The characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to Ms. Rowlings. I'm borrowing them for my own imagination.

Chapter 36 - White Christmas

"This is nice." Ron said as he and Hermione sat curled up together in front of the fire in the little ski villa Jane had rented for Christmas. After spending so many Christmases with his family, they decided to spend the day with her mother this year. Ron had never been skiing, so they were enjoying his week off at the ski villa her parents had like to come to.

Since Hermione wasn't a great skier, she didn't mind that Ron was just learning. They enjoyed the bunny slopes and spent a great deal of time curled together in the villa.

The real fun was taking Ron on the airplane. They had taken a plane when they went to retrieve her parents from Australia, but Harry and Remus were with them and had helped her with Ron's nervousness and excitement. This time it was just herself and her mom, and he was just as bad. But amazingly it was her mom that kept him calm and settled.

Ron was just enjoying seeing Hermione relaxed and having fun. He didn't have to worry about his mother or sister bring up the subject of babies, or see the slight jealousy in Hermione's eyes as she watches Bill with Fleur or Percy with Penny. Or even have the constant reminders of the tragedy that had taken place two years earlier.

They had stopped by Shell Cottage a couple days before they left, and laid some flowers at the Stone. Fleur had promised to replace them with a fresh bouquet on Christmas morning, and Hermione had hugged her for her generosity of spirit.

Ron's mum hadn't been happy that they would not be there for Christmas, but Ron felt better when Bill told him that he, Fleur and Victoire were staying home as well this year. He didn't want Fleur traveling so much with her due date only a few days away. Ron did hope that they would be home for the birth for his next niece or nephew. The family had laid odd on what day the baby would be born. Ron had picked New Years Day for Bill's and a day he heard was called Groundhog's Day for Percy's. He had actually gone to Teddy to help him pick the date. At least it couldn't hurt.

"Did you see the man flirting with my mom?" Hermione asked. "I think she brought us here to specifically meet him."

"Hmm." Ron said absent mindedly playing with her hair.

"Yes, they seem to know each other well, do you think she might like him?" Hermione asked.

"Well they appear to be friends, so I am sure she likes him." Ron responded.

"No you prick, I mean 'like him' like him." She said.

"It's a possibility, would it be bad?" He asked.

"No, I'd hate to see her move far away, but I want her to be happy." Hermione said and Ron kissed her.

"Well we really don't know where he lives, we should probably have her invite him to dinner, then I could grill him like your dad did to me in Australia." Ron said.

"He did?" Hermione asked. "Why didn't I know that?"

"It was the day you and your mum went shopping. Remus and Harry had gone to arrange to get us home, leaving me with your dad. He was quite scary at first, but by the time we were done he believed how much I truly loved you."

"That's so sweet." Hermione said tears glistening her eyes. "I still miss him so much"

"I know you do." Ron said hugging her to him. "So do I get to ask the guy his intentions?"

"Let me see what my mum's are first, and if she says she 'likes him' likes him, then we will have him over and you can grill all you want. As long as I get to watch." Hermione said and kissed him.

"So when is your mum supposed to be back?" Ron asked. Jane was having dinner with some friends tonight which they believed included her male friend.

"We probably have a couple of hours, why?" She asked.

"I just thought we could take advantage of the privacy and this fire." Ron suggested.

"I think I am up for that." Hermione said.

"Wicked, because I am to." Ron said as he turned her on her back and lowered her to the floor with a searing kiss.

TBC