Ginny's New Life
Chapter Six
Questioning Christmas
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Christmas morning came with a swift wind and a fresh dusting of snow. The morning was cold and crisp. The smell of bacon and cookies was wafting through the Burrow as Ginny lay in bed wrapped in blankets and looking down to the floor at a shivering Harry. Ginny felt bad that he had slept on the floor of her bedroom, because it was so cold, but she knew the fact that her brothers let him sleep this close to her was a miracle and she didn't want to press her luck. What was funny however was that all night long one of her brothers would walk by Ginny's room to make sure the door was open and Harry was still on the floor, alone.
Ginny didn't want to move from her warm blankets but she couldn't stop herself from reaching out a hand and brushing Harry's long hair out of his eyes. She could feel his cold nose as the back of her hand brushed against it. She knew her Mom was up and downstairs cooking but she wondered if anyone else was awake. She slowly got out of bed and peeked down the hallway, making sure not to step on Harry. When she thought she heard the familiar sound of snoring from each room she quietly closed her door.
Ginny grabbed the blankets off of her bed, knelt down beside Harry and covered himup. Then she curled herself on the ground, facing him, nose to nose. A slight grin grew on Harry's face as Ginny wrapped her arms around him, trying to warm him up. Harry slowly opened eyes to look at Ginny then he two wrapped his arms around her and brought her in close.
"What are you doing Gin, if your family comes in I'm dead." Harry said as he hugged her tighter.
"I'm just trying to keep you warm, you were shaking." Ginny said sweetly.
"Oh, well in that case!" Harry said as he pushed himself into her and kissed her passionately.
Ginny moaned into him and then quickly backed away, smiling. "Ewww."
"I kiss you and you say ewww?" Harry asked in a mock hurt tone.
Ginny just laughed and wrapped her legs around his, "You have morning breath."
"Oh, well I thought you loved me enough to over look that." Harry said still acting hurt.
Ginny shook her head, "I could never love anyone enough to kiss them with morning breath. Especially breath as fowl as yours!" Ginny said as she laughed, tossed the covers back and jumped up. She opened the door and bolted down the hallway, Harry close on her heals.
Ginny reached the kitchen and halted, causing Harry to run into her. They both toppled onto the floor, Harry onto of Ginny.The entire Weasley family was gathered around the table each looking more excited than the other. They looked up with interest at the now tangled mess that was Ginny and Harry. Harry finally got up and put out a hand to help Ginny. Mrs. Weasley beamed at them as they brushed themselves off and joined the family at the table.
"Your just in time for breakfast, we thought you two were going to sleep forever." Mrs. Weasley said as she started placing bowls of food on the table.
"I thought you were all still in bed." Ginny said looking slightly embarrassed at their messy entrance.
"Its Christmas morning, of course were all up early!" Ron said excitedly.
The family all ate breakfast rather quickly and one by one as they finished people left the table to gather around the tree in the living room. Fred, George and Charlie were the first to leave, soon followed Ron, Hermione and Bill. Before long only Harry, Ginny, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley were left at the table. Harry and Ginny were about to leave when Mr. Weasley coughed loudly.
"Harry, Ginny can we have a word before you leave." Mr. Weasley asked and Harry and Ginny sat back down.
"Arthur, surly we can do this later?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
"We could, but I don't see what is wrong with right now." Mr. Weasley said. "Now, don't be upset but we understand that you plan on asking Ginny to marry you Harry?"
Harry suddenly looked nervous, he had planned on talking to Mr. Weasley and getting permission but shouldn't Harry approach him? "Umm…yes sir." Harry said softly.
Ginny looked taken aback at the sudden questions but she was sure her dad had something up his sleeve. "Were going to wait until I'm out of school, Dad."
"I assumed so pumpkin, but I have a matter to discuss with Harry." Mr. Weasley said as he sipped on his coffee. "We want to know why you have already bought a house."
Ginny froze, a million thoughts instantly rushed through her mind and her hands became sweaty. How did they know? Harry and I are the only ones who know?
Harry sat up in his chair and seemed to be thinking over his answer very carefully, "Well sir, I wanted to make sure I could provide for your daughter like she deserves. I wanted to have a house ready for us when the time came, whenever that may be. I didn't want her living in an apartment forever and the opportunity presented it's self so I took it." Harry said confidently.
Mr. Weasley surveyed Harry for a moment before he spoke. "Good answer son." He paused again. "You have my blessing to marry my daughter when you both feel you are ready."
Ginny could have somersaulted across the floor at that very moment but one nagging thing was stuck in her mind. "How did you know all of this?" Ginny asked her parents.
