Mrs. Weasley sealed the kitchen door after breakfast, and the younger crowd was banished to the family room. Hermione had sprawled out on the floor with a book, and Ginny and Ron were engaged in a particularly fierce game of chess. Percy had left to visit Penny's family for the morning, so Harry was left alone with George on the couch watching the snow fall and feeling very apprehensive. He wasn't sure how the job of distracting George until the party had fallen to him, but he was determined to do his best to play the part. It was just a matter of working up the nerve. Something about pranking the prankster had his stomach in knots, so he simply sat watching the chess game.
"The pieces might just get up and walk away if you take much longer to make your move," Ginny quipped, flicking her eyes at Harry. Ron looked very confused. It wasn't his turn. He started to reply, but a fierce look from Ginny stilled his tongue.
Harry sighed. "George, can we talk?"
Ron looked around the shop, amazed. If possible, it was even more festive than usual. He smiled as his mother fussed with a bit of garland that Fleur had set in place.
He checked the clock above the counter, remembering to subtract the forty-two minutes by which it was set ahead. It was almost time to bring in their guest of honor.
He swallowed. "Is everyone here?"
Hermione ran her quill along the list, standing on tiptoe to see around the shop. "I think so, all except Harry and George. Who's Cailyn?"
"I invited her." Ginny glanced at the clock. "It's time."
Ron nodded and raised his wand as he unblocked the alarm wards.
"Is that what I think it is, Potter?"
Harry had known George would pick up on his anxiety, so he had decided to give himself a reason. They had apparated to Grimmauld Place and were now standing in the master bedroom. He lifted the box from the nightstand's drawer and handed to George.
He smiled awkwardly. "I suppose that depends on what you think it is."
George flipped the box open, and his eyebrows shot up. "Impressive. So… when did you buy this?"
"Actually," Harry took a deep breath, "I picked it up the day after the memorial at Hogwarts."
George looked up in shock. "What? You bought this right after… right after everything?" He shook his head. "And you talk about it like it's a bloody cheeseburger. 'Picked it up.' So when are you planning to 'drop it off', Potter?" George's face was a mask, but Harry could sense the emotions roiling behind it.
"I'm not sure. Definitely not this year, and probably not the next."
Confusion broke through on George's face. "So you bought this with no intention of giving it? I know that money isn't an issue for you, but who buys a ring like this just to keep in a nightstand?"
Harry grinned. "I have every intention of giving it. Just not until I'm ready to."
George shook his head. "You're going to have to explain this one, mate."
Harry sat on the hard bed, gathering his thoughts. He looked up at George and smiled. "That week was quite honestly the strangest week of my life. It was wonderful, because the war was over, we had won, and Riddle was gone forever. It was terrible, because we…" his voice caught as George's jaw tightened, "because we lost so much. And on top of everything else, I suddenly realized something." He looked at his hands, the tiny white scars catching his attention. "My life was, for the first time, my own. People had given themselves up hoping that we could live and be, well…" he locked eyes with George again, "…be happy."
George snorted. "It sounds nice on a greeting card, but how do you do that in the real world?" He walked over to the window, and for a moment was silent. When he spoke again, it was in a much softer voice. "How do you get used to waking up and not seeing the person who has slept in the next bed your entire life? How do you come to terms with never saying hello to someone again? How, when in life you never had to say hello, because…" he looked at Harry, "because you never said goodbye?"
Harry stood and crossed over to George, taking the box from him. "We all miss him. And Lupin, and Tonks, and…"
"Snape?"
Harry smiled. "Yeah. Even Snape died fighting so people could have normal lives. I never really let myself believe that I would get that chance. And then Riddle was gone." He took the ring out of the box, turning it in his fingers. "It's hard to let yourself be happy when other people lost that chance."
George nodded, staring out the window again. "You feel guilty."
"Exactly." He tucked the ring back into its box. "People buy these rings to make a promise. When I bought this, I promised the people who gave up their lives that I would not let their deaths be wasted. I promised myself that I would keep living, and let myself be happy."
George was silent. After a moment, he turned to Harry with a sigh. "I guess Fred would want me live enough for the both of us, right?" Harry grinned. "Fine then. But I need you to promise me one thing."
"Name it."
George took the box and set it in the nightstand drawer, sliding it shut with a sharp click. "The ring stays put until I say so."
Harry laughed, but a shrill wail cut off his reply. Harry's hands flew over his ears as George whipped out his pulsing wand.
