Lettered

Disclaimer: J.K.R owns Harry Potter, not me. That's why she's making the big bucks, and I'm deciding between paying for books and buying food.



Warning: This is a Slash Story. That means boy/boy lovin'.



I'll reply to any and all comments in my livejournal, which is linked in my profile.



Full moon information from http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/s1r/amastro/tools/fullmoons.txt



:hacks up a lung: This cold is a bitch, and it's ruining my ability to concentrate. Thus, my half-assed attempt at writing a french accent. Bleh. Here you go. I'll get started on the next chapter in the morning. Well, later in the morning, it's quarter to four right now. You know, I'd probably get better faster if I got some sleep, but where's the fun in that?



The coffee description came from a conversation I had with my mom about one of the three or four coffee shops in my school. I'm sad to say that I'll hand over two bucks for a coffee that needs 9 sugars (give or take) to be bearable. Caffeine addiction is a terrible thing.

------



The rest of November passed without incident. The group (which had extended to include Neville and Draco, and, when they could sneak him in, Tom) would meet every few days in Lupin's office and plan their attack on Dumbledore. They had decided to leave off until the new year, when Rita Skeeter would "accidentally" come across a file detailing Dumbledore's involvement in the Multiple Personality Experiment. The also discussed how to get rid of "Voldemort"- everyone agreed there needed to be a final battle, or else there'd be too many rumors- and what was going to happen afterwards.



Tom had found another test subject- a lonely old witch who lived in Wiltshire. Fortunately, the procedure had never been that effective on her, and the only difference between her real personality and the artificial one was how she took her tea. After visiting her under the pretense of being a traveling broomstick salesman, Tom obliviated her, leaving her with memories of spending a lovely afternoon drinking tea while that nice young man expounded on the benefits of a new broomstick.



A week into November, Ginny got a letter from her mother, who was already getting ready for Christmas.



"Hey, Harry. Mum was thinking of setting up at Grimmauld place this year for Christmas, and maybe spending a week there. You know, because it has more bedrooms and all. She wants to know what you and Remus think, seeing as you two have the biggest claim on it and all. She also wants me to make sure that you're coming for the break."



Harry smiled at the red-head. "Yeah, that sounds fine. I'll ask Remus after Defense today, but I don't think he'll have a problem. And of course I'm coming, why wouldn't I?"



Ginny inclined his head over at Ron and Hermione, who were sitting with a group of first-years- the only people who would be around them. "Those two are going to be there, you know..."



Harry snorted. "I'm not going to let a couple of gits keep me away from my house. C'mon, we'll head up and ask Remus now, and you can send a note off to your mum before class." The two got up and walked up to where the werewolf was sitting at the head table. "Professor Lupin, sir, Mrs. Weasley just wrote. She wants to know if either of us minded if she held Christmas dinner at Grimmauld Place."



Remus had no objections, so Ginny ran back to the table, wrote a quick response, and headed up to the owlry to borrow Hedwig.



------

Molly was just picking out the wool for Fred's sweater when Hedwig arrived at the Burrow. Smiling, she unwrapped the parchment and read it. Setting the scrap down, she made her way into the kitchen, humming. There was a while there when she was really worried about Harry, especially when Ron stopped mentioning him in his letters home. Really, it seems that the only person he ever talks about lately is Hermione! Maybe it's time to have Arthur give him a bit of a talk on "precautions". Ginny, though, had started talking about Harry more and more as the weeks went on. Every letter contained the phrase "me and Harry" at least once, and usually several times. She idly wondered if the two were going out, although most of it seemed platonic, and involved what was only referred to as "the group", which, from what Molly could tell, was a study group that met in the library sometimes, and didn't include Ron or Hermione. Still, she supposed that she should get Arthur to include Harry in that little talk.



That all settled, Molly rolled up her sleeves and started scrubbing the breakfast dishes. When Arthur gets home, I'll get him to get out the decorations and send them over, and then I'll have to get started on invitations, and I'll need to pick up more maroon wool...



Molly smiled. It looked like she had a lot to do this year.



------



Harry woke up early on the day that they were to depart for the Christmas break. Practically bouncing, Harry packed up his trunk. Despite being forced to stay in close quarters with "the happy couple", as most students had taken to calling Ron and Hermione, Harry was excited. Tom had commandeered a house near King's Cross Station from one of his Death Eaters, and Harry was planning on sneaking out of Grimmauld Place as often as possible to visit his boyfriend. With the help of Ginny, Severus, and Remus, of course. The four of them had even decided (despite Severus' grumbling) to spend the 26th with Tom for a belated gift exchange and Christmas luncheon, under the guise of going into muggle London to take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. All in all, it looked to be a good vacation.



