Author's Note: Wow. I need to stop posting these so quickly. Just a few fixes and on to the show. This is probably my favorite chapter by far. My beta loves this chapter a lot too. We have some flirting between Gideon and Hermione. Some teasing from Fabian. This chapter has changed a lot from the original. The layout is still the same as it is Christmas still. The next chapter is being worked on right now and I won't spoil anything but it is going to be extremely cute. Also this is a longer one as I've felt bad for all the short ones.
Special thanks to: Indieblue who alpha and ran her comb through this picking things out and bookworm4life0812's own beta for helping with the French (and the review from the original correcting my translations).
Beta love to bookworm4life0812
I don't own Harry Potter or any characters mentioned
I am on tumblr under mischiefpuff
Christmas morning came a lot faster than Hermione would have liked, although she had to admit she was excited to see the Weasley family again. However, that excitement was dampered a little as out of the corner of her eye she saw her beaten-up beaded bag. She told herself she wasn't going to bring it; she tried to ignore the bag but the sight of it sitting on the bed unattended, well let's say, it caused a panic fear to settle in Hermione's stomach. What if something did happen?
"I can do this. It's our family…only they're a lot younger and the twins haven't been born yet." Hermione told her reflection trying to pump herself back up.
Suddenly, a knocking sound from the door echoed throughout her flat, which caused Hermione to jump. Walking towards the door, she made it halfway before she decided to backtrack and grab her beaded bag which she realized held all her presents.
Hopefully I don't pass out again, she thought moving towards the door.
"Ms Granger?" Hermione heard. She tried blinking but her eyes felt heavy as if something was putting pressure on them.
"Ms Granger?" the person repeated. Hermione groaned in response as she tried blinking again this time gaining a little control.
"There you go," the person encouraged. "Slowly."
It took some time, but Hermione was eventually able to open her eyes, but immediately shut them again as light was brightly shining directly into her face.
"Slowly," the person encouraged again.
This time Hermione re-opened her eyes to find herself on her sofa and Albus Dumbledore standing above her. Hermione groaned and threw an arm over her eyes.
"What happened?" she asked before coughing from the dryness of her throat.
Albus smiled while informing Hermione of what happened. "Well, my dear. You passed out after I told you about the family you'd be spending Christmas with."
Yes, Hermione thought as she opened the door. Because anyone would be ready to spend the holidays with their family they just left only a week ago.
"Freya!" Gideon greeted with a cheer. "Come here. Come here," he said waving his hand. "Give us a twirl."
Laughing, she did as he requested and did a mini twirl; one that caused Gideon to frown before grabbing her hand and spinning the both of them. We had another interesting interaction, Hermione thought as Gideon bowed slightly out of breath.
Hermione had just gotten home after a rushed and unplanned Christmas shopping trip. In the sitting room she was trying to wrap her presents when she heard what sounded like two people certainly didn't help Hermione's already grumpy mood. She grumbled about not being prepared for Christmas, and having dealt with snappy people complaining about teenagers having no manners. Hermione was not in the mood to have people to argue outside her door.
Ripping opening her door, she had shrieked at the pair, "Do you mind! Some people are trying to get work done, and you arguing like a pair of birds is not helping!"
The pair in front of her door glanced at each other before they looked at Hermione—who was heaving while holding her door open.
"Are you Freya Rousseau, by any chance?" The taller ginger asked, a bit sheepishly, as if that would make up for all the racket he'd caused.
The heaving from Hermione stopped as the two gingers watched as she stood straighter and her eyes hardened.
"Who's asking?" Hermione asked, in place of answering his question.
"Prewett. Gideon Prewett," the shorter one answered.
"And Fabian Prewett, at your service," the taller one answered as well.
Crossing her arms defensely under her chest Hermione asked "And how do you know me?"
"Dumbledore sent us, he said that there was a witch without her family for the Holidays. Our sister wouldn't let us live it down if she found out," Fabian explained.
Merlin, she reminds me of Alastor, Gideon thought as his brother talked to Hermione, She is definitely prettier than him, though.
Fabian noticed Hermione's eyes kept shifting between him and his brother. Glancing over at his twin it was clear as why; rolling his eyes Fabian brought the attention onto him again.
"So, we'll see you on Christmas morning then?" He asked hastily, and Hermione's attention shifted onto him.
"You shal….where exactly will we be?" Hermione asked quickly explaining.
Fabian rubbed his neck. "Oh right. Christmas is at the Burrow. Does eight work? We'll come pick you up."
"Eight, Christmas morning." Hermione repeated. "I cannot thank you or your family enough for having me."
She wouldn't verbally admit it but Hermione was extremely thankful for a familiar family so early into the past.
Gideon didn't realize that his brother or Hermione had stopped talking nor that he was being dragged down the hallway.
Fabian stood off to the side watching as the spinning pair came to a stop. Neither brothers were out of shape, so to Fabian it was clear Gideon being out of breath was for show.
"Are you both done?" Fabian asked with a twinkle in his eye. "You were suppose to pick her up, not make her dizzy."
