Mrs. Weasley changed the conversation rather quickly and dinner took a much more pleasant path. The rest of the night continued without much event and after a game of exploding snaps, everyone retired to their rooms.
Ginny was not asleep for long when she heard movement down the stairs. She sat up quickly, straining her ears. She was about to write it off as her imagination when she heard the sounds again. She looked over at Hermione's bed to find her awake, wand already in hand. Hermione motioned her to follow and together they descended the stairs. Ginny very much wish she had an extendable ear so she could spy from the comfort of her bedroom.
As they reached the landing, they could distinctly hear the sound of a woman's sobs. Ginny put her wand away and quickly made for the living room. Mrs. Weasley was standing in front of the fireplace, hunched over a box at her feet. She was started at Ginny's touch as she pulled her mother into a comforting hug. Hermione stood with them, hugging Mrs. Weasley from the other side.
"Oh thank you girls. I'm just…" Her voice trailed off. They broke apart and Ginny saw Mrs. Weasley holding a red stocking bearing the letter "F".
"Mum, what were you doing?" Ginny asked, her throat suddenly tight.
"I-I couldn't sleep. I thought I would get a head start on decorating the home." Mrs. Weasley said, taking a handkerchief Hermione conjured. Ginny set the stocking aside.
"Let us help you." She said. Together they opened boxes, sorting through handmade ornaments, baubles and holly, and began . Hermione made a pot of tea and they worked into the early hours of the morning.
The sky was getting lighter when they heard muffled voices outside. Everyone froze, and had their wands at the ready when two bodies came crashing through the front door. Hermione was the first to react.
"Stupefy!" She cried and a burst of light shot out of her wand, knocking the two intruders unconscious. Upon closer inspection she saw two family faces, frozen by her spell.
"Oh, no! I completely forgot about Harry and Ron." Mrs. Weasley said before muttering the countercurse. They were just beginning to come to when Hermione pulled them in for warm hugs. Even their clothes still held the chill from the winter air outside.
"I know you're not used to being out in normal society with all your studying but that is not the proper way to greet your boyfriend." Ron mumbled, rubbing the back of his head where he hit the ground.
"I'm so sorry! You startled me." Hermione apologized as Ginny maneuvered around her to hug Harry and her brother.
"Didn't Mum know we were coming?" Ron asked; Mrs. Weasley had returned with tea from the kitchen.
"Of course I knew, but I must have forgotten in all my exhaustion." She said, handing Harry a cup.
"The decorations look beautiful Mrs. Weasley." Harry told her, settling with Ginny on the couch.
"Thank you, dear. I would stay up and chat but my insomnia has passed. Goodnight, my sweethearts." She said before retreating up the stairs. She paused on the landing, "Not too much later now, Ginny dear. And everyone is to keep to their rooms."
Ginny stifled a giggle as Ron's ears grew red. "We are of age!" He grumbled once Mrs. Weasley's footsteps could no longer be heard.
"I'm so happy to see you." Ginny sighed, snuggling closer into Harry's side. "Both of you." She added with a wink at Ron, who frequently teased her about forgetting her brother in the face of her relationship.
"It's great to see you too. We really thought you guys would have been sleeping by the time we managed to get home." Harry said, with a quick peck to the top of her head.
"Mrs. Weasley was...having some trouble…" Hermione mentioned, settling with Ron in front of the fireplace.
"Yeah, it's been hard on her since the first of the month." Ron said, staring at the ceiling.
"What kept you so late?" Ginny asked, quickly changing the subject.
"They want us to move through our training quickly. They say we don't need much, but when you take into account that it takes three years to be an Auror...well, it's a crash course." Harry explained, leaning his head back against the cushions.
"Have they caught the guy who broke out of the ministry?" Hermione asked.
"How did you know about that?" Harry asked her. "I didn't think it was common knowledge."
"When are you going to realize that I know everything." Hermione smirked at him.
"Percy told us at dinner." Ginny told him, sticking her tongue out at Hermione.
"Ah well, no. They haven't as far as we know. We aren't on that job though because of the training. I reckon that's partly why they're so anxious to have us finish. They need more people able and willing to go after the death eaters." Ron said, stretching out on the rug.
"When will you guys be finished?" Ginny asked.
"Actually, when we go back after Christmas we'll be Aurors. We finished the training tonight. That's why we've been coming home so late. We want to surprise your parents with the news on Christmas." Harry said. "Speaking of, Hermione are you going to be here for Christmas Day?"
"Yes. I've worked it out with my parents. Ron and I are going the day after." Hermione replied, patting Ron on the stomach.
"We are?" Ron asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes, Ron. You have to meet them sometime. And besides, not all muggles are like Harry's relatives. No offense, Harry." Hermione added.
"None taken." Harry smiled.
"I've already met them, remember?" Ron reminded her.
"Uh, you mean when we were twelve? Doesn't count." Hermione snorted.
"Are you planning on seeing your Aunt, Uncle and cousin?" Ginny asked Harry.
"No, actually. I had dinner with Dudley a few weeks ago- remember? I wrote you about it. Anyway, it was really awkward. I think if we give it more time we'll have more to talk about or something." He replied. "I am going to see Teddy tomorrow, though. And Andromeda is bringing him on Christmas. I actually wanted to see if you lot wanted to come. I think Andromeda likes having company over, given everything that's happened."
"If we're going to do anything tomorrow, we need to get some sleep." Ron let out a big yawn. The light was streaming in through the windows now.
"You're right." Harry agreed, pulling Ginny off the couch with him as he stood up.
"Carry me!" Ron told Hermione, reaching for her hands. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Wingardium Leviosa" She said, pointing her wand at him.
"Woah! I was just kidding!" Ron yelped as Hermione lead him up the stairs. Ginny and Harry doubled over in silent laughter, careful not to wake the house.
"You know, it is really great to see you." Harry told her before kissing her passionately.
"Watch yourself there, Potter. Don't tempt me to breaking the bed rules." Ginny's voice was slightly breathless.
"Then we best be on better behavior. Your family has done so much for me, I'd hate to cross them." Harry said, breaking their embrace and grabbing her hand.
"You've been a great help to them too, you know. It's been good for them to have more people around. It's made me worry less, anyway." Ginny admitted, tucking her long red hair behind her ear.
"How are you managing everything?" Harry asked, his face more serious.
"As best as can be expected, I suppose." Ginny mustered a smile. Harry dropped it. He knew that she would talk if she wanted to, but he wouldn't get anywhere with needling questions.
"C'mon. We've demonstrated exceptional self control, but I can't say the same for Ron and Hermione. Let's make sure those crazy kids actually made it to their rooms." Harry said, wrapping his arm around her and walking up the stairs.
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I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far! I feel like it kind of has a slow start, but I promise it's going places. I wanted to write this story because I absolutely love Christmas and Harry Potter, so combining them both is like crack for me. It's been a little different exploring the different characters a little more. Not only am I trying to stay true to who they are in the books, but I'm trying to adapt to the trauma of the war as well. I think it's in the little things...Like how Hermione is the first to have her wand at the ready because she's used to living on eggshells. And how Ginny isn't quite dealing with her own feelings, but rather tends change the subject so uncomfortable feelings don't settle. I am very much enjoying this and feedback is so appreciated. I haven't written like this in years so I'm a little rusty!