The trip passed by quickly, with Harry and Ginny spending most of the time playing Exploding Snap with Draco and Neville, who had somehow managed to become good friends over the past few months, especially after a few sessions of drinking butterbeer and gripping about the strangeness of women in general. When they arrived at the station, Draco was sharing his plans to get rid of Pansy once and for all by introducing her to the son of a wealthy businessman from America who had taken to calling on his mother since his father had gone to Azkaban. The boy was rich, good looking, and just as vapid as Pansy, who was now examining pictures of tropical beaches, having decided that a seaside wedding would be incredibly romantic. Draco chose not to reflect on why the businessman had started calling on his mother so often, choosing to believe that they were just good friends.



------



Arriving at Grimmauld Place, Harry raced to unpack. He was sharing a room with Ron again, as the rest of the rooms were going to be occupied. Both Bill and Charlie had told their mother that they were bringing friends, Molly told them, her eyes gleaming at the thought of weddings and little red-headed grandchildren running around the burrow. Molly soon put the four of them to work decorating the house. She had spent the last week cleaning, and the house practically gleamed from the effort, but it was still rather bare. Arthur, Remus, and Tonks had headed out to find a Christmas tree earlier, and it was now standing proudly in the drawing room, ready to be trimmed and decorated. The twins came by after closing up shop, and were soon put to work decorating the entrance hall with preapproved decorations. The twins groaned in unison as their mother listed exactly what could be placed up. Seeing the tension mounting between Hermione and Ron and Harry and Ginny, Molly had sent Ron and Hermione to work in the kitchen, leaving the other boys and Ginny to work in the rest of the house. After Molly left the room, Fred and George turned to Harry.



"So, mate..."

"You'd better be treating our sister right, right?"

"Buy her flowers..."

"Take her dancing..."

"All that rot." The boys finished in unison. Harry and Ginny both started snickering.



"What's so funny?" asked George.



"You really think... Me and Harry?" Ginny burst out laughing.



"So you're not..."

"Going out with the brat?" Ginny swiped at Fred, still laughing.



"Who, me? Nah, that's just a little too weird- we know each other too well. Besides, she's seeing someone else." Harry turned, reaching into the box of decorations.



Ginny cut in. "Besides, Harry's gay." Harry turned to the youngest Weasley.



"Ginny, how many times do I have to tell you I'm not gay?" He turned to the twins. "I'm not gay- despite what your sister likes to tell people." Turning back "Why do you keep telling people I'm gay?"



"Harry, I've seen your porn collection."



"No, you saw a small part of my porn collection. I keep the rest of it in my trunk." Ginny blushed despite herself. "And I didn't even buy that. It was a birthday present- someone decided I needed to "broaden my horizons" or whatever."



"Harry, for a bloke who's not gay, you sure spend a lot of time snogging another bloke." Ginny pointed out.



"Didn't we already have this discussion? You know, the one where I explained everything? Seriously, next time you call me "gay", I'm going to hit you over the head with a bloody dictionary."



The twins watched, amused. Finally, they cut in.



"Harry, Harry, Harry..."

"It's not like we care..."

"Hell, as long as everything's consensual,"

"It's none of our business. Right Fred?"

"Right, George." The pair turned to grin at the brunet, who by now was starting to turn pink.

"But just out of curiosity, Harry..."

"What exactly did you explain to our sister dearest?"



Harry rolled his eyes. "I explained to Gin here, quite a while ago, that a person's sex just doesn't matter to me. Just call me equal opportunity, or whatever."



Fred turned to George. "Well, it looks like you owe me a Galleon."



"Bloody hell, not you too?"



Fred and George grinned.



"Harry, who do you think started the betting pool?"



Harry threw a holly branch at them.



------



Bill and Charlie arrived on Christmas Eve. Remus had kept to his room all day, as it was the full moon, and the rest of the house's occupants were busy putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Bill arrived around 8 in the morning, with none other than Fleur Delacour on his arm.



Bill reached out and gave his mother a bear hug, lifting her off the ground.



"Fleur, This is my mum, Molly Weasley. Mum, this is Fleur Delacour. I'm sure you recognize her from the tournament, right?"



