Christmas Day

The next morning, sunlight drifted like gentle fingers over every corner of The Burrow. Golden rays streamed through the windows and fell across the slightly worn floorboards.

Drawn by such warmth, Wes stretched and slowly made his way from his upstairs room to the first floor.

By then, Molly was already busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, tirelessly moving back and forth.

The eggs in the frying pan sizzled enticingly, while the bread slowly turned golden in the toaster. The whole kitchen was filled with the scent of breakfast.

Arthur, still in his pajamas, sat leisurely at the dining table. A steaming cup of coffee stood before him as he carefully read the Daily Prophet.

"Good morning," Wes greeted with a smile.

His clear, bright voice broke the morning silence.

Arthur looked up, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Very well." A satisfied smile appeared on Wes's face. Clearly, a good night's sleep had left him feeling refreshed.

Hearing their conversation, Molly brought Wes a cup of coffee from the kitchen. "Just wait a little longer. Breakfast will be ready soon."

With that, she returned to the kitchen and continued bustling about.

As a mother of seven children, Molly was always as busy as if she were fighting a war whenever the holidays came around.

Not only did she have to make sure every child enjoyed a hearty breakfast, but she also had to see to their daily needs and arrange all sorts of holiday activities, making sure the festivities were filled with joy and warmth for the entire family.

Fortunately, with Jandi's help, Molly had it much easier.

Jandi always quietly helped at the side, cleaning rooms and preparing food, allowing Molly to catch her breath now and then.

Once breakfast was ready, Molly began calling each child out of bed.

This time, however, she was far less gentle.

"Ron! How long are you planning to sleep?!"

"And you two, Fred and George, get up already!"

Molly's voice echoed through the stairwell of The Burrow, shattering the morning quiet.

"Okay, Mum," the twins called from another room, their voices still heavy with sleep.

Christmas at The Burrow began amid this bustle and noise.

After breakfast, Arthur took the twins and Ron to the shed to begin their holiday activity.

As for Percy, the child who always preferred studying and exploring on his own, he slipped into his room after eating, acting all mysterious. No one knew what he was busy with.

"Children, we need to hurry and finish decorating the Christmas tree before lunch." Arthur stood before an evergreen tree with tools in hand, ready to trim it.

Though the twins were not especially interested in decorating the Christmas tree, they stood nearby all the same, occasionally exchanging mischievous glances as though plotting some prank.

Ron, meanwhile, honestly helped his father. Holding small scissors and tape, he carefully trimmed branches and arranged the decorations according to Arthur's instructions.

"Is there anything I can do?" With nothing to do in his room, Wes came over to see if he could help.

Though the shed was simple, it was not small. It was packed with all kinds of materials and tools.

Arthur said proudly, "Don't underestimate this place. I made many things around the house myself."

"That's right. Ron's bed," Fred said.

"The dining table," George added immediately. Their seamless coordination made the atmosphere in the shed much lighter.

Arthur's salary was not high, and with so many children to raise, money was always tight.

Whenever things around the house broke, he repaired them and kept using them.

Over time, Arthur's craftsmanship improved more and more, and the shed gradually filled with even more things.

"No wonder you were able to modify your own Flying car."

Wes deeply admired Arthur's creativity and practical skills.

"Of course. You should have seen it back then..." At the mention of the Flying car, Arthur immediately lit up.

He launched into an endless account of how he had modified the Flying car, completely forgetting about the Christmas tree.

Only when Ron reminded him did Arthur come back to himself and continue trimming the tree.

But once he got started, Arthur could not stop. He and Wes grew more and more animated as they discussed the Flying car, and even the twins were drawn in and joined the conversation.

Unable to get a word in, Ron sulked at the side, feeling ignored.

It was not until Molly came to hurry them along that they realized it was already lunchtime.

That afternoon, everyone began decorating The Burrow. Magic made decorating the entire house easy and fun.

The children and adults sat together, lightly waving their wands. The glittering decorations seemed to come alive, flying automatically to where they belonged and hanging from the walls, windows, and roof, adding a festive air to the house.

Before long, the entire Burrow was filled with Christmas cheer.

Wes took out a long string of colored lights and wrapped them around the outside of The Burrow.

When night fell, the lights began to blink, making The Burrow look like a magical cottage from a fairy tale. Multicolored lights danced in the darkness, adding warmth and romance to the night.

"It would be perfect if we had fireworks," Ginny said, staring at the beautifully decorated Burrow, her eyes full of longing.

The beauty and splendor of magical fireworks were every child's dream, but they were expensive, so the children rarely had a chance to see them in person.

The other children were a little disappointed as well. They imagined how much more perfect the night would be with fireworks.

Just then, Jandi came wobbling over while carrying a box taller than itself, filled to the brim with fireworks.

"How could there be no fireworks at a time like this?" Wes said with a smile.

He lit a firework. It shot into the sky and burst open in an instant, forming a lifelike reindeer that raced across the heavens.

The children's eyes filled with surprise and delight. They cheered and jumped as if they, too, had flown into the sky with the fireworks.

"They're all yours." Wes pointed generously at the remaining fireworks in the box.

"Really?" Though the children could hardly wait, they still politely sought their parents' permission.

The Weasleys naturally would not spoil the children's fun. Smiling, they said, "What are you waiting for?"

"Great!" The children cheered and eagerly chose their favorite fireworks.

Wes had bought plenty of fireworks, more than enough for them to enjoy.

One pattern after another appeared in the sky: flowers, stars, animals, and more.

The fireworks blossomed brilliantly in the night sky, and the children's laughter echoed through the air. That hour-long fireworks display became an unforgettable memory for the Weasley family.

The children had an absolute blast. Even the Weasleys rediscovered their childlike spirits and played around with the children, as though they had returned to their own childhoods.

Early the next morning, the Weasley family received the gifts Wes had carefully prepared.

Ron received a jar of Honeydukes candy. He eagerly opened it, popped a piece into his mouth, and smiled in satisfaction.

Ginny received a set of magical toys, similar to Barbie dolls. She happily hugged them, unwilling to put them down.

Percy received an exquisite quill, and he lovingly ran his fingers over its shaft.

The twins received Wes's Alchemy notes. Treating them like priceless treasures, they eagerly opened the notebook and began reading it carefully.

Molly received a brand-new set of kitchenware. She looked at Wes gratefully, her heart filled with warmth.

Arthur's gift was a toolbox from the Muggle world, filled with tools such as wrenches.

He happily held the toolbox, imagining all the things he could make with those tools.

Everyone loved Wes's gifts.

Wes's gift was a scarf knitted by Molly herself. He wrapped it around his neck and found it wonderfully comfortable.

The scarf was soft and warm, as though it carried the Weasley family's love and blessings.

After lunch, Wes bid farewell to the lovely family. Though the Weasleys warmly urged him to stay, Wes still decided to leave.

He knew he had already imposed on them for several days and did not wish to disturb the family's reunion any longer.

After this rare stretch of warmth, Wes threw himself back into the magical world.

He knew he still had many things to deal with and could not remain immersed in this fleeting happiness forever.