The holiday season was upon them. Hermione was flustered with finishing up her homework-having been playing with Luna her work was more behind. For her anyways. While Harry was tempted, along with Ron to just throw away the assignments without caring for the repercussions later on. Though Hermione did in fact advise them against it with a glare.

The day before they leave on the train-Harry was asked to come to Dumblewhores office once again. The man had been really trying to get to him but Harry declined by doing his homework-which made him miserable but done with it none the less. Ron was forced to do it with him. Much to the boy's grievances.

Harry looked at the statue with a pause-as much as he wanted to run away-again. He couldn't. So there he was going into the staircase after saying the dum password of twizzlers-he was at the door. He knocked and waited for an answer.

"Come in." Said the old creaky voice from inside.

Composing himself and clearing his mind, Harry walked in and gave a short smile before sitting himself in a chair. "What did you need to see me for Headmaster?" Harry asks as his eyes find Fawkes sleeping on his pedestal.

"I was wondering, with your father away-they still haven't found him correct?" He says offering some lemon drops that Harry didn't trust an ounce of-or at all.

"No, Sirius and Remus have been looking but haven't found him-or haven't responded to any of our letters. It's been rough." Harry knew his father was at him waiting for him-or more like Harry was waiting for him to wake up. Because apparently he hasn't for months now. And now with Sirius and Remus possibly missing now-it wasn't a good situation really...

Dumbledore watched his face melt into a worried one but was still suspicious. "Then who will you be staying with over the holidays? You can stay here if you wish-or the Weasleys perhaps?" He implored him.

Harry shook his head with a frown. "I still have family that I can go to. A very big family actually. Helen would be overjoyed to see me for Christmas again..." he didn't dare say Hestia. "But it's just going to be my grandfather and grandmother, possibly my uncle taking care of me until my Dad is found." He explained as calmly as he could. He could only guess as to why he wanted him nearby.

"I'm sure they'd be fine if you stay here-it's safe after all. A lot safer here then with muggles." Dumbledore tried to persuade.

Harry could tell-he had to look at the mans long eyebrows so he didn't look at the heavy magic spell he would cast with his eyes. Harry frowned before getting a bit peeved as he felt where this convo would be going-and decided to stop it from going any further then what he wanted. "They aren't muggles. My dad comes from a very old line of pure bloods. Older then Merlin."

"Now that's quite impossible Harry-I would know. I have studied quite throughly of this sort of thing." The old man said with a frown as he sat back in his chair to stare Harry down-wondering why it wasn't working. His spell that is.

"Look-just because my family didn't like meddling with others-doesn't mean they weren't around then or before. We have diaries and books made by them to show you. But you'd have to be a Jackson to get access to any of it. And we both know that won't happen ever. So, I'll be going home to them for Christmas. But I will be visiting Ron and the twins when I can." Harry huffed a little annoyed.

"Very well then Harry my boy." Stop calling me that! "I will allow it. Have a safe Holiday." The old man smiled. His twinkle dull.

Allow it? You don't have that power to allow me to do or not to do anything you-Harry breathed in deeply to calm himself before silently leaving without a farewell. He wasn't doing the best job at getting the in he needed to help his side of things but by the gods was it annoying to try with a man like Dumboldwhore.

Harry decided to head to the kitchens and get some hot coco. He needed the sweet drink at the moment. It was better then going back to Mione with homework on the table waiting for him to fix and finish.

He groaned when he realized he still would have to finish them later on-but for now. Hot coco.

____

The train ride was quiet, with Harry being anxious to see how his father was faring and having gotten the news of Sirius and Remus appearing-finally. But not without some news on their shoulders.

Harry wondered how Estelle, Chester and Bronx were? If they were okay...Angus purred on his head. Making him smile. He hoped they were taken well care of while he was gone and his dad not in commotion.

"I swear to the gods Ron-how are you able to beat me every time?!" Hermione brought him out of his thoughts, making him turn to see them playing chess. Not just any chess but the wizarding kind. It was kinda odd and morbid to Harry to see the pawns explode into pieces but get put back together after the ended. But he would admit it was fun.

Ron huffed with a arrogant smirk as he crossed arms over his chest. "Maybe because I'm just better then you."

Hermione rolled her eyes as Neville laughed. "She's still smarter then you compared with grades."

"Ouch, Neville that hurt-right here." Ron laughs as he pats where his heart is. His smile huge as he sets the board back in place as Luna takes over Hermiones place.

"Right, like you have a heart Ronald." Ginny spoke from across Harry. A smirk on her lips when Ron stuck his tongue out at her.

The bantering continued, all the way till the train stopped at platform 9 3/4. Harry jumped up with excitement as everyone rushed to get off to home for the 2 week break. Harry waved Luna, Ron and Ginny off as he, Neville and Hermione waited for his Grandfather.

