Chapter 19

"Mum, dad!" Ginny called when she saw her parents.

Mrs. Weasley rushed to her daughter. "Oh, Ginny dear! It's so good to have you back!" she said, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter.

"It's good to be back, Mum."

Ginny waved to Neville and Luna before turning to follow her parents out of King's Cross station. The snow was falling, covering the ground in a beautiful white blanket. They walked to the car and loaded her trunk into the back. She smiled, climbing into the back seat of the car and they headed home.

It was nice to be home in her bed again. She sighed and fell back, landing on her bed with a soft thud. Even if it is only for a couple weeks. Ginny thought to herself.

As she lay on her bed, the quiet pulsing of Draco's book could be heard from inside her trunk. Ginny pushed herself up and went to open the trunk. The book lay on top of her clothes and she took it out, opening it.

Have a good holiday, Ginevra.

She smiled and took out her quill.

You too, Draco.

Ginny couldn't believe how things were so different now. A year ago, she could never have imagined wanting anyone but Harry. Now, though, things were different. Yes, she still loved Harry, but Draco made her happy. Being with him was easy. They talked and laughed. They related to one another, always feeling as though they didn't quite fit.

He doesn't push me away like Harry does. It doesn't hurt me when he leaves because I know he'll be back. He's handsome and funny and he makes me feel alive. Ginny grinned at the open pages of the book. Draco made her feel special.

She closed the book and tucked it under her pillow. It will be safe there.

Standing, she walked to her bedroom door. Ginny smiled once more, looking back at the pillow where she had hidden the book, before opening the door to join her parents downstairs.

"Ginny!"

Her eyes opened slowly and she pushed herself up in bed.

"Ginny, dear, wake up!" her mother called again from downstairs.

"We'll get her!" she heard the twins course.

Twins? Fred! George! They're here! Ginny bolted out of bed and pulled her door open. She rushed out, nearly colliding with her brothers on the other side.

"Fred! George!" she shrieked, hugging them. "You guys are here!"

"'Course we're here Gin." said George.

"Can't miss seeing our favorite little sister for Christmas, can we?" added Fred.

Ginny grinned and hugged her brothers again. "Tell Mum I'll be right down, okay? I've just got to put some real clothes on."

"I remember when you used to love Christmas in pajamas, Gin." George said.

"Yeah, but she's all grown up now, remember George?" Fred ribbed his twin.

Ginny rolled her eyes and gave them both a playful shove towards the stairs. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Right."

She closed the door just as she heard the twins disapparate on the other side. Seconds later, another pop was heard downstairs and Ginny heard her mother tiny scream. Laughing, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Undoubtedly, she would be receiving a new sweater this year, so there was no need to wear one down.

Ginny was about to rush from the room when she remembered the book under her pillow. She reached under her pillow and pulled out Draco's enchanted book. It wasn't pulsing but she opened it anyhow. Her ink and quill were still on her nightstand from last night. She had been up late, quietly writing to Draco. Turning to the next free page she had, Ginny reached for her quill and wrote:

Happy Christmas, Draco.

Ginny closed the book and slipped it back under her pillow. Then she rushed downstairs to have breakfast with her family.

Draco walked into his room and fell onto his bed. He waved his wand at the door and it swung shut. Wonderful, he thought, another bloody holiday. He had always loved Christmas. His parents always got him the best gifts. New robes, new books, a new broom, whatever he asked for, he was sure to get. But he couldn't care less what he was given anymore. All he wanted was to be away from here.

He couldn't believe how he had come to detest his time at home. Though it was perfectly logical that he would, seeing as every time he returned, he was reminded of the horrific black mark that marred his forearm.

He pulled his sleeves down over his skin. He couldn't bare to look at it, to be reminded of the life that was forced upon him. Draco reached under his pillow, seeking comfort from the book that lay beneath it. As his fingers closed around it, he felt the book pulsing.

He extracted the book and opened it to see her small handwriting bright on the page.

Happy Christmas, Draco.

Draco grinned as he reread the three words again. It was the first sense of being happy he had felt today. He walked over to his desk and pulled open the top drawer. Inside was a small package, hidden beneath a layer of quills.

The box had been there since he arrived home. He remembered buying the gift in Hogsmeade. He had never given it to her though, unsure of whether or not she would like it. But he made up his mind now. He'd send it to her.

Draco walked back to his bed and picked up the book. Carrying it to his desk, he sat down and opened his ink. Taking a quill, he quickly jotted down his reply. He closed the book and slid it back under his pillow before setting out to accomplish his goal.

Ginny walked into her room, Fred and George behind her. Their arms were loaded down with her Christmas gifts. They set them down on the bed and she turned to smile at her brothers.

"Thanks for the help guys." she said, "And thanks for the box of stuff from your shop."

"It's Christmas Gin," said George, rubbing her head.

"We had to get you something." added Fred.

"Well, thanks again. You guys know me so well. I'll be sure to put it all to good use."

"That's what we were counting on." George said, and Ginny saw Fred wink beside him.

She laughed and hugged them again before they turned and left her room.

Turning back to her bed, Ginny was glad that she hadn't brought all of her things home. There was no way all of this would fit into her trunk as it is. She would have to think of a way to smuggle all of her brothers gifts in since the school banned them all again. Maybe the twins know how to do it.

Ginny hummed as she packed away her things, snacking on her box of Christmas fudge that her mother always gave each of her children. She opted to leave behind the new book on etiquette that her Aunt Muriel had sent her, along with the new telescope she received from Charlie. The telescope looked far to expensive to risk losing it in Hogwarts.

When the last of her things were packed, except the boys' joke shop stuff, she fell back on her bed. As soon as her head it the pillow, she immediately felt the pulsing book. Ginny reached under her pillow and pulled it out. She opened it and scanned the pages, looking for the right one. She found it and read.

Ginevra, open your bedroom window at 8.

Ginny looked at the clock on her nightstand. It was nearly eight now. She walked briskly to her window and opened it without hesitation. Why does he want me to open it though?

At ten after eight, a beautiful black owl flew in her window and landed beside her on the bed. It held a small package in it's beak. Ginny held out her hand and the bird dropped the box into it. Without waiting for payment, the owl took flight and vanished out the window.

Ginny looked at the beautiful green box in her hands. Slowly, she pulled the silver ribbon until it came undone. She lifted the lid off of it to reveal a pair of small barrettes in the shape of silver Romanian Longhorns. The eyes were small glittering dark green stones.

Ginny ran her fingers over them before gently slipping on out of its box. She turned it over in her hands, examining it. It was beautiful. She carried it to her mirror and carefully clipped it into her hair.

It was perfect.