CH 113 NYEve(s)
After lobbying for it for several days, Rose had managed to convince her parents to be allow her to invite Al and Scorp to their Noon Year's Eve party. Al said he couldn't come, but Scorp had eagerly accepted. Ron was laughing at the idea of Malfoy's son visiting with the elderly muggle ladies, but thought it would be at the very least entertaining. And while he was still annoyed by the idea of his daughter dating anyone, let alone a Malfoy, he had begun to remind himself that it hadn't happened yet. Well, that and that he did actually really like the kid. Just his last name and his house he couldn't stand.
Draco and Scorp arrived at the front door that morning around 1015. Hermione greeted them, insisting Draco come meet the babies despite his insistence that he didn't want to intrude. She ushered them into the living room where Ron and Rose were each giving a baby a bottle.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Malfoy," Rose said as she went to stand. But Draco quickly gestured her to sit.
"Oh, no, please don't let us interrupt," he said softly with an earnest smile. "They are just beautiful. Congratulations. To all of you."
"Thank you," said Rose. "This is my little brother Ryan, and Dad has Hazel."
"Yes, she definitely has Ron wrapped around her finger," laughed Hermione.
"Guilty as charged," agreed Ron with a smile. Hazel took that moment to kick her father squarely in the arm in what appeared to be a protest at the momentary loss of eye contact from her Dad, which made everyone giggle.
"Well, I am very happy to have had a chance to meet them. And thank you so much for inviting Scorp to your party and then agreeing to see him to the Potters later."
"Oh, absolutely," Hermione said. "It's our pleasure. This group is quite, well, it's one of a kind, that's for sure."
"Definitely your first party with elderly muggle ladies, huh, Scorp?" teased Rose.
"Definitely is," he grinned. "Though, I have heard so much about all of them that I do feel I practically know them."
"Scorp was telling me the whole story about finding the long lost relatives. That is quite something. And it sounds like the art teacher is a lovely friend as well."
"Yeah, they've all become this sort of odd extended muggle family to us, which is honestly not something I ever expected to have," Ron laughed. "Sort of like a muggle grandmum or something."
"Well, except that she is always flirting with you and trying to hit on you," laughed Hermione. "Good thing I like her or we would have to have some tough words!"
"Speaking of tough words," Draco said. "I hear that both a congratulations and a thank you are in order. Despite it not making the Prophet, your verbal destruction of Skeeter is all anyone seems to be talking about. While I am horrified at what she did, I feel like I need to thank you both on behalf of myself and the entire wizarding world!"
"Thanks," nodded Ron.
Hermione nodded as well. "Wasn't what we had planned for our Christmas holidays, but I can't pretend it didn't feel bloody brilliant to finish her off. And to do it in a way that managed to be about justice instead of revenge. Though I admit, revenge was tempting, but in the end – I got what I wanted, which was our privacy back."
"Well I certainly think that starting a year without Skeeter at the paper is brilliant. Well, I do need to be off. Happy New Year, and Scorp you'll mind your manners?"
"Yes, Father. I promise. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Draco said as he bent to kiss Scorp's head. "I'll fetch you from the Potters tomorrow."
With that he was off leaving them to the final party preparations. Not five minutes later Molly and Arthur arrived. And Michael and Jean arrived with the wheel chair van a few minutes later. Jean stayed to help get everything ready while Arthur was to "help" fetch Melissa, Mrs. Eldwin and Mrs. Carrington from the care home.
"This is all hands on deck, Scorp," Hermione said. "Would you rather hold a baby and entertain the twins or help cut tea sandwiches in the kitchen with the grandmums?"
Scorp looked as if someone had hit him with petrificus totalus, which made Ron laugh and take pity on him at the same time.
"Come on, Scorp. Why don't you and Rose take these two upstairs and get them cleaned up. Don't worry, mate. Rose is in charge and knows the ropes. All you have to do is not drop 'em."
His already pale skin seemed to lose what little color it had remaining as his eyes widened in fear, but he nodded in agreement and seemed to be awaiting instruction on how to hold and not drop a baby. Rose shook her head amusedly as Ron tried to show him.
"Here, mate. Take Hazel like this. You have to support her head as their necks aren't strong enough to do it on their own yet. She'll fuss 'cause, well, you're not me. But just hold her upright against your shoulder like that and bounce her up and down a bit and you'll be just fine. She'll calm down when she can't see me anymore."
"I don't know that this is such a good idea," he stammered as Hazel demonstrated the full strength of her lungs and vocal cords with a loud screech.
"You'll be fine, mate. I swear," Ron said as he patted Scorp on the back sent them up the stairs trying not to laugh at the poor boy until he was out of view.
