December 25th 2005

Hermione awoke to a sensation similar to being on a boat in stormy seas and the sound of groaning coming from the springs and the man beside her. She chuckled as she opened her eyes and found Arty bouncing up and down in between them, sitting up and grabbing him around the waist, throwing him down and tickling him while he squealed in glee and thrashed his limbs. Charlie's eyes pinged open when he got kicked in the stomach and Hermione laughed, though she did stop tickling Arty.

"Good morning daddy!" Arty screamed, standing up and jumping up and down again, "wake up, wake up! It's christmas!!"

Hermione chuckled as he jumped off the bed, his feet thumping on the floor and leaving her feeling horrifically sorry for their downstairs neighbours, and ran out of the room screaming about it being christmas, as if anyone was in any doubt. She glanced at the clock and groaned when she discovered it was 6:30am. Turning over, she snuggled back down and kissed Charlie gently.

Last night had been the first night she had invited him to stay over. They hadn't moved their physical relationship any further than kissing and the occasional grope yet, but Hermione felt that the time was coming soon. Last night, wanting Arty to wake up with both his parents around, she had shyly suggested that he sleep here with her rather than floo over in the morning and he had gladly accepted. She had to admit, falling asleep with his arm around her shoulders last night had felt all kinds of wonderful.

They had spent hours upon hours together since that weirdly wonderful afternoon at the Burrow and everyone involved had come to terms with the latest blood relation of their family. Hermione's Christmas present to Charlie this year would make it all official and she hoped he would be pleased.

"Mummy! Daddy! Wake up!" Arty shrieked as he bounded onto the bed again and Hermione laughed when Charlie shocked him by roaring like a dragon and springing from the bed to chase him.

She heard him roar and Arty shrieking and laid back with a soft smile on her face. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine that they were a proper family, and it felt…

"We're a proper family." She muttered to herself suddenly, realising it consciously for the first time and leaping from the bed, running into the living room.

Charlie and Arty froze what they were doing and turned to look at her, surprised by her sudden entry and Hermione burst out laughing. Charlie was holding Arty upside down in the air by one of his ankles and his other hand was curled in the shape of a claw. She watched as Charlie gently lowered their son into the sofa and turned to her before running at him and jumping up, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, kissing him for dear life.

"Yuck!" Arty shrieked and Hermione pulled away laughing as Charlie let her drop.

"Not that I'm complaining, because I'm really not," he grinned, "But what was that for?"

"We're a proper family," she laughed, "a proper, dysfunctional, completely crazy family!"

"Well duh." Came the muttered response of her son and she poked him in the side, making him squeal.

"I guess we are," Charlie said quietly, stepping forward with a soft smile on his face and pulling her into his chest, "and I love you for giving me that."

Hermione gasped, feeling her eyes moisten as the words hit her straight in the heart and she bit her lip as she looked up at him.

"Say it again." She ordered and he chuckled.

"I love you." He murmured and she grinned back at him, nodding and pulling him in for a kiss, ignoring the disgusted noises made by Arty.

"I love you, too." She told him, not moving her lips from his.

xxxxxxxxxx

There were so many people crammed into the Burrow of the living room that Hermione had given up counting them after 15. Along with the usual bunch of Weasleys and Potters, this year there were the two Lovegoods, Andromeda and Teddy, Neville and Hannah Longbottom who had recently got married and also Lee Jordan who had shown up for this families Christmas rather than his own which amused everybody to no end. The gift giving had begun in earnest and the paper had been flying around the room for some time as they all took it in turns to open a present. Hermione was nervous, as Charlie was next and she knew what was in the envelope he was holding.

"Well go on then!" Harry shouted from under Ginny who was on his lap.

"Yeah, what are you waiting for?" George yelled from where he was hidden behind the tree.

Hermione smiled nervously and nodded at Charlie when he looked up at her questioningly and watched as he opened the envelope, pulling out the piece of parchment. She had officially changed Arty's name to Weasley and listed Charlie as his father, and as Charlie read down the newly modified document, his eyes grew wide and when he looked up at her, they were filled with tears and she was shocked when he suddenly kneeled up and rushed to her, kissing her with all the passion and love he could manage. When they pulled apart, the room was entirely silent and as they looked around, they found all eyes glued to them in shock. Except Luna's, as it took a great deal more than an unexpected kiss to shock that one.

They hadn't told anyone about their feelings for one another or their fledgling sort-of relationship, having wanted to see where it would go before anyone found out, but Hermione snorted as she realised that the cat was now so much out of the bag it had already left the Burrow.

"Uh… Surprise?" She squeaked and suddenly heard a slow infection of chuckles and giggles begin to spread throughout the room.

Once everyone had calmed down and got over the shock, and Molly had almost broken her ribs with a hug, she sat in between Charlie's open legs as he held the parchment she had gifted him with in front of them both, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"So what did she do that deserved that?" Ron asked, his voice slightly cold, but his tone went ignored for the sale of his very valid question.

Hermione smiled as the parchment was passed around everyone, earning a gasp or grin from all who saw it. While they were looking at it, Arty came and sat between Hermione's legs, completing their organised by size seating arrangement. Arty already knew what the the document was, as she had asked him for his permission to change his name. Although he had been sad that he wouldn't have the same surname as her any more, it was more than made up for by sharing his name with the majority of the people in this room.

"Oh dear," Molly chuckled, passing the parchment back to Hermione, "two Arthur Weasleys!"

The gift giving resumed and Hermione received the usual knitted jumper, sweets from the boys, plus a variety of books and trinkets. From Charlie, she had received a beautiful white gold charm bracelet with a charm for each of their little family. A dragon with its wings spread, an egg made of Arty's birth stone and a tiny pile of books. It was lovely. Charlie received some new dragon hide armor and a selection of other bits that would be useful for work, plus of course the famous jumper. Arty, much to his delight, had been showered with Dragon books and toys and was going to get an extra special gift from his dad just after the new year, when he would be present for the opening of the new reserve.