Blame it on the Mistletoe (2/2), for calanor Title: Blame it on the Mistletoe (2/2) Author:mistressvamp Giftee:calanor Word Count: Approximately 13,000+ Rating: PG Pairing: Severus/Harry (implications of Severus/OFC, Harry/OMC, Adrian/Hermione, Blaise/Draco, Remus/Ron, Sirius/Luna, Neville/Cho) Warnings: (please continue to warn for DH spoilers) Non-magic, Implied M/M relations, AU, OOC-ness, Angst, Romance, Possible Book/Movie spoilers Disclaimer: All original characters belong to the author. JK Rowling, and her associates strictly own all Harry Potter characters, places, and canon ideas. The lyrics, Blame it on the Mistletoe, belong to Toby Keith. No money is being made on this story. It is being done for the pure enjoyment to others and to myself. Copyright infringement not intended. Summary: With the help of his son, Severus Snape finds out the real meaning of Christmas. Authors Note: Calanor, I hope this is to your liking. It is my first journey into Non-magic fiction, so I hope you enjoy.
It's the beginning of September and I have three more weeks until I leave for my first year at Hogwarts. My father, I believe, is almost as eager as I am for this new adventure to begin. Though, I think our reasons are different. I think Father is ready to let me leave the ‘nest' and have some time to himself. Me? I'm ready to explore a new way of things. Father has always told me that if I applied myself in just the right areas, I could go far with my schooling. I haven't done half bad in my previous school years. I'm top of the class and I think that's why Father was excited about my acceptance to Hogwarts.
I still haven't told Father about Mother's wedding. I haven't really had a chance to. We've been so busy making sure I have all of my school supplies and everything I'll need while I'm boarding at Hogwarts. But, also, I have been busy plotting against my father to make his happy ending come true. The times we've been to Diagon Alley, I've made sure I've allowed Hermione to know. The last time we were there, I got to meet her husband, Adrian, and a longtime friend between Hermione and Harry, Ronald Weasley. The plot to get Father and Harry together is coming together quite nicely. The big night is a week away and as weird as it might sound, I'm eager for the two to meet again.
The other day, I was allowed to go to dinner with Hermione, Adrian, and Ron, as he told me to call him, and as we had dinner, I got to hear stories about my father that I never knew before. The stories were exciting to hear. I got to know another side of my father I never thought possible. That was amazing. I also got to hear stories about Father and Harry, and how they survived the world's hypocrisy of them. For the first time, I learned about Father as a war hero. He doesn't like to talk about those days so I don't push him or ask him questions that would seem offensive. I don't want Father to think I am overbearing at such a young age. I'll wait a few more years before I become pushy.
Tonight, much to my excitement, I'm supposed to meet Harry and a few others. Ron thinks it's a good idea if I meet them before my father comes into the picture. Although Adrian says it's probably not a good idea for me to meet Sirius because he'll know right away who I am, I want to meet the man who is closest to Harry out of all of them. Well, he and Remus, Ron's longtime partner. According to Hermione, Remus and Ron have been together for two decades. From what Ron said, Remus started to court him when Ron was only 15. I didn't believe it was allowed, especially between two men, but Ron said his parents finally accepted it when they saw Remus was courting him in the respected way. They always had chaperones around them no matter what they did and the first time they kissed, Ron was 17 and it was underneath the mistletoe at Christmas.
When Ron told me this story, an idea started to plot in my head. Hermione's eyes were just staring at me. This also caused both Adrian and Ron to smirk. They already knew my devious ways and this was making me think even more. Suddenly, I had an idea in my head. I knew what was going to happen at that dinner. And if it didn't, well, Christmas was only three months away. It could wait until then.
But I don't think I could.
***
When Severus bid his son farewell and a good evening with Hermione, he never questioned his son's motives for wanting to be with the clever woman. His son was intelligent and Severus believed that if he spent time with someone as well educated as Hermione Granger-Pucey, his son's mind would expand even more than it already was. As he took his seat next to the fireplace in their sitting room and opened his Alchemy Discoveries book, never once did it occur to him that within just a few hours, his peaceful life would be filled once again with pure chaos. After all, his son was about to meet Harry Potter.
