AN: YAY! 100 reviews! Thanks everyone for them! It's a very nice Christmas Eve gift! Now I have one for you! Initially, this work was supposed to end tomorrow with my favorite Christmas carol. Due to a last minute request though, I'm adding one more story in, meaning that this will go on until December 26! Hopefully not too many people will mind! Anyway, thanks again for all the reviews as well as for favoriting, putting this on alert, and reading! I appreciate it all!

Happy Christmas Eve!

I don't own Harry Potter, and no one really knows who wrote and therefore owns this song. What we do know is that I don't own it.

"Are you sure the children need to be in this madhouse?" Severus yelled over the scurrying crowds.

Hermione scooted her children into the winding line. "Of course I am! Seeing Santa is one of my favorite childhood memories! I want Clarice and Lucas to enjoy that tradition as well."

"If you say so," Severus replied. "It's going to take forever to get through this line."

"The sign says it will only take a half hour!" Clarice announced as she pointed to the white sign with holly trim.

Just as his daughter had indicated, the sign did indeed read, "30 minute wait." Severus took a deep breath as others gathered in line behind them.

Clarice began jumping up and down, then ducking from side to side in an attempt to see around the people, only to be thwarted in the end by the red velvet security rope. "What are you doing?" Severus asked.

"I'm trying to see Santa," Clarice answered.

Severus picked her up and settled her on his shoulders. She gasped in wonder. "I see him! I see him!"

Severus smiled a little as he lowered her to the ground. "Daddy! I can't wait to tell him what I want!" she began.

"What are you going to ask for?" Hermione inquired as she repositioned Lucas so he could sleep more comfortably.

"I can't tell you!" she explained. "If I do, it'll be like a birthday wish! If you tell someone your birthday wish, it won't come true."

"I see," Hermione replied.

The line inched forward. For the first time, Severus noticed the bright green carpeting under his feet. It was…jolly, a little too jolly for his taste. Obnoxiously cheerful Christmas music emanated from somewhere near the head of the line. Behind them the queue was only growing, sealing off their escape route. Snape loosened his collar, feeling decidedly claustrophobic. As they continued to wait, Clarice rattled on about her favorite Christmas carols and then about a game she and Julius had created about a month ago. Lucas continued to sleep, unperturbed by the din of the music and the surrounding people.

Finally after what felt like an eternity, the front of the line was in sight. Severus could identify the source of the cheery Christmas music-a small radio beside Santa. He could also see the outlines of Santa's red chair…or was it supposed to be a throne? It could've passed for either. Gaudy.

"Next!" a woman yelled.

Clarice ran over to the woman, who wore a short green dress and a matching hat on which were sewn two bells that jingled with each step. She faked a cheery smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"What's your name?" she began in the squeaky voice adults use when speaking to very small children.

"Clarice Snape."

Just then, Lucas began to fuss in his mother's arms. Hermione gave a shy smile as she tried to reposition him. Once she and Severus caught a whiff of the air, however, they realized the futility of the measure.

"Let's go see Santa!" the lady began as she took Clarice's hand.

"Okay!" she exclaimed.

The elf led Clarice to Santa as Hermione groaned. "Do you want me to take care of him?" Severus asked.

"No!" Hermione answered. "I want Clarice to have both of her parents there when she sees Santa."

"Why?" Snape asked. "It's not like they won't take pictures."

"It's a special moment!" Hermione argued as Lucas began to wail in her arms.

Clarice sat on Santa's lap with pride, oblivious to the growing dispute between her parents. She looked up at the old man, who wore the traditional garments and had that trademark friendly smile she'd seen so many times. He even had a twinkle in his eyes.

"Ho ho ho!" he began in a loud voice. "What do you want for Christmas?" he asked.

Clarice looked over at her parents. Hermione forced herself to smile as she tried to divert her attention away from her screaming son. Severus didn't smile, but Clarice could see the pride in his eyes. She then returned her attention to Santa. "I want a puppy and some snow!" she answered.

"Oh! Little girl! Snow may be hard to come by! After all, this is Georgia," Santa replied.

"I know," she answered. "But you're supposed to make Christmas wishes come true."

"Yes, but even Santa can't control the weather," he replied.

"I thought you were a powerful wizard," she replied.

Santa laughed again. "Even powerful wizards have trouble changing the weather. It makes muggles suspicious."

"Oh," she replied.

"Still," Santa answered, "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you!" she exclaimed before embracing him.

"Ho! Ho! Ho!" he laughed.

"Shall I take your picture?" the woman asked.

"Yes!" Clarice answered.

Hermione and Severus looked on with pride as the photo was snapped. The instant Clarice left Santa's lap, Severus took her hand and the family rushed to the bathroom to attend to Lucas' needs.

"Next!" the woman yelled behind them.

"Mummy! Daddy!" Clarice yelled.

Severus groaned as he opened a sleepy eye. "What?" he asked.

"Come see it! My Christmas wish came true!" she shouted.

"I've already seen your puppy," he answered. I've already cleaned up after it as well, he thought with distaste.

"No! My other Christmas wish!" Clarice answered.

"What would that be?" Hermione asked as she lazily leaned up on one elbow.

"Snow!" she yelled.

"Snow?" they asked, now much more awake.

"Yes!" she cheered before leaping off the bed and flying over to the window.

Her parents groggily followed. Severus pulled the curtains to the side, exposing the wintry sight. "Oh my," Hermione breathed.

"Thanks for taking me to Santa Claus! He really does make wishes come true!" Clarice bubbled as she hugged her parents.

"Indeed he does," Snape replied, reevaluating their chaotic trip to the mall. "Indeed he does."