Wow, this has been really hard to write, hence the long gap and not much to show for it. It's quite choppy and my undergo a rewrite later – any suggestions welcome!

Chapter 8 – The Traditional Christmas Row

Gabrielle worked hard on not getting agitated that evening. She liked Mr and Mrs Weasley too much to let herself have an all out tantrum in their house. For the most part it seemed as though she was going to get away with it.

The moment she came face to face with her sister was not much fun but it passed quickly enough and there were plenty of other people to talk to. And whenever she felt herself close to loosing it Ron would appear out of thin air and distract her. She didn't know if he was doing it on purpose or whether it was just luck but she was grateful.

Then that rogue mistletoe had to go ruin the whole thing.

Okay, Gabrielle had thought, there was no way she was embarrassing herself again. She had a choice: accept a grudging kiss or take control. She calmly stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed a firm but brief kiss against Ron's unresisting mouth.

He didn't have time to react which was exactly what she wanted. The last thing she needed was another bout of self-doubt and depression as she tried to figure out whether Ron had kissed back.

She pulled away and looked up at the mistletoe. It was already zooming off in another direction, demanding kisses from new victims. Mr Weasley was now cheering Harry and Ginny and all attention was on them.

Gabrielle took the opportunity to glance and Ron. To her surprise, his face was drawn into a cross expression.

"It was only a kiss," she told him in annoyance. "It is not a big deal!"

"Right, no big deal," he said in a flat tone.

What on earth had Ron to be upset about? But Gabrielle suddenly didn't want to know. She turned and walked away.

Faintly she heard Ron call after her. "Damn it, Gabby, wait."

But she didn't stop even though she was aware she was getting a bit stroppy. Ron caught her up in the kitchen.

"Okay," he said in a harassed tone, "What have I done?"

"Nothing," Gabrielle said giving him what was meant to be a meaningful look but judging by Ron's lack of reaction it probably came out as more of a squint. "You've done nothing at all."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know I'm a nuisance to you but, honestly, all you had to do was say so."

Ron's brow creased in confusion, which somehow made Gabrielle even angrier. Ron shook his head and began to say something but he was cut off by Charlie crashing into the room laughing, closely followed by George.

"What do you think of our newest invention, then, little brother," George asked clapping Ron on the shoulder.

"I think Hermione isn't going to stop yelling until Easter. Rather you than me."

George snorted in amusement and exchanged a "Ooh, handbags!" moment with Charlie.

"So," Charlie said cheerfully, "Gabrielle, Ron. I didn't know you two were together…" He trailed off at the sight of George making cut-throat, shut up gestures from the corner. Gabrielle gave him a hard look. "Sorry, I just assumed… Nobody tells me anything."

"Of course not," Gabrielle said causticly. Then with a last despairing glance at Ron she fled back to the living room.

"I will never understand women," Ron said.

"Never mind, mate," said Charlie.

"Plenty more fish in the sea," George said bracingly. "Although, I wouldn't lay odds of ever again finding anyone that fit who actually fancies you."

"It's terribly sad," Charlie said, smothering a laugh.

"Oh, just sod off, the both of you."

In their capacity as big brothers, George and Charlie totally ignored Ron's request. Charlie pulled up a chair at the kitchen table and George steered Ron into it.

"Beer? Usually it's a solution," Charlie suggested. "I brought this Romanian stuff back with me. It packs a punch."

"Yeah," Ron sighed. "Alright then."

Even as he took a bottle off Charlie Ron realised that drinking morosely wasn't a good plan, especially not in his parents house. He would just have one to appease his brothers and then scarper.

Luckily George and Charlie quickly got bored of Ron staring at the knots in the wood of the kitchen table and made a hasty exit as soon as Harry wandered into the room.

"Please tell me tonight is almost over," Ron said pathetically.

Harry grinned. "It's quarter to ten. A bit early to make a bid for freedom."

"I think I've blown it with Gabby," Ron said as he pealed the label off the beer bottle.

"How?"

"I have no idea. That's the problem."

Harry hummed thoughtfully. "Have you asked her?"

"No," Ron admitted. "Maybe I should talk to her. I did try last night but she went cold on me. I mean, I like her and everything but I don't know if I'd ever be able to handle the mood swings."

"Ha! Just wait until she's pregnant and the hormones kick it," Harry told him. "Then you'll know the meaning of mood swings!"

Ron stared at Harry appalled. "I really worry about you sometimes, mate."

"Okay. Probably getting a bit ahead of you," said Harry apologetically. "Just let her calm down and talk to her normally and ask her."

"Good plan," Ron said although secretly he suspected that things were very unlikely to be that straightforward.

His suspicions were proved to be entirely correct when, a few minutes later, Hermione stormed into the kitchen and narrowed her eyes at him in a way he had learned to respect and fear over the years.

"What have you done to her?" she demanded furiously.

"Who?"

"Gabrielle, you prat," Hermione fumed. "You just had to do one thing, ONE THING, and be nice to her and you couldn't even manage that..."