***
Montie's POV
Once we arrived at Hermione's house, I started to wonder if this was actually a good idea or not. Okay, yeah, I want to meet the man that made my father happy all those years ago, but now I'm wondering if I've thought this out enough. I mean, how do I respond when they ask questions about my father? Do I tell them anything? Do I only hint around the things or do I tell them details? And what about my mother? What if they ask the questions I don't want to answer? Will I have to answer anyway? Or can I just make an excuse about something? Oy. If I had known my stomach would be in this many knots because of this, I would have canceled it and decided to stay in the dark for the rest of my life!
I know there's no turning back, though. I can't. I want to meet Harry and the rest of the group. According to Hermione, I'm going to meet Remus, Sirius, Sirius' wife Luna, Neville and his wife Cho, and then two of my father's personal favorite students, Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. Next to Harry and Sirius, Draco and Blaise are the two I am most looking forward to meet. See, they were my father's top two students in his Chemistry classes. They both graduated with honors and from what Ron said, Draco was my father's apprentice for two years then took over his position when my father left Hogwarts. I am also wondering if there isn't more of a connection, but I guess that's something I can ask for myself, yes?
When we entered the house, I started to breathe a little hard. This was, after all, the next big step in all of this. You are probably wondering why this means so much and why I'm making such a big deal about it. People, it's for my father. The man who has taken care of me the best he can and for the most part, as a single father. Just because my mother is suddenly back in my life doesn't mean anything to me. He is my life. I would do anything for him, even if it means helping him reconnect with that one person that might just be a little more important to him than myself. Yeah, I know, it's a different connection between lovers than it is with children, but still. To know my father is happy is something that will make me happy.
Anyway, Hermione has this thing where you have to remove your shoes before entering the sitting room. As I was removing my shoes, I could hear the laughter coming from the others. It made me feel even more nervous. How would I be received? Would it be good? Bad? Would it all be tension or what? Hermione went ahead and went in after giving me a wink, and told me to join them when I felt comfortable. Ha! Long chance! Well, not too long. Unlike my father, I rarely think before I act so telling my nerves to stop jumbling themselves or shut up, I stepped into the sitting room. And when I did, that's when it happened. In the words of my father, all hell broke loose.
***
Regular POV
The moment Montgomery Snape stepped into the sitting room of Adrian and Hermione Granger-Pucey's home, the laughter and voices that could be heard within a mile became silent. Hermione joined Montie and put her arm around his shoulder, keeping him close to her. She gave him a soft smile of encouragement then looked at the others. "Everyone, I would like you to meet Montgomery."
Montie gave them a nod. "Hello."
And then suddenly, that's when the silence stopped and the voices erupted.
"Who is he?"
"This is the dinner guest?"
"He looks familiar."
"Hermione..."
With a shake of her head, Hermione raised a hand to the group of people talking at once. "Alright, stop already. This is Montie, short for Montgomery. Montie, these are the people I was telling you about.
"You have Sirius Black and his wife, Luna."
Montie smiled. "Hello."
Luna smiled and waved at him, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Hello."
Sirius, true to how Montie pictured him in his head, just gave him a little nod of acceptance.
Hermione rolled her eyes then continued onto her introductions. "Next to them, you have Neville and Cho, then you have Remus, and of course, you know Ron."
"How ya doin' tonight, Montie?" Ron asked.
Montie smiled a little. "I'm okay, you?"
Ron winked at him. "I'm good."
Montie smiled then looked at Remus. Yes, he could see why Ron would like him. He was as tall as his father was with shabby brownish blonde hair and light brown eyes. He looked as though he was older than he should be, but with what he learned about him through conversations, he reckoned that was only natural. As Montie's eyes moved from Remus to the pale blonde and dark skinned men, he could only assume these were the two his father missed the most out of this little group. After looking back at Hermione, she smiled at him and nodded.
"Go ahead. They're all bound to find out."
Montie looked at her for a little longer than nodded, his eyes going back to Draco and Blaise. He moved away from her and went to Blaise, and Draco, extending his hand towards them. He didn't know the response he would get, but it's like Hermione said. They were all going to learn it eventually if they hadn't already figured it out. "I'm Montgomery Snape."
