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A/N: This chapter is a little lighter than the previous chapters, I though the gang had earned a much needed break from all the angst, although there is still a little in this chapter.
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Chapter 13 : A Very Hogsmeade Christmas
The next couple of weeks flew by between Percy being arrested and Harry's usual prediction of death in Divination.
Before he knew where he was he was attending Hogsmeade with Hermione and Ron. Once they arrived they first did what Ron wanted. To eat. They brought a stack full of sweets from Honeydukes and they made their way out to a small park and tucked in to their snacks. Ron was rummaging through his sweets when he looked up, horrified.
"Ron, what is it ?" asked Harry.
"I forgot to get any Christmas Creams, I'll be right back." With that Ron dashed off back to Honeydukes.
"Ron, does he ever think of anything other than food," said Hermione sarcastically.
"Sometimes I wonder that myself," replied Harry. "But one good thing, we have some time alone." They smiled at each other, and Harry pulled Hermione into his arms, they looked around them at the thousands of Christmas decorations.
There was barely an inch in the entire village where there wasn't a Christmas decoration.
"I love Hogsmeade at Christmas time," sighed Hermione, who was slightly in awe of the decorations. "It'll be strange this Christmas, not going home for it. My mum and dad were always suckers for Christmas, my house was like a giant Christmas tree." She chuckled to herself, although her face was sad. Harry placed his hand gently under her chin and turned her head to face him, until their eyes were locked.
"It'll be ok Hermione...I'm here for you, and as long as we have each other we will get through anything," he answered softly. Hermione gave him a half smile and they both leant in, about to kiss, when Ron's footsteps were heard, they broke away quickly.
Ron came up to them with another handful of sweets. The three students finished off their sweets, well Hermione and
Harry did, Ron on the other hand felt a sudden urge to get to the bathroom, while his face grew paler by the second.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up with you later," he mumbled.
"Well I guess we should get started on finding those dress robes then," stated Harry, rising from his seat and offering out a hand to Hermione, who gladly took it.
The couple looked at dress robes for a little while when Harry realised that Hermione was no longer with him. He had been looking at some dress robes and thought that she was with him. He decided to begin his search for her at the first place he thought she could be.
He wandered into the changing rooms area, he stumbled between various witches and wizards before stepping on a coat hanger and slipping across the floor and falling straight through the curtain to one of the changing rooms knocking a female witch to the ground. He looked up to see who he had hit and realised that is was Hermione, but this wasn't the Hermione he was used to, this Hermione was more beautiful than ever, and she was in her bra and panties. Harry did the first thing he could think of, cover his eyes !
"I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't realise that you were in here, I slipped on a coat hanger while I was looking for you and…well…well here I am."
"You can look up now Harry, I'm dressed," answered Hermione. Harry looked up and saw Hermione in a beautiful long red silky dress, it was accessorised with the perfect earrings and shoes, 'boy did she look beautiful,' Harry thought.
"Whoa Herm, you look great!" Hermione beamed at hearing Harry's words.
"You really mean that?"
"Have I ever lied to you?" he answered. She smiled at him again and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
"Now, you should go Harry, people will get suspicious if you stay in here for too long." She ushered him out of the changing booth and left him to look at some dress robes with the now refreshed Ron.
"Ok Ron?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, I just had one to many Christmas Creams. So have you found any new dress robes?"
"Well I found some but they're a bit boring, just black pants, jacket and tie with a midnight blue shirt. I think I'll go try it on."
A few minutes later Harry returned looking incredibly flustered and pale. "What's the matter with you, you look like you've just seen Snape in a thong," chuckled Ron.
"Very funny." Harry answered sarcastically. "Actually I'm having a little trouble with my tie." At that moment he felt two hands grip his neck, he noticed that they were Hermione's.
"Honestly Harry, aren't you ever going to learn how to fasten your tie," she moaned between tuts and tugs at Harry's tie.
Harry sort of enjoyed the way Hermione was being so bossy and motherly with him at times. "There, all sorted, and I must say you look lovely."
"Thanks Herm, maybe next time you can help me with my pants," he said playfully.
"HARRY!" she snapped as she slapped his arm, she heard Ron giggling in the background. "And you can stop laughing too Weasley."