Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.

If You Can Help Her – Chapter 30 – An Interesting Christmas

Harry awoke very suddenly on Christmas Day. Dobby had come and given him a pair of mismatched socks he'd made for him, and Harry gave Dobby a pair of old socks. But when Dobby pointed out that the two socks Harry had given him were the same, Ron gave him a pair as well, along with a jumper.

Harry received a special penknife from Sirius, a Quidditch book from Hermione, a bag of Dungbombs from Ron, and a Weasley sweater with a dragon on the front. One thing however, did concern him. He hadn't gotten anything from Ginny. 'Then again,' he thought, 'I should be glad she hasn't broken up with me yet.'

-IYCHH-

At the same time, in the third-year girls' dorm, an auburn-haired girl had woken up minutes ago. After she'd opened her other gifts, including a sweater from her mum, she gasped when she noticed that Harry had sent her gifts. She'd planned on handing hers to him personally, but hadn't mentioned anything about it. The first gift she'd noticed was a small glass vase on her nightstand with a dozen red roses. She then detected a mug of steaming hot chocolate was next to the vase. She then opened a package and found it was a small wooden plaque with a poem carved into it. She took a drink of the beverage, and was happy to note it was the perfect temperature, as she read the poem.

Your eyes are as brown as this hot chocolate

Your hair is as red as the roses I sent

I fought a dragon

Your present to win

Hope you have the best Christmas yet

Ginny smiled at the poem, although she didn't know what the dragon had to do with it, until she noticed another small package from Harry. She opened it to find a small magically animated model of a Hungarian Horntail. She giggled at it and started to gently pet its head. She thought to herself, 'How did Harry know I wanted his horntail model?'

-IYCHH-

Harry was wearing his new Weasley sweater while nervously waiting for Ginny at the bottom of the stairs. He knew she didn't want him to spend much, but he felt that maybe he should have. He did have one other present for her, but that would wait until they were about to go to the ball. He decided not to say anything about the lack of a present from Ginny. She was going to the Yule Ball with him. That was enough of a present. Finally, he watched her descend down the stairs wearing a pair of jeans and a light green Weasley jumper. She was smiling at him as she carried her mug of hot chocolate with her. "Happy Christmas, Harry!" she greeted as she reached the bottom.

Instead of saying anything, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her deeply. When they separated, Harry said, "Happy Christmas, Ginny! Have I ever told you how beautiful your smile is?"

She blushed at her boyfriend. "Not nearly enough."

-IYCHH-

They spent most of the day together, and took a walk around the frozen lake right after lunch. While they were outside, Ginny stopped and turned to Harry. "You never asked about what I'm giving you for Christmas."

He took her cold hands in his as he smiled at her. "You're going to the ball with me. That's enough of a present. More than I…"

"You deserve to be showered with gifts for how good you've been to me!" insisted Ginny emphatically. "You really thought I didn't get you anything?"

Harry looked down and shuffled his feet. "Er, well…"

"And you acted like nothing at all was wrong. I don't know whether to be mad that you thought I wouldn't get you a present or happy you love me whether I get you a present or not."

"I vote that you should be happy."

She gave him an amused look. "Hm. Anyway, my point is that I did get you a few gifts." She then pulled a small box out of her pocket and handed it to Harry. He opened it to find a gold pin the shape of a dragon. "It's made of genuine imitation gold," explained Ginny shyly, "but I think it looks nice. If you don't mind, I'd like you to wear it to the ball."

Harry smiled at her. "It's beautiful. Of course I'll wear it. Thank you." He then kissed her cheek.

She then pulled a dark-green scarf out of another pocket. "I, er, thought that wrapping paper would get ripped in my pocket. I, er, hope you like it. I made it myself."

He kissed her quickly on the mouth and then remarked, "You didn't have to do that. It's very nice." He then took it from her and wrapped it around himself.

-IYCHH-

The day progressed and finally Ron, wearing his nice black dress robes, and Harry, wearing bottle green (with his new pin), were waiting in the common room for their dates. Harry didn't have to wait long for Ginny, who came down the stairs wearing a simple yet beautiful pastel-green dress. She was wearing the silver necklace with a heart shaped ruby he'd given her the previous Christmas, along with the gold rose-shaped brooch he'd given her for her birthday. Her auburn hair was arranged in a way Harry had never seen before, but hoped he'd see again. He immediately told her, "You look beautiful."

Ginny's face turned a light shade of pink as she looked down at her dress. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it."

