I still don't own Harry Potter, although it is on my Christmas list...

Harry and Daphne had managed to sneak back to the dorm room with little difficulty thanks to the invisibility cloak. It was a bit awkward at first being so close to one another but that feeling soon faded. After all, both had just spent a night in each other's company revealing things about their past.

Harry found out that Daphne's first sign of accidental magic was when she made her sister's favourite toy owl float while Daphne found out that Harry loved snow since they reminded him of home.

Thankfully neither Filch or Mrs Norris appeared so it was an uneventful walk back to the common room in silence.

Sneaking back into their respective dorm rooms it seemed that luckily no one had woken up in the night and noticed they had disappeared, and due to the lack of questions at breakfast the next morning, it seemed that no one knew they were even gone.

A few hours later Harry and the others found themselves in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express, all ready to go home and celebrate the holidays with their family.

Harry had met up with Neville on the station and invited him to come sit with them on the ride back.

"I don't get it. We can floo back to our homes but instead we have to take a train ride back to London just to floo?" Harry asked to no one in particular.

"It's tradition." Theo said as he turned the pages of his transfiguration book utterly disinterested in the current conservation.

"Yes, but why spend six hours on a train when a floo connection works basically instantly? and it's not like I'm not going to floo straight home anyway." Harry argued back.

"He does have a point," Tracy piped up "A floo would be safer as well."

"True, but it wouldn't have the same feel as saying goodbye at a station and seeing your family waiting for you." Neville replied.

"And plus, Floo can go wrong if you misspeak." Daphne stated.

"I see how it is, all of you ganging up on me." Harry took a book out from nowhere and was about to begin reading it when Tracy jumped over and snatched the book out of his hands.

"Come on Harry, don't be a bookworm like Theo over there! We're sorry!"

After Tracy managed to convince Harry to put his book away and play a few rounds of exploding snap with the others, the train ride went fairly quickly and the countryside seemed to turn into a blur as they chugged past.

"Hey Blaise, I was wondering what the shield you cast was in the arena? It stood up against most of my attacks." Theo asked curiously.

Smirking Blaise replied "My mother created it. It's a full shield spell." At the blank looks everyone else gave him, Blaise elaborated "Spells like Protego only protect one side of you, think of that as building a wall. The full shield spell defends from all sides, think of it as building a house to defend you. You're protected from all sides but you need to be constantly thinking about it to keep it up."

"That's pretty intuitive, it seemed quite sturdy." Harry interjected, "It looked like it was blocking the falling debris"

"It was." Blaise said, continuing to smirk "It's a more physical shield rather than anything else. It stops most spells but also the more physical things. Mother taught it to me."

Harry smiled as he heard that, he'd have to ask Gellert about any shields that did the same thing and what spells can break through them.

"Care to share the spell Zabini?" Daphne enquired, a small smirk on her face.

Blaise matched it with a grin worthy of the goblins "Nah, I'm going to keep this one spell to myself. You guys have the extra training with the good Professor, I have my shield."

"Fine, but you're teaching us that shield at some point Zabini, could come in useful."

"We're almost back at the station." Neville noted "We should probably begin to get changed out of our robes."

As everyone nodded their assent, it was agreed the girls would get changed first and then the boys would afterwards, so dutifully Harry, Neville, Blaise and Theo evacuated the compartment where they came face to face with a smug Draco Malfoy in the corridor.

"So Potter, just when you couldn't sink any lower I see you hanging around with a squib, an accident and Theodore. At least one of your companions is of worthy descent."

Blaise snickered.

"What's so funny Zabini?"

"The fact you think you're better than Harry. He beat you and three other people without breaking a sweat."

"Yes well... You lost as well Zabini!" Draco spat

"Yes but unlike you, Zabini here lasted more than a minute. And used unique spells." Theo bluntly stated.

Malfoy just smirked "Well, how about a duel in the common room when we return. I'm sure Professor Snape would be kind enough to referee my win."

Harry scowled. If he declined he would seem weak to the rest of the Slytherins but if he accepted... "Fine. I accept. It'll be the Friday we return."

"I look forward to it." Malfoy smirked as he turned around and walked back to his compartment.

"Hey, we thought we heard Malfoy's voice out here? Everything alright?" Daphne asked as she opened the door.

"Malfoy challenged Harry here to a Wizards Duel Friday we get back..." Blaise said nervously "And Harry accepted."

