New Year's Kisses

"Mummy, is it New Years yet?"

"Yeah, Mummy, is it?"

Hermione smiled at her two youngest, shaking her head softly. "Not yet, darlings. One more hour." It was December 31^st, and the Weasley house hold was anxiously awaiting the New Year. Well, most of them were, anyways. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone to bed long ago. Harry and Ginny were playing chess and providing endless entertainment for their daughter, Ryder, and Hermione's oldest, James. Charlie was curled up in an armchair with Nymphadora Tonks, snoring gently against her shoulder as she tried to finish a crossword puzzle. Bill and Fleur Delacour were upstairs doing Heaven knows what. Percy was at Penelope's parent's home to celebrate with them. And the twins were hosting an all night party at their joke shop in Hogsmeade.

Only Ron was unaccounted for. He'd gone off on an errand for Dumbledore just after Christmas.

"Mummy?" Hermione blinked at her daughter, smiling gently.

"Yes, Charlotte?"

"When is Daddy coming home?" the small brunette asked as her twin, Chloe, nodded in agreement. Hermione's smile drooped the slightest bit, and she lovingly ruffled their hair.

"I don't know, loves. He had to go on a very important trip to get something for Mr. Dumbledore. Do you remember Mr. Dumbledore?" The five year-olds nodded.

"He gave us Mr. Mittens." For their birthday this past year, Albus had presented them with a kitten, which they immediately dubbed "Mr. Mittens" because of the white stockings he had on his front paws. He was otherwise all grey, as if he was playing in Floo Powder.

"That's right. He gave you Mr. Mittens."

There was a crow of triumph as Ginny won the chess game across the room. Harry watched her with an amused look on his face as she danced around with Ryder and James. After a moment, he glanced over at Hermione, arching an eyebrow in silent question. She only smiled sadly, shaking her head. He rolled his eyes at Ginny and made his way over to the couch, regarding his nieces seriously.

"And how are my favorite five-year-olds tonight?" he asked, eyes sparkling. Charlotte and Chloe both beamed happily.

"We're excited about New Years," Chloe answered. Harry bobbed his head in understanding.

"Well, I'm going to tell you a very important secret. Can you keep a secret?" Both girls nodded. Harry gave them a conspiring look, leaning closer. "Time goes faster when you're having fun. So why don't you go ask Auntie Ginny if she'll play chess with you. I bet she will."

"That's a good idea," Charlotte decided, taking Chloe's hand as they clambered off the couch. "Thank you, Uncle Harry." They scampered off to pounce on Ginny, and Harry flopped onto the couch next to Hermione, resting his head on her shoulder.

"How are you holding up?" he asked softly. Hermione half-shrugged, shaking her head.

"Alright, I suppose. I haven't heard from him at all... I don't even know when he's supposed to be back." She leaned her head on top of Harry's sighing quietly. "I miss him."

"I know... But you know that Dumbledore wouldn't give him anything to put his life in danger. Especially with another one on the way." The last bit was said only for her ears, and she looked at him wide-eyed.

"How did you... We haven't told anyone yet. We don't want to get our hopes up again..." Harry slipped his hand into hers, squeezing gently.

"I won't tell anyone. As for how I knew... I've known you since first year. I know your eating habits. And you hate cantaloupe." Hermione winced.

"I do. I just had such a craving..."

"Plus, there's the way that Ron was watching you at Christmas. The same way he looked at you when you were pregnant with James and the twins." Harry grinned suddenly, glancing over at Ginny." And how, I assume, I watched Ginny with Ryder." He returned his attention to Hermione, patting her knee gently. "He'll be fine, 'Mione. He knows what he's doing."

Hermione gave him a tight-lipped smile, nodding. "I know. I can't help but worry. It's a nervous habit." Harry grinned at her, placing a noisy kiss on her cheek and making her squeal. She swatted at him half-heartedly, and he wailed in mock pain, rolling off the couch and writhing around. Hermione watched in amusement as the kids shrieked and piled on him, trying to 'help.' Harry only roared, lashing out as if he'd become some wild animal. The children scattered, squealing with laughter as Harry chased them around the den.

"He's such a child sometimes," Ginny remarked, a small smile playing at her lips as her husband tripped over the carpet and fell on Charlie's lap. The redhead opened an eye, glared at the man, and pushed him off. Harry directed a rogue grin at Tonks and set back to his task of capturing the kids.

"...He's making up for his own childhood, I think," Hermione mused. "He was like this when we all moved into that flat after graduation. He always wanted to go out and have fun..." Ginny hummed an agreement, shaking her head as Chloe got 'captured' and the others came to her rescue. Before she could interfere and save her husband, there was a knock on the front door.

"I'll get that," Ginny said, motioning to Harry. "Make sure they don't break him, yeah?" Hermione smiled, nodding as the children dragged Harry to the floor and crawled all over him. She heard the door open and Ginny gasped, but there were no other alarming noises. She figured the twins had decided to leave the bash early and forgot their key. So she wasn't prepared at all when Ginny led a snow covered figure into the den.

"Daddy!" Charlotte cried, abandoning the attack of Uncle Harry to throw herself into the man's arms. Chloe and James followed soon after, and Ron hugged them happily, kneeling to be able to reach them all.

"And how are my monsters?" he asked, eyes sparkling. Hermione watched humbly as the kids all babbled happily about what had gone on while he had been gone. He welcomed the excitement with open arms, unable to stop touching them. A hand on Chloe's head, a squeeze of James's shoulder, a kiss on Charlotte's forehead. He'd missed them.

He finally looked up when the talk had died down a bit. Hermione caught his eye, a small sob escaping as he grinned beautifully at her. In a second he was across the room, enfolding her in his arms.

"Ron, Ron, Ron, Ron," she murmured, hugging him as tightly as she could get. Ron couldn't stop touching her. One hand stroked her hair sweetly while the other traveled up and down her back. His lips pressed against the top of her head and his eyes closed, mumbling over and over just how much he missed her.

"Merlin, I love you so much," he finished, pulling back enough to kiss her soundly. She melted into his embrace, pouring her soul into this single kiss. That is, until they were interrupted by a chorus of disgusted noises. Ron smiled, releasing his wife and sending a mock-stern glare at his offspring.

"Does that mean you don't want the presents I brought?" he asked, making them venomously deny making the noises. Hermione laughed, resting her head against Ron's chest. She closed her eyes as he told the three to go look in his bag fore their gifts, listening to the low rumble of his voice. As they scampered off, he shook his head, pressing a kiss to Hermione's temple.

"I hope they didn't drive you absolutely insane while I was gone." Hermione shook her head gently, smiling as she felt his fingers splay across her stomach. "I love you," he murmured sweetly, ghosting his lips over the base of her neck.

"I love you too," she replied, curling her fingers into his hair to guide him to her lips. The rest of the room slipped away as the clock chimed twelve and they kissed their way into the next year.

Happy New Year