A/N: sings love is in the air... sigh it's a bit choppy, but I had fun writing this chapter. Once again much love and thanx goes out to my inspiration Mandi. Tell me what you think and enjoy!

CHAPTER 5

"By looking in his eyes

Will I see beyond tomorrow?

By looking in his eyes

Will I see beyond the sorrow

That I feel?"

Hermione had been excited to except an invitation from Ron and Ginny to spend Christmas at the Burrow. But she hadn't been expecting this. It was nearly seven o'clock and downstairs the party was just getting started. Hermione had spent all day along with Harry helping Ginny and Ron and all of the Weasley siblings decorate for the party while Mrs. Weasley worked her magic in the kitchen -- literally. The living room at the Burrow had been magically charmed to be four times its size to fit all the guests of the evening. Hermione had always known that the Weasleys were a friendly family, but she had never realized just how popular they were. And on top of friends, it turns out that the Weasleys had quite the extended family, with every aunt and uncle arriving dragging along nearly as many red headed cousins as Ginny and her brothers.

She hadn't thought to bring anything too fancy with her to the Burrow. All she had was a pair of white dress robes, which didn't seem nearly enough for the fabulous gala occurring downstairs. But Ginny had assured her that it was perfect for the occasion, and now she stood in front of a mirror in the hall of the Burrow, nervously attempting to pin her hair back into something decent looking. Ginny and Ron had gone down the party nearly and hour ago, but Harry had decided to wait for her. Dear Harry Potter, always the noble one. Now he was waiting impatiently in Ron's room, which was the highest room in the house, only a flight of stairs away. She could hear him pacing above her. If Hermione didn't know any better, she would swear that he was as nervous as she was for this party. But she quickly decided that that was highly impossible. Finally she pinned the last of her long brown locks in place, and called for him to come down.

Harry practically jumped down the stairs, stopping short to meet her on the landing. He quickly attempted to straighten himself up before looking to see her. His eyes grew wide.

"Wow... Hermione, you look... beautiful," he said, beaming at her.

"Oh," Hermione blushed, "you're just saying that... You look handsome too."

"Thanks," Harry chuckled, looking at his feet, "you ready for this?"

"As ready as I'm going to be," Hermione sighed, "Oh Merlin, why am I so nervous?"

"I feel your pain," Harry replied, running his hand nervously through his hair, knocking a spare chunk out of place. Hermione laughed, it seemed that for once Harry had taken time to groom the infinitely messy nest that sat atop his head. With a lick of her finger she smoothed the piece back into place.

"I just thought for Christmas... you know... I'd dress up a bit," Harry said, embarrassed to be caught trying to impress.

Hermione laughed at this. "Let's get down there before either of us chickens out," she said. Harry made no hesitation to provide an arm which Hermione locked her own into, and they began their way down the many flights of stairs of the Burrow.

PART

Ron was sitting by himself in an armchair near the front door. He had been placed there by his father to greet the guests as they arrived. He looked at the clock, only a few minutes before dinner, and then he could enjoy himself with his friends. He scanned the room. Speaking of his friends, where were they? It had been nearly an hour since the party had started, and neither Harry nor Hermione had made a single appearance in the growing crowd. In the middle of the room Ginny was dancing away with their cousin Nelson, who was horrendously bad at it, but seemed to be having a good time none the less. In a far corner George bitterly filled many of the party orders with bits and bobs from his and Fred's joke shop. He was incredibly jealous that Fred had invited his girlfriend from Hogwarts – Angelina Johnson – to the party, and he was now dancing crazily with her rather than pulling Christmas pranks with him. Charlie, ever the charmer, was talking to a few friends that Angelina had brought along by the kitchen. And Bill was in deep conversation on the other side of the room with his newly announced fiancé Fleur Delacour. But no sign of Harry or Hermione.

Ginny plopped exhausted on the chair next to his. "Party pooper," she said simply.

"I'm not a party pooper Ginny, Dad is making me sit here to greet everyone," Ron retorted.

"Oh please, like you'd be anything more than a wallflower even if you hadn't been assigned this awful job," Ginny teased.

"Shut up Ginny. What do you know anyway," Ron said angrily.

"Enough," replied Ginny, "C'mon and dance with me. Besides, everyone's here already."

"Not everyone," Ron said.

Ginny looked towards the hallway leading from the stairs and smiled. "Everyone is now."

PART

Ron could not take his eyes off of Hermione. Hours had passed since she had first arrived in the living room. Dinner had gone by uneventful. Neither had shared too many words the whole night; partially due to the fact that Harry kept whisking her out to the dance floor. He watched her now, dancing with grace and ease next to Harry, who was not much better a dancer than his cousin Nelson. She looked gorgeous. Her white dress robes sparkled while outlining every perfect feature on her body. The neckline went off her wonderfully rounded shoulders and dared to dip a little lower than Ron would ever preferred to have anyone but himself see of Hermione. The robes fell delicately to the floor, where it twirled around her satin encased feet.

