A/n: Hey guys! In this chapter I would like to thank Marie Fay for helping me out with the Christmas Fair thing. She told me what was in it and it seemed kind of like a fair that we have for my town so I added my own stuff too. Hope you like it!
One and Only
Chapter Nineteen
Hermione buttoned up her jacket tighter and pulled the scarf around her neck tighter so she would keep warm as she led all seven of them down the street in the direction of the Christmas Fair.
"How much longer?" Ron asked in an exasperated tone after they had been walking for twenty minutes straight.
"A few more minutes." Hermione answered.
"You said that a few minutes ago." Harry claimed, out of breath.
"Well this time I mean it." Hermione replied. She didn't seem tired but rather excited.
"Again, you said that last time." Harry said.
"How much longer?" George asked after a few more minutes.
"I think I'm going to collapse!" Fred exclaimed.
"Oh come on it's not that bad!" Alicia exclaimed.
"Imagine the way back." Ginny said with a laugh as all four guys groaned.
"I can't go on!" Fred exclaimed as he faked falling and held on to Angelina for support. She laughed.
"Well then I guess that we'll have to leave you here." She joked. Fred stood up straighter but he still lagged behind.
"We're here!" Hermione finally announced as they turned a corner to a big sign that read Christmas Fair. Inside of the fair, it seemed as if every person in the world was there, it was so packed. Ron, Ginny, Harry, Fred, George, Alicia, and Angelina stared open-mouthed at the entrance to the fair.
"Wow," was all that Ron could say to the mass of people and candy vendors.
"Come on, it's even better inside." Hermione said before taking Ron's hand and leading him into the fair. Harry, Ginny, Fred, Angelina, George, and Alicia followed them. Harry took Ginny's hand because it looked like someone could get lost easily in all of those crowds of people and Angelina and Alicia held onto their twin.
Hermione pulled them through the crowds of people to the middle of the fair where a huge Christmas tree was. The seven of them stared open mouthed at the giant tree where green, red, and silver ornaments hung and multi colored lights shinned.
"They could not have gotten that here without magic." Ron said as he stared at the tree. "No way they could have."
"Oh, you would be surprised Ron." Hermione answered. "Muggles have ways of doing things." Ron snorted.
"Yeah right." He said but he stopped and smelt something. "What smells so good?" Ron asked. The others took a second to smell too. Hermione smiled at them all.
"Take your pick." She said. "There's everything here, cotton candy, chocolate covered fruit, sugared almonds, doughnuts, and tons of other stuff." Ron's smile got bigger as Hermione mentioned all of the food.
"I say we start down this end and then make our way to the end." Ron said as he pulled out a wad of muggle cash. Hermione laughed.
"Why don't we take it slower." Hermione said. "We could get some cotton candy and then we could look around at the other stuff – besides the food – and then possibly if you're still hungry we could get something else to eat."
"Sounds like a plan." Ron said
"We'll meet you back here around two." Alicia said before she, George, Angelina, and Fred split up from them.
"Sure!" Ron said, very distracted, as he took Hermione's hand and pulled her in the direction of where he smelt the cotton candy. Harry and Ginny shrugged at each other before Harry took Ginny's hand and followed Ron and Hermione.
After each getting cotton candy, they started to walk along the street and examining each booth with different things in them. They stopped at a booth with jewelry because Ginny was transfixed with all of the different jewelry. She couldn't decide which to buy but in the end she decided on two, red, thick, plastic bangles, two gold, thick, plastic bangles, and a pair of earrings with silver lions on them.
"It'll go perfect with my robes. They're so plain and I've been looking for ages for a way to style them up." Ginny said happily, as she looked at the red, gold, and lion jewelry she bought. After taking one last longing look at a butterfly necklace that she couldn't afford because she blew her money on the other jewelry and candy (she had money left just not enough for the necklace) she and Hermione started toward the next booth full of different types of purses, backpacks and bags that were handmade. Harry stopped and looked at the necklace before picking it up and bringing it to where the lady who ran the booth was taking money. After Harry paid for it he stuck it in his pocket and he and Ron started walking toward the girls.
"What else did you get her besides the ring and that?" Ron asked Harry.
"Well I got her some things from the Quidditch shop because I couldn't think of anything else but I think the necklace is a better choice for her." Harry said.
"Definitely the safe choice too." Ron said as they approached the girls. Hermione was buying a messenger bag for school.
"Still hungry?" Hermione asked Ron when she was done paying for her bag. Ron nodded his head. "I thought so." Hermione said with a smile. "Why don't you and Harry go get something to eat and Ginny and I will go to these next couple of booths?" Ron frowned.
"But it's Christmas Eve." Ron protested. "We should spend it together." Hermione smiled at Ron and was about to give in but she knew that she had to get Ron's Christmas present.
"We will." Hermione said with a smile. "But I just wanted to show Ginny something and I thought that you and Harry could get something to eat while we shopped." Ron smiled too.
