Christmas Wishes- Home for the Holidays
Disclaimer: Santa: So little girl, what do you want for Christmas?
Me: I want to own the whole Harry Potter idea and become rich
and famous!!!
Santa: Umm. I don't think I can pull that off.
Me: Oh, well, in that case, I want a laptop!
Santa: We'll have to see about that.
"Oh there's no place like home for the holidays!
And no matter how far away you roam,
If you want to be happy in a million ways-
For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home!"
Warning- This is going to be a long one!
Ginny approached the snowy frame of the Burrow. She loved how it looked at Christmas! Snow was packed on top of all the overhangs of the roof; little white lights lined the bushes and pine trees all over the yard. But this Christmas was different. She had brought guys home before, but this was Harry, Ron's best friend, her mother's seventh son! Ginny took a deep breath and decided to let her fears dissolve and have a good time with her family.
"Ginny? What ever are you doing standing out here in the cold, dear? Get inside!" exclaimed Molly Weasley, as Ginny smiled and ran inside to her mother.
"Hi Mum," Ginny said, once she was released from her mother's embrace, "I missed you lots!"
"I've missed you too, dear. I've missed you too!" Mrs. Weasley said pulling Ginny into another hug.
"Oh, Mum, before we're surrounded, I need to talk to you about."
"Don't hog her, Mum," Fred said as he entered the room.
"Hello Fred. It's too late, Mum. I'll talk to you later," Ginny greeted Fred and ended her conversation with Molly.
Ginny followed her mother and brother into the kitchen. There was the clan. After exchanginggreetings, Ginny stepped back and took a good look around. Charlie and Fleur were cutting out cookies with their two sons. Bill and his girlfriend Leslie were helping bake the bread. Percy and his very pregnant wife Penelope were sitting on the floor, playing with their two year old daughter. Fred and his wife Angelina along with George and his wife Alicia were helping with the turkey, gravy and stuffing. Her mother and father were setting the table in the dinning room, and Ron and Hermione were washing and cutting the green beans from the garden. The kitchen was full of bustle. Harry came over to where Ginny was standing and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Hey beautiful," he whispered in her ear.
"Hi," she replied.
She leaned her head back on his shoulder and looked over the kitchen again. No one was sending nervous glances over in their direction or winking at them. No one even seemed to notice. Something about the situation was just right. She didn't think it could be any more perfect. Her whole family and the man she loved all together.
About an hour later, the whole family, all nineteen of them, were seated around the obviously enlarged dinning room table. They blessed the food and began into conversation and food. The dinner was going pretty well, Ginny thought at least. No one had asked about Harry and her. She was very impressed.
"So, Harry. What's with you and Ginny?" Fred asked... Never mind... Ginny thought.
"We're dating, I guess you could say," Harry replied.
Fred smiled and winked at them. Ginny took Harry's hand proudly in hers. That's just what she wanted him to say.
Later that evening, Ginny managed to pull her mother from her grandbabies and up to her room.
"Mum, I want to talk to you about Harry," Ginny stated.
"Yes?"
"How do you know if you're in love?" she questioned softly.
"I knew you would ask this someday," her mother told her only daughter, "So what is there to talk about? Ginny- You know when you're in love. You just know, Ginny. I can see it in your eyes... Harry, is it?" Ginny smiled and nodded at the mention of Harry. She was in love.
"I love you, Mum."
"I love you too, darling."
They made their way back down into the din of the living room. Molly disappeared into the kitchen, and Ginny tried to sort through all the people and find Harry. Finally she saw him coming out of the coat hall with her father. She started for him when an arm grabbed her and pulled her upstairs once again. This time, it was Hermione.
"Hermione! What in the..." Ginny started at her.
"Did he say it?" she asked.
"Did he say what?" Ginny pretended like she didn't know what Hermione was talking about.
"Did hetell youhe loved you?" she said with hope glimmering in her eyes.
"Why do you ask?" Ginny questioned mischievously.
"The way that you two were holding each other in the kitchen was love. I just wondered if he had said it to you."
"You are being ridiculous," Ginny shook her head, "I think that Ron's stupidity is rubbing off on you. We better get back to the party now." she hugged Hermione and waltzed down the stairs... leaving Hermione to practically trip down the stairs behind her. Ginny wished that her brother hadn't done it. Hermione had been such a practical woman too. Now she was crazy in love. Not fair.
Ginny shook her head again and made her way down the stairs for the second time that evening. This time when she got the bottom, Harry pulled her aside.
"Ginny, come here," he pulled her off to the side of the room, "Ron's going to propose tonight. He's a nervous wreck. You need to go talk to him," Harry whispered.
She walked into the kitchen to find a very nervous Ron pacing across the floor.
