Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Door #12
I shouldn't have felt like an intruder.
I stood in the doorway watching them as they decorated the tree together, the light from the fire playing over smiling faces. I heard the low murmur of the two adults as they shared confidences with each other, along with the giggle of the child and it made my heart wrench.
"Draco? Are you all right?" I realised that my presence had been noticed.
"Dwaco, come help!" A small weight hurled itself at me and then atiny hand slipped into mine.
"I didn't want to interrupt," I admitted, joining them in the room. "You looked so - happy."
There was a tug on my trousers and I looked down into a face filled with impatience. "Dwaco, this is for you to hang." A guady bauble was pushed into my hand and I was directed as to the correct location on the tree for it.
Before long, the tree was finally decorated. I eased myself into an armchair and my lap was rapidly claimed by our diminutive boss. "Mummy, turn the lights on!" Mummy did as she was bid and we all oohed in satisfaction. "It's so pwetty," the child sighed in delight and the adults agreed.
I hugged the child close to me, enjoying the feeling of her soft body in my arms and she beamed up at me. This was not my house, it was not even my rightful place, yet here I felt at peace and as though I belonged. I finally realised there were two sorts of families: that which you were born into and that which you choose to belong to, and the second was no less important despite its lack of blood ties.
This was the family I chose. This was my home.