Authors' note: Happy Christmas to all of you! We appreciate you all taking the time to read our story. We hope you have a great holiday and that you enjoy the last part of this little ficlet. Happy Christmas!
After everyone had eaten their share of dessert Ethan took Maddie to the linen closet. "Here's all the extra sheets and stuff."
"It's not going to be so bad," Maddie tried to reassure him. "And it will mean a lot to Saffy."
"Yeah I know," Ethan said. "I don't mind doing it for her."
Maddie grabbed some extra pillows. "She was very excited all day about you coming home."
Ethan smiled. "I couldn't wait to see her. Don't ever tell her, but she's a fun little sister to have."
Maddie smiled back at him. "You know you could tell her that every now and again."
"Nah," Ethan said.
"She thinks you hung the moon," Maddie said as Ethan grabbed some blankets.
"Maybe I did," Ethan joked.
Maddie smiled at him. There was a time that she thought the same about him. As time had gone on, she'd forgotten about her little crush.
"Come on," he said. "Let's get this fort built."
Maddie nodded. "For the queen."
"Right," Ethan said.
Maddie set the pillows on one of the sofas. She missed spending Christmas at the Burrow, but she liked being here. Besides, it wasn't the place that you remembered, but the people you spent it with.
It didn't take Ethan and Maddie long to construct a decent looking fort made of blankets.
"This looks great," Darla commented. She and Drew were on their way upstairs. "You guys make a great team."
Maddie blushed. "We do?"
Darla winked at her sister. "You do."
Ethan kicked at a pillow. "It's just a fort..."
"I'm going to go upstairs and change," Maddie said hastily.
"Hey Saf!" Ethan hollered. "Come in here!"
Saffron had been upstairs with her mother changing into her pyjamas. She was holding her mother's hand as she entered the sitting room. Her eyes grew wide as she took in everything.
"What do you think?" Ethan asked.
"I love it," Saffron whispered.
"Good job," Hermione put a hand on her son's shoulder. "You and Maddie did a great job."
Ethan grinned. "We did, didn't we?"
Saffron excitedly crawled under the tent. "I want to sleep here!"
Ethan laughed and peered inside. "I thought you weren't going to sleep at all, brat."
"Oh yeah," Saffron said impishly.
"Saf?" Ethan asked. "I'm sorry about earlier. I should have taken you up there with me."
"It's okay," Saffron said.
"Come here, brat," Ethan said.
Saffron crawled out from under the tent and hugged her brother tightly.
"So what are you going to say to Santa?" Ethan asked her.
"Thank you for my puppy," Saffron said promptly.
"Saf, you might not get a puppy," Ethan reminded her.
"But I've been good," Saffron replied.
"He doesn't always give you everything you want," Ethan said. "But just remember there's always next year."
"I guess," Saffron said.
Harry came into the sitting room with a tray of biscuits and milk. He grinned when he saw Maddie and Ethan's work on the fort. "This looks great.'
"I get to sleep in it, after Santa comes," Saffron told her father.
"Well," Harry said setting the tray aside and picking her up. "You make sure you tell Santa how great your Dad was this year. I didn't get in trouble too much, did I?"
Saffron shook her head.
Harry grinned. "I love you, baby girl."
"I love you too," Saffron kissed his cheek.
Hermione gave Ethan a hug. "Happy Christmas, Ethan. I love you."
"Love you too, mum." Ethan replied.
Hermione walked over to Harry and Saffron. "You promise to be nice to RJ tonight?" Hermione asked her.
"If he's not a big stupid head," Saffron said.
Hermione stifled a laugh. "Fair enough. Happy Christmas, sweetheart and we'll see you in the morning."
"Okay," Saffron said with an excited grin.
Hermione hugged her. "That's my girl."
Saffron grabbed a pillow and made sure the plate of biscuits were right where she left them before crawling under the blanket tent.
"You know," Ethan said. "I hope Santa brings me that racing broom I want."
