author's note: thank to my reviewers and the usual disclaimers apply. here's some fluff!
Chapter 32
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The house elf bill passed by a comfortable margin. I was proud to have been able to witness history being made. I spent most of the rest of my first week of vacation helping Charlie with his Christmas shopping, he'd provided me with a list of the toys that each of the nieces and nephews had requested, I even went to Harrods for a few muggle toys that I'd never heard of, and wrapping presents, which I actually really enjoyed doing. Through out my life I'd never had a lot of people to buy Christmas presents for, Charlie's family was a new experience for me, and I was loving it.
Pitch and I went to visit Magical Menagerie, Mrs Switch complimented me on how well taken care of my little friend was. I wandered into a muggle book store to browse for new reading material. muggle romance novels were a guilty pleasure of mine. I went to the local grocery for baking supplies, as I'd decided to make cookies to bring to the Burrow for Christmas day. Charlie's kitchen counter was full of boxes of brownies and blondies and tollhouse cookies. I'd make snicker doodles and ginger bread men on Saturday. When Charlie came home from work on Friday afternoon, he said that it looked like a bakery had exploded in his apartment. I told him that wise ass comments would disqualify him as a taste tester, he pouted until shoved a brownie in his mouth, I never knew he was such a chocohalic.
Everything was wrapped and stacked and ready to be shrank and packed into the bike's saddlebags by nine on Saturday night. We'd been invited to a christmas party at the Leaky Cauldron, but decided to order take-out and stay in, as it had started snowing when we finished with the cookies. Charlie insisted on helping me decorate the gingerbread men. He wasn't half bad, although he got more icing on his shirt than he got on the cookies. We cleaned up from our baking after dinner.
At midnight, Charlie wanted to open the package from Omar and Danny. I'll admit to being as curious about the gift as he was. "Happy Christmas, love," he said, and he put the box in my lap. Omar had outdone himself in the wrapping department, the box bright silvery blue paper embossed with snowflakes, and an elegantly tied silver lace bow. "It's almost too pretty to unwrap," I commented as I gently pulled the bow off the box. I had to tear the paper due to Omar's tape fetish.
Inside the box, was a black lace night shirt, and a tiny scrap of lace that wanted to be matching underwear when it grew up. Charlie wolf whistled as I pulled the nightie out of the box, underneath was a tin of jasmine honey dust. He picked up the tin and asked, "what's this?"
"Edible body powder," I explained.
"I really like Omar's style," Charlie commented. He put the tin down and picked up the scrap of underwear. "Care to model this for me?" he asked with a grin.
"Morning, love!" Charlie woke me on Sunday morning, I cracked my eyes just enough to see that it was just after ten am.
"Good morning, and Merry Christmas to you," I said, I sat up and stretched. "What time are we expected at your parents?" I asked.
"Well, mum sets the table around half past noon. But she likes us to get there around eleven or so to open presents and such. The kids are better about sitting down for a meal after they've gotten all their gifts. Nobody ever expects me to be on time, though."
"Why don't we demonstrate my good influence on you, and actually get there on time?"
"We could do that. Might make Mum faint from the shock though."
"I think we can risk it."
"All right, but I want you to open this first," he handed me a small box, that was obviously from a jewelry store. Inside was a thick silver knot work band ring with a diamond the size of my pinky nail set into it. "Do you like it?" he asked a bit anxiously.
"Wow," was the only answer I could come up with. I just nodded, but what it meant scared me a bit. Charlie took the ring out of it's box and slid it onto the ring finger of my left hand. "Yes," he said, smiling, "it's what you think it is, but I don't want your answer yet. Next christmas, I think. All right?" I understood, we both wanted the commitment, but neither of us were ready for anything legal. I just smiled, and kissed him.
When I found my voice, I grabbed my wand. "Accio green box." I said. The gift I'd ordered for Charlie floated into the bedroom, and landed on the bed next to me. I picked it up and dropped it into his lap.
"Wow, big box." Charlie pulled the ribbon that held the box closed, and removed the top. "This is amazing, Glin," he said, pulling out the long trench coat I'd ordered for him. It was designed for motorcycle riders, with slits and leg ties, made of black leather, with a silk lining. I'd tucked a pair of butter soft matching driving gloves in the pockets. I'd actually bought the ladies version for myself.
