Today is Christmas, and of course Ginny being the excited twelve year old that she is, woke up early to wake up her roommates. She switched on the light and started with Lexi who was sleeping on her right.

"Lexi, wake up! It's Christmas!" She shook Lexi.

"Alright, Ginny, you can stop. I'm already awake." The girl groaned, barely opening her eyes as she tried to take in the light.

"Sam, wake up, wake up!" Ginny tried prying off the blankets off Sam, knowing that waking Sam required a bit more effort.

"Lexi, can you help?"

Lexi slipped into her slippers, yawning and about to head to help out when Fred and George entered the girls' room with a small bucket.

"Ginny, Lexi, why don't you two freshen up and go downstairs first?" George said.

"We will take up the task of making Sam wake up to a splashing Christmas." Fred smirked.

"You two are the best." Lexi gave them a thumb up before leaving the room.

"Of course." The both of them replied.

"Sam, get your butt out of bed!" Fred screamed into the ears of the girl. After the screaming, she fidgeted under her covers, a hand stuck out from the covers.

"Five more minutes." The girl groaned.

"We don't believe you."

"Too bad then." She took her pillow and placed it over her head.

"Will you do the honors, Freddie?"

"With pleasure, Georgie."

Samantha's POV

"Wait, wait. I am up!" I stuck my hand out again; telling them to stop whatever they are going to do which I know is no good.

I tried opening my eyes under my pillow, slightly opening them; I removed the pillow from my head and sat up. Rubbing my face, I combed my fingers through my bed head and gave a yawn.

"Morning, sleepyhead." George greeted me and I forced a smile.

"Come on, everyone is downstairs already." He said.

"I need to freshen up." I gave an excuse so that they can leave and I can go back to sleep.

"Alright." I heard Fred said and not expecting it at all, I felt cold icy water being splashed onto my face and part of my shirt as well. It definitely woke me up to my senses and I wiped the water off my face.

"What was that for?" I was pissed.

"You didn't think we will believe you, do you? You want us to leave so you can go sleeping again." Fred read through my mind.

"Get out."

"We're not."

"Fine, if you honestly want to see me get changed, you can stay." I pulled up my shirt a little.

"Actually I don't mind staying." Fred grinned mischievously. My eyes widened at his comment, that was not the answer I was expecting.

Fred got dragged out by George and I quickly changed out of my wet shirt at the sound of the door being closed. I opened the door to see them outside and told them to go ahead as I headed to the bathroom.

All freshened up, I went down the zig zag stairs of the burrow to the living room where everyone is gathering to open up Christmas presents.

Taking each of our piles of presents from under the beautifully decorated Christmas tress, everyone were in high spirits opening their presents and saying of thanks and welcomes could be heard throughout the entire room.

I opened up the presents I got including new Quidditch gloves, Honeyduke sweets, new school bag, wallet, clothes and a Hogwarts, a History book from Hermione no doubt and said thanks to everyone. I also made a mental note to thank Maddie, Alicia, Angel, Katie, Lee, Hermione and Harry for their presents once we return to school.

Fred and George gave me a whole complete Skiving Snackboxes set, which I am and should be as they say it be honored to be the very first customer, I gave them thankful hugs and apparently got the same hugs back just that it is two at once and more tighter.

"Sam, have we ever told you we love you?" George said. Ah, they opened my presents for them.

"Not really."

"Well, then…WE LOVE YOU!" They shouted in each side my ear. I rubbed my ears in discomfort but set that aside as I knew they meant well. George even spun me around the living room.

"Thanks, these are what we always wanted." George took out an Ever-Bashing Boomerang.

"You're welcome." I looked at their happy faces.

I turned to finish opening my last present, it looked quite bulky actually. I lifted it up; looking up and down, side to side, wondering what is it. Tearing the wrapping paper, the present turned out to be a book specifically on D.A.D.A. Hermione would only be the one sending me a book, but I already received Hogwarts, a History from her for this Christmas.

Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use against the Dark Arts. I read out softly, my fingers moved along each word as I said it. I opened the hard brown cover to see something written on the other side of the hard cover of the book.

Merry Christmas Sam,

Thank you for that wonderful office bag you sent. I will be sure to find a time to use it. Don't worry, I know you are concerned why I have been absent of late for teaching but I assure you I am fine. Just a little sick that's all. Hopefully Professor Snape has been teaching well. You are a real natural at Defence so I figured you might want to read up on more materials. You must think I am really a boring person to give you a book for Christmas so I would like to treat you and Alex to a nice lunch after holidays and catch up a bit. Enjoy your holidays and give my regards to Alex.

