The Golden Age: The Nineteen Years

Chapter 21: Christmas at the Weasleys

Disclaimer: Really…not my characters or places

"Angelina, can you help me put up this holly? Can't believe it hasn't been done yet…"

"Of course !"

"I told you dear, call me Molly! You're my daughter-in-law now!"

Angelina followed the voice out of the room, leaving George with Ron and Harry where they had been trying to put last minute ornaments on the tree. That, and trying to cheer Ron up.

"Ron mate, you've been moping all day! What's wrong?"

Silently a paper was waved in front of Harry's nose and George tapped his brother on the head.

"Little brother, it's her family. It's Christmas. Can you blame her? Just because your dating now, she even sent a letter letting you know when you'd see her and everything…"

"George, can you lend a hand?"

"Coming Angelina!"

Harry patted his friend on the back as his brother left. "It'll be alright mate, you'll see her soon.!"

Ron glared at him. "You two are both hypocrites, George's got Angelina here, Bill and Fleur are here, you've got my sister!"

Harry somehow managed to control his temper. "Maybe a bit Ron, but we're trying to help. You aren't alone, and she said she'd come in a few days at the latest, you'll get to spend a Christmas with her ever if it isn't this one! And don't make it sound like your so angry Ginny and I are together. "

Ron huffed and sat on the couch, leaving Harry to continue with the ornaments.

"Harry!"

A sing-song voice drew his attention and he looked over to see Ginny dancing over. He swung her around in hug and motioned to Ron. She winced and nodded, keeping her smile and leaping over to hug him too.

He pulled away, still stubbornly refusing to share the spirit. She stood in front of him, hands on hips and launched into a lecture nearly as bad as one of her mothers. Ron realized what was about to happen barely a second early and moaned.

"Ron! It's CHRISTMAS EVE! You have spent the entire day lying around rereading that letter like she's gone forever! She's my best friend too, but I'm enjoying the holidays, unlike you! Do you think she'd like the idea of your Christmas ruined because of her!?" She paused and Ron rapidly shook his head. "Good!" She then turned on her heels without even giving Harry a chance to calm her down. He shook his head and turned to Ron. "What do you say, give her five minutes to calm down and head over to Aunt Andie's?"

"Definitely!"

Minutes later they hung the last piece of green garland on the walls and Ginny was putting a few more ornaments on the tree, fully back to Christmas spirit now that Ron was cooperative. He was a little uneasy around her until she reassured him that she wasn't about to turn into Mum. "Could've fooled me." He had grumbled to Harry. Now, they saw a moment to escape over to help his godson decorate. The opportune moment presented itself as was distracted levitating an ornament.

", we're off to Andromeda's!"

"Oh, alright dear! Come back soon! You too Ron and Ginny, I suppose you'll be going along."

"Yes Mum!"

The three quickly slipped out the door and into the snow, grabbing coats before Apparating.

"Andromeda!"

"Aunt Andie!"

"Merry Christmas!"

Andromeda opened the door and laughed at their cheery faces before welcoming them in. Teddy ran around their feet, decked in red and white pajamas he would no doubt be wearing through the next morning. His hair was dark green, with slightly lighter green highlights. Harry grinned and swung his godson around, to which he burst out in giggles. When he had been put down Ginny kept him laughing by tickling him until the grin was plastered on his face and had they all laughing at his antics. "Merry Christmas Eve Teddy!" Harry said, smiling into his godson's face. "You too Andromeda! What can we do to help decorate?" She grinned and pointed at the tree. "It needs decorations, and I've been too busy to help little Teddy with it, what do you three say to that?" Harry grinned at Ginny, who swept Teddy up and put him on Harry's back. "Lets see if you can't reach everything from there!"

The three spent the better part of the night hanging holly, when they weren't hanging ornaments or helping Teddy hang them. They had dinner there as well, before heading back to the Weasley's to spend the night. Although they had decorated Lupin's old home, which they had decided to call 'The Den', in honor of the werewolf they had all loved despite his affliction, still wanted them all to wake up together at the Burrow on Christmas morning, and nobody had minded. Everyone was up telling stories and drinking hot chocolate when they got there, so they joined them.

"Harry, remember your first Christmas at Hogwarts? You were so surprised to even get presents at all!"

"Oh haha, that's right! That was a long time ago, it's when I got my cloak too!"

"Blimey, has it been that long?"

"Believe it or not!"

"It's been long enough that we've all stayed up as well, off to bed, I think."

"Mum…"

"It's 11 o'clock, off to sleep!"

