Chapter 12

Have a Merry Little Christmas

Ginny POV

Christmas Day was going to be interesting. Harry had insisted on having it at Grimmauld Place, and inviting everyone from the Order to join him. Mum was fine with it, I think she secretly was glad to get away from home and the constant reminder of Fred. She had taken over the cooking at Harry's and had left very early this morning to get a jump on dinner. I was still fearful of a breakdown. If we all got together it would be blaringly obvious that there were many missing. But there was no stopping Harry, especially with Mum on his side.

When I walked into Grimmauld Place, it was unlike I had ever seen it. Harry had insisted on making dinner a formal affair, which I believed had more to do with making Draco comfortable with everyone, since formal was his specialty. There were decorations everywhere, and an overwhelming scent of pine and Mum's Christmas dinner.

Harry grabbed me the instant I walked in the door, picking me up and spinning me around. My champagne colored dress swirled around us.

"Beautiful," he whispered before his lips caught my own.

He didn't look too bad himself. In fact, I hadn't ever seem him look so good. He had a simple tuxedo on, with a ruby red silk tie. His hair was still untidy, but it seemed a bit calmer than usual. The main difference was his glasses. The round frames that usually perched upon his nose were gone and in their place were a pair of silver rectangular glasses. I scrutinized his expression carefully, he looked uncomfortable.

"Did you go shopping with Draco?" I asked, trying to hide my giggles.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes, "Yes, remind me never to do that ever again!"

I grabbed his hand, "You look amazing, and don't worry."

He smiled and pulled me towards the dining room. Inside there was a large table, occupied by my entire family and a few others. Andromeda and blue-haired Teddy were seated on one end, with Draco seated next to them. Kinglsey and McGonagall where on the other end, deep in conversation with Hermione seated next to them, leaning forward trying to listen. My family filled the rest of the spots, chattering loudly with one another. It was odd to see my family all dressed up.

The room looked amazing. A large Christmas tree dominated on corner, completely decked in gold and red. Candles floated around the room, and cast a warm glow on all the guests. Harry led me to the center of the table and pulled out my chair. As we sat down, Kreatcher entered the room, floating dishes onto the table. The dinner was absolutely delicious, Mum outdid herself once again. As dessert was served, Harry stood with his goblet in his hand.

"A toast, to those we lost, but have not forgotten."

Everyone else raised their goblets in silence and then drank. When the dishes were cleared, Andromeda rose, holding a sleeping Teddy in her arms.

"I must get Teddy home, Thank-You Harry for inviting us." He nodded at her and she turned to Draco. "I hope Narcissa will be open to seeing us. I'd like to try mending our relationship."

Draco, in a move that surprised everyone at the table, reached out and gave his aunt a quick hug. "I think she will."

Not long after, Kingsley and McGonagall stood to leave, followed by a couple of the Weasley family. Hermione and Ron were still at the table, talking quietly to themselves when Mum and Dad got up to leave. Harry squeezed my hand and I looked up at him.

"Will you stay a bit longer?" he asked quietly.

I nodded at him, "Let me go tell Mum."

"Not necessary, I already told her," he smiled down at me. "Wait here, I have to go get something."

I let go of his hand and watched him run up the stairs.

"Ginny?" Mum asked from behind me, I turned to look at her.

"We're leaving, it's late. You just stay with Hermione tonight. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, Mum," I agreed. I gave her a quick hug and she turned towards the kitchen to floo home. Hermione and Ron immerged from the dinning room, hand-in-hand.

"We're off to bed now," Hermione informed me, "Have a good evening," she winked and turned to walk up the stairs. I wondered if my mum knew that Ron and Hermione had begun to share a room during these Christmas Holidays, probably not.

I grinned as I watched Harry clump loudly down the stairs, one hand behind his back. "Let's go into the living room," he grinned as I tried to arch my neck to see what he held behind him. I sighed and walked towards the living room door. Once open, I stopped suddenly and looked around mutely. The room was dark except for a roaring fire and a few candles. The normal furniture was pushed up against the wall and the empty space in front of the fireplace now as occupied by large burgundy pillows.

"Come on," Harry pushed me into the room and I tried to sit delicately on the floor in my long silk dress. Harry sat next to me and pulled me to his side. I loved being so close to him.

"I know we decided not to exchange gifts, and in my defense, we aren't. I'm just giving you one." I turned my head, my cheek flush against his chest and glared at him and his screwed up logic. "But I do want something from you. So we can be even."

"Just give me the damn gift already," I mumbled impatiently. I loved getting gifts, and the deal had started only because I was at a complete loss as to what to get Harry.

He laughed and pulled his arm from his back and dropped a small locket and chain in my lap. I picked it up and glanced at his uneasily. I never wore jewelry, ever. Even if I did, this was a bit ornate for my tastes. It was beautiful though, silver with a large cursive G on the front of it.

"Let me put it on you," Harry said quietly and I handed it to him, there was no way I could turn it down even if I hated wearing it.

"Now, I'm sure you're just humoring me putting this on, but let me explain a bit. Once you put on your neck, it becomes invisible to everyone but you and me. It also has a charm on it to make it almost weightless, so it won't bother you too much."

"It's beautiful," I whispered looking down at it. The invisible thing was interesting and the fact that it was basically weightless made it even better.

Harry smiled at me, "I'm glad you like it. Open it."

I tried to pry it open with my fingers, but it wouldn't budge. I looked up at him with one eyebrow raised.

"Now YOU look like Draco," he chuckled. "How about saying this," he said, handing me a bit of parchment with words scribbled on it in his familiar handwriting.

"Amor animi arbitrio sumitur, non ponitur."

The locket clicked open and inside was a picture of Harry and myself. I had never seen the picture before, but I could remember the moment that it was taken with perfect clarity. It was the very moment of our first kiss, right after we won the quidditch cup. I smiled down at the miniature scene that played our first kiss over and over again.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, as I continued to watch our embrace.

"Dennis Creevey gave it to me a while back. He found it in Colin's stuff."

"It's perfect," I whispered, inches from his lips. I could feel his hot breath against my mouth. "Thank you." I kissed him soundly and pulled away, remembering the strange phrase that opened the locket.

"What does this phrase mean?"

"It's something like, 'We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving.'" He smiled down at me and kissed me again, this time a bit longer. "I love you, you know."

"I love you too," I replied.

Harry lay back on the pillows and I cuddled up against his side, my head resting on his muscular chest. I could hear his steady heartbeat. We lay there in silence for a while, both gazing into the warm fire in front of us. I closed my eyes eventually, deciding this is how I wanted to fall asleep for the rest of my life.

Hey-lo! So... I really wish more people would review... you see... a bunch of you put this on their alerts.... therefore I know more people are reading than reviewing... so be nice, share the love/hate/confusion with me! :-)

Thanks to E K. ;-) Ms. Beta Lady