Ginny Weasley sat at the window, staring out at the delicate white flakes falling silently from the darkening sky, but not really seeing them. She was wondering if Harry would be able to keep his promise, to be home with her and her family for the holiday. Missing as well was her older brother, Ron, and his girlfriend, Hermione, who was also one of her best friends and confidants. If they were not able to come home for Christmas next week, much would be missing from the holiday. Ginny just could not imagine the holiday without them! There were already too many people missing, who would never be joining the festivities in person again including Sirius and Dumbledore. Memories kept them alive, but it just was not the same! She was hoping for a clear night, as she looked out the window, hoping that she could see the night guardian, Orion, shining brightly in the sky. Ginny knew that he was protecting her love from the evil that was growing so rapidly since the Dark Lord, Voldemort, had returned at the end of her third year at Hogwarts. Because of Voldemort, her first and only love, Harry, was staying away from her, trying to protect her from the evil of his past, present, and at least for the moment, his future.
Ginny sat pondering about how much the crush she had on Harry had transformed from when she first saw him in his first year at Hogwarts, until the present, into something so much more than a crush. She had thought she was over him, but then things changed with that kiss that just seemed to happen after the game against Ravenclaw six years later, when he’d been in detention with Snape, and she’d played Seeker…and won! That was a pivotal moment in their lives; so much had changed in that moment. She’d never given up on him, she’d tried to move on, and he’d always stayed in her thoughts. As their friendship grew, especially at the end of last year, those wonderful weeks together, her heart had been filled with love and happiness. It hurt when he’d told her they couldn’t continue to be together, at least not until after his battle with Voldemort was over.
They hadn’t interacted much at Bill and Fleur’s wedding. They did dance and do a bit of stargazing together afterwards. The stars were bright that night. Together they had looked at the constellations that both had learned in Astronomy. For some reason their gaze had been drawn towards the constellation of Orion. Ginny had always thought fondly of the nighttime guardian, and she had said something to Harry about how she always felt that Orion was her protector. From that moment on they had both thought of each other when each of them saw Orion. They had stayed up together most of the night, with Ron and Hermione near by just talking. They talked about the past, about the present, and about their hopes and fears for the future. There was so much that stood between them, but those same things seemed to be drawing them closer together. Their friends and family, their hope and dreams, and their desires to live happily ever after kept them moving forward. She received several letters by owl from him, Hedwig delivered most of the letters, but they were few and there were far intervals in between. It was dangerous for Harry to send out too many letters because Hedwig was so recognizable, but he just couldn’t bear not to use Hedwig to deliver his messages, not to Ginny anyway.
Ginny knew that Harry only told her a few of the adventures that he, Ron, and Hermione had while looking for the Horcruxes. He didn’t want her to worry about him or her other friends. Ginny still remembered him telling her about the Horcruxes that night after the wedding. Ginny knew that he almost didn’t tell her, but in the end he realized that he wanted and needed to be open with her about the dangers that he and his friends were about to face in the war against Voldemort. Most cringed when they spoke Voldemort’s name, but Dumbledore had always said that fear of the name only increased fear of the person himself, so Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny made sure they always referred to Voldemort by name.
As Ginny sat there daydreaming, she heard a tapping, and suddenly she was back in the present, and there was a white snowy owl outside the window. Ginny opened the window to let Hedwig into the room with her, rushing to remove the letter from around his ankle.
My dearest Ginny, I have not forgotten my promise to you at Fleur and Bill’s wedding. We are working hard, but plan on being home for the holiday. Until then, may Orion guard and protect you.
Love always,
Harry
Her eyes filled with tears and hope for the holiday. Maybe it would be one of the best holidays ever, like her mother kept telling her. Knowing that the danger was ever increasing and that they may not all survive the war was always on their minds. They did have love and hope which was the greatest gift of all. Ginny brushed the tears from her eyes and ran out of the room to the kitchen where her mother was baking cookies.
“Mum, Mum, I just got a letter from Harry! They all should be home for Christmas after all!!!”
