The little house in the burrow was filled to the brim on Christmas Eve afternoon. Penelope Clearwater, Padma and Parvati Patil, and Cho Chang were currently decorating a tall tree with brightly colored ornaments in the parlor. Remus Lupin was standing atop a rickety ladder trying to put a sticking spell on the little fairy that didn't seem to be interested in sitting still atop the tree. They had all been surprised when he showed up at the door this morning along with Headmaster Dumbledore. Rumor had it that Lupin was involved in some secretive mission, and Dumbledore was directing the side of the light of course, from Hogwarts. Dumbledore had come in out of the snow and said, "Molly, Remus and I decided we needed a little Christmas Cheer. We hope you don't mind if we join you today."

Molly had been beside herself, assuring Dumbledore and Lupin they were welcome. Dumbledore was currently seated on the other side of the living room with Arthur Weasley, engaged in a game of wizard's chess.

Ginny, Hermione, Luna Lovegood, Poppy Pomfrey, and Molly were all currently in the kitchen, tending to Christmas Eve dinner. Mrs. Longbottom was supervising them. Pots and pans flew around the kitchen to the various workstations. Every so often, as Mrs. Longbottom assured someone they were doing something wrong, Molly would click her tongue in annoyance. Luna whispered to Ginny, "She's always like this. That's why I joined the hospital staff. I couldn't stand one more day of being home with her all day long." Luna and Neville had been married, in secret, just after Neville found out he was going into the field with Percy. Mrs. Longbottom had been most annoyed but when Luna's father had decided to cover the action for the paper in the field, she had insisted Luna come and live with her. Despite her bossiness, everyone was just too glad to be together to become angry or annoyed too much. They all had pretty much realized that there was little chance their men would be able to join them, so they took comfort in each other, knowing they were all in the same boat.

Later, as everyone was just about to sit down to dinner at the huge table that seemed to always have enough room, there was a loud popping noise in the foyer. Everyone froze, recognizing the noise, but not daring to hope it could be their loved one who had managed to make it for Christmas. A familiar voice called out, "Hello? Mum? Where is everyone?"

"Bill!" Molly Weasley cried, dashing out of the kitchen. Everyone followed, happy for Molly, and happy to see Bill, but hiding disappointment that it wasn't the one they were hoping for. Bill was standing in the living room, with Molly's plump arms wrapped around his neck. He looked up from her death grip and grinned.

"Why all the long faces? Aren't you all happy to see me?"

"Of course we are Bill!" said Ginny, trying to pry her mother off of her brother so she could hug him too.

"Well, that's a good thing, because I've brought presents for everyone!" He said, "Look what I have with me!"

And around the corner came a group of red haired young men, a black-headed man wearing glasses, a chubby brown haired one, and a tall lanky blond.

Hermione's face crumpled as she launched herself at Ron. "Oy, Hermione, why are you crying? You're supposed to be happy to see me!" he said as he held her.

Molly swooped in on Charlie and pulled him into a hug, never once letting go of her hold on Bill. "Mum, mum! You're choking me Mum!" said Charlie, laughing. Arthur stood close by, patting each boy on the back in turn, grinning like a madman.

Padma and Parvati had advanced on the twins and the four of them were in a huddle, arms around each other, and Ginny was momentarily amused once more, as she couldn't tell who was hugging whom.

Percy and Penelope had somehow made it to the couch and Penelope was quietly crying into Percy's shoulder.

Luna and Neville were hugging and Mrs. Longbottom seemed to have wrapped her arms around the both of them. The relief on her face was obvious. Ginny thought she wasn't quite as hard as she tried to make out.

Draco made his way through the crowd of couples to her. "Princess." He said, taking her hand to brush his lips across her knuckles.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Malfoy please. Now is not the time for polite decorum." Leaping up to wrap her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist she said, "I missed you." And promptly kissed him. He didn't object.

When Ginny finally let him come up for air, he said. "Wow! You did miss me didn't you?" and grinned at her.

"Prat!" she said, laughing. "I was so worried. I should have known. You think too much of yourself to let anything happen to you."

"Mmmm, yes, self preservation is high on the list." He said, still holding her, and leaning his forehead against hers. He turned his eyes to the side and said, "Hey. Look at that."

Harry and Cho were in a corner of the room quietly talking. The scene was absolutely touching as Harry looked down on Cho with obvious love in his eyes and took her hand in his. Cho reached out and touched his cheek, tears running down her own. Harry reached up and pushed at his glasses, something Ginny knew he did when he was nervous, and whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was, it made Cho very happy, as she suddenly grinned ear to ear and threw her arms around him.

"Guess I don't have to worry about him trapping you in a corner anymore." Draco said, wryly, finally letting Ginny back down on the floor.

"Shh, git. Its very sweet." Ginny said.

"Not as sweet as you luv." Draco said, nuzzling her neck. "Do you think we could go to your room?"

Before Ginny could answer, Dumbledore, who had been standing quietly to the side with Poppy Pomfrey and Remus Lupin, watching the reunion, spoke up. "Excuse me Molly, but isn't there dinner waiting on us. I'm betting these young men haven't had a home cooked meal in quite a while."

Several of them murmured agreement, Draco among them.

"I guess I should go ahead and tell you, we can only stay a few hours." Said Bill as they all sat down at the table, which amazingly had seemed to expand to have enough room for the unexpected guests." We're mid mission, and really shouldn't have come at all. I plan to be back in the field by midnight."

"So soon?"

"Must you Bill?"

"Can't you even stay the night?"

The objections came from several sources, Mrs. Longbottom, Padma Patil, and Luna. Ginny just glowered at her brother. He shrugged his shoulders, taking everyone at the table in his look. "Sorry folks. I did the best I could. As it is, Dean and Seamus are in charge, all alone out there, missing their families. And the ones below us in rank."

He glanced momentarily at Dumbledore. "We got very special permission to be here tonight. I don't intend to take advantage."

"Well, "said Molly Weasley. "In that case, we'll just have to speed things up a bit. After we eat, we'll go ahead and open presents, and then enjoy the little time we have."

The mood at the table was jovial. It was as if a weight had been lifted from everyone's shoulders, at just being able to see the young men, alive and well. And even if they were all about to go back out into danger, and possibly death, for this one moment, everyone was together and happy and loving each other.

"How's it going, out there, between all of you?" Ginny asked Draco.

As Draco stuffed his mouth with Christmas goose, he replied, "It,s ok.... This goose is wonderful Molly...what do you mean?"

Looking over at Ginny, it dawned on him what she was asking."Oh! You mean my getting along with everyone. Better than you'd expect actually. You'd be proud of me Princess. I have actually learned to get along with people. Even Potter."

Harry, overhearing, looked up from his plate. "Yes, if you call telling someone they're an idiot four times a day getting along!"

"I can't help it if my intellect surpasses yours Potter." Sneered Draco.

"And I can't help it if you're so enamored with yourself that it makes you a pompous ass, Malfoy!"

Ginny looked from one to the other; about to say something, when to her amazement, they both started laughing.

"It's alright Gin, really it is." Harry said. "We've all grown accustomed to Malfoy. I think he'd be sorely missed if he weren't around. Everyone needs someone to tell us how inadequate we are."

"Yes," replied Fred from the other end of the table. "And he's such a good test subject!"

Draco mumbled something about 'git twins and exploding toothpaste' and Ginny giggled.