love, cider and ripping paper(all Potters/weaslys)

[headauror]

(awesome video/song for this thread.. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCcTJ0e4An0&feature=PlayList&p=3E47FB6393A14596&playnext_from=PL&playnext=2 welcome to another Potter/Weasley Christmas ^^ )

A wide yawn split Harry's lips and stretched his mouth. Eyes crinkling at the edges as they shut tight in the process only to open bleary and peer down at his feet as he descended the many steps of the burrow to the sitting room bellow. Garland twinkled merrily on the banister and he smiled fondly at it, his hand brushing over the coils as a memory from many years ago revisited him. A Christmas eve in which he'd awkwardly helped a much younger Ginny in the decorating of these very banisters.
Allowing the memory its moment he filed it carefully away in his mind and turned his thoughts to the warm and welcoming if simple sight before him. The burrows sitting room. Silent and quiet in the extream early morning of yet another Christmas. His mind played over the ghost images of the past as his gaze traveled over the setting. A gnome..long ago..frozen and glowering from the top of the tree in a miniature tutu... James poking at the gifts under the tree as a six year old and dieing of curiosity.. Al as a two year old and how his mother had nearly had a heart attack when he'd pulled a red shiny ornament ball from a tree bow and nearly bit into it thinking it an apple... smiling at these and other fond images imprinted over the years he continued on through he brightly decorated room and on into the kitchen.

Molly was up already of course.. she almost always was before anyone else in the house, as were two others. Lily and Rory's little sister Laney perched brimming with excitement, on the edge of their seats at the table. They were awfully alert and he had to wonder if they hadn't waited up all night hoping for a glimpse. A warm grin found his lips as he watched the two chattering excitedly. Lily was the last in the family to still hold that magical belief that Santa actually did leave the gifts beneath the tree. Watching her be able to share that preciously fleeting experience with some one else for one more year was as pleasant a balm to his heart as the most delicious cup of cider in the world would be to his stomach... speaking of which.

Moving over to the simmering cauldron he breathed in a deep and satisfying whiff before heading over to the cupboards for a mug. Pausing next to his mother in-law he hugged hold of her.. "Merry Christmas mum.." Molly reached up and patted his cheek gently before murmuring ..you to Harry dear.. to which he smiled and then reached in the cupboard.

The first tinted glow of dawn could be seen out the window. Breaching the horizon and showing a pretty array of faint colors as a nice backdrop to the falling snow. Wouldn't be long now and the whole of the Weasley side of the clam would start flooing in.. it would get noise, and hectic, and bloody crazy enough to drive a sane man daft.. and Harry would absolutely love every single second of it.

[.LUCY MARIE WEASLEY !]

*Since I'm going to be busy with my other threads, I give you guys creative freedom with Hermione.*

[echo]

TIS THE SEASON
TO BE JOLLY

fa la la la la, la la la la !

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Sometime after midnight Roxanne woke up. She rolled over in her bed, checked her watch. She squinted her eyes, clouded with sleep, and saw that her watch read twelve-thirteen. She felt the faintest of grins curl into her lips. It was December twenty-fifth; it was Christmas. She flopped back down, curling up into her pillows and underneath her warm covers, letting sleep overcome her before the excitement kicked in.

* * *

Roxanne was awoken by banging downstairs. Her eyes slowly opened, blinking against the bright white light that filtered through her white gauze curtains. She wiped sleep sand from the corners of her eyes and slowly got up, stretching her long legs and arms and yawning wide. Roxanne slipped her feet into a pair of warm, fuzzy slippers and groggily stumbled over to her window.

She pulled the curtains aside and peered out, squinting her tired eyes against the bright white of falling snow that finely blanketed the ground. Totally untouched and pure, Roxanne could remember the days when her and her brother, Fred, would tear out into the field in their excessive snow suits, and crash into the untouched blanket of snow, watching as it sprayed from beneath their bodies as they landed. She remembered throwing snowballs at Fred, but crying when one hit her in the face. Roxanne smiled, lost in nostalgia when someone banged on her door. She jumped, turning around.