"Women," George said as he stumbled drunkenly up to Ron in his armchair, clutching what was no doubt not his first bottle of Fire Whisky that night. "Can't live with them, can't live without him," he chuckled before stumbling back into the crowd.

'Exactly...' Ron thought.

The music had just changed from fast paced and exciting, to slow and smooth. Everyone in the room coupled up and wrapped their arms around their partners on the dance floor. Ron watched as Harry tenderly took Hermione's hand in his, and placed his other around her slender waist, resting it on the small of her back. Ron was extremely jealous.

He was surprised when Ginny sat on the arm of his chair. "I told you you'd be a wallflower," she said, not even looking at him.

"You know me too well Gin," Ron sighed, "I don't really know anyone anyways."

"You know Hermione," Ginny said, looking at Ron as his face grew hot.

"Harry's been hogging her all night," Ron said bitterly.

"How do you know?" Ginny replied.

"What do you mean how do I know?" Ron said irritably, "They've been dancing for hours."

"Have you maybe tried to dance with Hermione tonight?" Ginny smiled knowingly.

"...Not...exactly," Ron said quietly. With that Ginny somehow managed to slide behind Ron and push him out of the comfy chair, lounging in his place and shooing him towards his best friends. Ron threw her a deadly look before turning to face Harry and Hermione on the dance floor. It was now or never. Hermione's back was facing him, and Harry was looking his way with a goofy grin spread across his face. Before he even had a chance to say anything, Harry had excused himself and disappeared into the crowd. Ron silently cursed him for taking away his last excuse to run. Now Hermione had turned, and they were face to face. Ron had suddenly forgotten how to breathe.

"'Mione," he started, everything seemed so much simpler when he called her that, and he smiled at the thought that he was the only one who could call her that, "do... do you.... Do you want to..."

"I'd love too," Hermione said softly. That was the moment that Ron realized that he had no clue how to dance, and he instinctively froze as the panic swelled up within him. Hermione seemed to feel his tension, and brought his hand to her waist for him. The feeling of the satin brushing against his flesh woke Ron from his panicked comma, and he took Hermione's soft hand in his own. She placed her other hand on the back of his neck and they started to sway back and forth.

PART

"Look at those two," Harry sighed with a chuckle as he sat next to Ginny.

"It's about time," Ginny smiled. There was a long and awkward silence. Then, suddenly, Harry saw his chance. All night he'd been waiting for Ginny to be alone. And here she was, for the first time since the party had started, not dancing, and sitting right next to him. But that same strange force that had taken control of him in the Hogwarts corridors only a few nights before seemed to be creeping back into his skin, and he found that once again he couldn't move, talk, or breathe. But it turns out he really didn't need any of those things. Ginny, never one to be shy, had already grabbed him and dragged him out to the dance floor. And now she was pressed up against him, his arms were wrapped around her, and his head rested on hers. It was remarkable how perfectly she fit along side him. And Harry felt more content and happy then he ever had before – though he couldn't in Merlin's name figure out why...

PART

Ron was lost in his own, happy little world when the slow music faded away and was replaced by a faster, more exciting beat. It was as if he was fully aware of what was around him, but was not quite there with it. In his world, all he could see was Hermione. And now, even as the music quickened and the dancers around them drew apart, he could not make himself let her go. It was she who finally pulled away, but she kept her hand entwined in his.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" She said. Ron's heart began to beat just that much faster as he nodded his head and they headed for the door.

It was just a bit crisp outside. It had snowed the night before, which left a wonderful layer of white powder that stretched for miles. But now it wasn't cold. It was simply pleasant. In fact, in only his dress robes with Hermione by his side, Ron had never felt warmer.

Neither one said a word as they made a circle around the Burrow. Both of them simply gazed into the clear sky at twinkling stars and the reflection they made on the sparkling snow. It was something straight from a portrait, and Ron was enjoying every last second. But all too quickly, the couple had reached their starting point once again, and stood silent by the door; neither making a move to head back into the crowded party. Ron was seriously debating whether he should simply lead Hermione on another round around the house. But before he could, he realized that words were coming from his mouth.

"Hermione I-" he stopped suddenly, realizing in horror what he was going to say. Hermione's chocolate eyes widened in anticipation, and Ron thought hard for an excuse to cover up his own stupidity. But none came. He watched her gently lift her head up as if something above them was suddenly extremely interesting, and couldn't help but follow her gaze to the mistletoe that hung above the door. It was a sign. It had to be. It couldn't be more perfect. Without another word, Ron leaned down and gently kissed Hermione on her soft, pink lips. There was a moment of hesitation at first, when Ron felt a shudder of panic begin to well up inside him, but only moments later he felt Hermione's response, and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. His heart fluttered, his face grew hot, and he suddenly felt extremely.... Wet? Hermione must have felt it too, because she pulled away in a rush and jumped out off the step leading to the Burrow entrance. Ron looked up. Above him, the very same mistletoe that had allowed him those last glorious seconds had just as easily disrupted them, by pouring a rather large amount of water on top of his perfect moment.

