Just a Wizard

Chapter Sixteen

They made their way back to Remus' house in a fleet of chauffeur driven cars. Remus had arranged for the cars since appartition was impossible, and portkeys were difficult to obtain for personal reasons. A glum Daphne was sitting in the back of the car staring out of the window and trying not to get in Ron and Hermione's way, not that they even noticed her. Ron had pulled Hermione onto his lap almost the moment the car door had closed and he showed no signs of letting her go anytime soon. Not that he'd kissed her, she thought with a frown of disappointment, but she supposed he was being mindful of present company, so she just enjoyed being held against him as his hands stroked soothingly up and down her back and arm. Hermione turned slightly and slid her arms up around his neck, leaning against him again and feeling the enhanced pressure where her breasts contacted his chest. He drew in a sharp breath at the feel of her and then turned it into a cough when Daphne turned and looked at him.

"Are you okay?" Daphne asked him, her attention diverted away from the window for a change.

Ron shifted. "I'm just fine thanks. It's just Hermione, she must have been eating well, she weighs a ton!"

Hermione instantly lifted her head from his shoulder and glared at him in astonishment. "I do not...!"

Ron started laughing at her expression and she couldn't help but join in, feeling truly light-hearted now that he was here with her. She grabbed his ear and twisted it gently, reminding him that she could hurt him if she wanted to and he raised an eyebrow at her, getting that same cocky expression on his face that she loved.

"You might want to think about that," he murmured, grinning wolfishly at her. "You wouldn't want to make me sulk all night."

"Why not?" she asked, trying to match his look and failing dismally.

"Because then I wouldn't be able to pleasure you, would I?" he whispered in her ear, making her shiver and then blush furiously, hiding her face in his neck again as he chuckled.

Daphne smiled at their antics. "It's nice to see her back to normal again," she said to Ron, smiling warmly at him.

"Yeah it is," he agreed, a wealth of meaning in his words as he tightened his arms around the girl in his lap.

"So, how are things with you? The shoulder okay now?"

"Yeah, it's not bad now. There's a scar, of course, but no muscle or bone damage, so it works exactly the same as it used to, or nearly as well," she said grimacing. "It's taken a long time to be able to lift much weight with it, but I've been getting spell therapy so it won't be long now."

"I guess that's to be expected," Ron murmured and watched with a frown as she looked out the back window again. "Looking for someone?"

Daphne jumped and turned her head back to him, trying not to look guilty. "No, not really...er, just seeing if the other cars are behind us."

Ron nodded but still looked confused, waiting for her to elaborate. She grimaced as Hermione came out of hiding and looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Oh, okay, I guess you're sort of like family and all," the older girl said, blushing. "I was looking for Neville."

"Neville? Why?" Ron asked, starting to become amused at the other girls hesitancy.

"No particular reason," she said, shrugging.

"Oh, sweet Merlin, tell me you don't fancy the big wanker?" Ron asked her, grinning.

"He is not a big wanker!" Daphne said sharply, defending him, and Ron's grin got worse.

"He isn't? Oh, this should be interesting," he murmured, looking at Hermione and wiggling his eyebrows.

"Leave her alone," she said, pinching his shoulder and earning herself a look of surprise and then a small pinch on her backside that made her jump. "Hey!" she yelped, rubbing herself.

"You deserved it, maybe now you'll stop attacking me!" he said back, laughing at her.

Their joking and playfulness continued all the way back to the house and Daphne jumped out of the car and stood waiting for the other vehicles to arrive, moving nervously from foot to foot in the cold.

Hermione smiled as Ron helped her out of the car with great care, his hands supporting her the whole time and then pulling her gently to his side so he could walk with her inside the house. He smiled at Remus as they joined him in the hallway and was surprised to get a hug from Emmeline. His eyes took in the way the hall had been redecorated and he knew without asking that Remus had done it so that Hermione and Daffy wouldn't get bad memories from it, although he could imagine they had those anyway.

"So where am I staying?" Ron asked, dropping his bag on the floor and looking at Remus expectantly. "Here or at the Hotel?"

"You can stay here, if you really must," Remus said, cocking his head to one side and narrowing his eyes, waiting.

Ron didn't make him wait long. "In what room?"

Remus nodded and grinned. "That would be up to Hermione. The guest rooms are all made up, because for once I feel generous enough to have all of the others stay as well, seeing as there are only a few of them. One thing though," he said, moving right in front of the bigger man and lowering his voice. "Not under my roof, Weasley, not without one of these," he said, holding up his hand and pointing at his wedding ring.

