Ginny Weasely arrived at the Burrow, Olivia, Hermione, and Ron right behind her. Just as they neared the station, Ginny waved a goodbye at Draco, who waved back. They couldn't properly say goodbye for Ron was standing right next to Ginny. She was still grateful he had shoved off the fact that she kissed Draco. Hermione drove them back here; they didn't really want to floo. "MUM!" yelled Ron, lugging his trunk behind him. Olivia was sitting on it, enjoying the ride. "WE'RE HOME!"
In less than a second, Molly and Arthur came running through the living room, enveloping each and everyone of them in hugs. "Oh, Olly, Darling .. You've gotten so big!" cooed Molly, squeezing the girl tightly. "You look so much like your sister!"
Arthur walked up to Ginny and kissed her on the cheek. "How's my favorite girl?"
Ginny smiled and hugged him. "I've missed you so much, Dad!"
Ron came over and hugged his father, too. "Please tell me there's food." he begged.
Ginny giggled. "You always think of food, don't you Ron?"
"Maybe." replied Ron, grinning.
Hermione also gave the Weasely parents hugs. "Thank you so much for making me stay!"
Molly clicked her tongue. "Nonsense, dear. We love it when you visit. More food to be fed!"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Olly .. Mione? You guys want to go and unpack our things upstairs?"
"Sure, Gin." Hermione grabbed Olivia's hand. "Come on, Olly. We need to go and unpack."
"When we're done, can we go and play in the snow?" pleaded the pouting girl.
"Fine .. Fine. Just come on." responded Hermione.
The three girls ascended the stairs and entered Ginny's bedroom. It was lined with yellow, the walls a white color. The base of the floor was carpeted with another yellow color. "My Mum extended the bed to be bigger. Do you guys mind? I didn't think you'd need to have another bed." stated Ginny, bouncing her trunk on the huge king sized bed.
"Of course not. You guys sleep over at the Head Dorms all the time. It's not any different." replied Hermione, also placing her trunk on the mattress.
Olivia looked around the room. "Ginny? Will you and Mione read me a story tonight before I go to sleep? Drakie didn't finish .."
Hermione stopped what she was doing and turned around. "Malfoy read you a story?" she asked disbelievingly.
Olivia nodded. "He slept before he could finish. Can you please finish it for me?" She widened her eyes for an affect.
"Alright, baby. Can you just please start unpacking your things and put them in the dresser?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, Mione." said Olivia obediently.
As Ginny was taking out her clothing, she asked Hermione a question. "What did the ring look like, Mione?"
Hermione sighed. "It was perfect. I thought I was going to faint .. But .. You know I couldn't just say yes because of a ring."
"Yeah, I know." mocked Ginny. "I really think you should talk to him."
"No." Hermione answered simply.
"Why not?" whined Ginny.
"Because I bloody said so!" snapped Hermione.
"Fine then! I guess Olly and I will have a snowball fight on our own!" yelled Ginny, loving how they fought all the time.
Hermione scoffed. "Fine! I guess I'll read all by myself!"
Ginny stomped over to her table and put on her coat, gloves, hat, and scarf. Olivia was doing the same thing. "Goodbye!" she jeered.
Olivia placed her hands on her hips. "You've been naughty, Mione!" she scolded.
Heading for the door, Ginny opened it and let Olivia out. She turned to Hermione and smiled. "You coming out in a few?"
Hermione smiled also. "Of course!"
Blaise Zabini arrived at home, his house elf, Minks, carrying his luggage around. He opened the door leading to the parlor room and found his mother looking out the window, sipping tea. "Mum?" he asked.
Felicity Zabini looked at her son. "Blaise, Darling." she said happily, walking over to him and embracing him. "How are you?"
Blaise snorted. "How am I supposed to be? I'm getting married to some wench I hate."
"Blaise, please do not speak of your fiancée in such a way." reprimanded Felicity.
Blaise scoffed. "Fiancée my bloody ass. I am not marrying her. You can't make me." he complained, plopping himself down on a wicker chair.
