(A/N) WARNING! MAJOR FLUFF ALERT! This is certainly OBHWF... I can't help it! This chapter needed to be fluff, but the story will get going again, trust me :) I have somethine planned for the next chapter... Oh and btw – Bill and Fleur Weasley have a two year old son named Dale Weasley! Yay for them.
"Do you think yellow is her colour," Ron asked as he stared at the shining objects. Harry walked over and looked at what he was looking at and shook his head.
"No, not really her style," Harry replied. Ron slouched forward, rubbing his eyes with his hand. "This is so frustrating, we've been at this for hours!"
"Fine," Harry said with a cocky smile, Ron turned to a small section of silver. "Give up."
"Don't be an arse," Ron snapped as he ran his hand through his red hair. He glanced through the window outside the shop, where a couple looked in, pointing at the goods with beaming smiles. That was the way to do it, bring the girl so she can decide.
"Does it all depend on this decision," Harry asked, squining at one that sparkled red.
"You're aking me?" Ron squeaked as he looked at one the same colour as Rory's eyes. "I hope to god it doesn't..."
"Why don't you think Jess is doing all this?" Harry asked, the added. "Silver isn't her style, right?"
Ron looked over at what Harry pointed at and shook his head. "Silver wouldn't suit her."
Ron glanced at the shop ladies who were getting more and more frustrated with the two men. "In the muggle world they wait until they're like 26, even older." Ron replied as he moved away from the blues, that was surely the wrong colour.
"How do you know?" Harry asked as he ran his hands across a gold one that sat on a velvet display counter.
"Hermione mentioned it, almost scared me out of coming here," Ron admitted.
"I think I found it," Harry called, Ron whipped around and ran across the marble floor to Hary's side.
"The one for Hermione?" Ron asked, gazing down at a simple green stone.
"No, for Ginny," Harry replied. "Don't you think it's perfect?"
"You know how to pick them," Ron replied glumly.
The door opened and another man walked in, looking as dazed and confused as Ron was. Ron covered his eyes from the freezing snow and wind that blew in through the open door. Finally it died away and Ron opened his eyes again and that's when it caught his attention - the store light shone on its surface and the purple stone winked down at him from the third shelf.
Ron walked up to it and brought the silver band down, blowing off the fine dust layer. He ran his hand around the rectangular gem and smiled, this was it! This was the one that would suit her best. He walked over to Harry who was standing near his find, protecting it from the man who scratched his head and looked at blue gems.
"Ready?" Harry asked Ron and he nodded, presenting his find. "Perfect," Harry said through a smile.
"Excuse me, but we've chosen." Ron said to the sales woman, she gave a relieved smile and walked over.
"The green and gold one for me," Harry said, poining at the sparkling item in the glass counter.
"And this purple and silver one for me," Ron said. The woman nodded and walked off to get boxes for their purchases.
"How are you paying for this," Harry asked awkwardly as he pulled out his small bag of money.
"Fred sent me the money," Ron said, brining out his own money. "He's got galleons coming out of his ears, the bugger!"
"Please," the woman said sternly, glaring at Ron. "Mind your language, this is an upscale ring store!"
"Of course, I'm sorry," Ron said with an apologetic smile.
"Now," she continued, holding up a black leather ring box and a blue velvet one. "Which box would you perfer for the engagement rings?"
Ron now sat at the long dining table in between Hermione and Lupin. The engagament ring sat excitedly in his back pocket, pressing against his thigh. Once he and Harryhad arrived everyone was just sitting to eat and Ron and Harry had to join them right away. So they didn't have time to rush up to their room and hide their rings. They were dragged into the dinding hall by Mrs. Weasley and Ron was plonked in his seat and Harry on the opposite side of the table inbetween Rory and Ginny.
"Dale, no," Fleaur cooed. She tried to pry her two year old son's hands off the christmas cracker but he held tight, it wasn't until his father Bill finally grabbed it and yanked it that Dale let go of the cracker.
"He's a strong lad," Moody said approvingly as Dale began picking up mounds of mashed potatoes in his hands and smothering his face with it.
