Murder, Magic and Muffins

by drwhogirl

It was the 31st October 1981, one night in history when dark deeds that no one could prevent would cause lives to be lost. Lives whose loss would affect the future of one small child whose name was... Harry. (this is a collaborative piece that I wrote with a friend and I also want to say that we own absolutely nothing! Rise of the guardians, Professionals, Harry Potter crossover)

9. Epilogue

Christmas 2013

Imagine your perfect Christmas scene: a roaring fire; a thick blanket of snow outside; a twinkling Christmas tree dripping in jewel like decorations; fairy lights; a table groaning full of food and a family sat contentedly watching the Dr Who Christmas special on the TV.

Bored with the television Jack Frost was busily entertaining or, perhaps, irritating the family members by creating snow-works and sending them up to the ceiling in a brilliant white display.

Ginny nudged Harry with her toe, implying that she wanted him to pass her the plate of mince pies from the side table. Fascinated by the Weeping Angels Harry ignored his wife but Teddy noticed what Ginny wanted and made the plate levitate across to her.

Ginny plucked the plate from the air and took a bite of mince pie. "Don't do magic outside of school, Teddy, dear," she admonished, through a mouthful of pastry.

The children, James, Lily and Albus, were captivated by Jack's magical and creative display and lay on their backs to get the full effect.

"When's Leo getting here?" asked Teddy.

"Uncle Bodie and Auntie Annie are coming over with Leo and Andrew later," replied Ginny.

"And Ray?"

"Yes, dear. And Ray."

Jack paused his snow-works for a moment, turning away from the un-natural, to him, warmth of the fire. He caught the eye of the last member of the family group from where he was sat in the corner, relaxing back in a soft comfortable armchair, his feet up on a coffee table that was covered in toys and food. Sirius smiled back at Jack, encouraging him to walk across the room to join him.

"Okay?" asked Jack, quietly, knowing that the rest of the family couldn't hear or see Sirius and not wanting to look as if he were talking to himself.

"Just thinking," said Sirius. "I nearly got what I always wanted."

"Which was?"

"Christmas with Harry. Shame he can't see me."

"Being a Guardian is a privilege and a bit of a curse at the same time," replied Jack. "And now you're April Fool, Guardian of Loyalty, you'll have to get used to that."

Sirius smiled again, a smile tinged with sadness but heartfelt all the same. "We've all got light and dark inside us," he said. "What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."

And together they turned to look out of the window as the snow continued to fall, as it would always fall, as sure as spring follows on from winter.

The End.