Felicity sighed. "Darling, I've told you. We cannot just cancel this engagement. If, and only if, her parents, your father, and I agree on breaking it off, then it will be off. But, we haven't really talked to her mother and father about this. Blaise, just please .. Deal with it."
"I will not." he scowled.
"The invitations have been sent out for the party. Would you like to see the list?" asked Felicity softly. "It's mostly just family, distant relatives, your father's colleagues, and Ministry workers and their families. Just take a look, dear." His mother handed him a stack of papers.
Blaise snatched it away harshly. He read down the list.
Mr. & Mrs. Fudge
The Malfoy Family
The Crabbe Family
The Goyle Family
The Flint Family
Mr. & Mrs. Courtier
Patricia Le'Vait
Matrano Jesuite
The Weasely Family
The Parkinson Family
And so on and so on ..
What caught Blaise's attention was the name Weasely on the parchment. "Mum, the Weasely's are invited?" he asked curiously.
"Of course. You're father and Arthur are old friends. Did you not know?"
"You guys never tell me anything." Blaise threw the papers on the table and got up. "I'll be in my room." Blaise practically ran out of there, not knowing what to think anymore. He was going to get married and he couldn't stop it from happening. Maybe I can kill myself.
Blaise shook his head. "What the hell am I thinking? Kill myself and waste this sexy body." Walking up the stairs, his feet thundered throughout the house, almost making it seem like there was an earthquake. When Blaise was mad .. He was mad.
He strode into his bedroom and collapsed on his bed. Only then did he notice he was laying on a tuxedo and a few boxes. Propping himself up, he ran his hand through the material. "Oh .. Nice." he mumbled. He eyed the boxes wearily and knew what they were.
They were jewelry to give to his 'beloved' fiancée. Opening a long velvet rectangular box, he found a white gold tennis bracelet. It was line with diamonds and pearls. It looked so beautiful. They only person he could ever picture wearing it was Hermione. She would just fall in love with this. He thought to himself. Grabbing a piece of parchment and a quill, Blaise started to write.
My Dearest Hermione,
I know you're not talking to me at the moment, but I just wanted to let you know that I still love you although you rejected my proposal. Once again, I did not ask you to marry me because of this betrothal. I would love nothing more than to wake up every morning with you in my arms, and going to sleep every night with you right beside me. I may not get what I want, but I still intend to try my best and get it. I'm sorry if I hurt you. It was not my intention.
I love you with all my heart, Hermione Jessyca Granger,
Happy Christmas,
Blaise.
After folding the note, he went over to his closet and pulled out a gift he bought for her a long time ago. He went shopping one day and came across a mirror. Naturally, he purchased it at Knockturn Alley, but that's besides the point. The mirror had silver fairy wings engraved on the handle, and rubies were lined around the glass. The mirror showed you what you truly desired, and what Blaise saw now was Hermione. The mirror never ceased to amaze him.
He called for his owl, Sapphire and tied the note and the gifts to the owl's leg. "Take this to Hermione Granger. You should know where she is." he whispered to the animal.
Blaise only hoped Hermione would like the gift and accept his apology. All he would have to do is wait.
Ginny and Olivia were in the backyard, playing in the snow when Molly called them both in for dinner. Picking up the six year old, Ginny trudged back up to the house and entered the back doors. The warmth of her home welcomed her, along with the aroma of supper. "Mmmm .. Smells so good." she said heartily.
Olivia giggled. "I'm hungry, Ginny. Can we get changed first?" Their clothes were soaking wet from the snowflakes outside and the snowballs they threw at each other.
Ginny nodded. "Sure, baby. Let's go up stairs. And while we're up there we can call Mione down."
Both girls proceeded up the stairway and into Ginny's bedroom. They found Hermione cuddled in the bed, a novel propped onto a pillow on her lap. "Dinner's ready, Mione." stated Ginny.
"Alright." Hermione closed the book and scrambled out the bed. She was already in her pajamas. She had on a pink long sleeve top with matching pajama bottoms. She almost looked like a cloud, except .. Pink! "You and Olly changing?"
