Chapter One
Harry walked into the kitchen, wearing a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes T-shirt and boxers. No one would be up. It was 2:30 AM. And, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would be asleep also, which was a good thing, considering Harry had just walked out of Ginny's bedroom, wearing a T-shirt and boxers. Both Harry and Ginny were now of-age. Harry was 18 and Ginny was 17.
So, Harry didn't think anyone would be in the kitchen at 2:30 AM, but apparently, he was wrong. Tonks was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of tea, wearing a camisole and pajama pants. She looked up.
"Harry? What're you doing up?"
Harry sat down across from her, blushing slightly.
"I was just getting a cup of tea. I can't sleep."
Tonks smirked. "I see," she said slyly.
Harry blushed even more.
"And what are you doing up?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I just couldn't sleep. For different reasons than you, but that's it."
Harry frowned. "Are you sure that's it?"
Tonks sighed, "Yeah, yeah, I was just mostly thinking about Charlie. We had a fight today. I mean, we made up right after. It was over the stupidest thing too—I can barely remember what it was about. I don't know. It's strange…when we fight, ya know? It's oddly passionate. It's like…like the reason we make up so quickly is because we don't want to lose one another."
Harry smiled inwardly, "And because you love him."
"Yeah," Tonks continued, "yeah, I love him. I've never had a relationship like this before. Someone who really gets me and loves me like Charlie does. It's exciting and scary. But I love it."
Harry smiled brightly.
Tonks looked at him, in realization, "Oh god. I'm just like, pouring all my thoughts out onto you, aren't I? I'm sorry Harry—"
"It's fine," Harry interrupted. "Completely fine. I'm actually enjoying listening to you."
Tonks laughed slightly. "So," she began, "how are you and Ginny doing?"
Harry blushed, "We're doing good. Very good."
"You really love her, don't you Harry?"
Harry sighed, "I do. Very much. Though, I'm sure you've noticed that."
Tonks smirked, "Yeah, well," she said nonchalantly. "So…you guys started going out in your sixth year, didn't you?"
Harry nodded.
"And you're not married yet? I'm surprised, Harry. You're a very passionate person. I'd have thought you would have proposed the moment you know you loved her," she said, chuckling slightly.
"Yeah, well, that day would have come when I was sixteen and she was fifteen, so I figured I'd better wait until we were out of school. Ginny's only got one semester left…so I was actually thinking of proposing sometime over her Winter Break, which is right now," he added, grinning.
"That's great Harry! Were you planning on getting married after Ginny's out of school? I mean, it's not like it would hurt being engaged during her last semester at Hogwarts, so it'll all work out well."
Harry nodded.
A sudden idea struck Tonks.
"You should propose on Christmas!" she yelped.
"That's a brilliant idea!" Harry exclaimed.
Tonks added smugly, "I can help you plan it, if you want."
"Thanks, Tonks."
They both smiled up at each other, happily.
Hermione's eyelids flickered open. She looked next to her in the bed. Ron was lying right next to her sound asleep. She smiled, and looked down at the large engagement ring on her left hand. She sighed happily. She and Ron had gotten engaged a few months ago, and were now living together. But it was Christmastime, right now, so they were at the Burrow, with everyone else.
She glanced at the digital alarm clock, next to her. 2:30. Hermione sighed and headed to he bathroom, wearing one of Ron's nightshirts and her pajama pants. She opened the door, walked in, and saw Bill standing at the sink, in only his boxers. He and Fleur had been married over the summer.
Hermione gasped, "Oh, Merlin, sorry Bill!"
Bill turned around, facing Hermione.
"Hermione? Oh…that's okay. I tend to forget to lock the door, growing up with six brother and sisters, and all. Sorry."
"Oh, no, don't apologize, I-I should have knocked. It's my fault."
"Nah, I'm done anyway. I'll just go."
Bill exited through the door Hermione came through. Hermione quickly went to the bathroom, and exited through the same door. To her surprise, Bill was still standing there, waiting for her.
"Uh…hey Bill," she said, quickly casting a glance toward Ron to make sure he was sound asleep. She turned back to Bill.
"Hermione can I talk to you?"
"Sure, but can we go out in the hall? I don't want to wake Ron."
"That's fine."
They walked out into the hallway, and sat down in two chairs.
"So," Bill began, "how are you and Ron doing?"
Hermione smiled happily, "Good. We're doing very good."
"I heard you two, talking, last night."
"Oh, really," she said slowly.
"Yeah," Bill continued, "I just wanted to congratulate you guys on moving in together."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh, listen, Bill, you see—"
Bill cut her off, "It's okay, Hermione. Wanting to keep it a secret is understandable. It's okay that you didn't tell us."
