"I talked with Albus but he won't listen," said Severus. "I know they are cold toward you, and I know about the cupboard, but Albus already knows that was where you used to sleep. He seems content that they've moved you upstairs, the stubborn old moron. And he still maintains it's the safest place for you away from the school because of the blood wards. I haven't been able to convince him to let you stay."

"But sir, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon will be furious!"

"I have tried, Harry, really," Severus croaked. He felt as though a giant boulder had crashed into his stomach. Just sick. "Unless you tell me more, or go to Dumbledore yourself and give him proof that it isn't safe for you to go back, I cannot do anything."

Potter pursed his lips tightly.

Severus sunk into his desk. The boy had hardly said a word about his summer. What was he supposed to do?

"I will still come for you on Christmas Eve. We are still in this together. All you have to do is hang on long enough for me to get there. Forty-eight hours, roughly, that's all. As soon as it gets late enough, I will be there."

Potter scuffed his toe against the floor, but he nodded.

"Harry, I am sorry. I really am. This is all my fault."

Potter looked up, surprised. "I agreed to do it, didn't I?"

"But I'm the Professor," Severus snapped. "It isn't your fault. I wish I could take the blame for all of this, but that would mean giving away the whole thing."

"I know, sir. Christmas is more important," Potter said quietly. "See you."

Before Severus could get another word in, Potter had left.

He didn't see the boy anywhere all that evening, and when morning came and the students going home left, Potter gone without a trace.

***

The fields rushed by, and Neville tried to cheer Harry up. He even bought two chocolate frogs when the trolley lady came, and gave one to Harry. Neville was a good friend, but Harry still felt down. All he could think about was what Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would say when he got home. They would probably do what they had this summer, and lock him in his bedroom. Only this time there was no Ford Anglia coming to rescue him. At least with the resolution of Malfoy Senior's attempt to get that dangerous book into Hogwarts, Dobby the house elf wouldn't keep blocking Harry's mail.

Oh well, it wasn't as though things could get any worse than they had during the summer.

Harry looked out the window as Neville read aloud the Quidditch stats from the paper, still trying to lighten Harry's mood. Harry didn't listen, instead watching the world go by. He remembered Snape's words, that he couldn't give away the secret. Christmas was very important for everyone who desperately needed it, like Harry had before he made friends who cared enough to remember him on Christmas day.

He knew how important it was. That it was more important to keep it going even if it meant things going wrong for himself.

So why did he feel so disappointed that Snape thought so too?

***

The last two days before Christmas Eve passed by in a blur. With fewer people in the school the Hogwarts elves remaining to work in the kitchens and laundry could keep up enough that nobody noticed that there were so few.

The Christmas Elves however noticed something was missing, that thing being the absence of cheer in Severus. They seemed concerned, for things had taken to showing up in his office drawers, like cookies, and tiny tins with instant hot chocolate powder or mints in them.

It was sort of sweet, really, but Severus couldn't get his mind off of Potter. He wanted to run and get the boy right now. Not only did he feel guilty, but he also missed the boy. What a strange thought that was. But he couldn't allow Potter to go missing. He couldn't just go down to the house and scoop Potter up to come here. No, it wouldn't do.

It was tempting, though.

At last, when he thought he was going to march down there any second, Christmas Eve came. The elves were still working steadfastly. They were only a hundred or so gifts away from completion, which would happen around nine-o-clock. The magical bag for the gifts was brought by Severus from the old workshop, already filled with the ones that had been spared by the fire. It was charmed to be light enough for him to carry. With the aid of a disillusionment charm, he crept through the halls of Hogwarts, and brought it to the elves to begin filling with the freshly made gifts.

Nine-o-clock came, and they were finished. There was no time for celebration, no time for speech making. Severus took the gifts and the big book, and left for the old workshop with a sense of urgency.

The Reindeer needed to be readied as quickly as possible if he was going to go get Potter. Severus put on the winter clothes that still resided in the shop, and grabbed Potter's too. The boots, charmed so nobody would hear his steps, were silent as he walked through the snow to the reindeer. They were stamping restlessly in their stalls, and at a sharp whistle from Severus, all of them thundered through the gate into the room with the sleigh.

Rain came up to Severus as the other reindeer lined up with much stamping and snorting. She nuzzled his sleeve, and poked her nose into the sleigh to prod the small jacket that was Harry's, sitting in the passenger seat.

"I know," Severus said, feeling like he was being scolded. "Don't look at me that way. We're going to get him now. I would not forget Harry, I promise."

