Harry loved spending Christmas at the Grangers'. It was a wonderful house, the pet project of Hermione's parents. The built-in benches around the sunken fireplace were well padded and there was plenty of room to stretch one's legs before the ridiculously large fire, which was currently burned down to embers. And he was full of one of the best Christmas dinners he had ever had.
Hermione stirred sleepily beside him--nearly everyone was in bed--and sighed in contemplation. "You know, I've been thinking . . . "
"Yes, my queen?" he murmured.
She rolled her eyes at him and smiled. "As I was saying, I've been working up to this for some time. Since first year, in fact."
"Enlighten me, O eloquent goddess."
"Oh for heaven's sakes. Come here."
He leaned obediently closer. She looked deeply into his eyes, then ruffled his hair. "Hey!" he said indignantly.
"Well, it's been a long time coming," she said, leaning back again. "I mean, I've been pestering you about your homework, your schedule, your dress sense, your work habits--"
"--my habit of eating with my mouth open, the way I keep forgetting to write down important phone numbers, my hair--"
"--well, anyway, I never actually got to babysit you or dress you up and stuff you into my doll pram, and my parents probably wouldn't have let me because we're so close in age, so that's the next best thing. Anyway." She stopped and looked flustered.
"Aww, Hermione," he said blurrily, "I love you too."
Ron squeezed Hermione's shoulders. "Sweetheart, you're the best big sister any bloke could want. And Harry, word of advice--don't read Shakespeare after eating four slices of Gin's fruitcake. You sound really funny."
Ginny leaned across Harry from the other side. "Your parents really enjoyed it, Hermione. I think I'll send them a whole one of their own with the thank-you note. I loved working in a real Muggle kitchen!"
"Firewhiskey fruitcake, one of the best things the Wizarding world ever produced--besides my wife," Harry said in a fog of alcoholic sentiment.
"And on that note, we're for bed," Ron said, taking Hermione's hand. "Watching my little sister snogging my best mate is not high on my list of fun."
"Yeah, well, watching my big sister snogging my best mate isn't either," Harry said, or would have if Ginny hadn't pounced. It came out, "Yeah, well, wammmph!"
Molly watched indulgently from the kitchen, where she had been sitting unnoticed over a cup of tea. "This really has been lovely," she said to Hermione's mother. "I had no idea how relaxing it would be to let someone else do the cooking--and that fireplace!"
"It certainly seems to be inspiring your daughter," Mrs. Granger said drily as the young couple toppled off the padded bench and out of sight on the shag carpet. She grinned. "Vintage Seventies ambiance. Does it every time."