Author's Note: I got the idea for this drabble from a head canon I read on tumblr. It's posted on my blog if you're interested, but it mostly said that Fred and George charmed a piece of mistletoe to follow Ron and Hermione around every Christmas.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Wonderful Christmastime
It was Christmas Eve at the Burrow, and everyone was recovering from the wonderful feast they had all just finished devouring. Harry sat sprawled on the couch with Ginny cradled in the crook of his arm, while George lay snoozing next to them on the small sofa. Mrs. Weasley was humming along with Celestina Warbeck as she directed her wand at the dirty dishes in the sink. Fleur ambled over to help her, quietly humming along, too. Her perspective on Celestina Warbeck had changed; since the war, she found it difficult to remain closed-minded and argumentative. Mr. Weasley had also fallen asleep, but with a copy of The Daily Prophet crumpled in his lap and his glasses on his forehead. Bill and Percy were playing Wizard's Chess while Charlie looked on. Normally, Bill and Percy became quite competitive with this game, but the feast left them too sleepy and good-natured.
Ron stood in the doorway, looking around at his family as he tried to remember the last time they were all this content. The war had only just ended a few months ago, and they were all still healing. The loss of Fred, Lupin, and Tonks still hovered over all of them like a dark cloud. Tonight, for the first time, Ron was starting to focus more on the hope and potential of the future than on the pain and hurt of the past. Harry's proposal to Ginny that morning gave the family something to be excited about, and it left Ron in a very warm and fuzzy mood.
Hermione appeared beside him, cradling Crookshanks. She released him onto the floor as Ron whispered in her ear, "Come with me."
He grabbed her hand and led her away quietly, without anyone noticing. He brought her to the second floor landing, where they could look out the window at the falling snow as it blanketed the ground. He wrapped his arms around her, and they stood silently for a few moments, just watching the snow. Ron couldn't help but think about how much he enjoyed having Hermione in his arms. Holding her warmed him right to his core.
He didn't want to let go, but he wanted to look at her. He let his arms fall away as he noticed something floating above them. It was mistletoe, and it seemed to appear out of thin air. Ron and Hermione looked up at it in unison, and they both chuckled slightly.
Every Christmas since Ron's third year, Fred and George charmed a bit of mistletoe to pop up around Ron and Hermione, and then follow them around the house. This year proved to be no exception, except this year, Ron didn't feel the need to swat it away.
Though his ears still did turn bright red like they always had.
He cleared his throat noisily, and Hermione stood on her toes to reach him. She kissed him lightly, and he made a very content "hmm" noise.
"I love you, Hermione."
He hadn't planned on saying it, but now that he had, it just felt right. He had spoken without thinking, and for once, he was glad.
"I love you too," she smiled, before kissing him again, more intensely this time. He wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her back happily.
They were too busy kissing to notice George sneak back down the steps, a mischievous grin on his face.
