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

Christmas Eve: Caught

Marcus felt like he was on the Sun. He frowned. Wasn't it said to not go towards the light? Well, how could he not go towards the light when it was blinding him? Something was also shaking him. Earthquake, perhaps? London had them, didn't they? He squeezed his eyes shut harder, but the shaking only increased. Man, it was a high powered earthquake.

"Marcus Flint," a girls voice said. He frowned again and squeezed his eyes shut. What was Katie doing in his dream? Was she in the earthquake too? "Marcus, wake up, we have to put out the presents." Marcus groaned and opened his eye.

There was no earthquake. Katie had been shaking him to get him to wake up because Anastasia had finally fallen asleep and it was time to put the presents out. The light had been the lamp next to the bed she'd turned on. It was Christmas Ever. Marcus glanced at the clock. Correction, it was 12:01, Christmas Day. He had to play Santa Clause, but at least he got to eat the cookies that Mrs. Weasley had put out.

Marcus rolled over and buried his face in the pillow. It was too early to get up and play Santa Clause. He didn't want to get out of bed, but Katie started shaking him again. Apparently she had other ideas. He mumbled something at her that was incoherent. She sighed.

"Marcus, if you don't get up and help me, this pregnant chick is going to have to do it all," she said. Marcus's eyes snapped open.

"Wait, back up," he said, sitting up. He looked at her. "Did you just say 'pregnant'?" He had to make sure he got this right. Surely she would have told him…right? He watched Katie bite her lip. "When did you find out?" He took her hands in his.

"A few days ago," she said. She looked up at him. "I wanted to wait and tell everyone tomorrow, but I guess saying it right now, to you, was actually the right thing to do. Mom and Dad know, but no one else does."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. She sighed and shrugged.

"I just wanted to surprise you," she said. Marcus took her in his arms.

"You did," he murmured. She wrapped her arms around him and they remained like that for a moment.

"Santa Clause, we need to get to work," Katie murmured into his shoulder eventually. He chuckled.

"Alright, Mrs. Clause," he said and pulled away.

Marcus sunk down into a chair in the living room as Katie positioned the presents to meet her expectations. He looked at the chocolate chip cookies and glass of milk on the table next to him. He reached over, after glancing towards the stairs, and took one. Mrs. Weasley was a good cook, he had to give her that.

He watched as Katie straightened up, a sleepy smile on her face as she surveyed everything. Someone had already been down her, probably Mrs. Weasley, and placed the other kids presents beneath the tree. She would have done the same for Marcus and Katie, but Katie had wanted to do it. Mrs. Weasley also appeared to think that Marcus needed to be fattened up a bit because she said he could have the cookies. He needed them, she said.

"Are you happy?" Marcus asked as he finished off the cookie. She jumped and looked at him.

"Happy?"

"With the presents. Are you satisfied with them?"

"They're only gifts, Marcus; they're going to be messed up in the morning."

"Then why were you just fussing with them?" he asked. She looked at him for a moment before shrugging.

"I don't know…just was," she said, sitting down next to him. He handed her a cookie. She smiled at him. "This is our first Christmas here. It seems…normal, you know? It feels like we've always had Christmas here and we always will. It's like we're all one big family."

"We are one big family," Marcus replied. "We're just not all related."

"I guess," she said, taking a bite of the cookie.

"Mommy…Daddy…?" a girls voice asked. Katie gave Marcus a look and jammed the cookie she had in her hand into the cushion. Marcus stood.

"What're you doing up, Ana?" he asked, glad she hadn't seen the gifts yet as he ushered her back into the hallway. She rubbed her eyes and looked up at her sleepily.

"I had a dream…a bad dream," she replied. Marcus picked her up in his arms as Katie walked over. "Why were you eating Santa's cookies?" Marcus and Katie exchanged glances.
"We weren't eating his cookies," Marcus replied.

"I saw you," she said, nestling into his arms.

"We were helping Santa," Marcus replied as he walked towards the stairs.

"Helping?" she asked as they walked up the stairs.

"Mommy and I were just trying to help Santa not get…too fat to fit down the chimney," Marcus said. Katie hid her smile from him.

"That wouldn't be good."

"No, it wouldn't," Marcus said and laid her on her bed. "Get some rest, Anastasia, it's a big day tomorrow." He tucked her in and watched her eyes close and felt Katie wrap her arms around him.

They stood there and watched her sleep. At one point, Marcus walked over to the rocking chair in the corner and sat down in it, pulling Katie on his lap. They watched Ana sleep peacefully, looking innocent. Marcus didn't believe that she was innocent, though. She was a little terror. He still loved her, though. There was nothing that could make him not love her.

Marcus yawned and felt Katie relax as she rested her head against his chest. The room was silent except for the ticking off the clock on the wall. He felt at rest that night.

"Merry Christmas, Marcus," Katie murmured sleepily. Marcus stroked her hair.

"Merry Christmas, Katie," he said right before she fell asleep.