Harry woke up in his room feeling slightly groggy but magically restored. He wasn't yet 100%, but he could once again feel his magic responding to him. Casting a wandless tempus charm, he was surprised to see that it was 9:30 am as he usually woke around 8. He theorised that he needed the rest to restore his magical stores. After spending a few more moments in bed, enjoying the comfort of the silk sheets and warmth, Harry reluctantly stood and decided to have a quick shower before finding Remus and Sirius.
Entering the kitchen, Harry wasn't surprised when he saw both men nursing hot drinks. Sirius was opting for coffee, black with unhealthy amounts of sugar, and Remus had a cup of herbal tea.
"Morning," he said, pouring his own coffee and joining them at the table with half of a grapefruit, opting to go healthy for breakfast.
Remus eyed his cup for a moment before shrugging. If Harry liked it, then he would let go of the notion that coffee was bad for children—or, at least, bad for Harry. "Morning pup, you slept late. Are you feeling okay?" The genuine worry Harry heard in the man's voice made he feel warm inside.
Harry nodded after taking a sip. "I'm fine, I think I just needed the extra sleep to restore my magic."
"It really drained you that much?" Remus asked. He knew the ritual was powerful, and he didn't doubt it would leave many exhausted, but Harry was so powerful that the concept of him being drained was hard to get his head around.
Harry hummed. "It was the rune and blood magic, the mixture was quite strong." Sirius felt his eyes narrow then. "Yes, about that - what the bloody hell Harry?! You never mentioned having to carve yourself up!" he shouted.
Harry winced. "I know, but it was necessary! Only I could do it as only I have the emotions and desire necessary to bring him back."
Sirius sighed, his anger quiet behind his eyes. "I know but still. Seeing you bleed, knowing you were in pain, it just… it killed me."
Harry nodded. "I know, and I'm sorry for not warning you, I just knew you would object - that you would both object." "Will you have to do it again?" Remus asked.
"No, the vial I filled last night should have enough blood to complete the entire ritual and bring Tom back. All that needs to be done now is for a new horcrux to be placed in the circle during each of the old holidays; that, along with seven drops of the blood being placed on it during the moon's highest point, should bring Tom back. I don't need to be present during the holidays so either, so either of you can do the ritual from now on. My blood holds the emotions needed for the ritual to work, all you have to do it say the ritual's enchantment at the right time and make sure that seven drops of blood are used."
"That means that we can continue the rituals while you're at school, right?" Remus asked, intrigued by the blood magic and its properties.
"Yes. The final ritual will be on the summer solstice and I will be home for that and therefore home for Tom's return."
"Well, you certainly have the Potter luck," Sirius said, finally having come to terms with the fact that Tom would be returning.
"It's part of my charm."
Barking out his dog-like laugh, Sirius grinned and decided that he didn't care about the whole soulmate business and instead he focused on the boy in front of him. He wanted Harry to be happy, to be healthy, and most importantly to know he was loved.
"So, how about we show you how Yule is really celebrated?"
Harry smiled. "Please."
"So, normally you would have joined us last night in lighting the three candles on the Yule log, but after the ritual you were drained, so we had to do that without you," Sirius said. He was sad that Harry had missed it, but also knew that the boy wouldn't have wanted them to not do it just because he couldn't join them.
Harry nodded. He knew this from the books he had read and speaking to his friends.
"The actual Yule ritual is simple: tonight after the candles have burned for exactly 24 hours, we all simply add a drop of blood to the flames and ask Magic to bless and restore us, to allow us to be reborn stronger in the coming year. Then the candles are left to burn out and we have the traditional Yule feast."
Harry smiled at the easy way Sirius spoke about the ritual.
"Today is about family and spending time together. It's about remembering those who have come before us and celebrating them and our traditions. Now, normally we would all sit together and share stories - that's how I celebrated as a child. We were taught the Black legacy and what being a Black meant. And although that is important, and you do need to know it, we decided that for your first Yule we could do something else, so we came up with a better idea."
"Don't be modest, it was your idea, Siri," Remus said, smiling at his friend, proud of him and how he had matured. He was turning into a real father for the young wizard.
Sirius grinned at Remus before looking back to Harry. "I know you never had a chance to meet your parents and that your own memories of them are vague at best, so instead I thought that you like might like to visit ours. We would still be celebrating our past and this way you can see how they were growing up, and how much they loved each other and you."
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