Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Merry Christmas

Marcus sat in the kitchen of Number Twelve on Christmas Eve with Katie on his right. He watched Anastasia and the other Order member's kids play in the corner by the Christmas tree. He looked across the table at his parents, at the gray streaking their hair and the wrinkles starting to form on their faces. He wondered why time had to pass so fast.

It seemed as though it was only a day or so ago when he left his parents home when he turned of age. They hadn't had gray in their hair or wrinkles or looked as tired as they did. They'd been in their forties and not in the early fifties. He couldn't believe that Anastasia was already five, he'd been married to Katie for six years, or that he was where he was now.

Where was he now? He didn't really know. He was playing Quidditch and would retire in three years from that. He had a beautiful wife and daughter. He had his family, his parents and his brothers and sisters. Well, all of them except for Jonathon. Marcus wasn't even sure if he could trust most of his other siblings. Only three out of ten were there.

"Marcus," Katie said, nudging him with her elbow. "Your mom's talking to you." Marcus snapped out of his daze and looked at his mom.

"Huh?" he asked.

"I was asking how you two were settling into your new home. You liking Falmouth?" Elizabeth asked. Marcus shrugged.

"It's pretty good," he said, not really knowing how to say how it felt. He missed having a huge yard, but he did have a big yard…it was just all downhill with a pond at the bottom of it.

"The community's good?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Decent except for one neighbor," he said. The Dursley's kept giving him a hard time. All the time.

"You'll have that," his mom said, standing to get a new cup of coffee. Marcus felt his dad's eyes on him, but he kept his eyes focused on Anastasia, who was now playing the role of a mother with her children.

"Why does she always say that?" Marcus murmured, looking at Katie. She smiled at her.

"Because she's your mom," she said, taking his hand. He rolled his eyes and looked down at his phone, quickly replying to Adrian and feeling Katie's disapproving look.

"What?" he asked innocently, looking at her.

"You're good, Marcus, and he's not. You shouldn't be talking to him. He's bad news," Katie said under her breath.

"It's Christmas Eve, Katie, cut him some slack," Marcus replied. Katie shrugged and looked down.

"When's Harry coming?" Elizabeth asked, standing by the stove. Mrs. Weasley looked up.

"Oh, I don't know if he'll be here tonight. He will be tomorrow," she replied.

Marcus stood and walked over to Anastasia and leaned against the wall as he watched her play, wishing that everything was as simple as they had it. Sure, his parents and brothers were joking around, everyone was in good spirits, but Marcus had one wish: that things would be as simple as they used to be.

He knew that this would never happen, seeing as though life went on and things could never go back to the things they used to be, but he still wished. You were allowed to wish. Wishing isn't against the law or anything. Sometimes, though, you would be disappointed by not having your wish come true, but you can't give up. That's all there is to it.

"Daddy," Anastasia said, her green eyes having a sleepy look in them. Marcus looked at her. "I'm sleepy."

"Being a mother's hard work, isn't it, Ana?" Katie asked, walking over. Anastasia smiled at her and held her arms up to Marcus to be picked up. He smiled at her and pulled her into his arms and straightening up.

"Tomorrow Santa comes?" Anastasia asked sleepily. Katie and Marcus smiled softly at her.

"Tomorrow, Santa comes," Katie said.

"Actually, tomorrow's only a couple of hours away, so if you want Santa to visit, then you'd better get to bed and fall asleep fast. He won't come if you're awake," Marcus told her. Her sleepy eyes widened slightly and she squirmed in his arms.

"Santa comes for all good little boys and girls if they're good, rather or not you're awake or asleep," Katie said, smiling at Ana and then at Marcus. He transferred Ana to his wife and they turned.

"I'll be asleep," Anastasia said, rubbing her eyes.

"I'm sure you will be," Marcus said. She smiled at him as they walked up the stairs.

Marcus laid down on the bed at midnight after helping the others put out the gifts for the kids. He ran a hand through his hair as he watched Katie walk in and sit down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest, kissing the top of her head.

"Merry Christmas, Flint," Katie murmured. He smiled against her hair.

"Merry Christmas, Bell," he said. She turned and smiled at him.

"I love you," she said, touching the side of his cheek.

"Love you too," he said, kissing her softly.

"Tomorrows Christmas already," she said, sighing. Marcus sighed and rolled over onto his back. He rested his hands on his chest.

"Yeah. I can't believe it. Ever since Ana was born…it's just gone by so fast," he said, shaking his head. She rested her head on his chest.

"Just enjoy it, Marcus, while we can," she said, closing her eyes. Marcus lay there, wondering what she meant by that.