Ginny put the last ornament, her favorite, on the tree. She giggled slightly as the house elf depicted on it bust into song. Its squeaky voice sang her favorite Christmas song. Joining it with her rich alto she sang:

"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows. (Like a light bulb!)


All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. (Like Pinocchio!)
They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games. (Like Monopoly)"

Although she had no idea what light bulbs, Pinocchio, or Monopoly were, she had fallen in love with this charming Muggle song the moment she heard it.

She sang along with the rest of the song, dancing around the Christmas tree, very grateful that no one was around to see her.

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in histor-ee!" she ended her duet with the house elf on a screechy note, springing back up for the final: "Like Columbus!"

"Lovely, simply magnificent!" Ginny jumped as Harry sprang out from the fireplace. (Well, he actually sort of fell from the fireplace, but he was clapping nonetheless.)

Ginny swept a deep bow, "Thank you! I try my best you know!" She giggled (she normally wasn't this hyper, but this does tend to happen near the holidays!) "So, Mr. Potter, did you happen to bring me a present?" she said, emphasizing the "pres."

Harry continued acting in his oh-so-polite manner, "Why Madam! I am astounded that you would assume that I would let you open you gift on Christmas Eve. Surly you can wait a few hours?"

"You know that I can't wait a second longer, and don't call me Shirley," she teased, sounding a bit like Tonks.

"Well I'm so sorry Gin Gin, but you'll simply have to wait till morning before you can open your Christmas present," Harry declared, a smile forming on his lips.

Ginny caught the hint, "Oh, so you brought me a Christmas Eve present…."

"Maybe . . . and then again, maybe not."

"Grrrrr. Harry Potter, you give me that present right now! Or else…."

"Or else what?"

Ginny tackled him, "You will suffer!" and then, she began to tickle him.

"Noooooo! Make it stop! Ahhhhhh!" Harry screwed up his face in mock pain, "Fine, take the present! Just stop tickling me!"

Ginny snatched the small box from his outstretched hand. She viciously attacked the wrapping paper, making Harry wince for its sake. She managed to pry it open, take one peek in it and exclaim in joy.

"It's a… a… a feather! Oh yay! I've always wanted one! Thank you so much Harry!" she proclaimed sarcastically.

"I guess that you'll just have to wait for your real present," Harry said in mock disappointment, "You should have known that after all these years…." He shook his head sorrowfully.

Ginny pouted for a second and then jumped to her feet in surprise.

"It's almost midnight! We had better get to bed before Saint Nick gets here!"

"Right you are Gin," Harry said winking.

As they walked hand in hand down the hall, Harry gave her a short, sweet kiss on the lips.

"Merry Christmas Mrs. Potter."

"Merry Christmas Harry."