Chapter Eighteen: It's All About Ginny

Molly had really outdone herself with the array of foods on the Christmas Eve buffet. They spread dinner out over several hours while they talked, laughed, listened to Christmas music on the muggle radio that Arthur had brought along, and trimmed the tree. After they finished and cleared away the food, they sat talking and admiring the tree until Molly brought out mulled cider and eggnog shortly after eleven.

Harry looked around at the people here, in his home. He sat in the corner of the huge sofa in the lounge, Ginny curled up with her feet under her next to him, wrapped tightly in his arms. Arthur and Molly sat on straightbacked chairs brought in from the dining room, talking to Remus, who stood nearby. Every once in a while, one of them would look at Harry and Ginny, making Harry think that they were probably talking about them.

Hermione sat at Ron's feet, playing a game of Exploding Snap with Fred, who was being goaded on by George and Tonks. Kingsley was speaking to Bill and Charlie, a drink in his hand. Harry didn't really know why, but he really liked the big auror. He seemed lonely, too.

Percy was standing next to Dumbledore, having what appeared to be a rather uncomfortable discussion. Actually, it seemed that Dumbledore was doing most of the talking, and Percy was looking quite... contrite. Harry wondered if Dumbledore was finally speaking to him about what his actions had done to Molly and Arthur... or perhaps to Dumbledore himself. Harry knew that, despite popular belief, Dumbledore sometimes did not make the right decision, and he also knew how much the effects of those bad decisions affected the old wizard.

Sighing, Harry buried his face in Ginny's hair.

"Okay?"

"Yes," he replied softly.

"What's wrong?"

"I want to make love to you again," he flushed, glad that his face was buried in her hair. He couldn't understand how he could feel so comfortable talking to her like this. "And there are too damned many people in my house."

Ginny gave a rich, deep chuckle. "You invited them. I told you I'd spend Christmas with you... just think, we could have had this whole house all to ourselves..."

Harry groaned. "When are we going back to school?"

"A week. Why?"

"Maybe I'll be able to get you alone there..."

"Unlikely..." Ginny sighed.

"I know," Harry agreed. "Why did you have to show me what it could be like? When I didn't know..."

"Didn't...?" Ginny sat up and turned, looking at him. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"What?" Harry looked panicked. What had he said?

"Harry Potter!" she whispered, leaning back into him after glancing about the room. "What do you mean, you didn't know what it was like?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you telling me..." Ginny paled. "You'd never... either?"

"No!" His eyes rounded with surprise. "Of course not, who do you think...?"

"But... but you..."

"I what?"

"You're... I thought..."

"You thought that I'd... but with who?"

"Cho?" Ginny said quietly, "Susan... Hannah... I don't know... I thought..."

"Ginny, I've never... never."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Wow."

"Wow? Is it so hard to believe?"

"Yes," she giggled.

"You know, it isn't the main aim for every bloke to..."

"Oh, I know..." Ginny smiled up at him. "I was just thinking..."

"Thinking what?"

"Well," she whispered in his ear. "If it's that good with no experience..."

Harry blushed to the roots of his hair. Unfortunately, the twins noticed and began teasing him, which brought the suspicious attention of Charlie and Bill, and Harry quickly made the excuse that he needed to bring down his gifts.

Which effectively broke the party up for the evening.

After he saw Ginny to the door of her room, Harry retreated to his own to grab the pile of gifts that Ginny had helped him to wrap. He carried them downstairs and placed them under the tree, noticing that several other people must have done the same, because the pile under there was already enormous.

When he was finished, he made his way into the den and closed the door.

"Harry..."

"I just thought..." Harry moved in front of the portrait of his parents. "It's nearly midnight, and... well, I just wanted to say 'Happy Christmas'."

"To you, too, Harry," James smiled down at his son.

"Do you..." Harry looked down at his hands.

"Harry? What is it?"

"I'm..."

"What, Harry?"

"I... Ginny," he said simply.

