Chirstmas Chocolate

Christmas Chocolate

Chapter 1

Eileen felt odd. There were so many people in a seemingly small car. There was a family here. She didn't have a real family. Ok, she had a twin sister, but that was a long story. Her sister was staying... at a friend's, anyway. Eileen wasn't quite sure, but she knew Ai would be safe. The point was, she only had two guardians, no parents. The guardians had only met by accident, and one of them was an elf. As nice as they were, they were quite busy, so Aileen and Eileen, of which Eileen had short red hair and Aileen had long white, had always stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. And most other holidays that it was allowed. But now...

She was sitting in a car with Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. Ron had invited her home after seeing her by herself. They hadn't been friends, although she and Hermione had worked together on a Charms project once. She was suddenly very aware that they had been looking at her for a while, apparently after asking her a question.

She looked at them, smiling. "I'm sorry," she said, "what did you ask me?"

Hermione smiled back at her. "Are you all right, Eileen?"

Eileen nodded. "I'm fine. I was somewhere else."

Ron grinned. "Well, this is going to be a great Christmas. Everyone's going to be there..."

As Ron explained why this Christmas was going to be so great, Eileen put her head against the side of the car and fell asleep.

When she woke up, she was at the Weasley's house. She smiled. It was so wonderful. The fact that it looked like a drunken French surrealist had designed it made it all the more original and remarkable. The others, including Mrs. Weasley (who already insisted on being called Molly) and Ginny, were all waiting for her response. This was critical.

Eileen grinned. "This is the best house I've ever seen," she said. It was true.

Molly clapped her hands. "I'm so glad you think so! Now, let's get you settled in. We've managed to make a little space in Ginny's room, so you'll be staying with her and Hermione."

She was given a tour of the house, which encompassed the kitchen, Ron's room, Percy's room (the cleanliness of which made Eileen cringe), and the garden. They avoided Fred and George's room at Ginny's insistence. "You don't want to go in there, mum," she said nervously. "Trust me." Molly had given Ginny a very odd look, but hadn't asked.

The garden gnomes had startled Eileen at first, but the sight of a pond made her very happy. She didn't dare to ask what was living in it.

At dinner that night, Eileen was the main topic of conversation. Everyone wanted to know a little bit about her.

"Eileen, what's your average?" Hermione asked innocently.

"Four percent less than yours. I checked," said Eileen.

"Do you like any sports?" asked Ron.

"Yes, actually. I'd love to play Quidditch, but you've got such a full team..."

Harry looked intrigued. "What position do you play? Most of our team will be graduating in a few years."

"I can play Chaser pretty well," said Eileen, embarrassed at all the attention.

"Pity you're not a Beater," said Fred.

Eileen and George choked on their food at the same time, and Ginny dissolved into giggles.

Molly looked at them oddly. "What?"

"Nothing!"

Molly looked at them skeptically. Eileen and George shared an embarrassed smile before Fred and George had a frantic whispered conversation. Many sidelong glances were shot back and forth between Eileen and George, leading Ginny to giggle more, and Fred to kick George in the shins.

Later, Hermione, Eileen, and Ginny went to Ginny's room to sleep. Hermione smiled. "So, George, is it?" she asked, smiling knowingly.

Eileen looked shocked. "What? No! No. Never. No. What? No," she rambled.

There was a pause.

"Yes," she said, blushing.

Ginny giggled at Hermione. "See? I told you! No one can stare that much and not have a thing for the person they're staring at."

Eileen didn't try to argue. "Yes, all right, all right. You win. I have a "thing" for your brother."

Hermione grinned. "The men tend to be rather attractive, don't they?"

Ginny looked repulsed. "Hermione, those are my brothers you're talking about!"

Eileen giggled. She coughed, and it sounded suspiciously like "Harry".

Ginny blushed. "Well, not all men who live under this roof are relatives..."

They talked about the events of the day until Hermione and Ginny fell asleep. Eileen wrote a quick letter to her sister.