"Blaine. Love, wake up. Come on, honey, wake up."

"Mmhmmph."

"No rolling over. Its Christmas Eve, and that means—"

Blaine bolted upright in his bed. "Shopping?"

His mother grinned at him from beside his bed. "Yes, same thing every year. Get dressed. Shops open at seven."

His mother brushed his hair off his forehead, kissed it, and left. Blaine glanced around his bedroom as he pushed his blankets off himself. It was chilly. The sun wasnt even up yet, but the sky outside his room was turning from inky black to a hazy purple. Everything was neat and orderly from his wardrobe to his bookcases and his Hogwarts trunk at the foot of his bed.

Blaine dressed quickly and hurried down to breakfast. The sky was a little lighter from the kitchen window and his mother was dressed and ready.

"Here, some eggs and toast."

He took a seat at the table with her and dug in. "So where are we going this year? Oh, can we do New York City? That was so much fun and—"

"Sorry, Londons on the agenda this year," Marcia said. "Were got a new broomstick to buy for my beautiful baby boy."

Marcia leaned over and pecked his cheek and Blaine scrunched his face up. She was a tall woman, just shy of Blaines current height, with a sharp jaw line and dark curls like her sons.

"Aw, Mama, Im sixteen."

"But youll always be my littlest baby. Hurry up. The shops await and weve got so much more than a broomstick to buy. Ive already put in the order with Mr. Hummel and—"

"W-were going to Kurts dads shop?"

Blaine dropped eggs all over his lap and choked on the ones in his mouth. Marcia perked up at his reaction.

"Oh, Kurt? Burts son? Oh, my babys got a crush?"

"No! No, were—Kurts just a friend."

Marcia smiled gently as she finished her toast. She didnt say anything else, but really, she didnt have to. Blaine had watched her give Cooper that look a hundred times on his visits home when hed been at Hogwarts.

"Yes, well be stopping by to visit your friend. This afternoon, I expect. Weve got a few new outfits to purchase and music store stop in Muggle London. Thats your fathers gift. You know how my music man is."

"Ma—"

"Oh, hush, youre my music man, too." She smiled and fixed a curl hanging down toward his eyebrows. "A haircut might be in order too. Unless youre growing it out again."

"But Dad bought me a new guitar last year," Blaine said. He scooped up his last piece of toast and grabbed his cloak from the hook by the door. "I mean, I love it too, but—"

"Not a guitar. Youll see. He made it himself, besides the paint and strings. So haircut?"

Blaine nodded as the same rebel curl dipped back into his vision. It wasnt that long compared to how hed worn it last year, but it was much longer than when hed left for school in September.

Marcia grabbed her own cloak and scarf. She handed Blaine his—black and yellow, from his Hogwarts clothing—and hooked her arm through his. "Well pop into the Leaky Cauldron and hit the streets of Muggle London first."

"Okay."

They stepped onto the back steps, and Blaine had a brief glimpse of Godrics Hollow at sunrise before it disappeared into a swirl of sound and color. Blaines feet stumbled on the top step of the Leaky Cauldron as they reappeared. Marcia caught him by the arm and steadied him.

"Ready, love?"

"For shopping with you? Always."

They spent all morning wandering the streets of London and hopping off and on the Underground. Blaine got his haircut first. They bought bow ties and dresses, new books of romance and adventures, and a new laptop for Blaine, though he knew hed rarely use it until the summer. His parents had always made sure he was well-versed in the Muggle world. His father had been not so secretly hoping hed follow a path toward music and performance beyond Hogwarts. Blaine didnt expect he would though. Quidditch seemed like an ideal career, at least for a little while.

As they turned to head for Diagon Alley at midday, Marcia led him to one final stop before they left the Muggle world. A small music shop was set on the corner of the same street as the Leaky Cauldron. Marcia headed right to the counter and the woman working recognized her immediately.

"Oh, hello Marcia, finally here to pick up. This must be Blaine!"

She smiled at Blaine and offered her hand to shake. Blaine took it and a moment later a violin case was set in his arms. Marcia thanked the woman and paid as Blaine popped it open. The violin was beautiful. A warm cherry, the strings freshly tuned, the bow exquisite in design. Blaine traced a delicate finger over it as Marcia led him back to the street.

"Well? I know its a day early, but they arent open tomorrow and I just know Dad will want to play with you this evening after dinner."

"I-its beautiful. I cant believe—this is too much. And then a broom—Mama, this is more than—"

"Now, now. You love Quidditch as dearly as music. And have just as much talent, if not more. Cant we both buy your affections by capitalizing on your wonderful talents?"