And that's when the, what little there was, noise stopped again. Blaise Zabini looked at the boy in front of him and smirked a little. Extending his hand, he grasped his firmly and nodded his head as he shook the hand. "Blaise Zabini, Mister Snape."
Montie blushed as he released his hand. "Just call me Montie, please. Mister Snape sounds too formal."
Blaise smirked even more. "As you wish, Montie."
Montie smiled then looked at Draco, feeling a bit nervous. Draco looked at him for a bit then gave him a slight nod. "Draco Malfoy."
"Montie."
"So we've established."
At that, Montie blushed. "Um, I heard you replaced my father at Hogwarts."
"I did."
"What level do you teach?"
"The highest."
"Well, maybe if I'm lucky enough, when I reach that high, I'll be fortunate enough to have you as my teacher."
Draco simply lifted his eyebrow. "Only the smartest of the students of Hogwarts take that level."
And with a smirk that could compete with his father, Montie just winked at him than rejoined Hermione. Unknown to Montie, that had just earned him Draco Malfoy's respect.
Hermione, once the exchange was done, cleared her throat. "Well! Now that the introductions are out of the way, shall we have drinks while we wait for Harry to arrive?" With several nods and murmured responses, Hermione left the sitting room to retrieve their drinks. Montie stayed in his spot, his eyes looking around. He had been here a few times before, but he suddenly felt more like an outsider than a guest.
Sirius, who was silent through most of the introductions, watched Montie through the boy's observations of the room. He had seemed confident when he approached Blaise and Draco, but now, he seemed as though he felt a bit uncomfortable to be there. Without a word to his wife, Sirius stood and joined Montie. Tapping him on the shoulder, he waited a few seconds before Montie looked at him.
"Let's take a walk."
Montie looked at him quizzically then nodded. He followed Sirius out of the sitting room and after putting his shoes back on, left the house with him to walk outside. He had no idea what to expect, but the conversation that followed was nothing less than shocking.
***
An hour into the conversation between Sirius and Montie, they heard the roar of a car coming into the driveway. Montie's breath caught in his chest without him realizing it. This was the moment he had been waiting for since he discovered those pictures in the attic weeks before. When the car came to a stop then was parked and turned off, Montie waited with anticipation. When the man stepped out of his vehicle, the fears that Montie had been worried about vanished. He didn't doubt what he was doing anymore. He knew now it was for the best. The man that was there was the man his father loved. And as Harry approached them with a smile, Montie definitely knew what he had to do.
Tonight, his father would see Harry Potter for the first time in twelve years.
***
Three hours later, once the table was completely cleared of all the food, glasses, plates, and utensils, the group of eleven people sat and talked about old times. They told Montie stories of his father when he was a teacher and how cruel he had been to some of the students, but even when Neville, Severus' worst student, spoke of the man with nothing less than respect, Montie knew in his heart his father was only pushing those students he believed to be the best in all aspects. He listened to the stories about his father and about his Aunt Minnie that he didn't know before. Montie also learned that, due to his mother, Severus had lost contact with his Godson, Draco Malfoy. That was the connection Montie wondered about and now that he had his answer, he was happy to know Draco would once again be back in his father's life.
Through the tales, he learned that despite the fights between his father, Sirius, Remus, and the others that fought with him, it was childhood rivalry. Sirius couldn't stand not being the best at something and for Remus, it was because of peer pressure. Montie believed that if his father allowed it, the three of them could have a friendship formed between them. However, no matter how many tales he learned or who told them, the ones that most interested him were the ones that Harry shared. Whenever Harry spoke of Severus, his eyes would light up then dim, but he would keep smiling. Montie learned a lot of things about Harry that night, but there was something he still needed to know.
Montie gave Hermione a smile then stood, going to Harry. He tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he could talk to him. When Harry agreed, the others looked at each other briefly then watched as the two silently left. Once they were gone, the conversation continued, all pretending to be ignorant of the new proceedings through the night.
As the two reached the outside, Montie pulled on his coat and sat on the picnic table, his feet on the bench. He held his coat against him and kept his eyes forward, feeling Harry sitting next to him. When he looked at Harry, he asked the first thing he could think. "Do you still love my father?"