Olivia already had her jacket, gloves, scarf, hat and shoes off. "Can I wear my jammies, too?" asked the little girl, her hair in a wet mess.
Ginny ruffled it. "Sure. I'm wearing mine!"
Ginny walked over her dresser and pulled out her regular night clothes. It was a tight black spaghetti strap top and a pair of red booty shorts. She had them in almost every color. "Honey, I think you should put on your night gown."
Olivia pulled out a lavender colored night dress from the last drawer in the dresser, while Ginny performed a spell to dry them both up. Sliding the gown over her head, Olivia placed her hands in the correct holes. "Mione, can you brush my hair?"
Hermione grabbed a small comb and began to untangle Olivia's hair. "You're lucky you're hair isn't as wavy and frizzy as mine." Smoothing out all the little baby hairs, Hermione seized a bottle of hairspray and sprayed just a little on the top and bottom of the young girl's hair.
After each of the girls were done, they walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Ron looked furious at the clothes Ginny was wearing. "Ginny! You're lucky there are no males here! Except for your brothers of course! You're showing more skin than a model!"
Ginny looked at him confused. "My brothers? You're the only brother in here, Ron."
George popped his head out from under the table. "Actually, Gin .. It's me and Ron!" yelled the boy.
Ginny's eyes widened. "GEORGE!" she screeched, crawling under the table and giving her brother a very big hug. "Aren't you supposed to be in France promoting your new ideas for your company?"
"Why would I want to be in France, when I could be here with my two favorite siblings?" mocked the boy. Ginny rolled her eyes. "Fred is actually over there. He wants to do all the business work, so I decided to come back here and spend some time with the family."
"Do you know if Charlie, Bill, or Percy are coming for Christmas?" asked Ginny.
"I really don't know. Maybe they will. It depends on their families." replied George. Charlie recently married a very kind woman named Madison. They have a one year old daughter, Jessica. Percy and Penelope were now in the process of getting married; they wanted to take it slow. Bill, to everyone's surprise, married Professor Snape's niece, Champagne.
Before Ginny could say anything else, Olivia came sliding under the table. "Georgie!" she squealed, throwing herself at the red headed boy. He fell back onto the floor, with a sniggering Olivia above him. "How's Frank?"
George laughed. "You mean France?"
Olivia shrugged. "That's what I said. I said Frank."
Ginny propped her body on one knee and got up from the ground. "Mum? Do you know if any one else is coming for Christmas?"
Molly was over at the stove, stirring some chocolate. "Harry and Cho might be visiting, and I think Bill and Champagne were planning on coming by. Charlie, Maddy and Jessie are in Romania right now, so I don't think they can make it."
Ginny sighed. "Alright .." Pulling out a chair, Ginny sat in it, across from Hermione who was immersed in another novel. "What's for dinner, Mum?"
Molly smiled. "All your favorites."
"That's great!" exclaimed Ginny.
As everyone was settling in, Arthur walked downstairs, a piece of parchment in his hands. "Molly, dear, we've been invited to an engagement party. The whole family has, actually."
Molly clasped her hands together. "Oh that's wonderful! Who's getting married?"
"Felicity and Derek's son. They're holding a party at their manor." explained Arthur. He gave his only daughter a kiss on the cheek, and did the same to Hermione. "Shall we go?"
"When is it? And what are we to wear?" asked Molly. Ginny and Hermione listened to the Weasely parents intently, disregarding the giggles and laughs underneath the table. George is probably teaching Olly some tricks ..
"Tomorrow night. It's a formal party." Arthur looked down at the paper. "Formal Muggle wear to be exact. So, that means you ladies will dress in gowns and us men will wear tuxedos!"
Hermione's face seemed to glow. "Wow, Ginny you get to wear a gown! You're so lucky!"
"What are you talking about, Hermione?" asked Arthur. "You're going to be wearing a gown, too. And so is Olivia."