"I bet he will," Saffron poked her little head out.
Ethan tugged on her ponytail. "Where are Maddie and RJ?"
"Getting ready," she answered.
"So," Ethan said. "You said you wanted a puppy and new gloves, but what else?"
"A doll," Saffron said.
"What kind of doll?" Ethan asked.
"One that talks," Saffron said.
Ethan tickled her side. "I hope she doesn't talk as much as you!"
"Ethan!" Saffron squealed.
Maddie and RJ were walking downstairs after RJ had a stern talk with his parents. They'd lectured him about being nice to Saffron and remembering that he was a guest in someone else's home.
"You better remember what they said," Maddie told him.
"Yeah, yeah," RJ grumbled.
"You just might be surprised tonight," Maddie said. She knew there was no such thing as Santa, but she knew Saffron believed and would never ruin it for the little girl.
RJ rolled his eyes. But, even he had to admit the fort that Maddie and Ethan had set out was pretty cool.
"RJ," Saffron said, remembering her promise. "You can come in here!"
RJ crawled inside followed by Maddie.
"This is so much fun," Saffron said. "And we can even see when Santa comes down the chimney."
Ron and Luna heard this from the perch at the top of the stairs. Ron looked horrified at the prospect. "Down the chimney?" Ron hissed.
"Relax, Ronald." Luna said. "You can just Apparate in front of the fireplace."
"No one told me about going down the chimney," Ron said. "There's---there could be---spiders in there."
"You don't have to," Luna reassured him.
"Quit being such a baby," Harry said coming up behind him.
"You're not the one who--" Ron began hotly.
Luna put her hand over her husband's mouth. "Let's just remember why we're doing this, okay?"
"I know," Ron said. "I'm just not going down the chimney."
"And you should remember that Ron is doing us all a big favour," Hermione said to her husband. "He didn't have to do this."
"I know," Harry replied.
"Just think of the biscuits you'll get to eat," Luna said smiling at her husband.
Ron brightened. "That's true!"
"And how much this will mean to Saffy and RJ," Luna said.
"I'll still do it," Ron said. "But no chimney."
"That's fair," Hermione said. "Thank you, Ron."
"I'd better get myself ready," Ron said.
"Ooooh," Luna said. "I can help."
"And you'd better not take the mickey--" Ron began, looking at Harry.
"I'll see to it personally that he doesn't," Hermione said looking at Harry.
"Thank you," he said, disappearing into one of the guest rooms with Luna.
"I can't make one little remark?" Harry asked Hermione. "Come on..."
"Harry James..." Hermione began.
"Okay," Harry said holding up his hand. "Not one word other than thank you."
"Good," Hermione gave him a kiss. "Let's get the presents."
"Right," Harry said.
Downstairs Saffron was already trying to fight off sleep.
"Let's play Exploding Snap," Ethan said to Maddie. "You and RJ against Saffy and me."
"Okay," Maddie agreed.
"Maddie and I are going to beat you," RJ said cockily.
"No way," Saffron said.
RJ grabbed the cards. "You're four, Saf."
"So?" she asked.
"She's good," Ethan said. "She's beaten me before."
"Yeah right," RJ said.
"I have," Saffron said angrily.
"We'll see," RJ smirked.
Saffron laid her first card down.
"That's a good one," Maddie encouraged.
RJ nudged his sister. "Maddie, we're playing against them!"
"RJ it's a good card," Maddie said. "And it's just a friendly game."
RJ rolled his eyes and set his card down.
Ethan also tossed one down and waited for Maddie to take her turn.
Maddie studied her cards for a moment. "Here..."
She threw one down and all the cards immediately exploded.
RJ pumped his fist in triumph. "Yes!!"
"No," Saffron said in dismay.
"Good one, Maddie," Ethan said.
"Thank you," she said. "Um... Saffron. You get to go again."
