I'll Be Home For Christmas
Chapter 12: Twas The Night Before Christmas
Disclaimer: Nope I still don't own em…. I put em on my Christmas list. I'll let you know if Santa brings em…
A/N: Wow I've made it to the Christmas Eve chapter…you know what that means? One more chapter after this!!! Wow! Can't believe I'm actually doing it. Well I hope you enjoy this.
Christmas Eve the sun was shining and the ground was covered with crisp bright snow. Christmas music was piped throughout the entire house. She and Hermione were sitting at the kitchen table opening Christmas cards that they hand each received. Ginny smiled at cards from friends like The Longbottoms and Colin Creevy.
"Ginny! I got a card from Draco!" Hermione told her as ripped into the envelope in her hand. Ginny sorted threw the pile in front of her and found one with familiar handwriting.
"So did I," she said smiling. Draco Malfoy had made a truce with Harry late in Ginny's sixth year, and had said he wanted to help in the fight against Voldemort. Everyone had called Harry crazy for trusting him, but Harry seemed to have the same sixth sense as Dumbledore when it came to who could be trusted and who couldn't. Draco had ended up becoming very close with Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione. Ginny laughed thinking back at the hatred she had once felt for a man she now considered one of her closest friends. After Harry disappeared he had been extremely supportive. He had even offered to marry her once. "Temporarily" he had insisted, "Just until Harry comes home." Ginny had graciously declined his offer. They often laughed about the incident now. Ginny opened the card and began reading the letter that fell out of.
Ginny-
Hello love! It's been ages since we've been in contact. We'll have to get together soon. Perhaps for New Years we could get together.
Not much new is happening with me right now. I've been busy with work but all else is well. Jen is doing well also and is anxious to see you and James again. Promise not to tell anyone if I tell you something? I think I'm going to pop the question at Christmas dinner. We're having it with her family. If you think I shouldn't do it in front of her family you better express owl me fast so I can do it before dinner. I don't think I can wait any longer to do it. I've had the ring in my dresser drawer for a month now…
Anyway, how are you Ginny? I know this time of year is always the hardest for you. Just promise me you won't let get to you to badly. Enjoy Christmas with James (his present should be arriving soon) and have fun. Harry's all right, and he'll come home eventually…
Ginny stopped reading there and her hand flew over her mouth as she let out a gasp. How could she have forgotten to write him?
"What?" Hermione inquired.
"I never wrote Draco to tell him Harry was home!" Ginny told her.
Hermione laughed. "I was wondering why he was asking me to make sure you didn't get to depressed. I don't think you've ever been farther away from depression in your life," Hermione grinned.
"I have to write him right away," Ginny dropped the letter on to the table and went in search of a quill and parchment. She sat back down at the table and began to write
Draco-
I can't believe I never wrote you! You have to forgive me! Harry came home three weeks ago, absolutely fine. I won't go into details but he's alive and well and he's home. He and James act like they've known each other all along. And you thought James reminded you of Harry before? Now he imitates everything his father does. It's frightening.
So you're right. We'll all have to get together as soon as possible. New Years sounds like a lovely idea. I'll be in touch!
Love,
Ginny
PS: Congratulations on deciding to propose. I hope all goes well.
Ginny sealed the letter, pleased and called for Hedwig. Sirius had brought her back to the Burrow after Harry's return, no longer needing her in hopes that she could aid with the search.
"Take this to Malfoy Manor as fast as you can," Ginny instructed the owl. Hedwig hooted in response and then took off with the letter attached to her leg.
That afternoon, Remus and Sirius returned to the Burrow to spend Christmas with the Weasleys. Ginny welcomed them and took them into the kitchen.
"Guess who showed up at Hogwarts today Ginny?" Remus said.
"Who?" Ginny asked, placing a large plate of Christmas cookies in front of them.
Remus smiled at her and shook his head. "More and more like your mother everyday," he commented before answering her. "Serverus Snape," he said.
"Snape?" Ginny felt her body straighten. "Did you say anything to him?" she asked curiously,
"We didn't get a chance," Sirius answered her. "He seemed to be avoiding is at all costs."
