Authors Note:
OMFJ! I am so ridiculously sorry, I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated, I'm such a terrible person, I'm so so so sooooo sorry and I promise I will try and update faster, writers block be damned, I love you guys so much and I know this is a pretty crappy filler chapter, but I swear I'll try and make the next one amazing. xoxo
As the evening approached, Hermione slowly started to wake. Her mind was fuzzy as she made her way downstairs, and she wondered why her boys were awake when it was still dark. Catching sight of a clock on her way downstairs, she sighed, it was only seven in the morning, she had to wait ages until Christmas, she was always impatient for Christmas on Christmas Eve and she couldn't wait to give her boys their gifts. As she reached the kitchen she was ambushed by a pajama clad Ginny, who grabbed her hand and pulled her into her room in a flurry of red hair and pink dressing gown. Once she was pushed onto a soft bed and the door had been slammed Ginny turned to her giggling and joining her on the bed.
"Soooo…." She giggled.
"So…" Hermione replied. Uncertainty clear in her tone. "What's up?"
"Oh never mind that," Ginny said, "I know you're gunna be best friends with my brothers forever, I can tell, and as the only girls, mum doesn't count, I think it's only right that we, are friends!" She finished her rushed speech with a large hopeful smile.
"I've never had a friend that's a girl before, your brothers were my first friends. I'd love to be your friend!" replied a grinning Hermione.
Ginny emitted a high pitched squeal, so unearthly that I (being the amazing author that I am) am kind enough not to explain in great detail, and tackled Hermione in a bear hug. The girls laughed, both happy to finally have a female friend.
"You're my first friend that's not one of my brothers too you know." Said a joyous Ginny.
"Good, that means that we can be each other's allies when it comes to girl stuff."
"Finally!" Ginny sighed in contentment, "Soooo… now that we are best female friends, which of my brothers do you have a crush on?"
"What!" Spluttered Hermione, "I don't have a crush on any of the-"she was cut off by Ginny's glare.
"Ok, maybe I kinda fancy one a teeny tiny little bit." Hermione cringed, waiting for Ginny's reaction. Much to her surprise she was tackled into another tight bear hug. Whilst her new friend squealed that unearthly sound again.
Once she Ginny had stopped squealing and restricting her breathing, she asked
"Soooo….. Which one is it? Is it Lee? Fred or George? Ron? Oohhhhh its Ron isn't it, yay,"
"Ummmm, Ginny?" Hermione tried to talk to her gushing friend
"You would make such adorable children!"
"Ginny!" she tried again, considerably redder now
"Can I be maid of honor at your wedding, and godmother to your ki-"
"GINNY!" She yelled, slapping her hand over Ginny's mouth. "If it gets to be serious, I'll tell you, I promise, but at the moment it's just a little crush. Ok?"
Ginny nodded.
"Now, I will take my hand off of your mouth if you promise not to gush again, ok?"
Ginny nodded again and Hermione cautiously removed her hand.
"Ok, so new topic, are you gunna get showered or not, mum saved some dinner for you."
"What do you mean saved some dinner for me, it's only seven o clock?"
"Umm, Hermione?"
"Yes Ginny."
"You do know that you've been asleep for the whole day, right?"
"What?! Oh I can't believe I over slept, what an awful house guest I've been!"
As Hermione continued to mutter to herself, Ginny decided to take matters into her own hands, steering her towards her bathroom, grabbing the spare towel on the way. Placing the towel on the rack and getting a clean flannel out of the cupboard, she turned the water on low so it would warm up and then nipped up to the boys room to grab Hermione's wash kit and clean pajamas. Once she reached her bathroom she noticed that her new friend had taken to pacing and said,
"Hermione, mum doesn't mind, now get cleaned up and you can have some dinner."
Snapping out of her trance, Hermione thanked Ginny, giving her a quick hug before the younger girl left and she got into the shower.
Once she was clean and freshly dressed, she emerged back into Ginny's room, where the room's owner just happened to be, struggling to plait her slightly damp hair.
"I can do that if you want." She said motioning towards the knot of hair Ginny was wrestling with.
"Oh, would you?"
"Of course, I find it's always more difficult to do your own hair."
"Oh thank you, once you've eaten you can do it, than I can do yours!"
When Molly looked up from her evening knitting, she was astounded at the sight of her children. They were all gathered quietly in a rough circle around Hermione. Hermione who was singing softly a song that was really a story she was making up as she went along while meticulously plaiting Ginny's hair into a complex style and helping Harry with his and Ron's chess game. The twins and Lee were sat all within touching distance of her, she was lent against George's legs, who had Lee sprawled atop of him, while Fred rested his head on her lap. Charlie was sketching and Bill was weaving a money sack. The scene looked so picture perfect and she only hoped it was what Charlie was drawing.
"Alright everyone, up to bed, it's almost 11, you've been up far too late already." Arthur called from beside her.
They all made a noise of protest but they did get up to go to bed.
As they made their way upstairs Hermione kept on singing her tune, this caused the already sleepy Harry to stumble, and he would have fallen had it not been for a quick reflexed Ginny. He was passed to Charlie who easily scooped the young malnourished boy up with one hand and carried him to Ron's room.
Clambering into bed, Lee didn't roll up his covers, only shucking his shirt off and motioning to the others to join him, Fred and George also removed their shirts and Hermione took off her slippers before collapsing very ungracefully into the human pile on that was her best friends. She fell asleep just as someone pulled the covers up, kissing her forehead along with the others.
"UPPP!" came the loud screeching voice, startling Hermione who out of bed in shock, causing a chain reaction, as all of the boys joined on the floor.
