A Christmas Love

Harry and Ron sat in the Gryffindor common room, playing a game of chess by the fire. Ron, (As usual) was absolutely destroying Harry. The common room was unusually crowded for Christmas Break, but Dumbledore had announced that there would be a Christmas Ball this year, and so the number of names on the sign-up sheet to stay at Hogwarts was much more than usual. Girls could be seen giggling in corners of hallways or pointing at which boy they would like to ask to the Ball. All of them seemed to travel in packs. The start of Christmas break meant girls scurrying around the common room with copies of Witch Weekly clasped in their hands, showing their friends which robes they had ordered and how they would be doing the hair. Boys could be found sitting in corners, talking in low voices about their plans for the Ball or nervously approaching there would-be dates asking them to the Ball

“So,” began Ron as Harry was staring at the chessboard trying in vain to make the right move, “who do you plan on asking to the Ball?” Harry shrugged as he moved his Bishop to knock out one of Ron’s knights. He knew whom he’d like to ask. The idea had been floating through his mind since Dumbledore had announced the Ball, and she had been on his mind since the first time he laid eyes on her at King’s Cross this past September. Ron knocked out Harry’s bishop with his pawn.

“Come on, Harry, I know you’ve got someone in mind,” he said. Harry kept his eyes on the chessboard and then noticed Hermione enter the room. His eyes lit up at the sight of her. She was beautiful, she was a vision, she was perfect.

Her brown hair was no longer bushy, but in curls that framed her face perfectly. Her chocolate eyes were sparkling in the light of the fire and she had gained quite a nice form over the summer. Ron gave Harry a knowing look as Hermione sat down.

“Hey Hermione.”

“Hey Herm,” said Ron. Hermione sighed in disgust, she hated Ron’s new nickname for her. She playfully punched him in the arm and turned to Harry who was staring at the chessboard intently. He moved his queen forward to knock out one of Ron’s Bishops, but Ron immediately smiled. He killed Harry’s queen with his own

“Checkmate!” he said triumphantly. Harry leaned back with a disgruntled smile on his face.

“Bugger! It never fails!” shouted Harry as Ron chuckled.

“What is that now mate, 0-236?” he asked with a broad smile.

“

239,” mumbled Harry. Ron chuckled a little harder and then turned his attention to Hermione.

“So, Hermione, going to the Ball?” he asked. Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed a disgusted sigh.

“No, I don’t think so. I really don’t see what all the fuss is about. It’s just a dance,” she said simply. Ron put a look of mock shock on his face.

“Just a dance? Hermione, it could be the night you find true love!” he said with fake seriousness. Hermione giggled.

“Yea, sure, and Voldermort will stop chasing Harry,” she said jovially. The three of them laughed at this and headed down to dinner. They joked and laughed all the way down, but Harry couldn’t but help feel a little depressed at the news Hermione had given Harry and Ron. She didn’t want to go. Harry had hoped she would go with him, at least as friends, though he knew he wanted it to be more. He knew she would never return his feelings, but had always hoped. He started rolling peas back and forth on his plate thinking about what the Ball would be like without Hermione. Ron and Hermione gave each other knowing looks.

“Harry, you alright mate?” asked Ron peering into Harry’s eyes. Harry drifted away from his thoughts at the sound of Ron’s voice. He looked up and smiled.

“Yea, fine, just-er-thinking, I’m gonna head back up to the common room, see you guys up there,” he said lightly.

“All right, see ya Harry,” said Ron. And without a backward glance, Harry headed up to the common room. His mind was constantly drawn back to Hermione. Maybe if he started on some holiday homework, he could distract himself. But it didn’t work. Harry stared out the window in frustration. What’s wrong with me? He thought. I haven’t had my mind off her all year, she’s just Hermione. Harry sighed and went back to work on his Potions essay. The portrait hole opened and Ron and Hermione entered, coming to sit down with Harry.

“Homework? This early after break? Harry, you’ve gone mad man,” said Ron incredulously.

“Well, I think it’s a good idea. Best get it out of the way, good for you Harry,” said Hermione in an approving voice. Ron shot her a look like she was crazy.

“Well, you could take a leaf out of Harry’s book, Ron, Honestly! I’ve never seen anyone so lazy,” she said. And with that, she stormed off to the girl’s dormitories. Ron looked at Harry and Harry shrugged. He sat down next to Harry and spoke.

