Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Harry Potter books or movies. I am just borrowing them for a bit of fun. Also don't own the music mentioned just borrowed the titles. Hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to review however like I have said I will put the bad reviews in with my owl so she can poop on them! The good reviews will get the reviewer a shout out in the author note in the next chapter!
Chapter 10: Christmas Surprises
When Ginny returned to Gryffindor tower she saw Fred and Charlie. "Where is everyone?" She asked knowing full well the two boys want to talk to her but she wanted to delay it.
"Mum and Dad went to visit with Dumbledore and McGonagall." Charlie stated.
"It seems they have a problem with Ron and you being partners with the people you are partnered with for Hogsmeade." Fred added.
"Bill and Harry are playing wizard's chest up in Harry's room while Hermione took a walk with Ron." Charlie continued.
"George and Percy are in an empty classroom. George has a potions essay he is working on and Percy is reading a book. However Percy is also there to offer help if George needs it." Fred spoke up.
"So dear little sister that leaves you with your two favorite brothers. The ones you are just itching to explain a few things to." Charlie said with a smile.
"Let me guess who you could mean. Oh yeah my favorite brothers must be you two!" Ginny exclaimed smiling back and looking innocently at both of them.
"Very good Ginny. Now quit beating around the bush and explain how come you are friendly toward a Malfoy!" Fred said sarcasm evident in his voice.
"First off Draco is not as bad as I originally thought. Secondly we were forced together by Professor Dumbledore." Ginny stated then she launched into an explanation of everything that had happened to her and him throughout the school year. She even explained about their conversations on the Hogsmeade trips. She blushed each time she mentioned a compliment Draco had given her. She continued to explain the whole story behind the accident that happened on the last day of classes. When she finished she looked at both brothers expecting to be yelled at.
"Ginbug I think I would like to see the gifts Draco got you for Christmas." Charlie finally said once he processed her whole story.
"Alright." Ginny said as she pulled them out of the bag.
"Wow all of this from just one person?" Fred exclaimed.
"Yeah."
"What did you give him?" Fred asked with an eyebrow cocked up in a quizzical expression.
"Well two books, two handkerchiefs, and three frogs. Why?"
"Well it sounds as though you two are friends now Ginbug!" Charlie added with a smile.
"Hey you three are you going to lunch or do you plan to hog Ginny the rest of the day?" Bill called coming down the stairs with Harry right behind him.
"No we are not going to lunch. As you put it we are hogging our little sister. We are planning to lock her up!" Charlie joked back.
"Grow up Charlie. I am not that little anymore and you can't lock me up. I will find a way out and then torture you so bad it will make the Weasley Prank War look like a picnic at the beach."
"Oh no! Bill hold me I am scared." Charlie replied as all of them laughed. They then headed down for lunch.
Meanwhile in another part of the castle Draco returns to his dorm. "Hey there Draco!" Millicent calls.
"Hey Millicent. What is up?"
"Well I was wondering where you've been?"
"Just exchanging gifts with Dobby and Ginny. Why?"
"You like her don't you? I mean I know she is a Weasley but she is not like the other Weasleys now is she?"
"I guess I do like her even though she is a Weasley. I don't know if she is all that different from the rest of them but I do now she has forgiven me for what my father did to her."
"Actually Ron isn't that bad either. Do you know the only reason he can't stand you?"
"What is that Mill?"
"Well Dray it is because you pick on him. You make fun of his family. He said it was one thing to pick on him but to constantly pick on his whole family some of whom you don't know is just irritating. He was upset when you got paired with Ginny because he felt you would hurt her and there would be no one there to protect her from the attacks."
"Well he was wrong. Ginny can take care of herself. I mean come on she has hexed me once before I am not stupid enough to provoke her. Besides Ginny is a very intelligent girl and I am glad she is my partner because I don't have to put up with Pansy's whining. I am able to have intelligent conversations unlike when I hang out with Crabbe or your boyfriend. I mean they are great guys just not smart like she is."
