Space Address: 5C - Family

Bonus Challenges: Second Verse (Mouth of Babes; Not a Lamp)

Stacked With: Winter Bingo; Tiny Terror (Harry Potter); Claimed; Fem Power Challenge; By Any Other Name

Word Count: 1149

A/N: I know Sleipnir was a horse and not a reindeer, I just brain-farted while writing and I don't feel like changing it.

Dear Santa,

For class we're supposed to write letters to you telling you how good we were and what we want for Christmas. I don't know how good I am to be honest. My aunt keeps punishing me for things I can't control like growing my hair or shrinking ugly sweaters or when my cousin, Dudley, breaks things. If I could get a gift, I would want a new family. Any family. As long as they aren't the Dursleys.

From,

Harry Potter

Harry supposed he was lucky that the teacher promised not to read their letters. It seemed to be a rather silly exercise, but perhaps it was more to practice writing in a fun way without worrying about a grade. It was a silly wish, really. Why would anyone want him? That's what the Dursleys said anyway.

Perhaps he was better off wishing for a teddy bear or a Hot Wheels. They were about as likely to happen as a new family but infinitely more realistic.

Christmas came and Harry was sound asleep in his cupboard dreaming of snow ball fights that were fun and fair and hot chocolate with loads of whipping cream and marshmallows when a thud startled him awake. He crawled to the edge of his bed and tried to peer through the slats in the door, but he had trouble seeing far away these days. Then, the door gave way and he tumbled into the hallway, coming face-to-face with a pair of large, black boots with shiny, gold buckles.

"Hello, Harry," a kind voice whispered.

He slowly looked up to the bearded face of…

"Santa…" he whispered in wonder.

"I received your letter, Harry," he said. "And I've decided to grant your wish."

"Really?"

"If that is still what you wish?"

"It is," said Harry, wrapping his arms around the man's neck.

"Then off we go," he said and picked up the small boy.

In the blink of an eye, they were on the roof where a massive sleigh pulled by two just as massive reindeer was waiting. Santa Claus wrapped Harry up in a giant blanket and patted his head.

"Dash away!" Santa cried jovially, pointing onward. The reindeer took off.

Harry studied the inside of the sleigh, particularly interested in the magical book that listed off names and the floating globe that hovered above the intricately carved front. He craned his neck over to watch the hooves of the reindeer and gasped when he realized both reindeer had eight legs each.

"Beautiful aren't they?" said Santa. "They're descendants of the great reindeer Sleipner! Believe it or not, this is the one time a year I can actually tire them out! The one on the left is Skela and the one on the right is Brunhilde."

"They're wonderful!" Harry shouted above the wind before sitting back. "Santa?"

"Yes, dear boy?"

"Is this a dream?"

"It certainly seems so, doesn't it?" he chuckled. "Don't you fear, Harry. When you wake, you will find this is very much real."

Harry did feel his eyes drooping. The blanket was so warm despite his cheeks being so cold and he found himself lulled to sleep when Santa pulled over for another stop above another suburb identical to Little Whinging.

~o0o~

Harry woke to find himself unusually warm. The room was completely dark yet it didn't hold the same pressing darkness as his cupboard. The bed was much bigger, too. Harry had to crawl far to find the edge. Eventually, he saw a bit of light coming through a curtain. Tiptoeing across the cold floor, he approached the window and pulled back the curtain to see a city sprawling out under a dome of ice lit by multi-colored lights.

So it wasn't a dream… Harry pinched himself just to make sure. In all his seven years this was the most fantastical thing to ever happen to him.

A bell jingled and the fire place in Harry's room lit. Harry noticed a new set of clothes in an armchair near it as well as a note.

When you're dressed, come down for breakfast.

We'd like to meet you properly.

-S.C.

Harry pulled on the warm jumper and corduroys then slid the house slippers over his cold feet before opening the large door. The stairs weren't too far away and they spiraled down to a living area where Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were waiting for him.

"Oh, there you are," said Mrs. Claus. "Let me get a good look at you, Harry."

Mrs. Claus was a dark-skinned woman with large, curly hair that was streaked with grey. She knelt down as Harry approached.

"Such lovely brown skin," she remarked. "It really makes you notice your green eyes. Ah, but you're so thin, child!"

She turned his hands over and clicked her tongue. "A boy your age has no business being so underfed. We'll take care of that, slowly and surely with lots of nutrition!"

"The Missus likes to make sure I eat healthy," said Santa. "It seems I only get milk and cookies once a year."

"Oh, don't exaggerate, love," said Mrs. Claus, swatting his arm playfully. "Come, Harry, take a seat."

"So everything is real?" said Harry, still not quite believing this. "The North Pole, the workshop, the elves, everything?"

"Well, the elves do some of it," said Santa with a twinkle in his eye. "The Yetis help with the rest."

"Yetis?"

"Wonderful with those decorations," said Mrs. Claus. "The elves are excellent at assembling but it's amazing how a big, furry hand can create such fine details."

"Wow," Harry breathed.

"If you'd like, I can show you around the workshop," said Mrs. Claus. "After breakfast and after you open your presents, that is."

"I have presents?"

"But of course, dear boy!" said Santa. "I know you only asked for a family, but I hope you don't mind that I added on a few more. There are some that are actually quite sensible."

"I don't know what to say," said Harry feeling a little dizzy.

"Just start with taking it all in," said Mrs. Claus with a smile.

Santa was right, many of the gifts were sensible, such as clothes that fit and a pair of glasses that were his exact prescription. As the day (night?) went on, Harry found he was able to accept that this was reality and that he really was adopted by Santa Claus and his wife, Diedre Claus. They really lived in what could be considered a palace at the North Pole and the city was occupied by elves, which looked more like humanoid cats, and large, brown-furred yetis both speaking languages that Harry didn't know. Yet.

Harry was promised a comfortable life and a better education than he could ever get in school. Mrs. Claus promised to teach him languages, maths, history, sciences, and, perhaps the most amazing of all, Magic.