Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Dream a Dream, sung by Charlotte Church

Christmas

Dream a dream
And see through angels' eyes
A place where we can fly away
Ride with me upon shinning star
Above a moonlight sky
We will find Elysium
-- Dream a Dream, Charlotte Church

"Hermione, orchids are extremely exotic, yes, but don't you think they're a teensy bit ugly?" Ginny scowled at the offensive flowers. "Why can't you just go with red roses or something like that?"

"Because red roses are so cliché! I want something special. I'll only be married once, you know."

"Let's hope so."

Hermione was still looking through the booklet. "Ginny, I think I'm going to set the wedding date a month or two earlier. Do you think everyone will mind?"

Ginny shook her head. "Why don't you just look for something that reflects spring? Like daffodils or – " Ginny groaned. "I don't know."

Hermione screwed up her face in thought. "That's actually a good idea." She began looking for more suitable flowers.

Ginny simply sighed in relief.

When Draco first caught sight of Ginny on Tuesday, he had to relearn how to breathe. She looked so beautiful, more beautiful than any other girl he had ever seen, walking towards him. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and her hair gleamed brightly against the gently falling snow.

Ginny's face had unconsciously broken into a grin when she saw Draco, standing in front of the coffee shop. That he was in all black didn't hide his good looks, rather, they emphasized them. His silver eyes practically shone in his pale face.

"Hello Draco."

"Ginevra." He nodded his head in greeting.

Ginny had often wondered why he insisted on calling her by her actual name, but she didn't mind, in fact, she rather liked it. She didn't know if it was his voice, or just the way he said it. Maybe it was both.

Draco went to get them coffee as Ginny pulled out the papers once more. He sighed inwardly when he saw her do so.

Both of them really didn't concentrate on what they were supposed to be doing. Draco simply looked at the profile and, without reading it, tossed it into the trash can. Ginny didn't notice what she was supposed to be doing because she kept peeking over her papers at Draco.

What's wrong with me? I'm not supposed to be feeling this way. It's wrong. Isn't it? She bit her lip in frustration.

In the four hours that they were together, Draco, seeing Ginny biting her lip, had to continuously retrain himself from throwing the papers he was reading into the trash can and kiss Ginny instead.

They decided to call off all their meetings until after Christmas. It was getting too hectic, with last minute Christmas shopping and their jobs. What they didn't know was that both of them were wondering what to get each other for Christmas. Or that they never wanted to talk about Draco getting another woman. And that they didn't want to leave each other right then.

Ginny went back to her flat to drop off her things and walked around the muggle part of town. She changed her mind about Fred and George's gifts, thinking that they knew enough about wizarding pranks and could benefit from altering muggle ones. Unlike Percy, she enjoyed the twins' jokes. They were harmless, really.

She got them a few 'magic tricks', as muggles called them, and a book on some muggle named Houdini. It said on the back cover that he was able to escape from anything he was locked in. But Ginny peeked in the back and read that he died because he couldn't escape when he was locked in a tub full of water. Poor guy, she thought.

Passing by a toy story, she went in and got some baby clothes for her niece and toys for her nephew. Since she and Hermione had decided to go shopping together tomorrow at Diagon Alley, she went straight back home.

Draco, on the other hand, only had a few people to buy gifts for: his mother, Blaise, perhaps his secretary and a few other employees that did their job well. And Ginny. What on earth could he get her? He was walking home when he saw a beautiful necklace in a shop window.

"Hi Hermione!"

"Oh, h-hello Ginny." It was cold outside and Hermione was chattering. "I g-guess we b-better get something for the b-boys first, huh?" The 'boys' to Hermione would always be Ron and Harry.

"I already got some things for the twins and Percy."

Hermione nodded. "Alright."

Ten minutes later they were at Quality Quidditch Supplies, trying to find something that Harry and Ron might not have already.

"Ginny, does Harry already have this 'new improved formula' cleanser? I know Ron doesn't."

"No I don't think so."

"What about the sixth edition of 'Quidditch Through the Ages'?"

"That might actually work."

Walking out half an hour later, Hermione wiped her brow. "It's so hard to find them stuff, besides candy, I mean. Ron never wore the bathrobe I got him last year, so I just went along with what he probably really wants." She rolled her eyes.

Ginny, having been a chaser during her Hogwarts years, didn't find it as hard as Hermione to buy Harry and Ron Christmas presents, but she shrugged and they went on their way.

