Was I Ever Loved By You?

CHAPTER SEVEN -- FAMILY

When I was alone
You came around
When I was down
You pulled me through
And there's nothing that
I wouldn't do for you
'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see, yeah
And you set me free

You Set Me Free by Michelle Branch

* * * * *

"Ginny, take those pies out of the oven and put them over there on the table...no, not there...there! Maybe we should put them there instead. Oh, and check those potatoes, are they ready yet? No, no, no. I think the pies should go over there by the Pumpkin Juice now that I think about it, don't you? Yes, put them over there and move the bread over there by the pudding."

I sigh as I move the pies for what feels like the hundredth time. My mum is driving me crazy. It all began this morning when she woke me up before the sun was up so that I could help her begin cooking for the massive feast we have every Christmas. I haven't had to get up this early since the last Christmas that I lived here at the Burrow, over nine years ago. I'm out of practice.

"I'll get it!" I call, practically running to the front door as the bell chimes. I'll do anything to get away from mum and her Christmas preparations. I swing open the door and am greeted by the sight of a pregnant Penelope and a harassed looking Percy. They don't seem to notice me though as they continue their conversation.

"Well you'd have to stop just as much if you had an eight pound baby lying on your bladder!" Penelope snapped, "Honestly, Percy. A little consideration please."

"I'm sorry," Percy said, behind an armful of presents that threatened to conceal him completely, "but you couldn't have gone before we left the house? You saw how everyone on the Knight Bus looked at us every time we had to stop."

"I did go before we left," Penelope says shooting him a death glare while jabbing the doorbell. She looks up to see me in the doorway and frowns a moment before putting on a smile. It's almost as if she's turned on a switch, Mad Penelope/Happy Penelope. "Happy Christmas!" she says, leaning forward to hug me.

"Happy Christmas!" says Percy, also smiling as if nothing happened. He seems to shrug beneath the weight of the presents. "I'd hug you but my hands are full."

"I can see that," I say, reaching out and taking a few from the top. I hold the door open first for the wobbling Penelope and then Percy. "Penelope, you look...(big as a house) radiant."

"Thank you," she says, uncertainly glancing down at her huge stomach.

"Ginny, who is it?" Mum asks, sticking her head out the kitchen door. "Ah! Percy! Penelope!" she calls, wiping her hands on her apron as she hurries down the hall.

Percy has always been mum's favorite. Seeing as how he is the first of us to be bringing a grandchild into the world, he has only guaranteed himself favorite status for all eternity. I watch as he smiles proudly as mum makes a fuss over Penelope, asking her in a rushed voice if she's been eating properly and if she's been getting enough rest. We move into the living room, where mum continues to grill Penelope on her daily habits, while Percy and I place the presents around the Christmas tree in the corner.

The doorbell rings, once again providing a much needed escape route from mum, especially now as she's giving her legendary account of Bill's birth. Her graphic descriptions and facial expressions while telling this story caused me nightmares until I was well into attending Hogwarts. I leave a very pale Penelope and Percy listening attentively as I make my way once again to the front door.

"Hello Ginny," Charlie says flashing a huge grin when I swing the door open.

"Charlie, it's about time you got here!" I cry launching myself at him and hugging him tightly. "Mum is driving me crazy!" I whisper in his ear.

He laughs and turns to the plain, but pretty, woman beside him, "Ginny, I want you to meet Karen."

"I finally get to meet the mysterious fiancé," I say smiling at her and offering my hand.

She smiles back at me and shakes my hand firmly, "I've heard a lot about you."

"Charlie!" Before I can even move out of her path properly, mum's somehow squeezed between me and the door, and is hugging him fiercely. "And this must be Karen. Oh, you're lovely! Come in, come in, no sense catching our deaths out here in the cold."

She rushes them inside and I can see Angelina, Alicia, Fred and George making their way up the walk. Technically, I'm not speaking to them until they apologize for meddling in my love life. It is the Holidays though, so we've agreed on an unspoken truce between all of us.

"This is for you," George says, handing me a beautifully wrapped gift.

"What is it?" I ask, having learned the hard way never to open a gift from the twins unless I have their word it's safe.

"Wouldn't know," he says, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "It's from Lars."

"What?" I ask, staring unbelievingly down at the present in my hand.

"He fancies you," Fred says, handing me another present. "And we aren't even pay--"

"That's from all of us," Angelina says, cutting him off by elbowing him and pointing at the present he's just handed me at the same time.

"Thanks!" I say, smiling gratefully at her. I follow them inside, shutting out the cold behind us.

* * * * *

Per mum's instructions, I set the egg nog out in the living room. Per my instructions, I pour myself a large cup. The living room is very crowded now and seems a bit warm. Fred and George are talking to Charlie by the fire, Angelina is talking to Karen in the corner, and Alicia is chatting with Penelope. Near the tree Percy and Dad are talking with Bill, who arrived a few minutes ago, mum has disappeared back into the kitchen, and Fleur and Gabrielle are talking quietly by the door.