"I'm going to kill George," Ron fumed. He looked over at Hermione, who's so carefully pinned up curls now lay flattened around her face. "I'm so sorry Hermione. Let's get you inside and dried--"

"No Ron..." Hermione said softly. Ron's heart stopped, "I... I'm kind of glad for it."

"What... What do you mean?" Ron gulped.

"Ron..." Hermione said softly, not able to look him straight in the eyes, "I'm with Draco."

"I know but-"

"No buts Ron. What just happened was a mistake... and I'd really, really appreciate it if... if we could just pretend it never happened."

Ron felt cold. Colder than ever before. He wanted to hit something. Hard. "If that's what you want," he heard himself say. But he didn't mean it. Hermione thanked him soberly, and gave him one last kiss on the cheek, before returning inside.

As soon as the door closed behind her Ron kicked the snow as hard as he possibly could. "DAMN IT!" he yelled. And then he sat down on the cold snow beneath him, and did something he hadn't done since he was a little boy... he cried.

PART

Ginny had come to fetch Ron from the cold only a few minutes after Hermione had gone inside. Ron knew the two girls must have talked, because she asked no questions as she lead him into the heat of the warm living room, up the zigzagging staircases of the Burrow, and into his comfy room on the top floor. She helped him take off his shoes, and tucked him into his orange Chudley Cannons bed before kissing him goodnight and heading back to the party. As warm and comfortable as his bed was, Ron could still feel the chill from the midnight air outside. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep. So he didn't even try. He just lay there and stared at the many moving bright orange Quidditch posters that hung on his walls and ceiling. Harry came in a few hours later, a little tipsy on butterbeer and completely oblivious of Ron's situation. He collapsed on a cot that Mrs. Weasley had made for him in the corner of the room, and was snoring away in less then a minute.

Harry's snoring annoyed Ron to no end. He tried several things to stop it. He threw pillows, yelled out his name, and slapped him in the face. But Harry did not wake. It wasn't until Ron attempted to drown him by pouring a huge bucket of freezing water on his head that Harry woke up.

"Ron you bastard!" he screamed, "What the hell do you think your doing."

"You were snoring," Ron said plainly, before climbing back into his bed. Harry continued to curse under his breath as he changed the sheets on his cot and fumbled under the now damp quilt. Just as Harry's eyes began to close, and his body got over the shock of being awaken in such a manner, Ron started up again.

"Don't go to sleep Harry," Ron said from his bed.

"Ron, its three o'clock in the morning," Harry replied groggily, "what do you want me to do."

A long silence followed before Ron spoke up again.

"I kissed her."

"Kissed who?"

"Hermione."

"YOU WHAT!" Harry said sitting straight up in bed.

"I can't believe I kissed her."

Harry was fumbling to make words come out of his mouth. Right now his emotions were a mixture of excitement, relief, brotherly jealousy, and exhaustion. "And..." He finally managed.

"She said it was a mistake."

"SHE WHAT!"

"She said it was a-"

"I KNOW THAT RON! You bloody prat. What on Earth were you thinking!"

"I thought you wanted this."

"Well of course – I mean – gah! Ron what I'm trying to say is that you must of done something else."

"Maybe I did."

PART

It was Christmas morning, but Hermione's thoughts still lingered on the night before. She lay in a cot besides Ginny's bed. Ginny looked so peaceful sleeping away underneath her soft, handmade quilt. Hermione envied her. She hadn't slept much that night, and her head was filled with questions she either could not or would not answer.

Forcing herself to tell Ron what she did last night was one of the hardest things she had ever done. But it was necessary. It was necessary for so many reasons. 'I'm with Draco' she kept reminding herself. She said it over and over again in her head, but it still made no more sense than it did the day she accepted that date a month ago. She hadn't expected it to turn out like this. Come to think of it, she wasn't sure what she expected, but it wasn't this.

Last night had been a mix of so many emotions for Hermione. When she was with Ron she had felt nothing but true and pure love. She knew that. She had known that since the day she saw him with Pansy on the Marauder's Map, and deep inside, since the day she first met him on the Hogwarts Express nearly seven years ago. But she would not let herself do it. She would not let herself become one of Ron's 'flavor of the month's. All that could possibly be achieved by that was a little taste of heaven, only to be pulled away from under her nose. And all that could leave her with was memories, memories that would only cause her more pain than she was already feeling at this moment. Not to mention Draco. The last thing she wanted to do now was hurt him. He treated her better than anyone ever had, and she did love him. Just not like that. But maybe one day she would. Hermione couldn't help but hope that one day she would find someone else. She would settle down and have a family and Ron would come to the wedding and be happy for her. But by the way she felt right now, she knew that could not be.

A knock on the door suddenly ripped her thoughts from her mind as Mrs. Weasley stuck her head through the door.

"Hermione dear," she said, "You have a visitor."

Before Hermione could say another word, Draco came through the door and silenced any of Hermione's attempt at speech with a long, deep kiss.

a/n: please R/R!