Celebration
Severus made Harry say good night to his friends by the stairs and follow him to his quarters. He needed to have Harry within his reach, and within his wards, for the next few hours at least. While he was assured of his choice, he still felt slightly agitated that it had happened, that it had been necessary. Something in him shifted and fluctuated, restless, angry. Because of that he wasn’t quite certain what he thought about the fact that his Floo chimed, with Tonks and her family on the other side just a few minutes after they had reached his quarters. Still, they had all been very helpful so far and Harry liked them. After the day Harry had had, he deserved some peaceful moments with calm, responsible people who liked him. To celebrate Harry’s freedom from the Tournament and their bonding, as Tonks put it while her father put down the cake they had brought for the occasion. Apparently, they meant celebration in all seriousness.
Severus had been even less enthused when Andromeda asked to bring the wolf and the mutt through, too, but Harry’s eager face made him agree. Andromeda promised him that they would both behave. They had stayed at the Tonks' property for weeks and Black was, while still heavily marked after Azkaban, a lot better than before, due to Severus’ arsenal of potions and Andromeda’s masterful healing.
It took Black less than two minutes to disprove Andromeda's assurances, as he jumped Harry as soon as he saw him. Severus knew that the mutt hadn’t seen his godson since last spring when Harry finally got to know the whole truth of the Secret Keeper and the Betrayer. Still, the only reason Severus didn’t do anything fatal when he heard Harry’s yelp of shock and pain when Black literally scooped him up and hugged the air out of him, was that Lupin was closer to them and got Black safely off Harry before he put Black on the ground.
“I’m so very sorry, Harry, Snape,” Lupin looked from one to the other with a knee on Black’s back, a hand holding both of Black’s hands on his back and the other hand on Black’s face, keeping him down. “So very sorry, we will leave, if you will let us.” His eyes were shining gold with emotion, most likely his wolf knew how much danger they were in.
Black was complaining loudly, but Severus couldn’t care.
He stalked over to Harry who still smelled faintly of shock and pain, while casting diagnostic charms. They showed some pain, but no true harm. Shadows and Darkness and Cold heaved under his skin, wanting to break free, wanting to make this whole situation disappear. His human skin was straining at the seams. Harry leaned into him as soon as Severus put a hand on his shoulder. He suspected it was at least partly so that it would be harder for him to do anything to anyone, but as long as Harry truly was alright, he could and would let it pass. It would hurt Harry more if he did anything to the mutt or the wolf, something he unfortunately was very aware of. They had been exchanging letters for weeks now.
“You may both stay, at the opposite side of the room. I’m still … agitated about the situation with the Goblet and Albus who honestly doesn’t seem to understand that the ice beneath his feet is getting thinner by every confrontation we have. If Black does something like that again, I do not think I will be given a choice in the matter of my response.”
“Of course, Snape. I’m sorry that I didn’t realise he would do something so stupid.” Lupin lifted Black to his feet and shook him before pushing him towards the other side of the room. Black was finally silent. Maybe he now understood his own stupidity and the danger he had put them all in. Severus doubted it, unfortunately.
Andromeda apologised too, in a whisper while serving Harry and Severus some of the dark chocolate cake decorated with red and gold autumn leaves and orange pumpkins made of sugar fondant. She said that Harry was allowed off his diet for this one day, and that it would be weeks before he could gorge himself on cake again. Harry happily complied. He was still allowed a small dessert three times a week, according to the diet, so he hadn’t complained even once at the restrictions. Severus suspected that it had a lot to do with the fact he now felt better than ever before, and the proof that someone cared enough about him to tell him what was healthy for him and not.
“I have told him at least five times to not move fast or act rashly,” Andromeda said, “and I used hugging Harry without his explicit consent as one of the scenarios he should avoid. I was certain that he understood, but his mind might still be too muddled for me to be able to trust his assurances.”
“It’s alright,” Harry said before eagerly eating a piece of the cake, humming in pleasure while chewing and swallowing, and then continuing. “My friends did that all the time; I’m used to it. Even if they now are a bit more careful. Hermione is a hugger, and I like her hugs, even more now when she asks first and doesn’t hug quite so hard. This cake is the best, Aunt Andi.”
“Even better than treacle tart?” Tonks asked teasingly.
Harry thought about it. “They are equally as good.”
Andromeda and Tonks laughed.
