Fic: for Quidditchmum Lessons in Love And Life from the Jaylerisque
To: Quidditchmum
Title: Lessons in Love And Life from the Jaylerisque
Author: katwoman_68
Pairing: Harry/Ginny, the Weasleys, Luna, and Neville
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~6,000
Summary:AU; Harry and Ginny just can't seem to get themselves together, but someone has a plan. "Sometime a male and a female need to be put together alone in a safe environment so they can see what can blossom between them." ~ Luna Lovegood
Author's Notes: Quidditchmum, you requested Harry pining for Ginny just as much as Ginny is pining for Harry, and said that AU or post-Hogwarts is good. Hermione is best enjoyed is small doses. An appearance by Tonks is always appreciated if it fits within the timeline. You also wanted ice skating, sledding (or the wizarding equivalent), humorous holiday boxer shorts for Harry (came up with that one whilst folding laundry today - don't ask). ~ While there was no out and out pining, the mutual attraction was there, Hermione was needed (briefly), but unfortunately I just couldn't work Tonks in. And I hope you like one of the gifts Harry receives.
My beta is fabulous. And, for now, anonymous; but she knows who she is, and I hope she knows just how much I appreciate her.
One Sunday in mid-December, Ginny arrived late for lunch at The Burrow. Attendance at the weekly event wasn't mandatory, but most of the family, except Charlie, was usually there. Before sliding into her chair between George and Hermione, she scooped her seven-month-old niece out of her high chair and cuddled her.
"I saw the perfect outfit for her today in the Harpies Christmas Catalogue."
"The Harpies publish a Christmas Catalogue?" Ron asked, his voice incredulous.
"Yes, we do. Gwenog had a copy of it at practice today. Most teams do. Well, the teams that sell stuff fans want to buy." Ginny handed Victorie a biscuit and continued to fill her plate. She paused and tipped her head to the side. "I don't think the Cannons do, though."
George winked at her. "You did imply good teams, didn't you?"
"Hey! They're doing good this season. Aren't they, Harry?"
Several pairs of eyes shifted to look at Harry. "Actually, I haven't really had time to keep up with any of the Quidditch teams this year."
Ginny looked at him and raised one eyebrow. "You've been to a couple of my games."
Harry stammered. "Well, you, umm, you did give me tickets and, er, I happened to have had those days off." One of those days off was because you begged Robards to change the schedule so you could go, he reminded himself.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief when Fleur changed the subject. "If you're planning on getting the bebe her first zet of Chaser robes, we will be sure to take a photo of her een them. We've decided to visit my parents in France for Christmas this year."
Molly turned to stare at her oldest son and daughter-in-law. "You did?"
Bill and Fleur looked at each other and she nodded her head for him to explain. He took a deep breath and faced his mother. "Mum, we're here all the time and Fleur's family doesn't get to see us very often, so, yes, we've decided to go."
Ron interrupted and voiced Harry's own thoughts. "Last year, when everyone was finally altogether at Christmas, we decided, we all agreed that we would be here every year. We all promised, even Andromeda said she'd be here with Teddy."
Harry shook his head. "She won't be here. She and Teddy are going to Mauritius with Augusta Longbottom."
Arthur nodded. "I'd forgotten. Andromeda was trained as a Healer, and sometimes Augusta needs a little help these days."
Hermione's eyes brightened. "How exciting for Teddy! There is so much history there, both Muggle and magical. Maybe they'll get to see a Diricawl."
Ginny giggled. "Now you sound like Luna."
Percy let out a put-upon sigh. "For your information, Ginny, a Diricawl is a bird that can disappear and reappear in a burst of feathers. They are indigenous -"
George fell forward, his head banging onto the table. "Stop, Perce! We don't really need to know the particulars."
Percy let out a huff as the others laughed. The family resumed dining and, for now, it didn't matter that not all of them would be there at Christmas.
********
Thursday morning, Ginny grabbed her training uniform and hurried out of her room. Partway down the stairs she heard Hermione and Molly in the kitchen.
"I was glad of the company this morning, dear."
"I enjoyed my morning away from the Ministry. I've been trying to get some paperwork passed, but it keeps coming back. I think there are twenty wizards as meticulous as Percy who review it," Hermione replied.
Hermione was clearly unaccustomed to dealing with people more particular and fussy than herself, Ginny thought as she smiled to herself.
The two women worked in tandem, kneading dough for the Christmas breads and pastries. "Do you think Harry will… Ron and I aren't sure… We're a little worried about him."
Ginny froze as Molly answered, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I'm sure he will. It's just that last year we all said we'd be here every Christmas, then Sunday Bill and Fleur said they were going to Paris, on Monday George announced he was going to Scotland with Lee and some of his other friends - he thinks that Lee and Alicia are eloping - then last night Ron and I told him we're going to Australia to see my parents." Ginny could hear the spoon hitting against the bowl from the force Hermione was using to mix the cookie dough. "Harry seemed to be fine with it, but he did joke that he was glad Ginny would be here. But I'm not really sure she will. On Sunday when we were doing the washing up she said that some of the Harpies were planning a skiing holiday and had invited her. She said if Bill doesn't have to be here, she shouldn't either, so she's thinking of going." Hermione dropped the bowl against the counter "If she does, that will leave Harry here with just Percy and Charlie."
"You worry too much, Hermione. He'll be fine with us - he's family."
Ginny continued down the stairs and smiled brightly as she turned into the kitchen. "Hermione! What are you doing here?"
"Taking the morning off. I've been trying to get some laws passed to make S.P.E.W. a reality-"
"That's nice," Ginny interrupted, grabbing a couple pieces of fruit. "Late. Got to hurry." She rushed out the back door, unaware of the smiles the other two women exchanged. Need to tell Gwenog I won't be going to Switzerland after all! No point in Harry being here all by himself.
********
Harry ducked his head in an effort to focus on his lunch and to, hopefully, hide from the single witches. He had selected a table near the back of the Ministry canteen, hoping that new witch from the Improper Use of Magic Office wouldn't see and try to join him. Again. Although he was glad that he had finished all of the paper work his mentor had given him, he fervently wished that Ron had done the same so he wasn’t sitting alone, on display for whatever witch walked by and decided he looked lonely.
"Hullo, Harry."
He stiffened at the sound of a soft female voice nearby, until he realized who it was. "Luna," he smiled warmly up at her, "join me?"
Luna sat, but said, "I can only stay for a minute. I have an appointment at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Beast Division. I'm applying for a permit to bring a jaylerisque into England."
"A what?" Harry asked. “Is that some sort of mythical creature? Something you’ve discovered in your travels?”
Luna chuckled. “Oh no, Harry. A jaylerisque is a creature that has short fur covering its body. It has small arms and wings so that it can glide from tree to tree. In addition to the feathers on their wings, they have a ring of feathers around their backside. The jay will ruffle these feathers to impress a mate or to intimidate enemies. In a male, the fur is white with bright blue feathers. The female is grey with pale blue feathers. When they are threatened, they make a loud squawking noise. They’re quite real, I assure you.”
Harry tried to picture the animal she was describing but couldn’t imagine where to begin.
"They will eat any type of vegetation, but they prefer nuts and worms. Thank Merlin this one is not the carnivorous breed.” She gave a little sigh of satisfaction and Harry made a sound of agreement with her.
"Anyway, I need a female jaylerisque to mate with my male." Luna reached across the table and helped herself to a few of Harry's chips. "Jaylerisques are wonderful creatures that mate for life, once they find their intended mate. I think that I have finally found a mate for Gonzalo."
