Hey there! Lauren here. Sorry about not updating yesterday, I got a little busy! And no Madison, I don't like to see you suffer…much. Haha. Anyway, speaking of Madison, I'd like to thank all of my new readers! You guys are cool! Like Madison and bloo-pixie, and all you other cool people I'm too lazy to remember the names of. Sorry, I'm a little tired today. Plus, it's New Year's Eve! Who needs to think? So happy New Year's to you all, and maybe tomorrow I'll remember to list you all! Enjoy!!

Lauren

Disclaimer: You know that if I owned Harry Potter, I would definitely not be sitting here in California…I'd be off traveling the world or something cool for New Year's. So I guess that means I don't own him…*sob*, I'll get over it…someday…

Chapter twenty-nine

Surprising Souvenirs

Ron woke up in the middle of the night, shivering. Why was he so cold? I really hope I'm not getting sick... he thought, not even barely awake. He turned over, reaching to pull the covers tighter, only to find that the covers were gone. He opened his eyes, confused, and saw someone laying next to him, wrapped up in his blanket. Apparently, whoever it was who had snuck into his bed was quite a blanket hog. Startled by the sudden appearance of the visitor (or maybe intruder), he slowly backed up, not realizing he was about to fall off the bed. When he pulled himself off of the floor, he decided to pull back the blanket. As though it were in slow motion, he reached over to the top of the blanket and pulled back enough to see brown bushy hair poking out of the top. He sighed, greatly relieved. For all he knew it could have been Lavender, or Parvati, or a garden gnome. Hey, it had happened before...he thought back to when he was five, when he awoke to find one in his bed, chewing at his blanket maniacally, it was almost as bad as when he found himself hugging the huge spider that had once been a bear...returning to reality, he laid back in his bed, gently took back some of his blanket, and wrapped his arm around the sleeping beauty, kissing her on the forehead.

They woke up the next morning in each others arms, (oh, what a surprise)completely oblivious to the fact that it was Christmas. But they were made well aware when Ginny and Harry came bursting into the room and bounced onto the bed. The first sign was how cheery they both seemed to be for so early in the morning.

"What the--" Ron said groggily.

But before he could finish, he was drowned out (and frightened awake) by Ginny's loud "MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!" Harry dropped his presents for them onto Ron's stomach as Hermione practically peeled her eyes open. Ginny also followed suit and dropped her presents as well, much to Ron's dismay. He had just woken up, and now his stomach was under siege.

Ron attempted to reach under the bed to retrieve his presents as well, but ended up suffocating Hermione in the process. After she finished dramatizing the situation and everyoine just rolled their eyes , she pretended to pout and began to get out of bet to get her presents. Ginny stopped her, handing her the presents that had been under her own bed. They all figured they should exchange their gifts, so they handed over their respective boxes ans silently, with grins of anticipation spread on their faces, began to carefully untie the bows and untape the paper.

For some reason, they all decided to unwrap their presents one person at a time. They had a little fun with it: whoever was first would open the present from the person on their left...oddly enough Ron came up with this idea, and they all followed along. It was Christmas, why not? No one pointed out that, after one round in the circle, his idea wouldn't really make any sense, unless they had all bought presents for only one person...but no one minded anyhow. Again, it was Christmas...Hermione opened her present from Ginny first. It was a really cute muggle sweater, one that Hermione had actually really wanted, she was surprised Ginny knew...next, Ginny opened her present from Harry. It was a beautiful silver necklace, with a simple silver heart in the middle. She absolutely loved it. She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly, and put it on immediately. Next was Harry's present from Ron. He opened it up and found a box of cookies? Huh? What was this? Inside, the note said "Try these, see if you think Ginny's are better than even mine..." Ron smirked as Harry laughed. It was truly funny, especially because 1) who knew he made cookies? 2)when did he find the time to make them? and 3) Ginny had a sour look on her face...how dare he, he knows his are better than mine! grr... Ron took up his gift from Hermione in his hands and examined it. Hermione was more anxious for him to open it than even he was. Finally he started ripping open the paper, while Hermione cringed. Couldn't he at least try to save it?

He got the wrapping paper off and gave an incredulous look.

"Hermione, you got me a dictionary???"

She laughed.

"Just open it! It's not a dictionary…"

He opened the book and on the first page was a drawing of a design that looked oddly familiar...

"Hermione, what is this, it looks a lot like-"

Hermione giggled. Sometimes he could be so slow…

"Bloody hell, it's the design on my key!" he said, finally understanding.

"Where did you find this??"

"Oh, I don't know…" she said slyly. Ron just stared at it in awe.

Next it was time for her to open his present.

She took her time with the paper, and just as she was anxious for him to open his, he was equally anxious for her to open his. He really hoped she'd like it.

