Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Thirteen: The Kiss
It was Christmastime at Hogwarts. The trees were put up and the beautiful decorations were appearing all over the place. Students were excited for the upcoming holidays. Most prepared by packing their trunks, getting ready for the ride to London on the Hogwarts Express. Even Hermione was looking forward to spending a little time with her parents. She had spent most of last summer with the Weasleys, as well as the summer previous and she missed seeing them. She heard that her mother's brother would be visiting and she looked forward to spending time with her uncle.
Ron and Ginny were staying at Hogwarts, along with Harry. Dumbledore seemed to feel it best if Harry didn't travel during the holiday season, and his friends decided to keep him company. Harry appreciated the fact that they were staying. He liked Christmas mornings at Hogwarts, especially if his friends were about.
Classes ended two days before the students were scheduled to leave for the break. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny and a few other members of Dumbledore's Army (they continued to hold their meetings) spent the free day outside, enjoying the massive snowfall from the day before. While Harry and Ron engaged in a snowball fight, Hermione and Ginny set to work making snowmen, using twigs and rocks and anything else they found to create the features. They managed to create a small snow family by the time Ron and Harry came over to them, claiming to be cold and wanting to have some hot chocolate with dinner.
"What are these?" Ron asked as he surveyed the snowmen.
"Snowmen," Hermione said. "It's just something muggles make in the snow, for no apparent reason. Just for fun."
"They're supposed to be PEOPLE?" Ron asked in disbelief before he started laughing.
"Well, they're not REAL people," Hermione argued. "They're SNOWmen. Hence the name."
"Muggles do weird things," said Ron.
"Do you know about snow angels?" Hermione asked.
"Do they look anything like these guys?" Ron said, with a thumb pointing at the snowmen.
"No," said Hermione. "Here, I'll show you. All you have to do is lie back in the snow." She let herself fall backwards and landed in the soft snow. "Then you just take your arms and legs and wave them around. Then when you get up," she began, "you'll have a snow angel. Can someone help me up please?"
Ginny was about to walk to Hermione, when Ron quickly stepped in and held out his hand. Hermione took it and let Ron pull her up. 'He's gotten strong,' she thought to herself. She gestured to the snow. "See, there you have it. Snow angel."
"I guess it looks like an angel," said Ron.
Hermione laughed shortly. "Ron, you're impossible! Come on, let's go inside for dinner."
* * *
That night at dinner, Hermione felt a change in Ron. He was staying especially close to her and eager to help her with things. Harry knew this was because he didn't want her to leave for home the next day, but he didn't say anything. He had decided that if his friends were going to get together, they were going to do it on their own. He wasn't about to push them into something they weren't ready for. Ginny on the other hand wanted to do something about the two of them, to speed things up. The problem was, she couldn't think of the best way to do it.
When she noticed Hermione getting up to head to the common room, she also saw Ron was about to follow. "Hey Harry!" Ginny called quickly, preventing Harry from standing with his friends. "Can I get your opinion on something?"
Luckily, Harry caught on to the reason Ginny wanted to speak to him, and he said, "Yeah, sure," he said. He turned to Ron and Hermione. "I'll catch up with you, okay?"
"Sure," said Ron, and he and Hermione turned and headed out of the Great Hall.
After they were gone, Harry turned to Ginny, "Can I assume that you didn't really want to talk to me?" he asked, and Ginny smiled. Harry sighed and sat down next to her. "How long do you think we have to give them?"
"Give it at least a half hour," said Ginny.
"That long?!" Harry exclaimed in shock.
"Come on, Harry, would it kill you to spend a half hour with me?" Ginny asked.
Harry seemed surprised by Ginny's question. It wasn't that he didn't want to spend the next half hour with Ginny, it was just never something he had ever thought of doing. Whenever he was at the Weasley house, it was Ron he was there to see. At school, he was always with Ron and Hermione, and though Ginny tagged along sometimes, it was generally about the three of them. He looked at Ginny and was suddenly struck with the though, 'She has nice eyes.' He surprised himself. 'She's Ron's little sister! I can't think she's pretty!' But still, he agreed to himself that spending a half hour with Ginny Weasley was probably not a bad way to spend his time.
