius. Of course his homelife at Malfoy Manor was mostly one where he spent either kowtowing to Lucius and being the perfect, hate-filled son, hiding out in his rooms, or trying to draw out the mother he'd once known that resided in the Ice Queen that was Narcissa Malfoy. Christmas was a holiday perverted by the presence of Death Eaters and revels held in the dungeons.

The boy stirred uneasily in his sleep as nightmares assaulted his senses. Lucius had him in his clutches as was punishing him with the Cruciatus Curse. He woke, shaking with a scream lodged in his throat. Throwing the covers off himself, he grabbed his dressing gown and belted it angrily about his waist. He poked his bare feet under the bed where his slippers should have been, but they weren't. Needing the light... the fairy lights on the Christmas tree downstairs, he didn't care about cold feet and so he padded quickly and quietly out of the room he shared with Ron and Draco. Once out in the corridor he made his way down the stairs, thankful that all squeaks and creaks had been dealt with before Lyrica had unpainted Mrs. Black's mouth.

He was about to curl up on the sofa in the living room, when the dark head of Sirius Black peered around at him from a tall-backed, plush armchair. "Aren't you supposed to be dreaming of sugar quills and chocolate frogs, Draco?"

Draco shook his head, unwilling to think any further about the nightmare. "How come you're still awake?"

"Insomnia. I haven't been able to sleep more than three hours at a time since Azkaban." Sirius shuddered lightly. "I do my best sleeping outside."

"Kind of uncivilised," commented Draco dryly.

Sirius snorted. "Try twelve years in Azkaban, young Malfoy, and then tell me where you'd feel comfortable sleeping." He had a drink in his hand and drained the amber liquid from the glass.

Draco figured the man had a point. Azkaban was someplace he hoped never to see the inside of. "What did my Dad ever do to you and Potter?" Draco suddenly asked.

The sudden change of subject threw Sirius. For a long moment, he hesitated. Other than emphasizing the fact that Snape was now his father, the question had been asked without sarcasm. Draco really wanted to know. Sirius shrugged. "To be honest, he was a convenient target. He was a Slytherin, but he was also an outcast in his own house. Snape was also smart. Really too smart for anyone. Hexing him basically got us the girls."

Draco's eyes were hooded with disapproval. "Then how come you're still single?"

"You mean, other than the fact that the closest kiss I have had in the last twelve years was nearly from a Dementor? I couldn't get married. Not as long as my mother was alive. I didn't date Slytherin girls, and none of the other girls from other houses met with her approval."

"I thought you turned your back on your family." Draco shifted, trying to cover his cold feet.

Sirius transfigured a lace doily into a blanket, got up, and draped it over Draco's lap. He then sat down beside the boy. "I didn't officially get erased from the family tree until my seventh year. It was obvious by then that my 'Gryffindor disease' had a tight hold on me and I wouldn't be joining You-Know-Who anytime soon."

"Was it worth it?" asked Draco softly.

"Worth it? Hmmm. Tough question. The only family I really ever loved was my brother, Regulus. I still wonder sometimes if I'd played the game of hating Muggles if I might have been able to save him. I couldn't, though. I mean, I couldn't pretend to be what I wasn't. I didn't want to bury myself in Dark Magic and become the slave of a mad man. I loved my friends too much to turn on them. They were the family I chose, not the one I was born into."

Draco smiled wistfully. "Severus should have been my real father. I first met him when I was three years old..."

"The Death Eater ritual of introducing children?" asked Sirius.

Draco nodded. "I hated it. I was scared to death and of all the Death Eaters, Severus was the scariest. He made a promise to me then, one no one else heard but me, that he'd always take care of me. There were hundreds of times Lucius came close to killing me and he would have if Dad hadn't intervened."

"It's too bad he couldn't have saved your sister," Sirius said sympathetically.

Draco sighed softly. "Sometimes I forget what Elydree looked like. Once, I asked Dad if Elydree was his daughter." Draco shuddered. "That was so stupid of me. That was the first time Lucius used the Cruciatus Curse on me in front of Dad and Dad openly defied Lucius..."

For a moment, Draco was lost in the memory that seemed like it was ages ago. Severus had been meeting with Lucius Malfoy in his office. It had just ended and Severus was stepping out when Elydree, a bright five year old child with dark hair and deep brown, nearly black eyes ran towards her godfather for a hug. Severus lifted her up into his arms, and though the severity of his expression didn't change, Draco caught the shine of a smile in the man's dark gaze. Elydree kissed her godfather's cheek and was about to launch into telling him about her afternoon when Lucius plucked the child from the other wizard's arms. Lucius snarled at the dark child and she scampered off.

