Every single person in the room at the moment stared in amazement. Percy entered like he still lived there, like he hadn't been away for nearly three years.

Ron stood up. "Well, I'd better go put this book away. Don't want to get it dirty."

"And I think I should help you," Hermione said.

"I don't need-"

"Yes you do." The two of them started up the stairs.

Fred and George looked at each other. "Did we leave wet exploding fireworks in the bathroom?" Fred asked.

"I think we did."

"We should go check that." The two of them got up as well. "Oh, hi Percy. Sorry, but we should get those fireworks out of the bathroom before mum finds out, you know." They hurried upstairs after Ron and Hermione.

Bill's wand started to vibrate. "Sorry, this is Fleur. I'll be right back." And he hurried into the kitchen.

Ginny started to get up, but Harry pulled her back down. "Don't you dare," he whispered. Charlie gave them both a look that said 'please don't leave me here with him'.

"Harry!" Percy said, approaching him. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in so long! And you as well Ginny. Doing well in school are you? How did those NEWTs go?"

"Alright," Harry mumbled.

"Not as good as I hoped, but not bad either," Ginny said.

"Very well. You know, Harry, I heard about what you did with You-Know-Who. The ministry is destroying the body. Got to see it myself. But anyway -"

"Is that my Percy?" Mrs. Weasley had just entered from the kitchen. She ran over to hug him. "Oh, Percy! I knew you'd come!" Harry and Ginny got up and snuck into the kitchen. Charlie quietly retreated upstairs.

"What does he mean, 'he heard'?" Harry whispered angrily. "Like it's something that just casually happened?"

"You know how he is, Harry," Ginny whisperred back.

"Got to see it himself, yeah, sure he did."

Mrs. Weasley came back into the kitchen, but didn't seem to notice Harry and Ginny. "Here, Percy. You must take some cake with you..."

Harry edged himself close to the door and listened. "Here," Ginny said, handing him an extendable ear from her pocket.

"You carry these around?"

"Sometimes." They knelt down and stayed quiet, listening.

"What ever happened to that girl you dated in school?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Oh, you mean Penelope?" Percy said. "Haven't seen her since we've left."

"Oh... that's a shame. She was such a nice girl."

"I really must be going, mother. Sorry to have to leave so soon." Harry got up and pulled the ear out of his ear.

"Well that was exciting."

"Come on," Ginny said, moving back into the living room and pulling him along. Harry spotted Ron, Hermione, and Charlie not far up the stairs, listening for him to leave. Percy said good bye to his mother and left quickly.

"You all get in here this instant," Mrs. Weasley said, as if she knew they were watching on the stairs. They came back and sat, not looking at her. "He is your brother, not a radioactive monkey. Treat him better, for heaven's sake."

"Maybe he should treat us better," Ron mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Ronald Weasley -"

"Mum?" Bill interrupted. "You should go check on dad. He went outside and hasn't come back."

"Oh, Arthur," she mumbled. "I'll deal with all of you when I get back. Treating your own brother like that, on Christmas Eve..." she left in a huff after Mr. Weasley.

They sat there ackwardly, waiting for their punishment, but it never came. Mrs. Wealsey got so distraced with Mr. Weasley that she seemed to have forgot. They continued to do what they were doing before, but a lot quieter.

Fred and George eventually came back down. "Where'd you go?" Bill asked them.

"To the bathroom," George said.

"We really did leave wet exploding fireworks in there," Fred said.

"Why on Earth would you put wet exploding fireworks in the bathroom?" Charlie asked.

"Umm... who's up for some more chess?" Fred asked.

"You know, if mum would've found those..."

"We know. That's why we removed them."

"And where are they now?"

"Someplace that's dry, hopefully," Ron muttered.

"I would like to know," Charlie said. "I'm not very fond of exploding at night, you know."

"Don't worry. They're safe," George said.

"At least as safe as wet exploding fireworks can be," Fred added.

They started the tournament again. When it was obvious that Mrs. Weasley was not coming back, they began talking about Percy. "He just comes barging in, like it isn't ackward at all," Ron said.

"That's how he always is though," Bill said.

Fred and George looked around to make sure no one was listening, then called them all closer. "You know how he left as soon as they started talking about Penelope?"

"How d'you know that? You were attending to your fireworks," Charlie asked.

"We have our ways. Well, a few weeks ago, we were up in London."

"Testing a new muggle detector," George added.

"Right. So, we were about to leave when across the street we saw Penelope."

"Are you sure it was her?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, but wait, it gets better."

George looked around again, then whispered "She was pregnant."

"Really?" Bill asked excitedly.

"Yes," Fred whispered. "Very pregnant."

"You don't think it was -"

"Wait, it gets even better than that. We were about to shrug it off and leave when we saw Percy come up to her and put his arm around her."

"Really?"

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.

"Yes we're sure. We all have bright red hair. You can't miss us."

