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A small body landed on Severus’ stomach, abruptly wrenching him awake.
“Daddy! Papa!” Harry squealed, “It’s Christmas!”
Severus blearily opened his eyes to see his son peering down at him, vibrant green eyes shining and little hands fisting Severus’ nightshirt.
“What time is it?” Sirius groaned.
“Half past five,” Severus sighed, glancing over at the old wooden grandfather clock in the corner of the room. Most days it was a nightmare to wrestle Harry out of bed at a quarter to seven for school, but here he was up before six.
“Presents, presents, presents,” Harry chanted, bouncing up and down.
“Inside voices, Harry,” Severus scolded, gently scooping the child up and placing him between himself and Sirius.
“Presents, presents,” Harry whispered loudly. “Papa, please,” Harry pleaded, turning to Sirius and tugging on his arm. The correct strategy. Sirius was far softer than Severus.
“I know you’re excited, Prongslet,” Sirius said, ruffling Harry's messy dark hair. "But why don't you pick out a present for each of us to start with? Your Daddy and I will be there in a few minutes.”
“Okay,” Harry sighed dramatically, “But no da-dawdly.” Harry jabbed his finger in Sirius’ chest, in a manner so much like Lily, Severus’ heart twinged a little.
“Dawdling,” Severus corrected lightly, kissing Harry on the forehead.
Harry nodded vigorously before scrambling over Sirius, hopping to the floor, and dashing out of the bedroom. Severus opened his mouth to tell him off for running, but Sirius cut him off with a kiss.
“It’s Christmas,” Sirius murmured.
“Ah, yes, that will help if he cracks his head open,” Severus sneered but without any real bite.
“You worry too much,” Sirius laughed.
Severus sniffed, looking down his nose at his idiot Gryffindor of a partner.
Sirius tangled his fingers in Severus’ hair, drawing him in for a bruising kiss. Severus snogged him back with equal fervour, slipping his tongue into Sirius’ mouth.
Bang!
Severus and Sirius jumped apart, clamouring out of the bed and rushing to the living room.
“Harry,” Severus called sternly, examining the scene before him.
Harry stood, sheepishly twisting the hem of his Quidditch footie pyjamas as their cat, Willow, slunk between his legs. The Christmas tree was toppled over and several ornaments were strewn across the floor.
“Willow and I were playing, sorry,” Harry mumbled, worrying his bottom lip.
“Next time be more careful,” Severus lectured as he flicked his wand, righting the Christmas tree.
“Yes, Daddy,” Harry nodded, bounding forward and flinging his arms around Severus’ waist. “Am I in trouble?” Harry asked, tilting his head up and looking at Severus with wide puppy dog eyes.
“Hmm, I suppose it is Christmas,” Severus smirked. Harry beamed and Severus tussled the kid's hair.
Harry clutched Severus’ hand and tugged him to the couch where a messily wrapped package in snowman paper sat.
“I'll make us hot chocolate,” Sirius grinned.
“I like how Daddy makes it,” Harry chirped.
“Well then you better ask him nicely,” Sirius said, winking at Severus as he sprawled out on the couch.
“Daddy, will you make hot chocolate please? You make it the very best,” Harry asked sweetly. Perhaps there was still a chance at Slytherin, admittedly slim between his genes and Sirius, but still a sliver.
“Very well,” Severus sighed. Merlin, this child had made him soft.
Severus went to the kitchen and began to heat milk. He could hear Sirius and Harry laughing from the other room.
“What have I become?” Severus grumbled half-heartedly to Willow as the cat weaved between his legs.
Willow meowed in response and nuzzled his leg.
Severus levitated three mugs of hot chocolate back into the living room. Harry kicked his legs in excitement and Severus pinned him with a stern look, waiting for him to settle before handing him the hot chocolate.
“Mmm, delicious. You do make the best hot chocolate, Severus,” Sirius practically moaned as he downed a third of his mug in one gulp.
“Can I open presents now?” Harry asked hopefully.
“Yeah, go on, mate,” Sirius said, looking nearly as excited as Harry. Christmas had never been a joyous time for Severus before Harry and Sirius and he knew Sirius’ early Christmases were awful in their own way even if there had been gifts.
