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A Matter of Time	By : AdaraB Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 7796 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything in the Harry Potter universe. I own nothing and I make no profit off of this story.

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Chapter 20 – Christmas at the Burrow

25 December

“Ashleigh! Wake UP!” Someone said, very loudly.

Ashleigh’s eyes fluttered open and it took her a moment to clear the drowsiness from her eyes. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table she noticed it was only seven thirty. Groaning, she turned away from the voice and pulled the covers over her head. Seven thirty was far too early in the morning to be awake, especially when you didn’t get to bed until after eleven.

“Oh, come on,” the voice insisted “Harry, Ron and Hermione are already down stairs. I’m sure the others are as well. You’re going to have a very merry Weasley Christmas and that means you wake up early like the rest of us.”

Ginny was all for sleeping in but this was just ridiculous. She was just about to cast an Aguamenti charm on her when she threw the covers back and got out of bed.

“There we go. Up and at’um.”

“Yeah, yeah!” Ashleigh replied, grabbing her white robe from her bed post. She slipped her feet into her matching slippers as she tied the belt around her waist. Walking toward the door, she halted as Ginny pulled her back.

“What?”

“You forgot to open your present’s silly!” She said, pointing at the foot of her bed.

“Oh! You don’t put them under the Christmas Tree?”

“Why would we put them under a tree?” Ginny asked; confused as to why anyone would do such a silly thing.

“American custom.”

“Oh.” She said with a frown. “Well, start with mine okay?”

Ashleigh sat down on the edge of the bed where a small pile of gifts were awaiting her. She accepted a package wrapped in gold tissue paper that had green and red raffia wrapped around it and knotted in an artful bow on the top.

Tearing off the wrapping, she found a book on Quidditch. Opening the book, she saw that the first chapter was dedicated to new riders and tips on how to be a good one.

“I heard that Draco was going to teach you how to fly and thought this would be a help. It’ll teach you about Quidditch as well, so you’ll understand it when you watch the matches this spring.”

“Thank you so much, I love it. This will make it so much easier to understand what you and the boys are talking about during your long discussions.”

“I thought it would.”

Moving on to the next package, which was from Hermione, she tore open the red paper and found a book on potions that she hadn’t read yet.

“That must be from Hermione, she always gives gooks.” Ginny said, looking over Ashleigh’s shoulder at the cover. Ashleigh flipped through the book and saw some very interesting potions she would like to brew. The Polyjuice Potion in particular. She put her very own copy of Moste Potent Potions behind her on the bed and moved on to the next package which was from Ron.

She opened the green paper to reveal a box full of chocolate frogs.

“Oh! Chocolate, I haven’t had it in a long time. I’m going to enjoy these!”

“So will Ron if you’re not careful, they’re his favorite.” Ginny said with a laugh.

“Oh! Here’s mum and dads.”

Ashleigh took the package and smiled at the wrapping. It was green with little dancing snowmen, they were actually moving! Taking care not to destroy the paper like she had done the others, she pulled out a knitted scarf that held her house colors with a snake on one end and the initials A.G. on the other. It wasn’t like her school scarf; the green and silver were very mixed, creating a really lovely pattern.

“This is beautiful! I can’t believe she took so much time to make something like this for me when she doesn’t even know me!”

“Mum wouldn’t let you stay without making you something too. Plus, your Harry’s cousin which practically makes you family.” Ginny said as if it was plain common sense.

“This one is from Fred and George; you may want to be careful with it.”

Ashleigh took heed, and was careful to open the colorful package that was now sitting on her lap. Opening it, she found an emerald green Pygmy Puff. Taking out the note, she read that first.

Ashleigh,

We noticed, as our eyes are very good, that you were quite taken with the Pygmy Puffs in our little shop. We did however think a green one would suit you more so we spelled this one especially for you. (Pink or purple really didn’t seem to be your color.)

Gred and Forge Weasley

“What are you going to name it?”

“I don’t know? Is it a boy or girl?”

“It’s kind of both; they don’t need a mate to reproduce so pick a name you like. I named mine Arnold.”

“I think I’ll name him Bob. Yes, that will do nicely. It’s sort of a running joke among all American’s to name strange things Bob.”

“If you say so.” Ginny replied with a laugh.

Ginny picked up the last card and handed it to Ashleigh.

“I would have thought Harry would have gotten you something a bit better than a card.” Ginny said teasingly, knowing exactly what that card held.

My Favorite Cousin,

Smiling at his address to her, she read on.

I know that it is custom for the gifts to be left at the foot of the bed but I insist on giving you your presents myself. So when you finally wake up to read this, (I know how you like to sleep in), meet me down stairs so you can receive them.

Your Big Brother,

Harry

“Oh! By the way, I really like your gift as well, the earrings are beautiful. I don’t suppose you noticed that I’m wearing them.” Ginny said, pulling back her hair to reveal the opal stud earrings.

“I’m glad you like them.”