Draco knew the second he spoke the fatal words, his father was going to kill him. "Elydree looks like you, godfather!"

Severus' stony facade was broken, for a brief second. He had no chance to react as Lucius had his wand in his hand and had shouted, "Crucio!" at his son. Draco fell to the floor, screaming in pain. The viciousness behind the curse was worse than what Severus had ever experienced at the hand of the Dark Lord. Taking out his own wand, he shouted, "Expelliarmus!"

Lucius' wand flew from his hand and he was shoved backwards into his office. "What do you think you're doing, Snape?" shouted Lucius. "He's my son!"

"That he is, Lucius, but do not forget that as your first-born, he is promised to the Dark Lord. The punishment is enough, but you must not kill him or you will meet death at the end of our Master's wand. Have a care, Lucius!" snapped Severus. Out of the corner of his eye, the black robed wizard saw the little boy rising shakily to his feet. Lucius was slowly rising as well.

"You are right, Severus. Take the whelp with you. My anger is such that I may beat him to death for his ill-chosen words." Draco hid behind Severus as Lucius sneered at him. "Blister him, at least." Lucius slammed his office door shut, dismissing Severus.

"I'm s-s-sorry, godfather," Draco whispered shakily as silent tears poured down his cheeks. Severus simply picked him up, held him close, and apparated out of Malfoy Manor.

Draco smiled as he thought of how Snape had not only risked his life to save him, but to save Elydree as well. "Dad's not a bad man, Sirius."

Black wouldn't admit it, but he was beginning to see a little of what Draco and Harry saw in Snape. The man was good to them and that made his hackles rise. He didn't want to know that there could be compassion in the Potions Master because then it meant that he, Sirius Black, was lacking. He closed his eyes briefly. He was feeling trapped again, only this time it wasn't the walls of Black Manor that were closing in on him, it was his own conscience. He needed to run.

Sirius mustered a smile for the young boy, and tried his best to put a lighthearted tone in his voice, "I think you ought to try and get some sleep. Big day of gift opening tomorrow. Do you think you can sleep now, cousin?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah. I think so." He pushed the blanket off his lap and stood up. "G'night, Sirius."

"Night, Draco." Sirius watched as the teenager made his way up the stairs. When his keen hearing heard the sound of the bedroom door opening, and then closing, he allowed his form to shimmer. Now in his Animagus form, he shook his body and headed for the front door. A touch of his moist, black nose to the lower half of the door revealed a doggie flap. Pushing through, Padfoot made his way out into the silent street and across it to the nearby park. He broke into a run, leaving behind his past, the present, and his self. All that mattered was the cold night air and his freedom.

The next morning, Christmas arrived at #12 Grimmauld Place early. Ron was first out of bed, practically pushing Draco and Harry from their beds. Fred and George woke up the girls. The children then all gathered together and thundered down the stairs, waking the adults. Snape tried to bury himself under the covers, but was ungraciously pushed out of bed by his far too cheerful wife and her terribly cold feet.

"Bah, humbug!" he growled from the floor.

Lyrica looked over the edge of the bed, a silent laugh upon her lips. She yelped as Snape yanked her off the bed and on top of himself. With her elbows on his chest and her chin in her hands she smiled mischievously. "It's Christmas morning, my dear. The children are waiting for us downstairs."

"They can wait," Snape smiled wickedly. He made a grab for Lyrica but she scrambled away. With a wave of her hand she doused her husband with a bucket of cold water.

"AAAHHHH!"

Passing Snape and Lyrica's closed bedroom door, Molly and Arthur smiled and chuckled at each other. Remus stepped out of his room and ran his fingers through his grey peppered light brown hair. He greeted Molly and Arthur and fell into step behind them. Sirius was already downstairs having returned from his run less than an hour ago. Upon seeing the boisterous arrival of the young ones, he had taken some of the fairy lights and sent them dashing about the living room chasing the children.

Draco remarked at the angry shout from his father echoing down the stairs, "Sounds like Dad stubbed his toe."

The remark brought laughter from the adults. A few seconds later the fireplace whooshed and the flames crackled into green. The Headmaster came through, carrying a red bag filled with gifts upon his back. Behind him was Dobby, the elf, dressed in a silly green costume, with curl-toed shoes on his feet and a pointed green hat upon his head. Dobby was helping to hold the red bag of gifts.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" He smiled and his eyes twinkled merrily as he opened the red bag and allowed the gifts to leap out, fly around, and deliver themselves. Dobby ran around the room happily presenting all of the youngsters with Gryphon feathers.