"You don't just like Ginny!" Millicent said with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"You are falling for her!"
"No way!"
"Yes way. You have all the symptoms of falling in love. You're eating less, watching her more, standing up for her, exchanging gifts with her, making nice with her, and you've even stopped picking on her brother as well as his friends. Don't think for one moment I haven't noticed the changes. You and I have been friends for too long for me not to notice when you truly care about something or someone."
"Alright whatever!"
"Dray you have even started calling her by a nickname!"
"How did you know that?"
"Simple you may whisper it but I caught you using it the one time when you guys came out of Tranfigurations."
"I promised her I wouldn't let that nickname or any of her other nicknames be found out by the Slytherins. It is the one that Fred gave her. She has one from each brother."
"Don't worry I won't tell anyone and besides no one else has heard you calling her by the nicknames."
"Thank you."
"So what did she give you for Christmas?"
"She gave me the two books I wanted, three chocolate frogs, and two handkerchiefs that she stitched something onto."
"Can I see the handkerchiefs?"
"Sure." He said and pulled out all his gifts. He held the first one up.
"Wow that is awesome it has a dragon and your initials. Is it because Draco means dragon?"
"Possibly!" He said holding up the next one.
"Man I think I will have to see if she can make me some of these. Of course I would pay her but they are so cool she should make and sell these." Millicent said as she looked at the handkerchief with the snitch and broom in one corner while Draco's initials were in another.
"That is what I said. I think after she graduates she should open her own store and sell these. She could make a lot of money because she does great work. Get this she doesn't even use magic on them. She does it the muggle way which takes more time."
"Wow. I think I will have to talk to her at lunch today. Speaking of lunch I think we should head up to the Great Hall." Millicent said as she got up.
They walked up to the Great Hall. They meant Ginny, Charlie, Harry, Bill, and Fred just outside.
"Hey Ginny can I talk to you for a moment?" Millicent called.
"Sure what is up?"
"I was wondering if you could make me a couple of those handkerchiefs if I paid you and bought you the supplies."
"Sure you need to get handkerchiefs. I have enough thread thanks to Draco."
"How much do you want per handkerchief?"
"Um let me think. First I need to know what you want on them because if I have to make a pattern it'll take more time." Ginny said noticing all of the guys had stopped and were gawking at the two girls discussing business.
"Let's say I want the Slytherin emblem on one and how about the sorting hat on the other?"
"Well you would have to give me something with the Slytherin emblem on it so I could make the pattern. The sorting hat is no problem I could make that in my sleep."
"Alright I can get you something with the Slytherin emblem."
"Well that means a week to make the two handkerchiefs unless I start tomorrow than I should have them in two days. Since it is the holidays I can get more done in the day than if it was during the school term. If you buy the supplies I charge less. So if you do that it would be 4 Knuts each but if I buy the supplies I have to add that in."
"Make it 1 Sickle each and we have a deal."
"Now come on why would you be willing to pay more for something than what someone says they will charge?"
"Simple I think you are cheating yourself. Also I agree with Draco that you should start a shop when you graduate because you could really sell these and make some money at it."
"Alright fine one Sickle each that should cover the supplies since I happened to have a couple of extra handkerchiefs from my Christmas presents."
"Great!" Millicent said as they all started to walk into the hall. Millicent sat next to Ginny with Draco sitting across from Millicent. Charlie sat on the other side of Ginny while Bill sat across from her. Fred sat across from Charlie. "Ginny I can get you the emblem later today."
"Here Ginny." Draco said as he handed her a piece of cloth.
Looking at it Ginny and Millicent saw it had the Hogwarts crest in one corner and the Slytherin emblem in another while D.M. was in the other two corners. It was a handkerchief. When Ginny looked back at Draco she saw his cheeks were a slight pink. "Gift from my parents when I started Hogwarts and I usually carry it around since until today it was the only one I had. However now I have two more that are much better than that one."
