Chapter 27

Disclaimer: If JKR wants to give me the rights to Harry Potter for a Christmas present, I would gladly accept. However, I highly doubt she will, so all of the characters belong to her, not me. I only own this piece of plot.

A/N: Here's the Christmas chapter. Enjoy!

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Ron looked at the dilapidated tree and sighed. It was one he'd found last year at a muggle garage sale and had bought on a whim. With the ornaments and garland Lupin and Tonks had sent, it did look more presentable than it had when he had assembled it, but it was still nothing special.

Mr. Weasley, however, disagreed. "It's nice to have a tree in the house again."

Ginny smiled widely. "Yes. It's lovely, Ron."

He shrugged. "I tried. You did a great job of wrapping the presents, Ginny."

She blushed. "Well, the doctors told me it would be therapeutic. It was fun too."

The presents piled under the tree were wrapped in all different styles of paper and were covered in various colored bows. A majority of the presents, of course, were for the twins.

"It's nice having new Weasleys in the family," Mr. Weasley sighed. "I know they can't replace the ones we lost, but at least we have something." He eyed the presents. "Do you think we got them enough gifts?"

George laughed, coming up from behind them. "I'd say you got them too many. You're going to spoil them senseless. Ronnie won't know what do with them when they turn into brats."

"Shut up, George. I've dealt with you for three years."

"Oy!"

Ginny laughed. "It's true, George."

Fred came into the living room, grinning from ear to ear. "Okay George, mission corrupt the twins is coming along nicely."

"Excuse me?" Ron cried.

"Oh don't worry, Ron," George grinned. "It's more for Hermione's benefit than yours."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it," Mr. Weasley chuckled.

"She'll kill me if you give the girls nosebleed nougat, George."

"Would we give them anything that would harm them?" Fred asked innocently.

"Yes," Ron stated flatly, glaring at his older brother. "But don't."

"They're just new novelty products we've developed. You know, trying to bring the store up from the depths of your wallet."

Ron opened his mouth to smart off, but was interrupted a loud pop.

"Wotcher, Ron!" Tonks cried. "We aren't early are we?" She was holding baby James and Sirius, though Sirius looked like he was protesting to the treatment.

Remus looked over the stack of presents he was holding. "Well, if we're not, Nymphadora, everyone else is late."

"Late," Ginny said flatly. "Typical Harry."

"No, Ginny. Typical Ron. That's why we condescended to have the party here—so he'd be here on time," George laughed.

Ron eyed his brother, then turned to Tonks. "I can't believe Hermione is actually late."

Sirius, having managed to pry himself out of his mother's arms, ran up to Ron. "Candy?"

"Sirius, behave!" Remus scolded.

Ron looked down at him. "After dinner, okay mate?"

"Yay! Candy!" Sirius cried. "Pig!" he pointed.

Ron's little bird was circling over the tree, behaving quite strangely.

"What's up with you, Pig?" Ron asked.

The owl came up to him and held out a letter. Ron untied it and read. "Damn them to hell!" he bellowed.

Remus eyed him. "Not in front of my children, please, Ron," he scolded.

"Right. Sorry." He looked at his father. "It's from Harry. The Ministry wants us both to work tonight."

Lupin sighed. "You're going to have to get Moody to talk to them."

"Oh no. I'm talking to them," Ron affirmed.

"Don't," Lupin warned. "You'll get both of you in trouble."

"You'd think with Harry being the dam—darn Chosen One, they would let us slide."

At that, the doorbell rang.

"Bell goes ring," Sirius told Ginny wisely.

"Yes it does."

Ron went to answer the door as Lupin unloaded his burden. "Harry? Did they send you to come get me?" He stopped suddenly. "Why didn't you just apparate here?"

Harry grinned. "Well, I've never been here, have I?" He looked around. "Very nice. However, the tree could use some help." He pointed his wand at it. "Engorgio!"

The tree grew a few feet and spread its branches wide.

"Wicked!" Ron, Fred, George, and Sirius said at the same time.

Ginny sighed. "Boys."

"So do you two have to work?" George asked.

"No. I got us off. Ron and I have important business issues to discuss." He smiled. "I think Moody saw right through me, but I was able to convince Kingsley."

"Thanks mate," Ron smiled. "Pull up a seat."

"Oh, let me put my presents under the tree." He pulled out a tiny bag and called out the same charm he'd used before. Suddenly, he disappeared under a mountain of presents. "Help!" he cried from under the mountain.

His friends just fell to hysterics. "Nice one, Harry," Fred laughed, wiping tears away from his eyes.

It was at that moment that Hermione and the girls finally showed up.

"Sorry we're late. The girls were a little finicky about having Christmas with people they didn't know."

Ron knew that wasn't entirely the case. He didn't miss Jane's cold stare up at him.

"Well, then we must fix that," Mr. Weasley said loudly. "I'm your grandpa."

"And I'm Uncle Fred."

"And I'm Uncle George."

Hermione smiled. "And you know everyone else."

The girls nodded, but still hid behind their mother's skirt.

"Go put the presents under the tree."

Sirius ran up to the girls. "Play ball?" he asked Jane hopefully.

"Kay. I win."

"No I always win!" Sirius boasted, helping Jane place her load of presents under the tree.

"Not now," Jane taunted.

Remus laughed. "Children."

"They remind me of you two," Harry laughed, looking at his two best friends.

"Really?" Hermione asked. "Why?"

"Well, just reverse the genders," Ginny laughed. She got two hard looks. "Well, it's true."

"Let's eat," Remus said brightly.

"Oh, let's," Fred said, his mouth watering. "St. Mungo's food is terrible."

The group gathered around the table and sat down for a feast. A feast that constituted not just good food, but good company and good memories. And those feasts are always the best kind.

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A/N: Christmas will be continued next chapter. Sorry, but this chapter was just running too long. Coming next: opening the presents!

Thanks to JohnCardy87 for beta reading, for jwoods471 is out of town.

To all my reviewers, thanks for all your support. You make my day with your warm comments. Good luck to all of you on your exams! My last one is Monday, thank God!