"Yes, 'ee takes after 'ees father!" Fleur said proudly as she mopped the potatoes off his pale face. Dale had Fleurs eyes and skin but on top of his head was the flaming red hair of a true Weasley.
"I can only hope that when Ron and Ginny finally get around to having their own kids that they can carry on the grand genes!" Bill said and Hermione and Ron turned bright red and turned to eachother, Ron winked at Hermione who smiled back at him.
"God, Bill,"Ginny said from Harry's side. "You're so embarassing!"
"Um Mr. Weasley, when we have a chance I could tell you where my father keeps all of his dark magic artifacts." Draco mutttered as Arthur passed him the plate of sausages.
"Oh Draco dear!" Mrs. Weasley laughed from Arthur's right side. "Relax, it's christmas!"
"I'm sorry," Draco muttered as he piled a few sausages onto his plate, then he passed it to his left to where Luna sat. "I'm just not used to relaxing, I kind of feel like I shouldn't be here. I was such a jerk to your family."
"Its all in the past," Mr. Weasley said, flashing Draco a small smile. "Now relax, its christmas eve!"
"Of course, sir," Draco said with a nod, then turned to Luna who wasn't eating any of the meat. "Why aren't you eating your meat?"
"It isn't cooked properly," Luna replied, Ron watched as his mother went bright red with anger. "It'll make me vulnerable to Nargles." Draco gave her a sweet smile and kissed her cheek before chowing down on his own food.
Sirius stood up and tapped his champagne with his fork and the conversation died away as everyone turned to look at him. Hermione held Ron's hand tightly, this was the moment they would tell everyone about their child. Ron felt his stomach lurch with fear and excitement as Sirius began his speech.
"So many things have happened in such a short amount of time," he said. "But all I can say is that I'm glad I have my family with me, and all my friends, who have already become so much like family to me. So, I dedicate tonight to those who didn't live to see this Christmas Eve, because it is them – we fight for!"
"Hear, hear!" cheered everyone at the table. Rory and Harry beamed up at their father.
"To them, Happy Chirstmas eve!" Sirius said, raising his glass.
"Happy christmas eve!" the table echoed. Sirius sat back down and before anyone could continue talking Ron stood up. All eyes fell on him and he gave a heavy sigh, the nerves at the end of his fingers began to tingle.
"Hello, um everyone," he squeaked. Ginny, Fred and George had to supress their laughs as his ears turned hot and Ron began to bite his bottom lip. "Hermione and I have some news." he said quickly, he was crap at making speeches. Hermione stood up next to him and grabbed hold of his hand reassuringly.
He swallowed hard as he watched his parents eyes dart nervously from Hermione to Ron. He was afraid of their disappointment, of their anger. He was always the good child. He hadn't betrayed the family like Percy, he hadn't opened a joke shop like Fred and George, he didn't date endless people like Ginny had, he kept his hair reasonably neat unlike Bill. All Ron did was start up the resistance against Voldemort with Harry, a risk of course, but a brave one that his parents supported. In a way he had always took after his brother Charlie, and Ron guessed that Charlie never got a girl pregnant before mariage.
"Well, spit it out," Fred and George said together, even though they knew what he was going to say.
"Hermione and I are," Ron coughed nervously a few times before finsihing his sentence. "Are going to have a child!"
There was a few moments of silence as everyone at the table tried to get their head around the news. Hermione looked over at Ron with friegtened eyes. Ginny looked around at the shocked faces and sprang up onto her feet and clapped loudly. Soon Rory, Jess and Harry all stood up with her too, all clapping loudly.
"Wow, good on you two!" Harry cheered. Molly sprang from her seat and advanced on Hermione, Ron wondered if he would have to use his wand to stun spell his mother so she didn't strangle them both. Molly wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione in a spine cracking hug, her face disappearing in Hermione brown hair.
"I'm so happy for you two, I'm just so happy," she cried into Hermione. Everyone followed suit and stood up too, all smiles as they cheered.
"Molly dearest," Arthur said kindly from her side. "We have to be gentle with Hermione, she is pregnant." The sheer word made Molly cry out in happiness. But eventually she did let go and walk up to her youngest son, she put her hands on Ron's cheeks and beamed at him.