Ron looked down at Hermione who was chatting to Emmeline and not listening to them, then he looked back at Remus, nodding. "Fair enough."

"Good," Remus said, studying the younger man with a smile before turning to the door as the others started to arrive.

Theodore Knott walked in chatting and laughing with a man who sported dark hair that Hermione didn't recognise. Theodore had apologized for his antics during Hermione's hospital stay, and Hermione had told him all was forgiven as long as he understood if she ever saw him acting that way again he'd find himself at the not so friendly end of her wand. The wizard accepted her terms and promised that he was now reformed, and the two had shook hands amicably. Nonetheless, she looked at Ron in confusion upon seeing the stranger. "That's Gilbert Whimple, he's a friend of Remus'. Head of the Experimental Charms division at the Ministry. And that," Ron continued, gesturing to another, slightly younger man with very short brown hair who had just walked in, "is Roger Davies. Surely you remember him from Hogwarts, you'll like them." He frowned as he said that and turned her so she was standing facing him and no one else. "You'd better not like them too much though."

She studied his face for a second before smiling. "Why not?"

"Because you belong to me," he said instantly, looking impossibly arrogant. "Or at least you will, as soon as I get you within sight of a bed!"

She blushed but stood her ground, raising her eyebrows. "Who says I want to belong to you?"

"Good question mate," Harry said from behind as he arrived, laughing at Ron's rigid back.

"Merlin, it's him again," Ron muttered, looking at her beseechingly. "I can't get rid of him, and believe me I've really tried."

"Yeah, he kept trying to lose me, but it didn't work. Did I forget to mention what a good tracker I am?" Harry said, looking down at Hermione over Ron's shoulder and grinning at her.

"Hey everyone! How's it going?" Theodore Knott said as he got within earshot.

"Bite me," Harry said, sneering comically at the other man and then swinging around when Carter snuck up behind him and did exactly that, nipping at his shoulder and making dog noises. "Goddamn it!"

Ron rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You see what I have to deal with day in, day out? It's enough to drive a normal wizard insane!"

"No way anyone would call you normal," Carter said, feigning shock.

Hermione started laughing at all the banter and eventually Ron introduced her to Gilbert and Rodger, the only two people she didn't know. She thought Gilbert was a bit creepy, what with the way he seemed to be laying on the charm, but Rodger still seemed genuinely nice.

Neville Longbottom was the last to come lumbering in the door and he dropped his bag just inside the hallway, looking around at everyone until he spotted Daphne standing on her own to one side. Hermione looked at the longhaired man and saw the way his eyes brightened when he looked at Daphne, and she nudged Ron so he could see too. Ron tightened one big arm around her possessively as they watched Neville walk over to the other girl and start making conversation, albeit a bit stilted at first. But soon they were laughing and seemed quite relaxed in each other's company.

"Do you think he fancies her?" Hermione asked him on a whisper, making sure no one else was near enough to hear her.

Ron shrugged. "Who knows? He's a clam, so none of us would have the first clue. Judging by the way he's looking at her though, I'd say there was a fair chance he fancies her, yes."

Hermione sighed. "They look sweet, don't they?"

"Well, sweet isn't the word I'd have used, but I guess so. You're just a romantic at heart, aren't you?" he murmured, bending down and giving her a soft kiss that made her melt. "I can't wait to get you on your own," he growled into her ear and then laughed at the way she groaned softly, and hit him.

Remus stuck his fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle to attract everyone's attention, causing all the talking stopped instantly.

"Okay, enough of the impromptu party in the hallway. We'll show you your rooms and then dinner will be in about an hour."

Hermione was almost jumping about with excitement at having Ron with her again, and he found himself grinning widely as she led him upstairs and into her rooms, showing him where to put his stuff and then throwing herself at him. He caught her easily and lifted her up, feeling her arms wrap around his neck again and closing his eyes on a shudder of need.

"I never thought I'd get to hold you like this again Ninny," he said against her throat, flicking his tongue out and licking at a sensitive spot, making her shiver. "I'm just so grateful that you're still here with us!"

"Me too," she murmured, tightening her arms and running her hands over his shoulders, loving the feel of him. He felt so big when he was this close to her, and she loved it.

"Ron?"

"Mmm-hmm?"

"We don't have to go downstairs yet, do we?" she asked quietly, running a fingertip over his ear.

He tilted his neck so she could continue her caress and she saw him smile. "I guess we don't. Why? What did you have in mind?"