""Ello, Mrs. Weasley. It is nice to finally meet you. Bill 'as been talking nonstop about seeing you again!"



"It's nice to meet you too, dear. Hermione, would you show Fleur to her room? It's the one across from yours. Harry, take her bags? Ginny, Ron, I need you two in the kitchen. Bill, dear, your room is beside Ron and Harry, I'm sure Harry can point it out to you." Having finished handing out tasks, the Weasley matron started toward the kitchen, he two youngest children behind her.



Charlie arrived a few hours later, accompanied by a tall wizard with shoulder-length blond hair and clear blue eyes. The inhabitants of the house (except Arthur, who was at work until noon) were just putting the finishing touches on the room when they arrived.



Blushing slightly, he turned to his mother. "Mom, this is Miro Prohaska. Miro, this is my mum." Molly looked at the blond wizard, then back at her son. Charlie's blush deepened as his mum raised a questioning eyebrow. "Er, yeah. I've been meaning to tell you, mum. I'm kinda, erm, gay."



It was Ron who broke the silence.



"What the hell! You're a bloody ponce?" the boy spat. "Bloody perverts, the both of you."



Molly turned to her youngest son.



"Ronald Bilius Weasley! I thought we had raised you better than this. Go to your room, your father will be speaking with you later. Miro, I'm sorry about this- it's nice to meet you, really. Er... oh, dear. I think I have to change the sleeping arrangements, then."



------



Half an hour later, the guests were settled. Molly had finally admitted that her two oldest sons, being adults, were mature enough to sleep in the same room as their significant others, and had sent Hermione to help Fleur move her things to Bill's room. Charlie and Miro were placed in the room across from Ginny and Hermione. Ron was still in his room, and Molly kept shooting apologetic glances at her son and his boyfriend. Much to Molly's chagrin, Hermione refused to address either of the two men, choosing to ignore them instead. When the girl left the room on an errand for the older woman, Molly turned to her son. "I'm sorry, I really don't know why they're acting that way."



Ginny walked over and snorted. "Hermione's been acting like that all year- they both have. Ron tried to get Dean and Seamus kicked out of the dorm when he found out that they were dating. Then Hermione started giving lectures to people on how it was "immoral" and "perverted" or some garbage. I think the both of them got hit in the head during the summer, they're both acting like idiots."



She turned to Harry, who had been set to peel carrots. "What was it Hermione tried to tell you? That we all had to "stick together" and stand up to the evil homosexuals?" Harry started chuckling.



"Yeah, only she just referred to them as them. It took all my willpower not to tell her to go fuck herself- sorry, Mrs. Weasley."



"Harry, it's Molly. Mrs. Weasley is my mother-in-law. Besides, you're family. Speaking of which, how long have you been dating Ginny?"



Harry froze as Ginny burst out laughing. "Me, and Gin? What? No! That'd just be- weird. And you-" he said, looking at the giggling girl, "-I swear, if you say it, I will go to the library and find a dictionary to beat you with!" That was just too much for the girl, who collapsed to the floor, howling with laughter.



"Say what, Gin?" asked Charlie, a glint in his eye.



Calming down, Ginny got to her feet, still giggling slightly. "No, Harry, I wasn't going to say that. Although, I'm sure your boyfriend would kill me if there was anything going on between us." Harry went red.



"Well, well, Harry, who's the lucky guy?" Ginny snorted, earning an elbow to the ribs from Harry, who wished he could become invisible.



"Oh, Harry's snogging the new clerk at Honeydukes. They're really cute together." Ginny answered for Harry.



Harry rolled his eyes. "You know, I've only actually told two people that I like blokes, and yet, half of the people I know have been told. I wonder why that is, Ginevra, dear?"



Ginny leaned on her friend. "Oh, come on, Harry. I've only told-"

"-Most of Gryffindor, Luna, and handful of Slytherins, and four family members. Is that everyone?" Harry glared at the girl. "Look, I know you're just trying to be helpful, but it's no one's business unless I decide otherwise." Taking a deep breath, he turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Molly, I'm sorry, I need to get out of here for a few minutes." Harry turned and stalked out of the kitchen.



------



Harry stalked up most of the way to his room before remembering that Ron was in there. Pausing, he decided that while he was up there, he might as well grab his vacation homework and get some of it done. walking into the room, he went to his trunk and dug out his assignments, ignoring Ron's stare. Leaving, he made his way to the library.



