Family Discussions – Hermione

Hermione, Ron, Alex, Emily, and the twins were the last to arrive at the Burrow nearly two hours later. As it turned out, getting four children dressed and ready to go in less than an hour (two of those children being incredibly fussy) did not go so well. In the end, both Ron and Hermione were so tired Ron even suggested just not going to the Burrow at all. "Of course not, Ron," Hermione had said, looking at him disbelievingly. "Christmas is about being with your family. And plus, if we don't go, I'm not cooking."

Needless to say, Ron's exhaustion was quickly assuaged, and he eagerly retrieved the Floo Powder for his wife and children.

The Burrow was impressively ornate this particular Christmas. In fact, Hermione couldn't remember the last time her mother-in-law had decked the halls quite so exuberantly. The entire fireplace was drowned in assorted red, green, and white accessories ranging from stuffed animals to candles, and along the counter of the fireplace nineteen stockings hanged proudly in front of the fire. The kitchen table was covered in desultory poinsettias, as was everything else in the house. There seemed to be no method to the madness. It looked as it Father Christmas had passed through and left all of his extra decorations. But, coincidentally, that's just the way Hermione liked it.

Ginny and Harry were there, along with twenty-six-year-old Nicolas and his wife and little daughter, Ellen. Their other children, Bethany and Mary, were there as well and immediately squealed, "Rebecca!" as soon as the fourteen-year-old stepped out of the fireplace, covered in dust and debris. Beth and Mary were twins and in Alex's year (sixth), but found Rebecca simply charming and spent every Christmas following her around like lost puppies.

Fred and George were there with Katie and Angelina, their newly wedded wives. ("And it only took you lot fifteen years to marry us!") Their wives accompanied Bill, Charlie, and Percy as well—none of them had managed to produce any children, much to Molly's consternation.

"Charlotte, dear," she was saying quietly to Charlie's wife, "you really should think about having children. They're an absolute joy."

"I'm sure they are, Molly," Charlotte said politely. "But I'm just trying to focus on my career right now."

Molly plastered on a fake smile. "Oh, of course," she said earnestly before excusing herself to greet the newcomers. "Ron, Hermione!" she cried, giving each of them a hug. "Don't you look wonderful? And my beautiful grandbabies… Come give your old Grandmum a hug!"

Alex, Emily, and the twins (after Rebecca had managed to untie herself from Bethany and Mary) all moved up and joined Molly in a big bear hug.

"Oh…it's so splendid to see you all!" she gushed to her grandchildren. Emily let out a harsh sneeze, causing Molly to look at the child in concern. "Emily, dear…are you alright? You look ill…" She put a rather pudgy palm to Emily's forehead and tutted her tongue with an air of concern. "My, you are sick, aren't you?"

Emily just nodded.

"You poor child…why on earth didn't you give her some of my home made remedies?" Molly added to Ron and Hermione. "You know those potions can cure her straightaway."

"Mum…we're trying to use as little m-a-g-i-c—" Ron spelled out the word magic "—as possible around Emily."

"I can spell, Dad!" Emily interjected with a frown on her face. "You just spelled out ma—"

"Well…whatever for?" asked Molly, looking puzzled. "Why on earth would you try to use little ma—"

"Mum!"

Molly sighed and rolled her eyes. "M-a-g-i-c," she continued slowly, "around Emily? Isn't she starting Hogwarts next fall?"

"Yes…aren't I starting Hogwarts next fall?" Emily piped up.

"Emily…please…go play with your sister," Hermione said firmly. Emily merely grumbled, but stalked away to find Rebecca with a furtive glance her mother's way.

"Now, Ron, Hermione, why would you want to keep magic away from Emily?" Molly continued, looking in between the pair of them. Ron and Hermione exchanged awkward glances.

"Well, Molly," said Hermione, "lately we've been emphasizing to the children—not just Emily, but Alex and the twins as well—that, even though we are a magical family it's not necessary to use it all the time, you see?" She paused to nod her head earnestly. "I think—we think—it's important for our children to have a mix of mine and Ron's upbringing."

"You see, Mum," said Ron, "Hermione grew up with television and computers, and I grew up with wands and talking mirrors. Hermione thinks—we think—that if we integrated that, the children will become even better people and more tolerant of those who are unlike us."

Molly stared at them blankly. "What in Merlin is a computer?"

Ron opened his mouth to explain, but he was interrupted by Charlotte's sudden outburst of, "I just can't take it anymore, Charlie!! Don't you get it?!"

All of the Weasleys gathered around stood still and just stared at Charlotte, even Charlie, with a look of shock pasted on their faces. Her normally pretty face was red with anger, and when Charlie tried to calm her down by taking her hand, she jerked away from him, now positively fuming.

"You stay away from me, Charlie Weasley!" she warned as she stalked away from him, waving a threatening finger. "If you even think about coming home tonight, I'll…I'll…" She hesitated. "I'll send my father on you."