Ashleigh pulled her scarf around her neck and put Bob over with Arnold, and then together they went down to the kitchen for breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they entered the kitchen, thanks were exchanged all around for their gifts. She had gotten Hermione the same pair of earrings she had gotten for Ginny, the Quidditch book Draco had bought in Hogsmeade for both Harry and Ron and a Muggle book on how to improve their business for Fred and George. She had also gotten what she had heard was a very nice bottle of Elf made wine for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

“Oh, thank you dear. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes I did. Even just to thank you for letting me stay with you, I really appreciate it and I love the scarf you made for me, it’s beautiful.”

“You’re quite welcome dear.” She replied, flushing deeply.

“So Ash, did you like our gift?” George asked as he sidled up to her.

“Yes, and I especially like the color, it is my favorite. I think Bob really likes it as well.”

“Bob? What is it with you women giving your Pygmy Puffs manly names like Bob and Arnold?” Fred asked, flabbergasted.

Ashleigh just shrugged and smiled, not willing to let them in on the kooky ways of American jokes.

Managing to escape from the twins, she went over to Harry and sat down next to him.

“So, where’s my present Big Brother?” She asked as if it was an everyday incident that she received a gift from him, not wanting to sound overly excited.

“Well, one of them hasn’t arrived yet, but you can open this one now.” He said, handing her a package that was long and wide, yet only about two inches thick. It was wrapped in shiny silver paper and had a shiny green ribbon bow on top. Tearing through the paper, she found a black picture frame that held the picture of them from the Yule Ball. They stood there, their arms around each other smiling at the camera in the light flurry of snow. Every now and then, picture Ashleigh would lay her head on picture Harry’s shoulder and they would laugh at something.

“I have a copy too.”

“I love it Harry, thank you.” She said as she grabbed him in a fierce hug, trying not to cry all over him. She was actually able to keep the tears from falling although her eyes did look a bit more shiny than usual.

“That wasn’t even your real present. It was just something I wanted you to have.”

“Oh, well in that case…” She smiled at him, not really needing to go on.

It was lunch time when two brown barn owls flew through the double windows that Mrs. Weasley had opened when she saw their approach. Between them they carried a long rectangular box that was about a foot high and two feet wide by four feet or so long. The owls immediately flew to Ashleigh and dropped the package in front of her on the kitchen table.

To say that Ashleigh was surprised would have been dead on. She knew that Harry’s other present to her had not yet arrived so she had assumed it was for her, but she hadn’t expected something so large.

“Well, don’t just stare at it! Open it!” Harry said, wanting her to open it now that it was here.

Slowly, she tore the brown packaging off to reveal a white box underneath. She carefully lifted the lid off the box and set it aside. White tissue paper surrounded the contents of the box. She parted the neatly folded tissue paper and gasped when she saw a broomstick. She noticed it wasn’t just any broomstick though, it was a Firebolt. She had heard Harry, Ron, Draco and Ginny talk about it enough to know that it’s the fastest racing broom in the world.

She looked to Harry, momentarily confused.

“I know Draco is going to teach you how to fly but I wanted you to have the best broom out there. It is definitely the fastest broom but it is also the safest. I had charms put on it to give you extra protection; there should be a list of the charms in the box…”

Harry had to stop talking as Ashleigh ploughed into him, gripping him tight in a hug.

“Thank you Harry, but you really shouldn’t have. I mean it’s so expensive! But I love it!” She rambled in fast succession. This time she allowed two stray tears to fall down her cheeks.

“Really though, you didn’t have to get me something so expensive!”

“No, I didn’t, but I wanted to.”

“Oh, I wish I could ride it!”

“You’ll be able to soon. I think Draco is dying to get you on a broom!” Harry said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Harry was hit numerous times on his shoulder for his trouble.

Everyone was sitting around sharing stories, mostly of Ron and Ginny when they were little, when there was a soft knock on the door. Ashleigh looked at the clock on the mantel and saw that it was one o’clock and jumped up to run to the door. When she reached it, she yanked it open to find Draco standing there with a smile on his face. She threw herself into his arms and held him for a long moment. She had missed him so much in the last couple of days.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” He replied hugging her back.

“Wait until you see what Harry got me!” She said, dragging him into the house and into the living room where everyone was seated. She raced into the kitchen and brought her Firebolt out to show Draco.

“Wow, what will you do with that? I don’t believe you know how to use one of those.” Draco said teasingly.

“Well, I remember a certain someone telling me he would like to teach me how to fly!”

“Would you two stop with the crazy banter? It was such a lovely couple of days without it!”

Hermione elbowed Ron hard in the stomach at his comment.

“Ouch.”

“Serves you right.” Hermione replied.

Draco turned back to Ashleigh. “We’d better get going; Mother and Father are expecting us soon.”

Ashleigh went around and hugged every one and thanked them for a lovely holiday and gave Harry a kiss on the cheek along with his hug. She waved goodbye once more and stepped outside with Draco after grabbing her coat.

“Is it okay with you if we apparate? Where’s your broom?”

“Right here.” She said producing a miniature broom from her pocket. She stashed it back into her pocked. Her trunk was in her other pocket so that it wouldn’t crush her broom.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah but what do I do?”

“You my dear, hold on tightly while I do all the work.” He pulled her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around his waist. Within seconds, they disappeared from sight.
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A Matter of Time