|AN|: Hello readers! Here I am with my first story that, I hope, will be longer than one-shoot. I'm planning to make it a three- chapters story and I hope I would not dissapoint you with it. As always thanks for ever good word you've ever wrote or that you are going to write! If you like it, please review! Here goes chapter one!

|AN2|: This chapter goes with a very special dedication for my absolutely awesome beta-maker Stephanie O and... and maybe (the lucky guy) her husband :D (she'll know why!). Thanks for everything Steph!

Chapter One:

The Essential Part of a Surprise

"Do you think he won't be able to come back 'til tomorrow?" Asked Hermione making her friend even more depressed than she was before.

"I don't know 'Mione. He said he'll do everything he can, but seriously, you know he really has nothing to say in that matter," said Ginny a little too roughly for her liking; after all, it wasn't Hermione's fault that Harry was away from home at Christmas Eve. Hermione sighed loudly and placed a gentle hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been even asking about it, I know it bothers you," she said, looking apologetically at her best female friend. Ginny angrily wiped the tear that was slowly running down her cheek. "Oh, Ginny," gasped Hermione, tightening her grip on Ginny's arm.

"It's just the onion, Hermione." She replied sniffing loudly and continued to chop the offending vegetable. To be honest, she was quite grateful for the onion's presence. Hermione didn't have to know about her crying because Harry wasn't there. Pathetic. Hermione smiled sadly at her and left the kitchen, sensing Ginny's need to be alone. The moment she left, more tears started to run down Ginny's face and soon, she wasn't able to stop them. She hated that. She hated crying, especially when there was someone to witness it. After the battle it had happened a couple of times, mostly because of the bad dreams and memories, which were haunting her when she was most vulnerable- at night. She was always trying to hide it from her family, and it actually worked quite well for everybody. Everybody, that is, except for Harry. She wasn't able to hide anything from him; somehow he always knew what she felt and how she was feeling. He was the only person in front of whom she wasn't embarrassed to cry. At least after he told her that being able to admit that you have fears and weaknesses is a sign of a real strength. He was definitely her weakness. Her greatest source of strength, yeah, but the biggest weakness as well. He wasn't even there to tell her that he felt the same way about her. She knew it was true, he'd told her. He was away, though. Far away, Merlin only knows where, with a bunch of other aurors, trying to find somebody whose identity he couldn't reveal before he left. So here she was, at Christmas Eve, doing some stupid chores and cooking, when she wasn't even sure that she'd be able to spend Christmas with the person she loved the most. To be honest, with every minute passing by, she was more convinced that Harry wouldn't make it in time. A little voice broke her from her thoughts.

"Teddy wanna hewlp!" She smiled brightly at the almost three-years-old toddler with big brown eyes and bright pink hair. He looked so like his mother.

"Oh, you want to help, Teddy-bear?" She asked picking him up from the floor. He giggled happily as she placed a wet kiss at his cheek. He nodded several times. "I think I'm finished here, but I'm quite sure that George needs our help," she said, making her way out of the kitchen. Teddy was the only person who could make her think about something different than Harry's absence.

"Teddy wanna hewlp Gin." He pouted and Ginny smiled at him brightly, stroking his hair which suddenly turned into a Weasley-red color.

"You are going to help me, Ted!" She exclaimed. "And believe me, it will be much more fun than helping with kitchen duties," she added, entering the living room just in time to run into George, who was placing an enormous Christmas tree in front of the window. Teddy squealed happily, wiggling from Ginny's arms.

"Oh!" exclaimed George, turning his head towards them. "I have a couple of helpers, I see." He said smiling brightly at his sister and the little tyke.

"We just thought you need a few extra pairs of hands," she said, placing Teddy safely on the floor.

"Ron just went at the attic to get the boxes, but I saw Hermione following him a couple of minutes ago, so I don't think he'll be here soon." Commented George, his voice filled with mischief. Ginny sent him her biggest grin and wiggled her eyebrows, but her expression changed into a soft frown when they heard a loud noise coming from the stairs. The three of them made their way towards the stairs as quickly as it was possible, only to break into a fits of laughter at the sight in front of them. Here he was, soon-to-be auror Ronald Weasley, defeated by baubbles and Christmas decorations.

"Ouch!" He exclaimed rubbing his head with his left hand when Hermione appeared at the landing, apparently disturbed by the noise.