She nickered slightly, and pressed her wet nose against Severus' cheek before going to stand beside Royal. Old thought those two were, they were lined up anyways as they always did.

Atlas and Calypso brayed up front, and Severus started to do up all the straps and buckles on the harnesses. He opened the huge wood doors from the barn, and jumped into the sleigh.

"Get her lined up for launch," he said, slapping the reigns a bit, and the reindeer pulled out slowly, easily taking the sleigh into position. Severus frowned, glancing sideways at the passenger seat. He wished Potter was here now, but it would be quicker to go to Potter than bring him here then get ready.

He glanced up, noting the clear skies. Luck was on their side today, for visibility would allow them to travel easily. Only those who believed in Father Christmas could see the sleigh, so it didn't matter there was no cloud cover.

Severus tightened the reigns in his grip, and slapped them against the dash of the sled.

"On Atlas, on Calypso, Royal and Rain, Comet and Caspian, Halcyon, and on Pants!" he bellowed, and the reindeer thundered forward, fighting for flight. The sleigh rattled and shook, hitting bumps in the snowy ground. Then, with the crashing of silver bells they rose into the deep blue sky.

"To Harry Potter's!" bellowed Severus. Sparks sizzled in the air and the bells shuddered once more as the reindeer apparated. Little Whinging burst into view below, the reindeer shooting into a banked turn as they spiralled down through the air and onto the roof of Privet Drive with surprising grace. Severus jumped out of the sleigh, took a pinch of floo powder from his pocket, and standing next to the chimney, threw it at his feet. The whirl of flames took him into the fireplace, but all was not as it should have been.

Severus resisted the urge to swear, thinking it would not do to for Father Christmas to swear. It was very difficult not to, though, as the stupid Dursleys had boarded up their fireplace. They must have put some sort of electric one in front. Severus took a pinch of floo powder from his pocket and tossed it at his feet again, reappearing on the roof. He spun on the spot once up there and apparated, then landed on the front doorstep.

Thank goodness for the failsafe. Children who believed in Father Christmas even just a little bit worked wonders. The door just about always unlocked at his touch. A little bit of Christmas magic. Potter knew he existed one hundred percent, so there was no way he'd even have to do magic to get in. Severus' Christmas jacket, boots, mittens and trousers would do their magic in silencing any sound he or the things he touched made. The Dursleys wouldn't hear him.

Severus reached for the handle, and turned.

The door was locked.

Locked.

Severus felt a strange sort of chill settle in his stomach. But Potter knew he existed, so how could he not believe? Unless ... he'd stopped believing in Severus ... believing that he could do as he said, or that he would even come. Severus didn't know a word to describe the feeling he was experiencing, other than emptiness. It was emptiness, but worse.

He forced himself to move on. There were other ways to get in, though he avoided them at all costs. But now he had no choice. Severus turned on the spot, thankful he had been here once before last Christmas with Potter so he wouldn't apparate into the middle of a wall. He appeared in the sitting room. The Dursleys had gone to bed presumably, though it was not too late. Severus was glad for this, even though Potter's jacket would hide him from the Durlseys. Severus made to go upstairs, where Potter's bedroom was. He stopped, however, for he heard a slight knocking noise.

"In here," said a dismal voice and Severus took his foot off the stair silently, and walked to the cupboard, anger bubbling inside as he thought of Petunia upstairs, sleeping in a roomy bedroom. "It's locked."

Severus tried the door. It still wouldn't budge.

But he was here, right in front of Potter. How could he not believe?

"Is there a key?" whispered Severus, pushing away his thoughts, heavy and dragging at his mind.

"Yes, first drawer by the stove in the kitchen," Potter said. "But why not just use your wand?"

"If you recall, you got the blame for a hover charm used by an elf this summer," Severus said.

"Don't remind me," Potter said darkly.

"If I do magic the same thing will happen. I'm going to get the key."

"Wait, sir, actually, I've changed my mind - I don't want to go -" Potter said suddenly, panic in his voice.

"What?" Severus said.

"I'm too tired -"

"Nonsense." Worry festering inside, Severus left before Potter could say another word. He found the drawer in the kitchen in just a minute, and rummaged around for the key. He found it quickly, and then came to the cupboard and slid it in the lock.

"No - I don't want to -"

The door opened soundlessly as Severus pulled on it, and Potter stood back in the shadows.

"Come on, I know you want to come," Severus said, puzzled. "What are you hiding? What did they do to you?"