"So is he going to be teaching potions again?"
"It appears so," Remus replied.
"Those poor children," Sirius shook his head.
"Be nice," Ginny scolded smiling. "He save your godson's life."
"And that I am grateful for. That doesn't mean he's going to be a kinder Potions master though…"
"True," Ginny agreed.
"Is James excited for tomorrow?" Remus asked changing the topic.
"He's practically bouncing off the walls," she said laughing. "Luckily lately all is energy's been thrown in Harry's direction."
"I don't think he minds," Sirius noted.
"No. He doesn't," Ginny concurred. "I can barely tear them apart from one another."
"It's nice to finally see the entire Weasley family together for Christmas."
"Yes. It is."
That night after James was in bed, Ginny threw left over food from Christmas Eve dinner and I a picture she had taken of James and Harry a few days earlier into a basket and went to get her cloak. She draped it around her shoulders and picked up the basket. She was about to disapparate when Harry came into the room.
"Where are you going?"
"I have an errand I have to run," Ginny told him.
"This late on Christmas Eve? Can't it wait?" he eyed her curiously.
"No," she told him, hoping that he wouldn't ask questions.
"Alright. Be careful. You don't want me to come do you?"
"No," she smiled at his concern. She kissed him lightly before disapparting.
She arrived in The Shack moments later and made her way to the passage that she had taken to and from Hogwarts so many times during her sixth year. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself when she entered the chilly tunnel. She made her way through the passage until she came out under the Womping Willow. She made her way up to the school and paused looking at the place that held so many of her favorite memories. She made her way into the castle and stopped when she was just inside the door to grab her wand and a piece of parchment which she unfolded.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," she said placing her wand to the paper. The map appeared and she searched for Snape's name. Finding the dot, she followed the map to what she presumed were his chambers. She found the door to the room the map said he was in unlocked.
"Professor Snape," she spotted him sitting in a chair.
"Who are you?" he called back, sounding peeved about being bothered.
" It's Ginny Weasley sir," she answered him.
"Leave," he sounded annoyed, but not surprised.
"Sir I just wanted to tell you…"
"I don't want you gratitude."
"Well I brought you some of our Christmas Eve supper. I'll leave the basket," she sat down the basket and began to leave. "Oh," she stopped. "I put a picture Harry and our son in there. If you don't want it could you send it back?" she asked.
"Your son?" Snape finally looked up at her.
"Our son," Ginny assured him that he had heard correctly. "He's two and a half. And whether you meant to or not you gave him the best Christmas present he'll ever receive. "That's why I came. Because whether you meant to or not, you gave James and I the greatest gift ever. You gave us back our family. You gave me the one thing that was keeping my life from being perfect. And even though I know you weren't trying to do any great deed for your not-so-favorite people in the world, I thought that you should know that you did and that I'm forever in your debt." Ginny felt a few tears roll down her cheek. "I think you saved me as much as you saved him," she confessed. "I don't know how much longer I would have made it."
From the look on his face Ginny almost expected Snape to get up and hug her but he remained in his chair, silent.
"And I'm not going to thank you, because I know you don't want me too, but I just thought that you should know what you did for all of us." Ginny smiled through her tears and turned to leave. As she was walking back out the door she heard a voice call to her.
"Merry Christmas Miss. Weasley," Snape said in the drawling tone he always seemed to speak in.
"Merry Christmas Professor Snape," she called back quietly.
A/N: Awww only one more chapter to go! I'm going to be sad when it ends. Well I'm positive that the next chapter won't be the last of what you'll here from this story, but what I do with it I need your advice on. I'll definitely at least have an epilogue because I know too much of what's going to happen to everyone after the end to leave you all out in the cold. However I was also considering a sequel instead. Or perhaps…a prequel. I don't know yet though so I need your advice. Let me know what you think in a review or an email. Thanks! I hope you liked this chapter. The next and LAST(sob..) will be out ASAP.
Love and Kisses,
Bella
