Chapter Eleven: Family Festivities
Hermione stared into the bedroom which used to be Percy's and moved towards the house guest who was sleeping soundly in the room. Sometimes she felt sorry for Percy because he always seemed to be giving up his bedroom, but then Molly could not keep every room for all of her children after they moved out. Ron, Ginny and George still had their childhood bedrooms and Bill had reclaimed his for the Christmas holiday, but Percy and Charlie were sharing Charlie's old bedroom. Nobody was sure if George was going to sleep in his childhood bedroom because he had not since before Fred's death. It saddened Hermione to think that when she woke up tomorrow, it would be Christmas Day and there would be no Fred. At least George had made it to the Burrow in time for dinner and neither Molly nor Arthur realised that there had been a problem. Hermione, Ron and Harry had still been sitting in the kitchen talking when the two eldest Weasley boys had returned with George. They did pretty much drag him out of the Floo and shove him towards a kitchen chair. George had grinned at the others in the way that only Fred or George could, but Hermione did not believe it was genuine. Before anyone could ask George why he was late or ask the brothers how they had persuaded him to return, Percy had entered the room declaring that Arthur was on his way.
Percy had been outside with Arthur, helping him with the Muggle items in his shed and bonding, when Ron had returned to the Burrow without George. Ron had gone out to tell Percy to keep his father occupied until Bill and Charlie could return with George. Soon after Percy and Arthur had entered the kitchen, Molly and Ginny returned from making all of the beds in the house. Molly had been in the middle of a conversation with her daughter, but had stopped mid-sentence upon seeing her son. She had made George sit next to her during dinner and kept her attention on him completely throughout the meal. As the meal had ended, Hermione had seen the look on George's face as he was forced to sit with his mother in the living room and it dawned on her his reasons for not wanting to return to the Burrow for Christmas. Ron had told her that George seemed to be doing better and to be coping, but no one had any idea what it would be like for him to spend time back in the Burrow without his twin and on Christmas day, too. Everyone was already very highly strung with regards to the festive period and it was bound to bring up everyone's memories of past years.
Hermione was not sure of how the Weasleys' had spent Christmas last year, but she had spent Christmas Eve in Godric's Hollow with Harry. She was very glad that instead of being there she was inside the safety of the Burrow. She looked at the sleeping child in Percy's bedroom, thinking about how it was Teddy's first ever Christmas. She was not sure that he really knew what was going on, but he seemed to love all of the extra attention.
"Hey, getting broody?"
Hermione turned and saw Harry standing in the doorway. She smiled and took a few steps to stand next to him, slightly further away from Teddy. Keeping her voice low so as not to wake Teddy, Hermione replied, "No, I was just thinking about where we were this time last year and how this is his first Christmas."
"I believe this time last year, you were busy breaking my wand," he joked.
"Cheeky git," she remarked with a grin and Harry laughed.
"You've been around Ron a bit too much."
"Not enough more like."
He nodded his head in understanding. "How is Hogwarts?"
Hermione wrote to Harry at least once a week and whereas she kept her loneliness hidden from Ron in her letters and conversations, she wrote all about them to Harry. It was Christmas, however, and she was not about to start wallowing in sadness about how lonely she was in school. She really needed this Christmas break and despite the fact that everyone else was fearful of the pain that the day would bring, Hermione was hopeful that being around those she loved would keep her going until Easter. "It's okay."
"Liar."
"Harry," she objected, "it's Christmas. I really don't want to discuss how awful school is, or how much I miss having you and Ron around, or how Parkinson and her 'friends' are bullying me in such a Muggle way."
"I'd suggest a little curse or two," Harry smiled at her and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"That's the thing," she countered, "they just say things and accidentally bump into me. None of them have even come close to brandishing their wands. I can't use magic without provocation or justification and they're not going to give me that."
"Because they know that you're better than them."
Hermione rested her head against Harry's shoulder. "Thank you."
"Doesn't help though, does it?" he asked and she shook her head against his shoulder. "I used to hate it at the Dursleys' when they would pick on me and make me do things that I hated. It was a constant harassment, but the whole time I knew that I was better than them. I always had hope that something would change and then I found out who I was and I knew that I just had to wait a few years and cope with a few holidays." Harry paused, thinking and Hermione waited. "I know for you it's the other way around – you have the holidays as Heaven and school with the bullies, but you're stronger than me."
