Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A Very Weasley Christmas

I woke up on a trampoline. Or what felt like a trampoline. "Holly, wake up!" Ginny whined as she jumped up and down on my bed; one foot on either side of my legs.

I groaned deeply without opening my eyes, wanting to roll over so my face would be hidden by the wall that my bed was placed against. But refrained from doing so because I didn't want Ginny to get knocked off balance if I got in the way of her jumping.

"Mum said that we can't open presents until everyone is up and you're the last one still in bed". She said in between her bounces.

"You're too old for this", I mumbled as I absolutely refused to be swayed. I could fall back to sleep. If I really set my mind to it, I can fall back to sleep… if Ginny ever stops bouncing… How do I get her to stop bouncing?

An easy-going chuckle announced the presence of another person. I groaned a second time out of utter anguish. Oh, no… Ginny had brought backup. "Holly, no one is ever too old for presents", the other person said as the bouncing stopped and Ginny's weight vanished from my bed.

I cracked open a bleary eye just in time to watch Bill return Ginny to the floor before he loomed over me; smiling. "Can't you open mine for me?"

Ginny huffed. "Mum won't let us". Clearly, her master plan had been spoiled by Mum's desire to have the whole family together.

I opened my other eye and fully turned my head on my pillow so I could see both my youngest and oldest siblings. Bill was smiling to suggest that he was amused with this entire situation while Ginny fidgetted impatiently at his side. I sighed a 'woe is me' sigh, but ultimately gave up on sleeping longer. At least this is a nicer wake-up call than carols by Fred and George. I sat up and ignored Ginny's accomplished expression as I ran a hand through my messy and very green hair. Mum had tried to charm it back to its natural color last night. But the dye Fred and George had made was proving to be immune to magic. I turned towards Bill. "Carry me?"

Bill snorted as he turned around and squatted. I threw off my covers to free my legs so I could crawl over to Bill. Ginny grinned as she watched this whole progression. As I wrapped my arms around Bill's neck and climbed onto his back, Ginny said, "I'll go tell Mum that everyone's finally ready".

Bill reached behind him to grab my legs before he stood up. Ginny was already out the door as I adjusted to the new height. I rested my chin on Bill's shoulder as he started walking. With our heads so close together, his red hair clashed with my green hair. But Fred and George were right. It was a very festive look for the holiday season. "Did you sleep well?" Bill asked as he started down the stairs.

"Uh-huh", I answered. "I dreamt that I was sleeping beauty. Except I didn't have a prince, so I got to sleep for all eternity. It was marvelous".

Bill laughed once as he stepped off the last step to the first floor. "Holly, you're a weird kid. You know that, right?"

I yawned into his shoulder. "With a family as big as ours, odds are; at least one of us had to be weird".

Dad came in from the garden with his winter cloak fastened over his pajamas. He was carrying something wrapped in brown parchment and tied with plain white string. Probably another one of his re-made muggle tools from his shed-made-workshop that he was going to gift Mum. He paused at the sight of Bill and me. "Bill, why are you carrying your sister?"

Bill shrugged; jostling me in the process. "Well, Ginny and I managed to wake Holly up, but her legs are still asleep". We left Dad standing in the kitchen with an amused expression as Bill finished the trip into the family room. All our other siblings and Mum were already there with Mum stationed by the Christmas tree; ready to hand out presents. George and Fred had staked out prime real estate on the couch while everyone else was getting comfortable on the floor.

Bill walked over to the couch before turning around so his back was facing Fred and George. "I think this belongs to you", Bill said to both of them as he let go of my legs and reached up to pull my arms off of him. I fell onto the middle of the couch between my fellow triplets, wiggling until I was in a position to stretch my legs over Georges's lap and lay my torso over Fred's lap so my head was resting on the armrest.

Both Fred and George shifted to accommodate their unexpected burden. George moved my legs into a position that was more comfortable for him. "Thanks, Bill", Fred said sarcastically as Bill turned back around and smiled down at us. "We were wondering where she was".

"But we couldn't remember where we had left her", George continued as Dad wandered in and sat in his armchair behind Ginny. "You know, Fred", George started to say as Bill walked away to join Charlie and Percy on the floor. "We really should be more responsible with our fellow triplet".

"Right you are, George", Fred said as he started twirling a green strand of hair around his finger. Mum started passing out presents. She hands the first one to Ginny, knowing she was the one most likely to vibrate out of her skin if she had to wait any longer. "We are a set. If we lost her, we wouldn't be a complete one".