"Alright." He said. Ron pulled her into his arms for a hug, bent down and gave her a kiss. "Hurry back." He said.
"I will." Hermione said to him before giving him another quick kiss and pulling Ginny away from Harry.
"So what are you going to put on this gingerbread heart?" Ginny asked as she and Hermione made their way to that booth. Hermione had a bit of a blush on her cheeks; she tried to play it off as if it was just the cold.
"Just something simple." Hermione muttered. Ginny laughed.
"Oh please Hermione, I can see right through that. What mushy-gushy stuff are you writing to my brother?" Ginny asked with another laugh. The red in Hermione's cheeks was more visible as she muttered something. "What was that again?" Ginny asked.
"You will have to find out when we get there." Hermione said a little louder. Ginny laughed even more. It was funny that two people, who used to bicker constantly, could now be the most romantic with each other.
They arrived at the booth where the gingerbread hearts were sold.
"Mmmm. That smells good." Ginny pointed out.
"It does. Doesn't it?" Hermione asked.
She had decided on what she wanted the gingerbread heart to say since the previous day. It had been a hard decision and she had thought about it all week.
To her surprise Ginny didn't laugh. She thought that what Hermione wrote was sweet and she also thought that Ron would love it. Hermione stuck the gingerbread heart in her purse, safely, and then they stopped to get their parents something. Hermione got her parents holiday candles because they loved to light candles in the winter, she got Mr. Weasley a portable radio and a pack of batteries, and finally she got Mrs. Weasley a nice muggle wind chime that Hermione was going to bewitch so that it would play melodies for songs. Hermione even stopped to get Ron a big bag of starbursts to go with his gifts and then finally she decided to get something for Bill and Fleur, for the baby, when he was born.
After getting all of the parents something they found Ron and Harry on a bench covered with all kinds of muggle sweets but mostly wrappers from the candies.
"Well I see that you two didn't waste any time…just money." Hermione joked. Ron pulled something from the pile and handed it to Hermione.
"For you, love." Ron said as he held out a ring pop for her. Hermione smiled.
"Why thank you." She said and then planted a kiss on his lips before slipping the ring on her finger. "Perfect fit." She said with a smile.
"So what did you two get?" Ron asked as he bit off part of a twizzler.
"Just stuff for your parents and mine." Hermione answered. Ron's look turned to one of alarm.
"Should I get your parents something? I'm not that good at picking gifts out. Would you help me?" Ron asked in a worried hurry.
"Relax Ron." Hermione said. "I'll put your name on the gifts too."
"Thanks." Ron said, breathing a sigh of relief. Hermione smiled. They didn't seem to realize that Harry, Ginny, and half of the candy were gone.
When Ron polished off the rest of the candy (which didn't take too long) they started to walk around again. Ron kept his hand around Hermione's waist. He smelt something gingery but assumed it was all around him so he didn't say anything.
They stopped to listen to carolers and then Ron stopped to get some doughnuts before it was time to meet the others back at the big tree. Everyone seemed to gather there at around the same time so they started the long walk back.
The guys groaned and complained the whole time and when they got back they collapsed on a couch.
"I'll be right back." Hermione told Ron. "I'm just going to bring these upstairs."
"Alright." Ron said. Hermione hurried up to the room she shared with Ginny and wrapped all of the presents by magic. When she finished putting the presents in her trunk there was a knock on her door.
"Come in." Hermione said. Ron walked through the door.
"Hey." He said with a smile.
"Hi." She replied. Ron came all of the way in and lay down on Hermione's bed. "Tired?" She asked as she watched his eyes closed.
"Mmhmm." Ron responded. "The walk to the Fair and back wore me out." Hermione laughed and lie down next to him on the bed. His arms wrapped around her and she rested her head on Ron's chest. Ron's breathing got slower and Hermione knew that he was sleeping. She didn't move in her comfort and was soon asleep herself.
They were awoken an hour later by Mrs. Weasley. They tiredly opened their eyes and found Mrs. Weasley with a smile on her face as if she thought that they looked cute while they were asleep. Ron withdrew his arm from Hermione; he seemed embarrassed that his mother found them like that.
"Percy and Penelope are here and your father is on his way." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Yes mum." Ron muttered.
"What did you lot do at the fair?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Everyone else fell asleep downstairs."
"Long walk." Ron yawned as he helped Hermione sit up.
They followed Mrs. Weasley down the stairs and to the living room where everyone else was. Bill was sitting in a chair with Fleur in his lap, Ginny was curled up on a couch next to Harry, Fred and Angelina were sitting next to them and Fred was half asleep on Angelina's shoulder. George and Alicia were sitting by the fire and Percy and Penelope were sitting on the other couch with Charlie and Allison. Hermione and Ron exchanged hellos with Percy and Penelope before sitting on the floor with their backs against the couch. Mrs. Weasley left the room to make hot chocolate.