Around lunchtime the two went to the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione found it very peculiar that Ginny seemed happier than ever. It was like being back in the Hogwarts days, when Ginny seemed so alive and just herself again. She didn't know why it was, but she had her suspicions.

As they munched on sandwiches and drank warm butterbeer, Hermione questioned Ginny. "Hey Gin, so what's up with throwing away Seamus' stuff?"

Ginny looked up in surprise. "Oh, I just guess it was time to move on."

Move on? "So you're dating someone?"

She frowned. "No…" she drifted off in thought. What about Draco? Ridiculous, he wouldn't want me.

"You know, you've been so much happier that I just thought that you were dating someone."

"Really?" She took a bit of her sandwich. "I don't know, maybe the feeling of letting go finally, huh?"

But deep inside she knew it really wasn't that.

Draco was wondering how he was going to give her present to Ginny. Would it be too impersonal to leave it at the Burrow with all the other presents? Then another thought came to mind. He knew that Ginny was going to spend Christmas with the rest of the Weasleys at the Burrow, since she had told him.

Would her parents and brothers question her? He didn't want to be hunted down by six Weasleys for giving such an elaborate present. That would be terrifying. Draco knew how protective they would be of their little sister and he certainly didn't want to face their wrath.

But asking her to visit him on Christmas Eve or Christmas day would be a little too forward for what he wanted. No it isn't, he corrected, but ignored that thought. He could just knock on her door, but that would be even more forward. Plus, he didn't know when she was going to be home, staying with her family and all.

Come on, he was a Malfoy, after all. We do things with class.

He continued walking, contemplating what to do. He passed a bookstore. A memory and an idea came to his mind. As he entered the bookshop, his mouth twisted into the infamous Malfoy smirk.

It was hours later when Ginny remembered about a present for Draco. Then she still had to accompany Hermione on trips to flower shops and wedding boutiques to do some more wedding business. Recalling Hermione's suspicious questioning at lunch, she didn't want to create a bigger fuss by worrying what to get Draco.

But Christmas was in only two days…

She looked around at the shops and stopped her gaze on a battered looking shop. It was really no wonder she hadn't noticed it before. It seemed to be some sort of antique store, but in the window was a spectacular crystal ball looking structure that was not unlike the one Harry had showed her in an astronomy shop a few years back. But this one seemed so much more real, sparkling and shimmering under the soft lamp that illuminated it.

"Ginny, I think I'm going to have to go now, do you want to come straight to my house to discuss the wedding attire or do you want to go home first?"

"Hm?" She quickly pretended to look at a warty old man crossing the street. "No, no, you go on first. I'll be at your flat soon, okay?"

Hermione eyed the old man. "Ginny, why are you staring at that guy?"

"Um, h-he reminded me of Mundungus." She coughed and said quickly before Hermione could reply, "Never mind, you just go first, okay? I need to use the bathroom."

Hermione was still wearing a puzzled look as Ginny practically ran off. But she figured that Ginny might have had too much butterbeer at lunch.

Ginny, meanwhile, hid behind a large cart of apothecary items till she heard the tell tale crack of an apparition. Then she rushed into the antique store.

She pressed her face to the window. It was even more spectacular close up. She could see each individual star. As she had done extremely well in astronomy, she could recognize the constellations. Some of the stars glowed red or blue, like they were supposed to. Even the size of the stars was perfect.

Ginny pushed the creaky door open. An elderly witch sat behind the counter, and Ginny could see many other items on shelves and behind a glass counter. The witch called irritably, squinting at the light as though she had not seen it for years, "What do you want, girly? Shut the door!" She had a scratchy voice.

"I just wanted to know how much is the astro-ball in the window?"

"It's not for sale." The witch grumbled.

"Why not?"

"It just isn't." She wasn't going to sell the most precious item in her shop to some mercurial girl.

Ginny decided this was unfair. "It's in the shop window. How much is it?" Her eyes flashed.

The witch noticed. "Too much for you to pay, girly."

"I think I'll leave that to me to decide."

"Why do you want it?" The witch's voice became softer, a little gentler.

Ginny didn't want to say it was for Draco. How would that sound? "It's for my brother."

"You lie. I can see it in your eyes. Tell the truth." Unknown to Ginny, the witch had seen something in her that changed her mind.

"It's for a guy." Ginny sighed resignedly.

The witch cackled. "So. You try to buy something so valuable for a guy who is just trying to take advantage of you?" She was simply testing this girl.

"He would ne—I don't like him." Ginny was indignant.

The witch knew she was lying but she didn't press Ginny. "The ball is special, girly, more special than you can imagine."

