Ginny floated the last bits of tinsel to the top of tree, using her wand. She stood back and admired her handiwork with the tree, She'd done this Christmas! All the tree needed was a garden gnome for the top. The front door slammed and she heard the heavy footsteps go up the stairs and slam their bedroom door. She turned the follow the noise, following it upstairs. Al's room had the door shut. She walked up and knocked on the door. Receiving no answer she was going to turn away but hearing his sobs, she pushed the door open. He was laid out flat on his bed, face buried in his pillow.

" Al, what happened? I thought you were out playing quidditch with James and Damien." Damien was James best friend who lived down the road from them.

He didn't respond, she sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his back lightly. He shuffled to get away from her, further into the wall of his room.

"Al, I can't help if you don't tell me."

He turned and sat up, wrapping is arms around her and crying into her jumper. She stroked his hair as he calmed down so her was able to speak.

" James and Damien, they were rude to me. They called me a baby and said that I still believe in father Christmas."

She had known this day was coming. She hadn't wanted to lie to the children, but with family and friends, everybody talked about father Christmas. Al, of all her children would be the most devastated. James had somehow just known one year. She figured he'd been told by friends at school. Lilly wasn't going to care, as long as she got presents. Nothing phased her. Al, he was sensitive, he thought about things. Could she lie to him, make him still believe there was a father Christmas?

" Why did you lie to me?" he asked. His eyes as wide as saucers.

" Well, it's an important lesson to learn. People sometimes tell lies in order to make other people happy. But it wasn't a real lie, the spirit of father Christmas is still alive."

" No he's not. You're lying again. What else have you lied to me about?"

The world felt less special. Her children were growing up, very soon James would go to Hogwarts and she'd only see them on holidays. The defensive look on Al's face said a thousand things, but the main thing that stood out for her was how much like a teenager he looked, even though he was very far from being a actual teenager. Why did time have to move so fast?

" Nothing. Everybody tells children about father Christmas."

" How am I supposed to believe you? You've already lied to me once." he said.

" Are you honestly telling me you never lied? Blamed something on James? Told a white lie to get yourself out of trouble?"

His face fell. " I've done that."

" It's just the same. Except instead of helping me or blaming somebody else, it made you believe in something very special. Isn't that important?"

He shrugged. " I suppose so."

He gathered his thoughts. "Mum."

"Yes."

"What's for tea?"

That signalled this conversation was over. And they would never mention the conversation again.

" Chicken, after I've had a word with your brother."