"She gets to lose again," RJ said gleefully.
"RJ," Maddie sent him a warning look.
"Sorry," RJ grumbled. "Go ahead, Saffy."
Saffron picked another card and threw it down.
"Good play, Saffy," Ethan said setting down his own card on top of the stack.
Saffron beamed and was about to say something when they heard a scuffling near the chimney.
"Who could that be?" Maddie asked innocently.
"Santa!" Saffron scrambled up. "Santa's here!"
"Ho! Ho! Ho!" someone bellowed form outside the tent.
Ethan and Maddie both turned to look at RJ, who had gone pale.
Saffron peeked out of the tent and saw Santa Claus picking up a biscuit from the plate.
"Santa!" Saffron exclaimed. "It really is you!"
Ron turned to her. "Hello there, Saffron Grace!"
Saffron's eyes grew large. He knew her name! "Happy Christmas, Santa!"
"Happy Christmas!" Ron exclaimed. "I heard you've been a good girl this year!"
"She has," Ethan said as he, RJ, and Maddie crawled out of the tent.
"Wow," RJ gazed at the tall figure in front of him. "You... you're... you're Santa!"
Ron chuckled and patted RJ on the top of the head. "Ronald Junior, I heard you've been a good boy this year, for the most part..."
RJ nodded. "I have..."
"And you, Madeline," Ron said shaking Maddie's hand. "I know you've had a tough time here because you hated leaving your pixie at home..."
Maddie nodded. "She misses me a lot."
"I've left a special present for her," Ron said motioning to the tree.
"You did?" Maddie asked. "Thank you Santa!"
Ron reached for another biscuit. "These are delicious. Best ones of the night."
Saffron beamed. "I knew you'd love them!"
"He's---that's really Santa," RJ said in awe.
"I told you," Saffron said triumphantly. "I told you he was real!"
Ron chuckled and looked at his youngest son. "Did you not believe in me, Ronald Junior?"
RJ shook his head. "I'm sorry..."
"He still gets to have his presents though, right?" Saffron asked on RJ's behalf.
Ron laughed. "What do you think, Saffron? Does he deserve them?"
Saffron looked over at RJ and thought this over for a moment. She nodded. "He's good most of the time."
RJ smiled gratefully at her.
"Ho! Ho! Ho!" Ron exclaimed, patting his stomach.
"Santa, don't forget to drink your milk!" Saffron told him.
"Right," Ron said picking up the glass.
"Santa, did you bring me a puppy?" Saffron asked.
Ron nearly choked on his milk. "W-what?"
"I really wanted a puppy and it was at the top of my list," Saffron said.
"Oh--well, um, well," Ron stammered. He was going to kill Harry and Hermione for not warning him about this.
Saffron deflated a bit as Santa began unpacking his large sack of toys.
Maddie put her arm around the younger girl. "You know, Saffy. Santa can't really bring puppies. They're, um, they're really scared of flying and Santa is so busy bringing toys and things to everyone that he wouldn't really be able to watch out for puppies or kittens. Isn't that right, Santa?"
"You're a very smart girl, Madeline," Ron said in relief.
"I get that from my dad," Maddie said smiling at him.
"I guess its okay then, Santa." Saffron replied. "You brought me a lot!"
"Just remember, you lot," Ron said looking at the four of them. "You have to wait to open the presents tomorrow morning."
"We know," Ethan nodded.
Ron grabbed another biscuit from the plate. "Well, I must be off. Other children to visit..."
Saffron ran forward and gave him a hug.
Ethan grabbed the camera and snapped a photo of them.
"Thank you," Saffron looked up at him.
"You're quite welcome," Ron said tugging on her ponytail. He then looked over at RJ. "What is it, son?"
"Son?" RJ asked.
Ron chuckled. "What is it, Ronald Junior?"
"I'm sorry I didn't believe in you," RJ said, red faced.
"It's okay," Ron said kneeling down and giving the boy a hug. "You're a good kid."
