Professor Dumbledore sat at the kitchen table relaxing with a cup of tea that had been started earlier by Hermione when the two couples appeared.
“Splendid, you’re all here. Tea anyone?”
Before anyone could object or even do it for themselves four chairs pulled themselves from the table and teacups began to float to there respective places.
“Professor?” Harry began. “Where are we?”
With a wide a smile Professor Dumbledore began his explanation. “This is The Gryffindor Castle. I had each fireplace connected to the floo network under different addresses years ago. It made it harder to track the Orders comings and goings.”
“So this has been used as headquarters?” Hermione asked.
“Yes Miss Granger, it has in the past. However, with the shift in members…”
Pettigrew.” Harry interrupted.
“Yes, Pettigrew.” He confirmed. “The headquarters were moved. But we thought it would be safe enough for the holidays.”
Ron, with his usual confused look needed a bit more of an explanation. “Who do you mean, we?”
“He means WE!!!” A chorus of voices came from the door leading into the lounge as it opened.
Into the room entered the entire Weasley family along with Remus Lupin. Mrs. Weasley scurried over, hugging each of them. Bill strolled over noticing Harry with his hand in Ginny’s.
Ginny didn’t wait for his comment. She jumped to her feet to hug him. “Good to see you big brother.”
“That’s how you do it little sister.” Fred teased. “Change the subject before it starts.”
Harry would have given his vault at Gringott’s to not have to face her brothers.
“Shut up!” Ginny spat at Fred and quickly turned her attention to her mum. “This is going to be lovely.”
Mrs. Weasley smiled. “Yes it will be once we have this place in the holiday spirit.” She spun to address her sons. “Tomorrow is Christmas. I suggest you boys get going. Let’s get this place in shape.”
Everyone groaned lowly.
“You heard your mum, let’s go boys.” Mr. Weasley directed them towards a different door.
Ron grabbed Harry’s sleeve. “That goes for you as well mate.”
Ginny couldn’t help but worry about Harry. He had done nothing more than hold her hand and they were going to give him a hard time. She then began to worry. What if he didn’t want to kiss her? What if he thinks this has all been a mistake? She felt a sickness fall over her. She couldn’t go through this again. She loved him.
“Ginny!” Hermione now yelled after the repeating herself for the third time.
“We were just trying to find out how things were going with Harry” Hermione said.
“Oh darling, you know how I feel about the dear boy. I do hope everything is fine.” Mrs. Weasley added.
Ginny thought harder about it and began to feel the tears welling up. “Oh Mum, I don’t know…look at me, crying. How childish can I be?”
Shock fell over Hermione. “Ginny? Things looked wonderful this afternoon.”
“I know.” She softly sobbed. “But…well…he hasn’t even tried to kiss me.”
“Sweetheart” Mrs. Weasley said trying to control a chuckle. “He’s only being shy, I’m sure.”
“Ginny, do you realize how long it took your brother to work up the nerve to kiss me?” Hermione consoled. “I nearly died with anticipation.”
“I suppose so,” Ginny tried thinking positive. “Time will tell.”
“Today was just the beginning. You wait. He was absolutely at ease this afternoon and you could see the love in his eyes.” Hermione assured her.
“The look on his face when we walked in was quite enough for me.” Mrs. Weasley smiled.
“So…what’s with you and our baby sister?” Bill asked as he lay his hand on Harry’s head and pushing just hard enough to cause Harry to stumble a couple of steps.
Harry straightened himself brushing his hair back into place as best he could. “Nothing” Harry whispered meekly.
“Yeah, we saw nothing.” Charlie said sarcastically. “Or was it just that her hand was cold…heh?”
Ron quickly came to Harry’s defense. “Leave him alone. Besides you know as well as I do that Ginny can take care of herself.”
Harry then thought he should worry more about Ginny than what her brothers wanted to do to him.
The evening was soon filled with laughter. Fred thought it quite clever to wrap Ron in tinsel. The decorations had been flying so Ron hadn’t paid much attention when it began to snake itself around him. George replaced Bill’s dangling earring with a shiny red ornament. Once Bill noticed the magical switch he quickly retaliated by placing his not so fast brother in the entrance corridor’s chandelier.
Soon the cold castle was overflowing with Christmas spirit and the warmth of family.
“Impressive” Dumbledore proclaimed, looking around the house. “This place hasn’t looked this nice in ages.
Everyone beamed with happiness, but Harry knew deep down how long ages was to Dumbledore, 15 years. This house had obviously not been used since the death of his parents. He quickly forced a smile once he noticed Ginny watching him with a worried look. He winked, hoping no one else was paying that much attention to him. Ginny soon smiled as well.
Mrs. Weasley hurried into the room. “Dinner!”