“C’mon, we have to get to the Burrow soon!” her mother called to her. Roxanne gave a short, curt reply of “Yes mum, I’m coming!” and started over to her dresser where she began rifling through her drawers. After picking out a pair of white jeans, a striped pink sweater and a gray scarp, Roxanne pulled her door open and descended the stairs. There was something about Christmas that brought back so many distant memories – the nights when she couldn’t sleep because of the anticipation; beating Fred down the stairs on Christmas morning; and, not to mention, the Christmases at the Burrow, surrounded by her amazing – yet sometimes crazy – family. She was excited to see everyone again. Roxanne hurried to her family just as her father stepped into the green flames of the floor powder and disappeared. Fred disappeared after her father, and before Roxanne could step into the flames after them, her mother grasped her shoulder.

She handed Roxanne a pile of red packages to carry to the Burrow with her. Roxanne grabbed the packages and stepped into the flames, tugged away with the current.

Aah, the Burrow. The sight may not be appealing or ideal to some, but the Burrow was Roxanne’s home. Or, second home. The Burrow was full of lost tales and memories and always full to the brim with cousins and good food. Roxanne could already smell something wonderful brewing in the kitchen concocted by the lovely Grandma Weasley.

Roxanne scooted past her brother and looked around the living area. She saw Lily and another little girl who Roxanne believed to be Laney – the younger sister of Albus’s good friend, Rory. “I come bearing gifts!” Roxanne announced, beaming as she stepped into the kitchen and saw her Grandma, Mrs. Weasley, and her Uncle, Harry. She slid the presents onto the table and looked from Molly to Harry. “Uncle Harry,” Roxanne said, slipping her arms around him for a tight hug, before sliding over and giving her grandma a nice hug. She loved Grammy to death, but the only thing about her that Roxanne hated was the Weasley Christmas sweaters – they itched like crazy, never fit right (the sat in unattractive lumps on Roxanne), and they got one every year. With the prospect of the sweaters on Roxanne’s mind, Roxanne slipped from the kitchen and into the living room where she settled herself down onto a couch.

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TAGS !

[/color]weasleys / potters
NOTES !YAAAAAAAY!
COUNT !636
OUTFIT !merry christmas!
CREDIT !template credit to ECHO?! , lyric credit to "Deck the Halls".[/center][/font][/size]

[.Fred Miles Weasley !]

“Oi, Fred you up yet,” his father shouted up the stairs. Pushing back the covers of his bed Fred finally opened his eyes. That was around the third time that one of his parents had shouted something up at him. “I am now,” he replied as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and jumped to his feet. This was the only day that one would not here a single complaint uttered from Fred’s mouth from being woken up hours before noon, which was the time that Fred normally started to stir. He quickly dashed to his desk of drawers and pulled out a pair of jeans, a long sleeve fitted sweater and a loose hanging short sleeved t-shirt and apparated from his room to the bathroom where he had a quick wash and brushed his teeth having bathed the night before in preparation for Christmas day at The Burrow.

Fred made his way downstairs after he had made sure that his kneazle had free run of his room and only his room, otherwise his mother would surely be on his case again and he had fed both the kneazle and his owl. With his wand pocketed Fred stood next to his dad talking about the possibilities of a quidditch match and who they would want on their teams. As a family theirs happened to have a lot of talented quidditch players, even if some played just to muck about, like himself. Apart from his dad, mom and Roxy, there was Uncle Harry, Uncle Ron, Aunt Ginny, Uncle Bill, Uncle Charles and all their kids, Fred’s many, many cousins. Christmas Quidditch matches were the second best thing about Christmas at The Burrow, after Grandma Weasley’s food.

It wasn’t long before his mother was downstairs again promising that Roxanne was on her way and that they could be on theirs to The Burrow. His dad didn’t need any other prompting, Christmas at The Burrow, always being his favourite time of the year too. Fred watched his dad take the floo powder from atop the fireplace, grabbing a bit as he step forth and spoke the words The Burrow, and disappeared in a green flame. It wasn’t shortly after his father disappeared that he stepped forth and watched his home disappear before him only to see The Burrows kitchen appear before him. “I still can’t see why I couldn’t apparate,” Fred muttered as he walked over to his uncle Harry who he expected to already be there and hugged him briefly, “Hey Uncle Harry.” His uncle merely laughed at his comment as his father shook his head at him. Shrugging Fred made his way over Grandma Weasley who engulfed him in a bear hug.

