Bailey woke with a start in the early hours of the morning. She lay in bed for a long moment, trying to discern what it was that had woken her. Finally unable to fall back to sleep, she pulled the afghan off the bed and wrapping it around her shoulders, made her way as soundlessly as possible down the stairs. She got herself a glass of cold water and settled on the hearth with the poker and gently stirred the embers. For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to think of their parents. She thought about last Christmas and how much fun they had had waiting till the night before to put up the tree and decorate it. They had laughed and joked well into the wee hours of the morning, until they had simply drifted off, curling up with blankets and pillows on the living room floor. Bailey smiled and leaned her head against the cool stones as she remembered waking up to the smell of their mom's homemade blueberry muffins and the sound of sausages sizzling in the skillet. The coffee was perked and on the table stood two large glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice.

The sound of slipperred feet scuffing down the stairs broke Bailey out of her reverie. She looked around to see Mrs. Weasley making her way down the stairs. Bailey stifled a giggle at the picture her host presented. Mrs. Weasley wore large, fuzzy pink slippers and a rather worn paisley robe. She had her hair up in curlers and she cradled her odd clock like a baby doll.

"Oh, dear," exclaimed Mrs. Weasley as she turned at the sound of the muffled giggle. "Dearie, what are you doing up at this hour? Couldn't sleep either?" Mrs. Weasley walked into the living room. She snapped her fingers and the lamps and candles around the room began to light. She picked up a set of knitting needles and a half finished blanket then settled in her chair, setting the clock on the table beside her.

Bailey stared at the clock for a long moment. George had tried to explain the clock. He pointed out that each of the nine hands had the face of one of Weasley's on it. It would indicate to their mother where each of them was at any given time. Bailey thought it was a wonderful contraption, having someone looking out for them at all times. George had nodded, commenting that it also allowed her to spy on them and catch them many times before they could complete their mischief.

Bailey shook her head and switched her attention to Mrs. Weasley as she began to knit. Timidly, she reached up and fingered the finished edge of the blanket. The yarn was very soft and felt warm to the touch.

"Do you like it?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"It's beautiful, Mrs. Weasley. But I was wondering," and Bailey looked up at her shyly. "Why do you work on this one by hand, while you have a set of enchanted needles over there?"

Mrs. Weasley's smile was full of understanding. "Those are my needles for everyday work. These," she held up the ones in her hand, "are my worry needles. Whenever I'm upset with one of the kids or worried about how things are going in general, I pick these up and work until I feel relaxed again."

"You must not get upset very often then." Bailey looked at the short length of work on Mrs. Weasley's needles.

Mrs. Weasley laughed out loud. "Dear, this isn't the first 'Worry-ghan' that I've made. I've got a whole chest full of them. In fact, the one you are wrapped in I made when Fred and George were about four and they both came down with Hungarian Huge pox. Nasty business those are. High fevers, chills and boils the size of your fist. Fred wasn't to bad off, but poor George," she stopped to shake her head. "Thought we were going to loose him to the fevers. He pulled through though. I guess he was too ornery to be taken by something as simple as a fever."

Bailey pulled the blanket a little tighter about her. "I thought I felt something special about it. It's the love you put into each one, isn't it?"

Mrs. Weasley winked at her. "You know, some people never catch on."

Bailey thought she saw Mrs. Weasley cast a quick glance up the steps and guessed to whom she was referring. "I think it's wonderful. Could you…" She paused. This woman had already opened her home to the sisters, taking them in without even batting an eyelash. She had no right to ask any more of her.

"Could I what?" prodded Mrs. Weasley.

"Never mind. Honestly, I have no right to ask anything more of you."

"The least I can do is say no, Dear. But you're not even giving me a chance to do that." Mrs. Weasley reached down and gently cupped Bailey's chin. "Come on now, out with it."

Bailey gave her a smile. "I was wondering, could you… would you be willing to teach me?"