"I...er, well, I thought you might kiss me. You know, properly," she said, her voice getting quieter and quieter as her shyness increased. She wasn't used to voicing requests like that and it showed.

Ron pulled his head back and stared into her eyes from mere inches away. "What do you mean by properly?"

"You know," she said, looking at him and catching her breath all over again at how handsome he was.

"I do? Was it like this?" he asked, leaning in and brushing his lips over hers softly, lingering for a second.

"Um...no," she whispered, pressing her lips together as she tasted him on them.

"Like this then?" he asked her again, catching her lips and exerting a small amount of pressure, just enough to get her lips to part, but not taking advantage. He drew back and looked into her frustrated eyes, smiling affectionately at her.

"No," she said, staring fixedly at his mouth.

"Hmm, how about like this?" he said, and this time he tilted his head and opened his mouth on hers, his tongue flickering at her lips playfully before delving inside and tasting her for the first time in nearly two months. He couldn't quite get enough of her unique flavour and he continued the kiss until she was hanging bonelessly in his arms. When he drew back this time she followed his movement, and he chuckled at her dazed expression.

"Was that what you wanted?"

She nodded. "I can't feel my body," she said, laughing breathlessly.

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Want me to do it again?"

"Yes," she whispered, wondering if she could live through another soul shaking kiss like that, but very willing to try. "Can we lay down this time?"

"Oh, yeah, we sure can," he murmured, walking over to the bed and laying down on his back with Hermione still clinging to his neck. His big hands went to her waist and pulled her so she was laying hip to hip with him, her softness pressing down gently over his hard flesh, and he took a deep breath, letting it hiss out between his teeth as he felt pleasure flow through him. "That feels good," he said, his voice deep and sensual.

"I haven't done anything yet," Hermione said, blushing slightly as she felt him underneath her, and she got the urge to part her legs over his, biting her lip to stop herself.

Ron saw that look and his eyes sparkled. "What's the matter? You want something?" he drawled and felt her shiver in response, her eyes closing briefly.

When she opened them again he saw the need in her eyes, and he ran his hands over her hips, brushing around to her backside and then retreating again. "Show me what you want, Hermione," he said softly, his eyes piercing into her own.

Hermione threw caution to the wind and opened her legs, settling them on either side of him and straddling his hips, his arousal pressing up against the juncture of her thighs. She gasped at how intimate it felt and looked at him with wide eyes. His brows were drawn down in concentration and his jaw was clenched, his breathing coming hard through his nostrils. She bit her lip at how tense he looked and moved her hips back and forth once to experiment. His eyes shot open and he looked at her in amazement, his flesh swelling even more as he felt her heat seeping through to him.

"Bloody Hell, Ninny, I'll cum in my pants if you keep that up," he said, making her blush again. He grinned at her. "What's wrong?"

"I forgot how blunt you are," she murmured, trying not to go even redder.

"Well, hell, yeah I'm blunt. There's one particular part of me that's very blunt, and it's looking for a home right now, so you best keep those sexy little hips still."

Hermione lost her battle not to go a fiery red and she lay down on top of him, pressing her face into his shoulder as he laughed. "Coward," he growled at her, kissing her head and then rolling so she was laying next to him and not over him. When she looked at him in surprise he ran his finger over her lips, smiling with pure happiness. "Not yet, but soon."

She looked flatteringly disappointed and his smile turned into a grin and then he laughed, hugging her to him.

"What's so funny?" she asked, leaning up on one elbow to look at him.

"There's nothing funny, Ninny, I'm just happy that's all," he said, finding it hard to get the smile off his face. "It's been too long since I was with you, and I've hated it. Now I've got you in my arms I've got everything in the world to smile for."

Hermione found herself smiling back at him, and she took advantage of having the freedom to touch him, running her palm down the side of his firm jaw and then under his chin, her fingers tickling through his goatee. Ron closed his eyes and turned his face into her touch, letting her know without words that he liked it, so she continued tracing his features. Her fingers walked their way over his nose and across his closed eyelids, smoothing out the eyebrows that could look so fierce when he frowned. She lifted her other hand and closed them both around the sides of his face, holding it as she lowered her mouth and kissed his beautiful lips, feeling him respond immediately. As soon as his arms started to enclose her she let her hands roam down to his neck, then further into the opening where his shirt was unbuttoned down to his chest. The feel of his skin was electrifying to her starved senses and she brushed across his chest until she found a nipple, toying with it lightly and feeling him squirm underneath her.

He broke the kiss and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Enjoying yourself?"

"As a matter of fact, I am. Oh, Ron you feel so...." but he cut her off before she could finish, for fear of breaking his word to Remus if she continued.

