XX
Dinner was over, the table cleared, James and Lily had rushed into the living room, pulling Ginny along with them but Albus remained seated at the table deep in thought. Harry finished the dishes, then made Ginny and himself a cup of tea, flicked his wand to send Ginny her cup and sat down opposite Albus.
"Dad?" Albus said, looking up at Harry, his hands tightly clasped together and he fixed his eyes on a candy cane floating underneath the mistletoe.
"Yes." Harry replied, smiling down at Albus' worried expression.
"Is Santa real?" Albus asked in a small sad voice.
"Of course he is. Why?" Harry replied quickly, but not too quickly.
"James told me he wasn't. He told me not to tell Lily cause it would spoil it for her, but I should know now. Is he telling the truth?" Albus said, looking into Harry's eyes, Harry could hear the desperation in Albus' voice, he didn't want it to be true.
Albus was still so young, Harry wasn't ready to shatter his belief just yet. Harry sat still for a moment thinking carefully on how to phrase his reply. He smiled at Albus who still looked fraught. He wanted an answer. He wanted to know.
"As long as you believe he is real, when you stop believing…" Harry trailed off, he didn't know how to finish and so he did it for effect. He watched as a small smile formed of Albus' face as his eyes glazed over, and he stared into the distance for a moment. The kitchen was silent except for the normal crackling of the fire and the others laughter from the living room.
"Thanks Dad, let's go play." Albus stood up walked around the table and grabbed Harry's hand when he met him, pulling him with him to the living room, wondering what Santa would bring him off his list this year.
XX