Chapter 4: Falling Snow
Authors Note: So I am back. Well I am from Warner Bros. Studio Tour at least however I am still in London for the next few days. I have come to the conclusion that I could just go there again and again and would never get bored because I love Harry Potter so much. I also bought a wand. If anyone read my authors notes in Hogwarts and Beyond they will know that when I went to the studio tour last August, I bought Hermione's wand. So this time I chose Ginny's because although I did want Ron's it did look like somebody had just gone and snapped a branch off a tree and there was no way I was paying £25.00 for that. Anyway apologies for the ramble and here is chapter five!
25th December 2004
Hermione felt herself gradually wake up from her deep and blissful state of sleep. The previous day had been considerably more eventful than what had been originally expected from a typical Christmas Eve. They had essentially gone from feeling like the lowest of the low to walking on cloud eight, not quite cloud nine yet though. In spite of Hermione's wishes before the evening had descended upon them, Ron did get drunk. And so did her father. And surprisingly so did her mother. Hermione was actually the only one who did not over do the fire whiskey and wine but did get a great deal of humour and pleasure out of listening to the alcohol consumed banter and drunken scenarios that did unfold.
She knew before she even opened her eyes that Ron was awake. She could hear his uneven breathing that normally came hand in hand with a child's excitement that Christmas had finally arrived. This is what every Christmas was like with Ron. But she could not love it more. Ron was one of things that made Christmas the way it was, happy, cheerful and joyous and it had been like that for the past six years. It had been before that as well, except they were not together and not often it seemed to be that they argued and fell out around the Christmassy period. But it was different now. They were in love with one another and this was their fourth Christmas as a married couple.
Hermione turned onto her side and slowly opened her eyes. Ron was beaming happily like he always did at this time of year, in spite of what had been going on between them in the past few months, Christmas never failed to make him happy. He reached over slowly and brushed Hermione's long chestnut brown hair out of her face lovingly before leaning in and kissing her gently as she slowly woke.
"Merry Christmas, my love." He said his voice little more than a whisper.
"Merry Christmas Ron." Hermione replied getting up out of bed and quickly getting dressed.
"What is the hurry?" Ron questioned dozily in surprise and Hermione smiled as she pulled her denim jeans and red jumper on in a manner that seem hurriedly.
"There is no hurry." Hermione started once she had finally gotten dressed. "It is just that this is the happiest day of the year and the earlier we get up, the longer it will be."
"You have a point." Ron exclaimed before summoning his own clothes and changing as well.
"Wait!" Hermione said, just as Ron started to leave the bedroom and he turned around to face her. Hermione leant into the wardrobe before lifting a fairly large parcel onto the bed. Hermione had given him a few of the presents the previous evening after her parents Helena and Robert had left but this was something that she wanted to save for Christmas day as Ron had been talking about this for quite a while.
"This is for you. Now you can stop thinking how great it would be to have a new one." Hermione said tapping the box concealed by wrapping paper. Ron slowly unwrapped it and grinned as he read the boxes label.
"A new microwave? Thanks Hermione." Ron beamed, "Just wait until Dad sees this." He continued and Hermione laughed. He then approached Hermione and reached for her hand gently.
"Come with me." Ron said quietly and Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Where?" She replied
"To your Christmas present." Ron answered squeezing her hand tightly and leading her down the stairs. Upon arriving in the hallway at the foot of the staircase, Hermione noticed that although the door to the living room was shut, a soft, warm light was escaping through any gaps that the pine door did not fill. This made it very clear that in spite of not really being an early morning person, Ron had already gotten up and knew Hermione well enough to know that she would want to extend the day to as long as possible.
"Alright, close your eyes." Ron told her and Hermione did so as Ron slowly led her into the living room and she felt him stop walking once they had arrived somewhere in the middle of the room upon the soothingly warm carpet beneath their feet.
"Can I open them?" Hermione questioned curiously, wondering what exactly Ron had got her.
"Yes, you can." Ron responded with a smile evident in his voice. Hermione slowly opened her eyes and was pleasantly surprised by the gift that lay before her. A keyboard of 52 ivory and 36 ebony coloured keys perfectly aligned into octaves of eight notes each. It was beautiful, perfect and most of all; Ron had bought it for her.
"A keyboard. You bought me a keyboard?" Hermione said almost stunned into silence. "Ron this is... this is just fantastic. Thank you."
"I remembered when we were at Grimmauld Place and you were trying to teach me that piece of music by Beethoven or someone like that, although it was a dark time I wanted you to have something to remember that small moment." Ron said kindly and Hermione's memory was cast back to that day.
Flashback.
The rain fell heaving upon the now dark, depressing street of Grimmauld Place causing the sound of glass like shards falling onto number 12, the noise echoing around the house's drawing room. The drawing room was probably one of the most cynical, miserable rooms in the old Victorian house of the Black family and it did not seize to crush any of Harry, Ron and Hermione's hopes or thoughts.