Severus flicked on the light. Potter put his arms over his head.

"Lower your arms, Harry, please," Severus asked, his voice shaking slightly.

Potter sniffled.

"Please. I want to help."

Potter turned away slightly, but lowered his hands.

It was like looking seeing his twelve year old self in a mirror. Black eye. Blood crusted around the nose. Empty eyes.

"Harry, you said they didn't do this," Severus said faintly. "I wish you would have told me -"

"This is the first time," Harry said with bitterness the cut straight to Severus' core. "

"We're going to see Albus, now," Severus said, feeling like a ghost, and like his legs would collapse. Flashes of his own father ran through his head a hundred times. "This is all my fault -"

"But the children won't get their gifts -" Potter said, shocked.

"We will be late, yes, but this -" Severus gestured.

"No, sir, please, I want to go give gifts, please," Potter whispered. "Don't let the Dursleys ruin this. It's the only good thing right now."

Severus hesitated.

"Please."

Severus sighed. "Alright. But we are stopping by the workshop. I have bruise balm in the first aid kit there. And the moment everything is delivered, we are going to see Dumbledore."

"Yes, sir," muttered Potter.

"Do you have any other injuries?"

"No. Just the eye."

Severus surveyed Potter, and deemed him to be telling the truth. "Get anything of yours you need. Bring it to me. You aren't coming back here. If I can make any miracle happen this Christmas, that's going to be it."

Potter looked at him in shock.

"Get your things," Severus repeated gently. 

"I left everything important at Hogwarts," said Potter. "My wand too. It would've been snapped by my Uncle. He's threatened before."

"Right ... er, put the jacket and things on," Severus forced himself to say, handing the bundle of warm clothing to Potter. "I will be back in just a moment."

***

Harry leaned up against the front door, suited up and ready to go.

Snape seemed to be taking a long time. Curious as to where he went, Harry ventured into the sitting room. To his surprise, Snape was bustling around the Christmas tree.

"What are you doing?" asked Harry, curious.

"I went out to your Uncle's garden shed," Snape said, bending down under the tree. "I used one of the keys in the drawer to open it. Found a good herbicide."

"You're pouring herbicide into the water dish for the tree?" Harry asked. "To kill the tree? Why?"

"It's all I can do to stop myself going upstairs and destroying your uncle and aunt. Given that most people leave their tree up a day or two past Christmas, your Aunt's going to be furious for all the dropping needles."

"Brilliant," Harry said slowly, surprised at Snape. Although, the man who invented half the pranks in that bag of tricks, naturally, would think of this.

"I wanted to fill their Christmas presents with dead spiders or frog guts, but that would require magic," Snape said, looking severely disappointed. He brightened considerably. "Next year, I suppose, when you aren't here."

Snape smiled wistfully, and Harry watched Snape pass him on his way to the front door, frozen staring from the tree to Snape and back again.

"Next Christmas?" Harry asked faintly.

"Of course."

Snape didn't elaborate, so Harry followed him out the door. Snape then took Harry's arm, and apparated onto the roof. Harry, grateful for his magical boots on the slippery roof, grinned at the sight of the reindeer. Rain looked over at them. She fixed her eyes on Harry, then stared at Severus. She tossed her head and made such a displeased noise Harry nearly jumped.

Snape winced.

"She's been giving me heck all evening," Snape explained.

Harry went over to Rain, and placed his hands around her aged head. She looked dolefully at him, her big brown eyes looking sadly into his.

"I'm okay, girl. Things'll work out."

Royal bunted Harry gently as well, and Harry gave Rain one last pat before jumping in the sleigh.

"Are you ready?" Snape asked, sounding more formal than usual.

Harry nodded.

The sleigh launched into the sky, and they were off.

After that, to Harry, the night passed in a blur, the deliveries going off without a hitch. With the help floo powder Harry crept through houses, getting immense satisfaction with every gift he delivered. Seeing the homes, some barren of furniture or anything, and then being able to leave a wonderful gift for the child that lived there did more to cheer him up than anything anyone could have done.

***

The houses rushed by Severus' eyes, and Potter hardly said a word throughout the journey other than the names of people on the list. Severus tried to think of something to say, some word to tell Potter just how sorry he felt for what had happened, but words failed him.

He'd talked with Dumbledore. He'd tried all year to convince him. He'd gone to Dumbledore more times than he could count to argue the angle that Potter's delinquency was a cry for help, which had surprised Dumbledore at first, but still, the man didn't listen. He'd pointed out to Dumbledore how cold Petunia had been, that Potter probably wasn't cared for as well as Dumbledore thought.