"The American bikers use them when they have to ride in the winter time. This one's been enchanted to repel rain and snow. I also had them fireproof it."
"I love it," he said and grinned.
"Great," I got out of bed and wandered into the bathroom to get ready for our visit to his parents house.
We arrived at the Burrow at 11:59am. I was so proud of us. After dressing, we'd shrunk the boxes down to a manageable size and packed them into the saddlebags of the bike, and made sure that Binks and Pitch had plenty of snacks and water. Everyone was surprised to see us walk through the door on time. "Merlin's beard!" Molly said, as she greeted us with hugs, "my Charlie, on time for once. Must be Glinda's influence." She led us into the living room with the rest of the family, almost everyone had arrived. I didn't see Percy and Audry, or George, Angelina and the kids. Charlie and I pulled the packages out of the saddlebags and enlarged them. I handed the boxes of sweets to Molly, and Charlie started passing boxes out to those children who were present. Charlie explained that no one got to open anything until everything was passed out.
"You didn't have to do this," Molly said.
"I wanted to," I said. "Before I became an Auror, I was a pastry chef."
"Really dear? how exciting."
"We got here before Percy?" Charlie asked Ron as we sat down on the floor next to him, and Hermione.
"They had to go to Audry's family first," Ron explained. "George and Angie are at her parents place, they'll be here about 11:30. We most likely won't see Percy till one."
Rosie came up to me with a package in her hands, "this is for you Miss Glinda," she said. "Granny Molly made it for you." Charlie put Rose's box on her pile.
"Rosie, would you put this one on Granny Molly's pile, and this one on Grandpa Arthur's pile."
"Ok," she grinned and did as I asked. When George and Angelina and their brood arrived, Molly came in from the kitchen and sat down in her chair, "all right everyone," she said. "present time!"
Inside the wrapped bundle addressed to me was a sweater made out of the softest yarn, I'd ever touched, magenta, with a dark purple 'G' on it. Everyone got a jumper (as was explained to me) from Molly every year. Charlie's had a magenta 'C' on a dark purple background.
"Come one Mum," I heard Ron groan, "maroon again?"
"What's this?" Arthur asked, investigating the gift bag I'd given him. He pulled out the ball cap, and the book. "The History of Baseball in Boston," he read the title off the book. "What's baseball?" he asked.
"It's a muggle ball game,"I explained. "The hat is from my favorite team, the Boston Red Sox."
"How wonderful," he said, as he tried the hat on, it didn't look half bad. "That was wonderfully thoughtful of you, thank you."
"You're welcome."
Molly pulled the bottle of lotion from her bag. "This smells lovely," she said, testing the lotion.
"It's made in Boston," I explained.
After presents we were ushered into the kitchen to fill our plates, there were way too many people in the house for all of us to sit at the table, so the children were given places at the table and the adults were left to find their own dining spots, Charlie and I ended up on the bottom step of the stair case. The food was wonderful, after dinner Arthur turned on the wireless and everyone listened to Celestina Warbuck's annual Christmas broadcast, I joined Ginny, Hermione, Angie and Fleur in the kitchen to put left overs away and help clean up. As I was portioning the rest of the christmas roast, (I was informed that EVERYONE was expected to take home their share of the leftovers) Fleur noticed the ring on my hand.
"Oh mon dieu!" Fleur exclaimed. "Is zat what I zink it is?" she asked in a whisper.
"Maybe," I explained. "We haven't decided yet."
She looked a little confused. "Zen, I will tell no one, but Bill. ok?"
"Tell no one what?" Hermione asked as she charmed the clean dishes into a cupboard.
Fleur grabbed my hand and said. "Zis!"
Hermione and Ginny's jaws dropped, and Angie asked. "Is that an eng.."
"Don't say it!" I shushed her. "And we're not sure yet."
Everyone looked confused, so I explained.
"Leave it to Charlie to find the one woman in the world who is as afraid of marriage as he is," Ginny finally said, as if that explained it all.
Author's Post script: I hope that wasn't too fluffy for anyone. I know it's late for a holiday chapter, but everyone can use a little christmas in march! best to everyone!