Christmas at the Potters
A white blanket of snow, with a fresh powder covering, lay on the hillsides outside the little village of Godrics Hollow. The picturesque village, birth place of Godric Gryffindor and home of the late James and Lily Potter, still lay in darkness, it's occupant stirring as the sun rose over the horizon, signalling the new day. In a stone-washed house on the outskirts of town, invisible to muggles, a man with jet-black hair which could never quite stay in place was waking up. As he reached for his round glasses, he could make out the outline of his four year old son, James Sirius, standing in the doorway, his Golden Snitch soft toy grasped tightly in hiss hand. Harry goy up and crossed the main bedroom in three strides to scoop up James before he woke Ginny, his red-haired wife who still lay asleep in their bed, having been woken up by their youngest child Lily Luna, many times the previous night.
Harry could feel James' excitement as he set him down back in his bedroom, he was grinning from ear to ear and reminding Harry that it was in fact, Christmas Day. Harry went to wake Albus Severus, his three year old son and met Ginny in the small hallway, who was cradling Lily. Together, the five Potters climbed down the stairs and the sitting room, which was now well-lit as the sun had risen. The Christmas tree sat in the corner, adorned with tinsel, fairy lights and baubles in every colour imaginable. Ginny sat with Lily on the red and white striped couch, Lily, at only ten months old, not too interested in the presents. James and Albus rushed to the piles of presents lying under the tree, beautifully wrapped in gold and scarlet paper, the Gryffindor colours. Soon after the presents were open, the fighting began. James claimed that Albus had stolen something or other from his Weasley Wizard Wheezes gift basket, which he had received from George and Angelina. In return, Albus insisted that it was false and that James had ripped his Chudley Cannons Quidditch poster.
All the family quit their squabbling when they sat down for the delicious dinner Ginny had prepared. The table was under strain at the amount of food was laid out, it could in fact rival that of the Hogwarts feast. Dinner finished, the family went for a stroll around the hills surrounding Godrics Hollow. James and Albus threw snowballs and built snowmen while Ginny walked Lily in her stroller. They returned to the house, damp and cold, desperately in need of some Hot Chocolate. That evening, after a tea of turkey sandwiches and leftovers, the five Potters settled down in their sitting room, the fire roaring in the fireplace providing light and heat. All of them laughed and talked and were deliciously happy.
