Disclaimer: Point A) You may be wondering why I'm writing a Christmas
themed chapter in the beginning of November. Well, it's because that 's
what I feel like doing ok-e-dokey. Point B) Well, cheers and enjoy!
Hermione rolled over in that lovely period between asleep and awake. For a moment she only rested there with her eyes closed, desperately trying to remember the dream she had been having. The only thing she could muster up was that she somehow came to live with Ron and- she stopped herself, she knew full well that she would awake to find herself in the monstrosity Victor dared call a bed. Oddly enough, she would find Victor not there beside her but replaced with a hastily written note by his house elf.
She opened her eyes very slowly and almost gasped. It hadn't been a dream or at least she wasn't with Victor. This room was painted a very light sage with all black, rot-iron furniture and cream accents. She was immersed in goose down with a fluffy, warm comforter above her and extremely feathery pillow beneath her head. She looked down at her cloths; she was wearing a Chudley Cannons T-shirt and long, plaid pajama bottoms. She touched her hair, making sure that she was indeed, Hermione Granger, previously Hermione Krum.
It was then that she realized that it had been a smell that woke her up. Wafts of Cinnamon accosted her nose and made her want to sink deeper into her covers. There came a soft knock at the door. "Come in!" she said as loudly as she could. Ron came in bearing a steaming tray.
"Mornin' Herms. I made breakfast." He set the tray on her bedside table. A small cup of orange juice sat beside a steaming cup of tea and a plate of freshly made apple cinnamon muffins.
"It looks lovely Ron, thank you."
"Well, I have to leave for work a in a bit so I just decided-" he trailed off, blushing.
"Oh, well, maybe I should get ready quickly and go with you! That is, if you'd consider hiring me." Ron blushed deeply.
"You know I would Herms. You're a ton better then me at everything."
"Obviously not, you've turned out a fair bit better then I have," the statement was meant to be a joke but Ron could hear the pain in it.
"Don't even think that Hermione. I'm just scared I'll loose my job. Well, I'll probably leave in about a half hour. But I can always leave later if you need more time."
"I think 30 minutes is more then enough. I am a witch you know!" Ron left the room to allow Hermione to change. It was then that Hermione remembered that she didn't have any of her cloths. She scampered out to find Ron. "Ron, could you floo to your parents house and see if my things have arrived. I had them sent there because I didn't know exactly where you lived."
"Sure thing," Ron replied. He disappeared a second later. Hermione decided that the logical thing to do would be to take a quick shower. With a bit of inductive reasoning she found her way to the bathroom. It was painted a very cheery yellow with black and white tiling, towels, etc.
"Ron certainly can decorate," she said to herself. She carefully slipped off Ron's T-shirt, making sure to take in his smell. It was a mix between detergent and the general smell that permeated through his entire house. "Wood smoke and, oh something else warm," she smiled. The pajama pants practically slipped themselves off. She turned on the hot water and climbed in.
After she stepped out she wrapped a white towel around herself and opened the door. Ron was sitting on the couch. "Lo' Herms," he said, blushing deeply. "I put your luggage in your room.
"Thanks, your cloths are hung up on the towel rack, I'll wash them later."
"No, thanks though," he hastened. "I'll do it, you just concentrate on getting ready." Hermione grinned at him and scampered off to her room. She gave a deep sigh upon seeing her cloths. She opened the first trunk and took out a pair of crimson red work robes. She slipped on her underwear and then tossed the robe over her dripping head. She grabbed her wand off the bedside table and muttered a quick "hair-do" spell. She put on the little makeup that she had (blush and lipstick). She opened another trunk and took out her cape. She slipped on her shoes and left the room to see Ron.
"That was fast," he said.
"Yeah, well, I get ready fast. I always had to at Hogwarts because I'd get up early and read, forgetting what time it was."
"You look very festive."
"Do I? Well, red has always been my favorite color."
"I know, you told when I asked why you only ate the red every flavor beans."
"Yeah well, I also did that because no disgusting flavor ever came in red, well, the red I liked anyway."