"So I heard that you lot went to a muggle Christmas Fair today." Percy said. "What did you do that made you so tired?"
"Let's start with the half hour walk to the Fair." Fred said.
"And then there was walking in the Fair." George said.
"Don't forget all of the sweets." Ron agreed.
"And then the 30 minute walk back." Harry finished.
"Did you bring any of zeeze sweets back?" Fleur asked.
"Sorry, they ate everything." Angelina apologized.
"Oh." Fleur sighed.
"The walk wasn't so bad." Alicia said.
"I didn't think it was so bad either." Hermione agreed.
"Says the one who was upstairs sleeping with Ron for an hour." George grumbled.
"Speaking of that," Allison said with a laugh. "Can I see the bracelet?"
"I want to see this too." Penelope agreed. Hermione showed the bracelet to the two women before taking her seat next to Ron.
"So then after you said that you loved each other and then he gave you the bracelet?" Allison asked.
"Yeah." Hermione answered. "It went something like that." She smiled at Ron.
"I always thought that you two would end up together." Penelope said.
"I thought that they would kill each other first but I guess I was wrong." Percy laughed.
"Oh funny." Ron said sarcastically. Mrs. Weasley came back in the room with hot chocolate for everyone so the conversation was lost.
Mr. Weasley came home and they all gathered at the kitchen table for a nice Christmas dinner that Mrs. Weasley made.
After dinner Fleur went up to bed because she was tired and pregnant; Bill decided to go with her. Charlie and Percy were locked in a chess match while Allison and Penelope talked. Harry and Ginny were playing Exploding Snap by the Christmas tree with Fred and Angelina. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sitting on a couch holding hands and talking. George and Alicia were sitting on the other couch also talking and Ron and Hermione sat by the lit fireplace.
"So how much family do you have?" Ron asked. They were discussing the party at the Grangers.
"Well I have four aunts and uncles from my dad's side and two aunts from my mum's side and all of them are married and have two or more kids. Plus the people from my parents work and then a few of my parents friends." Hermione explained. "There will be a lot of people there."
"And what am I supposed to say if any of them talk to me?" Ron asked with a worried expression.
"Hmmm." Hermione thought. She looked at Ron. "Well if they ask you what you want to do, tell them that you're interested in going into banking."
"Banking?" Ron asked. "Why can't I just tell them that I want to write? I'm sure muggles do that too."
"Do you know anything about muggle current events?" Hermione asked.
"No." Ron shook his head.
"Exactly. They'll want to know what you write about and I think that money is easy enough. You already know a little about it." Hermione said.
"Alright." Ron agreed. "I want to be a muggle banker." Hermione laughed.
"Great, but just drop the muggle part." She said.
"Right." Ron said, making a mental note.
"Now, if they ask you what school you go to, tell them that you go to the same boarding school as I do and you plan on going to Oxford next year with me." Hermione said.
"How many years of school do muggles have to go to?" Ron asked when he realized that if he was a muggle he probably would be going to school for a lot longer than seven years.
"13, and then they have the option of going to college and for that day you want to go to college too." Hermione said.
"Alright, college." Ron said, looking as if he was making more mental notes.
"Oh and watch out for my cousin Samantha." Hermione said. "She is spoiled and always wants everything that I have."
"Watch out for your cousin Samantha." Ron repeated.
"Oh an sports." Hermione said, more to herself than Ron. After thinking on it a minute she looked at Ron. "Tell them that you play football and you're the goalie."
"What's a goalie?" Ron asked.
"It's like a keeper but the other players try to kick the ball in and the goalie saved it from going in. There are no broomsticks." Hermione said.
"Thought so." Ron said with a smile. Hermione smiled back.
"Great now, no magic talk and you should do fine." Hermione said.
"Got it." Ron said. "I want to be a banker, I go to the same boarding school as you, I an going to Oxford with you next year, I have to watch out for your cousin Samantha, I play football, and I'm the goalie." Ron double-checked.
"Right." Hermione said with a smile. "You're going to do fine. Everyone will love you."
"I hope so." Ron said.
Soon everyone was dispersing for bed. When it was only Ron, Hermione, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley left in the living room. Ron and Hermione decided that they should go to bed.
"Good night." Hermione said after giving Ron one last kiss. She turned to go but Ron took her arm and pulled her back to him. "Ginny – is – sleeping – in –there – and – Harry – is – sleeping – upstairs – and – your – parents – will – be – coming – up – stairs – soon – so – we – can't – do – this – here." Hermione said in between kisses.
"I – know." Ron replied. "But – just – a – few – more – minutes?" Hermione's response to the question was a slight moan. They spent more than a few minutes there and only parted when they heard the steps creak.
"Love ya." Hermione said after one last kiss.
"I love you too." Ron said before kissing her and dashing upstairs to his bedroom. Hermione went into her room with a big smile on her face and happily crawled into bed after putting her pajamas on.
A/n: I will try and update A.S.A.P! Please review!