Many thanks,

Uncle Remus.

A smile formed on my face. It was nice of him to care even though we have not seen each other for a long time. He is almost like another family member.

"Here are my presents for everyone. " Mrs Weasley gave out no other than her famous handmade sweaters to her entire family.

"Erm, here. No, well…err…" Mrs Weasley was confused which present to give Fred and George.

"Thanks mum." They took the present and exchanged with one another.

"How do you know which one is yours?" I asked.

"Mum can never get it right." Fred answered.

"For you, Sam. Merry Christmas." Mrs Weasley handed me a present, I was sincerely touched.

"Thanks, Mrs Weasley. You shouldn't have, I am not part of the family."

"You are like part of the family already, Sam." She gave a warm smile and went to give Lexi her own sweater as well.

I opened my present to see the hand sewn Weasley sweater I have seen Fred and George wore during winter in school. Mine was a pink with a letter 'S', I hugged it to my chest, knowing that it will definitely keep me warm in the cold weather.

Everyone was asked to bring their presents to their room and head down for brunch soon. After a well-fed brunch, we were off to do whatever we want before the actual Christmas celebration and dinner later on in the day.

I must be the most boring person in the world, because I am actually trying to finish a homework assignment or two or three. Fifth year is no joke, a lot of pressure is on for O., and it started way back in fourth year already. Even though it is the holidays, professors well maybe more so Professor Snape found it no excuse for us to slack.

Listening to my mp3 player, I hummed a song while writing a full essay on the polyjuice potion and that only is much of a headache. Do you know how complicated the polyjuice potion is, best hope this won't come out for O..

Writing finish my final sentence, I stretched my hands in victory. Finally, just a few more to go, and I am homework free for the remaining holidays. I took out one ear bud, sighing as I looked at the empty room. Lexi and Ginny went down to help Mrs Weasley for dinner, well Lexi is there more likely to nick some food first.

The sound of the knob turning stopped my train of thoughts.

"Hey." I was greeted by none other than Fred.

"Hey." I greeted lazily, a bit worn out from homework.

"Really, Sam? You're boring, homework on Christmas ?" He looked at the pile of homework on my bed.

"Yeah, but I had nothing to do, plus I could use the time to finish the grueling essay Professor Snape assigned us." I gathered all my parchment, quills and books to put them away.

"You finished the polyjuice essay that greasy hair loathsome Snape assigned?" He asked, face looking horrid.

"Yes, and besides he is not that loathsome." Fred raised his eyebrows.

"Maybe just a smidgen." His eyebrows still stay raised.

Professor Snape may be the most biased, unpleasant and hateful professor Hogwarts had seen, he is good though extremely strict at his teachings plus I don't have any bad encounters with him so far in my school years.

"Okay more than smidgen." He smiled and I did too. I looked into his warm brown eyes and I just purely thought they are really pretty to look at, though it might sound silly. His eyes looked hazel like in the light.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Does Sam do not welcome me?" He made a silly frown.

"No." I laughed.

"Just came to see what you are up to, George is taking an afternoon nap." He answered my question.

"You don't have your twin to entertain you so that's why you came to me."

"Are you sad that I only came for you because George is unavailable?" He gave a smug look.

"Please don't think so highly of yourself." He feigned a gasp.

"What's this little thing?" He picked up my mp3 player, looking at it curiously.

"Muggle invention, it plays muggle music." He nodded like he understood and took the ear bud I took out, unsure what to do with it.

"You put it in your ear and listen to the music." I took the ear bud and went close to his side and place it in his ear. Fred was bobbing to the music and I placed the other ear bud in his other ear.

At that moment where it was just the two of us, I took the time to really observe at Fred. He has really changed a lot. He was much taller and more well-built (from Quidditch) than the lanky eleven year old I had met for the first time.

He grew out his flaming red hair and the abundant freckles on his face plus his infectious smile could make any girl melt.

Mentally wise, he indeed mature but still he can be childish at times. Though, that really is part of the Fred charm, his zest for fun and outgoing character brightened my dull life. I guess I am glad he and George had entered my life. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Fred calling me.

"What are you smiling at? Bet you like what you are seeing." He smirked.

"Please don't…" I was about to retort but got interrupted.

"Think highly of myself." He finished.

