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 Fourteen: A Christmas Apart
The next morning, Ron still hadn't opened Hermione's present. It sat beside his bed, beckoning him, but he wanted to obey Hermione's wishes and open it with the rest of his gifts. When he woke up, he saw the small pile lying on his feet, and he sat up eagerly to look at his loot. As was the tradition, he wanted to wait to Harry to get up so they could open their presents at the same time, but Harry seemed to be sound asleep. Ron decided that he would open just one present, the one he had been dying to get to, and he pulled Hermione's from the bedside table.
There was another card, separate from the note she had left. It read:
Dear Ron,
I know you're going to love this gift, so don't even pretend that you don't! I worked very hard to get it for you. You deserve it for all the hard work you've been doing this term, and for the beautiful gifts you've given me this past year.
Love, Hermione
Ron began to tear the paper on the package, eager to see the gift that Hermione was so sure about. He got the paper off the back of the package and saw the back of a picture frame. 'She got me a picture?' he said to himself. 'How is she so sure I'd like it? Unless maybe it's a picture of her.' He was still skeptical however when he turned it over, and then he gasped in surprise.
Hermione had somehow managed to get him a picture of the Chudley Canons. A REAL picture that someone took with a magical camera. The team stood there waving at him. The best part, however, was that the picture was SIGNED by all the members of the team. Ron counted the names. Sure enough, there were seven, and a few more for the reserve members of the team. "How did she do this?" Ron wondered aloud.
"I guess being friends with Viktor Krum has it's benefits," said Harry from his bed, surprising Ron. Hermione had shown Harry the picture before she wrapped it, and he knew that Ron would love it.
"She got this from Vicky?" Ron said in disgust, and he looked as though he might throw the picture across the room.
"Sure," said Harry. "Where else?"
"How could she give me something that HE touched?" Ron asked. All of a sudden, his wonderful present had turned to a piece of trash.
"Ron, Hermione doesn't like him the way you think she does. They're just FRIENDS. In fact, she told me that the last she heard from him was months ago, because he's been so busy with his new GIRLFRIEND," Harry said.
"Really?" Ron said, hopeful. The picture was starting to get it's appeal back.
"Ron, Hermione asked him to do that for YOU. Don't you get it yet?" Harry asked.
"Get what?"
"Ron! Hermione likes YOU! Not Viktor Krum! Why else would she go to so much trouble to give you a present?"
Ron thought for minute, and he realized that Harry was right. His heart soared, remembering the kiss, and now the realization that Hermione liked him. He decided to tell Harry about the night in the common room. "Harry, I kissed her."
"Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Of course Hermione! Who do you think?!"
"I though you said nothing happened the other night," Harry teased.
"Well, I lied," said Ron. "I kissed her. And she kissed me. Under the. the. mistytole."
"Mistletoe?" Harry asked.
"Whatever," said Ron.
"So are you two an item now?" Harry asked.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," said Ron. "That we stopped kissing because we heard the portrait hole open and YOU walked in. Then she left without even talking to me."
"Well, Ron, you'll see her in a few days," said Harry. "Then you can talk to her and sort this all out."
"Yeah," said Ron. He was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke again, "Harry I think I'm in love with her."
Harry's eyes widened and he was about to respond when they heard a loud shriek from outside the door. "GINNY!" Ron exclaimed.
Ginny entered the room. "I'm sorry. I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise. I was coming to see what you got for Christmas, and I heard you say.... I can't believe it! I heard you say you're in love with Hermione!"
"I said I THINK I'm in love with her," Ron corrected.
"Oh come on Ron," said Ginny. "Just ask yourself one simple question. Would you do anything for her?"
"Anything," Ron said without hesitation.
"Even die for her?"
"Geez Ginny, that's really morbid," Harry piped in from his bed. Ginny ignored him and stared at Ron.
"Yes," Ron admitted. As he said it, he knew it was true. He WOULD do anything for Hermione. He wanted to give her anything and everything she wanted. He wanted to see her happy, wanted to be the one to make her happy. He WAS in love with her. "I love her."
"Oh. My. GOD!" Ginny shrieked.
"Ginny, you HAVE to stop making that noise," Ron said, covering his ears.
Ginny calmed down, "Sorry, I'm just so excited! My brother has a girlfriend, my brother has a girlfriend!"
"Not quite," said Harry. "This dolt let her go to her parents house without saying anything to her. AND this was after he kissed her."