"I see well I actually think this one is much better than the two you got today." Ginny said with a smile.
"Hardly! I mean these two," he said as he produced them from his pocket, "were made with me in mind."
"Well that is true." Ginny replied as she noticed Bill taking them from Draco. Charlie, Fred, and Bill all looked at them. When they were done they handed them back to Draco.
"That is definitely our Gingerspice's work." Bill said with a smile as he handed Draco the handkerchief Ginny had done for him.
"Wow that is really cool. Can you tell me what is up with the pyramid though?" Draco asked eyeing Bill's handkerchief.
"Oh I use to work for Gringott's Wizarding Bank as a curse breaker in Egypt. That is the one thing that always reminds Ginny of me."
"Cool." Draco replied handing back the handkerchief after Millicent had looked at it.
"Look at this one." Fred showed him his as well.
"I get the Beater's bat thing but what about the initials?" Draco said as he handed the handkerchief to Millicent.
"Oh George and I like to joke around. One time Mum sent us or Christmas gifts and they had our first initials on them so George and I came up with a nickname for each other. He is Forge and I am Gred this way we can always use the other ones sweater if we need to!"
"Good one!" Draco handed back the handkerchief and was handed Charlie's. It had a dragon. "You are the brother who worked with dragons. This one totally makes sense."
"Oh that is not the only reason for the dragon." Charlie said looking over at Draco.
"What other reason did she have for the dragon?" Draco asked as he handed back the handkerchief.
"Well Ginny has always fancied dragons. She says that if her favorite brother liked dragons than so did she." Fred supplied the answer.
Draco looked at Ginny and saw she was blushing slightly. "Ok so my question for you Ginny is why a dragon on mine?"
"You name means dragon." She answered.
"So Gingersnap does this mean you fancy Draco since he is a dragon?" Fred said with a laugh. This caused Draco, Millicent, Bill, and Charlie to laugh.
"Is that any of your business Freddie frog? Let me think…" Ginny said with a look of thoughtfulness. She chewed on her meal for a moment before swallowing and said. "I am sure it is none of your business."
This caused everyone to laugh harder knowing full well their sister had just beaten them at their own game of tormenting.
After lunch was finished everyone spilt up again. This time Bill and George caught up with Ginny.
"Hello Gingin can two of your favorite brothers hang out with you?"
"Sure George where are they?"
"Right here Gingerspice."
"Oh you mean the two of you, Bill?"
"You got it." Bill replied.
They went for a walk and just talked about school as well as just everything in general. They laughed and had a good time however soon they came across Percy with helping Fred work on his potions homework. Bill said he would stay and help Fred so that Percy could spend sometime with Ginny. So Percy and George continued to walk with Ginny. After a few more minutes they ran across Ron and Harry playing wizards chest. George asked if he could take Ron's place so Ron could spend some time with Ginny and Percy. He agreed and so they switched places. Ginny walked around with her two brothers just chatting about many different subjects. Before long it was time to head back in for dinner.
After dinner was finished and most everyone had left Ginny knew it was time to start the Weasley family tradition in which they shared the news of the year. The only people there besides the Weasleys were Harry, Hermione, Draco, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore.
"Well it is that time of year again." Ginny began. "I know that many of us have great news to share so who would like to go first?"
"I'll go first." Charlie said.
"Alright Charlie you're first." Ginny responded.
"Well my news is good news first for my youngest four siblings. I have agreed to teach starting next term here at Hogwarts. I will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures along side of Hagrid." Charlie waited while everyone congratulated him then he continued on. "The other piece of news is more for Ginny."
"Really what is it?"
"Well I have been seeing someone for the past two months."
"Oh?" Ginny said kind of upset. She had been planning to try and get Charlie together with Christine again.
"Yeah and I know you will love her."