"Not just the dress, although it is beautiful. I mean you are beautiful," Harry replied as he took her hand. "Before we go, there's something else I'd like to give you." He then pulled his left hand out from behind his back and produced a red rose wrist corsage, which she allowed him to place on her left wrist.

She blushed. "Harry, you didn't have to do that."

While they were talking, Harry chuckled lightly as he watched Ron's jaw drop. Hermione descended down the stairs wearing a beautiful periwinkle blue dress. Harry and Ginny both said, "Hermione, you look beautiful!" at the same time.

She blushed and replied, "Thank you."

Ron, who's face was pink, closed his jaw and stuttered, "Yeah, Yeah, y-you look…wow!"

Hermione shyly giggled as Harry took Ginny's hand and asked, "Shall we go?"

Ginny answered, "We shall indeed," and they walked off, leaving Ron dazed as Hermione waited for him to escort her.

-IYCHH-

A few minutes after Harry and Ginny arrived outside the Great Hall, they saw Ron and Hermione approaching. Before they could speak to the other couple however, they were led up to the round table where the champions and partners were to sit, along with the judges of the tournament. Percy immediately joined Harry and Ginny, bragging about his promotion. The former head boy then started bragging about how much Mr. Crouch trusted him and blah, blah, blah. "Has he stopped calling you Weatherby yet?" asked Harry cheerfully, causing Percy to close his mouth as his face turned red while Ginny laughed her head off. Once Percy shut up, Harry started really enjoying himself. He also found himself getting nervous about dancing with Ginny. As he observed the Weird Sisters troop onto the stage, he turned to Ginny and nervously remarked, "I-It looks like it's time," then took her hand and asked, "Shall we?"

They walked onto the brightly lit dance floor and began waltzing, just as they'd practiced. As he gazed into her chocolate eyes, his nervousness disappeared. When the next song, which was a faster one, started playing, Harry was happy to keep dancing.

After five songs, they took a break and Harry got drinks for himself and Ginny. When he got back to Ginny, he found her sitting at a table talking to Ron and Hermione. They chatted about nothing for a few minutes until Colin Creevey walked up to Ginny and inquired, "May I have this dance?" very politely.

Ginny looked over at her boyfriend. "Is that all right with you, Harry?"

Harry wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Er, well, as much as I'd like to keep you to myself all evening, if you want to dance with him, you may, as long as you come back to me."

She looked at Colin and said, "One dance," before taking his arm.

While they were walking away, Harry turned to Hermione. "May I have this dance?"

Hermione smiled at Harry. "Yes, you may."

Harry didn't see the glare Ron gave him as he walked off with Hermione. As they began to dance, Harry commented, "I know I already said it, but you really look fantastic."

She blushed, "Thank you."

"You're the second-most-beautiful girl here. Ron's really lucky to have you."

"Thanks. You're the second-most-handsome bloke here, and Ginny is very lucky to have you."

"I'm the lucky one," corrected Harry.

She stared in his eyes for a moment, "You really mean that, Harry. It's so easy to see in your eyes how much you adore her. It's just as easy to see how much she adores you. I've watched your relationship develop all this time and it still amazes me how close the two of you are. You really have something special together."

Harry looked into Hermione's eyes. "And I never want to lose it. I want to spend all my life with her."

-IYCHH-

"So," remarked Colin as he danced with Ginny, "You've been dating Harry Potter for one-and-a-half years now. I'll bet it's amazing!"

Ginny giggled a bit and sighed. "He is amazing, Colin."

"A lot of girls are wondering when you're going to cut the shackles off of him so that they can have a go with him. As far as they know, you're the only girl that ever got to date him. They don't think it's fair. Some of them say you've been hogging him all to yourself and should let him go. I think that a famous bloke like him should date a lot of girls."

Ginny's ears turned pink. "We happen to be in love, Colin, no matter what anybody else thinks! He doesn't act like I've got him in shackles. He thinks he's the luckiest guy in the world to be dating me. I know I'm really the lucky one, but the point is that I'm not going to willingly let him go. I want to spend my whole life with him."

-IYCHH-

The moment that both Harry and Ginny proclaimed their wish to spend the rest of their lives together, their bond reached a new level that would soon start to manifest itself.

-IYCHH-

Soon after, Harry was tapped on the shoulder while continuing his dance with Hermione. He turned to see Viktor Krum standing there. Viktor asked Harry, "May I cut in?"

Hermione answered, "No you may not, Krum!"

"I vas speaking to Harry."

Harry grinned evilly. "Viktor, I'm afraid I don't want to dance with you, either."