"Wouldn't it be better for him to choose his own mate?" Harry asked the question, then immediately regretted it.
"Oh, no, Harry!” Luna burst out. “They can't do that. We have to help them. Because the jay is so particular about its mate, the population is endangered. I have been writing to Rolf Scamander. He's currently living in Germany and has found a female that he's named Venetta.
"I need to get a permit so I can bring Venetta here. Hopefully Gonzalo and Venetta will decide they are compatible." Luna opened her bag and pulled out a photograph of an odd-looking creature that looked like a cross between a squirrel and a blue jay. Harry blinked at the image floating across the surface.
"Er…" Harry was saved from having to comment when Luna continued.
"Sometime a male and a female need to be put together alone in a safe environment so they can see what can blossom between them."
"Luna! Why are you telling him that?" Ron had apparently finished his work and was ready for lunch. He looked furious with Luna and glared down at her.
Harry wasn't really that interested in the mating habits of the jaylerisque, but he thought that Ron's reaction was unfounded. "Ron! Luna's just, just-" being Luna. Somehow, that didn't seem the right way to end the sentence.
Luna stood up and patted Ron's cheek. "Don't worry, Ronald. I was just explaining the mating habits of the jaylerisque, nothing else." She checked her watch for the time. "I need to hurry now, so I can get that permit for Venetta. See you both later." With that, Luna skipped toward the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, leaving both men staring after her.
“What was she going on about?” Ron asked.
“No idea,” Harry said with a chuckle.
********
Christmas Eve was bright and clear, and Diagon Alley was crowded. Ginny had spotted many friends and acquaintances moving through the shops, looking for last minutes gifts. She had finished most of her shopping weeks ago, but she still needed to find something for Harry. It shouldn't be this hard for me. It's Harry; he'll like anything. Her mind clouded and she thought evil thoughts about the Dursleys and how they'd never given Harry anything. No wonder he appreciates everything we do for him.
She bumped into Neville on her way out of Flourish and Blotts. While there she had bought a copy of Witch Weekly. Harry was on the cover, under the headline 1998's Most Eligible Bachelor (For The Second Year In A Row!). She giggled, and hoped that he would find the magazine funny. Neville chuckled when she showed him the issue once they were seated at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour eating their sundaes.
She sighed, "I just don’t know what to get him."
Neville dipped his spoon into his bowl scraping up the last of his hot fudge. "You just have the magazine?"
"No. I'm also giving him season tickets for next season, but then I'm giving a lot of people that. Which reminds me…" Ginny paused and rooted through her bag. "Here you go. Happy Christmas, Neville." She handed him an envelope.
Neville, grinning, said, "I wonder what this could be."
"I also got him a wand holster and I knitted him gloves. I'm just looking for something special for him."
He looked at her and smiled. "You don't think handmade gloves are special enough?"
Ginny looked at her watch. "I guess they'll have to be. I need to get home now, to help Mum finish the baking for tomorrow." She gathered her bags and leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Enjoy your holiday in Mauritius."
Neville watched her leave and thought to himself that the plan would work out perfectly.
********
Ginny pushed the back door open and stumbled into the kitchen. She dropped her packages by the door and shrugged out of her coat. "Mum, I'm home and ready to help you finish everything for tomorrow." Ginny pulled off her boots and looked around at the unusually quiet kitchen. "Hello? Is anyone here?"
"Just me." Harry crossed into the kitchen from the living room. He held a piece of parchment in his hand. "And no one else will be here." Harry held out a piece of parchment for her.
Dear Ginny and Harry,
We've had a few slight changes in plan. Percy went to Ireland with Audrey. Everyone felt that it was time he met her family.
Poor Charlie was burned this morning by one of those horrible Hungarian Horntails and will have to see the healer in Romania several times a week so he isn't able to come home. Because of his injury, I'd like to be there to watch over him, so your father and I have decided to head to Romania.
As everyone else has made other plans, you two will need to find something to do to amuse yourselves this week.
Have a very Happy Christmas, and we will be back on New Year's Day.
Love, Mum and Dad
Ginny took the note and read. She bit her bottom lip. This could be awkward, but it could also be fun, getting to talk to Harry and not have Ron or Hermione around, interrupting; she just hoped she didn't do something silly around him. She looked up and smiled. " I guess it's just us until New Year's Day then."
"If they had bothered to let us know they weren't going to be around, you could have made other plans. Don't the Harpies-"
"Some of them went to a Muggle ski resort in Switzerland. They did ask, but I didn't want to go. And that was after I knew Bill and Fleur and Ron and Hermione weren't going to be here."
"Then, Miss Weasley, I'm sure we can find some way to amuse ourselves." Harry finally smiled back at her.
********
Harry woke early on Christmas morning. Although Molly had all the food prepared and had left the cooking directions for Christmas dinner, they were on their own for breakfast. Prior to attending Hogwarts, one of his daily duties at Number four, Privet Drive was to cook breakfast for the family, so he figured he could handle that much.
He found Mrs. Weasley's recipe box and started to look through it for something easy to fix. He smiled as he realized that Molly had made notes about the recipes on all of the cards. Bill loves this, but Charlie refuses to eat it or This seemed like such a good idea until the twins decided it was more fun to play with these than eat them.
Finally, he found a recipe for French toast. He didn't think that Molly had fixed it yet because the note on it read: Must fix this for Ginny. She's been so careful about what she eats since joining the Harpies, but she's always loved French toast.
He read through the recipe. It seemed like everything was here except for the eggs, but that was easy enough to fix. He headed out to the hen house out back and was soon back with several eggs.
He had just finished pouring the egg and milk mixture over the bread when Ginny appeared in the doorway. Harry set the mixing bowl on the table, just barely preventing it from sliding off the edge. Her hair was mussed from sleep and her pajamas were little snug, the hem of her top exposing just a little skin around her middle.
"Happy Christmas, Harry." She sniffed the air. "That smells good. What is it?" She peered into the dish. "That…that isn't French toast, is it?"
"Yeah, your mum found this recipe she thought you might like."
Ginny bit her lip. "I probably shouldn't, with training." She sniffed again. "Is that oranges?"
Harry nodded. "It's made with whole grain bread and has orange juice in it. There was a comment on the card that it was flavorful enough you wouldn't need to add much syrup."
Ginny picked up the recipe card and reviewed it. "This sounds great. Perfect choice, Harry. It won't take long to cook, so I guess we should open our gifts after breakfast."
She poured their tea while he melted the butter in the skillet and added the egg and juice soaked break. Breakfast was enjoyable and the two friends were able to talk and not be interrupted by Ron asking Ginny to please pass him the potatoes or for George trying to sneak a piece of his latest edible product onto someone's plate, usually Harry's since he still hadn't learned to keep one eye on George.
"So, I think that we have a good chance this-" Ginny stopped as she realized Harry was no longer listening to her but was instead trying to find something on the table. "Harry?"
"I thought I set the butter on the table, but I don't see it."
Since she had added a little butter to her toast Ginny's eyes also searched the table.
"Oh! It…here it is." Ginny lifted her elbow out of the butter. Please don't let him say anything about the last time I did that. She passed the dish to him, and he didn't comment, just grinned at her. Obviously, he hadn't forgotten, but he wasn't going to tease her about it.
Soon the dishes were done and the two sat together in front of the Christmas tree. Harry touched his wand to the tree and the fairy lights lit. Ginny sorted the presents into two piles. She selected a package from each pile, keeping one for herself and handing one to Harry. "We should start with these. We already know what they are."
