Never Left Out

A crisp winter breeze ruffled the bushy mane of Hermione Granger. Unique and elegant snowflakes dotted her chilled and reddening face. The weather was ideal for New Year's Eve. And it would lay down the ultimate conditions for the ultimate battle of perfectly-shaped snowballs and strategy. It would be legendary. For more than one reason.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny ventured out into the cold. Harry, Ron, and Ginny looked positively delighted by it, but Hermione, rather predictably, wasn't. The view was breath-taking, and the pure and pristine snow hadn't been touched. It doesn't get much more beautiful and serene than that.

Ginny initiated the fight by hurling a snowball straight in Harry's face. Harry sprinted after her, and Ron tackled him. Soon enough, snow balls were everywhere and there triumphant and pained cries echoed throughout the air.

Hermione chuckled as she watched her friends. She had preferred not to join, because she had always thought that immature pastimes like snowball fights were a waste of her breath. Instead, she could have been reading or studying, two things she more readily favored. Besides, they were having so much fun it didn't seem like they had even noticed her absence.

Hermione leaned against the tree and smiled to herself. A strong part of her wanted to be out there, scooping up snow and firing it straight for Ron's face. Or to expertly dodge another snowball from Ron. Or to have him chase her around preparing to tackle her to the ground. There was a reason all of her thoughts revolved around Ron. She couldn't help it. Hermione had given up on denying it; there was no point. She was too far gone. Hermione was now fully focused on getting Ron to notice that. Soon. Tonight, she reassured herself. She had an idea.

As Hermione broke free of her pleasant reverie, she saw that Harry and Ron had both ganged up on Ginny. Hermione wasn't worried. For Ginny. She knew the fiery redhead was stronger than everyone had always perceived her to be, and she could most likely hold her ground.

Her gaze wandered towards the Burrow. The old Christmas lights draped around the windows added a beautiful, warm feeling. This winter holiday felt the closest to her previous winter holidays, with her parents. It only seemed like there was less stress and pressure as the years before. Oddly enough. She only hoped it wouldn't be her last winter at the Burrow, and that in years to come-

SPLAT! Hermione gasped in shock as the frigid orb of snow hit her square in the face. After the shock had worn off and the snow had begun to freeze her nose, she wiped it off angrily with her knit mittens. She wiped the snow out of her eyes and saw Ron watching her, his charming lopsided smile in full force, a mile wide. And his arm was thrown across his body, like he had just hurled a snowball as hard as he could. And he was still facing his target.

"RON!" She screeched. She took off after him like a bat out of hell, and scooped up, rather unskillfully, a hand full of snow and molded it together in a spherical shape. As she chased after him, snowball poised up high as she was ready to fire it back at him, she noticed her anger ebb away and pure delight.

He laughed maniacally at her pathetic pursuit. He dodged her expertly, which only aggravated her more.

"Get back here, Ronald Weasley! I'm going to make you pay for that!" she warned, unable to fight back the smile that was making its way to her face.

He only laughed.

"Pay for what? You know you were just waiting for that, Hermione--" he retorted confidently with a handsome smirk.

"What? Was I wearing some giant target over my front or something? I wouldn't be surprised you missed, considering your horrible aim," she replied casually, eyeing him expectantly.

Harry overheard, and practically doubled-over in laughter. Ginny took this opportunity to pin him to the ground and tickle him viciously. He looked like he really didn't mind.

"No. I just figured you wouldn't want to be left out," Ron shrugged simply, his lopsided smile in full force.

"You thought that I wouldn't want to be left out of this? Is that what you are saying?" Hermione said in disbelief, flattered by his mysterious charm and grinning only because she couldn't help it.

"Then why are you smiling, and clearly enjoying yourself?" he asked pointedly, crossing his arms. Nothing amused him more than seeing Hermione in this irritated mood. It was never hard to get her that way either. Almost everything he did seemed to bother her.

But he had gotten her there. She was impressed, for she was unable to explain why she had such a large grin on her face. And she knew it. She stared at him in mock-exasperation. She couldn't let him know this if she could help it. How was she going to get out of this? Her weary gaze fell to her hand. The one that was holding a snowball.

She was no longer in doubt of what to do.

"Don't even think about it Herm--" Ron said warningly, almost as if he could see the gears turning in her head. But, he was cut-off from his advice because his mouth was full of snow.

She burst out laughing at him. He was so adorable and charming. No one could make her smile or laugh like Ron. No one at all.

"Well, two can play that game," Ron said as he charged after her.

Her lovesick heart leaped in ecstasy, but he had reached her before she even had a chance to leave. Ron playfully tackled her to the ground and didn't let her move.

Hermione looked up at her attacker, grinning again and trying as hard as she could to get up. But he was too strong for her. Hermione sighed in aggravation and surrendered. It was at that moment where their eyes met. Ron was grinning almost sheepishly and Hermione's admiring gaze faded away.

Hermione was very comfy right here, with Ron practically on top of her. She only hoped he was as comfortable and pleased.

