I slipped my key in the lock and pushed open the door into the empty flat. It was all dressed up with Christmas cheer but I didn't feel very Christmassy... Oliver was still away and didn't know when he was coming back, I was all alone in the flat, and it was Christmas Eve. The tree looked fantastic, its lights blazing cheerily, loads of packages underneath.

I put the kettle on for tea and went to drop my stuff off in the bedroom. Packages spilt out of my book bag from some extra Christmas Eve shopping. I picked them up and carried them back into the living room to put under the tree. It glittered softly, sending me back to the years when I was young and I could barely contain my excitement and bounce up and down in my bed from six to seven o'clock in the morning because I wasn't allowed to get up until then. It was funny because when I was young, I couldn't wait and as the years went by I would be sleeping later and later. By my second year, I wanted to wait and savour the day. Christmas was the best time of the year really. You could feel the love and most people were so happy and so cheery. You just had to avoid the shopping malls at that time. Now, I didn't care if I opened one package. Just having Oliver and being able to nestle in bed with him Christmas morning would be enough for me.

The kettle whistled and I made myself tea, taking it to the sofa and curling up to look out the window. The flat was cozy but felt quite empty without Oliver. Crookshanks jumped up into my lap and curled himself into a ball, purring. I had been impressed with the way that he and Oliver had gotten along so well from the start. He had hated Harry and Ron from first meeting but when we'd moved in, he wound his way around Oliver's ankles and some mornings I'd wake to find the two of them at the table, reading the paper together and sharing a plate of sausages and eggs. I closed my eyes. Maybe I should just go to bed now and I wouldn't have to worry about my mind going into overdrive with missing Oliver. It was funny how attached I had become. I mean, when we were together, I didn't think about it one bit. He was just in my life. But now that he was gone and I didn't know exactly when he'd be back, I was feeling it.

I finished my tea then addressed the fur ball in my lap, "Alright you, time to get off..." I nudged Crookshanks. "I'm going to bed."

He raised his head and shot me a grumpy look.

"I don't care, Crookshanks. I'm getting up in a few seconds and if you're still there, you won't be any happier, I promise."

With a barely audible growl, he got up slowly and stretched slowly, for good measure, then moved further down the couch and went back to sleep, curling so all I could see was his back.

"G'night..." I said, sticking my tongue out at him. I got ready for bed lazily, taking my time in everything before finally shutting out the light and pulling the covers over my head.

¤ ¤ ¤

Oliver opened the door as quietly as he could and entered the flat. It was two o'clock in the morning and he was dead tired. He'd taken two trains, a bus and a taxi to get home in time for Christmas. But it was worth it. Just to see Hermione's face tomorrow morning would be worth flying to the moon and back. He snuck to the tree and dispersed his parcels, careful not to make a sound, then leaving all of his things in the living room; he snuck softly to the bedroom, Crookshanks almost tripping him on his way. "Hullo, old boy," he said softly, then opened the door and stood for a moment to watch her sleep. She was curled up on her side of the bed, her hair spread out across the pillow. Her hand was curled up under her chin and she looked so young, so innocent. He padded across the floor, stripping down to his underwear and slid into bed, careful not to wake her. Curling himself around her, he pulled her into his chest, dropping a quick kiss on her forehead and closed his eyes to sleep. The last thing he felt was Crookshanks' weight dropping down on the bed beside his feet.

¤ ¤ ¤

I could feel arms around me. Definitely male arms. Oliver's arms. I was half asleep and squeezed my eyes shut to keep the dream within grasp. I didn't want him to go. I didn't want to wake up alone on Christmas morning. Maybe I could just sleep the entire day away and Christmas could forget me. This dream was quite real – the arms hadn't disappeared from around me. I snuggled back into them and felt movement.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," I heard Oliver say softly, kissing my shoulder.

"Mmm, Happy Christmas..." I replied.

"D'you want to open your presents before or after breakfast?"

I rolled over. "Well, I..."

He was real...

"Merlin, you're real!" I shrieked.

He grinned. "We really should get you to a doctor, Hermione, if you keep thinking you see me everywhere..."