* * *
Ron and Hermione reached the common room, gave the portrait the password, and Ron let Hermione go in before him. It was mostly empty. Most students were still down at the feast or up in their dorms packing their things. "I should do the same," Hermione said when Ron mentioned this. "There are still some things I need. And I want to make sure that I leave my presents here."
"It's early," said Ron. "Can't you just stay here for a bit? Keep me company until Harry comes back?"
Hermione sighed, thinking of the trunk she had upstairs, "Oh, all right," she said.
Ron smiled. "Play chess with me?"
"Oh, Ron, you know I don't like that game," Hermione said.
"Just for a bit," said Ron.
"Oh, all right," she said again. "You'll beat me soon enough anyway!"
Sure enough, the game lasted barely five minutes when Ron's bishop took Hermione's king. "Check!" he shouted triumphantly.
"You knew you would win!" Hermione exclaimed. "I don't know why you needed me to play! The chess pieces move on their own!"
"It's just more fun with another person," said Ron. Hermione blushed.
"Okay, Ron, I've played chess with you, and Harry should be back any minute. I really need to go finish packing and then head to bed," said Hermione. She looked at Ron for a moment and then said, "Good night." She turned and walked towards the stairs leading to the girls' dormitory.
"Wait!" Ron called out, and he ran over to her in just four steps. "I'll walk you upstairs."
"Ron, you know you can't," said Hermione. "Remember what happened last time you and Harry tried to go up there? There's a spell."
Ron sighed. "Oh, right," he said. He looked up the stairs, trying to think of a way, when something caught his eye. "Hmm, odd," he said.
"What's odd?" Hermione said, looking in the direction Ron was.
"There's some kind of weird herb on the ceiling," Ron said. "Is that supposed to protect you girls from the big bad boys?"
Hermione saw what Ron was looking at and she started to laugh. "Ron, that's mistletoe!" she exclaimed.
"So? What's mistletoe?" he asked.
Suddenly, Hermione realized where this might lead, and she blushed. "Well, Ron, actually it's a muggle tradition at Christmastime. When two people stand under the mistletoe together they're supposed to kiss."
Ron realized what she said, and he blushed. "Really?" Then he seemed to notice that he and Hermione were standing right under the small green bundle. "Hermione, do you know that we're-"
"I know," she said.
"Should we-?"
"Only if you want to."
Ron didn't say anything, but looked into her eyes. Hermione was also rendered speechless. Ron could feel himself moving forward, but he didn't what force was driving him. Hermione too felt something bringing her closer to Ron, and she felt herself go on her toes to be closer to his height. They came closer, and closer and suddenly there was contact!
They both felt the electricity in that kiss. All of a sudden, everything they had both been feeling came rushing to the surface, and it developed into the kiss they now shared. Ron put his hands on Hermione's waist, in an effort to move closer to her. Hermione laid her hand on Ron's chest gently.
They both heard the creak of the portrait hole and pulled apart very quickly. They both looked towards it, and soon Harry appeared. He seemed to be entering the room very slowly. "Hey Harry," Ron said immediately, though he had to clear his throat first. "Where've you been?"
"Just in the Great Hall. Colin cornered me for pictures." Harry had to think quickly, for his friends would surely not think he was spending this whole time with Ginny.
"Well, I really have to finish packing and get to bed," Hermione suddenly piped up. "I have to get on the train early tomorrow. Good night Harry."
"Good night Hermione."
"Night Ron," she said, but Harry noticed the new way that she looked at him.
"Night Hermione," Ron said, and he watched her go up the stairs. She was well out of sight before Ron turned to Harry. "Fancy a game of chess?" he asked.
"Wait a minute," Harry said. "What just happened here?"
"Nothing," said Ron, and he pulled out the chessboard he and Hermione had used earlier.
* * *
The next morning, Ron woke up with the kiss still lingering. He was eager to see Hermione, to say some important things to her before she left, but when he got to the common room, he saw a note along with his gift in Hermione's handwriting.
Dear Ron, it said,
You slept late and I didn't want to come to your dormitory to wake you. I had to leave or I would have missed the train. I'll see you soon.
I hope you like your gift. You better wait until tomorrow morning to open it!
Happy Christmas!
