Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Bella and the plot. Gee, who woulda guessed?

A/N: Here's the chapter as promised! This one is actually for Janet, who rightly stated that I needed to put more normal stuff in, so thanks! I do love constructive critisims and questions. In the next chapter, we'll find out one of Bella's phobias, but for right now, enjoy this chapter. Please remember to Read & Review. Thanks guys!

xoxo

KK

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Ginny paused, her quill poised above her journal; only the date had been written. Fat, white flakes drifted lazily outside her window. She hadn't kept a diary since the Tom Riddle incident, but journals were okay.

Where to start?

Even though Harry, Ron, and Hermione are trying to save the world again, this Christmas has been one of the best here at the Burrow. Isabella, a friend of ours from school, came and stayed with us.

I strongly suspect that both Fred and George fancy her, as they've been glued to her since they arrived. She's very pretty and nice; there are rumors at school that even Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, is falling for her. Normally, someone like that would annoy me, but Bella is different. She's not conceited about her looks (although she does take pains to care for them); it's more like she's comfortable in her own skin, and that self-confidence draws people to her.

Lucky for her though that Harry doesn't fancy her as more than a friend. Then I probably would learn to hate her.

The scratching of quill on parchment stopped as Ginny again paused in her writing, pondering on how best to continue.

I'm worried about Harry. Trying to find the horcruxes is tearing him apart. He's exhausted, he doesn't eat properly, and he's having nightmares about this stupid war.

I love him. There is no other explanation for what I'm feeling, and it terrifies me. I mean, yes, I've always fancied him, but now it's different. I just can't sit idly by anymore while Harry Potter saves the bleeding world this time.

He pushes me away, saying that we can't be together because he doesn't want You-Know-Who to hurt me. I say he's just running scared. Has he forgotten that I was there at the Ministry? Or when the rogue Death Eaters and werewolf attacked Bill? I'm made of stern stuff, and he knows it. He's afraid to get his feelings involved, so that if something happens to me, he can't get hurt as much by it. That and nothing will compete with his need for revenge against Pettigrew and You-Know-Who for killing his parents.

"Ginny!" Bella opened the bedroom door. "We're all going out to play in the snow. Are you coming?"

Ginny smiled at the older girl, amusement tingeing her voice as she replied, "Only if Fred and George don't charm snowballs to chase me everywhere."

Bella laughed, her blue eyes sparkling. "I can't make any promises. Just send a Bat Bogey Hex at them if they do. They're quite wary of you, you know."

"I know," Ginny grinned. "I worked hard to make it that way. But, yes, I'll be down in just a minute. Let me just finish up."

"Sure thing." With her long, chocolate hair whipping out behind her like a comet's tail, Bella turned and raced out of sight, presumably excited about the outdoor excursion. As Ginny continued to watch out the window, she saw Harry, Bella and Hermione march out into the snow, followed by her brothers and Fleur. Fred and Bella fell behind the group, and Ginny stared as her brother started to snog the pretty brunette. No one else seemed to have noticed though, caught up in the fun of snowman-making.

As the two separated, Ginny saw her brother grin and swat Bella's bum. Bella looked back over at him with what appeared to be amusement. Ginny's quill started scratching furiously on the parchment once more.

Okay, it's official. Fred definitely fancies Bella. You don't even want to know what I've just been the unsuspected witness to. Nothing too outrageous, I just don't feel like reliving it. I've never seen Fred act like this. Not since Angelina anyway, and that was a school crush. I've had it on good authority that he's been visiting the school with all sorts of excuses lately. I'm assuming she's why. I hope she doesn't break his heart. Underneath all that jokester personality is someone who desperately wants to be loved and accepted. Geez, I'm starting to sound like a mushy novel. But seriously, I've never seen him fall for a girl this bad before.

Mum always says that things happen for a reason, so maybe Harry and I aren't together because it wasn't meant to be. Maybe Bella and Fred were meant to find each other, but the question is, will they stay together. I like her, so it won't be like dealing with another Phlegm (who, coincidentally, has started to grow on me). Who knows? Life can be so complicated sometimes…

Now I'm headed out to join everybody and frolic (or whatever you want to call it) in the post-Christmas snow. Bye now!

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By the time Ginny got outside, a snowball fight was in full swing. Fred, George, Bella, Fleur on one side, Bill, Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the other. Ginny was drafted to Phlegm's team.

"Oh Ginny! Zees ees ze most fun I 'ave 'ad all week!" Fleur exclaimed, her French accent thickening in her excitement. There was not much time for talking however, as a snowball had hit Ginny directly in the face.

