—
Three Days Until Christmas
—
There was more than enough room at the Weasley household for everyone, so the rooming situation wasn't as crowded, even with the abundance of people.
Ginny shared her room with Hermione for the time being, and Aurora resided in her old room, along with Fred. Ron and Harry shared a bedroom as well, and since Charlie's room had been converted to a storage room after he left, he bunked in the twin's old bedroom, since George's whereabouts were unknown. Bill's old room was still intact, so him and Fleur were packed in there. Since the family knew Percy would be returning soon, his room remained vacant for the time being.
Since the family rarely gets to be together as a whole group, everyone spent most of their time in the den, or out in the backyard with each other. Multiple informal quidditch matches were held, and at one point, Arthur dusted off his old broom and joined for a few games.
Recipes were traded, and a superfluous amount of baked goods were made, filling the house with the sweet aromas of vanilla, chocolate, and gingerbread. Decorations were hung all throughout the house, and a beautifully green Christmas tree stood in the den, with gold, white, and red ornaments decorating it's branches.
The Christmas spirit was lively, and for the first time in what felt like years, there was no negative energy anywhere to be seen. Bill and Charlie got to feel like kids again, and they hung around their younger brothers just like old times, picking on each other and letting all seriousness fade away.
The girls got to spend quality time together, and Fleur got to be exposed to sisterhood on a much larger scale. Though her and Bill have been together for some time, she hadn't experienced what being a real part of the family actually felt like, and being able to be around during one of the biggest times of the year, it made her feel accepted and comfortable.
Fred and Aurora shared quick kisses under the mistletoe, which was conveniently hung above every doorway. Even though they didn't spend the entire day together, since they were off having fun with the rest of the family, the happy environment around them made it perfect.
Molly received a letter from Percy that explained how he should be home tomorrow, so her spirits were raised, and Arthur was just as excited, since they hadn't seen much of Percy since the war. Molly made sure no one exchanged any early gifts, since that was always Percy's guilty pleasure, and she wanted to make sure he was here before the early gift exchange started.
The Weasley family never had much money, so the amount of gifts on Christmas day was never a lot, but Percy decided that spreading them out on the days leading up to Christmas made it feel like they received more, and it became a sort of a tradition.
The air outside became freezing, so the outside party eventually moved inside, and everyone shared hot cups of tea around the fire, trying to warm up their cold bodies. The baked goods from earlier were dug into, with enough left over to last them until Christmas.
Stories from last holidays were told, and everyone laughed at the various memories, reminiscing on the past. Fleur's childhood holiday's and Charlie's holiday's in Romania were far different from the Weasley holiday's, and it was interesting to hear the differences.
As the sun dipped into the horizon, small snowflakes sprinkled from the sky, explaining the crisp air from earlier in the afternoon. Snow had always been one of Charlie's favorite forms of precipitation, and he managed to drag everyone outside in warm clothing to have them love it, as well.
There wasn't enough on the group to build snowmen or have a snowball fight, so instead he starting singing a Christmas carol. It was slow and awkward at first, but his booming voice motivated Ron and Harry to join in, soon followed by the rest of them.
There they stood, standing out in the cold as the snow grew stronger, singing their favorite Christmas songs out of key. Such a cheesy thing to do, yet it brought so much serotonin to the bunch, bringing them closer together.
When the snow chilled their faces to an unbearable point, they decided it would be best to head inside, and save the snow day activities for tomorrow. It was earlier than they would normally head to bed, but after such an exhausting day, everyone was ready to settle in for the night.
Everyone said their goodnights, before rotating through warm showers to soothe their chilled skin. The burrow fell into a comfortable silence as the household closed into their rooms for the night.
Fred and Aurora dressed in their most comfortable pajamas before sliding under her untouched bed, which was just as comfortable as it was before. The day had drained their energy, so they were ready for slumber to overcome them.
"Did you have a good day, darling?" He asked, turning his head to look at her even though the darkness prevented him from seeing her.
"I had a lovely day," She replied, scooting closer to him, "I love the holiday's with the family." She whispered, letting his natural body warmth soothe her.
"I feel the same, it's been a good day," He whispered back, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer, "You make me happy, Aurora." He said as he kissed her forehead, and she couldn't help the smile that formed on her face.
"You make me the happiest I've ever been." Her voice was soft as she spoke, and her eyes closed as the words left her mouth.