"What's with the feathers, Dobby?" asked Harry as he spun his curiously. The feather was the length of his arm and several shades of gold, amber, and brown. The edge glittered with a natural fire.

"Me have Gryphon friend, Master Harry, sir," began Dobby. "Him give feathers. Feathers from Gryphon powerful magic. Use in potions, create wand, make new spell. You discover." He beamed happily.

Hermione waved her feather and a tiny shower of green sparkles fell from the tip. "Oh, this will be fun! Thank you, Dobby!"

They began opening their gifts from Albus, which were for all of them hand knitted, colourful socks. Coming down the stairs were Snape, wearing a perfect Ebeneezer Scrooge scowl and Lyrica following behind him. Harry and Draco looked up from their socks (Draco's were green with little silver snakes hissing around the anklet and Harry's were red with little lion cubs roaring) and smiled warily at their father as he sat down in the chair he'd comandeered as his the first day they arrived. Lyrica kissed Snape's cheek and then went to kiss her sons. She then kissed Hermione's cheek and hugged Ron. When Fred and George looked terribly left out of the affection, Ginny jumped up and hugged her brothers.

"Merry Christmas, Lyrica," said Dumbledore handing her his gift. Dumbledore then allowed one last gift out of the bag and it flew over to the disgruntled Potions Master.

"Merry Christmas, Headmaster, and to everyone as well," said Lyrica. She opened her present to reveal a pair of black and silver striped socks. "Oooh! Warm socks!" Tossing off her slippers, Lyrica quickly put the socks on. Lifting the hem of her red velvet dress, she wriggled her toes happily. "Wonderful! Thank you so much, Albus." She stepped past Harry and kissed the old wizard's cheek, causing him to blush with gratitude.

Snape glanced down at the socks as Lyrica stood beside him. "You look ridiculous," he griped.

"Oh be quiet and open your gift, Scrooge," cajoled Lyrica.

Snape didn't really look at his gift as he ripped the green foil paper off. It was when he realised that he wasn't holding the usual pair of socks that he looked down to see what the Headmaster had given him. It was a book. He frowned at it, glanced up at Dumbledore, and then back down at the book.

"What is it, Dad?" asked Harry.

Snape read the title stamped into the black leather cover, "Defense Against the Dark Arts 5th through 7th Years Master Curricula for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardy. Albus...?"

"Alastor is only available for this year, Severus. If you're interested, I'd like to offer you the position of DADA instructor for next year teaching the 5th through 7th years," replied Albus. In the back of his mind, Snape thought the old man's twinkling eyes were brighter than the fairy lights on the tree.

"But, who will teach the 1st through 4th years?" Remus raised his hand and smiled. Snape glared at the werewolf. "And, Potions?" He felt a finger tapping his shoulder and looked up at Lyrica. She smiled and pointed to herself. "You? Did you know about this?" He asked his wife incredulously.

"Albus told me a few days ago. Poppy is going to finish out one more year at Hogwarts before retiring, so I'll be available to teach Potions. If that's all right with you, Severus?"

Snape smiled, kissed his wife's hand, and nodded thankfully at Dumbledore. The Headmaster clapped his hands together and a group of presents from under the tree delivered themselves.

By the time everything was unwrapped the living room was littered with tons of shiny, torn paper, bows of all colors, and dozens of ribbons. Everyone received more sweets than they needed, some received practical gifts, such as Molly's knitted jumpers (Lyrica tried to wear hers, but Snape snatched it from her and hid it), and everyone had at least one gift that was the best.

Sirius received an engraved pocket watch from Harry that had an image of a smiling dog on its cover. Remus received a set of new teaching robes from Molly and Arthur. Dumbledore received a wonderful, and quite long, hand-knitted scarf that had all the colours of the Hogwarts houses from Hermione. Ron received a Chudley Cannons uniform jersey from Harry. From all of their children, Molly and Arthur received a ticket for a two week trip to Ireland. Fred and George were overwhelmed with a gift of 1,000 galleons from Draco, Harry, and Snape. Snape did tell them that the gift could not be used until they finished their seventh year at Hogwarts. For that alone, Molly kissed Snape which elicited a round of 'Ewwws' from the teenagers. Hermione received a photograph of her parents from the Headmaster that she cried over until Draco consoled her. Ginny received a gift certificate to Madam Malkin's Robe Shop from Hermione and Draco received a mysterious, sealed envelope from his father. Just as mysterious, Snape received three sets of dissecting tools from his sons. The boys whispered to him that they'd explain the odd gift later. Lastly, Lyrica received a charms necklace from her sons. It was silver with two, small, glittering gemstones. One was ruby, to represent Harry, and the other was emerald, to represent Draco.