"So you think the reason he was so jumpy about it is because he did something he didn't want mum to know about?" Charlie said.

"Seems likely to me," Fred said.

"Oh this is good," Ginny said.

"D'you think it could've happened by now?" Ron asked. "I mean, if he had to run off because of -"

"Probably."

Charlie shook his head. "Figures..."

"And they said we were going to be the ones that were complete failures," George said. "'Oh our Percy, he's so smart and bright. He'll be a success anywhere.' Seems to have happened the other way around, hasn't it?"

"Don't say anything to mum," Bill said. "Dad almost had a coronary when he showed up. Who knows what'll happen if they find that out."

"We weren't going to say anything," Fred said. "It's much more fun to watch him struggle with it."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

They all went to bed very late that night. Harry was supposed to sleep in Ron's room and Hermione in Ginny's, but they switched quietly and no one else seemed to notice.

"So," Harry said. "What'd you get me for Christmas?"

"Nothing at all. Why do you think I'd buy you something?" Ginny joked. "You'll like it, don't worry. What'd you get me?"

"Nothing special. I don't think I'll ever be able to top two years ago."

"You mean this?" Ginny said, flashing her left hand in front of him. Two years ago, back in the middle of all the Voldemort buisness, Harry had come upon his parent's wedding rings and had given one to Ginny, as a sort of promise ring. "I think you could, if you tried hard enough. Do you ever plan on going through with that 'promise'?"

"If you want to."

"Of course I want to."

"Well, it's mostly up to the woman, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't much care if the table cloths don't match, or what music they play, or any of that."

"Okay then. I'll plan it out and let you know."

"Sounds good. Just let me know where and when to show up." Ginny laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "So how is it that we're being allowed to sleep in the same bed? Won't your mum have a fit?"

"Probably. But we can always blame it on Ron."

"Very true."

----------------------------------------------------------

Ginny shook Harry. "Hello sleepy. Don't you want your presents?" Harry pulled the blankets over his head. "Suit yourself." She went into her closet and began pulling out various wrapped boxes.

"How many of those are mine?" Harry asked.

"None. I told you I didn't get you anything." She picked up a bunch and headed for the door. "Yours are already down there. Hurry up, or there won't be any breakfast left. Mum made chocolate chip waffles." Harry got up slowly and grabbed his robe. By the time he got downstairs every one else was well into their breakfast. Mr. Weasley seemed unaffected by what happened the night before.

"Everyone sleep okay?" Mrs. Weasley asked. They all nodded in response. "Finish up so that we can get to those presents."

Harry didn't eat much and went back upstairs, remembering that he had left some presents for Ginny up there. Hermione followed him into Ron's room and pushed herself under the bed. "What're you doing?"

"Getting Ron's present."

"You hid it under his bed? He didn't think to look there?"

"He's not always the smartest apple on the tree." She pulled out a long box, big enough to hold a -

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Maybe. Come down and find out." She threw the box over her shoulder and went back downstairs. Harry grabbed his presents and followed.

Wrapping paper was everywhere. Harry sat next to Ginny and handed her the presents, when something large flew into his head. Fred and George smiled and nodded. "Happy Christmas Harry," they said. Harry opened it. He wasn't sure what it was, but he smiled back at them and set it on the floor, afraid it might go off.

Hermione got him a book on the Dark Arts. Then they handed him a large box which was filled with every kind of sweet he had ever seen. Harry gave Ginny some more of her presents. It continued on like that for a while.

Ron handed Hermione a present. "This one's from Harry and me." She opened it, and then hit Ron over the head with it. Harry laughed.

"Hogwarts a History the second revised edition," Hermione said, showing it to everyone.

"Includes everything that's happened there up until 1985," Harry said.

"And we know pretty much everything that's happened since then," Ron added.

When Ron was done with his other gifts, Hermione reaches behind the couch and pulled out the long box. "One more," she said.

"What's this?"

"Well, we all know that you got onto the ministry's quidditch team, so I thought you should have some updated equipment."

Ron looked at Harry, who shrugged. Ron opened it. Everyone else leaned in to have a look. Ron's mouth fell open. "A K930," he mumbled.

Harry was surprised. That was a very expensive broom. The makers of the Nimbus created a line of brooms made especially for every position. The B930 was for beaters, the S930 for seekers, the C930 for chasers, and the K930 for keepers. They were advertised to be as fast asa Firebolt with more style.

"Where did you get the money for this?"

"I have my ways," Hermione said."Oh, we should get going. I told my parents we'd be there by noon."

Ron nodded, still struck by his new broom."Can I have your old one?" Ginny asked. Ron nodded again.

"It's not nice to stare," George said.

"Go put that away, so we can go," Hermione said.

Ron got up and put the broom away, then came back down with hisbag of things to take. "Good luck," Harry whispered to him as he left. Ron rolled his eyes and followed Hermione outside.