But Dumbledore had known. He'd known the Dursleys had kept Harry in a cupboard as a child, but he insisted the boy had never been beaten, that he was healthy physically according to Poppy. He knew that the world was a dangerous place for Harry, but Severus felt that a decrease in ward strength in a home was worth the gamble for Potter to have a safe place to live.

Severus had longed for more proof all year, ever since Potter had brought him to number four last year when they were missing a gift. Potter had found a book Father Christmas had given him as a child with the intention to use it as the missing gift, and Severus had seen the cupboard.

Yes, ever since then he had longed for more proof, but not like this. He glanced sideways at Potter, who was rubbing the bruise balm they'd stopped to get over his eye every so often.

Every child Severus saw after that stop at Privet Drive tonight, fast asleep in homes that were either too poor in money or love for gifts, he saw only Potter. Last year he'd seen himself as a child, and now, with every broken home he could only see Harry's. And before Severus could come up with some way to say this, some way to tell Potter how he felt, the night was over. The gifts were delivered.

They did not bother with any breakfast as they had last year. The Christmas Elves had returned to their homes at the original workshop, leaving Hogwarts a few at a time covertly all throughout the night, time allowing them to be careful now. The elves were asleep, the kitchen was still damaged from the fire, and neither Severus nor Potter felt overly hungry.

"We should go to the yuletide time turner," Severus said. "Then, straight to Dumbledore's office."

Their warm Christmas clothes put away, they walked in silence to the time turner, a huge series of rings and hoops with a crystalline bubble surrounding it. They stepped through the magical line, and into the space where it was capable of working.

Snape checked his watch. He made a series of taps against the bubble with his wand, and the arms began to move.

The light changed, and evening, the day before Christmas arrived, the time turner having spent up its only use for the year.

***

Exhausted, the clocks turned backward, Harry allowed himself to be led to the fireplace in the sitting room of the workshop. Harry waited as Snape put his head through the fire to see if Dumbledore was in his office.

"He's there - you first," said Snape.

Harry swallowed thickly, but took a handful of floo powder. He was well aware of the fact that the bruise hadn't completely faded from his face.

"Harry!" Dumbledore said, rising from his desk. "What happened?"

Snape appeared in a whoosh of flames, and placed his hand over Harry's shoulder. It felt heavy.

"Albus, sit down," said Snape. Dumbledore did so, conjuring chairs for Harry and Severus as well, which they took.

"Why is Harry here? Who did this to him?" Dumbledore's voice was shaking.

"His relatives."

"Merlin ... Severus, thank goodness you found him - however did you know?"

Harry's eyes flicked up from the floor. The secret of Christmas was more important than anything, Snape had said. So how would he explain this? But to Harry's amazement, Snape didn't lie.

He launched into the full tale, about what happened last year with the old Father Christmas coming to get them, him being talked into taking over as the new Father Christmas (Dumbledore looked ready to faint when he heard this), how Harry had been helping him all year off and on. He even mentioned the workshop burning down, and how he instructed Harry to pull all the pranks. Snape said it was all his fault.

Harry couldn't say a word. He just watched as Snape told one by one all the ways in which his mistakes had led to Harry ending up at Privet Drive, and how he'd found him when he came to pick Harry up.

"Harry, is that correct?" asked Dumbledore hoarsely after a long silence, his shock evident. It was a sheer testament to how much he must have trusted Snape that he didn't once stop accuse him of making things up.

"Yes, sir," whispered Harry, looking at his lap.

"I am so sorry, Harry," said Dumbledore. "I knew things weren't well ... but I thought it was the safest place for you. There are still so many who would try and -" he fell silent, as though debating how much to say. "No, I must tell you, so you will understand. There are many of Voldemort's supporters who would still very much like to have you killed. We saw only this summer that Lucius Malfoy was trying to get one of Voldemort's possessions into the school to cause great damage. You must understand ... I did not know they were hurting you physically. I only saw a fairly healthy - if somewhat ignored - boy. You may never forgive me, and that is alright. But know that I am sorry."

Harry looked up at Dumbledore, and nodded. "Where ... where will I go?"

Dumbledore frowned. "I do not know, as of yet."

"He can live with me ... if he wants. Permanently."

Harry cricked his neck looking over to Snape, trying to discern if he was hearing him correctly. "Live with you?" Harry said, his voice barely a whisper. Dumbledore too looked like Snape with as much shock as he would if Snape suddenly professed that he wanted to take up knitting doilies.