"I love this, I do, but—Mama, I dont need all of this. I have so much already and—"

"And youve outgrown your broom and your old violin, honey. We can afford to buy both, so we are."

"I—thank you. Really. This is too much."

"Come. Time for lunch and then magic!"

Marcia grinned as she led the way and Blaine couldnt help but laugh at his mothers enthusiasm. She always treated Diagon Alley like an adventure. They ate lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, and Blaine ran into a few friends as they made their rounds to all the shops. By early afternoon, when Blaine could think of little else except seeing Kurt, Marcia bought them ice cream at Florean Fortescues and made him sit.

"Youve had moony eyes ever since I mentioned where we were going this morning," Marcia said. "So you and Kurt, youve never spoken of him before now."

"Well, weve never really—were N.E.W.T. students now. Everyones got different schedules and Kurts in almost all of my classes. He even tried out for the Slytherin Quidditch team."

"Oh, a rivalry. Sounds like a wonderful little love story you two are cooking up."

"Mama!"

"Aw, youre blushing, honey." Marcia laughed as Blaine ducked his head. "Dont be so shy. Hes a lovely boy, the way Burt speaks of him. Come on, lets get moving before they close shop and you ruin Christmas by mooning over him until you go back to school."

"But—Im not—"

Marcia led him away, just as she had all day. Blaines face filled with warmth as the shop came into sight. Hummels Quidditch Supplies. An array of bludgers and quaffles lined the front window, along with the latest in their line of broomsticks. Would Kurt be working? Surely he must. It was Christmas Eve, one of the busiest days of the year.

He glanced in through the window and just had time to spot Kurts coiffed hair before his mother dragged him inside. The last time hed seen Kurt, hed kiss him. Kissed him and then booked it down the corridor.

"Hello, Hummels!"

Marcia swooped in with all her usual grace and joy. Blaine followed in her wake. Kurt looked up and smiled—a pretend strained one, for the customers—and then he spotted Blaine. His little smile blossomed into an enormous grin that lit up his face.

"Blaine! I didnt expect to see you until after the holidays."

"Oh, well, Mama decided to stop by before Christmas. For my broomstick."

Blaine flushed as he caught his mothers eyes. Part of him had hoped shed never get to give him that same teasing look shed reserve solely for Coopers teenage years. But now, with Kurt right in front of him, he was almost glad. Theyd kissed. Kurt must like him—he was blushing too—but they hadnt spoken since the library.

"Is your father here, Kurt?"

"Hes in the back. Hold on—Dad! Dad, Mrs. Andersons here for her order!"

Burt Hummel lumbered out from a door behind the counter. He didnt wear robes like every other shop owner in Diagon Alley, but he had a wizards hat and a tool belt. Blaine smiled at him as he greeted Marcia.

"Marcia, its been a while. Ive got it just here in the back and—well, well, the youngest Anderson. Look at you, Blaine. Must have grown a foot since I saw you last. No wonder youre in need of a new broomstick."

"Hello, sir."

"Good to see you, kid. Kurt, go flip the door sign. Were pretty much done for the day anyway. Marcia, right back here…"

Blaine planted himself at the counter as Kurt hurried to the shop door. Marcia winked at Blaine before following Burt into the backroom. Kurt flipped over the open sign and turned back to Blaine. He was biting his lip.

"So, having a good holiday so far?"

"Oh, yeah, its been…relaxing. Cant say I miss the workload were getting this year."

Kurt nodded and took a long walk around Blaine until he was behind the counter. Was he avoiding Blaine? Or scared? He was more nervous than Blaine had ever seen him.

"Have you finished that Charms essay for Professor Pillsbury? I cant keep any of the forms and implementations straight. Charming Gobstones was so much easier than Wizards chess sets. All of mine keep speaking in Gaelic."

Blaine laughed. "I cant get mine to just slid across the board. They all hop or dance to the next space. Its a nightmare. I get the theory, but in practice… Im no charmer. Not by a long shot."

"Youre very charming."

They both blushed. Blaine ducked his head.

Kurt swallowed and busied himself with the bludger that was resting on the counter. It was clearly inactive, or at least hadnt been charmed yet. As Kurt worked, Blaine watched him. He was unlike himself. His teeth gritted, his shoulders tense.

"Are you okay?"

Kurt jerked his head and glanced up for only a second.

