17. Outings and Bad News

Harrison and Salatore were now back home at Spinners End for Christmas break, Harrison's first ever Christmas with family, not now counting the Williams family, who he wanted to be friends with but he wasn't sure if they would be as Richard wasn't anymore.

"Hadrian is everything alright, you seem awfully quiet?" asked Salvatore to his son who was sitting on the sofa looking into the flames of the heath, he only got a sigh back in response.

"Hadrian listen to me son, it's our first Christmas together, I know that you would either spend it at Hallaton or at the Williams but I think it would be a good idea to celebrate it together" said Salvatore to him and Harrison only signed to him but then out of the blue smiled.

"Yes dad!! I can't wait can we see Mrs. and Mr. Williams as well as the twins?" he asked almost jumping up and down like an excited five year old child.

"Yes we can but I will remind you that we are spending Christmas day together you aren't getting out of that. I shall write to them as well as the Magnus' to ask when we can come over to celebrate" and with that Salvatore grabbed some parchment and started writing, once he was done he handed the Magnus' to his raven Tyki and the Williams to Hettie and they both flew off.

Harrison waited with baited breath as he really wanted to go to the Williams but with how Richard had been treating him since he got resorted it was hard, he knew he should say something but it was hard, he knew nothing would hurt him his dad would be there, he just didn't want Madeline and Anthony knowing what their son had done to him.

An hour later Tyki was back with a note in his mouth from Lucian:

Salvatore, Hadrian, you are both welcome to come and spend the day with us for the Yule festivities, Natasha is beside herself wanting to see you both. We will meet on the day after Yule.

Regards Lucian Abraxas Magnus.

"Well we are expected on the following day after Yule so..." said Salvatore to his son who was now half asleep which made him smile towards him, it was late after all, five hours on the train for Harrison and an awful end of term teachers meeting was not what Salvatore called fun and so they headed up to bed.

The following day Harrison was woken by someone shaking his shoulder quietly telling him that it was time to get up and that breakfast was on the table. Slowly but surely he got up and headed downstairs in a white top with golden snitches on it and dark blue jeans and black trainers.

Once in the kitchen he spotted Salvatore who was once not in complete black, he had a dark grey top on and black trousers on and dark dragonhide boots, he was sitting at the table drinking his coffee, reading the paper with a plate of pancakes in front of him, Harrison sat down and started to each his breakfast.

"I was thinking we could do our Christmas shopping today, get it over and done with, no before the whole Yule rush" said Salvatore putting down his cup of coffee, Harrison only nodded having his mouth full.

"I was thinking London first then Diagon Alley afterwards if we cant find what we are looking for" finished Salvatore having Harrison again nod to him, he wasn't in a talking mood really.

Once they were finished they headed out, down to the bus stop and into town, which by Salvatore's surprise was huge he hadn't spent much time here as he would always stay in the castle over the smaller holidays and then during the summer he would go off and look for potion ingredients around the world, he never really went into town.

Harrison was happy enough but something in a window caught his attention more than anything and went over to have a look at it, it was beautiful, the gems in it could be replaced to but anyone's birthstone it in, it was perfect for Natasha and he smiled and called over Salvatore.

Both of them walked in to the sound of a bell jingling above their heads, this made Harrison smile to it, he was always told to wait outside with the Darnly's they didn't want to be seen with him but they would always make him carry everything that they bought, this time though it was different.

"Hello and welcome, what can I do for you fine gentlemen today?" asked the jeweller he seemed nice enough which put Harrison at ease, "I would like the necklace with the three tear drops on please" he said just loud enough to be heard.

The jeweller smiled and went to get it for him and brought it back, "sir this one here can have any birthstone placed in it, would you like that or would you prefer to keep it like it is?" Harrison looked over to Salcatore and he smiled back.

"Dad what are aunt Natasha's, uncle Lucian's and Demetrius' birthdays?" he asked making him look at his son, and then he smiled and said "Demetrius' is June, Lucian's I believe is September and if I recalled Natasha's is March, so we will need a moonstone, a sapphire and lastly an aquamarine stone" and he nodded to the jeweller.

"So my young friend this is a gift for someone you love right?" and he smiled at the blush that creeped across Harry's face. He saw Natasha as a mother figure more than anything.

"Son it's a lovely gift for Natasha she will love it" and so they ordered it to be delivered to Spinners End and so they went on their way after they paid.