"See, that wasn't so hard now, was it? Of course, I'd be glad to teach you." Mrs. Weasley flicked her fingers and her large sewing box flipped open. She summoned another pair of needles and a large ball of yarn. "Here, we'll get you started with these."

An hour or so later, Bailey was well on her way to knitting her first afghan when the clock in the kitchen began to chime.

"Oh my, six o'clock already," exclaimed Mrs. Weasley as she rose and dropped her work in her basket. "I'd better get breakfast started, everyone will be down soon. Lets see…" She paused to count off on her fingers the number of people she needed to serve. "By my count, there's twelve today."

Bailey ran through the figures in her own head and nodded that she agreed. "Please, let me help, Mrs. Weasley. I'll be glad to set the table."

"That would be most kind of you, dearie, but not necessary. Oh, better set an extra place for Charlie. He said he would be here some time today. One never knows exactly when that will be with him."

Bailey just nodded as she collected plates and silverware from the cabinet. Once the table was set, she busied herself with stirring bowls of batter and helping to flip hotcakes. She listened as Mrs. Weasley hummed and catching the tune, joined in. She and Mrs. Weasley were sharing a laugh over a story Mrs. Weasley was telling about her children's adventures when the first of the motley crew made their way downstairs.

"What's got you two laughing like a couple of hyenas so early in the morning?" Bill grabbed a mug off the counter and poured himself a cup of steaming, black coffee.

"Your mum was just telling me about the summer that you and Charlie spent hunting Leprechauns in the forest behind the house."

Bill scrubbed at the scruff on his chin as he glared at his mother's back. "Do you always have to tell that story?"

"It's cute," replied Mrs. Weasley as she turned a beaming smile on her eldest son.

"Yes, but you always seem to omit the part about us being six and four. Besides, we would have caught the little bugger if dad would have let us use the enchanted rope instead of regular stuff."

"Oh no," groaned Ron as he stumbled more than walked down the steps. "Please, tell me we're not talking about the Leprechauns again."

Bill nodded. "It could be worse though, mum could tell her about the Toilet Troll."

"I thought we swore to never bring that up again," bellowed Ron as he launched himself at his brother.

"Boys! You know the rules, no roughhousing in the house." Mr. Weasley's commented as the patriarch of the clan made his way to the table. He detoured around to the stove to give his wife a peck on the cheek and grab a mug off the counter. "Odd term that, 'No roughhousing in the house'. Why would they call it roughhousing if they didn't want you to do it in the house? Well, 'ello, who do we have here? Oh my, could it be?"

Arthur Weasley took a long moment too look over the girl who stood at the stove beside his wife. He set his mug on the table as he rubbed at his eyes. He blinked several times before looking at Bailey again. "Molly, why is one of Derrick and Sina Snape's twins in our kitchen? When did she get here?"

Mrs. Weasley didn't take her eyes from the grill as she expertly flipped several cakes. "They are both here, Arthur. They arrived yesterday with Fred and George. I would have told you, but you got in so late last night and looked so tired. They'll be staying for dinner. Oh and Severus will be joining us as well."

Mr. Weasley didn't seem to hear a word his wife said as he continued to size up the girl in front of him. Finally realizing that he was making her uneasy, he sat down at the head of the table, his mug forgotten as he gestured for her to join him.

Bailey filled the mug with coffee and took it to him as she sat in the seat he had pulled out for her. "Good morning, Mr. Wealey. I'm Bailey Snape."

"Thank you," he said taking the mug from her. "I'm so sorry about your parents. It was such a shock to read about them in the paper. Believe me when I say that there were many who grieved their passing."

Bailey swallowed hard and mustered half a smile as she looked up at Mr. Weasley and nodded. She was spared any further discussion on the matter by a loud thud and a string of very French, if not very feminine epithets as Fred came scurrying down the steps, minus one slipper.

"Honestly, didn't anyone tell her about locking the door?" he exclaimed and ducked as his errant slipper came flying down the steps after him.

