Name: A Christmas Interlude

Date: December 25th, 1999

Rating: T

Genre: Family/Fluff

'The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.'

- Burton Hillis

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"I'm really not seeing a reason to leave this bed," Ginny sighed as Harry's lips moved lazily across her neck. "Nothing can be better than this."

"Mhmm," Harry agreed, certainly not wanting to argue with such a statement.

"Surely everyone would understand," Ginny gasped as Harry's teeth found a particularly sensitive spot.

"We've just returned from our honeymoon and spent the first night in our new apartment. I'm sure they'd understand exactly what we'd be spending the day doing,"

"I don't want this to end," Ginny moaned, her fingers finding purchase in Harry's hair. He grinned against her flesh, thinking silently to himself that it was a wonder he had any hair left after the amount of time Ginny had spent tugging on it in the last fortnight.

"It's going to end eventually," Harry reminded her. "And it is Christmas day, surely you want to see your family?"

"They're not going anywhere," Ginny argued. "And the Burrow is going to be bursting at the seams. They won't miss us."

"You don't have to convince me Ginny Potter," even two weeks later Harry still got a thrill every time he referred to Ginny by her new name.

"It's a bit strange really," Ginny mused. "Every one is going to know exactly what we've spent our time doing for the last fortnight."

"We have a piece of parchment that says were allowed now," Harry grinned, referring to their certificate of marriage. "And besides, I really hope they don't know exactly what we've been doing for the last two weeks."

Ginny swatted him, stretching as she did so, luxuriating in the feel of the new sheets she and Harry had purchased for their new bed in their new apartment. Never in her life had Ginny had so many new things and, while she felt a little guilt for it, she was also revelling in the creature comforts it provided.

"I love our apartment," she sighed happily, snuggling against Harry's chest. "Don't you love it Harry?"

"It's nice," Harry admitted. "Too small though."

"We don't need a house yet Harry," Ginny grinned, enjoying the argument which had oft been repeated between them. "The apartment is perfect for now."

"Small, though," Harry insisted.

"Cosy," Ginny replied. "Or now that you've got me shackled to you for all eternity are you hoping I'm going to spit out a few kids?"

"I certainly hope you're not going to 'spit out' any kids," Harry rebutted, looking horrified. "And as far as I know, our plan to wait at least five more years before we have children still stands, unless you know something I don't."

"We've certainly been busy enough to change those plans," Ginny grinned saucily at him. "Lucky we're both so good at Charms. We could test those charms out and stay in bed all day?"

"You're insatiable Mrs. Potter," Harry nuzzled her neck again. "I have a feeling your mother would march straight through the Floo and drag us out of bed if we didn't show up though."

"Urgh!" Ginny exclaimed. "Fine, you're right. We'll go."

"How long do you need to get ready?" Harry asked, glancing at his wrist watch on the bedside table to his left. "We've got an hour before we have to be there."

"Not that long," Ginny grinned, knowing, as Harry pounced atop her that there was no way they were going to make it to the Burrow within the hour.

Through a lot of rushing around and a shared shower (the activities of which delayed them even further), Harry and Ginny found themselves only a half hour late to Christmas lunch at the Burrow.

Ginny had been right, the Burrow was bursting at the seams. The crowd was liberally doused with red heads, but enough non-Weasley's were present to make up the numbers. They all seemed to surge forward as Harry and Ginny stepped out of the Floo, all with wishes of a merry Christmas and demanding details of their honeymoon.

"You're glowing!" Mrs. Weasley had exclaimed, upon first laying eyes on her only daughter.

"She better not be," Bill had growled from behind his mother. "I don't want to know what's responsible for that glow!"

Both Ginny and Harry had blushed at that statement, prompting cat calls from some of their gathered family and friends, and groans of disgust from others. Mrs. Weasley, blushing herself, redirected the assembled masses to the sitting room for the gift exchange.

The next several minutes resembled something like what Harry imagined a feeding frenzy of wild Parana's would look like. Everybody dove in, gifts flying through the air, gift wrap was torn off with gusto, exclamations of delight and thanks were all that were heard for ten minutes at least. As quickly as it had all begun, it finished and they all sat back to examine the multitude of gifts they had received.

"There's one gift left," Mr. Weasley announced, leaving the room.

"It's to Harry and Ginny, from all of us," Mrs. Weasley explained. "We know it's been hard for you Harry, since Hedwig, but you and Ginny are a family now and every family needs it's own owl."

