Chapter 8 The Christmas Holidays.
The next month and a half flew by - the students were very busy with lessons, Qudditich, dates in Hogesmeade, and lots of other activities. Eventually though, December 17th arrived, and those who were going home for Christmas boarded the Hogworts Express, and headed home. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Ginny were to be met by Hermione's parents at Kings Cross Station as they were all spending Christmas at the Grangers this year. Ron and Ginny were really excited as this was their first 'Muggle Christmas'. Draco was calmer, although he was still curious about it. Harry, on the other hand, had mixed feelings about having a Muggle Christmas – Christmas with the Dursleys had never been fun. TV, food, watch Dudley open 100's of gifts whilst he got some old socks or some other horrid gift, TV and bed – rather boring really.
When they at last reached Kings Cross Station the 5 of them headed through the barrier where Jayne and Robert Granger greeted them. "Hermione", they cried hugging her. They then greeted the others, Robert shaking hands, whilst Jayne hugged each child in turn. They placed their luggage in the boot of the Grangers people carrier and climbed in. The drive to Hermione's home was an hour and a half. "Are you hungry children ?", asked Jayne, "starving", they replied, "Mione, Greek, Italian, or Mexican ?", asked Robert. "Mmm, Mexican Dad", answered Hermione, "Mexican it is then", decided Robert as he pulled into the driveway.
"Ok children let me show you your rooms", said Jayne (the Grangers house had 6 bedrooms). "Harry you are in here – a cream and blue room which was a reasonable size – it had it's own ensuite bathroom", "all the bedrooms have ensuites that's the way we designed it", said Jayne proudly. "Ron you're in here", said Jayne opening the door to a room decorated in apple-green, that was next to Harry's. "Draco you're in here" – Robert opened a door opposite the room in which Harry was sleeping, this room was decorated in yellow. "Ginny you're in here", said Jayne opening the door of the room opposite Ron's and next to Draco's, this room was decorated in lilac. Hermione's room was at the end of the hallway, and Mr and Mrs Grangers was at the other end of the house away from the children. "Ok everyone lets get showered and changed then we'll go to El Loco's for dinner", declared Robert.
10 minutes later the boys and Robert emerged dressed in black trousers, shoes, and shirts. 5 minutes after that they were joined by Ginny, Hermione, and Jayne, all 3 of whom looked great. Ginny was wearing a simple denim dress over a long sleeved yellow t shirt, with a pair of denim knee – high boots with yellow embroidery to match. Hermione was wearing a pink corduroy skirt, a cream top which was fitted and a pink wrap over cardigan. On her feet were pink suede boots, and Jayne had a white lace blouse, a tan suede skirt, and tan suede boots to match. All 3 of them had their hair plaited and they looked very elegant. "let's go", said Robert. They piled into the people carrier, and headed to El Loco's for dinner.
"A table for 7 please", asked Jayne. They we're lead to a big round table where Robert ordered a bit of everything. They had fun trying the different dishes - Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Draco had never had Mexican food before, and each had a different favourite. "Now here is our schedule for the week", begun Jayne, Harry and Ron laughed, now they knew where Hermione got it from always being organised and sometimes bossy too. Jane reached into her handbag pulled out a piece of paper and read, "Sunday 18th – church, roast dinner, walk, games, tea, TV, bed. Monday 19th Christmas shopping, spaghetti bolognaise for dinner, TV/reading, bed. Tuesday 20th a party at Hermione's grandparents house – a lunch party that is, and carol singing, sausages and mash for dinner, games and bed. Wednesday 21st baking and pre-Christmas cooking, bowling, gift wrapping, sweet and sour chicken, rice and stir fry for dinner, reading/TV, and bed. Thursday 22nd swimming, walk, dinner out, pantomime, drinks, home, and bed. Friday 23rd lay up the dining room for Christmas day, clean whole house, a game of Twister. At this Hermione groaned, "Mum I'm too old for Twister". "Oh come on Hermione it's fun and it'll keep Kayleigh-Anne, Sophie, and Annabella occupied whilst Aunty Victoria and I do the O.A.P.'s Christmas party at the Parish Hall".
Just then Roberts mobile rang, "hello", he said "Jack slow down your what where ?", Robert asked his younger brother, "ah, ha, I see, yep, sure, ok". He hung up and looking at the group said "Hermione that was your Uncle Jack he's arriving for Christmas tomorrow with Aunty Sarah they're bringing Chloe, William, Matyas, and Sammy with them". William and Matyas were Hermione's only boy cousins, twins they were 12 years old, Chloe was 14, and Sammy the youngest was 7. Victoria's girls were 6, 4, and 3. "Oh no where are they all going to sleep", groaned Jayne. "Well tomorrow Ron and Draco will have to move into Harry's room, Ginny will have to share with Hermione, William and Matyas can have Ron's room, Jack and Sarah in Draco's room, and Sammy and Chloe in Ginny's room. When Victoria and Christopher arrive they can sleep in the family room. Kayleigh-Anne, Sophie, and Annabella will have to sleep in Hermione's old play room, next to the family room", decided Robert. "Anyway getting back to our schedule – Christmas Eve will be spent preparing the Christmas dinner, watching Christmas films, going to confession followed by Christmas Mass, home then Christmas Karoke, and bed. I'm not cooking on Christmas Eve we'll get fish 'n' chips instead", finished Jayne.