"Who's your second?" Daphne turned to Harry. "Because if you wish, it would be a pleasure to be your second?"

Harry grinned "I don't plan on needing a second, but if you insist who am I to stop you?"

"Hey, What about me? I might want to be Harry's second!" Blaise complained.

"Duel you for it?" Daphne smirked.

Blaise mock shivered "Not on your life Greengrass. I may have a unbeatable shield but you're just scary when you duel!"

Saying goodbye to his friends on Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Harry stepped to the side room filled with the floo fireplaces and quickly stepped into one, whispering a password and location before stepping through.

Stumbling out of the Floo, he heard his father say "Welcome home Harry" before being engulfed by a bear hug.

"Happy to be back Father." Harry replied happily as he dropped his trunk on the ground, only for it to disappear a moment later.

"Ah, Harry. My you've grown! Come here and give your Auntie a hug!" a familiar voice lovingly said from behind him.

"Auntie Pern!" Harry exclaimed "Father didn't tell me you were here!" Hugging the older woman, Harry asked "It's really great to see you. Is Uncle Nick here as well?"

"Indeed he is. He's just doing some things in the lab right now actually but you should see him by dinnertime."

"Speaking of the lab, while you're back here I'm afraid to say that the lab is out of bounds." Gellert said, "Your uncle, aunt and I are all doing a minor experiment down there and it's fairly volatile during this stage. In fact that's why your Uncle isn't here right now. He's watching over the damn thing."

"Okay father, anything else I should know?"

"Nothing much, just that Cara brought along a friend from Durmstrang.. You'll meet it soon..." Gellert trailed off without much explanation before perking up. "What about you? Anything new happen while at Hogwarts?"

"Well, apparently James Potter lent Dumbledore an invisibility cloak before he died, and Dumbledore gave it to me." Harry said quietly.

"I remember you mentioning that in one of your letters... Curious though, that a cloak should last that long, and Dumbledore's interests in it... Perhaps... no." Gellert murmured to himself.

"Would it be possible to borrow the cloak for the holiday Harry?" Gellert asked, his eyes intense, "It might be nothing but I want to check for some things."

"Erm, Sure father?" Harry replied uncertainly, "I'll give it to you when I unpack if that's alright."

"That will be fine Harry" Pern interrupted "You boys and research" Pern muttered darkly beneath her breath. "Anyway, how are things at Hogwarts?"

After explaining to Pern that 'yes, Hogwarts is a great school, no the teachers are all being fair, yes he is having a good time.' Harry was finally free to go back to his room and begin to unpack. Hedwig had seemed to have flown in before him as she was sitting on top of his bed and looking like she was judging his lateness. As he opened his trunk and began to remove things, a small skeletal monkey hopped onto his bed causing Harry to stumble backwards into his chair.

Turning his head to the guffaws coming from his doorway he said "I'm guessing this is your doing Cara?"

"Just welcoming you back brother dearest." Cara said with a smile "What do you think of Humbert?"

Looking back at the skeletal monkey Harry replied "Humbert?"

"Well, I couldn't call him Annabel could I?" Cara said as she walked into Harry's room.

"How did you even come across, erm, Humbert?"

"The books in my vault, more specifically the ones on Bone Magiks. It's pretty detailed in minor necromancy and I had a flip through before I tried anything from it. Apparently it's only good for creating my own bone creatures or reviving these golem things from skeletons. Nothing major can be done with human bones from what I've read since that falls more into harder Necromancy."

Harry made a mental note to never go to a graveyard with Cara, It seemed like she was genuinely sad she couldn't mess around with human bones.

Speaking of which "Where did you even come across the skeleton of a monkey? Isn't Durmstrang really far north?"

"Trophy room, and no one's gonna miss a monkey." Cara replied nonchalantly. "Especially not when there are chimeras and other interesting stuff in there."

"So why didn't you bring us back a dead chimera or dragon?" Harry asked as he watched Humbert try and grab a indignant Hedwig.

"Not enough space, and I thought it best that I don't summon a giant monster on my first try with this magic. Who knows what could happen?" Cara answered as she looked around Harry's room. "I'm borrowing this." She said picking up a small lighter from beside Harry's bed. "Anyway, you see Uncle Nick and Aunt Pern here? Something big must be going on if they're staying here for a while."

Nodding Harry replied "Sure you can borrow the lighter, and Father said that they were trying an experiment down in the labs. I don't know what they're doing though."

