"It's going to be tough this Christmas," Ron said holding his coffee closer.

Ron and Hermione spent the day around town crossing off items in their Christmas shopping list. After surviving the dense streets and crowded stores they went to the café where Hermione and her parents usually stayed.

"Understandable," Hermione replied gently. She held out her hand from across the coffee table, which Ron clutched tenderly.

"George's not looking great these days. He's stressing over work and last time I was in his flat I found some empty firewhiskey bottles under his bed."

"People have different ways of coping loss. Some take longer than others. Some don't ever recover – "

"I think George will never recover."

"Maybe," Hermione continued softly. "But he doesn't forget to live too. The shop is in good shape it's expanding even. He doesn't stay in his flat all day. He helps raise funds for those who were affected in the war. He even watches the English Quidditch Team matches now. You should give him a little credit. Maybe a drunken stupor and drowning in work is – er – permissible once in a while…"

"Yeah, you're right." Ron smiled weakly. "I just wish he would talk to me if he needed anything, you know."

"I know. But being George, we all know he's the one for laughs. And I think now that Fred's… well, he feels like it's up to him now."

"You know everyone too well, Hermione. It's amazing but kind of sly."

"Always the tone of surprise, Ronald. I've known your family for years."

"And I'm just getting to know yours," Ron said his tone apologetic.

"Again that's quite understandable. But we have lots of time now." She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Are you sure your parents will like the magical cleaning tools I got them for Christmas? It was Ginny who suggested it. I'm not certain if they know how to use it but the sales witch said it comes with instructions but we never for sure if something bad goes wrong," Ron said anxiously. "I think I still have time to return it."

"Oh, don't worry about it too much. Mum and dad will love anything that'll clean their dental equipment faster than usual. Its quite tedious to do so the Muggle way and it gets really frustrating when there are a lot of patients to tend to," Hermione assured him.

"Okay. But if anything bad happens it's on you!" Ron joked.

"Yeah, right. Like I would ever create a mistake as simple as gift picking," Hermione retorted teasingly.

"Mhmm. Let's blame it on Ginny then. She chose it."

Hermione shook her head slightly in amusement.

"What?"

"You're unbelievable, Weasley."

"Like the fact that we're together, huh?"

Hermione smiled. "Did you know that it was Ginny all along who saw right through us? Aside from Harry."

"Really? She never told me that."

"She didn't need to."

"Hey, Hermione?" Ron held her hand with both of his. He shifted his seat closer to the table and fixed his eyes to the brown ones across him.

"Yes?"

"Have I told you lately that I love you?"

Hermione gave a little giggle. "About an hour ago if I'm not mistaken."

"Well, I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Ronald."

The two shared a kiss in the cozy booth of the café.

"It sounded like a very fun trip," Ginny remarked after Harry told her everything that had happened in his visit to the Potter's. Well, almost everything.

Harry got back from his trip a week before the Christmas Eve dinner at the Burrow, which was much later than expected. The Weasleys and some few close friends knew he visited his father's place but after that trip no one was quite sure what Harry was up to which made them all worry. Harry sent them a letter explaining about having to take care of some legal documents and talking to the caretakers of the different Potter properties. Everyone's disquiet seemed to decrease after the letter but Ginny was not convinced.

Ginny had not seen Harry since the family dinner they had on the first night back and since he wasn't too keen with sending letters she wasn't too. There was tension building up between them again like when they were first apart after her fifth year.

When Harry came back from his trip he found Ginny, Ron and Hermione at Grimmauld Place. Ron was glad to see him back, Hermione started to lecture him about his lack of correspondence and prolonged absence and Ginny was oddly quiet and gave him a welcome kiss much to Hermione's disgruntlement.

"It was," Harry replied quietly.

They were at the nursery playing with Teddy who was chewing on the rubber toy Harry bought his teething godson. Harry was quite relived that Teddy still remembered him after being apart even for a short while. Although Teddy didn't sport his godfather's looks as much (he preferred blue hair and blue eyes) Harry was just glad to be back and enjoy his godson's company.

"Well, I best go home. I have to help mum for tonight's dinner. I'll see you soon, okay?" Ginny said.

They both stood up, Harry carrying Teddy by his hip while Ginny kissed him goodbye. Much to Ginny's surprise Harry held in longer and deepened the kiss, holding her closer with his free arm.

Ginny muffled a girly laugh. "That was nice."

"Wait until your present. It'll be better," Harry said teasingly.

"Then I can't wait to see it," Ginny replied surprisingly subdued. There it was again, the tension.

"Gin… I just wish you'd tell me what's up," Harry said gently.