"I thought you'd be mad," Ron said with a small shrug.
"Mad?" Molly almost laughed as she brought Ron in for one of her bear hugs. "I'm just happy, my darling, darling son."
"How far along are you, Hermione," Tonks asked.
"About three months," Hermione replied through a beaming smile.
"Do you know the sex?" called Lupin.
"I should know sometime in two weeks," Hermione replied.
"Trying to take after me, yes?" Fleur laughed but Hermione easily ignored her by wrapping her arms around Ron.
"They took it well," she whispered in his ear as she kissed his cheek.
"Oh," Sirius said loudly. "That's why Hermione hasn't been participating in Harry's DA meetings." he said, truning to Rory and Harry who nodded at him. Ron took this opputunity to bring Hermione close to him and kiss her softly. The rest of the table eruoted in one long "aw!". As the couple drew away from each other, Hermione smiled at Ron.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Me too," she replied, squeazing his hand tightly.
"Well, how about after dinner, all the men go into the study and smoke some celebitory cigars and down some Scotch!" Arthur said, clapping Ron firmly on the back.
"Oh, great," Fred cheered.
Two hours later Ron sat on his bed, cross legged and still coughing from an hour of inhaling strong cigar smoke as everyone hit him on the back and shook his hand, and began all their sentences with "If its a boy you can name it..." and "It might even be a girl and if so call it..." Now he was in his pajamas as he played with the purple gem ring. Jess sat in the bed next to Ron, trying desperatly to wrap up his presents he had only bought the day before.
"I hate your older brothers," grumbled Draco as he pulled tight on his light green ribbon around one of his presents.
"Yeah, Fred and George could have told us the wrapping spell," Harry said. "Now come and help me! This tape is stuck to my arm hair!"
"Lovely," Draco said disgustedly. Ron got up and ripped off the tape, taking a few of Harry's black hair with it.
"Crap! You could have warned me, Ron!" Harry growled, rubbing his arm.
"Its more fun not warning you, Harry." Ron replied with a smirk, he then added. "And George did give me a spell," Ron went back to his bed to fiddle with Hermione's ring some more before he wrapped it. "But Hermione heard it and told me it was a fake one."
"Figures," Jess growled as he presented a lumpy red wrapped ball. "What do you think?"
Draco burst out laughing so hard at Jess that he doubled over, his fists pounding hard against his bed. Harry laughed too and Ron smiled too as he turned back to the ring.
"I'd throw this at you all but its glass," Jess muttered. "Its a crystal ball for Luna."
"She'll like that," Draco replied as he sat up and added the finishing touches of his last wrapped present.
"I hope so," Ron heard Jess mumble, but he wasn't paying much attention. He kept running his hand over the purple gem, smiling as he remembered the feeling as Hermione's lips touched his. "When are we stashing these under that huge tree?" Jess called out.
"Soon," Harry replied. "Ron, you are going to have to wrap that eventually, you know that... right?"
"I know, but its a big thing, you know..." Ron muttered as his hand ran over the silver band.
"Well hurry up! Rory goes down to snack on some turkey leg at 10 and its now 9:30!" Jess said as he grouped together his three last minute gifts.
"It amazing so much food can fit in such a small girl!" Draco laughed.
"Normally, I would give you lots of time to think this over." began Harry. "But we do need to get these down there."
"Ok, ok," Ron grumbled. He opened the leather ring box and slipped the engagement ring in it. He took a slightly bigger box and popped the ring case in then topped it off with a simple small red bow. "I expected it to be heavier... you know?" he asked as he held the small package in the palm in his hand.
"We'll break out the scales tomorrow, now come on!" Jess urged as he hopped of his bed, his two gifts in hand.
The rest of the boys jumped off their beds, Ron included. And they all ran from the room as quietly as they could. They snuck down the many stories past closed doors where behind them, everyone else was settling to sleep, all dreaming of tomorrow and what it could bring.
Finally they reached the bottom step and in the dark corridor they saw red and green flashing lights shining out from under the living room door. Harry pushed it and it opened with a creak, the christmas lights sparkled from off the giant tree and onto the piano's polished black surface that had been closed when every one went to bed.