Harry tore open the wrapping paper with the same lack of decorum Sirius always did.
“Ooh, so fluffy and soft,” Harry cried, hugging the owl plushie to his chest, “She's named Hedwig,” he declared, petting the stuffed animal.
After the debacle with the broom last year, this year Severus and Sirius had agreed on all the gifts for Harry together beforehand.
Sirius opened his gift next - a mug Severus had helped Harry make.
“Ooh, is that the three of us?” Sirius asked, pointing at the drawing on the mug.
Harry nodded eagerly.
“Thank you, Harry. I love it,” Sirius beamed, kissing Harry on the forehead. Harry happily nuzzled into Sirius’ side.
Severus delicately peeled back the wrapping paper on his gift.
“Merlin, Severus, could you take any longer?” Sirius teased.
“Yeah, Daddy, you're so slooow,” chimed in Harry.
“Apologies that I am not a savage like the two of you,” Severus snarked.
Sirius flicked his cheek and Severus swatted his hand in retaliation before returning to opening his package, sucking in a sharp breath as the paper fell away.
“It’s beautiful, Harry. Thank you,” Severus whispered, gazing down at the flower collage. The flowers had been pressed behind a glass pane, forming an image of the tree in the park where he and Lily used to play. Severus and Sirius had taken Harry to the park a few times over the summer.
“Papa helped,” Harry admitted shyly.
“Harry picked all the flowers,” Sirius countered proudly.
“Thank you both.” Severus smiled softly at the pair, hugging Harry and kissing Sirius on the cheek.
Harry allowed Severus to hold him for a minute before leaping up and selecting another gift, which he promptly ripped the wrapping paper off.
“Potions,” Harry exclaimed. “I'm gonna play potions like Daddy!”
Sirius chuckled and threw his arm over Severus’ shoulder as Harry sorted through the kid's potion kit. Once he’d finished examining it, Harry eagerly tore open his next gift.
“A snitch,” Harry shouted, thrusting his hand into the air. He released the snitch and began chasing after it, leaping and jumping.
“If he knocks over the tree again,” Severus muttered darkly, as Harry darted around the room.
“Relax,” Sirius murmured into his ear, “We can always put it upright again.”
Severus huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Do I need to tickle you?” Sirius chided teasingly, poking Severus in the ribs threateningly.
“Do so and I will hex you,” Severus drawled, pinning Sirius with a menacing glare that didn’t seem to phase the Gryffindor in the slightest.
Sirius entwined his fingers in Severus’ hair, tugging lightly. But before their lips could meet, Harry collided with their legs, toppling over as his fingers curled around the snitch.
“Got it,” Harry grinned with the same cocky lopsided grin as his father.
Harry ran his fingers through his untamable dark hair, holding up the snitch. For a moment Severus' childhood bully flashed before his eyes, but then Harry giggled - a laugh that wasn’t entirely Lily or James. How James Potter became James, at least most of the time, Severus wasn’t quite sure. He reckoned it was one of the sleepy afternoons they'd spent pouring over photo albums together, Harry squished between Sirius and Severus. Harry wasn’t his father; perhaps, it wasn’t so terrible if Harry had some of James Potter in him. For all the bad memories the man held, Sirius and Lily had both loved him and there would be no Harry without him.
“Good job, Prongslet,” Sirius beamed, patting Harry on the head.
Severus squeezed his son's shoulder, before standing. “I'm going to make breakfast,” he announced.
“Pancakes?” Harry squealed, bouncing on his toes.
“As promised,” Severus smirked.
“Can I help?” Harry asked hopefully.
“You may.”
Harry grinned and twirled. “Papa too?”
Sirius raised his eyebrows at Severus.
“Yes, so long as he behaves,” Severus teased, shooting the other man a warning look that was mostly in jest.
“I always behave,” Sirius winked.
Harry giggled and skipped into the kitchen.
Sirius got out the stepstool for Harry while Severus got out the ingredients. Harry measured the floor and Severus the salt and sugar, keeping one eye on Harry. Once they had all the drys in, Harry eagerly mixed it together.
“Milk,” Severus said to Sirius.
Sirius grabbed the milk bottle and started to pour.
“Papa!” Harry cried, his eyes flying wide.
