A Christmas dinner is underway...just not exactly the way Lyra expected...

Haha. Ferret. Haha xD Now, that is all I shall reveal! :P

I clattered down the stairs, coming to a breathless halt when I heard raised voices. As I drew closer, I heard Hermione speak. "Oh shut up, Ferret!"

"You only say that because you haven't come up with any new ideas," my older twin shot back. "And you're supposed to be the Brightest Witch of Our Age. No new taunts? I'm disappointed."
"Well, I've got plenty of taunts, Drake," I said mildly as I joined them. "Would you like to hear them?"

Draco scowled as Hermione grinned. "Took you long enough." Then he blinked. "Where did you get that dress? I've never seen it before."

I shrugged. "Christmas sales at Hogsmeade before I came back," I replied. "It's rather nice isn't it?" I spun around with a grin.

Draco shook his head, smiling fondly. "I forgot how childish you used to be."

"Is that a crime?" I demanded.

Draco met my gaze, still smiling. "No. It's actually rather nice. You should be like this more often." He offered me an arm as I blinked at his words. "Ready?"

I felt a flash of apprehension. Yesterday Draco had received a letter from our parents asking if we would like to have lunch with them on Christmas Eve. I agreed, because after all, it was Christmas. That didn't mean I wasn't nervous about it though.

"Relax." I looked up at George's voice. "You'll be back for dinner. And if you're not, we'll come looking for you," he added in a joking threat. I let out a breath at his words, and looked at Draco, looping my arm through his. "Ready."

Coldness. Momentary dizziness. We both paused as we hit solid ground again, trying to regain our bearings.

"Merlin, it's cold out here."

"Well Drake," I remarked, in a very good imitation of his drawl, "it is winter." The boy scowled at me. I looked away from him to study the great building in front of me.

Malfoy Manor.

Home of my childhood.

Draco nudged me. "You okay?"

I glanced up at him, startled. "I think so," I replied slowly.

Draco nodded. "You know, George is glad you're back."

I blinked. Draco was probably trying to calm me down. I was, after all, about to face my past demons. "I know," I replied softly. "He told me."

My brother studied me. "Everybody's noticed. George is happier. He has been better, but yesterday he laughed. He hasn't laughed since..."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Draco noticed. "Is there something going on?" he asked, squeezing my hand as we walked up the long path.

"Maybe. I don't know," I admitted. "He knows I like him. I told him before I left."

Draco halted to stare at me. I felt myself going red. "Merlin," my brother said finally. "So that's why you were avoiding eachother!"

"No," I snapped, embarrassed now. "I was avoiding him!"

"That's not making it any better," Draco pointed out wryly. He tilted his head at me. "Does he like you?"

"I never asked," I replied softly. "That's why I was avoiding him-I was afraid of finding out."

Draco thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

It was then I noticed that we had reached the large front door. I stilled, staring up at it like it was the mountain troll Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I had faced in first year.

Draco squeezed my hand. "Are you okay?" he asked again.

I gulped. "Let's find out," I replied, my voice tiny.

"Alright then. Here we go." Draco took a deep breath and reached forward.

The three knocks he gave sounded tiny. Nevertheless, someone must've been waiting for us, because the door opened almost immediately.

Mother and Father looked at us.

I swallowed, looking up. "Hello."

"You came." A look of surprise, followed by pleasure, swept over my mother's face. Father finally managed a brief nod. I had a flashback of King's Cross Station, where it all had started, and a man farewelling his daughter with that same brief nod. A lump rose up in my throat.

"Shall we go?" Mother's words were tentative. She looked unsure.

"Yes. Let's go." I jumped-I'd forgotten Draco was there.

The pair stepped out of the manor, Mother closing and locking the door behind her. I looked up at the roof, where a girl had once hidden and stared at clouds on her eleventh birthday. The day was pretty much the same-fluffy white clouds dotting a forget-me-not blue sky.

It was the last thing I saw before Draco Disapparated again.

Crack.

I blinked in the sudden light. "I'm never going to get used to that," I muttered, referring to the effects of Apparation. "I prefer brooms. And Floo Powder. And anything else but Apparation."

Draco snorted. I glared at him, then turned away. My brow furrowed in confusion.

We were on the doorstep of The Burrow. "Draco, look, you've gone to the wrong place," I began, cross now.

"No I haven't," replied Draco cheerfully. Looking around, I realised that my parents had indeed materialized behind us.

"What going on?" I said, badly confused.

People must've been listening for us. The door swung open.

"Hello there! I welcome you to our humble home! May I take your coat, Madame?"

I stared at George as he gave us a very elaborate and silly bow.

"Ignore him," Draco informed us. "He's a bit loopy so the others had to put him somewhere out of the way."

"Loopy? Why, good sir, I take offence to your comment! I shall not aid the likes of you!" With a profound sniff George turned away.

I looked from my parents, to George's nonsense, to Draco standing next to me, an idea crystallising in my brain. "You set this up…"

"Now she understands," said Draco in exaggerated patience.

George dropped his stupid act. "Draco thought you might like it if you could spend Christmas with both your families. I just helped with organising everything."

"Oh good, you've stopped talking like that. I must say that your behaviour was rather…well, riddikulus."

George laughed briefly. "Very good. I'll have to remember that one," he said, grinning. "There's no point in coming inside," he told the others. "Everyone's out the back. You might as well go round."