But as soon as they heard them go up into the nursery, he and Hermione broke out into a fit of giggles.
"Poor kid. He looks petrified. He's already scared of you to begin with and intimidated by what you think of his relationship with your oldest daughter. And then you give him Hazel and she unleashes holy hell on him. Oh. My. Goodness. It's like Weasley Hazing or something."
"Nah, he'll be just fine. He's a good kid. He just needs to loosen up a bit. And, maybe change his last name. But all in all I really do like him. You know that right?"
"Yeah, I do. And you really do see that he could be around for the long haul, right?"
"Yeah," sighed Ron. "I'm beginning to see that. I'm trying not to think about it too much yet. But, it's hard to be around them very long and not see how much they adore each other. But, correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I don't think either of them have figured out its mutual yet have they?"
"No. I don't think so."
"Good. Nothing like changing soiled nappies of twins to help keep all those things in check, you know?"
"Ronald Bilius Weasley! You did that on purpose!"
"Well, I mean Hazel had shite her nappy anyway. Why not take full advantage of the situation? She gets cleaned up. I don't have to do it. They have a nice little lesson in the importance of birth control. Everyone wins, see?"
"Birth control!? They're 13! And look at them – I don't think either of them has the nerve to even hold the other one's hand yet. Which, by the way, is just fine with me."
"I know that, Hermione. And I don't really think we're in danger of that happening any time in the immediate future. But, it's good to plant these ideas really early. First its quills at Christmas, then its Hogesmeade weekends and before you know it there are grandchildren. So, if he stays a bit intimidated by me and by babies in general, then that is perfectly lovely. I like the kid. But I don't need this to be too easy, you know?"
"What are you, the puppet master or something?"
"No. Just the dad of two daughters. The war-hero-former-bad-ass-auror dad of daughters."
"And Ryan and Hugo can just have free reign?"
"No. But you don't see any little girls here pursuing Hugo yet, do you?"
"No. But just you wait. Girls start chasing boys long before the boys start chasing girls."
"Really?" he asked, earnestly surprised.
"Oh yeah," she laughed. "By far. Rose is just extremely tame. But ask your siblings. They'll tell you."
"I don't remember that about that age."
"Most boys are oblivious to it. But, that is sort of just what happens when the girls hit puberty about two years earlier than the boys."
"Huh. Yeah. Dang. Not ready for Hugo to be getting chased yet."
"Well, right. But, um, has it occurred to you that Hugo might be chased by boys and not girls? I'm not saying I think that will happen, but I think it is definitely within the range of possibilities of what could happen in the coming years."
Ron looked at her with a stunned expression. "You think Hugo's gay?"
"No," she corrected carefully. "I think he is 11 andpotentially too young to be having any real thoughts about sexual orientation at this point. But, I think it is possible that he may be more at the feminine end of the spectrum. And, I wouldn't be shocked if he was gay."
"Really?"
"Are you going to be ok with that if it is the case?"
"Wha? Oh, no, shite, I mean yeah, of course, I'll be ok! Did you think I wouldn't be? No, I'm just really surprised you think he could fancy blokes."
"I could be totally off on this," she shrugged. "But he's just so artsy and sensitive and emotionally aware. I've never known anyone quite like him."
"Well, just because he's artsy doesn't mean he's gay. Even I know that much," he scoffed. "I mean Collin was artsy, and he wasn't gay. And Hugo's sensitive and emotionally aware because his heart was put through the bloody meat grinder when he was just a little boy. If he hadn't figured out how to manage emotions he simply wouldn't have made it."
"I didn't mean to bring this up five minutes before our friends get here. And, I could be totally wrong. It's just something that I have wondered about. But, you're right. The emotional sensitivity was earned the hard way."
"OK," Ron shrugged. "Well, it's sort of like the squib conversation, yeah? It's not what I had assumed or what I expect will happen, but it wouldn't change anything. And, if he – or any of them really – end up being gay or asexual or squibs or dyslexic or, you know, left handed or something equally irrelevant to how much we love them, then they are what and who they are. But we'll just let them take the lead. That said, I'm still going to be the scary-war-hero-former-bad-ass-auror dad who plans to intimidate the fuck out of each and every potential suitor than may come this way, male or female. Just saying…"
Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek. "Does that include Mrs. Carrington?"
"Hah bloody hah."
"Don't worry, love. I'll be there to defend your honor."
"Oh!" they heard Molly call from the other room. "I think they're here. We should get out there before Arthur breaks that lever on the wheel chair ramp."
"Oh my," Hermione giggled. "Duty calls."