***
Harry Potter had very few things to be shocked into silence about. He had fought in a war where innocents were killed, loved a man that left him to have a family with a woman, became a Psychic Detective so he could help those that couldn't be helped in any other way, and had seen things that no one could believe. Never, in all of his years, had he been silenced with six little words.
As he stared at Montie then looked out, Harry could only nod.
Montie looked at him then nodded. "Good."
Harry looked back at him. "Good?"
"Yes, good."
"Why is that good?"
"Because it means my father can be happy again."
Harry shook his head then looked away from Montie, willing himself to stay calm. "Why wouldn't he be happy? He has everything he wanted."
Montie gave a loud snort, which caused Harry to look at him. Montie shook his head as he looked at Harry. "My father pretends to be happy, Mister Potter, but he's far from it."
"Harry."
Montie smiled. "Harry."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Doesn't any of this bother you? The fact that your father had a relationship with a man, I mean."
"Why would it?"
"You have a mother."
"Please, I have a woman who doesn't even treat me as a son until she plans to get remarried."
At this information, Harry blinked. "Remarried? But I thought Severus was married."
Montie shook his head. "My mother and father divorced several years ago. My mother, until recently, basically disowned me."
Harry processed the information, his eyes staring in front of him. Taking a soft breath, Montie looked at him. "Listen, Harry. I don't know if you can forgive my father for what he did, but I hope you can. He wasn't happy with Mother. He was miserable and I think that's why she left. She loved him. I know she did, but he couldn't return it. He loved her, but not the way she wanted him to. She wanted his heart and that, he couldn't give her; not even if he tried to. The idea that my father loved a man is no matter to me. He has always taught me that you love with your heart, not with your gender.
"He's a good man. A bit difficult at times, but that's only natural. I want him happy and if that means he loves a man, then so be it. He was happy with you and not with my mother. Who am I to deny him that? After all, he is my father. The only one I'll ever have or even want."
As Harry listened to Montie, his eyes were watching the boy's reaction to what he was saying. He could see the respect this young boy held for his father, as well as the love and the hope for his father's happiness on his face and in his eyes. Taking a deep breath then letting it out slowly, Harry looked around then back at him. Giving him a small nod, he understood where the little boy was coming from.
"You care a great deal for your dad, don't you?"
Montie looked down, his voice incredibly soft. "My mother left us on Christmas when I was three. He held me while I cried and questioned why she left me. When I was a baby, he was the one holding me when I was crying. I could tell the difference between my mother and him. He was the one to rock me to sleep and whisper stories to me. He treated me like a gift he was afraid to lose. When I asked Aunt Minnie about it one day, she said he left you because he wanted a child. If it was that important for him to have a child, then it must have hurt him a great deal to leave you.
"I remember," Montie continued. "The Christmas after my mother left. It was the first time the house hadn't been decorated since I was born. I was sad and on Christmas night, right before bed, I remember saying my goodnight prayers. And as I crawled into bed, I heard a slight noise. Like any little kid, I guess, I left the bed and when I went to my door, right there in the hallway was a box. It was the only gift I received that year. When I opened it, there was a teddy bear inside that ‘To you, my Son. Happy Christmas.'" Montie looked up at Harry and smiled. "That, to me, was the best gift I could have ever received.
"The simple things are what matter most to us. He has taught me that, you know? Even before Mother left, Father was always there. He was always doing the smallest things for me and he always knew how to cheer me up."
Harry whispered, "Must have been nice."
Montie nodded. "It was."
"But, Montie, your father and I," Harry said softly as he shook his head gently, "we're in the past."
Montie looked at him. "But you don't have to be."
"Montie..."
"No, Harry. At least, give it another chance? Please? Even if it only ends up as friendship, he needs you in his life and I think you need him."
Harry took a deep breath then nodded as he briefly shut his eyes. "I do, yes."
