I looked into the bayberry candle sitting on the end table. It's orange and rose-colored flame flickered high, then low, then in middle. It seemed to show shapes that I just couldn't make out.
Much like my memories of Christmas with my family.
You see, I'm Harry Potter. The famous Boy Who Lived. The One With The Scar. The Boy Who Defeated Voldemort. But none of that would have been true if it had not been for my mother, the heroine. She refused to give me up to Voldemort and died for me. Her protection - her love - resides in the skin on my body. My dad died, too. I was a year old.
I was about five months old when my first Christmas rolled around. I don't remember any of it; only what people have told me. Hagrid once said that I was thoroughly spoiled. That would be the last Christmas I would be spoiled until my first year at Hogwarts.
*****
Flashback: Harry's First Christmas
-
"Harry! Look! A present from Santa!" Lily Potter held the darling baby Harry on her lap, jouncing him up and down on her knee. "My, what a bunch of presents you have!" Harry giggled and snatched at the bright red bow.
James laughed. "Santa went all out, didn't he?"
Lily gave him a look. "Of course Santa did. It's Harry's first Christmas." She helped Harry open his package. "Look! A Baby's First Christmas ornament. And in a snowflake too!" Lily loved snowflakes, and had decorated the entire tree in them. "We'll cherish that," she said, hanging it on a branch.
It truly was a magnificent tree. Silver, magical icicles hung from every branch. Small candles lit the tree, enchanted to not burn anything but the candle itself. A silver star adorned the tip-top.
Lily hugged her precious little baby. "Someday, when you're grown up, you'll see a snowflake tree and think of me." She kissed baby Harry on the cheek, and he smiled and giggled.
-----
Harry walked into the Great Hall, watching Professor Flitwick as he decorated a tree in the corner. The professor was enchanting candles and guiding them with his wand to the branch they would perch on. Harry smiled as the professor busily decorated the fir.
" 'Oi, Harry! Got summat fer ya here."
Harry turned. It was Hagrid coming towards him, carrying a small package wrapped in brown paper. Hagrid gave him a small smile.
"An ol' friend o' mine was out at Godric's Hollow the oth'r day, and went by the ruins of yer old home. He found this in the rubble an' thought ye might want it."
"What is it?" asked Harry as he accepted the package.
"I don't know, jest open the thing!" Hagrid leaned over his shoulder to see.
Harry tore off the paper that was wrapping it, and felt something cool to the touch, like porcelain. He lifted it out of the wrapping.
It was a snowflake, perfect and white. In small silver lettering, it had HARRY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS. And then, he heard a voice.
*Someday, when you're grown up, you'll see a snowflake tree and think of me.*
"Yes," Harry said, smiling.
"What?" asked Hagrid. "Who said something?"
Harry grinned, his fingers tight around the ornament. "I think I know who."
-
A/N: Happy Christmas to all!
Remember the real reason for the season!
Love, Alicia
Much like my memories of Christmas with my family.
You see, I'm Harry Potter. The famous Boy Who Lived. The One With The Scar. The Boy Who Defeated Voldemort. But none of that would have been true if it had not been for my mother, the heroine. She refused to give me up to Voldemort and died for me. Her protection - her love - resides in the skin on my body. My dad died, too. I was a year old.
I was about five months old when my first Christmas rolled around. I don't remember any of it; only what people have told me. Hagrid once said that I was thoroughly spoiled. That would be the last Christmas I would be spoiled until my first year at Hogwarts.
*****
Flashback: Harry's First Christmas
-
"Harry! Look! A present from Santa!" Lily Potter held the darling baby Harry on her lap, jouncing him up and down on her knee. "My, what a bunch of presents you have!" Harry giggled and snatched at the bright red bow.
James laughed. "Santa went all out, didn't he?"
Lily gave him a look. "Of course Santa did. It's Harry's first Christmas." She helped Harry open his package. "Look! A Baby's First Christmas ornament. And in a snowflake too!" Lily loved snowflakes, and had decorated the entire tree in them. "We'll cherish that," she said, hanging it on a branch.
It truly was a magnificent tree. Silver, magical icicles hung from every branch. Small candles lit the tree, enchanted to not burn anything but the candle itself. A silver star adorned the tip-top.
Lily hugged her precious little baby. "Someday, when you're grown up, you'll see a snowflake tree and think of me." She kissed baby Harry on the cheek, and he smiled and giggled.
-----
Harry walked into the Great Hall, watching Professor Flitwick as he decorated a tree in the corner. The professor was enchanting candles and guiding them with his wand to the branch they would perch on. Harry smiled as the professor busily decorated the fir.
" 'Oi, Harry! Got summat fer ya here."
Harry turned. It was Hagrid coming towards him, carrying a small package wrapped in brown paper. Hagrid gave him a small smile.
"An ol' friend o' mine was out at Godric's Hollow the oth'r day, and went by the ruins of yer old home. He found this in the rubble an' thought ye might want it."
"What is it?" asked Harry as he accepted the package.
"I don't know, jest open the thing!" Hagrid leaned over his shoulder to see.
Harry tore off the paper that was wrapping it, and felt something cool to the touch, like porcelain. He lifted it out of the wrapping.
It was a snowflake, perfect and white. In small silver lettering, it had HARRY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS. And then, he heard a voice.
*Someday, when you're grown up, you'll see a snowflake tree and think of me.*
"Yes," Harry said, smiling.
"What?" asked Hagrid. "Who said something?"
Harry grinned, his fingers tight around the ornament. "I think I know who."
-
A/N: Happy Christmas to all!
Remember the real reason for the season!
Love, Alicia