She opened up a box to find two things: one was obviously a camera, while the other seemed to be a book. She pulled it out and saw that she had what looked like a very-well-taken-care-of antique book. The cover was a wooden brown with very beautiful detailing, and when she opened it up, she saw the word 'Memories' written in gold calligraphy on the inside cover. She immediately put two and two together, and tears formed in her eyes.

Hermione, without even caring to see where she dropped her gifts, threw her arms around a relieved Ron and began pecking him on the lips.

"Oh-"

Hermione knocked him over onto his back.

"-thank-"

"-you-"

"-SO-"

"-MUCH!!"

she managed to squeal while uncontrollably showing her affection and gratitude. Ron could barely breathe, but was happy all the same that she liked it that much. She finally decided that he had received enough praise, and that he probably would need to breath sooner or later, so she ceased her attack and settled for sitting in his lap, his arms wrapped around her. Ginny was smiling a big goofy one, trying not to make it too evident. But Harry was laughing straight out.

"I swear, you guys are ridiculous, it's like you haven't kissed in years..."

"Hey, lay off, you! You never kiss Ginny in public, and that's not our fault! Don't take it out on us! Hermione laughed at her own insult. But Ron's ears went red, and suddenly Harry fell silent. Ginny's face went from goofy to expressionless. She seemed to be realizing this for the first time.

The room was awkwardly silent, with everyone sneaking embarrassed glances at everyone else. Hermione regretted saying whatever it was she had said, for she had chosen not to remember. Even though it had only been a short time ago. Ginny, with a reserved look now on her face, handed Harry his present. Harry tried to avoid smiling--it was one of those moments where, even though you're not supposed to smile, you can't help it, and Harry had it bad--and extended his hand to receive the gift.

Harry took the box in both hands and, completelly unexpectedly, began to shake the box. Ginny and Ron looked at his like he was insane, and Hermione grabbed his hand and gave him a look that could have stunned him.

"Harry, what the--" Ron began.

"Ron, he's just acting like a five-year-old muggle, that's all..." Ron chuckled, easing the thick tension that had been hovering above them.

"Riiiight...go on then, hurry up."

Harry slowly ripped the tape off his box, minding the return of silence and looks from everyone else. He gently laid the paper (Ginny, as a joke, had wrapped it in snitch paper) to his left and opened up the small cardboard box that contained his gift. He looked down and saw a bunch of shredded paper. Growing slightly impatient and excited, he reached his hand inside and closed his hand around something cold and smooth. A little befuddled, he pulled out his hand and saw something glint. When he opened his hand, he saw he was holding an actual snitch. (the paper was a hint??) He turned it over and saw that it was engraved...

"To Harry, good luck with Quidditch this year! from Aidan Lynch"

The engraving was actually signed by Lynch--the Irish seeker--and it was personalized! How did she--

"Ginny! Wha- I mean ho- wow!" he finally managed to say. Ginny just looked at him, smiling gleefully. She knew he would like it.

Ron looked on in amazement, for he had had no idea whatsoever that she had obtained this snitch either. But he wasn't ecstatic. Instead, he was a tad jealous.

"Ginny! How did you get that? Why does HE get it? Not even your own brother? Huh? you don't love me as much as you love him, do you?!?"

Before he could say anymore, Hermione clapped her hand over his mouth and gave him a look very similar to the one she had only just given Harry. Ginny looked at Ron; though he had been expecting a look somewhat like Hermione's, he noticed that hers looked quite pained. She didn't retort; in fact, she didn't speak at all. Instead, she handed Ron a long, heavy box. Ron felt a little ashamed of himself, and took the box quietly. He tried to fill the silence by unwrapping his paper rather noisily, but this only earned more scornful glances from Hermione, so he gave up on that. He opened the box and his heart skipped a beat. It was a Firebolt 3, the newest model. But not only that, it was signed as well...by the entire Chudley Cannons team. Underneath all of their signatures, it read: "Ron, hope you find some good use for this!"

Ron felt his entire face turn beet red as he looked at Ginny. Now he felt completely ashamed of himself.

"Ah, Gin..."

She gave a bit of a grin and started to fiddle with the blanket she was sitting fervently.

As Ginny sat playing with the blanket, a new thought came to Ron--

"Ginny, where in the world did you get the money to pay for all this? And how, exactly, did you happen to *meet* all these people? I mean, it's not like you can just happen to pass these people on the streets or something..."

Ginny continued to look down at and play with the blanket. For a moment, she didn't answer, and then...

"Well, I wasn't supposed to tell you, but..."

"Yeees?" Ron pressed.

Ginny sighed heavily, avoiding his eyes.

HAHA!! What could it be? Is she doing something illegal? Does she lead a double life? Find out next time, on Complex Attractions!

(I've always wanted to do that…hehehe) Make sure to review!! Pwease!!