One by one, the rest of the 'family' made their way down to the table, till only two places remained empty. Everyone was just settling down to eat, when there came a knock on the door. Without thinking and before Mr. Weasley could stop her, Molly flung open the door and was greeted with a big hug by Charlie.

"Merry Christmas," he called out in greeting to everyone as he settled at one of the empty places. He glanced about then nudged his father in the ribs. "Say now, since when did you an' mum start taking in strays? The family 'as nearly doubled since I was here last."

Everyone just laughed, because they all knew how kind and generous the Weasley's were.

"Oh my," declared Fleur as she made her way down the steps. It was obvious by the way she had her hair done up and the way she carried herself, that she had planned to be last down so that she could make a grand entrance. "I was goingz to make zee speecial breakfast for zee fawmily. I weel jus 'ave to 'elp wid zee dinner ten."

Mrs. Weasley groaned under her breath and Ginny patted her mother's knee.

Bill pulled his fiancé onto his lap and kissed her cheek. "I'm sure mum will appreciate that very much. You can show everyone what a wonderful cook you are."

Fleur giggled and beamed shyly under Bill's praise. She cupped his cheek with her delicate hand. "Isn't 'e jus the beest?"

"Well, someone at this table is a beast." Ginny whispered as she shoved a large bite of hotcakes, dripping with butter and syrup into her mouth.

Her words brought giggles from some and a stern look from her mother.

"Molly, did you do something different to the hotcakes?" Arthur regarded his wife.

"That was my fault, Mr. Weasley," piped up Bailey. "I made some of the batter the way my mom used to."

"Your fault?" and Mr. Weasley tried to stifle a laugh. "Dear girl, I like them very much. They remind me of the way my mum used to make them. She always added a pinch of cinnamon to perk them up."

Bailey blushed deeply and she tried to hide behind her curtain of raven black hair as several others complimented her on how good they were.

"Dat ees how I makes dem too," added Fleur, more to the air since no one was listening.

Soon everyone was finished eating and the dishes were cleared from the table. Everyone crowded into the living room and gathered around the tree. Lake and Bailey found a quiet, out of the way corner where they could watch. They smiled and oohed and aaahed as the others opened their presents. Mrs. Weasley had knitted everyone new scarlet and gold scarves and each person received a muggle oddity from Mr. Weasley.

"I'm not sure what some of those things do," he assured the crowd. "But I'm positive that they aren't dangerous."

George leaned back and held up a long, glittery fish-shaped object. He whispered to Bailey, "So, any ideas, and just how dangerous is it?"

Bailey smiled. "Actually, it's a fishing lure and it's not overly dangerous, unless you happen to be a fish. I would however watch the…" her warning came too late as Fred grabbed the hooked end of the lure.

"Ow," he howled as he quickly drew his hand away and sucked at the little pinpricks of blood that spotted his hand. "I thought you said it wasn't dangerous?"

"If you had waited half a second," admonished Bailey. "I was going to say that you needed to watch out for the barbs."

"Next time, speak a little faster," groused Fred as he went back to tending his wounds.

"Lake, Bailey," began Mrs. Weasley, "I'm so sorry that we don't have anything for you. Had we known you would be here…"

Fred and George smacked their foreheads with their palms in unison.

"I hope their okay," said Fred as he bolted out of the room.

"They should be fine," added George as he followed his twin up the steps.

They soon returned, looking quite sheepish, with their hands held behind their backs, as they stepped over legs and fingers in an attempt to make it back to the girls.

"We were going to deliver these to the school on our way from the shop, but then you showed up there."

"We decided to wait till this morning and almost forgot them."

From behind their backs, they each produced a box. The boxes had small holes for air circulation and were each tied haphazardly with a bright magenta bow.

The girls smiled brightly as they accepted the packages. Gently they untied the bows as everyone watched them. Fleur made a comment about how delicate they were being and Ron hollered, "Just rip 'em open!" Hermione promptly followed his comment by swatting him in the back of the head.

