A/N: I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I appreciate all the reviews.
The journey to the couch was indeed a long one. Hermione herself chose a seat on the armrest, and beckoned Ron to sit across from her.
"Where do I begin?"
"Well if it helps you can talk about the funeral," he suggested.
Hermione waved him off. Her palm found its place under her chin as she tapped thoughtfully.
"I think it's time to move past the funeral. We can't dwell on those that have died. They've lived their lives and now it's our turn."
"Okay…" he trailed off.
"While I was at my parents' house there was this huge episode. It was disgraceful. It was embarrassing not only to myself, but to the rest of the family members. And I still remember the look on the pastor's face. It was priceless."
She could almost talk about it. As if it was a thing of the past.
"What exactly did happen?"
"That's not all that important, but we all grew from it a bit. Out of tragedies come wonderful events and it's just…" she trailed off dreamily.
"Just what?"
"My parents they have finally let go. There is no hostility between us and I guess I'm in the wizarding world permanently."
"That's great."
"For me," paused Hermione. "But it may not have the same effect for you."
"What does this mean?"
"I think you know what I mean."
He stared at her as if he was not willing to believe in her. But she nodded his head contradicting his shake of `no'.
"Ron it's time to just let the relationship die. I'm sure that we can just be friends. We were always better at friendship than at relationships."
Hermione couldn't help but smile to herself. She had finally done what she had promised Harry.
"You're kidding me right," yelled Ron.
Hermione flinched. She had expected anger from Ron, but somehow it was real. She was experiencing his pain and she felt it come off of him in waves.
"I just want you to calm down a bit," she pleaded.
"No," he responded jabbing a finger in direction. "I think I'm as calm as a person can be in this situation. I knew something was up when you moved in with Harry. Just friends works for us, but Harry's the exception. He's always the exception isn't he?"
"No," she said shaking her head. She bit down hard on her lip. "I have always tried to keep it equal between you guys."
Why weren't break ups peaceful?
"Hermione, you can break up with me, or do whatever the hell you want with your life," shouted Ron. "Do everything you want with Harry, and be happy. But don't you dare stand in front of me, and tell me that it's all going to be alright. Maybe I don't love you the way that you'd prefer, but I am a person just like you. I just don't appreciate that you had to lie to me. I thought we were friends, but I guess I was wrong."
"We are friends," defended Hermione.
"Not the same way that you're friends with Harry," he shrugged.
He looked at Hermione his blue eyes alive with anger. She was speechless as she shuffled her feet. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts. She heard him apparate away, but she found nothing to convince her to look after him.
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Hermione sighed as she flopped down on the couch grabbing at a pillow and hugging it tightly to her chest.
"Hermione you're going to love this," shouted Harry from the foyer. "I believe I've found the perfect tree. It's nice, tall and full, just as you described to me. I think we're in store for the perfect Christmas."
"Is that so?" she asked laughing slightly.
She knew he would worry. And she didn't want him picking over her. Hermione knew it was how he showed affection, but she didn't feel in the mood right now. And that's when she got the perfect idea.
"I think I'm going to take a bath. Do you think you can handle dinner tonight?"
"Sure," muffled Harry.
Hermione had to strain her ears to catch the word, but she was positive that was what she had heard. She would have loved to watch Harry struggle to overpower the tree before he realized that he had a wand. Or perhaps he could not reach it at the optimum moment.
She hummed herself a mellow tune as she began to block out the rest of the world. Hermione walked into her room and further into her bathroom. She was taken away form the world of color and introduced to the pure white of it all. Kreacher had nothing better to do all day to clean although she insisted otherwise.
She sat on the edge of the tub as she turned on the faucet and watched the water trickle out. Hermione pulled down a bottle of bubble bath and began to pour it into the water. She sat and hummed a tune while she watched the water pour out into the tub. She began loosening the laces on her shoes and threw them off.
They hit the door not long before Harry peeked his head in the door.
"Are you alright?" he asked concerned as he looked over at the tub.
"Harry I'm fine. It's a bit chilly outside so I wanted to take a warm, relaxing bath. Is there a problem with that?"
"I can't worry about you?"
"I'm happy and I'm healthy. What is there to worry about?"
Hermione turned off the water and walked over to Harry. She began to usher him out of the bathroom until there was only a small section of the door open.
Hermione leaned in and kissed him. Something she had not done in quite a while. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed his way back into the bathroom. She stopped the heated kiss as she felt herself blush.
"Hermione there's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's just me and you."
"I know that," whispered Hermione. She carefully cleared her throat before she responded to him. "But you know that there's a tree downstairs, and a dinner that needs to be cooked. And I need to be taking a bath right now."
"But you and I…we'll continue this later."
"Sure," squeaked Hermione. "But that means you have to leave now."
Harry's smile was contagious. So she had to smile as Harry gave a mischievous look and pecked her on the cheek. She quickly divulged her body of clothes and hoped into the tub feeling all of her troubles fading away into the vat of water.
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"Did the Christmas tree turn out alright?" asked Mrs. Weasley upon her sons return.
"I would have no idea. I didn't stay long enough to see it," moaned Ron.
"What do you mean? I thought Harry wanted the perfect tree for Hermione's first Christmas at the house. I've been hearing talk about her parents ultimatum."
Despite himself he chuckled.
"That's a long time over. Hermione has decided to stay here in the wizarding world."
"Isn't that wonderful," signed Mrs. Weasley. "I would sure miss her help on the holidays. We need more women around this house."
"I was figuring that Harry and Hermione could spend Christmas together by themselves this year. And rather we can spend it together as the Weasley family. It'll be nice to have just us for once."
"Oh, Ronald, don't be selfish," admonished Ginny.
She had floated in on the last piece of the conversation. She realized that he must have found out about Hermione and Harry. She was secretly rooting for them, but was still concerned for her brother's feelings.
"You have no idea how they feel."
"But I know exactly what you're going through."
"Do you?"
"I've been dumped a couple of times, and trust me life does go on."
"No, Ginny, you definitely don't understand how I feel right now. This goes deeper than our relationship. It's our friendship that she's ruined. And that is irreparable."
"Fine throw yourself a pity party, but I am not going to sit here and watch it all go down. I am going over to Grimmauld and inviting them over for Christmas. It may not be what you want to hear, but it's the truth. She may have wrecked your friendship, but you're alienating her."
Ron ignored Ginny and went up to his room. Ginny flinched as the door slamming rang throughout her ears.
"Is it true?" asked Mrs. Weasley curiously.
"What?"
"Is it true that Ron and Hermione are no longer together? And is it true that it is Harry and Hermione now."
"Yes and yes," cheered Ginny.
"You're a bit happy about this aren't you, dear?"
"Don't tell Ron, mum, but I kind of facilitated the beginnings of the relationship. Or at least I gave Hermione that extra push that she needed."
"Ginny…" started Mrs. Granger.
"Mum, you and I both know that Ron isn't want she needs. He's my brother and all, but he is quite stupid. I honestly couldn't take it anymore."
"That's not what I was going to say."
"Oh?"
"It doesn't matter what you believe should happen. Harry and Hermione are adults and I'm sure they don't want you meddling in their personal affairs. And even if they don't mind just wait until your brother finds out. There will be no end to it. And I am not playing mediator for a squabble between the two of you."
"You're not going to tell him are you?" asked Ginny.
"I have never lied to my children, not even about lying. If he so happens to broach the subject with me, I will tell him."
Ginny cursed her mother. But Mrs. Weasley hadn't noticed as she continued to stir her pot on the stove.
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A/N: Please Review.
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