When Poseidon did turn up, he caused people to stare as his outfit wasn't exactly the best for winter. The khaki shorts and Hawaiian flower themed shirt while it was snowing? Yeah, he got more then a few-everyone was looking. But it didn't matter to him as he grabbed Harry and gave him a hug-along with giving one to Hermione and awkwardly-Neville as well. Mostly Neville was awkward though.

Once at Riddle Mansion. Harry went up to Snape and Tom in a office room with a serious face. "Where's my dad?" He asked anxiously-he would have ran straight to his dad is it wasn't for the fact he didn't know where he was.

"It's good to see you as well Harry-we'll guide you to him. He's looking a lot better. But he still hasn't woken. So don't expect he'll be awake, alright?" Tom spoke calmly as he stood Severus going quietly along.

Harry nodded and he was led to the guest bedroom. Where his father was. Well-he had three really-so Dad, was what he'd go with for him. His dad, was laying there, as still as a stick. Or a wand when no one was moving it.

It was strange to see his dad so still, something heavy fell to his stomach when he realized why-his dad would always move even in his sleep-his hands would be messing with something or rubbing at his neck. Or his foot would be tapping. A knee bouncing. There was always so much energy in him and that's what made Harry think of him as a person he wanted for be-he wanted to by happy and energetic just like his dad would be. But he wasn't in this moment.

In this moment his dad was still, his eyes closed and his breaths almost barely visible with the green sheets. His skin wasn't pink with embarrassment or laughter. It was pale-his tan though was coming back. He was skinnier-barely to Harry's eyes.

Severus was glad in that moment as Harry sat in the chair and took his dads hand. That it wasn't as skeletal as it was when Percy arrived.

No one spoke as Harry digested everything in. He hadn't really done so before. Thinking it wasn't as bad-thinking that he winced. "He's better? Does that mean he was worse then this?" His eyes met Toms. His father.

Tom paused before speaking. "He's a lot better now. That's all that counts. Severus has been making nutrition potions and such for him. Even if he sleeps he still needs food-as starvation is a mortal way of dying-though slower for him-" he stopped when Severus gave him a look. "What matters Harry-is that he's better and he's going to continue getting better."

Severus put a hand to Harry's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Do you want to set up your room or wait till after dinner?"

"I'll stay here till dinner, and then afterwards-yeah...I'll set up my room afterwards." Harry's hand tightened on Percy's-even though it saddened him it didn't squeeze back.

He remembered going to a doctors appointment soon after meeting his dad, and how he held His hand and how he squeezed back to comfort him. He hoped soon his dad would wake up.

Everyone did.

_____

During dinner that night-Harry, Hermione and Neville were all told of what happened to Sirius and Remus. Apparently someone had been tracking them so they had to be careful taking or reading letters. And to stay low. Until they could come back. Sirius was taken at one point to which Remus had to let Moony out to help save him-as no magic would work to find the Black. Sirius was pretty beat up by the time he was able to save him-then they arrived here, a week before break. So Sirius sat with his arm in a sling with a smile to reassure Harry he was fine.

Neville decided it was time to tell everyone who his godmother was and was looking towards getting her purged at Gringotts-in case she was messed with by Dumbledore as well. Tom agreed she just might have been. And he agreed to help
Make it go as smooth as possible-or if needed. Breaking out most of his followers from Azkaban.

Later that evening, Harry was forced to finish his work, and after that he was free to do whatever. He set up his trunk in his room and went straight for Percy's room until he was told off to bed.

That was a routine for a week, sleep, do work-until it was all finished then he would stay with Percy till meal times.

It was pretty boring though really.

"Tom, we're having a yule ball? Here? What are you thinking?" Severus spoke with a frown as he and Tom were in Percy's room talking about yule plans.

"It's going to be alright-I need to make it look like we have a plan so he'll slip up and show me his cards love-and I'm tired of hiding. We've been hiding and sneaking like the Slytherin s we are-when we could be hitting him straight up with all that we already have. It's our best bet. At least I hope it is." Tom explained as calmly as he could with the frustration that was building from his own worry about the plan.

Severus paused. "You think it'll work?" He sat next to him.

He smiled at his mate with a cocky raise of an eyebrow. "It will-I'll make sure of it."

"Make sure if what?" Percy spoke up causing the two to whip their heads to him. "Wow, did you guys get whiplash simultaneously? Crazy..." he coughed and tried to sit up his eyes landing on the hand holding his and blushing.

"Here water!" Severus quickly gave him a cup of water as they stared at him in awe.

Tom then laughed and kissed Percy's hand gently. "What?" He asked blushing as the mans lips stayed close before he backed away.

Smirking with a warm look he spoke gently. "Oh nothing much, just a Christmas miracle."

"It's Christmas?!" Percy shouted in shock. He didn't think he was out for that long. Nearly 4 months.

