CM holiday drabble 2009/2010
Overactive
When Ron and I aren't speaking, there's only one way I get through the day.
"Merry Christmas."
In a corner of The Burrow, away from everyone else's gift exchanges, he'd hand me his present, a small square box. I'd insist he shouldn't have, and he'd insist I just open it.
"Ron… goodness, Ron, you really shouldn't have."
But it wouldn't be what I'd thought; even better, it'd be a watch with stars around the edge instead of hands, just like the one he got when he became of age, and Harry too.
"I know you didn't get one when you turned seventeen since your parents probably don't know about wizarding tradition. Figured you already had enough books and models of fake teeth."
He'd grin sheepishly, not giving himself enough credit--like always. But he'd know I always felt a little left out of the wizarding world, and I'd be gazing up at him….
That's where I really was when I was on my bunk with that wretched Skeeter woman's book, pretending not to notice Ron look over every few seconds as he tapped on the radio. I was inadvertently tracing the symbol on Dumbledore's signature, but my mind was on our party, our Christmas party that we should have been at… in another universe, maybe, one with no Horcruxes, one where my parents remembered they had a daughter….
"Hey, don't do that."
That's what he'd tell me when I'd start welling up at the thought of never seeing them again.
"C'mon, Hermione, they'll be there waiting for you when we get done this--this Horcrux business. They're much safer far away from all this mess anyhow. Blimey, I'd love to modify Mum's memory if she didn't jinx me into a stinkin' Flobberworm for ever turning my wand on her."
I'd laugh, probably snort because I'd be crying at the same time, and he'd smile because he'd cheered me up. Then, in all my paranoia, I'd turn the conversation serious again.
"Ron, I've been meaning to ask you…. When this is all over, do you think you could… come to Australia with me when I--when I go back for them?"
He'd wait for me to look up, or maybe--if he was feeling particularly daring, as he seems to be for the past several months--even gently lift up my chin if I took too long.
"Hermione, I can't believe you're even asking. Of course I'm coming with you. You know how much I--"
I usually stopped myself there, because if I went any further I wouldn't be able to concentrate on Voldemort or this cursed war ever again. I needed to get focussed, get up, tell Harry about my plan to see Lovegood. I did so, and just as I was getting into my bunk to resume the wild conversations in my head, I heard Ron once more.
"All's fair in love and war, and this is a bit of both."
And I know I didn't just imagine that.