By Katie
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form own any character from the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling has the honor of that. I must also state that no money is being made from this fanfiction. Clearly, since you're reading this, you know that this is fiction! Did you catch that? Fiction!
Author's Note: All right, you hear it from me. I absolutely love the Harry Potter series and I have to say that Ron is my favorite character so… this story is obviously going to be about him. Sorry to burst your bubble if you're for H/H 'ships. Not that I'm not or anything, I just think R/H are even more precious! Well, I hope you enjoy it! Remember to Review please.
Five years is a really long time to be alone. Hermione watched out of the window in her small but homey apartment as snowflakes fell from the dark sky. For some reason, Christmas was a very difficult time for her to face. After Hogwarts, Ron, Harry, and Hermione hadn't really kept in touch. Hermione had jumped right into a career at the Ministry of Magic, as well as Harry, who decided he'd do something he was good at, which just happened to be practically saving the entire world from all evil- he became one of the most famous Aurors there was. Although, Ron hadn't really been very motivated to do anything with the rest of his life. All through school he'd been the one that hadn't taken school very seriously.
After a while of staring out the window and then staring at a massive amount of paperwork Hermione decided that she'd go to bed. It wasn't like she was accomplishing anything anyways. After all, even though she had loads of work she should've been doing, she just couldn't get it done. She sighed after looking at the paperwork again and walked towards her bedroom. She dragged her feet to the chest of muggle clothes and pulled out her pajamas. She then slowly changed her clothes. She even dropped her work robes on the floor, as if she was too worn out to put them away properly. As soon as she was finished, she pulled down the covers to her bed and climbed in, only happy because the day would be over. Not long after she turned her light off and rolled on to her side to finally go to sleep, she heard a light tapping to her living room window. At first she thought it was just a twig, but then thought harder and concluded that there were simply no trees near that window. Not only that, but the sound was getting louder, as if it were impatient.
She sighed deeply and stalked over to the window. For something to disturb her almost-would-be-slumber, they were going to have to pay. She opened the window lazily and a small, hyperactive owl came tumbling in, landing on the floor. "I thought for sure you'd be dead by now, or at least calmed down." She muttered. "Come on, Pig." She grabbed the letter that he'd carried and walked back to her room. Once she flicked on the light, she sat on the bed ready to read the note. She knew who it was from, judging from the psycho owl rolling around on the floor by her bed, but she didn't expect she'd actually stop breathing for a moment when she saw his handwriting. It hadn't changed a bit. It was still the same scribbles he liked to call words.
Hello, 'Mione.
Hope this got to you in time, poor Pig, he's even more crazy than before. Anywho- how are you? I haven't heard from you in a while. Hopefully you're not working too hard. Dad said that it's been really busy over at the ministry…. He's been swamped. Not that I'm at home all the time, just when I am there, you know, he's just busy.
All right, well, Mum was wondering if you'd like to spend the holiday with us. She said that you might be alone because your parents are away or something of the sort. If not, I guess, that's fine too. Well, if you can, owl us back.
With love,
Your Friend,
Ron.
Hermione must've read the letter three times before thinking anything. Did he really write 'with love' then cross it out? How dare he? He didn't even really try to make it go away. If he truly wanted it to go away, he could've done a better job of crossing out or even put a charm on it. And using the nickname from when they were dating? How dare he?
She got off her bed and stomped over to her desk where she got out some parchment and a quill and wrote:
Eat Slugs, Ronald Weasley. Oh wait, you have.
She folded it up quickly, but just as she was about to hand it to Pigwidgeon she decided he probably meant no harm and caught himself after he had already written 'with love'. So, after a bit of self coaching in breathing, she sat down to write a proper letter. After all, they were still sort of friends.
Ron,
Thank you for thinking of me, or maybe I should be thanking your mother. Whoever I'm thanking, thank you. It's great to hear from you and no, they're not working me too hard.
She sighed, knowing she was lying, then glanced down at her work robes which were still on the floor. She'd pick them up later. She wasn't very sleepy anymore.
I enjoy what I do.
Anyways, I'd love you join you for Christmas. I don't know how long I'll have off, but I can check. As for Pig, he is a little wild, but at least he's happy. Don't worry, I don't think he got lost or anything on the way, and the letter remained undamaged. Hats off to Pig.
So, how are you? What are you doing now? You're not still at the Magical Menagerie, are you? I know that animals are pleasant, but don't you think you should think about your future? The last time I talked to Ginny, she said that you were offered a job at the Ministry. How did that go? I haven't seen you around…
How's Harry, by the way? I haven't heard from him lately either. Probably because I'm a horrible pen pal. I just haven't had a lot of time, not that we're really in touch. Tell Harry and Ginny, if you can, that I say hello and congratulate them on going on however many years it's been..
Well, I better be going. It's getting late.
~Hermione Granger
"All right, Pig, here you go." She said quietly, and tucked her note to him away. "Calm down." He rolled on the floor excitedly and making all sorts of noise, and continued to roll until they reached the window. "Please don't get lost." She whispered, watching the tiny, brown owl make its way into the night.
"Ron!" Mrs. Weasley shouted over the noise in the Burrow. "You sent Hermione a letter, right?"
"Yes, Mum." He nodded. He dropped down into a chair at the table. "I didn't get one back yet, though."
"Mum, what time is it?" Ginny called from the stairs.
"Almost noon, dear." She called back. "Don't worry, love, she'll write back. She's just been busy."
"Bloody Hell, Mum." Ron groaned, bumping his head on the table, trying to get his arm. "You're not still on about how I love Hermione, are you?"
"Of course not, dear." She shook her head, turning her head to the 'clock' that told where each member of the family was. Percy was just about in the door. "Hello, Percy." She said to him, kissing his cheek. "Harry's coming for Christmas too, right Ron?" She didn't look at him, she smiled lovingly at Percy and helped him inside. "Your room hasn't changed, go ahead and put your things up there."
"I think that's what Ginny said."
"Arthur, you're going to be late." She shouted to her husband who was outside, looking at some newly found 'toys' he'd found. "You'd better get back to the Ministry. Your lunch hour is about over."
"All right, dear. I'll see you later then." He made his way inside to say goodbye to everyone else. "Ah, Percy, how are you? When did you get here? Did you see all of the toys I've found?"
"I'm fine, Dad." He nodded, shaking his father's hand. "I just got here, don't worry. You'd better get going."
"All right, goodbye everyone!" He waved to the three people who were in the kitchen and went back to work.
"Can I get you anything, darling?" Molly asked Ron, who was looking rather perplexed.
"No." He answered.
He stayed seated, with his head resting on his arm, for a long while before standing up and heading for the door again. If his mother had said anything to him in the time he'd been looking at the floor or wall, he hadn't heard anything. Just as he was about to open the door to leave, he was faced with his own owl, Pigwidgeon. He was causing quite a ruckus, shrieking and flying around the house. When Ron finally got the letter, he opened it quickly and read it to himself silently.
"Is that from Hermione?" Ginny asked. When had she come downstairs? How long had he been staring off into space?
"Uh, er, yes." He said, folding the letter back up. "Yes it is."
"What did she say, Ron?" Mrs. Weasley asked, finally sitting down at the table. She clasped her hands together on the top of the table. "May I see it?"
"She said she'd come for Christmas." He answered.