Chapter Nine Merry Christmas to All
The weeks passed slowly. No word from the English Ministry, the American Department orfrom any of the othervarious people who were after Ara. No attempt on anyone's life, which left their lives in Nebraska on a brief, welcome pause.
Christmas was fast approaching, much to Ginny's displeasure. Usually, she'd just go over to a friend's flat, stay the night, wake up the next morning and life would continue as it normally did. Sure, she missedYule at the Burrow and her family, but this new lifestyle fit her single life perfectly. She was still a romantic at heart though.
Every night since this assignment began, she had dreams that Harry would sweep her off her feet and take her home. Home to England. Home to her family. Just plain home. But she knewit wasn't going to happen. He was engaged to Cho. End of discussion.
Back to Christmas. She had no idea if she was supposed to get Harry something or not. She was half tempted to just forget about him and shower Ara with gifts, but another part of her wanted to get him something. And she couldn't explain it.
She had already bought Ara tons of gifts. Several blankets, toys, a bouncing chair... she had so much fun shopping for the baby, she'd gone a wee bit overboard.
$250 overboard to be exact. And she loved every minute of it.
They had bought a Christmas tree a week ago, and now it proudly sat in the drawing room. She and Harry had decorated it while Ara sat and watched. When the tree lit up, she had cooed and laughed, waving her little fists in the air. She was close to seven months now, and with the help of the furniture she could stand, pull herself up and even take a few steps. Then she'd fall on her bum and smile.
Every time Ginny held up a shiny ornament, Ara would reach out for it and babble incoherently. She had managed to grab some tinsel out of a box andtangle herself up in it a couple of times.
Right now, she was lying under the tree, looking up at the branches. Every once in awhile, she'd grab her little feet and babble, then roll over and try to grab the ornaments off the tree. Ginny laughed softly as the baby fell back.
"She's cute, isn't she?"
Ginny jumped a foot in the air. Harry had been acting strangely ever since the morning he'd woken her up when she had slept on the couch. He was always coming up behind her, bringing home flowers and food. She hated cooking, so it was nice. A little too nice.
It wasn't like she didn't like it, in fact she loved it. It was like when they were together. But every time he did something like that, she had to remind herself that he was engaged, this was an impersonal assignment and as soon as it was over, he'd go back to Cho. And she'd be alone.
"She is," Ginny responded. Harry sat on the couch next to her. "She's been doing this all day," Ginny continued. She could sense Harry's eyes on her, and she winced slightly. How many times had she gotten lost in those eyes?
"You have to chase her out from underneath it?" Since the assignment began, Ginny had noticed he was beginning to lose his accent. She imagined she sounded the same way, but it was stillstrange.
Nervously, she brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. He had just gotten a lot closer to her, and she was getting nervous. Scooting away from him, she slid to the end of the couch and looked away from him. She heard him slide over right next to her, and she could feel his arm brush hers. "I missed you," she heard him whisper softly.
His voice sent shivers down her spine. She opened her mouth to tell him off, tell him to go back to Cho if he wanted to get laid, but nothing came out.
She felt his hand slowly run down her arm. Why he was being so forward now, she didn't know. But she did know that he was the only man who could make her tremble at his touch. She let her head fall back on his shoulder and her mind began to scream.
She bolted. Her mind was racing with 'what ifs' and because she stood up so quickly, her stomach was reeling. "Harry," she whispered hoarsely, "You can't do this."
He got up andstood in front of her. "Why not?"
"Because it's not fair!" she blurted without thinking.
At the sound of her 'parents' rising voices, Ara began to cry. Ginny tore her gaze from Harry and quickly scooped the crying infant up. Before leaving, she looked back at Harry. "Stay away from me," she hissed.
Harry watched as Ginny stormed out. As soon as her footsteps up the stairs died, he sank onto the couch. Way to go Potter, he told himself bitterly. You let her walk out again.
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Christmas Eve came before Harry could blink. He was sitting in his room, wrapping Ginny's present. It was a necklace, a thin silver chain with a small angel pendant on the end. The angel was holding the small ruby that had been on the ring he had been planning to give her when they were together.
He carefully placed it in the white box, shut the lid and wrapped it in dark green paper. She still wasn't talking to him, and he was beating himself up for being so forward with her. I thought she felt the same, he thought miserably, maybe I was wrong.
He picked the wrapped box up. He probably shouldn't give this to her. She might freak out again. But if I don't give it to her, he reasoned, it will haunt me forever. Might as well causeeither way I'm in trouble.
Harry hastily stood, making the chair he was sitting in tip over. He walked down the stairs and into the drawing room. Ginny had taken Ara to see the neighbor's Christmas lights, so Harry could hide her gift without any problems. After burying it under the mountain of gifts for Ara, he sat on the couch and looked into the fire.
Flashback
"Merry Christmas Harry!"
He watched as his girlfriend picked up one of the gifts under the tree and handed it to him. "Open it," she ordered playfully, sitting on the couch next to him.
This year they were alone. Ron and Hermione went to Bali for their engagement, the rest of the Weasley brothers were spending Christmas with their girlfriends'/wives' families and Molly and Arthur went to Scotland. Ginny had spent the night, and now they were exchanging gifts.
Harry carefully unwrapped the blue box and was surprised to find a lacy black nightie. "I don't think I can wear this," he told Ginny.
She kissed him, "I don't expect you to," she said seductively. "But I can show you how to put it on."
He didn't need to be told twice…"Harry!"
He snapped his head around. Ginny was standing in the doorway holding a sleeping Ara. "When did you get home?" he asked, dropping his voice.
"Not too long ago. I guess she won't be opening any presents tonight. I'll go put her to bed." Ginny turned and he heard her go up the stairs. She came down a few minutes later and sat next to him. "I'm sorry about yesterday," she said after a few minutes of silence.
"I meant it." He might as well come clean. "I do miss you. Being here with you just makes it worse."
She looked at him wide-eyed. He felt the same way. "Me too," she whispered unbelievingly.
He smiled sadly. "But we can't do anything about it though."
"Why?"
He couldn't believe she was actually saying that. "Because," he told her, "I think I would have gone through with it. You said-"
She shook her head, "I know, I know," she sat back on the couch. "I wish it were different though."
He hesitantly put his arm around her shoulders. "I know."
They stared at the fire for several long moments before Ginny broke the silence. "Why can't it work?"
When Harry stayed silent, she turned to him. "You love me, I love you, so why won't it work?"
Harry just looked at her. When he opened his mouth to say something, she put her finger on his lips. Her eyes were glistening with tears. "Just let me love you," she whispered. Cautiously, she leaned in and kissed him.
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