Before long the party was in full swing. Rose was once again in charge of the music and was setting up the 1940s playlist on her phone. Both Arthur and Scorp were utterly fascinated and watching her explanations intently. Hugo and Melissa were helping pass trays of tea sandwiches as everyone else chatted and visited with each other. Soon Hermione had people dancing as they had the year before. The sounds of Bing Crosby, Tommy Dorsey, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald were filling the living room. Arthur and Molly were dancing, as were Michael and Melissa, Hugo and Hermione and Rose and Ron. Ron and Rose were laughing as they concentrated on trying to keep their feet moving as fast as the song when Hermione tapped on Ron's shoulder.
"Maybe you guys could go rescue poor Scorp," Hermione suggested.
"Oh, poor bloke," chuckled Ron. "Apparently he's beaten me out as the romantic interest of the evening for Mrs. Carrington."
"Oh no," cringed Rose. "This can't possibly end well."
"Oh, it will if you think of it as a comedy," laughed Ron.
"And he is holding his own."
"All that formal pureblood etiquette training and Slytherin schmoozing nonsense is finally paying off for him I guess," Rose sighed.
"He really does strike me as someone who is physically incapable of being impolite," observed Ron.
"Dad! That's mean."
"It's not mean. It's simply an observation. Though, you have to admit – it would be fun to see him just totally go crazy sometime."
"Hard to picture," said Rose.
"Will you two stop with color commentary already and go help the poor boy? Mrs. Carrington is already holding his hand and stroking his arm!"
"Yikes. Right. Ok, let's go," said Rose as she dragged Ron over to rescue him. Ron took over and began spinning Mrs. Carrington around the room while Rose and Scorp visited with Mrs. Eldwin.
Melissa gave up on the dancing after a few songs and insisted Hugo come visit with her and catch her up on his year. They'd been mailing things back and forth, but they had clearly missed each other a lot. The room was filled with chaos, but total happiness as well. As they counted down to noon, Hermione snaked her arm around Ron's waist. At noon she went to kiss him and giggled as she hit his cheek. He had turned at the last minute to keep an eye on Rose, but he visibly sighed in relief when he saw her lift Ryan up out of Melissa's arms and kiss him instead of anyone else. Hermione chuckled, took hold of Ron's chin and moved his lips back to hers.
He laughed at her knowing gaze and kissed her, muttering, "Sorry. Happy Noon Year, love."
"Yeah, yeah. You too, you over protective dad."
"Can I promise to make it up to you later?" he asked against her ear.
"I'm counting on it," she grinned.
As the party wound down, Jean sought out a chance to chat with Mrs. Carrington who was sitting to the side watching everyone with a wistful look in her eye.
"It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it?" Jean asked as she pulled a chair up next to the wheel chair.
"Hmm. That it is. Deliciously so I would say," mused the older woman. "It was only a few years ago that I really didn't believe I had a single person left in the world who would even notice when I passed away. Those two," she said gesturing to Ron and Hermione, "have given me love and life again."
"I know," sighed Jean. "I wasn't in quite the spot you were, but I had lost my best friend and her whole family. And my one child had one child. And then I blinked and, well, then there was all of this!"
"It's almost like magic, isn't it?" said Mrs. Carrington. "Sometimes I wonder if it's a dream. There is love and vitality in my life again. I wake up excited to see what the day will bring. And I no longer find myself hoping I might have a heart attack in my sleep. Now there are just too many experiences I would miss out on."
Jean smiled. "I know. I went from one grandchild to four in what felt like a snap."
"I could not believe it when Melissa first told me about the twins! I mean twins! Can you even imagine?"
"No," said Jean emphatically. "But I fear I am about to get a glimpse tonight. Michael and I offered to keep the babies tonight so they could have a fun baby-free New Year's Eve. I am sensing they are maybe not quite as cute at 3 am as they are right now."
"Oh my, I don't envy that!"
"Well, it will be good for Hermione and Ron. They have had a rough couple of months. Really I think Michael and I should offer more often. But we're going to see how tonight goes before we are brave enough to offer that."
"I for one want to thank you for doing such a good job," said Mrs .Carrington emphatically.
"At what?" Jean asked.
"At raising an amazing daughter. Certainly has changed my life, dear. But you know she had to learn that powerful way to love from someone, right?"
"Thank you," blushed Jean. "I wish I could take the credit. But, mostly it feels like a gift. Or," she laughed, "what did you call it? Magic?"
After a while, the party had wound down, and the oldest and youngest party-goers were all clearly in need of a rest. The babies began to fuss, and Hermione announced that it was a sign it was time to wrap up the fun. She laughed that as much as she loved everyone in the room, she would be cross if the New Year was messed up due to fussy babies.
Rose and Molly took the babies off for bottles and naps while Michael, Arthur and Scorp helped get Mrs. Carrington and Mrs. Eldwin loaded back into the wheel chair van.