"You are quite predictable." He tapped on my nose, grinning.

"The muggle music is not bad." He returned me my mp3 player.

"Thanks." I kept it in my bag. There was awkward silence between the two of us afterwards which usually is not the case, I don't even understand why there is an awkward silence in the first place.

"So…" I started,

"Sooo…" He made a funny sound stretching the 'o's. I laughed, looking down.

"Your mouth opens up really wide when you laugh." Fred commented.

"Yeah, yeah I know I don't have the prettiest laugh." I tried to act cool and not embarrassed.

"No, it's nice, you laugh without restrictions. I like that about you." Fred said.

Your laughter is one of the reasons he always act and be funny because he always wants to hear that laughter, he thought.

"I like you, Sam." He said all of a sudden which caught me off caught. He himself was surprised he said that, like he said his thoughts aloud.

"Of course you should, I am your buddy for almost five years." I gave him a playful slap on the arm. He grabbed the hand that I slapped with and held it tight.

He closed the gap between us as he leaned in. Fred was so close I could feel his breath on my skin, his other hand raised and cupped my cheeks. My heart hammered against my chest rapidly. This is not like the last time outside the kitchens, this kiss going to happen right now is no accident.

Does he like me?

I shouldn't do this, Fred is my friend yet my body is not doing what my brain is telling it to do. Our lips were barely touching.

"Sam! Come down quick!" The two of us immediately separated. It was so close, wait did I want that to happen?

"Sam! Sam!" Another shout made me jumped up in alert.

"Coming!" I shouted back, and could not even made eye contact with Fred.

"I-I-I should go, see you later." I tried to play cool again and saw that he looked disappointed and equally embarrassed.

"Yeah." He gave a single word reply.

I raced down the stairs as I felt my heart racing too, everything is just a confusion or something, yeah maybe he was trying to get dirt off my face or something out of my hair. I just lied to myself so I can get the scene off my mind.

"What's up?" I asked as I neared the first floor.

"You would not believe who's just here." Lexi answered excitedly.

"Who? A rock star?" I wondered at Lexi's excited expression.

"No, it's just a healer." A tall, feminine, mature silhouette turned to face me.

"Nat!" I ran to hug my older sister.

"Hey." She returned my hug. I was released from the hug and took a good look at my sister. Though I visited her last summer, the fact she is still all the way in Romania still made me miss her.

"What? Do I look different?" Natalie spun around in her a silk button up and tight dark jeans.

"Yeah, tanner." Lexi answered. "Prettier." Ginny added sweetly. "And your hair is different." I ended, her once raven hair was now dyed a dark ash brown.

"I figured it is a lot easier to have my hair short in my job with the dragons, they really like to burn people's hair."

"And I agree with that. When did you arrive?" Charlie came from the stairs and greeted Natalie in a hug.

"Apparated not long ago, thanks for inviting me for dinner." Natalie said.

"Well, mum invited you, I just passed the message. Still, I would have invited you myself." He replied.

"Are they together?" Lexi whispered in my ear. I shrugged my shoulders in response. Nat had been crushing on Charlie since she was in her fifth year. But everyone knows that Charlie Weasley is a no commitment guy except well with dragons.

"I thought you couldn't make it back home." Lexi asked Nat, interrupting the nice atmosphere between her and Charlie.

"Yeah, I was. Internship is crazy, but my boss figured I should be able to spend some time off with my family after my hard work so here I am."

"Nat, do you have a place to stay?" I asked.

"Yeah, the Leaky Cauldron" She replied.

"You could stay here." Charlie commented.

"No, I couldn't intrude. Plus there is not much room since your entire family is here plus the two of them." She pointed to me and Lexi.

"Natalie!" Mrs Weasley welcomed her in a tight bear hug.

"Hi, Mrs Weasley."

"Good that you here. You might want to rest up first, dinner is coming up later."

"Girls, tell the boys to shower up and you all too." Mrs Weasley instructed Ginny, Lexi and I.

"Okay." The three of us chorused in sync.

Christmas dinner soon commenced and everyone was in high spirits. Everyone was in their own group conversations and I had the time to catch up with Nat, she spoke about mostly her internship and how amazing was it to work with the dragons and study them but asked us about school and life.

Percy having idolized her in school before, tried to make a conversation with her as well not forgetting to mention about him being head boy and asking her on advice for NEWTs.

"Does he seriously not have a life outside school?" Lexi whispered harshly.

