A/N I decided to make a few changes to the deaths that happened during the war.
December 24th 2000
It's just before sunrise when I apparate onto the front lawn of the Burrow. I smile, the Burrow will always feel like home to me, from summers spent here during our years at Hogwarts. A heavy dusting of snow is covering the large front yard. The gnomes scuttle around the garden as I wrap my thick winter cape around me and trudge towards the warm and inviting house. I can see Molly busying herself in the kitchen, no doubt preparing breakfast for the horde of people who have arrived or are going to soon. Even from the front lawn I can hear Aurthur tinkering in the shed with his muggle gadgets, my parents sent some plugs and switches from their home remodel. I rap on the front door and it flies open at once. Mrs. Weasly pulls me into a fierce hug.
"Why don't you go see if Ron and the others are awake yet? Harry and Ginny arrived last night, they're both staying in Ginny's room." She says with a slight eye roll and a shake of her head, but in the end she has a smile on her face. I know she loves Harry and truly doesn't mind that they are sharing a room, but I'm sure as a parent it's hard to accept when your children are growing up. Even though the Weasley's have grandchildren, I'm sure it's different as Ginny is the baby girl.
I make my way up the winding stairs. As I pass the twins' room I can hear their kids playing with one another. Fred and Katie have twin daughters and George and Angelina have a son. From what I've heard the 3 of them are already causing mischief. Bill and Fleur had a beautiful baby girl over the summer, they are arriving later this morning. Charlie got in last night but I'm sure he's still asleep, it's early and he doesn't have children to wake him up. I pass Ginny and Harry's room, it's quiet, they too must still be asleep. I make my way up the last flight of stairs to Ronald's room. I knock softly on the door before pushing it open.
Ron's unruly red is peaking out over the top of his blanket. His gentle snores are barely audible over the humming of the pipes. In a moment of bravery I strip down to my panties, I dawn the chudley cannons t-shirt that's been thrown over the chair in the corner before I crawl into bed next to him. He doesn't fully wake but he wraps a protective arm around me. Before I fall asleep I cast a quick locking charm on the door, Ron and I haven't labeled what this is yet. We don't need the others barging in and adding to our level of confusion. Less than an hour later the sun is pouring in through the window and Ron begins to stir.
"Minone, when did you get here?" he whispers in my ear.
"About an hour ago, your mom sent me up to see if you were awake yet."
We spend the next few minutes wrapped in one another's arms. Just as things are about to start getting hot and heavy, Molly's voice comes floating through the house. "Breakfast is ready my dears!" We both quickly dress and make our way downstairs. All of the kids are piled into the living room, plates heaping with pancakes. Ginny and Harry both still look half asleep but they are sipping on piping hot coffee that smells amazing. Ron and I aren't the last to join the group, Charlie eventually makes his way down stairs, like Ron his red hair is unruly. The moment the nieces and nephews see him they run and grab onto his arms. Dragging him over to join them on the floor. I see him steal some pancake off of Fred Jrs. plate with a smile. All of the kids beg him to tell them stories about dragons. They hang on to every word. Ron places his hand on the small of my back, leading me towards the kitchen. Molly smiles at us, if she notices she doesn't mention it.
After breakfast, Ginny, Harry, Charlie, Ron and I meet Arthur in the yard to help set up the Christmas trees. They guys levitate the trees, while Ginny and I decorate them with popcorn, cranberry and orange garland that the children made yesterday. Once they are all in place I cast a twinkling charm on them, when it gets dark the trees will light up beautifully. We spend the rest of the day decorating the house, drinking hot chocolate, playing games and telling stories of Christmas' past.
We all help out in the kitchen, Ron and Charlie peel potatoes, Harry and Ginny set the table, Fred, George and the kids decorate cookies, Katie and Angelina make a delicious spiked punch and one for the kids. When Bill and Fleur arrive, Fleur sets in working on her traditional french chestnut stuffing, Molly fixes the Turkey and I bake the pies. As much as I love magic there is something about baking the muggle way that brings me great joy.
When everything is ready to eat we settle in at the large table. Mr. Weasley makes a toast about family and we dig in! The meals last for hours, we laugh, talk and even sing! Eventually we find ourselves in the living room, a big pot of hot chocolate is passed around, the kids hang the personalized stockings that Molly made them over the fireplace and everyone starts heading to bed. Soon it is only the ones of us who don't have children who are left in the living room.
"Hermione dear, I know that you typically share a room with Ginny, but since that won't work" she says eyeing Harry, "I'll have Ronald set up the cot for you down here in the living room."
Before I can say anything Ron pipes up.
"Actually mom, I'm going to set up the cot in my room. You know the kids will be up early, I figured upstairs we could save Hermione a 5am wake call."
I'm not sure if Molly believes him or not, but she thanks him for setting it up and for being so thoughtful before her and Arthur retire off to bed. Not long after Harry, Ginny, and Charlie follow them. Now it is just Ron and I alone in the kitchen, he heats up some butterbeer for us, and tops it with sweet cream before handing me my mug. We sip our drinks in silence.
With Ron's busy schedule with the Ministry and my schooling we've only seen each other once since the events that happened on valentines day. It was for a long weekend in June, everyone visited Bill and Fleur at the shell cottage to welcome their baby girl. Ron and I made love again that weekend, after everyone was asleep we walked the beach, it wasn't long before our passion took over. We set up a shield and silencing charm and made love on the sand. That night we slept in each other's arms until the sun peeked up over the ocean.
"Do you trust me Mione'?" Ron asks, quietly.
"Of course I trust you."
"Grab your cape, there is something I want to show you."
I wrap my cape around me and follow Ronald out into the yard. The trees we set up earlier are twinkling beautifully in the moonlight. Ron fiddles with an old looking gramophone while I light a small fire with blue flames that will keep us warm but not melt the snow. Soon Christmas music and warmth are filling the yard. Ron pulls me into his body, we gently sway to the music. It reminds me of Valentine's night when we danced at the pub in London. Neither of us speak, it isn't long before our lips find each other.
"Hermione, I know I'm not great about staying in touch. The Ministry keeps me busy, I'm rarely in the same place for more than a couple weeks and that used to be great! Harry and I were fighting dark Wizards all over the UK and beyond, the two of us quickly rose up the ranks and became leading Aurors within the Ministry. Harry hasn't announced it yet, but come the new year he is being reassigned to only local cases. I've been thinking about it a lot and I think I'm going to join him in being reassigned. I want to be closer to my family, and closer to you"
"Oh Ronald! That is wonderful news!" I say, throwing my arms around his neck. In my excitement I miscalculate my force and we lose our balance, we land in a heap in the soft new fallen snow.
"Minoe' I want to settle down with you, I want to see you more than two or three times a year." he says sheepishly.
"Ron, I want that too! It breaks my heart everytime we have to say goodbye, not knowing when I will see you next."
"Well I never want to break your heart ever again." he says, leaning in to kiss me.
" That sounds perfect!"