FORTY SIX

THE NEXT MORNING, Rory woke up by Ginny shaking her awake softly with a giggle. Rory's eyes fluttered open to see the girl's freckled face above her, red hair falling in front of her face.

"Happy Christmas, Rory!" She smiled, "You want to wake her up?"

Rory smiled and rolled her eyes, "Happy Christmas, Gin. Don't be rude. I'll wake her." The girl sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes before reaching over to the camp bed on the floor and giving Fleur a light shake, "Fleur! Wake up! It's Christmas!"

The blonde girl opened her eyes and smiled, Rory didn't understand how anyone could look so beautiful so early in the morning. Ginny jumped on to Rory's bed with a gift in her lap.

"Rory! Open your gift from Mum with me! I want to see what color you got this year!" Ginny said as Rory shuffled through her pile of presents. She picked out the one with the same wrapping as the one Ginny was holding.

"Fleur, you want to open yours first too?" Rory asked.

Fleur looked through her much smaller collection of gifts and frowned, "I don't see one... Perhaps she 'as forgotten! She 'as so many to make. I don't blame her for not thinking of me when she 'as all her kids and you and 'Arry. It's okay, though."

Rory suddenly became very sad, "No, Fleur. It's not okay..." The image of everyone at breakfast in their jumpers except for Fleur broke Rory's heart, she wouldn't let that happen. Luckily, the girl had a solution. She got up and opened her small bag of clothes she had brought. Rory had a terrible habit of always forgetting to unpack from the trip prior, however it came in handy when she pulled out the jumper Fred had left in her, Ginny, and Hermione's room at Grimmauld Place which Rory obviously stole (she knew that was his intention, given the fact it was his jumper from third year and clearly didn't fit him, but it fit Rory). Rory handed Fleur the burnt sienna colored garment and smiled.

"F for Fleur! Well, for Fred but... it works!" Rory said.

The French girl in front of her looked as if she were going to cry and she gratefully accepted the jumper, "Rory, you are so thoughtful! 'Zis is 'ze best gift I 'ave ever gotten!"

Rory nodded, "You deserve it, Fleur. Alright, now that that's settled..." Rory ripped open the paper and reveled her fourth Weasley sweater, this year was a deep purple with a gold "R". She assumed Fred once again wanted to give her her gift in person because it was absent from the others. Remus got her a stack of books, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. She had gotten other smaller gifts from the others, nothing from Aaron or her father so she assumed they would bring them over for Christmas dinner.

For Fred, she got a new bottle of cologne and made him a small scrapbook of her favorites photos of the two of them both by themselves and with friends. It was simple, but crafty. She had included other mementos to their relationship she had kept (because Rory was oh-so sentimental).

After finishing opening her gifts and changing into her "R" jumper, she ventured off to Fred's room. With two knocks and an "Oi, oi!" the door opened and Rory stepped in.

"Happy Christmas, Rory!" Bill smiled, "Fleur awake?"

Rory nodded and sat herself on Fred's bed, "Yeah, she is. I'd go talk to her if I were you. Molly didn't make her a jumper so, I gave her one of Fred's old ones. Still, she's a bit upset over the matter."

"Shit, alright. Thanks, Rory," Bill sighed and left the room. Fred and Rory looked at George who just nodded and left.

"Happy Christmas, my love," Rory said, giving Fred a peck on the lips, "Did you like your gift?"

"It was perfect, thank you. Alright, you ready for yours?" He smirked.

"I'm a bit nervous," she said, "I mean, you've already given me everything I've ever wanted!"

Fred smiled warmly, "Here it is." He handed her a small rectangle shaped package. Rory opened it and under the wrapping was a mahogany box with a small drawer in the front and a latch indicating it would open at the top.

"Open it," he said. Rory opened the top and a tune began playing. A smile crept across her face as she heard the familiar voice of Darlene Love play out, The snows coming down, I'm watching it fall.

"Freddie, this is — " before she could finish, he cut her off.

"Close it and open it again," he said. Rory did as he said and a different song played. Another Christmas song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sung by Judy Garland. It seemed to play a new song each time she opened and closed it.

"It's enchanted to play all your favorites, it won't always play Christmas songs, that should stop in January... after that it'll be well, I'm not sure. I tested it on Verity since she's muggle born and everything, so she knows your music. For her, it was playing some more recent stuff, I know you like your oldies so I hope it adjusts."

Rory flung her arms around the boy and he nearly fell over. He caught himself and returned the hug, tightly wrapping his strong arms around her.

"Thank you, love. You're so thoughtful. I love it."