"Well, at this rate we can walk around Diagon Alley for a bit before I go into work. I already called in and told them I'd be about 30 minutes late."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I'm aloud to do that and I haven't for a very long time."
"Well, in that case, let's get a move on," Hermione answered, throwing her cape over her shoulders. Ron nodded and they disapparated simultaneously. They reappeared outside of the Leaky Cauldron. Snow was falling softly on the ground. Christmas Carols were playing from some near by shop. Hermione, despite the warm ambiance, gave a shudder. She had forgotten her gloves and scarf.
"Are you warm enough?" Ron said hastily, looking over at her.
"Yeah, I just forgot my gloves and scarf," she smiled at him. Well, my gloves would be way too big for you. Here, put your arms under my cape. She reached her hands around his waist awkwardly and he wrapped his cape around them both. She couldn't help but get a warm and tingly feeling all over her body. Secretly, he smiled broadly to himself.
The two walked like that down the cobblestone streets. Neither of them noticed the sickly-sweet glances and the "awes" from the women they passed. "I love this time of year," Hermione murmured into his warm, black robe.
"It is beautiful," Ron said back. It might have been that Hermione didn't notice, but Ron definitely wasn't talking about the weather.
"I love the way the shops decorate for Christmas." They stopped to look at the beautiful window display in the shop window of the toy store. They had various enchanted dolls singing and playing about in the snowy wonderland of the window ledge.
They continued down the street till they got to a small coffee stand. "Do you want something to drink Herms?" Ron asked.
"Sure, I'll have some hot chocolate." Ron fumbled about in his robes for his wallet. Seeing what he was doing Hermione found hers. "Ron, don't, I'll pay for it myself."
"No, no, it's my treat."
"Ron, I'm staying at your house, you're thinking about giving me a job. The least I can do is pay for drinks!"
"Fine," Ron sighed. "I'll have whatever you're happening."
Ron looked on awkwardly as Hermione ordered two hot chocolates. It was only a few paces to the Ministry elevator. They stepped inside the holly- bedecked chamber. "Names," a voice rang.
"Ronald Weasley."
"Hermione Granger."
"What is the reason for your visit."
"I'm here for work and she's here as an interview-e."
"Right," two badges shot out of the flap. They descended into the lobby and Ron showed Hermione to yet another elevator that took them to his office. They set their hot chocolates down on his desk,
"Do you want your window to rain like that?"
"No, but they decided that it would do me good for some odd reason."
"Here, I'll change it for you." She took out her wand and a second later snow was falling gently against the windowpane.
"Thanks, why don't we get started." Ron took some papers out of his desk. Hermione giggled.
"This is so weird! I never thought I'd be being interviewed by my best friend."
"Well I never thought I might be interviewing Miss Hermione "Perfect" Granger, maybe vice verse but not this." He blushed again.
"You know what's even more strange? My middle name is Kamilah, which means "Perfection." My parents really wanted to torture me."
"I think it's a beautiful name. "Hermione Kamilah Granger", I think it fits perfectly. Let's get started, the sooner we get done with this the sooner you can see your office."
"What do you mean? What office?"
"Well, I was looking for a co-head. It's just too much work for one person. Anyway, I've been having little luck but they cleared an office out anyway because I asked them."
"You weren't looking for a co-head, you were looking for an assistant head."
"You really don't strike me as assistant head material." Ron shot her a rye smile before continuing. "Have you had any previous association with the Unmentionable office?"
"Yes, my three friends and I worked very closely with the Unmentionables during the war between the Death Eaters and Order of the Phoenix."
"Well that's very impressive, have you gone through auror training?"
"Yes, I attended the Ullapool Institute for a number of years with Mr. Ronald Weasley and Mr. Harry Potter."
"Yet again, Ms. Granger, your experience precedes you. I would request that you start immediately." Ron finished with a flourish, setting his pen down and shaking Hermione's hand.
"You play the business man very well Ron."
"You're just saying that. Now I have to foreword this to the Minister, I'll be right back." Ron left the room to talk with his secretary and Hermione couldn't stop from smiling. She was going to work with Ron, live with Ron and she loved Ron! Life was great!
