A/N: In Homage of Boxing Day (which we don't officially have here but is a terrific idea nonetheless) here's some fluff for everyone, for HP Ship weeks on Tumblr. This was a rabid plotbunny that bit me this morning and wouldn't let go until I hashed it out. I have to go to the Emergency now to get a rabies shot and banadages for the bite on my ankle. O_O
A/N2: Codicil's to the standard disclaimer, about owning copyright to anything Romione or HP related. I certainly can't claim Rose or Hugo either, even if they are adorable as can be! Any further questions should be referred to the village council for consideration. Expiration date listed on the package. -DG
"Mummy, what are you doing with my toys?"
Hermione straightened up from the box in the corner of Rose's room with a handful of moppets and other paraphernalia that she hadn't played with in a year. There was a pile next to her hip full of clothes that were too small for Rose's growing body. At her other hip were things that weren't needed anymore, such as barely worn shoes, a few books that were duplicates, and other sundries.
"We're taking them to the Charity shop today. It's Boxing Day."
"I know that, Mummy. But what are we going to do with my toys?"
Hermione sighed in resignation. "We're taking your toys to the Charity shop today to give to someone else who doesn't have toys or shoes or clothes."
"I don't want you to give away my toys. Take Hugo's shoes. He won't miss them."
"Rose Weasley, that is enough. All of us are giving something to the Charity shop today. All of us, Mummy included."
"But why?" Rose reached out and picked the discarded dolly from the pile on the floor.
Hermione huffed before catching her frustration with her three year old daughter. "Come here and I'll explain it."
Rose slowly walked over to the edge of her bed and sat down. Once she was settled and comfortable on the as-of-yet unmade bed, Hermione knelt in front of her.
"You might not realize it, but we are very fortunate. I didn't realize it growing up but not everyone has plenty of toys, new clothes, more than two pairs of shoes and socks without holes in them."
Hermione watched the confusion cross her daughter's face. "You know Gramma and Grampaw's house out in the country?" Rose nodded. "And you know Nana and Papaw's house over in Oxford?" Rose nodded again.
"They look different, don't they?"
"Uh huh," Rose said quietly.
"Gramma and Grampaw's house is warm and loving and looks old, doesn't it?"
"I love Gramma's house. Gramma always has biscuits on the table for us to eat."
"And Nana's house? It's not as loud, or as warm, but looks new,doesn't it?"
Hermione watched the gears slowly gaining steam in her daughter's mind.
"Well, Daddy grew up in a loud and noisy and loving home, with parents who adored him, but couldn't give him many new things. Even his first wand was used, from Uncle Charlie. Grammy Molly had to make clothes for the kids at Christmas time. Daddy had socks that had holes in them and pants that were too short for his very long legs. Daddy also got his food taken from him by Uncles Fred and George too at meals when he ate too slow."
Rose perked up at the realization.
"I grew up in a home with plenty of books, quiet meals, clothes that fit, and few friends."
Hermione took her daughter's hands into her own and wanted to weep at the beautiful little girl that was hers – and Ron's.
"You have the best of both worlds and that is why we want to help those who don't have as much. Not everyone has parents who love them, Grandparents who adore them, Aunts and Uncles who have them over at night for sleepovers with their cousins." Hermione frowned. "Some kids live in homes where there are no Mummy and Daddy. Some children have homes where Mummy and Daddy aren't nice to them, or there is no Daddy home.
"Those are the people we are helping. Your toys," as Hermione pulled out a dolly that she hadn't played with in a year, "Your dolly could make a nice gift for a little girl who never had a dolly. Daddy's boots would help a man keep his feet dry this winter. Mummy's coat that is too small now would be perfect for a lady to stay warm."
"But my toys – "
"Yes, your toys too, just like Hugo's toys will be given away."
"But they're mine."
Hermione picked up a second dolly from the bottom of the pile. "And when was the last time you carried dolly to Uncle Harry's house for the night?"
Rose looked away.
"Exactly. You love Komodo more than this dolly, right? You would beg to come home and find Komodo before you'd spend a night away from him."
Rose nodded further.
"So why keep dolly if you don't play with her? All she is doing at this point is taking up space."
Rose fiddled with her fingers. Hermione knew that all too well since she did it too when she was deep in thought and consideration. "Alright Mummy. We'll give my things away."
"Are you upset by this?"
Rose nodded.
"It'll be OK once we get to the shop and you see how we're helping. I know you want to come with me when we go into town. After we drop our things off at the Charity shop, we can walk down to Tesco's and pick up a few things for dinner tomorrow night. After that, we'll get takeaway. Would you like that?"