"Really, I'm fine. See you later, okay?" She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and turned to Teddy for another. She disappeared from the room before Harry could say something more.

"This tastes wonderful, Molly. Do give me the recipe of this one," Mrs. Granger asked, savoring one of the many dishes Mrs. Weasley had prepared for Christmas Eve dinner.

"Will do, Mary. If you have the time, I can even show you how I precisely make it," Mrs. Weasley proudly offered.

The dinner went excellently. Everyone was there even some members of the Order. After dinner Celestina Warbeck's Christmas Special played in the radio. Some were playing board games but most were sharing glasses of excellent ale from Madame Rosmerta's collection. The older women were bustling around the kitchen preparing more desserts and washing dishes. Harry who was covered with baby food and a few bite marks was rocking a crying Teddy to sleep in one of the rooms upstairs when Ginny came in.

"Looks like you need some help," Ginny started to say.

"Yes, please. Can you heat up his bottle? My wand is somewhere in this room."

Ginny magically heated up Teddy's bottle in the right temperature and summoned Harry's wand. Without a word she took a restless Teddy from him. "Go wash yourself. I can take it from here."

"I won't take long."

After cleaning himself up, Harry went upstairs as quietly as he can, noticing the absence of the baby cries from the nursery. The door was left open and the sight inside stirred strong emotions inside him.

Ginny was sitting on the rocking chair beside the crib. Cradled in her arms was a half asleep Teddy still sucking on his bottle. She was a singing him a lullaby, one that Harry heard Mrs. Tonks sing sometimes. Her voice was musical and soothing. She looks utterly beautiful, Harry thought as he once again thanked the gods for having her.

As Teddy final dozed off to sleep, Ginny gently laid him down in his crib tucking him in. She planted a motherly kiss on one of his chubby cheeks.

"You're great him," Harry finally said announcing his presence.

Ginny looked a bit startled but nevertheless smiled. "Well, you're much better."

"I am the best godfather ever."

"You're such an egghead sometimes, Potter."

Harry smirked.

The next morning the only ones who woke early were Mrs. Weasley, Mrs. Tonks, Fleur and Ginny to prepare for the breakfast. The Weasleys' living room was half filled with presents to be opened that day.

Once everyone was up Mr. Weasley and Bill started distributing all the gifts and they altogether opened it.

"Oh, Harry, my boy! How fantastic this is," Mr. Weasley said ogling at the remote control toy helicopter he bought him. "Thank you, Harry!"

"My pleasure, Mr. Weasley."

Harry got another knitted jumper to add in his collection from Mrs. Weasley. Hermione was quite pleased with the advanced defensive spell book she received from him as Ron with his new broom kit and Quidditch tactics manual. But Harry was reserving his gift for Ginny last.

As everyone headed to the kitchen for breakfast, he marched to Ron's bedroom laid down his new things and got Hagrid's magical bag where he kept Ginny's gift. Just when he was about to open the door, it opened from the other side and hit him in the face.

"Ow!"

He heard Ginny cussed from the other side. "Oh, god! Is something broken? Let me see."

Ginny gently held his face by chin and examined his throbbing face. "Well, at least I didn't hit your nose. That would have been bloody. It just looks like you've been slapped hard in the face."

"I can deal with that," Harry said with a smile. "Hey, Gin – "

"I have something to show – " They both started to say at the same time.

"No, you first," Harry insisted.

"I wanted to show you something. Would you mind coming down with me to the woods? I know it's a bit far but… Well, It won't take a while really. I just don't want anyone…But if you don't want to, it's okay… it's not that big of a deal – "

"Gin, I'll go with you," Harry said reassuringly. She looked quite flushed and embarrassed.

"Okay."

They headed out and quietly made their way at the edge of the hill to where the woods were. Harry wasn't sure what to expect or maybe it was because he was figuring out how to give Ginny's gift. He'd never given anyone that meant so much before but he was glad Ginny's the first. She meant way more than the other girls Harry ever took interested in his life.

"Here's fine," Ginny said as they stopped a few meters away from the entrance of the woods. She gingerly took out her wand from her coat.

"You're not going to kill me are you?" Harry sarcastically said.

"No," she replied with a small smile.

There was silence between them again and judging from Ginny's fidgety movements and her avoiding eyes, Harry thought she looked nervous.

"Maybe I should go first?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Well, I left out some things when I told you about my visit to my grandparents. I mentioned you to them… well, actually they asked. Anyway before I left my grandmother told me to give this to you, which was perfect because I didn't know what to get you for Christmas. I didn't think Hermione's suggestion of Muggle music was appropriate." Harry swiftly rummaged through Hagrid's bag and took out a flat medium sized box covered with deep red velvet. It had a large letter P intricately written in gold print at the center. "I didn't think of wrapping it. I thought it looked nice just the way it is."

