TWENTY SEVEN

THE NEXT MORNING WAS SPENT putting up Christmas decorations around Grimmauld Place. Rory, as well as nearly everybody else was in an exceptionally cheerful mood. Rory had brought her radio to the kitchen where they were and got it to play muggle Christmas carols which Sirius seemed very pleased about. Ginny was concerned as Rory belted the lyrics to Last Christmas ("Jeez, Rory, why are all your muggle Christmas songs so depressing?"). She was even more concerned as Rory and Sirius unintentionally broke out in a duet of Baby, It's Cold Outside. Fred was all for it, though, and held out his wand for Rory to use as a pretend microphone.

Rory could not stop smiling the whole day. Despite the situation they were all in, the Weasleys all found ways to be happy. Although, Harry had not left his room all day and did not join them for breakfast or lunch. Rory was saddened he was missing out on all the fun, but knew he needed to rest and was probably going through a bit of emotional distress given the fact he had gotten a vision of Mr. Weasley's attack.

Sirius was someone Rory very much enjoyed the company of. He knew all her muggle songs and seemed to love Christmas just as much as the girl. Rory only wished Remus and her father were there to share their joy with everyone else.

However, they did get a visitor at around six o'clock. Hermione had appeared, cheeks flushed and flecks of snow still lingering in her frizzy hair. Although her arrival upset the portrait of Walburga, she was able to bring Harry out of hiding.

Also, Rory's Christmas wish did come true that night at dinner as Remus and Andrew arrived, as well as Tonks who was sporting red and green locks. However, Andrew did not come alone. Aaron was beside him with a wide grin, looking at the Christmas decorations with childlike wonder. Christine never put up anything other than a Christmas tree, so it was more than he was used to.

"Aaron!" Rory screeched, engulfing the boy in a tight hug, "You're staying with dad for Christmas?" Her heart began swelling with joy when she saw her younger brother. There was nothing in that moment that could make her happier.

"Indeed he is," Andrew smiled, taking his coat off, "You guys don't mind if he stays here with the kids when I'm at work though, do you?"

"Not at all!" Sirius exclaimed, "The more the merrier!"

"Mum is going to lose it," Aaron shrugged as he followed Rory into the kitchen, "Not that I care, though. I went off at her for bad mouthing you in every letter she sent me, told her I wasn't interested in hearing her speak poorly about my own sister... after that she stopped writing to me."

Rory could not tell if she should be happy or sad. Of course she was so elated to see Aaron and that they could be a proper family on her favorite holiday. However, it upset her that he was now receiving the same neglect Rory had to endure all those years.

"Hey, Aaron's here!" Ginny beamed as she joined them at the dinner table.

"Yep! He sure is!" Aaron smiled. Fred and George shared the same reaction as they came in to the dinning room.

Mrs. Weasley had made everyone sandwiches for dinner served with butterbeer.

"Are you coming over for Christmas, Andy?" Ginny asked.

Andrew sighed, "Well, Gin, I wish I could say that I am. However, it appears I've been scheduled to work during the day. I'll be free in the morning -"

"Well you and Aaron will be over, yeah?" Sirius smiled, "Oh, I'm so excited. Remus, darling, you'll be joining us as well?"

Just then, Fred, who was in the middle of a large gulp of butterbeer, spit the contents of his bottle out on to the wooden table and coughed into his arm loudly to recover. Rory quickly waved her wand and cleaned it up as Fred dished through his pockets to find three sickles to give Rory. The girl smirked as she took his money from under the table and watched as Ginny sighed and did the same. Making bets was something Rory was against, however, she had never been more sure of anything in her life than Sirius and Remus' relationship and felt it was barely even a gamble at that point.

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AARON ARRIVED ON CHRISTMAS EVE-EVE while Andrew was at work and was treated as if he had been there and known everyone for years. He particularly enjoyed Ginny's company, given they were the closest in age and had the most in common being the youngest sibling and often feeling left out by the older kids there. Ron, Harry, and Hermione had their little trio as did Rory and the twins. Luckily it was good Aaron and Ginny had each other.

