For once, dinnertime at the Weasley's was merely chaotic; rather than the normal chaotic AND crazy. Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself by making a superb dinner. She had made a large gosling that would probably feed everyone for days. She topped it off with red potatoes in a butter sauce sprinkled with parsley, green beans with slivered almonds and winter squash creamed to a fluffy peak.

Everyone ate and talked heartily. Mrs. Weasley sat Draco beside her and talked to him about his plans for the future. He informed her that he had applied for University. Molly looked at him in surprise. Draco smiled and explained that he had a passion for Transfiguration and wanted to get his degree in it. Molly shook her head in approval and gave him a wink.

Further down the table, Arthur and Ron were discussing Ron's future plans. Ron wanted to go through Auror training, but his dad wanted him to go to University.

"Dad, why should I go to University? Bill, Charlie, Percy did not go. Why me?"

"Hey, we can HEAR you." Fred informed him sarcastically.

Arthur smiled at the twins. "Ron- Bill knew he was a curse breaker. Charlie knew he wanted to work with Dragons. Percy knew he was made for the politics within the Ministry. The twins knew their incredible prank ability would make them money. I think you have no idea what you want and are just following Harry."

"Why does everyone think I am the untrained puppy dog on Harry Potter's leash?" Ron shouted. He threw his napkin on the table and left the room in a great huff. They could hear several doors slamming in his wake.

Harry looked very concerned and moved to go after Ron. Ginny intercepted and said, "Harry, I really don't think he wants to see you right now. I'll go talk to him."

Arthur looked at Ginny and said, "That would be great, Ginny. You guys need to re-bond and heal your brother /sister relationship."

Ginny nodded, sent a loving look to Draco and headed out of the room. She headed to Ron's room, but he was not there. She stopped to think where he could possibly be and decided to check the attic. She headed to the attic and there was Ron sitting on the floor. He was sobbing.

"Ron?"

Ginny heard a sniffle. Ron raised his head and looked at her.

 "What do you want?"

"To see if you are okay?"

"I'm-"

He was cut off by Hermione sweeping into the room.

"I think you've done enough, Ginny. I'll handle Ron. Well, go on."

Ginny glared at Hermione. She then turned and looked at Ron, but he was already smiling at Hermione. Hermione walked over to him and pulled her into her arms. Ginny rolled her eyes and went downstairs. She stood outside of the dining room door for several minutes, but finally decided she did not want to return to the food or the conversations. She was not really that hungry anymore for food or people. She needed time to think. She needed time to be by herself.

So instead, she sat down on the couch with her legs tucked under her. She gazed into the fire and became lost in her thoughts.

Moments later, Draco came into the room looking for Ginny. He was concerned that she had been gone so long. When he saw her sitting in front of the fire, he sighed in relief. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. He offered her his hand by placing his hand palm up in front of her. She slightly smiled and put her hand in his. He smiled back, enclosed her delicate hand in his and placed their hands between them on the couch. There they sat, in silence, until the family finished dinner and arrived in the room.

That night, the Weasley family decorated their home for the Holidays. It was tradition for Mr. Weasley to transfigure one of their house plants into a tree and so, he did with a graceful flick of his wand. Once the tree was firmly in place, Mrs. Weasley went about transfiguring small items throughout the house into cheerful decorations.

Mrs. Weasley was into making themed trees and this year's theme was Celtic Symbols in gold and red. Ginny and Hermione walked behind Mrs. Weasley picking up the ornaments and putting them on the tree. The men were put to work stringing popcorn and cranberries onto string for a festive garland. Once done, they all stood around and sang a few traditional songs by the blazing fire with the piano that Bill had transfigured from a fork.

Soon, it was time for all the Weasleys and Malfoys to head to bed and sleep so that Saint Nicolas' could visit. Ginny and Draco were left alone downstairs and sat by the fire for a while, simply enjoying each other's company and the calmness of the night.

After a about an hour, Ginny turned towards Draco and said, "I love you, Draco Malfoy. I could not be happier. Happy Christmas" Draco saw that she had tears running down her face, but was smiling.

