RP: Weasley Family Christmas

[shh_molly]

Date: 25 December 2004, early evening.
Characters: Molly & the clan.
Location: Molly's tent on the Burrow's property.
Status: Private.
Summary: Weasley Family Christmas Supper!
Completion: Incomplete.

Comments

[shh_ron]

Once in the kitchen, Ron pulled a butterbeer from the ice box, opened it and took a long swig. He found a plate of cheese on the counter and nicked a slice, taking large bites in between gulps of butterbeer. As he was on his fourth bite of cheese, his sister strolled into the kitchen. She was wearing a little black dress that showed just how grown up she was.

"Hey, you," he said quietly. "Long time, no see." He held one arm open wide in greeting.

[shh_ginny]

Ginny smiled as Jack crossed the tent to Bill and Fleur before excusing herself from her mum to get a refill on her wine. Entering the kitchen area, she was surprised to see Ron leaning against the counter but smiled fondly when he spoke, holding out his arm.

"Hey stranger." She bit her lip to keep from getting teary eyed as she stepped into his embrace, burying her cheek against his shoulder in a tight hug.

Stepping back alittle, Ginny said. "It's really great to see you, Ron."

[shh_ron]

Ginny came straight over and put her arm round his waist, burying her face in his shoulder as she hugged him tightly. All the years they'd spent away from each other during the war fell away, and Ron felt a prickle behind his eyes as he saw the woman his little sister had become. He knew their dad would be proud of her too.

"Same here," he said, suddenly a bit choked up. "Let's not go another seven years, eh?" He looked down at her carefully. "You're all grown up. Shouldn't be surprised, yeah? Just hadn't seen you, really, in so long. Looks like you turned out okay." He winked and nudged her arm.

[shh_ginny]

Ginny wiped the corner of her eye with her fingertips, flushing slightly as she nudged him back. "I should be saying that to you, eh?"

"Twenty three, I should hope I'm grown up, prat." She laughed, the catch in her voice easing and hardening at the same time. "Seven years and you're surprised? Well, I don't think I got any taller, that's for sure."

"Merlin knows, I've tried, Ron. I'm a Healer, you know. Don't know if mum told you. Don't really know what mum told you. Who'da guessed, yeah? Little sis, a Healer." Ginny smiled faintly.

[shh_ron]

He blinked, hoping he could get that damn tear out of the corner of his eye without having to raise his hand and wipe it away.

"Yeah, well...been busy, you know. War and all that shite. Got back here and just kind of collapsed for a bit. And don't think you're the only one I've neglected. I've seen Mum only once before today. I've hardly seen Bill, Charlie or the twins at all either. Actually I've probably seen more of Percy than anyone else...which is downright weird when I think of it."

"I heard about you being a healer." Well, of course. He'd got an owl from her a few weeks ago. "That's great, Gin. Really. I'm glad you're doing something you enjoy."

[shh_ginny]

Ginny glanced around, her gaze falling on the open wine bottle only a foot away and she moved to refill her glass, giving her something to do with her hands that she suddenly felt anxious to move.

"I... It's okay, Ron. I wasn't really ready either. Sometimes... something's the same way for so long, it's hard to go back, you know? Frightens you to think about it."

She nodded, musing. "I do. It filled a void that I didn't know existed. What about you? Any plans now that you've sort of planted your feet for awhile?"

[shh_ron]

The tension between them seemed to be dissipating. It was odd, he knew, feeling tense around the sibling he'd always felt closest too. But she hadn't seen what he'd seen, or (he hoped) done what he'd had to do during the war. Not that he'd done anything seriously Dark; Harry and Hermione kept him away from that, wanting at least one of the three of them not to be touched by that darkness.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. We're back where we grew up, but it's not nearly the same. Very different, in fact. But yeah, I wasn't really ready to see anyone until now."

A void I didn't know existed. She was doing something fulfilling, while he... he didn't know what he wanted out of life. Not yet, anyway. He was really just getting his feet wet in the real world. "Um, yeah," he said finally. "Dunno if you heard. Hermione's starting a book shop in the house next to ours. We're going to sell books and print some too. I'll be running the printing press, down in the cellar, and Lee Jordan'll be helping me. It's brilliant set-up, really," he went on

[shh_ginny]

"I'd only run into Hermione for a minute or two the other day, we didn't really get a chance to talk - there were other folks around but I guess it's no surprise that she'd be comfortable with books, yeah?" She laughed softly

[shh_ron]

"Hermione and books. Who knew?" He laughed softly

[shh_ginny]

"After New Year's sounds great, Ron." Ginny returned his hug and watched him head off to find their mother. She mentally checked off Ron from the "hex him if he hurts you list" and chuckled since currently only Bill had been on the list. She knew the day was long from being over and she'd hear that may more times, not at all concerned.

Pushing off from the counter, she returned to the living room with a tray of snacks that she laid on the coffee table.