Severus seized Sirius’ wrist, preventing him from dumping more than a few drops of milk into the batter.
“What?” Sirius asked, batting his eyelashes innocently at Severus.
“Measure,” Harry declared firmly, putting his hands on his hips.
“Alright, alright, I see your Daddy has corrupted you,” Sirius sighed with mock exasperation.
They finished the batter and Severus sent Sirius and Harry to set the table while he started cooking.
“I want a snowman, please,” Harry called.
“And I want a lion,” Sirius added with a laugh.
Severus made one pancake shaped like a snowman and one like a snake. Severus used chocolate chips for the eyes, nose and buttons, and whipped cream for the hat on the snowman.
Harry squealed and clapped when Severus sat the plate down in front of him.
“Oi, I said a lion,” Sirius exclaimed with mock indignation.
“You didn’t say please,” Severus smirked.
“May I please have a lion pancake next, my love?” Sirius asked, pulling Severus closer and pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
“I shall consider it,” Severus drawled.
“Consider carefully,” Sirius whispered, squeezing Severus’ arse playfully and winking.
“Sirius,” Severus hissed, sending a pointed look at their son who admittedly seemed to only have eyes for his pancake at the moment. Sirius chuckled and squeezed Severus’ arse again. “You’re incorrigible,” Severus admonished but kissed Sirius all the same before returning to the kitchen.
After they all finished breakfast, Severus cleaned up the kitchen while Sirius scrubbed the syrup off Harry's face and hands and then started bundling the kid up in all his winter clothes. By the end Harry looked rather like a puff ball. The knit deer hat, one of Sirius’ most successful knitting projects, was more adorable than Severus would ever admit aloud.
Severus grabbed his winter cloak and gloves, protesting half-heartedly as Sirius wrapped a brightly coloured scarf he’d made around his neck.
As soon as they stepped outside Harry launched himself into a snow drift with a shriek. He emerged a moment later, flinging a snowball in their direction. Severus’ lips twitched as the snowball smacked Sirius in the chest.
“It’s on now, you little rascal,” Sirius shouted, a wide grin splitting his face.
Severus watched as his son and partner pelted each other with snowballs for at least twenty minutes. Sirius caught Harry by the arm and dumped a handful of snow down his back, making Harry scream.
“Oi, you arse,” Harry shrieked.
“Language,” Sirius scolded even as a grin pulled on his lips.
“But -” Harry protested before sighing, “Sorry.”
“Harry, come here for a moment,” Severus called.
Harry shuffled over.
“Sor-” Harry began, but Severus pressed a finger to his lips, giving Harry a conspiratorial look. Harry’s eyes widened and he smiled up at Severus mischievously.
Severus whispered instructions into Harry’s ear, keeping one eye on Sirius who was looking progressively more concerned.
Harry and Severus both chucked a snowball at Sirius.
“Oi, not fair,” Sirius cried, leaping out of the way, but the snowballs veered just as he did; one smashing into his side and the other colliding with his face.
Severus grabbed another two snowballs from the stash behind the bush he’d been building while Sirius and Harry had been playing, handing one to Harry. Soon Sirius had about a dozen snowballs chasing him around the yard. Harry laughed hysterically and Severus grinned slyly. At last, all the snowballs found their target and Sirius collapsed onto the snow next to them.
“You’re the worst,” Sirius panted.
“That’s rude, Papa,” Harry exclaimed.
“Pay him no mind, Harry. He’s just a sore loser,” Severus taunted, nudging Sirius with his foot.
Sirius grabbed his ankle, sending him tumbling to the ground. Harry took this as an invitation to jump on both of them and Severus reckoned he was going to have a crick in his back tomorrow. They were still young men, but mid-twenties wasn’t the same as being a teenager.
“I’m going to make a snowman,” Harry declared, jumping up.
“You been cursing in front of him?” Severus asked a touch scolding.
“No more than you have, Sev, my love,” Sirius retorted with a teasing smile.
Severus turned his head, feeling his cheeks heat slightly. They’d both gotten better over the years, but they both still slipped on occasion. Severus was convinced Sirius did more than him, but it was more debatable than he would care to admit.
They lay in the snow together until Harry came to drag them off to see his snowman.