Fred didn’t see a way out and his dad and uncle Harry were no help, both laughing as his face squashed up against Grandma Weasley breasts as she brought him down to her own height, then suddenly he heard his sister’s voice and his Grandma Weasley let him free at the prospect of hugging another of her many grandchildren. Fred took the break and quickly apparated from the kitchen to the living room where he plonked himself down on a one-seater. It wasn’t very long after that he was joined by his sister, who also seemed to be running from something, and he had a good idea what and if it was what he thought, he could hardly blame her. He wasn’t a fan of Weasley Christmas Sweaters either.

“Where the hell is everyone? I’m bored,” Fred plonked his head skyward and looked up, hoping that someone would save him soon.

[.RORY KAY BLAKE !]

Rory woke to stiff fur tickling her nose and a rumbling miniature purr soothing an ache inside that for some reason felt very wrong to be feeling given the day.. which was..what? ..Christmas! right.. so why did she feel bloody well miserable then? Like her heart had been busted and just sort of gloped together in a pile because whatever was responsible for fixing such things hadn't been able to find all the pieces? .. and then the night before came rushing back and she knew exactly why it felt that way. She also knew Al must be feeling ten times worse than she did..and that thought set guilt to gnawing at her insides.

Sighing into the snow white fur of her new and apparently 'oh so tolerant' kneazel kitten, she lifted her head from her pillow and stared down into half hooded eyes, one of blue and one of green. Sev had stayed right here with her all through the night then.. which couldn't have been terribly comfortable given that she had sobbed all over his soft coat and left it a wet spiky mess that he'd not had the room to groom properly into place again yet.

Pulling a small lopsided grin of appreciation she rose a brow at him. " Your a wicked awesome pet.. you know that right?" For his part Sev just kicked up the purr volume and reached forward to touch his tiny, pale pink nose to her own. Disbite her guilt ridden, heart wretched mood she couldn't help but giggle softly at the kittens action. Grinning a bit she whispered " Merry Christmas Severus."

Sitting up she glanced about the room.. it was the one Rose usually slept in when she stayed at the burrow,.. seeing as how few people had stayed the night.. well few compared to the volume the burrow was use to accommodating.. everyone had been able to sleep in a room to themselves.. excluding the the matched sets of the Weasley Grands and mr. and miss. Potter of course. Somehow she doubted though that Laney or Lily's beds had seen a warm body all night.. they'd been dead set on catching a glimpse of Santa.. poor naive little twerps. Dragging herself from beneath the covers she dressed slowly.. not at Al sure she was ready to come face to face with Al yet.. but it being Christmas and her a guest and all it wasn't exactly like she could pull the recluse card and hide out in her room all day, and anyway the lack of activity that would require would drive her round the bend after awhile.. not to mention Al would get suspicious and come knocking.. maybe..she bit her lip. If he even wanted to talk to her anymore after last night.

Why in the name of Merlin had she been so bloody daft as to give in and kiss him? If she hadn't ruined everything it would be only by the merciful grace of Godric Gryffindor himself. Right.. last shoe tied.. time to head down bellow and get ready for the wave of activity that was the Potter/Weasley holiday scene. Maybe they'd all already started showing up and in the thick sea of faces she and Al wouldn't bump into one another for a while right?.. She could hope as much anyway.

Heading down the stairs to living room bellow she tried her best to breath lightly.. not to take in the woodsy spicy smell of the burrows sitting room that so remind her of the way Al smelled. Sighing she made her way down the last of the stairs and into the living room.. Laney and Lily were there already..excitedly eying the packages beneath the tree. And two of Al's cousins had already arrived in the living room.. Heading over to the couch she flopped down next to Roxy with Sev in her arms and grinned at the girl before looking over at the girls brother, who just happened to also be her fellow beater. " Alright there Fred? Ready for some Quidditch later? "

[ron]

It was a rare occurrence when he was willingly up bright and early, getting ready to go somewhere and being able to hold the confidence that he would arrive there on time. He wasn't the most punctual person, nor was he an early riser on his own terms, so it was always a wonder that he made it to the office on time, let alone to a family event. After Hermione, his personal alarm clock, had taken the job in Hogwarts, Ron had found himself relying heavily on the muggle alarm clocks he could get to work without electricity to get him up. Or he had thought he would--turned out with all the stress and crazy things going on, he woke up bright and early (too bright and early) on his own, ready for a day of work or relaxation.