"Great." Ginny said still upset.
"Would you like to know who it is?"
"Sure why not?"
"Christine."
"WHAT?" Ginny said hugging her brother.
"Yeah she wanted to tell you on your last trip to Hogsmeade but I asked her not to also you had Draco with you so she didn't think it was the right time."
"How did you two get back together?"
"It was your fault. Since you hadn't been to her store all semester she owled me and asked me what was wrong. I told her I didn't know but I think it had something to do with your partner for the Hogsmeade trips. Well I had to come here for an interview and so I stopped in to see her. We decided to go out and have been seeing each other ever since. I had moved back in with Mum and Dad about a week before coming for my interview because I had quit my job."
"Cool! I am so glad you two are back together." Ginny said as everyone else laughed at the scene. They all knew how much Ginny loved her brother and wanted what was best for him.
"Alright is that it Charlie?" Charlie nodded and Ginny continued. "Let's see Bill your turn."
"You got it Gingerspice. Well as you all know I have been dating Fleur for three years. Last month I asked her to marry me and she said yes. She asked me to ask Ginny to sing at our wedding because she loves Ginny's voice. So Ginny will you?"
"Only if Charlie will play the piano to accompany me."
"What do you say big brother?"
"You got it Bill." Charlie said beaming at his younger brother.
"Miss Weasley care to sing something for us?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Like what song Professor?" Ginny asked.
"Well Bill what is one of the songs she will be singing at your wedding?"
"The Rose by Bette Midler. It is a muggle song that Fleur and I both love." Bill replied.
"I haven't done that one in a while Bill!" Ginny said a bit nervous about singing such a romantic song in front of Snape and Draco.
"I know you know it by heart though Ginny." Bill replied as Dumbledore conjured up a piano and Charlie took a seat at the piano.
"Fine I'll do it." Ginny said as she walked over to where Charlie was and she looked quickly over the music. Charlie ran though the scale once to allow Ginny to warm her voice up.
Ginny then began to sing. As Ginny sang she looked around the table and watched each face for just a couple of seconds before moving on to the next. When she got to this line she saw Draco's face fill with the years of hurt and she knew he was realizing a lot about his life while listening to her. As she finished singing everyone was either wiping a tear from their eyes or just smiling as they applauded her. Charlie stood up beside her and bent to whisper something in her ear. "Gin I think you hit someone's heart with that song little one." He motioned with his head toward Draco. Ginny nodded that she agreed.
"Alright Percy your turn." Ginny said as she returned to her seat.
"My news is that I bought a new home for Mum, Dad, and Little Red. I am going to move into the Burrow and they will take the new home. Also I was hoping Ron and Harry would move in with me after they finish school at least until they find some place else to move into."
"That is awesome Perce." Ginny said.
"Where is this new home?" Their dad asked.
"Well it is near Diagon Alley." Percy explained.
After everyone had finished saying this was a great plan and all involved agreed with his plan Ginny moved on. "Fred and George your turn."
"Well we are opening a second shop in Hogsmeade." George started.
"Also I am engaged to be married to Angelina and George is planning to ask Katie to marry him." Fred finished. "The other thing is that Angelina and I also want you to sing at our wedding Ginny."
"Ok but you do understand that if Ron refuses to play the piano to accompany me I won't do it!" Ginny stated.
"So Ronald what do you say?" Fred asked.
"Alright I will do it but only because it is Ginny who wants me to do it." Ron said with a smile.
"Miss Weasley I would like to hear you sing again would you mind doing me this favor?" Professor Dumbledore asked her.
"Aren't you sick of my voice yet?" She replied with a laugh.
"No. How about Fred picks one of the songs from his wedding for you to sing and Ron can accompany you this time?"
"Fine I'll do it. What song Fred?" Ginny asked as Ron took his seat at the piano.
"Can you still do that muggle song When You Say Nothing At All?"
"Yeah I remember that one."