"I think we should make ourselves look a bit more presentable and get downstairs, otherwise we'll be missed."

"Do we have to?" she murmured, looking at his mouth again.

"Yes we do. Come on, you little trollop, get your bum moving!" he said, slapping her backside sharply and moving her off the bed with such speed that she found herself standing up before she knew what had happened. "Now then," he murmured, starting to remove his shirt before her wide eyes, "I'm changing into something dark and forbidding. Want to watch?"

She nodded and then watched in fascination as he stripped down to his boxers, her eyes taking in his huge arms with their multitude of freckles with extreme pleasure, and he rummaged in his bag for a fresh outfit, donning slacks and a smart shirt, all black. He looked at her once he was done. "How about you? You wearing that?" he gestured to her jeans and T-shirt she wore, and she shook her head.

"I've got a dress to wear," she said, opening the wardrobe and pulling out a dark green dress in a beautiful flowing fabric. Ron took it from her and laid it on the bed, looking gleeful.

"Well, then, I'd better help you put it on hadn't I?" he said, his hands going to her waist and undoing her jeans before sliding them slowly down her legs. "Lift up," he murmured as he grasped one ankle and she lifted her feet out of the denim, letting him throw them on the floor. He took his time standing back up, running his hands up the backs of her legs as he did so and making her tremble, a smile touching his mouth as he looked at her plain underwear. When he started to lift her T-shirt up she jerked, hesitantly stopping his hands.

Ron knew why she was doing it and he took her hands in his, kissing both of them. "I have to see it sometime, may as well be now," he said gently, lowering her hands and resuming his task. He pulled the shirt slowly up and over her head, then looked at where she had been stabbed. There was an ugly scar where the daggar had gone in, but it was already fading and it was only small. The worst scar was the one where she had been operated on, curving around her ribcage and upward slightly. But it was neat and had healed up well, by the looks of it, only being slightly red now. He knew over time it would disappear completely, being a magical wound. Ron could see how self-conscious she was about them and he dropped to his knees, leaning in and kissing them to show her they didn't bother him one bit. When he stood up again she had tears in her eyes and he smiled tenderly at her.

"None of that, Ninny, we can't have you looking like a rainy day when we go downstairs, can we?"

"I don't deserve you," she said tearfully, throwing her arms tightly around his waist and squeezing.

Ron chuckled and squeezed her right back, his emotions clogging his throat again. "I'm the one who doesn't deserve someone as lovely as you, but I'll do my damnedest to earn that honour, I swear to Merlin I will!" He said fiercely, bending over her body and soaking up her warmth. He pulled himself together with some difficulty, showing strong emotions not coming easily to him. "Let's get you dressed before I do something that will make us really late for dinner," he muttered, grabbing the dress and slipping it over her head. The soft material fell down over her body, hugging her curves and swirling around her legs mid-calf, the neckline curving down to show her cleavage. Ron's mouth went dry as he looked at her, wondering why he hadn't thought of buying her a hundred dresses before, just so he could see her like this.

"You look beautiful," he said softly, and she smiled up at him, turning around and presenting him with her bare back. It took him a second to realise she wanted him to zip her up, and after two fumbling attempts he managed it.

"Are you okay?" she asked, worried because he looked really odd.

"I'm... fine," he faltered, his eyes drawn to her cleavage and he cleared his throat. "I don't know how I'm going to get through this week without throwing you down and burying myself inside you, but I'm fine." Her mouth dropped open at his words and he smiled down at her. "I think that in the time it takes to walk downstairs, my body should have calmed down enough that I don't show myself up in front of my mates," he murmured, and she automatically looked down.

"Oh!" she said, tearing her eyes away and looking up at him. "Sorry."

"Bloody Hell, don't be sorry. It hasn't done that for six weeks, and now it's done it twice in as many minutes, it's nice to know it still works," he said, grinning as he led her out of the room.

He gave a sigh of relief when they reached the dining room and his theory was proved right. No one noticed anything unusual about his appearance.

The next day Hermione reluctantly went shopping with Emmeline and Daphne, the two women having to virtually carry her out of the house to get her away from Ron. As soon as the women were out of the door, Remus went to the window and watched them drive away, rubbing his hands together and then calling the caterers. He had arranged this party right down to the last detail and he could have it up and running in less than two hours, which was how long Emmeline promised to keep Hermione away. So far they had managed to keep any hint of it from her, and he couldn't wait to see her face when she walked back into the house. He called all of the others together and they went about decorating the place, doing their best to stick to Emmeline's strict rules about where everything should go.

