The next two days passed quickly. It was still snowing and cold but was great weather for cuddles. Y/N and Hermione had loved it, in the nice warm Burrow, with their friends- just relaxing.

—~—

Y/N opened his eyes and saw Hermione was fast asleep. He checked the time- 5:30am Christmas morning. Perfect, he thought to himself. He leaned down and Hermione smiled in her sleep as he gently kissed her cheek. He showered and dressed before silently apparating.

He appeared without a sound in the couples bedroom. They were both asleep and Y/N smiled looking at the woman in her bed. He loved her with all his heart. It broke him the way they had parted. She looked as beautiful as ever. He silently left a small package and a note on top next to the sleeping woman and leant down kissing her forehead softly. He whispered "I love you" and disappeared.

Penny woke up and looked around suddenly, she swore she had felt a presence in the room. A scent lingered, smoky vanilla aftershave, his aftershave. Dean didn't use that scent. She was puzzled. She looked to her right and saw a small present and a note. Was this Dean being a sweetheart? He had been difficult to live with the last month and they had been arguing. A lot.

She picked up the note and her heart dropped. It said two words.

Cutie Pie

She felt the tears coming as she opened the present and her heart stuck in her throat

It was a simple yet elegant silver bracelet with an engraving that read:

However Far Away, I Will Always Love You

She placed it on her wrist, made it to the en-suite, closed the door behind her and cried her eyes out.

—~—

Y/N apparated back to the room he was sharing with Hermione and smiled as she slept. He quietly wandered downstairs and magicked up bacon and eggs on toast with a cup of Yorkshire Tea, her favourite. He levitated them upstairs and cast orchideous- a giant bunch of roses appearing in his hand. He walked into the bedroom and Hermione stirred at the smell. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled seeing her lover standing in front of her.

"Merry Christmas my beautiful Lady" Y/N smiled, handing Hermione the large bouquet and planting a kiss on her lips.

"Thank you sweetheart. They are beautiful and oh you didn't have to..." she finished as the breakfast tray floated to her lap.

"I know. I wanted to spoil you. I love you baby. Merry Christmas" Y/N smiled.

Hermione ate her breakfast, insisting they share as he hadn't cooked any for himself.
Once breakfast was finished the time came for presents.

"Can I go first babe?" Y/N asked excitedly. Hermione smiled. He was just like a child when he gave her presents, it almost made her cry seeing him so happy and giddy.

"Yes love you can" she giggled.

"Ok. So you know you are my princess, and we will have a lot of engagements to go to over the years so..."

He handed her a beautifully wrapped present. She undid the bow and wrapping and opened the box. Her eyes teared up.

"Oh baby it is beautiful. Thank you"

"I'm glad you like it love. Like I said you're my princess so you deserve a tiara".

"Your turn" Hermione smiled and handed Y/N a larger present. He opened it and smiled at the cover. It simply said our family and had a picture of the L/N crest on it.

"Open it" Hermione smiled.

Y/N did and gasped. The first picture was of a young man in his 20s- handsome, proud, walking down a London street.

It was his father.

"Baby. Thank you".

"Keep looking" Hermione giggled.

Y/N turned the page and there was a picture of a young Hermione with her parents.

Then then was one of the two of them from Loch Ness, then one from their first date, one from their first year at Hogwarts, one from last summer at the Grangers. Finally one with Newt, Tina and their 'children'.

"Baby this is..."

"Technically it's not for you. I want you to look after it. Add to it, and then it's for our children love" Hermione smiled.

Y/N's dam walls broke.

"Merlin"  he laughed. "You're turning me into a softy."

"You've always been a softy with me sweetheart. It's why I fell in love with you" Hermione smiled as they kissed passionately.

After a while they were called by a knock at the door to go downstairs and to exchange presents. They got various gifts from their friends and it was their time to hand theirs out.

Ginny was first and she was gifted a Nimbus 2001 with note saying IOU one upgrade.

She giggled when Y/N told her he would get her a Firebolt one day, but that it was too powerful for the time being and for her to learn more on the Nimbus and improve her skills.

The twins got a massive box full of magical pranking items from Zonko's much to the chagrin of Molly and Maisy.

Maisy got a number of outfits from Twilfitt and Tattings, Lavender got an owl of her own so she could write to her family more. She named him David and cried in happiness, instantly falling in love with the bird who returned the feeling.

Ron opened his present and was not impressed. It was a large number of potions books on how to break down and memorise recipes easily. He began to pout until Y/N spoke to him firmly:

"Actually Ronald yours was the most expensive present. Since you are sitting on 3% for the term and need 50% to go up to fourth year next year we thought you may appreciate the help. You know... if you want to stay with your friends!"

Ron had gone quiet. Y/N hoped he had taken the message to heart. Molly and Arthur were gifted a fully paid holiday to the Caribbean for the two of them. They were speechless.

Finally it was Harry's turn. He opened an envelope and looked puzzled.

"This voucher is good for one no-questions asked arse-kicking?"

Everyone laughed. Y/N smirked:

"Any man you want Harry. Guaranteed. Except read the fine print on the back."

Harry turned and read out some ultra small writing:

"This voucher can NOT be redeemed against Severus Snape!"

The room all laughed as Harry mumbled:

"Spoilsport" with a laugh.

"What do you mean any man though?" Ron asked.

"I don't hit women Ron. Ever" Y/N replied firmly causing Hermione to rub his leg.

"No-no I didn't mean that, Y/N. What about kids... teens?"

Y/N looked up and pondered, replying:

"No more than twelve months younger than us. And don't bother with Voldemort Harry. He's already on the list."