Was the witch relenting? But Ginny couldn't resist. "How? Why?"

"The woman whom I bought it off had received it as a gift from her lover. These aren't made anymore." Her voice was melancholy. "There are only ones that are cheap and don't mean anything. This was made with love."

Ginny smiled. "I can see that."

"You can, can you girly?"

They stood there, sizing each other up. The witch was struck by the passion in her eyes. When this girl had first entered her small shop, she had first thought it some flighty girl who just wanted something cheap. But this was no ordinary girl. She seemed vulnerable and hurt, yet there was fire beneath her gaze. She made up her mind.

"Well, girly, you've changed my mind. You're special. This isn't just any boy, isn't he?"

Ginny frowned, but she nodded. The witch shuffled out behind the counter and went to the window. Muttering a succession of spells, she unlocked a small door and pulled out the ball. Ginny didn't miss the way she held the ball as if it was a child, stroking it tenderly.

She placed it carefully in Ginny's hands. Ginny felt warmth radiating from it, as if the stars' itself were glowing. The woman's jaded eyes looked at Ginny. She could see the wonder and awe that emanated from the girl's lithe form, her young face alight.

Her voice was kind now. "Yes?"

"Yes."

As Ginny left with the precious bundle in her arms, she couldn't have known that the witch was smiling, remembering her very own love story that had started with that very same ball.

Christmas Eve at the Weasleys was as always. Full of the warmth that only love can bring. Of course it was chaotic, with so many people trying to squeeze into the small dining room, give gifts, and kiss under the mistletoe.

After a scrumptious dinner, Ginny laughed aloud as she saw Bill and Fleur try to dissuade their small son to not open his presents yet. She placed her own presents under the tree, the fresh pine scent encircling her, mingling with the vanilla candles burning low. Ron and Hermione were oblivious to their surroundings. They cuddled on the loveseat facing the flickering fire.

The only thing that nagged Ginny was how she was going to give her gift to Draco…

As Weasley tradition dictated, the presents were to be opened the next morning so everyone stayed the night, though it was all a tight fit with not enough bedroom for so many people.

At Malfoy Manor, Draco and Narcissa drank tea in the sitting parlor. Draco found it hard to swallow down his words that threatened to erupt, asking why he was lied to. He looked at his mother nibbling at a biscuit and wondered how he could ever think her sick. She had never looked happier.

"So Draco dear, how's the matchmaking going?"

"It's…it's going fine. I did go on a few dates, but they didn't interest me."

Narcissa sighed. "When are you going to settle down?"

"I don't know mother. I just don't know."

The next morning Ginny woke up to the sound of tearing. She chuckled as she thought of Bill's boy finally getting to open his presents. She went down in her nightgown, not caring who saw her. No one cared either. Charlie simply threw a package into her arms that felt like another Weasley sweater from her mother. She worked her way through her own presents, but kept an eye on those who received the presents she had gotten.

Almost too soon, there were only a few presents left. Ron crawled under the tree looking for the smaller presents that might have been missed, making Hermione giggle like a schoolgirl as he floundered around. True enough, there was one last package wrapped in a luminescent green paper with Ginny's name written on it.

"Who gave Ginny this? It doesn't say on the paper, just her name."

"I didn't."

"I gave her a book."

"I got Ginny some pranks."

"Nope."

Ginny furrowed her brow. Who could it be from…unless… A bubble of hope rose in her. Could it be? She opened the gift carefully, trying not to destroy the beautiful paper.

It turned out to be a dictionary. A French-English/English-French dictionary to be exact. Her mouth dropped. But she opened the first page anyway.

There, written in a flowing script, were the words:

Happy Christmas, Ginevra. French is an extraordinarily beautiful language that everyone should know. Not to mention that it is considered the language of the civilized world. It's never to late to start learning.

There was no signature, but underneath that, there was simply a page number – page 35.

There was only one person who called her Ginevra and had taken her to a French restaurant though she was surprised he would remember…

Ginny laughed and quickly flipped to it, not noticing everyone's eyes on her wondering what was going on. Another note was written next to the word belle. Was that simply just a coincidence?

This isn't your real present of course, I wouldn't be that cruel. Or I would. But not to you. Come by my flat today, it shouldn't be hard. I just didn't want your brothers to kill me for sending you a present.

Ginny laughed again. This time, there was a Draco scrawled after the note. Ginny stood up and gathered her presents into her arms, throwing her coat on. Before anyone could stop her, she called, "I have to go. Thanks for everything everyone. Happy Christmas!" and she went into the swirling snow, the door slamming behind her.