Hermione rolled over in that lovely period between asleep and awake. For a moment she only rested there with her eyes closed, desperately trying to remember the dream she had been having. The only thing she could muster up was that she somehow came to live with Ron and- she stopped herself, she knew full well that she would awake to find herself in the monstrosity Victor dared call a bed. Oddly enough, she would find Victor not there beside her but replaced with a hastily written note by his house elf.
She opened her eyes very slowly and almost gasped. It hadn't been a dream or at least she wasn't with Victor. This room was painted a very light sage with all black, rot-iron furniture and cream accents. She was immersed in goose down with a fluffy, warm comforter above her and extremely feathery pillow beneath her head. She looked down at her cloths; she was wearing a Chudley Cannons T-shirt and long, plaid pajama bottoms. She touched her hair, making sure that she was indeed, Hermione Granger, previously Hermione Krum.
It was then that she realized that it had been a smell that woke her up. Wafts of Cinnamon accosted her nose and made her want to sink deeper into her covers. There came a soft knock at the door. "Come in!" she said as loudly as she could. Ron came in bearing a steaming tray.
"Mornin' Herms. I made breakfast." He set the tray on her bedside table. A small cup of orange juice sat beside a steaming cup of tea and a plate of freshly made apple cinnamon muffins.
"It looks lovely Ron, thank you."
"Well, I have to leave for work a in a bit so I just decided-" he trailed off, blushing.
"Oh, well, maybe I should get ready quickly and go with you! That is, if you'd consider hiring me." Ron blushed deeply.
"You know I would Herms. You're a ton better then me at everything."
"Obviously not, you've turned out a fair bit better then I have," the statement was meant to be a joke but Ron could hear the pain in it.
"Don't even think that Hermione. I'm just scared I'll loose my job. Well, I'll probably leave in about a half hour. But I can always leave later if you need more time."
"I think 30 minutes is more then enough. I am a witch you know!" Ron left the room to allow Hermione to change. It was then that Hermione remembered that she didn't have any of her cloths. She scampered out to find Ron. "Ron, could you floo to your parents house and see if my things have arrived. I had them sent there because I didn't know exactly where you lived."
"Sure thing," Ron replied. He disappeared a second later. Hermione decided that the logical thing to do would be to take a quick shower. With a bit of inductive reasoning she found her way to the bathroom. It was painted a very cheery yellow with black and white tiling, towels, etc.
"Ron certainly can decorate," she said to herself. She carefully slipped off Ron's T-shirt, making sure to take in his smell. It was a mix between detergent and the general smell that permeated through his entire house. "Wood smoke and, oh something else warm," she smiled. The pajama pants practically slipped themselves off. She turned on the hot water and climbed in.
After she stepped out she wrapped a white towel around herself and opened the door. Ron was sitting on the couch. "Lo' Herms," he said, blushing deeply. "I put your luggage in your room.
"Thanks, your cloths are hung up on the towel rack, I'll wash them later."
"No, thanks though," he hastened. "I'll do it, you just concentrate on getting ready." Hermione grinned at him and scampered off to her room. She gave a deep sigh upon seeing her cloths. She opened the first trunk and took out a pair of crimson red work robes. She slipped on her underwear and then tossed the robe over her dripping head. She grabbed her wand off the bedside table and muttered a quick "hair-do" spell. She put on the little makeup that she had (blush and lipstick). She opened another trunk and took out her cape. She slipped on her shoes and left the room to see Ron.
"That was fast," he said.
"Yeah, well, I get ready fast. I always had to at Hogwarts because I'd get up early and read, forgetting what time it was."
"You look very festive."
"Do I? Well, red has always been my favorite color."
"I know, you told when I asked why you only ate the red every flavor beans."
"Yeah well, I also did that because no disgusting flavor ever came in red, well, the red I liked anyway."
"Well, at this rate we can walk around Diagon Alley for a bit before I go into work. I already called in and told them I'd be about 30 minutes late."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I'm aloud to do that and I haven't for a very long time."