"Would you like to ride along with us?" Arthur asked Scorp.
"Really?" he asked.
"Oh absolutely. It'll be a great experience for you. Come on, hop in and ride along."
"Should I let Rose's parents know?"
"I'll tell them," said Michael as he popped his head in the door.
"Brilliant. Thank you, sir!" said Scorp enthusiastically.
When Hermione came into the kitchen bringing plates of food, she told Ron Scorp was riding along to the care home. Ron replied with a hearty laugh.
"Well, I am rather confident that's an experience he hasn't had before."
The babies slept as everyone else pitched in to clean the house from the party. Jean started to wrap up the extra sandwiches that were on the counter, but Hugo stopped her.
"Just leave 'em out. I know Dad. He'll eat them for an afternoon snack and still be hungry before supper tonight."
"Seriously?" Jean asked.
"Yeah," laughed Hermione. "Not worth dirtying the Tupperware. Just leave them out."
Within five minutes Ron came into the room and grabbed one in each hand without saying a word, which made everyone else in the room burst out laughing.
"Wha?" he mumbled through a mouthful of sandwich.
His wife just rolled her eyes.
Soon Michael, Arthur and Scorp were coming back in from returning the wheel chair van. Michael was smiling, but Arthur and Scorp were beaming.
"You had fun then, I see," observed Molly.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Weasley. I am so glad they invited me along. I had never seen such a place before, or ridden in a vehicle like that. It was all so fascinating."
A grinning Arthur was next to him. "I think young Scorpius here could almost be as interested in muggles as I am. And even I know that is saying something."
"I do love learning about muggle technologies," Scorpius admitted. "But getting to ride in them and see them in action was brilliant."
"But your parents know a lot about muggles, Scorp. Your dad even went to a muggle university. I would think this wouldn't be such a new experience for you."
"Well," Scorp said carefully. "Father is extremely familiar with the muggle world. But, my mother has always felt less comfortable around muggles and their unique tools, so we didn't have any around the manor. And, we would always stay at magical locations when we would travel. But, once my father did take me to a muggle football game, and I loved that."
"Really?" declared Arthur. "That sounds delightful. I've been talking about going to one with Michael."
Michael was busy shaking his head in the corner in disbelief. "Still hard to believe you find all of this as interesting as I find flying on a broom," he admitted.
Later that evening the babies were dropped off at the Grangers and the rest of them had all arrived at the Potters' home to welcome in 2020. The kids had all run off together to the play room while the parents settled in the kitchen and began visiting over wine.
"Please tell me we don't have a group resolution activity planned," sighed Ron. "I really don't think I have a single brain cell left to spare."
"Well, I've always said that, but no one ever listens to their baby sisters now do they?" Ginny quipped.
"Lovely," observed Harry. "Hermione, don't you just adore our tradition of welcoming in each new year to the tune of adult siblings bickering?"
"Hmmm," mused Hermione. "It really helps us appreciate our own kids and their high maturity levels."
"Exactly."
"Oh sod off, you prats," Ginny declared as she tossed a damp dishrag at Hermione. Pausing to take a sip of her drink, Ginny continued, "No. There is no resolution activity tonight."
"Hurrah! To Ginny," Ron toasted with his drink.
Rolling her eyes, Ginny continued, "No. Instead of another activity like that – though if you want to, I do have the parchment here for you. Instead tonight I have some awards to give out."
"Huh?" Harry asked.
"Awards, dear. Awards. Not quite an Order of Merlin or anything, but it's the thought that counts, right?" she said as she patted his cheek.
"This otta be good," Ron said as he helped himself to some of the appetizers.
"Hush," Hermione said. "Go on, Gin."
"Thank you, Hermione. Now, here we go," she flicked her wand and a large cardboard box came over from a table in the other room. "First up. This is a carton of eggs. Well, muggle chocolate eggs, but it's symbolic, yeah? So roll with it. This carton of eggs is awarded to my brother and his lovely wife in honor of their utter and complete failure to maintain an empty nest for even twelve weeks."
Everyone laughed as Ron reached for the carton. "Ooh, the muggle Cadbury ones. I love these," he said as he bit into one of the chocolate awards, causing Hermione to roll her eyes.
"Lovely as usual, Ron," Ginny continued. "Now, for my husband and myself, we are awarded this lovely little bowl that looks like a nest because we actually succeeded at shooing them all out and locking the door behind them."
Everyone laughed as Harry picked up the little bowl. "What are we gonna do with this?"
"Oh Harry, I will keep it on my dresser and you will buy me jewelry to put in it, you silly man."
"Great," laughed Harry.
"Hmm. Quite. Ok. Next up. This little bit of wire is for Ron. As you pointed out the night Teddy proposed to Vic, you made it just under the wire as the last of our generation to find your perfect match before the next one started getting hitched."
"Totally worth the wait," he smiled as he pocketed the wire and kissed his grinning wife.
"Now for my dear husband, you get this cauldron cake as the honorary potions master of the year. Enjoy this as a deep and heart-felt thank you for being responsible enough to ensure that all of us a flowing supply of hangover and pepper up potions on our vacation."
"Here, here," toasted Ron.
"Oh hell yes," laughed Hermione. "I am forever in your debt!"
"Yeah you are," muttered Ron as she smacked him playfully.
"Thank you, thank you," Harry said as he bit into it.
Ginny looked into her box to see which awards remained. Smiling, she pulled out a small hourglass. "This hour glass is for Harry and me. I pretty much slept through divination, but I don't need cooking sherry to sense the days between us emptying our nest and it filling up with little metamorphagus veela grandchildren are limited. So, this little award is to remind us to make the most of this in between time."
Harry smiled sweetly, leaned over and kissed his wife softly, causing her to blush briefly before returning to her box.
"Ooh. This is good. Now, I have to say I wasn't there to witness either part of this one in person. But, based on what I have put together from various reliable sources, I believe that this is absolutely in order." Ginny pulled out a tiny muggle toy truck. "Based on the stories that came home last summer Ron was not exactly the best passenger in a muggle car on their trip to North Carolina in America. But then, really in the time span of only a few months, his ability to handle challenging muggle transportation in the mountains of Haiti had gone from worst in class to class hero. So, Ron, here is your award."
Ron was laughing, crimson ears betraying some of his own memories of those events. "Well, thank you. If the Haiti trip had come first, I promise you I would have been a much calmer and grateful passenger in the mountains of North Carolina. But honestly, that Haiti truck ride was absolutely rougher than any broom, thestral or dragon I have ever ridden!"
They were all laughing as Ron continued with his dramatic interpretation of the truck trip, but Ginny continued with her ceremony.
"Ok, ok. Next up, this one I award to myself. It is the best magical travel agent award."
"Oh absolutely!" said Hermione. "That was a fantastic trip. I vote you keep that role indefinitely."
"Good. Because this next award is also from that same trip. Little sparkly earrings that look like disco balls so we can all remember – well all but Hermione anyway – just how incredible she was out on that dance floor."
Everyone laughed, but Hermione blushed profusely as she muttered her thanks and grabbed the earrings.
Next up was a soup ladle awarded to Harry in honor of the fact that after he and Ginny had become regular volunteers at the muggle soup kitchen they'd gone to on May 2nd. But, what Ron and Hermione hadn't known is that one of the muggle homeless men who was a regular there had noticed Harry's scar and decided that it looked like a soup ladle. So, where he had hoped to be the anonymous guy he was now officially known as the "Ladle Lad."
Next Ron received a light brown ribbon tied in a bow in recognition of how Hazel had him wrapped around her little finger. Ron laughed it off, but Hermione quietly placed her hand on his leg and gave it a loving squeeze, which caused him to look at her and grin. They both knew it was true, and they were both delighted about it.
"Ok, now, we have come to the last award. And, really, this is more of a series of awards because all three of you are getting honored. First, well, honestly Hermione took the picture and I loved it so much I got it framed for each of us. I know it was after a bad night, but I hope we can all just enjoy the picture for the moment it captures. So, here is a framed copy for each of us to honor the boys who defeated Voldemort but couldn't handle the twins."
Ron and Harry hadn't seen the picture of the two of them on the sofa with the babies the morning after the Skeeter debacle, but they had to admit it was rather funny.
"Next, Ron, in honor of the best use of defensive spells while wearing Christmas pants, you get, well, a new pair of Christmas pants. May you be equally unbeatable when you wear the new ones."
"And finally, the last award of the night goes to Hermione and Ron. This is a very personal award as they managed to complete a task I had been striving toward for decades with no success. And, while we all probably had a hand in that final success, since I made up the awards I get final say. So, the Golden Fly Swatter award goes to my fabulous brother and sister in law. Somehow the two of you managed to figure out Skeeter was an animagus, catch her, get her arrested, destroy her in a courtroom – with bonus points for humiliating McGlaggen like that – and not only send her to Azkaban but have the mental wherewithal to put together a deal that protects all of us and our children when she gets out. And you miraculously did all of that without breaking any laws that I know of or succumbing to the incredible temptation you must have felt to just squash the bug under your shoe. So, for being damn good and ethical to boot – congratulations on your Golden Fly Swatter."
Hermione took the little gold statue of a muggle fly swatter from her sister in law with a head nod. She wasn't totally sure Ron could joke about this yet. Well, she wasn't totally sure she was there yet either.
"Thanks, Ginny," she said with a tight smile.
"You are welcome. I know it isn't a funny situation. Well – it's a little funny really, but mostly awful. But if I don't focus on the funny part and the part where she finally gets her due then I will lose my mind. And, I really do want to recognize and thank you for shredding her and McGlaggen in court like that. So amazing I would almost call it orgasmic."
"Please don't, Gin," Ron protested.
"Shut up, Ron. I'm having a moment here."
"Well, thank you, Ginny. We do appreciate it. And we will probably appreciate it even more in a few months. It is still all quite raw, you know? But knowing we are getting what we want, well it makes it easier to try to sleep at night."
"For me too. And I do apologize if it's too soon. But I really do want you both to know how grateful I am. I've joked about getting rid of her for years, but I never really thought it could happen. And, when Harry came home and told me about the deal you had crafted and gotten her to agree to, I was just so shocked and relieved. And until that weight was lifted off of me, I hadn't realized how heavy it really was."
"That goes for me too," Harry said softly. "She stalked and bullied and harassed me and then my family since I was twelve years old. Who picks on a twelve year old orphan? And while I really believed I would get Riddle in the end, I never really thought I could get rid of her. She was this permanent aggravation in my life, and I had learned to just adjust my world around her. Like the child of an alcoholic or something. We all pretended it didn't bother us. Pretended we didn't let it affect us. But it did. When we had to shift the way we lived to avoid agitating her, well, I think we were all in denial about how much she impacted our lives."
Hermione reached out and touched his arm lovingly, not knowing quite what to say. There was a heavy moment of silence in the air as each person was clearly thinking through the ways Skeeter had hurt them. Sensing the need to lighten the mood, he raised his glass up to the group.
"A toast!" said Ron, raising his glass. "To the year, blimey, to 2020 – it is a year that even Trelawney couldn't have predicted on her craziest day. Skeeter's in Azkaban, we don't have to worry about her when she gets out and I have 2 kids at Hogwarts and more kids living at home than any of my siblings."
Everyone laughed, and Harry concurred, "To a year even Trelawney couldn't have predicted."
They all clinked glassed and drifted into easier conversation. Before long the kids had drifted back in, and the majority of kids and adults were caught up in a massive game of Exploding Snap. Hermione excused herself to use the loo and came back into the room. She lingered in the doorframe for a bit to enjoy the scene. Everyone was enjoying themselves, the kids and adults were having fun together, and Ron was completely in his element. But, what really made her smile was seeing how Rose was watching Ron and Scorp play the game together. They were both so engrossed in the game that Scorp seemed to finally let down his guard around Ron and just have a good time, and she could see that meant a lot to Rose.
Hmm, Hermione mused. I hope 2020 isn't a year where she gets her heart broken. If Rose and Scorp tried to be more than friends it could either go really well, or really, really badly. But only time would tell. And she had no idea what to hope for.
Harry had stood up to refill his drink and made his way over to Hermione.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah. Just enjoying the scene."
"Still mind blowing sometimes, isn't it?"
"YES! How did you know that was what I was thinking?"
"Oh, just a suspicion. You and I were both only children. A scene like this is what only children often dream of, I guess. But, I know that there are still days I have to pinch myself to remind myself that magic is real and this is actually my life. And I've had almost thirty years to get used to the idea. You've had less than four."
"True on all accounts. And then just add the whole surprise children thing and, well, apparently the Rose and Malfoy thing, well, it is enough to make my head spin."
He laughed. "Hermione, all of that makes my head spin, and they aren't my kids!"
"Yeah. But they seem ok, right? I shouldn't worry about the awkward early teen attraction going on over there, should I? I mean, James is older, and Al is their friend. I'm trying to be a laid back mum here. And that is all apart from the fact that it's, well, him."
"I think they're ok. I don't know him well, but from the time he has spent with us over the vacations, he seems like a really great kid. And I know he has cared about Rose since the beginning. I mean, he risked her wrath to get help when she was crying in the loo over a Prophet article."
"Yeah, she still doesn't know about that."
"Just as well," he shrugged. "At this point it would just make her swoon more. He'll do something stupid because, well, because he's a thirteen year old boy. But, it certainly seems like it's a match that could last."
"Is Al ok with that? I mean it could feel awkward even though it shouldn't."
"We haven't talked too much about it, but the few things he has mentioned make it sound like he has enough of a special relationship with each of them separately that he is ok with them having a special relationship between them as well. He and Scorp are housemates and roommates and spend practically every waking moment at school together. He and Rose are cousins and see each other all the time at school and when she's home. So, it's not like he's always a third wheel."