Smirking Cara said "I wasn't asking and besides it's strange though, they disappear for a few years and reappear now? I mean, they always send us birthday and Christmas gifts but it's been what, five or six years since we last saw them in person?"

"Five, it was on Christmas last time."

"Oh yeah, that was when dad burnt the turkey and Aunt Pern had to try and save it. Hey, this'll be the first Christmas we spent as a proper family for a long while."

Harry just nodded as he started to unpack. "By the way, Neville wanted to know if you wanted to go to his house for a Christmas party?"

Cara's head perked up at that. "Party or 'par-tay'? because there's a difference you know."

"Well, he mentioned the Greengrass family was going so I assume it's going to be formal attire and proper manners."

"Why not? Not like I have anything else going on this holiday." Cara said "Out of interest how are you going to swing that by dad and Auntie Pern? Uncle Nick wouldn't care too much I don't think but Auntie Pern won't want us unsupervised."

"I'm not too sure yet. Maybe slate it as that it will be completely safe? No alcohol."

"That might work. But still, it's a risky plan. Perhaps bring it up at dinner tonight? Play the sympathies card?"

Harry sighed and nodded "That could work. I'll try that. Would you be able to back me up though?"

"Of course! I want to go as much as you do!" Cara said as she moved to exit the room. "Humbert. Follow." the skeletal monkey quickly jumped down from Harry's bed and with the chattering of bones, left the room.

Dinner was served fairly late and cooked by Pern, who had insisted that they all celebrate Harry and Cara coming back for the holidays and that they get 'some proper food, not that House-Elf made trash that schools feed them".

Harry silently admitted to himself that his Aunt's cooking was a lot better than the food back at the school.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Cara innocently began "So... there's this New Year's Party that Harry and I have been invited to."

"No Cara" Gellert shot down instantly. "I still haven't forgiven the two of you for ignoring me and staying somewhere that wasn't the Leaky Cauldron. Speaking of which, you can both begin your punishments by cleaning all the dishes, pots and pans used to make our delightful dinner without Magic or help."

"But that's just it! The party is at the Longbottom household and we were all invited." Harry argued back before sending a guilty look towards his aunt and uncle "Well, I'm not sure about Auntie Pern and Uncle Nick but I'm sure they can come too. I can writ-"

"No Harry." Gellert stated "I'm sorry but this is too much of a risk for any of us. It may not have occurred to you but as far as the public know I'm either dead or imprisoned so I wouldn't be able to go regardless without causing a lot of hysteria, Nick and Pern both have things to do and would not be able to chaperone you- and a chaperone is the only way I would allow you to go."

"Actually" A voice perked up "I wouldn't mind chaperoning the two of them for one night." Nick smiled at both Harry and Cara before continuing "It may not have occurred to you Gellert but there have been questions asked about Harry's guardian. This is a perfect opportunity to throw people off and for me to try the new Polyjuice recipe I came up with."

Gellert looked strained at Nick's words and obivously realised there was no way to argue against Nick's logic "You make a good point and I will think about it. However I don't like the idea of these two being away again"

Harry realised that by Gellert's downcast and saddened look that his father really did feel lonely here, a shiver of what felt like ice ran down his spine and he felt slightly bad about wanting to go to the party when it was obvious that Gellert just wanted to spend time with his children.

Catching Cara's mischievous look, Gellert aimed his next words at Cara "Of course my decision will be partly based on how these two behave over the coming week."

"Neville wanted our response before the Thirtieth and you know how long it takes for Owls to fly to Britain..." Harry began.

"So I will let you know on boxing day." Gellert said "Now don't you have some plates to clean?"

As Harry and Cara trudged towards the kitchens Nick stopped them saying "I'll try wearing him down. Gellert will see logic eventually."

As the days until Christmas seemed to speed by, Harry came across the unfortunate problem of gifts. He knew what he planned to give to Cara, but he came across a stumbling block over what to get his classmates. Sighing he thought to himself 'Maybe Neville would like a book on plants, he seems to like herbology best... I can get Tracy and Blaise some chocolate, Theo might enjoy that Falcon feather quill I saw the other day but what to get Daphne...?'

As he mused on what to get for his closest female friend, he heard a slight knock on the door.

"Come in"

"Hope I'm not intruding on anything." Nick joked as he stepped into the room "Gellert asked me to take you and Cara to the village near Rejykavik to get some Christmas gifts for everyone if you're ready to go?"