"Well, in that case, let's get a move on," Hermione answered, throwing her cape over her shoulders. Ron nodded and they disapparated simultaneously. They reappeared outside of the Leaky Cauldron. Snow was falling softly on the ground. Christmas Carols were playing from some near by shop. Hermione, despite the warm ambiance, gave a shudder. She had forgotten her gloves and scarf.
"Are you warm enough?" Ron said hastily, looking over at her.
"Yeah, I just forgot my gloves and scarf," she smiled at him. Well, my gloves would be way too big for you. Here, put your arms under my cape. She reached her hands around his waist awkwardly and he wrapped his cape around them both. She couldn't help but get a warm and tingly feeling all over her body. Secretly, he smiled broadly to himself.
The two walked like that down the cobblestone streets. Neither of them noticed the sickly-sweet glances and the "awes" from the women they passed. "I love this time of year," Hermione murmured into his warm, black robe.
"It is beautiful," Ron said back. It might have been that Hermione didn't notice, but Ron definitely wasn't talking about the weather.
"I love the way the shops decorate for Christmas." They stopped to look at the beautiful window display in the shop window of the toy store. They had various enchanted dolls singing and playing about in the snowy wonderland of the window ledge.
They continued down the street till they got to a small coffee stand. "Do you want something to drink Herms?" Ron asked.
"Sure, I'll have some hot chocolate." Ron fumbled about in his robes for his wallet. Seeing what he was doing Hermione found hers. "Ron, don't, I'll pay for it myself."
"No, no, it's my treat."
"Ron, I'm staying at your house, you're thinking about giving me a job. The least I can do is pay for drinks!"
"Fine," Ron sighed. "I'll have whatever you're happening."
Ron looked on awkwardly as Hermione ordered two hot chocolates. It was only a few paces to the Ministry elevator. They stepped inside the holly- bedecked chamber. "Names," a voice rang.
"Ronald Weasley."
"Hermione Granger."
"What is the reason for your visit."
"I'm here for work and she's here as an interview-e."
"Right," two badges shot out of the flap. They descended into the lobby and Ron showed Hermione to yet another elevator that took them to his office. They set their hot chocolates down on his desk,
"Do you want your window to rain like that?"
"No, but they decided that it would do me good for some odd reason."
"Here, I'll change it for you." She took out her wand and a second later snow was falling gently against the windowpane.
"Thanks, why don't we get started." Ron took some papers out of his desk. Hermione giggled.
"This is so weird! I never thought I'd be being interviewed by my best friend."
"Well I never thought I might be interviewing Miss Hermione "Perfect" Granger, maybe vice verse but not this." He blushed again.
"You know what's even more strange? My middle name is Kamilah, which means "Perfection." My parents really wanted to torture me."
"I think it's a beautiful name. "Hermione Kamilah Granger", I think it fits perfectly. Let's get started, the sooner we get done with this the sooner you can see your office."
"What do you mean? What office?"
"Well, I was looking for a co-head. It's just too much work for one person. Anyway, I've been having little luck but they cleared an office out anyway because I asked them."
"You weren't looking for a co-head, you were looking for an assistant head."
"You really don't strike me as assistant head material." Ron shot her a rye smile before continuing. "Have you had any previous association with the Unmentionable office?"
"Yes, my three friends and I worked very closely with the Unmentionables during the war between the Death Eaters and Order of the Phoenix."
"Well that's very impressive, have you gone through auror training?"
"Yes, I attended the Ullapool Institute for a number of years with Mr. Ronald Weasley and Mr. Harry Potter."
"Yet again, Ms. Granger, your experience precedes you. I would request that you start immediately." Ron finished with a flourish, setting his pen down and shaking Hermione's hand.
"You play the business man very well Ron."
"You're just saying that. Now I have to foreword this to the Minister, I'll be right back." Ron left the room to talk with his secretary and Hermione couldn't stop from smiling. She was going to work with Ron, live with Ron and she loved Ron! Life was great!