Next it was time to really Christmas shop, he knew he WASNT getting Richard, Harriet and Jenny something, they didn't deserve anything after what they had put him though the past two months.

As they walked they talked about what to get everyone and so the list went like this:

Lucian- a new cane from Harrison and a old book that was in the Prince's library from Salvatore.

Demetrius- a chess set from Salvatore and a broom cleaning kit and sweets from Harrison.

Natasha- they both agreed that the necklace was from them both.

Madeline- was getting a cook book of muggle foods.

Anthony- a radio and yes Harrison was going to teach him how to use it!!

Fritz and Garret- they would be getting some muggle jokes and pranks that they could easily turn magical and sweets.

The other Williams' would be getting something small, nick knacks really but each one would be tough through.

They had managed to get mostly everything from London that they wanted but it was the last Williams that he found hard but he knew Patrick being Patrick would like something with law as he wanted to work in the Ministry, he knew Charles worked with dragons and so would get him something along those lines and Bryson well he didn't know what to get.

They had headed to Diagon Alley to finish everything but first lunch and so they headed to the Three Broomsticks, afterwards they managed to get everything else, including two miniature dragon statues one for Harrison and one for Charles which came alive when you said a spell.

They were about to leave when yet again Harrison was caught wandering off into a pet shop of all things, Salvatore following behind him wondering what had yet again attracted the boy and when he saw said boy holding onto a powdered baby blue cat like thing with beaming emerald green eyes, so much like Harrison's and Lillian's something clicked within him, he knew this store it was a store that dealt with familiars.

He was brought out of his when he heard Harrison laughing he was being licked buy the cat... no kitten by the looks of it all but it was huge!! but when he looked again it was neatly tucked into Harriosn's arms sleeping.

"C..ca...can I ge..get him?" asked Harrison only to have Salvatore nod to him and they walked over to the teller and all she said was "no one has been able to get close to him, he's quite rare really, its a first since I've working here that he's picked someone" and the kitten just mewed to them sleeping happily.

"Now I must tell you about him, he is a cross between a Japanese cat demon called a Bakeneko and a Kitsune which is a fox demon. His eyes will change shape depending on the day and the emotions of our young man that's he has bonded to, his fur will spark when touched but will not hurt those that he trusts, he will lick blood, he will walk without making a sound to others but those who he trusts will hear him, he will keep his wildness but again to will be gentle with those he trusts.

He has sharp teeth and claws, has nocturnal habits and they have abnormal speed and agility and that is his Bakeneko side, from his Kitsune side he can shapeshift. Please feed him raw meat when you eat and he will stay with you always" said the teller.

"All he needs is a name and a drop of your blood and he is all yours and he will only follow you and will trust those you trust no one else" and she smiled to them.

"Otiz" said Harry and when the cat heard the name he woke up and quickly bit Harrison's finger drawing blood which was licked up right away, then nuzzled into his neck mewing.

"Come on Hadrian we have to get back for dinner" said Salvatore and they walked out and headed back home, Otiz walking next to Harrison his tail wrapped around his arm, he mewed all the way there and when they opened the door Otiz made sure to lick Salvatore's hand who he now knew as Harrison's caregiver.

As they were having their dinner a burst of green flames appeared and then disappeared to reveal one Albert Dunn, he nodded to the pair and when he noticed Otiz, he couldn't make out what it was but the darn thing was hissing and growling at him.

"Otiz shuush" said Harrison and he kind of stopped only to hide under the table but kept close enough to Harrison and Salvatore ready to protect them at any cost.

"Harry my boy I have some bad news that I must tell you right away...." he let this linger in the air for a moment until he continued with "its about your relatives..." again letting in linger watching the boy stiffen and slowly turn his attention to the Headmaster.

"Y..ye...yes sir..... about... them?" stammered Harry to him, Severus gripping his hand in support and Otiz was now on his lap mewing into his ear comforting him.

"..........................They have been released from prison, they are now back home and are waiting for you to return to them for the holidays" said Albus but by this time Harry was in a full blown panic attack, Severus was by his side in a flash.

"Get out!" screamed Harry to him, to Albus of all things, this made Otiz go on to attack and there now standing on the floor was a fox that was twice the size of a normal fox, his blue fur so dark now it was like the night sky, his emerald eyes glowed dangerously and he had something like steam coming from his mouth and right away he threw Albus to the floo and right away the Headmaster was now gone.