Hermione huffed as she tried to stifle the laughter that threatened to bubble up. It wasn't every day that you saw a Malfoy trying to string Christmas lights on a tree, but she now had a front row seat to the sight.

And oh, what a sight it was.

They planned to get married in one weeks time, as now rumors had begun to circulate around that they were involved with one another. Several times a day she had a coworker come to her and try to stealthily get information from her, but her lips were sealed until the press release was issued a day after their wedding.

Thankfully, they planned on traveling to one of Draco's family's homes in Italy for a "honeymoon", so they wouldn't be around when the news hit. Honestly, she dreaded seeing what everyone's reactions would be, though she knew it would make no difference in her life.

"Okay, done!" She looked up as Draco hopped up and down in excitement, making her lose her battle with her laughter.

"Oh, my gosh. You look like a little kid on Christmas morning!" She tried to tame the noise she was making, but she was failing.

Draco just shook his head and moved to grab his wand. The lights they had found would be turned on with a simple spell and with a flick of his wrist the entire tree began to glow.

"We still need to get ornaments."

He nodded. "I figured I'd let you have fun with that."

She grinned at being able to decorate their tree the way she wanted. "Maybe I'll pop down and have a look around at some shops after you go into work."

Draco had finally finished his training and was now a certified pediatric Healer, something she was immensely proud of him for.

"Just be careful; the weather's taken a bad turn." She gave him a soft smile at his worry and walked over to give him a peck in his cheek.

The past few weeks they had grown more comfortable with little touches and kisses on the cheek and head. They hadn't had another real kiss yet, but she hoped the next time they did she wouldn't run away.

"I will be." He ran a hand down her curly hair and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"I better go upstairs and changed before I'm late." She nodded and he dropped a kiss to the top of her head before making his way to his room to change.

She looked down at herself and decided that she look decent enough, and with a nice dress robe overtop she would be fine to run out to do a bit of shopping. She did want to put her hair up in a bun, though, as her hair mixed with snow wasn't a good combination.

And hour later found her walking the streets of Diagon Alley, concealment charm keeping her expanding stomach hidden. She supposed that after their wedding she may drop the charm, after all, eventually everyone would have to know.

How else would she explain a newborn baby?

She ducked in a shop that always had such beautiful Christmas decorations and began to browse. Draco had no real decorations, so everything would have to bought new. At first she had felt uneasy about the idea of spending his money, but he had simply told her that by going out to buy it herself she was saving him a trip.

She didn't mention that if not for her he wouldn't have any need for decorations.

She quickly picked out what she wanted and paid, thankful that the items would be delivered tomorrow morning so she wouldn't have to lug them all around. She hoped that they could decorate together, and had said as much to Draco. He had agreed and now she felt excitement grow as this would be the first time she'd ever decorated her home with someone else who wasn't her parents.

After she ducked out of the shop she shivered as she acknowledged that Draco had been right. The weather had turned to crap and she pulled the hood of her robe tighter around her head as she moved down the street. She wanted to visit one more store before heading back home, but sadly it was at the other end of the shopping area. Making quick work of the distance she opened the door to her favorite bookstore and made her way inside, sighing as the warm air hit her chilled face.

Of course the store wasn't just any store. No, it was only the biggest bookstore that this area had to offer. She wanted to grab a few books to take with her on her honeymoon and also wanted to pick something out for Draco since she had found out that he enjoyed reading nearly as much as she did. They had made it a habit to spend quiet evenings reading by a warm fire, and it was one of her favorite parts of the day.

She ran a hand over several books, stopping at a murder mystery by one of his favorite authors. She pulled it from the shelf and laid it on top of her own choices, smiling at the thought of reading on a balcony overlooking the ocean.

"Hermione?" She jerked her head around and found herself meeting the eyes of one Ginny Weasley - well, Potter.

"Ginny." Her voice sounded surprised to her own ears and she couldn't help the quick glance down at her stomach, glad to see that her charm was still in place.

Why it wouldn't be she didn't know, but it still made her feel better to check.

"I haven't seen you in a while." The redhead gave her a look that was almost filled with hurt, but Hermione couldn't fathom why.

It was Ginny that had cut Hermione from her life, after all.

"Well, I'm still out and about." It was awkward and she wanted nothing more than to duck out and head to her warm home.

Ginny stared and nodded. "How have you been?"

"Good. I've been good. Staying busy and such. You?"

"I'm good."

Well, now what?

"Look, Hermione, I've been wanting to talk to you, but I haven't worked up the nerve."