"No, Harry, no I'm not."
"How many times have you rescued me, Hermione?" He continued without letting her answer. "I know that you won't use magic until they do first and then you'll win. You are still the same girl who slapped Malfoy, right?"
She moved her head to look at him with a smile on her face. "I had a civil conversation with Malfoy the other week."
"What?" Harry asked incredulously. His voice was a bit too loud and Teddy stirred and gurgled a bit, but did not awaken.
Hermione nodded. "In the library. And, he hasn't been involved in any of the bullying tactics of the others."
"Maybe some people can change," Harry mumbled.
"Maybe," Hermione agreed.
"Dudley's been in contact with me," he said. "Not his parents, but he has been. He hasn't mentioned the years of abuse he gave me, but we've been talking. I reckon he's changed."
"He didn't pick his parents or chose how they brought him up," Hermione remarked. She knew that it was not that simple, but that there was also truth in the statement. Nobody could help who they were brought up by and for a lot of children their main role models were their parents, but genetics also played a part. There was definitely a trend for Dudley being like his parents, Draco like his and Ginny like hers. "And then," Hermione whispered looking at Teddy again, "there are those that get no parents."
Harry approached his God-son and stroked his head very gently. "Teddy may be an orphan, but at least he'll be brought up by people who love him, at least he'll know who his parents were and he won't be tortured by people who were supposed to love him."
"You didn't turn out too bad either, Harry."
"No, I guess not." He paused, heading back to the doorway and closing the door so that Teddy could sleep in peace. "And I had the same role models as Dudley."
"Exactly," Hermione agreed before yawning. "Oh dear," she remarked. "Can you let Ginny know that I've gone to bed early and that I'll see everyone in the morning?"
Harry agreed and started walking down the stairs before he turned back to her. "This is your first Christmas Day at the Burrow, isn't it?"
"Yes, why?"
"Oh," he shook his head, "nothing."
Hermione continued on to the bedroom she shared with Ginny and was quickly ready for bed. She was not sure what Harry had meant by his last comment, but she was sure that there was nothing to worry about. She was pretty used to the Weasley way and she was sure that she would love whatever traditions they had for Christmas day. Hermione was simply relieved that she was no longer lonely and that she had people she loved surrounding her. She was also aware that it was the second Christmas in a row that she had not seen her own parents, but that was why she and Ron were visiting them from Boxing Day until New Year's Eve. She did want to see her parents on Christmas Day and they had remarked that they would miss her, but they also understood that Molly needed Ron at home. Molly had graciously invited the Grangers to Christmas dinner, but they had declined saying that they were simply moving the day to a few days later to share it with Hermione and Ron. With thoughts of the new experiences she and Ron were about to have, Hermione fell asleep very quickly.
Hermione was awoken very suddenly and opened her eyes immediately. Leaning over her and with her face right in Hermione's was Ginny who was yelling that it was Christmas over and over. As an only child, no-one had ever awoken Hermione on Christmas morning and the fact that Ginny's face was only inches away from hers made her more than a little bit scared.
"Good," Ginny said, standing up straight, "you're awake." Hermione sat up as Ginny put her dressing gown on and threw Hermione's at her. "Come on, missy, it's Christmas and we've got presents to open!" Ginny opened the bedroom door and glanced back at Hermione who was still sitting in her bed in shock. "Earth to Hermione, no-one in this house gets to open their presents until everyone is downstairs. So, up!" she commanded.
Hermione swung her legs over onto the floor as her brain tried to process what was going on all around it. She could hear fast footsteps outside of the bedroom and Hermione saw flashes of red running past the door. Each flash said 'Merry Christmas' without even pausing. Ginny followed her brothers in a run down the stairs and Hermione remained where she was trying to remember how to put her dressing gown on. She was sure that one of the red blurs had been Ron, but she could not be sure.
"Morning," Harry said from the doorway.
"Is it?" she asked as she finally got her dressing gown on and stood up. "You don't seem to have the Weasley excitement."
"Not yet, but once we're down there we both will." She looked at him sceptically as they walked down the stairs. "Trust me. I know that my experiences are biased, but Christmases with the Weasleys' are amazing. Miles better than Christmases at Hogwarts."
