Disclaimer: not mine, not mine..
Author's Note: okay. I'm incredible sorry for not getting this up sooner. Midterms ended a month ago and I've been so busy taking it easy and with February break and all that that I completely abandoned the last chapter to my Christmas fic and I'm really sorry again. HUGE thanks to everyone who reviewed and never gave up on me in my absence. I appreciate it guys. And I'm sorry to say but I don't think I'm going to follow this one up with a sequel unless I get enough calls for one but I can't juggle two fics at once and I've known from the beginning that I was going to make 'Away On a Beach' a trilogy so I'd like to focus on that one for now. But if I get- 20 reviews asking for a sequel for this one- then obviously I'll make one. But for now, here's the final chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Christmas Morning
Hermione woke early on the bright and sunny Christmas morning as the sunrise poured through her window. It had to be no later than 6 AM, and yet, she was awake, feeling very jittery and hyper, and it wasn't just the Christmas Spirit that had captured her. Her eyes floated to a picture on her nightstand, which was one of Her and Ron from a few months ago, smiling and teasing. She smiled at it, and placed a finger to her lips, recalling the previous night.
She noticed there was a small envelope right next to the picture, which read her name in untidy script. She gently lifted it off the table, as if it would break if she dropped it, and opened it very carefully. A small note card fluttered out, dropping snowflake-shaped confetti with it.
My Hermione,
It sounds so nice to be able to say that. I wanted to be the first one to wish you a Happy Christmas, because you are what I want, the only thing I want. I can't wait to see you and to spend our first Christmas together. I'll be up early, look for me down in the common room when you awaken, and we can watch the sunrise together.
All My Love,
Ron
She smiled and touched a hand to her chest, feeling her heart speed up at the mention of Ron. She pulled her robe on over her red satin pajamas and slipped her feet into her slippers and went down into the common room, immediately spotting a red-haired boy sitting by the windowsill, gazing out it.
Hermione smiled and snuck up behind him, placing a light kiss at the back of his neck. Ron jumped slightly and whipped around, just in time as Hermione stepped back a little.
"Mione! You scared me!" Ron started, laughing, "What I mean to say is, Happy Christmas, Mione!"
"Happy Christmas to you, too, Ron." Hermione said, smiling at him.
"Come here." He said, and patted his lap. She came over to him and was gently pulled down, until she was sitting on his lap, with his arms around her waist. She nuzzled her head into his neck and he kissed the top of her head, watching out the window as the sun moved higher up the horizon.
After about 30 minutes of just sitting there in silence, Ron turned Hermione's head towards him and kissed her softly on the lips, unable to hold back any longer. She kissed him back, and they sat there, smiling at each other.
"I got you a present." He whispered into her ear, while tracing kisses down her neck.
"I got you one, too." she said, and that seemed to get his attention. He released his lips from her neck.
"What is it!" He asked excitedly, eagerness evident in his eyes.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to go get it, okay?" She said, raising herself from up off his lap and standing, smoothing her hair out for no apparent reason.
He sighed, "I'll be waiting for you."
"And I'll hurry." and with that, she disappeared up the decorated steps to the girls' dormitories.
Ron twiddled his thumbs and whistled patiently, his gift for her on the table nearby and his mind in all sorts.
Hermione raced around her dorm looking for her gift to Ron. She grabbed it from under the bed, took a deep breath, and descended the steps, holding the present behind her back and approaching him once more.
"Hey you" Ron said, and went over to her and scooped her up in his arms, hugging her and placing a firm kiss on her lips.
"I missed you, too." She giggled, when he had set her down. She held the present out in front of him, and his eyes widened as he saw it. He took it and tore the sparkling white paper from the package, and opened the box. He pulled out the quidditch pitch model and gaped it, mouth wide open.
"You like it?" She asked nervously, biting her lower lip uncertainly.
"I.." He began, his words seeming to have left him, "I love it!" he said, while still watching it, mesmerized.
"I'm glad." She said, relief flooding out of her.
"Thank you, Hermione. This is the greatest gift I've ever gotten." He flashed her his famous Ron Weasley smile and watched as she melted before his eyes, smiling back at him.
"I'd do or get anything for you, Ron Weasley." She said, blushing.
"Now I do believe it's time for you to receive your present, Hermione Jane." He said and walked over to the table, picking up the silver snowflake package and walking back over to her.
"Close your eyes." He told her and she obeyed. "Now stick out your right hand."
She did just that and he kissed her once and she giggled, trying to peek. He placed the tiny box into her palm and kissed her forehead.
"Happy Christmas, Mione." He said and she smiled, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.
She carefully unwrapped the paper and opened the box. She gasped softly and gently lifted the tiny bracelet from the box it was contained in. She looked through the open heart cutout and saw Ron's face smiling at her.
She threw her arms around his neck and whispered "Thank you" numerous times into his ear. He caught her and hugged her tight, whispering "you're welcome" as many times as necessary.
"So you like it then?" He asked, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"Of course." she said, and kissed him.