Hermione looked over at the ginger and she rushed over trying to help once she realized all the presents. Fabian, however, had a different idea, and used his height to his advantage, and kept them out of her reach; and laughter came out of him as Hermione began to pout.
"No worries, M'lady," Fabian said as Gideon took the presents. "It's Gideon's turn to carry them as I carried them all last year."
"Yes because it is my fault Alastor didn't like my paperwork," Gideon grumbled, trying to balance the presents whilst walking down the stairs.
"Alastor?" Hermione repeated, faking her confusion.
Fabian nodded. "Alastor Moody. He's in charge of the Auror department."
Not wanting to talk about the grumpy Auror, Gideon wrapped Hermione into a different conversation and left Fabian with his thoughts. Fabian was considering how far Hermione's flat had been from theirs, and he couldn't stop thinking about the night that they heard someone screaming.
It couldn't be…though it does match up very well, Fabian thought but he wasn't going to bring it up now. Molly had made them promise that they wouldn't bring up anything related to the Order or work when around the children.
"So how do you know Albus?" Fabian heard Gideon ask as he struggled with the door.
Fabian rolled his eyes, stepping forward, opening the door and then holding it open for the pair. Gideon grinned at his twin while Hermione whispered her thanks.
"My Father went to Hogwarts," Hermione started to explain once they were all outside. "Father was a muggle-born who meet my Mum; a pureblood, in France while he was doing some Ministry work."
"Alors, vous parlez la belle langue?" Gideon asked surprising Hermione with his French.
Cursing her slight moment of hesitation, Hermione hoped she covered it replying in French, "Oui" till she switched back to English "I am a bit rusty having not spent much time speaking it, so you may need to help."
Fabian rolled his eyes with a small smile at the flirting between the pair. They walked past a few window shops when he announced "We have to walk a bit; the apparition point isn't far though."
Hermione smiled showing she wasn't worried. "That's okay. I cannot thank you once again for letting me spend the holidays with you."
Gideon grinned proclaiming."You're going to love them. Molly, our sister, has three boys."
Hermione didn't remember Molly every mentioning that she had brothers; though she, Harry, the twins, Ron and Ginny had learned that Molly's brothers were part of the original Order and Aurors. Hermione's heart swelled with anticipation of seeing Bill, Charlie and Percy along with Arthur and Molly again. Including with that anticipation was also a touch of sadness as they wouldn't be her Charlie, Bill or Percy.
"Three boys?" Hermione repeated. "Sounds like a handful. How old are they?"
From her other side Fabian answered, "Yup, Molly, the oldest out of the three of us, been wanting a girl but loves her boys." Scratching his head as Fabian had to think about this. "There's William, he's the oldest and turned seven last month. Then there's Charles, he turned five on the twelfth of this month. . ."
"Percy turned one back in August," Gideon said finishing off his nephew's names.
Pointing towards the alley where the apparition point was; Fabian commented "Little Lolly is five months pregnant and she's confident it's going to be a girl."
"Arthur, our brother-in-law, doesn't think it'll be a girl," Gideon explained letting Hermione walk into the alley first.
Hermione and Gideon walked ahead of Fabian; who lingered making sure nobody was following them before he too joined them.
Coming to the end of the alley Hermione stopped before asking. "Why not?"
"Something about there not being a female in the Weasley line for generations," she heard Fabian say as he strode up to the pair.
Gideon looked down at the presents, then over to his twin, then back at presents. They clearly didn't think how the presents were getting to their sister's without being destroyed.
Sensing their distress at the unforeseen conundrum, Hermione suggested. "You can put them in my bag if you'd like."
Gideon looked up at her, confused, and asked. "Aren't your presents in there?"
Blushing Hermione explained. "Well, yes, but there's an undetectable extension charm on it. My pare—," she stopped to clear her throat. "My parents gave it to me as a birthday presents…it was the last one they ever gave me."
No one knew what to say. The air around them became awkward, however, that wasn't going to stop either Gideon or Fabian; they were pranksters who knew all too well how to get out of awkward situations.
"An undetectable extension charm, huh," Gideon repeated, plastering on the fakest smile. "Why didn't we think of that last year, Fab?"
"We aren't smart, Gid," Fabian answered grabbing presents to put into the bag being held open.
Once the presents were all in Hermione's bag, she closed it, and wrapped it around her wrist with practiced ease.
"I'll apparate with Freya," Fabian told his brother with a raised eyebrow. Gideon looked away blushing.
"I'm going then," Gideon backing away from the pair. "Meet you at the Burrow?"
Fabian nodded. "Of course, where else would we be going?"
Gideon simply waved two fingers, and then he was gone; a small pop echoed after him. Hermione crossed her arms, and forced herself to focus on something else. She could apparition to the Burrow herself, but then she remembered that she wasn't supposed to know where it was.
Unknown to the other, both Hermione and Fabian had counted to ten. There were many wizards and witches that didn't wait long enough till they apprated after someone, and they often collided with the person they were traveling with.