"That would be my fault." Hermione said in a small voice from the kitchen doorway. She slowly walked in and stood beside Mr. Weasley. "Iwas worried that you two were moving to fast and I thought they should know. I found out about the house when you left one of your notes on your bed at school."
Ginny was slightly hurt but having her parents blessing was enough to keep her happy for a million years so she decided not to pick a fight with Hermione. "Well, I don't like that you read my letter but I guess everything worked out so it's ok."
Hermione smiled slightly and said, "Ginny if you have a moment can we talk?"
"Sure." Ginny said as she followed Hermione out of the kitchen. They walked past the rest of the family who were eagerly sitting around the tree, pointing out packages. Hermione walked up the stairs and onto the landing. She sat down in the hallway and Ginny followed suite. Ginny sat patiently as Hermione readied herself for whatever she had to say.
"I have wanted to talk to you about this for awhile but we just never get privacy at Hogwarts." Hermione said.
Obviously not, considering you read my letters. Ginny thought but choose to hold her tongue. "So, what's up?"
"Don't you think you and Harry are moving to fast?" Hermione asked.
"No I don't when you love someone as much as we do, sometimes I feel like we don't move fast enough. And with everything we have been through we feel that life is too short to not take advantage of everything." Ginny said. "Look I have been thinking about this a lot and I'm not going to let you tell me I'm too young or…"
"No Ginny, that's not it…I just…I wish…" Hermione tried to say.
"What?" Ginny interrupted.
"I wish Ron would move faster, I mean we have been dating longer than you and Harry and you have a promise ring and a house and you know that you're going to get married and I have nothing. It's just not…fair." Hermione finished sadly.
So this was her problem, she doesn't think I'm too young, she's jealous! Ginny thought. "Oh, well every couple is different and with Ron it doesn't surprise me that he is so slow…"
"Girl's let's open our gifts!" Called Mrs. Weasley.
Hermione and Ginny got up and started down the stairs, Ginny stopped Hermione and said, "Look Hermione, if you think about it to much you will go nuts. You will either have to wait or just take action yourself." And with that they went and joined the rest of the family.
They all sat and opened presents each one fawning in turn over what they had received. Hermione kept eyeing Harry and Ginny who sitting as close as possible on the floor beside a chair. Ron didn't seem to notice that Hermione wasn't paying a bit of attention to him; he was more concerned with the signed quaffle Harry got him from the Cannons. Ginny was admiring the new sweater that her Mom gave her when Harry nudged her and pointed in Ron's direction.
"Have you noticed anything about Hermione and Ron?" Harry asked.
"Other than the fact that my brother is a complete prat, no." Ginny replied.
"He hasn't given her a gift yet." Harry said.
"Oh, maybe he is too thick to realize that he is supposed to." Ginny said jokingly.
Harry frowned at her, "No Ginny…just watch."
Ginny pulled her focus away from her small stack of gifts and started eyeing Ron and Hermione. At first nothing seemed out of the ordinary, the normal Ron and Hermione. Then Ron leaned over to Hermione and whispered into her ear. Hermione smiled and the two of them got up holding hands and headed into the kitchen. As they walked by Ginny followed them with her eyes. And to Ginny's complete shock Ron was holding a small black velvet box in his hand, hiding it behind his back.
No one else seemed to notice this turn of events, Ginny turned to look at Harry who was sporting a huge grin. "Is he…is that what I think it is?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded his head in reply, "Yes…but don't say anything I'm not sure if it's a promise ring like what I did or if he's actually asking her, he didn't tell me."
"But you're sure it's a ring?" Ginny asked.
Harry stopped for a moment and looked Ginny in the eyes, "You know, now that I think about it I didn't actually look to see what was in it, I just saw it on his dresser and assumed."
"I hope it's a ring because after the conversation Hermione and I just had she won't be to happy if its not…" Ginny said but was cut off by a sudden outburst of yelling from the kitchen.
"Ear rings! You got me ear rings!" Rang Hermione's voice.
"I…I thought you would like them." Ron said.
"I don't even have pierced ears!" Hermione said as she stormed out of the kitchen, she ran into the living room very aware that everyone was watching her. She stopped and pointed at Harry with a shaking fingerand said, "Why can't he be more like you?" Then she continued to run upstairs and slam a door behind her.
Ron came out of the kitchen looking thoroughly confused. "I have seen herware ear rings before I thought they were nice I spent a months worth of wages on them!"
Harry stood up, took the box out of his hand and looked at the ear rings. He then put his other hand on Ron's shoulders and said, "I think she wears clip-ons mate."
Ginny just hung her head and thought, Poor Ron, he's so clueless.
