Christmas at the Burrow

Buying Gifts

It was Christmas time! Everyone was excited to go home for the holidays, but Lana would be alone. Her parents were away visiting family for Christmas, so Lana would have to either find a place to go for the holidays, or spend Christmas by herself.

She was headed for the Great Hall, and when she entered, she was greeted with the prettiest sight. The room was lit up with pretty little fairy lights, holiday flowers and decorations, and a huge Christmas tree that sparkled like the stars in the sky. She wasn't expecting to see the person that she saw at the other side of the room...

Lana saw the tall red head and ran over to him, flinging her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Bill!" she exclaimed, squeezing him tight.

He hugged her back and laughed.

"Hey, little sis." he chuckled, "Happy Christmas, Lana! Seems all of our friends are going home for the holidays this year, eh?" Bill said, pulling away from the girl, "Charlie, Percy, and the twins have already left to catch the train back to London."

"Merry Christmas, Bill. You on your way to join them?" Lana asked with a smile, "Wait, What are you doing at Hogwarts right now anyway?"

"I was on my way home from a curse-breaking assignment in Egypt when Dumbledore asked me to come. I'll be here for a few days to help Dumbledore test Hogwarts' defensive magic. What about you? Are you headed home for Christmas?"

"Not this year. My parents are visiting relatives in America." Lana sighed, "So I'll be spending Christmas here I guess."

"So you're gonna be alone on Christmas? That's rotten." Bill said sympathetically, then his eyes lit up as he had an idea, "Say, why don't you come spend the holidays with my family at the Burrow?" he asked, "The more the merrier, right? And when better to be merry than at Christmas?"

"I'd love to spend Christmas with your family at the Burrow, Bill!" Lana exclaimed excitedly.

"Great! I'll send an owl to let mum know to expect you, but I'm sure she won't mind." he smiled. Then he looked over Lana's shoulder at something and frowned, "Hey, Lana. Barnaby looks pretty down over there. Is he alright?"

"Barnaby?" she wondered under her breath. He'd told her that he'd gone back to stay with his grandmother for Christmas. Why was he still here?

"I'm not sure, I'll see what's up." she said, walking over to the Slytherin table and sitting next to him.

"Barny? What are you doing here? I thought you said you'd gone home for Christmas..." Lana asked softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Barnaby looked at her sadly and shook his head, wrapping his arms around her tightly and snuggling into her.

"What happened?" Lana asked softly, stroking his hair.

He lifted his head to look into her eyes, and that's when she saw how hurt he looked.

"My grandma sent an owl to me last night saying that she didn't want me to come home for Christmas this year. She said that she'd had enough of me in the summer and that she wouldn't care if I didn't come back home at all. Now I'm just gonna be here by myself..." he sniffled.

"Hey, look at me." she said softly, holding his face in her hands, "Screw your grandmother. She's been nothing but rude to you your whole life! Think of it as a break from her! I don't know how anyone could ever have enough of you...and you won't be alone this Christmas." Lana told him with a smile, kissing him.

"What do you mean?" he asked when they parted.

"Come with me." she grinned, taking his hand and walking over to Bill.