Hermione's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "What do you want to talk about?"

Ginny sighed. "Well, I'd prefer to not talk here. Maybe we can find somewhere to have something warm to drink?"

She really didn't want to, but at the same time she wanted to know what on earth Ginny could possibly want to talk to her about.

"Alright. Let me pay and then I'll meet you at the door?"

Ginny nodded and turned around, making a beeline for the front door of the shop.

Hermione sighed and moved toward to counter, placing her books down and smiling at the saleswoman.

"Will this be all, dear?"

"Yes, mam."

Too quickly she was rung up and with her books in a paper bag she made her way to where Ginny stood.

Silently they walked, until the redhead pointed to a small cafe. "Is that okay?"

Hermione hadn't been there before, but she didn't really plan on getting anything. Her stomach was in knots and she didn't want to risk eating or drinking anything that could make it worse.

After they had been seated and Ginny had order a hot cocoa she drew in a breath. "Hermione, I just wanted to talk to you about what was said the last time we really spoke."

Somehow she knew that's what she was going to want to talk about. She knew people were confused as to why she no longer seemed to talk to either Ginny or Harry, but the reason was pretty simple - Ginny had accused her of trying to tear Ron and Lavender apart.

She had, of course, raged against the accusation. Harry had been caught in the crossfire and not wanting to choose any side that wasn't his wife's had stayed away from Hermione.

It had hurt. It had hurt a lot.

"Okay."

"I know that I may have overstepped my boundaries. Harry has been telling me for the last three months to talk to you and sort it out, but I didn't know how to even start."

"You made your opinion of me pretty clear that night, Ginny. Why would I believe that you've changed your mind?"

They both sat there, staring at each other until the waitress came with Ginny's drink and broke up the tension.

"I was wrong. Lavender had become my friend and then when Ron proposed she was going to become my sister. She felt like you were going to tear her and Ron apart and I jumped to her defense."

"I was your friend!" Hermione clenched her teeth together to keep herself from yelling.

"I know! I was wrong and after I said it I didn't know how to take it back!"

Hermione shut her eyes and tried to fight back tears. It had cut her so deeply to lose her only good female friend when she needed her the most. Then, to think that Ginny thought that she was trying to come between Lavender and Ron? Lavender had come between them!

"Are you really sorry, or do you just feel guilty now that you've been proven wrong?"

Ginny flushed. "I am sorry."

Hermione presses her lips together in a line. What could she do now? Forgive the woman? Let it go and welcome her back as a friend? Tell her to get lost?

After a long while she finally said, "I forgive you, but I don't know if I can forget. We've been through so much together and for you to just brush me aside like that will take time for me to forget about."

Ginny nodded and looked down at her untouched drink. "That's your right."

Anger surged through Hermione again and she tried to let it go. "It is, just as your behavior was your right. You can't expect me to welcome you back with open arms, Ginny. You cut me deeply during a time when I really needed your support, but instead you tried to belittle me and make me out to be some type of whore."

"I never thought you were a whore, Hermione, just in love with my brother."

"I was, but thankfully all of those feelings have long since past." There was freedom in her words, in knowing that Ron no longer had any hold over her.

She got up and picked up her bag of books. "Thank you for apologizing, Ginny. Maybe one day we can move past this."

Ginny gave her a nod and then she left, bracing herself for the piercing cold. She quickly made her way to the apparition point and popped home, bursting into tears as soon as she found herself in her living room.

She made her way to her room and laid down after taking her robe off and laying the books in the floor. It had been too much too soon and now she was emotionally exhausted.

She had felt so dirty after allowing Ron to use her the way he had, and then when Ginny had accused her of trying to get Ron away from Lavender she had felt like it was the last straw.

It seemed that no one would ever really know the truth, that Lavender had taken Ron away from her, but she had to move past that. She now had a different life with a man who actually treated her like she was worth something, instead of someone to hide.

After their wedding she was never going to hide again.

..00..

It felt so weird writing about Christmas during June - especially since I spent the majority of the afternoon outside and got even got sunburnt :(

So there you have it! The reason why Hermione isn't close to Ginny or Harry anymore. Their issues still aren't resolved and you can be sure that they'll be popping up again soon!

Next chapter will be their wedding and honeymoon! I'm still debating on how close I want them to get during their honeymoon, so let me know what you think? I've loved all y'alls feedback about if Ron should know the truth about the baby, so thank you to everyone who left a review about your opinion!

Until next time!

*Mauh!*