Aiiiii! So sorry about the lack of updates for the last two weeks, but I was away on camp and over the weekend my iPad *forgot* my goddamn fanfic password...as did I...so it took a while for me to set that up, especially with the procrastinating. •^_^•
Disclaimer: I still hold hope that one day I will own Fairy Tail or Harry Potter (or both...) but that day isn't today
"Aww, aren't you just the sweetest little thing!" Hermione cooed, rubbing Enyo's belly.
The cub gave her strange cry - like a cross between a purr and a chirp, and rolled over, butting her head against the brunette's hand.
Hermione obliged, petting Enyo on the head before rubbing her behind the ears.
"I see someone's popular!" Lisanna said from the doorway. "How are you, little cub?"
Enyo scrambled over to her adoptive mother, tripping over her paws as she went, and Lisanna scooped her up, giving her a cuddle.
"Yep. That is by far the cutest thing I've ever seen!" Hermione stated, grinning madly.
"I know! Have you seen her lead anywhere? The cars are leaving in about twenty minutes, and I can't find it in any of the suites!" The take-over mage said anxiously.
"Yeah, we put it by the front door so you wouldn't lose again, remember?" Lisanna face palmed, and went to go find it. Hermione frowned to herself. "The...cars? Oh god, we're visiting Razalaston today!" She ran to her room to find something slightly warmer to wear, hesitating as her eyes drifted to Rogue's gift. She picked it up and carefully put it on anyway, before grabbing her bag and rushing downstairs, smiling as she remembered their little gift exchange the day before.
"H-hey, Rogue?" Hermione asked nervously. "Could you meet me outside in a sec? I wanted to give you your gift." The shadow dragon-slayer nodded, and went quickly ran upstairs as Hermione made her way into the gardens.
She sat on a bench, admiring the patterns the frost made on the surface before her attention was caught by the crunching of frozen grass as someone walked towards her.
"'Mione," Rogue said, smiling at her as he sat down.
Hermione pulled the package out of her pocket, fumbling slightly as she passed it to him.
"Umm, this one's for you, but I got something for Frosch as well, if you don't mind," she said, looking down at her hands.
"Thanks, Hermione. She'll love it," he replied, handing her his gift. "Shall we open them together?" At her nod, he began a countdown. "3...2...1..."
Hermione gasped as she opened the box. "Oh, Rogue, it's beautiful!" She smiled at the sapphire necklace, and blushed slightly as Rogue lifted it and fastened it at the back of her neck, brushing her hair out of the way.
"I'm glad you like it, yours is amazing as well!" He withdrew a slim silver bracelet from the package he was holding. It had a dragon engraved into the surface, and the pattern was similar to the tattoo he had to commemorate Skiadrum, which he had shown Hermione not that long ago.
She fastened it around his wrist, and looked into his eyes, finding his face far closer than she had thought it would be.
"Rogue..." She whispered, her breath clouding the air.
"Hermione..." He replied, his voice low and husky.
Hermione closed the distance between them, fixing her lips on his as she closed her eyes. His mouth was cold, unmoving, but as she was about to pull away, it warmed to life and Rogue began to return her kiss in earnest...
And that was how Lucy had found them, making out as the first snow started to fall. Mira was still squealing over the picture that the blonde had snapped, and as Hermione went downstairs, she held her hands to her cheeks in an attempt to cool them down. Unfortunately, this was as she lost her balance on the second to last step, falling towards the ground.
"That's the second time I've had to catch you in two days, 'Mione," Rogue murmured, his arms wrapped protectively round her. "That I really mind." He winked at her, and she blushed, Lucy taking the moment to snap another picture for Mira to drool over.
Dan cleared his throat, and Rogue quickly released Hermione - not wanting to attract the man's ire.
"Seeing as everyone's here, you might as well get in the cars - same groups as last time! Jean and I will join you later, have fun!" He said, and everyone made their way outside. He shot a warning look at Rogue, and nodded towards Hermione. The shadow dragon-slayer got the message and inclined his head before following the others.
"He's a nice boy, Dan. He'll take care of our Hermione - he already has!" Jean said, laying a comforting hand on her husband's shoulder.
Dan sighed. "I know, honey. It's only natural for a father to worry about his little girl, though."
"-and there's a huge Christmas tree in the centre of town which is really pretty, and every year they have a competition to design a decoration to go on next years tree, and I actually won last year, so my bauble should be on there this year!" Hermione was extremely excited about the trip, and her enthusiasm was infectious, everyone else getting just as excited.
Hermione blushed as Rogue out his arm around her, but snuggled into him anyway, and Lucy took the opportunity to snap another photo.
"Damnit blondie!" Rogue growled with feigned annoyance. Lucy stuck her tongue out at him, and Natsu started laughing.
Hermione leaned into Rogue so she could whisper in his ear. "I always wondered how they worked as a couple, but I guess they're both as childish as one another!"
Rogue laughed and nodded, Lucy taking more pictures until Hermione stole her camera and started doing the same with her and Natsu.
When they reached Razalaston, everyone grouped together and headed into the town - ready for shopping and sightseeing.
"Oh wow!" Yukino breathed in wonder. "Everything's so pretty!"
The others nodded in agreement - Razalaston was a beautiful place, especially in the winger with all the decorations up, and even more so when it snowed.
Quaint cottages with a slight dusting of snow lined the pretty cobblestone streets, and the Town Square was taken up by an enormous Christmas tree - far bigger than the one in the Granger house.