Simultaneously, the girls lifted the lids off their boxes and peered inside. They both cooed softly as they reached in and gently pulled out the small tufts of blue fur.

"It's adorable," sighed Bailey.

"They're so cute," added Lake. "What are they?"

"They're Pygmy Puffs" answered Ginny before anyone else. "And they're blue. How come you didn't have the blue ones when I got Arnold?"

The twins shrugged.

"Pink"

"And Purple"

"Where the only colors available"

"When we first started getting them in"

"These are the only two blue ones we've gotten"

"So far. We promise you the next blue one that comes in."

Ginny crossed her arms with a huff and nodded. It was obvious that she would hold her troublemaking brothers to that promise.

Lake and Bailey stood up and kissed Fred and George on the cheek.

"Honestly, we weren't expecting anything."

"But these are perfect. Thank you, both of you."

The girls then turned to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Thank you as well for opening up your home and taking us in. You've made the holiday much easier to bear."

Mrs. Weasley dabbed at the corners of her eyes as she stood and not caring who she stepped on, made her way to the girls and gathered them in her big, motherly hug. "We're glad you are here," she sobbed onto their shoulders. There seemed to be more to her words than just their presence in her home. "You are welcome here anytime. Please, think of this as your home too. I owe that much to your mother and father."

Before they could ask why, Molly Weasley pulled herself away and dashed up the steps. Arthur Weasley seemed torn between answering the girls' quizzical glances and dashing off to see to his wife. The girls tilted their chins toward the steps and he gave them a thankful smile as he followed his wife up the stairs.

"Well, that was interesting, to say the least," commented Bill, breaking the uneasy silence that had fallen over the room. "Say, why don't you all get bundled up and go out for a bit. There's a good two inches of new snow."

A dull roar enveloped the room as everyone cheered and began clambering about to get to their things. Lake and Bailey placed their new pets gingerly back in their boxes and waited till the room had cleared before heading up to their assigned room.

Fred and George, though the first ones to get their coats and bolt out the door, waited just outside for Lake and Bailey to join them. The girls finally came out and immediately had to duck the snowballs that were chucked at them by Ron and Harry. They just giggled and scooped up some snow of their own. Before throwing theirs though, they hexed them so that they would hit their target, no matter how much the person tried to avoid the projectiles.

"You're going to have to teach us that one," sputtered Fred through bouts of laughter.

"Bloody brilliant, that is," was all that George could get out.

"Not fair," bellowed Ron as he dodged around the corner of the house to try and avoid the vengeful snowball. They all heard the dull thud and Ron came back around the corner snow dropping from his hat where the snowball had dropped on his head. He glared at the Snape twins as he dusted the snow off his shoulders, "We called no magic."

Bailey blinked at him innocently, as Lake smiled naively.

"I didn't hear any such declaration."

"Nor I, besides, you fired first and we were barely out the door."

"Remind me to make sure that they're on our side during school wide tournaments. We don't want to give the opposite side an advantage like that," grumbled Harry as he emerged from behind the shed and brushed snow off of his chest.

Fred and George were bent over laughing so hard that they were in danger of falling over. Both the girls shook their heads as they bumped the hysterical boys with their hips. Loosing their balance, Fred and George grabbed at Lake and Bailey for support and the four toppled into a heap in the soft snow. Soon, they were reduced to a laughing, giggling mass of arms and legs as they tried to regain their footing. Harry rushed over to try to help, but only found himself being drug into the fray as well. Hermione faired no better as she tried to help untangle one of the Snape twins' arms. Soon, even Ron and Ginny were pulled into the unofficial wrestling match.

Ten minutes later, the eight young people had worked off their energy and either lay spread out in the snow or were seated on the low garden wall close by.

Bailey started flailing her arms and legs in the snow then sat up to look behind her. She pouted as she looked at the miserable attempt at a snow angel. "The snow is too packed now."

