Chapter 27 - Christmas at the Burrow
The weeks following the custody hearing were full of changes. In the divorce settlement, Harry had given Ginny the house on Windward Circle, but she decided that she didn't want to live there anymore and sold it to a young married couple with a baby on the way. Ginny decided to spend some of the money on a round the world tour following her old team, the Holyhead Harpies. The owner decided to hire her to be team journalist and sell her diaries to Quidditch Illustrated.
Harry thought long and hard about where he would move. He considered moving back to 12 Grimmauld Place, which he still owned, but it was so dark and dreary there that he decided it wouldn't be a good place for him and Lily to live.
Instead, in search of a new start, he purchased a four bedroom townhouse in muggle London, which was much more suitable for the children, with a lovely garden in the back. When Harry notified his bosses at the Ministry that he wanted to resign to be a stay at home dad, they counter-offered that he could keep his position but have more flexible hours and the option to work from home.
Harry decided to keep his job, after all. He hired a tutor to home school Lily while he attended to his Auror responsibilities. Every day at 4PM, when Lily was done with her studies, he would take her flying over London, obscured by a disillusionment charm. Lily had been scared to go back on her broom since her accident, so Harry spent time with her to make her feel safe again.
Meanwhile, Hermione continued with her new job at the Ministry, taking small trips here and there. She and Ron had settled their divorce out of court; he also left the house to her although they didn't need to split their assets because Hermione had a well-paying job. She and Harry didn't spend much time together, mostly since he was now working and living in London and she was busy with her job.
Hermione was almost grateful for the distance, because she knew if she spent any time of length with Harry that they would be crossing that line in their relationship and she vowed not to do anything until her divorce was final, which wouldn't be until spring.
Christmas was fast approaching, and this would be the first time the kids would all be home again following their parents splits. Hermione was particularly anxious because Molly and Arthur had invited her to the Burrow for Christmas. They insisted she come because even if she and Ron were no longer married, the holiday was for the kids and she should be there. Hermione owled Harry to ask him if he planned to attend.
Harry -
Hope you and Lily are well and settled into your new home. I am sorry that I have been out of touch lately, but I've had a few last minute trips at work.
I got an owl recently from Molly and Arthur inviting me to the Burrow for Christmas. I had planned not to go this year, but they are insisting that I am still family and should go for sake of the kids.
Have they invited you and are you going? I have mixed emotions about this and I would imagine you do, too. Things are going to be awkward to say the least.
Let me know what you plan to do.
Love from,
Hermione
When Harry read her note, he responded right away.
Hermione -
I got the same invitation from Molly. I know she will make me feel incredibly guilty if I don't go. Lily also wants me to go, she says it won't be Christmas without me.
So, yes, I am going. I hope you will too. I know things will be awkward, but there will be so many Weasleys around that perhaps we will blend in? Or am I delusional?
I miss you and hope to see you at Christmas.
Love,
Harry
+++++++++++++
On Christmas eve, Hermione stared at herself in the mirror at her outfit, a woolly brown sweater with a long skirt and boots. She sighed, feeling the butterflies in her stomach about facing the Weasley clan and also Harry. Rose knocked on her mother's bedroom door, also dressed similarly.
"Hey Mum, ready to go? Hugo's getting impatient."
Hermione turned around to look at her daughter. She seemed to have grown a bit taller since the summer and her figure was starting to develop womanly curves.
"Rose, honey, I think we should go bra shopping soon." Hermione mused.
Rose turned pink. "Mum! It's Christmas - can we talk about my emerging womanhood some other time?"
"Sorry. You're just growing up so fast." She sighed.
"Mum, are you nervous about tonight?"
Hermione stared at Rose, amazed how perceptive she could be. "I'm trying not to be, but it's just going to be difficult with the whole family there."
"And Uncle Harry, too?" Rose asked. "What exactly is going on between you? You barely speak of him."