“High praise indeed!” Tonks grinned.
They all ate the cake and drank tea the elves served, and Harry and Severus told everyone everything about the Goblet of Fire and the whole scene in the anteroom afterward.
“This is the best Halloween ever,” Harry said with a happy sigh after his second piece of cake, most of the fondant left on his plate. Severus quite agreed, the fondant was good in small servings, but far too sweet in larger portions.
“How come, pup?” Black asked from the other side of the room. “Surely the three other celebrations at Hogwarts must have been better and calmer than this? The Feast is still absolutely spectacular, Moony told me.”
“There were no trolls, no basilisks on the loose in the walls and accusations flying towards me and no mass-murderers trying to break into the Tower,” Harry cast a long glance at Black who had the decency to look chagrined, “and even if the Feast itself was very … exhausting because of the suspense, I got to celebrate with a delicious cake and a lot of people that I like, and that like me, afterward, when the suspense was over. And I’m not in any danger, for once!” He beamed, like that shouldn’t have been the case from his first moment at Hogwarts.
The rest of the room stared at him in something akin to horror, but Severus had gotten used to such remarks, as much as one could get used to something like that, and put an arm around Harry to pull him close.
“I’m happy that you are happy,” he said in a low voice, almost a croon, but he thought it was just possible for human ears to still understand.
“Yeah, kiddo, that’s great,” Tonks said, without much true enthusiasm. Then she rallied. “Christmas, or Yule, is the next big celebration of the Wheel of the Year. What about it, do you want to join the rest of the family on that celebration? Bonfires, a yule log, decorations everywhere and music and singing and excellent food, lots of sweets too, and if you want, a ritual on Yule itself.”
That Tonks was willing to admit to a room full of people that her family celebrated a traditional Yule, with a ritual even, told Severus that she trusted everyone there with her family and their secrets.
“You really want me?” Harry whispered. “And you want me to celebrate with you? A real Christmas, with a family? What is Yule? And the Wheel of the Year?”
“We would be honoured to have you and Severus over for Yule,” Andromeda said. “Of course we would.”
Ted nodded with a smile.
Harry looked up at Severus and Severus gave his assent without hesitation. There would be a Yule Ball on Yule, but if they absolutely couldn’t avoid it, they could come back for it. This was more important. So much more important than a packed party with dancing that Harry wasn’t even allowed to do. He hoped that they could both be excused. It would be much more important for Harry to experience a true Yule with a family who cared for him and wanted him to be happy.
Harry beamed and Tonks began to explain the differences between Christmas and Yule, how her family celebrated a combination of the two, as her parents had grown up with different traditions and both wanted to keep some of them, and as such they had made their own traditions for Tonks to grow up with. Then she explained what the Wheel of the Year was with its eight Sabbaths with different traditions and meanings for each celebration. Harry was enthralled.
“So many festivities, so many reasons to get together and celebrate. I want that, I want all of it!”
Tonks, Andromeda, Lupin and Black laughed, Ted grinned, and Severus was unable to keep back a chuckle.
“I mean it, though,” Harry said and looked up at Severus with grave, but glinting, green eyes, “it seems like good traditions to have. Celebrating the year with loved ones, honouring the seasons and Magic. It’s important. I have never had many reasons to celebrate anything, but I want to celebrate this. Could any of you teach me more? Would any of you begin to celebrate all the Sabbaths with me?”
There was a long, almost shocked silence where everyone looked at Harry until he nearly began to squirm. Severus could feel the tiny movements against his side, where Harry still sat so very close. Warm and safe and happy.
“I’m sure everyone here would be honoured, cub.” Lupin was the first to speak. “I haven’t kept up on celebrating the Old Ways, which they also are called, but I still have my books from when my father taught me about them, and I would like it very much if I could pass them on to you.
“You should know though, Harry, that Yule is the most accepted Sabbath from the Wheel of the Year. Most of the others, if not all, are … less accepted, and the Old Ways are no longer truly celebrated in the open. Instead, the celebrations are getting replaced with the Muggle equivalent. There is Halloween instead of Samhain, Christmas instead of Yule and Easter instead of Ostara, and so on. People … people have begun to associate the Old Ways with darkness and evil, these past few decades. My generation was the last one who got taught about the Sabbaths in the open. I’m sure Tonks seldom, if ever, talked about them with her friends, growing up.”