"What in the name of Merlin are you doing, Ronald?" She asked, shaking her head at him which caused the rest of them to laugh even harder. She was so like an old housewife. Ron groaned at his girlfriend's comment and narrowed his eyes at his siblings. After a while he glanced at Teddy.

"You against me, too?" He asked the little boy who was giggling like mad. "I will remember that one, Theodore." He said towards Teddy who roared with sweet baby laughter.

"Seriously, Ron, you should know by now that his name is Ted, not Theodore," commented Hermione, trying to repair a pile of broken baubbles. Ginny shook her head at them, wiping a single tear that appeared at her cheek. She couldn't stop laughing.

"Ted doesn't sound stern enough," replied Ron. "Traitor." He added towards his little friend and stuck his tongue at him in a childish manner, but Teddy ran toward Ron wrapping his little arms around his neck.

"Teddy wuvs 'u Ronnie." He said sweetly and everybody laughed again as they watched Ron's melting expression.

They had a perfect time decorating the tree while Molly and Andromeda were working their magic in the kitchen and Arthur was stacking a big pile of logs into the fireplace. The Burrow was filled with magnificent scents of food and burning wood and sounds of chats and laughter. In the meantime, Bill appeared with Fleur and little Victoire, quickly followed by Percy and Audrey who were not quite accidentally caught by George under the mistletoe. The fireplace lit up brightly and in front of them landed a very grimy Charlie, causing a loud squeal from Ginny, who immediately threw herself at him, hugging him tightly.

"You little cheater!" She yelled at him. "You said you wouldn't be able to come!" She added, looking at him sternly. He laughed loudly, ruffling his sister's hair.

"That is the essential part of a surprise, sis." He said with a world widest grin. "Why are you throwing yourself at me like that? I thought your boyfriend has exclusivity in that matter." He said cheerfully and Ginny's face fell a little bit, but before Charlie got a chance to ask her about it, Teddy placed the charmed gnome at the top of the tree, squealing and giggling when George tickled his sides during the process of lifting him up. Ginny smiled at that picture and laughed with happiness when everyone applauded the toddler.

"I see the party has started without me," said a very familiar voice and everybody turned their heads towards the entrance. Ginny's eyes shone brilliantly.

"Harry!" She whispered and ran towards him at top speed, throwing her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He had barely managed to drop his bag on the floor before he caught her in his arms.

"I'm changing my mind… He definitely still gets the most hearty hugs." Charlie commented playfully and everybody laughed again.

"Oh Ginny, let go of the poor boy!" Exclaimed Mrs. Weasley when Ginny refused to unwrap herself from Harry's embrace.

"Don't you even dare!" He whispered into Ginny's ear and she laughed softly into his neck. "We've found the Carrows." He added silently, tightening his grip around her as she stiffened for a moment. She moved her head away from him to look into his eyes. She remembered clearly how angry they both were when they found out that the Carrow siblings managed to escape the Ravenclaw common room where Harry left them before the battle. Harry had promised to himself then that he would find them and he wanted to fulfill that promise even more when Ginny told him about her sixth year at Hogwarts. He wanted to rip them apart in as many pieces and as many times as they laid their fingers on her. She looked at him with a question in her eyes and the corners of his mouth twitched a little. "I'll tell you later." He promised and squeezed her tightly causing her to melt into his embrace again. Teddy ran towards them, squealing Harry's name and hugged himself to his godfather's legs as Harry placed a needy kiss at Ginny's lips.

"You're just in time for dinner, Harrry dear," commented Mrs. Weasley and Harry laughed softly, reaching down to ruffle Teddy's now black hair.

"Watch out Ted, Gin is landing." He said cheerfully and when Teddy moved a little bit with a giggle, he placed her safely on the floor. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley, but can I steal Ginny for a moment before dinner?" He said towards Molly who started to order the Weasleys around the dining room.

"Of course, of course, but don't be too long, dears. Everything will be ready in a moment," she replied, smiling fondly at them. Harry nodded and after hugging Teddy tightly, grabbed Ginny's hand and led her upstairs towards her room. As soon as the door closed behind them, he wrapped her in his arms and started to kiss her with passion. When they were in a desperate need for air they broke apart, resting their foreheads against each other's.

"I've missed you terribly," he said pecking her on the lips one more time, "my fiancée." He added with a deep voice. She chuckled, happily tracing patterns along his jaw line.

