CHAPTER 5:

UNDER THE MISTLETOE:

THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO RON/ LUNA:

After Ron had confessed his love to Luna and she had run away episode, Ron prevented from coming out of the portrait hole for a few days. November passed away and December as the snow swirled on the icy windows once more; Christmas was approaching fast. Hagrid had already delivered twelve Christmas trees for Great Hall; garlands of holly and shiny flecks had been twisted around the banisters of the stairs; everlasting candles glowed everywhere and bunches of mistletoe had been hung at the regular intervals along the corridors. Large groups of boys tended to come together underneath the mistletoe bunches every time Ashley went past, which caused blockages into the corridors. Luckily, however Ashley's Head girl power and Harry's help had enabled her to navigate mistletoe-free routes between classes.

Meanwhile, Ron was still sulking about Luna's departure from him. Ashley was trying to get him off the bad mood, but was unsuccessful. Malfoy, on the other hand was acting as though it was the first time that he was celebrating Christmas. Ginny and Harry, on the other side were enjoying Ashley and Malfoy running helter-skelter trying to balance their Head boy and girl duties with their dates of departure to their homes for holidays.

Harry woke up on the Christmas morning to find a stack of presents at the foot of his bed and Ron halfway through his own.

"Good draw this year!" he exclaimed through the mountain of his presents. "Thanks for the sweets, they are excellent." He said popping one candy into his mouth.

"That's okay." Harry said as he sorted out his presents. His presents comprised of a sweater with a large Golden 'H' worked on the front, hand knitted by Mrs. Weasley, a large box of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products from the twins. Ashley had sent him a small packet. Harry smiled to himself as he unwrapped it. It was a very small velvety box. Harry wondered what it was. As he opened it, he let out a small gasp. On the velvet carpet inside the box, lay the most beautiful, gold plated brooch. It was shaped like a broomstick and had jewels studded on it; A small chit was attached to it. Harry tore open the chit that read,

Dear Harry,

Merry Christmas. This brooch, I thought is the gift you would love. Don't worry of the cost of this thing. Its not that costly. By the way, if Ron's opening his gift, tell him that that book will be very useful for him. Merry Christmas to all.

Love,

Ashley.

"Wow!" Harry whispered still staring at the letter.

"What is that?" Ron said making him jump. Harry looked around to see Ron jumping from his bed to get a better view of the box and the letter. Without waiting for an answer, Ron strode over to his bed.

"Wow!" he said short of breath. "It's beautiful. Who sent you this?" he asked eyeing Harry disbelievingly.

"Read this." Harry said throwing the letter at him. Ron opened the letter and quickly scanned thru it, his eyes widening at every word.

"Like wow!" he exclaimed looking up from the letter. "It's got to be expensive." He breathed. Harry smiled awkwardly. He hadn't got a gift like this ever in his life. Except, of course, his father's cloak. He had liked Ashley for days, but hadn't expected this from her. He never knew she thought him to be so special that she had sent him such a lovely (and costly, of course!) gift.

"Harry, what's wrong? You look funny." Ron said, breaking his thoughts. Harry shook his head to get rid of his thoughts.

"Oh!—nothing—I--." Harry said.

"Thinking of Ashley?" Ron asked smirking at him.

"Nope! Shaddap, ok?" Harry laughed.

"After all, she's sent you such a beautiful and expensive gift." Ron sneered again.

Harry was about to hit him when Ginny and Luna entered the room.

"Hey! Morning!" Harry exclaimed as they sat on the end of his bed.

"Morning," Ginny said sleepily yawning. She looked at the box in Harry's hand and stopped yawning as though a fly had entered her open mouth.

"What's this?" she asked. Harry sighed and pulled out the box and opened it.

"Oooh!" she gasped. Harry could see the jewels shining into her eyes.

"Lovely, isn't it?" he asked smiling. Ginny nodded and looked up at him.

"Who gave it you?" she asked in a matter-of-factly way. Harry grinned.

"Ashley." He answered. Ginny sat up straight.

"Ashley?" she said startled. Harry nodded. She bit her lip.

"It's got to be expensive." She said in a whisper.

"Yeah, but—" Harry started but Ron called his name.

"Hang on, there's a P.S…

Dear Harry,

Just ask Ronald Weasley (He looked at Ron) to stop being a pile of chicken shit and ask him to open his own presents other than snooping and mind you, DON'T guess the price of the brooch otherwise I'll send a howler…

Ashley.

Harry burst out laughing at the look on the face of Ron. Ron, who had flushed muttered something that sounded like 'going to open the remaining presents' while Ginny and Luna slapped their foreheads and walked off still giggling. Harry looked back at the letter and smiled. He got ready and then walked out of the portrait hole towards the Great hall. There, to his great surprise, Ashley was sitting there on the Gryffindor table between Malfoy and Neville. She waved as he came and sat beside her.

"Hey when did you arrive?" he asked reaching for the toast. She smiled brightly. She had snow in her hair and face was pink with cold.

"I thought maybe I would spend the Christmas here with you people." She said. "So, how's life?" she asked briskly. Harry shrugged.

"Nothing new." He sighed. "By the way," he added vigorously, "Thanks for the brooch."

"Glad you liked it." Ashley said with a smile and leaped forward for some pumpkin juice. There was a considerable silence until Malfoy spoke up.

"Thanks for the watch, it's lovely." He said excited. Ashley smiled and hugged Malfoy.