“No, never,” Tonks stated gloomily. “It was sad to celebrate alone when at Hogwarts, but I still wanted to mark the Sabbaths, even if it wasn’t a full celebration when I was alone. I know some of my fellow students celebrated, but we didn’t mention it to each other before we were sure of each other in the later years. My Sixth and Seventh years were the best, celebration wise, as we snuck around to celebrate together.” She smiled.
“But it isn’t against the law, is it?” Harry asked. “To celebrate the Sabbaths, or to teach or learn about them?”
“It isn’t quite illegal,” Ted said slowly. “Just strongly advised against, very strongly. If anyone figures out that you are learning about it, or are celebrating the Old Ways … It carries a lot of stigma, Harry, there is no doubt about that.”
“Oh, but … I can still learn, can’t I?” He looked at Severus. “If I’m careful? If my friends who would like to learn are careful, too? I don’t think Hermione knows about this either, or I would have heard about it before now.”
Harry’s comment on the importance of the Sabbaths and their celebrations, his insistence on knowing more, on learning about the Wheel of the Year and the celebrations, and on celebrating them himself, even when it was advised against, told Severus that they were speaking more to the Wyrd in Harry, than to Harry himself. Not that he thought anyone else would catch on to that fact. He didn’t know what about the Sabbaths that had grabbed the Wyrd’s attention, but when Harry said it was important, Severus believed him.
Black gave a heavy sigh. “Harry, kiddo, one of the reasons people like Dumbledore want to put a stop to the Old Ways is because it’s scaring away the Muggle born, like your Hermione. The Muggle born can accept magic, when they have to, but a lot of them cannot accept what they see as worshipping false deities, or even devil worship. They can’t accept that Magic is more than just a tool to use, and they don’t understand the Old Ways, many don’t want to understand as it goes against everything they know, a little too much.”
Harry looked at Ted, who shrugged. “I never had any problems with the thought of celebrating the Sabbaths, or the Old Ways as a whole, but then my family never was very Christian to begin with. I know a few of the other Muggle born of my generation had some problems with it, but most of them saw it as a completely acceptable religion for people who grew up with magic. Like the Hindu religion is a perfectly acceptable religion for people who grew up with it, and wanted to keep it. It didn’t concern them. Some of them, like myself, adopted part of it into my own life. Of course, according to my lovely pureblood wife, the Old Ways concern everyone with magic as it is a celebration and renewing of Magic and Nature, and not the worship of some spectre in the sky.”
“Yes, exactly that,” Harry crooned with Darkness dripping off his voice and bleeding down from his suddenly completely black eyes.
Everyone but Black and Severus himself shuddered, and Severus had to concentrate to figure out if the words were said with a voice humans could understand, even if it was uncomfortable for them, or if they couldn’t understand it at all. Black was, like Severus himself, an Alpha and thus had a thicker skin where Harry’s Omega powers were concerned. There was a chance that he understood Harry’s Other Speak too, when normal people couldn’t.
“Celebrating and renewing Magic and Nature,” Harry chittered. Those words were not in any human tongue, at least, Severus knew. Harry leaned into Severus when Severus carefully hugged him closer. His Wyrd was agitated and upset, smelling of ozone and ice, and Severus wanted to support and help him, but there was nothing to do, no one there to defend against, so all he could do was give silent support. Whatever Harry felt about the subject, as a human or as a Wyrd, Severus didn’t feel the same. All he could do was follow Harry’s lead, and he would.
“Uh, kiddo, I didn’t quite catch the last bit,” Black said and rubbed his ear while Lupin was covering his.
Severus let his Darkness slip free to envelop Harry in its tendrils and hug him even closer, to give comfort and reassurance.
“Harry feels very strongly about celebrating the Sabbaths,” he said in a low, but human voice, even if he had to concentrate to keep it human, as both his own Darkness and Harry’s were tugging on him. Not to fight, not to destroy, just tugging, like it tried to convey some important message. Merlin, was it really less than two months ago when he didn’t suddenly switch languages upon some deeply buried instinct?
“He feels that they are very important indeed, for both Magic and Nature.” He looked at Andromeda that had paled and clutched one of her husband’s hands in her own. “I believe it safe to say that Harry perceives the Old Ways as important as you do, if not even more so, given his reaction after just getting to know they exist, and aren’t taken seriously.”
