Chapter 3

The house was alive with merriment as the clock on the mantle chimed 12 times. The Weasley's annual holiday party was due to start in the next hour. Mrs. Weasley was still busy dashing back and forth in the kitchen putting out appetizers, treats, and large steaming cauldrons of spiced cider and hot chocolate. She had enlisted the help of Fred and George to help get out the plates, napkins, mugs and cutlery while excusing the rest to go sit in the front room.

The tree glowed brightly in the corner near the window. Upon the old, and well-loved couch sat Hermione and Ron, who were discussing Hermione's muggle family holiday traditions. Harry was sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the tree, staring into the branches of the tree. Ginny entered the room then, bringing with her two mugs of steaming spiced cider. Harry smiled up at her as she approached. As she handed him the mug, a glimmer of silver and emerald caught the lights from the tree. Harry smiled wider as she sat down in front of his chair and leaned against his legs. As she did, a few strands of hair fell on his lap and he absentmindedly began to play with them in his free hand.

"Hey, what about us?" Ron asked, noticing that both Ginny and Harry had steaming mugs.

"You have two legs that work. Get it yourself." Ginny said looking over at her brother. "Oh and be a gentleman and get some for Hermione too."

Ron gave Ginny a dirty look and she gave one right back. He then glared at her before turning to Hermione. "Would you like a mug of cider?" he asked. Hermione smiled and nodded.

"Yes, please."

With that Ron stood up and made to move toward the kitchen. As he did so, a loud knock came from the front door.

"Can someone please get that?" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen, a clash of pans followed her voice. "It must be our first guests!"

"Hey Gin, can you get it?" Ron said continuing toward the kitchen.

"You're already up." Ginny replied, taking as timid sip of her cider. "And I have a hot beverage."

Ron glared at her again and Ginny tried to hide a giggle behind her mug. He grumbled but walked over to the door and flung it open, a bit too forcefully, so it slammed against the wall.

"Angelina! Alicia!" Harry exclaimed smiling when he saw his former teammates standing just outside the door.

The two former Gryffindor Chasers stepped over the threshold smiling jollily and stomped their snow covered boots. "Hello Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron!" Angelina called as she pulled off her gloves.

"How are your holidays going?" Alicia asked as Ron closed the door behind them.

"Things are going very well." Hermione said with a smile as she stood up to help Ron take the snow covered coats to hang on the coat rack. The two arrivals shrugged out of their coats and handed their things to Ron and Hermione.

"Good to hear." Alicia said looking around the room. "Are we the first to arrive?" Harry and Ginny nodded.

"The twins are in the kitchen helping Mum." Ron said as he placed Angelina's coat on the coat rack then walked toward the kitchen and yelled, "Oi Fred, George! Angelina and Alicia are here!"

As if someone had set off the gates at a horse race, Fred came running from the kitchen.

"Angelina!" He shouted from the doorway to the sitting room. He spread his arms wide and smiled even wider at his girlfriend. She smiled too and rushed over to him. The other occupants of the room watched as Fred took her into his arms, spun around with her then leaned her back in a dip, planting a deep and passionate kiss upon her lips.

Ron and Harry catcalled and wolf whistled as they kissed and the girls laughed. Everyone knew how madly in love the couple was and displays of this kind of affection were somewhat normal when they were together. But as was tradition with the Weasley boys, jeering and teasing was a must.

"Oi! How about you move aside so I can greet my guest?" George said, trying to push past his twin.

Fred, holding tightly to Angelina, broke the kiss and brought her back to standing. He moved her carefully to the side of the doorway to let George pass but he did not let go of her waist. In fact, it seemed that he might have pulled her ever so slightly closer, leaning in as if to take her lips with his again.

Harry smiled as George greeted Alicia with a much more somber welcome as he gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Hello Sweetie," he whispered into her ear before they broke apart. Alicia flushed as little, her cheeks brightening but it was not from the cold she had just been in.

"Well, Fred sure doesn't let the mistletoe go to waste," commented Ron, blushing ever so slightly from where he stood just inside the sitting room. He was always a little embarrassed at how easily his brothers' showed off their affection for their girlfriends. Maybe also a little jealous.

"What mistletoe?" Fred asked, looking up. Angelina, still wrapped in his arms, a smile as wide as the room on her face, looked up too. There they spotted that simple, yet tricky, little green and white plant hung with a red ribbon. "Well damn, so there is!"

And with that Fred leaned Angelina back once again, excessively happy laughter escaping her. Fred smiled down at her wickedly. She winked and smiled just as wicked. With a growl, he pounced on her and kissed her again.

The others in the room laughed and cheered. Happiness was definitely present in the room and it would make for a very merry Christmas day.

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I love Fred! He has so much fun! More to come!