"Because youre only acting like your terrified of me. Is this about when I k—"

"No! I mean, Ive got to get this gone and, um… it was nice. When you—when we—"

Marcias heels clicked loudly on the floor. "Thank you so much, Burt. This really is lovely. I cant wait for him to try it out—"

"Wait, I forgot the certificate. Its just in the desk."

Blaine glanced at the door to the backroom and then at Kurt. He should ask him. Theyd kissed after all, and Kurt had agreed it was nice, so—

"Do you want to get ice cream? O-or dinner? Maybe?"

"I—Dad needs me at the shop, but—I mean—"

Marcia and Burt reappeared. As Burt rung up the order, Marcia called Blaine over to examine his new broomstick. It was wonderful, of course. Everything the Hummels made was, but he couldnt bring himself to say much or smile too wide. Marcia noticed, and Burt frowned at him over the counter.

"Color not your liking? I can change it to black or a lighter brown."

"No, no. Its perfect. Its really—great. Thank you. Really."

Blaine watched Kurt for a moment and missed the look Burt and Marcia exchanged.

"Well, Happy Christmas, kid. You too Marcia."

"Happy Christmas, Burt, Kurt."

Marcia set the new broomstick into the box on the counter, let Burt wrap it, and led Blaine out. They turned off the side street of the alley and onto the main cobblestone street toward the Leaky Cauldron.

"Something happen?"

Blaine shook his head. He felt… funny. Almost defeated in a way. Did Kurt not want to date him? Hed liked their kiss, but he—maybe he didnt want to date. Maybe Kurt didnt want any sort of attachment to him after all. Maybe, like with his admirer, hed psyched himself up in his head until he hurt himself even more.

"I—we kissed at school. Last week. And I thought—I dont know."

Marcia frowned and jostled her bags until her arm was around his shoulders.

"Well hes a foolish little boy if he cant see the joy in you, love. Nobody will ever be good enough for my baby boys. Neither of you."

But, to Blaine, that wasnt true. Kurt had been good enough—still was fantastic enough to try for.

Kurt watched the door of the shop swing shut. It clanged, echoed right around the suddenly quiet shop, and Kurt glanced around as if he could follow its ringing until he met his dads eyes.

"Wanna tell me what that was about?"

Kurt went back to working on their last bludger of the evening. He couldnt charm it yet of course—still wasnt allowed to use magic outside of school—but he could make it perfect for Mariann when she came back to work on Boxing Day.

"Kurt."

His dads bear hand closed over his as he fumbled with the polish. Slowly, Kurt met his eyes.

"What?"

"Dont what me, kid. That boy is always lit up like a firecracker whenever I see him, was when we went to the back and then…"

Burt gave a little gruff nod that meant only one thing: explain. Kurt let go on his rag and wiped his hands on his work robes.

"H-he—we—its never going to work!"

The words burst out of Kurt before he could stop himself. Burt only appeared mildly puzzled. He pulled up a work stool and forced Kurt to sit with him.

"Whats not going to work? Because I can tell what those smiles meant when he walked through that door. You like each other. Why deny it?"

"Im not. I just—we cant—everyone at school will make fun of us."

"Fun of you?" And Burt was suddenly stern. "Because youre both boys? Ill march myself right up to that school and—"

"No, Dad, its not that. They dont care about… that. Hes—and Im—our houses, I mean, I dont know…"

"What? Because youre a Slytherin and hes not?"

Kurt nodded, but that was only part of it. Everything went so much deeper because of what hed done.

Burt sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. He scooped up the bludger and examined it for a few moments.

"Kurt, houses dont mean anything besides what dormitory you sleep in."

"Yes, they do. If we date Ill lose all my friends and probably my Quidditch spot even though Sebastian hates Rachel and—"

Burt grunted and waved an impatient hand. He tossed the bludger into the air a few times and then to Kurt. "Youre getting really great at designing these."

Kurt rolled it between his hands. "Thanks."

"Look, I cant force you to date Blaine. Hell, I cant tell you who to be friends with either, but those kids youre hanging with sound lousy. Blaines a great kid. Marcia never shuts up about him when she stops in, and I think youll be real sore if you miss out on this chance."

"I know that, but I just—Dad, I cant handle all of what theyll say and do. Im not you."

Kurt winced a little as his dad leaned back. Burt didnt care to be reminded of the hardships hed had over the years. Of the vandalism to the shop since hed taken over or the snide remarks from some customers because he was a Squib. Ever since Kurt was little he could recall those tense moments when hed looked up to find his mother with her wand drawn and Burt talking her down until whoever it was left. Yet Burt never got angry, never jumped at people or retaliated. He endured and Kurt could only watch.