"Ron?" Ginny said.
"Oh, Ginny- yes, hello," he stammered.
"Ron- you need to relax. You're going to do just fine. You're both in love, so what is there to worry about?" Ginny told him. She had heard so much about love tonight it was making her head spin.
"Right, you're right. I'm going to do this," He took a deep breath and exited the kitchen, Ginny following close behind.
"Hermione? You want to... um... go outside with me? For a walk?" He said, beside the normal ever-so-slight stumbling over his words, there was not a hint of nervousness in his voice. Ginny was so proud.
"Yeah, sure! Let me get my coat and things," she replied oblivious to what was about to happen.
The two walked out the back door. The family waited about fifteen seconds before moving to the closest window to try and catch a glimpse of the proposal. Ginny and Harry slipped away to the kitchen in all the confusion. Harry wrapped his arms around her.
"Ginny, I love you," Harry told her. He pulled her into a deep and long awaited kiss. It seemed to go on forever, until.
"Guess what everybody?!?" Hermione burst through the door, "Wow, oh my, wow. Sorry, and excuse us."
Harry and Ginny broke away. "No, we were just, I mean... What?"
"We're engaged!" Hermione said all smiles.
"We'll leave you two alone now, though," Ron actually did something worth half a brain. He grabbed Hermione and pulled her through the kitchen doors and into the living room where the whole family was waiting... well, except for Harry and Ginny.
About fifteen minutes later, after composing themselves, Ginny and Harry re-entered the party scene.
"Back so soon?" Alicia asked with an evil grin on her face. All the Weasley and soon-to-be-Weasley women were gathered around the coffee table admiring Hermione's ring. Ginny joined them, leaving Harry to go and congratulate his best friend.
"Alright, let me see that rock!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Isn't it lovely?" Katie added.
"What I want to know is where Ron got that kind of money..." Ginny whispered to her sister-in-laws while her mother was talking to Hermione over by the punch bowl.
"We have a hunch," Katie and Alicia looked at each other and said almost simultaneously. George and Fred had really made a name for themselves what with their joke shop and all.
The night continued with chatting and eating, until there was nothing more to discuss and no more food to eat. The kids were long asleep on grandma's lap, and even Ginny was getting tired.
Ginny and Harry decided to leave so that those staying at her parents house could get some sleep.
"Bye everyone," they called, as they left the Burrow.
Ginny was about to disapparate, when Harry asked her if she would like to see his flat.
"Yes, I would," she replied.
"How about a ride?" Harry asked, pulling out his broomstick. Ginny hadn't flown in a very long time. She climbed on behind Harry and held onto his waist to secure herself. She caressed the back of his neck, before snuggling right up close to him. Harry took off and flew toward London in the cover of night.
They landed five minutes later on top of an apartment building. Harry opened to door for her and they descended to floor five. Harry took out his keys and unlocked the door.
"Oh, Harry!" she exclaimed, "It's beautiful!"
"I hoped you would like it."
The walls were a deep red color. The wall adjacent to the door was completely windows over looking a lake. Hand in hand, they walked up to the glass and just watched the water. They stayed like that for a long time.
"Ginny," Harry started, "I need to tell you something."
"What is it Harry?" Ginny was very concerned. He didn't sound happy.
"Ginny, I have to go over to Egypt and I'm leaving tomorrow," Harry said regretfully.
"Harry- you'll be back for Christmas, though, right?" she questioned.
"You have to understand Ginny... I... I don't know when exactly I'll be back."
"Oh..." Ginny said with large, hot tears rolling down her face, "I see." She finally finds the man she loves, and he leaves. Go figure... She should have seen it coming. The tears came faster.
"Ginny I'm going to try, I just don't know if there can be a guarantee," Harry said tears coming down his face as well, "Ginny, please don't cry... I'll try... Really I will," he said as he held her and tried to remember everything about her.
He took her home. He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her deeply, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I'll be alright. I'm just being selfish. You have to go and it's not your fault and you didn't choose to go," she told him as she unlocked her door, "Have a good time, ok? Please... Harry, I love you." She kissed him deeply and turned to open the door, "I love you so much..." she added barely audible. She kissed him one more time and closed the door. She melted to the floor and cried harder than she ever had over a boy. But, she had to remind herself, Harry was not just a boy. He was the one. She cried for all the girls who ever had their hearts broken, and she cried for anyone who had their love taken away from them. She cried harder for him than she had since she was a little girl.
Note: Oooo! The plot thickens! Will he come back, or won't he? Oooo! The suspense! The drama! Except not so much! I can pretend though! Now you can review and tell me how much you hate the "suspense!" Lol! I love you all for the reviews! Thank you!LoveMuch! -Sarah
