Hermione took a deep breath and watched the hot steam leave her mouth and turn into a transparent vapour in the cold December air. She could not remember if it had ever been this cold in England before. Several times that week she had found herself frozen to the bone and as she was standing on the doorstep to the Burrow, she felt colder than she had for quite some time. Yet, she still hesitated knocking on the big wooden door in front of her. She would, without a doubt, be met by enormous squeals of joy followed by a thousand hugs and the unconditional love she was always met with at the Weasleys'. It was something that she was definitely looking forward to - but for now, she enjoyed the shivering cold air and the quiet snow falling from the sky. If this couldn't get her in the right spirit for Christmas, nothing could. Yet she still found herself to not care for the holidays at all this year.

She contemplated knocking on the door, but decided against it. Instead, she turned away from the Burrow's front door and looked over the snow-covered grounds where she had spent most of her childhood summers. The Hogwarts years the least. She looked over the garden and reminisced how Harry had been bitten by a gnome over by the hedges. How she had been reading several books under the oak tree while the others had played Quidditch for hours in the long summer evenings. How Bill and Fleur had been married in the middle of the lawn where George and Angelina had been married last summer as well.

As soon as she remembered the night of their wedding, her stomach plummeted. She had promised herself that she wouldn't waste her time thinking about it, but her eyes were drawn to the shed where Oliver Wood had kissed her for the first time. Hermione hadn't seen him since the war, but had on numerous occasions heard Fred and George brag about how their friend was on to a glowing career as a keeper for the Ballycastle Bats. On the night of the wedding, Oliver had asked Hermione for a dance and the two of them had ended up talking. Talk had quickly turned into flirting. Flirting had turned into passionate kisses in the dark which had lead to so much more.

Suddenly everything that had happened between her and Oliver over the course of the last six months came rushing painfully back to her and she forced her eyes shut and whispered "not now.. You promised yourself. Not here."

Today marked one month since Oliver had broken up with her. They had spent an amazing summer and autumn together and everything had been going wonderfully well but in the middle of November - out of the blue - he had ended things with her and she had neither seen nor heard from him since. She had been head over heels in love with him and the initial shock of him leaving her still hadn't come to a complete rest.

She felt the tears burn in her eyes and turned around, now facing the wooden door once again, "Stop being silly. You're Hermione Granger for god's sake," she whispered to herself as she dried an annoying tear away from the corner of her eye. She had no idea why exactly today was so horrible. She thought about last week when she, in a state of intoxication, to Ginny had proclaimed that she was '110% over Oliver!' - and up until this morning, she had believed that to be true but for some reason she suddenly found herself thinking about him again. It was probably because it was Christmas. Ever since the war, she always was a bit emotional around the holidays.

"Stupid holidays," she muttered to herself with a sniffle.

"Have you finally gone mad? Talking to yourself like that," a familiar voice rang behind her.

Hermione jumped a little from the unexpected voice, but managed to dry her eyes and put on her bravest smile before she turned around facing the person who had just spoken to her.

He was wearing a green jacket and an orange beanie with a grey puff, "Hi Fred," she smiled. She hadn't seen him for a long time, "You're at the burrow? I didn't think we'd ever see you again," she joked.

Ever since the war, Hermione and Fred had grown close. Much closer than they had ever been at Hogwarts. Over the past couple of years, Fred had joined most of the game nights that Ginny, Harry, Neville, Luna, Ron, and Hermione had taken turns of hosting. In the beginning, George had participated just as much as Fred, but as George had started dating Angelina Johnson a few years back, they had started seeing him less and less. Fred had needed someone to turn to when George was too busy snogging, and as Hermione had always enjoyed his wits and carefree nature, she had welcomed him with open arms. Suddenly, Fred was more than just Ron's older brother. More than just a Weasley twin. He was her best friend. But something had changed between them last summer. The twins had stopped coming around the burrow for Sunday supper and Fred had stopped joining game night. She had tried reaching out to him on several occasions but he had never responded to any of her letters.

