Signum Vitalis (a dramione story)

Boxing Day

Boxing day was a day of football... at least for her mother. Her father tolerated it but spent a good amount of the morning rearranging his collection of action figures around the new one his wife had gotten him for Christmas.

Hermione left after brunch for the Burrow as she had promised the day to Harry and the Weasleys. As soon as she arrived, Hermione discovered that, rather than football, Quidditch was the game of the day for the Weasleys. She was hardly surprised.

Charlie swooped down on his broom until he was hovering right in front of Hermione. "Want to join us?"

Hermione shook her head. "Unless one side really needs a handicap I'll stay out."

"It can't be that bad!" he said, smiling.

Behind him Harry and Ron exchanged a glance. "No, it is," Harry said finally.

"You should have seen her," Ron said sagely. "Two feet off the ground and threatening to hex anyone who made her go higher."

Hermione could feel her neck heating up. "Really, Ron-"

"Hysterical. We had to get the professor to conjure a gravity minimizing field to get her higher than ten meters and she couldn't keep her eyes open..."

"Ron," Hermione said more sternly.

Ron glanced at her and then shrugged. "You have to admit it was kinda hilarious."

"No, I don't. It wasn't."

George rubbed his chin and smirked.

"Whatever you are thinking about, stop," Hermione told him.

"Me?" he asked innocently.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, you. I do not want to find myself up on top of the Burrow tomorrow morning or get a broom for Christmas or whatever other depraved ideas you have running through your mind."

"Don't give him any more ideas, Hermione," Ginny said from on her broom behind him. "It's probably just something about one of his stupid inventions."

"You all wound me," George said with a completely unwounded face. "Surely all the height-phobic witches would not think this idea stupid." George leaned to guide his broom towards Hermione. "In fact," -he pulled a lazy circle around her- "as she is the inspiration of this invention, I would be willing to gift one to you, Hermione-"

Hermione grabbed his broom to hold it still as she sternly said, "I'm never going to try any of your prototypes ever again, George Weasley," There was general laughter and agreements from the others. Eventually Hermione was designated as score keeper and the game continued.

Harry did not have the agility or luck that he used to and so the game lasted into the late afternoon until it was called off so everyone could look for the snitch. As they walked their separate ways, Hermione rubbed at her cheeks and nose to try warm up the wind-chaffed skin. She had met up with Ginny in the forested area near the Burrow and they quickly scanned the woods with an occasional 'accio' pointed in a random direction. They both came out shaking their heads. Hermione was about to tell Ginny it seemed like a lost cause when Ginny gave her an odd look.

"Hermione, hold still."

Hermione resisted looking towards where Ginny was staring and raised her eyebrow. Ginny kept her stare intently behind Hermione, slowly reached past her, and quickly tugged at Hermione's hair.

"Ow! What are you doing?"

In response, Ginny pulled out a fluttering snitch still tangled in a few strands of bushy hair.