Summary: The reason Harry believes in Santa.
Warning: Skims over child abuse.
Chapter 2
"Hey, hey, what did you wish for Christmas?"
"I wished for a huge teddy bear."
"Roller blades!"
"Storybooks are way more awesome than that."
"Stupid! Don't you know you are not supposed to say your wishes out loud? They don't come true then."
Dull green eyes looked at the horrified group of children. Soon after, they all started denying that they didn't actually say their wishes out loud, it was just to throw the others off-track. The messy, raven-haired boy knew they were lying. As they all did.
Santa Claus was not real. He never, ever heard the wishes of any children.
If he did, Harry would have had a family.
Harry knew he wasn't a naughty child, per se, even if his aunt and teachers and classmates believed so. He did everything that was asked of him, he worked hard, he never harmed anyone- that should pretty much keep him out of the Naughty List of Santa.
Sure, he may have stolen a bit of Dudley's chocolate one night, but that was because he was hungry! He hadn't eaten since morning that day! And he needed a bit of energy to work the next day.
When the shears fell from his hands and hurt his toes and flattened some of Aunt Petunia's grass- he had tried, but it was just so heavy! He had managed to completely clean the lawn that day, so it should be forgiven, right?
OK, so maybe he had done some stuffs that wasn't completely deserving to go on the Nice list, but surely Santa was kind enough to average it out? Either the people made him out to be kinder and more benevolent than he actually was-
-Or he didn't exist.
Harry dearly wished for a family.
He knew the other children will laugh at him- "You already have a family, stupid!"- so he never said it out loud. But he knew, they were not his family. It was first made clear to him the day they threw his drawing of their family, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, Dudley and had dared to insert himself in that picture- it was for a school project. They had made it quite clear that he was just an orphan and a parasite. And that, they definitely did not classify as family.
He dearly wished for a home, not a place to stay, but home. Where everything was warm and people actually loved you and praised you, like those he saw in the TV. He wanted a proper mother and father, of whom he didn't have to feel ashamed of and who would take him to park and cook yummy treats for him and-
Harry discreetly wiped a tear as he packed his bag.
Even knowing that Santa was not real, he still wished, every year.
"Papa, what do you wish for in Christmas?"
Bright green eyes looked up from his book, startled.
That was a familiar question. Harry smiled at his little angel, who was holding a small fluffy blanket and rubbing her eyes with the free hand. At his beckoning, she came forward and jumped on the sofa, snuggling by his side.
"Why do you ask?"
His question was countered by, "Is Santa real?"
He waited a few moments before answering.
"Yes, he is, Lils."
She looked up at him, her face scrunched up. "Then what did you wish for?"
"Dad, you're back!"
"Daddy!"
Harry let out a small grunt as his other two adorable little devils jumped on him like a cushion. It immediately began a fierce fight between the three regarding who he loved best.
"Children! It's way past your bedtime!" Admonished Ginny.
They gave identical whines which did nothing to change her mind.
"How about I tuck you all in?" proposed Harry, ever the peacemaker.
"It's nothing, Lils," whispered Harry as he put his youngest to bed.
She sleepily looked up at him, "Nothing what, Papa?"
"I don't wish for anything in Christmas. Not anymore," Harry clarified.
"Why not?"
Harry kissed her forehead. "Good night, Lil-bear."
She was already out.
Harry checked the rooms of each of the three mini-ruffians again and relaxed as he felt Ginny's fingers entwine with his.
He smiled.
Santa was real. A little slow, but real.
He got everything he had ever wished for.
Category: Drabble.
Year: 4
House: Slytherin
Round 10.
Theme: family
Additional: a sad emotion
Word count: 733
Beta: DaronwyK