The Potter living room looked as though it had somehow survived a major battle. Bits of paper, ribbons, and sweet wrappers blanketed the floor, and three young Potters lay somewhere in the mess. All had smiles of total contentment on their sleeping faces and the spoils of war still clutched in their hands. Harry considered them the victors.
With a yawn, he cleared some things off the sofa and dropped on it so he could watch his children a few moments before the clean up began. In his mind he replayed the enthusiasm with which James and Al had torn into their presents. Those miniature racing rooms had been a hit…even though the majority of family and friends said the boys weren't quite old enough yet. And, just as everyone had said, little Lily was more excited with the boxes than she had been with any of the treats Santa had brought. Harry smiled when he spotted the little girl, asleep near the tree with a stuffed phoenix snuggled in her arms.
Yes, it had been a wonderful morning, and Harry Potter thought to himself that he could not have been luckier.
He almost considered joining his children in a Christmas afternoon nap when his wife entered the room. Ginny had been putting the finishing touches on the pudding that her mother had finally agreed to let her make for the Christmas dinner, and she had sent Harry to wake the children and straighten the living room.
Shaking her head with amusement, Ginny walked to her husband's side. "So this is an interesting way to clean."
"I thought the troops deserved a break."
In a mock stern voice, Ginny explained, "You do realize we have to be at my parents' in two hours with three neat and presentable children, a perfect Christmas pudding, and a present for every Weasley on the planet?"
When Harry only nodded, Ginny continued. "And while we're there, our three little angels will receive even more presents, many of which will make noise or emit large puffs of smoke?"
Even though he shuddered at the memory of Uncle George's gift from last year (My First Potions Kit!), Harry nodded excitedly once more.
Ginny laughed quietly and allowed her husband to pull her onto his lap. She accused, "You love it just as much as the kids, don't you?"
His voice choked a bit with emotion when Harry replied, "Maybe even more."
Ginny touched her forehead to his and whispered, "I love you, Harry James Potter."
In that quiet moment, Harry's mind drifted to another Christmas…his first at Hogwarts. All at once, he finally understood what Dumbledore had tried to explain to him all those Christmases ago.
And Harry Potter knew that at this instant he would only see himself…just as he was…if he looked once more into that mirror.