Underneath the tree, there were thousands of presents piled on top of each other, all different colours that glowed from under the christmas tree's long deep green branches and gold and silver tinsel. They all rushed forward passing the window where the moon had been blotted out by heavy blankets of snow. They stashed their presents in the few remaining spaces under the tree before the four boys ran up the stairs to their bedroom door, quietly, Ron closed the door behind them all.
"That was fun!" Jess sniggered quietly as they slipped into bed. "I haven't been able to anything like that since Moody's constantly around."
Ron slipped into his bed, turning away from the rest of the room to look outside. As the other boys talked, Ron just stared out at the snow as itfell onto Grimmauld Place, threatening to bury it. He heard everyone else get into bed, their bed sheets rustling as they got comfy.
"I'm nervous too," Harry whispered to Ron in the quiet room.
"Yeah," Ron whispered back. "I just hope she says yes."
And that was the end of conversation as everyone in the room fell asleep quickly, the thought of tomorrow hung in the air, threatening them with possibilities.
Christmas started as it had normally done so many years before. Ron woke up first to the sound of pounding feet on the staircase outside the door, for a moment Ron thought that he was 12 again, and things were normal. That Voldmeort wasn't back and he was still a normal kid. But its wasn't true, he was 21 and things were far from normal...
He sat up and saw that Harry was the only one left in the room, still sleeping, the others had left already. Ron slowly pushed himself off the bed and took his dressing gown down from hanging up on the bed post. He slipped it on and a sudden loud yelp made him swivel around and stare at Harry. He had stopped sleeping peacefully and now twisted around his hands swishing around like he had his wand.
Ron ran up to Harry's bed and began to yell his name to try and stir him from the horrid dream, but it was no use – Harry was just stuck in the dream. Ron began to look around the room to see if there was anything to wake Harry up, on top of Jess' bedside table Ron saw glass of water, he ran over and grabbed it off the bedside table. He came back to Harry and threw it on his face. Harry sat up in his bed, his eyes wide and swivling around in his head.
Ron grabbed Harry's glasses and handed them to him, Harry slipped them on over his wet face and looked up at Ron who still looked down at Harry with worried eyes, Ron knew from experience that Harry having bad dreams was never a good thing.
"What did you see," Ron whispered as another wave of feet trampled down the stairs. Harry swallowed dryly.
"It can wait untill after Christmas morning," Harry replied, swinging his feet over the bed.
"A few hints about what's coming up?" Ron asked as he watched Harry quickly slip on his robe.
"The three of us will need to go back to hogwarts before night fall." Harry replied, then added thoughtfully. "Probably the rest of the DA members in Grimmauld Place too."
"Damn," Ron swore. "Just when I thought life might just settle down."
"That's how it goes," Harry said wisely. "When ever you think things might settle, the wind kicks up again – so to speak."
The two boys walked to the door to leave and Ron turned to Harry who seemed paler then usual. "Will Hermione be ok? I mean should we leave her behind?"
"No, we'll need her..." Harry replied opening the door and straightening his robe and pajamas out.
"Right, ok," Ron muttered and he followed Harry down the stairs to the living room. They pushed open the door and practically everyone sat around the christmas tree, except for Moody because his wooden leg disabled him form doing much movement. Immediately Ron recognized Hermione with her back up against the wall sitting next to Ginny.
The two girls looked up and waved the two boys over to where they sat, shuffling over so their was enough room for them to sit. Ron sat down next to Hermione who smiled over at him, he smiled awkwardly his mind was racing from Harry's dream to his pruposal that sat in a small box under the tree. Hermione took hold of Ron's arm and slung it over her shoulder so she could settle in close to him.
"Last ones to wake up," Mrs. Weasley laughed. "As usual!"
"Yeah, you guys could have woke us up!" Harry said, nudging Jess who sat in front of him with Rory.
"Now, presents first?" Ginny asked from Harry's side as she eyes the presents greedily.
"Would either of you boys want some hot choclate?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"It's really great!" Hermione said as she lifted up her own cup of steaming hot chocolate. He stole Hemrione's cup and gulped some down.
"No I'm fine, thanks mom," Ron laughed.