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. Rose, I won't lie to you. I do have feelings for Harry and he does as well. But we are keeping them at bay at the moment because we don't want to move too quickly."
"Did you know that Dad has invited Luna Lovegood tonight?" Rose asked.
Hermione looked surprised. "Really? Is she his date?"
"He won't call her his date, but when I saw him the other day at the joke shop, there was definitely something between them. He says she is his friend and she has no immediate family and he doesn't want her to be alone on Christmas."
"How thoughtful of him." Hermione said, raising her eyebrows.
"Are you jealous, Mum?"
"No, Rose, of course not. Why don't you gather up the presents and your brother and let's go."
The Burrow was only a ten minute walk from their house, so Hermione and her children took a leisurely stroll in the cold December night, each carrying their gifts, which had been miniaturized for portability. It felt like snow, but there was none falling nor on the ground.
Hermione was a bit peeved that Ron was bringing Luna, not that she was jealous, but it seemed that he was allowed to publicly move on with his life, while she was caught in a state of flux regarding her relationship with Harry. True, she had been the one who insisted that they couldn't move forward until their divorces were final. But she knew if she and Harry announced their intentions so soon after their splits, that she would be perceived as a home-wrecker and Harry a philanderer. She didn't want the children to have to deal with that. Rumor and innuendo was one thing, but now that they had admitted their attraction, they had to tread carefully.
Hermione knocked on the front door and Molly opened it. She was still dressed in her apron and looked a little harried.
"Hermione, Rose, Hugo!" She exclaimed as she embraced all three simultaneously after ushering them inside. "Happy Christmas!"
"Happy Christmas!" Hermione responded, taking in the familiar disheveled warmth of the place.
"Hang your coats on the coat rack and then put your presents under the tree. Half of the family is in the living room already. I'm going back into the kitchen to check on the turkey. Help yourself to some eggnog and some snacks. We have non alcoholic eggnog for Rose and Hugo in the den."
Hermione followed Molly's instructions and went into the living room, which had been magically expanded to accommodate all of her guests, and it was decorated to the hilt. Over the fireplace, each Weasley grandchild (there were 15 of them, at last count) had their own stocking. The tree was at least twenty feet high and decorated with fairy lights, popcorn strings and animated ornaments dangling off the branches. Christmas music was piped in over the wireless.
Hermione, Rose and Hugo entered the living room and headed straight to the tree to place their gifts. They did not restore them to full size yet, because they would run out of room otherwise.
Arthur was standing near the fireplace deep in conversation with Bill and Fleur, when he noticed Hermione standing awkwardly near the tree, watching over the kids.
"Hermione, Rose, Hugo! So glad you came, Happy Christmas!" He exclaimed, a bit too enthusiastically as he approached them and embraced each.
"Happy Christmas, Arthur." Hermione replied.
"Rose, Hugo, your cousins are in the den - why don't you go say hello?"
Rose saw this as her grandfathers' polite way of telling them that he wanted to speak to her mother alone, so she grabbed her brother's hand and lead him into the den.
"How are you doing?" Arthur asked.
"I'm doing okay." Hermione replied. "I know things are going to be a little awkward tonight, but I'm glad to see you."
"I am, too. Hermione, you may not be married to Ron anymore, but Molly and I still love you and consider you an honorary Weasley. And if anyone gives you any trouble tonight, you just let me know and Molly will set them straight."
Hermione chuckled at the image. "Is Ginny here tonight?"
"She hasn't arrived yet, apparently she is coming in from Bulgaria tonight, so she'll be late."
"I haven't spoken with her since the split. I don't think I'm one of her favorite people at the moment."
"Yes, well, with the ugliness in the papers a couple of months ago…let's just hope that nobody talks about it - it is Christmas, it's supposed to be a happy time."
Just then, Ron and Luna entered the room, closely followed by George and Katie and their thirteen year old son, Freddie.