"Yes," said Snape firmly.

Nobody said anything for a solid minute, and then Dumbledore broke the silence.

"Harry? What are your thoughts? Others will take you, if you desire, of course -"

But Harry was looking at his feet, and he had to take off his glasses because tears were dripping onto the glass. "Yes, please. I want to live with Professor Snape."

"Then it is as good as done," said Dumbledore. "I will meet up with a few connections the moment they are back from holidays. We can do this quietly, I am sure. For now, I would suggest a nice quiet Christmas for you two."

"It's a little late for that," Harry said, laughing suddenly as he wiped his eyes, unsure still if he was dreaming or not.

"We could go to Spinner's End," Snape said thoughtfully. "It may not be ideal, but it is quiet. And I am sure we can spruce it up a little bit for Christmas. It still is technically Christmas Eve, you know ... of course, if you want to stay at Hogwarts with your friends, I would understand."

"No - no ... I don't want to stay at Hogwarts ... I ... I want to go home, with you."

Snape smiled slightly, and Dumbledore continued to look as though he too wasn't sure if anything that just happened was real. But Harry, by the hardness of the floor against his feet and the warmth of Dumbledore's office, knew it was.

***

They arrived at Spinner's End after a short trip to the Hogwarts kitchen for a bite to eat and a chat with Toffee, who had met them to discuss their night. The house was closed up for winter, but a few charms and Severus was able to get it looking semi-alright. To his vast surprise, there was a Christmas tree standing in the sitting room.

"What the -" Harry muttered, staring at the tree. "How did you know to get a tree?"

"I didn't," Severus said, staring blankly.

"Well, there's a card," Potter said, picking it up and handing to Severus.

"It's in Merry' writing" Severus said, amused. "It says, ‘It's about time you kept him. Happy Christmas, Love Merry, Toffee, and all the Christmas Elves'."

"Toffee must have gone to tell Merry," Harry said, laughing. "But what does he mean it's about time?"

"Merry was only bothering me all year that I should just ask you to live with me," Severus said, amused. "He seemed to think your relatives were no good too."

Harry shook his head. "That elf really is wonderful."

Both of them were so exhausted they decided to go straight to bed after that. Severus made up the spare room for Harry, making a note to himself that they would have to redecorate it eventually.

He couldn't believe it all. Had he really asked Potter to live with him? Of course, Potter was more Harry now than anything though (he had been for a long time, really), and the answer to this question, was truly yes. He had asked him to live with him, and Severus couldn't believe how natural it felt to him. He supposed he and Harry had been collaborating for an entire year now, and the secret they shared had been like some sort of crazy, insane kind of glue to bridge the gap that they had believed existed when they first met.

Harry had gone to bed, and Severus, in his pyjamas and getting ready for bed too, had a thought. There was no wood in the box by the fireplace. What was Christmas morning without a warm fire?

Quickly, he darted out of bed, and went to the side door that led out to the back garden. He pulled on his shoes and went out into the cold, pulling his cloak on as he did so. The stack of firewood in the back garden lay beneath an old green tarp, and Severus dug around in it to pull out a few choice pieces of split wood that had been there for a very long time. He placed them in the box, and carried it over to the back door.

He cursed quietly and set the box down. He'd closed the back door, which locked automatically the moment it was shut. The front door was locked too, and he'd left his wand inside. He would have to knock very loudly for Potter to hear him, something he really did not wish to do. Potter had looked half dead with exhaustion.

Severus let out a puffing breath in the cold air, which turned to steam. He frowned for a second. Then, an idea hit him, the memory of the deliveries tonight still fresh in his mind. He was Father Christmas, and it was Christmas Eve again. Tonight he could open any house door if anyone inside believed in him. Of course, that hadn't worked with Potter today, at Privet Drive. He hadn't been able to get in. Severus couldn't blame the kid for losing faith in him, after what happened to him at Privet Drive, and Severus being unable to stop him being sent home.

Still, he didn't want to wake Harry if absolutely necessary, and though he knew that the door would stay locked, Severus reached out in some vain hope that it would open, and turned the knob.

The lock clicked, and Severus breathed in sharply.

The door swung open silently on hinges, the lingering feeling of that Christmas magic Severus knew well still at the ends of his fingers. Warmth that began in his toes spread into his chest, because it meant one, simple, yet amazing thing.

Harry believed in him. And somehow, his own open back door, with its shabby view inside, was the most miraculous thing Severus had ever seen.