My last update for today, you got three! It's finally Christmas at the Burrow, meaning Ron is planning on talking to Hermione, but the universe, like always, has other plans for our favorite pair…
Enjoy & Review!
Christmas came quicker then anyone had expected.
Soon after his talk with Harry yesterday, his mother had walked in on Ron attempting to tackle Bill to the ground, but she soon stopped it and they all ate dinner.
Hermione was absent for the meal. Ginny said she was pretty worried about the lack of response from her parents so she was going to write again. Thankfully, Molly didn't push, understanding she needed her space.
When breakfast came the next day, there was no pressure for them to eat as a whole, the same for lunch. The reason being, is that his mother forced a few of them to see great Aunt Muriel before dinner.
Ron hadn't been one the fortunate ones to get out of it.
Harry and Hermione had no pressure to go for obvious reasons. Anyway, it was for the best not knowing how Muriel was. Fred and George decided to open the shop just for the morning in hopes to get last minute buyers and Charlie somehow convinced his mother and the twins to go.
So just after one o'clock, Ron, Ginny, Fleur, Bill, and his parents apparated back to the Burrow.
"Merry Christmas dears! We had gone before you woke." Missus Weasley quickly clambered into Harry, pulling him into a bear hug.
"Merry Christmas." He said back embracing her, "thanks for having me."
"Always dear, always." She tells him with a kiss on the top of his dark hair. Then Molly whips around and grabs for Hermione, making her drop that book, "and you too Hermione, Merry Christmas."
"Happy Christmas Missus Weasley, thank you for putting up with me." She whispered hoping Ron wouldn't hear.
She pulled away and kept her at arms length, brushing some curls from her face, "nonsense Hermione, you're family and we're here for you."
Soon the brunette's eyes gloss over as Molly pulls away telling them she needs to start on dinner.
With quick well wishes to Harry and Hermione everyone vacated the room, save for Ron. This being the first time the three of them have been alone together.
"Happy Christmas Harry," he turns to the witch whose wearing an uncertain expression, "Hermione." He says softer.
Harry stands for a moment, a little unsure of what exactly is about to happen.
"Happy Christmas Ron." There's a soothing quality to her voice, something he hasn't heard in months.
They just stare for a few moments before Harry feels the need to break it up, "um you too Ron. Hermione, did you still want Hedwig?"
She shakes her head breaking their gaze, "please." The brunette admonishes lightly.
"Why do you need Hedwig?" He blurts out before he can help himself.
She answers none the less, "to write my parents. I haven't heard from them, wanted to wish them a Merry Christmas." The bushy haired witch replied, lips in a thin line.
"Oh I'm sorry." He replied soundly.
Briefly remembering her conversation with Fleur, she eyed him, trying to get a read. He did seem sincere.
"It's okay." She tries to give him a smile but it falters.
He notices the attempt and can't help but beam in return, his chest feels like it's on fire.
Seeing this as a good sign, he pushes his luck, "hey I was hoping that," Ron begins nervously.
"Here she is!" Harry comes down with Hedwig on his arm, interrupting them.
"Ronnie, come grab this for me! I can't reach!" His Mum yells as soon as Harry enters.
He looks to her apologetically, letting her know he wants to stay.
And shockingly, she seems to understand, "it's okay Ron, tell me later." Hermione said voice quiet and soft.
At this he smiled again, liking the fact there was a promise for later.
...
Dinner, though delicious, went by very fast. With eleven people scarfing down a lovely meal and the promise with gifts after, everyone ate rather quickly.
Normally the Weasley's opened presents in the morning, but because of the impromptu trip to Muriel's they decided to follow up dinner with gifts.
So far everything had gone off without a hitch.
Everyone enjoyed the gifts from Hermione. Mister Weasley had been marveling at the alarm clock for the past twenty minutes as the Muggleborn finished explaining batteries best she could.
Same goes for Harry, who was able to finally give back the family, dousing them in some of the best Wizarding products. This earned a scolding, yet grateful look from Molly herself.
Now it was time for Missus Weasley to pass out gifts. She always made sure everyone opened them one at a time, in order to revel in their smiles.
"Here Fleur, this ones for you dear." Molly says softly pushing a wrapped present in her hand.
"You shouldn't have!" The blonde exclaims a bit breathless at the gesture.
Missus Weasley tuts, "nonsense dear, you're family now."
With watery eyes, she ripped open the paper to reveal a soft jumper. Unfolding it, she held it up to see what it was. At the sight she squealed.
Fleur turned around the navy blue thing to reveal a large periwinkle 'F' sewn onto it. She knew what these meant to her fiancé's family.
"Wicked Fleur, we're twins!" Fred announced holding up his own jumper, a dark green with an orange 'F'.
"Hey!" George exclaimed, feigning hurt.
"Oui Fred! Des Jumeaux!" She said excitedly.
