Ch. 3 - Plans

"That was great, Mom." Fred had seated himself in the same chair he had sat in the night before, with Angelina next to him in the other chair, Hermione and Ron on the same couch, Harry and Ginny still seated in the kitchen, and Molly and Arthur Weasley cleaning up all the plates that were once filled with food. The three children had gone outside with George and Katie Bell(his fiancé) to play in the snow.

"Yep, I'm full." Ron gave a great sigh and smiled lovingly at his mother. Hermione was seated next to him with her hair pulled up loosely around her face, some stray hairs hanging in her eyes, and her glasses on the end of her nose. She was deep in thought of the book she was reading.

"That's a first," Hermione muttered under her breath. "Thanks a lot, Molly. It was excellent." She managed to look up, grin a little at her mother-in-law and went back to reading.

"I'm glad you all like my cooking," Molly Weasley practically sang from the drowning noise of the water that she was rinsing the dishes with.

"Ginny, Angelina, do we plan to go shopping for last-minute Christmas presents today, or what's on the agenda?" Hermione looked up from her book at her two sisters-in-law and pushed her glasses back up on her nose.

"Hermy, we're going to take the kids to the zoo. I'm sure Angelina and Ginny have something else planned." Ron smiled at his wife.

"When did we decide to do this?" Hermione asked turning to her husband, as she closed her book, and took off her glasses.

"Well, I've been planning on going all week."

"Ron it's Christmas Eve Day though! And, 'we' did not plan to go, so I'm going with Ginny and Angelina whether you like it or not. Come on, girls, shall we go?" Hermione didn't catch the grin that Ron was giving to Fred and Harry showing his plan had worked. Ginny turned to Harry to see what he had to say.

"Gin, I'm really sorry, but I've got to work just a little, the office sent me a 911 early this morning, and I've put it off as long as I can." Harry kissed Ginny quickly on the forehead then stood up.

"As you see, Hermione, I'm free to go with you." Ginny smiled at Hermione.

"Fred and I have nothing planned, sounds great to me."

"I'll see if Katie wants to come, we're leaving in thirty minutes, girls!"

~*~

"I can't believe Ron just decided I was going to take the kids to the zoo. He thinks he can plan my every day life, he's wrong!" Hermione sounded annoyed as they walked through Hogsmeade.

"Did anyone else notice the grin that Ron gave Fred and Harry once you started to fight with him?" Angelina asked.

"Oh, I forgot. This is all part of their 'plan', remember?" Ginny smiled at Hermione.

"I can't believe I forgot! Tonight when Harry invites you to go get the 'work' he left at his office, why don't you complain a little and refuse to go?" Hermione smiled cunningly at Ginny.

"Sounds like tons of fun." Ginny giggled then they turned to go to the Three Broomsticks.

"I wonder why Katie didn't want to go with us today?" Angelina looked concerned and sat down at a table for four in the corner of the little shop.

"I don't know. She really enjoys staying with the kids. It's great to have her as a future sister-in-law." Ginny crossed her legs and looked at her surroundings.

"So what did you two get for your hubby's for Christmas?" Hermione put her head in her hands and her elbows on the table.

"Well, I couldn't really decide what to get for Harry, so I got him, as a joke, some floral pink and green boxers with gold stars on them and then I'm setting up a picnic by the lake so tomorrow for lunch we'll be eating there." Ginny smiled a little at the thought of the romantic sight she had pictured in her mind.

"Very romantic, Gin. I'm not going that dramatic. I got him some Chudley Cannon socks and an I.O.U. coupon for different things. He likes those kind of things, so he can get out of chores." Angelina rolled her eyes, and then looked at Hermione. "And what are you getting for Ron?"

"Two weeks away from the kids sound like enough?" Hermione laughed. "No, I couldn't leave them again for a long time. Ever since we went on that vacation to Paris, I felt bad for leaving them for over a day. Anyway, I got him tickets to the Quidditch World Cup, box seats, and a new Quidditch set complete with quaffles, bludgers, and two golden snitches. And don't forget this kid I'm carrying isn't exactly just here for fun and grins. I'm going to consider it a late Christmas present."

"Yes, true. Wow it's already 4:30, we best be getting back for Christmas Eve dinner. The great food Molly Weasley cooks for a family of twenty million." Angelina smiled at Ginny and Hermione as they all stood up from the table and left the store.

~*~

"The decorations are gorgeous, Molly!" Hermione exclaimed coming down the stairs to find the entire downstairs decked in Christmas décor. Mistletoe hung over the door frame into the den, large red, festive bows hung around the room on long strings of garland, and the Christmas tree standing large and beautiful in the corner by the fireplace, with all the millions of Christmas presents under them.

"Why, thank you, Hermione." Molly was setting out the steaming food in the kitchen. Hermione headed for the den, to help in the Kitchen, but an arm wrapped around her waist from behind her. She jumped and turned around to see a grinning Ron.

"May I help you?" Hermione asked looking up at her husband.

"Yes." Ron said and looked up. "Oh look, what do you know. It's mistletoe! You know what that means, don't you?" He gave a mischievous look at his wife.

"No, would you care to explain?" Hermione said in a joking voice.

"Sure." Ron's lips engulfed hers, giving her only a seconds time to respond, but Molly (the younger one) walked in. Her presence was going unnoticed, until she cleared her throat rather loudly.

"Grandma told me to let you two know that dinner is ready." She smiled sweetly and turned around and ran towards the kitchen.

"We'll get to the mistletoe later." Ron winked at Hermione, but then she remembered about her trying to be mad at him.

"No, Ron. We will not. I think it would be more appropriate if you slept down here tonight. Remember I don't like you planning my life for me!" Hermione called after him as they headed for the kitchen. Ron gave a great sigh at his wife and sat down in his chair.

Harry and Ginny soon joined in, Angelina and Fred, and Katie and George were finally all seated and the dinner was served.