Harry nodded his response "Hey Uncle Nick, I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

"I'll certainly help as much as I can, what's the problem?"

"I'm trying to figure out what I should get for a classmate, I know what I plan to get for everyone else but I'm not too sure what I should get for her?"

"Hmm" the older man mused "well, Pern was always better with gifts but perhaps a book? I'd avoid getting a woman jewellery unless they say they want it."

"I thought about getting her a book, but I'm not too sure what book she'd want."

"Well, what's her best subject?"

Harry thought about it for a moment before answering "Transfiguration, but she seems to be interested in runes."

"Then there you go! I've got a book in mind, I'll help you find it in the bookstore." Nick said as he ushered Harry from the room.

As Nick apparated both Harry and Cara to the magical part of the Icelandic town of Selfoss, Harry stumbling as per usual, Nick asked "Alright kids, we have a few hours here until Gellert wants us back so where do you want to go to first?"

Shrugging, Cara replied "I don't really need to go anywhere, I got all my presents on the village weekends at Durmstrang."

As Harry gave her a confused look, Cara smirked "I wanted to be prepared this year. Plus, I got your gift early October."

"Alright, then I suppose it's just Harry's gifts we have to get then." Nick stated "Shall we head to the bookstore?"

As they walked down the main street and into the warm, wooden bookstore Cara asked "So Uncle Nick... Any luck convincing our beloved father into letting us go to a New Year's Party?"

"It's a slow process, he's warming up to it though." Nick replied as Harry stopped to look through some books on herbology. Picking up one called Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean for Neville, Harry smiled as he picked the first of his presents out.

"That's great! I really hope he allows us to go. It'll be nice to meet new people. Cara remarked.

Nick laughed as he bent down to look at a book before passing it to Harry

"Runic Mysteries and the Ancient Language?" Harry asked curiously.

"For your girlfriend." Nick teased.

"Harry has a girlfriend!" Cara asked with a smirk "So, what's she like? Pretty, smart? Both? Oh this is such good teasing material!"

"Sh-she's not my girlfriend!" Harry said flustered, "She's just a friend!"

Nick laughed loudly, attracting the shopkeeper's attention as he led Harry up to pay. "We're just riling you up. If you had a girlfriend at your age, I'd be amazed."

"Four gallons and three sickles." The shopkeeper grunted, obviously not amused by the loud conversation between his customers.

"So, who else do we need to get gifts for?" Nick asked innocently.

Three hours, a lot of advice, and many gallons later, Harry had finally finished his Christmas shopping.

As Harry walked towards the kitchen for breakfast, he could hear the low murmur of conversation going on and as soon as he walked through the door a small chorus of "Merry Christmas Harry" hit him.

As Cara grabbed him in a hug, he replied "Merry Christmas everyone."

Cara smiled "Continuing the long tradition of being the last awake on Christmas day then? Shame on you for not celebrating this day more!"

"Leave him alone Cara." Pernelle laughed as she put a bacon sandwich down in front of Harry "Here, you may be too late for breakfast but get some lunch in you before tonight's dinner."

"Thanks Auntie Pern." Harry took a bite out of the sandwich. "It s wonderful." At the younger boy's words, Pern smiled and hugged him.

"You're too kind to me Harry, very appreciative. Warms an old lady's heart."

"Don't talk like that Auntie, you're not that old!" Cara stated.

Pern just laughed "I bet I'm older than you think! Go on, how old do you think I am?"

"60"

"65"

"Oh my, you two are to kind to me! neither of you were close though!" Pern laughed, keep guessing and maybe you'll get it right!"

"Cara, Harry." Harry turned towards Gellert.

"I've decided that you can go to this New Year's Party" At Cara and Harry's whoops of joy Gellert frowned and said "But being clear there are a few conditions. One, you take the floo there but will take a portkey back here as soon as the party is over. Two, you won't go anywhere with anyone no matter what they offer. Three, no drinking any form of alcohol" At Cara's huff of disdain Gellert glared at her. "and yes Cara I'm looking at you when I say that. Remember I know how to tell when someone's been drinking. I was your age too once."

Gellert sighed and shook his head before continuing "Finally- and Merlin help me for this- your Uncle Nick will be your guardian for this party"

At Harry, Cara and Nick's smile, Gellert sighed "It's probably going to be useless to say, but don't make it too hard on Nick, and Nick- please don't drink too much."