“So, gotta thing for Hermione, eh Harry?” he asked lightly. Harry knocked his bottle of ink of the table.

“N-no, what makes you think that?” he asked as he picked up his ink.

“Oh, come on. I saw you when we were playing chess. She walked in and all of the sudden you’re smiling and your eyes light up,” he said smiling. Harry knew he was right but persisted with his unknowing denial.

“Dunno what you’re talking about, Ron,” he said examining his Potions book.

“Oh, please. What about when she said she didn’t want to go to the ball. Your face looked like Christmas was cancelled, just admit it will you?” said Ron in his persistent voice. Harry shot his head up and gave up.

“Fine! I’m head over heels for the girl! I can’t get enough of her! I don’t know what I’d do without her. I love her!” Harry hissed at him. Ron’s face looked shocked.

“Blimey Harry, those are some strong words,” he said in a shocked voice. Harry put his head in his hands.

“I know, but they’re all true. But you heard her, she doesn’t wanna go, and I doubt she even likes me…like that!” said Harry frantically.

“It’s alright Harry, I’m sure she’ll go with you, at least as a friend,” said Ron.

“I dunno Ron, she can be right stubborn sometimes,” said Harry.

“Yea, but still, just give it your best shot.” Harry smiled and prayed Hermione would say yes.

Meanwhile, Hermione Granger lay on her bead frustrated, staring up at the ceiling of the 7^th year girl’s dormitories. Ron could be such a prat sometimes! That’s why she always felt closer to Harry. As a matter of fact, over the past few months, she started to feel a lot closer to Harry. Ok, ok, the girl was obsessed with Harry. She loved every detail of him. His great emerald eyes, his untidy black hair, his new muscular frame (Thanks to Quidditch), and his wonderful cinnamon and mint scent. She doubted he had as much of an inkling of romantic feelings back toward her, however. She wanted to go to the ball with him so badly, but she knew he’d never ask. And even if he did, it would probably be as a last resort. Sometimes she was angry at the fact Harry thought she would always be there for him as a last resort, as if no one else realized she was a girl. Her brow furrowed and she became angry. Harry could be such a jerk sometimes. And yet, and yet…she loved him. Well, only time would tell if he felt the same way back.

A week had passed and the ball was tomorrow, Christmas Eve. Harry still hadn’t mustered up the courage to ask Hermione and things were becoming tense between the two of them. Hermione seemed angry with Harry and Harry was nervous about asking her. Any conversation that the three of them had was forced by Ron. Then, one day at lunch, Ron brought up the subject to Harry.

“When are you going to ask her?” he asked in a furious whisper. Harry shrugged.

“I just can’t build up the courage! What if she says no?” he asked frantically.

“And what if she says yes? You only have one chance to do this Harry. Just ask her and be done with it, the worst that could happen is she says no!” said Ron. He was right; Harry would ask her tonight in the common room. Harry dreaded the moment, and the day seemed to zoom on. One minute, Harry was chatting with Ron at lunch, the next, it was already seven o’clock and the three of them were in the common room. Harry and Ron were, once again, engaged in a game of chess. Harry mindlessly moved his queen right into striking distance of Ron’s bishop, essentially losing him the game. Hermione noticed this and spoke to him for the first time in days.

“Harry, are you alright, you seem a bit...preoccupied?” she asked concernedly. Harry jumped at the sound of her voice.

“Oh, n-no, I’m fine,” he replied in as steady a voice as he could fine. Nervousness had welled up in him since lunch and he was as jittery as a niffler in a field of gold. Ron finished Harry off and yawned with over exaggeration.

“Blimey, I’m tired,” he said through the yawn, “I think I’ll head to bed,” he said stretching his arms. He mouthed ‘Ask her!’ to Harry when she wasn’t looking. Harry nodded and nervously looked around the common room, and then at Hermione who was reading their Transfiguration book. Well, it was no or never.

“Hermione?” he asked in as normal a voice as he could muster.

“Mm?” she said not moving her eyes from the book.

“Are you going to the ball?” he asked twiddling his thumbs. She pried her eyes away from the book and looked up nervously, but quickly regained composure.