He was just starting on his potion's essay (2 feet on poisons that react negatively to bezoars) when someone walked into the library. Harry ignored them, assuming that it was just Ginny coming to track him down to apologize. He was shocked when he heard Snape's voice.



"Mister Potter. I assumed that you would be off with Miss Weasley doing... whatever it is you two do."



Harry snorted. "Well, usually, I probably would, sir. But then again, usually Ginny doesn't out me to half of her family."



Severus smirked. "I should hope not. Would it be too much to hope that you were putting your free time to good use?"



Harry leaned back in his seat. "I was just getting started on that essay you assigned."



Severus nodded at Harry, and walked over to a shelf. Finding the book he was looking for, he walked over to the table, pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill, and started copying something down.



"Um, sir?" The Potions Master looked up.



"Yes, Potter?"



"Um, I know it's a little late, but I just realized, I never actually apologized for looking in your pensieve last year. I just wanted to say that I really am sorry. It was none of my business, and I was a complete idiot. So, er, yeah, I'm sorry." Harry stared down at his parchment. After what felt like an eternity, Severus spoke.



"I see. Tell me, does this have something to do with Miss Weasley's latest intrusion into your privacy?"



Harry nodded. "It took me a while to realize how much of an arse I was, sir." Snape snorted.



"Alright, Potter. I accept your apology." He paused. "You know, you really are different than your father. James wouldn't have apologized to me if his life depended on it." With that, he turned back to his book. Harry sat for a minute longer before returning to his essay.



------



Christmas breakfast was subdued, with Ron and Hermione sitting at one end of the table and whispering between themselves, and the rest of the group at the other. Ginny had pestered Harry for hours the night before until he finally gave in and accepted her apology. Now, she was sitting beside him, making off-coloured comments at Ron and Hermione's expense. The twins had charmed mistletoe to float above everyone's heads for the rest of the day, stating that they were testing a new seasonal product. Miro got on well with the rest of the Weasleys, cracking jokes and telling stories about his childhood and life at the dragon reserve, the latter of which usually involving the imbibing of large amounts of firewhiskey.



After breakfast, Molly directed the group to the drawing room, where the tree was set up, and the group fell upon the presents. Harry received his usual sweater from Molly, which he thanked her for profusely before pulling it on. From Ginny, he got a rather shocking book on sexual health for gay men, which he refused to take out of the bag, blushing and refusing to answer anyone's questions about the contents. The twins had given the usual set of pranks, and Remus had given him chocolate. But the best present came from Hagrid- Sirius' flying motorcycle, which had been shrunk down to fit in the box. With it was a note explaining that he had run across it not that long ago and felt that Sirius would have wanted him to have it. Excusing himself, Harry went up to his room and threw himself on the bed, thinking about Christmas last year, and missing his godfather.



------



Harry paced in front of the front door of Grimmauld Place, careful to be quiet so that he didn't wake up Sirius' mum, who had been thankfully silent for the last few days. Casting a quick tempus, he noticed that it was not quite 6:00 am- they were hoping to leave early enough to avoid questions. Luckily, most of the adults had felt the need for an extra dose of Christmas cheer, and weren't likely to get up soon. He heaved a sigh as Remus and Severus finally came down stairs, followed by Ginny, who had gotten sick of waiting for the two men and gone up to fetch them. Apparently, they had gotten into an argument, and were now giving each other the silent treatment. This was fine with Harry, who really didn't want to hear them snipe at each other, anyways.



Harry quickly ran into the kitchen and scrawled out a vague note mentioning sales in muggle stores, and adding that Ginny was with him, as were the two teachers, so there was no cause for concern. Then he ran back to the entrance hall, where Ginny was glaring at the two professors, who were carefully looking anywhere else but each other. Rolling his eyes, Harry stepped out the door and started walking down the streets towards Tom's temporary home.



------



Tom was pouring a cup of coffee when there was a knock on the door. He dashed towards the door, holding his cup carefully so as not to spill it. Opening the door carefully, he was almost bowled over by Harry, who looked like he was dressed for an arctic expedition. He was followed by a short red-headed blur, who muttered something about needing to find the loo, and two Hogwarts professors, who were quite pointedly not talking to each other. Tom sighed. It was going to be one of those days.



