Trying to carry on her mother's Christmas tradition of a handwritten letter in every card may drive Ginny insane. Can a trip to Chess Club help her find her sanity and a plan for the rest of the holidays?
Music: Delivering Christmas by The Muppets
"What was I thinking?" Ginny mumbled to herself as she shoved stationary and pens into her carry-all. "I am taking James to Chess Club and I need to write these letters for the Christmas cards. I have lost my mind."
"No, dear," Harry chuckled as he wrapped his arms around his grumbling wife. "You love to write and you have always put a letter in the Christmas cards. You have not lost your mind, just your favorite pen."
Harry kissed her neck as he dropped a calligraphy pen into the bag Ginny had been packing. "I'll finish getting James ready while you find the rest of the stuff you need. I've already told the guys that it is going to be an early night for us because we have the little man."
"There is no reason to leave early just because we have James,' Ginny protested. "John had a travel crib in the back that he gets out when he hears James is coming. I think he spoils our son just a little bit."
"We need to leave soon," Harry's voice drifted through the office door as Ginny continued to look for the supplies she needed to finish the Christmas letters. "Look in the top of the closet. That's where you put the cards last year."
Ginny shook her head as she pulled the box of cards from the top self of the closet. "He can remember where I put these last year, but he can't remember anything else. I will never understand."
Ginny: Can you help me out tonight?
Hermione: With what?
Ginny: James. I have to get these Christmas letters done tonight
Hermione: It is only December 7
Ginny: And if I don't get them done tonight, they won't get done.
Hermione: Why this weekend?
Ginny: I have 2 huge features in the next 2 weeks and Harry boss decided that he needed to work a collection of doubles to make up for being off on the days around Christmas
Hermione: James is no problem. I would worry more about your brother
Ginny: He is worse than any kid I know this time of year
Hermione: I have taken to hiding empty boxes around the flat to keep him from finding his presents
Ginny: Sounds about right
Hermione: Gotta run. See you soon?
Ginny: As soon as I get this bag closed and the boys out the door
Harry watched his son crawl around the sitting room as he waited for Ginny collect everything she needed to go to the Bishop's Brew. Things had certainly changed since the first Christmas he and Ginny had spent together as a couple. Chess Club had not existed and their friends were scattered. Now their Friday nights were planned for the next forever and he didn't mind. He was not looking forward to telling Ginny that he was covering Draco's shift one day next week, but that was the worst of his worries. Right now, he had to collect the boy and get out the door. He did not want the girls giving them a hard time about the reasons they got to the Bishop's Brew after six.
"Honey, have you seen the stamps?" Ginny's voice drifted into the sitting room and made him smile. "I think I have everything else, but I can't find the stamps."
"They are in the top drawer of the desk," Harry smiled as he reached for James' coat. "If you can't find them, we can get some tomorrow. I'm preparing to wrestle the octopus."
"Just give him a toy for each hand after you have his hands through the sleeves." Ginny laughed as she emerged from the office. "He is not an octopus and it is not that hard to get his jacket on. The trouble is keeping the toboggan and mittens on."
"Your mother swears that it is not hard to get a little one in a coat and out the door." Harry reached for James' ankle as he tried to crawl away from him. "I know she managed to get the whole crew of you out off the house without a natural disaster occurring, but our son has a special talent for escaping anything we try to put him in."
"My mother is a magician." Ginny kissed Harry's forehead as she walked toward the kitchen. "I'm sure one day you will master the skill. If he is still letting you put his jacket on him when he is twenty five."
"Not funny, darling," Harry mumbled as he zipped James' coat. "I will let you work the Weasley magic on his toboggan and mittens. Give me the bag and I will start taking things to the car. We need to hurry."
"Why?" Ginny asked as she swapped a mitten for the toy in James' left hand. "We don't have to be at The Bishop's Brew until six. We have time."
"My darling wife," Harry sighed as he lifted her bag onto his shoulder and looked at his watch. "It is now 5:50. I don't think we are going to get there by six."
"The girls will talk," Ginny began to laugh. "But that is nothing new. I love Friday nights."
Harry sighed as he opened the front door. "I'll be waiting in the car. Come join me when you finish wrestling the octopus."
Harry: We are going to be late
Ron: That is nothing new.