"Get in here, you six! Dinner's ready!" Mrs. Weasley yelled as she stuck her head out the back door, with the Christmas wreath jingling merrily as she opened and closed the door, interrupting the climactic instant.

Ron gave Hermione his hand so she could stand up, which she accepted graciously. Moment over.

* * *

"These are absolutely delicious, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione complimented sincerely as she helped herself to a plate of chocolate chip cookies.

"Yea, great Mum," Ron said through a mouthful of gingerbread cookies.

Hermione rolled her eyes in reproach, as Mrs. Weasley scolded him.

"What time is it?" Harry asked impatiently.

It was almost midnight.

Hermione took a deep breath. She wasn't even sure if she would go through with it. But, if it didn't happen now, it might never happen. Hermione wouldn't be able to bare that.

"We still have about five minutes, Harry, calm down," Ginny pacified with a smirk.

"Arthur, are you sure that the twins will be all right?" she asked nervously, wringing her dress with her hands.

"They'll be fine, Molly, quit worrying. This is their field of expertise. They knew as much about explosives as I do about eckletricity," he consoled in confidence. Mrs. Weasley, quite understandably, wasn't very reassured.

Fred and George had prepared a fireworks set to ignite and explode at the exact moment of the clock's first strike of the New Year. Mrs. Weasley was rather apprehensive about this originally, but was talked into it by some fair persuasion form her husband.

The remnants of Christmas were scattered everywhere, and several New Year's decorations were placed among them. Hermione was trying to distract herself with all of this petty observation. Didn't work very well.

"How about now, Ginny?" Harry asked again.

Ginny sighed aggregately. "About a minute."

"One minute, everybody!" Harry yelled excitedly. This was a rarity for him. To be this excited about something. Hermione wasn't even sure why he was excited. Not that it really mattered. As long as Harry was happy, everyone was happy.

The chatter ceased quite a bit, and everyone gathered closer together, and faced the field where Fred and George's spectacle would originate.

Hermione's heart beat quickened as part of Ron's arm touched hers. She often felt very childish and ridiculous to get this psyched up and thrilled over a single touch, but it didn't matter. Anything concerning Ron had this effect on her. Why wouldn't it? She was hopeless.

Harry had grabbed Ginny's wrist eagerly and was reading the countdown aloud from her watch. Ginny looked like she was restraining a cheerful smile at Harry, but wasn't succeeding. After some heavy threats of blackmail, cursing, disembowelment, and finally bribing, Ginny had eventually confessed to Hermione that she had a tiny, miniscule, so-small-it-shouldn't-even-count, pointless, and stupid crush on Harry. But Hermione knew better. She had interpreted that to mean that Ginny was head over heals in love with Harry. No surprise there.

Hermione and Ginny exchanged conspiring and sly smiles as Harry reached the tens.

"Ten seconds left! 9...8..."

Hermione smoothed the wrinkles out of her jumper.

"7...6..."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears. Funniest part was, it was already

glued there.

"5...4..."

She was starting to have second thoughts. Maybe she shouldn't do it. It's stupid. He'll never treat you the same way again...

"3..."

Now or never.

"2..."

C'mon, Hermione. You can do this, you know you can.

"1..."

Oh, Merlin. Here it comes.

"Happy New Year, everybody!" Harry shrieked, but Ginny had shut him up, and shut him up good she did. His eyes bugged out in shock as she kissed him rather earnestly, but he warmed up to the idea in good time.

Everywhere around the room couples were sharing their kisses. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Remus and Tonks, Harry and Ginny, Fred and George had gallantly burst in and smooched their long time girlfriends Angelina and Alicia...everyone had someone to kiss.

"Ron..." Hermione began anxiously.

As he ripped his eyes from the passion of Harry and Ginny to Hermione's charming face, she threw herself on him and kissed him smack on the lips. She knew how much she'd regret it, and how much she'd be humiliated, how hard it would be to look him in the eye... But it was all unbelievably, unfathomably worth it.

The best part was, that after the shock wore off, he began kissing her back.

Her heart was soaring.

Since all good things must come to an end, so must this. Hermione was dreading it, since she wasn't sure how he would react even though he was kissing her back and how it would be such an awkward atmosphere.

They slowly pulled apart. Her stomach fluttered.

When Ron regained his vocal abilities, he croaked, "Hermione, what was that for?"

She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "I just figured you wouldn't want to be left out," she replied casually, as if randomly and spontaneously snogging your best friend was completely normal.

The occupants of the room (with the exception of Harry and Ginny, who were completely oblivious to their surroundings or the fireworks) watched sporting amused grins. They had waited so long for Ron and Hermione to come around.

"Oh. I gotcha," Ron replied, still in a slight daze. His lopsided smile appeared, melting her to a puddle. Hermione was in full ease and contentment. He knew now.

His strong hand reached hers, and squeezed it gently, and they watched the fireworks scar the evening sky.

Doesn't get any better than that.