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t see the point, it’s foolish,” she said sternly. Harry let out a disappointed ‘oh’ and there was a few moments of awkward silence in which Hermione read the same line 3 times and Harry twiddled his thumbs nervously. Then he asked her.

“Do you think you’d-er-maybe change your mind if I said I wanted you to come with me?” he asked. Her eyes grew wide and he shot her nervous looks waiting for her answer.

“How many girls have you asked already, Harry?” she said with an aggravated tone.

“W-What?” he asked. Harry was shocked, why was she asking this.

“Guess I’m just a last resort, hmm? No one else was left so you turned to me so you wouldn’t look like a fool going alone?” she asked angrily. Harry stared at her, amazed.

“W-What are you—“

“Guess you figured no one else noticed I was a girl so you’d ask me only as a last resort! Knowing no one would ever ask Hermione Granger, no never! Well I’ve go news for you, Harry Potter! I refuse to be some sort of-of-crutch for you to fall back on when no one else is left for you to choose from!”

And with that she stormed out of the common room up the stairs. Harry was left speechless and half the common room was staring at him. He put his head in his hands wondering what in the world he did wrong! What was she talking about? He hadn’t asked any other girls. He couldn’t even think about any other girls with her on his mind all the time. Harry decided he’d better turn in. He headed up to his dormitory to find Ron smiling eagerly at him.

“So, how’d it go?” he asked with excitement. Harry just plopped down on his bed hopelessly. He couldn’t find his voice for a moment and then spoke.

“I’ll be going solo to the ball,” he said barely above a whisper. Ron’s face fell like he had just gotten slapped with a ton of bricks.

“What?” he asked incredulously. And Harry told him about how she shouted at him about her being some sort of crutch and no one else but he and Ron thinking she was a girl.

“I just don’t understand it Ron, I don’t get it! I just have uncanny luck with girls. The only girl I’ve ever loved, I’ll probably ever love, and she shouts at me,” Harry said with a hopeless note in his voice.

“It’s alright mate, it’s alright. You’ll get over her. You still going?” Ron asked sympathetically. Harry sighed.

“Yea, I’ll watch you and Lav dance together. Maybe that’ll cheer me up,” he said with the faintest trace of a grin across his face. Harry turned over and drew his curtains. Neither he nor Ron spoke for a few minutes.

“You really loved her, didn’t you Harry?” Ron asked in a whisper.

“You mean love her, I still do,” Harry replied. And drifted off to sleep with only the thoughts of Hermione filling his head. Little did Harry or Ron know that Hermione was outside their door, listening to every word and tears welling up in her eyes.

It was Christmas Eve and the entire school was abuzz with giggling girls and everyone talking about the upcoming ball. New snow had fallen overnight creating a gorgeous sight outside. Harry awoke feeling absolutely awful. Hermione wasn’t going to the ball with him, wasn’t speaking with him, and he had a headache. Harry hurried down to breakfast, hoping to avoid Hermione. He didn’t want to upset her anymore than he already did. To avoid her, Harry and Ron busied themselves outside with a snowball fight for most of the afternoon. Hermione didn’t come out once, and this worried Harry a little bit. He hoped she was ok.

When it began to get dark around five thirty, they decided they had better get in and change for the ball, even though Harry had nothing to get ready for. Harry took a shower and put on his familiar cinnamon-mint cologne. He didn’t know why though, it wasn’t like he was going to be spending time with the person he wanted to spend time with. Harry put on his dark green dress robes as he looked at himself in the mirror. He sighed, this is going to be a long night, he thought. When he went down to the common room, there was no sign of Hermione. Ron and Lavender were waiting for Harry at the portrait hole, and the three of them head down to the great hall. A feast was supposed to precede the actual dance. Ron and Lavender talked about the band that was playing and what songs they wanted to hear. Harry didn’t join in the conversation; he didn’t quite feel like talking with the state he was in..

He fiddled with the lamb chops on his plate. The food for the feast didn’t even taste any good with Hermione angry with him. Harry decided that maybe he should take some up to her, having not seen her all day. He grabbed as much of everything as he could carry on a plate and told Ron and Lavender he’d be back soon. He doubted they heard him tough, they were a little…busy. Harry rushed up too the sixth floor where the Head Boy and Girl slept. Harry approached Hermione’s room and thought about turning back. He didn’t quite feel like confronting her, but he didn’t want her to starve either.