"But .. We weren't invited." stated Hermione slowly.
"It says here .. The Weasely Family. You're practically family!" said Arthur. "And I don't think Ginny would want to go if you're not there."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you so much, Arthur! Now I have use for my black dress I've had for years!"
Ginny grinned. "This is great! A party .. What's Olly going to wear?"
"Well, she brought along a pink ball gown. I told her not to bring it, but it seems like she will be needing it." explained Hermione. "What are you wearing?"
Ginny shrugged. "I've had this white dress gown for years now. It still fits. It belonged to my Grandmother on my Dad's side. It's absolutely breathtaking. After dinner, I'll show it to you."
"Hey George!" screamed Hermione. George rolled out from under the table and got up, Olivia then followed him.
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to this ball?" asked Hermione.
George had a very mischievous glint in his eyes. "Of course I am! I'm your date!" he teased.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you're going to be my date, then who'll be Ginny's?" she joked back.
"That's where I come in!" said a very cheery voice.
Ginny gasped. "David! What are you doing here?!" David was Fred and George's best friend when they were children. They still kept in touch of course, David was their agent.
"I'm here for Christmas, what are you doing here?"
Ginny laughed. "Well, I do kind of live here."
"So, I hear there's a ball!" roared David. "I am going, right?"
Molly ran over and gave him a hug. "Of course, David dear. Now go get yourself a seat. Dinner will be ready shortly."
"Thanks, Molly." David walked over to Arthur and shook his hand. "Evening, Arthur."
"It's great to see you, David! More men in the household! This day is getting good!" jeered the older man.
"Shall we sit?" Arthur and David both took seats next to each other. George sat right next to David. Molly came bustling over, placing plates of food before them, each and every entrée steaming hot.
"Mum, this looks delicious!" exclaimed Ron, grabbing three chicken drumsticks. He bit down hard and tore the meat off the bone. "So good!" he mumbled through the food in his mouth.
"Ronald! No talking while there is food in your mouth!" scolded Molly, now taking a seat beside her husband.
"What? I can't help it if it's the best food in the world!" retorted Ron, the food now down his throat.
Olivia rolled her eyes. "I'm six year old and I have more manners then you!"
Everyone laughed, causing Ron to turn red. "At least I know how to say France!"
"I can say Frank!" yelled the girl. "See? I just said it!"
Hermione looked at Ginny and mouthed, Children!
Ginny nodded and mouthed, I know!
After dinner was through, Ginny, Hermione, and Olivia went upstairs to get ready to bed. As the two older girls promised, they finished the fairy tale for Olivia. The small child was now asleep and Ginny and Hermione were still awake. They were now sitting by the huge open window to the right of Ginny's bed.
The felt the breeze on their faces as they stare out into the stars. "It's beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Hermione whispered. "It's so perfect .."
"A star up there is named after me, you know." Ginny said quietly. "When I was born, my parents were extremely happy that they had a girl. So, my mother insisted on having a star up there named after me. I have the certificate and everything. Whenever my parents and I had the time, we would floo to this Observatory in the States and look for my star. It's red and has a silver outer lining .. And for some odd reason .. That scares me."
Hermione continued staring out the window. "Why does it scare you?"
"Red and Silver aren't a very common color in a star. It's usually just one plain color. My star was just one color .. It used to be red. But, throughout the years, another color developed. It's strange, though. I never expected that to happen."
"Maybe it's a sign. Legend says that when a star forms into two colors, it means that another star of one other color collided with it and both stars somehow transformed. This only happens in the wizarding world though. Our stars are very different from the Muggle world. They can't see our stars .. They are hidden deep within a barrier above the sky. It's fascinating really." explained Hermione.
Ginny stared into the sky, hoping to find her star. She would need a telescope though, for it was too hard to actually spot it with the naked eye. "You know what I was thinking. That maybe Silver represents .. Well .. Uh .."
Hermione grinned. "Malfoy?"
Ginny bit her lip. "Yeah .. I don't know. It seems to fit for some reason, like the whole star colliding thing was meant to be. Or maybe I'm just being stupid and lovesick .."