George pushed himself off the wall and walked over to offer her a hand up as he flashed a patented Weasley smile. "Come with me. I know a great place where you can make a snow angel."

Bailey squealed happily as she took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. "That was always my favorite thing to do when we got fresh snow back home."

Fred pushed up from the snow and turned to Lake. "So, where snow angels your thing too?"

Lake shook her head. "There was a nice big hill back behind the house. There were no trees to get in your way. If you did it right, you could sled from the top of the hill right to the back door."

"Now you're talking," said Fred as he dashed off to the shed and came back with a wooden sled. "You have to be careful on our hill, there are a few trees, but mum enchanted most of them so they'll get out of the way. Especially since Ron nearly broke his neck one year."

"I'd have been fine if you hadn't enchanted the sled to make it go faster," said Ron with a pout.

"If you say so," retorted Fred with a grin. "So, anyone else joining us? There are plenty more sleds in the shed."

Ron, Harry and Ginny each grabbed a sled and prepared to follow Fred. With a little cajoling from Harry, Hermione agreed to join them as well. As they passed through the clearing on their way to the hill, they came across George and Bailey. Their rather private looking interlude was interrupted by wolf calls and whistles.

"There are more private places to do that."

"Snogging out in the open is gross."

"The house is practically empty, ya know."

"Don't forget the silencing charm."

"And the protection charm. I'm not ready to be an aunt."

Bailey tried to hide her embarrassment by burying her face in George's coat. He just laughed and waved them on their way. It wasn't until the group reached the top of the hill and looked down that they realized what the budding couple had done. From this vantage point, they could see a pair of snow angles joined together by one hand.

Lake shook her head as she watched her sister lean on George's shoulder as they walked along the edge of the clearing. "This is getting too serious."

"Aww, let 'em be for a bit. You know," Fred stood right behind Lake and laced one arm about her waist, "it wouldn't hurt you to get a little serious too."

Lake elbowed him gently in the gut, but she gave him a half smile. "Well, if I do, it won't be with the likes of you."

"So, you're gonna be like that are ya?" Fred grinned as he set the sled down so he could free up his other hand. He grabbed at Lake, but she giggled and sidestepped his grasp. He gave chase as Lake dashed off.

"You two are no better than them," yelled Ginny at their retreating backs. She hopped on her sled and was soon speeding down the hill. Ron followed close behind her.

Harry took his time choosing the clearest path for Hermione and himself to take. He finally set the sled down and motioned for Hermione to get on.

"Are you sure about this?" She looked up at him with wide brown eyes. "It doesn't look very safe."

"We'll be fine," assured Harry. "See, just like Fred said, the trees are moving out of the way."

Harry straddled the sled behind Hermione and gave it a shove before dropping down behind her. She made room for him to tuck his legs up under hers as he hunkered down behind her. She clutched at his arms as they wrapped around her and she turned her head into his shoulder as the first tree loomed in front of them. She peeked out of the corner of her eye as she expected to crash head on into the tree. Instead, the tree moved at the last instant and they sped on down to the bottom.

"Harry," Hermione exclaimed as she jumped up and hugged him close, "I've never been sledding before. That was so much fun. Can we do it again?"

Harry's green eyes brightened as he nodded and turned Hermione back along the trail they had followed the first trip up. At the top of the hill, they were met by a flushed Lake and a rather flustered looking Fred.

"That will teach you to keep to your hands to yourself," giggled Lake as she grabbed up their sled and started to choose a spot to go down.

"Didn't you hear mum? She said no hexing."

Lake smiled sweetly at the distressed Weasley twin. "She said in the house."

"Remind me to tell George that they don't play fair." He raised his hands that had been jinxed to stick together.

"Oh, stop your whining and get over here. The spell should wear off in a few more minutes." Lake had turned rather coy as she patted the back of her sled. "Just think. It will make it easier to hold on."

Fred's grin grew wide as he settled on the back of the sled and draped his arms around Lake, "That it will."

A/N: Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Good? Bad? Trash it completely?