They each ripped the paper off their new Weasley jumpers. Harry always looked forward to this gift, as the first real Christmas gift he had been given was a knitted jumper from Molly. This would be his ninth. He still had seven of the others, but the one he had received during his fifth year had disappeared.
Ginny's jumper was dark green and featured tiny golden talons, the Harpies logo, around the wrist and hem. She stared at it for the longest time; when she looked up she had tears in her eyes. "Mum wasn't happy when I decided to play Quidditch. She thought I should go to Healer School. I guess this is her way of saying she accepts me playing."
Harry smiled. "You're a great chaser, Gin. She's proud of you." He turned his attention to his own package. His jumper was blue with white edging. His smile widened. "This is my first blue sweater from your mum."
"You like blue?" She asked.
"Yeah, I do. My mum wore blue a lot, at least from the pictures that I found in a box up in the Dursleys attic. Of course, there were no pictures of her past the age of ten. I think Aunt Petunia threw away any later ones."
They took turns opening their gifts, commenting frequently. "What was Ron thinking?" Ginny asked, opening a Chudley Cannons calendar.
Ginny picked up a rather heavy package and looked at the card. To Ginny, From Harry. All of a sudden she couldn't wait to see what he had gotten her and she ripped the paper off quickly. Honeydukes Finest Confections. Honeydukes? He had gone all the way to Scotland for her gift? She lifted the lid off the box and smiled at the assortment. "These look yummy. Thanks, Harry." She looked through the box and selected a milk chocolate-covered caramel. "You have to help me eat these or I won't fit into my Quidditch uniform," she said, passing the box to him. He selected a piece of dark chocolate and handed the box back.
Ginny glanced in the box again. Something was different about it. She liked every single piece in the box. They were, in fact, her favorites. "Harry? This isn't a normal assortment. Did you pick the chocolates for it?"
Harry didn't meet her eyes. "Yeah. I remembered you liked caramels, vanilla creams, and nut clusters, but most of the assortments with those also had pieces like raspberry, maple, or pineapple, and I know you don't like those."
She smiled. "It isn't often to look in an assortment and like every piece there. Thank you."
All was quiet in the sitting room until she nudged him with her elbow. "I still have one more gift to open, but it's your turn."
He grinned at her and reached over to pick up one of his remaining gifts. He started to unwrap it and Ginny leaned closer, to see what he thought, since it was the box from her. "These are beautiful! Thank you, Gin." Harry had lifted the top of the box and found the midnight blue gloves on top. "These match my Auror robes perfectly." He continued to look through the box. "Great, season tickets. I can't promise I'll be at every game, but I'll try to get to most." He pulled out the wand holster. "Perfect. I can really use this at work."
"The last one," Ginny said tearing the paper off Hermione's gift. She looked confused as she lifted the bottle. "Shampoo?" After she unscrewed the cap and sniffed, she broke into a smile. Hermione had included a note tied to the bottle. I know how disappointed you were when the apothecary stopped making your favorite shampoo, so I worked with the new Potions professor at Hogwarts to match the scent.
Harry smiled as he picked up his final package. Ginny still had the bottle open and the scent wafted to him. "That smells just like…" his voice drifted off and his eyes closed. He was back in the Potions classroom during his sixth year when Slughorn had presented the class with Amortentia. That was the light flowery scent he had smelled there.
Ginny looked up. "Just like what?" she prompted him. "Harry?" She reached out and touched his arm.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he shook his head. "Nevermind." He tore the wrapping off George's gift. "Oh!"
Ginny looked up and tried to look at what was in the paper. "What?"
Harry tried to cover the gift with the torn paper, but in the process must have activated the charm on it.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three sets of bagpipes (self-playing models available in February).
Ginny reached across Harry and ripped the gift from his grasp. She burst into laughter as she saw the boxer shorts. 'Glow in the dark fairy lights!' 'Twelve different messages!' and 'A Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes exclusive!' 'Caution: May sing out at opportune or inopportune times.'
The package sang out again - On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six Veela's dancing.
"I will never wear those," Harry said, resting his hands on his head.
"Sure you will. Knowing George he's probably charmed them to make you wear them."
********
The following morning, Harry noticed Ginny's bedroom door had been open when he walked past it; her bed was already made and she hadn't been either in her room or in the bathroom. When he had brushed his teeth, he noticed the lingering scent of her shampoo in the bathroom. He was glad that the rest of the Weasleys had gone somewhere else for the Holidays and that he had gotten to spend time with Ginny. Even though she had teased him about the boxers the rest of the day.
When Harry made it downstairs, he stumbled into the empty kitchen and was disappointed that Ginny wasn't there, either. He was pouring himself a glass of pumpkin juice when he saw the note.
Good morning, sleepyhead!
I'm down on the pond. Grab a pair of skates from the porch and join me!
G
Harry set down his untouched glass of juice and grabbed his coat and scarf before heading outside. He stared at the pile of skates on the porch before noticing the pair that Ginny must have pulled out for him. He smiled as he checked and realized they were the right size.
Harry had never been on skates before. Aunt Petunia had tossed an old pair of Dudley’s into the cupboard under the stairs one day, narrowly missing Harry’s head, but he’d never gotten the chance to actually use them. Dudley suggested that instead of paying for Harry to skate at the local rink, they simply let him practice on the old pond and perhaps they’d get lucky and the freak would drown like that Walters kid had last year. Vernon had puckered his face, possibly considering the benefits versus the questions he’d have to answer if Harry did, in fact, drown, and ended up confiscating the skates.
Now he had to decide-slip down to the pond to watch Ginny skate or risk making a fool of himself if she was persistent enough to talk him into actually putting the things on. He pictured himself flat on his back on the ice. Maybe she'd take care of him if he did hurt himself. He smiled as he remembered her sitting at his bedside in the hospital wing at Hogwarts on more than a few occasions. Where had that thought come from?
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve poltergeists playing pranks
George must be part poltergeist to have come up with the idea for these boxers that sing out at random. Fred probably helped. And that compulsion charm he’d placed on them should be outlawed. Harry had been forced, this morning, to put them on, just as Ginny suspected.
He grabbed the skates before he could change his mind, or hear another chorus, and headed down the path that lead to the pond just beyond The Burrow's Quidditch pitch, where he saw Ginny.
Her hair was long and loose, not pulled back like she usually wore it. The red against the green of her new sweater made her look like a Christmas gift, packaged perfectly. He dropped the skates into the snow and watched her. She lifted her arms and spun around, her hair flying out behind her, her face raised to the gently falling snow.
She finally stopped and was facing him, smiling. "You going to join me?"
He blushed, realizing he’d been admiring her so closely. To cover, he kicked the skates. "I've never been on skates before."
"I'll teach you. C'mon."
"You won't have any fun with me."
Ginny looked at him and crossed her arms. She looked like McGonagall, all stern and unyielding, and Harry knew arguing was out of the question. "You can't be any worse than Percy." She pulled her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at his skates. They rose up in the air and he caught them. "Please, Harry."
He sat on a fallen log and exchanged boots for skates. Harry stood up and took a tentative step towards the pond. Ginny had skated to the edge and she held out her hand. Harry grasped it and placed a shaky foot on the ice.
Ginny moved backwards, her skates gliding smoothly on the ice. Harry stumbled as he tried to take a step.