It's how he found himself dressed in jeans and a comfortable sweater not much longer after dawn, being the one to get the kids ready to go as Hermione herself got ready. A small smile played on his lips as he thought of his bushy-haired wife, whom he had woke up to, having her nestled into his side. She was working like mad at the school, and he knew she was exhausted when she came home for her well deserved break. He wouldn't lie and say he didn't want to keep her up at all hours with him, making up for lost time they spent apart, but Ron knew that she needed her sleep just as much as anyone else. It was why he had been the one to get Hugo and Rosie awake, while Hermione had slept on for another half hour.

"Hurry up you lot!" he shouted from his spot by the fireplace, all ready to go and with gifts under his arms. Rosie and Hugo both loped in, extremely wide-eyed for the morning--all due to it being Christmas morning, he thought with a large grin. They were headed off to the Burrow, to celebrate the holiday in a chaotic atmosphere with too many people in too little of a house, exchanging gifts and shouts and laughter and too much fun. Not to mention the infamous Weasley sweaters. Of course, when he was younger, he had looked down upon their traditions, wishing he only had one brother or sister, or more presents, or more room or more...whatever. Now, as he watched Rosie and Hugo gather some presents, and Hermione walk in pulling her hair into a ponytail, he knew that there was no way he'd change anything.

Shaking his head to clear the nostalgic, odd thoughts swirling in it, Ron got the pot of floo powder and offered it to the kids, and then Hermione, bringing up the rear himself. He threw the powder in, stooped low to step into the flames, and shouted out the Burrow. A quick tuck of his elbows, a few seconds of dizziness, and then he was clamoring out of the fireplace in the sitting room with an even larger grin on his freckled grin.

"Happy Christmas," Ron chirped to the kids in the sitting room, dropping off the presents by the tree before dusting his hands and moving straight for the kitchen. Cider was brewing in the cauldron, Lily and Rory's little sister were at the table, looking as if they had pulled an all night-er (they probably had), and his mum was already bustling about. Ron saw that Harry was there as well, with a cup of cider, and shook his head in amusement. Moving over, he let his mum fuss over him for a moment (Ronald dear, you're thin. Come over for Sunday lunch more!), and escaped when she switched to Hermione, who had walked in behind him.

Getting a greeting from George and Angelina came next, and then Ron moved over to Harry, giving him a clap on the back as he got his own mug down and filled it with cider. "Happy Christmas mate. Long time no see, eh?" Chuckling, Ron took a sip from his mug and let out a sigh of content, ready for a good day or relaxation that was very much needed.

[mgirl03]

He had two thoughts as soon as his mind snapped awake: it was cold, and his cheeks felt really stiff.

Groaning, Albus rolled over in the bed and rubbed at his face, feeling the remnants of tears, which was causing the stiffness. Once he could move his cheeks a bit without extreme discomfort he rolled into a sitting position, glancing down at himself. Gone were his clothes from the day before, replaced instead with cotton pajama pants. However, it become apparent why he had felt so cold as soon as he woke up; he wasn't wearing a shirt. Dully, he let his green eyes trace the two scars on his torso, before pushing himself out of bed and stumbling over to the dresser, setting about looking for decent things to wear downstairs.

He knew what day it was. Christmas. He knew he should be excited and happy and ready to tear into his presents. He also knew that he really didn't feel that way at all. Groaning again, this time in frustration, Al reached up to press his palms into his eyes, which he closed, trying to think. He had been up most of the night. First, he had been trying not to cry, when his mum came in to wish him goodnight. He knew she was worried, knew she could tell he was upset, but she only suggested he change out of his clothes and then left him be. He had half attempted to change out of his clothes (as could be seen by the lack of shirt), before falling back in bed to let the hot feeling in his eyes loose.

He hadn't been reduced to sobs, but the tears had been hot and decently heavy, and lasted for quite a while. In the end, though, Al had gotten himself under control and forced himself to think past the 'broken heart' and more towards the situation at hand. There was a reason the Hat had thought him to be good for Slytherin--he was ambitious, and be damned if after all that bloody work, things would end like this with his best friend, whom he was realizing he liked more than he could have imagined. So after the crying, after the wallowing in self pity and feeling horrible, Al had made himself think through everything that had happened, no matter how painful it was. It brought him to a conclusion; Rory liked him, as shown by past evidence and the fact that she kissed him back, but she just wasn't going to give in and date him. There was a mystery to solve now. He had to figure out why.

