Happy Christmas...
* * *
"Ron?," Hermione inquired. He stared moodily into the fireplace. "Ron..."
"What?," he snapped, transferring his blue gaze to her. "Sorry," he said sincerely feeling horrible for taking his frustrations out on the brown-eyed creature before him.
"I-, I just wanted to apologise for, the other day." He stared passively at her, allowing her to continue. "I didn't mean to act like that...," she trailed off. He sighed, his fiery locks glowing in the firelight.
"It's-, well, it's not your fault. I shouldn't have said that," he scratched his head, annoyed with himself.
"It not your fault!," Hermione protested. "That was a strong dose of Veritaserum. Professor Snape was just being the overgrown bat he is and wanted to embarrass you for being pert with him earlier." He peered at her from under his crimson fringe.
"You-, you're not angry?," he stuttered, eyes wide.
"Oh Ron," she exclaimed. "Why would I be angry with you?" She stroked his cheek lightly with her thumb. He took her in; her eyes, her hair her smile.
"You just looked so taken aback. And then you refused to talk to me until now..."
"How could I ever be angry with you?" She smiled softly, "Of course I was taken aback.. How would you react if your best friend just announced the thing he wanted most for Christmas was a kiss form you?" Ron blushed and looked down at his hands as they fiddled with his robe.
"So you're not mad?," he tested as though he was a small child who had been caught with their hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Hermione tilted her head back and gave a small laugh that tinkled in the air. She looked down at him, her eyes full of emotion.
"I could never be mad at you."
"Then why did you act like that, so... perturbed?"
"What else would I have done? I'd just discovered that the one I cared for, cared for me back." It was her cheeks' turn to colour themselves sanguine. He looked at her in surprise, then with a smile as understanding filled his eyes. Her mahogany tresses tumbled over her pale visage as she nervously bit on her lip. She looked up at him, then moving slowly, she gently caressed his lips with her own. Hermione then pulled away, her cheeks rosied, and smiled at him contentedly. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Closing her eyes, she murmured into his ear.
"Happy Christmas Ron."