Laughing at Nick's insulted look, Pern said "So, on a happier note shall we open presents now?"

Laughing at Cara's ecstatic face, Harry scoffed down the rest of his sandwich and made to follow the rest of his family into the training room- the designated "Christmas Room".

Lit up with tinsel, and quite literal 'fairy lights'- Fairies placed into jars and hung around the room- it was quite a spectacular sight- and that wasn't taking into account the massive fir tree that Nick and Pern had conjured up for them.

It made training slightly annoying, however Harry was more than happy to just enjoy the room as is.

Ushering everyone to sit around the tree, Pern flicked her hand and the multitude of presents began to levitate and land in a neat stack in front of the person supposed to open it.

Tearing into his first present, a nicely wrapped green parcel Harry found a old book bearing the title 'The Arte of Alteration: Volume 1' and flicked through it in awe of some of the spells within.

Spells to do with Disillusion, water breathing, detecting life-and death were but a few that stood out to him as he flicked through the tome.

Quickly reading the note attached, Harry turned to Nick and Pern, both of whom had looks of amusement on their faces from the gifts currently in their hands.

"Thank you so much for this, I've had a brief look and it looks amazing. I can't wait to try some of these spells." Harry put down the book and reached for the next present.

"It was nothing Harry, in fact I should thank you! I always have wanted an everfilling tankard- I never seemed to be able to find one though." Nick's eyes twinkled as he took a sip from the tankard. "Hmmm, Hoppy! Try some Gellert- go on!"

Laughing momentarily at her husbands antics at attempting to get the younger man to have a drink, Pern turned to Harry smiling.

"Thank you for the necklace, it's absolutely wonderful."

"It was nothing Auntie Pern, I saw it and thought you might like it." Opening the note attached to the gift, Harry recognised the untidy cursive and simply smiled at his sister who motioned for him to get on and open the box.

Inside was a small silver lighter that Harry instantly flicked open, lighting it and being startled with the unearthly blue flame.

"It's an everflame." Cara declared proudly. "It's an endless source of fire that's charmed to be erm, unable to be put out by anyone except the caster. At least that's what it's supposed to do."

Harry looked at the glowing flame then back at Cara a few times, thinking hard.

"Cara."

"Yes Harry?"

"Aren't you the caster of the flame since you created the thing?"

"Erm..." Cara looked flummoxed for a moment. "I guess you're right... I'll keep an eye out to found out how to get around that little problem..." Grasping for what Harry recognised as his present to her, Cara opened the metal box that contained a mokeskin pouch.

"It's mokeskin." Harry smiled "Only the owner can take things in and out of it, thought it'd be useful for you to have while at Durmstrang."

"This is awesome Harry! It's gonna make Victor so jealous I have one." Cara hugged Harry warmly. "Thank you so much! I think we both have one more gift left to open though."

Reaching for the final present, that Harry knew was from his father, he opened the ornately carved wooden box to find a small penknife that Harry flicked open and started to look at the tools attached to it.

"It's main design is to open any lock using the large knife." Gellert said "Just place the flat of the blade against a lock and it should open. However the rest of the tools are just as useful. The bottle opener is designed to be able to go break minor curses by tapping it against the cursed object. I had a feeling it might come in useful while you're off in England."

Harry smiled as he thought of all the uses a lockpick could be used for in Hogwarts- especially with his new Invisibility cloak.

Harry quickly stood up and hugged his father warmly "Thank you, this is amazing. Where'd you find something like this?"

Looking awkward Gellert replied, "I found it while cleaning one of the rooms that hadn't been used since '44. I forgot I had it and thought you might be able to find some use for it. If I remember I'll write up a manual for it's use sometime"

Harry smiled as he looked at everyone, this really was a good Christmas.

AN: I'm not dead! So many, many months after the previous update, ya'll get this one! And it's seasonally appropriate as well.

A few time skips but I found it really difficult to write this chapter up for some reason. To be perfectly honest I might do more timeskips until fourth year since that's where things are gonna get interesting but I don't know yet! Also I might work some of the stuff from Fantastic Beasts into this story, the Niffler really was adorable and stuff. I'm really trying my hardest not to spoil anything if you can't tell!

As always,if you liked this chapter/story so far, favourite, follow and if you're feeling kind review! More reviews = faster updates!

If you didn't like pop me a PM/review telling me why and I'll take your criticism to heart. An author is only as good as their readers after all!