"Okay everybody, listen up!" called Hermione from the head of the living room, where the whole Weasley clan was gathered around the fire. "We've decided to try something a little different this year. We're going to have a gift exchange."

Audrey, standing beside Hermione, nodded her head in agreement. "We'll explain all of the rules later, but for now everyone has to buy one present. Cover them up, but don't wrap them, and we'll wrap them Christmas Eve so that they're identical. We're hoping to end up with a variety, so be original. By the end of the exchange, everyone will have one gift to take home."

"This will be instead of our usual rotation, so no other gifts except the ones for your immediate family." continued Hermione.

"That sounds like a good idea." said Ginny. "What kind of price range were you thinking?"

Hermione and Audrey glanced at each other. "Let's say no more than eight galleons."

Everyone agreed, and then they went back to their conversations.

Victoire and Teddy looked at each other in dismay. "I already got you something." confessed Teddy.

"So did I." replied Victoire. "Well, I'm working on it, anyway."

"What should we do?"

"Let's see if we can find out any more about how the gift exchange works." suggested Victoire.

"Good idea." Teddy smiled at her. He was fifteen and she was only thirteen, but the feelings between the two of them ran strong, though they didn't think anyone had caught on yet.

Victoire and Teddy got up and headed into the kitchen after Hermione and Audrey. They were helping Grandma Audrey and Uncle George tidy up after supper.

"Aunt Hermione? We were wondering how the gift exchange works." asked Victoire.

Hermione pointed her wand at the dishes and they started drying themselves. She turned around. "Well, I suppose I could tell you a little more about it. One person will open a gift. Then the next person has the opportunity to open another gift or to steal the first person's gift. If you steal two turns in a row, then on your next turn you must open a gift. Once you have a gift, you don't get another turn until someone steals your gift. The exchange is over once all the gifts have been opened. It will make more sense when we actually do it." Hermione finished.

"No, that made sense." said Victoire. "Thank you."

"Yeah, thank you." agreed Teddy. The two of them ran off.

"So the last person to open a gift is stuck with whatever they get?" asked Molly.

"Well, yes. Gift exchanges are also meant to be entertaining. Usually there are some gag gifts, but obviously we don't want any of those." replied Hermione.

"Obviously." repeated George, hiding his grin.

"I'm surprised the kids are so interested." commented Audrey.

"Yes, that was a little odd, wasn't it?" agreed Hermione. "Hmmm."

Meanwhile, Teddy and Victoire had made their way upstairs. "So?" asked Teddy. "What do we do?"

"We'll have to tell each other what our gifts are in advance. Then we can try to steal them during the exchange. But don't steal anything else, just keep opening gifts." explained Victoire.

"Perfect." replied Teddy. "It's not a sure-fire plan, but there's not much else we can do."

"My gift is here." said Victoire. "I can show you now. But it's not finished yet."

"That's okay." said Teddy. "I have mine here too. Give me your hand."

Victoire did, and he pulled the gift out of his pocket and put in in her hand. Victoire gasped. "Teddy! It's so pretty. Thank you." she smiled up at him.

"It's a charm bracelet." explained Teddy. "I could only afford the one charm though."

Victoire fingered the little heart charm. "I love it. Okay, I'll go get my gift." She returned momentarily with a half-finished hand knitted striped scarf. "Grandma is helping me learn to knit. It's not as good."

"It's great. Thank you." replied Teddy. "You made it yourself. And it's so soft."

"If you see something else in the exchange that you want more, that's okay." said Victoire. She could tell the Teddy truly did like the scarf, but she didn't want him to feel obligated to take it.

Teddy put his arm around her. "The only thing I could possibly want more if it were in the gift exchange is you."

Victoire smiled. "You would pick me?"

"Of course I would pick you." replied Teddy.

"I would pick you too."

"I'm glad." said Teddy. He squeezed her hand. "We'd better get back downstairs."