XX

Clothes covered the floor, the bed and the dresser. Each draw was half empty, and opened, the cupboard was ajar and was flooded with light. Hermione was bent over with her wand on the floor beside her, a blue orb of light hanging above her head and her hands searching through everything. She was pulling out the pockets of coats and pants, but still she hadn't been able to find anything.

After 2 hours of searching she had found two blank Christmas cards and five rolls of wrapping paper, but nothing else. Glancing down at her watch she straightened up quickly, Ron would be home soon, he couldn't know. Picking up her wand to restore the cupboard to its former order she paused as someone cleared their throat behind her.

"Seriously?" Ron said from behind her, sounding amused as Hermione blushed and turned to face him. He was still wearing his travelling cloak that was covered in a thick layer of snow, and was shivering slightly because of it, as he leant against the doorframe with a smile on his face.

"I lost my ring." Hermione said, standing up and flicking her wand, sending everything in the cupboard back to its proper place.

"That ring?" Ron said, his gaze falling on the wedding ring on her left hand.

"Yes, I found it." Hermione said pushing past Ron as she walked out of the cupboard and restored their bedroom to its former tidiness.

"Of course. Didn't manage to find my presents though?" Ron said, turning around to face her as she tried to keep her expression on neutral.

"I wasn't looking for them…" Hermione started, keeping her eyes on the wall behind Ron to not give herself away.

"Uh huh." Ron smirked. Walking into the bathroom, he grabbed a towel and turned on the shower.

"Where to you hide them!" Hermione exclaimed, following him into the bathroom with a change of clothes for him, which she placed on the stool.

"In my secret spot." Ron replied, pulling off his travelling cloak, and sending out of the room with a flick of his wand.

"Well where is that?" Hermione asked, desperately wanting to know the answer. She had never been able to find his presents, ever. Every year she searched for them, and every year she couldn't find them. She hoped that it would get easier once they lived together, but it didn't, then she thought that when they got their house together, not a flat but a proper house she would be able to find them, but still no luck. Leaning against the bench, she watched him grin at her.

"Wouldn't be a secret if I told you now would it?" Ron said, his smile broadening, he checked the temperature of the shower before taking off his shirt, which was covered in a new layer of abrasions after his day of work.

"Well no, but I am your wife…" Hermione started, running out of convincing arguments.

"And I am your husband." Ron said, taking a step towards Hermione and smiling down at her.

"I'm still not used to that." Hermione whispered, grinning back at Ron she kissed him before pulling him into a hug, they had only been apart for a few hours, but she missed him all the same.

"This will be our first Christmas married." Ron whispered as he finished undressing and turned to the shower, ready to get in.

"We should do a joint Christmas card!" Hermione cried, already listing ideas in her head, she only had a few days, but she reckoned she could do it.

"But first we should shower." Ron turned back to Hermione and smiled, swiftly removing her jumper and singlet before taking a step back.

"Ok." Hermione smiled, flicking her wand and sending another towel into the room before dropping her wand on the bench and pushing Ron into the shower in front of her.

XX