Montie nodded then stayed silent, allowing Harry's mind to process what needed to be processed. After a few minutes of silence, Montie excused himself and returned to the house, leaving Harry in his musings. Harry watched him go then looked back around, his mind going into overdrive. He had so many thoughts going at once that he didn't how to decipher them from one thought to the next. He did, however, wonder if he and Severus could have a second chance. If they even attempted their relationship again, what would happen? Would Severus even want to? Out of everything Montie said, it was never said that this was something Severus wanted. It all sounded like Montie had thought it up.
Montie. The little boy was smarter than he looked. And boy was he cunning. Hermione had invited Harry to dinner so that he, with the others, could meet a very special little boy that would make their lives a bit more interesting. Not for the first time, Hermione was right. Looking back at the house, Harry knew what he had to do. He couldn't go back in there and face them. He needed, no wanted, to see Severus. Taking out his cell phone, Harry dialed the number he needed and waited. Once he got the information he needed, he climbed off the picnic table and left without a word to the others. An hour later, Harry arrived to his destination after driving around for a bit to calm his nerves.
Ten minutes later, after several deep breathes and lots of self-talk, Harry knocked at the door of the house to the man he hadn't laid eyes upon since he was 21.
When Severus opened the door, he promptly dropped the book he had been holding. "Harry."
*/*
End Chapter IV: Dinner between Friends
-?-?-?-?-?-?-?-?-
Chapter V: Blame it on the Mistletoe
~*Flashback*~
"Harry."
"Severus."
"I...what are you doing here?"
"May I come in?"
"What? Oh. Yes. My apologies."
Once Severus was over the initial shock, he bent over and picked up his book, then moved to the side to allow Harry to come into the house. Harry gave him a bit of a smile then came in, keeping his hands within his coat pocket.
"I, um, hope you don't mind my sudden appearance, but I figured I needed to do this before I lost my nerve."
Severus looked at him as he shut the door, his face taking a blank facade. "Lost your nerve for what, Mister Potter?"
Harry looked at him then looked down, shaking his head a little. "You haven't called me that in years, Severus."
"What is it you would like for me to call you then?"
Harry looked at him, his voice soft. "Harry."
Severus nodded then led him through the small hallway and into the main sitting room. "Can I get you something to drink, Harry?"
Harry followed him, his eyes looking around. "No, thank you."
"If I may be so bold," Severus started as he turned and looked at him, "but what are you doing here?"
Harry looked at him then looked around a little more. "Honestly, Severus, I'm not sure. But somehow, I felt this is where I needed to be."
~*End Flashback*~
"Montie! Hurry up! We're going to be late for the dinner!"
The now 12-year-old young boy ran down the stairs in his best clothes, his eyes shined brightly. It had been three months since everything changed in his life and in his opinion, it was all for the best. When he approached his father in their sitting room, he gave a low whistle at the outfit his father wore. For the first time in his life, he saw his father wearing his best clothes; nice black dress pants, a dark hunter green velvet shirt, with a pair of nice black Dockers Gordon dress shoes on his feet. His father's hair was pulled back in a ponytail and the small round-framed glasses, that for years his father ignored he needed, adorning his face. His father looked very nice.
"You look nice, Father," Montie commented with a smile.
"It's not too much?" Severus asked.
Montie shook his head. "No. He's going to love it."
Severus sighed and shook his head. "You've been around Hermione and Ronald too long."
Montie laughed and took his father's hand, leading him out after taking their coats. As they got into their car and headed to Minerva's for Christmas dinner, Montie took the time he hadn't had in awhile to observe his father's face and smiled to himself.
~*Flashback*~
"We can't do this, Harry. My son..."
"Severus, he already knows."
Severus' head snapped up, his eyes boring into Harry's. "He knows what?"
Harry looked at him, his voice very soft. "About us, Severus. Everything."
"How? I never told him a thing about that...about us."
"I didn't ask. I figured you told him until he and I talked together. Perhaps through Minerva?"
"No. She would never speak of that unless it was brought to her attention."
Harry nodded, his eyes on his ex-lover. "Are you ashamed of what we had? Is that why you never spoke of me, of us, to your son?"
"Of course not," Severus snapped.
"Then why does it bother you that he knows?"
"He's my son. It's not exactly easy to tell your son that instead of being a heterosexual, you're truly a homosexual that was with a woman to have a child."
At this, Harry nodded. "I guess not, but still."