By far, though, the most spectacular gifts were from Snape and Lyrica to their sons; brand new, sleek Cosmos X brooms with their names on engraved gold and silver plaques. This gift effectively sent all the children outside in the backyard so they could try out the magnificent brooms.

"Lovely," glowered Snape as he surveyed the destruction of the living room. "I suppose they expected all of this mess to clean itself?"

Sirius laughed. "Oh just leave it, Snape! It's Christmas." He slapped a large, green bow on the back of Snape's head and didn't duck fast enough to avoid a Jelly-Legs Hex. Remus laughed as Sirius plunged into all the paper while Snape and his wife went to the kitchen to help with breakfast.

That night, just before bedtime, Snape took Draco into the library to explain what the mysterious envelope was that he'd been given that morning. Draco sat down on the small library sofa beside Snape.

"What is it?" he asked, turning the envelope over and over.

"It's the first in a series of letters I felt were safe for you to read." Draco stared at Snape as his heart leapt up into his throat and lodged itself there, beating painfully. "Elydree had a very rough time the first year she was with the people I sent her to. She missed her big brother terribly, and of course, she didn't understand why she couldn't see you. I was firmly against her having any sort of contact with me as I felt it might put her into danger if ever I were to slip. It was my intention to maintain my resolve to keep my distance, but Elydree was pining for you, and for her mother. She made herself desperately ill. I went to visit with her, to bring her back to health, and to better explain why she couldn't see you."

"Couldn't you have explained before?" asked Draco, his throat tight with holding back his emotions.

"I didn't have time, Draco. The Dark Lord was in hiding and I was doing everything I could to discover where he might be. In addition I had my teaching to do. My time back then was not my own. That is, not until I realised I had to make time and make it clear to Elydree what was happening. It took two weeks to nurse her back to health and to finally get it across to her the danger that you both were in. She then asked me if she might write to me, but address the letters to you. I relented when I discovered that Muggle mail is quite a bit safer from tampering than owl mail is. Elydree also wrote to me, once a month. However, the letters she wrote to you were sent once a week and I've kept them for you. I think it would be safe to give them to you now."

Draco could no longer hold back the emotions that were fighting to get out. He felt silly for crying like a baby, but he cried anyway, throwing his arms around Snape's neck and embracing him tightly.

"I really wish you'd always been our dad. Lucius never deserved me or Elydree. Thank you, Dad."

"I wish that it hadn't taken me so long to be able to do this for you."

They were silent for a moment and then Draco looked up into the eyes of the man he'd always trusted. "You're going to have to kill Lucius, aren't you?"

"I will not risk going to Azkaban, but yes, I probably will have to kill him, someday."

"Good." Draco leaned against Snape, putting his head to the man's chest so he could listen to the steady beat of his heart.

"Will you explain the dissecting tools, now, Draco?" asked Snape with a small smile.

Draco chuckled. "Nope. Not until we get back to Hogwarts."

It was the last night of the holiday that reminded everyone of the darkness that huddled beneath the pristine snowfall of the new year of 1995.

Harry had gone to bed earlier than usual that evening. He'd been quiet and somewhat lost in his own thoughts, but as everyone was winding down to a degree, no one thought anything of it. In his bedroom that he shared with Draco and Ron, he was currently alone. A sliver of the crescent moon sliced through the heavy drapes with enough light to cast eerie shadows off the furniture. Harry, not feeling like a fourteen year old, but more like a four year old, pulled the blankets up and over his head. He pulled his feet up away from the end of the bed wishing, strongly, that there weren't such things as boggarts that liked to live in the dark.

The boy was tired, but he was sure he couldn't fall asleep. However, as soon as his eyes drifted experimentally shut, he dropped down into a deep sleep. It was not a restful sleep.

Harry was floating through darkened hallways in a house he'd never seen before. He went up stairs, then down. He walked through corridors wide, and hallways narrow. The house echoed maddeningly and everywhere he looked hung cobwebs thick with years of dust. He kept wishing that he'd stop floating through this house that made his heart clench tightly in his chest, but something was pulling him inexorably into the depths of the house.

Finally, ahead of him a room glowed from the light of flames burning in a fireplace. He recognised the rat-faced traitor Wormtail, Peter Pettigrew, kneeling before a large, red velvet chair close to the fire.

I don't want to go there, I don't want to go there, I don't want to go there! Harry's mind chanted frantically and to his relief he stopped just before crossing the threshold.

