Harry Potter and the Wizard of the North

The winter sun began to set as Harry trudged through the freshly fallen snow in the front yard of the Weasley's estate. The Burrow never looked better: tall, proud, and unstable. Harry looked up at the crumbly old house and felt it to be his second home. The Dursley's house was definitely not a home. It was a prison.

"Hurry up Harry!" Ron, his best friend said from the door. "Mum thinks the snow is going to get worse!"

"I'm coming," Harry said, clutching Hedwig's cage. His trunk floated in front of him. Suddenly, Harry tripped over something, which had been hidden by the snow. Hedwig's cage opened and she screeched in discomfort. "You better not fly away or I'll never find you!" Hedwig obeyed and stayed put. The snow continued to fall gently and started to frost up Harry's glasses. Finally, he made it into the warm living room of the Burrow.

"Welcome back Harry!" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. "Where's Hermione?"

"Oh no, I forgot she was with us!" Ron said, rushing back out the door. Hermione was trudging through the snow with great difficulty, for she was trying to hold Crookshank's basket as well as drag her trunk along.

"Thanks so much for all your help," Hermione said sarcastically. Ron ran through the deep snow and attempted to help heave the heavy trunk. Mr. Weasley, who was still in the Ministry car that brought the three back from Hogwarts, disapparated to return it.

"My goodness, Hermione. What have you got in here?"

"Professor McGonagal and Professor Lupin gave us loads of homework, remember?" Hermione said.

"It's meant to be done the night before it's due," Ron grunted as they continued trudging through the snow. "Harry, give us a hand!" Harry came to the doorway and pulled out his wand from his cloak.

"Accio Trunk!" Harry unwisely cried, and the trunk immediately flew to Harry, who was knocked down by the force of the trunk and stuck underneath the wait of it. Not only that, but Ron and Hermione had neglected to let go. They lay in a heap at the doorway.

"That was smart," Hermione said getting up as the boys chuckled. Hermione pulled her trunk into the living room. "Good evening Mrs. Weasley. Thank you ever so much for having us over this Christmas."

"My pleasure dear," Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready in a few more minutes. Best be wise to get freshened up. Ginny's upstairs, fixing your bed."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said, climbing the stairway.

"Come on, Harry," Ron said. "I'll take you to our room. Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron said, floating his trunk up the steps. Harry did the same. They finally reached the very top or the stairway.

"This is weird," Harry said. "Being someplace other than Hogwarts for Christmas."

"Yeah," Ron said. "I haven't been home for Christmas in years!" The two boys dropped their things on the floor and quickly changed their snowy clothes into dry ones and joined the others for dinner. Harry found that the whole Weasley family was present: Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny.

"Nice to see you again Harry," Bill said, shaking his hand.

"Wonderful performance at the Tri-Wizard tournament last year!" Charlie said as he greeted Harry.

"Thanks," Harry said.

"Dinner is served!" Mrs. Weasley called as pots and pans and dishes floated on to the table.

"Something's different," Hermione noticed, as she looked around.

"She's right Mum," Fred said, looking at the palatable dishes and smelling the wonderful odors of the many dishes that permeated throughout the kitchen. "This can't be your cooking!"

"Oh really, Fred!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"It's not that," Ron said, noticing himself. "Does the house seem bigger to anyone else?"

"Yes!" Charlie said.

"Your father did an enlargement charm on the house," Mrs. Weasley explained. "We had a dinner party in November for his Ministry friends. This small house couldn't hold them all, so he enlarged the house. It was mighty difficult though. First he had to get permission and then fill out the right papers, all for a dinner party! Then we had to move all the things we didn't want enlarged out of the house, which was a nightmare! My wand hand still hurts from that…"

"Well the party was a complete success," Percy added. "Mr. Cornwallis was very impressed with our display. Although he is head of International Magical Cooperation, he has spent most of his time with Muggles. Knows loads about them…They have the oddest ways and customs. Do you know many Muggles feel that Father Christmas isn't even real? Honestly, if it's not backed up by science, then they won't believe it." The Weasley's all laughed at this remark.

"Wait, Father Christmas is real?" Harry and Hermione both said together.

"Yeah, you didn't know that?" Ron said in complete surprise. "He's a famous Muggle loving wizard!"

"Wait, Father Christmas is real?" Harry and Hermione both said together again.

"Weren't you listening?" Ginny said.

"Does he really have reindeer and elves and all that?" Harry asked.

"Reindeer? Elves?" George chuckled. "Wow, Muggles are stupid."

"So who is the real Father Christmas?"

"We'll visit him tomorrow after breakfast," Mrs. Weasley said. "Now finish your dinners before it gets cold."

***

"Ron," Harry said as they climbed into their beds. "Do you really know Father Christmas?"

"Yup," Ron said, yawning. "Old family friend."

"That's amazing!" Harry said. "So what's he like?"

"Well, you can say he's like Dumbledore's twin who loves children," Ron sighed. He was nearly asleep when Harry interrupted again.

"If he doesn't have reindeer, how does he fly?"

"Harry, what a stupid question. How else do we fly?" Harry didn't understand. He stared at Ron's posters of the Chudley Cannons, Ron's favorite Quidditch team, and realized what he meant.

Of Course! Harry thought. "So how'd all this stuff about reindeer come about?"

"Muggles who can't use their eyes," Ron yawned. "Harry go to sleep…" Harry couldn't go to sleep. He had too much curiosity about Santa Claus and couldn't stand to not know now.

"So he really flies to all the children's houses in one night and makes all those toys and lives in the North Pole?"

"Yes, he's the wizard of the North, where else will he live?" Ron yawned again. "Now go back to sleep because I don't know if I could…fall…back…Zzzzzzzz…"

Corny? Cheesey? Worth continuing? Opinions and comments are much appreciated! Well, thanx for reading anyway!

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