"Oh that's just so precious," Molly gushes, "I have to get a picture." She's up and scrambling for her camera.
"Mum!" Bill exclaims embarrassed.
Fleur however is ecstatic, standing up and pulling the thing over her head proudly.
Hermione couldn't help but beam at the sight. The first genuine smile she's felt in a while. She's so glad Fleur is finally feeling at home here. Since their talk that day she can't help but appreciate the woman even more.
"Hey," a voice low in her ear breaks Hermione's revere, "I got you something."
She turns to find Ron leaning over, blush on his cheeks.
"Oh." Is all she manages to say, pretty shocked. She clears her throat, "I uh, I got you something too."
"You did?" He asks surprised.
"Yeah," she begins sheepishly, "well it was before..."
"Right." The ginger says stiffly, not allowing himself to revel in such a thing.
"I do still want you to have it though." The witch feels the quick need to assure him at the shift in his tone. It's mad she's so worried over the littlest things over her, while he's got her a wreck.
"Alright well how about we go the garden yeah? Away from everyone." He suggested bravely.
She contemplates this. Being alone with Ron feels a little dangerous as of late. "I don't know..." Hermione says after a minute.
"Please," he pouts a little, "believe it or not Hermione, I want to do something nice for you." He tells her with conviction.
She sighs, unable to turn away those blue eyes, "okay." The brunette agrees defeated.
A grin works it's way onto Ron's face as he soon pulls a parcel from behind a nearby chair, like he planned it.
"I reckon we should slip out while they're distracted." They peer over to find Fred and Fleur smiling for Molly as Bill looks thoroughly embarrassed.
So caught up at the scene in front of her, she doesn't respond, worrying Ron. "What I mean is that I just don't want anyone to say anything to make you uncomfortable, or I guess that," he rambles on.
Easing him, Hermione cuts him off, "I understand Ron, I just need to get it from my trunk."
He nods in understanding. The pair stand up and part ways. Hermione to Ginny's room and Ron to the gardens.
On his way out he runs into Lupin, who practically interrogates him as to where he's going. His former professor has been nothing but paranoid as of late, thankfully, Tonks eases the man just in time for Ron to slip away. He just hopes Hermione doesn't have a similar problem.
And for once, luck appears to be on Ron's side, as he watches her emerge from the kitchen door just a few minutes later, now donned in a baggy blue jumper to fight off the cold.
"Hi." The brunette announces, nervously picking at the ribbon tied snugly around his gift.
"Hey." He replies, incredibly soft.
They just stare at each other for a few minutes, taking one another in.
When the gaze becomes too heavy, the red head clears his throat, "wanna go over there? I know how much you like it." Ron points to an old bendy oak tree just meters away.
Hermione blushes at this and is more than thankful Ron can't see as much in the moonlight. Slowly and silently they work their way there.
"You go first." He says a bit flustered.
Nodding, she pushes the present into his arms. As he takes it, he can't help but note how heavy it is, curious, he eyes her.
"Well go on." She teases lightly, he's missed this from her.
Eager, he tears open the orange paper and sloppily unties the golden ribbon.
The first thing that catches his eye, is the engraving on top: 'Property of Ron Weasley', this beckons him on as he slides off the wooden top to reveal shiny new wizarding chess set. And sitting on the board, is a small card.
'Something to call yours, Happy Christmas Ron.
Love, Hermione.'
He's not sure how many times he reads it. It must've been a while because Hermione eventually breaks him from the daze.
Love, Hermione.
"I just thought well, it's silly, but once in fourth year you told me that you'd never had anything to call your own. You probably done even remember it now but I," she rambles, taking his silence as discomfort from the gift and note.
Love, Hermione.
"No, I remember," Ron is soon to assure, "I remember it perfectly well, you uh, you'd told me that you were mine. Just mine." His ears glow pink, he doesn't know why he said it.
And Hermione she doesn't know what to say back. Well, she knows what she wants to say, but not what Ron wants to hear.
But for Ron, in all honesty, a call back to such a special moment for him coupled with the way she signed that card, well it awoke something in him. It wasn't quiet confidence, more like courage.
"Look Hermione there are so many things I want to," he pauses, "no that I need to tell you, that you deserve to know." A shaky breath pushes past his lips as he runs a hand through his shaggy hair, "Merlin, I dunno where to start, I guess maybe with,"
Crack.
They jumped, Ron's gift for her, that he had been holding, toppled onto the grass.
"What was that?" Hermione asks suddenly startled, hand reaching into her waistband for her wand.
Sensing her unease, he's quick to calm her, despite his racing heart, "I'm sure it's just Lupin and Tonks leaving, yeah?" He offers.
Slowly, she nods, relaxing the grip on her wand.
Taking another deep breath, he starts to go on again, "look, as I was saying, I just wanted to,"
Crack.
Suddenly the sound of sloshing water filled the cold air.