Love, Hermione
Chapter Thirteen: The Kiss
It was Christmastime at Hogwarts. The trees were put up and the beautiful decorations were appearing all over the place. Students were excited for the upcoming holidays. Most prepared by packing their trunks, getting ready for the ride to London on the Hogwarts Express. Even Hermione was looking forward to spending a little time with her parents. She had spent most of last summer with the Weasleys, as well as the summer previous and she missed seeing them. She heard that her mother's brother would be visiting and she looked forward to spending time with her uncle.
Ron and Ginny were staying at Hogwarts, along with Harry. Dumbledore seemed to feel it best if Harry didn't travel during the holiday season, and his friends decided to keep him company. Harry appreciated the fact that they were staying. He liked Christmas mornings at Hogwarts, especially if his friends were about.
Classes ended two days before the students were scheduled to leave for the break. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny and a few other members of Dumbledore's Army (they continued to hold their meetings) spent the free day outside, enjoying the massive snowfall from the day before. While Harry and Ron engaged in a snowball fight, Hermione and Ginny set to work making snowmen, using twigs and rocks and anything else they found to create the features. They managed to create a small snow family by the time Ron and Harry came over to them, claiming to be cold and wanting to have some hot chocolate with dinner.
"What are these?" Ron asked as he surveyed the snowmen.
"Snowmen," Hermione said. "It's just something muggles make in the snow, for no apparent reason. Just for fun."
"They're supposed to be PEOPLE?" Ron asked in disbelief before he started laughing.
"Well, they're not REAL people," Hermione argued. "They're SNOWmen. Hence the name."
"Muggles do weird things," said Ron.
"Do you know about snow angels?" Hermione asked.
"Do they look anything like these guys?" Ron said, with a thumb pointing at the snowmen.
"No," said Hermione. "Here, I'll show you. All you have to do is lie back in the snow." She let herself fall backwards and landed in the soft snow. "Then you just take your arms and legs and wave them around. Then when you get up," she began, "you'll have a snow angel. Can someone help me up please?"
Ginny was about to walk to Hermione, when Ron quickly stepped in and held out his hand. Hermione took it and let Ron pull her up. 'He's gotten strong,' she thought to herself. She gestured to the snow. "See, there you have it. Snow angel."
"I guess it looks like an angel," said Ron.
Hermione laughed shortly. "Ron, you're impossible! Come on, let's go inside for dinner."
* * *
That night at dinner, Hermione felt a change in Ron. He was staying especially close to her and eager to help her with things. Harry knew this was because he didn't want her to leave for home the next day, but he didn't say anything. He had decided that if his friends were going to get together, they were going to do it on their own. He wasn't about to push them into something they weren't ready for. Ginny on the other hand wanted to do something about the two of them, to speed things up. The problem was, she couldn't think of the best way to do it.
When she noticed Hermione getting up to head to the common room, she also saw Ron was about to follow. "Hey Harry!" Ginny called quickly, preventing Harry from standing with his friends. "Can I get your opinion on something?"
Luckily, Harry caught on to the reason Ginny wanted to speak to him, and he said, "Yeah, sure," he said. He turned to Ron and Hermione. "I'll catch up with you, okay?"
"Sure," said Ron, and he and Hermione turned and headed out of the Great Hall.
After they were gone, Harry turned to Ginny, "Can I assume that you didn't really want to talk to me?" he asked, and Ginny smiled. Harry sighed and sat down next to her. "How long do you think we have to give them?"
"Give it at least a half hour," said Ginny.
"That long?!" Harry exclaimed in shock.
"Come on, Harry, would it kill you to spend a half hour with me?" Ginny asked.
Harry seemed surprised by Ginny's question. It wasn't that he didn't want to spend the next half hour with Ginny, it was just never something he had ever thought of doing. Whenever he was at the Weasley house, it was Ron he was there to see. At school, he was always with Ron and Hermione, and though Ginny tagged along sometimes, it was generally about the three of them. He looked at Ginny and was suddenly struck with the though, 'She has nice eyes.' He surprised himself. 'She's Ron's little sister! I can't think she's pretty!' But still, he agreed to himself that spending a half hour with Ginny Weasley was probably not a bad way to spend his time.
