Christmas Eve.
December had already arrived.
Snowflakes danced outside, reminding John that he had a promise to keep.
He looked around the empty house, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I used to be the one who never spent Christmas with you. Now I'm the one who's been left behind."
Dad and Mom were enjoying some time alone together, and Ariana was nowhere to be found.
John thought back to his years at Hogwarts. He had rarely spent Christmas with his parents.
After he turned eleven, he could count the holidays he had spent with his family on one hand.
Once he left Hogwarts and entered wizarding society, he had to rush about on behalf of the Wizarding World.
Relations between wizarding and Muggle society had been tense back then, and John had needed to secure the Wizarding World's right to survive.
"Even on vacation, I'm alone." John shook his head. Apparently, he wasn't all that popular.
Fortunately, he still had little Peter.
"Let's see, what should I give him?"
He remembered that Peter liked LEGO. In that case, LEGO it was.
Taking out his phone, he called Ferdinand.
It rang several times before the call connected.
Laughter from Ferdinand's family came through the phone.
It seemed they were celebrating the approaching Christmas.
"Hey, boss," Ferdinand said with a laugh. "Merry Christmas, boss."
"Are you at home? I'll come pick you up." Ferdinand was still a very conscientious driver. The moment he received the call, he prepared to head out.
"You have to work even on Christmas?" Mrs. Pierce asked on the other end, reluctant to let her son leave.
Hearing that, John smiled. "No need. I just wanted to tell you, Merry Christmas."
He hung up and stood at the floor-to-ceiling window in his room, watching the bustling