"Great than why don't you do that song?" Fred said as Ginny joined Ron by the piano.
After a moment of letting Ron look over the music before he started playing and she started to sing. Ginny again was watching everyone as she sang. She let her gaze linger over each face for a few seconds before moving on. When she looked at Draco she noticed a strange look pass over his face. It seemed as though this song had struck something in him. He seemed to be in a distant place.
Ginny had to admit that as she sang her thoughts were on the other day and how Draco had helped her up. She thought about the way he had carried her to the hospital wing. She also thought of the way he had apologized for what is father had done to her.
When she finished again everyone was in awe and applauded her. She noticed Draco smiling warmly at her. When she took her seat again she continued the tradition. "Alright now it is Ron's turn."
"Well I have been signed to the Chudley Cannons starting next year." Ron stated.
Everyone congratulated him and then turned back to Ginny. "Well let's see Hermione your turn."
"Well my parents just owled me yesterday and informed me that I am going to be a big sister. My mum is expecting."
"Wow that is great Hermione." All the Weasleys seemed to respond at once.
"Harry's turn." Ginny said as the noise died down again.
"Well Mrs. Figg sent me an owl to tell me my cousin has been arrested. My aunt and uncle are having a hard time with his being placed in a military school. This is a sort of disciplinary home where Dudley will be expected to follow ever order given him. I am actually happy about this because maybe he will see what it is like to be in his victim's shoes."
Everyone nodded at this news and again Ginny had the floor. "Alright Professor Dumbledore your turn."
"Well my good news is we have a new teacher next semester and I have just found out they are going to add some facts about me to my frog cards in the future." He replied with a twinkle in his eye.
"That is awesome Professor." Everyone seemed to agree with Ginny. "Ok Professor McGonagall your turn."
"I have received a book deal. I will be writing a book about Transfigurations that will be used as a textbook in the future here at Hogwarts."
"Wow that is awesome news Professor." Said the twins and Ron.
"Professor Snape you can go next." Ginny said simply.
"I have a girlfriend and a new home. Both are new in my life this year. Angel Figg is my girlfriend and she is the daughter of Mrs. Figg before you ask me Mr. Potter." Snape replied smiling proudly.
"I can't believe it Professor Snape has a girlfriend. Well I am very happy for you." Ginny said. "Mum and Dad what is your news for the year?"
"Well your Dad got a promotion and I have written a book about raising seven wizard children. I just heard three days ago that it is going to be published."
"Awesome Mum." Ginny stated before everyone else said 'cool mum' or 'way to go Mrs. W.'
"Draco it is your turn. Is there any good news this year for you?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah I finally found someone I can call a true friend. Also I have made some major life decisions during the last few months. Unfortunately these decisions are going to cause me to be thrown out of my parents' home." Draco finished.
"Well we are all happy for you and hope we can help you out Draco." Harry said as Draco finished. This shocked everyone but when he continued on they understood. "Now I think Ginny better explain what happened this last term that only Draco, Ginny, Fred, Charlie, Bill, and I know about."
With this Ginny told the same story she had told her two brothers to the rest of the family. No one knew what to say. However this time Draco added a few things. When they finished everyone started talking about all the news they had heard. Ginny was the first to leave the room. Harry nodded that Draco should go with her and so Draco did. Draco followed Ginny to the Room of Requirements. They both sat on the couch in front of the fire for a while saying nothing.
"Your family is so loving Gin." Draco finally said. "And now I know more of your nicknames."
"Ok what are they. Start with Charlie what does he call me?"
"Ginbug while Bill calls you Gingerspice. Percy calls you Little Red, Fred calls you Gingersnap, and George calls you Gingin. The only one I didn't get was the one Ron calls you. So care to give me that one?"
"Ok you earned it after having to sit through that family tradition. He calls me Ginny bear."
"I really love the nicknames your family has for you." Draco replied.