"How about Luna goes first?" Mrs. Weasley called out and all eyes fell on Luna who sat sadly next to Draco near the piano.
"What's wrong with her?" Ron whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Your mom and I cooked breakfast this morning and Luna was a little hurt that she didn't get a chance," Hermione replied as Luna picked up a present, Ron noticed that Luna hadn't picked any of her presents, but had moved to the small green box that Ron knew was Harry's engagment ring for Ginny.
"In my house the tradition is the first person chosen to open a present actually just picks a present for someone else." Luna explained as she flicked open the small card to see Ginny's name, Harry glanced a frightened gaze to Ron. "This is for Ginny, and its from Harry!" Luna called.
"Oh goody!" Ginny squealed as she reached for the box, it moved through the crowd to her hands. "What did you get me?" she asked Harry as he cleared his throat excessively.
A hush fell over the room as Ginny lifted the top off and brought out the black leather ring case and her childish smile vanished as her hands shook. She glanced over at Harry who smiled awkwardly.
"Is this what uh..." Ginny mummbled, her hands lifted the top and the green gem winked up at them all, everyone in the room gasped. "It's a ring, right?"
"That's what it looks like." Harry replied. "But more specifically its called an engagement ring... what do you say?"
"Um," Ginny began as she plucked the gold and green ring from its case. "I uh, I say yes." Ron turned around and saw Mrs. Weasley's eyes tearing up as she grasped onto Mr. Weasley's robes. Ginny gave Harry the ring and he happily slid it onto her finger. She gave out a long happy squeal as she flung her arms around Harry, squeazing his neck tightly.
"I'm totally glad you asked!" Ginny whispered before Harry brought her in for a kiss, everyone in the room cheered on the couple – their mugs filled with hot choclate clinking together. Mrs. Weasley began to weep her tears of happiness as she wrapped her arms around her husband.
Hermione smiled tightly back at Ron. "That was smart of him," she muttered to him.
"'Smart'?" Ron asked and Hermione went bright red as she casually sipped her hot chocolate.
"Romantic, I mean, I'm sure any girl would like to be proposed to," she looked at him with feirce eyes. "Don't you think?"
"Yeah," Ron said simply, which only frustrated Hermione more.
"'Yeah'?!" Hermione snapped, she straightened her back and collected herself. "Its an adult thing to do, I mean once this war is over we have to get on with our lives – I mean their! Their lives, they will need to get on with their lives."
"I agree," Ron said with a smug smile.
"Good," Hermione smiled. "And we're adult, don't you agree?"
"Yeah, Hermione, that was subtle!" laughed Rory sarcastically, Hermione glared at her. She nudged Rory with her foot and Rory just rolled her eyes.
"Ginny," Ron called. She turned away from making out with Harry. "Hand me that purple box on top there!"
"Fine!" Ginny said, annoyed.
"Well that was very adult," Ron said to Hermione who had suddenly stopped glaring at Rory and now stared at Ron with a confused look across her face. Ginny handed the small box to Ron and he smiled over at Hermione who just stared at him with an arched eyebrow. "Hey, Hermione – do you want to open this up for me?"
"Ok..." Hermione said uncertanly. Ginny looked around and smiled over at the pair as Hermione threw off the lid to the box and as it fell to the ground Hermione brought out her own black ring box. She flashed a delighted smile at Ron as she lifted the lid.
"Dear god..." she whispered as she took the purple gem out of the velvet pillow slip where the silver band easily slid out.
"Hermione-" Ron began.
"I say yes!" she cried out and she quickly stuffed it onto her ring finger and held it up for all to see, the room's cheers lifted even higher as Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione and hugged her close, peeking over her shoulder to see that Harry and Ginny had entwined also.
"Dear lord!" Mr. Weasley shouted. "Molly's fainted!"
(A/N) I love my cheesy ending there! Ok, this is not the end of the story! Rory/Harry still have to defeat Voldemort, but something major planned for the next chapter. Sorry for the late update but things are hectic here in BC, what with the grabage strike and school starting up again and my parents splitting up... But please, read and review.
P.S What happened to Just Hidden? I liked your reviews!