He walked out the front door, closing it behind him, and strode off purposefully. We followed, Mother and Father trailing behind the three of us to where a large marquee was set up over a very large table.

The crowd, made up of every Weasley (even Charlie had returned for Christmas), plus Harry, Ron, and Hermione was milling around and chatting. It was an unnerving thing to hear them go silent as we approached.

Molly was the first to recover. "Oh! Hello," she said, smiling at the two new adults. "We're so glad you could join us."

Arthur moved to his wife's side, studying his colleague. "Lucius," he finally said.

"Arthur," replied Father.

I was again reminded of the first time I saw them do that. Of course, that was far different-it had descended into a brawl, with Ginny receiving Tom Riddle's diary and almost opening the Chamber of Secrets in Hogwarts. This time, the venom was remarkably absent, though everybody could feel the wariness running through the air. Still, it was a start. I let out a breath, and as I did I felt the tension ease somewhat.

It was to be the only truly awkward moment of the day. The lunch was incredible, not only due to the food, but also because the two families, once feuding enemies, somehow got on remarkably well. It turned not to be just lunch either-Draco and George had planned a gathering that lasted through dinner and until midnight, for, as they said, family should be together for Christmas. The only time I snuck away was to stick my own gifts for my friends and family under the gigantic tree.

"10 minutes everyone!"

The cry reached my ears as I hurried back outside. Everybody was milling around excitedly, waiting for midnight. As I grabbed a Butterbeer, I realised someone was missing. Again. After a brief hesitation, I grabbed a second Butterbeer and made my way back inside the house.

I found George in his room again. He was sitting at the desk, studying a piece of parchment that had only a few lines written on it. A quill lay beside his arm.

"George."

The boy looked up at my voice.

"It's 10 minutes to midnight." I moved into the room, offering him the bottle. "You can't celebrate Christmas without a Butterbeer."

George smiled, reaching for the bottle. "Or a Firewhisky," he added.

"Or Madame Rosmerta's oak-matured mead. Or a good drink in general. You know what I mean. What's that?" I asked, nodding at the parchment.

George angled it so I could see.

Dear Fred

Happy Christmas.

"I didn't know what else to put," George said, as I swallowed back the lump in my throat.

I managed a smile at him. "It doesn't need anything else George. Fred would be happy with just that."

George spared a second for a short nod.

I sat down on the bed. "I've got an idea. How about a game?" I asked, patting the bed next to me.

George moved to sit where I indicated. "What game?"

"Well, a friend taught it to me. What happens is that I ask you questions and you have to answer. You're not allowed to think, you have to say the first thing that comes to mind. You can't skip questions either."

George smiled faintly. "Okay."

I took a deep breath. "Are you enjoying yourself at the party?"

"Yes."

"Who's your favourite sibling, apart from Fred?"

"Ginny."

"What's your favourite product that your shop sells?"

"Skiving Snackbox."

"What was your favourite memory of Fred?"

"Setting off the fireworks against Umbridge in seventh year."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," replied George, then blinked. "At least, for now I am."

I placed a hand on his arm for a moment, before letting go. Taking another breath, I stood, moving to look out the window. "Do you like me?" My voice was small.

I felt George move behind me before I felt his hands on my shoulders. "Yes."

I turned, to look up into his face. His gaze was intent, and completely serious.

He was too close. That was all I could think. I tried to take a step back, but discovered my feet were glued to the carpet. I looked around for a distraction. "Mistletoe," I finally managed, pointing upwards.

"You know what that means?" asked George, his gaze still serious.

"Nargles," I replied, my brain still scrambling.

George smiled faintly. "That's not what I meant."
"What did you mean?" My words were faint.

In answer, George cupped my face in his palms, and tilted my chin upwards. He lowered his head to press his lips to mine, holding me still, as if the whole moment was woven on spider web that would snap and drift away if we moved. When he pulled away, I stared up at him. His gaze was still intent, that piercing blue that I'd become so accustomed to penetrating my eyes and reaching to twine into my mind.

George kissed me again. This time I gasped, surprised, as my lips opened like a flower, long starved of sunlight.

Our kiss was on the verge of deepening when we were interrupted by an explosion of sound and colour. George pulled away to rest his forehead on mine. Our breath mingled as the fireworks exploded outside, every colour of the rainbow and some inbetween chasing themselves across George's face.

"Are those your fireworks?" I whispered.

George nodded. "I thought Fred might appreciate the view," he replied, his voice equally soft.

We jumped as my watch suddenly pealed, "Happy Christmas!"

"Happy Christmas, Lyra," George whispered, leaning in.

"Happy Christmas, George," replied as our lips met again.

Nargles are wonderful...but not as wonderful as kissing under the mistletoe :)

Now, hopefully some of you will be going, "Awww, what a lovely moment..." Well, at least that's how I hope it has affected you.

Or you could be going: FINALLY! Took them long enough! But anyway, whatever you think is fine by me! xD

The Malfoys and Weasleys? Anything's possible on Christmas!

And finally, I apologise for the joke I made regarding a certain spell taught by a certain teacher. I know, it was lame, but I couldn't resist. I also enjoy making "Sirius" jokes...but I digress xD

I had a lot of fun writing this, so hope you enjoyed it!

Love, as always, MagicalLeaves

DISCLAIMER: The author does not in any way accept responsibility for any consequences suffered by those who go looking for Nargles. She would like the readers to know that Nargles are rather mischievous creatures and thieves, so keep an eye on your belongings while reading this fanfic.