Her Surprise
Author's Note: Originally published on January 22, 2010
I'll have a blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue just thinking about you
Strains of the familiar standard emanated quietly from the wireless stationed next to Mr. Granger's comfortable armchair, where Hermione anxiously sat and listened—the lyrics hitting a little too close to her aching heart. She made her way to the frosty window, watching the steady fall of snowflakes in the orange beam of a nearby street lamp.
The day started with such promise. After rollicking between the sheets in the early hours of the morning, Hermione and Ron huddled together in her flat and opened a pile of gifts. Ron had been teasing her for weeks about a special surprise, but at the very moment he was going to make his big revelation, they were interrupted by a Patronus from Ron's commander, immediately summoning him to an emergency raid.
Ron was livid, ranting that everything was ruined. She had to restrain him from contacting Harry, in a misguided attempt to enlist his best mate's help to skive off the assignment.
She calmed him down, but registered the extreme disappointment on his face as he changed his clothes. He apologised with a kiss before looking at her with a serious expression, unlike his usual jovial self.
"I'll make sure, somehow, that you get your surprise today. It has to be today."
She nodded, intrigued, but was more concerned about his well being at the moment.
"Please be careful and stay safe. I love you, Ron."
"I love you, too."
She spent the day fraught with worry, but followed through with their plans to have Christmas dinner with her parents. When Hermione arrived, her mum sported a huge smile and pulled her into an uncharacteristically tight hug, before noticing that Ron was absent. Her parents seemed stunned, and were particularly saddened when she told them about what had occurred. The Grangers retired early after a quiet dinner, the mood to celebrate extinguished.
As Hermione continued staring out into the swirling white, she heard an unmistakable crack behind her. She turned and jumped into his arms, peppering his cold face with kisses.
He pulled back and glanced at the clock above the mantle, which showed only a few minutes until midnight. He carried her to the sofa and sat her down gently, before placing a finger on her lips and hunching down on one knee in front of her. Reaching into his cloak, he produced a small black box—a ring box.
She gasped loudly and her hands found his free one.
"I have an important question, and I'd been waiting months for this particular morning to arrive in order to ask it. Christmas morning is when I heard you call my name in the darkness, leading me back to you. This ring is a symbol, one which means we'll always have each other, no matter the distance between us."
He faltered slightly as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Will... will you be mine, Hermione Granger? Forever?"