Fleur married Bill a couple of years after she graduated. They fight a lot and it is a wonder they are still together, but they just celebrated their tenth anniversary a little over a month ago. I've only met her sister Gabrielle a couple of times over the years, but I like her much better than I do Fleur. She's just as gorgeous as Fleur is, but seems unaware of it, which in my opinion makes her beauty bearable. Mum made a big scene about Bill not telling her Gabrielle was coming for dinner, though mainly she just did it just to spite Fleur. Then I had to talk her out of going back to the kitchen and cooking up more food, despite the fact we have enough to feed a small third world country as it is.

"Is that good?" Fleur asks, moving over to stand beside me.

I swallow and force a smile. "Yes, very."

"It's so fattening, though," Fleur says with a disdainful frown.

Behind her, Gabrielle rolls her eyes, "I'd like some."

"Sure," I say, pouring her a cup and handing it to her. "How have you been, Gabrielle?"

"Very well, thanks, and yourself?"

"Fine," I say.

"Where is Ron?" Fleur asks, looking through the room of redheads.

"I'm not sure," I say, "He'll be here though. Why?"

"I promised Gabrielle I'd introduce her," Fleur says offhandedly.

"Fleur!" hisses Gabrielle, turning a light shade of pink.

Fleur grins down unmercifully at her younger sister. "She has his Santa picture taped up on her refrigerator."

I laugh as Gabrielle turns deeper shade of red and takes a nervous sip of her egg nog. I'm pouring myself another cup as Ron appears in the doorway. George and Fred make some loud catcalls and ask where his Santa hat is. His ears turn red, but for the most part he ignores them as his eyes meet mine and he practically runs over.

"Ginny, can I talk to you?" he asks, ignoring the two other women, much to Gabrielle's disappointment and Fleur's annoyance.

"Sure," I say, but he's practically yanked me over into a corner a couple of feet away before I get the word out. "What's going on?"

"You are an absolute genius!" he says smiling widely at me. "Ever since your magazine came out, women have been stopping me on the street asking me for my autograph...and more." He startles me by hugging me and picking me up off of the floor. "What do you want for Christmas, Ginny? I'll get you anything!"

I laugh, "What am I? Five?"

"I'm serious! Anything!" He says loudly, then becoming aware that every eye is watching us he speaks a little lower, "And is that Gabrielle? She looks great."

"She thinks you look great too," I say, giving him a pointed look.

"You mean...?"

I nod, "Fleur is waiting over there to introduce you."

"Ginny," he says, putting a hand on my shoulder, "I can already tell this is going to be the best Christmas ever."

* * * * *

An hour later we are all seated and ready to eat. Mum seems to be stalling as she is constantly finding something that needs more spicing or reheating.

"Mum, can we eat? I'm starving," Ron complains. He is sitting by Gabrielle, who shoots him a sympathetic look.

"Wait just a little bit longer," she says, glancing nervously up at the clock. The doorbell sounds and she looks directly at me. "Ginny get the door will you?"

Oh no.

"I'll get it," Angelina says, getting up. She is the obvious choice, as she is closest to the door.

"No," mum says quickly. "Ginny can get it."

I stand up wondering what mum is up to now. Angelina flashes me an apologetic look as I leave the dining room and make my way to the front door. I open the door and see the last person I expected.

"Malfoy?" I ask, not trusting my eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to reschedule our meeting tomorrow." he says. He looks slightly festive with the dark green sweater and dark pants he's wearing.

"Likely story," I say grinning at him. "You just couldn't stay away, could you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley. I just needed to see if we could move our meeting tomorrow afternoon to the evening. Something has come up."

"You could have owled," I point out.

"You've got to be kidding. It would have taken three days or more in this Holiday Owl Traffic."

"The point is you're here now," I say, ignoring his excuses. "We're just about to eat. Come have dinner with us."

"No," he says, "I just came by to set a time."

"Draco, please?" I ask. "I'd love for you to come join us. I could use someone on my side."

For the first time since he's arrived he cracks a small smile, "How do you know I'm on your side?"

"You're still here, aren't you?"

"Ginny, will you hurry up? Mum's starving all of us..." Ron says walking up to me from behind. He looks over my shoulder at Malfoy outside.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, frowning.

"Leaving, actually," Malfoy says, turning to go.

"Oh no you're not," I say, grabbing his gloved hand and pulling him inside. "You're coming to join us for dinner." I ignore both of their protests.

"Ginny, I don't think that's..."

"Weasley, if you don't let go of me..."

"Hey!" I cry, dragging him into the noisy dining room, "Look who's here!" Everyone looks up from their conversations and it is as if some greater being has just hit the mute button. Mum's jaw drops, Percy drops his spoon, and Fred and George don't disappoint, as for the first time in their entire lives they seem utterly speechless.

At last, revenge is mine.

* * * * *