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THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

            Ginny woke up smiling today.  In the bleary haziness of morning, she wasn't completely sure why, she just knew she was happy.  When all the events of the last ten days sunk in, she smiled even more. 

Some one had a crush on her, plain old Ginny, always overshadowed by her brothers…

Hermione was actually good material for a friend.  After yesterday it seemed Hermione was in desperate need of some female company after all.  Once they had gotten over the inevitable awkward moments at the beginning, they had really (at the risk of sounding corny) bonded.

*flashback*

Ginny had told Hermione everything that had been happening over the last while, glad to get some of it out of her system.  She told her of her suspicions, blushing bright red when she explained why she thought it might be Harry.  She explained about Colin, and how she hoped she wouldn't have to hurt him if it was indeed his doing.  Hermione refrained from saying anything about Harry, but she gave Ginny sympathy about the whole Colin thing.

"Is there anyone else you think it could be?"  Hermione asked curiously.  "You know…it is possible they aren't even here for the holidays…if these gifts just turn up and you have never actually come into contact with this guy…he might just be getting other people to deliver them to you.  Like the first year was told to."

Ginny looked at Hermione hesitantly.  She didn't have many friends, and she didn't want to risk Hermione thinking her a scarlet woman by telling her about the snogging.  But if they were to become friends…she should tell her the truth.

Hermione's reaction had been comical, and some what predictable.  Her mouth had dropped open and she had stared at Ginny in disbelief for a few moments…Ginny supposed she was slowly getting used to the idea that she wasn't a little baby anymore.  It wasn't really her fault she thought of Ginny as a little girl…spending too much time with Ron could do that to a person.  But Hermione snapped out of it, and Ginny was glad she refrained from giving her a motherly lecture.  Instead she started giggling, yes giggling, and asked her to elaborate, and give her all the details. 

Of course soon they were laughing and chatting away like they had known each other forever. 

*end of flashback*

Ginny sighed happily, reaching for her trunk at the end of the bed, almost knocking over Kringle in the process.  The owl looked at her outraged, fluffing up his feathers and flying out the open window. 

Wait, why is the window open in the middle of winter…?

Unfortunately her unspoken question was answered right away.

Emma, one of Ginny's fellow fifth year Gryffindors was standing in front of the full length mirror fussing with her straight dark brown hair.  Ginny scowled at her back…of all the things to ruin her day…

"Oh hello Ginny, finally crawled out of bed have you?"  Emma asked. Sugar lacing every word.

Ginny glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost noon.  Oh my…I barely ever sleep in that long.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, it was the day before Christmas after all…a very odd time to come back to school. 

Emma smirked at her through the mirror.  "I wanted to spend the holidays here, but my parents insisted I at least come to visit them.  Now I'm back."

Something weird is going on here…Ginny thought a bit uneasy.  Emma never stays at school longer that she has to.

Before she could say anything else, Emma went on talking.  She always liked to talk about herself, no matter who was the audience.  "Now I can stay here and spend a lovely romantic Christmas with my boyfriend."  Here Ginny saw Emma smirk even more. 

She's always got a boyfriend, why should she think I'd care now? Ginny wondered. 

Just then there was a hesitant knock at the door.  "Emma?" a familiar voice called out sounding a bit nervous.

"Come on in!" Emma called, sounding excited.

"Ummm…are you sure you don't want me to wait out here?" The voice asked, plainly uncomfortable with the idea of being near the girls dorms let along going in one. 

"Don't be silly Harry, it's only me and Ron's little sister."  Here Ginny's heart seemed to sink down into her stomach.  Not that she had needed confirmation, she had known the minute she heard him utter her roommates name that it was Harry.

Harry Potter

The crush/obsession that had occupied her thoughts and mind frame for too many years was dating her ditsy roommate. 

When Harry came into the room, he only spared Ginny a quick glance before goggling at Emma's femininely attributes.  Just like every other guy would do.

Ginny sighed, for some reason she had made herself believe that Harry was one of the few people who would look past the looks…

 It also surprised her that she wasn't as disappointed as she thought she would be.  Come on Ginny…you heart was just supposedly broken.  But it was almost as if she expected something like this to happen.  Sure it would have made a really good story, the amazing Harry Potter, secretly in love with shy little Ginny Weasley…giving her expensive romantic gifts only to reveal his true identity on Christmas day…

But had she ever really expected it to happen?

This is no time to be having emotional breakthroughs.  Ginny told herself firmly.  Now that Harry was obviously out of the picture…who was doing all this?  Surely not Colin…it just didn't seem right…but I suppose you never know.