Carter and Tabitha found themselves decorating a huge Christmas tree and he grinned at absurdity of the task.

"What's funny?" Tabitha asked him. Unable to keep from smiling at the big grin he wore.

"It just seems weird doing this in the middle of February," he said, turning to look at her and instantly stopping what he was doing so he could grab her around the waist and lift her up to eye level with him.

"Carter, put me down!" she said, slapping his shoulder and laughing at his intent expression.

"Stop attacking me, witch!" he growled, quickly walking to the couch and throwing her onto it, then immediately coming down on top of her, his hands searching out all her ticklish spots.

"Carter...stop it! Oh...you are so going to get it...!" she shrieked as he tickled her mercilessly, her eyes filling with tears of laughter as she squirmed underneath him.

"Well, that's the strangest way of decorating a tree that I've ever seen," Remus said dryly, standing just inside the doorway of the huge room with his arms folded over his chest. Carter looked back over his shoulder and gave a winning smile when he saw Remus and Harry standing there, Harry laughing and pulling faces. Remus looked at him and rolled his eyes. "It's like having a house full of children! Get off her and get on with your job, we haven't got that long until they come back. Move!"

He waited only long enough to ensure that Carter did as he was told, then walked out of the room shaking his head and already thinking about what else had to be done.

Emmeline and Daphne, meanwhile, were dragging Hermione around every shop they could find, all of them fairly exclusive and beyond Hermione's price range. But she had to admit that the clothes were lovely, even if she had no idea why she had to come shopping in the first place.

"Right, remember how I said you didn't have a nice party dress yet? A nice long one? Well, we thought we could get that today, along with some shoes... and maybe some new underwear to match," Emmeline said, smiling.

"Oh... okay," Hermione said hesitantly, "but I don't really need a formal gown, not really. Well, not unless Remus is planning on having a Ball or something."

"That's just it," Daphne said, smoothly intervening before her mother had even thought of something to say. "Remus tends to get an idea in his head on the spur of the moment and organizes a huge party. So you have to be prepared. Come on, I think something in blue would suit you."

Some time later, Hermione found herself standing in front of a mirror, while a saleslady fussed around her adding the finishing touches to her outfit. She honestly couldn't believe it was her that stared back from the mirror. Her figure was encased in a rich, satin dress, the long skirt hugging her hips before flaring out to fall in soft waves around her ankles. The colour was an iridescent royal purple, which brought out the colour of her eyes and added creaminess to her complexion. The bodice cut straight across her chest and showed only a hint of cleavage, with no straps. It didn't show a lot of flesh, but with her hair swept up away from her neck and shoulders, it looked undeniably sexy. Barefoot the dress would have been too long for her, but she was balancing on three- inch stiletto heeled strappy sandals, also in the same royal purple.

Underneath the dress she had on a pair of very sexy, lacy black knickers, something she wouldn't have chosen for herself, but Daphne had picked them out. A matching bra was added to it, although she couldn't wear it with this dress and anyway, the bodice was cut in such a way that she was pushed up and in and accentuated in all the places necessary. To her eyes her breasts looked huge underneath the material, but she supposed it was probably just the way they were pushed up. She wondered how Ron would react when he saw it, and then realised he wouldn't see it until Remus had a party, and that might be ages away yet.

Emmeline and Daphne stood behind her, Emmeline looking like she was going to cry. "Oh, my, you look lovely," she said, looking her up and down.

"You sure do," Daphne agreed, grinning at Hermione's stunned expression. "Come on, let's pay for this lot and get you home, I'm sure Ron's impatient to see you. After all, you've been away from him for nearly two hours!" she added, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, and there's no one you want to see then? No one you spoke to all through dinner last night, not even sparing one word for anyone else?" Hermione asked, watching as Daphne blushed.

"Well, maybe," the older girl admitted then grinned. "He's really nice, I think he might like me too!"

"I think so, if the way he was looking at you last night is anything to go by," Hermione said, laughing at Daphne's hopeful expression.

She was ushered out of the store once the purchases were made, back in her normal clothes, and they drove back home. Hermione noticed that Emmeline and Daphne seemed a bit excited about something, but she didn't really think too much of it. Not until they arrived back.

They made sure Hermione went inside first, and when she looked up she dropped all her bags and stared open-mouthed at the hallway. There were streamers and ribbons everywhere and a big banner reading 'Merry Christmas' hanging above it all. Her eyes sought out Remus, unable to believe what she was seeing, and he came over to her, grinning from ear to ear as he bent down and embraced her in a bear hug.

