Raised By Wolfstar: Slytherin Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

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@Teddy.J.B @Pervaza972 @CatsAndRoblox @Missy Clara Oswald

Chapter Seventeen: A Very Frosty Christmas

(Hey, so for those of you that remember, I had emergency surgery on my arm last month, well it turns out the ER doctors didn't do anything right so I have to get a more professional procedure done this week. I'll be fine, but like last time since it relates to my arm its going to effect my ability to write, so I'll try to still get more writing done, but I may not get a chapter out on my normal Saturday/Sunday schedule. Again, I'm fine, just wish me luck that it goes well this time.)

‘And you are positive that what Snape was doing offering Draco a helping hand?’

‘If you ask that once more,’ said Harry, ‘I’m going to stick this cranberry branch—‘

‘Bloody hell, I was just being sure. You almost sounded like Allison there!’ said Theodore quietly so no one but Harry could hear. They were standing at one end of the Burrow’s kitchen picking cranberries off their bunches and washing them on one end while Ron and Ginny were peeling a mountain of sprouts at the other end. Christmas Eve was a full moon so Remus had Harry and Theodore with the Weasley’s in the afternoon and was going to pick them up once the moon set the following morning. Harry felt bad that Canini and their adoptive father would be spending Christmas Eve and morning in pain in Stow-On-The-Wold Cottage while Harry and Theodore were warm and cozy watching the snow drifting past the window in front of them. One other bonus to them being at the Weasley's was that Harry's fellow tri-wizard champion, Fleur Delacour, was staying there with her fiancé Bill and she was very happy to see Harry again.

‘Yes, Snape was offering to help him!’ said Harry. ‘He said he’d promised Malfoy’s mother to protect him, that he’d made an Unbreakable Oath or something—‘

‘What do you mean “or something?” Do you not know what an Unbreakable Vow is? And are you sure Snape said he made one, because that isn’t good at all,’ said Theodore looking quite nervous. ‘And are you sure Snape said he made one, because that isn’t good at all.’

‘Yes, I’m sure,’ said Harry. ‘And yes I don know, so what does it mean?’

‘Well I guess the simplest answer is that you can not break an Unbreakable Vow…’

‘I’d worked that much out for myself, funnily enough. What happens if you break it, then?’

‘You die,’ said Theodore simply. ‘My father used to threaten me all the time that he’d make me do an Unbreakable Vow that I’d do all the chores in the mansion or die from being lazy. A couple times he even took out his wand and reached for my arm but I always managed to slip away…although I’d always get a furious beating later.’

Theodore’s voice was a little shaky after saying the last part, as it often was when he managed to discuss the abuse he faced at the hands of his biological father. Harry managed to put a hand gently onto his shoulder, however before Harry could say anything comforting, everyone in the room was interrupted.

‘Aaah, George, look at this. They’re using knives and everything. Bless them,’ said Fred as he and George entered the room. They were making fun of Ron and Ginny for not being allowed to use magic.

‘I’ll be seventeen in two and a bit months’ time,’ said Ron grumpily, ‘and then I’ll be able to do it by magic!’

‘But meanwhile,’ said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it, ‘we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a—whoops-a-daisy!’

‘You made me do that!’ said Ron angrily, sucking his cut thumb. ‘You wait, when I’m seventeen—‘

Harry and Theodore couldn’t help but just watch this dramatic scene right in front of them.

‘I’m sure you’ll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills,’ yawned Fred.

‘And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald,’ said George, ‘what is this we hear from Ginny about you and a young lady called—unless our information is faulty—Lavender Brown?’

Ron turned a little pink, but did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts. He turned his head ever so slightly towards his sister. ‘Gin, mind your own business.’

‘What a snappy retort to your only sister,’ said Fred. ‘I really don’t know how you think of them. No, what we wanted to know was…how did it happen?’

‘What d’you mean?’

‘Did she have an accident or something?’

‘What?’

‘Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage? Careful, now!’

Mrs Weasley entered the room just in time to see Ron throw the sprout knife at Fred, who had turned it into a paper airplane with one lazy flick of his wand.

‘Ron!’ she said furiously. ‘Don’t you ever let me see you throwing knives again!’

‘I won’t,’ said Ron, though Harry thought he saw him mutter something else under his breath as he turned back towards his mountain of sprouts.