* * *
Ron and Hermione reached the common room, gave the portrait the password, and Ron let Hermione go in before him. It was mostly empty. Most students were still down at the feast or up in their dorms packing their things. "I should do the same," Hermione said when Ron mentioned this. "There are still some things I need. And I want to make sure that I leave my presents here."
"It's early," said Ron. "Can't you just stay here for a bit? Keep me company until Harry comes back?"
Hermione sighed, thinking of the trunk she had upstairs, "Oh, all right," she said.
Ron smiled. "Play chess with me?"
"Oh, Ron, you know I don't like that game," Hermione said.
"Just for a bit," said Ron.
"Oh, all right," she said again. "You'll beat me soon enough anyway!"
Sure enough, the game lasted barely five minutes when Ron's bishop took Hermione's king. "Check!" he shouted triumphantly.
"You knew you would win!" Hermione exclaimed. "I don't know why you needed me to play! The chess pieces move on their own!"
"It's just more fun with another person," said Ron. Hermione blushed.
"Okay, Ron, I've played chess with you, and Harry should be back any minute. I really need to go finish packing and then head to bed," said Hermione. She looked at Ron for a moment and then said, "Good night." She turned and walked towards the stairs leading to the girls' dormitory.
"Wait!" Ron called out, and he ran over to her in just four steps. "I'll walk you upstairs."
"Ron, you know you can't," said Hermione. "Remember what happened last time you and Harry tried to go up there? There's a spell."
Ron sighed. "Oh, right," he said. He looked up the stairs, trying to think of a way, when something caught his eye. "Hmm, odd," he said.
"What's odd?" Hermione said, looking in the direction Ron was.
"There's some kind of weird herb on the ceiling," Ron said. "Is that supposed to protect you girls from the big bad boys?"
Hermione saw what Ron was looking at and she started to laugh. "Ron, that's mistletoe!" she exclaimed.
"So? What's mistletoe?" he asked.
Suddenly, Hermione realized where this might lead, and she blushed. "Well, Ron, actually it's a muggle tradition at Christmastime. When two people stand under the mistletoe together they're supposed to kiss."
Ron realized what she said, and he blushed. "Really?" Then he seemed to notice that he and Hermione were standing right under the small green bundle. "Hermione, do you know that we're-"
"I know," she said.
"Should we-?"
"Only if you want to."
Ron didn't say anything, but looked into her eyes. Hermione was also rendered speechless. Ron could feel himself moving forward, but he didn't what force was driving him. Hermione too felt something bringing her closer to Ron, and she felt herself go on her toes to be closer to his height. They came closer, and closer and suddenly there was contact!
They both felt the electricity in that kiss. All of a sudden, everything they had both been feeling came rushing to the surface, and it developed into the kiss they now shared. Ron put his hands on Hermione's waist, in an effort to move closer to her. Hermione laid her hand on Ron's chest gently.
They both heard the creak of the portrait hole and pulled apart very quickly. They both looked towards it, and soon Harry appeared. He seemed to be entering the room very slowly. "Hey Harry," Ron said immediately, though he had to clear his throat first. "Where've you been?"
"Just in the Great Hall. Colin cornered me for pictures." Harry had to think quickly, for his friends would surely not think he was spending this whole time with Ginny.
"Well, I really have to finish packing and get to bed," Hermione suddenly piped up. "I have to get on the train early tomorrow. Good night Harry."
"Good night Hermione."
"Night Ron," she said, but Harry noticed the new way that she looked at him.
"Night Hermione," Ron said, and he watched her go up the stairs. She was well out of sight before Ron turned to Harry. "Fancy a game of chess?" he asked.
"Wait a minute," Harry said. "What just happened here?"
"Nothing," said Ron, and he pulled out the chessboard he and Hermione had used earlier.
* * *
The next morning, Ron woke up with the kiss still lingering. He was eager to see Hermione, to say some important things to her before she left, but when he got to the common room, he saw a note along with his gift in Hermione's handwriting.
Dear Ron, it said,
You slept late and I didn't want to come to your dormitory to wake you. I had to leave or I would have missed the train. I'll see you soon.
I hope you like your gift. You better wait until tomorrow morning to open it!
Happy Christmas!
Love, Hermione