After a few minutes of silence, Severus spoke up. "What do you want, Harry?"
"The question is Severus, what do you want?"
~*End Flashback*~
The house was decorated with silver, green, and red tinsel, holly wreaths on the doors, Christmas decorations on the walls, with the Christmas tree next to the fireplace filled with ornaments and presents piled underneath. The occupants were warm, their cheeks flushed from the heat inside of the sitting room, and their faces glittering with a light that hadn't been present in a while.
As Christmas melodies filled the room, two occupants sat close together on the couch, talking of past memories, an album opened on their laps as they pointed to pictures they long forgot. As they sat quietly together, they were unaware of the eyes that watched them.
~*Flashback*~
"It doesn't matter what I want, Harry. It's what is best for my son."
"And what if what he wants is to see you happy?"
"Who says I'm not?"
Harry smiled a little. "Your son."
~*End Flashback*~
As more people arrived through the evening, the two occupants on the couch lost themselves into their own little world. The younger of the two laughed at something the older one whispered, their eyes glittering with happiness. One arm hooked around the younger man's shoulder, bringing him closer to the arm's owner. The younger man smiled then laid his head on his on his beloved's shoulder, his finger pointing to a new picture as they both chuckled.
~*Flashback*~
"Severus, please. Tell me you don't love me and I'll walk away."
Severus' breath hitched, turning his back to the one man who would always have his heart. "I don't love you."
Harry moved slowly and put his hand on Severus' arm, his voice soft and calm. "Look at me and tell me that, Severus."
Severus turned his head and looked at him, his eyes and face showing the conflicting emotions. "I..." Severus stopped, shaking his head a little. "I can't."
Harry lowered his hand, taking Severus' hand gently in his. "Tell me you don't love me."
Severus again opened his mouth, the words becoming too hard to speak. "I don't...I..." Severus shut his eyes tight then reopened them, releasing Harry's hand and pulling him against him. "I'm still in love with you, Harry Potter."
As Severus' lips crushed over Harry's and demanded entrance, all Harry could think was how good it felt to be back home.
~*End Flashback*~
***
Severus looked around the room, looking at the occupants in the room. This was what he missed and he hadn't realized it until now. His eyes moved on his son and he smiled. His son was a brilliant young boy and if Severus were honest with himself, very cunning. Just a few weeks before, he had spoken with his son about things that he hadn't had the courage to speak about before. As the two sat in Montie's dorm room, the two talked about Harry, Savanna, and how Severus' life used to be. For the first time since his war days, Severus opened up about his role in the downfall of the tyrant that he and Harry had taken down during their stint as soldiers.
Montie had listened to him without judging him, allowing his father to speak of harsh times without interruption. This was a side he had learned about him through others, but to hear it from his father meant more to Montie than hearing it from others. It meant that, even if his father didn't realize it, Montie was now trusted enough with his father's secrets. That meant a lot to Montie and he had expressed it to his father.
Severus moved his eyes from his son to Sirius and Luna, his lips quirking up to a smirk as he observed the two. He never thought he could forgive the man for the past, but through the last few months, Sirius had seemed to accept what was happening and tentatively, the two were forming a truce between them. Not for their sakes, but for Harry's.
Removing his arm from Harry's shoulders, he gently took his hand. He tugged on it then stood, pulling Harry with him as they left the sitting room. When they reached the doorway and couldn't proceed, Severus and Harry both looked up, chuckling as they saw the mistletoe. Looking back at each other, Severus shook his head and knew this was the work of his son. When Severus looked over at his son and saw the mischievous eyes watching them, Severus smirked. He looked back at Harry and saw the amusement in the eyes. Shaking his head gently, Severus bent his head and gently brushed his lips over Harry's. As Harry's arms came up and circled his neck, Severus wrapped his arms around his beloveds, feeling, for the first time in his life, peaceful.
As the two got lost in their own feelings, the other occupants continued about their own business as the music played in the room, happiness and peace filling the air.
~*~
Blame it on the mistletoe 'Cause what happened here nobody knows How could something simple as a kiss Change my holiday like this And we held each other all night long And we fell asleep to a Christmas song Playin' on the radio Blame it on the mistletoe