It was an hour after dawn when Mrs Weasley came down the stairs. She immediately headed for the kitchen to prepare the morning meal, but stopped at the doorway.
"Good morning, children. You're all up early."
"We haven't slept, Mrs Weasley," Hermione said, picking at the tablecloth.
"Oh, why not? Did something happen?"
A glance next to him told Harry that Hermione wasn't going to say anything, and Draco, who was sitting across from him, didn't care either way. He could use another of those cigarettes that Malfoy had given him earlier, it really had calmed him. Too bad Mrs Weasley and Hermione were there. "Ron didn't come back with us last night. And we waited up, but he hasn't been here."
Mrs Weasley's eyes rounded and she put a hand to her chest. "He hasn't been home! Why didn't he Floo with you and Hermione?"
"We had a fight," Hermione whispered, still not looking at the woman.
Harry put a hand over hers and squeezed. "Ron left her at the Leaky Cauldron and took off into Muggle London."
"Muggle London!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed with a gasp, winding the front of her dressing gown in twitchy fingers. "Why didn't you go after him, Harry?"
"I wasn't there. Ron said he would go and pick her up so that they could buy presents without me hanging about. By the time I found out he was gone, it was almost an hour later."
Mrs Weasley turned her face toward Hermione. "What did you two fight about?"
"Um." Hermione squirmed in her seat, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. "I found out that he- " she took a deep breath before looking Molly directly in the eyes. "He was lying to me about something."
"About what, dear?" she asked mildly.
"About Harry. Ron told me some horrible things and I- They just weren't true."
Mrs Weasley's eyes flickered down to where Harry was holding the girl's hand, her face hardening imperceptibly. "I see."
"I plan on going out today to look for him. I just wanted to wait until you woke up so you would know he wasn't here," Harry said, rising from the table to walk towards her. "Don't worry, Mrs Weasley, I'll find him."
Mrs Weasley looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "You tell Ron to come home when you catch up to him. I'm not even angry, I just want my baby home with me."
Her shoulders shivered convulsively and Harry gave them a squeeze before walking out of the room. He still hadn't slept and was about to go back out into the world in order to find Ron. Harry didn't hear when Malfoy had slipped out of the kitchen room to tap him on the shoulder.
"Potter."
Harry turned around. "What do you want?"
Draco pulled a small leather bag out of his dressing gown and pressed it into Harry's hand, closing his fingers over it. "Pick me up some fags? Earl and Flick's, you know the ones. I'm about to die here, haven't had one since I gave you the last earlier."
Rolling his eyes, Harry stuffed the money in his pocket. "All right, but go to sleep for God's sake. You'll thank me later. I'm sure the twins have all sorts of surprises cooked up for you."
Draco smirked. "Something like the sweets they tried to feed me last night? I remember what happened to a Ravenclaw a few years ago when they ate one, sprouted feathers and turned into a bloody bird."
Harry sniggered, "I'm sure."
"I don't think they'll bother me again, though," Draco mused, placing a finger over his lips to cover his grin. "I split it and slipped the same sweet into their dinner last night. I've never seen a half-man half-bird before, much less two at the same time. Don't think I want to again as it isn't pleasant to look at, upsets the stomach you know."
Trust Draco Malfoy to get one up on the twins.
"I'll get your bloody cigarettes, just keep out of Mrs Weasley's way today or she'll have you sitting next to the fire holding her yarn. She knits something fierce during the holidays and it isn't fun."
"Done it already, fell asleep if I recall. Then she called me a poor dear and sent me upstairs."
"Lucky arse," Harry grumbled before he stepped away and in front of the fireplace, throwing powder on the grate. "Diagon Alley," he shouted and walked into the flames.
*~*~*~*~*
It wasn't going to be a quiet day, Ginny had decided. At least Hermione and Draco were out of the line of fire and fast asleep in bed. Separately, of course. Something urged her to add that last bit in, just to make sure things were perfectly clear.
As she sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea carefully, Ginny spotted the newspaper from the night before and reached for it eagerly. Ha! Now there were no blasted annoying Malfoys to keep it from her. Unfortunately, Ginny was yet again too late as her brother George swept it from her reach and made to sit at the table. Sod it all!
"Ah George, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Charlie told him as he followed his brother into the kitchen, giving a solid blow to George's back.