‘I just wanted to discuss tonight's sleeping arrangements. Fred, George, Bill is going to continue to to stay with you in your old room.’

‘No problem,’ said George.

‘Then, as Charlie isn’t coming home, that just leaves Harry and Theo sharing a room with Ron in the attic, and if Fleur shares with Ginny—‘

‘—Oh come on mum, not again—‘ protested Ginny.

‘—everyone should be comfortable. Well, they’ll have a bed, anyway,’ said Mrs Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.

‘Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?’ asked Fred.

Mrs Weasley turned away from the twins before she answered. ‘No, he’s busy, I expect, at the Ministry.’

‘Or he’s the world’s biggest prat,’ said Fred, as Mrs Weasley left the kitchen. ‘One of the two. Well, let’s get going, then, George.’

The twin’s continued to mess with Ron, and Mrs Weasley came over to check on Harry and Theodore’s work.

‘Oh, Theodore, I’d have thought you’d be done your share by now,’ said Mrs Weasley looking at Theodore’s medium size bowl of picked cranberries.

‘I don’t mind doing it by hand, and I didn’t want to leave Harry behind,’ answered Theodore with a shrug.

‘Oh, well, you’re a good brother. Keep up the good work you two,’ she said before leaving the kitchen.

‘I keep forgetting your birthday last week was your seventeenth.’

‘Me to if I’m being honest, I guess it’s because I don’t feel any different then I did before the holidays started.’

The twins finished teasing their younger siblings and then made their way over to Harry and Theodore.

‘We’re off to the village,’ said George. ‘Harry, do you and Theo want to join us? There’s a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvellous…almost like real magic…’

‘Sorry, Moony made us promise to only stay in and around the Burrow while we’re here,’ said Theodore.

‘Remus is currently howling at the moon, come have some Christmas Eve fun, we’ll keep you both safe,’ argued Fred.

‘I would,’ said Harry, ‘but Dumbledore himself made me promise not to wander off.’

‘Ah, well, we’ll see you both later then,’ said George. Harry and Theodore then watched Fred and George set off across the snowy yard.

‘Speaking of Dumbledore, do you plan on telling him about Snape’s conversion with Malfoy?’

‘Yep,’ said Harry. ‘I’m going to tell anyone who can put a stop to it, and Dumbledore’s top of the list. I was waiting for Moony to not be so tired but I don’t think that’s going to happen so I’ll ask him tomorrow. I think it might also be worth asking Mr Weasley about his opinion as well.’

‘It’s unfortunate luck you didn’t get to hear Malfoy’s true plans.’

‘I couldn’t have done, could I? That was the whole point, he was refusing to tell Snape.’

There was silence for a moment or two, then Theodore said, ‘Harry, I think Remus, Mr Weasley, and maybe even Dumbledore will all have the same response. That Snape is simply trying to trick Malfoy into divulging his plan.’

‘They didn’t hear him,’ said Harry flatly. ‘No one’s that good an actor, not even Snape.’

‘I just don’t want you to get your hopes up,’ said Theodore carefully.

Harry turned to face him, frowning. ‘You think I’m right, though?’

‘Yes, you’ve managed to convince me about Draco anyway, if Snape thinks he’s up to something then he probably is,’ said Theodore. ‘Snape being on Draco’s side I’m less sure about, he’s a part of the Order and helped save your life last year, but I will listen to you Harry and I will let you tell others if you think it’s important.’

Harry said nothing. It had already occurred to him that this would be the most likely objection to his new evidence; he could hear Tracey now: Obviously, Harry, he was pretending to offer help so he could trick Malfoy into telling him what he’s doing…

This was pure imagination, however, as Harry had not had an opportunity to tell the girls what he had overheard. Allison had disappeared from Slughorn’s party before he returned to it, Theodore had told him she had been quiet mad at Harry after he left her on the dance floor, and Harry saw this anger for himself the next day. Allison decided to sit with her second cousin Terry Boot on the trip home and Tracey took her side in the incident between her and Harry, so he only managed to wave goodbye to them both at King’s Cross station before the disappeared through the barrier. Harry had sent them both a Christmas card that along with holiday greetings he mentioned that he had some very important news to tell them when they got back from the holidays, but didn’t go into specifics.

