A/N: So, once again I have waited far too long to post a new chapter. I have been in a rut, but in the past two days I have written more than I have In a while, on that note, I may be writing a new story, a HermionexSnape story, so if you are interested, keep an eye on my page. Anyway, I am bringing this story to a close. Probably next chapter. Thank you all for sticking with me through all of this, It as been a wild ride. Much love- Bookworm.

Christmas

Time passed quickly in the flurry of work. The dragons kept them on their toes, and before they knew it, Christmastime was upon them. Hermione and Charlie had been so busy lately, they had no time to go get presents until the weekend before the holiday, when their holiday from work officially started.

Hermione was walking to Charlie's cabin, two cups of coffee in hand. They had agreed to go shopping this morning together before they went to the Burrow that evening. She reached his steps and took them carefully, not wanting to spill hot coffee on her hands. She reached the door and tapped it with her boot, and after a moment Charlie opened the door, grinning.

"Oh thanks love." He said, taking his cup and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I just have to get my boots on, come in." He said, and she moved passed him into the sitting room. She smiled as she watched him take a sip of his coffee before setting it down and grabbing his boots. She wasn't sure why, but she loved watching him get ready. Any day. She had a silly smile on her face when he looked up at her from his seat.

"Alright love?" He asked her, and she nodded. "Okay, you all set? Brilliant. Let's go." He said, shrugging on a jacket and grabbing his coffee. She followed him out of the cabin and they walked leisurely to the small village that they would be doing their shopping in. They went to the first shop, and they each bought a few things. Hermione got a little something for everyone in his family. And each one had something to do with dragons. She was happy with her choices, the only people that she still needed to get things for were her boyfriend, Charlie, and his mum. The latter would be the more difficult, as they were still at odds with each other.

They were about to pass a jewelry shop when Hermione stopped them.

"Let's go in here, I still have to buy something for your mum." She said, and Charlie looked at her skeptically. She rolled her eyes and dragged him through the door. She heard him chuckle lightly and she felt heat go into her cheeks at the sound. They made their way slowly through the store, looking over every piece. Hermione was about ready to give up when something caught her eye. She grinned and pointed at it, and Charlie nodded.

"It's perfect." He said, and she walked over to the shopkeeper, who was all too willing to wrap it up for her. She and Charlie walked out of the shop together, and went down the road a little when she turned to him.

"Your turn. So you have to go occupy yourself for… oh give me twenty minutes?" She said, and he let out a theatrical sigh before giving her a soft kiss on the lips.

"If you must." He said. "Meet you here in half an hour?" He said, turning to walk away. She grinned at his retreating back before also turning and walking into another shop, she already knew what she wanted to give him.

As promised, half an hour later she met him in the square that they had separated. She grinned at him, who offered her a steaming cup of coffee. She took it gratefully before taking his hand and beginning the walk back to their cabins.

"So what did you get up to?" She asked, and he flashed her a grin.

"Not much love, just walked around, bored." He said, and she laughed.

"Whatever you say Charlie." She said. They walked the rest of the way to their cabins making small talk, and discussing how they thought their arrival at the Burrow would go over with Molly.

"She won't like that I'm there Charlie." She said, and he shook his head.

"Hermione, you know that's not true. She has nothing against you." He said to her, gripping her hand tightly.

"And you know that's not true. She thinks I'm what's keeping you here."

"I think I might have set her straight last time we spoke." Charlie said simply.

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened?" She asked him, and he shrugged.

"It's not important Hermione." He said, and she let out a sigh.

"Okay Charles." She said, and he pulled her to where she was standing in front of him.

"Since when do you call me Charles?" He asked, and the hurt was evident in his eyes and voice. She felt guilty, and wrapped him in a gentle hug.

"I'm sorry.." She whispered, and looked up at his face, his features had softened when she looked at him.

"Just.. don't call me Charles? Please?" He asked, and she nodded. "I much prefer 'Charlie' coming from those lips of yours." He said, and she could feel the mood shift as he moved his head down to meet their lips. They stayed, embraced and kissing until they heard a throat clear. Hermione broke the kiss and met the gaze of Will, who was standing nearby and grinning. She groaned and tucked her head into Charlie's chest as he shook with laughter.

"Alright Will?" He asked, and the other man laughed openly.

"Yeah. You lot all set?" He asked, looking at his watch. "You have to leave in what, ten minutes, right?" He asked, and Hermione gasped when she looked at her own.

"Charlie! We were gone all day, I didn't realize what time it was." She said. "I have to go grab my things, meet me at the portkey?" She asked, and he nodded. She reached her cabin and shoved all the presents into her bag before hitching it onto her shoulder and did a cursory glance of her room, making sure she had everything. She touched her thigh, where her wand holster was, and noted that she had said wand before flicking her light off and waving goodbye to will before leaving the cabin and heading to the portkey location. She arrived just in time, Charlie was watching her and waved her over.

"Time to go." He said, grabbing her hand and the portkey at the same time, she took a hold of the grubby hat as well and in just a few moments, she felt a strong tug at her navel before spinning up. She tried to breath, but it was always difficult when traveling by portkey. Finally, they were thrown onto the ground, she stumbled right into Charlie, who fell, and she landed on top of him.