"Most of the time," Ethan teased.
Ron laughed. "Well, good night to you all and please get some sleep. You all have a big day tomorrow."
"Good night, Santa." Maddie smiled at him. There was something very familiar about the blue eyes that winked at her.
"Good night," Ron said picking up his sack. "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas!" Saffron bounced up and down.
Ethan laughed. "Good night, Santa."
Ron stepped back into the fireplace and used his wand to Apparate himself back upstairs.
"That was so cool!" Saffron exclaimed throwing her arms around Ethan.
Ethan hugged his baby sister. "It sure was, Saf!"
Maddie looked at her brother who still seemed gob smacked. "RJ?"
"Yeah?" he asked dazedly.
Maddie giggled. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," RJ looked at the fireplace.
Maddie smiled. "Come on. I think we should get some sleep."
Saffron crawled back into the fort. "We got to meet Santa!"
"Yeah, we did," Ethan followed her.
"I can't wait to tell Mummy and Daddy," Saffron said eagerly.
"Me too," RJ said shaking his head. "And Josh...He was the one who told me Santa wasn't real."
"He shouldn't have told you," Maddie said.
"He's a big stupid head," RJ said causing Saffron to laugh.
"He is a big stupid head," Saffron said, giggling.
"We can tell him all about it tomorrow," Maddie said lying down.
"Definitely," Saffron said.
"Good night, Ethan," Saffron said happily.
"Night, Brat." Ethan said affectionately.
"Good night, Ethan," Maddie said smiling at him.
He grinned back. "What a night, eh?"
Maddie nodded. "I've never seen Saffy so happy."
"Imagine if she'd gotten a dog," Ethan whispered/
Maddie laughed. "She'd be jumping for joy."
"Maybe next year," Saffron mumbled sleepily.
RJ laughed. "You should have asked him to leave one of his reindeer for you, Saf."
"Do you think it's too late?" Saffron raised her head.
"Yes," Ethan said laughing. "He's long gone now."
Saffron pouted. "Okay..."
Ethan laughed even harder. "Could you imagine the look on Mum and Dad's face if they came down here to find a reindeer?"
Maddie giggled. "It would be pretty funny."
"I could see the look on Dad's face," RJ said. "Imagine taking him home to play with Dolly?"
"I don't think Dolly would like a reindeer," Maddie replied. "Too big for her."
Ethan nudged Maddie. "I just had a vision of Dolly riding the reindeer..."
Maddie began to giggle.
Saffron joined in. "That would be funny!"
"Bring it up tomorrow, Saf." Ethan told her.
"I will," Saffron promised.
He yawned. "Good night everyone."
The next morning, all four of them were still asleep when everyone started making their way downstairs. Harry, Hermione and Ron and Luna pulled back the sheet and peered into the fort at the sleeping children.
"Good morning..." Hermione nudged her sleeping son.
"Five more minutes," Ethan mumbled.
"Come on, its Christmas morning," Hermione said.
Harry gently shook Saffron. "Good morning, sleeping beauty."
Saffron's eyes blinked open. "Hi Daddy."
"Hi, baby," Harry said. "Happy Christmas."
"DADDY!" Saffron squealed. "I saw Santa last night!"
Harry laughed. "You did?"
Saffron scrambled up. "I saw him!"
"She did," RJ said rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "We all did, Uncle Harry."
"You don't say," Harry replied. "I see he ate all his biscuits."
Ron grinned. "What was he like, Saffy?"
"He was really nice," Saffron said. "He had lots of presents and he told me we had the best biscuits!"
Maddie looked at her father. "He was the best."
Ron grinned. "So you all stayed up to meet him?"
RJ nodded. "Yeah, he was pretty cool, even if he didn't leave Saf a puppy."
"Daddy maybe he can bring me a reindeer," Saffron tried.
"A reindeer?" Harry asked.