"We know," Lily smiled.

"I..." Harry hesitated. "Before we did this... before we animated you..."

"Harry, what's bothering you?"

"Well, I talked to Remus..."

"Yes?"

"And he said... I wouldn't be disturbing your souls by doing this... that you're... that a painting is a reflection... just like a mirror..."

"Harry?" James looked uncertain.

"You want to know if we feel," Lily said, tears in her green eyes.

"I suppose so. I mean... I know..."

"Harry, we may be merely reflections... but we're reflections of all parts of who your parents were... we're... we're as real as it's possible to be, I think," Lily said softly. "Before I put that spell in the box..."

"You did that?" Harry smiled. "I figured as much. Remus said Dad was shite at Potions."

"Hey!"

"Well, James, he's right..." Lily smirked. "Yes, Harry, I did that. I don't know, perhaps I knew that your father and I wouldn't be here... well. But I was very, very careful about which Animate spell was used... it had to be as complete as I could make it... there are variations out there, Harry, that would allow the surface of the subject's personality through, only... and it turns them into... caricatures of themselves."

"Like Sir Cadogan..." Harry mused.

"Exactly," Lily agreed.

"Is that old blighter still running about the school threatening everyone with death and dismemberment?" James asked.

"Yes," Harry said, laughing.

"I wanted this experience to be as complete for you as it could be, if you hadn't been able to know us in life. I wanted..."

"I think I understand."

"Do you, Harry?"

"I think so... you're as complete as my mother could make you."

"Yes," Lily smiled. "I'm glad you understand."

"I love Ginny," he said after a moment.

"We are aware of that," James laughed. "And just so you know, it might be a good idea to move that portrait of your grandfather out of your room. There is a lovely landscape in the bedroom Lils and I..."

"James!"

Harry blushed. "I take it that..."

"Oh, he had plenty to say... considering you're not married yet."

Harry glanced at his mother, then back to James.

"Harry, we're hardly in a position to tell you off for something like that," James laughed.

"Just be careful, Harry. You're young yet... and Ginny's younger still," Lily said softly, concern in her eyes.

"We are... it was just that... well that once..."

"Does her mother know?" Lily asked.

Harry paled.

"I'd take that as a 'no', Lils," James smirked.

"You need to be responsible about this, Harry."

"I know... I..."

"If you have any questions..." Lily started. James looked at her, panicked.

"Mum..."

"... I'm sure Remus would be happy to talk to you," Lily finished. James began to laugh.

"Do you... well, I don't know if you can really like someone..."

"Of course we can," Lily said. "and we do. She's a lovely girl, Harry."

Harry nodded and stood. "Well, good night... I suppose I'd better..."

"Hmmm..." James smiled. "Remember what I said about that portrait, Harry."


The following morning, Harry was up early, as normal. He quietly showered and dressed, and then collected the small box from his bedside table drawer before heading downstairs. The sun was barely up, and a dim glow came through the draperies as he entered the den.

Door open, he paced, waiting for Ginny to come down the stairs. He knew it wouldn't be long, because she was like a little girl on Christmas morning normally. He glanced at the portrait above the fire, where the painting of Lily and James slept, wrapped in each other's arms.

That was what he wanted for he and Ginny. Not in a portrait, but for real. He wondered if he'd get his wish.

It was a full hour, and Harry was a full hour more nervous, when he finally heard her step on the stairs. He knew it was her by the way she skipped down them, and he went to the doorway to watch her.

"Good morning," he said as she gained the bottom step. She jumped.

"Oh, you startled me..." she smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. "Happy Christmas!"

"Come here..."

She came running and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him soundly.

"Happy Christmas," Harry said softly as she stepped back. "I have something for you..."

"You do?"

"Come in here..." he pulled her into the room and closed the door. Forgetting completely about locks or privacy charms, he led her over to the sofa.

"Your parents are..."