"M'lady, if you'd be so kind as to join me for a side-along," Fabian said holding out his arm.
"Of course," Hermione replied with a small curtsy before adding, "I would appreciate it if you would be so kind as to not splinch me."
Fabian chuckled. "M'lady doesn't need to worry about splinching with me. I aced apparition on the first try. Gideon is the one to watch out for; nearly lost part of his nose the first time."
Hermione's own chuckle was cut short as she suddenly felt the familiar pull right before completely disappearing. Her hold on Fabian tightened as she truly did not want to be splinched. Hermione loved apparition as it cut travel time in half, however, she did not enjoy side-alongs.
When the spinning feeling finally stopped, she had been preparing for a rough landing or a lot of pain. When neither came Hermione let her body relax till she felt a warm arm wrapped around her waist causing her tense and peek an eye open slightly.
"Can't quite stick the landing, can you, Rousseau?" Fabian chuckled as Hermione noticed it was Gideon holding her up.
Hermione felt her face burn as she noticed the slight stubble and how in the morning sun Gideon's eyes shined hazel green. Unaware to Hermione; Gideon was absorbed into how right her waist felt against his arm.
Godric, she's even prettier up close, Gideon thought as he noticed the different shades of browns in Hermione's hair and the sparkle in her eyes.
Whatever trance either of them were under was broken by the chuckling behind them. Gideon let go of Hermione's waist, and instantly turned a crisp crimson red, which only added fuel to the fire and caused Fabian to laugh harder.
"Sorry," Gideon apologized, letting Hermione stand on her own.
"Thank you," Hermione said also blushing. "For…not letting me fall."
Gideon's crimson colour blush deepened as he replied, "My pleasure."
Even though your waist is unusually small, he thought to himself, but ultimately decided against commenting aloud on his observation.
Fabian watched as Gideon ran his hands through his hair and Hermione dusted invisible dirt off of her shirt. Despite the lack of romantic relationships in the past, that did not stop Hermione from knowing what funny things were being done to her stomach. She decided she did not like it.
Moving away from Gideon slightly, Hermione brought the attention back to the weather. "Can we please go? Incase you forgot it is winter and the sun isn't doing much."
Gideon noticed Hermione had started to shiver, so he removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders. Fabian also cast a hot-air charm around the three of them. The gingers laughed as Hermione let out a sigh of pure happiness.
"The house is this way," Fabian said pointing up the path. "Shouldn't take us long."
Hermione let Gideon and Fabian lead the way, as she once again was not supposed to know where they were going. This left her to get lost in her thoughts, and a pang of sorrow rang through her as her mind drifted to Ginny. She missed her. The fiery redhead would know what to say in this situation. He's really handsome, but, I'm on a mission. What in Merlin's name am I thinking?
Gideon did everything in his power to not turn around, and blatantly stare at the witch behind them; he heard chuckling beside him and whipped his head towards Fabian.
Quickly wishing he hasn't turned around as Fabian wiggled his eyebrows asking softly, "What was that?"
Looking away and turning his nose upward Gideon decided to play dumb, so he asked. "What was what?"
Shoving his twin, Fabian persisted in his teasing. "Oi! Don't be a twat with me."
The rest of the walk they bickered softly, and hoped to not bring attention to their conversation; they were both aware that Hermione wasn't even paying attention as she was lost in her thoughts. Too lost in her thoughts, that she didn't realize they had stopped and she walked right into Gideon's back.
"Sorry," she mumbled, rubbing at her nose.
Gideon turned winking as he suggested "If you wanted my attention love, all you had to do was ask."
Hearing this Fabian rolled his eyes as he held the door open and Gideon bowed with his arm held out allowing Hermione to walk in first. Butterflies swarm inside her stomach and the excitement of finally being in the Burrow again made Hermione's legs shaky.
It was the same house with the same home feeling at the same time Hermione knew it wasn't her Burrow. Taking a peek she felt her heart swell with happiness as her eyes rested on the Weasley clock which held five spoons at the moment.
Fabian walked around her towards the table where he grabbed a green apple off it.
"It isn't much but it's home." He said before taking a bite of the apple
Happy to be back home Hermione muttered back happily, "No, it's perfect."
Hermione felt a sense of déjà vu as she remembered Harry trying to explain the emotions he felt when he first walked into the Burrow.
"It was amazing," Harry said one night. "Only meeting Molly and Arthur once; the Burrow felt like home. Like I was actually welcomed."
Deciding to liven things up Gideon called out from behind Hermione. "Hello? Anyone home?"
"Your favourite uncles are here." Fabian also called out after swallowing his apple bite
Above their heads; squeals of delight could be heard throughout the house along with tink feet creaking every floorboard. Hermione felt her eyes burn as she knew in a moment she would be seeing a younger Bill and Charlie.
"Unclew Gid!"
"Uncle Fab!"
Alors, vous parlez la belle langue = So, you speak the beautiful language
Oui = Yes