Bill voiced the thought that everyone was thinking, "Who was that from and what was she just doing?"

Harry simply frowned in thought.

Ginny first went to change, it was beyond freezing with only her nightgown on. As she dressed, she vaguely thought about the things she had worn for the last three years, like sensible blouses and skirts. Everything was practical and not aesthetically pleasing at all.

She found Draco's present and took the dictionary she had gotten from him and ran up the stairs. When she knocked upon the door, it flew open. Draco stood there, looking extremely cute in his button down shirt and casual jeans.

Ginny held up the dictionary and raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Draco laughed, and pulled her inside.

"So what's all this about, huh, pretty boy?"

"Promise not to call me pretty boy first and I'll tell you." Draco smirked.

They were flirting, but neither really noticed. They were just aware of each other.

Ginny tried to smirk in reply and did reasonably well. "I won't give you your present if you don't tell me."

"You got me there."

They went into the living room and Draco pulled out a small box wrapped in the same green paper. Ginny gave him his present, wrapped in red paper.

Draco snorted. "Typical Gryffindor."

Ginny retaliated with a, "Typical Slytherin."

But when she had the gift unwrapped and opened, all she could do was sit there in wonder. On a glossy silver chain there lay a beautiful pendant. It twinkled in the soft light of the fire. It was so intricate that Ginny was afraid of picking it up for fear of breaking it. It was shaped like a budding rose, though with more twists in the silver for the branches, and with a fairy like creature nestling within the flower.

Draco looked up at Ginny when he saw her present. It was beautiful, but what awed him was the fact that she had obviously put so much effort into this. He had seen such astro-balls before, but never one that had shimmered so brightly or radiated so much warmth. As he peered into the ball, he could see the constellation that was his namesake – Draco, the dragon.

But as he saw Ginny's face, all thought melted away. Kiss her, just kiss her. But he couldn't move. All he could do was say, "Do you like it?"

Ginny glanced at him. "I love it. It's beautiful, but…"

"Then no buts. It's yours."

Ginny saw warmth in his gaze that she had never seen before. It exhilarated and scared her at the same time. I'm not ready for this! she thought. She bent her head down and didn't realize that Draco had gottenup, took the pendant, and had clasped it around her neck. It settled comfortably in the hollow of her slender neck like it was made for her.

Ginny's lip trembled. She rose from the sofa and headed for the door. Draco followed as though in a trance. He couldn't even ask why she was leaving so quickly.

Her hand shook as she opened the door. She stumbled out, nearly falling onto the landing.

But Draco's hand stopped her fall, snaking around her waist and holding her fast. Her startled brown eyes looked up his smoky silver ones. She remembered how they had first met, in the exact same way.

Everything was surreal.

At least it was, until a small 'pop' sounded and Draco's lips pressed against Ginny's in a searing kiss. Then all she could do was wind her arms around his neck and pull him closer, his arms still around her waist as though he would never let her go.

Author's Notes: So, the first week of school has come and gone. I can only hope that the rest of you wonderful readers are having more fun at school than I am. But I managed to write this for all of you. :) It was actually ten pages with a vedana 9 font. It's my longest yet! And it was eventful, right? Draco kissed Ginny! YAYAYAYAY.

I forgot to mention when Draco started calling Ginny Ginevra and the significance that it holds. Bascially, at that time, it was like everyone kinda had a part of her, whether they were realated to her or had dated her. Draco needed something that he could call his own (remember this was before he wanted to love her..heehee).

I kinda imagined Ginny's necklace as like the one in Lord of the Rings, Arwen's pendant that she gave to Aragon. I love that pendant...it's so pretty. And I based Ginny's gift on Prisoner of Azkaban, where Harry wanted to buy that ball with the stars in it.

I'm soooo glad that so many of you loved the Beauty and the Beast thing. I thought it was a nice touch and you all liked it! THANKS.

As for all of you who are anxious for them to get together, I just suggest that you keep on readin' for the next few chappies...cause Draco and Ginny are NOT just going to get together with a kiss and hug...heehee That's my only clue.

BUT YOU GOT YOUR KISS!

Miah the Storm Wolf, I did mention what the orange rose meant, but I guess it was easy to miss it in that chapter, I had alot of author's notes and I could see how you could miss it. But an orange rose means desire.

GoldenFawkes, no, that wasn't corney...it was rather sweet, it made me laugh.

louey31, thanks for understanding that I have school and everything.

much love,
falling into you