"See you later Ginny!" Emma called out, sending Ginny a smug look over her shoulder.  Ginny just rolled her eyes at the two retreating backs. 

When they had left, she remembered that Kringle had been waiting for her when she woke up…that had to mean he had a package. 

Seeing the envelope on her trunk where Kringle had been sitting, Ginny quickly grabbed it, savoring every moment of anticipation. 

On the eleventh day of Christmas,

Your true love gave to you,

Eleven pixies dancing on the fool moon.

  Go to the paddock farthest from the castle, and nearest to the forest for eleven o'clock. 

Bring someone with you if you're nervous.

Ginny stared at the instructions, how was she supposed to sneak out that late at night without getting caught?  Not that she was a saint…she just knew the chances of not being seen were very slim, and Ginny didn't fancy a detention on Christmas. 

Now if I were the dream team, I'd have this kind of stuff down to an art…and that's when a brilliant idea hit her.

Hermione!

"You want me to do what??? Hermione gasped, looking at Ginny like she was crazy.  "There is no way I'm helping you out of the castle, breaking school rules.  I'm a prefect you know!"

"But Hermione, I'm going with or without you, and you've been sneaking around the castle with Ron and Harry for years!"  Ginny reasoned.

"Only when it's a life or death situation." Hermione put in stubbornly. 

"Come on Hermione, it'll be fun, how many times do you get to see pixies dancing?"

Ginny smiled when Hermione's lips pursed, and her eyes shone with longing.  It was true, very few people were fortunate enough to witness the pixie 'circle.' (At least that's what Ginny assumed was going to happen.)  They would come out on certain full moons and dance, each group had their own circle, and if you were lucky enough to find one, at the full moon you could come out and watch to your hearts content. 

"Well…" Hermione began, sighing in defeat.  "Fine…just don't ever tell your brother I'm willingly breaking rules."

"Deal."  Ginny agreed, smiling triumphantly.

At ten thirty the two girls set off.  Hermione managed to borrow Harry's cloak.  Apparently Harry was too wrapped up in Emma to protest.  "I don't even think he heard what I said." Hermione complained. "That tart had just sat on his lap." 

Ginny just rolled her eyes, "Emma has that effect on boys." 

"You seem okay about it…I know you had thought Harry might be-"

"I know, but I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be…I'm just baffled as to who is doing this stuff for me now."

"You know Colin really likes you…" Hermione started, but Ginny cut her off.

"I know, but all this wizarding stuff…I don't know if he could do it.  I'm not saying anything against muggle born." Ginny hastened to explain.  "It's just…the amulets and every thing else are things most muggle born don't know the significance of without research.  And the cost of some of this stuff…" Ginny shook her head at the thought.  "I don't think he could afford it." 

Hermione reluctantly agreed, but they still couldn't rule him out (seeing as he was the only suspect left)

Just like all the other gifts, the pixies dance was absolutely amazing.  When Ginny and Hermione arrived, they were far enough from the castle to take off the cloak, much to their relief.  They had followed the line of the forbidden forest until they reached a paddock sort of thing, (little did they know it was the same place the dragons had been kept in Ginny's third year).  Hermione knew it was the right place immediately, because 'according to her research' this was an ideal area for pixies to pick for their full moon rituals. 

And of course she was right, as Hermione is never wrong about such things.  The pixies immerged from the trees at eleven o'clock.  The full moon was bright up in the sky, and seemed to beam down, illuminating only their circle as they danced. 

There was no music, nothing but the sounds nature provided them, but they danced as if there was always a tune to jump to. 

Hermione, who had brought a note book in order to write down details of the experience was sitting there, pen limp in her hand watching completely mesmerized.

Time was no longer a factor, and the two girls sat and watched, their spirits light, joy in their hearts until the full moon faded in the sky and there was nothing left to watch.  One minute they had been there, the next Ginny and Hermione snapped out of their daze and realized it was already early morning.

"Wow…" Hermione said, and Ginny only nodded her head in agreement.  There was nothing else to say. 

Invisibility cloak in hand, the girls made there way back up to the castle, Ginny only vaguely aware it was already Christmas day. 

With this chapter finished I'll have one more to go…if I can fit it into one chapter…I might make it long or split it into two.  Either way the ending is on it's way!  I'm excited because I've never written an ending before…we'll just have to see how it turns out :D

Cheers

*Imp

ps: thank you for all the reviews they're a read motivator.  Please keep them coming I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter.