GracieInGreek

(Not really angsty. More...reflective. And maybe a little funny.) It's Christmas, a day Harry's never had before. Not like this. "Just me and...and you. Just me and you, laying down together and just...looking up from under a Christmas tree. I've never done that. I've never had...this kind of quiet."

This wasn't what Ginny had expected to find when she showed up. "But now here they were, and it was written right in front of her in stolen glances she'd been forced to witness and god knew how many hugs and kisses they'd spared her. Still, she plowed on – maybe if she could just remind him of what it'd been like when Hermione wasn't the only girl in his life."

A night that comes and passes every year is back again, at a time when age has stolen them away. The past plays a part as time ticks.``"She seated herself between them, the fabric of each of their tight-fitting clothes touching. She gripped Ron's elbow and kissed Harry's cheek, as the quiet bells of the old Grandfather clock struck and the Witching Hour ticked into place."

'...But then Hermione's head shook side to side, more hair falling out of her braid: "It's not that I hate being here with you, Harry--" He wasn't sure if she meant 'you' as in him or 'you' as in him and Ron both, but he didn't ask. "...It's just, I miss my family." She sniffed, her voice tight.... "I just need..." She sniffed again. A small rub of her back by Harry's hand seemed to coax the rest of what she needed out of her. Voice breaking and muffled, she said, "I just need to be with the people who love me."' Hermione misses her family, and Harry is all she has.

"Hey, hey, now, Mr. Safety-Man. It was your idea to make the whole place impenetrable to magical entry, remember? And besides, what would our lovely Muggle neighbors think if I just bombarded down the door?" Harry is having some trouble with his keys. Hermione is amused. Smirking ensues. (One-shot)