Hey all! I didn't do a ton of editing for this chapter. I've started another Hermione/George story (I swore I wasn't going to until this one was done, but it just kind of happened). But here it is. 1 chapter left after this one. Thanks for following! And for those who have reviewed and sent me messages, thanks so much! You really do help motivate me to keep this going :)

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Chapter 21: The Best Christmas Ever.

Hermione woke up on Saturday morning with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. She knew George had something planned for her. She had done her best to not be annoyed with George running out on her earlier that week, giving her no explanation other than the fact that it was something for Christmas.

She looked over and saw George sleeping peacefully beside her. She quietly slid out of the left side of the bed and quickly dressed. She softly treaded downstairs to start breakfast. Pancakes. George's favourite. Perfect for a Christmas morning.

She looked around their kitchen and into the living room, marvelling at the decorations that had appeared yesterday. Sparkling lights seemed to float around the ceiling, twinkling softly, there was a giant Christmas tree in their living room with a pile of presents underneath. Candled, wreaths, and sparkling ornaments decked their entire living space. She heard a bell tingling across the floor as she saw Crookshanks dart after a stray bell. She grinned.

Returning to the stovetop in the kitchen she mixed her ingredients and started the frying pan.

Several minutes later a bleary eyed George came down the stairs fully dressed, to Hermione's surprise.

"Smells amazing, love." He said as he rubbed his eye, sitting down at their table, "Pancakes! My favourite!"

Hermione put a generous plate of pancakes on the table along with butter and syrup, whipped cream and orange juice. They ate in a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company on a quiet Christmas morning. Hermione smiled to herself.

"What?" George asked, looking at her, eyebrow raised.

"I was just remembering, this time last year I was running around a graveyard and almost getting eaten by Voldemort's soul. Well, snake. Same thing."

"And that's funny?" George asked, making a face.

"No it's not funny, but I'm just thinking about now, and how this isn't something I even dreamed would even be in my future."

George looked at her, half reproachfully, half humourously.

"Oh don't give me that." Hermione threw a pancake at him, hitting him in the face. It fell to the floor where Crookshanks waited patiently. He grabbed the pancake and took off upstairs. Both George and Hermione laughed.

"I couldn't imagine myself to be anywhere better than right here." She said grabbing George's hand.

"I like Christmas." George stated. "It makes you all sentimental and girly. I like seeing that every once in a while. But only one in a while!" He added with mocking sternness, "I did not marry a Lavendar."

"You done yet?" Hermione asked, "we have presents!"

George shoveled the rest of the pancakes on his plate into his mouth, ignoring Hermione's look of disgust on her face. He followed her to the living room and they both sat in front of the tree.

"Your mother's first?" She asked. She threw him a present and held one in front of herself.

They opened them together and laughed, each holding a pair of matching coloured pyjamas. Hermione's a knee length gown with an H stitched into the bottom, George, a shirt and pants with the letter G embroidered onto the front.

"Moved away from the sweaters then?" He said as he threw the pyjamas on the couch, "these are much better, much more comfortable."

From Harry and Ginny, George and Hermione received a weekend package to Iceland. George and Hermione had spoken with them about wanting to go there on their tours. Ron and Lavender had given them an at home couple spa package. They looked at each other, without actually opening the box.

"That looks like something we'll open when we've had too much fire whiskey." George grinned and put the box on the couch. Honestly Ron, he has no idea."

They had a few other gifts from their friends, Fred and Angelina's they would have to open later as it kept sending off fireworks every time they ripped the wrapping. George, unconcerned, as he had wrapped the gift from him and Hermione in an invisible charm replacing wrapping paper as you opened the gift, while simultaneously singing Jingle Bells by a House Elf Choir.

The doorbell rang, Hermione stood up.

"Fred and Angelina were coming over this morning right? That's probably them."

Hermione ran to the door, "We still haven't been able to open your gift and yours is non..."

She trailed off. It wasn't Fred and Angelina. Instead, beaming in front of Hermione stood her parents.

"Merry Christmas!" They said in harmony.

Hermione burst into tears.

George opened the door past Hermione, beckoning for the Granger's to come inside. They stepped in and George closed the door.

Hermione fell into her parents arms, still weeping.

"Mom and dad! How did you..." Hermione stuttered.

Her parents hugged her tightly, Mrs. Granger weeping as well, Mr. Granger was hardly holding himself together.

George moved away slightly, but Mrs. Granger pulled him into the hug. He was tense for a moment, but relaxed into the family group hug.

It was several minutes before any of them moved from the porch. A still teary Hermione sat with her mother on the couch while George and Mr. Granger went to the kitchen to fetch tea.

"You have a very wonderful man." They could hear Mrs. Granger respond to Hermione's unheard question. "He found us in Australia and spent an entire week telling us about you and him and all the amazing things you have done in the past year and a half. We are so proud of you."

"A week?" Hermione asked, "But he was only gone for a few hours."

"Time flies when you have a mission, love." George said walking in the room and handing Hermione a cup of tea.

"You. Didn't." Hermione stared at him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." George said airily seating himself on the other sofa. MR. Granger joined him there and they all looked around at one another.

"So tell us everything!" Mrs. Granger hugged Hermione with one arm, careful not to spill their tea.

"Wow, everything. That's a tall question." Hermione said, sniffing, but pulling herself together, "I'm sorry I gave you false memories."

"We understand why, it was so brave of you. I can't imagine how hard that must have been." Mr. Weasley looked at his daughter with an expression of pride and love.

"It was hard, but it would have been harder to be doing what I had to do knowing you were in so much danger, and not being there to help you."

"But, I guess here it goes." Hermione started the long story of her, Ron and Harry's journey together to get rid of Voldemort. Her parents a perfect audience, asking questions, weeping with her as she told them of Bellatrix and the Malfoy Manor and rejoicing with her in her victory.

"And, now. Here we are, all in the same room." Hermione said looking around.

"George filled us in on all of the wedding plans. 3 days! We still need to meet the future in-laws! Though I do believe they know we are here, right George?"

"Right! Speaking of which, I should send mom an owl. She's probably falling all over herself waiting to hear how this all went."

George hurried up to the kitchen where you could hear him rummaging for parchment.

"He is an amazing young man, Hermione." Mr. Granger said, "if it had been anyone else, I'm not entirely sure we would have been able to part with you so quickly after having you back again."

"He really is amazing, dad. I couldn't have asked for anyone better." Hermione said, "I really am lucky to have him."

"She really is." George joked, standing in the entryway to the living room. He grinned, "I told mom to expect us for Christmas dinner. And I don't know about you, but I have to say, this is probably my best Christmas ever."