Finally, Albus had fallen asleep (probably only a few hours ago, judging by the early morning light streaming through his window). Of course, waking up, the determination and the thought process he had went through didn't dull the ache that he felt completely. Rejection was horrible, and he still felt raw and half miserable. But as he dropped his palms from his eyes and began to pick out his clothes again, the drive was back in his body. Remembering what he been through that night stiffened his resolve. He would act normal, he would enjoy Christmas, and most of all, he would make sure things didn't change between him and Rory. She was still his best friend, still the girl he liked, and most of all, he had to figure out what was going on with them now.

After a few minutes, Al had himself changed into jeans and a long sleeved blue shirt, with hair combed and socks on his feet. He exited his room and darted to the bathroom to brush his teeth and scrub at his face, before forcing himself down the steps into the kitchen. People were up, and he greeted his father and Uncle Ron, plus Aunt Hermione and Grandma Weasley (who squished him with a hug and a happy Christmas, of course). Thankfully, they managed to distract him enough to get him to smile, and the wash he had given his face had wiped away all the signs of being upset. He took just a moment to say hi to Lily and Laney, before facing the sitting room and taking a deep breath. There was only a few seconds pause before Albus forced himself to walk into the room, where of course, sitting directly in his vision, was Rory.

He had tried to prepare for the blow, but he was still surprised by the restriction in his chest and the ache in his stomach. He forced another deep breath, in and out, before making himself smile again like he had in the kitchen. Rosie was quick to come over and give him a hug, which he gave back enthusiastically, ignoring the look she was sending his way. Rosie probably could tell that he wasn't one hundred percent the peppy guy he usually was on Christmas morning, but as he moved over to sit in a chair by the couch, he made sure to arrange his features into a smile and force himself to be normal. Rory couldn't know that he was still upset.

"'Lo, all," Al said, a tad awkwardly. He let his eyes rest on Rory for just a moment before looking to Roxanne and Fred. A grin spread across his face, only a little fake as he leaned back into the chair. "Happy Christmas, yeah? Presents, Quidditch, and food to come."

[.Fred Miles Weasley !]

Almost as if on queue the moment that Fred uttered the question about where everyone was, it seemed it ignited motion within the Weasley household. He sat up straight in his chair to see Rory sitting on the sofa nearby and just as he was about to reply to her comment he heard motion and looked up to see Uncle Ron stride into the room through way of The Floo Network along with Aunt Hermione, Hugo and Rose. His uncle merely dropped a few presents by the tree while he chirped a friendly hello to everyone. Fred merely saluted to his uncle in response and smirked knowing full well that his uncle would know he meant Merry Christmas back at you.

It was as his uncle made his way from the lounge to kitchen where all the ‘grown up’ folks were that Fred turned his attention back to Rory. “Merlin, where the hell have you been hiding? I’ve been here for over five minutes already, and I’m bored.” Fred pulled out his wand and charmed the chair he sat on so that it started moving back and forth in the fashion of a rocking chair and smiled at Rory quite content at what he had done. “I love being able to do magic without having to worry about receiving some howler of warning from the Ministry about underage magic and the dangers thereof,” Fred said the last part in the mock tone of some sort of Ministry Official trying to get a point across, obviously talking from sort of experience. “And yes I can not wait for the annual Christmas Quidditch match, but somebody has got to keep me entertained till then.” Fred looked around the room, his eyes landing back on Rory, “So I guess that’s a gonna be you.” A wide Cheshire Cat smile appeared on his face.

However just as he seemed to utter those words it seemed more motion was ignited within the household. He looked up to see his cousin Rosie standing for no apparent reason and walk somewhere, and out of pure curiosity and boredom he watched her and caught her grabbing hold of Albus in a tight hug. Fred looked to Rory and then back to the hug in the middle of the lounge and shrugged. His family was a very loving family and openly displayed their feelings, but he thought that was weird. He then watched as Al took a seat on the chair close to the sofa and put on what he considered a rather pure attempt at a smile, because he knew smiles and laughter, since that was his forte and he knew Al, but he decided to keep quiet for the moment and listened to his cousin’s feeble attempt at a ‘hello’.