Ginny looked shocked. "You kissed her?! Okay, what did I miss. Tell me EVERYTHING." Ron repeated the mistletoe story for Ginny, who seemed to be trying to contain herself rather than shriek again, which Ron appreciated.
"You have to tell her," said Ginny.
"Ginny, this isn't something I want to say in a letter," said Ron. "Besides, what if she doesn't like me? She didn't even talk to me after we kissed."
"Ron, she's probably terrified! Aren't you scared?"
"Terrified," he admitted.
"Then wait till she comes back. When you see her you'll know what to do," said Ginny. "You've waited this long, I think you can wait a couple more days, can't you?"
"I guess," said Ron, but inside he wanted her, needed to see her again, to kiss her again and hold her close to him.
"Wow, this is some morning," Ginny said. "You haven't even opened your presents yet!" This seemed to remind Harry and Ron of the task at hand and the dove into their gifts.
* * *
Hermione woke up the same Christmas morning, yearning to be with Ron at Hogwarts. 'I wonder if he's opened his gift, or if he was good and waited like I asked.' When she thought about it, she wished she had given him the present before she had gone away so she could see the reaction on his face. She knew how much he loved the Canons. It was hard to miss Ron's obsession. Still, she didn't mind giving into the obsession if it would put a smile on his face. She loved when Ron smiled. She loved when Ron did anything, really.
Her thoughts turned to the kiss they had shared, and her regret at not waking him up before leaving for the train. 'What an idiot I am!' she thought to herself. 'Now he's going to think I'm mad at him for the kiss!' Really, the kiss was the best moment of her life. She had immediately felt a connection between her and Ron, and all she wanted to do was go back to Hogwarts and kiss him again just to make sure it had really happened, that it wasn't something she had dreamt up.
Hermione heard a soft knock on the door, and her mother entered. "Happy Christmas sweetheart," she said quietly, hoping she didn't wake her.
"Happy Christmas, mum," Hermione said, and she sat up in bed. Her mother sat at the foot of the bed and smiled and her.
"I'm so glad you're here this year," said her mother. "Your father and I love that you're spending time with us. Not that we don't like when you spend time with your friends, don't get me wrong. It's just, we miss you."
"I miss you too," said Hermione.
"Are you all right?" her mother asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," said Hermione. "Has Uncle Joe arrived yet?"
"No, not yet," said Mrs. Granger. "Any minute, I expect." She studied her daughter carefully, for she saw something very different in her face.
"Hermione? Are you sure nothing's going on?" she asked again.
"Not really," said Hermione.
"Nothing to do with boys?" Mrs. Granger asked, and knew from her daughter's suddenly rosy cheeks that she had hit the nail on the head.
"Well, sort of," said Hermione.
"Ron?" said her mother.
"How did you know?"
"There's always been something between you too. I'm not blind, even though we don't see you and Ron together all that often," said Mrs. Granger.
"Mom, I'm in love with him."
Mrs. Granger smiled. "Wow, Hermione. This is really big news. No wonder you've been so quiet. So tell me, are the two of you dating."
"No, but we did kiss," said Hermione. "Right before Christmas. I left before talking to him about it. I'm afraid he'll think I don't like him."
"I wouldn't worry about it Hermione," said Mrs. Granger. "But you do need to tell Ron how you feel about him. It's important."
"I know mom, and I want to tell him," said Hermione. "But this is too important to put in a letter."
"Well then, just wait until tomorrow," said Mrs. Granger.
"Tomorrow?" Hermione asked. "But, mum-"
"No buts, Hermione. You'll spend today with us, and enjoy the holiday, and tomorrow you will go back to Hogwarts a little early and tell Ron how you feel."
"But I've missed seeing you and dad," said Hermione.
"And we've missed you," said Mrs. Granger. "But this is an important time in your life, and you've got to enjoy it. You've also got to deal with these feelings you're having. And know that, whatever happens, Ron is a wonderful young man and your father and I would be happy to have him in the family."
"Mom!" Hermione exclaimed. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We're not even together."
"No," said Mrs. Granger. "But I'm optimistic. You should be too." She kissed her daughter on the forehead and patted her hand. "Now get dressed and come downstairs. I've got breakfast waiting, and a whole stack of gifts!"
"Okay, mom, I'll be right down," said Hermione. She spent a few minutes more thinking of Ron, and then did as her mother said, and headed downstairs to enjoy her Christmas.