"No, youre not. Youre only yourself, Kurt. And you should be around others who love you the most when you are." Burt removed his hat and pulled something out of it.

"If thats a rabbit—"

But it was a picture. Small and square with three Hogwarts aged kids beaming up at him. Two wore robes, one a Ravenclaws, the other Gryffindor. The third, a boy, wore muggle clothes.

"You remember before your first year, how I wouldnt tell you what house your mom was in?"

Kurt nodded as he examined the picture. Uncle Arthur in Ravenclaw robes and a head shorter than the other two. The other, older boy was his dad, and the girl—

"Is that Mom?"

"Mhmm."

A welt of disappointment filled Kurt. A Gryffindor. Hed wanted so much to follow her path, to be in her house and be just like her during her Hogwarts days. Instead he was her enemy. Hed disappointed her even when she wasnt alive.

"You are not a disappointment to her. Or to me."

"Why didnt you tell me?"

"Because I wanted you to follow your path and go where was best for you. Thats what your mom wanted, too. She would be proud of you no matter what house you were in, Kurt. No matter what school you went to or whether or not you had an ounce of magic inside you."

"But Slytherin is—"

"Where you belong. The hat decided that because of whats inside you and that doesnt make you bad or evil or anything else youre cooking up in that head of yours. You are wonderful, and Ill tell you a secret your mom got well before she was your age."

"What?"

"Houses are only for a short time." Burt smiled at Kurts scoff. "What? You think she only hung out with other Gryffindors after she graduated? Or could only work in places and offices where it was just Gryffindors? In a few years, youre going to leave school and leave all of these rivalries behind because they dont matter. What house you were in is going to be as insignificant as what socks you wore last Christmas. Dont let something meaningless dominate your life or stop you from doing what you want, Kurt."

Kurt stared down at the three little faces still smiling up at him.

"Thanks, Dad. But I—"

"Nope. Get going. The shops closed and youve got somewhere to be. If you hurry he might still be in the alley."

"But—"

Kurt bit his tongue then. His dad was so sure of him that he couldnt admit the truth. How disappointed would Burt be if he confessed how much hed hurt Blaine already?

"Come on. Get going."

Burt pulled him to his feet and Kurt went, took the scarf and cloak thrust into his hands and shuffled out into the snowy alley. It couldnt hurt to find him, to accept what Blaine had already asked, and then finally confess what hed done, could it? And his dad was right. He always was. Slytherin, Hufflepuff, none of that would matter before long. Yet hed let the fear of it worm its way into him until hed made this mess. Now was the time to fix it.

Kurt hurried through the mostly empty alley. A few last minute shoppers, several shop keepers cleaning up for the holiday, and finally, at the steps to the Leaky Cauldron, Kurt spotted two heads of dark curls flecked with snow.

"Blaine! Blaine, wait!"

Marcia Anderson turned first. She smiled when she spotted Kurt and tapped Blaine on the shoulder. Blaine spun around and his face lit up. He left his mother on the steps and hurried down to meet Kurt.

"Hey."

"Hi."

Kurt bit his lip, glanced at Blaines mother a few feet away, and took a deep breath.

"Does that offer of ice cream still stand? Or maybe we could do hot chocolate instead," Kurt said. "Its really cold. Theres this little shop next to ours that—"

Blaine grabbed his hand and squeezed. "Yeah, sure. Mom, I—"

Marcia took the violin case from his free hand and kissed his cheek. "Go on, love. Be back before ten, okay? Have fun, boys."

She went into the Leaky Cauldron and Kurt and Blaine were left standing together in the alley alone. In the distance, Kurt spotted two people hurry into a shop as the snow drifted down around them, but this was nice. Quiet, secluded. Nobody from school was here at least.

"I thought you had to work?"

"Dad, um, let me go early. Kind of shoved me out the door actually."

Blaine grinned as Kurt met his eyes, swung their hands between their sides. "Im glad. So hot chocolate?"

Kurt nodded. They began to walk and Blaine inched close, so close that after a few paces he turned and gave Kurt a warm kiss on the cheek.

"I really like you, Kurt."

"I-I really like you too."

Kurt swallowed as Blaine tentatively rested his head on his shoulder. This was a beautiful moment. The best of his life maybe, but it was all ruined before it started. Today with Blaine would undoubtedly be his last.