A simple question in the newsroom has lead to a disaster in Ginny's kitchen. And the debate still isn't settled.
Song: Baby It's Cold Outside by Home Free and Kira Isabella
Ginny: Can you stop at the grocers?
Harry: Sure. What do you need?
Ginny: Chocolate syrup and eggnog
Harry: Okay?!
Ginny: Trying to solve a debate in the newsroom
Harry: Really?!
Ginny: I'll tell you about it when you get home
Ginny looked around her kitchen and sighed. Harry had taken James to bed and she had a mess to clean up. If she never saw another glass of eggnog or mug of hot chocolate again, she would be happy. It had started with a simple question and had ended up a giant mess.
"Potter, research for an article." As those words had slipped out of the new girl's mouth, Ginny had groaned. "For this feature on holiday drinks. Which is better, hot chocolate or eggnog?"
"It depends on the situation," Ginny had replied, trying not to get into another argument with the little trouble maker. "Nothing beats a cup of Mum's hot chocolate after playing in the snow with my brothers. But, a smooth cup of eggnog after dinner with friends is good too."
"So which is it?" she asked again. "I'm polling the newsroom for my feature."
"Is 'Depends on the situation' an option?" Ginny rubbed her forehead.
"Nope," The new girl giggled as she skipped to the next office. "One or the other, Potter. I'll come back later for your answer."
Ginny groaned as she thought of the chaos that she was causing the newsroom. She had managed to convince the little trouble maker that she needed to poll friends and family before she could give a definite answer. That is how Ginny ended up with a kitchen disaster.
At first, she had gotten a hot chocolate from the Bishops Brew and Harry had brought home eggnog from the grocers. Three kinds of eggnog and two kinds of hot chocolate later, she still did not have an answer.
Hermione sent her a secret family recipe for eggnog and Harry had made her another cup of hot chocolate. So, they began the messy process of making eggnog from scratch. The hot chocolate helped temper her temper but it did not save the kitchen from looking like James had gotten into the cabinets. She now had a decision for the snooty little trouble maker - apple cider.
Ginny: Hot chocolate or eggnog?
Harry: Not again
Theo: Hot Chocolate
Daphne: Eggnog
Hermione:Eggnog
Ron: Hot chocolate with a splash of eggnog
Luna: Hot chocolate
Neville: Hot chocolate
Harry: Apple cider
Ginny: Agreed
Hermione: Why are we answering this question?
Ron: I can change my vote
Ginny: This is perfect. I'm taking a screenshot and sending it to the little snot
Neville: That explains so much
Luna: You can't kill her
GInny: Why not?
Theo: Just ask Harry
Daphne: She is young
Harry: I do not want to visit you in jail
"Darlin, where are you?"
Harry looked around the empty kitchen for signs of his wife. She had been in quite a snit when he got home. Mumbling about it not mattering whether you liked eggnog or hot chocolate, his beautiful redhead was in a full temper. He held out the bag from the grocers and waited.
"Hello, honey." She had kissed him on the cheek and grabbed the bag from his hand. "I can't believe I am doing this. I gave her a perfectly good answer and she decided it wasn't. Hot Chocolate when you come in from the cold, Eggnog after dinner with family and friend."
Harry waited for Ginny to set the bag on the counter and reach into the cabinet for a glass before he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "What's going on? Why are you so upset? Why are there two cups of hot chocolate on the counter? Use your words."
"That little hussy wants to do a poll in her article about holiday drinks for the cover feature." Ginny continued to mumble as she settled into Harry's arms. "She asked which I prefered and I told her it depends on the situation. She wants a more definitive answer."
Harry had spent the next two hours listening to his wife grumble and tasting a variety of eggnogs and hot chocolate. At some point, James had tried to help and had spilled eggnog and chocolate on himself, as well as half the counter. Seeing an explosion on the horizon, Harry had handed his sticky, smiling son to his beautifully frustrated wife and sais, "It is time for a bath. Take him and get it started. I'll be there in a few minutes."
By the time Harry had cleaned up James spill, Ginny had James bathed and had calmed down. "Let me put him to bed." Harry had taken James from Ginny and headed for the toddler's bedroom. "There is a cup of warm cider on the counter for you. FInd a place and relax."
Ginny kissed his cheek and walked towards the kitchen. "Thank you."
That was an hour ago. James had gotten stubborn about bedtime and it had taken Harry three stories and a long snuggle to get him to stay asleep.
Harry smiled as he heard humming coming from the sitting room.
"There you are." Harry watched the firelight dance across her ginger hair. "Are you feeling better now? I don't think the kitchen has gleamed like that since you tried not to kill a snot nosed football star, twice."
"I'm okay," Ginny sighed and rested her head against the back of the sofa. "I just need to learn to deal with her better. I think I have an answer for her."
"Darlin, you are not allowed to kill her," Harry settled onto the sofa beside her. "My boss would not understand me determining it a justifiable homicide."
"I just want to maim her a bit." Ginny closed her eyes as she rested her head on Harry's shoulder. "Just a tiny maiming so she will remember …"
Ginny's soft snore filled the room. Harry brushed her hair back from her forehead. "Oh, we'll make sure she remembers who the star reporter is, my darling wife. Just let the prankster handle it."
Harry: I need your help mate
Ron: I swear I didn't do it
Harry: Want to play a prank
Ron: We aren't 15 anymore
Harry: She made Ginny cry
Ron: Can I bring in George?
Harry: As long as this conversation never happened
George: Who made her cry?
Harry: A cub reporter that needs to learn who has seniority in the newsroom
Ron: Give us 2 days
George: I'll meet you in the lab in the morning little brother
Ron: Night
George: Night
Harry: Night