Christmas
Christmas
Severus was concerned when, on Christmas morning, he had to go into Harry’s room. He had expected to be leapt upon by the seven-year-old and all but dragged downstairs to the tree. Perhaps the boy had come down with something in the night. It would certainly make for a slightly more somber holiday than he’d been expecting, but they would make it through. He wanted the boy to enjoy the day as much as possible.
He slowly pushed the door to the boy’s room open and peered through the darkness at the vague outline he was able to make out under the thick blankets. As he entered the room, the ceiling’s stars lit up with a gentle blue light to allow him to see and make his way to the edge of Harry’s bed, perching beside the small body buried under the blankets.
“Harry, are you feeling well?” he asked quietly.
“’M fine,” came the muffled voice.
“Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast and presents then?” Severus asked, growing confused.
“No, thank you,” Harry said in a small voice.
Severus held back his sigh at the politeness, something he usually demanded from children but something he wished would be more lacking in this particular child.
“Why not, child?” he asked.
There was a mumble that he couldn’t quite make out.
“Harry, please come out from under there so I can hear you,” he said firmly, but still gentle enough to not make the boy cower. He watched as the messy hair appeared and then the green eyes. He was startled at the sadness heavy in the eyes and face. “Now, what did you say?”
“I said I don’t get Christmas,” Harry muttered. “Freaks aren’t allowed.”
Severus let his eyes close for a moment to control his anger. He should have expected something like this, seeing as how the boy hadn’t expected anything for his birthday either for the exact same reason. Once he was sure his fury wouldn’t show, he looked back at the boy who was uncomfortably twisting his blanket in his hands.
“Well, I am unsure who you are referring to because there are many presents downstairs with your name on them,” Severus said and felt his heart break just a little more at the sheer wonder that filled the green eyes.
“My name?” Harry repeated in awe.
“You are Harry Potter, are you not?” Severus said and Harry nodded, almost hesitantly. “Then, yes, your name and they are for you. Shall we see what you have received?”
He stood to allow Harry room to slide out of the bed, though he did so slowly. He was clearly waiting for the rug to be pulled, so to speak, but Severus just guided him out of the room and down the stairs with a gentle hand on the back of his head. He couldn’t help the quiet sigh that escaped him when Harry stopped in his tracks in the sitting room entrance, clearly shocked by the small pile of presents sitting under the glowing and glittering tree.
“Well?” Severus said, giving the boy a light push and moving to sit on the sofa with a summoned cup of tea. He watched as Harry took tiny steps towards the tree, hands twisting together and a quiet gasp slipping out as he spotted a tag that very clearly read ‘Harry Potter’. The green eyes swung to him.
“Are…are you sure?” Harry whispered.
Severus just nodded, gesturing for the boy to sit on the floor. Harry did so, crossing his legs and pulling the closest package towards him. With several more glances Severus’ way, Harry eventually ripped into the gift.
It was a longer process than Severus expected for the child to open his gifts, but the wonder and happiness that glittered in his eyes with every item made it worth the time. Eventually, the gifts ended and Harry was staring reverently at the various items that now sat on the floor around him. He finished his tea and banished his cup away just as Harry climbed to his feet and shuffled over to him. The head was slightly bowed, but he could tell the child wanted to say something, so he waited. Rather than words, a hand reached out and fingers danced over his knee, a silent question he knew quite well at this point. He reached out and picked up the boy under his arms, settling Harry on his lap, legs on either side of him and small hands coming to rest on his shoulders, and met the green eyes.
“Thank you,” Harry whispered and Severus smiled at him, brushing the messier-than-usual hair out of the boy’s eyes before pulling him against his chest.
“Happy Christmas, child,” he said, gazing at the glimmering tree and spattering of presents as small arms squeezed his neck.
Fin