"You don't want to step. You want to push off and just glide, on the diagonal. Pretend you're standing on a clock and move your feet towards the two and ten." Ginny moved to stand in front of him and skated a few feet ahead. She turned to look over her shoulder. "Did you see that?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I saw," he mumbled. He had seen the motion, but he hadn’t been looking at Ginny’s feet.
Ginny glided backward and grabbed Harry's hands, putting them on her waist. She skated forward while he tried to mimic her movements. After two revolutions around the pond, Ginny deemed Harry good enough to try on his own and turned in a semicircle around to face him. She skated backwards as he continued moving forwards. He was doing fine while he watched her, but then he looked down at his feet.
"Shite!" Harry's arms and legs started to move in a frantic windmill motion. Ginny reached out to grab him, but instead collapsed on top of him when he lost his balance and landed flat on his back.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven Skiving Snackboxes (a classic WWW product).
They shared a knowing smirk as Harry’s boxers chose the inopportune time to sing out.
"Ooops!" Ginny finally managed to stand up. "Here, Harry, let me help you up," she said, reaching down to pull him up. Harry's head and back rose off the ice, but as soon as he moved his foot, he ended up flat on his back again, his head banging against the frozen water. He also succeeded in pulling Ginny on top of him once more.
She peered down into his face. His eyes had a slightly glazed look. "Harry? Are you all right?"
As long as you stay there on my chest, I'll be fine. The thought rose in his mind, floating to the top and Harry struggled to define what he was feeling. This was Ginny. He couldn't grasp where that had come from. Harry shook his head, trying to lose that thought. Again. Ginny.
Did this feeling mean he fancied her?
This season he had changed training schedules and assignments on more than one occasion to go to a Harpies game. He sniffed her hair. He wondered about her sitting next to him in a hospital bed. This was Ginny. The only girl in a family with five, five older brothers, who would probably love nothing more than to remove him limb from limb if he so much as tried to hold her hand. He remembered hearing tales of the things she’d done to other blokes who had been too forward with her. Ron’s favorite story was when she’d hexed six additional pairs of hands onto one bloke during their date and told him that he may as well be an octopus with how much he was trying to grope her.
Ginny was still straddling his chest looking down at him. "Harry?" Her voice was full of concern.
Harry blinked up at her and tried to focus on her face. He didn't even bother to think, he gave a gentle tug and Ginny fell forward, making it easy to capture her lips. Finally.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven Harpies playing Quidditch.
One Harpy is enough, Harry decided
********
Ginny set her mug of hot chocolate on the hearth and moved more firmly into Harry's arms. "I think I've been waiting for this for a long time."
"I'd thought about it a few times back in my sixth year, but you were with Dean, and then I'd think about your brothers, and I wasn’t sure if you thought about me like that, so I never said-"
She silenced him with a kiss. "But it doesn't matter, since we're together now."
Harry slipped his arms around her waist and looked down at her. "I just hope your brothers don't hex me."
"If they try, they'll have to go through me." Ginny arched one eyebrow at him.
"Then I think I'm safe." He traced the pattern of snitches around the wristband of her jumper when he realized something. "This is my jumper. Your mum made it for me during fifth year."
"No, it's mine. I found it."
"Found it?"
"In the laundry. Right before my sixth year. I asked everyone in the house if it belonged to them and no one claimed it." Ginny looked up at him through her lashes. "You aren't going to make me give it back, are you?"
He tipped his head to the side and pretended to think about it. "No, I guess you can keep it. It was getting a little tight through the shoulders, anyway."
Ginny smiled at him and positioned herself on his lap. She stretched her neck to kiss him, pulling back after a few seconds. "Did you hear something?"
Just my heart beating. "No." He pulled her back for another kiss.
"How wonderful!"
"I knew it!"
"Oi. I didn't need to see that."
Harry and Ginny broke apart, springing to their feet, wands quickly drawn to face the Weasleys. The entire family. Along with Hermione, Luna, Neville, Augusta Longbottom, Andromeda and Teddy. And Angelina. Angelina? What is she doing here, holding George's hand? They were all smiling at the pair in front of the fire.
Molly beamed and the couple. "A few months ago Luna told me about her, what was it, dear? Squirejail-"
"Jaylerisque," Luna supplied.
"And how sometimes a male and a female need to be put together alone in a safe environment so they can see what can blossom between them. I thought that might work on you two; so the family graciously agreed to make other arrangements." Molly smiled at her daughter, now standing in front of Harry. "It looks like the plan worked after all."
"You mean this whole thing was a plan to get us together?" Ginny fingered her wand and stared at everyone in the room in turn.
None of her brothers would meet her eye; George even stepped behind Angelina. Molly was the one who finally answered. "Well, dear, we've-all of us, really-have thought for years that the two of you belonged together."
Hermione nodded. "Especially after you actually started to talk to Harry and not run out of the room like a frightened mouse when he was around." She turned to look at Harry. "I thought during our sixth year-"
"Ginny was dating Dean and I thought she was happy! I wasn't going to say anything."
Neville added, "We decided to meet back here to see how the plan worked and to celebrate New Years Eve with you both."
Ginny huffed. While she didn’t doubt her feelings for Harry, nor his for her, the idea that everything had been arranged didn’t sit well with her.
Bill held up a bottle. "Fleur and I even brought back several bottles of champagne from Paris."
Harry smiled. "As nice as it is that you've decided to spend the evening with us, we've gotten used to being on our own this week." A quick Accio and the bottle drifted away from Bill. Harry caught it with one hand, wrapping his other arm around Ginny's waist.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine unicorns frolicking. On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight puffskiens reproducing (now available in multi colors from WWW!)
George beamed. “The boxers! They work!”
A pop and they were gone, leaving the family to look around the room at each other.
********
Six weeks later
"Thank you, George." Ginny picked up the little pink bag she had dropped off at WWW earlier in the day. "You did do it just like I asked, right?"
"Of course."
"I reminded him of your Bat Bogey and the possible repercussions if he didn't," Angelina said.
Ginny smiled at her, glad that she and George had discovered each other in Scotland and, like Harry and herself, were celebrating their first Valentine's day as a couple. "I'm going to run up to your flat and change, George."
She raced up the stairs and pulled off her practice kit. She'd showered in Holyhead, so it should only take her a few minutes to dress. She pulled the red lacy knickers out of the bag and ran her fingers along the elastic. She smiled when she heard the faint refrains of singing, I can't help falling in love with you. Perfect. She hurriedly slid them on and slipped into her dress. A quick check in the mirror let her know she was ready.
She grabbed a handful of Floo powder and tossed it into George's fireplace. Soon, she was standing in front of Harry in Grimmauld Place.
"Hello."
"Happy Valentine's day. I've missed you since lunch." He kissed her and pulled her into a tight hug.
I'm qualified to satisfy you.
Ginny froze as the tune on her knickers changed. The soft, romantic music gave way to a sultry, deep voice.
"Er, are your knickers singing Barry White?"
"I'm going to kill George!"
~finis~
********
Author's Notes: My beta, in addition to being an awesome beta, also helped me with the words to the Wizards Twelve Days of Christmas. The complete last verse is:
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve poltergeists playing pranks.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven Skiving Snackboxes (a classic WWW product)
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten Firebolts flying
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine unicorns frolicking
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight puffskiens reproducing (now available in multi colors from WWW!)
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven Harpies playing Quidditch
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six Veela's dancing
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five bubbling cauldrons
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four Death Eaters in Azkaban
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three sets of bagpipes (self-playing models available in February)
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two Hungarian horntails
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a snowy owl in a whomping willow tree
In case you're wondering about the French toast Harry made, the recipe can be found HERE.