"Hang on a minute," Ron snapped. "I was nice to her. What are you talking about?"

"She just came and asked whether she could stay with us."

"Oh."

"Oh? Is that all you have to say for yourself?"

"Well, yes actually it is," Ron said angrily. "I don't have to explain myself to you."

"Fine, you insensitive, uncaring..."

"Emotional range of a teaspoon, I know," Ron said nastily. "It's. None. Of. Your. Business."

Hermione let out a frustrated huff and stormed off. Harry just flicked an eyebrow.

"Okay," Ron said, "I know I probably shouldn't have done that."

"It's not me you need to convince," Harry said mildly before going after Hermione.

There was a knock on the the door of Fred and George's old bedroom. Hermione ignored it. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

Unfortunately someone couldn't take a hint and the door creaked open.

Hermione frowned. She could have sworn she'd locked it.

"Are you alright?" came a whispered voice – Harry's.

"Of course I'm alright," Hermione said quietly.

Harry stepped quickly inside and shut the door, blocking out the sounds of music and laughter from downstairs.

The younger Weasley twins didn't even stir. Still it wouldn't be wise to wake them now they had finally fallen asleep. Hermione cast muffliato and regarded her old friend suspiciously.

"You're up to something."

"Me?" Harry said indignantly. "I'm not the one behaving like a deranged cupid."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, come on Hermione. Don't give me the innocent act. I know you."

"Alright, I admit I wanted them to get together. I know it's stupid..."

"No, it's not," Harry said. "I understand that you want Ron to be happy but it's guilt that's making you act like this."

"Guilt!" Hermione scoffed.

"Yes. Guilt for not staying with Ron when everyone told you that you should and for marrying George instead."

"Harry..." Hermione said warningly.

"Ron got over it, Hermione. And if he is meant to be with Gabrielle, it'll happen."

"Yes, in about ten years!"

"So what?" Harry grinned. "Not everyone is quite as quick off the mark as you."

"But she really likes him," Hermione protested. "And he'll hurt her without even realising."

"He knows," Harry told her. "You can't protect them from each other. Especially if you want them to be together."

"I know," Hermione sighed. "I do know that."

She looked down at her sleeping girls and realised that she was going to have to get a grip of herself. She had other priorities and Ron's love life really wasn't her business. Not anymore.

"Alright, Yoda," she said to Harry. "You've made your point. Let's go back down."

Ron felt like he was being driven slowly mad. He had to get out.

It was cold outside but Ron decided that it was a small price to pay for a bit of peace and quiet. He tramped down to the bottom of the garden and took his frustration out by stamping on some gnome holes and flinging the little creatures into the next field.

How had he managed to get himself into such a state over a witch in just a few short days? What was so special about Gabrielle?

Okay she was smart. He had to give her that. Ron had always managed to fall for girls who were much cleverer than him. It was a double edge sword and even though he was much better than he used to be, he still got very intimidated by intelligent women.

Having said that Gabrielle certainly didn't need brainpower to be intimidating. She was pretty fierce, even to Ron and apparently he couldn't see the veela side.

And despite the fact he couldn't see her veela side she was still gorgeous. There was no denying that any more. It was as though he had suddenly opened his eyes and see her properly and now he couldn't stop. Which was very inconvenient.

They got along well, when he understood what was going on. In fact, up until this recent development, he had always been able to talk to Gabby. He had always enjoyed having her around.

So maybe it wasn't so incredible that he had started to fancy her.

The real mystery was what she ever saw in him.

Over the years many people had told Ron that he was an idiot. Right now he fully agreed.

There was only so long he could hide before someone came and dragged him back inside so Ron decided to call it a night and started up back towards the house. But he stopped in his tracks as he saw a figure in white, back lit by the glow from the windows.

Gabrielle was standing outside the kitchen door, her arms wrapped around herself and gazing up at the sky. She looked so beautiful that she took Ron's breath away.

But she wasn't happy. Ron vaguely wondered if she was hiding from everyone too.

"Oh," she said. "I didn't know you were out 'ere." Her accent was stronger than usual which put Ron on guard for a moment before he figured out why. Then he realised she reminded him of Fleur.

"Just getting some air," he said. A part of him knew that this would probably be a good time to have that talk. The only problem was that he really couldn't see it going well while she was doing such a good impression of her crazy sister. It was probably best to just leave it alone for now.

But as it turned out, Ron was a glutton for punishment. He put it down to Charlie's Romanian beer.

"Hermione said you want to go stay with them?" Ron said in as neutral a tone as he could muster.

"I just assumed zat you would be happy to get me out of your way."

"You assumed?" Ron said with a frown. Hadn't they agreed assumption only lead to disappointment? "Did I say I wanted you to go?"

"No but..."

"It doesn't matter," he sighed in resignation. "I'll send your things over."

"Ron..." Gabrielle called but he was already walking away. As he passed though the doorway back into the house the enchanted mistletoe buzzed him. With what Gabrielle would later tell him to be overkill, he blasted the flying plant to ashes.

TBC.