Christmas was an uneventful affair, passing quickly as it usually did. They all felt the absence of Ron more acutely given that it was the anniversary of his leaving. Hermione couldn't believe how quickly the time had gone by. It felt like so much had happened over the past year but in reality, they were all still in the same position as before. She thought about last Christmas as she and Fred packed their bags back at his flat; Bill and Fleur had invited everyone to Shell Cottage to ring in the New Year together.

"Do you think I've brought enough fireworks?" Fred asked, studying his pickings.

She looked over at the mounds of pyrotechnics laid out on their bed. "Might want to grab one or two more." She said sarcastically.

He grinned over at her before adding six more sparklers to the pile, causing Hermione to roll her eyes. She had just tossed another pair of thick socks into the bag when she heard commotion from the living room.

"Hurry up. That'll be them." She zipped her duffel and slung it over her shoulder before treading out of the bedroom. Harry and Ginny stood next to the couch as Harry bounced baby James on his hip. The black hair the child had been born with had continued to grow and now formed a nice mop on the boy's head, just like his father's.

"Fred is just packing up his stash and then we are ready." Hermione said as she joined them, tickling James's round belly with her fingers. The baby laughed and grabbed at her hand, bringing her knuckle to his mouth to chew on.

"Careful, he's got new teeth." Ginny warned just as James sunk one such tooth into Hermione's finger. She pulled it back quickly, expecting to find blood drawn from the sharp fangs the baby now possessed.

"Ow." She said, not finding any break in the skin.

Ginny sighed and raised her eyebrows at her friend, "You're telling me."

"Alright. Ready to go." Fred said as he joined the group with two bags in hand, one significantly larger than the other.

Ginny eyed the larger of the bags, "How much clothing are you bringing Fred? You're worse than I am."

Fred grinned smugly at her. "That's not my clothing bag." Hermione laughed as Ginny shook her head. The thought of the twin packing more clothing than fireworks on New Year's was definitely laughable. She could only imagine the amount they would have once George showed up with his share.

The cold air surrounding them as they landed on the beach and there was snow that crunched under their feet. Hermione pulled her jacket tighter around herself and Harry blocked the wind off of James as they hurried up the path to the house. The warm air inside stung Hermione's cheeks and she turned around to deposit her bag off to the side. Fred was wrestling to untangle the two straps of his bags so he could set them down, so she reached over to help him. When the bags were finally set down Fred leaned over and gave her a quick kiss, pulling her hat over her eyes as he did.

She laughed and swatted at him as he passed her. They placed their jackets on the bench just inside the door and Hermione took James from Harry so he could take off his own jacket. With the baby she walked into the living room to join George and Alicia who had already arrived with Roxanne in tow. Bill was sitting near the roaring fireplace with Charlie while Fleur could be heard from the kitchen talking with Mrs. Weasley. Hermione greeted everyone before walking around the room with the baby, talking quietly with him and pointing out the pictures and figurines on the bookshelf.

Fred watched her from his seat on the couch. He had been talking to his twin, comparing their separate stashes of fireworks when he caught site of her. He chuckled at the thick socks she had tucked her jeans into, knowing how her feet were always cold in the winter. The gray flannel she was wearing was unbuttoned to show the dark green T-shirt underneath that was partly tucked in, exposing a thin brown belt. Her hair was in a thick braid slung over her shoulder and James seemed more interested in that than the photos she was telling him about, as she had to pull the strands out of his fingers again.

She turned to look back at the group and caught his eye, smiling softly. He grinned back at her before turning to his brother again. Hermione had not been wrong, they definitely brought a lot of fireworks. But if you had the goods why not use them? Fred thought to himself, knowing that his mother might not be in agreement.

Hermione found a chair in the corner next to Alicia's who watched the other girl as she sat down and propped James in her lap. She bounced him for a few minutes and made faces, making the little boy laugh.

"You two look good together," Alicia commented with a smile. "Planning on your own any time soon?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at the other witch, "I think being pregnant has muddle your brain."

Alicia smiled and ran her hand over the small bump of her stomach. "Well you're not wrong. Yesterday I put my shoes on the wrong feet and couldn't figure out why they felt so uncomfortable. I must have walked around like that for a good hour." She laughed and shook her head.

"Is George excited?" Hermione asked, glancing over at the twins talking.

"Of course. I honestly don't think there is anything he enjoys more than being a dad. He'd have a hundred children if it were up to him."