Chapter Fourteen: A Christmas Apart
The next morning, Ron still hadn't opened Hermione's present. It sat beside his bed, beckoning him, but he wanted to obey Hermione's wishes and open it with the rest of his gifts. When he woke up, he saw the small pile lying on his feet, and he sat up eagerly to look at his loot. As was the tradition, he wanted to wait to Harry to get up so they could open their presents at the same time, but Harry seemed to be sound asleep. Ron decided that he would open just one present, the one he had been dying to get to, and he pulled Hermione's from the bedside table.
There was another card, separate from the note she had left. It read:
Dear Ron,
I know you're going to love this gift, so don't even pretend that you don't! I worked very hard to get it for you. You deserve it for all the hard work you've been doing this term, and for the beautiful gifts you've given me this past year.
Love, Hermione
Ron began to tear the paper on the package, eager to see the gift that Hermione was so sure about. He got the paper off the back of the package and saw the back of a picture frame. 'She got me a picture?' he said to himself. 'How is she so sure I'd like it? Unless maybe it's a picture of her.' He was still skeptical however when he turned it over, and then he gasped in surprise.
Hermione had somehow managed to get him a picture of the Chudley Canons. A REAL picture that someone took with a magical camera. The team stood there waving at him. The best part, however, was that the picture was SIGNED by all the members of the team. Ron counted the names. Sure enough, there were seven, and a few more for the reserve members of the team. "How did she do this?" Ron wondered aloud.
"I guess being friends with Viktor Krum has it's benefits," said Harry from his bed, surprising Ron. Hermione had shown Harry the picture before she wrapped it, and he knew that Ron would love it.
"She got this from Vicky?" Ron said in disgust, and he looked as though he might throw the picture across the room.
"Sure," said Harry. "Where else?"
"How could she give me something that HE touched?" Ron asked. All of a sudden, his wonderful present had turned to a piece of trash.
"Ron, Hermione doesn't like him the way you think she does. They're just FRIENDS. In fact, she told me that the last she heard from him was months ago, because he's been so busy with his new GIRLFRIEND," Harry said.
"Really?" Ron said, hopeful. The picture was starting to get it's appeal back.
"Ron, Hermione asked him to do that for YOU. Don't you get it yet?" Harry asked.
"Get what?"
"Ron! Hermione likes YOU! Not Viktor Krum! Why else would she go to so much trouble to give you a present?"
Ron thought for minute, and he realized that Harry was right. His heart soared, remembering the kiss, and now the realization that Hermione liked him. He decided to tell Harry about the night in the common room. "Harry, I kissed her."
"Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Of course Hermione! Who do you think?!"
"I though you said nothing happened the other night," Harry teased.
"Well, I lied," said Ron. "I kissed her. And she kissed me. Under the. the. mistytole."
"Mistletoe?" Harry asked.
"Whatever," said Ron.
"So are you two an item now?" Harry asked.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," said Ron. "That we stopped kissing because we heard the portrait hole open and YOU walked in. Then she left without even talking to me."
"Well, Ron, you'll see her in a few days," said Harry. "Then you can talk to her and sort this all out."
"Yeah," said Ron. He was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke again, "Harry I think I'm in love with her."
Harry's eyes widened and he was about to respond when they heard a loud shriek from outside the door. "GINNY!" Ron exclaimed.
Ginny entered the room. "I'm sorry. I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise. I was coming to see what you got for Christmas, and I heard you say.... I can't believe it! I heard you say you're in love with Hermione!"
"I said I THINK I'm in love with her," Ron corrected.
"Oh come on Ron," said Ginny. "Just ask yourself one simple question. Would you do anything for her?"
"Anything," Ron said without hesitation.
"Even die for her?"
"Geez Ginny, that's really morbid," Harry piped in from his bed. Ginny ignored him and stared at Ron.
"Yes," Ron admitted. As he said it, he knew it was true. He WOULD do anything for Hermione. He wanted to give her anything and everything she wanted. He wanted to see her happy, wanted to be the one to make her happy. He WAS in love with her. "I love her."
"Oh. My. GOD!" Ginny shrieked.
"Ginny, you HAVE to stop making that noise," Ron said, covering his ears.
Ginny calmed down, "Sorry, I'm just so excited! My brother has a girlfriend, my brother has a girlfriend!"
"Not quite," said Harry. "This dolt let her go to her parents house without saying anything to her. AND this was after he kissed her."
