It was Christmas Eve 2020 and Harry, James Albus, Hugo, Devon, and Lily had all put on Santa Claus suits and hats and now stepped outside as they planned to walk around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights and displays people had put up on their houses. As it was now dark, people who had light displays would have turned them on by now and they would be easy enough to see.

Devon, the biggest Christmas fan in this group, yelled out, "That's so cool!" when they came to a house with inflatable Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa figures that had been lit up with vivid LED lighting. There was also a string of red Christmas lights atop this house.

"These inflatable Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa lights are awesome!" agreed James, "Man, Samantha would LOVE these if she could see them."

In response to James's comment, Lily retrieved her hot pink camera from her right hand pocket and took pictures of the house in question.

"Now we can show them to her!" said Lily cheerfully, "That's why I brought my camera, mostly for Samantha's benefit since she's such a huge Christmas fan."

"That was nice and thoughtful of you, Lily, " said Harry proudly.

"I'm not the biggest Christmas fan, but I think this house might be up my alley, " said Hugo as they approached a house with tons of bright green Christmas lights with large wreath and poinsettia decorations in the windows and on the doors, "I'm a plant guy, so wreaths and poinsettias are my favorite Christmas decorations!"

Lily took pictures of this house as well. She would continue to do this at every notable house they came by.

As it turned out, Lily's favorite house along the way was one where the décor was entirely made of lights.

in Fact, Harry, James Albus, Hugo, Devon, and Lily all oohed and awed as they got a closer look at it.

There lights with a rotating color scheme of red and green. Then there displays made of lights all over the house. These lights were multicolored creations in red, green, yellow, blue, orange, purple, white, and hot pink. They formed candy canes, trees, bows, presents, snowflakes, snowmen, Santas, sleighs, wreaths, reindeer, ribbons, wrapping paper, and stockings.

"Man, this is the most brilliant light display I've ever seen, " cooed Lily as she took her pictures.

"It's so elaborate, and it's so carefully, crafted, " said Harry admiringly, "This house is the clear winner."

"What a wonderful Christmas Eve walk, " said James cheerfully, "Seeing all these wondaful houses really has me in the Christmas spirit."

"I know, right, " added Albus, :What a beautiful treat."

"That was my intent, " beamed Harry as they now headed home.

Just before Harry sent James Albus, Hugo, Devon, and Lily off to be, Harry grinned at them all and said, "I think you're all going to love your load of presents tomorrow morning. But before we retire for the night, I want to read you lot a story. I don't need a book, as I know it by heart."

And Harry said aloud:

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

And at that, James Albus, Hugo, Devon, and Lily all just smiled happily and contently as they peacefully headed up to their respective rooms.

There could have been no better way to end Christmas Eve than to have heard the most classic Christmas story ever told.