Hermione ran towards it, quickly spying her decoration and pointing it out to everyone. "There! That one's mine!" She yelled happily.
"The one with the sparkly snake, badger, raven and lion on it?" Rogue asked, and she nodded.
"It's adorable, Hermione! I had no idea you were so good at art!" Yukino said, absentmindedly petting Enyo who had come up beside her.
Hermione laughed. "I'm not that good - but I'm kinda sad that Hogwarts doesn't do any art classes, or even a club. I mean, I'm sure other jobs are more popular, but there must be wizard sculptures and artists - someone must paint all the portraits!"
Everyone looked towards Harry, the only other western wizard there, who shrugged his shoulders. "Don't ask me! I grew up with muggles, so I know no more than Hermione - in fact, I'd wager she knows more than me!"
Hermione heard a familiar shriek, and grinned as a figure with long red hair jumped at her. "Ginny!" She greeted happily, hugging the girl.
"Hermione! I'm so sorry about my dick of a brother! If it helps, Fred and George are going all out with their pranks on him - did you know they've started a business?! Owl order only, but still!" Ginny said, speaking so fast that Hermione could barely catch what she was saying. "Mum's been such a bitch about it all though! Insisting that her 'poor ickle Ronniekins' was innocent, and that you're - to quote her directly, 'a jealous shrew'. It's absolute bullshit!"
Hermione snorted, rolling her eyes, although Rogue could see the pain in her expression. "I'm sure that 'poor ickle Ronniekins' helped her come to that conclusion, so I don't blame her exactly, but if the woman says anything to me - your mother or not, I'm sorry Ginny but I'll have to hex her." Ginny laughed.
"I'll bloody well help you! She's been an absolute nightmare, honestly! She keeps going off on one at Fred and George for targeting their 'poor, innocent brother', and then yelling at dad because he won't back her up. Her isn't backing anyone up, actually, staying out of the mess, which is a good idea in my opinion. He told me to tell you that he knows what really happened - and he's extremely sorry. He also kindly requests that you ask Professor Snape to not send any more howlers." The girl raised her eyebrow at Hermione who laughed.
"Afraid I can't do anything about that, Gin. Sorry about your mum, though," she said, patting the younger girl on the back.
"Yeah, I-" Ginny was interrupted by a loud, extremely high pitched yell from the other side of the square.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" Mrs Weasley screamed. "I demand that you get away from that-that whore right now!"
Ginny looked at her mother in disgust. "No! I've had it up to here with you, mother! How dare you treat Hermione like that when she was almost the victim of one of the most awful acts humanity can commit - and the perpetrator is right there!"
Molly Weasley stopped in shock, but that shock soon became fury. "No, young lady, how dare you side with that whore! You would betray your own brother for a selfish, jealous little shrew like her? That's it, Ginevra! I've had it with your insolent behaviour - as the Weasley matriarch I hereby ban you from the Weasley household!"
The woman turned and stormed off, Ron following his mother, but not before smirking at Hermione, licking his lips and looking her body up and down a few times. 'This isn't over', she saw him mouth before leaving.
Rogue felt Hermione go stiff, and looked at Ron just in time to see the bastard give his pitiful threat.
"I think you guys should go look at the shops now, Ginny stick with Yukino and Minerva, I need to talk to Hermione for a second," the shadow dragon-slayer said, pulling Hermione into an empty alleyway. "Hermione. Look at me, 'Mione, listen to my voice. He can't hurt you - I won't let him. I swear, he will never even get within ten feet of you."
Hermione snapped put of her daze, smiling tenderly at Rogue. "I love you, Rogue." Her statement shocked him, and he pulled her hand to his mouth, brushing his lips against her knuckles.
"And I you, Hermione. I know this isn't the most romantic way, but...will you be my girlfriend, Hermione Granger?" He asked, smiling as she gave her answer.
"Yes," Hermione pulled him in for a kiss, and, once again, this was how Lucy found them - yet again, making out in the snow.
She disappeared, though not before hearing the few quiet words Rogue murmured to Hermione.
"I love you with all my heart, Hermione Granger." He kissed her head, and held her hand as they went back into the Town Square.
To their shock, several of their friends were still there, sat on a bench that Hermione would swear hadn't been that long before.
"Hey, guys," Hermione said, and they all looked up from what they were staring at.
"Hermione!" They yelled as one, and Ginny, Harry, Lucy and Yukino all rushed forward, tripping over each others feet.
"Idiots," Minerva sniffed, stepping over their fallen bodies. She grabbed the brunette in a hug, using the opportunity to whisper something in her ear.
Hermione laughed. "Thanks, Min, but I don't need you to beat the bastard's face in yet. Besides, you'd have to do something more creative - Rogue already beat you to that post!"
Hermione would never be able to forget what Ron had done, and tried to do, but now she had so many friends to help her through this. Especially Rogue.
As she smiled, everyone laughed, and the visit to Razalaston was back on track.
A/N - And Ron returns! Of course Mrs Weasley would side with her 'ickle Ronniekins' (*spoiler* I'm not a huge Molly fan - in fanfics. I loved her in the books/films), but don't worry, my Weasley bashing only extends to those two. Gred and Forge are still the wonderful pranksters they always have been, and Ginny is a little spitfire. I don't think Bill and Charlie will make an appearance...but maybe later. Woohoo! Rogue and Hermione are finally a couple. Sorry, I'm not really that great at fluff... Anyway, on with the show! I thank you all for your wonderful reviews, as does the cast of this fic •^_^•