"Goodnight, sweetheart." He said quietly, letting his own eyes fall shut.
"Goodnight, Freddie." She said back, laying her head on his chest.
The falling snow brought a sense of silence that was also loud, and there was no other way to properly explain the sound. The combination of the snow and Fred's heartbeat resonated through her, and she soon fell into the most peaceful sleep that anyone could ever fall into, serotonin flooding her dreams.
—
Two Days Until Christmas
—
There are few early risers in the Weasley family, so everyone got a late start to the morning, but that didn't stop the celebration. The kitchen was bustling with energy as breakfast was being prepared, with everyone pitching in a little help.
Molly fixed up some of her famous pancakes, and Hermione assisted by cutting up fruit to put in the batter, as well as fruit to go on top. Arthur made everyone their favorite kind of eggs, making sure to make Percy some as well, since they didn't know when he'd be arriving. Ginny was in charge of frying up bacon for everyone, and Harry got to fry up the sausage. Bill and Fleur prepared some homemade croissants, making sure to sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the top, just how everyone liked it. Ron prepared a batch of grits, and Charlie made hash browns for those who despised grits.
Fred didn't like the texture.
Aurora and Fred had the task of making everyone coffee or tea, which seemed to be the most important job, since the remnants of sleep were evident in everyone's persona.
Eating in the den proved to be better than at the dining table, since there were far more people than chairs. Arthur and Molly took the loveseat, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all managed to squeeze onto the couch. Charlie grabbed the lounge chair before anyone else could, so Bill, Fleur, Aurora, and Fred sat on the floor, using the coffee table to hold their plates.
As time passed, Percy hadn't shown up yet, so Fred gladly took the eggs that were prepared for him, since the four eggs that Arthur had made him weren't enough. He was always a heavy eater, and it made Aurora seem as if she barely ate compared to him.
They took turns going around the room and explaining whatever bits and pieces of their dreams that they could remember, laughing at the absurd stories. As Ron explained his in depth dream about quite literally becoming a grain of sand and sinking to the bottom of the ocean, Hermione began to laugh so hard her face turned red.
Other than the choking hazard, breakfast went on smoothly, and what was left was an intimidating stack of dishes that needed to be done. If the Weasley family wasn't full of magic, it would have been a damper on the mood, but Molly happily enchanted the dishes to clean themselves.
Today, since the Christmas was just around the corner, was used as a shopping day, to buy presents for the people they loved. Molly's yearly gift was a hand-knit sweater for everyone, so she stayed home along with Arthur, Bill, Fleur, and Charlie, who have already gotten gifts for everyone.
Since there were too many people to all fit in one car, Fred and Aurora went on their own, and Ron drove his dad's car, with Hermione in the passenger seat, and Ginny and Harry in the back.
Shopping for gifts with the family proved to be a difficult task, since everyone was around. The secrecy element was hard to maintain, yet they found a way. The two cars went to different stores, and they all took turns running back to the car to place the gifts in the trunk, covering them with blankets so no one else would see.
The snow had continued to fall throughout the night, so there was a thick layer of white on the ground, making driving difficult. Even with the slippery conditions, Fred still kept a hand firmly on Aurora's knee, rubbing it with his thumb.
Fred always had a way with small acts of romance, and it never failed to erupt a cloud of butterflies in Aurora's stomach.
They spent the majority of their day not only shopping for gifts for each other, but also just enjoying the happy atmosphere that Christmas always brought. There were lights dangled in the outdoor trees, and the fresh snow draped everything in a blanket of white, making the world seem brighter. Though the sky was a dull grey, the various Christmas decorations on display around the shops brought a burst of color to life.
There was a group of people singing Christmas carols on a corner, and they stayed and listened for a bit, humming along. The frosty air chilled their noses, making their skin grow redder, but they didn't mind.
Fred's arm was wrapped around Aurora's waist, and she happily laid her head on his shoulder. Ron and Hermione had interlocked their gloved hands, and she wrapped her other hand around his arm to pull him closer, cherishing his natural body heat. Harry and Ginny, who would usually be kicking snow onto each other, had even stopped to appreciate the sweet singing, and she had pulled him into a long hug, singing along quietly.
As much as they enjoyed the singing of Christmas songs, the group eventually left a small tip for their nice voices, before heading back to their separate cars. Even though Ron and Ginny preferred cold air over hot air, the heat was immediately turned on in both cars once they entered, warming their chilled bones.