Arthur approached his guests and greeted them, while Hermione hung back. She felt someone tug on her elbow and found herself face to face with Fleur. Fleur was actually one of her favorite sister-in-laws, although her initial impression was not positive. She had first thought her vain and flighty but once she had married Bill, Hermione found her to be intelligent, loyal and a great wife and mother. She had given Hermione marriage advice over the years. She had also lost most of her French accent, although the occasional trace could still be heard.
"Hermione, so nice to see you." Fleur said, kissing her on both cheeks.
"You, too. Happy Christmas."
"So what do you think of Ron bringing his new girlfriend tonight?"
"Luna is a friend of his, Fleur. She has no immediate family, so Ron thought to invite her."
"How thoughtful of him." Fleur said cattily.
"Now, now." Hermione smiled. "Luna is an old friend from school, she's very nice. A little strange, but nice. And I'm glad Ron likes her, really. Perhaps she'll be able to appreciate him in a way I never could."
"You mean the way Harry appreciates you?" Fleur asked knowingly.
Hermione blushed. "Fleur, Harry and I are…"
"Just friends? Hermione, don't lie. I always knew there was something special between you and Harry. I remember thinking during the Tri Wizard Tournament all those years ago that you were going to marry Harry Potter some day. Now that you are divorcing Ron, perhaps that is still a possibility."
"Maybe someday…" Hermione admitted.
Fleur noticed Ron and Luna approaching, and she excused herself. "I need to go find my daughter and make sure she and Teddy aren't doing anything naughty under the mistletoe."
"Hermione, Happy Christmas." Ron greeted her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy Christmas Ron, Luna."
"Happy Christmas, Hermione, it's nice to see you." Luna replied. "How are you doing, this must be awkward for you to be here?"
There was nobody like Luna to say uncomfortable truths.
"A bit, but it's good to be here. Christmas wouldn't be the same without a visit to the Burrow."
"I've never been here for Christmas, but Ronald has told me funny stories of past holidays. Did you know that George has brought magic mistletoe with him? I think he's going around the house putting it up in unexpected places. I told him to make sure there were no nargles in them. Nobody believes me about the nargles, but they can ruin your holiday."
Hermione politely smiled at Luna, she had gotten used to her flights of fancy years ago. She noticed how Ron watched her with an adoring look as she spoke. He was definitely smitten.
"What is so magical about the mistletoe?" Hermione asked.
"Well, apparently, it goes around and finds people who are in love and it keeps growing over their heads until the pair notices and kiss." Luna explained.
"Does it work?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Well, we tried it in the shop and lots of folks have been kissing, so yeah." Ron said. "Where are
Rose and Hugo? I'd like to see them."
"They're in the den with their cousins." Hermione said.
Ron headed towards the den with Luna following close behind. "We'll see you at dinner, Hermione."
Hermione went over to the table to help herself to some eggnog. She normally didn't drink, but she needed something to calm her nerves. And Molly's eggnog was the best she had ever tasted. She finished her first drink and then went back for a second.
"Happy Christmas, Hermione," said a very familiar male voice, startling her. She looked up and found herself staring into a pair of bespectacled green eyes.
"Harry! You startled me! I almost spilled my eggnog." She exclaimed, flustered.
"Don't you want to wish me a Happy Christmas?" Harry asked, faux wounded.
"Oh, of course, Happy Christmas Harry." Hermione said as Harry moved towards her for a hug. She backed away from him.
"Harry, I don't think we should be hugging in front of everyone." Hermione whispered, although there were very few Weasleys in the room save for Percy and his wife having an intense conversation on the sofa.
Harry felt a little hurt but he understood. "So I guess kissing you under the mistletoe is out, then?"
Hermione wasn't amused. "No, Harry! We mustn't."
"I was joking, Hermione."
"I'm sorry, I'm just a little on edge. Apparently George has brought his magic mistletoe which finds couples who are in love and grows over their heads until they kiss."
"Really, what a great invention - I should buy some from him."
"Harry, really. You aren't taking this very seriously are you?"