Title: Lessons in Love And Life from the Jaylerisque
Author: katwoman_68
Pairing: Harry/Ginny, the Weasleys, Luna, and Neville
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~6,000
Summary:AU; Harry and Ginny just can't seem to get themselves together, but someone has a plan. "Sometime a male and a female need to be put together alone in a safe environment so they can see what can blossom between them." ~ Luna Lovegood
Author's Notes: Quidditchmum, you requested Harry pining for Ginny just as much as Ginny is pining for Harry, and said that AU or post-Hogwarts is good. Hermione is best enjoyed is small doses. An appearance by Tonks is always appreciated if it fits within the timeline. You also wanted ice skating, sledding (or the wizarding equivalent), humorous holiday boxer shorts for Harry (came up with that one whilst folding laundry today - don't ask). ~ While there was no out and out pining, the mutual attraction was there, Hermione was needed (briefly), but unfortunately I just couldn't work Tonks in. And I hope you like one of the gifts Harry receives.
My beta is fabulous. And, for now, anonymous; but she knows who she is, and I hope she knows just how much I appreciate her.
One Sunday in mid-December, Ginny arrived late for lunch at The Burrow. Attendance at the weekly event wasn't mandatory, but most of the family, except Charlie, was usually there. Before sliding into her chair between George and Hermione, she scooped her seven-month-old niece out of her high chair and cuddled her.
"I saw the perfect outfit for her today in the Harpies Christmas Catalogue."
"The Harpies publish a Christmas Catalogue?" Ron asked, his voice incredulous.
"Yes, we do. Gwenog had a copy of it at practice today. Most teams do. Well, the teams that sell stuff fans want to buy." Ginny handed Victorie a biscuit and continued to fill her plate. She paused and tipped her head to the side. "I don't think the Cannons do, though."
George winked at her. "You did imply good teams, didn't you?"
"Hey! They're doing good this season. Aren't they, Harry?"
Several pairs of eyes shifted to look at Harry. "Actually, I haven't really had time to keep up with any of the Quidditch teams this year."
Ginny looked at him and raised one eyebrow. "You've been to a couple of my games."
Harry stammered. "Well, you, umm, you did give me tickets and, er, I happened to have had those days off." One of those days off was because you begged Robards to change the schedule so you could go, he reminded himself.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief when Fleur changed the subject. "If you're planning on getting the bebe her first zet of Chaser robes, we will be sure to take a photo of her een them. We've decided to visit my parents in France for Christmas this year."
Molly turned to stare at her oldest son and daughter-in-law. "You did?"
Bill and Fleur looked at each other and she nodded her head for him to explain. He took a deep breath and faced his mother. "Mum, we're here all the time and Fleur's family doesn't get to see us very often, so, yes, we've decided to go."
Ron interrupted and voiced Harry's own thoughts. "Last year, when everyone was finally altogether at Christmas, we decided, we all agreed that we would be here every year. We all promised, even Andromeda said she'd be here with Teddy."
Harry shook his head. "She won't be here. She and Teddy are going to Mauritius with Augusta Longbottom."
Arthur nodded. "I'd forgotten. Andromeda was trained as a Healer, and sometimes Augusta needs a little help these days."
Hermione's eyes brightened. "How exciting for Teddy! There is so much history there, both Muggle and magical. Maybe they'll get to see a Diricawl."
Ginny giggled. "Now you sound like Luna."
Percy let out a put-upon sigh. "For your information, Ginny, a Diricawl is a bird that can disappear and reappear in a burst of feathers. They are indigenous -"
George fell forward, his head banging onto the table. "Stop, Perce! We don't really need to know the particulars."
Percy let out a huff as the others laughed. The family resumed dining and, for now, it didn't matter that not all of them would be there at Christmas.
********
Thursday morning, Ginny grabbed her training uniform and hurried out of her room. Partway down the stairs she heard Hermione and Molly in the kitchen.
"I was glad of the company this morning, dear."
"I enjoyed my morning away from the Ministry. I've been trying to get some paperwork passed, but it keeps coming back. I think there are twenty wizards as meticulous as Percy who review it," Hermione replied.
Hermione was clearly unaccustomed to dealing with people more particular and fussy than herself, Ginny thought as she smiled to herself.
The two women worked in tandem, kneading dough for the Christmas breads and pastries. "Do you think Harry will… Ron and I aren't sure… We're a little worried about him."
Ginny froze as Molly answered, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I'm sure he will. It's just that last year we all said we'd be here every Christmas, then Sunday Bill and Fleur said they were going to Paris, on Monday George announced he was going to Scotland with Lee and some of his other friends - he thinks that Lee and Alicia are eloping - then last night Ron and I told him we're going to Australia to see my parents." Ginny could hear the spoon hitting against the bowl from the force Hermione was using to mix the cookie dough. "Harry seemed to be fine with it, but he did joke that he was glad Ginny would be here. But I'm not really sure she will. On Sunday when we were doing the washing up she said that some of the Harpies were planning a skiing holiday and had invited her. She said if Bill doesn't have to be here, she shouldn't either, so she's thinking of going." Hermione dropped the bowl against the counter "If she does, that will leave Harry here with just Percy and Charlie."
"You worry too much, Hermione. He'll be fine with us - he's family."
Ginny continued down the stairs and smiled brightly as she turned into the kitchen. "Hermione! What are you doing here?"
"Taking the morning off. I've been trying to get some laws passed to make S.P.E.W. a reality-"
"That's nice," Ginny interrupted, grabbing a couple pieces of fruit. "Late. Got to hurry." She rushed out the back door, unaware of the smiles the other two women exchanged. Need to tell Gwenog I won't be going to Switzerland after all! No point in Harry being here all by himself.
********
Harry ducked his head in an effort to focus on his lunch and to, hopefully, hide from the single witches. He had selected a table near the back of the Ministry canteen, hoping that new witch from the Improper Use of Magic Office wouldn't see and try to join him. Again. Although he was glad that he had finished all of the paper work his mentor had given him, he fervently wished that Ron had done the same so he wasn’t sitting alone, on display for whatever witch walked by and decided he looked lonely.
"Hullo, Harry."
He stiffened at the sound of a soft female voice nearby, until he realized who it was. "Luna," he smiled warmly up at her, "join me?"
Luna sat, but said, "I can only stay for a minute. I have an appointment at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Beast Division. I'm applying for a permit to bring a jaylerisque into England."
"A what?" Harry asked. “Is that some sort of mythical creature? Something you’ve discovered in your travels?”
Luna chuckled. “Oh no, Harry. A jaylerisque is a creature that has short fur covering its body. It has small arms and wings so that it can glide from tree to tree. In addition to the feathers on their wings, they have a ring of feathers around their backside. The jay will ruffle these feathers to impress a mate or to intimidate enemies. In a male, the fur is white with bright blue feathers. The female is grey with pale blue feathers. When they are threatened, they make a loud squawking noise. They’re quite real, I assure you.”
Harry tried to picture the animal she was describing but couldn’t imagine where to begin.
"They will eat any type of vegetation, but they prefer nuts and worms. Thank Merlin this one is not the carnivorous breed.” She gave a little sigh of satisfaction and Harry made a sound of agreement with her.
"Anyway, I need a female jaylerisque to mate with my male." Luna reached across the table and helped herself to a few of Harry's chips. "Jaylerisques are wonderful creatures that mate for life, once they find their intended mate. I think that I have finally found a mate for Gonzalo."