"Christmas Eve actually." Severus said matter of factly as he smiled at Percy's shocked face. Actually quite happy that Percy was awake and not this expressionless sleep statue.

Percy rubbed at his brow in a attempt to not burst into a fit of some sort. The hand still holding his-the same hand that continued to tingle with the kiss it had been given felt a squeeze and he looked over to Tom-the handsome used to be bad guy or never way guy. Still-handsome-just like Severus. He blushed and looked away making the man smirk and Severus to roll his eyes with a smile on his face.

"Boy is Harry going to be happy about this." Tom spoke with a cheeky grin.

As he said that Harry walked in after having finished his Lunch. "Dad?" His voice cracked.

"Wow-you've grown-and are those wings?" Percy spoke as he looked his kid over-definitely a lot had changed. And he was only out for 4 months. "Oof-" he was now holding his bawling Harry.

Percy smiled and used what little strength he did have to hold Harry-a 16 year old boy now close to him, calmly calming his bursts of quick talking. Petting his hair back as he cried his heart out. Letting his own tears out at how much his son had been hurt with what was done to himself.

"I love you so much Dad." Harry cried into Percy neck.

Percy smiled wide. "I love you more."

Harry laughed, and just hugged his dad closer.

_____

"I'll be fine Mione dear." Percy spoke as she messed with his hair that had grown a bit longer, coming to the base of his neck and getting into his eyes. But with her help it was swept off with some hell and styled in a more controlled way-even longer it was uncontrollable.

"Right, says the guy who just came out of a coma." She rolled her eyes but sighed and turned to wipe her hands off on a towel.

Percy stood from the chair. Feeling lethargic but mostly fine. "Hey, you alright?" He spoke as he stares her down.

"Yeah...yeah...I'm glad you're doing better I'm just worried. This is a big thing tonight and-" Percy stopped her.

He smiled at her. "It'll be fine. We have each other now." He looked her over and sighed. "You've grown to-from a little girl to a grown woman-how's the girlfriend?" He smirks.

Hermione smiled. "Luna is great-thank you."

"For what Mione?" Percy spoke as his attention turned to fixing a flower in her hair.

"For being a dad figure-for everything." Tears sprang to her eyes and she tried to stop from crying as it would ruin the little bit of makeup she had on.

She found herself being hugged. "You don't have to thank me-I'm glad I was there for you...and I'm glad to call you my daughter if you really want it...it's up to you. I'm sure Harry would be overjoyed-even though he already thinks of you all as his siblings." Percy rambled as he got embarrassed a bit but he didn't regret asking, he smiled as he stepped back. Only to find Hermione bawling now.

"I'd love that." She sobbed.

"Okay, it's settled then." His voice was soft before kissing her forehead.

"Best Christmas ever." Harry spoke as he grinned at them.

Hermione wiped her eyes carefully. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to know I can call you my little sister." He jested as he folded his arms over his chest.

She rolled her eyes. "Your two months older Harry."

Harry grind impishly. "Still makes you younger."

"I think I'm going to kill him." She spoke in a stage whisper to Percy-her dad now.

Percy laughed. "Look at that, already squabbling like siblings." He laughs when they huff at him. "Cmon, let's go meet up with the rest. The yule ball they planned will be starting soon."

He watched as they continued their jesting all the way down to a sitting room, a warm smile on his face. He never would have guessed to be a father-much one of two teens. When he realized that he sighed deeply as he stared up at the ceiling, was he insane? He looks back at the two-smiles and shakes his head. He supposed he was.

____

The party was hectic-hosted at Malfoy Manor and beautiful thanks to Narcissas careful planning and work.

The Weasleys were there as well. A lot of people if the wizarding community was there. And to Toms hope. So we're Dumbledores lackeys.

Tom was smiling as he talked to the minister of magic. He had been busy with that and welcoming guests with Lucius that he hadn't been able to see his mates the whole day. It made him sorta cranky but he hid it well with a pretty smile and fake attitude towards people. He was glad no one knew his face as Voldermort but a whole other face.

His eyes saw a glare of a robe and he knew it was Severus before his eyes met with the bored brown of his lover. Said liver smirked before tilting his head in a direction. Tom looked over following the implication of the nod to find Percy.

The man-barely recovered as it was literally the next day. Was standing, smiling as bright as the stars as he talked with another man he had no recollection of. He had the sudden and immediate urge to run over and grab Percy when the man dared shake his hand. So he focused on Percy more-seeing how the black and white simple suit fitted him nicely in all the right-

He was interrupted from watched Percy's bottom half when the minister asked if he was listening.

"No sorry-I blanked for a moment there. I think the champagne got to me. Please do continue." He spoke quickly his eyes glancing over to Percy-only to find he was gone now.

He tried not to be disappointed at that fact.

—

Besides what has been done, the beginning had just begun.

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