"I'm Fred! Can't even tell us apart, ya worm." Fred stood straighter, hands on the back of the chair he was about to sit in.
Charlie stiffened. "I can so tell you apart."
Fred snorted, "Aye, it wasn't confusing last night when you helped that Malfoy prat bug our food."
His brother snickered quietly. "I'm an equal opportunity prankster. Didn't want to upset one by leaving the other out, did I?"
"Stupid bugger, you're supposed to be with us!"
"The jokers getting joked by their own inventions was too priceless for me to stop him, Fred," Charlie said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"I'm George!"
"Sure you are, mate." Charlie laughed as he walked away. Apparently it was a foolish thing to do because the twin, whichever one it was, picked up a skillet and boshed him hard on the back of the head. Ginny rolled her eyes, unconcerned, and grabbed at the day-old daily the boy had let drop. Finally!
"Charlie!" Mrs Weasley screamed as her son lay on the floor, flopping and twitching like a landed fish. She immediately turned her attention to the twin, eyes glinting like small, hard stones. "You've killed your brother!" Mrs Weasley screeched as she reached out with one hand to pinch Fred or George's ear and the other hand went around a large, wooden spoon.
"Mum! He's all right, honest."
"You've killed your brother!" Mrs Weasley's shrill voice rose several more octaves before she started beating Fred or George about the head and shoulders. Charlie, who was still on the floor, held his stomach and pointed at the twin, silent tears of mirth flowing down his crinkled cheeks. Ginny studiously attempted to ignore the entire scene, immersing herself instead in an article about the Knight Bus crash.
It wasn't possible anymore to ignore the others as another brother made his way into the kitchen. After that, it was a game of catch the Weasley as both twins chased the miraculously recovered Charlie around the room and their mother puffed after them, red-faced and brandishing her beloved spoon. Ginny calmly climbed up onto the table and sat cross-legged, watching the carousel of red hair go by.
When a blonde head appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, Ginny grinned. Clearing her throat, she announced Malfoy's presence. "Hey George, there's Draco now."
Four people stopped and turned to look at the lean figure standing in the frame, a single eyebrow raised in inquiry. Fred and George rushed forward to grab at him and the game began anew.
"Come here, Malfoy. We want a word."
Draco though, was fairly light on his feet and he managed to lead the merry Congo line around the table twice and then out the door into the snow-covered garden. Fred and George were on his heels, followed directly by Charlie with Mrs Weasley and her spoon bringing up the rear.
Ginny scooted to the edge of the table and slipped down, walking over to shut the door. No one had any respect for the poor, over-worked fireplaces.
"What was all that about?"
She spun around and spotted Ron next to the table, looking slightly rumpled but none the worse for wear.
"Ron!" Ginny ran and flung herself at her brother, squeezing him tightly around the middle. He chuckled lightly and pushed her back.
"Careful there, don't crush the merchandise."
"We were so worried! Harry left this morning for Muggle London to look for you. Where have you been?"
"I just had to sort some things out. Mum isn't cross, is she?"
Ginny lifted an eyebrow and folded her arms over her chest. "What do you think?"
"Thought as much," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I haven't slept yet, so I'll be in my room."
"That won't stop her, you know."
Ron looked down at his sister and pecked her on the forehead before turning toward the stairs. Ginny sighed and gritted her teeth. Weasley men could be so blasted stubborn!
*~*~*~*~*
"Ron!"
Harry shouted and waved when he saw a familiar red head tucked in a corner at the Leaky Cauldron. The boy lifted his head and smiled weakly.
"Hullo, Harry."
"Hullo yourself, there." Harry slipped into the seat next to his friend and looked down at the table. Should he say something about what Hermione had discovered the day before? Harry shook his head and pushed thoughts of the girl and all problems with Ron firmly out of his mind. It was time to keep the peace or Ron would take off again. "I uh- just came back from Gringott's, had to get some Galleons switched over. Good thing I saw you here, I was about to go into Muggle London looking for you. Where've you been?"
Ron shrugged a shoulder and stared into his pint of Butterbeer. "I just wanted to be alone for awhile. Hermione really cranked me yesterday."
"You and Hermione have had fights before, that's nothing new."
"Maybe."
