Getting ready for the holidays has shown Ron another side of Hermione. Can he survive her adventures in the kitchen?

Music: Festival of Lights by Rich-Tone Chorus

Ron looked at the chaos in the sitting and shook his head. "Mione, what are you looking for?"

Hermione's voice drifted out of the hall closet. "I know I have those candles around here somewhere. I just can't seem to find them."

"Candles?" Ron asked as he watched Hermione take more boxes out of the closet. "We have candles in the drawer by the stove in the kitchen."

"Not those candles." Hermione waved toward the box on their coffee table. "I need the candles that go with the stuff in that box. The other candles won't fit in the Menorah."

"Menorah?" Ron was puzzled. "Why are you looking for candles to fit in a menorah? Isn't that a Jewish thing?"

"Yes. I want to celebrate Hanukkah this year." Hermione continued to dig in the closet. "Bubbe used to celebrate Hanukkah with us and I want to use her menorah this year."

"Who is Bubbe?" Ron felt more confused with every answer she offered. "I don't think I have met anyone in your family called that."

"Bubbe was an older lady in our neighborhood." Hermione voice seemed to float out from the depths of the closet. "She lost most of her family in the Holocaust and would invite her neighbors to celebrate with her every year. It was her way of remembering her family."

"Okay, that makes sense," Ron mumbled as he waited for Hermione to emerge from the closet. "What do these candles look like and why do you have her menorah?"

"They are thin and tall." Hermione emerged from the closet with a small box. "I have Bubbe's menorah because she gave it to Mum right before she passed away. I asked for it when I finished University. I think this is the box I was looking for."

"So, what do we do now that we have found the candles and the menorah?" Ron was still trying to wrap his head around what she had said. "I have never celebrated Hanukkah before. I'm feeling a little lost."

"Well, we light a candle after sunset for eight nights to celebrate the miracle that kept the temple lights burning for eight days when there was only one day's worth of oil left in the temple." Hermione set the box of candles on the coffee table and began to unwrap the menorah she had pulled out. "We light an additional candle every night using the candle in the center and say two blessings as we light the candles. Tonight, I am going to teach you to make Latkes while we let the candles burn."

"You are cooking?" Ron was surprise by her mention of cooking. "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?"

"I cook, just not often." Hermione blushed as she set the menorah in on the window sill. "Bubbe taught me how to make latkes. I only do it for people I love."

"Well, then I guess I am lucky that you love me," Ron gather Hermione into his arms and kissed her forehead. "So, what do I have to do to learn to cook latkes?"

Ron: I may need medical attention later

Harry: Why?

Ron: She is cooking

Harry: Who? Your mum?

Ron: No, my wife

Harry: Hermione is cooking?

Ron: She is making latkes

Harry: What are those?

Ron: I have no idea … just check on me later

Harry: You will be fine. I'll be watching for smoke and sirens

Ron: Really?! Thanks, mate

Ron watched Hermione hustle around the kitchen. "Mione, what are you doing? It looks something exploded in here?"

"Just a minor flour mishap." Hermione continued to grate potatoes and frown at the pot on the stove. "I just need to get these potatoes ready and the oil needs to get to the right temperature so everything will cook right."

"Do you need help with anything?" Ron pushed away from the doorframe and walked toward the stove. "It looks like you have a lot of things going on at one time."

"Everything is fine." Hermione huffed as she continued to grate potatoes into the bowl in front of her. "The challah should be finished in a little bit. I set a timer this time. It should be fine."

"Mione, what is challah?" Ron looked around the kitchen for the source of the burning smell. "I don't want to worry you, but why is the oven smoking?"

"Challah is a special bread," Hermione looked and began to panic. "And, it is burning in the oven."

Ron had never seen his wife move as fast as she did to get to the oven and rescue her bread. She pulled open the oven door and reached for the pan that held the bread.

"Ouch," She whimpered, as she pulled her hand back from the oven. "The pan is hot. I forgot."

Ron reached around her and used a towel to take the slightly charred loaf of bread from the oven. After setting the pan on the countertop, Ron pulled Hermione into his embrace. "Let me see. Did you burn yourself?"

"I'm fine," Hermione sniffed and held her hand to her chest. "I'm not doing a good job of managing things tonight. How bad is the bread?"

"I'm not worried about the bread." Ron turned Hermione in his arms so that they were facing each other. "I'm worried about you. Let me see your hand."

"I'm fine," Hermione snuggled into Ron's chest and tried to hide her hand. "Just a little red and it tingles. I need to see how badly I burned the bread and get the latkes ready."

Ron pulled back from her and reached for the hand she was cradling against her chest. "You burned your fingers reaching for that pan. It is time to put them under the water and let me take care of you. The latkes can wait."

Hermione protested all the way to the sink. "I'm fine. It is just a little sore. I need to finish cooking."

Ron held her hand under the stream of cold water and kissed her forehead. "You will be fine after the water cools off the burns. Then, my stubborn one, you are going to sit on the couch and I am going to turn off everything on the stove. Latkes can wait."

"But, I need to get everything cooked so we can celebrate," Hermione continued to protest as Ron held her hands under the cold water. "I need to get this right this year, so it won't be as hard next year."

"Why is it so important this year?' Ron kissed each finger as he dried them off. "We have never done this before. I didn't even know you celebrated Hanukkah until twenty minutes ago."

"Because, I need to practice so it will be perfect next year." Hermione looked over the disaster that was her kitchen. "I need to get it right so we can invite everyone to celebrate the baby's first Hanukkah with us next year."

"Love," Ron sighed as he hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. "It will be perfect no matter what. We haven't even told anyone that there will be a baby next year. You have time to plan and practice."

"We are going to have to tell them soon," Hermione's voice was muffled by Ron's chest. "I can't hide it for much longer. There is only so much jumpers can do for this."

Pulling his hand to the slight swell of her stomach, Hermione continued. "I want to tell them soon but all of this scares me."

"Why does it scare you?" Ron looked down to his hand covering her stomach. "The doctor says there is nothing to worry about and you have time to plan."

"So, when do we share this secret?" Hermione watched Ron's hand rub her stomach. "I don't want a big announcement."

"We'll figure out something." Ron smiled as he kissed her. "Just don't tell Ginny. She is horrible at secrets."

Hermione: I suck at cooking

Ginny: What did you burn tonight?

Hermione: Challah

Ginny: What is that:

Hermione: Hanukkah bread

Ginny: Why were you making it?

Hermione: Because I'm an excellent baker

Ginny: Seriously… why were you baking?

Hermione: Because it's Hanukkah and I wanted challah

Ginny: You haven't baked challah since you lived at home and Bubbe was still alive

Hermione: I miss her

Ginny: You miss her latkes

Hermione: That too

Ginny: Seriously, why are you cooking Hanukkah food?

Hermione: Because I decided to celebrate Hanukkah this year

Ginny: Is that the only reason

Hermione: Because I love to watch your brother panic text your husband when he sees me in the kitchen

Ginny: Mean, much

Hermione: Only this week

Ron paused in the doorway of their bedroom. Hermione was sound asleep and had never looked more beautiful. The light from the hall cast a beam over the hand she had cradling her small baby bump. He was a lucky man, even if his wife tried to burn the house down in order to celebrate Hanukkah.