He took a sip of his coffee, which he had miraculously managed not to spill, and winced, heading back to the kitchen in search of more sugar. He waved the two teachers off towards the den- Ginny had disappeared- and dug out the canister of sugar, adding a few large spoonfuls to his coffee. Once he had added four or so spoonfuls (and the coffee had gained a slight bit of viscosity), he took a sip and leaned back against the counter. Harry watched this with a slight grin on his face.



"Enough sugar, then?"



"Never. There's not enough sugar in the world for this stuff. I swear, this tastes like espresso strained through an old sock. Would it be too much to ask that git Amycus to buy a more enjoyable brand of coffee?"



Harry looked at the coffee pot. It appeared to contain a thick black sludge- Tom's attempt at making coffee. Shuddering, he looked at Tom, eyebrow raised.



"Tea's in that cupboard over there." He gestured to a cupboard on the other side of the room. Harry opened it, and found a pile of various flavored herbal teas- Peppermint, wild berry, chamomile, rose hip and hibiscus... and not one packet of anything caffeinated in sight. Closing the cupboard, he poured himself half a cup of coffee, filling the rest of the cup with milk. Adding sugar, he sipped it, and cringed.



"Tom, how much coffee did you add?"



"Believe it or not, Harry, I can read the instructions. About a tablespoon per cup, and I made 6 cups worth. This coffee is just utter crap." Harry shook his head and smiled.



"So, I walk all this way to see you, at this ungodly hour, the day after Christmas, and I don't even get a kiss?" Harry pouted. Tom rolled his eyes, put down his coffee, and pressed his lips against those of the younger man. Harry immediately deepened the kiss, setting his own mug down and throwing his arms around Tom's shoulders. He was just starting to tangle his hand in the older man's hair when he heard someone clear their throat.



Remus Lupin stood at the doorway, slightly pink.



Harry turned around, looking at his professor. "Oh, shit, sorry sir."



Tom looked at the man sheepishly. "Er, there's coffee if you want it, but I'd advise against it." He nodded to the coffee pot. Looking at the semi-liquid mess in it, Remus wouldn't have been surprised if it had some form of intelligence.



"I think I'll pass. Actually, we were wondering if you were going to come out to open presents any time soon?"



"Oh yeah! I knew there was something I'd forgotten about! C'mon, Tom!" Harry half dragged Tom out of the room.



Opening his bulky jacket, Harry removed several parcels from the inner pockets. The jacket- now much thinner- was slung over the back of the sofa.



"Ginny wanted me to carry hers." He admitted sheepishly.



Tom grinned, and grabbed one of the presents from the pile. "Alright, Harry, this is yours."



Harry looked at it pensively. "It better not be porn again, Tom." He warned.



Remus cocked an eyebrow. "Do I even want to know what this is about?"



Harry shook his head. "Probably not. For my birthday, Tom decided I needed more porn, and apparently, booze, and he took it upon himself to provide. And don't you even start, Sirius told me about how you spent the summer before sixth year." Remus blushed. From what he remembered of that summer- which wasn't a lot- he really didn't have anything to say to Harry.



Harry went back to opening his present, which turned out to be a copy of that morning's Daily Prophet.



"What's this about?"



"Just read it, Harry."



Harry unfolded the paper, and came face-to-face with Wormtail and Bellatrix.



"A Death Eater raid was cut short last night. Apparently, the house chosen as a target was none other than the home of Auror Nymphadora Tonks, who was hosting the law enforcement department's yearly Christmas party. Apprehended were Bellatrix Lestrange, who escaped Azkaban at the beginning of this year.

Also captured was, surprisingly enough, Peter Pettigrew, whom was believed to be dead since 1981. Pettigrew made a full confession at the time of his capture, claiming responsibility for the explosion which left 12 muggles dead. With this confession, the Minister has posthumously pardoned Sirius Black, who was sentenced to Azkaban for the murder of Pettigrew and the Muggle bystanders, and who is reported to have died earlier this year during the incident at the Ministry of Magic.

Both Pettigrew and Lestrange have been sentenced to receive the Dementor's Kiss, at a yet unknown date.

Strangely, both Pettigrew and Lestrange claimed that they were sent with a number of other Death Eaters, however, there was no sign of anyone else at the scene."



Harry looked up at Tom, speechless. He handed the paper to Remus, who's eyes went wide as he read the article. Ginny read over her teacher's shoulder.