Wiping the snow off, she glared at the offenders. "All right, who threw that one?"

Not surprisingly, no body answered. Bill looked guiltiest, so Ginny aimed at him, catching the back of his neck as he turned. She smiled in satisfaction as the snow snuck under his cloak and shirt, making him dance around to get it out.

Snowballs flew in every direction until it became too dark to aim properly. A truce was called, and the motley crew headed inside to warm up.

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Bella sat down on one of the faded old couches in the Weasley's living room. She had changed into a fluffy white sweater and a pair stonewashed hip-hugging jeans, throwing her hair up into a messy bun. Stretching her fingers towards the roaring fire, trying to warm them and make the blood start circulating again, a content smile stole over features.

This was how Fred found her as he walked in, towel drying his hair. He stopped mid-motion and just watched her. She looked so at ease and innocent, so utterly at peace with the world that he was loath to ruin the moment.

I didn't matter anyway, as Bella sensed him standing there in the doorway. She turned her head lazily until he came fully into view. She gave him a languid smile spilling over the top with unconscious sensuality, and Fred quite forgot to breathe.

"Hi," she said, voice a bit husky due to drowsiness. Fred inhaled sharply of the much-needed oxygen. The little vixen had no idea what she could do to a man with that voice and that smile. Not to mention her incredibly sexy body.

Stop it Fred! He scolded himself, becoming increasingly aware that his lusty thoughts were causing him to become aroused. He smiled in return. "Hi to yourself."

Bella noticed that Fred's voice was a little strange, but she passed it off as an after effect of all the yelling done outside. She patted the seat beside her, beckoning him to join her on the sofa. "You can sit down," she teased. "I won't bite."

No, but I want to. Right there, on your earlobe, then nibble my way down your throat, past your collarbone…Cut it out! Fred shook his head slightly, trying to stop the tangent that his mind was wandering off to. He sat down next to her, lounging back so that he looked completely at ease, while inside his emotions were a stormy sea.

Bella pulled a little box-like thing out of her pocket and plugged what Fred recognized as earphones into it.

"What's that?" He asked, gesturing to the object.

Bella looked at him blankly for a minute, then smiled as understanding dawned. "I keep forgetting that most wizards and witches don't know about muggle stuff. It's an I-pod." At his questioning stare, she elaborated, "It plays music. You download the music onto it, and then you can listen to it whenever you want. Here, take a listen."

She helped him put the tiny earphone on, then chose a song by Panic! At the Disco. She could tell when it started playing, because his eyes widened slightly and he snatched the I-pod away from her. Bella showed him how to flip through the songs, then let him go at it.

Maybe I'll get him one for his birthday, he really looks like he's enjoying it. Bella smiled. Fred could be adorable sometimes.

Mr. Weasley entered the room, exclaiming when he saw what Fred was holding. "I say, is that a muggle music-maker?"

Without waiting for an answer, he took it away from Fred and began pressing random buttons. When it looked like he was about to try and take it apart to see how it worked, Bella hastily recaptured it.

"Sorry Mr. Weasley, but this thing cost hundreds of dollars." When that didn't seem to impress her, she amended, "About ninety galleons. I don't have the money to replace it if it gets broken."

Mr. Weasley seemed mollified for the moment. When he heard Mrs. Weasley calling him from the kitchen, he excused himself. "Always good advice to never keep one's wife waiting when she's using that tone of voice."

Fred and Bella snickered softly, watching his retreating back. After a moment, Bella looked over at Fred, her eyes colliding with his. How had she never noticed the intense forest green of them before? His eyelids drooped slightly, and Bella remembered the term 'bedroom eyes' that authors are so fond of. Fred definitely had smoldering bedroom eyes.

Just as Fred's lips were about to touch hers, the sound of a door opening reached Bella's ears.

"Hey, Mum wants – Oi! Fred you lousy bugger! Cease and desist!" Ron stood in the doorway, hands on his hips. "Can't I go anywhere without you two snogging right around every corner!" Ron's face was bright red, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance at finding them in this situation again.

"Ronniekins, you have the most astounding abilities at ruining the mood. Maybe you should start a company," Fred said, glaring at his brother. Ron threw his hands up in the air.

"The point being," Ron replied, "Is that Mum wants the two of you to come into dinner. It's chicken tonight, but watch the sprouts. I think George jinxed them."

Fred held out a hand to help Bella to her feet. As she started to stand, he yanked her to him, forcing her to place her hands on his chest for balance. Fred captured her in a searing kiss, stepping back to look down at her dazed expression.

"Guess we can't keep those sprouts waiting. We'll finish our…discussion…later."