"Good. No one would want to feel like that."
"Honestly, I think Ron and Draco will have a harder time than Al if they do end up together."
"But don't you think Ron's come so far?"
"Oh, absolutely. I never thought I'd see him get this far, actually. But, well, the idea of Rose going to Malfoy Manor – I just think that could be really, really hard on him."
"I know. I've worried about that too."
"Well," Harry smiled as he looked over as Scorp's cards exploded in front of him causing Ron to laugh hysterically. "I don't think you should waste too much time on worrying. Four years ago you couldn't have foreseen any of this. Four years from now is a long, long way away."
"I know. And you're right. I just hadn't really seen them together like this before. Almost impossible not to see the spark between them."
"Kinda like you and Ron," he teased. "We were all on him after Fi and Dennis' wedding to ask you out. None of us had ever seen him so head over heels over anyone before."
She blushed as she remembered that time. "Well, the spark was mutual, but the timing was most assuredly off. But in the end I'm glad. I wouldn't have found my Rose if I'd been here. And who knows how the whole magical Hogwarts book mix up thing would have worked out. It was a long hard road to get here, but it was absolutely worth it."
"I'm glad you're here," he said as he hugged her. "I need a pseudo-sibling to be on my side when we face the whole Weasley tribe. Well, and like I said before, keeping up with Ron is not just a one man job."
"Don't I know it," she smiled.
A few moments later Ginny's cards exploded, and she used it as an excuse to get up and put out the champagne and sparkling cider as it was almost midnight. They all declared a time out in the game to count down to the new year.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!" everyone called together as pandemonium spread throughout the kitchen.
"Happy New Year," Ron said as he laughed and dipped Hermione into a dramatic kiss. She laughed and held on tightly to his neck as his arms supported her.
"Happy New Year," she laughed as she kissed him again.
Ron saw her eyes dart to look at something behind him. "Did they kiss?" he whispered against her ear, not ready to turn around and see for himself.
"No, no. Just an awkward hug, poor things," she laughed. "I think these two could be in the denial phase for a long time, and then they will slowly move into the awkward phase. I think New Year's kisses in front of us are a long, long way off."
"See, another good thing about 2020. I am liking this year already."
"Oh, and it's just getting started. It really will be a fabulous year."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she assured him. "Hazel and Ryan will start to walk and talk and their personalities will come out even more. And then we'll get to see Hugo and Rose with them. That will be amazing."
"Yes it will. Too bad we will be so sleep deprived we probably won't ever remember any of it," he laughed.
"No, no. Remember? We're about to start enforcing the new world order where we both sleep."
"Oh yeah. See, I was so sleep deprived that I had forgotten that too."
"Speaking of, maybe we should hug everyone else here and head home."
"Where we won't sleep yet but will be happy about it?"
Laughing again she kissed his cheek as she patted his bum. "Something like that."
Soon they had hugged everyone, wishing them all a happy new year. They thanked Harry and Ginny and promised to see everyone the next day and headed to the floo. Ron stepped through first, and smiled as Hermione stepped through a few moments later.
"Our house is quiet," he whispered. "There are no children here at all."
"So why are we whispering?" she whispered back.
"Don't know," he admitted, still speaking a low tone. "Just seemed a shame to disturb the quiet in our home since it's so rare these days."
"That's too bad," she said in a fake pout. "Because I had been looking forward to being a little loud tonight."
"Well, WHO NEEDS QUIET ANYWAY?" he playfully yelled, causing her to laugh out loud.
While she was still laughing, he scooped her up in his arms and turned to the stairs. But, keeping with the laughter, he started tickling her as they went.
"RON!" she yelped. "Oh, Ron, please, no…" and she couldn't control her giggles as she was tortured by his tickles while held tightly in his arms. "RON!"
"See, love, just some practice screaming my name," he chuckled as he continued to tickle her.
"Ooh, Ron! Oh lordy, please…"
He laughed as he took them up to their room and sealed the door behind him out of habit. "I do believe I have you right where I want you," he teased as he put her on the bed but continued to tickle her as he pinned her down.
"But payback is hell, Ron. Just keeeeeeep that in mind," she yelped as she laughed and squirmed under his attack.
"Hmm," he said, his voice dropping from his playful tone to a much lower, gravely sound. "So, maybe I should just keep you pinned like this, then," he said as he hovered over her. Her two hands were clasped in his left hand, pinned to the bed above her head. His knees were on each side of her hips, and he let his right hand drift softly over her skin, eventually making its way up to her face where he brushed a stray curl away from her cheek.