"I know," Harry smiled, glancing up at them, still wrapped in each others arms. James was snoring slightly. "It's good... give us a little privacy."

"For?" Ginny smiled suggestively.

"Your Christmas gift isn't something I want to give you in front of everyone, Ginny."

Sensing the serious tone in his voice, she sobered. "Harry?"

"Ginny..." he turned to her and came to stand in front of her. "You know... I just realized... I gave you your birthday gift in here, too."

"Yes, you did," Ginny smiled.

"I wanted... to give this to you here," he muttered. "I... well... I have another gift for you under the tree... but this is... well, it's special and..."

"Harry?" Ginny's eyes were wide as he fumbled in his pocket, pulling out the small velvet box and clicking it open in front of her.

If possible, her eyes got even wider at the sight.

"Harry?"

"Do you like them?"

Ginny swallowed and looked down, then back up again, her eyes wide. "Are they...?"

"What?"

"Are they... real?"

"Of course!" He looked down at the string of pearls in the case. "Don't they look real?"

"I... I don't think I've ever seen real ones... Harry..."

"Do you like them?"

"Oh, Harry... how could I not?" Ginny sighed, reaching out and gently touching the string before looking up quickly at him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome..." he said softly, his eyes on hers.

"Help me put them on?"

"With your nightgown?" he laughed.

"Why not?" she smiled, turning and lifting her hair.

Harry couldn't understand why his hands shook as he lifted the pearls from the box and placed them around her neck. "Someday..."

"Someday?" she smiled, letting her hair drop and looking over her shoulder at him.

"Someday..." Harry took a deep breath. "Ginny, I want you with me... for a long, long time."

"I'll always be here, Harry."

"The shopkeeper told me that pearls were for tears... that... but I saw them, and they reminded me of your skin..."

Ginny reached up, cupping his cheek in her hand. "Thank you, Harry... thank you."

"I hope you like them... you have no idea..."

"About what?"

"Just how much I hate shopping with Remus," he sighed.

"You and Remus chose these?"

"Well, he went with me... and Tonks and Kingsley."

"That is what that was about?" Ginny asked.

"What?"

"I thought..." Ginny shook her head. "Never mind what I thought. It's silly. And I love the pearls, Harry... they're beautiful."

"Come on, everyone else is probably downstairs by now," Harry led her to the door.

As they entered the hall, Ginny wrapped tightly to his side, they kissed quickly, only to be interrupted by one of the many Weasley boys.

"Oi, you two!" Charlie came down the stairs. "Keep it decent, now... Potter, I ought to be able to fit my hand between you two at any time... got it?"

"Charlie!" Ginny gasped.

Charlie turned dancing eyes to his sister. "Happy Christmas, Smidgen."

Ginny glanced up at Harry then launched herself into Charlie's arms. "Happy Christmas, Charlie."

"So..." Charlie looked speculatively at her. "How long have you two been down here, then?"

"Long enough," Ginny smiled, lifting her chin. "For Harry to give me these."

Charlie was silent for a moment, staring at the pearls. He swallowed, then looked up, nodding to Harry.

"They're lovely, Ginny," he said softly, his eyes not leaving Harry's. "Has Mum seen?"

"Not yet," Ginny said.

"Then you two had best get into the kitchen and show her."

Harry took one more look at him, then allowed the smile he'd been resisting out, and took Ginny's hand as she led him to the kitchen, leaving Charlie standing in the middle of the front Hall, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his faded muggle jeans.


A/N Charlie, in his faded jeans, standing in the opulent front hall of Potter Manor, watching his little sister go off with Harry, expensive pearls around her neck... that scene just came to me, and I thought it was so sad, yet so telling. Charlie and his brothers have tried to shelter her, protect her from pretty much everything (boys at the top of the list in Ron's case) and I think this scene speaks of letting go, knowing she'll be okay – that Harry will protect her (as though Ginny needs protecting!) and spoil her a little.

Sorry, I just had to share that.

CQ