Saffron nodded. "Instead of a puppy?"
"Um, Saffy, a reindeer probably wouldn't be that great of a pet," Harry argued. "I'm going to ask Julie to help me read about them," Saffron said. "Then we'll see."
Ethan hid a grin. "Good idea, Saf."
"So, are you lot going to just sit here or are you going to see what the jolly old man left you?" Ron asked.
"Yeah!" RJ said, nearly taking down the fort as he jumped out.
"RJ!" Maddie protested.
"Sorry," RJ skidded to a stop in front of the tree.
Ethan gasped and looked at his father. "Dad--that's my broom! That's the one I wanted!"
Harry grinned at him.
"Ethan, it's so cool!" Saffron exclaimed.
"We'll go for a ride later," Ethan promised. "Just us."
Saffron beamed at him. "Really?"
"Promise," Ethan told her.
"You're the best, Ethan," Saffron said giving him a hug.
"Come on Saffy," Hermione had taken the camera. "Open up your gifts!"
Saffron hurried over to her stack of presents. She decided to open the biggest one first. "My doll house!"
"Wow, Saffy." Darla said. "That's pretty cool!"
Saffron turned to smile at her, but her smile grew even wider when she saw who had joined their group. "Gran! Grandpa!"
"Hello, love." Robert opened his arms up.
Saffron ran toward him and he scooped her up. "How's my Saffron Grace this Christmas morning?"
"Guess what!" Saffron said. "I saw SANTA!"
Ethan came over to hug his grandmother. "We did, Gran. It was pretty cool. Saf didn't get her puppy though."
"Maybe a reindeer instead," Saffron said mischievously.
"A reindeer?" Elinore asked.
Ethan laughed. "That's our joke."
"Dad, you and Mum come and sit down," Hermione said. "You can watch the kids open their presents."
RJ opened one and smiled. It was a camera. He had never really taken photographs before, but he thought it might be a cool hobby to start. "Mum, look at this!"
"What a nice camera!" Luna exclaimed.
"I can't wait to show Grandpa Ernie," RJ said holding it up for everyone else to see.
"He's going to be after you to work at the paper," Luna teased.
RJ laughed. "Just like you, Mum."
Luna put an arm around her son and hugged him to her.
"Maybe you can show me how to use it later," RJ said.
"I'd be happy to," Luna promised.
"Look, Daddy!" Saffron exclaimed. "My gloves!"
"Are those what you wanted?" Harry asked.
Saffron nodded. "Santa always knows, Daddy!"
"He sure does," Harry said.
Maddie sat down beside Drew. Drew put her arm around her sister. "So, little sister, how was your night with Ethan?"
"It was fun," Maddie said. "It was REALLY cool when Santa came..."
"Oh yeah?" Drew asked.
"But he seemed really familiar..." Maddie watched as her father retrieved presents from under the tree.
Maddie stood up and walked over to he father and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and Maddie flung her arms around him. "What's this for?" Ron asked, patting her back.
"Just a thank you," Maddie said, noticing his eyes twinkled just like Santa's had the night before.
Ron smiled. "Happy Christmas, Madeline."
"You too," Maddie gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Maddie," RJ said. "This one has your name on it..."
"Ooooh," Maddie said. "Thanks RJ."
Maddie slowly unwrapped the present and smiled when she saw that it was the silver hair clips she'd wanted. "Those belonged to my mother," Luna said softly.
"They were Gran's?" Maddie asked.
Luna nodded. "My father gave them to me and now I'm giving them to you. You know how he always said that you reminded him so much of her."
"Thank you," Maddie hugged her tightly. "I'll take really, really good care of them."
"Those are gorgeous," Drew said admiring them.
Maddie looked at them for a long moment. "I can't wait to wear these."
"You have the prettiest hair," Saffron said. "Like a doll's."
"Thanks Saffy," Maddie said, twisting a blonde lock around her finger.