"Merry Christmas Ninny," he said in her ear, drawing back and laughing at her stunned expression.

"You did this... for... for me?" she stammered, biting her lip when he nodded and emotion flooded her. "Thank you so much!" she said, flinging herself back at Remus and hugging him tightly.

"Hey, don't thank me yet. We have Christmas dinner to come, and presents, then maybe a bit of dancing, who knows?"

She pulled slowly back from him, her eyes trying to take it all in. "I can't believe you did this," she said breathlessly.

"He had help, you know," Ron said from behind her. "Don't go neglecting me!"

She turned around and jumped up to throw her arms around his neck, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him dressed in a formal robes. "You look gorgeous," she said as he lifted her off her feet and pressed her to his warm body.

"That's not something you say to a man, honey. Handsome, rugged....smart...sexy, any of those things. Gorgeous is for girls!" he grumbled, but he was grinning.

"But you do," she insisted, staring at his mouth for a second before stealing a kiss.

Ron raised his eyebrows at her bravado in front of the others, and his grin widened. "Well, I guess you can pretty much call me whatever you like, you sexy little thing! Now, go get dressed and we'll get this Christmas underway!" He dropped a kiss on her mouth and lowered her to her feet, watching as Daphne and Emmeline instantly took her away, Tabitha rushing up the stairs after them. Hermione noticed belatedly that all of them were wearing formal robes, including Remus, and she suddenly realised why she had been taken shopping. The thought of being able to wear her lovely dress in front of Ron so soon made her smile.

Tabitha was wearing a deep gold dress with a plunging neckline that accentuated all her assets, and she came rushing in to Hermione's room to help her put her hair up and do her make-up, full of chatter about how Carter's eyes had nearly bugged out of his head when he had first seen her in the getup. When she had finished with her, Hermione stood in front of her mirror and bit her lip, hoping Ron would like what he saw.

"You look absolutely fantastic," Tabitha said, laughing. "Ron is going to have a real problem keeping the others away from you today, even if they do have dates."

"They have dates?" Hermione asked, not having seen any women in the hallway.

Tabitha nodded, rolling her eyes. "Well, you know what charmers Isaac and Harry can be when they put their minds to it? They went over to St. Mungo's where they'd seen a couple of cute medi-witches and they managed to get a few of them to come here today."

"Have they all got dates then?" Hermione asked, wondering if Neville Longbottom had been set up with anyone.

"No, not all. There's only three girls, and Isaac and Harry have claimed two of them. That leaves Neville, Theodore, and Rodger to fight over the last available one. Gilbert Whimple is married, so he shouldn't be wanting a date!"

Hermione nodded and smiled. Good. That meant that Daphne could get hold of Neville before one of the medi-witches did. She followed Tabitha out of the room and saw Daphne and Emmeline both standing waiting to go downstairs, each of them wearing a very expensive Gladrags designer gown and looking lovely. Daphne had chosen a wine coloured silk dress, and she was obviously going all out to attract Neville's attention judging by the amount of cleavage she was showing.

They all walked downstairs together, not intending to make any grand entrance and anyway, the only people to greet them were Ron and Remus, but the look in Ron's eyes when he saw Hermione was worth all the effort she had gone to. His face went still and his mouth dropped open as he looked at her, running his eyes up and down her figure as if he couldn't believe it was really the same person. She smiled shyly as she got within a few steps up from him, actually on a level with him for once, and he reached for her, lifting her toward him and taking her mouth in a passionate kiss that had her blushing with embarrassment when he stopped, knowing the others were looking at them.

"Sweet Merlin, you constantly surprise me, do you know that?" he whispered as he drew back. "I didn't think it was possible for you to look sexier than you do naked, but I was wrong all the way around with that one!"

His voice was so low that no one else could possibly hear him, but Hermione felt her face go crimson, causing Ron to chuckle as he slowly put her down. "My lady?" he said, bending slightly and offering her his arm, and she felt tingles run up and down her spine at his possessive attitude and the way he was treating her. She felt as if she was something precious to him, and it was a feeling she loved.

When they entered the vast dining room, Hermione gasped with delight at the huge Christmas tree that took up one side of the room. It was a little haphazardly decorated, but otherwise stunning, and she found everyone else in the room, all standing having drinks around a beautifully arranged table. If she could have pulled a picture out of a magazine of how Christmas should be, her perfect Christmas no less, then this would be it. She couldn't stop the excitement from shining in her face and to Ron she looked radiant. He grinned at her and pulled her closer to him with one big arm.

Theodore and Isaac greeted her briefly then went back to charming the two medi-witches that Isaac had appropriated from the hospital, one of whom Hermione vaguely recognised from when she had been there. Another girl was standing looking threatened as Harry loomed over her. Obviously his charm wasn't helping him out this time. Her dark eyes kept looking up at him as if he weren't real and then flicking away, as she nervously tugged at a lock of her hair. The fact that Quidditch star Rodger Davies was hovering nearby probably wasn't helping her composure any and Hermione felt a little sorry for her. It reminded her of how she had felt when she first met all these men, and of how she still felt when surrounded by a lot of them. She made a mental note to talk to the girl as soon as she could, try and put her at ease a bit, provided Ron let her go anywhere away from him. He had her anchored securely at his side, and she found it amusing and strangely comforting. Her face went briefly serious as she stared at him in his formal dress robes, and she wondered if her mouth was going to start watering, he looked so good. He glanced down at her and caught that look, raising an eyebrow.

"Something wrong Ninny?" he drawled, well aware that she liked what she saw.

"You're really sexy," she blurted out, thankfully in a quiet voice and both his eyebrows shot up over his glittering blue eyes.

"Better watch what you say. It wouldn't take much for me to drag you out of here and up those stairs, you know," he said deeply, his eyes conveying his seriousness.

"I wouldn't mind," she admitted, smiling wickedly at him and getting a glare in return.

"I bet you wouldn't, but you're not having me. I'm not that sort of man," he told her, thinning his lips in mock disgust and letting go of her to fold his arms over his chest.

She shrugged and tried for an air of nonchalance. "Your loss. Well, if I can't have you I guess I'll just go and talk to Rodger."

He let her take two steps before his arm shot out and pulled her back to him, his voice a growl as he bent down to her ear. "Try it and I'll take you right here on the floor in front of everybody."

Hermione gasped and then giggled, making him smile. "I thought you weren't that sort of man?"

"Maybe I changed my mind," he told her, chuckling.

"Maybe you're a big fat liar, too," she shot back, smiling up at him with such emotion that he could barely tear his eyes away from hers. Remus' voice soon made him look up.

"That's not a nice way to talk to someone on Christmas day, Ninny," he said, one arm around Emmeline and the other holding a glass of pumpkin wine out to Hermione.

She took it with a smile and sipped slowly, surprised to find it tasted quite nice. "Thank you, but it's not Christmas day," she said.

"It is for you. Now, since it's your day, what would you like to do first, have dinner or open presents?" he asked.

She thought about it and looked up at Ron, laughing when he comically clutched his stomach as if he hadn't eaten for a week. "Okay, okay, dinner first!"

For the next two hours Hermione enjoyed the only real Christmas she had ever had since her last one at the burrow. Her heart clenched painfully at how horrible it must have been for the Weasleys that first Christmas without Percy. His death was so tragic. The caterers, with all the trimmings, expertly prepared the meal. Remus had even gone to the trouble of making sure she had everything that an English Christmas dinner would, and she thoroughly enjoyed every morsel.

The noise volume around the table increased as time went on, but it only added to the atmosphere. It was nice to see the people she had become so close to having fun, and it aided her own pleasure in the process. It took some time, but when at last no one could eat another thing, they all left the table and Remus started pulling out the gifts that were under the tree, handing them to the appropriate person.

Hermione wasn't surprised that everyone there got a present, because Remus was like that, he always made sure that no one felt left out.

The gifts Hermione had bought for people were opened and she blushed as effusive thanks were thrown her way. She had taken her time over getting them all something, and she had made sure it was something they would definitely like, no matter how difficult that had been. Her own gifts piled up and she couldn't believe the amount of things she got, not used to being given anything at all anymore. Then it was Ron's turn and she turned apprehensive eyes to him, wondering if he'd like what she'd bought him. In turn he had handed her a small package.

"How about we open them at the same time?" he asked, and she nodded.

She watched for a second as he started opening the small gift and then she started on hers, peeling back the paper to reveal a small velvet jewellery box. Her eyebrows creased in a frown. He couldn't have got her the same thing she got him, could he? When she opened it she found a simple gold ring with a large Amber stone in the middle of it, not overly large and not ornately decorated. Just simple. But she thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Ron smiled in surprise when he found a jewellery box too, but when he opened it his smile disappeared to be replaced by amazement. She had bought him a ring too, a ring that was fashioned into a golden lion's head with two saphires as eyes while ruby and amber stones adorned the perimeter. Hermione looked up to thank him for his gift and became worried when she saw his face.

