XX
The whole house smelt delicious, dinner was almost ready and the wood was burning away in the fireplace, the snow beautiful but cold. The table was set, the decorations hung and Hermione was sitting on the couch waiting by the fire for the rest of the guests to start arriving. Ginny was in the bathroom, Harry was in the kitchen with Ron discussing something of utmost important, and Hermione was about to refill her glass of wine the fire turned green and Fleur and Bill appeared in front of her.
"Hermione!" Fleur cried, dropping her bag and pulling Hermione into a hug.
"Merry Christmas!" Bill said as he hugged Hermione and his eyes swept the room, "Beautiful." He added.
"Merry Christmas! Harry and Ron are in the kitchen." Hermione said as Bill smiled and then quickly left the room, to wish his brothers Merry Christmas.
Hermione refilled her glass as Fleur looked around the room, obviously in search of something but it wasn't clear what. With a flick of her wand Fleur sent the contents of her bag flying, the presents landed neatly under the tree and the food and drink sailed around the corner into the kitchen.
"Do you have a radio?" Fleur asked Hermione as her eyes desperately searched the room. Turning to face Hermione, she gave her a small hopeful smiling.
"No, why?" Hermione whispered back looking fraught, why did they need one, was it something important?
"Oh thank Merlin!" Fleur exclaimed, a wide smile spreading over her beautiful face.
"I don't…" Hermione started watching Fleur as her face lit up with utter relief and happiness.
"No 'orrible singing this year!" Fleur exclaimed, her eyes darting around the room as she said it, checking that Molly hadn't arrived yet.
"Oh of course." Hermione said, smiling, she finally understood why Fleur had been so distraught. And for the first time ever she realised why Ron had been so adamantly against buying a radio, even the wizard kind, and she was so very grateful.
No wonder they hadn't had Christmas at the Burrow in the last few years, all of her children were avoiding the radio. It was so long ago that they'd had to listen to it was almost, gone from her mind, but evidently it was still fresh in Fleur's. This would be another Warbeck free Christmas.
XX