They had a pleasant holiday together. The Weasley family was very entertaining, as they always were when they were all together. There was no end of larks in the snow as it swirled thickly around the grounds.

Everyone got a pleasant surprise when Sirius, Lupin, Tonks and Moody arrived for the holidays. Snape wasn't as thrilled to see Sirius. They had all showed up because Grimald Place was very dull without the Weasley family.

Christmas Eve showed up, and by now Hermione had a rather distinct bump, but thanks to bulky jumpers the boys didn't notice. All the girls knew, since more than half of them had already had children and the girls of Charlie and Percy were pregnant themselves, and realised what it was that was different about Hermione.

The boys meantime all knew Draco's secret and most of them thought it was very funny. To Draco's annoyance they kept offering ideas, none of which were appropriate.

On Christmas day they realised they were snowed into the school. Hagrid was seen in the early hours of the day trying to shovel a path out of the main doors through the torrential snow.

"Girls, I'm telling him today." Hermione told the others as they went down the stairs to the common room to meet the boys.

"Good luck." They chorused.

"Merry Christmas!" the boys and men shouted from the common room as they entered.

They returned the sentiments of the day and the children delivered the presents to where they sat around the fireplace. Those from other houses had been allowed to move to Gryffindor Tower for the season since most of the group came from that house.

Draco caught little Angus Weasley, one half of the Fred Weasley twin-set, as he rushed towards Hermione with a small gift that Draco recognised as his to her. "Not so fast. I want to deliver this one myself."

The guys heard him and exchanged grins. Draco took the gift and took a deep breath before approaching Hermione.

"Merry Christmas." He said simply handing it to her.

Giving him a slightly odd look Hermione took the wrapping off, revealing a green velvet ring box. With every pair of eyes in the room on her she opened it. Her eyes widened as she beheld the ruby and diamond ring set in silver. Looking up at Draco she realised that he had gone down on one knee. She gasped and covered her mouth with one hand.

Gently Draco took the ring out of the box and proffered it to her. "Do I even need to ask the question?" he said gently.

"It would help."

"Hermione Granger, you are my soulmate and my one true love. When I see my life, both now and in the future, all I see is you. Hermione, will you marry me?"

Hermione's eyes swam with joyful tears. She smiled and then laughed tearfully, but happily. Then she seemed to come to her senses. "Draco, my love, before I answer, there's something I need to tell you. Or rather, that you need to see." Hermione raised Draco to his feet as she stood. Then she took her bulky hoodie off. Her three month bump was very visible and Draco took a step back away from her. "I meant to tell you." she whispered.

Draco seemed to fight with himself for a moment. He looked around the room at the expectant Weasley brood. Then he looked at the ring in the palm of his hand. He seemed to come to a decision. He looked up at Hermione. "I still haven't had an answer." He smiled at her and extended the ring towards her.

She kept her face strait. She reached out and picked up the ring. "Red, for Gryffindor. Red for love. Silver, for Slytherin. Diamonds, for love everlasting." She examined the ring and then looked past it to Draco and smiled. With her eyes locked with Draco's she slipped the ring onto her engagement finger and the smile widened. "Does that answer your question?"

He beamed at her and nodded. She rushed to him and hugged him. Everyone else cheered.

"So that was the big surprise." Ginny said with her arm around Luna.

"And that was hers." Ron said, slipping his arm around Ginny's shoulders.