"I can feel him, Wormtail," gasped a voice that sounded wet and coming from a throat ravaged or unfinished.

"Who, Master?" asked Wormtail as his beady little eyes darted about wildly.

"Harry... Potter," the voice cracked into awful laughter. "He thinks... this is a... dream... a nightmare..." again that horrible laughter seemed to scrape right over Harry's nerves. He wanted to leave this dream or whatever it was. "Feed my pet, Wormtail. I believe the boy might appreciate some... entertainment."

Wormtail rose to his feet and Harry watched as the man darted towards the corner where Harry thought there was just some dirty canvas stored. Pettigrew lifted the canvas aside to reveal the insensate form of a young girl only a few years older than Harry. Just as the largest snake Harry had ever seen slithered past him and into the room, Harry began to shiver, knowing all to well what was going to happen. He really wanted to wake up.

The next few moments were a blur of screams, the snake thrashing crazily, and blood everywhere. And above all this horror was that hideous, malformed laughter. Harry's mind began to scream over and over the laughter, DAD! DADDY! HELP ME!

Down in the library, Dumbledore was speaking quietly to Lyrica while Snape and Ron played a game of chess. Snape suddenly let out a cry of pain and fell forward out of his chair. He pushed aside Ron's helping hand and pulled himself to his feet. "Harry!" he gasped.

Lyrica was right behind her husband as they both ran up the stairs and to the bedroom. Snape burst through the door to find his son still caught within his nightmare, screaming silently, and fighting madly to get away from what he was seeing. Snape could hear Harry's screams, though, in his mind, and the boy was absolutely terrified. Along with his son's screams was a laughter he recognised and it sent shivers down his spine. With his wand already in his hand, he pointed it at his son and shouted, "Ennervate!"

Harry shot awake and sat bolt upright in his bed. His eyes were wide open, and his pupils almost obliterated the green. His skin had gone so pale, it was nearly luminescent. It was also cold and clammy to the touch. Harry burst into hysterical sobs and Snape sat down on the bed, drawing the trembling child into the protection of his embrace. Lyrica sat down beside them caressing Harry's cheek and adding her own gentle voice to her husband's.

"Snape," came Sirius' concerned voice. "Are there any potions you need?"

"Calming Potion and Dreamless Sleep," replied Snape tersely. "Harry, child, the dream has you no more." His slim fingers cupped Harry's cheek as he tipped the boy's head upward. Harry's eyes held no sense that he knew where he was.

"Severus," whispered Lyrica, "what nightmare could do this?" She brushed sweat dampened hair from his forehead and revealed Harry's lightning bolt scar. It was an angry red that began to bleed profusely as her fingertips brushed over it. "Sweet Merlin!" Lyrica pressed the wide cuff of her robe sleeve over the bleeding scar to keep the flow of the blood from going into his eyes.

Hermione ran out of the bedroom upon seeing the blood and met Sirius just as he was emerging from Snape's third floor lab. "What's wrong now, Hermione?" he asked worriedly.

"He's bleeding from his scar. Go, Sirius!" she pushed him towards Harry's bedroom, and then ran into the lab. By the time she returned to Harry's room, Lyrica had administered the Calming Potion. Snape was incanting a spell to stop the blood flow. "Professor, I brought some Blood Replenishing Potion."

"Good girl," he said softly taking the small, red bottle from her hand. He gave it to Harry who grimaced at its heavy, coppery taste. "My son," Snape spoke softly, "Are you back with us?"

"Dad? You heard me?" Harry's eyes were clear and now focused on his father.

"I heard you very clearly, Harry. You weren't having an ordinary nightmare, were you?" Harry shook his head. "Can you tell me what you saw?"

"Noooo," gasped Harry. "It was him and he saw you, Dad."

"I know, child, I know. But you're here now, with your family." Harry buried his face against Snape's chest, drawing in the scent of sandlewood from the soft, woolen robes.

"Harry, would you allow your father to see your dream in your mind?" asked Lyrica.

Harry swallowed tightly. "No, please Dad... I don't want to see it again! Please don't do that," he pleaded.

Snape felt the papery thin hand of the Headmaster's on his shoulder. "My pensieve, Severus," said the old man curtly. "Bring him." Dumbledore swept out of the bedroom as Snape drew Harry to his side, keeping a reassuring arm over the boy's shoulders. Lyrica draped Harry's robe over him and helped him to slip his feet into his slippers. Snape then led his son out of the room after Dumbledore.

Arthur and Molly kept the others back at Grimmauld Place while Harry, Dumbledore, and his parents stepped through the Floo and to the Headmaster's office.