"Luckily it's not up to him," Hermione said, raising her eyebrows at the other witch who nodded vigorously. They continued to talk for a few more minutes before Mrs. Weasley emerged from the kitchen announcing that food was ready. As per tradition the hors d'oeuvres meal was laid out on the kitchen counter as the family placed what they wanted on their plates. Ginny took James back from Hermione after she had gotten her food so the other witch could get a plate. Hermione perched herself on Fred's lap when she went to sit down as the table was not as large or accommodating as the one at the Burrow. He put a hand on her thigh and stole a croissant off of her plate.

"There were plenty up there, why didn't you just grab one." She asked as he shoved the bread into his mouth.

"Yours are better." He grinned before reaching for something else on her plate. She retaliated by grabbing a pumpkin pasty off of his, his favorite treat.

"Yours are better." She said smugly seeing the hurt look on his face.

"So Charlie," Mrs. Weasley spoke to her son from their end of the table. "What's this I hear about you spending Christmas with a special someone when you told us you couldn't make it away from work?"

The question caught Hermione's attention and she turned so she could hear over the chatter from the other end. Charlie stopped the path of the fork to his mouth and looked worriedly at his mother. "It was just someone from work Mum. They invited everyone who had to stay behind."

"Mhm, so when are we going to meet him?" She asked, cutting into one of the potatoes on her plate.

Charlie shook his head, "Well they live in Romania, so.." He stopped talking and looked in shock at his mother. Hermione eyes went wide at the exchange, watching Charlie carefully. "Did you just say him?" He said quietly staring at his mother.

Mrs. Weasley furrowed her brows in confusion. "Of course, dear. Why would I say anything else? I mean it's one thing to not come home for Christmas but a whole other thing to hear from Oliver's mother that you had spent it with them without even telling us."

This was news to Hermione. She knew the older Weasley was dating but he would never disclose who it was and she didn't want to pressure him into revealing. After the drunken conversation between them many years ago where Charlie revealed his closest kept secret, Hermione had been waiting patiently until he felt comfortable enough to share that portion of his life. To hear Mrs. Weasley address it like it was any other conversation quelled every fear he had ever had over his family not accepting it.

Charlie's expression was still one of shock and Mrs. Weasley smile at him and patted his hand. "We would like to be formally introduced to this young man any time you'd like to bring him home."

His eyes filled and he leaned over to hug his mother who gripped him tightly back, her sons had never been good at hiding secrets from her. Hermione felt tears prick at her own eyes in happiness for Charlie. It still surprised her that the fact that was so obvious to her remained oblivious to the rest of the younger Weasleys.

Fred leaned again her back, "Did I just hear what I think I heard?" He whispered in her ear.

She nodded and looked at him over her shoulder. "You really didn't know?"

He shook his head. "You did?"

Smiling slightly she looked back at the mother-son duo who were now talking softly, heads bent together. Fred watched them too and grinned, pressing a kiss to Hermione's shoulder.

When dinner was over Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gathered the four younger kids and went back to the Burrow for a grandparent party, leaving the middle generation at the cottage. Bill went to the cupboards and started to pull out bottles of liquor, grinning at the other adults.

Ginny groaned at the sight, "Last time we did this I ended up with James."

Her brother's looked at her in shock at her revelation. "The bonfire night?" Hermione asked, grinning widely at her friend. Guess it was a good thing for everyone that she had decided to take a walk that night instead of going back to bed.

Bill poured drinks and handed them out, to everyone except Alicia of course who looked put out at her stomach. It was nearing eleven o'clock and the group went to bundle up in their winter things, Charlie had laid out a fire that the group gathered around on the beach. Thankfully the biting wind had died down from earlier and the ocean water was still in the night. Fred stood behind Hermione, one arm hugged her to him as she shifted to stay warm. He whispered things in her ear causing her to blush and elbow his side. He grinned and planted a kiss on her hat covered head.

The heat from the fire and Fred behind her, as well as the alcohol caused her cheeks to flush. With a few minutes before midnight George broke away from Alicia to make sure the fuse to ignite the fireworks was in the right position.

"Shouldn't you help him?" Hermione said over her shoulder to Fred.

He smiled behind her, "No, he's got it."

Harry was passing out glasses of champagne for the count down and Ginny jumped excitedly when Charlie announced there was a minute left.

The group gathered closer together as the countdown started. They chanted in unison each passing second.

"10!"

"9!"

"8!"

George sent a spark towards the fuse and ran back to stand beside his wife, grinning at her as she handed him a glass.

"7!"

"6!"

"5!"

"4!"