Viktor's ears turned red. "How dare vou suggest that? I vant to dance vith Hermy-own!"

Harry's expression turned firm. "Her-my-oh-nee said she didn't want to dance with you, so I suggest you find another partner."

"Vis isn't over, Potter!" Krum vowed as he walked away angrily while the music stopped.

"What did Krum want?" asked Ron, who had just walked up. "It looked like he was starting trouble."

"He was," answered Hermione with a sigh, "but it's over now."

"That's not what he said a minute ago," countered Ron. "What happened?"

They walked back to a table as another song started playing. When he saw Hermione wasn't answering, Harry explained, "Krum asked to dance with Hermione, but she didn't want to. He started getting pushy."

"Then why did he threaten you and not Hermione?"

"He seemed to think that I had no choice in the matter, that it was up to Harry whether I danced with Krum or not. Harry disagreed. I was afraid they were going to have a fight right here."

Ron seemed upset. "Defending Hermione is my job, Harry!"

"I can defend myself! Thank you very much!" Hermione hissed.

Harry sighed. He didn't want to fight with Ron. "Hermione's my friend, and I'm certainly not gonna hand her to some bloke she doesn't want to dance with."

Further discussion stopped when a loud slap echoed through the Great Hall. He turned to the source of the sound to see that Ginny had slapped a Ravenclaw boy who had his arms around her with his hands in an inappropriate place. Harry thought the git was named Michael. The boy's cheek was getting redder by the second. Harry (along with Ron, Fred, and George) immediately started marching toward the commotion as Ginny started screaming. "HOW DARE YOU KISS ME LIKE THAT! I HAVE A BOYFRIEND, AND EVEN IF I DIDN'T, I WOULDN'T KISS YOU IF YOU WERE THE LAST THING ON THIS PLANET! LET GO OF ME!"

She then pulled back her hand to slap him again when Ron shouted, "We'll take care of this, Ginny!"

Michael Corner looked in that direction to see Ron and Harry walking toward him, with murder in their eyes. He turned another direction, and saw Fred and George coming at him, looking equally ready to kill. Michael let go of Ginny and started slowly backing away, a look of dread in his face as three angry Weasleys and a dragon-slayer kept stalking him. He then bumped into someone. He turned to see an unhappy Professor McGonagall.

"Mr. Corner, your behavior is unacceptable! I suggest you come with me. I believe you will find fifty points from Ravenclaw and a week of detentions starting now preferable to what those four have in mind for you."

The four watched Michael retreat with McGonagall, but they all silently nodded at each other, agreeing that this wasn't over. Harry then walked over to Ginny who declared, "I could've handled it, Harry! You didn't have to…"

"Ginny! I know you can handle yourself, but as someone who loves you, I want to help. Wouldn't you try to help me?" He then hugged her.

She took a deep breath and put her arms around Harry. "I-I'm so mad! How could he?"

Harry kissed her cheek. "Do you want to tell me what happened? I thought you were dancing with Colin."

"Well, after that song ended, I saw you talking to Ron and Hermione, and Michael asked if he could dance with me. I figured you were busy, so I said yes. While we were dancing, he started saying I was pretty and he liked me, so I explained I was dating you and thought everybody knew that. The git then started saying how much better he was than you, and he put his hands on my bum and kissed me! That's when I slapped him and I think you heard the rest."

"I think they heard the rest at Durmstrang," countered Harry.

"I need to wash my lips from that prat!" She sighed. "So that's what it's like for someone to force you to kiss them. He actually tried to stick his tongue in my mouth! Maybe I should've let him and bit his tongue off!"

"He'd deserve it," agreed Harry, "but it would make me nervous about snogging you if you'd done that."

"I noticed Percy didn't come to my defense," remarked Ginny coldly. Then she grinned wickedly at Harry. "Whatever you guys are doing to Michael, I want in on it."

Harry smiled back at her. "Sure, but we want to plan it good. He deserves to suffer. It'll have to be after school starts up again.

-IYCHH-

The rest of the evening went by uneventfully, with Hermione and Ginny only dancing with their respective boyfriends. After Ginny had washed out her mouth, she insisted on Harry snogging her thoroughly to get rid of any 'residual traces' of Michael. The next day the Hogwarts Express picked up anybody who didn't want to stay at school for the rest of the break. This, of course, included Harry, who would be attending his custody hearing that Monday, as well as his friends. He and Ginny also planned on performing the animagus meditation over the break, with Sirius' help.

-IYCHH-

Chapter end