"Pettigrew? Wasn't he the one that spent 11 years as Percy and Ron's pet?" Harry nodded. Ginny shivered. "I can't believe that... creature lived in the same house as me for most of my life. You know how many times he bit me?" Harry closed his eyes. Finally, Sirius' name was cleared... and he wasn't even around to enjoy it. Leaning against Tom, he wiped his eyes.



"Thank you." He whispered, unable to speak any louder than that.



A long silence descended over the room. Remus, who had handed the paper to Severus, was blinking back tears. Severus wasn't sure how to react. Without Wormtail and Bellatrix, it truly felt like the end of an era. Finally, he excused himself, mumbling something about coffee. Walking into the kitchen, he eyed the sludge that filled the coffee pot, before deciding that all he really needed right now was a glass of water. Taking his time, he filled a glass and drained it. When he returned to the den, the two men had managed to compose themselves.



Sitting down, he took a deep breath. Taking that as a sign, Harry reached for the first present on the pile he had pulled out of his jacket.



"Alright, um, this is from Ginny to Tom." Tom grabbed the proffered bag, and, looking in it, he laughed. Holding it open for Harry to look at, he winked at the red head. The young brunet turned a brilliant shade of scarlet. "Ginny!"



Remus looked at the red-head, who had started shaking with laughter. He turned to Tom, and said conversationally, "You know, he sure spends a lot of time blushing." Tom snorted.



"Well, he has good reason this time." Tom pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Severus snickered, looking at the girl. Well, she had guts alright.



"Anyways," Harry cut in, face still an unhealthy shade of red, "It's time for the next present. Here you go, Professor, this is from me." He handed a package to Snape, who opened it gingerly. Inside were several expensive potions books. "They're the same ones you kept borrowing from the library at the house. I thought you might want your own copies." Severus was oddly touched. He hadn't expected the boy to notice what he was looking at, much less buy him copies.

"Well, thank you, Mister Potter." Harry rolled his eyes.



"Can't you please just call me Harry? Whenever you say "Mister Potter" I think I'm in trouble for something." Severus smiled, which shocked Ginny so much she nearly fell off the sofa.



"Alright, then- Harry." He pulled a small package out of his pocket. "This is for you."



Harry unwrapped the package, revealing a small vial- only a mouthful- containing a liquid that looked like molten gold. "That, Harry, is Felix Felicis- luck potion. I happened to find that vial a few days ago- I felt that you are much more likely to need it than I am." Harry looked up, and frowned at the stunned looks Tom and Remus were wearing.



"Erm, thank you, sir. I'll put it to good use." Harry placed the vial reverently on the coffee table, where it wouldn't be knocked off the edge.



Ginny proceeded to hand out her gift to Severus, which had unfortunately been purchased from the twins, and had the effect of turning the man's hair bright green with silver streaks- she had gotten the custom colour kit, which promised to last for 48 hours. Harry handed Tom the box which contained his gift- lifting the lid, Tom raised an eyebrow, and shut the box again, ignoring the looks he was getting from the other occupants of the room.



Tom's gift to Severus was a bottle of firewhiskey and a magazine sized book with twelve slots in the binding. The Potions Master glared at the one-time Dark Lord, who was laughing along with Harry, who had received the same gift for his birthday, and Ginny, who recognized the book from under Harry's mattress. Severus handed Tom a vial full of a dark blue viscous fluid, which caused Tom to blush, but no explanation was offered. Both men had gotten a gift for Ginny- Tom, a book entitled The Fine Art of Keeping Secrets, and Severus, a potion which she was told to add to her brother's food when his ego started to get too big. Finally, Remus handed Tom a bottle of an unidentified alcoholic beverage, which Tom seemed to recognize, and which came with a firm admonition to keep it away from Harry until he was 18. Once the group was done exchanging presents, they sat down to to a leisurely brunch, during which Harry and Tom made a sickening display of cuddling, which Ginny proclaimed as "gagworthy". Eventually, the four of them had to return to Grimmauld Place. Harry spent the next 15 minutes kissing Tom, assuring him that he'd drop by as soon as he was able to sneak out, until Ginny got fed up with the display and shoved Harry out the door, yelling over her shoulder that they'd had a great time, and they'd be back to visit again soon- and they'd bring coffee.



------



Wow, that ending seemed a bit anticlimactic. Can you tell where I went from "sorta tired" to "absolutely fucking exhausted"?

Next Chapter- Harry gets lucky (no, not like that)! Remus gets luckier! And possibly, gratuitous alcohol abuse!