Though once he did manage to show the girls there should be no reason they would be able to deny it any long: Malfoy was definitely up to something, and Snape knew it, so Harry felt fully justified in saying ‘I told you so,’ which he had done several times to Theodore already.

‘You know, I think I’ve done enough physical chores this Christmas Eve, I wouldn’t complain if we got to hang out in the living room,’ said Harry.

With a smug smile Theodore rolled his eyes, drew his wand, and said, ‘Diffindo,’ and instantly all the remaining cranberries got severed from their stems.

Harry did not get the chance to speak to Mr Weasley until that evening as he had been working very long hours at the Ministry. The Weasleys and their guests were sitting in the living room, which Ginny had decorated so lavishly that it was rather like sitting in a paper-chain explosion. Fred, George, Ron, Harry, and Theodore were the only ones who knew that the angel on top of the tree was actually a garden gnome that had bitten Fred on the ankle as he pulled up carrots for Christmas dinner. Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever seen, with a large bald head like a potato and rather hairy feet.

Harry had vaguely remembered Theodore saying Mrs Weasley disapproved of Fleur, and Canini saying Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs Weasley had an adverse effect to her Veela magic, but he didn't realize how thick the tension was until the evening.

They were all supposed to be listening to a Christmas broadcast by Mrs Weasley’s favorite singer, Celestina Warbeck, whose voice was warbling out of the large wooden wireless set. Fleur, who seemed to find Celestina very dull, was talking so loudly in the corner that a scowling Mrs Weasley kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew louder and louder. Under cover of a particularly jazzy number called “A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love,” Theodore was singing along. Fred and George started a game of Exploding Snap with Ginny. Ron kept shooting Bill and Fleur covert looks, perhaps looking for tips for his new relationship. Meanwhile, Mr Weasley was sitting deep in his armchair by the fire, he seemed zoned out and as though he could not hear Celestina’s voice.

'Oh, come and stir my cauldron, And if you do it right,

I’ll boil you up some hot strong love To keep you warm tonight.'

'We danced to this when we were eighteen!' said Mrs Weasley, wiping her eyes on her knitting. 'Do you remember, Arthur?'

'Mphf?' said Mr Weasley, whose head had been nodding over the satsuma he was peeling. 'Oh yes...marvelous tune...'

With an effort, he sat up a little straighter and looked around at Harry, who was sitting next to him.

'Sorry about this,' he said, jerking his head toward the wireless as Celestina broke into the chorus. 'Be over soon.'

'No problem,' said Harry, grinning. 'Has it been busy at the Ministry?'

'Very,' said Mr. Weasley. 'I wouldn’t mind if we were getting anywhere, but of the three arrests we’ve made in the last couple of months, I doubt that one of them is a genuine Death Eater—only don’t repeat that, Harry,' he added quickly, looking much more awake all of a sudden.

'They’re not still holding Stan Shunpike, are they?' asked Harry.

'I’m afraid so,' said Mr Weasley. 'I know Dumbledore’s tried appealing directly to Scrimgeour about Stan...I mean, anybody who has actually interviewed him agrees that he’s about as much a Death Eater as this satsuma...but the top levels want to look as though they’re making some progress, and "three arrests" sounds better than "three mistaken arrests and releases"...but again, this is all top secret...'

'I won’t say anything,” said Harry. He hesitated for a moment, wondering how best to embark on what he wanted to say; as he marshaled his thoughts, Celestina Warbeck began a ballad called "You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me.”

Harry looked over at Theodore who had a wide smile on his face and seemed to be writing a letter. Harry guessed it was probably for Colin as this song was special to them as a couple and probably made Theodore think of his boyfriend. Harry wondered if he had stayed at the Christmas party if the song him and Allison were dancing to would have become important to them, but now he couldn't even think of the name of the song and was fairly certain him and Allison would never become a item now, he was becoming distracted and had to focus back on his conversation.

'Mr Weasley, you know what I wrote to you at the beginning of the school year?'

'I checked, Harry,' said Mr Weasley at once. 'I went and searched the Malfoys’ house. There was nothing, either broken or whole, that shouldn’t have been there.'

'Yeah, I know, I saw in the Prophet that you’d looked...but this is something different...Well, something more...'

And he told Mr Weasley everything he had overheard between Malfoy and Snape. When he had finished, there was silence, except for Celestina’s crooning.

'Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone? It’s left me for a spell...

'Has it occurred to you, Harry,' said Mr Weasley, 'that Snape was simply pretending—?'

'Pretending to offer help, so that he could find out what Malfoy’s up to?' said Harry quickly. 'Yeah, I thought you’d say that. But how do we know?'

'His actions speak for themselves, Harry, the little good the Order has been able to do would not be possible without the information he provides,' said Mr Weasley, as neutral in tone as he could be. 'And last year when Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid were gone, Snape acted as the sole Order member at Hogwarts, and without his quick thinking you'd have been tortured or killed.'

'But,' said Harry, 'what if he was telling the truth about it all being just an act—'

'Snape has given me no reason to distrust him,' said Mr Weasley more firmly. 'Now Harry, I am very tired and want to enjoy my Christmas by not thinking about the war and betrayals.'

'...and now you’ve torn it quite apart I’ll thank you to give back my heart!'

Celestina ended her song on a very long, high-pitched note and loud applause issued out of the wireless, which Mrs Weasley joined in with enthusiastically.

'Eez eet over?' said Fleur loudly. 'Thank goodness, what an ’orrible—'

'Shall we have a nightcap, then?' asked Mr Weasley loudly, leaping to his feet. 'Who wants eggnog?'

Shortly after this, Fleur decided to imitate Celestina singing "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love,” which was taken by everyone, once they had glimpsed Mrs Weasley’s expression, to be the cue to go to bed. Harry, Ron, and Theodore climbed all the way up to Ron’s attic bedroom, where two camp beds had been added for Harry and Theodore.

Ron fell asleep almost immediately, and Theodore began quietly reviewing his copy of Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science, but Harry couldn't stop thinking about if the Ministry was going to be able to fight more effectively against Voldemort, what Draco was up to, and who's side was Snape on. Harry finally fell asleep to the thought of whether Allison would ever forgive him.

'She’s got to be joking...'

Harry woke with a start to find a sweater with a large Golden Snitch worked onto the front, hand-knitted by Mrs Weasley, and a large box of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes products from the twins, both at the end of his bed. He put on his glasses and looked around; the tiny window was almost completely obscured with snow and, in front of it, Ron was sitting bolt upright in bed and examining what appeared to be a thick gold chain.

'What's going on?' asked a grogy Theodore, who also had a Mrs Weasley sweater at the end of his bed with a Grass Snake on it wearing a Santa hat.

'What’s that?' asked Harry.

'It’s from Lavender,' said Ron, sounding revolted. 'She can’t honestly think I’d wear...'

Harry looked more closely and let out a shout of laughter. Dangling from the chain in large gold letters were the words:

"My Sweetheart"

It was far less subtle than Tracey and Terence's small green lockets that they shared.

'Oh goodness, it's huge,' said Theodore, fighting back a laugh.

'Nice,' said Harry. 'Classy. You should definitely wear it in front of Fred and George.'

'If either of you tell them,' said Ron, shoving the necklace out of sight under his pillow, 'I—I—I’ll—'

'Stutter at me?' said Harry, grinning. 'Don't worry, we won't tell a soul. Come on, lets get down stairs.'

Everybody was wearing new sweaters when they came down for Christmas breakfast, everyone except Fleur (on whom, it appeared, Mrs Weasley had not wanted to waste one). Harry and Theodore thanked them for their hospitality and for the girts, and soon Remus arrived to pick them up and return them to Stow-On-The-Wold. It was clear last nights full moon had been a hard one as his face looked hallow and it almost seemed like he had more rey hairs then he had when Harry saw him the day prior, he had also yet to shave. He thanked Mr and Mrs Weasley and gifted them a Christmas Trifle he had made in advance, and they gifted him in return a bottle of Blishen's Fire Cinnamon Flavoured Whisky and a sweater for Canini that had a silvery hummingbird on it.

When they returned home Canini was sitting on the sofa taking a small dose of Wideye Potion to wake her up a bit from her and Remus' long night. Either from the potion or seeing her family return, her eyes suddenly lit up.

'You're home! Happy Christmas you guys!'

'Happy Christmas, Cani,' Harry and Theodore said in unison as they came over to her to give her a hug.'

Harry quickly fetched the sweater and handed it out to her, 'Mrs Weasley made this for you.'