"Hermione, it's Christmas, lighten up! So, you think this mistletoe is going to find us and we'll have to kiss in front of everyone?"
"Yes! That would be the worst thing that could happen. What will everyone think?"
"I'm kind of tired worrying about what everyone will think. Hermione, I want to start my life with you and I'm tired of waiting for everything to be final. I don't think I can wait until spring."
"Well, we'll just have to. This isn't easy for me either, Harry."
"Is it? You don't seem to be struggling."
"Of course I'm struggling, Harry. It's been difficult not seeing you the last few weeks. I miss you, you know that."
"I miss you, too. I'm just frustrated that I can't be with you." Harry said running his hands through his hair.
"Well, we'll both have to be frustrated for the time being. And as for the mistletoe, I think you and I should not stand or sit together for very long tonight. I'm going to go to the den to check on the kids, and please don't follow me."
With a sigh, Harry let her go. He thought she was being a bit paranoid. He had looked forward to seeing her again, but he had to admit that a Weasley family gathering was not the best place for forbidden lovers to meet.
"Happy Christmas, Harry," said a familiar female voice. Harry turned around and saw his soon to be ex-wife. He hardly recognized her since he had last seen her two months ago. Ginny had lost about two stone and she was growing out her hair. She looked younger and happier.
"Ginny! How are you?" He asked. "You look great."
"Thanks, I'm doing really well, Harry. I absolutely love my new job, traveling with the Harpies. In addition to my writing, I'm also mentoring some of the newest players. I'm meeting the most amazing people, too."
"I'm glad to hear that, Gin."
"But I'm also glad to be home again, I can't wait to see the kids."
"Well, they want to see you, too. Lily even made you a Christmas present."
"Where are they? Are they in the den, as usual?"
"Yeah, it seems like the whole family has migrated down there."
"Harry, I know Mum invited Hermione - is she here?"
"Yes, Gin, she is. Please don't give her a hard time."
"I'm not, I actually wanted to apologize to her."
"You do?"
"Yeah, for doing that interview with the Prophet and accusing her of being Camilla Parker-Bowles. I know that was a mistake."
"Well, I'm sure she would appreciate it."
+++++
The Christmas feast was a typical Weasley affair, lots of redheads, lots of children, lots of talking, lots of laughter and lots of food. Hermione was always amazed at how Molly could cook for so many people.
Hermione made sure she was seated as far away from Harry as possible, seating herself between her sister-in-laws, Fleur and Katie. Occasionally Harry would try to catch her eye from across the table but she averted her gaze, afraid that someone would see them. She felt like their relationship was the elephant in the room. She gazed enviously at Ron and Luna who sat happily beside each other. They weren't feeding each other off each other's forks yet, but she could easily envision it.
In the middle of dessert, Ginny stood up with her wine glass and tapped it with a spoon so the family would quiet down and pay attention to her.
"Everyone, I want to make a toast. This past year has been full of changes and difficult times, and I realize that I was the cause of a lot of it. I want to apologize to everyone that I hurt with my foolish behavior. I also want to thank my parents and my siblings for supporting me, and even showing me some tough love. I also want to thank Harry for treating me with generosity during our divorce. Thanks to him. I still have my kids in my life. I'm so sorry that our marriage didn't work out, but we have three beautiful children that I will always cherish. And that's what it's all about on Christmas - family. And I have the best family and I love you all. Cheers!"
The entire family raised their glasses and repeated "Cheers!"
After dinner, the family settled into the living room to sing Christmas carols, while the kids examined the small gifts they got in their stockings. Wrapped presents would have to wait until morning, but Molly bent the rules with the stockings. Each child got a gift certificate to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and some sweets.
It was getting late, and the children were sent to bed. Some of the older children, like Freddie, James and Victoire protested that they were too old to go to bed, so they were allowed to stay up later.
It was then that George's mistletoe decided to make an appearance. It first made itself known over Molly and Arthur's head.