Fred looked from Rory, who also seamed slightly off to him, to Al and then back to the other before his eyes roved around the rest the inhabitants of the room and groaned. “You’d swear it wasn’t Christmas,” and at that he jumped from the rocking chair that immediately stopped rocking and took on its normal phase and shouted, “Merry Christmas,” pulling something from his sweater pocket and throwing it toward the ceiling as he simultaneously pulled his wand out once more and shot an ‘incendio’ charm at the box which then released a burst of not flammable fireworks that twinkled Merry Christmas in red and green lights. Fred then plonked himself down on the arm rest of the chair that Al sat on and looked up at the still twinkling Merry Christmas fireworks. “Not bad eh,” he commented nudging his cousin on his arm for some sort of response.

[headauror]

As if his thoughts had triggered some sort of chain reaction the fireplace at the Burrow suddenly found its self rather busy with no sign of slowing up in the near future. The first to duck out of the great were George and his family. A wide grin hit Harry's expression and his arms wrapped around his niece Roxanne, returning the warm and tight hug she gave him as he murmured a returned greeting of Christmas cheer, turning her loose only to receive a lighter squeeze from Fred as the boy muttered over having to use the floo. Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the fact.. personally? He'd take the floo any day over apparition. But then every wizard was his own man..some liked the convenience and didn't seem bothered by the compressing feeling that you were imploding in on yourself right? And aside from that the boy was new to the freedoms of the ability..that always made for a difference.

He watched as the two ran off to be hugged and smoothed by their grandmother while he exchanged greetings with George and Angelina, a friendly hug for his sister-in law and a firm and affectionate hand shake for George whom he joined in a chuckle with at the expense of Fred as Molly did her best to cut off the boys air flow with love. The two men then chattered and caught up on how Georges store was doing and other idle light hearted prattle.
A short while later and his two best mates in all the world were strolling through the door, Harry stepped over to Hermione as Ron went to greet his mother and wrapped the woman in a warm and heartfelt embrace.. of all his sister-in laws Hermione was of course special.. one of his two best mates and the closest thing he'd ever had to a sister growing up. He had a protective streak for her a mile wide and was exceedingly grateful his best mate had been the one to marry her, Ron was good to her. Grinning he pulled back, deep warmth and affection in his voice. " Merry Christmas, right Hermione?" She returned his sentiments before heading over to greet Molly and he got back to sipping his cider.

Ron's hand clapped down on his back as his mate fished around for a mug to fill. long time no see, eh? A wry grin stuck Harry's features and he shrugged.. "long enough.. Holidays seem to have been kind to you so far..don't look near as dead as when we parted ways at the office, right?.. Course looks have never been your strong point anyway.. " .. He smirked at his jab.. "Merry Christmas mate".

Glancing over Ron's shoulder he caught sight of his youngest son and his lighthearted smirk faltered just a bit. Al was off, anyone close to the boy would be able to pick up on the subtle difference. A difference which had been a great deal more noticeable when he'd excused himself to bed last night. And it wasn't hard to guess it had something to do with his little friend. After all he'd been chipper and bright before their little walk in the garden. But he'd be alright.. whatever had happened be it friendship bickering or broken hearts..they'd mend and patch up right? All part of growing up.. he felt fairly confident Al would come and talk with him if he felt the need. He lifted his mug returning Albus's Christmas greeting with a smile and then focused once again on catching up with the adults.

After some time lost in chatter, during which many more Weasleys poored into the burrow, bringing the level of noise to a cheerful crasendo, Harry made the suggestion that they all move into the sitting room with the kids and get to the gifts. Having moved into the sitting room he passed greetings all round to the nieces and nephews he'd had yet to greet as well as Rory and Jale before setting in to helping some of the other adults in passing around the gifts.

He started with the most important of course, the lumpy and soft packages that were obviously the hard work and manifested wearable love of Molly. As he handed a rather long package to Albus a pleased grin lit his face, with a chuckle he patted Al on the shoulder knowing the boy would likely have an idea what the wrapping contained. "From your mother and myself.. think you've earned it. " Once all the gifts had been passed he left each to their own pile and turned to his own.

Harry's sweater this year was a brilliant green that matched his eyes, off set with a bright gold capital H on the front. Fondly he ran a thumb over the fabric and set it to the side before lifting the next package. Ripping off the paper he grinned broadly over at Ron before looking back down to the item. A wand holster.. that would come in rather useful..

[.RORY KAY BLAKE !]