"The shop!" George ran out the room toward the stairs, shouting as he ran. "What kind of wanker would break in on Christmas Eve?"
The noise stopped as he disapparated from the porch.
George burst in the door, flinging hexes madly at the people in the shop. Ginny was glad that they had thought to pass out Shield Hats. She smiled as her brother froze, slowly taking in the scene. Friends and family filled the shop, and every single person was shouting in greeting and wearing a blue jumper with a yellow F or G on it. His eyes moved across the room, stopping on Ginny. She ran to him, giving him a big hug.
"Is the G for Ginny now?"
"No," Ginny shook her head. "It's for George, one of my favorite brothers."
He smiled. "How?"
Harry pushed open the door. "Good pranksters never reveal their secrets. You know that better than anyone." He pulled off his cloak, revealing a bright yellow G.
"So what is this, then?"
"This is your present! Let's mingle!" She pushed George into the crowd of people. Lee Jordan clapped him on the back, pulling him over to the corner of the shop where Oliver, Katie, Angelina and Alicia were huddled. They shouted in welcome.
Ginny smiled as she felt Harry's hand on her shoulder. "Well done, love."
"That's what sisters are for."
Harry was soon distracted as Andromeda handed him Teddy, who wore a jumper riddled with yellow pompons. Ginny turned and grinned as Luna waved at her. Her jumper was clearly Fred's from the same year as the one Teddy wore. The engorgement charm made the yellow puff-balls look strange, but Luna seemed thrilled to have one of the two most festive jumpers in the room.
"Everyone?" Percy's magically amplified voice boomed out, quieting the room. "Sorry to interrupt conversations, but I'd like to announce something. May I have the honor of your attention for just a moment?" She rolled her eyes, but noticed that Penny was once again playing with her left hand. Ginny's jaw dropped. "I have asked Penelope for her hand in marriage," his face broke into a crooked grin, "and she has agreed." Ginny joined in as the room burst out in cheers once more.
"Wonder how long he kept that in his nightstand," George mused from behind her.
She wrinkled her nose at him. "What are you talking about?"
He grinned. "Good pranksters never reveal their secrets, Gin." George glanced toward their brother. "It's good to see that life keeps going. Fred would want us to get on with it, don't you think?"
Ginny smiled as her mother pulled George into a hug. "Now George, this is the only time that I'll ever allow you to open a present early. I thought you might need this tonight." She handed him a package, and he pulled out a blue jumper.
He grinned, pulling it over his head. "Thanks Mum. But for tonight…" he ran his wand across the wool and the G re-wove itself into an F. Ginny shook her head and he winked. "Good thing Fred never learned that one, huh?" Molly brushed a tear away and smiled as she returned to congratulate Percy again.
George looked over to the register, where Ron and Hermione were kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. He sighed. "What is it about Christmas Eve, Gin? There is something magical about it."
"I know why..." They turned toward the voice to see Cailyn, who raised an eyebrow when George's eyes lingered on her chest longer than necessary to take in the yellow G.
"Let's hear it." George met her gaze unabashedly.
"It's the anticipation. Tomorrow there will be presents, games, times with family, but tonight there is only anticipation and wondering."
"I'm not so sure. I've already gotten two of my Christmas gifts."
Cailyn shot him a coy smile. "Are you planning on getting a third?"
He grinned roguishly. "I'm not really the planning type. Not to change the subject, but have you noticed that you're standing under mistletoe?"
Ginny was impressed as Cailyn gazed at her brother, then nodded. Turning away to give them a moment, she found herself face to face with Harry. He pulled her into an embrace.
"Congratulations, Gin. We pulled it off."
"I'll say we did. Where did you take him?" Harry's smile faltered for a moment. "Scratch that, I don't think I want to know. Whatever you did, thank you."
"Talk about a bloke behind his back, will you?" George's arms were wrapped around Cailyn as he scowled at them over her shoulder. "I owe you now."
"Bring it on, George," Harry challenged.
His eyes glinted, and he raised his voice as loud as Percy's had been. "Attention everyone, I have my own announcement. Anyone interested in free merchandise, see me later. The only condition is that all items must be used against Harry or Ginny. Thank you."
"You think he'd really do that?" Harry muttered in Ginny's ear as the crowd roared.
Ginny beamed, thrilled to have her brother back. "I look forward to it. Merry Christmas, George!"