Harry was silent for a few moments, hoping that Ron would open up about what was wrong, but disappointed when he didn't. Things were changing rapidly and it wasn't in a good way. Not to mention that it took a lot of effort to keep from punching Ron in the nose instead of playing it cool.
"Well, I was going to do some shopping after I found you. Care to join me?"
Ron snorted and took one last gulp from his mug before slamming it on the table. He wiped some foam off his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up. "No, I'm going home; haven't slept all night."
"None of us have, Ron."
"What were you doing up all night?"
The narrow glance of suspicion from Ron made him flinch, especially since it wasn't entirely unfounded. "We were waiting for you to come back. Your mum's been sick with worry."
"She'll get over it."
"What's wrong with you?" Harry burst out suddenly, standing up to look his friend in the eye. This wasn't the Ron he knew.
"Nothing," Ron sighed, twiddling his thumbs a bit before hooking them into his pockets. "I'm just tired. Happy shopping, Harry."
With that, Ron strode across the room to the fireplace and threw a pinch of Floo powder from his pouch into the grate, heading for the Burrow. Harry stood there for a moment, hurt and angry, not to mention a little guilty. If Ron knew what he and Hermione had been about the night before . . . But he didn't, couldn't possibly know anything. Besides, Harry and Hermione had already decided that they would make sure to include Ron in most everything, so he wouldn't feel left out when they went somewhere or talked. He only hoped that it was enough.
Harry turned and shuffled his feet, walking out of the Leaky Cauldron and into the heart of Muggle London.
The streets were crowded. Small wonder, as it was Christmas Eve. He was thankful that he had thought to have some Galleons converted at Gringott's before going to look for Ron. With the Floo shortage and Knight Bus problems, not to mention that Christmas was the next day, it was his final chance to buy presents for the Weasleys and Hermione.
Hermione.
It was going to be difficult this year to buy something for her. On most occasions when presents were called for, any heavy, leather-bound book that looked like it hadn't been touched in several years seemed just the thing. But now . . . gah! It was so bloody complicated. Especially with Ron and his oddity still whirling around in his head. Time to settle things out. Deal with Ron later; buy shiny trinkets for others now.
The shops were packed and Harry felt somewhat like a sardine as he pushed his way through, picking up different items for the assorted Weasleys and pausing briefly at a cafe for a cup of coffee to perk him up before moving on. Christmas was complicated at the Burrow and it would be much easier just to go to Harrod's instead of poking around in all the little stores, but Harry just wanted it to be done so he could get some sleep and the department store was miles away.
Sighing, he threw a few Muggle gags into his basket along with a remote-controlled race car for Mr Weasley. The man had enough batteries to light London for years, so Harry figured that he might as well get some use from them.
As he walked down the street, loaded with parcels, but trudging dutifully onward, Harry realised that he still hadn't found a present for Hermione yet. What did one get for their girlfriend? The word still felt odd and Harry found himself vocalising it a few times, oblivious to curious onlookers, just to drill it into his head. A girl who was a friend? More than a friend now, since she'd always been that. His snogging partner? Significant other? None of it seemed to fit the newly discovered wonder that was Hermione.
Something girly perhaps. Hermione used to complain frequently that they never saw her as a girl, just another one of the mates. Harry looked up when he realised that his parcels, hands, and the path under his feet had taken on a pinkish cast from the light of the shop beside him.
Checking his money once saw that he still had several twenty pound notes left to be spent and only one person to spend it on. Would it be all right if he maybe spoiled her just this once? With a grin, Harry realised that he probably would spoil her a lot more often now than he used to do. Decision made, he walked into the shop.
*~*~*~*~*
"Bundle up a bit more, Draco. There's a dear."
Mrs Weasley was oblivious to the narrow look the boy gave her as she went about building up the fire in the hearth. He was wrapped snugly in a thick blanket with a thermometer sticking out of his mouth. It was all very undignified. Especially when a tiny voice from inside the stick stated loudly that his temperature was officially above normal.
There was a funny tickling in the back of his throat and before Draco could make out what it was, the thermometer flew from his mouth with a violent sneeze. His nose and eyes watered and the world was bleary for a moment until he was able to wipe his face.
Molly shook her head and muttered a quick repairing spell at the broken glass on the floor before picking the now intact thermometer up. "Just as I suspected, you have a cold."