The rides back home were short but sweet, consisting of everyone trying to guess what the others bought them as a gift. Of course, no one would actually say what the gift was, but the guessing game was always good fun.
When everyone finally got back to the burrow, the smell of fresh gingerbread wafted through the house, and when they walked into the living room, they saw that Percy had finally gotten home, and he brought Audrey with him. He and Audrey had gotten together some time after him and Penelope split, and he had been happier than ever with her.
The Weasley family happily greeted the both of them, before going back out to the car to get the gifts they had bought during the day. The Christmas tree had now been full of gifts beneath it, and everyone was excited to finally get to open an early one now that Percy was home.
As happy as the entire family was, Fred had a bit of depression clouding his mind, since everyone had joined together for the holiday's, except for his brother. No one had heard from him since Angelina took him away, and it was beginning to take a toll on him. He did his best to mask it for the rest of the night, as the family sat together in the den and shared a warm meal, followed by fresh gingerbread cookies.
After supper, everyone cleaned themselves up and dressed in their warmest pajamas, before returning downstairs and gathering around the tree, where Arthur sat, sifting through gifts. Molly made everyone a warm cup of tea, and everyone got handed one gift, from whomever they wanted.
The early gifts were never as serious as the gifts opened on Christmas Day, so lots of laughs were shared as everyone opened their presents. Bill requested that Molly and Arthur open their shared gift last, so once everyone had finished, the entire room sat in anticipation as Molly and Arthur leaned together in the loveseat, holding a neatly wrapped box in their hands.
They carefully removed the wrapping, and inside the box was a precisely made baby one-piece, in a soft pink. Arthur furrowed his brows at the piece of clothing, but Molly gasped almost immediately, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.
"Are you two expecting?" She asked quietly, and Bill took Fleur's hand in his, nodding proudly.
Molly jumped up from the loveseat and pulled Fleur into a gentle hug, while Arthur stood and clapped Bill on the back, congratulating him. Everyone was in shock at the fact that there would be an addition to the family soon, and happy words of congratulations were thrown at the couple.
Everyone took turns placing their hand on the small but firm baby bump on Fleur's stomach, asking questions about the name and due date. Molly was ecstatic to become a grandmother, and Arthur was just as happy to be able to call himself a soon-to-be grandfather.
The rest of the night consisted with a celebratory toast with elderberry wine, with Fleur only drinking more tea, before the energy began to settle down, and the exhaustion from the day dawned on them.
Goodnights were said, before everyone headed up to their rooms, since they were already dressed in their pajamas. Percy and Audrey got to reside in his room, since it was kept vacant, so there was no overcrowding in the house.
As Fred and Aurora settled in for the night, he took her into his arms, letting her lay her head on his chest, and the calming sound of his heartbeat filled her ears. The two of them were tired, and in the darkness of the night, only few words were shared.
They quickly spoke about how much they enjoyed their days, and how they were excited for Bill and Fleur. He rubbed her arm slowly, and Aurora sighed at the warming feeling he brought her.
"That could be us one day, if you'd like." He whispered, and Aurora's heart nearly beat out of her chest at the words. She had always thought about having a family one day, but her and Fred had never spoke about children. If he had mentioned that a month ago, she would've panicked and probably upset him by turning him down, but the thought of one day having Fred's children gave her a feeling of excitement.
"I would love that." She replied quietly, and Fred struggled to contain his happiness. They both knew a family was nowhere near the picture at the moment, and the two of them were fine with it just being the two of them, but the knowledge that one day it would become more than just the two of them brought a burst of serotonin into his system.
"I love you, Aurora, to the moon and stars." He said, quoting a passage from the letter they shared during their time apart, and she smiled to herself, letting her eyes fall shut.
"Goodnight, Freddie. Sleep well for me, darling." She replied, and he let out a happy sigh, letting his eyes shut.
"Goodnight, sweetheart." He whispered back, and soon the two of them fell into a deep sleep, memories of the beautiful Christmas day activities running through their minds.
—
One Day Until Christmas
—
Molly and Arthur had always prepared a huge breakfast on Christmas Eve, since they focus their energy on a large Christmas dinner the next day. They began just as the sun rose, and it took nearly an hour to prepare.