Ginny looked shocked. "You kissed her?! Okay, what did I miss. Tell me EVERYTHING." Ron repeated the mistletoe story for Ginny, who seemed to be trying to contain herself rather than shriek again, which Ron appreciated.
"You have to tell her," said Ginny.
"Ginny, this isn't something I want to say in a letter," said Ron. "Besides, what if she doesn't like me? She didn't even talk to me after we kissed."
"Ron, she's probably terrified! Aren't you scared?"
"Terrified," he admitted.
"Then wait till she comes back. When you see her you'll know what to do," said Ginny. "You've waited this long, I think you can wait a couple more days, can't you?"
"I guess," said Ron, but inside he wanted her, needed to see her again, to kiss her again and hold her close to him.
"Wow, this is some morning," Ginny said. "You haven't even opened your presents yet!" This seemed to remind Harry and Ron of the task at hand and the dove into their gifts.
* * *
Hermione woke up the same Christmas morning, yearning to be with Ron at Hogwarts. 'I wonder if he's opened his gift, or if he was good and waited like I asked.' When she thought about it, she wished she had given him the present before she had gone away so she could see the reaction on his face. She knew how much he loved the Canons. It was hard to miss Ron's obsession. Still, she didn't mind giving into the obsession if it would put a smile on his face. She loved when Ron smiled. She loved when Ron did anything, really.
Her thoughts turned to the kiss they had shared, and her regret at not waking him up before leaving for the train. 'What an idiot I am!' she thought to herself. 'Now he's going to think I'm mad at him for the kiss!' Really, the kiss was the best moment of her life. She had immediately felt a connection between her and Ron, and all she wanted to do was go back to Hogwarts and kiss him again just to make sure it had really happened, that it wasn't something she had dreamt up.
Hermione heard a soft knock on the door, and her mother entered. "Happy Christmas sweetheart," she said quietly, hoping she didn't wake her.
"Happy Christmas, mum," Hermione said, and she sat up in bed. Her mother sat at the foot of the bed and smiled and her.
"I'm so glad you're here this year," said her mother. "Your father and I love that you're spending time with us. Not that we don't like when you spend time with your friends, don't get me wrong. It's just, we miss you."
"I miss you too," said Hermione.
"Are you all right?" her mother asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," said Hermione. "Has Uncle Joe arrived yet?"
"No, not yet," said Mrs. Granger. "Any minute, I expect." She studied her daughter carefully, for she saw something very different in her face.
"Hermione? Are you sure nothing's going on?" she asked again.
"Not really," said Hermione.
"Nothing to do with boys?" Mrs. Granger asked, and knew from her daughter's suddenly rosy cheeks that she had hit the nail on the head.
"Well, sort of," said Hermione.
"Ron?" said her mother.
"How did you know?"
"There's always been something between you too. I'm not blind, even though we don't see you and Ron together all that often," said Mrs. Granger.
"Mom, I'm in love with him."
Mrs. Granger smiled. "Wow, Hermione. This is really big news. No wonder you've been so quiet. So tell me, are the two of you dating."
"No, but we did kiss," said Hermione. "Right before Christmas. I left before talking to him about it. I'm afraid he'll think I don't like him."
"I wouldn't worry about it Hermione," said Mrs. Granger. "But you do need to tell Ron how you feel about him. It's important."
"I know mom, and I want to tell him," said Hermione. "But this is too important to put in a letter."
"Well then, just wait until tomorrow," said Mrs. Granger.
"Tomorrow?" Hermione asked. "But, mum-"
"No buts, Hermione. You'll spend today with us, and enjoy the holiday, and tomorrow you will go back to Hogwarts a little early and tell Ron how you feel."
"But I've missed seeing you and dad," said Hermione.
"And we've missed you," said Mrs. Granger. "But this is an important time in your life, and you've got to enjoy it. You've also got to deal with these feelings you're having. And know that, whatever happens, Ron is a wonderful young man and your father and I would be happy to have him in the family."
"Mom!" Hermione exclaimed. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We're not even together."
"No," said Mrs. Granger. "But I'm optimistic. You should be too." She kissed her daughter on the forehead and patted her hand. "Now get dressed and come downstairs. I've got breakfast waiting, and a whole stack of gifts!"
"Okay, mom, I'll be right down," said Hermione. She spent a few minutes more thinking of Ron, and then did as her mother said, and headed downstairs to enjoy her Christmas.