Chapter four: countdown
The Weasley's slouched around in the living room by the roaring fire attempting to rid their bodies of the faint frost that had wormed its way into the house. Hermione sat in an armchair with a book propped up in her lap, legs swung over an arm, her left hand lazily stroking Ron's hair as the boy was currently sitting against the armchair in which his girlfriend was perched in. Arthur and Molly were curled up on the sofa flicking through the baby photo albums. And Ginny … was pacing. Pacing while biting down on her thumbnail and glancing every so often at the staircase. "Ginny stop pacing" Ron moaned rubbing his temples "you're giving me ping-pong eyes, and I'm pretty sure mum and dad don't want you to pace a trench in their living room"
"Yes Ginny, dear, do stop pacing" Molly frowned at her daughter before returning to coo at the baby photos.
"Fine!" Ginny thumped down aggressively onto the carpet, arms folded tightly across her chest as she glared into the fire.
"What did the fire ever do to you?" Ron quipped.
"Oh shut up!" Ginny sneered turning her glare to the staircase, awaiting the arrival of Harry. Eventually Harry's feet and candy-striped pyjama's came into view as they descended the steps, Ginny sat bolt upright. When a second set of legs began to follow alongside Harry's own, Ginny visibly slouched in distaste. Harry cautiously entered the living room, Draco by his side, their finger entwined. Draco on his part looked very weary as though he expected something like the carpet to leap up and swallow his with ketchup. Ginny tightened her jaw and glared at the back of Draco's head.
"Good evening Harry, Good evening Draco" Molly smiled at Draco, breaking the tense silence "we're waiting up past midnight"
"Why?" Draco asked curiously.
Molly was about to answer but Harry beat her to it "Ron can't wait for Christmas day … literally"
"Oh" Draco smiled at Ron "I can't wait either"
Ron grinned excitedly "I don't need to open Hermione's presents to know what she got us …Books! OW!" Draco snickered as Hermione swatted Ron across the back of his head with a heavy book. Ron turned to glare at her, rubbing the back of his head. "What was that for?" he whined.
"For your information, Ronald, I haven't bought anyone a book this year" she stated matter-of-factly.
Everyone turned to look at her, gobsmacked expressions on their faces "you haven't?"
"Nope" she shook her head with a wide grin on her face.
"Shock horror!" Ron exclaimed.
"Hell has frozen over!" Draco cried dramatically.
"Hey look! Flying pigs!" Ginny squealed pointing out of the window.
Hermione pouted looking saddened. Harry felt sorry for his friend, true she did normally buy them books but to have Hermione Granger buy something other than a book for someone was just so sweet ... it must have taken her forever to find something for each of them, so he went over and pecked her on the forehead "we're all very grateful Mione, thank you"
"You're welcome Harry" she smiled up at him before sticking her tongue childishly at the others' before returning to her book.
"Five minutes until Christmas!" Ron piped.
Harry and Hermione chuckled as they watched their boyfriends' sprawl out on in front of the fire, chins propped up on their elbows, their eyes glued to the small clock on the mantelpiece. "They are just as bad as each other" Harry chuckled as Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes with a cheerful smile.
"Three minutes!!!" came Draco's childish squeal.
"Hot chocolate?" Arthur asked sliding of off the sofa.
"Yes please!" everyone else chorused. Arthur smiled and went off into the kitchen to make seven hot choccie-choc-chocolates.
"ONE MINUTE!!!" everyone else was on the edge of their seats.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!"