"I do nod haff a coald," Draco stated carefully, annoyed by the fact that he did seem to have a lisp or something now. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the twins laughing and pointing at him. Even Ginny and Charlie were trying to hold in a giggle or two. At least runty Ron was still upstairs pouting, but Granger was peeping around the doorway with wide eyes.
"Terrible thing about that snow sprite. If you hadn't fallen on her while trying to get at George, her sister never would have hexed you," Mrs Weasley prattled on while pulling another blanket around his shoulders. "Ginny," she called. "Bring me Grandmum's potion; you know the one."
At this, the twins howled even louder until their mother thumped them on the head.
"Oh, you're in for it now, Malfoy. And here we wanted revenge for your stunt earlier. This is priceless, really," George said, rubbing his ear.
George was now differentiated from his twin by the fact that he had a large, purple stain on his face from the inkbottle Draco had thrown at him when they came back inside. Fred tittered beside him, slapping his knee.
"You'll love this. Mum puts lots of garlic in Grandmum's potion. Too bad you'll probably be feeling better later; George and I could've had loads of fun with this."
"There's still fun to be had, Fred," George said, turning to his twin in mock solemnity.
"Indeed?" Fred tried to raise only one of his eyebrows, but failed, so he settled for sticking his nose in the air.
"Indeed."
George took his brother by the arm and they skipped merrily around the sofa, much to the annoyance of Draco, singing a song about ferrets and germs. Mrs Weasley was distracted from thumping them again by Ginny's arrival with the potion. The twins stopped and grinned as their mother brought a spoon out of her apron, their faces alight with anticipation.
"See, Fred?" George pointed out, acknowledging the spoon with a shake of his finger.
Fred nodded, donning a falsely stuffy air and sniffing. "Much fun to be had."
Draco eyed the yellowish liquid warily as Ginny poured a goodly amount onto the utensil her mother held. "Whad's in dad?"
Ginny beamed innocently at him and batted her lashes. "Garlic, honey, burdock, feverfew, and the extra special ingredient: dragon dung."
Gagging, Draco shook his head vehemently. "You're nod giffing me dad sduff."
Eyeing her mother, Ginny smiled and took the spoon from her grip, walking toward Draco with it held out like a sword. "Yes I am," she chirruped brightly. "You'll drink this and be back to your less annoying self."
He tried to get up, but there were hands on either shoulder pushing him down and moving suddenly wasn't an option. Draco decided on keeping his mouth firmly sealed, barely able to breathe through his clogged nose. Mrs Weasley covered a laugh as Ginny stood in front of him with one hand on her hip.
"Open you're mouth, Malfoy."
Draco remained maddeningly silent and narrowed his eyes at her, daring the girl to make a move. Sighing, Ginny reached out a hand to pinch his nose shut.
"Just have to do this the hard way then."
She waited patiently as Draco continued to hold his breath. When he felt his lungs burn though, he had to open his mouth to get some air and she shoved the spoon full of potion in, he could hear the clank of metal against his teeth. He almost spit it back out, but was eventually able to swallow, eyes watering all the while.
Mrs Weasley and Charlie were guffawing as they made their way into the kitchen for some tea, and one of the twins ruffled his hair rudely before they followed their mother. Ginny stood with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face.
"Now that wasn't so hard."
"Are you drying do gill me?"
Ginny leaned forward, an inch from his face. "No, I'm not 'drying do gill' you. If I didn't do it, Mum would have."
Draco grinned suddenly and it obviously put her off since she attempted to step backwards. He reached out and pulled Ginny to her knees before him, moving his head forward to kiss her soundly on the mouth. She struggled for a moment but he held on, tickling her lips with his tongue for good measure, until he had to stop for breath.
Jumping to her feet, Ginny wiped at her mouth. "Ack! What did you do that for?"
Draco smile grew broader and he leant back against the sofa, folding his arms behind his head and gazing at her from hooded eyes. "You officially haff a coald. Now bring me a cup of dea before you fall ofer."
Ginny's eyes widened dramatically and she dropped her hand before running into the kitchen. "Muuuum!"
He pulled his arms down and burrowed further under the warm blankets, stretching his feet toward the fire. Payback really was a lot of fun.
Reviewing is good karma. If you'd like to join my yahoo group, direct your browsers to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stafics