Chapter Twenty-One: Christmas Day

I woke up and jumped into the shower immediately. It was only six in the morning – all the better for me, I could have a long shower before Christmas began.

Christmas!

It was Christmas morning at last!

The sudden rush of excitement made me want to be quick in the shower and wake everyone up extra early, but I forced myself to remain calm and steady. I took extra care washing my hair, making sure that my shampoo and conditioner touched each curl. I even shaved my legs for the occasion.

Despite my attempts to prolong my shower, it was only six-forty when I finished dressing for the day. I didn't mind this so much; I made my bed and checked the wrapping on all of my gifts. Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Ginny. I had sent my parents' presents by owl yesterday. I put each present into my beaded bag (I didn't want anyone to anticipate what their presents may be by the size of them). I liked surprising people, and I enjoyed the looks on their faces when they see the wrapped presents.

Time was going achingly slow but it was eventually seven; a socially acceptable time to wake up. I rushed into Ginny's dorm and shook her awake quietly, managing to do so without waking her dorm-mates. She jumped out of bed immediately despite not usually being a morning person, wrapped her dressing-gown around her pyjamas and went to wake Fred and George while I woke Harry and Ron.

Fred, George and Ginny were waiting impatiently in the common room when I (finally) came down the stairs with Harry and Ron in my wake. The two were still yawning and rubbing their eyes in an effort to wake up.

"Come on guys, it's Christmas!" I shouted happily. They groaned and slumped on the couches.
"I left my presents in my room," Ron grumbled.
"Me too," Harry agreed. They got up to retrieve them but I was far too impatient, so I summoned them. They gave me grateful looks.

When each of us had put on our traditional Weasley jumpers (Ginny and I received scarves) I began to feel like part of a family. I'd never had a big family and my fellow Gryffindors were about as close as I got. And as this was my first Christmas at Hogwarts, I was extra satisfied with the feeling of unity.

Fred and George exchanged gifts first – Fred gave George a nice new mirror ("To cure your vanity," he had said) which shouted insults at whatever and whoever was in the reflection ("Forge, this is the best present you have ever given me!"). George gave Fred a comb that styled your hair for you.

"I really don't think this is necessary, Gred," Fred told him uncertainly.
"Nonsense!" George waved away Fred's comment. "Best present there is."
"Did you even bother to look for a decent present?" Ginny wondered. George looked guilty.
"Well, no," he admitted. "But that comb definitely caught my eye."
Fred threw it at him. "Well you can have it then! Your hair is much longer than mine anyway."

Which was not true, for their hair was exactly the same length, but Fred seemed very keen to be rid of the comb. After George acting offended, the present swap continued.

Ginny gave the twins a special jinxing kit from Zonko's I was willing to bet they had already, but the twins loved their sister, and seemingly adored their present. Harry and Ron exchanged candy gifts from Honeydukes; Harry also gave everyone but me muggle candy. "It's not as nice as magical stuff," he said quietly, "But I'm sure you'll enjoy the novelty of it."

I received books from Harry and Ron which I'm certain they picked randomly off the shelves, but at least they were in the advanced section of the store. I gave them the candy I had chosen from Honeydukes, and they immediately ripped into the Chocolate Frogs and swapped cards. I handed over Harry's Hogwarts ornament, which he thought was very sweet of me, and Ron's chess set – "Blimey Hermione, this is brilliant!"

Ginny was thankful for the chocolate sugar quills and handed me a small package in return – I didn't know she had bought me anything. "Ginny, you shouldn't have," I began, but she shook her head.
"I don't know if you will like it," she replied nervously.
Protected with blue tissue paper, Ginny had bought me a beautiful hair piece. It slid into my hair and shone because of the glitzy diamantes, which were set into a thick silver band that kept the comb teeth together.
"Ginny, it's gorgeous!" She grinned at me.
"I'm so relieved, I bought it at that store we found…" and she rambled on. I lifted up my bag, ready to give the twins their presents, but they had disappeared. Unfazed, I decided I would give it to them later.
"Let's get dressed and go down to breakfast," Harry suggested. With vigorous nods, particularly from Ron and Ginny, we all trampled upstairs. Ginny came into my room with her green dress.

"Thanks again for the comb, Gin," I said as I pulled back some hair and forced it in. To my immense surprise, it held all my hair without coming loose.
Ginny's muffled voice came behind me. "It's charmed to stay there which I thought was pretty nice." She was struggling to get the dress over her head.

I went over to help her. "Just stay still. What's the dress for anyway, I thought you were saving it for an emergency?"

Ginny's face popped through the neck of the dress. She was blushing. "I… well, I… um…"
"Spit it out, Ginny," I said in amusement. "It's only me."
"Well, I intend on getting a date."
I grinned. "And who do you intend on getting a date with?"
"Maybe Dean Thomas? Please don't tell Ron."
"Why would I tell him about a date you haven't even got yet?" I asked breezily. Ginny smiled and her blush disappeared. "You're old enough to date anyway. It's none of Ron's business what you do."

As she walked over to the mirror to play with her hair, Ginny said "That's exactly what I've been trying to convince myself all along!" She turned around with a sly grin. "I can get you a date too, if you like?"
"What? Ginny, no! I am perfectly capable of getting myself a date!"

After a moment of deliberation, Ginny agreed. "I know you are. I just wonder if you'll have the bravery to actually get one."