She looked down, "Yeah…sorry. It's just that…Ron said that you're mum wouldn't exactly be keen on the idea of us living together before we got married."
"I understand, Hermione, I actually did the same thing," he said, blush creeping up on his cheeks.
"You mean, you and Fleur—"
"Yeah, we moved in together after we got engaged, but didn't mention it to mum. But please…don't tell them that…"
"I won't," Hermione said, "well…I won't as long as you won't tell anyone about Ron and I."
"I won't."
Hermione smiled at Bill, "Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
"So," Hermione began, "how are you and Fleur doing?"
"We're doing very well. We actually recently purchased a house in Godric's Hollow," he said, grinning.
"Really?" she said keenly, "that's great! What's it like?"
"It's kind of small, but nice. Warm, you know?"
She nodded, happily. "I've always loved that area," she said, sighing.
"Yeah, it's really nice."
They sat in silence for a moment, and then Bill asked, "Would you like to go downstairs and get a cup of tea?"
Hermione nodded, "Sure."
So they quietly walked down the stairs and entered the kitchen. Much to their surprise, there were already two people there with a kettle of tea, talking. Tonks and Harry.
Harry and Tonks, though, didn't seem to notice Bill and Hermione walk in, seeing as they were deep in conversation.
"No, no," Harry said, "not during presents with everyone around, that's way too embarrassing."
"Okay, how about that night?"
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, "Yeah…yeah, that sounds good."
Harry grinned at Tonks.
"Uh, hey guys," Hermione said hesitantly, making her and Bill's presence known.
Harry's head darted towards the doorway. "Hermione? Bill?"
"Hey, guys," Bill said, joining them at the kitchen table, closely followed by Hermione. Hermione sat down next to Harry, Bill across from her, next to Tonks.
"Is there any more tea?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Tonks answered. She picked up the kettle, almost dropped it, and carefully handed it to Hermione.
She and Bill poured themselves some tea.
Ginny yawned, and opened her eyes. She looked next to her in her bed.
Harry was gone. She sighed sadly and looked at the clock. It read, 2:40. She yawned again, and laid there in silence for a few minutes, thinking.
She smiled to herself as her mind drifted over to Harry. Oh, how she loved that man.
Ginny got up from her bed, and walked into the bathroom she shared with Charlie. She looked at herself in the mirror, and she splashed her face with water, to wake herself up. As she was drying her face with a towel, Charlie walked in, wearing his pajamas.
"Oh, hey Gin. What're you doing up? It's 2:45."
She shrugged. "Couldn't sleep, I guess."
Charlie nodded, "I see."
Charlie walked up to the sink next to Ginny's.
"Hey Gin?"
"Hmm?"
"Is that Harry's shirt you're wearing?"
Ginny's cheeks turned the color of her hair.
"Um…yeah," she said quietly, nodding slightly, a grin on her face.
Charlie nodded, "That's what I thought. So…how are guys doing?"
"Good," said Ginny, grinning, "Very good." Ginny paused. "What about you and Tonks?"
Charlie smiled brightly. "Very, very good."
"So," Ginny began, "have you guys had the talk yet?"
Charlie looked at her, clearly befuddled.
"The talk?"
Ginny raised her eyebrows at him and sighed.
"The talk about the future."
"Oh, the infamous 'Where is this going' talk. Well…we've had…some variation of that."
Ginny furrowed her brows at her brother. "What's 'some variation of that' supposed to mean?"
"Well, we've exchanged the 'three little words' so, I mean, obviously we know we're moving forward and that we love each other, but…we haven't really about marriage much."
Ginny nodded slowly, "You should. I mean, I-I've heard Tonks talk about you. She's head over heals in love with you. She'd say yes in an instant."
Charlie flashed her a goofy smile. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Marriage."
Ginny grinned at him, "Good."
There was a temporary silence, until Ginny said, "Hey Charlie?"
"Yeah?"
"You wanna get a cuppa tea?"
"Sure, Gin."
And so, both, Charlie and Ginny, went into the kitchen, and found, Tonks, Harry, Bill, and Hermione, deep in conversation with a kettle of tea in the middle.
Ginny couldn't help but crack up from the doorway. What was everyone doing up at 2:55 AM?
Harry looked over to the doorway. "Gin?"
Tonks looked over, also. "Charlie?"
Hermione giggled.
"What're you guys doing up?" Bill asked.
"Couldn't sleep," both Ginny and Charlie said in unison.
Harry chuckled.
"It looks like we're not the only ones," Ginny said.
Ginny walked over to Harry and sat down on his lap, suddenly aware that all she was wearing was Harry's big sweatshirt and her underwear. Tonks stood up, making room for Charlie. He sat down and Tonks sat down on his lap.
