----------Title: Fresh Starts and Sunny Skies
Fandom: Harry Potter Fandom
Rating: Teen
Genre: Fluff, Holiday, Vignette
Main Characters: Fred Weasley, Hermione Granger
Relationships: Fred Weasley/Hermione Granger
Warning: n/a
Word Count: 1014
Summary: Sometimes what you need is a fresh start with a loved one.
Author Note: This was written for Hermione’s Haven’s Winter Event called Hermione’s Holiday Hideaway, where my prompts included the Fred/Hermione relationship, Arre Borriquito, & the location Beacon Hills. Originally posted on Ao3 on November 25, 2022.
It was the first Christmas in their new home, and Hermione Granger wanted to make it perfect for her fiancé and her. Since it would just be the two of them, neither Fred nor her would be visiting either of their families for the holiday. Especially after that guilt trip by Fred’s mum Molly Weasley put on them when they decided to move.
Hermione had known for a while that she wanted to leave Britain, and she was lucky that so did Fred. While her fiancé wanted to expand his and his twin George’s business, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, she wanted a place to continue her activism. This was when George told them about Beacon Hills, who had found this place when George and his wife went there for their honeymoon. The idea of being in sunny California over dreary Britain sounded terrific.
Since being in Beacon Hills, Fred had started to pick up some Spanish. With that, he had gotten introduced to a Spanish Christmas carol that he started singing around the house non-stop. It got to the point that he got the song stuck in her head, and she was now singing it.
“Arre borriquito, arre burro arre,” Hermione started singing.
The front door swung open and her tall fiancé walked in with the biggest smile and his face red from the wind.
“Hey love,” he greeted.
“Fred, I was hoping to be finished before you got home,” since she was not finished.
“I would have assumed that you were done because everything looks great,” he looked around.
“How was your day?” She asked.
“It was good. I am glad I decided to keep the shop open longer than planned as we had many last-minute shoppers. More than I assumed that we would have,” he explained.
“How did that work out, considering you let the rest of the staff off for the day to spend time with their families?”
“Not as well as I would have hoped, but I am still glad I did it,” he said.
“I’m sure they were all happy that they have such a compassionate boss.” Hermione wrapped her armed around his neck.
“I feel good about it,” he smiled. “I heard you singing our song when I walked in.”
“Yeah, thanks for getting that stuck in my head, by the way,” she huffed.
“You’re welcome.” He laughed as he pulled her closer to him, leaned down, and kissed her forehead.
“So, when do you have to go back to work?” She asked.
“I decided to keep it closed until the second. That way, everyone, including me can have the New Year off and plenty of time off with our loved ones. What about you? When will you start pushing the Werewolf Protection Act with the council?” Fred answered and then asked his own question.
“Since the city council doesn’t meet until the end of January and most people are going to be relaxing for the holidays, I won’t have to start doing anything until you have to go back to the shop. Considering I will still have to wait for the city council’s next meeting anyways, I’m going to go around and start meeting with the local werewolf population. I want to ask them what the most important parts of the act to them are and what parts of the act are a need for them. Since there are a lot of werewolves here, I know I will be meeting a lot of people. I want a watered-down version of the ordinance ready to go in case the vote doesn’t pass. I’m just hoping that it doesn’t come to that. I already know Beacon Hills is much more tolerant and accepting than back home, but I just hope it is enough.” Hermione responded.
“Just wait until the wizarding community back home hears about all the progress you have been making here. They will wish they would have listened to you and not just mocked you, then they will beg you to come back, knowing that they are behind the times.” Fred held her closer.
“I really hope so, and not just because I do love a good I told you so, but because I want the werewolves to be treated like the humans they are and be protected, especially people like Lavender and Remus,” she said.
“Oh, everyone knows you like telling others that you told them so,” Fred joked.
Hermione playfully pushed him before asking the question to which she was sure she already knew the answer.
“Have you got any more owls from back home?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “I have been getting one daily from mum for over a month. It’s to the point that I don’t even open them anymore. George sent me an owl and mentioned that the same thing was him, Bill, and Charlie, it was to the point that he wouldn’t be surprised if it was happening to Percy when he hadn’t been to The Burrow in a long time. I know George and his wife just want some peace on their holiday vacation that they are on,” Fred told her.
“I’m sorry to hear that, love.” She said as she gave him a quick kiss.
“Well, no one could have predicted her going off the deep end,” he shrugged.
“I hope she isn’t this bad next year,” Hermione said.
“It’s sunny outside,” Fred said, pulling her to the front door.
She allowed him to pull her outside, where it was a lovely blue and sunny sky, which was a nice thing to see this time of the year. She could get used to this. The best part was that her other half was with her.
“Arre borriquito, arre burro arre, Vamos más de prisa que llegamos tarde.” Fred began to sing, nudging her on her shoulder to join in, so she did.
Little things like this made both of them happy, and the change of environment really helped. Hermione was so glad that she got to see these sunny skies every day and that she and Fred got their fresh starts.