"Sorry." She groaned, pushing herself off of him.

"No worries love." He grunted as he himself stood. They walked together in the snow to the Burrow, and Hermione took a deep breath before Charlie walked ahead of her into the house, she followed closely behind him, and was greeted with the large family of redheads. Hugs and hellos were exchanged, and Hermione was relieved to see that everyone seemed glad to see them, even Molly gave her a hug in hello.

Xxxxx

Christmas morning:

Hermione woke early and made her way down to the kitchen, working at the Dragon reserve had made it impossible for her to be able to sleep in, and it seemed that it had done the same to Charlie, who was sitting at the counter with a book and a cup of coffee.

"Hey" She said, grabbing a cup and pouring herself a cup. She sat next to him and studied the book for a moment before he responded.

"Morning love. Happy Christmas." He said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. They sat in silence for a while before an idea popped into her mind.

"Let's make breakfast." She said, standing suddenly.

"Pardon?" Charlie asked, looking at her confused.

"Come on. It would be a nice thing to do. Especially for your mum. I know what she makes, let's let her have a lie in and make breakfast instead." She said brightly. Charlie stared at her for a moment before standing and moving quickly over to her. He pulled her face to his and kissed her hard, Hermione reciprocated, surprised but pleased at the sudden show of affection. When they pulled apart, Hermione was panting slightly, out of breath.

"Where did that come from?" She asked him.

"I love you Hermione Granger." He said plainly, staring into her eyes. She blushed deeply and smiled at him.

"I love you too Charlie." She said softly. They stood like that for a moment before she gave him another quick peck and turned to the stove. "Now let's make breakfast for your family."

It was quite a feat to accomplish, and Molly's Christmas breakfasts were always large. It was all they could do to not burn anything. They were just making coffee and tea, the last things to be made, when Molly entered the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. Charlie caught sight of her first and quickly made up a plate of food. Hermione also poured her a large cup of tea, knowing that it was her preferred drink.

"Go on mum. Sit. We made breakfast this morning." Charlie said, gesturing to the head of the table where the food was waiting. She did as he said, still stunned at what she had walked in on. Hermione and Charlie also sat down with plates of food and began to talk aimlessly. Soon enough, the rest of the Weasley family was down in the kitchen and feasting upon the food.

"Oh thank you mum, food is amazing, as always." Ginny said, grinning at Molly, Who then looked at Charlie, who was also grinning at her.

"Well thank you dear, but this morning Charlie and Hermione made breakfast." Molly said, and all eyes went to the pair, who had continued to eat. A chorus of thanks fell upon their ears, and they both waved it off.

"It's all Molly, she was the one who taught me to cook all this." Hermione said, grinning at he older woman, who was once again shocked silent.

Chatter resumed around the table until Molly stood up, and everyone fell silent.

"Time for presents." She said, and like they were all still children, there were whoops around the table as everyone stood and scrambled into the sitting room where the Christmas tree was stood.

Everyone fawned over their presents, thanking whoever had gifted it to them. As every year, everyone received a sweater. Hermione was glad to have it deposited into her lap by a smiling Molly. She opened it to find a lavender jumper with grey dragons on the sleeves. She gasped and pulled it on over her shirt.

"Oh thank you so much Molly." She said, getting up and hugging the woman. She then produced her gift for Molly. She handed it to the woman before resuming her place on the floor next to Charlie. Molly looked at her quizzically before gingerly taking off the wrappings. She opened the box, and gasped. It was a dragon bone bracelet that had emerald and obsidian inlayed all around it.

"Oh Hermione, it's beautiful. Thank you so much." She said softly, picking it up and sliding it onto her wrist, holding it up so that everyone could admire it. She grinned and then turned to Charlie. "Here's your present." She said, and handed it to him. He most certainly was child like when it came to presents, the wrapping paper went flying as he opened it to reveal a handmade leather journal. He kissed her full on the mouth and tucked it behind him, out of harms way.

"It's perfect love." He said, and she smiled, pleased that he liked it. She knew that he liked to write his thoughts down, and she had noticed that he was running out of pages in his current journal. "Thank you." He murmured into her ear, and she nodded at him.

"Well Charlie, with gifts like this I would say you better lock her down." Bill chimed in, and there were mutterings of agreement around the room. Hermione noticed that Charlie looked at him mum, who studied her for a moment before smiling at her son.

"Oh I intend to." Charlie said, and Hermione laughed lightly, not catching that he had grabbed something from his pocket as he said so. "Hermione." He said, his hands clasped together, holding something, and Hermione failed to notice that the room went so silent you might have heard a pin drop. "Hermione, I love you so much. You have been with me through a lot. At work, in life. These last months… It feels like a lifetime. And I can't imagine being with anyone else through it all. I want you next to me the entire time Hermione. In life. Will you please marry me love?" He asked, a crooked smile falling onto his face as he opened his hands to reveal a ring, a beautiful golden ring with a dragon scale as the stone. Hermione's hands flew to either side of her face.

"Are you sure?" She choked out, and he let out a booming laugh and nodded. She glanced at Molly, who was crying, but looked happy all the same. "Of course I will." She finally said, and everyone cheered as Charlie slipped the ring onto her finger and pulled her into a deep kiss.