The crowd slowly dispersed up the stairs, everyone chattering. At the end of the pack was Ginny and Harry. Ron had grumbled at first, but eventually was the first asleep while everyone else was drifting off. When the last door had shut, Ginny was about to go into her room when she felt a soft hand on her shoulder. She turned around with a smile to find herself in Harry's arms. The two embraced, lingering together. As they drew apart the light caught the simple band on her necklace, and he touched it lightly for a moment before meeting her brown eyes with his green. "I meant it when I promised we'd be together always Ginny, I don't know when I can change that to be more than a promise ring you wear, but I will eventually. She merely smiled "I know you will Harry." Before he could say another word she kissed him. As they turned to go to sleep, he whispered "Merry Christmas Ginny, good night."

"You too Harry, Merry Christmas."

Harry returned to Ron's room and found his friend asleep, still holding the letter from Hermione, to which he smiled before crawling into the bed set up for him and falling asleep.

"Merry Christmas mates!"

"AARG! George!"

"Haha, Beautiful morning isn't it?"

Harry blinked his eyes open to see George casually leaning on the doorway, a grin on his face and decked in green and red. Ron was breathing heavily with small plastic Christmas tree laying on his chest, which Harry guessed had been a smaller fake wand originally.

"Morning Harry, you think it's nice, don't you?"

"Ha, of course George, but I doubt Ron would believe me either. C'mon mate, get dressed, it's Christmas!"

Ron chucked the plastic tree at his brother, missed, and started getting ready.

They seemed to be the first ones up, although it was late enough that they knew Teddy would be awake. Harry scribbled a note saying that they had gone to see him and would be back soon.

As soon as they Apparated, they heard a small voice saying "Grammy! Harry's here again!"

"I told you he would be dear!"

Andromeda opened the door, and explained. "He's been watching the window since he woke up, waiting for you three. "

Harry smiled and put down the bag he'd hidden there the night before. "I've been waiting to see you too Teddy, look, presents!". Quite a few presents were already under the tree, but now quite a few more were added for Andromeda and Teddy. They ate muffins Andromeda had baked with Teddy's impatient help earlier as they unwrapped gifts, mostly letting Teddy eagerly open things. Every so often they'd get something he thought was cool and would wave it in their face, saying "Look at this one! It's neat!". Of course most of the presents were for Teddy, so they got to watch his happiness. Harry had been given a camera from Andromeda though, so was taking pictures of everything, and got his own picture taken a few time when Ginny borrowed his camera. He had given Teddy a miniature replica of his own Firebolt, which he'd replaced. Harry watched him zooming around on it, remembering the picture he found of him as a baby. Eventually Andromeda saw they out of the house, as Teddy was almost too distracted to notice them leaving. They waved goodbye and showed at a much busier Burrow, and a surprise.

The three were talking as they walked into the door, about Teddy's reactions to his various presents, when Ron was half knocked over.

"Ron!"

Ron was too shocked to say anything, but he hugged Hermione tightly.

"Hermione, you're here! But…how…"

She grinned. "Apparation makes it easier to visit…you don't mind I hope?"

He managed to hug her tighter. "Of course not! Merry Christmas Hermione!"

"Oh ho ho! Merry Christmas Hermione!"

The two broke apart, but kept their hands clasped.

"Merry Christmas George!"

"Want to play a game?"

"Um..alright."

A mischevious grin crept upon his face and Angelina walked into the room to hear the end part of the conversation.

"Merry Christmas Hermione! You might regret saying that in a minute."

"Hi Angelina…um..why?"

George waved his wand and a mistletoe and a counter appeared above Hermione's head.

"Kiss counter!" He shouted, kissed her cheek, and dashed off. Hermione blushed as the male members of the Weasley family cheerfully joined in the game, kissing her cheek and making the counter go up, some even giving her multiple kisses. Their wives or girlfriends stood off to the side, laughing cheerfully as they realized she didn't really mind. Harry kept the grin on his face from growing as he noticed Ron's face getting redder and redder.

"Err...Ron?"

His friend didn't respond but suddenly rushed forward and possessively grabbed his girlfriend in a tight embrace and kissing her. The counter suddenly vanished and the mistletoe attached itself to the ceiling above her head. Eventually the kiss melted, both were less tense but stayed locked together until Hermione finally loosened his hold. At her smile the fury in his eyes subsided but looked around the room as if daring one of them to touch her, no one did, but his brothers patted his back.

"Good for you Ron!"

"You know we were just playing around."

He didn't fully relax until Harry smiled and walked by him, his arm around Ginny's waist. Then, Hemione clasped his hand and led him to a place on the couch. Everyone was taking seats on the floor, couch, or chairs around the tree to open presents that were being passed around. Having the rest of the day and next few days for showing them off, gifts were given all at once.