"I can't believe it! How did you home? When did you get home?"

He hugged me close. "Breakfast first, presents second, questions third." And he got out of bed. "Come on, French toast is waiting to be made."

I followed him out to the kitchen and sat waiting patiently while he bustled around making French toast and whistling Christmas carols.

Crookshanks jumped up into my lap, purring.

It was a wonderful Christmas morning.

¤ ¤ ¤

I was just finishing my last piece of French toast when I heard a knock on the door. I looked questioningly up at Oliver and he smiled mischievously at me. I shook my head and went to the door. "Mum, Dad? What are you doing here?"

They stood in the doorway with an armload of presents.

"Oliver called us yesterday and invited us..." Mum said cheerily.

I turned back to him. "Oliver..."

"I wanted you to have your family when we opened gifts."

I raised an eyebrow at him. There was something more but I didn't know what but there was no way of getting it out of him. I sighed. "Alright. Let's go open gifts then..."

My parents followed us into the den, smiling, making me think that there was something more to this and that they were all in on some large scam and I wasn't. I sat down next to the tree, just like I did every Christmas with my family and started to hand out gifts.

"To Dad, love Mum."

"To Mum from Santa."

"To Oliver, love Crookshanks."

"To Mum, love Hermione."

"To Hermione, love Mum and Dad."

And on and on until there were piles of wrapping paper and gifts all around.

I sat back, happy, watching everyone look through their gifts. I'd chosen well this year. I'd made a scarf and mitten set for Oliver in true Gryffindor colours, bought Mum a new tea set because she'd been complaining about hers lately, bought Dad a new telescope and Crookshanks a new basket and some catnip.

"And there's one more," Oliver announced, a smile playing on his lips.

I looked at him mystified. Mum and Dad smiled expectantly at me and I looked back under the tree. "There aren't any more Oliver..."

His eyes flickered up at the tree and I looked up. A small, brightly coloured wrapped package hung from one of the upper branches. I looked back to him and he raised his eyebrows at me. "Well, go get it, Santa..."

I got up and had to go on raised tiptoes to get it. "To Hermione, love Santa..." I slowly unwrapped it and uncovered a small velvet box. My mouth was suddenly dry. I opened it slowly but it was empty. I looked up at him questioningly. "Wha-"

He was kneeled down in front of me. "You have to say yes first, Hermione..." In his outstretched fingers was a simple silver band, speckled with diamonds.

"Oh, Oliver..."

"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

I reached out my left hand to him. "Yes, of course I will," I replied without hesitation.

He slid it on my finger then lifted me up and twirled me around before kissing me soundly.

I laughed with pure joy and kissed him back. It was perfect... everything was perfect. The ring, the proposal, Christmas morning.

We heard a loud sniff and looked over to find my parents huddled together, my mother's handkerchief blotting her eye.

"Sorry, it's just so..." she said, sniffing again. "So beautiful... when Oliver came to us to ask..." She broke down into quiet sniffles.

"You knew about this? Oh, Mum..." I held out an arm to her and she came to hug me.

"Congratulations, Oliver." Dad shook his hand and slapped him on the back.

"It's perfect, just perfect," I said, hugging Mum.

She smiled. "Well, we'll leave you two to it then... We have to go over and visit your father's parents..."

"Okay. Bye Mum, bye Dad... thanks for coming. It was just spectacular... thanks for the gifts..." I hugged them both and then they were gone, leaving Oliver and I alone in the apartment.

He grinned at me. "How's that for our first Christmas in the flat?"

I ran and jumped into his arms. "Oh Oliver, fantastic! Just fantastic! I loved it! I love my presents, I love my parents, I love you..." I finished shyly.

"I love you too," he said, twirling me around and kissing me. "Ow!"

Crookshanks growled and pawed his leg, sinking his claws in.

"Oh, we love you too, grouch," Oliver admitted, scooping Crookshanks up into the hollow between us.

Note: Okay, sorry this took so long... I didn't have the internet for sooooo long and then I had writer's block... so yeah, let me know what you think?! Shall I continue or not? Ciao!