I grumbled incoherently at them. It was too early for this… well, it was past nine o'clock in the morning. But that was still too early for a holiday. Fred let go of my very green hair and wrapped an arm over my stomach; pulling me closer to him. I appreciated his body heat. "Merry Christmas, Holly", Fred relented as Mum gave Ginny the go-ahead to open her present.

The sounds of wrapping paper ripping filled the room as Ginny went at it. The rest of us had no problem waiting patiently. We all knew what it was, and it amused us greatly that Ginny still got excited every year. When all the wrapping paper was completely destroyed, Ginny held up an emerald green knitted jumper. "Oh, thank you, Mum! I love it", Ginny exclaimed; beaming up at a very pleased Mum.

Mum handed the next present to Ron. He opened it slightly neater and with a lot less enthusiasm than Ginny; revealing a red jumper to replace the one he had grown out of from last year. And around the room we went; going from the youngest to oldest. I was third. I got a knitted cap in silver and green. "To go with the Slytherin scarf I found in your trunk", Mum told me with a knowing look. I stared at her in shock. How fast did she knit this?

Fred and George were gifted mittens. Fred got red ones. George got blue ones. Mum had even knitted both of them an extra left mitten. "Since you both always lose the left one", Mum had said. Percy got a multi-colored scarf that didn't have a distinguishable pattern. Charlie and Bill both got jumpers. Charlie's jumper had a dragon on it, and Bill's had a giant W on it. We couldn't decide if it was for William or Weasley.

"Thanks, Mum", Bill said. "I'm really going to need this in Egypt". He smiled to let Mum know that he was joking.

Mum flapped a hand at him as she handed Dad his gift. Dad got a new nightcap to keep the parts of his head that were missing hair warm. "And for you, my dear", Dad said as he stood up from his armchair; his new nightcap perched on top of his head. Dad held out the box he had been holding earlier. Mum accepts it with a coy little smile.

"Oh, Arthur", she blushed. "You didn't have to". Mum opened her present the neatest out of all of us. She pulls at the ends of the string to untie it and frees the box from the brown parchment without ripping it to pieces. The box was easy to open and in seconds Mum pulled out a… can opener. "Thank you", Mum said with a perplexed expression.

Dad didn't seem to see Mum's face. "I knew you would like it". Mum twirled the can opener around by its handle as we all watched. She studied it from all angles as Dad said, "I even charmed it so it will open things on its own". Judging by the perplexed look on Mum's face I wasn't sure she was aware that the object in her hand could open things.

But, nevertheless, Mum fixed her face into an appreciative expression. "I'm sure it will be a big help", she assured Dad. Dad beamed as if she had just told him they were expecting another child.

I'm not sure how it happened. But one minute the eight of us Weasley siblings were sitting in a circle in the family room (Mum and Dad decided to take a moment for themselves) talking about the old days when only Bill and Charlie were school-aged and the rest of us were still running around, driving Mum nuts. Back then, during the winter holidays, time was spent on elaborate games of hide and seek, and forts that took up the whole family room.

The next moment we were scrounging the house for blankets and pillows. The linen cupboard was raided when Mum and Dad were too distracted to notice. The floor was littered with the pillows and the cushions we pulled from the couch and Dad's chair. A couple of them were enlarged by Bill and Charlie to guarantee that every inch of floor space in the fort would be cozy. Percy disappeared at some point when we were constructing the blanket walls and ceiling of the fort, claiming he had outgrown these childish whimsies a long time ago. Honestly, we were all touched he stayed for as long as he had.

The ceiling was the most difficult part. Especially since it was a struggle to construct a fort that could fit all of us. Especially considering that two of us were fully grown. If Bill and Charlie weren't able to use their wands, I highly doubt we would ever have finished the fort. Though it is the most foundationally unsound fort we've ever built.

Ginny crawls in first; calling for Charlie to hurry up behind her. She'd been enjoying having the attention of the two eldest over the last couple of days. I think she was getting quite tired of all of her other siblings. You know, the ones she goes to school with. Charlie followed with a chuckle; looking absolutely silly as he got on his hands and knees in order to fit through the fort entrance. Fred, George, and I go next with Fred in the lead, me in the middle, and George taking up the rear.

Once inside, we saw Ginny and Charlie chose to relax on the left side of the fort. Fred made the executive decision to claim the middle of the fort with me and George laying down on either side of him.