'It looks lovely,' she said as she pulled it on, 'how did she know my Patronus was a hummingbird?'

'I think Ginny told her,' answered Harry.

Before their conversation could continue, Remus returned with a pile of presents in his arms.

'Happy Christmas everyone,' he said, a little more cheerful then he had been when he picked Harry and Theodore up. He placed the colourfully decorated boxes down in front of them. 'I wasn't able to get many presents, but there is something here for everyone.'

'You didn't have to get us anything, we know how busy you've been with the Order of the Phoenix,' said Theodore.

'I have been busy, but so have all of you at school, and so I think we all deserve some comfort. The big box is for all of you, and then I've placed individual boxes and letters in front of who they belong too. Harry, be careful with that brown package.'

Not sure what that meant, Harry and his siblings got to opening their presents. They each received Christmas cards from their friends, Harry was pleasantly surprised to see that he received one from Allison, he had thought he would only get ones from Tracey, Terence, and Hagrid.

'Those three are from me,' said Remus pointing two three boxes. They opened them and inside each was a pair of warm slippers, and a house scar. 'This winter is going to be extra cold, so I thought new scarves were in order, and since each of your common rooms are bellow the castle I also thought you should each have cozier slippers to protect you from the frigid floors.'

'Thank you Moony, that's really thoughtful,' said Harry.

'They're so fluffy,' said Canini while petting her slippers.

Theodore then opened a small box in front of him, inside was four even smaller boxes of Shock-o-Choc.

'Its from Colin, last year me and him came up with a plan to prank a bunch of Inquisitorial Squad members, he bought a bunch of Shock-o-Choc and the I left it in the common room in spots I.S. members normally sat, it was quite funny. Afterwards though I tried some, and if you know it has chili powder and flakes in it before hand it actually is quite good, its a nice kick.'

That left the big box for all of them and an oddly damp, moldy-smelling package in front of Harry. When he inspected it he saw that it came with a label reading:

"To Master,

From Kreacher."

Harry stared at it.

'D’you reckon this is safe to open?' he asked.

'The Ministry is still checking all our mail, so their shouldn't be anything dangerous in it, but I doubt there is chocolates or satsuma in there,' advised Remus.

'I didn’t think of giving Kreacher anything. Do people usually give their house-elves Christmas presents?' asked Harry, prodding the parcel cautiously.

'Don't worry Harry, I already sent him some extra blankets for where he sleeps,' said Canini. 'Now, lets see what's in this odd parcel.'

A moment later, Harry had given a loud yell and leapt off of the sofa; the package contained a large number of maggots.

'Wow,' said Theodore while dying of laughter, 'he must really love you.'

'Now, now, don't make fun of your brother,' said Remus taking the package. 'I'll-er-fry these up and feed them to Phasming, Hedwig, and Janus as a Christmas treat, and a couple live ones for Phileas. You three will probably find the big box more appetizing, remember its for all three of you and don't spoil your lunch or supper.'

Like ravenous beasts the three adoptive siblings quickly opened the box and gasped, inside was some of the best Christmas sweets from Honeydukes and Sugarplum's sweet shop combined. There were Exploding Bonbons, mint humbugs, orange slices, peppermint toads, sugar plum apples, Chocolate Cauldrons, Ice Mice, Glacial Snow Flakes, and even Butterbeer Fudge.

Lunch was indeed spoiled, as by the time Remus had finished giving the Cottage's pets their treat and returned to the living room, nearly half the box was gone and all three were practically paralyzed on the sofa or arm chairs. Harry was still looking at Allison's Christmas card, on the inside she had drawn with a pencil lots of little holiday themed items, such as a Christmas tree, a baubles, a candy-cane, but the one that had caught Harry's attention was in the top left corner. Allison drawing it all in grey, and being quite a small and simple illustration, it was hard to tell, but she had either drawn holly and its berries, or mistletoe.

'You all look cozy,' said Remus looking at them all lounging around, he then looked at Harry. 'What's got you all smiles, Fawny? Whose card are you reading?'

Harry hadn't expected anyone to notice his joy over Allison's card, embarrassed his cheeks turned a little red.

'There is something I should probably tell you and Canini, Theodore already knows,' started Harry, though he was worried what Remus would say as he had been disapproving of Allison in the past. 'For the past few months I've realized that I...'

