Chapter 1
Outside it was chilly, the temperature under freezing. Inside the dimmed fireplaces still kept the temperature comfortably warm. The house was still quiet but there were sounds coming from the various bedrooms as people were waking to presents. The ghoul clanked in his attic room as a door on the first landing slowly opened and Ginny, with her long red hair braided in a plait down her back, crept out of her room. She was wearing a pair of pink striped pajamas and a fuzzy purple lilac robe. She had a small wrapped package in her hand. She carefully closed the door to her room with an almost silent click. As she stepped forward toward the stairs, the floor gave a squeak upstairs. She smiled.
A door, way up high, creaked open and quietly closed with a click. Ginny tiptoed down the stairs in her slippered feet not making a sound. She stopped at the bottom and stood directly under the mistletoe that hung in a bunch in the arch way to the front sitting room. She looked up the stairs, eagerly waiting for someone to join her. A dark haired young man with glasses appeared on the stairs in an open blue robe and bare feet. He smiled at Ginny.
"Merry Christmas, Ginny." Harry said rushing down the last flight of crooked wooden stairs and joining her at the bottom of the stairs. He was similarly dress in his pajamas, a navy blue t-shirt and plain flannel blue pajama pants. He, too, had a small package in his hands.
The red haired girl's smile widened. "Happy Christmas Harry," she whispered suddenly feeling a little nervous. "Thank you for meeting me. I wanted to give you this and be there when you opened it." She thrust her hands out in front of her, pushing the brightly wrapped package toward him.
Harry smiled at her. "Thank you Ginny." He replied taking the package from her. Her cheeks grew a little rosy. "I have something for you too." He held out his smaller package, unevenly wrapped. She gently took it from him. He looked into her eyes. "Go ahead. Open it."
She looked up from the wrapping. She smiled at him as she caught his emerald eyes. She saw so much in those eyes. There was a hint of worry, a hint of uncertainty, but also a hint of affection. Ginny blushed redder.
"You okay, Ginny?" Harry asked reaching up to touch her cheek. She was beautiful. Her hair was shining; her eyes were sparkling. She might have been in her pajamas, but she was beautiful to him. Just being here with her, to open gifts together was a magical moment. One he hadn't had before. They hadn't exchanged gifts before as a couple. It was a new milestone for them.
Ginny nodded, her cheek rubbing softly against Harry's hand. "I'm fine. Just feeling a little nervous. I don't know if you will like your gift." She said.
Harry chuckled kindly. "Ginny, sweetheart, it's from you. I know I will love it."
"It's kinda lame. Kind of a girly gift." She responded making a face.
Harry caught her eyes. "Shall I open it? And then we can find out if I like it or not."
"I guess if you want." Her voice was a little unsure.
Harry smiled at her, brushing his knuckles across her cheek as he pulled his hand away. He carefully pulled off the ribbon and then ripped into the paper. As he pulled the wrapping paper off, he revealed a navy blue book. His brow furrowed as he turned the book over and found a gold embossed lightning bolt on the front. He let the wrapping paper fall to the floor as he reached to open the book.
On the first page he found a picture of them by the lake at Hogwarts, smiling back at him. On the next page, he found a picture of then sitting together on one of the maroon couches in the Gryffindor common room with Ron and Hermione. Harry had his arm around Ginny and Hermione sat on the floor with her back against Ron's legs. Harry turned another page. This page contained a photo of him, Hagrid and Fang standing outside Hagrid's hut. The opposite page held a photo of him and Sirius from the Christmas they had shared at Grimmauld Place. As he flipped through the pages, Harry found more pictures of him with Ron and Hermione, some with the Quidditch team throughout the years, some from summers spent at the Burrow and more of him and Ginny. The last photo, which must have been one Fred or George had snuck with their new Stealth Cameras, was of Harry kissing Ginny out behind the garden shed from a couple days ago when they had been putting away the Quidditch things.
Harry closed the book and looked up at Ginny. "This is amazing Ginny," he said stepping closer to her. "It's full of all the people I love. Especially you." He leaned in then, and placed a tender and sweet kiss upon her check. Ginny flushed redder.
"You really like it?" She asked, still feeling somewhat unsure. It was kind of a girly gift.
"I love it Ginny." He touched her chin and guided it up so that she could look him in the eyes. "Now when I am not with you, I can look at the pictures in this book of you and me. It's not the same as having you with me, but it will help me get through till I'm with you again." Ginny looked into his eyes and saw the truth.
"I wanted you to have a piece of those that love you so you would never forget."
"Thank you Ginny." He said smiling. "Though I don't think I could ever forget how much I love you. Open your gift." He stepped back then, slipping the book into his robe pocket as he did, so he could open his present to her.
Meticulously, Ginny pulled up the tape on the wrapping paper and revealed a small velvety box. She dropped the paper and pried the box open. Inside, set against a creamy background, was a sliver pendant. It was a heart with an engraved wave upon it. Inlaid in the wave was a small emerald green stone. She gently pulled it from the box, to get a closer look. As she held the pendant in her fingers, she felt a sort of engraving on the back. She quickly turned the pendant over. HP loves GW, the engraving read.
Ginny's gaze flipped up to look at Harry.
"I love you Ginny." Harry murmured quietly as he reached up to brush a strand of glistening red hair away from her deep brown eyes. He slowly leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
Ginny's heart soared in her chest at the touch of his lips and his words. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately back.
Their kiss lasted but a couple of moments as they heard some noises coming from up the stairs and broke apart.
"Thank you Harry." She said, her arms slipping from his neck. She held the pendant up to look at it again. "It's really beautiful."
"It reminded me of you." He said gently taking the pendant and chain from her and motioning for her to turn around. Ginny spun slowly on the spot. Harry unhooked the chain and brought the necklace over her head, to rest upon the base of her throat. He moved his head closer to her so he could look around to see the necklace on her. "The green goes magnificently with your red hair. Will you hold it up so I can hook it?"
Ginny carefully gathered up her braid and fly-a-ways and held it up with her left hand so that Harry could hook the clasp. His gentle hands at the knap of her neck sent chills running down her back and goosebumps popped up on her arms.
As Harry finished the clasp, he leaned in and kissed just under her right ear. It was just a simple, sweet kiss but it made Ginny jump at the intimacy. Harry laughed happily as Ginny spun around. He could see a flare of excitement in her dark brown eyes as he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. This made him laugh a little more and he looked up at the ceiling.
"Hey look, mistletoe." He said pointing up. Ginny looked up too, placing her hand on his upper chest.
"So it is." She replied with a playful grin. The feelings of their other kisses washing over her.
Harry looked back down at Ginny. "May I kiss you Ginny Weasley?" He asked in a proper, respectful voice.
"You don't need the excuse of mistletoe to kiss me Harry Potter." She said pushing up on her tip toes and kissing him deeply.
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AN: I do not own HP. Most happy Christmas time to come soon!