"Is there any tea left?" Ginny asked.
Hermione nodded, "Just made a fresh batch."
Charlie poured Ginny and himself some tea.
Ron opened his eyes and yawned. He looked next to him on his bed. Hermione was no longer lying beside him. He sighed sadly. Ron then checked the clock, which read 3:00 AM. Now he wouldn't be able to sleep, so he got up, wearing pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, and stepped out into the hall. But to his surprise, someone was already standing there, about to head down the stairs.
"Oh, hello Fleur. What are you doing up?"
Fleur turned to Ron, wearing a pink satin nightgown. Normally this, along with the Veela charm, would have been irresistible to Ron, but now that Ron finally had Hermione, it did absolutely nothing for him.
"'Ello Ronald. I was just 'ooking for Bill. He iz not in our room."
"Is he in the bathroom?"
"No."
Ron furrowed his brows.
"Maybe he's with Hermione. She not in my room either."
"Hmm, should we 'ook downstairs 'oogether then?" Fleur asked.
"Sure."
Ron and Fleur both headed down the stairs together. They first looked in the family room, but it was empty. So they them headed to the kitchen, and found Hermione, Bill, Tonks, Charlie, Harry, and Ginny, all awake, talking, and sipping tea.
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Fleur!" Bill said, cheerfully.
"What're you two doing up?" Tonks asked.
"Looking for you guys," Ron replied.
Ron and Fleur made their way over to the kitchen table. There was still one chair left, but neither of them chose to occupy it. Instead, Hermione moved, and Ron sat down in her chair. She then sat in his lap.
"Hey sweetie," Ron whispered.
Hermione smiled sweetly at him.
Fleur made her way over to Bill, and sat in his lap.
Randomly, Tonks started laughing uncontrollably.
Charlie looked questioningly at her.
"Well," she began, "this all started with Harry and I talking. And now, it's like one big party at 3:00 in the morning."
"What were you guys talking about?" Ginny asked.
"Oh," said Harry, uncomfortably, "um…we were talking about work. She was telling me about her auror training."
Ginny nodded, buying their story.
"Yeah," said Tonks, "auror training."
"Anyway," said Harry, abruptly changing the subject, "then Hermione and Bill came down. After that you and Charlie came down. And then, of course, were Ron and Fleur."
Their conversation went on for quite some time. They talked about work, school, their significant others…everything. Before they knew it, it was 4:00 AM.
Percy tossed and turned. The noise from downstairs was preventing him and Penelope from falling back to sleep after they were so rudely awoken by the racket in the hall that Fleur and Ron had made.
"Penny, are you awake?" Percy asked his wife.
"Yes."
"Shall we go downstairs? It's not like we'll be able to sleep. We can have some tea."
"Sure," Penelope replied.
They couple got up and headed down the stairs, tiredly.
They entered the kitchen.
"What's all this racket about?" Percy asked.
Everyone looked over at them.
"Hey guys!" Bill said, "Welcome to the party!"
Suddenly, Fred and George entered from around the corner, arm in arm with Angelina and Katie.
"Did someone say party?" Fred asked excitedly.
"Yeah," George continued, "I haven't been to a good party in weeks!"
Percy, Penelope, Fred, Angelina, George, and Katie all walked into the room. Percy and Penelope quickly occupied the last chair, so George conjured up two more. Angelina and Katie, of course, sat on Fred and George's laps.
"Tea, anyone?" Ron asked.
"No thanks," George said.
Fred shook his head, "We prefer chocolate milk. They'll have some, though," he added, nodding his head towards Katie and Angelina.
"Us, too," said Penelope.
Ron poured them all tea.
"Accio chocolate milk," said Fred, wand pointing at the refrigerator.
"Accio cups," George added pointing his wand at the cabinets.
Both items came soaring towards them, and they poured themselves glasses of chocolate milk.
The delightful "party" went on for hours. They talked, laughed, even played a few games, until 7:30 in the morning. They only stopped then because Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen.
"What are you all doing still in your pajamas?" she asked, curiously.
"Oh, just finishing up a party," Fred informed her.
"A party?" Molly said distractedly.
"It's a long story," Harry informed her.
"Yes, well, you lot ought to get dressed. Breakfast should be ready in about an hour."
They all nodded, smiling, and headed to their separate ways, to their rooms. Harry to the guest bedroom (Molly, of course, would never allow him to stay in Ginny's room, with them not married, or even engaged), Ginny in her room, Fred, George, Katie, and Angelina in Fred and George's room, Charlie and Tonks in Charlie's room, and so on.
They changed clothes, ate breakfast, and had a nice game of Quidditch. Harry and Charlie were finally having their chance to see just who the better seeker was.