"When was the last time we did this?" I asked as Ron crawled in; followed by Bill.

Charlie hummed in thought as Ron laid down by the right wall of the fort and Bill took the sport between Ron and George. "I think you three were eight", He said after a moment. No one needed to ask who he was referring to when he said, 'you three'. "It was a rainy day, and you three were driving Mum mad".

"Yeah", Bill piped in for his side of the fort. "I remember that. Charlie and I made a fort to reduce the chances of Mum accidentally killing one of you and leaving us with twins instead of triplets".

"Aww", Fred cooed. "I feel so loved".

As we all lay on our backs and stared up at the patchworked ceiling, Bill decided to change the subject. "How's Slytherin, Gin?" He asked; figuring that since we had constructed a fort, we had also made a safe space. "You haven't really talked about it".

When she speaks, Ginny's voice takes on an air that had been missing since the start of the break. It's quieter and more poised. Like how she's been talking since she became close to the Carrow sisters. It was both impressive and jolting about how fast she could switch between being the Ginny raised by Gryffindors and Slytherin Ginny. "It's alright", she answered. "Better than I thought it would be". No one responds for a while. Giving Ginny time to collect her thoughts and feelings to tell us more. Even Ron bites his tongue, which is really saying something. "I was scared at first. But Adrian helped a lot".

Laying down, I couldn't see anyone's facial expressions. But I sure imagined them when Bill asked with a touch of disbelief, "Holly's Adrian?" If Bill was lying next to me, I'd jab him with my elbow. Other than our birthday party last year, Bill hasn't seen Adrian.

"Yeah", Ginny agreed. "He made sure no one bullied me and he introduced me to his cousins, Hestia and Flora. They're twins and we became friends. They like me because I can tell them apart". Yes, there is some benefit to being related to Fred and George. "Since I'm friends with them, anyone in Slytherin who would be mean to me just ignores me instead. And since I'm a Weasley, anyone from the other houses who would pick on me for being a Slytherin, leave me alone".

"Sounds like we owe Adrian a big thank you", Charlie said a bit begrudgingly. But I loved him for it because this felt like the first step in changing my boyfriend's perception with my family from 'Adrian Pucey; the bloke who's kissing my sister' to 'Adrian Pucey; an okay guy'.

Ron snorted. "Why?" He asked dryly. "We let him snog Holly. Watching over Ginny is the least he can do".

My eyebrows slanted inwards as I frowned. This brat. Fred and George started to snicker; not even bothering to try to hide it. "I", I start to say, speaking very slowly to make sure I got my point across. "Can snog whoever I want whenever I want. And no Weasley has any say in the matter". I declared. But after a few seconds, I felt the need to tack on, "except maybe Mum". Because Mum has the final say in… well, everything.

"Don't worry, Jolly Holly", Fred said in a tone of voice that was anything but reassuring. "We know that".

"That's why we gave you green hair", George said. "We thought if you looked like a swamp monster it would be harder for you and Adrian to get…" he paused himself. Probably aware of the eleven-year-old and the twelve-year-old that we were sharing this fort with. "too close".

I rolled my eyes. "Bill, kick George please", I requested. What happened to talking about Ginny and how she's doing? Why can't we go back to that?

"Sorry. No can do, Holly", Bill said. "I approve of their methods". Bloody hell, I thought as I rolled my eyes.

Conversations in the fort drifted from topic to topic. We spent a good five minutes listening to Ron gush about how amazing quidditch is. Which, now that I think about it, is probably the safest topic he could talk about since he couldn't bring up what's currently going on at Hogwarts. Fred and George decided to fill everyone in on the Angelina competition. Both Charlie and Bill were very amused and Ron was very bored. "You know that when this Angelina girl learns you are treating her like some sort of prize, she's going to castrate you two idiots", Bill said.

I could feel Fred shaking his head from his spot next to me. "No. Angelina wouldn't do that".

George agreed. "Of course, she wouldn't. She likes us too…." But then his mind caught with his mouth and George made a complete one-hundred eighty turn. "We need to tell Lee we can never tell Angelina about this year".

"What does castrate mean?" Ginny asked.

Before any of us older siblings could tell Ginny it wasn't anything important, Ron, the brat, started talking. "It's when a bloke gets-" Whatever he said after that was too muffled to understand.

