1995, December 25th.

You were woken up a while ago by your mom, telling you everyone's already downstairs for Christmas and you're the only one still in bed.

Your mom was in the first Order of the Phoenix, and now that it's back, after Voldemort's comeback, she's in it again. Number 12, Grimmauld Place, the Black family's house, is the new headquarters of the Order, so you're spending Christmas there along with the Weasleys, including Bill and Fleur, Harry, Hermione — who had gone home but came too —, Remus and, of course, Sirius.

You've been sharing a room with Ginny and Hermione for the days you've been staying here, while Ron is sharing with Harry and the others arranged themselves however.

After taking a while getting ready, you finally went downstairs. Wearing a simple dark red shirt and flare jeans, you were greeted by the sight Fred, George, Bill, Fleur, Molly, Arthur, Ginny, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Sirius and Remus, all scattered across the dining room.

As soon as Ron saw you, he was practically hypnotized. By the smile on your lips, the way your hair framed your face, the familiarity of the scene — watching you appear in the doorway during yet another Christmas day.

He's known you forever. Before he went to Hogwarts, before he met Harry. You were the person who was always there, his childhood best friend. Your mom and Molly met at the order and immediately became friends, so you've known each other since you were in diapers. Even after he met Harry and they became best friends, things between you never changed. The bickering, the exchanged smiles, you spending half of the summer break at The Burrow.

Even in his worst times, when he doubted himself and thought he was living in his siblings' and Harry's shadows, you made him feel seen. Even last year, after you had a pretty long lasting fight because of the Yule Ball — because he took way too long to realize he wanted to go with you and you already had a date when he realized "you're a girl!" —, you went back to normal.

Maybe that helped with the development of his... crush on you. Yeah. It's been there since you were ten, but just a crush. Totally.

He only realized he was staring — and with his mouth slightly open, mind you — and snapped out of his haze when Harry elbowed him in the ribs.

He didn't stop watching you, though. His eyes followed all your path through the room as you greeted everyone, mostly saying good morning and waving, making your way to where he was standing with Hermione and Harry.

— Merry Christmas.

He says, a small smile gracing his face as you greeted him.