Without a moments hesitation a stampede progressed into the dining room which was lavishly decorated in radiant reds and glorious gold. The dining table was so large that even this clan couldn’t fill up half of the chairs. The carved table was completed with the carved claw foot chairs that were covered in gorgeous thick hand woven tapestry. The table had sprigs of holly and pots of poinsettias sitting amongst the bone china and ivory handled silverware.
Although the room was beautiful this lot hadn’t taken much notice. They quickly found themselves seats and devoured the meal that lay before them.
“Molly. I would have to say that was the best meal I have had in quite some time.” Remus bragged.
“Absolutely” Professor Dumbledore agreed.
Soon thanks you’s filled the room.
The lounge soon overflowed with laughter as everyone reminisced over their fun times growing up. Remus had mentioned James and Lilly frequently. Harry became enthralled with his tales of adventure he had with them. Sirius had also been mentioned several times and this always brought about somber faces as his life had ended not long ago.
Harry soon felt a warmth fall upon him. “Stop…” He said earnestly and pausing for a moment. He then scanned the sorrowful faces around the room. “Would Mum and Dad want us doing this? Would Sirius? I, for one, know what Sirius would say…’Remember me, but don’t mourn me.’ And that’s what we need to do.”
The twinkles in everyone’s eyes soon appeared. They all knew that what Harry was saying was true. Before long the sorrowful eyes and sad expressions had disappeared and the night was what it should be like. Games were being played and popcorn was being popped over the fire. Harry had settled into an overstuffed chair watching Ginny encourage her brothers on as they played a game of chess. Hermione had lured Ron into a similar chair and they were snuggling while reading from the same book. Harry laughed to himself thinking what a great cover and excuse to sit that close.
Remus, Professor Dumbledore and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat around a card table chatting and playing an exciting card game from the look of things. Harry looked onto a nearby shelf that contained several large books and thought a book in this place had to be interesting. He walked over picking up the first thing he came to and returned to his seat. He was soon knee deep in the history of the Gryffindor coat of arms when a very stern voice interrupted.
“Huhum, Mr. Potter might I ask what you are doing.” Ginny stood over him with both hands on her hips and patting a foot with authority. “This is a holiday not a history lesson.”
He slowly looked over the top of the book and held back the urge to grin. Boy, didn’t she look cute standing there. “I thought I might use my time wisely.” He really just decided to stand clear of any further conflicts, namely Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George Weasley.
Ginny reached down taking the book from Harry and tossing it onto a side table. She then took Harry by the hand. “Come with me.” And they quickly escaped the loud room without a soul noticing.
“What are you doing?” Harry whispered.
“Taking advantage of a wonderful situation.” She replied. “We have this big castle at our disposal and we should take a look around.”
Harry didn’t object but he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take her brothers to realize they were gone.
By the time they made it to the fourth floor Harry felt as though he were going to pass out. “Are we going to spend the entire evening climbing stairs?”
“No, we are starting at the top.” And Ginny stopped abruptly. “Here”
“What?” Harry looked around. “It’s a hall.”
A sneaky grin fell upon her face as she pointed up.
Harry noticed a drop door that obviously led to an attic.
“Give me a boost.” Ginny said as she tried climbing onto Harry’s back. Once she was on his shoulders she grabbed the pull cord and laughed a sinister laugh. “Let those muppets find us here.”
Harry struggled as Ginny squirmed on his shoulders. “Ginny…uh…are you done? I…think you …need to get down now.”
“Oh yeah…right.” She slid down grinning ear to ear. “There” She said as she pulled the staircase from the door.
As they climbed the ladder into the ceiling they held out their lit wands so as to see where they were heading. Dust covered furniture was stacked in corners with boxes of whatever stacked around it. Ginny grabbed a dust cloth and yanked. A cloud permeated the room. She had uncovered an old lounge seat covered in pillows.
Harry noticed light coming from a window, looking out he noticed the bright stars. “Let me get that.” He pushed the seat in front of the large attic window and bowed low offering a place to Ginny.
“Wow, how beautiful.” She gasped at view.
Harry slid in next to her feeling a lot more comfortable now that there weren’t eyes on his every move. He could smell the sweet smell of her hair as she laid her head onto his shoulder. He thought she had to be doing this on purpose. She was driving him crazy. He moved to place an arm around her and she re-adjusted herself into his arm and turned facing him. As he looked in her direction they were nearly nose to nose. “Ginny?”
“Yes, Harry.”
He didn’t say anything else. He leaned in closely and slowly placed his lips onto hers. It wasn’t a long kiss however it was a kiss, a great kiss.
After awhile of sitting with both arms wrapped completely around her he decided it is best if they turn in for the night. Everyone had to notice their absence by now. “Ginny, we should be getting back. I’m sure everyone is about ready for bed.”
She groaned. “I guess you’re right.”
Harry stood holding out a hand to Ginny. She took it and stood wrapping her arms around his waist. He then leaned in once again for a second kiss. He could get use to this. The two of them turned to leave and both were excited about the events of the night and what tomorrow had in store for them.