At that Harry growled and Darkness and Cold swept across the room in one mighty wave, threatening the life and sanity of their human guest, before Harry gasped, and all his Darkness was back behind his human skin.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone! Please!” Harry cried.
“We are alright, Harry, we are alright!” Tonks assured him, even before she checked properly on the other occupants of the room. Severus felt true warmth towards her for that, for caring more about Harry and his state of mind, than even her own parent’s comfort and health.
“Yes, Harry, we are alright,” Lupin said before casting an areawide Warming Charm and levitating a blanket to charm even warmer and tucking it around Black, who was shivering so hard that his teeth clattered. “Cold, but quite alright.”
Andromeda cast diagnostic charms on everyone and warming charms on herself and her family, before she looked at her husband. A silent conversation took place before Andromeda lifted an imperious eyebrow. Ted gave a small sigh.
“As you wish, my love.”
She patted his hand. “We don’t have to give up the traditions you brought into the family, they are a part of the family now, we will simply celebrate the Wheel of the Year with a bit more significance.”
“I would love that, Dad!” Tonks turned and looked at Ted. “I would love it if you joined us on the Sabbaths.”
“I’m a wizard, and if the Sabbaths are that important to Magic, I will celebrate them with you,” Ted stated, then looked at Harry. “You don’t happen to know more about why it’s so important?”
Harry hesitated before shaking his head. “No, just that it is important. Really, really important. And I didn’t even know that the Sabbaths were a thing an hour ago.” He frowned and looked at Severus. “Sometimes those instincts are kind of disturbing, you know.”
“Yes, I know,” Severus said and hugged him a bit harder. Two months ago, he would never have been so free with affection of any kind, especially physical affection. And he would certainly never have shown affection in front of anyone, but now it was inconceivable to keep any kind of affection from Harry when he wanted or needed it.
“Very well,” Lupin said with an arm around the still shivering Black. “I have the introduction books, and while that gives you a good starting point, Harry, most people who follow the Wheel of The Year grow up with the traditions, like Tonks, and thus learn about each Sabbath from childhood. Personally, I would read up on and decide on which traditions to follow, as there are many and some are specific for a family, before each Sabbath, so as not to overwhelm yourself with information from the get-go. Now you have two months to read and learn about Yule, and after that you have about two months before Imbolc, and so on.”
Harry nodded eagerly; the earlier despair almost forgotten. “But if you only have the introduction books and information about the Old Ways are heavily censored, where can I get more information?”
“I would happily teach you,” Andromeda said, “but I’m afraid that I only remember my own chosen traditions by now. For more you need either more teachers with different traditions, or books. I learned from the Black Library, but that avenue is closed to me now.” She looked pointedly at Black, and it took several moments before he looked up, stared at her and then gave a heavy sigh.
“Fine, I will go to Grimmauld Place and raid the library there.” He shuddered. “It’s a horrible, horrible place.”
“Is Kreacher still alive?” Andromeda asked.
Black looked into the air for several moments before making a grimace. “Yes, unfortunately.”
“Call him and ask him to bring you the books, then you won’t have to go there.”
Black hesitated, grimaced, and then called. “Kreacher, come here!”
There was a pop and the ugliest house elf Severus had ever seen suddenly showed up. His clothing were rags that were grey with dirt, as was his skin, his feet were almost black with it. The small figure was also hunched in on himself, as if in pain. It took him several moments to place this elf as the elf Regulus Black had had such a strange, and strangely close, relationship to in his childhood. Beside him Harry gave a small gasp and stirred.
“Nasty Master called poor Kreacher?” the elf muttered glaring up at Black even if his head was still bowed.
“Kreacher, Harry Potter, my godson and Heir want to learn more about the Wheel of the Year, the Sabbaths, all of it.”
“Heir Black wants to be a proper Heir to the Blacks?” Kreacher croaked.
“He wants to learn about Magic and the Old Ways, what he does with the knowledge is up to him. From this moment onwards I order you to answer his call and follow his orders as if they were my own, or even better, Regulus’. He is the future of House Black, Kreacher, without him, there won’t be any House Black.” Black made a gesture towards Harry.
This was apparently not news to Harry, as he didn’t react to the proclamation, but then, Severus had no idea about what he and Black had discussed in letters the last few weeks.