Draco immediately pulled Ginny into his arms and asked if she was interested in finishing what they had started earlier in the day. Ginny got a wicked look in her eyes and nodded. She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him up the stairs to her room.

Once there, Draco kicked the door shut with his foot while turning Ginny into his arms. She immediately turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. She gently nudged his neck down and caught him in a searing kiss. Draco returned the heated kiss with fervor. He tried to pull her closer, but Ginny grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him towards the bed. With one final yank, she pulled him down on top of her. Both had their hands sensuously touching the other all over in rediscovery. Draco's hands were mildly demanding on Ginny's soft skin. She found herself gasping in delight. Soon, he was removing her clothes; and she was removing his. When flesh met flesh, both were lost.

Ginny and Draco were woken the next morning by Fred and George running down the stairs to open presents. Well that and the fact they were yelling "Time to open pressies!"  

Draco moaned in disgust at being woken up so early. Ginny giggled and said, "Welcome to the Weasley's Family Christmas…do you want to leave yet?"

Draco groaned and shook his head at his wife's morning chipper. She hopped up and began throwing on her pajamas. Draco watched her and smiled. Then, he grudgingly got up and put on a pair of black jeans and a charcoal grey jumper. He ran a comb through his silky, blonde hair while Ginny braided hers into a neat plait.

Ready?

"Yep"

Draco offered her his arm, she hooked hers through it and out the door they went.

Everyone else was already sitting around the tree waiting to open their presents. Bill had saved a place for Draco and Ginny on the large sofa. They took their seats and the Weasley's present opening ritual began. For years, they had always opened their presents one by one, person by person. Earlier it was started to lengthen the process due to their meager financial situation, now it was because it was one of the few times the family was all together.

They started with the oldest, Bill. He received his normal Weasley sweater in a loud, golden yellow. He received two very stylish pairs of brown leather pants (one light and one dark) from Draco and Ginny. The twins had gotten him the matching tan colored jacket. Ron, Harry and Hermione had gone in together and gotten him an ivory wand case that would roar like an elephant when opened by anyone other than its owner. Percy bought him a book on the Principles of Wizard Banking. Charlie had bought him a pair of dragon hide gloves. Luckily enough, they matched the tan leather outfit perfectly. Bill smiled and thanked everyone.

Charlie, the second born, was next. Bill had bought him a pair of shark skin boots. Percy gave him a book on the Adventures of Dragon Hunting that was written by a muggle. Percy said that he hoped Charlie found it as funny as he did. Charlie assured him that he would. The twins gave him ten different items from their store of pranks and jokes. Apparently, the other researchers in Romania were having a hell of a prank war and Charlie had told them he was determined to win. Draco and Ginny presented him with a charmed dagger that was encrusted with his initials in sapphires. The charm on the dagger allowed it to only be used in non-harmful ways unless protecting someone in an emergency. Ron, Harry and Hermione had also gone in together on this one and gave Charlie a woolen, black jumper from the Wizard Designer, Sportie Parkinson. From his parents, Charlie received his standard Weasley jumper in mauve.

Percy, third in the line of Weasley children, opened his gifts. From Bill, he received a charmed, Nifler hide briefcase that when opened said, "Property of Percival Weasley, Employee of the Ministry of Magic."  Charlie had bought him a complete quill set. There were over 200 quills in a myriad of colors with seven ink pots in colors of blue, black, green, red, grey, purple and teal. His Weasley jumper was done in the color of plum. The twins got him a book called How to Let Your Hair Down, Wizard Style. Harry, Hermione and Ron had combined their monies to buy Percy a wizard's watch. Draco and Ginny had bought him a new set of professional wizard robes.

The twins, as with most things, opened theirs together. They each received a lime green Weasley sweater, one with an F on it and one with a G on it. Bill bought them a 40 galleon gift certificate to Zonko's each. His logic was so they could case out the competition. The twins, in their humorous twin way, bought a gift for each other…Fred bought for Fred. George bought for George. Hermione, Ron and Harry gave them a basket of sweets from Honeyduke's. Draco and Ginny had bought them a muggle chemistry set. On top of that, they also had rented them a new building for their store (a full year lease), so they could expand to Hogsmeade. Needless to say, Fred and George were flabbergasted…which made Draco and Ginny even happier. It took a lot to dumbfound the twins.