The two joined everyone for breakfast, which started out normal, but like most things in Rory's life, took a turn. The table was discussing Patronuses, nothing unusual for a group of witches and wizards. And then —

"Arthur!" said Molly suddenly. She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. "Arthur — it's Percy!"

"What?"

Mr. Weasley looked around. Everybody looked quickly at the window; Ginny stood up for a better look. Sure enough, there was Percy Weasley, walking across the snowy yard, his glasses glinting in the sunlight. However he was not solo.

"Arthur, he's — he's with the Minister!"

Rory dropped her fork and it hit the plate in front of her with a clatter. There stood the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. Rory didn't know which was more surprising to see standing outside the Burrow. Percy or the Minister. Rory's feelings on the Prodigal's Son of the Weasley family were a grey area. He had left his family, insulted them and hurt them... but had Rory not done the same thing? Perhaps she was slightly sympathetic. There was part of her that was rooting for him, hoping he'd come around sooner or later.

"Merry Christmas, Mother." He said stiffly as he entered the Burrow.

"Oh, Percy!" said Molly, and she threw herself into his arms.

Rufus Scrimgeour paused in the doorway, leaning on his walking stick and smiling, "You must forgive this intrusion," he said, when Mrs. Weasley looked around at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. "Percy and I were in the vicinity — working, you know — and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all."

While most of the family was glaring, stone faced at Percy, Rory was giving the Minister the side eye. Andrew was not favorable of the Ministry and part of it had rubbed off on Rory. From them painting Harry as a villain and making a mockery of Cedric's death to bringing Umbridge into Hogwarts and interfering with nearly everything in their lives, she felt they weren't the most trusted. Something about Scrimgeour's quiet old man demeanor threw her off.

"Please, come in, sit down, Minister!" fluttered Molly, "Have a little purkey, or some tooding... I mean —"

"No, no, my dear Molly," said Scrimgeour. "I don't want to intrude, wouldn't be here at all if Percy hadn't wanted to see you all so badly..."

"Oh, Perce!" said Molly tearfully, reaching up to kiss him.

"... We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up with Percy. No, no, I assure you I don't want to butt in! Well, if anybody cared to show me your charming garden... Ah, that young man's finished, why doesn't he take a stroll with me?" Scrimgeour's gaze landed on Harry and Rory had to keep herself from audibly scoffing.

"Yeah, alright," Harry said, getting up.

"Wonderful! We'll just take a turn around the garden, and Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!" The Minister said, disappearing with Harry into the garden. There was silence for a moment, Ron broke it.

"So that bit about you just dying to see us, bullshit was it?" He sneered.

Molly snapped at her son, "Watch your mouth, Ronald!"

"Not entirely," Percy responded, "It's good to see all of you again. George, Fred... I hear business is well."

Fred rolled his eyes, "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Fred," Rory whispered, "Give him a chance." Perhaps seeing the best in people was a fatal flaw of the Archer girl, but she knew better than anyone people can change for the better. At one point her own brother was a little prick.

"I haven't had a moment to stop in," Percy said stiffly, "I've been... busy."

George shook his head, "Yeah, so've we. We still have time for our own family."

Molly shot her sons a sharp look, "He's here now, isn't he? That's all that matters."

"It's nice to see you, Percy," Rory smiled, "How have you been?"

Percy's features softened slightly at Rory's words, "Well you know, things have changed with You-Know-Who being back and —"

"He's been back, Percy!" Ginny snapped, getting up from her chair so aggressively it fell to the ground. "If you weren't so brainwashed you would've known that!"

"Brainwashed? For what? Believing the Minister of Magic over a fourteen year old?! Don't make me laugh, Ginny." Percy snapped, his face sharpening once again. Rory sunk slightly into her chair. She hated when people fought in front of her. It reminded her of her parents when she was younger. Her whole body tensed and she wanted to cover her ears and shut her eyes.

"Why did you come here, Percy? Wanted to spoil another Christmas? Haven't made Mum cry enough?" George said, his voice becoming much louder.

"Nobody wants you here," Fred glared.

Percy matched the cold stare of those at the table, "I figured as such. I didn't even want to come, you know. Why would I? Just to be reminded of how... how embarrassing —"

"Shut up!" Ginny snapped, something flinging out of her hand and on to Percy's glasses. The boy was now covered in parsnips, courtesy of his sister.

He angerly wiped them off with the end of his sleeve and shook his head, "If that's how it's going to be. Good bye, then."