Hermione looked him over. He looked more freckled than last time she'd seen him. He was sporting an awkward smile to conceal how uncomfortable her statement had made him feel.

"I'm obviously joking, Fred," Hermione said, "I was just startled."

"Yeah...well...Christmas you know. Mum would go beserk if we missed it," he caressed his neck and avoided her gaze.

"So George is here as well, I take it.."

"Yeah, Georgie's inside," Fred sighed, "listen...I've been meaning to talk to you abou-" Fred stopped mid-sentence as Hermione gave out a sniffle. He eyed her carefully, "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, his face flooding with an exceedingly rare expression of concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said through another small sniffle, trying to hold the tears at bay, "it's just the holidays and being here and all. I guess I'm just a bit emotional today."

"No worries," he shrugged, "I understand if you miss your family. Must be rough spending the holidays with this miserable bunch," he winked at her.

Hermione decided not to correct him on why she was sad, "thanks, Fred. I'm sorry that I interrupted you. What have you been meaning to talk to me about?" she tried to draw the attention away from the fact that she had just been crying.

"Ah that..." he smiled and looked as if he was fighting an inner battle with himself, "it can wait..." he finally sighed, "I really should get inside before everybody freezes to death. I just went outside to get more firewood," he said and pointed to a basket hovering a few feet behind him, "do you want me to go inside and pretend I didn't see you? Give you a bit more time alone in the cold?"

"No, it's okay," she said and dried her eyes, determined to stop spilling more tears over Oliver, "I'll go with you."

"Cheer up, Hermione," Fred said and pulled her in for a hug, "Mum's made Shepard's pie."

"That's your favourite. Not mine," she laughed a little into his chest. It felt weird being this close to Fred again. Of all the things she had imagined that Fred would do when he saw her again, hugging was not one of them. He had been so distant and cold.

"Oh, yeah...right," Fred laughed and let go of her. He sent her a crooked smile, "you ready?"

Hermione nodded, "I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. It's been quite a while since I've been here."

"No Sunday suppers?" he asked her, "huh..I was under the impression that you were visiting every week."

"Not recently.."

"Well, in that case, I reckon that mum's going to smother you with love - I hope you're prepared. She's twice as unbearable this year. With all the babies and all," he rolled his eyes.

Hermione laughed genuinely and suddenly couldn't wait to get inside to see everyone.

"Look at you laughing and all!" Fred said and looked oddly proud of himself, "let's see what else I can do to cheer you up!" He winked at her before he kicked open the door with a loud bang and yelled, "LOOK WHO I FOUND OUTSIDE!"

Mrs. Weasley squealed in horror and clutched her chest, "FREDERICK!" she berated him and whipped the towel she'd been holding as he disappeared out of the kitchen with a snicker.

"Sorry Mrs. Weasley," Hermione laughed, "his idea, not mine."

"Oh dear girl," Mrs. Weasley called out as she saw Hermione, pulling her in for a motherly hug, "I'm so glad you're here! We were wondering if you'd show up. You haven't come 'round for Sunday supper the last couple of weeks."

"I've just been busy with work. I would never miss Christmas," Hermione lied.

Mrs. Weasley held Hermione out at arms length, "No worries, dear. I'm just happy that all of my children are under one roof again. I think the rest of the lot are in the living room."

"Thanks," Hermione mumbled as she pulled off her boots and jacket, and went through the same double doors that Fred had disappeared through.

The chaos that met her was indescribable. Harry was running around trying to catch his son James who had gone rogue with a wand he had knicked from his very pregnant mother. Ginny was unable to get up from the floor and was yelling at James to stop.

At the same time, Bill and Fleur were trying to calm down Victoire who was crying and screaming loudly.

Ron and his long-term girlfriend Aubrey were fighting over something that Hermione was unable to hear, and George and Angelina were playing a heated game of exploding snap which wasn't exactly helping on the current level of noise.

Teddy was jumping on the couch, squealing loudly with excitement. Fred was sitting on the sofa beside the jumping Teddy and he had a huge smile plastered on his face, clearly enjoying the chaos unfolding before him.

