Story: Broken But Brave
Chapter Twenty Six: Gifting Ceremony Starts!

The supper was a noisy affair. None of the kids, including the 'big baby' as Hermione called Ron, calmed down to get their tiny (and huge, in Ron's case) hands on the gifts. Everyone ate really quickly though they spent five minutes of the meal appreciating Harry and Molly for how delicious the feast turned out to be. As soon as the plates were wiped clean, all the kids plus Ron and George hurried out of the kitchen and into the sitting room where the bright tree and the glittering gifts sat. Angelina, Fleur, Percy, Harry and Arthur stayed behind and helped Mrs Weasley clean up the table and the kitchen before making their way to the sitting room.

The sitting room was a full house. The decorations hung beautifully and brightened the whole room with a festive feel. The fireplace cackled off to the side, illuminating the room with a warm glow. George was playing Father Christmas. As soon as he noticed the new entrants, he began passing their gifts to them as well. Harry took a seat beside Teddy, Victoire and Ginny.

"Seems like you and mum rocked tonight, eh?" Ginny teased. Harry laughed. Ginny had reserved him a seat on the table beside her but the ever oblivious Ron thought it to be empty and sat beside her. Teddy was on her other side and hence, Harry had to sit beside Mr Weasley near the head of the table and Percy who talked seriously about Harry's well-being and jokingly about thick bottomed cauldrons. Ginny gasped suddenly, causing Harry to look at her with raised eyebrows. She was holding a paper and her eyes were soft. Teddy, on the other hand, was looking as if he did not want to be there.

"Love, are you alright?" Harry asked. Ginny nodded and showed the parchment to a confused Harry. His eyebrows raised even further as his green eyes softened at the sight. The paper was a handmade one by a very little Teddy. Teddy had drawn it, nearly seven years back and asked Harry and Ginny, through babbling, to sign it. Harry had kept it with him in their bedroom but he had no idea what happened to it after his arrest. It was his favorite drawing. It was drawing of baby Teddy, two more babies (which presumably were his and Ginny's), Ginny and himself. The wordings containing Teddy's own words, 'mum, dad, brothars, sistas and Iself' were still visible.

"How did you find this, sweetheart?" Ginny asked.

"I asked Uncle Ron to fetch it for me," Teddy said in a very silent voice, as if he was afraid. Ginny pulled him closer and hugged him tightly, Harry joining not moments later.

"Thank you, Teddy, this is so nice."

Teddy grinned and went back to wrapping his gifts. Harry continued his as well. So far, he had received homemade tart and a Weasley jumper for Mr and Mrs Weasley, a set of small home decor from Bill, Fleur and their family, A dragon hide photo frame (which seemed bizarre though) from Charlie, a book on how to mingle with Muggles from Percy, a box of treacle tart made by Audrey, a set of newly arrivals of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes from George, a broom polishing kit from Angelina, a small box of seeds of decorative plants from Neville and Hannah, a poster of himself and Ginny, self painted by Luna, the drawing from Teddy and several other small parchment of drawings from the other kids. One one gift was there to open, surprisingly given that he had not received anything from Ron or Hermione. The gift was labelled from Ginny so he looked at her. At the same time, she gasped. Harry's smile widened at her reaction to his gift. She looked at him with wide eyes and that was when he noticed her misty eyes. Harry signed and opened his arms wide but she did not jump into them. In fact, she did not even make a move.

"Ginny, y-you don't like the gift? I know that you don't fancy expensive items but I wan-" Harry started but was cut off by Ginny's mouth on his. She kissed him passionately, shutting his words and when they backed away for the need of breath, she put a finger to his lips.

"Oh, shut up Mr Noble. You are overacting these days. A lot. I love it, Harry. I really do. Please help me put it on?" Ginny asked with puppy eyes. Harry laughed and extended his hand. She placed the velvet box on it. Inside sat a beautiful necklace, made of mother-of-earth pearls. The pearls dazzled in the festive light and were huge, each about the size of candy. They reflected off Harry's face as he watched them. He delicately took them and held them in front of Ginny, by her neck as she sided her red hair to aid him. He fixed it and looked at her.

"Open my gift too," she whispered. He did the same and found out to be a gleaming gold wristwatch.