Arthur was back then, carrying a cage, inside of which was one of the most magnificent owl's Harry had ever seen. He was aware of Ginny's gasp and, to his embarrassment, felt his eyes stinging with tears as he peered into the soulful eyes of his new owl.

He was a magnificent creature. Huge and a very dark grey, his yellow eyes blinked intelligently at them as he regarded his new family.

"He's a Great Grey," Arthur explained, opening the cage and allowing the owl to step out self-importantly. "They're pretty rare in this part of the world, but when we saw him we knew he was perfect for you."

He was as different from Harry's first friend as it was possible for an owl to be. And Harry found himself immediately thankful that the Weasley's had understood. Hedwig could never be replaced in his heart and having a new owl that at all resembled her would have been too painful for Harry to stand. This huge, magnificent creature's only resemblence to his predecessor was the intelligence that his eyes exhibited.

"His name is Glaucus," Molly put in. "It means 'grey' in Ancient Greek Mythology. He's only young though, so you could most likely change it if you wanted to."

"It's perfect," Harry decided, looking to Ginny for confirmation that she agreed. "Thank you so much, everyone."

"Lunch!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, tearing the attention away from Harry as he solemnly held his arm out of Glaucus. "Quickly everyone, into the dining room now before everything goes cold."

Harry shot Mrs. Weasley a thankful smile, glad he was alone as he reached forward for the first time to stroke the feathery head of the young owl.

"He sure is a beauty," he muttered to Ginny, who he knew had lingered. "I'm glad they did this, it would have been too hard to do it myself... you know?"

"I know," Ginny reached forward as well, introducing herself to their new pet. "Glaucus will live a long and happy life the way Hedwig deserved to Harry. I'm sure our kids will grow up with him in their lives."

"You're making me paranoid Mrs. Potter," Harry grinned, dropping a kiss upon her lips chastely. "Better keep practicing those charms."

"Harry, I'm really not sure that broomstick was such a good idea," Hermione worried, watching as Teddy attempted to mount his Christmas present.

"Relax Hermione, I had one at his age," Ginny laughed, holding Teddy's chubby hands in her own to aid his balance.

"And look at you now! Covered in bruises and bumps," Hermione rolled her eyes.

"They're not from Quidditch training," Harry grinned wickedly, ignoring the groans of his new brother-in-laws'.

"Andromeda said the broomstick was fine," Harry had eyes only for his godson and missed the gesture Ginny shot his way. "Besides, look at him, he's a natural."

"Meanwhile we look like the most uncool parents in the world," George shot a meaningful glance at his son, who had cried himself to sleep in jealousy of Teddy's present.

"It says eighteen months and above on the packaging," Harry felt immensely guilty for not thinking of baby Fred. "I'll buy him one in six months time."

"Nah, the kids spoilt enough," George rolled his eyes. "I think we need to give him a sibling just to take him down a peg."

"Don't let mum hear you say that," Ron warned. "Next thing you know she'll be in your bedroom scattering shrivelfig petals and lighting scented candles to set the mood."

"Don't go their Ron, ever, ever again," George shuddered. "Someone please Merlin change the subject."

"How long till dinner," Ron moaned, rubbing his stomach theatrically. "I'm starving."

"You had four helpings not two hours ago! Hermione exclaimed. "Besides, if you're really that hungry you could go and help your mother in the kitchen."

"Nah, she's happy there, wouldn't want to interrupt."

"Teddy," Harry warned, as the little boy urged his broom higher, so he was hovering at waist level. "Not too high."

"High, high, high!" He chanted, pointing his broom towards the ceiling. Harry had his wand out in a millisecond, taking control of the broom and directing it down to a more appropriate level.

"You're going to need to watch out for that one," Ginny laughed as Harry ran a wearied hand over his face. "Constant vigilance and all that."

They all laughed and shared fond (and somewhat inappropriate) stories of Mad-Eye, which morphed into stories of Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore and of course Fred. Eighteen months on, their memories of their fallen comrades were more easily shared, tinged more with happiness than grief. Life, as it was wont to do, continued to move forward.

Thank you all for reading. All I wanted was to leave my favourite characters happy, so I am marking this little work as complete - for now. If inspiration strikes I may yet be back.

Your support and words of encouragement continue to mean the world to me.

SR.