A Lost Moment:

A Grimwald Christmas

Author's Note: Another part to A Lost Moment, this is set during Order of the Phoenix when everyone spends Christmas at Grimwald Place. Oneshot. Romione. Hr/R. I sadly do not own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does. Many more parts to come!

I decided it would be best to stay at Grimwald Place for winter break. I couldn't bear to stay at Hogwarts with the foul gargoyle Umbridge running our beloved school. By our last lesson before winter break, I thought I might have to spend the holidays alone at home.

"Hermione, why the long face?" Ron nudged me lightly, a grin plastered his pale freckled face.

"I have to spend Christmas alone because my parents have gone to Paris for the holidays." I sadly said.

"Well, if you'd like, you could spend the holidays with me... and my family of course. We are staying at Grimwald place with Sirius and Harry. It would be a lot more fun if you joined us." His cheeks blazed a bright red. I smiled at his coyness, it only got cuter.

"I would love to, thank you Ron." I embraced him tightly. "I am going to finish packing! Are you sure your Mum won't mind me dropping in unannounced?" I apprehensively implored.

"Mum loves you. She'll be thrilled I invited you." He gave me his most charming boyish grin, the one I couldn't get quite enough of, prior to my climb to my room. I folded one of my jumpers, then placed it into my trunk. I could feel the hot flush on cheeks. I fixed the back of my hands against my cheeks, the coolness sharp against the warmed skin. Ginny entered the room in the next moment.

"What's got you so red in the face?" She teased.

"Oh, nothing. Ron invited me to spend Christmas with you and your family." I overly gushed, accidentally.

"Sounds like someone is a little zealous to be spending time with my brother!" She bounced upon my bed.

"It isn't only your brother, it is you and your whole family. Not to mention, Harry and Sirius." I folded another jumper and deposited it into my trunk. She rolled her eyes in disbelief, but left it alone.

"If you say so Miss Granger." She snagged her latest issue of Quidditch Flyers, then proceeded to exit the room.

I continued to fold more articles of clothing till my trunk could no longer fit anything more. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I sighed as I closed my trunk. Thinking back about Ron and his invitation. It was true, I more than thrilled to be staying with Ron. The thought sent my head into a tizzy, my heart a fluttering, and me breathless. By now, my feelings for Ron were true. Nothing imagined, I have fought myself on these feelings since third year. To be honest, I was tired of fighting. I couldn't fight them anymore.

"Hermione, Ron and Harry were looking for you." I nodded to Lavender, shaking myself out of my trance. I left my room still in a bit of a daze.

The common room was unusually stuffy tonight, most of the time I found the room just warm enough to heat you to your bones but tonight I could barely breath. Perhaps the room hadn't changed at all, maybe it was the heat still radiating from my cheeks and sweating palms. Ron and Harry were seated near the fireplace, the orange glow just making Ron's hair a bit more fierce. I crossed through the throngs of students scattered throughout the common room, all discussing the regime of Umbridge and how unfair life at Hogwarts had become. I finally reached Ron and Harry, I gave Ron a small smile before he motioned for me to have a seat next to him.

I partially listened to the conversation between the two boys, catching a few tidbits about Harry kissing Cho and Ron's belief that girls must be deranged. I refuted Ron, telling him of his lack of emotion and sympathy for Cho. Post rant, I looked to Harry and then back to Ron. We laughed hard, harder than we had in a long while. The laughter filled our whole bodies, washing relief over us. It made everything a bit more bearable till winter break arrived.

We couldn't get to Grimwald Place quickly enough it seemed. Ron was right, Mrs. Weasley was more than pleased to see me . Told me she had expected it since I was practically family now. We roomed much like we did over the summer, Ron and Harry, Ginny and I. However this time around, I was right across the hall from Harry and Ron. If I left my door opened, I could catch a small glimpse of Ron reading Quidditch through the Ages for the umpteenth time. It excited me to see him read, even if it was the only book I have seen him read. I couldn't hold back my heavy sigh, as my feelings for Ron deepened each day.

Christmas day was quiet, we didn't want to celebrate till Mr. Weasley returned from the Hospital, so the house was empty of almost all sounds. Harry and Sirius decided today would be a great day to catch up and the Weasleys decided they all would go to the Hospital to bring Mr. Weasley home. Which left me to my own devices. I would have loved to wander around the historic Black household, but with Kreacher meandering through the halls calling me names under his breath, I would rather stay in my room. I read through my transfiguration textbook, trying to entertain myself. I stopped when I heard a knock on the door.

"Hermione, what're you up to?" Ron asked, peering in through the doorway. He crossed to my bed, finding the seat next to me on my bed. I shivered, as goosebumps rose on my skin at our sides touching.

"N-n-nothing." I stuttered, beginning to move away from him. He held my arm, pulling me back towards him. Twisting to look at him, I noticed we were within inches of each others faces. His eye held mine, those penetrating baby blue eyes. The gap between us started to shrink, due to my inability to control my feelings anymore.

"Ron, Hermione! We are back! Time for Christmas dinner! Come down!" Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs. I snapped out of his gaze, pulling away from him. I covered my lips and left the room. Christmas dinner was more than awkward it was mortifying, every time I would look up from my meal, Ron would catch my eye. I felt like everyone knew what happened between me and Ron, as if it were written across my face. Dinner went by excruciatingly slow, with more than enough embarrassment to last me a lifetime. The plates were cleared and Mrs. Weasley looked more giddy than ever. "Presents! Here you are!" She handed all the presents out, one by one.

I opened mine, beaming at the contents inside. There was my own purple Weasley jumper with a large yellow 'H' on it. I started to tear up, it was probably one of the best gifts I could receive. It truly made me feel like a part of the Weasley clan. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Weasley." I gave her the biggest hugs I could ever give, prior to my hastiness to get my jumper on. It was toasty almost immediately, I twirled for Mrs. Weasley, showing off my brilliant present. I caught Ron's eye, he was grinning happily at me. I smiled back before turning away.

Later on after everyone parted ways to go to bed, Ron caught me in the hallway. "That was really nice of you to do that for Mum." We were unbelievably close again.

"I really do love this jumper, probably one of the best presents I've ever been given. It makes feel part of the Weasley family." Ron's brilliant eyes were absorbing me, I couldn't feel my knees anymore. I fell into his arms, he caught me around the waist and lifted me to meet his lips. I entangled my fingers in his hair and wrapped my legs around his waist. The kiss seemed endless. He held me closely, I never wanted him to let go.

"Hermione?"

"Ron?"

We heard our names echo in the long halls and stairways, we parted and tried to catch our breath. We wandered back to our rooms, but in a heavy haze. Did we actually just kiss?