Hermione turned towards Fred with a large smile, counting down the last few seconds together.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Happy New Year!" They all exclaimed loudly, raising their glasses and taking a large gulp of the bubbly liquid. Hermione giggled as Fred wrapped his arm about her waist and pulled her closer, kissing her soundly on her lips. She kissed him back fiercely as the rest of the couples did the same while Charlie drained the rest of his cup. The large booms and pops of the fireworks going off above them caught their attention and they pulled apart to look up towards the sky.

The brilliance of the display was breath taking and Hermione laughed as she watched several fireworks that she had not seen before go off. The display of lights were glistening on the ocean and lighting up the faces of the onlookers below.

"You definitely packed enough." She said happily as she glanced over to look at Fred. When she didn't see him next to her she looked around and gasped quietly. In the flashing, colorful light from above she could see that he had dropped to his knee and was looking up at her. He smiled, finally having caught her attention and pulled out the ring that had been sitting in his jacket pocket for weeks now.

She forgot her surroundings entirely as she watched his actions, her heat racing in her chest. She couldn't stop smiling as he started to speak, his voice carrying over the noise around them.

"Hermione, over a year and half ago on this beach, I made the best drunken decision and kissed my best friend. I have loved you for almost half my life and nothing makes me happier than thinking about spending the rest of it with you. Will you marry me?"

Hermione's grin widened and she nodded her head, "Of course I will." He smiled up at her and stood quickly and she wrapped her arms about his neck as he bent down to kiss her. The others around them who had been watching in shock and excitement as the proposal played out before, them started to cheer at the obvious acceptance. The couple pulled apart, laughing at the attention around the rest of the family. Hermione kissed Fred again and laughed before leaning against him as they watched the rest of the fireworks still popping above them. At the grand finale they all cheered and clapped as the multitude of shimmering lights flared above them in quick succession.

When the sky went dark and the smell of gunpowder lingered in the air, the group turned back towards the newly engaged couple to congratulate them.

"Let me see the ring?" Ginny asked excitedly as she pulled Hermione's hand to her.

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, looking over at Fred. "We forgot."

Her fiancé grinned and stepped over to her, once again taking the ring he has stashed back in his pocket out. She pulled off her mitten and held out her hand for him. The simple oval diamond was flanked by two smaller circular diamonds resting on the thin gold band. It fit her perfectly and she smiled up at him as the ring came to rest on her finger.

"I love it. It's absolutely perfect." She said, standing on her toes to kiss him again.

"Yes it is." Ginny said from beside them, having pulled Hermione's hand towards her again. "Can't believe you didn't ask me for help." This was directed at her brother.

"You just agreed that it was perfect. Why did I need your help?" Fred said, smirking at his sister.

She glowered at him and Harry came to stand beside her, smiling. He pulled Hermione into a tight hug, "Congratulations."

Hermione held onto him, briefly wishing he wasn't her only family that she could tell tonight. He kissed her cheek, knowing she was thinking about her parents, before pulling back with a grin to look at Fred.

"So do I get to do the 'big brother' talk now?" He asked, remembering the detailed one he had gotten after his own proposal to Ginny.

Ginny laughed. "Technically you're younger than both of them so that wouldn't really work."

The group started to make their way back inside but Fred and Hermione hung back. Once they were alone on the empty beach she stepped forwards into his arms and rested her head against his chest. "I love you." She said against his jacket.

He kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "I love you too." The scene was reminiscent of a similar one that had started everything for them.

He had been nervous about this night for the past two weeks. Luckily his practice of keeping things hidden while in school had paid off and it seemed that she hadn't suspected anything. There had been so many times since he bought the ring that he he had wanted to just ask her outright, but he held off, already having the perfect plan in place.

They made their way up to the darkened house and walked quietly through the living room and kitchen to the same glass encased porch Fred had slept in that last time they were here. The bed was already made and someone, bless them, had set a warming spell over the room to ward off the chills seeping through the many windows. Hermione changed quickly and slid under the quilts, pulling them tightly to her chin. She could barely see Fred in the darkness but felt him pull back the covers and lay down next to her. He pulled her close and his warmth enveloped her as she turned to face him.

"You really want to be stuck with me the rest of your life?" He asked in a hushed tone, his breath tickling her nose.

"Well when you put it that way." She countered back.

He breathed out in a noiseless laugh as her lips sought his in the dark. "You really want to be stuck with me?" She asked when she pulled back.

He rolled then, coming to rest just on top of her, taking his weight on his elbows. Her hands went to his waist as he bent closer, "Wouldn't dream of anything else."

