Chapter 3: The Night before Christmas

A/N: Hi! Look I know it is nowhere near Christmas but due to where I am in the story I thought I would make it Christmas Eve (My Birthday!). I read a fan fiction recently before Rose was born and Hermione was reciting the night before Xmas to herself and so this is dedicated to them. Enjoy!

Hermione stood in her daughter's bedroom looking out of the window. It was Christmas Eve and thick snow was falling and had blanketed London. Although it wasn't that late the sky was jet black and the stars were sparkling like sapphires. She and Ron had agreed to get the children into bed early so they could share some time alone together and then sort out "Father Christmas".

Ron then entered with Rose & Hugo on his tail. For once he had succeeded in preventing chaos at bath time (The children would normally run around the house covered in bubbles and it would take at least the best part of an hour.) The young children then sat on the floor cross legged in front of their parents how were just about to read the story.

"Ok so it's Christmas Eve and so I thought we'd have a Christmas story. Are you ready?" Hermione asked.

The two children nodded in unison.

"Good. It was the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in the hope that St. Nicholas would soon be there. While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; and mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap. Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

Ron then decided to continue the story. "When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what the matter was. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer."

"Daddy, are these Santa's reindeers?" Rose questioned. Cuddling her stuffed toy reindeer whom she had called Rudolph.

"Yes Rosie, they are" He answered

The two children gazed at Ron as he spoke with fascination. The couple then decided to take it in turns to read.

Then Hermione began where Ron left off.

"With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name. "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Ron laughed at Hermione's impersonation of Santa and she rolled her eyes at him. He then took over.

"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound."

Hermione then leaned over so she could see the book.

"He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; a bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes - how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!"

"Like Rudolph!" glowed Hugo?

"Yes Hugo like Rudolph." Ron answered

"His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread." He said.

Hermione then spoke. Her voice quieter than before as their children was starting to look sleepy.

"He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle."

Ron then finished the story. "But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
He closed the book and noticed that in the time that he'd been speaking Hermione had pulled Rose up onto her knee and the young girl was cuddled against her smiling.

"What did you think Rosie?" Ron whispered tickling his daughter. She giggled.

"It was okay but it is highly unlikely that a magic flying sleigh exists and it is impossible for reindeers to fly." Rose replied

"God you are so much like your mother." He said to her and saw Hermione blush deeply

"Ok night Rosie, night Hugo." The 2 adults said kissing their children goodnight

They then left the room and headed downstairs arranging the presents from "Santa."

"I'll do Rosie's if you do Hugo's." Ron whispered to Hermione hoping that the children were asleep

Once they were done. They snuggled up on the sofa together and decided to watch some of the Christmas TV.

"I hope this Christmas will be just as perfect as last years." Hermione sighed resting her head on Ron's chest.

"It will be I promise." He replied kissing her forehead.

"Merry Christmas Hermione."

"Merry Christmas Ron."

It was the best Christmas they could have ever imagined.

A/N: So what did you think? PLEASE REVIEW! Expect another chapter within the next few days by the way!