Hermione entered the living room and Harry soon left her side to take a seat on the floor. Sitting on the sofa were Molly, Arthur and Andromeda whilst Fleur and Bill were sitting on the armchairs. On the floor near to Molly was Ginny and George, Charlie and Ron were closer to Bill and Harry had sat down near to Andromeda and had taken Teddy from her for a hug. Everyone was opening their presents in a very haphazard way and Hermione did not know who to watch first. She was used to a much more sedate affair where she and her parents took turns in opening their presents. This was nothing like that. In fact the only people not opening presents were Molly and Arthur who seemed to be watching all of their children at once.
"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Molly said as she held out a present to her.
Hermione blushed as she leaned over Ginny to take the present. She then sat down near to Ginny and continued to look all around her, trying to take in the chaotic scene. Harry was helping Teddy to open a present and Hermione realised that it was a present for Harry. Teddy was giggling furiously as he pulled and ripped at the colourful paper and Hermione assumed that Harry was going to allow the child to open all of his own presents. Bill and Fleur exchanged presents and began to un-wrap them, each smiling and laughing at what the other had bought them. She noticed that George was comparing something with his father and seemed in good spirits and that Percy was not yet with them all, but it had not stopped them all starting to open their presents. Hermione then watched as Ginny stood and walked over to where Ron was seated, already playing a game with Charlie.
"Here you go," she said, handing her older brother a present.
He took it from her and started to open it. "Thanks," he smiled as he looked at the annual on the Chudley Cannons. "I love it."
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean what I said," she apologised.
He grinned at her and pulled her down for a hug. "Silly git."
Hermione smiled as she watched Ginny try to pull away from Ron whilst he refused to let her go.
"Hermione, dear," Molly said and Hermione looked at her, "you are supposed to open the present."
"Oh, yes. Sorry," she apologised and started to open the present. She realised as she started carefully unwrapping the paper, not tearing at it like everyone else, that everyone had gone silent except for Teddy. Hermione glanced up and noticed that everyone was watching her intently.
"You can rip it," George joked and Hermione blushed even redder.
"Yeah, come on, open it!" Ginny demanded, now sitting next to Ron after finally breaking free from the hug.
Hermione removed the gift from the paper and uncurled the material. She realised instantly what it was and tears welled in her eyes. Without hesitation, Hermione stood and launched herself at Molly, hugging her fiercely. "Thank you so much."
"Of course, dear."
Hermione sat back down on the floor and admired her new Weasley jumper. "I absolutely love it!" she declared.
"We all 'ave one," Fleur said and Hermione glanced around to see everyone holding one up, including Andromeda who was also holding Teddy's up. Hermione could not tell from Fleur's tone if she was happy at having a jumper of her own or not.
Everyone continued opening their presents in chaos as Hermione put her jumper on, noting how much better a knitter Molly was than she. Hermione was still practicing whilst making random items of clothing for the school's house-elves. She had been aware of the tradition for Molly to make all of her children a jumper for Christmas, but this was the first time that she had received one and she felt truly honoured. After everything that she had been through in the past year, Hermione was incredibly thankful for being considered a member of the Weasley family. She turned to see Ron sitting down next to her and hugged him back as he pulled her into a hug.
"Merry Christmas," he whispered into her ear.
"And good morning."
"Here," he said as he presented her with a small wrapped present. She carefully un-wrapped the box and knew that it was a jewellery box. She glanced at him before opening the box and inside saw a necklace with a locket on it. "It's for you to put a picture of me in it," he said, taking the necklace from the box and undoing the clasp. "And then you'll have me with you always," he finished as he put the necklace around her neck and did it up.
Hermione held the locket in her fingers and looked at it, fresh tears welling in her eyes at the love she felt that others had for her. "I love it, Ron," she whispered as she kissed him and then hugged him again.
"Good. By the way," he added still whispering into her ear, "you look damn sexy in that jumper."
She began to blush, but before she could say anything else Percy came running into the room shouting "Mum" at the top of his lungs. Ron and Hermione pulled apart and everyone turned to Percy who was standing in front of everyone.
"What?" everyone said at once.