"You didn't have to, Ginny."

"I wanted to, Harry. Besides it caught my eye and I thought it would look really smart on you. You like wristwatches, don't you?" Ginny asked. Harry nodded slowly. "Then wear it. I didn't ask you how you got the money to buy such an expensive gift so even you don't!" Harry laughed in response and instantly buckled up the wristwatch on his left wrist. It gleamed, showing the ticking time. He looked up at her to find her admiring the watch with a smile. Noticing his look, she smiled back at him.

Unbeknownst to them, the Weasley parents were watching them from afar, with warm smiles on their faces which turned into even more into huge ones as the couple in front of them sealed the gift opening ceremony with a kiss.

A loud hoot followed by a tapping sound alerted Molly and she scurried into the kitchen. A barn owl sat at the other end of the window, holding a parchment in it's narrow beak. It's yellow eyes pierced through the house as it sat, waiting for someone. Molly opened the window, took the letter from it and fed the owl with a treat. The owl hooted in gratitude before taking off into the night skies. Molly looked at the parchment and found that it was addressed to Ginny. She scurried into the sitting room and found her daughter curled up in front of the fire with Harry. Molly smiled before smiling at Arthur who was having a questioning gaze. Seeing his wife's smile, Arthur took it that it was no letter from the bothersome ministry. Molly walked over to the fireplace and bent low in order to speak with Ginny who was lying, curled up in Harry's arms, on the edge of the couch. They seemed to be asleep but Molly knew better. No one would be asleep with the great deal of noise the kids were making, playing with new toys.

"Ginny, dear," She said gently. The girl in question blinked open her brown eyes and blushed pink when she saw her mother looking at them in quite a compromising position. She immediately got up, hitting her head on Harry's chin who exclaimed in pain. As soon as he realized what was going on, he too turned red and sat up straight, nearly knocking the flower vase on the beside table, over. He caught it just in time. Molly chuckled. "This letter came for you, dear," she said. Ginny nodded and took the letter with a small, inaudible thanks. Molly smiled and was about to walk away when Ginny stopped her. "It is fine, dear. I doubt I have much to do with your letter."

"No mum, this letter is from Gwenog," Ginny said and passed it to Harry who was, until then, peeking at it from her shoulder. "She wants me at the stadium at nine. I think we must get going. It is already quarter past eight. It will take time to get ready in formal wear and go there," Ginny explained. Molly nodded, understanding the situation. As Ginny made to move, Hermione approached them.

"Ginny, Harry, can we talk, privately?" Hermione asked, looking tense. Ginny nodded as Harry raised his eyebrows. He was still suspicious about the pair not giving a Christmas present. Usually he would receive something, excluding the years he spent at Azkaban of course but this time, neither him nor Ginny received anything. This worried him as he was worried if his best friends were angry at them for all the drama they caused.

The pair followed Hermione upstairs and into the room of Ron. Harry found him pacing around the room nervously. His daughter Rose was on the bed, looking at her father with bright blue eyes. Hermione locked the door as soon as they were in.

"Ron," she said in a small yet strong voice which made Ron stop his pacing.

"Do I have to tell this?" He asked his wife. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"Ronald Weasley!" She shouted, "Are you the head of the family or am I?" She shrieked. Ron winced.

"Alright. Fine. Harry, Ginny, I must ask you a request," he started, looking at Rose then Harry then Ginny. They nodded. "Me and Hermione, both, are in dangerous professions. So . . . I want to name someone as Rose's godparents. You are the suitable people. Harry and Ginny Potter, please consider my request for you to become Rose Granger-Weasley's godparents slash honorary parents."

That's where I end it and no, I will not be showing the acceptance of the request. It will, obviously, be a welcomed thought by Harry and Ginny. I figured that since Harry named Ron and Hermione as James' godparents, they would do the same with him. I wanted to write that too as this story seemed to have turned into the normal cliche After The War fanfic. Originally, it wasn't meant to as I thought of ending it right after the whole Ginny finding Harry plot. An epilogue was going to be and I don't know about it now.

So, I ask if you guys, my dearest patient readers. Do you want to see a quidditch world cup or do you want this boring story to end with an epilogue? >_< I will surely start another Hinny story after this, so keep that in mind!

Please do answer.

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x