"Here. Let me put it on you." He said and she extended her small wrist and he clipped the bracelet around it, then watched as it gleamed and dangled perfectly. "Just what I thought: perfection. Just like you." he said, and she kissed him again, and they just stood there, kissing for several minutes, until the bright morning sun reached their eyes.
They broke away, their lips swollen slightly and Ron's ears bright red. They blushed and walked over to the couch, and just cuddled there well into the morning.
Ginny and Harry woke around the same time, around 8 AM, and met on their way down to the common room. Ron and Hermione were cuddling on the couch and they'd looked as if they had already gotten in some early morning making out and had exchanged gifts.
"Good morning." Ginny said, quietly, yet perky, to Harry upon seeing him.
"Same to you," He said, laughing softly. He kissed her once, very softly and sweetly, and she kissed him back, smiling at him.
"Want to leave them alone for a bit?" He asked, and nodded his head up to the boys' staircase.
Her eyes widened. "Harry James Potter!"
"I figured we could go exchange gifts, just gifts, in my dorm while we leave them alone. The other guys will be asleep for hours, don't worry." He said, defending his intentions.
She softened her expression, "Oh. That's alright then. Let me just go get your present and I'll meet you back in your dorm?"
He nodded and she walked back up her steps quietly, ascending into her dorm.
She threw up the covers on her bed, looking for Harry's gift. She found the green-wrapped parcel under her pillow, hidden from her nosy roommates. She snatched it up in her palm and did a mirror check before exiting the room, avoiding magical confetti that sprinkled glitter in her hair. She snarled, and then walked up the steps to the sixth year boys' dorm. She knocked softly.
A familiar head peeked through the door and smiled down at the sight of her. Harry quietly opened the door and she slipped in, smirking at the other three boys, who were still sound asleep. Neville had a little bit of drool coming from his mouth and she could see the top of a teddy bear protruding from under Seamus' comforter. She giggled at this, as did Harry.
They made their way over to Harry's bed and sat down upon it, a foot separating them. Harry took Ginny's present out from under his pillow and handed it to her.
She blushed a light shade of scarlet and opened the parcel. She opened the small velvet box and pulled out the small pearl necklace.
"Harry," She breathed and he held his breath for a second, "this is gorgeous!"
She threw her arms around his neck and he chuckled softly, saying "You're welcome" into her mane of red hair.
"Oh god," she said, remembering, "thank you so much, Harry! I absolutely love it!"
"That's good. Because it's nonrefundable." He said and she glared at him.
"Can you help me with this?" she asked him, indicating the necklace.
"My pleasure." He said and she lifted her messy red hair into her hands, exposing her milky white neck. He gently took the necklace in his two hands and put it around her neck, then fumbled a little with the tiny clasp. She giggled, as did he, before he finally had it secure. "Beautiful."
She blushed again and he kissed her, deeply, on the lips. She kissed him back, rolling her tongue into his mouth and he accepted it more than willingly. They kept kissing until an unbelievably loud snore, from Dean, no doubt, and that's when they broke apart.
"I forgot about them." Harry said, blushing crimson.
"Yeah, so did I." Ginny confessed, putting a finger to her lips.
"Common room?"
"Yeah. Maybe my brother and Hermione are done with their alone time." She snorted.
"Knowing all the catching up they have to do? It could be eternity." Harry laughed. They got up off the bed and tiptoed over to the door and quietly left, leaving the other three boys back to their pleasant slumbering.
Once they got downstairs, they saw Ron and Hermione finally out of their reverie, and sat down next to them, so that the four of them were squished on the one couch. It was quite comfortable as the couch had melded itself to form to their four bodies, and all the body heat made for warmth.
Outside, the laughter of children on Christmas morning was heard, and it was music to their ears. There they sat, in the warmth, new futures ahead of them, very oblivious, an very uncertain.
This is a thought that raced through Hermione Granger's mind, and it troubled her. Yes, she had just gotten together with a boy she was certain was her one true love, but she was still so scared to lose him.
"Ron?" She asked him quietly, looking up into his deep blue eyes.
"It's okay, 'Mione. You won't ever lose me." He told her, and kissed her gently. He wasn't a mind reader, or all that intuitive. He just knew his Hermione well enough to know what troubled her. Years of friendship did that to people.
She smiled at him, "How did you know?"
"Because I know you well enough to know what's on your mind and I can see it in your eyes." He told her, not looking away, "I can't see into the future, but I can see what I want. And what I want, is you." She smiled again. "Now, let's enjoy Christmas, here, inside, because baby, it's cold outside."
A/N: completed! I finished! Yay! I know that probably wasn't the best ending ever written, because in all honesty, I had no idea how I planned to end it. But please review and tell me what you thought. I really enjoyed writing this fic and even though the ending is very delayed, I still hope it was enjoyable to read, even after Christmastime. I loved writing for all you guys and I hope that you'll read other fics I write in the future. I am still writing "Away on a Beach" so check that one out if you'd like. And once again- 20+ reviews asking for a sequel, and I'll do one.
Now since it's the endhere's thanks to all my reviewers!
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Thank you all so much! You helped me get this story moving! I really hope you enjoyed it!