"Stars never normally mesh together. It's only when and if the temperature is very cold up there. One star freezes of one color freezes, and when another star continues to move slowly, they crash, causing both to swirl together. Astrology is not something I really like, but I read a couple of books on it." Hermione hugged herself.
"Muggles would be interested in seeing our stars." said Ginny.
"They will never see them. The barrier is way too strong and the keeper of the wizarding sky will never let that happen. It's a matter of balance of our world and theirs."
"I want you to marry him." Ginny blurted out, changing the topic.
Hermione shut her eyes. "No." she whispered.
"Mione, don't be stupid! He loves you! He's been loving you! You're the only one he can see himself with! I can see it all just by the way he holds you, how he kisses you! He's risked being ridiculed by his housemates. Although they didn't ridicule him, he still risked his popularity! I don't think anyone is as worthy for you as Blaise is!" protested Ginny.
Hermione opened her eyes, a few tears now falling down her cheeks. "I don't know."
After saying that last statement, a black owl appeared in front of them, carrying a piece of parchment and two boxes. "Who the hell would be sending a letter this late?" scowled Ginny, petting the owl and taking the items from it. "Thank you." she whispered, watching the animal fly away into the sky. Ginny looked over the envelope. "It's for you."
Hermione stared at her. "Who would sending me this?" she asked. Ginny shrugged. Taking the things from the red head, Hermione placed them all on her lap. "Should I start with this letter first?"
"Sure. Does it say who its from?"
"Nope. We'll just have to read it and see." Hermione tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper inside. Her eyes softened, and soon a smile graced her lips. "He's sorry .." she whispered to herself. Handing the note to Ginny, Hermione looked at the gifts. Picking up a long velvet box, she unclasped the hook and opened it.
Hermione gasped. "Oh Merlin .."
Ginny stared at the letter. "Hell yes, Oh Merlin!" she repeated, reading the note over and over.
Hermione took out the bracelet and held it in the air. "I can't believe he got this."
Ginny looked up, her eyes almost popping out at the sight of all those diamonds and pearls. "That is the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen in my entire life."
"Put it on for me?" asked Hermione, showing Ginny her right hand and holding the bracelet in the other. Ginny seized the tennis bracelet and wrapped it around Hermione's wrist and clipped it together.
"It looks divine on you!" complimented Ginny, ogling at the thing. It glistened flawlessly under the moonlight; Hermione's pale skin just glowing.
Picking up the larger box, Hermione breathed in deeply and ripped off the tape. Lifting up the cover, Hermione's breath caught in her throat. Inside of the box laid a mirror, surrounded by rubies and fairy wings. But, what scared Hermione the most was not the fact that the gift was amazing, but the reflection she saw through the glass. "Blaise .." she whispered. The scene within the mirror then changed to a moving picture of her parents. "Mum .. Da .."
Ginny stared at Hermione as she cried. "Mione? What's wrong .. Is it bad?"
Hermione shook her head. "There are only three of these mirrors in the entire world, how the hell did he get a hold of one?! The Mirror Of Erised was the larger version, but this .. This is so different somehow .. It shows everything you've ever wanted."
"What are you on about?" asked Ginny, thoroughly confused. "Isn't the Mirror Of Erised bad or something?"
"That's what many people believed. They believed that it did no good for you. That is wasn't anything you would really accomplish. But, this .." Hermione stared at the moving images. "This is so different. It makes you feel as if what you desire will come to you."
"What or who do you see?" asked Ginny.
"Blaise .. My mother .. My father .. It's everything I've ever dreamt of." replied Hermione, tracing her finger around the mirror. She placed the mirror down and looked back into the box. Inside was a very small piece of parchment with writing on it. "Delicuiree Voissant." Hermione read from the paper. The mirror lit up for a split second, then the light faded. Looking back into the mirror, all she could see was herself. "It's the spell to change the mirror images back and forth."
"He really loves you, you know." Ginny said quietly. "I say you give him a chance."