Theo: The question is how late
Neville: It could be like last week when they were 2 hours late
Harry: We were not that late
Ron: We thought you weren't coming at all
Neville: What was it last week.
Theo: Car trouble
Harry: She was
Ron: Sitting in your lap
Theo: Checking your dipstick
Neville: Inviting you to go spelunking
Harry: Really
Ron: Or were they taking a nap?
Theo: With the little one around?
Neville: The never "take naps"
Harry: We had a flat tire after we dropped James off with Molly
ROn: They went parking
Theo: It's getting a little cold for that
Neville: That explains the foggy windows
Harry: You are worse than the girls
Ginny smiled as she waited for Harry to open the door for her. The travel crib was set up in the back corner of the Bishops Brew and the girls were waving to her.
"It looks like they have our space set up. Go have fun with the boys." Ginny settled James onto her hip. "I'm going to try to get all the letters done tonight."
"You don't have to do everything tonight." Harry kissed her check as she walked by. "I can watch James tomorrow if you need to finish. You have time."
"Go play some chess." Ginny waited for Harry to come through the door. "My brother is desperately trying to get your attention. I think he needs a chess lesson or two."
"You just want to get rid of me so you can plot and plan with the girls." Harry laughed and turned towards the chess boards. "I love you and your devious mind. Go have fun with your Christmas letters."
"I love you too," Ginny whispered as she walked to the table full of friends. It was time to get some letters written.
Hermione: James was an angel tonight
Ginny: Don't let him fool you. He knows how to behave in public
Luna: He is always an angel
Daphne: You are biased
Ginny: One of these days
Hermione: We will all feel the same way
Daphne: No time soon for me
Luna: Me either
Ginny: So when do we tell the boys about our winter plans
Hermione: Besides Friday nights
Daphne: I guess we should let them know eventually
Luna: Did anyone write this down?
Ginny: Let me see if I have the list
Hermione: I know my house is ready
Luna: Do we need to bring anything?
Daphne: I have never done anything for Hanukkah before
Ginny: Do I need to make challah?
Hermione: I've got a plan. Just bring yourselves
Ginny: So Hermione is up first with the Hanukkah celebration on Monday
Daphne: Theo and I have the White Elephant party the next week
Luna: Are we sure we want to let Hermione host a baking event
Hermione: Everyone should have their cookies made before we meet to exchange them on the 22nd. Ron likes to bake
Ginny: I am not going to think about that
Daphne: I'm not either
Luna: Hmmm … Ron in an apron … EWWWW… I need brain Clorox
Ginny: Me too
Hermione: Ladies … he bakes in more than an apron
Daphne: EWWWWWWWWWW
Ginny: On that note - Harry and I want you all to come to our place on Boxing Day
Daphne: Cards at Luna's on the 28th?
Luna: We may need to do that at Nev's. My place is small and the cottage has a perfect place for cards
Hermione: HMMMM
Ginny: Focus
Daphne: What about New Year's Eve?
Hermione: What about the Bower?
Ginny: It will be cold
Luna: Neville has was of keeping the Bower warm. I'll ask
Hermione: I do NOT want to know
Daphne: How does Neville keep the Bower warm
Luna: Really?!
Ginny: You are the one that showed us what he got you for St. Nicholas Day
Hermione: Like I said
Daphne: Luna is a LUCKY girl
Ginny: Ladies! And EWWWWW
Luna: Good night
Hermione: Night
Ginny: Night
Daphne: I fear my dreams … good night
Harry: Why is my wife laughing like a loon and staring at her phone?
Ron: I have no idea.
Theo: Daphne will not let me see her phone
Neville: Whatever it is, Luna has turned bright red and her phone is now buried in the bottom of her bag
Harry: Well, whatever it is, I'm sure they will never share it with us
Ron: Why is Hermione flipping through my diary?
Theo: Daphne has a pen and I do not like the look on her face
Neville: Tis the season
Harry For the girls to plan all our time off
Ron: Do we have time off
Theo: I am told I get a couple of weeks without students
Neville: Luna says we have things to do
Harry: I'm sure we will be seeing each other soon. I heard something about white elephants and cookies
Theo: I am concerned
Ron: I am not surprised
Neville: Tell the girls they can use the Bower ONLY once for their plans
Harry: Good night gentlemen
Theo: May we survive this season
Ron: May we sleep … occasionally
Neville: And may we enjoy every minute of it