Ron opened his gifts next. From Harry, he received a variety of sweets from Honeyduke's, including 50 new trading cards from Chocolate Frog's. Hermione bought him a wand case made from Mahogany and monogrammed with his initials. He gave her a thorough kiss for it. Bill gave him 50 galleons to open his own personal account at Gringott's. Charlie gave him a new collection of Chudley Canon's T-shirts. There were 5 in all with one proudly displaying their motto in hot pink. The twins gave him a complete collection of their potion pranks. They also made him promise that at least three of them would be used in Snape's classroom, much to the dismay of Mrs. Weasley. Draco and Ginny bought him a new broomstick, a Firebolt 10000 to be exact. Ron stared at them in shock. Draco informed him that his silence was thanks enough. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave him his Weasley jumper. To his joy, it was in the color of olive green.

Ginny and Draco opened their gifts together being that most of their gifts were for them as a couple. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave them jumpers in black. The letter "M" was on the sweaters. From Bill, they received a set of Egyptian, pottery plates for the dining room. They were colored in a warm ecru with black ankhs featured on the lips of the plate. Charlie had completed the dinnerware with the matching chalices. Ginny was ecstatic with the set. Percy had bought them a gift certificate to a home accessory store on Diagon Alley. The twins gave them a pair of charmed, muggle lamps. To Ginny's embarrassment and Draco's amusement, the set of lamps were charmed to turn off when a woman's voice moaned, loudly…very, loudly. From the Dream Trio, they received a set of cutlery.

Hermione opened her lot next. From Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, she received an honorary jumper in the color of lilac. Bill gave her a tome he found in an Egyptian tomb. Charlie bought her a dragon hide jacket that had been dyed periwinkle blue. Percy had bought her a book titled, Using Your Brain for Good. The twins gave Hermione a 30 galleon gift certificate to Flourish and Botts. Draco and Ginny bought her a full day get away at the new wizard's spa in Hogsmeade. Harry gave her a set of quills that were standardized for usage on the upcoming N.E.W.T.s. Ron gave her a thin, Figaro style bracelet made of sterling silver.

Harry received his standard Weasley jumper in "it matches your eyes" green. Bill gave him a book called Seekers and Their Snitches. Charlie bought him a trip to a ski resort, so that he could learn how to ski. Apparently, Harry had been talking to Ron about it over the summer and Charlie had overheard. Percy bought him a pair of Quidditch gloves that matched the Chudley Canon's uniform (at Ron's insistence, of course). Hermione and Ron had gone in together and bought him a wizard's camera; so he could start taking memories of his friends and family. Draco and Ginny gave him a 100 galleon gift certificate to Quality Quidditch Supplies.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley opened their two large gifts. Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Percy, Draco and Ginny had went in together and bought them a honeymoon, a month visiting wizard towns in Australia and New Zealand. Hermione, Ron and Harry had bought them a muggle TV.

Afterwards, Mrs. Weasley used her wand to clean up the wrapping paper strewn all over the room. Then, she levitated it to the outdoor trash can. When she came back in she noticed another present hidden in the branches of the tree.

"Look, there seems to be another gift. Who hid a present in the tree?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Heads turned and looked around the room, but they were all shaking their head in denial.

Mrs. Weasley reached for the gift and pulled it out. She looked at the tag and looked at Ginny.

"This gift is tagged for you and Draco," she informed them, "but it does not say whom it is from."

Draco got off the couch and took the small package from Molly's hand. He looked closely at the gift. It was a cube about 4 inches by 4 inches. It was wrapped with paper that had roses that changed colors by rotating through all the colors of the rainbow.

He walked over to Ginny and showed her the gift.

"Well, you want to open it?" she asked.

"I guess."

He removed the enchanted wrapping and found a crisp, white gift box. He lifted the top and removed the inner, protective tissue. Inside, he found an old, rolled parchment.

Draco gingerly pulled the scroll out and unrolled it.

It read:

"You are the chosen.

Merlin has returned.

He will seek you.

-Reilly, an apprentice to Merlin, a Master of Wizardry"