"It's snowing!" he declared and in a flash every red-haired child in the room was on their feet and by the front door. They were pushing their siblings out of the way with not a word of apology. Their manners had been left behind in their mad dash for the door. Hermione watched in amazement as Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Ron and Ginny each competed to put on their wellington boots, coats, hats and gloves and then raced out of the door. Molly and Arthur were laughing to themselves as they only waited a few moments before they followed their children in a much calmer fashion, but soon they had disappeared outside too. Hermione shared confused looks with Harry, Fleur and Andromeda.
"I 'ave never seen zis," Fleur said remaining in her seat and looking as shocked and confused as Hermione felt.
Ron's head suddenly appeared in the doorway, his hat covered in snowflakes. "Come on, you guys!" he demanded and he ran off again.
Hermione looked at Harry and she shrugged her shoulders. He nodded at her and passed Teddy back to Andromeda. Together they walked towards the door and started putting their coats and wellington boots on. They went about this task in a much calmer fashion than the Weasleys had and more hesitantly than Molly and Arthur. As they stepped out into the cold Christmas morning air it became obvious what the Weasleys were so excited about. Hermione could not help but laugh as she watched the five Weasley boys and Ginny running around and throwing snow balls at each other. She watched as Bill and Percy engaged in a constant throwing of any bit of snow they could get their hands on. One of them would run a few meters and pause to get more snow. As they did so the other would hit them with a snowball and then turn and run off. They were engaged in quite a little cycle. Close to them were Charlie and Ron ganging up on Ginny and pelting her with snow with so much speed that all she could do was cover her face and let it happen.
"Dad!" Ginny screamed for help and covertly Arthur threw a snowball at his sons which in mid-air split into two to hit both of them. Ginny took the moment of freedom to start running for a nearby tree and a small element of a shield.
Arthur grinned as his sons glared at him until a snowball hit Arthur straight in the face. Ron fell about laughing and slipped onto the snowy cold floor. Arthur turned to see his wife mock-glaring at him.
"No magic, dear," she reminded him as she threw another snowball at him.
Hermione laughed at Molly and Arthur and then her eye caught a very fast red blur who was running in between everyone, targeting anyone at all. It was George and whilst everyone else was in their own little battle, no one was aiming for him. Until he threw a snowball at Ginny, who was already fighting off Charlie and Ron again, and Harry ran over throwing snowballs at all three of them.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Three on one isn't fair!"
George threw a snowball and hit Harry right in the face. "And what are you going to do about it, Boy Who Lived?"
Harry threw another snowball at George, but missed because of the elder's speed.
"Sorry," George joked, "I didn't hear that." George held his hand up to his missing ear and laughed just as a snowball hit him on the back of the head. "Ow!"
"Don't pick on my boyfriend," Ginny yelled pelting George with more snowballs.
Hermione's laugh at the scene in front of her was cut short as she suddenly felt something hit her on the top of her head and then cold water dripping down her back. She looked up and saw Charlie grinning at her. Simultaneously, she and Ron threw snowballs in retaliation at Charlie, hitting Charlie on either side of his head.
After more than half of an hour of running around throwing snowballs, rolling around on the cold floor and laughing so hard that her stomach hurt, Hermione was glad when Molly called for everyone to get back inside as she had to get started on making Christmas lunch. The heat within the Burrow hit Hermione as she entered the room and she felt both freezing cold and boiling hot at the same time. Despite having worn gloves, the snow had seeped through them to make her hands feel like they were frozen whilst her body was sweating from the exertion. Harry was soon telling Andromeda stories about the mass snowball fight whilst Bill and Charlie were telling Fleur who had remained inside the whole time with Andromeda.
From across the room Percy called over to Fleur, "Why didn't you come and join us?"
Bill chose to answer for his wife which caused everyone to pay attention. "We should have told you sooner." He paused. "We were going to tell you all at dinner today, but we've known for a while. We just… We wanted to wait to share the good news-"
"We are 'aving a baby!" Fleur declared, preventing her husband from finishing his explanation.
Molly was the first to squeal in delight as she stepped over people sitting on the floor to hug her son and daughter-in-law. "I'm going to be a Grandmother!" Everyone seemed to forget their cold, wet extremities and instead joined in a complete family hug as everyone congratulated Bill and Fleur on the first Weasley that was going to be born after the War.