Fred and George instinctively threw portions of their breakfast at him as he walked away, hitting the back of his flaming red hair like bullets.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out, slimy git!" Fred snapped as the back door slammed and Percy was gone. Molly began crying as she saw him walk away, once again.

Maybe Rory was insane for thinking he would ever come back to his family. Luckily, Christmas dinner was a good distraction from the mayhem of breakfast. The tension settled when Molly began cooking. Ron was the biggest help as it seemed Rory's talents only lay within the world of baking. So, she decided to help Ginny get ready for the night.

"Rory! That dress!" Ginny beamed as Rory covered herself with the black fabric she had purchased a few days prior in the village. It had fit just the way she hoped and was surprisingly comfortable as well. She wasn't sure how the idea came about to do a formal Christmas dinner (if she remembered correctly, it was a suggestion from Sirius the year prior), but she wasn't complaining. It had been a while since Rory had an excuse to dress up.

"Thanks, Gin. You look beautiful. I'm glad that dress fits. Looks better on you than it did me," Rory said, putting on the ruby red earrings her dad had gotten her the year before, "Excited to meet Cordelia?"

Ginny sighed, "She should be glad she's basically my idol. I'm not sure what I'd do if Andy came here with anyone else."

Rory chuckled softly and pat Ginny on the shoulder, "They should be here soon, c'mon, let's go."

The smell of Christmas dinner hit the girl almost forcefully. It instantly made her hungry. The scent of turkey, potatoes, sprouts, and even the smell of the cakes and cookies filled the hallway. Rory and Ginny walked to the living room where the rest of the family was as they waited for Andrew, Cory, and Aaron. Everyone looked wonderfully beautiful in their classy attire. Molly especially in her new starry witch's hat and necklace the twins got her. Fred was clad in black trousers and a very deep crimson button down, which Rory thought he looked very attractive in. The boy seemed at a loss for words when Rory entered the room.

Molly beamed, "You look lovely, ladies. Now, Andrew should be here any second —"

Out of the fireplace, green smoke emerged and Andrew stepped out holding a bottle of champagne. He brushed the ash off of him before stepping out of the fireplace and into the room, "Hello everyone! Happy Christmas!"

Before anyone could say anything else, another person came out of the smoke. Cordelia's bubbly laughter filled the room, the woman appeared holding the gifts.

"Hello everyone! Happy Christmas! It smells lovely in here! Oh, you must be Ginny! Andy and Aaron have told me loads about you. It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Cor —"

"Cordelia Elliot," Ginny smiled, "I know."

Ron looked astounded, "Blimey Rory, your dad is marrying Cordelia Elliot?"

Aaron arrived next, just as smiley as Cory. Molly quickly had everyone relocate to the dinning room where Rory could tell it was going to be a tight fit. However, that didn't stop anyone from having a good time. The food was as delicious as it smelled. The Dom Perignon Andrew had brought made Rory feel extremely grown up, sipping champagne wearing a classy black dress.

"This muggle beverage is fascinating, Andrew," Mr. Weasley smiled, "I quite like the bubbles."

"I know, right?" Cory smiled, sipping her own.

Ron, Ginny, and Harry seemed incredibly jealous of the adults enjoying their alcohol. Despite that, the rest of the evening was wonderful and went down much better than breakfast. Eventually, the room split in half and the younger crowed sat in the living room while Remus, Cory, Andrew, Molly, and Mr. Weasley stayed in the kitchen finishing the champagne and cleaning up.

Rory opened her presents from her father and Aaron. They seemed to have tag teamed on it seeing as Andrew got her her very own record player and Aaron supplied her with a boatload of records she could play on them. Cordelia got her a pair of Mary Janes she knew Andrew had helped her picked out since they were a muggle brand — Dr. Marten's. She was so blessed to have so many amazing people in her life who cared so much for her.

"Mind if I hijack the wireless?" Rory smirked. Everyone nodded and the girl pointed her wand at it to tune it. After a few channels passed and some static, it landed on the muggle station.

"RORY!" Ginny jumped up, "It's the song! Our Christmas song! Can we dance again?"

Rory nodded and joining Ginny in the middle of the living room, "The church bells in town!"

"Are ringing in song! Full of happy sounds!" Ginny giggled, "C'mon, Aaron! I know you know this one.

"Baby, please come home!" Aaron joined in, jumping around the room.

"'Zis is very interesting music," Fleur nodded.

"Rory here loves corrupting our sweet Ginny with her depressing Christmas carols," George mumbled.

Rory crossed her arms, "It's not depressing! At least not when you're surrounded by everyone you love when you listen to it!"

Which she was, surrounded by everyone she loved.

Rory really did love Christmas.