"I love you so much," she whispered earnestly as she held his gaze.
"I love you, Hermione," he said in a voice so low it was barely a whisper.
With that he finally looked away from her piercing stare and bent to capture her lips in his. Earlier that night he had been looking forward to a night of crazy, fun sex. But when they were actually in the moment, he realized that when everything else in their lives was loud, crazy, fast-paced and exhausting, they both needed something to balance everything. They needed to relish each kiss, delighting in how soft the other's lips were against their own. They needed to savor the taste of each kiss, and the sound of each sigh or whimper. They needed to delight in how their bodies would erupt into goose flesh at the slightest touch of the other across their bare skin.
They were kissing slowly and sensually, her hands now tangled in his hair and jumper. While their tongues caressed and stroked the other, it wasn't the mad duel for domination that it could sometimes be. Each was slowly exploring the other's mouth, contentedly caressing the soft lips of the one they loved. They were both so relaxed and at ease in the arms of the other, the small sounds between them a quiet chorus of sighs, squeaks, moans and whimpers. It was as if they were having entire conversations without words as they tried to give the other what they needed while simultaneously communicating their own needs through sight and sound and smell and taste and touch.
As he caressed her face, his nose ghosted over her cheek and he felt the slightest touch of her fingertips over the tips of his ear. Her lips reached back out for his, inhaling the breath that had just been his. While they each were beginning to feel tormented by their own growing arousal, neither was willing to be the one to break the spell of the emotion that was being communicated with only their kisses. Yet, bodies have a habit of demanding what they want on their own, and when Ron moved his hand quickly he happened to scrape his fingernails over her breast, eliciting a sharp gasp of pleasure from her as she instinctively arched her back. And in that one second, the mood in the room had palpably changed.
His eyes darkened further as he pulled back to look at her. Her lips were pink and swollen. Her eyes were dark with lust, and her cheeks and neck flushed with arousal and his kisses. His hands were immediately at her shirt hem, tugging it up from her trousers. Having no patience for buttons, he yanked it up over her head and was focused on unfastening the bra before the shirt had a chance to hit the floor. She was as impatient now, her hands forcing his jumper up over his head so her fingers could trace the remnants of old scars pulled taught across his chest. Soon skin was against skin, and they rolled together across the bed. His mouth soon attached to her breast, rolling the hardened nipple even more as pleasure coursed through her, causing her to rub her other breast to keep up, which made him moan in delight.
Soon trousers, pants and knickers were all abandoned and they were each working to indulge the other in sensual overloads. Their love making was still measured and deliberate even now that the appetite and passion had grown hotter. They each knew exactly how to touch or kiss the other to draw out the exact response they were searching for. Ron was soon using a combination of his mouth and his hands to bring her into a state of ecstasy, and she then abandoned all pretense of trying to make him come at the same time to give herself over to the sensations pulsing through her body at his touch. After her second orgasm he finally entered her, and they slowly pulsed together. Their eyes stayed locked as they each tried to measure their breathing, biting their lips, panting through opened jaws, and groaning under the pleasure building inside them. Every so often one of them would involuntarily clench their eyes shut as a wave of pleasure passed over them, or moans would come softly across their lips. Yet, they were so familiar with the subtle signs in each other's bodies that they knew exactly when the other began to approach climax. Focused again on the universe in each other's eyes, they throbbed into each other and suddenly felt the other explode in pleasure and release. Hermione clenched against him, spasms shooting through her body as she felt him pour into her and finally collapse, fully spent in her arms. She lay there still quivering, clutching her hands to his sweaty back as he panted in emotional and physical exhaustion. As her own heart beat and breathing slowed, she began to move her hand over his face, brushing his fringe away from his eyes. She softly nuzzled him with her nose as he slowly emerged from his post climax haze.
She went to tell him she loved him, but as she looked into his eyes and saw the whole ocean of his soul swirling there in front of her, she knew she didn't have to say a word. He knew. And she knew. They were so in love with each other. They were so grateful for their life together. It was a gift neither thought they would ever have, which allowed each to savor it all the more.
He eventually rolled off of her and she buried herself in the crook of his shoulder. She felt his chest move beneath her cheek as if he were chuckling. When she inquired about it with only a breathy sound, he said, "And you know we're are parents of newborn twins because now that I have had such an excellent shag, I want an equally excellent full night of sleep."
She chuckled in his arms. "See, you say things like 'full night's sleep' to the mum of twins, and it is just such a turn on," she yawned.
"Excellent," he yawned in return. "We can have more great sex after our great sleep then."
"Absolutely. Happy New Year, Ron. I love you so much."
To which his only reply was a light snore.
(A/N: For better or for worse, there is only one more chapter...carrytheotter)
