The Prophecy for Christmas
by Healer Pomfrey

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

25 December

On the way to the Great Hall for breakfast on Christmas morning, Harry unobtrusively transfigured Alex and Felix into baboons. The two six-year-olds stared at each other in disbelief, before they both began to giggle and run around with apparent amusement.

Breakfast took much too long for Harry's liking, not only because he was curious to know what his family and friends had sent him for Christmas, but also because he couldn't wait to see his small siblings' eyes when they opened the gifts that he had chosen for them. When the adults were still enjoying their tea, all of a sudden the door to the Great Hall was opened and Father Christmas stepped into the room. He crossed the Great Hall in a slow speed, and Harry saw from the corner of his eyes how Alex and Felix became smaller in their seats with every step.

Father Christmas came to stand in front of the table and pulled a large, old tome out of his robe pocket. He consulted his book and called out, "Alex Snape and Felix Longbottom. Where are you? Come here to me."

Two small baboons stepped in front of Father Christmas, obviously frightened but nevertheless grinning.

However, Father Christmas continued, "I have heard that you've flooded the Minister of Magic's office with chocolate frogs. Now the whole Ministry of Magic is flooded, no one can do their work anymore, and the magical world of Britain is about to collapse. Even Hogwarts will have to be closed after the holidays."

The two baboons were obviously close to crying, when Alex turned around to view his family. "Harry, Dad, can you do anything to prevent that?" he sobbed, looking horrified.

"Well well," Father Christmas threw in, "maybe you can try to be very good boys now and be a good example for your little brother Tom..."

He interrupted himself, when Tom, who had followed the scene from his play mat on the floor, suddenly began to panic as he felt Father Christmas look at him. Even if he had not understood all the words, he realised that the atmosphere was very stern and that his older brother seemed to be scared of the old man in front of him. "Ha-wyyyy," he shouted, stretching both arms into the air to let himself being picked up.

Harry smiled and gently picked up the baby, whispering soothing words into his ear, while Father Christmas finished his discussion with the two pranksters and handed each of them a self-refilling box of chocolate frogs.

Now Father Christmas called out "Severus and Harry Snape, my angels have told me that you did extraordinary things this year. I believe that everyone is very grateful and you deserve the Order of Merlin first class for your achievement."

Severus and Harry had both moved a little in the direction of the old wizard, if only in order to keep appearances in front of the little ones, however, none of them reached out to accept what Father Christmas held out to them. Therefore, the old wizard pressed the two boxes in Lily's hands and merely said to the two younger wizards, "Congratulation my boys. You've done a brilliant job."

Hearing his father mumble something that sounded like "Meddling old coot," Harry couldn't help laughing.

"Thank you Father Christmas," he replied, sighing in relief, when Holly stepped in to save the situation.

"Fader Chwismas, I've been a vewy good giwl too, and I looketed aftew my Tommy dis mowning," she informed the old wizard, taking in his long, white beard with apparent amazement.

"Holly Snape," Father Christmas read from his large book, "Yes, my angels told me that you've been a very good girl and helped your big brother and Tommy a lot after they returned from their trip last week. Let's see what I have for you." He rummaged in his robe pocket that seemed to be very large from the inside and pulled out a huge, colourful package. "Have fun little one," he said, smiling, before he turned to Tom.

"Tom Snape," he called out in a soft voice.

However, Tom buried his face in Harry's robes, frightened.

"Tommy, Father Christmas wants to give you a present," Harry whispered into his ear. "Shall we go together and see what he has for you?" Not waiting for a response and knowing that the Minister of Magic surely had other things to do apart from playing Father Christmas at Hogwarts, he stepped in front of the old wizard with Tom nestled deep in his robes.

"My angels told me that you're a very good little boy," Father Christmas told the baby and handed him a slightly long package.

"Thank you so much for everything, Professor," Harry whispered to the old wizard and gratefully accepted the gift on Tom's behalf. Only when he had unwrapped the baby's broom, on which the baby could comfortably sit and fly just above the ground, Tom began to cheer again.

"Hawwy," he said, giving his adored big brother a pleading look, which Harry was unable to resist.

During the following hour, he busied himself helping and supervising Tom on his baby broom, before Tom began to yawn and Severus motioned Harry and Tom to follow him into their quarters.

HP

"Dad, what's wrong?" Harry asked in concern, looking from his father to Tom, who had fallen asleep in his arm.

Severus shook his head. "Nothing son. I just noticed that Tom was tired and thought it was the right time to give him my Christmas present." Seeing that Harry eyed him in confusion, he explained, "Your mother and I decided to give him a blood adoption potion in order to make him our real son, and since it might be slightly uncomfortable for him, it's the best to give it to him when he's asleep."

"Oh all right, that's true," Harry agreed, as he made himself comfortable on the sofa in the living room with Tom fast asleep on his lap.

An hour later, the three wizards returned to the Great Hall, knowing that everyone was going to make a huge fuss over the baby, who looked even cuter than before with his large, emerald green eyes.

'I've such an amazing family,' Harry thought, feeling happier than he had ever felt before. "Dad," he addressed his father, who in return quirked an eyebrow in silent question. "Shall we make a small detour and pay the Founders a visit? I'd like to thank them again and to wish them a Happy Christmas."

The End

Thank you for your kind support throughout this story and Merry Christmas to you all!