"Wouldn't it be better for him to choose his own mate?" Harry asked the question, then immediately regretted it.
"Oh, no, Harry!” Luna burst out. “They can't do that. We have to help them. Because the jay is so particular about its mate, the population is endangered. I have been writing to Rolf Scamander. He's currently living in Germany and has found a female that he's named Venetta.
"I need to get a permit so I can bring Venetta here. Hopefully Gonzalo and Venetta will decide they are compatible." Luna opened her bag and pulled out a photograph of an odd-looking creature that looked like a cross between a squirrel and a blue jay. Harry blinked at the image floating across the surface.
"Er…" Harry was saved from having to comment when Luna continued.
"Sometime a male and a female need to be put together alone in a safe environment so they can see what can blossom between them."
"Luna! Why are you telling him that?" Ron had apparently finished his work and was ready for lunch. He looked furious with Luna and glared down at her.
Harry wasn't really that interested in the mating habits of the jaylerisque, but he thought that Ron's reaction was unfounded. "Ron! Luna's just, just-" being Luna. Somehow, that didn't seem the right way to end the sentence.
Luna stood up and patted Ron's cheek. "Don't worry, Ronald. I was just explaining the mating habits of the jaylerisque, nothing else." She checked her watch for the time. "I need to hurry now, so I can get that permit for Venetta. See you both later." With that, Luna skipped toward the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, leaving both men staring after her.
“What was she going on about?” Ron asked.
“No idea,” Harry said with a chuckle.
********
Christmas Eve was bright and clear, and Diagon Alley was crowded. Ginny had spotted many friends and acquaintances moving through the shops, looking for last minutes gifts. She had finished most of her shopping weeks ago, but she still needed to find something for Harry. It shouldn't be this hard for me. It's Harry; he'll like anything. Her mind clouded and she thought evil thoughts about the Dursleys and how they'd never given Harry anything. No wonder he appreciates everything we do for him.
She bumped into Neville on her way out of Flourish and Blotts. While there she had bought a copy of Witch Weekly. Harry was on the cover, under the headline 1998's Most Eligible Bachelor (For The Second Year In A Row!). She giggled, and hoped that he would find the magazine funny. Neville chuckled when she showed him the issue once they were seated at Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour eating their sundaes.
She sighed, "I just don’t know what to get him."
Neville dipped his spoon into his bowl scraping up the last of his hot fudge. "You just have the magazine?"
"No. I'm also giving him season tickets for next season, but then I'm giving a lot of people that. Which reminds me…" Ginny paused and rooted through her bag. "Here you go. Happy Christmas, Neville." She handed him an envelope.
Neville, grinning, said, "I wonder what this could be."
"I also got him a wand holster and I knitted him gloves. I'm just looking for something special for him."
He looked at her and smiled. "You don't think handmade gloves are special enough?"
Ginny looked at her watch. "I guess they'll have to be. I need to get home now, to help Mum finish the baking for tomorrow." She gathered her bags and leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Enjoy your holiday in Mauritius."
Neville watched her leave and thought to himself that the plan would work out perfectly.
********
Ginny pushed the back door open and stumbled into the kitchen. She dropped her packages by the door and shrugged out of her coat. "Mum, I'm home and ready to help you finish everything for tomorrow." Ginny pulled off her boots and looked around at the unusually quiet kitchen. "Hello? Is anyone here?"
"Just me." Harry crossed into the kitchen from the living room. He held a piece of parchment in his hand. "And no one else will be here." Harry held out a piece of parchment for her.
Dear Ginny and Harry,
We've had a few slight changes in plan. Percy went to Ireland with Audrey. Everyone felt that it was time he met her family.
Poor Charlie was burned this morning by one of those horrible Hungarian Horntails and will have to see the healer in Romania several times a week so he isn't able to come home. Because of his injury, I'd like to be there to watch over him, so your father and I have decided to head to Romania.
As everyone else has made other plans, you two will need to find something to do to amuse yourselves this week.
Have a very Happy Christmas, and we will be back on New Year's Day.
Love, Mum and Dad
Ginny took the note and read. She bit her bottom lip. This could be awkward, but it could also be fun, getting to talk to Harry and not have Ron or Hermione around, interrupting; she just hoped she didn't do something silly around him. She looked up and smiled. " I guess it's just us until New Year's Day then."
"If they had bothered to let us know they weren't going to be around, you could have made other plans. Don't the Harpies-"
"Some of them went to a Muggle ski resort in Switzerland. They did ask, but I didn't want to go. And that was after I knew Bill and Fleur and Ron and Hermione weren't going to be here."
"Then, Miss Weasley, I'm sure we can find some way to amuse ourselves." Harry finally smiled back at her.
********
Harry woke early on Christmas morning. Although Molly had all the food prepared and had left the cooking directions for Christmas dinner, they were on their own for breakfast. Prior to attending Hogwarts, one of his daily duties at Number four, Privet Drive was to cook breakfast for the family, so he figured he could handle that much.
He found Mrs. Weasley's recipe box and started to look through it for something easy to fix. He smiled as he realized that Molly had made notes about the recipes on all of the cards. Bill loves this, but Charlie refuses to eat it or This seemed like such a good idea until the twins decided it was more fun to play with these than eat them.
Finally, he found a recipe for French toast. He didn't think that Molly had fixed it yet because the note on it read: Must fix this for Ginny. She's been so careful about what she eats since joining the Harpies, but she's always loved French toast.
He read through the recipe. It seemed like everything was here except for the eggs, but that was easy enough to fix. He headed out to the hen house out back and was soon back with several eggs.
He had just finished pouring the egg and milk mixture over the bread when Ginny appeared in the doorway. Harry set the mixing bowl on the table, just barely preventing it from sliding off the edge. Her hair was mussed from sleep and her pajamas were little snug, the hem of her top exposing just a little skin around her middle.
"Happy Christmas, Harry." She sniffed the air. "That smells good. What is it?" She peered into the dish. "That…that isn't French toast, is it?"
"Yeah, your mum found this recipe she thought you might like."
Ginny bit her lip. "I probably shouldn't, with training." She sniffed again. "Is that oranges?"
Harry nodded. "It's made with whole grain bread and has orange juice in it. There was a comment on the card that it was flavorful enough you wouldn't need to add much syrup."
Ginny picked up the recipe card and reviewed it. "This sounds great. Perfect choice, Harry. It won't take long to cook, so I guess we should open our gifts after breakfast."
She poured their tea while he melted the butter in the skillet and added the egg and juice soaked break. Breakfast was enjoyable and the two friends were able to talk and not be interrupted by Ron asking Ginny to please pass him the potatoes or for George trying to sneak a piece of his latest edible product onto someone's plate, usually Harry's since he still hadn't learned to keep one eye on George.
"So, I think that we have a good chance this-" Ginny stopped as she realized Harry was no longer listening to her but was instead trying to find something on the table. "Harry?"
"I thought I set the butter on the table, but I don't see it."
Since she had added a little butter to her toast Ginny's eyes also searched the table.
"Oh! It…here it is." Ginny lifted her elbow out of the butter. Please don't let him say anything about the last time I did that. She passed the dish to him, and he didn't comment, just grinned at her. Obviously, he hadn't forgotten, but he wasn't going to tease her about it.
Soon the dishes were done and the two sat together in front of the Christmas tree. Harry touched his wand to the tree and the fairy lights lit. Ginny sorted the presents into two piles. She selected a package from each pile, keeping one for herself and handing one to Harry. "We should start with these. We already know what they are."
