Harry James Snape was a very happy and excited little boy. For not only was he a wizard, but he also had a new father and he was about to become a big brother in a few months, and he was going to star in the Nativity play at church as one of the shepherds. In fact he was so happy that he wasn't even sure what he was going to ask Santa for this Christmas this year.
He knew he wanted a baby brother, but there wasn't anything that Santa could do about that. For that part would be up to God. Although as he got back to the end of the line with his parents there was something that he had also wanted and he decided to bring it up with his parents. "Do you think that Santa could get me a puppy for Christmas?" he wondered as his mother and father exchanged glances with each other.
"I don't think so sweetheart." His mother told him while she glanced back down at him.
"Why not?" Harry whined.
"Because a puppy is a very big responsibility darling, and we've already got to commit to having a new baby in the house." She told him. Although Harry was certain that he could take care of it as well as help take care of his new baby brother or sister, he knew better than to argue with her. Especially since it was considered a sin, and he hated disobeying Jesus when it was so close to His birthday.
That's when all of a sudden he heard one of his favorite songs come on the radio. It was Jingle Bells by the new wizarding group The Dragons. His mother had fancied them especially the lead singer Aaron Parker and Harry really loved dancing to their music. In fact now that it was Christmas vacation his mother had scheduled to take him to their Christmas concert down at the Hightop Stadiun. When it eventually came time for his turn to sit on Santa's lap, he decided to ask him for some Power Rangers action figures and a new bicycle even though he really wished he could ask him for a puppy or even a dragon.
After they got back home Harry helped his mother bake some gingerbread cookies. After they were out of the oven and frosted and decorated, his father took him back out in the snow to play. Harry's father built a snowman while Harry laid down and made snow angels inside the fresh fallen snow, while opening his mouth and catching snowflakes on his tongue. After that they had a snowball fight before Snape pulled him around on his sled and then they went back inside the house to drink a cup of hot chocolate.
Later on that night after Harry was asleep, Snape went back out into the woods and chopped them a Christmas tree and even some firewood for their fireplace. Harry was very excited to see it the next morning and both of his parents had promised him that he could decorate it when they got back from church that afternoon. Harry put on his junior dress robes while his father put on his own dress robes and his mother put on a beautiful red Christmas dress before they got all bundled up.
Even though like Mary she was very heavy with child, Harry still thought that she looked beautiful. He also believed that even though he knew that she would love the new baby regardless of its gender, that she secretly wished that it was a girl so she could dress it up like her. Harry could hear the church bells ringing already as they started walking down the street. He loved how the chapel was decorated for Christmas.
After the priest shook their hands he offered to take their coats as they stepped inside the building. Harry's face lit up with excitement as he spotted the Christmas tree by the door. Although it was small he still thought it was beautiful. That's when all of a sudden he ran into another boy who would be playing Joseph in their Nativity play. Harry never said it aloud but he didn't like him very much. He was also very intimidating to him since he was so much taller, bigger, and older than Harry.
He had short black hair like Harry, big ears, light brown eyes, and freckles all over his cheeks. "Hullo Harry, have you been a good boy this year?" he asked him as Harry just simply narrowed his eyebrows and glared at him.
"It isn't any of your business Jacob!" he snapped.
"You better watch out, otherwise your parents won't get you anything good for Christmas this year." He said.
"Yes they will, besides Santa knows that I've been good and I'm sure that he'll give me what I asked him for." Harry told him.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" Jacob exclaimed. "Don't tell me that you actually believe in that ridiculous fairytale!" he snapped. "I never did!"
"Santa's not a fairytale, he's real." Harry told him.
"C'mon Harry think about it, an old fat guy who visits all of the children of the world in one night? It's impossible!" Jacob told him when suddenly Harry's eyes filled with tears.
"Shows what you know! You're just an old Scrooge Jacob Thomas and you're going to be on the naughty list for the rest of your life!" he told him before he turned around and ran out the door.
"Jacob!" his mother scolded. "I honestly don't understand you sometimes, Harry's just a little kid!" she told him as the boy hung his head guiltily and taking a deep breath sighed heavily.
Harry just continued running down the street all by himself. He had no idea where he was going, but he just had to find some way to prove to Jacob that Santa Claus was just as real as Jesus was. That's when all of a sudden he reached his doorstep and saw a package that one of the post office owls must have left for them.
That's when suddenly he got an idea because the box looked big enough for him to climb inside. He could mail himself to the North Pole. That would show Jacob! He decided then and there that he would become Santa's little helper. A proud grin stretched a crossed his face when he thought about how surprised he would be when he got more coal than any other boy or girl in the world.
End of Part One