"It does," Ginny said softly, admiring the beautiful box Harry handed to her.

"Open it."

She did.

Lying on the black velvet bed was a thin gold necklace shaped like twisted vines with little leaflets that were made out of emerald. Despite its age, it looked new with its clear gleaming colors. It reminded Ginny of something an Egyptian princess would wear. It was beautiful.

"Oh my goodness. It's so lovely…" Ginny started to say, admiring the sophisticated jewel.

"My grandfather gave it to my grandmother in their first anniversary of marriage. She thought you might like it. I thought so too. "

"I love it. But Harry I don't think… maybe it's a bit too much?" Ginny voice rang of uncertainty. "I don't know what to say. I don't think I deserve this."

"Say you're grateful for it. And you do deserve this, Gin, even much more. Please, Gin, for me? I really do want you to have this. It's my way of…" Harry paused not sure what to say next or what he thought he would say would not mess the moment. So he took the necklace from its bed and placed it on Ginny who went speechless.

"Beautiful," Harry said as he turned to look at Ginny.

"Thank you," Ginny said as she reached for a kiss.

"You're welcome."

"I feel bad now. I didn't get you anything. I don't think anything I could have given you would ever match something as beautiful and meaningful as this," Ginny said sadly.

"I don't care. As long as you're happy," Harry replied sincerely.

She gave a deep sigh and looked up to him. "Remember that time when Professor Gadrev told me off for not trying to make a decent patronus?"

"When she said you were failing yourself on purpose?"

"Something like that."

"I remember. What about it?"

"I can conjure one," Ginny said nonchalantly waving her wand.

"That's great! Is this was what you were going to show me?"

"Yes but the thing is Professor Gadrev was right. I wasn't trying on purpose because I was scared."

"Scared? Why?"

"The first time it happened was when we practiced in the Room of Requirement. It was the only one left. I wasn't sure… I haven't been able to make one since the war. I was confused… perhaps I knew all along…"

"Ginny, I don't get what…" But before Harry could finish what he was about to say Ginny waved her wand and a silver figure came out.

It was a doe. It was the same doe that Snape had summoned that led to the Gryffindor's sword in the forest. It was Lily's doe.

"I didn't want anyone to find out after you. I think it was trying me to tell something. I know it sounds odd but…" She sighed as if bracing herself for something grave was about to happen. She took both of his hands in hers.

"I should have said this a long time ago. I didn't realize it until you left. I thought about you everyday since we were together and when I thought you died I couldn't breathe. I felt so much regret and pain but then you were alive and I took it as my second chance. But I was scared that you didn't feel the same but then I realized it doesn't matter because I just need to get this out of my system. Doesn't matter if I have to wait another term or fifty years for you because I've done it before and I think I can do that again. What I'm really trying to say , Harry, is that I love you."

She looked up to him her eyes shining with unshed tears. There was strength in there. Something Harry had always admired about Ginny.

"Well, you don't ever have to wait any longer because I feel the same way. I love you too." Harry didn't realize that he too was crying until Ginny brushed his tears away. They shared laughs and held on to each other. "You know, you're the first person ever who told me that they loved me."

"I'm glad." Ginny held on to him tighter as if to rid him of the lack of care and love he had to bear upon losing his parents. "And I've never said that to any guy. So consider yourself lucky."

"I do. All the time," Harry smiled from above her flaming red hair. "This is the best Christmas gift yet, Gin. Thank you."

"Likewise and the necklace. Tell you grandparents thank you for me."

"Sure. Beats Hermione's Muggle music suggestion."

"I don't think anything can top this Christmas at least not for a very long time."

"Mhmm."

"And Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Remember, I said it first." There it was again, her strength emanating from her words. It showed bravery the Gryffindor's were known for. It revealed possession that the fiery red head had over him.

"I will. Now let's see how they look together." Harry kept one arm around Ginny not wanting to lose contact and used his other to conjure his silvery stag.

Both figures circled around each other, getting to know their likes and differences. Harry admired the scene before him but appreciated more as Ginny reached in for a passionate kiss.

"Happy Christmas, Harry."

AN: Hello! Long time no see. I have been out of town for almost two weeks without internet connection so I did not get a chance to post last week. But here it is! Credits to my friend who contributed her creatives juices for this chapter's story line. Your love, for canon couples inspired me! I hope you enjoyed this one, guys! Reviews are very much welcomed! Thank you for your support ~ E