“Hermione?” he said as he knocked. No response. “Hermione?” he asked again. Still no response. “I’ve brought you up some food in case you’re hungry, I’ll just leave it here by your door in case you want any…” he waited for any sound. “Okay, I’ll-er-see you later then,” and with that he walked back down to the Great Hall. The Weird Sisters had started playing already and Harry saw Ron and Lavender dancing happily. He didn’t want to burden them with his presence while he was in such a sour mood.

Harry found a seat in the corner and watched all of the couples dance. The dance passed uneventfully until toward the last half-hour when he was asked by Parvati to dance during a faster song and he enjoyed it but Ginny asked him to dance the next song. She put her arms around his neck and he put his on her waist. Ginny looked into his bright green eyes and saw a troubled person behind them.

“Harry, what’s wrong?” she asked. Harry didn’t look her in the eyes but told her anyway. He told her all about how he absolutely loved Hermione but when he asked her to the dance she took it as some kind of insult, as if no one else knew she was a girl. He told her how he had tried to talk to her today after dinner, but how she hadn’t responded. After all of that Ginny didn’t speak for a moment and then a wide smile broke across her face.

“I have something that will cheer you up, Harry,” she said smiling and looking behind him.

“I doubt it,” murmured Harry sadly.

“Look behind you,” she said smiling. Harry turned around and…there was Hermione. She was absolutely gorgeous. She was wearing dark ice blue robes. Her hair was smoother and her curls seemed to frame her face to give her the look of an angel. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of Harry. She smiled and waved at him, motioning for him to come over. Harry was frozen in amazement. Then he felt someone push him forward. He looked back to see Ginny urging him to go see her.

“Go on, Harry!” she said urgently. Harry did as he was told and walked over to Hermione. When he reached her there was a moment of silence at which he just marveled at her beauty. Her gorgeous eyes glinted beautifully in the light of the Great Hall’s enchanted ceiling. Her figure was perfect.

“Hermione, I’m sor-“ but she put a finger to his lips.

“No, Harry, it’s ok. I understand. Well, now I do, I didn’t before, it’s my fault. I thought you were just coming to me because you had run out of dates. Then I heard you and Ron talking last night and I realized I had been a fool. I’m sorry, I understand if you don’t forgive me,” she said. Tears were welling up in her eyes and one fell down her cheek. Harry gently brushed it away and lifted her chin to look at him. She stared into his great emerald eyes and breathed in his wonderful scent.

“It’s ok, Hermione. I should have realized what a wonderful girl I had and acted upon my intentions quicker. I love you, Hermione, and nothing will ever stop me from loving you,” he said softly. She looked into his eyes and smiled through her tears. Her voice was lost at first, but after a moment she spoke.

“I love you too, Harry,” she whispered. She stared into his deep green eyes, he was leaning in closer and closer. He pressed his lips against hers. It was the most right feeling the both of them had ever experienced. Harry pulled her closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry pulled away and rubbed his nose against hers. She shivered involuntarily.

“May I have this dance?” he asked. She looked back at him and smiled.

“You most certainly may,” she whispered back. With that, Harry led her out on to the dance floor and put his arms around her waist while she wrapped hers around his neck. Hermione laid her head down on his shoulder and the two of them were content just being held in each other’s arms. Hermione closed her eyes and Harry his. They allowed the music to take over the bodies as the swayed back and forth in perfect bliss. It was love. Absolute, pure, amazing love, and they both knew the feeling they had now would never lose its significance.

The song ended and they found themselves staring into the others eyes. Harry moved his head down and for the second time that night, their lips met. The feeling was absolutely electric. Every part of their bodies was content with the feeling. There nerves were alive with happiness as the kissed deepened and became more passionate. They broke away and stood there for the longest time just holding each other, moving to the now non-existent music. Occasionally, Harry would lean down and kiss her again for that passionate feeling the both longed for. The dance floor emptied around them until it was just the two of them standing there, perfectly alone, perfectly happy. Harry laughed. Hermione looked up at him with an amused expression on her face.

“What is it?” she asked smiling.

“Ron was right, this was the night we found true love.” With that, they kissed one last time, and headed back up to the common room.

FIN