Charlie looked absolutely petrified as he watched his wife Apparate and disappear right out of mid-air. He gulped slightly as his eyes darted across the room, staring at his family members guiltily. He cleared his throat softly. "Uh," he managed, "I'm sorry for the interruption. We've been having some…problems lately." He shifted on his feet nervously. Hermione just stared, bewildered. "I'll just be going home, now."

"Charlie!" Molly called, but the crack of Apparition had already resonated around the room. He was gone.

"What on earth happened?" Hermione whispered to Ron urgently, once everyone's shock had been thawed and the air wasn't quite so tense. "Charlotte is such a nice woman. What—?"

"She's not as nice as everyone thinks, Mum." Hermione whirled around to face Alex, who had a somber look on her face.

"Alex, how do you know?" asked Ron, eyeing him suspiciously.

Alex shrugged. "I was talking to Uncle Bill about working out of the country—"

"You want to work out of the country?" Hermione interrupted him shrilly. "Alexander Weasley…don't you dare do that!"

"Mum, that's beside the point," said Alex. "Anyway, me and uncle Bill were standing right next to them. We heard everything." He paused to look over his shoulder dramatically. Hermione frowned at him. "Apparently, Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Charlie had only known each other for a few months before they got married, and the only reason they got married was because she was pregnant."

"But—"

"I know…they don't have any children," said Alex. "Aunt Charlotte had a miscarriage."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "That's horrible!"

Alex nodded earnestly. "I know… And so, here she was in a marriage she didn't want with a man she barely knew. And with magical marriages, you can't get divorced because of the magical bonds uniting the two people. You're bound to one another forever and eternity. And now Aunt Charlotte is stuck. Uncle Charlie claimed he loves her, and that's when she got angry. She said, 'No you don't! I can't take it anymore, Charlie! Don't you get it?!'"

"Oh, Ron," said Hermione, shaking her head. "That's so horrible…"

Ron just nodded. "Poor Charlie…"

"What were you doing listening to their conversation, Alex?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at her son.

Alex shook his head. "I wasn't listening to their conversation, Mum. I just overheard it. I can't help it if Aunt Charlotte just happens to have a carrying voice." He grinned. "It worked to my advantage, didn't it, Mum?"

Hermione just shook her head, but she was smiling. It amazed her how much her children reminded her of herself and Ron. Alex was almost an exact replica of Ron's affable nature, Rebecca was so much like Hermione it was almost scary, Randy was almost a perfect mix of his parents, and Emily was getting to be more like her father every day.

"Mum," Alex said, snapping Hermione out of her reverie.

"Yes, Alex?"

"What'd you get me for Christmas?"

Hermione frowned at him. "I can't tell you that, Alex."

"Sure you can," said Alex convincingly. "Dad told me that when you two were first married you told him what you got him every Christmas ahead of time so you could make sure it was fitting. In fact, you told him early this year about his new flying broomstick photo frame and pocket watch."

"Alex!" Hermione cried, staring from him to her husband with a shocked expression on her face. "Ron! Have you been telling our child lies?"

"Of course not," said Ron, shaking his head, his expression emulating that of Hermione's. "I have absolutely no idea how he got an idea like that. How in the world did you get an idea like that Alex?"

Alex just smirked at his father and shook his head. "You're in trouble, Dad." He laughed quietly to himself before stalking off.

Hermione looked at Ron, trying to look annoyed, but found it hard to do. The "shocked" look on his face was simply adorable. "Ron," she said, "I can't believe you used our children like that."

"I didn't use them, Hermione," said Ron, shaking his head. "You make it sound so bad."

"That's because it is!" Hermione shook her head. "Honestly, Ron…if you wanted to know what I got you, why didn't you just ask? Or try to figure it out like any normal person?"

"I knew you wouldn't tell me and I knew you didn't want me to set a bad example by shaking up the boxes in front of the kids." Ron grinned. "See, 'Mione…I thought before I acted."

Hermione smiled. "That's good, Ron. I knew you'd be able to do it someday." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and that did not go unnoticed by Ron, but he played along, anyway. It was a lot more fun.

"I think I should be rewarded, 'Mione," said Ron matter-of-factly with a wicked grin on his face.

"Oh you do, do you?" said Hermione slyly, as Ron leaned forward to get a quick kiss. Hermione giggled and obliged, and eventually it got a little too hot and heavy for Christmas at the Burrow.

"Ron," Hermione murmured against his lips.

"Hmmm?"

"I think we should stop," she said, half moan, half sternness. "We're in your parent's house."

"Right." Ron reluctantly pulled away, but dove in for another quick kiss before saying, "Thanks, love" with a nice wink and excusing himself to go sit out by the lake with Harry.

Hermione smiled and shook her head. Merlin she loved that man.