"She doesn't need to know that, Ron", Bill said; leaving me to assume Bill had covered Ron's mouth.

We moved on to listen to Charlie and Bill tell stories about their time at Hogwarts. Which was mostly Bill talking about all the girls he dated with Charlie correcting him when some of his claims got too unrealistic to be true. But they were interrupted when a voice breached the cloth walls of our fort and captured our attention. "Your father and I left you children alone for thirty minutes and you make a mess of my family room", came the voice of Mum.

"We'll clean it up, Mum", Charlie called. "Promise".

"You better", Mum called back. She was trying to make her voice sound stern, but it was coming off more entertained than anything else. "Holly, an owl just dropped off a parcel for you".

I scrunch my nose. A Parcel? Who would send me a parcel? I sat up so I could change directions and poke my head out of the fort. Which was a risky move because it meant Fred had access to my bare feet. He better not dye them green.

Mum stood in front of our fort. She had one hand braced against her hip while the other one held out a long and thin navy-blue box tied shut with a silver ribbon. I eyed the box in her hand before trying to make sense of her facial expression. She's smiling but it's with a bit of anticipation that I don't quite understand. "I swear, I didn't order anything", I said.

Mum leaned over just as far as it took to hand me the box. "I think it's a gift", she said as Fred and George's heads popped out of the fort. "Probably from someone special". Mum continued teasingly. I blushed.

But that didn't stop me from pulling at the ends of the ribbon to untie it. Carefully, I pulled the box top off. Aware that Mum and my fellow triplets were just as curious as I was, I studied the insides of the box carefully. The box was lined with black velvet. There was a little card and a pendant on a silver chain. The pendant was decorated with little crystals drawing out Leo. I knew exactly who this was from. However, even knowing that, I used my free hand to pick up the little card.

"Why did someone send you a necklace with random crystal dots?" Fred asked.

"It's a constellation", I answered; a little distracted as I read the card. There were only four words on it. It was short and sweet and fitted his personality completely. It read, 'Merry Christmas, From Adrian'. I set the card back down in the box and ran a finger over the little crystals; trying to remember which one was representing Adrian's star. It was beautiful and the first piece of jewelry I've ever owned in this life. My first thought was about how sweet it was of Adrian to send me a very personal Christmas gift that was based on one of our previous conversations. My second thought was how I wanted to put on this necklace right now and never take it off again. My third thought was very different from the previous two. "This is awful!" I exclaimed.

Fred and George snorted. "Well, Jolly Holly. Mr. Pucey tried his best and he had a good run", Fred said as Mum scowled at me. My sudden declaration had been rude and I was probably facing a lecture on greed if I didn't explain myself soon. "But if the bloke can't buy you good Christmas presents you should cut him loose before he gets any deeper", Fred continued. My mind was whirling. What could I do? I hadn't even thought about exchanging presents with Adrian. Merlin, I was a terrible girlfriend.

"Have you thought about dating Lee, by any chance?" George asked from the other side of Fred. "I know we weren't thrilled the last time you and Lee talked about dating", George alluded to the prank Lee and I had pulled last year. "But feel free to try again".

"With Lee off the market that would be one less option for Angelina", Fred added.

Mum shot Fred and George a warning look as I chose to ignore the commentary from the Weasley peanut gallery. "Holly", Mum started; her voice low and scolding. "It's a lovely gift. You should be happy he thought of you at all".

"I am", I assured her as I looked away from the necklace to make eye contact with her. "That's not the problem".

Mum had both of her hands on her hips this time. "Then what is?" She asked.

"I didn't get him anything". Mum must have heard the rising panic in my voice because her eyes widened as she realized where I was coming from. This was my first boyfriend… well, in this life. And he had just sent me a thoughtful gift and I hadn't done the same. What's worse, he sent me a gift that had to cost money and the most I've ever been able to give him was homemade coupons.

"There's still time". Mum assured me. "You can give him a present at his parents' New Years' party and tell him that you wanted to give it to him in person". I nodded slowly. That was… that was a good idea. But what could I give him? The only thing I had an abundance of was siblings and they were sadly nontransferable. Luckily, Mum had a solution for that too. "We can bake him something. Do you know what his favorite dessert is?"

I racked my brains for anything. But the only sweet thing I could remember Adrian eating was a pumpkin pastie. Horrified, I shook my head.

Mum was unphased. "Best go with a chocolate cream pie. Everyone loves your chocolate cream pie". And Mum saved the day.