The elf turned towards Harry and himself, and froze. “An Omega?” the elf croaked in obvious shock. “The Heir Black is an Omega? A far too young Omega? Oh my, oh my, what would my poor Mistress say about such abominations done towards an Omega of her proud House?”
Black furrowed his brows, obviously used to verbal attacks against himself, but as he didn’t react, he probably realised that the elf was in fact not disparaging Harry or having an Omega in the House of Black. It seemed he was horrified by Harry’s youth, as that pointed to a rather dire picture of Harry’s past. An Omega that had presented before the end, or at least the later years of puberty, could only mean one thing.
“I prefer Wyrd instead of Omega, if you don’t mind, Kreacher,” Harry said, very calmly. “This is my Warder, Potion Master Severus Snape. We bonded tonight; it was necessary for my protection.”
Obviously, that was the right thing to say, as the little elf had begun glowering at Severus at the mention of a bond, and then he nodded in satisfaction when it was pointed out that it was for Harry’s protection.
“I would like to learn about the Old Ways, Kreacher, could you help me?” Harry asked.
“Oh, Kreacher will, Kreacher will be happy to, young Heir.” The elf nodded vigorously.
“There are books in the Black Library that Sirius and Aunt Andi seem to think can help me. Could you get me four of those for now, books that are for beginners, for children, if necessary, as I don’t know anything.”
“And do not ever give him a book, or anything else, that is cursed or otherwise harmful to him,” Severus added. He had visited Grimmauld Place several times with Regulus, but he had never been allowed inside the vaunted Black Library; you had to have Black blood or be let in specifically by the Head of House or the Heir for that to happen. Still, Regulus had told him about the dangers, both of the library and the house in general. His voice thrummed with power and Otherness, and while the humans winced and most likely didn’t understand what he said, Kreacher looked at him and bowed deeply.
“As you say, of course, Master Warder, sir,” the elf said.
Black gaped, as he should. Severus wasn’t a part of the Black family and he had just given an order to a family elf, and gotten compliance in return. Severus remembered the three Hogwarts elves that had seemed so enthusiastic about serving Harry and himself after they had begun courting, and again he wondered if the elves had a very different view on Wyrds and Warders than magical people had.
“Kreacher, not to … not to be rude, or anything, but would you consider cleaning yourself up some?” Harry asked tentatively.
“Make it an order, Harry,” Severus said in a low voice “That is healthier for him. Suggestions give leeway and he will have to decide for himself what exactly you meant. Direct orders will make the task easier for him.”
Harry looked at Black who shook his head in befuddlement, then shrugged and made a ‘go ahead’ gesture towards the elf.
“Kreacher, before finding and bringing me the books I want, I order you to take care of yourself. You will wash properly, shower or bathe, but get completely clean. Also get clean clothes. I won’t give you any clothes, of course, but find some in the house that you can resize, or make some yourself. A uniform for House Black!” Harry snapped his fingers. “Yes! A proper uniform in the House colours, with the House crest above your heart. Pants, shirt, waistcoat, jacket and tie, and shiny black shoes.” He grinned at Kreacher who looked at him with bulbous, watery blue eyes. “And white gloves too. Can you do that, do you need money to get that for yourself?”
“Kreacher has access to the Black Vaults, he has,” the elf said.
“Good, then I order you to take money from there to get outfitted properly, as behoves an elf from the House of Black. With cufflinks, tie pin and a pocket watch and chain too. I order you to always keep your uniform clean, and keep yourself clean and healthy. Make sure to eat and sleep and rest enough, whatever is proper to keep a house elf in good health. That includes a proper place to sleep and rest too, by the way, no dirty cupboards for anyone, ever. Proper rooms with windows, even if it is at the back of the house or the attic. You will have a suitable bed and bed linens. Do you understand me, Kreacher.”
Harry was laying it on thick, and he knew it, by the gleam in his eyes. He had recognised a fellow sufferer and wanted it to stop, by his very pointed command if necessary.
Kreacher was crying silently now, big fat tears running down his face, hanging off his pointed nose, and he was bowing so deeply that his nose almost touched the floor.
“Yes, young Master, Kreacher understands and obeys. Kreacher will begin his orders now?”
“Yes, please, Kreacher, do that. You are dismissed.”
“Thank you, young Master.” He bowed again. “Nice Master,” he muttered. “Nice young Master, just like Regulus. Yes, just as Regulus he is.” He popped away.