"What list?" Harry asked.

"The 'I'm gonna kill on sight' list. You've straddled it from time to time Ron" Y/N said looking at him.

Most people in the room chuckled but it soon turned to nervous laughter when Y/N's expression didn't change.

—~—

The group enjoyed a nice Christmas lunch and a relaxing afternoon before guests started arriving for the evening Christmas party at 6:00pm.

First were Sam and Bobby, Y/N smiled and hugged them both. He then apparated in Hermione's parents. It had taken them a while to recover in the Burrow garden after the apparition but they were ok.

Bill, Charlie, Tonks and Tulip were next followed by Barnaby and Liz. Y/N had felt awkward as Tonks ran up and hugged him saying how long it had been since she had seen him and how much he had grown but Hermione gripped him tight. Tulip hugged him and whispered "I could have been your lady you know" before giggling.

Finally Snape arrived at the same time as Dean and Penny. The room went silent. The students shocked that Severus was there and the adults at the very obvious tension between Dean and Y/N.

Y/N walked straight passed Dean and pulled Snape into a bone crunching hug, to the surprise of almost everyone. The shock was just as high when Snape hugged Y/N back. Dean walked off, ignoring Y/N, while Penny looked conflicted before she heard:

It's fine Penny. He's your husband. I understand.

She nodded, teary eyed and mouthed 'thank you' before walking off to where Dean stood with his friends.

Hermione sat with her parents, Molly and Lav while the teens milled around. Y/N meanwhile had pulled out one of his families best scotch vintages and was having a ball, laughing and sharing it with Sam, Bobby, Severus and Arthur.

Bobby and Sev were laughing at Y/N recounting a hunting tale while Sam looked embarrassed and Arthur looked terrified.

"And then Winchester explodes the damn thing, all over me. It took a week to get the last fragments of Wendigo out... you know how much they stink?"

Sam sighed and added:

"I did apologise, Y/N."

More laughter from the men as the Grangers, Molly and Lavender watched from across the room.

"It's good to see him enjoy himself darling" Monica said to her daughter who looked at her lover and smiled.

"It is. We were at a party with his Hunting Family a few days ago and it was the same thing. But boy is he a handful when he's drunk" Hermione and Lavender laughed.

"He's not a mean drunk is he love?" Wendell asked, slightly concerned in a way all fathers are about their little girls. Hermione smiled though:

"No Dad, quite the opposite. It took me an hour to get him into bed. He was insistent on waking the whole castle to tell them how much he loves me" Hermione blushed as she spoke.

"Well that's sweet, but don't let him fall into the habit of drinking to relax too much. He may be legally an adult now but it's still a dangerous habit to get into" Monica said glancing at Y/N with concern.

"Couldn't agree more" Molly slurred as she polished off a sherry. Lavender facepalmed next to her.

The group of young twenty something adults stood across the room, Barnaby Lee among them. Barnaby was a delightful person. He was loving, caring and protective of those who he cared for. He was unfortunately also dense and quite clueless.

"So how is it that Y/N is Lord now? I thought that was Jacob?" He asked Dean loudly as a record stopped. The chatter around the room suddenly stopped as Arthur rushed to try and put another record on.

"Because he stole it" Dean sneered loudly as he sipped a beer.

Everyone turned to Y/N, waiting for a reaction. Hermione panicked internally.

Y/N meanwhile chuckled but didn't respond, instead sipping his scotch.

"Oh. Doesn't sound like him. What fun have you got planned for him and Hermione over the break Penny?" Barnaby asked next.

Penny's mouth dropped. She didn't know how to answer.

"He isn't welcome at our house, Barnaby" Dean again snapped.

"Well if he's not with you, and he's not with Jacob, where is he living?" Barnaby asked managing to connect the dots.

Wendell had had enough. He spoke loudly and clearly:

"Y/N is welcome to stay with us as long as he wants! He's family after all!"

Hermione smiled looking down, proud of her dad for both sticking up for her boyfriend, and calling him family, accepting him completely. Y/N also smiled. He answered loudly without looking at Dean.

"Thanks Wendell. I may be the richest wizard alive but I assume hotels are rather expensive"

Y/N smirked and then spoke directly to Dean through legilimency:

You wanna go again? You know where I am, but I won't hold back this time. Now stop being a little bitch and ruining everybody's Christmas!

Y/N went back to drinking with his friends as the music started again. Dean was quiet the rest of the night.

—~—

When it was time to go most greeted Y/N in a usual friendly manner with hugs. Dean just walked passed him. Penny didn't stop but gently rubbed his arm on the way passed.

"Let's get you two home" Y/N smiled at his Parents-in-Law.

The trio arrived at the Granger's back door but Wendell promptly emptied his stomach into the hedge next to it.

"Are you ok, dear? How much did you have to drink?" Monica asked worriedly as she fumbled with the back door.

"It's more the apparition, Monica. It can do this to a person until you get used to it. Sorry Wendell" Y/N said genuinely.

He heard a mumbled "it's ok" from Wendell's hunched form. He was then surprised when Monica hugged him tightly and smiled:

"Dean will come round. But just know we love you and are proud of you, Y/N. And we are so thankful Hermione has someone like you. Thank you for taking such good care of our daughter. I can see how happy she is and how much she loves you. It's written all over her face."

Y/N was completely overwhelmed. He could do little but hug back and mumble out "of course."

Once he and Monica had got Wendell in the house he wished them goodnight and apparated back to the warm embrace of his sweetheart. Despite his brother this was probably the best Christmas he'd ever had.