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" the voice shrieked again.
"GINNY!"
Thunderous footsteps were heard coming from the top floor and a surprisingly awake Ron burst into the room while a shy Harry stuck his head around the door frame, eyes large and vulnerable as a child's as he, with all the innocence of a toddler tilted his head to the side and asked in a sleep slurred voice.
"Cwistmas?"
Lee grabbed Harry's wrist and pulled him to the bed where they had all convened, accidentally knocking him into Fred's lap and Hermione into George's. Ginny blushed and ran to look through on of the many random holes in the room that were covered with some pointless decorations. Once she had finished looking she shoved her nose in it and sighed with contentment.
"Pancakes are almost done."
This statement caused a riot with the ginger boys in the room, along with Lee. At Hermione's questioning look, Ginny merely said.
"Its tradition, once mum has made the pancakes, we all go down and grab as many pancakes as old we are and open presents whilst eating."
Laughing at her two new family members she rushed out of the room and Harry and Hermione immediately dashed off after her.
Once they had arrived in the kitchen, Molly served the pancakes, oldest to youngest, when Hermione walked up with her plate, (after an encouraging nudge from Charlie) she smiled shyly at the matriarch and was overjoyed by the wide beam she received in return along with her food. Sitting on the floor next to George, she remembered she had left her presents upstairs and left her plate with Ginny whilst dashing to get them. As she returned what she saw amazed her, there were 12 massive piles of presents, more than she had ever received, Harry had the same look of astonishment plastered across his face as he saw the pile on front of him, unsheadble tears of happiness making his eyes glassy.
"A-are these all for me?" asked Harry as Ron plopped him down in front of a pile of presents.
"But of course Dear, they do have your name on them." Molly called, now done with the serving of pancakes.
Harry looked at the labels and leapt up, running to everyone he hugged them all profusely, insisting that they needn't have gotten him anything. Everyone disagreed and then Arthur shouted,
"Right-oh, Weasley's and honorary Weasley's. PREASENTS!" Everyone immediately quietened down at his statement, and eagerly peered at Ginny.
"As tradition dictates…" Started George,
"The presents will all get opened, starting…" Fred continued,
"With the youngest participant opening one gift…" Went on Lee,
"And then…" George again,
"Going from youngest…" Lee,
"To oldest…" Fred
"It repeats!" They exclaimed as one.
"That is until everyone's run out of presents." Charlie concluded.
"Enough with the chit chat guys, I wanna open my present!" Ginny practically shouted.
Looking at some of the labels on the gifts in front of her, Ginny quickly decided that she wanted to open the one she got from Bill first. He ginned at her as, within seconds she demolished the wrapping paper and squealed, admiring her new piece of jewelry. It was a beautiful bangle, gold with green gems of an intricate pattern wound around it.
The presents were opened by all and many tears were shed at the thoughtfulness of the gifts, and hugs were exchanged constantly. As it would take too long to write, this is a list of all of the things Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lee, Fred and George received and from who.
Ginny:
Bangle – Bill
Matching earrings - Charlie
Matching cloak clasp - Percy
Jumper and new cloak – Molly and Arthur
Homemade stain glass G (Green) – Ron
Extra-large box of Honeydukes finest and green hair ribbons – Harry
A handcrafted jewelry chest – Fred, George and Lee
A mint green pouch of pixie dust (for hovering) – Hermione
Harry:
Homemade leather bracelet (for luck) – Ron
Everlasting dragon fire lantern – Charlie and Ginny (she designed the swirls engraved in the jar)
Invisible chain for his Gringotts key – Bill
Jumper, fudge, sugar quills and a rubber ducky (that hovers, changes colour's and blows bubbles) – Molly and Arthur
An everlasting firework paperweight, socks that had flying snitches and a chocolate bar that's impossible to open (for those days when Dudley gets particularly irritating) - Fred, George, Lee and Hermione
Homemade wand holster – Percy
Ron:
Jumper, caramel and two bags of new sugar quills – Molly and Arthur
Money pouch – Bill
Dragon hide Quaffel – Charlie
Emotion colour change ink – Ginny
Chudley Cannons hat – Percy
Chudley Cannons Robes – Harry
Homemade dung bombs and an ever glowing amethyst – Fred, George and Lee
A king chess piece necklace – Hermione
Hermione:
Charm for bracelet - Bill
A dagger with a mahogany and pewter handle and a dragon scale blade - Charlie
Photo album - Percy
Cloak - Harry
Cloak clasp (it was pewter with a firework shape made of gems to match her cloak) - Ron
A purple hand mirror - Ginny
A blue jumper with a yellow H and fudge cake - Molly
The sign to attach to the door – Arthur
Lee:
- Jumper, caramel and a miniature cauldron – Molly and Arthur
- Dragon hide boots – Charlie
- An extra-large jar of Essence of Murtlap –Percy
-Turquoise Bandana –Ginny
-Turquoise socks and Honeydukes finest chocolate –Harry
-Never-ending turquoise note pad – Bill
- Sleep mask – Ron
-An orange bead in one of his dreads-Hermione
-Fireproof goggles-Fred and George
Fred and George:
-Jumpers, fudge and new money pouches- Molly and Arthur
-Dragon hide gloves-Charlie
-Assorted candles-Ron
-New school bags-Bill and Percy
-New personalised beaters gloves –Harry
-Personalised beaters bats-Hermione and Lee
-Homemade dreamcatchers- Ginny
This is what Molly got from Hermione:
-A locket that flashed memories when opened, even ones that you can't remember.