Lucky for both Aurora and Fred, they happened to wake up early that morning, just as breakfast had started to be prepared, and lucky for both Aurora and Fred, the rest of the household was asleep.
With the burrow being packed with family, it was nearly impossible to get alone time, but they now had roughly an hour before they would be summoned downstairs, and they took the chance.
Morning sex had always been one of Aurora's favorite intimacy times, since the rising sun painted the room a beautiful array of pink and orange, and Fred looked breathtaking. His morning voice commanded her to do as he said, and it sent shivers down her spine.
They hadn't had any sexual encounters since they first arrived at the burrow, and the feeling of him deep in between her legs made her lose control. If it weren't for the creation of the silencing spell, the entire house would wake up to Aurora screaming Fred's name.
They spent their time between the sheets until the smell of french toast filled their nose, and when they had finished, Aurora felt as if she hadn't slept the night before, and the soreness in between her legs was throbbing.
The pair managed to clean themselves up before heading downstairs to mask the fact that Fred Weasley had made her orgasm only minutes before. The den was filled with sleepy family members, with their hair disheveled and their pajamas wrinkled, but the combination of a hearty breakfast and very much needed coffee raised their spirits.
After breakfast was finished, Charlie managed to convince everyone to bundle up in their warmest clothes and head outside to mess around in the snow, since there was finally enough accumulated to have some real fun. He happened to be so convincing, that he even got Arthur and Molly to come out and enjoy the fun.
The Weasley family's morning after breakfast consisted of numerous snowmen and women made, snow angles scattered throughout the yard, and one extremely intense snowball fight. They decided to split off into two teams, boy's versus girls, with Charlie on the girl's side since they were outnumbers and had a pregnant woman on their team.
Nearly everyone got hit in the face with a snowball at least one time, with the exception of Hermione, who managed to use Aurora as a human shield. When their clothing was soaked from the cold and melted snow, and the threat of hypothermia was lurking over them, they decided it would be best to head back inside to warm up.
Everyone got together after changing back into their pajamas, since they had no plans for the day, and sat in front of the fireplace, just enjoying each other's company. Arthur had put one of his favorite records on, and the soft yet crackling music combined with the crackling of the fire, bring a sense of comfort that anyone could only get from a situation like this.
The topic of George's absence was never spoken about, since it was an extremely touchy subject to Fred, but everyone couldn't help but notice as he sadly looked around the room, before masking his sadness with a smile as he kissed Aurora's temple. Everyone missed George at a special time like this, and they were hoping to at least hear from him soon.
As much as the Weasley's enjoyed family time, the early morning had exhausted all of them, and they eventually split off to do their own things. Most of them split off into their separate bedrooms to take a midday nap, so they would have energy for the evening, but Aurora, Fred, Hermione, and Charlie stayed downstairs and watched a few Christmas movies.
About two movies in, both Hermione and Aurora had fallen asleep, but Fred kept his arm wrapped around Aurora's waist, and let Hermione use his shoulder as a headrest. Charlie, being his older brother, joked about how he always pulled so many girls, but he just looked down at Aurora with a soft smile, shaking his head a bit.
No one in the household was much of a 'quick napper', so by the time everyone had woken up and came back downstairs, it was becoming late, and the sun was low on the horizon. Even though it wasn't as late as they would normally eat dinner, the excitement to wake up on Christmas morning urged Molly and Arthur to prepare a quick supper.
It was much of a smaller meal than the breakfast had been, but Bill and Fleur still assisted with whatever they could, and it was shortly ready soon after. Everyone kept the same trend and moved supper to the den, with the warm fireplace and the Christmas movies still playing on the television.
In the middle of the meal, a knock sounded on the door, and everyone gave each other confused glances, since they weren't expecting any mail or company. Arthur pulled himself off the couch to go answer the door, and everyone else continued with what they were doing.
When Arthur's happy laugh boomed through the house, supper was put on hold as everyone got up to see the commotion. As Aurora crossed the corner, she saw George towering over his father in the doorway, engulfed into a tight hug.
A smile broke onto her face as they separated and stepped into the household, but it quickly dropped as a familiar face stepped in behind him. Angelina, with an arm full of small boxes, walked into the house, smiling warmly at Arthur, before turning her head to look at the rest of the people in the house.
"Bit of a late arrival, but we're here now," She says happily, before locking eyes with Aurora, "We've brought presents."