"Harry, Ginny, Hemione, Ron! Here!"

Somehow they all managed to catch the boxes tossed at them by Charlie.

Ginny gasped as she opened hers, and hugged her brother tightly.

Harry looked at her opened gift, and looked up at Charlie. "Dragonhide gloves?"

He grinned. "Welsh Green. For Quidditch, they'll match her uniform! Got you and Ron some too."

Harry and Ron rushed to open theirs as Charlie kept talking.

"Firebolt for you two, you didn't need a specific color, so I went the closest I could to Gryffindor colors, hope you like them. Hermione, didn't know what to get you, but I hope you like it. Rare skin that bag's made out of, Opaleye." She hugged the shimmering bag. "I love it Charlie!"

"So do we!" Harry spoke for Ron, who was trying on his new gloves.

"Yeah, these are brilliant…" Ron's voice was distant as he admired the gift.

"My turn!" The four again had to catch boxes, but bigger ones.

"Custom packaged!"

Each opened the box to find a different assortment of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes merchandise. While Harry, Hermione, and Ginny carefully looked through theirs, Ron tried to dig to where he thought there was something shiny at the bottom, and they all heard a loud boom. After assuring themselves he was alright, the rest of the family turned back to whatever they had been occupied with while Ginny, Harry, and Hermione laughed and George beamed. " Boom-in-a-box, for when you need a moment, diversion, or shock for someone. Maybe a lesson for the hasty, eh?" He grinned then went to give more gifts while Ron grumbled. Hermione laughed. "Spoilsport." For a moment he was torn between stubborn annoyance before he smiled, just for her.

Suddenly Harry felt himself being tugged outside and barely managed to grab a coat before he and the rest of the household were outside and Ginny's yell of "SNOWBALL FIGHT!" ringing in his ears. Apparantly, this was a sort of tradition, as they were strategizing.

Ginny was facing off against George, and they were bartering players.

"I've got Harry and Ron."

"You've got Hermione too then, and I've got Charlie."

"What?! You've got Angelina too! I get Bill then, you mind being with George then Fleur?"

"It eez alright wiz me."

"Game on then brother."

"Right you are little sister!"

Harry watched as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood inside, holding Victorie, and waved at him before he felt a shield charm keep a snowball from hitting him. Ginny grinned. "Snowball fight, with charms. C'mon Harry, pay attention!" Harry willingly joined in, helping keep Hermione from being hit while charming snowballs to make themselves and fly at Charlie and George, who seemed to be the best players and weren't aiming at him. Unfortunately he was caught off guard more than once by Angelina, and after the first time had lost the surprise, but hadn't forgotten her grin. "It's like playing on opposite Quidditch teams, but on the ground! All too easy for a Chaser, eh Harry?" He merely ducked her next one and send a snowball flying at her with a grin, which she barely ducked. Harry gained a new admiration for Ginny's charm and agility, she was barely hit. Everyone was laughing and covered in snow by the time they tramped in. Mrs. Weasley warmed their clothes and hot cocoas floated to everyone as they sat down to enjoy the happy feeling while carols played. A little away from everyone, Harry and Ginny met briefly under the mistletoe, each grinned at each other afterward with a silent promise that it wouldn't be the last time that day.

"My turn, my turn!"

"Let's see that charm work Hermione!"

"It'll be the best you guys, I promise!"

Hermione laughed at Ron's defense of her abilities. They were taking turns at a game where a series of bells that hung suspended in the air would play a Christmas song. Mostly everyone had gone, Ron and Harry had decided not too, and Fleur and Charlie had played ones nobody else had recognized because they were foreign. Hermione had remembered a song that was usually instrumental but she knew nobody would know as it was a Muggle song. Even so, she smiled and waved her wand once, and more bells appeared, and after a brief pause she began. Waving her wand like a conductor would, Carol of the Bells began playing. Everyone was silent, enchanted by the music. When she song had ended, and the other bells vanished, everyone burst out clapping and Ron kissed her on the cheek as she sat back down.

"That was brilliant Hermione!"

"Yeah, it was!"

"Muggle song, was it? Guess they can come up with some good things!"

The compliments went on until a few people went up to take second turns, but Hermione was filled with pride. She met Ginny's eyes and they both smiled, having their arms around their boyfriends. Her eyes drifted around the room, lingering on the various decorations and the smiles on everyone's faces.

It really had been a good Christmas, even if she had to go back to her parents soon, and it was a peaceful one without worry, trouble, or a lack of good cheer.