A/n Wow, it's been so long since I wrote to this story!! I start classes next week, witch means oddly that I'll probably write more. I seem to write more when I should be doing homework!!
A
Glimmer within a trial
Part ix
"Ginny, wake up. It's Christmas!" Ginny woke up to the sound of Kimberly's voice. She and Hermione barged into Ginny's room and lifted off her covers.
"But, it's only nine o'clock," Ginny protested. She never was a morning person.
"Come on Ginny. We have to open presents." Ginny swore Kimberly was an eight-year-old trapped in a fifteen-year-old's body.
"Hermione, you've got to stop her," Ginny mumbled. "She's gone crazy."
"It's Christmas Ginny. You have to get up," Hermione said.
"Great. Now you're tuning on me too," Ginny said rubbing her eyes. She started to feel the excitement of Christmas morning once she walked down into the living room still in her pajamas, and saw the Christmas tree filled up with presents. Then, she caught sight of Harry in front of the fire, and immediately lost the excitement. She had to find out what was bothering him!
"Morning Ginny," Bridgett called coming down the stairs.
"Morning Bridgett. How was your night?"
"Well, I didn't get much sleep. Spent most of the night thinking," Bridgett confessed.
"And…" Ginny asked curiously.
"I've decided to tell the others."
"That's great Bridgett," Hermione cut in, apparently listening on the other side of Ginny.
"Tell us what," Kimberly asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," Ginny told her friend. "Come on, let's wait for the others to come down."
It didn't take long for everyone to appear in the common room. They all eagerly ripped into their presents. Ginny received the typical Weasley sweater from her mom, along with a couple new quills. Hermione gave her a bottle of blue finger nail polish; apparently popular in the Muggle world. Kimberly gave her a book entitled How to Keep Him Enticed. Ginny had to laugh at Kimberly's gift; it was the typical sort of thing Kimberly would get. The only present she had left to open was from Harry. She was still very hesitant to give him the present she had made him.
Ginny didn't have enough money to buy him anything, so she did the only thing she could. She made him a pair of emerald green mittens, to match his eyes. She knew his mittens were getting old, and had holes in them, so she figured it would be the perfect thing to make him.
"Hi Ginny," Harry said, holding something in his arms.
"Hi," she replied.
"I er, got you this," he said as he shoved the package he was holding at her.
"Here, open mine first," Ginny said while thrusting the wrapped up mittens at Harry. He hesitated for a moment before tearing the wrapping paper off of the mittens. Then, he did something Ginny hadn't seen him do since Bridgett arrived; he smiled at her. Although, it was a quick and nervous smile. "Thanks Ginny. You did a great job making these."
"I didn't have any mon…"
"That okay. I love them," Harry said before he could finish. "Now, you open yours."
Ginny tore right into the package and revealed a very beautiful set of turquoise dress robes.
"Harry, they're lovely. They must have cost a fortune."
"Don't worry, it was worth it," he said, smiling at her again. Kimberly came up to show Ginny a necklace she got from Neville, and Harry retreated back to talk to Ron and Hermione. Ginny figured whatever was bugging Harry last night must still be bugging him a little. She had to talk to him alone later that night.
"Ginny, Kimberly, look what Ron gave me," Hermione said coming up to them. She showed them a lovely snow globe that played music when you shook it. He must have made it especially for her because the little figurines in it looked exactly like him and Hermione sitting on a bench outside of Hogsmeade.
"I can't believe my brother could be that thoughtful," Ginny exclaimed.
"I can't either. It totally surprised me," Hermione teased as Ron walked up to her.
"Hey. I resent that," he teased.
Once all the presents had been open, Liberty invited everyone in the kitchen for Christmas dinner. The table was packed with enough food to feed all of Hogwarts. Liberty was a good cook, so it didn't take long for Ginny to be stuffed. Looking around the table, she could tell everyone else was equally stuffed.
"I have an announcement to make," Bridgett said as soon as they were finished. "I have done a lot of thinking, and I've decided to do it. I'm going to help you capture Wormtail. Consider this my Christmas present to all of you." Receiving a lot of confused glances, Bridgett explained about her secrete. When she was finished, there was a long pause before Sirius finally spoke up.
"I can't thank you enough for helping me Bridgett, but are you sure you want to take such a big risk for me?"
"Well…are you scared of me," Bridgett asked.
"Of course not."
"Then of course I'll help you. You have judged me by who I am, and not by what I am, as many others do. You don't know how much that means to me," Bridgett stated.
"I'm not afraid of you either," Kimberly said, giving her some encouragement.
"Really? Thanks," Bridgett gushed.
"None of us are afraid of you Bridgett," Ginny said, giving a special glance Ron and Harry's way. Harry seemed to nod and agreement. Seeing this, Ron reluctantly gave in.
"I never really thought she was evil," he muttered. Ginny could tell he was sincere though, she could read her brother like a book.
The day went quickly, and the evening was spent by the fire playing exploding snap and chess. They decided to wait and discuss a plan for capturing Wormtail with Bridgett after Christmas. Christmas was supposed to be a day to relax, not worry about Voldemort and his followers.
Although Harry was talking to her, he was still acting strangely formal towards her. This confirmed her idea that something besides Bridgett was troubling Harry. She was about to confront him when Liberty ran out of the kitchen rambling like a child.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmy…"
"I see you are trying to improve your vocabulary," Sirius said.
"You'll never guess what I just saw."
"This better be good," he replied.
"Oh my gosh," Liberty exclaimed again.
"Yeah. I think we established that already," Sirius said to her. "Now, will you please tell us what you saw?"
"Snape…Shelby…they were…they were…"
"Will you just tell us what was going on with Snape and Shelby?" Sirius was starting to sound impatient.
"They were kissing."
"What?" Suddenly they both burst out laughing. About that time, Snape and Shelby returned from the kitchen, only to put Sirius and Liberty into further hysterics. Snape quickly started to glare at everyone, and Shelby just looked confused. Ginny saw Remus just shake his head, apparently thinking all his friends had just gone nutters.
Snape and Shelby never did confess to kissing in the kitchen, but whenever they had their heads turned Ginny couldn't help but giggle along with the rest. The thought of anyone kissing Snape was just too funny! After quite a bit of eggnog, everyone seemed to be going to bed.
Soon, the only ones left were Ron and Hermione; whom where enjoying a game of chess, and Harry; who was sitting in front of the fire. Ginny found this the perfect time to confront him.
"Harry," she said as she approached him.
"Hi Ginny. I was just about to go to bed," he said getting up from his chair.
"Wait. I have to ask you something before you go," Ginny said, pushing her arm out to stop him.
"What is it?"
"I just wondered what is wrong."
"Nothing's wrong," Harry answered. Ginny knew he was lying though his teeth.
"Harry, something has to be wrong. You can't keep avoiding me."
"I don't know how to tell you this Ginny," he said.
"Is it about us," Ginny asked.
"Yes it is."
A/n I finally finished a new chapter!! Even though it was very fluff filled. Next chapter will have some action though, I hope. I just didn't want them to go through all this planning on Christmas. I will probably be writing this story for a long time since I haven't even gotten close to the trial part yetJ
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