Hermione sat in front of the small grand piano. From what she could see, after so many years of being untouched, unplayed, uncared for, it was perfect. She wondered what it would sound like but knew somewhere inside of her brain that it probably was not the best of her many ideas to start playing something. Given the current tense atmosphere in the house, for all she knew if she were to play something she may find Harry storming into the room and mentally snapping. Ron also could be annoyed by it given how she could see over her shoulder him staring at the muggle radio he had brought along with them and drumming his fingers impatiently against the raised, arm of the old fashioned, uncomfortable sofa.
Her fingers slid along the keys gently, touching each one carefully enough to not let it make a noise and she found herself imagining what it would be like to play something. It would be no use miming playing it or anything like that, that would just been awkward and embarrassing in front of Ron. It felt like years since she had even touched a piano and decided to easily give in and press the last and highest key softly. Ron turned his head and glanced over at his friend, curiosity filling his mind. Even though she had only hit one note on the piano, and very gently as well, he felt like any anger that was currently building up inside of himself dispersed and he wanted to hear more. He then made the quick decision to go and talk to her before the brief moment passed.
"Do you mind if I sit with you?" Ron asked quietly, gesturing to the piano stool Hermione was sat on that from what he could see would easily fit three people on it. Hermione's miserable expression seemed to soften as he said this and a small smile crept onto her face.
"Not at all." Hermione replied and Ron sat before silence stole any chance of them having even a brief conversation. It was Ron then who decided to break the silence that was gradually building between them.
"So, can you play the piano?" Ron questioned and Hermione's head turned quickly to face him.
"Yes. I started having lessons when I was eight. I practically begged my parents until they let me do so." Hermione chuckled at the memory of her pleading with her parents to let her give it a go.
"What can you play?" Ron enquired and Hermione found herself then knowing where the conversation was heading.
"I can play some things a lot better than others because I have kind of made myself play them over and over until they sound right. But everything I can play is muggle so I do not really know if you will have heard any of the pieces of music. Do you want me to give it a go?" Hermione wondered, placing her hands on the piano's keys and Ron beamed.
"Please. I would like that." Ron replied and Hermione began to play Fur Elise, by Beethoven. If Ron knew any muggle piece, surely it would be that one. She was surprised that, after so many years, she was able to play so flawlessly without a single mistake in spite of her shaking hands. But she left that part down to being in the presence of Ron, the loveable ginger that she hadn't told she was in love with them yet. When she stopped she turned to Ron and saw a large smile on his face as he looked directly into her eyes.
"Bloody hell Hermione." He breathed and Hermione laughed. "You were incredible. How on earth do you manage to remember something like that?"
"I- I just do. Practice makes perfect." Hermione said feeling a warm red blush creep onto her face.
"Could I give it a try?" Ron asked and Hermione nodded in response.
"Of course. If you just copy what I do, I will go slowly." Hermione answered and Ron placed his hands on the keys, lower on the piano. He copied Hermione quite well until the occasional point were Ron's fingers would stumble or he would in Hermione's eyes slam the keys down too hard, resulting in much laughter from Hermione.
"Be a bit gentler." She said giggling, "Here." She then took Ron's hand in her own and moved it onto his thigh so that she could show him once again. In the brief eye contact that they made during that movement Hermione noticed the obvious shade of pink that Ron's ears had turned, before she played the piece for a second time. Once she had stopped she turned herself to face Ron once again. After a few moments of comfortable silence Ron began to speak.
"You are really good, Hermione." Ron whispered locking his eyes on hers, gently and Hermione briefly thought that they might gradually be getting one step closer to something. At that point Harry entered the room talking about the golden snitch he had been left in Dumbledore's will. Ron quickly turned away and the moment was lost.
Flashback Ends.
"Ron, just thank you so much." Hermione said kissing him and a smile spread across Ron's kind face.
"You're more than welcome sweetheart." Ron replied, kissing her back.
As far as both of them could see, this was going to be a great Christmas.
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"Ron, Hermione you're here." Molly Weasley declared, giving an incredibly powerful hug as the pair stepped into the Burrow early into the afternoon after a treacherous trek across the Burrow's surrounding garden which was currently knee deep in snow, and they knew that although blissful, the icy nightmare would only be deeper by the time they left for their home in London later in the evening. They were quite surprised to find that almost everyone had already arrived, with the exception of Percy, Audrey and their two daughters Molly and Lucy. Almost all of the children, apart from Roxanne, were wide awake but everyone knew that that would not last for long as the night arrived. "Merry Christmas." She added before quickly hurrying away again to the kitchen where Fleur and Charlie were helping her make Christmas dinner for all twenty one of them and with every year it seemed that the number of plates on the now long and extended table was increasing.
"Merry Christmas." Harry said embracing them both just like Mrs Weasley had done a matter of moments before, Ginny then went onto do the same, but with a lot less of the closeness.
"Merry Christmas, how are you?" Ron asked, looking towards his sister and her husband.