'Am in love with your friend Allison Runcorn,' finished Remus calmly, he even seemed to have a slight smile.

Both Harry and Canini sat straight up in their seats.

'Wait? Is that true Harry?' asked Canini.

'You knew‽' asked Harry, who had not been expecting this out come.

'Not me, Sirius,' answered Remus. 'He told me he suspected that you both deep down had feelings for one another ever since your squabble near the beginning of your fourth year. I told him he was a romantic and seeing love where there was only friendship, we debated back and forth for years. I never believed him until...until the Ministry, where I saw with my own eyes the immense loyalty Miss Runcorn had for you, and that afterwards how committed you were to making sure I knew she was a good person, I realized Sirius was right and that there was indeed more to your friendship just like their had been more to my friendship with Sirius back when we were at Hogwarts...Harry I want you to know Sirius gave any future relationship you had with Miss Runcorn his highest blessing.'

This was all well and good to know Sirius supported Harry liking Allison, but Sirius was gone. The opinion Harry was more interested in at the moment was Remus'.

'And you?'

'Harry, I think I've made myself clear over the years that I don't trust her father, Albert Runcorn. He was one of the aurors that during the last war got drunk off of the extra power Barty Crouch gave to the aurors, and ever since sketchy things have happened around his presence. I will never approve of or trust Albert Runcorn, however I was wrong to pass that judgement off onto his daughter. She might be big and hot-headed like he is, but she's also unbelievably loyal to you Harry, and I saw in the Ministry that she fights for what is right as well. So if you want to know if I have changed my mind, the answer is yes, I think Allison Runcorn is a fine young woman and you and her would work well together as a couple...speaking of which, are you a couple?'

'Well, no, we hung out at a Christmas party and I had planned to ask her out, but I messed up, and I don't think she likes me any more.'

'I not so sure, she still sent you a card so she likes you well enough, I wouldn't give up on her yet,' said Remus. He then turned his focus to all three siblings. 'Now, the Tonks' will be here in a bit over an hour, everyone go get presentable.'

So Harry, Theodore, and Canini each took their presents up to their rooms. Harry brushed his hair even if it didn't do much, Theodore slicked his hair back and did his makeup. Harry finished getting ready before the others, and so left him and Theodore's room to head back downstairs, as he entered the hall though, he faintly could hear the unmistakable sound of someone sobbing coming from the bathroom.

Harry wasn't sure what to do at first, he slowing approached the door to discover it was slightly open. Making up his mind he peered inside and found Remus, who had finished shaving, quietly sobbing over the sink, his whole body shaking.

'Remus, what's wrong?'

Remus straightened up and tried to rub the tears out of his puffy eyes.

'Harry, I-I didn't see you?'

Harry came in, closed the door, and sat on the edge of the tub.

'Moony, are you ok?'

Remus tried to take a deep breath of air.

'Yes, I'm ok, just all that talk about Sirius brought up to many memories at once. I got overwhelmed.'

'Today would have been your fifteenth anniversary as a couple,' said Harry, guessing at the root of the problem.

'Yes, it would have been, we also got engaged at a Christmas gathering here in this cottage fourteen years ago today,' said Remus, his breath still shaky. 'Sirius and I had made plans that for our fifteenth anniversary, if the war got any better, the five of us would go to the South of France, or Calp, or Mallorca Island. Instead the war has only gotten worse, everywhere is cold and dreary, and I am all alone...'

'You're not alone though,' said Harry with confidence. 'You still have us, you have the Tonks', and the Order can be there for you if the rest of us can't. You're only as alone as you want to be, I learned that last year, I started out thinking I only had seven friends in a school of two hundred and eighty, but by the end of the year I was part of a group that took up more than a fifth of the school. Open up to the Order of the Phoenix, and they will help you.'

'Perhaps you are right, you are becoming so wise for your age. It still sometimes shocks me to think that in seven months you'll be an adult, I still remember seeing you for the first time in Godric's Hollow when you were only fifteen months old. How far you have come since then.'

'I wouldn't have gotten half this far without you or Sirius,' said Harry honestly.

'Come here,' said Remus with his arms outreached, and Harry quickly accepted the hug. He often over the past two years tried to be the strong and mature, but every once in a while he was glad he could still take comfort from a hug from his adoptive father.