Life was moving by fast for the boy, it was a lot to handle at once. However, it seemed he was making all the right choices and wished he had done what Rory did and left sooner. Joining the DA had really changed things for him. He realized how alike his mother and Umbridge were and knew he would be better off following Rory. On top of that, Aaron had made friends who were a lot nicer to him.

Luna Lovegood was someone he especially enjoyed the company of, he was a bit weary of her when they had been partnered up for spells during a DA meeting, however he soon learned she was simply fascinating and those who called her "Loony" had just not taken the time to get to know her. Although his old friends began teasing him for his new friendship with her, he did not care and continued spending his spare time with her. Sitting in the lonely areas of the schoolgrounds as she spoke about magical creatures to him while he filled out the crossword puzzle in The Quibbler was a part of his daily routine he wasn't sure how he went so long without.

Aaron sat with Ginny in the drawing room and decided to clean off the piano as their job for the day. It was Aaron's idea, he knew Rory would probably love for it to be more playable so she could perform carols for everyone like she used to do for him when they were younger.

"I think something died in here," Ginny gagged as she opened the piano, dust flying everywhere.

Aaron chuckled, "Please, Ginny, you're being - oh my goodness I think you're right!" He covered his mouth and nose as he caught whiff of what she had been referring to. It smelled like the rotten meat his mother would sometimes forget to clean out of the refrigerator at home.

"SIRIUS!" Ginny cried, "CAN YOU COME HERE PLEASE?" she turned to face Aaron, "Whatever it is, I'm not touching it. We ought to get someone who can use magic to get rid of it."

"Good idea," the boy shuddered.

Sirius and Remus came rushing into the room and immediately gagged at the scent that was now filling the area.

"I suppose you've called me in here to be pest control?" The man asked with disgust, "Remus... why don't you take a look."

Remus groaned and approached the piano, "It's just a dead rat, you're all so dramatic... my goodness." He got out his wand and quickly removed it as Aaron shut his eyes to avoid seeing the dead animal. However, there was no way to mask the scent that was still lingering in the room. Ginny thought the best solution would be to double up on her perfume. Unfortunately, that only resulted in Aaron having the urge to sneeze nonstop. They pushed through the smell though and successfully cleaned off the piano.

"Should we see if it sounds any better?" Ginny asked, "Do you play too?"

Aaron shrugged and sat at the piano bench, "Rory used to try to teach me. I never was as... musically inclined as she was. I can play... Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, maybe?"

"The hell is that?" Ginny laughed.

Aaron rolled his eyes with a smile and played the simple tune. He could tell taking the dust and cobwebs away, as well as removing the dead rodent from the instrument greatly improved the sound. He couldn't wait for Rory to be able to use it. The entire drawing room had completely changed since he saw it the first time just days prior. The whole house had, in fact. The Christmas decorations made more a much homier feel. Aaron doubted Sirius would ever take them down even when all the snow had melted away.

He heard footsteps rush down the steps and a loud noise beside him. Rory had run down to the room while Fred and George used magic to do so. Aaron flinched at the loud crack their appearance made, but quickly softened when he realized it was just the twins.

"She heard the piano," Fred sighed.

Rory smiled widely and bounced eagerly on her heels, "It was loud enough for me to hear from upstairs! Have you fixed it?"

Aaron and Ginny nodded proudly. "Yeah once Lupin got rid of the dead rat that was inside the hood -" Ginny explained.

Rory shuddered and sat next to Aaron on the piano bench.

"D'you remember Heart and Soul?" She asked, beginning to play a tune on the lower end of the keys. Aaron shook his head and his sister smiled softly. She began teaching him a familiar song they used to play together as kids and the memories rushed back to him.

"This is too cute," Ginny said, "I'm grabbing your camera, Rory!"

Aaron laughed as Ginny nearly slipped on her socks turning the corner out of the room. The boy kept his smile the rest of the day as he realized how lucky he was to be there with his sister for Christmas, something he had not experienced in ages.