So here's the last chapter! I want to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful festive season :-) If you like this pairing and/or my writing, I have another finished fic of this length (Fred's Midwife) and an ongoing story (Fremione and the Weasleys) that you might also enjoy. Happy holidays, and may your festive season be as snuggly as the one that these two are going to share :-)

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As Hermione brushed her teeth, she looked into the mirror, smiling to herself. She had spent quite a bit of the evening on Fred's lap, as there were now significantly fewer seats than bottoms in the Weasley living room which meant Bill, Percy, Fred, George and Harry taking turns doubling up with their respective witches. Angelina was a bit less happy about this than Hermione, because George had insisted that it was only fair that he should sit on her lap for half of the evening. Then, the four of them had been on the winning side in a new wizarding quiz game, although a steward's enquiry led by Percy was called to investigate the claim that the other team had been too distracted by the excitability of Victoire and Teddy, who kept scrambling over them to try to see what was already under the tree. Eventually, they had decided that it should be bedtime for everyone for the sake of the tiny ones and suggested a rematch the next day.

Putting her toothbrush in its usual slot and her clothes from the day back into her bag, Hermione surveyed herself in the mirror one more time. Her pink and white striped pyjamas weren't the sexiest thing she owned, but then she hadn't exactly been expecting this turn of events and she and Fred weren't going to be alone, so perhaps her apparel was for the best. Leaving the bathroom, it felt strange to turn left and head to the twins' bedroom rather than right and up the stairs to Ginny's, but she also felt the bubbling excitement of a new beginning.

"Hey…" She turned to face Harry, who had called softly to her from the other side of the hallway.

"Hi, Harry."

"I just wanted to say I'm really happy for you." He indicated the bedroom doors. "And also delighted to have your space in Ginny's room tonight, but mostly happy for you…"

Hermione stepped forward and hugged him, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Thank you, Harry. I'm pretty happy about it myself," she smiled.

"Never knew George was that creative with mixing muggle and magical technology. Might have to get him working on more defence equipment for the aurors." He grinned, pulling back to look in his friend's eyes. "Will he be subject to some sort of punishment for transporting you without consent, though?"

Hermione moved away and chuckled. "I haven't decided yet." She tipped her head to one side. "Does the end justify the means? I'll have to think on that one, and he can sweat it out while I do!"

Harry joined the laughter and hugged her once more before they went their separate ways.

When she tentatively opened the door to the boys' room, Hermione saw that Angie and George were already in bed and that George's long frame was leaning out over the end to hang their stockings on the bedposts. Molly had long ago created a series of clever charms which meant that everybody's stocking presents would magically be transported into the correct garments once the occupants of the room were asleep, so they would all wake up to a few small presents in the morning. That had allowed Molly and Arthur a better night's sleep on many a Christmas Eve over the years, although they did regret the year that they put a small potion making set in each of Fred and George's stockings. They were awoken to the sound of the first of many explosions that would rock The Burrow over the next few years. Now Molly's grandchildren were starting to benefit from her clever magic too. The first Weasleys of the next generation were starting to reach the age where they could enjoy opening stocking presents in their bedrooms before going downstairs for breakfast and their main presents under the tree.

Hermione knew from previous years that Fred and George had almost certainly added a little twist of their own to this process. Last year, Ron's stocking had mysteriously ended up in the attic with the top neatly blanket stitched together, and on the first Christmas morning that she had awakened at The Burrow Percy's stocking had to be collected from the roof. Luckily it hadn't rained overnight.

"Over here, love. I've accioed your stocking from Ginny's room." Fred had made a mound of pillows at the end of the bed where his feet normally went, and he had also turned his quilt around. He had then scooched over to lie beside the wall, leaving room for Hermione to climb in beside him. She lifted the covers and climbed into Fred's bed, smiling as he pointed to her stocking, which was hung next to his.

"Is my stocking safe?" she asked, eyeing George's wand, which was now pointing across the hall and making a series of complicated movements that she didn't recognise.

"Totally," Ange reassured her from across the room. "You're in the inner circle now and you won't generally get pranked. These two have plenty of people to inflict their tricks on and … well let's just say they've realised that pranking their women can lead to the removal of certain favours…" She winked at Hermione, who blushed and laughed.

"That's good then," Hermione replied. "Who's getting stocking pranked tonight then?"

"Dad," replied Fred and George in unison.

"He loves his muggle plugs and electric cords…" George explained.

"So we got a few from a charity shop last week," Fred spoke more softly as he nuzzled her ear.

"Yeah, and a knot spell book, so we'll see how long it takes him to untangle them so he can get to his pressies!" George finished with a grin on his face.

"Brilliant," Hermione congratulated them, moving further down into the bed.

Even though she had spent hours cuddling him during the afternoon and evening, her tummy was doing flip flops as she nestled into Fred's side and felt his arms come around her, holding her close as she settled her head onto the pile of pillows. "Are you OK? Comfy?" he whispered, and she nodded into his chest.

"I'm great, Fred, thank you." She sighed.

"Yes … you are," he punctuated his words with strokes and kisses, making her squirm a little with ticklishness. "Love the stripey PJs, by the way!"

"Shhh," Hermione poked his side with her finger.

"Ow!"

She pulled a cheeky face. It was going to be important to learn to match Fred's teasing, she could see.

"Fred?"

"Yes, love?"

"Why are we sleeping the other way up from George and Angie? So we can see them to chat to them?"

Angelina let out a soft laugh. "No, it's because Fred's the more romantic twin."

"Oi!" George complained from the other side of the room. "This is the normal way around, I'll have you know! Our heads have always gone next to the window."

"I know they have, love," said his girlfriend. "But look what Fred did for Hermione while you were dicking around with wires…"

George sat back up as Fred lifted his wand. He turned off the main light and slowly opened the bedroom curtains so that they could watch snow fall from the sky in the darkness, gently illuminated by the soft glow of the fairy lights that he had placed around the window frame. Hermione murmured an 'ooooh' of delight. Within seconds, George and Angie had enlarged their pillows and turned themselves and their bedding around so that they could enjoy the sight as well.

As Hermione snuggled more deeply into Fred's arms, she sighed in relief and happiness. Whatever was in her stocking or under the tree for her the next morning, she couldn't imagine anything better than the experience of spending the first of what she already knew would be many Christmas Eves wrapped in the arms of her best ever Christmas present, Frederick Gideon Weasley, as they fell asleep together, patiently waiting for Christmas morning to come.

"Night, love," Fred whispered, as he wove one hand into Hermione's hair and gently lifted her chin into the other, capturing her lips with his own to give her the first of the Christmas eve goodnight kisses that he had promised…

Happy holidays ?