The two of them talked for about a half hour before Ginny headed back toward her dorm. Draco also headed toward his common room. Yet again Millicent was waiting for him.
"So what is it like hanging out sharing secrets with the Weasleys?" She asked.
"Amazing they have so much fun and include everyone at the table as a part of their family when they do this."
"So you like her family?"
"Yeah I think I do and get this Potter wants to help me if he can. He also sent me after Ginny when she left before everyone else."
"Wow that is a shock."
"I know. Hey Mill I am very tired so I think I will go to bed now ok?"
"Sure as long as you answer one more question."
"Ok what is it?"
"What was the best part of the day for you?"
"Hearing Ginny sing!"
"What she sang?"
"Yeah she sang two songs one from each of the weddings she is singing at. One was from Fred's and one was from Bill's. Can I ask what your favorite part of the day was?"
"I liked lunch. I actually felt somewhat included in someone's family for a change."
"Good Millicent. Unfortunate for you Ron is dating Hermione, Bill is engaged as is Fred, George is dating Katie Bell and is planning to ask her to marry him. Also Charlie is dating someone which leaves only Percy."
"Haha your funny Malfoy. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Mill!" With this he walked up to his room and found Goyle sitting up reading.
"What you reading Greg?"
"A book Hermione got me."
"What is it about?" After Goyle explained they both got into bed and fell asleep shortly.
Meanwhile Ginny visited with Charlie and Bill for a bit before going to bed. Hermione came in and they talked for a few minutes before both went to bed.
The next day at breakfast Ginny returned Draco's handkerchief. She also showed Millicent the first handkerchief which was the sorting hat with M.B. on it. "Is this what you wanted Millicent?" Ginny asked.
"Perfect! Here is the Sickle for this one. How did you get this done so fast?"
"Oh I ended up getting up early because the twins struck again. They set up fireworks in my room that were somehow on a timer to go off at 4:00 am but they wouldn't stop so I went down to the common rooms. I worked out the pattern from Draco's handkerchief for the other one and then started on this one. I just finished it when everyone came down saying it was time for breakfast."
"Well I am sorry about what the twins did but also glad." Millicent said with a smile.
Christmas break ended and school started again. They went about their everyday routines. However Ginny found herself having troubles in Potions class. She was in the library one day at the end of January working on a Potions essay. She was just about to pull her hair out when Draco came over. He was in a bit of a bad mood. "What are you working on Ginny?"
"My Potions essay. I can't find anything on the ingredient I have to write on."
"Well I could help you if you could help me. What do you think?"
"What could you possible need help with that little old me could help you with?"
"My Transfigurations project!"
"Alright what is it? I mean I don't know if I will be much help since I am a year younger than you but I can try."
"I need to practice transfiguring a swan into a deck of cards. I can't quite get the incantation correct."
"That is a simple one. I have been listening to Ron, Hermione, and Harry doing that one for two days now."
"So you'll help me? What do you need help with for Potions?"
"Yes I will help you. I need to write a three foot essay on five potions dung beetles are useful in and what their purposes are in each potion."
"Oh that one I can do in my sleep. Come on let's go to the Room of Requirements and we'll work on both assignments."
They did just this and by the end of the night both of them had their homework done. They parted and both went back to their dorms.
A couple weeks later at 4:00 in the morning on the day of the Hogsmeade trip the twins struck yet again. It was the same prank they had pulled on Ginny over the holidays. This of course pissed all the girls in her dorm off again.
That morning she quickly changed into the outfit Hermione had recommended. It was a pair of faded blue jeans that were fitted to her body and the shirt Hermione had given her for Christmas. She put on a bit of makeup, her charm bracelet, as well as one of the barrettes Bill had given her for Christmas. She then slipped her feet into her white flats. It was not snowing and was not icy out so this was the perfect outfit. The weather was just warm enough that she didn't need a coat. She then walked down for breakfast with Hermione.