"Maybe." I shrugged.

"Well said, Lexi." Fred and George who sat across her gave her a thumbs up.

That's when I had my first eye to eye contact with Fred after the incident this afternoon. He gave a goofy grin and looked back down to his plate. That was weird of him acting after the incident though it is better than him being all awkward. I smiled and went back to eating Mrs Weasley's delicious cooking.

After an amazing dinner, everyone hung out in the living room either continuing conversations, playing exploding snap or wizard's chess. I was now up against defending champion of exploding snap, Fred apparently.

"Ready to admit defeat, James?" He smirked.

"You wish." I smirked back, maybe I can use this game to forget about the awkward incident before.

Fred was really good, but I, Samantha Heather James can be one of the most competitive person you will ever know during games and sports. Guess I rubbed off Oliver Wood's competitive edge from Quidditch.

"Sam wins!" George announced after a straight hour of the game.

"Yes!" I raised my hands in victory and also because my hands were numb.

"Rematch!" Fred demanded.

"No way." I yawned.

A Celestina Warbeck song soon and played on the radio and Mrs Weasley was over enthusiastic in asking Mr Weasley to join her in enjoying the music. She asked all of us to stand up and enjoy the music but no one really was into the song.

George sneakily changed the radio station and a Weird Sisters song soon broke out. Being popular with young witches and wizards, the band's song got us teenagers dancing and singing to the song.

Ginny and Lexi being big fans were the most enthusiastic and dragged me into the centre of the living room and I let loose singing and dancing along with them. I am having a really good time this Christmas.

My hands were suddenly grabbed and I turned to see George wanting to dance goofily with me. I was glad to dance with him but I could see Fred a little upset from the corner of my eye.

"So I known." George started.

"Know what?"

"You and Freddie had a near lip-lock encounter." My eyes widened. How did he know?

"Fred told you?" I whispered.

"It could be a twin thing… or so happen I passed by Ginny's room after my nap." He smirked.

"We weren't about to kiss, he probably wanted to get a leaf out off my hair or something." I said flustered.

"Really, Sam? Don't be in denial. My twin has romantic feelings for you." He added on.

"How would you know?" I asked.

"A twin intuition, I know it." He pointed to his temple.

"You know, don't you? You are just being in denial all this time." He added.

"Yeah…I guess" I admitted.

"Don't guess, know." He said firmly.

"What should I do, George? I cannot handle my best friend for almost five years suddenly like me. And not just like, it's like really like." I scratched my head in frustration.

"I'll let you figure that one on your own, trust me its better if you do what you feel you should do about Freddie."

"Speaking of which, it seems like Freddie wants you." He nodded to Fred looking at the two of us.

George gave a push and I was in the arms of Fred. Another Weird Sisters' song played and Fred was swinging our hands side to side and twirled around goofily like children. I laughed at his actions and went along with him.

After the song ended, all of us were told to go to bed soon. I was stopped by Fred before I got to enter Ginny's room. I looked at him with curious yet uneasy eyes since the fact that he really likes me is etched in my mind.

"So, George seems like he is getting close to you. Could it be he likes you?" He asked in a teasing tone though I knew his question was serious.

"No….George and I are friends, seriously." I answered. I could see his face relaxed.

"I am jealous." He stated.

"Huh?" I was taken aback.

"George got to dance with you first." He pouted.

"It doesn't matter, seriously. I still danced with you." I pinched his cheeks.

"I am a better dancer, right?" He cheekily asked.

"Yes you are." I answered to make him happy.

"Merry Christmas, Sam." He pulled me into a tight embrace and gave me light kiss on the cheeks.

"Goodnight." He gave me one last look before he proceeded to his bedroom upstairs.

Feeling immensely flushed, I entered my room to see the wide grins on both Ginny and Lexi.

"We saw it. Took a small little peek behind the door" Lexi teased.

"I knew there was something was going on between you and Fred." Ginny joined in.

"He likes you, but you are unsure." She added. How did this mere twelve year old know? I underestimated her.

"How do you know, Ginny?"

"The way he looks at you, the countless times he wanted to make physical contact with you over the holidays." She rambled on.

"And not to mention it is not hard to notice, unless you are dense as wooden block." Lexi commented.

"Can we just save this talk for next time?" I felt pounded with the fact that everyone is asking me about the exact same thing: Fred.

"Goodnight girls." I quickly conceal myself with my blanket, trying to empty my mind with sleep.