Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story, there isn't even one original character.  :) So get on with the fic, I'd be surprised if anyone is even reading this annoying thing in the first place.

THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

Thinking back to the day before had Ginny wanting to kick herself.  Her Secret Santa had been literally right in front of her face, and she hadn't done anything to find out who it was.  If she had only grabbed a hold of him before he left…

Oh who was she kidding?

She had been totally immobile after that amazing kiss she wouldn't have even seen who it was if the lights had been on. 

As her thoughts went inventively back to the kiss, Ginny felt her face flush and her lips tug into a smile.  Not that she had anything to compare it to, but Ginny was quite sure whoever was giving her unbelievable gifts was also an excellent kisser.

If only I knew who he was so we could do it again… Ginny thought wistfully, but flushed even more when she realized how she was thinking.  Her mother would be sure to have a fit if she ever found out her youngest and only daughter was fantasizing about snogging a boy she had never met in dark classrooms.

While Ginny practically floated through the Hogwarts corridors (no doubt hoping she would get another visit in a dark classroom).  Her Secret Santa was still berating himself for losing control.

Idiot, he told himself over and over again, so many things could have gone wrong, she could have seen you… But no matter how many times he told himself it was a mistake, he couldn't help but remember how she hadn't resisted him, instead she had responded like she was actually enjoying it…

Well surely that's a good sign.  He reassured himself for the hundredth time.  And he couldn't forget what had happened with the egg. 

The golden egg he had given her was supposed to reflect her feelings at that moment, and the heat it had been giving off told him she was definitely attracted to him.  Or at least was enjoying her self immensely.  If she was scared or angry it would go cold, but it only reacted that severely when her emotions were unnaturally high. 

I did that…he thought disbelievingly. 

Well at least there's hope for me now.

With a new bout of confidence, the boy went off to prepare Ginny's surprise for today, the memory of her soft, pliant lips still swimming through his mind.

Kringle found his mistress near the Charms corridor, and tapped on the window as she was passing.  Seeing the green envelope her owl had delivered, Ginny quickly let Kringle in out of the cold. 

The parchment was a bit longer than usual (which was immediately obvious due to Ginny's intense study of each note), earning the steady beat of her heart to go up a couple notches. 

On the ninth day of Christmas,

Your true love gave to you,

Nine pliperns playing.

Go to the edge of the forest at noon to receive your ninth gift.

Don't be late, pliperns don't wait.

Wear your amulets and nothing in the forest will be of any danger to you.

Ginny checked her watch, 11:45, which gave her just enough time to make it to the forest.  Telling herself she was insane, Ginny made her way through the corridors at a brusque pace.  She was, of course, already wearing the beautiful amulets.  Twirling the necklace as she walked, Ginny pondered what sort of powers the amulets had if they would keep her safe within the forest. 

That was yet another question she would have to get answered on a different date. 

On her way out of the castle, Ginny re-read the note, stopping at the part about pliperns.

I've heard of pliperns before…

Indeed she had, she realized when she reached the borders of the forest.  For waiting for her, looking impatient was a small creature in a blue pointed hat.

It looked like the muggle version of a garden gnome (minus the fishing pole, and plus a wooden flute like instrument).  It waved one of its hands, a gesture that said plainly 'follow me' before disappearing into the trees.  She had learned about them back in third year Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Grubby-Plank had been substituting. 

Ginny bit her bottom lip in indecision before plunging in after it.

My Secret Santa has never lied to me yet.  Ginny told herself reasonably, so why shouldn't I believe him when he writes telling me its safe?

Ginny promptly ignored the responses that came rushing into her mind, such as:

You have never met him (or at least you don't know who it is).

He could be Voldemort himself luring you into a trap.  (But really, Voldemort wouldn't kiss that well would he?)

…

By the time Ginny's mind rambling had ceased, she found herself in a clearing not too far from the Hogwarts grounds (at least she hoped it wasn't too far) surrounded by nine of these little men and women.  One of them pushed her into the center of the circle they were making; Ginny sat down obediently and watched, too nervous to try anything else.

They each had a wooden pipe, which they held at the ready.  After they formed a perfect circle, beautiful music started to fill the air of the clearing.  One Plipern began, with each of his companions following suit not to long after.  They harmonized like a composers dream. 

Ginny had never had music take her breath away before, and now she knew the meaning of the phrase.  It had a magical feel about it, and lifted her spirits much like the phoenix song would do. 

When all the Pliperns had begun to play, Ginny's eyes widened when they started to move around.  They gradually picked up speed with the music, and soon were leaping and spinning throughout the clearing in an all out dance.  Ginny was laughing and clapping along with the music by the time she realized she wasn't the only thing watching this amazing spectacle. 

At the edge of the woods, she could make hundreds of birds perched in the trees, all the normal animals you would find in a forest mixed with quite a few magical creatures.  There was a group of centaurs watching proudly and quietly.  Ginny gasped at the flash of gold that was a baby unicorn.  Sitting under a tree, giving hungry glares at the birds was none other than Crookshanks, Hermione's cat.  Ginny could also see some more Pliperns watching their friends or family perform. 

Her attention to the crowd was only short, for she could not keep her mind off the music and dance that was happening all around her. 

When the song finally came to an end, the lifted spirits it brought still lingered, and Ginny couldn't wipe the silly smile off her face.  The rest of the crowed dispersed, and the Plipern that had brought her to the clearing approached her.  He motioned for her to follow again, and reluctantly, Ginny was led out of the forest. 

When Hogwarts grounds came into view again, the little man held out a green package which Ginny took with unsteady hands.  When she turned to thank him, he had seemingly disappeared. 

"Oh yeah, Pliperns are very good at hiding and avoiding people when they don't want to be discovered." Ginny recalled from her Care of Magical creature lesson.  She also remembered how they would play extraordinary music when celebrating something.  Must have been one of their birthdays.  

Now that her guide was gone, Ginny decided it would be best for her to get back to the safety of Hogwarts no matter how close she already was, before opening her next gift.  

As if seeing them play hadn't been enough of a present! She thought, shaking her head in wonder.

When she got up to the castle, she tore the paper from the odd shaped object, and smiled brightly at what she saw.  

It was a wooden pipe identical to the ones the Pliperns had used, but a bit bigger to accommodate her size.  Ginny knew that she would never even come close to playing anything like she had just heard (in fact she would probably be completely dreadful at it) but it was the perfect thing to remind her that it hadn't been all a dream.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hurrah! I hope you liked this, I wrote it as fast as I could.  

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed   : )  I'm so glad people are into this fic, it is my motivation to keep going.

I wish I could please all of you at the end, but it seems there can only be one SS…unless I go for a weird threesome thingy lol, nah, maybe in another story.

Keep the reviews coming, and I'll update pronto!  I already know what I'm going to write about and everything.

Cheers

Imp