"Don't...don't you like it?" she asked.

Ron's eyes lifted from the ring and he looked at her so intensely that she felt her face heat up. "It's perfect, I love it. Where the hell did you find a ring like this?" he asked, still looking and sounding amazed.

"I saw one similar in a jewellery store, with a wolfs head. They made it themselves and I asked if they could make one with a lion, for you, because of the whole Gryffindor deal," she said, shrugging as if it was nothing.

"And the eyes? Why sapphires?"

"Because...because that's what your eyes are like and the ruby's are for your hair, plus adding the amber finished off the Gryffindor theme... I guess that sounds stupid," she finished, feeling worried again.

"Merlin, no that doesn't sound stupid, do you know why you've got an amber ring? Because it brings out the flecks of gold in your eyes," he said, tilting her chin up when she tried to look away from his intense stare. "If I'd thought about it I would have gone to more trouble over your gift."

"No!" she said suddenly. "It's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen, I love it! I wouldn't want you to change it for anything in the world!" She took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her right hand, holding it up to gaze at it. "It's so lovely."

Ron smiled slowly. "You're lovely, the ring's just an ornament." He took his own ring and put it on, admiring it. He didn't wear much jewellery as a rule, but this looked good he had to admit. His eyes lifted to Hermione's and he grinned wolfishly, lifting her suddenly and placing her on his lap, totally ignorant of the people in the room. "You wouldn't believe the number of galleons I'd give to have you at home with me in Chudley," he said roughly, pulling her against him so he could wrap his arms around her. He looked at her red face and his grin got bigger. "Hermione Granger, are you getting shy on me?" he asked deeply, grinning at her and then looking up as Remus spoke.

"I have one more gift for you Ninny,"

"Oh, but...you've given me far too much already..."

"Codswallop," Remus said, moving to stand next to her chair and handing her an envelope. "I started this up before...well, before you were in hospital. As long as you don't have any complaints, Ninny, Emmeline and I have opened a vault at Gringotts in your name."

Hermione found she couldn't speak as she looked at the contents of the envelope and found that Remus and Emmeline had actually given her a trust fund, and the vault at Gringotts actually contained an absolutely obscene amount of wizarding gold. Her shocked mind couldn't quite take it all in and she looked dumbly at the papers she held, her mouth hanging open. Hermione knew what this meant in wazarding society. Short of adoption, the Lupin's had officially made her their daughter and from now on the wizarding world would recognize her as such. For a long time she'd already considered Remus her father, and now in an odd way he was. She thought briefly of turning it down but knew in her heart that it would be an insult to her dear friend, and she so desperately wanted to belong to a family again. She looked up at him and then burst into tears, unable to find any other way of releasing her emotions and he crouched down and drew her off Ron's lap and into his arms, laughing as she cried all over his robes.

It had bee extremely difficult when Hermione's parents had been taken from her so suddenly. Retaliation by Bellatrix Lestrange for Hermione's success at keeping the woman's master distracted long enough for Harry to complete his task. It was a final blow from an evil, twisted witch who knew her days were numbered. They were the only blood family Hermione had had left, and she'd loved them dearly. In that instant, Hermione finally knew exactly how Harry had felt his entire life. Despite the sadness, and emptiness she felt, the worst feeling of all had been the guilt that consumed her. They were dead because of her, and that thought is what had driven her so adamantly into the Legion.

Lost, and completely broken Hermione had reluctantly accepted Remus' help when offered because she was sure the man was only looking to replace her family. What she realized now was that Remus had never really replaced her parents, he'd never expected to but all the same he loved her enough to ensure that she would never be left wanting for anything.

"I assume that means you don't mind?" Remus asked her, breaking her from her reverie.

"I love you Remus, I'd be happy to be your daughter," she said, her voice muffled as she pulled herself together.

He kissed her head and pushed her back a bit so he could see her face. "I love you too, Ninny. And now that I'm offically your father, take my advice...you might think about settling down with someone special. I'm getting old and I'd like to see those grand...wolf...whatever...children make an appearance," he said, looking pointedly at Ron., a very proud smile etched across his face.

"Okay," she whispered.

"Good. Now I think someone else is waiting on you," he said with a raised eyebrow, nodding towards Ron who was sitting there with his arms open waiting for her to return, his face impatient but comical enough to make her give a watery smile. She tried to think if she had ever been this happy in her entire life, and decided she hadn't. She just hoped all the bad things were behind her now and that this wasn't just a flash in the pan.