Hermione smiled. "I've been really stupid, haven't I?"
Ginny snorted. "Just a little."
"When should I talk to him?"
"You can't owl him now. It's way too late. We'll be getting ready for the party the whole day tomorrow .. So I say you write him a letter the day after tomorrow."
"Alright.. It's a plan." stated Hermione.
Ginny smiled. "Nothing's going to get in the way of your love."
"I know .." Hermione looked back out into the stars. ".. I know."
numbluver: here's another chapter for you! and you're guess is just as good as any ..
blissfulxsin: hey! wow .. everyone's guessing Luna .. lol .. well .. i know Blaise and Hermione are having a bit of a bumpy ride right now .. but this kind of shows you that she's willing to set aside his betrothal and be with him .. i'm sorry there wasn't alot of Draco/Ginny here .. but that will come later .. you didn't think they'd get back together and not have any problems, did you? lol
NeoAddctee: aw .. i won't break your heart .. here's a chapter!!
jarethsbabe: your guesses are very good .. but .. lets just say .. pansy isn't one of them .. lol .. she's not really in thsi story .. and i don't feel the need to include her that much .. :) i also want a little sister like Olly .. she's perfect and that's why i love her so much .. she has so much to do with this story ..
XxTimesStopsxX: i also think Luna's pretty cool, too .. you'll just have to wait and see if its her !!
naughtygrl: i think i love you, too! lol .. i update alot .. mainly because i have all the chapters already .. i just want to keep you guys in anticipation ..!
dracoshotty: no .. she didn't hear their conversation .. but they will eventually be happy .. :)
Americasweetie: lol .. thanks so much .. i knew you'd like the chappie! lol .. well .. no, pansy is not Ron's crush .. that is prety far off, but a good guess nonetheless .. thank you very much for reviewing ..
CrazyKendoGirl: no it's not Lavender .. she's with Neville .. remember?
Hopeless Romantic Chick: lol .. although Keira may seem like the good guy .. she's not Ron's crush, but .. she is going to play a huge roll in the whole Ron loving this other girl thing ..
jennyfrmtx: aaww .. don't feel stupid! it's alright if you don't know who he likes .. you'll eventually know in later chapters .. I just simply love Ron .. so i wanted him to have a little romantic part in here, too.
HedwigSasso: lol .. you're review was like my favorite .. i love when reviewers ramble .. makes me feel like i know them .. :P .. well i'm very sorry there wasn't enough Draco/Ginny .. but there will be soon .. please don't worry .. and yes i know i update everyday .. lol .. and i'll keep doing that if i get more feedback from you guys!
little-munchkin-poo: i would just like to say .. that i'm in love with you're username .. lol .. and i'm happy you like my fic .. :) you're guess is good as everyone else's!
i own u eddie stack: hey stasha .. remember .. Lavender's with Neville .. no one better forget that ..
Skatertrina: no, it's not Hermione .. lol .. she and Blaise are in love! but, i'm happy you think my fic's great .. thanks
dracolovesme4ever: .. lol .. thanks for reviewing .. tell me when you finish up the chapters .. i want to know what you think :)
RiRiana: omg .. thanks so much for saying that! lol .. i see you've guessed, too .. :)
cc : Blaise and Hermione will get back together .. don't worry !!
Channy: i know Draco may seem out of character .. but i like him this way .. he's still his bastard self .. but you can see how much he really loves Ginny ..
Nightborn Angel: thanks for reviewing! i love how Blaise and Hermione fight! it's always serious .. but .. they will get back together in the end of it all .. or will they?
(A/N): .. so what did you all think? i got twenty reviews .. so sweet of you all .. did you like this chapter? it may have seemed pretty pointless, but i needed this to insinuate the engagement party next chapter .. just prepare you .. next chapter is going to be LONG as hell .. VERY LONG .. :) .. so .. i need alot of reviews now .. so i know if you guys want that next chapter .. okay?
i love you all & as always - fawning over cheese,
chalk & gatorade :)