"That's alright." She whispered. He smiled back at her and they broke the hug by briefly kissing each other on the lips. Harry smirked at Ginny, who shook her head mouthing a 'no' . Ron winked at Luna and indicated to the door which meant a long walk around the lake. She looked around and nodded.

"Well, see you guys later." Ron said rising up.

"Where are you going?" Ashley asked. Ron smiled at her, bent down and whispered, "With Luna." Ashley raised her eyebrows and nodded.

"Best of luck." She said as Ron and Luna walked off. Ashley turned around to see Malfoy, Harry and Ginny watching her.

"What?" she said thickly.

"Can we know what Ron told you now?" Ginny asked. Ashley simpered.

"Sure. He said he and Luna are dating." Ashley said pleased.

Ron and Luna walked out of the Great Hall, and took the path that lead outside. They then walked down towards the lake and just walked along the shore line.

"Ron? What are we doing?"

He thought about it, and decided, that he should tell her right now.

"Luna, I need to tell you something."

"Sure, what is it?"

They started towards a big rock and they both sat on it. He looked over at her, while her eyes were fixed on a pebble on the ground. 'How am I supposed to tell her. I was never good at expressing my feelings, especially to girls. Should I kiss her? That would definitely show how I feel about her. And it would be so much easier than actually speaking.' Ron thought.

She must have been looking over at him, because her soft, mellow voiced rang through his ears when she attempted to say,

"Ron, are you alri-"

He kissed her. Right then and there, he kissed her. And guess what? She kissed him back.

Ron had never felt so alive in his entire life. That moment made me the happiest he have ever felt.

When they broke apart, he smiled and she fluttered her eyes open. She stared at him and asked,

"Is that what you had to tell me?"

He nodded his head slowly and whispered,

"Yeah, it was. So what do you say?"

She looked at him quizzically and asked,

"To what?"

He leaned down and whispered in her ear,

"What do you say to me?"

He couldn't read the expression on her face. She was looking down, her eyes fixed on the same pebble. She's is probably going to say no..

"Ron?"

"Yeah!?" he said, quickly.

"I think we can give it a try." She replied with a huge smile.

"Really?" he asked, grinning.

"Yeah." She said, giggling.

Ron leaned down and kissed her, making her giggles sound muffled while doing so.

He broke the kiss, grabbed her hand and started running.

"Ron! Where are we going!?" She yelled, while laughing.

"Wherever you want!"

She stopped short, still holding onto her hand, causing him to stumble backwards.

"Luna, are you ok-?"

This time, she was the one to kiss him. Ron kissed her back, cupping her cheek with his hand. When they broke apart, she said,

"I don't like you, Ron. I love you."

Ron smiled, feeling his stomach flip over in excitement,

"I really love you too." Then, he grabbed her hand again and started running. She laughed and ran with him. They didn't care where they went, as long as he was with her, he was happy. Back in the room, Ashley was sitting with Harry, Malfoy, Ginny and some other Gryffindors. They were singing Ashley's favourite Christmas carol sitting around the Christmas tree.

Hermione was woken up on the Christmas morning by Ash throwing a pillow at her.

"Oi! Presents!"

Hermione reached for the table lamp and switched it on, squinting in the semi-darkness to the foot of the bed, where a small pile of presents were stacked. Ash was halfway thru ripping the paper off his.

"Ah, a photo frame from Brock. Lets see what have you got from him."

Hermione had got a set of colorful hair bands from Brock, a jewelry set from Ash, a small packet of sweets from Gary Oak, a Christmas card from May and Max..

"Wow! Great haul this year." Ash smiled as Hermione put down the card. Hermione smiled and leant over to kiss Ash, the bell rang. Hermione jumped as though she had received an electric jolt. Ash scrambled up to the door. Hermione got up and yawned and hurried out to the front door just as Brock's familiar face burst in.

"Ash!" he said, smiling broadly from ear to ear and pulling Ash into a hug.

"Hey mate, I'm glad you could make it," Ash said pulling back, grinning.

"It's Christmas Ash! Did you think there was any chance I wouldn't make it? Come on!"

"Where's Katy?" Hermione asked coming down the stairs.

"I'm here," she said, appearing in the doorway behind Brock, her arms loaded with gift-wrapped boxes and bags.

"Here, let me help you," Ash said taking a few of the packages from her.

She smiled up at him and obliged. Her hair was shorter now, just brushing her shoulders, and today it was very curly and shiny. Ash went to shut the door as she passed him and dropped the rest of her things to embrace Hermione.

"Katy! It's so good to see you!" Hermione exclaimed.

"It's great to see you! I've missed you so much!" Katy said squeezing her friend harder.

Hermione pulled away and turned to Brock. His face was filled with adoration as he gazed down at her. She came into his arms awkwardly, and Ash saw her eyes catch his own briefly before she buried her head in his shoulder.

"I don't believe you could be so sick." Katy chided her husband.

"Hey- what did I do?" Brock asked bracing himself. Ash, Hermione, Katy and Brock were sitting on the dining table having a great Christmas feast.

"You are a wimp." She snapped. "I don't believe you just told them that you and I are setting off for an another honeymoon." She added.

"Oof come on Kat. You are talking as if I told Daniel this news." Brock said. Kat let out a long sigh.

"Sorry honey, but I suppose you told that to Daniel too." She said softly and sighed again. Ash snorted into his pudding, Hermione spit her water across the table and Brock blushed.

"I guess I did." He said smiling with embarrassment as everyone on the table stared at him in the stunned silence, Hermione began loading food onto their plates.

I Know it was boring but, the twist in the story will be in next chapter.