“Good work, Harry,” Sirius praised before growing serious. “You ready to go visit your Mum and Dad?
Harry nodded solemnly and latched onto Sirius’ hand. Sirius clutched Harry close and they apparated. Severus landed a moment after Sirius and Harry. Severus held out a stomach soother to Harry who was looking a bit green and the little boy quickly downed the potion. Severus tucked the empty vial in his robes and took Harry’s other hand. The three of them walked down the snowy path to Lily and James’ grave, coming to a stop before the statue of Lily and James.
Harry released their hands and pressed his palm to the statue. “Merry Christmas, Mum. Merry Christmas, Dad.”
Sirius slid his hand into Severus’ and Severus gratefully squeezed Sirius’ hand as they watched their son chatter to the statue. He told them about the snow fort he built with the Weasleys, his art projects from school, the pancakes Severus made, and his Christmas gifts.
Severus lay a bouquet of lilies, blue hydrangeas, and carnations on the grave. He could feel tears pricking at the edge of his vision as he slowly sank to his knees. Sirius dropped to his knees beside him.
I’m sorry, so sorry, Severus thought as he ran his fingers over the gravestone. Once it had been just Lily who he apologized to, but no longer. Sirius’ fingers dug into Severus’ palm and he could see the other man clamp a hand over his mouth as tears slid down his cheeks.
“Papa, you’re crying.”
Severus jerked, having not noticed Harry slip up next to them.
“I’m alright,” Sirius choked out.
“It’s okay to be sad sometimes. That’s what you tell me,” Harry said solemnly, placing a small hand on Sirius’ cheek.
Severus couldn’t stop the tears as he watched his son, a child he didn’t deserve, comfort Sirius. A small gloved finger brushed his cheek, whipping away a tear. Severus wrapped his arms around Harry, clutching the child to his chest. Sirius hugged them both, smooshing Harry between them. Severus knew he didn’t deserve this, but he could only hope that Sirius was right - that this is what Lily and James would want, their son safe and loved. For Lily, for Sirius, even for James, but mostly for Harry, Severus would do everything he could to protect the precious child in his arms.
They sat at the grave until they were all shivering and pink-cheeked; by the time they landed in front of their house, Severus was drained.
“Can we go sledding? Pretty pretty please,” Harry begged.
Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I suppose.”
“Yay!” Harry shouted, twirling around.
Sirius caught Severus’ arm. “Why don’t you go inside? Read for a bit. I’ll take Harry sledding.”
The offer was so tantalizingly, but it felt wrong to leave them on Christmas.
“Are you sure?” Severus asked.
“Yeah, wouldn’t want you to tire yourself out before tonight. I have another gift for you,” Sirius grinned, winking suggestively.
Severus couldn’t keep his lips from twitching as he looked at Sirius fondly.
“Very well, but no dunderhead Gryffindor stunts,” Severus warned.
“Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back in one piece,” Sirius laughed.
Severus swatted the other man’s arm.
“I promise, Severus,” Sirius said more seriously before pressing a brief kiss to Severus’ lips.
“Thank you, Sirius,” Severus said quietly, “For everything.”
“I love you,” Sirius breathed into his ear, as he wrapped his arms around Severus’ waist.
“I love you too,” Severus replied, his lips colliding with Sirius’.
They kissed far longer than they should considering Harry was playing nearby and liable to get into mischief at any moment. Severus grudgingly pulled away from Sirius.
“Go on,” Sirius chuckled, giving Severus a light shove.
Severus turned, yelping as Sirius smacked his arse. He attempted to glare at the Gryffindor but found he couldn’t keep the mirth off his face as Sirius waggled his eyebrows at him.
“Let’s go sledding, Harry,” Sirius called, holding out his hand to their son who eagerly grabbed it.
“I want to go really fast,” Harry cried, tugging on Sirius’ hand.
“Okay, but don’t tell your Daddy,” Sirius laughed, sending Severus an okay symbol over his shoulder.
Severus shook his head ruefully, but he trusted Sirius. There was no one he trusted more. Severus paused in the doorway, watching the two people he loved the most disappear over the hillside. Somehow the three of them had stumbled their way into becoming a real family, well four if you included Willow. They had become his everything.