"Ron, I really think we should go make sure everything's alright." Her voice was shaking.
He nodded in understanding, lightly grasping her hand and pulling her back toward the house. Merlin, he was ready to curse whoever the hell interrupted him this time.
As they approached they found the entirety of the Weasley's, plus Lupin, Tonks, Fleur, and Harry, with their wands drawn.
At the sight of Ron and Hermione, all wands were pointed to them. This made the ginger nudge Hermione behind him, her hand still in his.
"It's just us." He announces.
All wands are lowered. They seem to think the noise came from the pair.
"But we heard it too. It sounded like apparition." Hermione soon clears up, putting everyone on edge again.
Then, as if a product of everyone's nightmares a shrill cackle fills the air.
"I killed Sirius Black!" The familiar voice of Bellatrix LeStrange sings from nearby.
"It's her." Harry whispers gruffly.
"Harry don't." Lupin warns fiercely, grabbing at the chosen ones hoodie.
He seems to respond to this and stays rooted. After all, Sirius was Lupin's friend too.
Another set of heavy foot steps crunches atop dead leaves as a low growl permeates the already tense air.
Ron's grip on Hermione's hand only strengthens, as they use their free ones to draw their wands.
"What do we do?" Ginny stage whispers to the group.
"Go inside." Arthur tells his daughter.
"Dad," the younger girl goes to protest.
Her words die in her throat as a shadow makes its way out of the tall grass into the open space around them.
"Merry Christmas!" Bellatrix shouts in mock cheer and she stands in the open space.
Hermione can't help but shutter. She hasn't seen this mad woman since the Department of Mysteries, since she killed Sirius. But she has dreamt about her. About how she beckoned on Dolohov to curse her, the laugh that escaped her as he did.
"Now let's see what we have here," she smiles sickeningly as Fenrir Greyback joins her side, "Greyback I do believe you're already acquainted with some of these folk, but let me remind you."
Hermione swears she sees Lupin tense at the sight of the vicious werewolf. At his creator. Bill is wearing a similar expression.
"Well if it isn't my niece!" She says looking to Tonks, "there we have Sirius Black's best friend, you know him, don't you Greyback?" She pauses as the werewolf licks his lips, "oh and of course, Sirius Black's godson! Hi there Potter." The curly haired witch grins.
Harry lifts his wand higher, ready to curse her. This does nothing but elicits a cackle from the mad woman.
"Stupid boy, now where was I? Oh, well, anyone with red hair, now that's a blood traitor. They go by the name 'Weasley' these days."
Molly tightens the grip on her wand.
"What the hell do you want?" Tonks is the one who dares to ask, being most familiar with Bellatrix.
She ignores her, "ah wait, I almost missed that one."
Her dark eyes land on Hermione's terrified ones.
"Surprised you're still kicking around. Thought Dolohov got rid of such filth last spring. No matter, Greyback does filthy blood satisfy you?" She teases, making Hermione shiver.
Ron's grip on her, if possible, got tighter, as he raised his wand. Ready to use a more damaging spell then 'eats slugs'.
The larger man licked his lips, "Mudblood is usually sweeter." He claims.
And not even caring if they were two death eaters, Ron spoke up, "you leave her the hell alone." He all but growled, tone rivaling Greyback himself.
"Oh!" She squealed excitedly, "brave boy you got here Arthur! I remember this one well from the Ministry too. Not surprised he cares for such filth. Look at the lot of you!"
"Ron." Hermione warned as he started to step forward.
"Enough chit chat, incendio!" The witch exclaimed, expelling a ring of fire around the group.
Then, she begins skipping away, "I killed Sirius Black. I killed Sirius Black." Her ear splitting voice echoed through the air.
"Don't," Hermione and Ron hear Lupin warn as he grasps at Harry, but it's too late, he's running through a small opening in the flames.
"Harry no!" Hermione yells to the Boy-Who-Lived.
Running on nothing but adrenaline, worry, and instinct, in one swift motion she pulls away from Ron and races after him.
"Hermione!" He calls out moving to grasp at her again. She's too quick, escaping into the tall grass.
Frantically, he peers between his family and the small opening flickers to a close in the fire. Giving them one last look, he makes his decision.
"Ronnie don't." Bill says weakly.
"I'm sorry." Is all Ron says before he's trampling his way through the hot flames.
Oh no! Bellatrix & Greyback are here, what do you think will happen? Let me know! Next chapter is actually my favorite one, here's a small preview:
He laughs, "no matter, I won't need it darling, not for what I have planned for you." Then suddenly his sharp teeth are bared as he eyes her throat.
She fires off offensive spells which merely make him jolt as he lurches closer.
Terrified, weak, and helpless, Hermione closes her eyes and prepares for the worst. But it never comes.
Instead, something else does, something she thinks it's much worse.
What could it be? Please review!