"Um, Mum and Dad, I usually don't like to watch old folks snogging, but you will have to rename this place The Jungle if you don't kiss right now!" George said.
Molly looked embarrassed and shook her finger at her son, but good naturedly kissed her husband of forty odd years. The mistletoe immediately stopped growing and retracted to its original size. It then hopped from one couple to the next and each was prompted to kiss. It eventually reached Ron and Luna who was dreamily staring into the fireplace.
Ron turned beet red, he had kissed Luna in private before, but their romantic relationship was very new and he hadn't officially called her his girlfriend. He wasn't sure if he wanted to kiss her in front of Hermione. He looked over at her, and she smiled and nodded that it was okay, although she did excuse herself to go to bathroom.
When Ron and Luna kissed, Harry noticed that Hermione had left the room and followed her. He followed her to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
"Just a second." Hermione called.
"Hermione? Are you okay?" Harry asked.
A minute later, Hermione opened the door. "I'm fine Harry, I just had to use the bathroom."
Harry entered the bathroom and closed the door. "So it didn't bother you that Ron kissed Luna?"
"No, of course not." Hermione replied, folding her arms across he chest. "Ron just looked at me for approval and I gave it to him. I just didn't want to watch, that's all."
"I envy him." Harry said with a sigh. "He gets to kiss the woman he loves in public. When am I going
to get to do that?"
"Harry, we've been through this already….wait a second. Do you love me? You just said that Ron gets to kiss the woman he loves…"
"Yes, Hermione I love you. I thought that was pretty obvious!" Harry exclaimed.
"But you never said that before, I knew you fancied me, but you love me?"
"Again, yes. For such a bright witch, you can be pretty thick sometimes."
"And yet you still love me despite my thickness." Hermione said with a smirk.
"Yes, I love you in spite of that and all of your flaws....the biggest flaw I see right now is that you won't let me kiss you.'
"Well, we are alone right now, with no magic mistletoe." Hermione reached up and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck, pulling him to her for a passionate kiss. Things were beginning to heat up when they heard a knock on the door.
"Hey, whoever is in there, I really need to pee." It was Ron's voice.
Harry pulled away from Hermione and cursed. "I'll be out in a minute, Ron."
"What do we do Harry?" Hermione whispered. "Ron's going to know what we're doing, he's not stupid."
"Well, he's going to find out sooner or later." Harry opened the door.
"Hey Harry." Ron said as he rushed in. He then saw Hermione and his jaw dropped.
"What were you two doing in the loo…" seeing their sheepish faces, he instantly knew.
"You were snogging, weren't you!" Ron exclaimed.
Hermione shut the door. "Ron, keep your voice down!"
"How long has this been going on?" Ron asked, his full bladder momentarily forgotten. "I mean I knew you fancy each other but I wasn't sure you had the balls to act on it, Harry!"
"It's a recent thing, Ron." Hermione explained. "You have to know we didn't kiss until we decided to divorce."
"I believe you, Hermione."
"Are you okay with this, Ron?" Harry asked.
"Well, I guess I have to be, don't I? I suppose it was inevitable. Can I tell Luna about you two?"
"Why Luna?" Harry asked.
"Well, she was pretty certain that you would become a couple sooner or later. She never understood why you two didn't get together years ago. It took me a while to see her point of view, but Luna's right. You two belong together."
Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek. "Thanks, Ron, it means a lot to hear you say that."
Harry shook Ron's hand. "Yeah, thanks mate. I hope we can be friends again."
"Mate, it's Christmas, all is forgiven. But if you two don't mind, I really need to pee."
Harry and Hermione rushed out of the bathroom to give Ron his privacy.
Before they headed back to the living room, Hermione grabbed Harry's arm.
"Harry, I just want you to know something. I love you, too."
The magic mistletoe traveled from the living room down the hallway and found its intended target. They didn't notice it over their heads as they gave each other a sweet kiss before joining the rest of the family.
TBC
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