"She does," Ethan said absently as he opened up a broom cleaning servicing kit.
Maddie blushed. "Thanks Ethan," she said softly.
Ethan blushed, too, when he realised he had said that aloud.
Saffron giggled. "Ethan, open my present now!" she said, taking the attention off him.
Ethan set aside the kit and picked up the present from Saffron. "What'd you get me, brat?"
It had taken Saffron a month to save up some money to buy her brother a subscription to Quidditch Weekly and she hoped he would like it.
Ethan opened up the package and smiled. He knew that his mother had helped Saffron write the letter. "This is a one-year subscription to Quidditch Weekly for Ethan James Potter courtesy of his little sister, Saffron Grace Potter," Ethan read aloud.
Saffron bounced on the sofa. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," Ethan said grinning at her. "Thanks, Brat."
"Good," Saffron beamed at him.
"I got you something too," Ethan said.
"Where?" Saffron asked eagerly.
"It's the green one with the silver bow," Ethan said.
Saffron grabbed for it and tore off the wrapping.
"Ethan!" Saffron squealed.
She held up the hooded sweatshirt from her favourite Quidditch team, Puddlemere. "Thank you!"
Ethan grinned. "I got Julie a matching one."
"Thanks, E," Julie said. "You're not so bad for a little brother."
Ethan scoffed. "Of course I'm not."
"Best Christmas Ever!" Saffron squealed throwing her arms around her mother.
Hermione laughed. "Yes it is, baby. And Christmases get better every year."
"Even without a puppy," Saffron grinned.
Hermione shook her head. "I'm sure you'll get your puppy someday, Saffron."
"Promise?" Saffron asked.
Hermione nodded. "I promise someday, you will get your puppy."
Saffron gave her another hug. "I love you, Mummy."
"I love you too," Hermione kissed the side of her head.
Harry looked at Ron. "You know I think I owe you a big thank you."
"You do," Ron replied.
"Thanks mate," Harry said shaking his hand. "It meant the world to Saffron. I'm sorry for giving you a hard time last night."
"I'm used to it," Ron replied.
"You're a good man," Harry said. "A great friend and a fantastic father."
"Thank you," Ron grinned at him. "I appreciate that."
Harry grinned. "Did you ever think in a million years we'd be here?"
"No," Ron said.
"Me either," Harry said.
"Daddy," Saffron came over and tugged on his hand. "Santa brought you something too! Come see!"
"He did?" Harry asked.
Saffron nodded.
Harry followed her over to the tree. "Which one is it, baby?"
"Here," Saffron pointed to a box.
Harry picked it up and carried it over to the sofa.
He didn't remember putting this one into Ron's bag and wondered if Hermione had somehow snuck it under the tree. He tore off the wrapping and opened the box. "A stuffed rabbit?" he asked, looking up at Ron who nearly doubled over in laughter.
"Awwww, he's so cute, Daddy!" Saffron exclaimed.
"That's hilarious, Ron." Harry said. "Really... very funny." he handed the stuffed animal to his daughter.
"What are you looking at me for?" Ron asked innocently. "That was from Santa Claus."
"Sure," Harry shook his head.
"Daddy, don't you want him?" Saffron asked.
"He's all yours, baby." Harry told her.
"You could call him Harry," Ron suggested.
"Okay," Saffron nodded. "I think he kind of looks like you, Daddy."
Ron stifled a laugh.
"Yeah, yeah..." Harry glared at Ron for a moment.
"He has glasses," Saffron pointed out.
"And green eyes," Ron pointed out helpfully.
"I'm going to call him Daddy, the Rabbit King," Saffron announced.
Hermione, Luna and Ron all fell over in laughter.
"You don't have to," Harry said ignoring them.
"But I want to," Saffron looked adoringly at the rabbit. "It's my new favourite toy."
Hermione put her arm around her daughter. "I think that's sweet, baby."
"You can play with it too, Daddy." Saffron offered.