Each day flew by, and on the day they went shopping Mr Granger drove them to the Blue Water shopping centre in Kent so that could shop in warmth and comfort. Jayne and Hermione having been to Blue Water before excitedly told the others about it, and Ginny thought it sounded brilliant. Everyone had a great time and found something for everyone. However, Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Draco had to floo over to Gringotts (the wizard bank) and withdraw some wizard money before exchanging it for Muggle money with the Goblins. As he was passing the window of a muggle Jewellers Draco spotted the perfect ring for Hermione. It was 18 carrot yellow and white gold with a heart shaped diamond in the middle, and it cost £300. "I'll have that ring please", he asked the lady behind the counter. He paid for the ring, and then went to the florist where he ordered a dozen red roses for Hermione. "To be delivered on Christmas Eve", he instructed the florist. Lastly he bought Hermione a CD of romantic love songs.
When Christmas Eve came the Granger House was crowded and all 12 children were over excited about Christmas the next day. By lunchtime the adults we're tearing their hair out and not much was getting done, "please calm down", a frustrated Jayne told the children. "I know", said Robert, "Hermione, Draco, Harry, Ron, and Ginny can baby-sit the younger children and take them out for the afternoon", "ok Dad", answered Hermione. Robert handed them some money they put on their coats and went swimming.
When Annnabella who's 3 got cold after an hour or so they stopped swimming, and went to the park instead. They played on all the equipment and then played football. The team captains were William and Matyas, and William's team consisted of Hermione, Ron, Chloe, Kayleigh – Anne, and Annabella. Matyas's team consisted of Harry, Draco, Ginny, Sammy, and Sophie. William's team won 5 – 2.
At 5PM Hermione announced it was time to go and get ready for Mass and have tea. Mass begun at 7 and Hermione's parents were devout Catholic's so they liked to get there early to light candles before hand. It was also advisable to get to Christmas Mass early as the church tended to be extra busy at this time of year. The 12 of them walked back to Hermiones and were greeted by the smell of fish 'n' chips – their mouths watering they devoured them quickly. They then dressed for church and then Hermione put two plaits in each of the younger girls hair and tied ribbons to match their tops at the ends. The older girls and women each had a single plait.
When they arrived at the church they each lit candles for loved ones they had lost, and said prayers for them. They then sung carols – Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and We Three Kings Of Orient Are… before the mass itself began. During the mass itself they sang Silent Night (entrance hymn), On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (placing of the baby Jesus in the crib), The First Noel (Offertory hymn), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (during communion), Oh Holy Night (during the collection), and Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem to finish. They finished singing and Ginny said, "that last song was lovely", "they're Christmas Carols Ginny", corrected Jayne.
They went home and put the 4 youngest children to bed as it was 8:30 when they got home. "William, Matyas, Chloe, you have an hour and then it's time for you 3 to be in bed" said Aunty Sarah. "Ok Mum", they we're rather tired so they didn't mind. "Hermione, Ron, Harry, Draco and Ginny I want you 5 in bed by 10 please", said Jayne, "oh Mum, I'm an adult now".
The next morning they woke to hear festive music playing from the kitchen – breakfast room, and the smell of kippers, scrambled eggs, and bagels cooking. "Merry Christmas 'Mione", said Draco kissing her, "merry Christmas Draco", replied Hermione kissing him back. 10 minute's later all 6 adults and all 12 children were sitting down to breakfast, and wishing each other a 'merry Christmas'. After breakfast the children asked for their presents but the adults said they must get dressed first. They all ran off to shower and dress and soon everyone emerged dressed to the nines. The men and the boys wore tuxedos, and the women and girls dresses.
"Right lets see if Father Christmas has been shall we", said Victoria, "yeah presents", everyone exclaimed. The next hour or so was taken up with opening presents, and Draco decided he would propose to Hermione at dinner that afternoon. Dinner was scheduled as follows starter – 1PM – a song from each person – main course 1:30 PM – games – 3:30 puddings – more games – 5PM – cheese and biscuits, liquor's coffee, chocolates etc. This was to be followed by more games, karaoke, and dancing. At 8:30 everyone was going to have turkey sandwiches followed by more dancing and karaoke, and then at 10:30 everyone would go to bed. He decided that between dessert and the cheese course would be perfect. He would sing songs that told her exactly he felt about her, make a speech, get down on one knee and ask her to marry him. The perfect plan thought Draco feeling very pleased with himself. The younger children spent the morning playing with their new toys, whilst the older ones Chloe, Ginny, Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione talked, read, listened to music, went for a walk, and talked some more. As the day drew on Draco began to feel nervous, but he managed to stay calm somehow.
The first 2 courses of dinner were delicious, and uneventful. However, during pudding Draco became nervous once again and in order to keep himself calm he became very quiet. Once the pudding had been eaten, Draco stood up cleared his throat and began his proposal.
He got down on one knee and said, "Hermione, you've made me happier than I've ever been in my life, and I love you so much it would make me even happier if to share the rest of my life with you, will you marry me ?". Hermione was quiet with shock for a minute or so, here was Draco, on one knee, holding a beautiful diamond ring in front of her, in front of everyone, and she thought she had heard him say "would she marry him".
"What did he just say, did he say what I thought he said ?", Hermione whispered to Ginny, "yeah he did" Ginny whispered back, "oh God", exclaimed Hernione quietly. "Of course I'll marry you Draco, I love you", she replied. Kissing him again around of applause broke out from around the table as Draco slipped the engagement ring onto Hermione's finger.
"This calls for our finest champagne", declared Robert, and he disappeared and emerged 10 minutes later with 18 champagne flutes, and 3 bottles of expensive champagne. Pouring everyone a glass of champagne he said, "a toast to my newly engaged daughter Hermione and her fiancée Draco, I'm so proud, may they have many happy years together. So I would like you all to raise your glasses in a toast to 'Mione and Draco". "'Mione and Draco", everyone echoed as more applause broke out. After that the day became an engagement party as well as a Christmas celebration. Jayne put on some music and everyone began dancing.