Despite her rather melancholy and guilt ridden mood she couldn't help but chuckle as Fred saluted his uncle in way of Christmas greeting. Fred always seemed to be full of it, always active, with a hyper streak to match, and in moments such as the current, surpass her own. Which was really saying something. But then that was probably why they made such a brilliant beater set right? The two could have some of the largest of the blokes on the other house teams swallowing nervously at the start of a game with only a joint grin and tapping of their bats against their boots. She watched as he charmed the chair into motion and prattled on about the joys of being free to use magic.. right. He didn't know how lucky he was.. she'd give anything to be able to obliviate last night from the minds of Al and herself and do things a bit different..be to tired to go out into the garden.. avoid the kiss that had led to such an awkward Christmas morning for them both.. wouldn't she? Hell... honestly no, she wouldn't.. she'd liked it and knew she did..not having hurt Al of course but the kiss its self.. rubbish bloody feelings...

Her attention was drawn back Fred as he mentioned needing someone to entertain him. and how that someone was going to be her. Trying her best to paste an agreeable smile on her face she shrugged. " All for it right? " ..only she wasn't really.. she wasn't up for being her normally grinning and hyper self. But she couldn't let anyone see that. She didn't want attention drawn to the already awkward situation she and her best mate were up against this morning. Speaking of which.. she glanced up as Al came through into the sitting room and Rose was quick to move over and hug him. Right, she probably guessed things were a bit off.. she was bloody good at that with Al. And then he was moving across the room to sit in a chair near the couch. She followed him with her eyes and as he settled into the chair he looked up at her and their gazes locked briefly. Unable to hold it as a dagger of guilt shot through her she managed a weak smile before dropping her gaze to Sev and busying herself with stroking the soft white fur on his head with her thumb.

She was actually surprise he'd even acknowledged her, insanely relieved..but surprised non the less. She'd not have blamed him in the least if he'd completely ignored her after last night. Her eyes wandered up of their own accord to steal a glimpse while he was focused on others in the room and she bit her lip lightly still petting Sev. She was such an unbelievably horrid best friend.. and her guilt was only intensified by the fact that she couldn't stop thinking back on that kiss, how much shes enjoyed being with him like that.. how much she wished she could be again. Drawing in a deep and silent breath she steadied her resolve and Shifted her attention to Fred as he leapt up from his chair and set lose a sparkling display of Christmas cheer to twinkle brightly in the air above them. Pulling a grin she mustered a light laugh for his antics and watched for a bit as the glitter above carried on.

Over the next while a montage of Weasley's poured into the burrow.. a sea of bright red hair scattered here and there with the occasional darker head or bright golden shade. Greetings were exchanged and hugs given, the adults mostly flitting off to the kitchen while the kids congregated in the sitting room..cutting jokes and making friendly jabs ..a few even settling on the carpet to a friendly game exploding snap while they waited on the adults to be ready to start the holiday rituals. Rory spent the time trying to be up beat.. trying to seem like it was Christmas.. and she was excited..and her heart wasn't breaking for what she'd put her best mate through. Her best mate whom she went out of her way to just 'happen' to be in a different part of the room than whenever she could manage it.

When Al's dad came in from the kitchen and along with some of the other adults began to get everyone to settle as they started to dole out gifts..she pin pointed Al and made it a point to sit across the room from him. The least she could do was give him the space to block it out and enjoy his gifts right? .. Her gaze lingered on him through gaps in the thinning crowd as everyone took seats without her really realizing she was doing as much. She tore it away though as a brightly wrapped package was handed to her and a wide smile graced her lips. A parcel this lumpy and soft could only be one greatly anticipated gift. Tearing into the package she tugged out the soft nit sweater.. this years was done in a bright scarlet with a large golden R and trim in the same shade. Basically Gryffindor colors..and she absolutely LOVED it! There were those in the Weasley clan who smiled and tolerated their sweaters for the sake of Gran Weasley's feelings. Not Rory.. she considered her yearly sweater one of the more awesome perks to having been more or less adopted in as a surrogate grand kid of the loving old witch. Promptly she pulled the sweater over her head, settling it in place over her current shirt. She waited for an opening in the flow of thank yous and ducked it to give Molly a grateful hug and a few words of gratitude before settling back in the chair shed been sitting in. Her gaze lifted as she began ripping into the next of her packages. Her face was flush with her pleasure in the sweater and for the moment its normal pretty self with eyes alight in joy. Then they settled on Al across the room lost a bit of their light. A sad tug made her heart ache as she returned her attention to the parcel in her hands with a bit less enthusiasm. They should be enjoying this time together.. why was she 'such' a bloody prat?...