"Oh hi, Hermione," Ginny said in her normal-gentle voice as she looked up, seeing her best friend standing flabbergasted in the doorway.

"Uh... Hey guys," Hermione laughed a little, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

The entire room went quiet; James stopped dead in his tracks and Harry managed to catch him. Victoire's chubby face was now buried in her dad's chest and she was giving out small sobs. Ron and Aubrey stopped yelling at each other (although Ron looked so angry that Hermione half expected him to explode).

"Nah, you're alright, Hermione," Fred laughed from the couch before he turned his attention to the rest of the room, "but please do continue!"

"I'm putting you two down for a nap" Harry exclaimed and grabbed both James and Teddy, "Hi, Hermione," he said, and kissed her cheek as he walked past her with a laughing toddler under each arm.

Ginny had finally managed to get up from the floor, and followed her husband upstairs, hugging Hermione on the way. Bill, Fleur, and Victoire followed them.

"Outside!" Ron huffed at Aubrey who followed him out the room, sending Hermione an apologetic smile on the way.

Only George, a very pregnant Angelina, and Fred remained in the living room with Hermione.

"Wow, I've never seen anyone empty a room so quickly!" Fred laughed and threw her a pillow.

"Yeah, sorry for ruining your fun," Hermione smiled at him and grabbed the pillow with both hands.

"No worries, I'm sure the chaos has only just begun. I'll be able to catch the second act post nap-time."

Hermione sat down on the couch next to Fred, and he put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione glanced sideways at him. After months of silence, she was confused as to why he was acting so chummy all of a sudden. She could sense George's confusion as well.

"So, apart from seeing you outside, what have you been up to since I saw you last?" Fred asked her.

"Busy with work," Hermione lied again. She wasn't in the mood to talk about Oliver.

"Yeah me too," Fred smiled at her.

Annoyed with how he had acted all autumn and suddenly seemed to be best of friends with her again, she couldn't help herself, "I know. It almost seems like you avoided me on purpose the times I visited your shop," she laughed to conceal the fact that the way he had acted actually had hurt her, "and you've never answered any of my letters, so you must've been really busy!"

Hermione was happy to see that her words had the wanted effect: she watched Fred shift uncomfortably in his seat while he exchanged a hurried glance with George.

"Hermione, I don't think I've seen you since the wedding," Angelina broke the tension.

Hermione tore her gaze away from Fred and answered Angelina, "I can't believe it's been that long! It really was a lovely wedding!"

"It absolutely was," Angelina smiled dreamily, "definitely a day of love," she stroked her pregnant stomach lovingly. Hermione guessed that the baby had been concieved on the night of their wedding or in the weeks that followed.

"And congratulations on your pregnancy! You look radiant!"

"Thank you," Angelina exclaimed, "we are really excited, aren't we George?"

George nodded and put his hand on her stomach with a proud smile. It was actually quite sweet.

"How have you been, Hermione? Where's Wood? George and I kind of expected seeing him here today," Angelina smiled.

A familiar pang hit Hermione's chest and she had to concentrate on not sounding strained. So much for not talking about Oliver, "Yeah, no. We broke it off weeks back."

The entire room went quiet, "Oh my god, Hermione. I'm so sorry," Angelina said, "we didn't know."

"He..didn't tell you?" Hermione looked between the three. She knew that Oliver had always thought of Fred as being reckless and insensitive but he had been perfectly good friends with both George and Angelina

George cleared his throat, "no.. we uhm.. haven't really seen him lately.."

"O-okay," Hermione said while wondering why they had stopped talking, "Well, I only told Ginny. I just kind of expected her to deliver the news to the rest of the family.."

"Nobody told us," Angelina said with a pained expression and put her hand on Hermione's knee, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know.. If you want to talk, just say so."

"It's okay," Hermione smiled a little, "I'm fine..but thanks."

Out the corner of her eye she could see George sending Fred a piercing look, shaking his head lightly.