They each ripped the paper off their new Weasley jumpers. Harry always looked forward to this gift, as the first real Christmas gift he had been given was a knitted jumper from Molly. This would be his ninth. He still had seven of the others, but the one he had received during his fifth year had disappeared.
Ginny's jumper was dark green and featured tiny golden talons, the Harpies logo, around the wrist and hem. She stared at it for the longest time; when she looked up she had tears in her eyes. "Mum wasn't happy when I decided to play Quidditch. She thought I should go to Healer School. I guess this is her way of saying she accepts me playing."
Harry smiled. "You're a great chaser, Gin. She's proud of you." He turned his attention to his own package. His jumper was blue with white edging. His smile widened. "This is my first blue sweater from your mum."
"You like blue?" She asked.
"Yeah, I do. My mum wore blue a lot, at least from the pictures that I found in a box up in the Dursleys attic. Of course, there were no pictures of her past the age of ten. I think Aunt Petunia threw away any later ones."
They took turns opening their gifts, commenting frequently. "What was Ron thinking?" Ginny asked, opening a Chudley Cannons calendar.
Ginny picked up a rather heavy package and looked at the card. To Ginny, From Harry. All of a sudden she couldn't wait to see what he had gotten her and she ripped the paper off quickly. Honeydukes Finest Confections. Honeydukes? He had gone all the way to Scotland for her gift? She lifted the lid off the box and smiled at the assortment. "These look yummy. Thanks, Harry." She looked through the box and selected a milk chocolate-covered caramel. "You have to help me eat these or I won't fit into my Quidditch uniform," she said, passing the box to him. He selected a piece of dark chocolate and handed the box back.
Ginny glanced in the box again. Something was different about it. She liked every single piece in the box. They were, in fact, her favorites. "Harry? This isn't a normal assortment. Did you pick the chocolates for it?"
Harry didn't meet her eyes. "Yeah. I remembered you liked caramels, vanilla creams, and nut clusters, but most of the assortments with those also had pieces like raspberry, maple, or pineapple, and I know you don't like those."
She smiled. "It isn't often to look in an assortment and like every piece there. Thank you."
All was quiet in the sitting room until she nudged him with her elbow. "I still have one more gift to open, but it's your turn."
He grinned at her and reached over to pick up one of his remaining gifts. He started to unwrap it and Ginny leaned closer, to see what he thought, since it was the box from her. "These are beautiful! Thank you, Gin." Harry had lifted the top of the box and found the midnight blue gloves on top. "These match my Auror robes perfectly." He continued to look through the box. "Great, season tickets. I can't promise I'll be at every game, but I'll try to get to most." He pulled out the wand holster. "Perfect. I can really use this at work."
"The last one," Ginny said tearing the paper off Hermione's gift. She looked confused as she lifted the bottle. "Shampoo?" After she unscrewed the cap and sniffed, she broke into a smile. Hermione had included a note tied to the bottle. I know how disappointed you were when the apothecary stopped making your favorite shampoo, so I worked with the new Potions professor at Hogwarts to match the scent.
Harry smiled as he picked up his final package. Ginny still had the bottle open and the scent wafted to him. "That smells just like…" his voice drifted off and his eyes closed. He was back in the Potions classroom during his sixth year when Slughorn had presented the class with Amortentia. That was the light flowery scent he had smelled there.
Ginny looked up. "Just like what?" she prompted him. "Harry?" She reached out and touched his arm.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he shook his head. "Nevermind." He tore the wrapping off George's gift. "Oh!"
Ginny looked up and tried to look at what was in the paper. "What?"
Harry tried to cover the gift with the torn paper, but in the process must have activated the charm on it.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three sets of bagpipes (self-playing models available in February).
Ginny reached across Harry and ripped the gift from his grasp. She burst into laughter as she saw the boxer shorts. 'Glow in the dark fairy lights!' 'Twelve different messages!' and 'A Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes exclusive!' 'Caution: May sing out at opportune or inopportune times.'
The package sang out again - On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six Veela's dancing.
"I will never wear those," Harry said, resting his hands on his head.
"Sure you will. Knowing George he's probably charmed them to make you wear them."
********
The following morning, Harry noticed Ginny's bedroom door had been open when he walked past it; her bed was already made and she hadn't been either in her room or in the bathroom. When he had brushed his teeth, he noticed the lingering scent of her shampoo in the bathroom. He was glad that the rest of the Weasleys had gone somewhere else for the Holidays and that he had gotten to spend time with Ginny. Even though she had teased him about the boxers the rest of the day.
When Harry made it downstairs, he stumbled into the empty kitchen and was disappointed that Ginny wasn't there, either. He was pouring himself a glass of pumpkin juice when he saw the note.
Good morning, sleepyhead!
I'm down on the pond. Grab a pair of skates from the porch and join me!
G
Harry set down his untouched glass of juice and grabbed his coat and scarf before heading outside. He stared at the pile of skates on the porch before noticing the pair that Ginny must have pulled out for him. He smiled as he checked and realized they were the right size.
Harry had never been on skates before. Aunt Petunia had tossed an old pair of Dudley’s into the cupboard under the stairs one day, narrowly missing Harry’s head, but he’d never gotten the chance to actually use them. Dudley suggested that instead of paying for Harry to skate at the local rink, they simply let him practice on the old pond and perhaps they’d get lucky and the freak would drown like that Walters kid had last year. Vernon had puckered his face, possibly considering the benefits versus the questions he’d have to answer if Harry did, in fact, drown, and ended up confiscating the skates.
Now he had to decide-slip down to the pond to watch Ginny skate or risk making a fool of himself if she was persistent enough to talk him into actually putting the things on. He pictured himself flat on his back on the ice. Maybe she'd take care of him if he did hurt himself. He smiled as he remembered her sitting at his bedside in the hospital wing at Hogwarts on more than a few occasions. Where had that thought come from?
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve poltergeists playing pranks
George must be part poltergeist to have come up with the idea for these boxers that sing out at random. Fred probably helped. And that compulsion charm he’d placed on them should be outlawed. Harry had been forced, this morning, to put them on, just as Ginny suspected.
He grabbed the skates before he could change his mind, or hear another chorus, and headed down the path that lead to the pond just beyond The Burrow's Quidditch pitch, where he saw Ginny.
Her hair was long and loose, not pulled back like she usually wore it. The red against the green of her new sweater made her look like a Christmas gift, packaged perfectly. He dropped the skates into the snow and watched her. She lifted her arms and spun around, her hair flying out behind her, her face raised to the gently falling snow.
She finally stopped and was facing him, smiling. "You going to join me?"
He blushed, realizing he’d been admiring her so closely. To cover, he kicked the skates. "I've never been on skates before."
"I'll teach you. C'mon."
"You won't have any fun with me."
Ginny looked at him and crossed her arms. She looked like McGonagall, all stern and unyielding, and Harry knew arguing was out of the question. "You can't be any worse than Percy." She pulled her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at his skates. They rose up in the air and he caught them. "Please, Harry."
He sat on a fallen log and exchanged boots for skates. Harry stood up and took a tentative step towards the pond. Ginny had skated to the edge and she held out her hand. Harry grasped it and placed a shaky foot on the ice.
Ginny moved backwards, her skates gliding smoothly on the ice. Harry stumbled as he tried to take a step.
"You don't want to step. You want to push off and just glide, on the diagonal. Pretend you're standing on a clock and move your feet towards the two and ten." Ginny moved to stand in front of him and skated a few feet ahead. She turned to look over her shoulder. "Did you see that?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I saw," he mumbled. He had seen the motion, but he hadn’t been looking at Ginny’s feet.