"OK Mummy."
"Top of the day to you, madame."
Hermione smiled at the polite greeting she received.
"'ere to drop off some things for us?"
"Yes, Sian, I am. This is my Boxing Day donation."
"Ah, 'tis most welcome. We've had so many in need this winter. So many wee tykes in need this season."
Hermione watched her daughter looking around the decrepit storeroom for the store. Bags of clothes along with other sundries lined the concrete walls. She picked through a few dollies on the tables behind her.
"Will you be needing a form, Mrs – "
"Mrs. Granger-Weasley. And no, I won't need a form."
"Very good, mum. Might I ask why you picked us for today? We're supposed to ask those who are kind enough to donate today."
Hermione smiled. "My mum had a heart attack back in September and the care she received was outstanding at Oxford University Hospital. This is my indirect way of giving back. We were fortunate to be able to have her there when others aren't as fortunate."
"Very good, Madame. We'll finish unloading your auto and let you go on your way."
"Rose, come dear. We'll go look around the shop for a few minutes."
Rose took her Hermione's hand and they went out into the store. While Hermione looked at the selection of books in the shelves before her, Rose was looking at the various stuffed toys on the table next to the bookcases. There were various dolls and bears on the table, including a red yarn boy doll with a triangle of a nose in a sailor suit.
"Mummy!" an earsplittling wail erupted from behind a clothing rack.
"Hush, we can't afford that today." The mum said to her little girl.
Rose looked away from the toy table to see a little girl sitting on the ground next to the clothing rack, sobbing. She looked around three or so, wearing a coat that was considerably too large for her. Her dark skin reminded Rose of Aunt Angelina but her face was long and angular, like someone stretched her face out further than normal. "We have to get groceries. We can get you a dolly when Daddy sends money next week."
Rose looked at Hermione standing next to her. She motioned her Mum down to her ear. "Can I give her dolly?"
Hermione looked at the doll in Rose's hands, the one she held onto since their discussion at home earlier that morning. "You sure about this, Rose? Once you give her away, you won't get her back."
"Uh huh. I don't need her."
"Go ask her Mummy if you can give it to her daughter."
Rose took a deep breath before walking over to the willowy woman looking at the children's clothes on the rack. She reached a pale hand out to tug on the frayed coat she had on. The little girl sobbing on the floor scooted to sit behind her mum's legs.
Dark eyes turned to the little girl standing in front of her. "'Ello," the woman said in an exotic accent. "Can I help you?"
"Can she have this?" Rose held her hands out to show the lady the dolly in her hands. "I don't need dolly anymore."
Rose watched the lady look to her Mum in askance. Hermione gently nodded her head. The tall dark-skinned woman knelt down to Rose, looking almost eye to eye. "You want to give Ayaan your doll?"
Rose looked away before replying, "Yes ma'am."
The little girl in question came out from behind her Mum's legs. "Ayaan, come here."
The little girl came to stand in front of her Mum. "This little girl has something to give you."
Rose held the dolly out from her hands. "This is for you. I don't need her anymore."
Ayaan looked up at her Mum and saw a smile on her face. "What do you tell her?"
"Thank you," she said softly.
Rose saw her Mum handing something over to the other one. The other mum had a tear running down her face. "Thank you," she heard said so softly it barely made her ears.
Thin arms hugged her. "Thank you for the dolly."
"Rose, we need to leave and run our other errands."
"Okay Mummy." Rose looked back at the little girl and her Mum. "Bye!"
Rose ran into the house at full speed. Hermione knew that getting her a lolly at Tesco's was a terrible idea but she deserved a treat for her charity today. Ron stood in their modest kitchen nibbling on leftovers from the night before. "There you are. I was wondering where you and Rose went off to today. Hugo and I have been back from the Burrow for hours."
Hermione put the sacks down on the table in the small dining room. "We went into Cardiff to drop things off for Boxing Day. I think I cleaned out two closets worth of clothes and old toys from our house."
"How'd that go?"
"Rose, come tell Daddy about today!"
Rose ran back in from her room with lolly sugar all over her face and hands. "Daddy! I gave a dolly to a little girl who didn't have one!"
"Really?"
Hermione watched from the kitchen while Rose recounted her day with Mum at the charity store. As she plated the dinner of fish and chips from the takeaway place, she listened to her daughter tell Ron all about it.
Who needs other things when our kids are the best gift we ever had?
P.S. – Happy Boxing Day to my friends across the pond and beyond!