He kissed her again, soft and slow, his tongue running along her lower lip before she sighed and parted them. Before getting into bed he had taken off all of his clothing so his need for her was very evident as it pressed against her pelvis. He ground against her as she arched her hips up to meet him. Pulling back from her lips, he bent his head to the soft skin of her neck, kissing her there while his hand ran down to the waistband of her pants. He slipped his fingers under the fabric down to touch her.

She squirmed under him and once he found that she was as ready as he was, he pushed her bottoms down. Hermione raised her hips and shimmied to get the long pants off. One her legs were free Fred laid back down between them, kissing her once again. She gasped against his mouth as she felt him enter her. He was almost shaking with desire when he stilled for a moment, breathing in the intoxicated scent of her.

When they began to move it was slow and careful, trying not to make any noise but still finding the pleasure they needed from each other. Fred rocked against her, still holding his mouth against hers. When the heat built up between them their movements became more urgent as he pulled back to watch her. In the darkness he could barely see her face but felt the quickness of her breath on him. He rolled his hips against hers and felt her come undone beneath him. Her back arched against his as he pressed his lips to her exposed neck. He could feel the spasms of her walls around him and groaned. With two quick strokes he was following her lead, breath caught in his throat as he found his own release.

They lay entwined for several minutes, slowly kissing the other before Fred slid out of her and rolled onto his side, pulling her back flush to his chest. He buried his face in the mess of hair. "I love you."

She turned her head over her shoulder to look at him, "I love you too." She kissed him before settling back on her side with his warm arms encasing her.

As one could expect, Mrs. Weasley's reaction to her son and honorary daughter getting engaged was an emotional one. She had cried and hugged each of them what must have been a hundred times. When she finally pulled away from Hermione the last time she sniffed against her handkerchief and smiled brightly.

"Oh you must be so excited to start planning!" She said cheerfully, already thinking about the prospect of another wedding.

"Actually, no. This only happened two days ago Mum, we haven't even talked about what we'd like yet." Fred interjected laughing.

"Well that's two days wasted Fredrick," his mother shook her head at him. "If you want a summer wedding then there is only so much time left."

"Mrs. Weasley we haven't even picked a date yet. We just wanted you and Mr. Weasley to be the first to know." Hermione added next to him.

Mrs. Weasley softened at this. "Oh my dear. That is very thoughtful of you." Her eyes started to water again and she hugged the younger witch. Hermione looked over at Fred from his mother's shoulder who only shrugged helplessly. Mrs. Weasley was a force of nature when it came to planning her children's weddings.

As Hermione pulled back she gripped one of the older witch's hands, "I promise we will let you know what ever we decide."

When they returned to the peacefulness of their flat, they sat on the couch with a sigh. Mrs. Weasley had brought out the many bridal magazines to show Hermione and her eyes were still swimming with images of flowers and white dresses. Fred had stayed around to veto any crazy ideas his mother came up with, strongly nixing the horse drawn carriage that she had tried to get Ginny to agree to.

"I've heard about this place in America where you can just show up and some dressed up nutter will marry you." Fred said as he propped his feet onto the coffee table. The idea of eloping seemed much more appealing right now than planning an entire wedding with his mother. Then again, he couldn't keep a grin off his face as he pictured Hermione walking down an aisle to him in a white dress.

"I think your mother would murder us if we ran off to Vegas." Hermione said as she tucked her feet up under her.

"Very likely." He turned slightly to look at her, "So what sort of wedding would you like, Granger?"

She looked over at him, thinking. "To be completely honest, I've not thought about it that much. Probably one where I get to marry you. And what is your dream wedding Fredrick?"

He put his arm around her shoulders, "Well it all starts when I arrive dramatically at the alter by one of Charlie's dragons. Then the flowers will all start singing as you arrive even more dramatically by a broom drawn carriage. Figured that way you wouldn't freak out on the brook itself," He added and she rolled her eyes.

"And what will I be wearing?" She asked smiling at his antics.

He grinned mischievously at her, "Well I always did like the way you looked in your Hogwarts uniform."

She gasped and pushed back from his chest, "You are the absolute worst!"

"And yet you still agreed to marry me, cant back out now." He laughed and reached out to tuck a curl behind her ear. "Honestly Hermione, we could get married in the middle of a swamp in the pouring rain and I wouldn't care. Just as long as I finally get to marry you."

She smiled and leaned forward on her knees to kiss him. "So swamp wedding it is." She said in agreement.