Ginny glided backward and grabbed Harry's hands, putting them on her waist. She skated forward while he tried to mimic her movements. After two revolutions around the pond, Ginny deemed Harry good enough to try on his own and turned in a semicircle around to face him. She skated backwards as he continued moving forwards. He was doing fine while he watched her, but then he looked down at his feet.
"Shite!" Harry's arms and legs started to move in a frantic windmill motion. Ginny reached out to grab him, but instead collapsed on top of him when he lost his balance and landed flat on his back.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven Skiving Snackboxes (a classic WWW product).
They shared a knowing smirk as Harry’s boxers chose the inopportune time to sing out.
"Ooops!" Ginny finally managed to stand up. "Here, Harry, let me help you up," she said, reaching down to pull him up. Harry's head and back rose off the ice, but as soon as he moved his foot, he ended up flat on his back again, his head banging against the frozen water. He also succeeded in pulling Ginny on top of him once more.
She peered down into his face. His eyes had a slightly glazed look. "Harry? Are you all right?"
As long as you stay there on my chest, I'll be fine. The thought rose in his mind, floating to the top and Harry struggled to define what he was feeling. This was Ginny. He couldn't grasp where that had come from. Harry shook his head, trying to lose that thought. Again. Ginny.
Did this feeling mean he fancied her?
This season he had changed training schedules and assignments on more than one occasion to go to a Harpies game. He sniffed her hair. He wondered about her sitting next to him in a hospital bed. This was Ginny. The only girl in a family with five, five older brothers, who would probably love nothing more than to remove him limb from limb if he so much as tried to hold her hand. He remembered hearing tales of the things she’d done to other blokes who had been too forward with her. Ron’s favorite story was when she’d hexed six additional pairs of hands onto one bloke during their date and told him that he may as well be an octopus with how much he was trying to grope her.
Ginny was still straddling his chest looking down at him. "Harry?" Her voice was full of concern.
Harry blinked up at her and tried to focus on her face. He didn't even bother to think, he gave a gentle tug and Ginny fell forward, making it easy to capture her lips. Finally.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven Harpies playing Quidditch.
One Harpy is enough, Harry decided
********
Ginny set her mug of hot chocolate on the hearth and moved more firmly into Harry's arms. "I think I've been waiting for this for a long time."
"I'd thought about it a few times back in my sixth year, but you were with Dean, and then I'd think about your brothers, and I wasn’t sure if you thought about me like that, so I never said-"
She silenced him with a kiss. "But it doesn't matter, since we're together now."
Harry slipped his arms around her waist and looked down at her. "I just hope your brothers don't hex me."
"If they try, they'll have to go through me." Ginny arched one eyebrow at him.
"Then I think I'm safe." He traced the pattern of snitches around the wristband of her jumper when he realized something. "This is my jumper. Your mum made it for me during fifth year."
"No, it's mine. I found it."
"Found it?"
"In the laundry. Right before my sixth year. I asked everyone in the house if it belonged to them and no one claimed it." Ginny looked up at him through her lashes. "You aren't going to make me give it back, are you?"
He tipped his head to the side and pretended to think about it. "No, I guess you can keep it. It was getting a little tight through the shoulders, anyway."
Ginny smiled at him and positioned herself on his lap. She stretched her neck to kiss him, pulling back after a few seconds. "Did you hear something?"
Just my heart beating. "No." He pulled her back for another kiss.
"How wonderful!"
"I knew it!"
"Oi. I didn't need to see that."
Harry and Ginny broke apart, springing to their feet, wands quickly drawn to face the Weasleys. The entire family. Along with Hermione, Luna, Neville, Augusta Longbottom, Andromeda and Teddy. And Angelina. Angelina? What is she doing here, holding George's hand? They were all smiling at the pair in front of the fire.
Molly beamed and the couple. "A few months ago Luna told me about her, what was it, dear? Squirejail-"
"Jaylerisque," Luna supplied.
"And how sometimes a male and a female need to be put together alone in a safe environment so they can see what can blossom between them. I thought that might work on you two; so the family graciously agreed to make other arrangements." Molly smiled at her daughter, now standing in front of Harry. "It looks like the plan worked after all."
"You mean this whole thing was a plan to get us together?" Ginny fingered her wand and stared at everyone in the room in turn.
None of her brothers would meet her eye; George even stepped behind Angelina. Molly was the one who finally answered. "Well, dear, we've-all of us, really-have thought for years that the two of you belonged together."
Hermione nodded. "Especially after you actually started to talk to Harry and not run out of the room like a frightened mouse when he was around." She turned to look at Harry. "I thought during our sixth year-"
"Ginny was dating Dean and I thought she was happy! I wasn't going to say anything."
Neville added, "We decided to meet back here to see how the plan worked and to celebrate New Years Eve with you both."
Ginny huffed. While she didn’t doubt her feelings for Harry, nor his for her, the idea that everything had been arranged didn’t sit well with her.
Bill held up a bottle. "Fleur and I even brought back several bottles of champagne from Paris."
Harry smiled. "As nice as it is that you've decided to spend the evening with us, we've gotten used to being on our own this week." A quick Accio and the bottle drifted away from Bill. Harry caught it with one hand, wrapping his other arm around Ginny's waist.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine unicorns frolicking. On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight puffskiens reproducing (now available in multi colors from WWW!)
George beamed. “The boxers! They work!”
A pop and they were gone, leaving the family to look around the room at each other.
********
Six weeks later
"Thank you, George." Ginny picked up the little pink bag she had dropped off at WWW earlier in the day. "You did do it just like I asked, right?"
"Of course."
"I reminded him of your Bat Bogey and the possible repercussions if he didn't," Angelina said.
Ginny smiled at her, glad that she and George had discovered each other in Scotland and, like Harry and herself, were celebrating their first Valentine's day as a couple. "I'm going to run up to your flat and change, George."
She raced up the stairs and pulled off her practice kit. She'd showered in Holyhead, so it should only take her a few minutes to dress. She pulled the red lacy knickers out of the bag and ran her fingers along the elastic. She smiled when she heard the faint refrains of singing, I can't help falling in love with you. Perfect. She hurriedly slid them on and slipped into her dress. A quick check in the mirror let her know she was ready.
She grabbed a handful of Floo powder and tossed it into George's fireplace. Soon, she was standing in front of Harry in Grimmauld Place.
"Hello."
"Happy Valentine's day. I've missed you since lunch." He kissed her and pulled her into a tight hug.
I'm qualified to satisfy you.
Ginny froze as the tune on her knickers changed. The soft, romantic music gave way to a sultry, deep voice.
"Er, are your knickers singing Barry White?"
"I'm going to kill George!"
~finis~
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Author's Notes: My beta, in addition to being an awesome beta, also helped me with the words to the Wizards Twelve Days of Christmas. The complete last verse is:
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve poltergeists playing pranks.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven Skiving Snackboxes (a classic WWW product)
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten Firebolts flying
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine unicorns frolicking
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight puffskiens reproducing (now available in multi colors from WWW!)
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven Harpies playing Quidditch
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six Veela's dancing
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five bubbling cauldrons
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four Death Eaters in Azkaban
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three sets of bagpipes (self-playing models available in February)
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two Hungarian horntails
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a snowy owl in a whomping willow tree
In case you're wondering about the French toast Harry made, the recipe can be found HERE.