"Fiancée," she said with amazement, "I quite like that word." She replied and it was his turn to chuckle. He kissed her neck gently.

"You haven't told them, have you?" He asked her quietly.

"Of course not!" She exclaimed, outraged. "Don't you think it's something we should tell them together?" She asked and yelped loudly when he sneaked his cold hand under her shirt. She batted his hand away. "Merlin, you're freezing Potter." She said taking his hands into hers.

"That's exactly why I wanted to warm up." He commented, grinning. She raised her right eyebrow at him.

"I think mum's soup will help," she said and he groaned, not exactly happy with that kind of solution.

"You're evil, Ginevra." He commented and she grinned at him.

"But you still love me," she replied and he laughed lightly.

"I certainly do. That's why I proposed." He said and looked at her hand curiously. "Where is your ring by the way?" He asked when he didn't find it on her finger.

"You know… I've been thinking and… ehhh, I'm not so sure that I want to marry you anymore." She said, silently trying to hide her grin. He grabbed her head into his hands and looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"You… little… evil… redhead… tease." He said between kisses which he was placing at her lips repeatedly. "You're going to pay me back for that someday." He added locking his gaze with hers.

"I can't wait for it, but now…" she replied, reaching for the golden chain which was hanging from her neck and pulled it from under her shirt, revealing the delicate, little golden ring with diamonds and emeralds. "I think this is what you were looking for," she said, reaching behind her neck to take the chain off, but he held her hands away and instead reached to unfasten the clasp himself. "It would be stupid of me to wear it on my finger; my mother would notice immediately." She added when he slid the ring on her finger and kissed her hand sweetly.

"If your father hasn't told her by now," commented Harry. He was a perfect gentleman of course, so he had to ask her father for his blessing before he even asked her. That wasn't very hard to do, theoretically.

"I don't think he did. Mum would now be squealing and running around the house planning our wedding." She said with a smile. "He was looking at me strangely since you left for the mission, though. I think he was wondering if you hadn't lost your nerves," she said teasingly. He laughed softly before his expression turned more serious.

"I love you." He said as he looked at her. She could see the joy and love in his eyes and she just couldn't stop staring. She vowed to herself one day, that she'll show him how it is to be loved and that she'll show him every single day how much he means to her. This look in his eyes- this soft, warm, sparkling, loving look- was the greatest reward she could ever get.

"I love you more." She replied, and before he managed to disagree with her she kissed him, showing him exactly how much she did. "You still have your badge so I assume you haven't broken the law and killed the Carrows," she said after a moment fingering his badge, with the silver Ministry of Magic logo on it, hanging from his neck. With his thumb, he traced the scar the Carrows gave her at one of the many detentions she had- the one close to her ear on the left side of her face.

"Luke Thomson and Seamus managed to stop me, so I only broke Amycus' jaw. I didn't even use magic" He said quietly. "It felt so good to punch him, I think Seamus was having a hard time deciding if he wanted to help me kill them or help me not to do so," he added. She smiled at him.

"Thank you." She said, gently playing with his earlobe.

"What for?" He asked, a little caught off guard.

"For finding them," she replied kissing his cheek, "for not killing them," she said kissing the second one, "and for punching Amycus." She added with little chuckle and kissed his lips sweetly. They broke apart only when they heard Ron's deep voice calling them for dinner.

"Always with the perfect timing," commented Harry and they laughed loudly. They left Ginny's bedroom with hands locked together.

Molly Weasley squealed so loudly that her family was convinced that everybody in Ottery St. Catchpole was able to hear her. The cause of her excitement was one little diamond ring sparkling on her daughter's finger.

She squeezed Ginny and Harry in a tight embrace, muttering "my babies, my babies," all over again and again, and soon they found themselves in the room filled with crying women, giggling toddlers and laughing men. They both thought that there wasn't a place in the world they would rather be.

"You've been engaged for a five days and you haven't told anyone?" Molly asked, hugging her daughter again.

"Yeah Ginny, why haven't you told anyone?" asked Charlie, appearing at his mother's side with a strange grin. Ginny laughed loudly, still gripping Harry's hand tightly. She looked at him and their eyes met for a moment. He winked at her and gave Hermione a one-armed hug. She looked at Charlie with the world's widest grin.

"That is the essential part of a surprise, Charlie."

To Be Continued