"Great, really great. Actually we have something to tell you." Ginny said and both Ron and Hermione found themselves listening more closely to what she was saying.
"What is it?" Hermione replied
"We will tell you later when there are less people around." Harry said and Ron and Hermione only assumed that whatever they wanted to say, they had either told very few people or nobody else of.
"Okay, we will go with that." Ron started, attempting to sound jokily serious. "Just don't try and think you can escape without telling us now."
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"So what was it that you wanted to tell us?" Ron asked a few hours later when it was just himself, Hermione, Ginny and Harry in the living room of the Burrow. The smell of roast turkey and cinnamon was still very apparent and only the mere quiet chatter of Arthur, Molly and Charlie could be heard from where they were all sat in a line like young teenagers. Their legs were stretched out at full length so that and heat radiating from the amber and ochre flames would comfortably warm them. They had done this same thing eight years before, just before Harry, Ron and Hermione's sixth year and Ginny's fifth when things were completely different, dark, uncertain and dangerous. A lot had changed in eight years, hence the wedding rings, two gold – Harry and Ginny's, and two silver – Ron and Hermione's. Now there was even going to be a baby in their small family within the Weasley family, which they were in some ways given how they were all so close to one another. Everything was changing, but it was changing for the better.
"We decided that we would find out what the baby's gender is and, we wanted you two to be the first to know."Harry said leaving both Ron and Hermione feeling slightly flattered and knowing that if they were in Harry and Ginny's situation, they would probably do the same as well.
"And?" Ron asked raising and eyebrow, "What is it?"
"It is a boy." Ginny said smiling and with that the hugs of congratulation started to begin, or what they could do at least without having to get up off the floor and what they could do surrounding the logistics of Ginny's now medium sized stomach. It was then after it had become quiet again that Hermione felt the effects of the announcement. She appreciated that this was their moment and she truly was delighted for them, she did not think they realised just how much that had gotten to her brain. She felt empty, sickly almost and like she had basically had the floor beneath her taken away. But she didn't say anything because that was their moment, and was proud of them.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Ginny asked looking over at her friend concernedly.
"I am sorry, I just don't feel very good, do you mind if I go?" Hermione said, almost stuttering on her words.
"Of course not, go home and lie down," Ginny said before Hermione embraced her once again, "I'll
"Here I'll come with you." Ron said, getting ready to stand up from the warm, soft carpeted floor.
"No, you stay for a while if you want, just remember to say goodbye to your parents and Charlie for me." Hermione replied as she grabbed her coat and headed outside to disapparate. There was a moments silence before Ron decided that his queue to leave had also arrived.
"I best go and check on her." Ron informed them, hugging Harry and kissing Ginny on the cheek. "I'm sorry I am just really worried about her. Will you tell Mum and Dad where I have gone please?"
"Sure, Merry Christmas." Harry replied and Ron quickly hurried off.
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Hermione felt a sudden waterfall of tears spill down her cheeks as she paced back and forth in the living room of their house in London. "Stop crying. Stop crying." She muttered to herself, trying to hold it all together. It worked, eventually, but she did not know how many more times she would be able to lock away the undeniable emotion that was already building up inside of her. This hurt. This hurt a lot more than she had ever expected and it was a very powerful and constant reminder of how far away they were from actually getting what both of them desperately wanted and would love. This was a sign that as time continued to move on, they were uncontrollably drifting further and further away from their destination and they were not quite sure how to stop and turn around.
"Hermione?" Ron asked as he stepped into the living room and saw Hermione crying before hugging her tightly.
"I am sorry, I just... it just got too much. Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased for them, they have always wanted children and they will make amazing parents but it just reminded me of what we could have by now if we were getting somewhere." Hermione sighed as she sat down next to Ron on the sofa.
"I know. I saw your face. I know you Hermione Weasley and I know that although you genuinely were pleased you were smiling to cover up the more dominant emotion out of happiness and sadness, and you did that because you really care about Ginny and Harry. It was not just in your face, the hurt was in your eyes and when I looked into them it was how I felt." Ron told her, rubbing her back caringly.
"Why are we not good at having children Ron?" Hermione questioned "We fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. If one person is not good at something then the other always is. Always. Why does this have to be different?" Ron turned to face her with tear filled eyes, knowing the hurt that she was feeling, as he was as well.
"I don't know. I really don't know." He replied "But I promise you that as soon as we can make an appointment in the new year for both of us to go and see a healer, we will."
"Can just lie here for a while like this?" Hermione said, resting her head on his chest as they decided to lie down.
"Of course, I wouldn't want to let you go from this spot anyway. I love you too much you see." Ron answered softly planting a kiss on her forehead.
Authors Note: So I am back from London since I wrote the authors note at the top of this chapter. After an amazing week sadly we got home earlier this morning. I am sorry if anyone doesn't like the concept of Christmas being sad (I don't either) but I felt I would have to write something like this at some point now or in the next few chapters. Anyway, I hope you liked this (in a negative way) and thank you once again. PLEASE REVIEW.
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