CHAPTER 16
Harry stood in an enormous rectangular room, lined with various statues and shiny knights' armor. Right across from where Harry stood was Hermione. She looked different, not only was she older but an angry yet determined look was written on her face, and she stood with her wand pointed directly at Harry.
"Hermione?" He asked moving towards her.
"Detonamobulus!"
Hermione's spell hit him in the stomach like a kick in the gut, it felt like someone had just shot a canon at him and his body flew backwards and smashed against the back wall. A handful of cement particles crumbled from the wall as Harry slid down to his knees, the warm trickle of blood invading his mouth.
"Hermione, please." Harry pleaded.
"Shut up!" She yelled causing a blast of dark green sparks to blast from her wand.
"Why are you doing this?" He questioned heaving himself to his feet, he struggled to stay standing.
"Death is but the next great adventure Potter." She stated playfully, grinning diabolically.
"Harry!... Wake up!... Come on, Come on, get up!"
Harry forced his eyes open only to find two glistening chocolate eyes staring into his own bright green ones. A soft excited grin filled her innocent face, at that moment she looked so young, carefree and really gorgeous.
"Wow." He whispered.
"What?" Hermione asked looking at the door to his room expecting to see something out of the ordinary.
Harry's eyes fell on her sleeveless pajama top that revealed her slender arms and a small portion of her feminine chest.
"Harry!" She huffed giving him a firm punch on the shoulder.
"What?" He questioned innocently.
She raised an eyebrow at him and a sheepish grin spread across Harry's face.
"You know well what that was for." She answered glaring at him.
"I've caught you looking." Harry grinned knowing he had her cornered.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She answered crossing her arms. Harry noticed a soft blush filled her cheeks.
"You know well what I'm talking about." He said smoothly, his grin spreading slightly wider.
"You're such a prat." She stated throwing a pillow at Harry's face and walking to the entrance to Harry's room.
"Happy Christmas Hermione!" He called after her.
"Happy Christmas Harry… now hurry up and get downstairs, I want to open presents!" She nagged.
Still grinning, he shook his head and slowly dragged himself from bed. Harry's grin faded when he thought about the nightmare he just had.
"What's taking you so," She stopped herself from finishing her sentence when she saw the worried expression on Harry's face. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing really, it was just another nightmare."
"But this one was different?" Hermione questioned.
Harry nodded, he wondered whether he should tell Hermione about it or not.
"What happened?" She asked again.
Harry sighed running a hand through his dark messy fringe.
"You attacked me." He stated under his breath.
Hermione sat down next to him.
"You can't think I would do something like that, can you?" She asked with concern in her tone.
Stillness filled the room that made them both feel very uncomfortable.
"Harry, you know I wouldn't, don't you?" She pleaded.
He finally looked into her beautiful cinnamon eyes. They enticed him and gave Hermione everything she could ever want as they wrapped him around her slender finger. Could those sparkling chocolate eyes he loved so much betray him?
"I know you wouldn't." He said softly wrapping him arms around her.
He heard her release a sigh of relief.
I shouldn't have told her, it was just a stupid nightmare.
"Come on Hermione, let's go open those presents." He grinned taking her hand in his.
She grinned back before they both raced down the staircase and into the large family room where the enormous Christmas tree stood. A great number of presents stood just beneath it in various sizes, shapes and colors. Harry stole a glance at Hermione and her eyes twinkled with the excitement that was bubbling up within her.
"Should we wait for your dad?" Harry questioned.
Hermione bit her lower lip and went into some serious thought.
"Well… maybe… but it wouldn't hurt to open just one, would it?" She questioned.
Harry couldn't help but laugh, she looked so adorable and Harry hoped he would always see Hermione this excited about Christmas.
"I suppose opening one present couldn't hurt." He grinned as he sat down next to Hermione before the tree. "So how about you open my present?"
"Oh no you don't, you have to open my present first." She stated in a bossy tone.
"Why?"
"Because I said so." She answered playfully handing Harry a heavy, rectangular gift.
It was wrapped so perfectly, it looked like Hermione had spent hours getting it just right. By the shape and weight of the gift, Harry was quite certain that it was a book.
"No Harry, it's not a book… well not really." She answered looking slightly worried that he wouldn't like it.
Harry gave her a reassuring grin and carefully un-wrapped her present.
It was a book… a really thick, leather, hardcover book. It was a maple red in color and had Harry's initials inscribed in golden handwriting centered on the front.
"Open it." Hermione said softly, her hands trembling slightly.
Harry nodded and flipped to the first page of the book.
Harry, December 23rd 1996
I've left this page blank for so many years because I've been waiting for the right moment to give this to you as a reminder of your… well our… wild adventures, our friendship, our new found love for one another, the people around you, and those dear to your heart which we have lost. This book tells the story of the REAL Harry Potter, and I can only hope you can find laughter and comfort within these pages. Some of the things I've included may bring you sorrow, and at times I wondered if I should leave them out, but I just didn't have the heart to tear out a part of you Harry… I hope you understand and I promise I won't be upset if you decide to take them out yourself. I've left quite a few pages blank at the end as we both know this adventure isn't over yet, and once it is, I know you, me, Ron and even Luna will be ready to take on a brand new journey, I can only hope we can take that step into a beautiful new beginning together.
Love Always
YOUR Hermione xox
"Oh wow, Hermione this is brilliant!" He exclaimed skimming through a few pages noticing several Dailey Prophet clippings, which were clearly labeled by Hermione's neat writing, many pictures of the trio, signatures and letters.
She grinned before he threw his weight onto her in a tight embrace.
"Thank you so much Hermione, I can't even explain how much your gift means to me…the fact that you made it yourself makes it that much more special."
Hermione's cheeks burned red from blushing.
He loved her… he loved her more then anything else in this world and he wanted to give her anything and everything this world had to offer. Once again, he made an internal promise to protect Hermione with everything he had, with his heart, with his soul… with his life.
"I think it's your turn to open my present now." He stated after giving her a sweet kiss on her soft lips.
Hermione's eyes trailed over all the wrapped gifts.
"Which one is it?" She questioned.
"It's not in there." He grinned mischievously.
She furrowed her eyebrows slightly trying to figure out what Harry had meant.
He reached into his deep bathrobe pocket and presented Hermione with a small carefully wrapped rectangular gift.
"Happy Christmas Hermione." He said softly placing the gift into her delicate hands with a smile.
She looked into Harry's magical green eyes, and then studied the carefully wrapped present for a moment before she slowly unwrapped the gift. Hermione stared at the rectangular velvet box in her hands, Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he waited in anticipation.
"What is it Harry?" She asked softly.
"Go on, open it." He urged.
She wrapped her fingers around the scarlet box, opened it carefully and gasped.
"Oh Harry, it's beautiful!"
"You like it?" He questioned grinning widely.
"Do I ever." She whispered breathlessly.
It was a beautiful gold necklace that had a very interesting and original design. The front portion almost looked like golden leaves with small emerald crystals within the center, and each leaf was connected by tiny silver orbs. The front portion was connected to the rest of the necklace by three diamonds, arranged like a three leaf clover, on each side.
Harry made his way around the back of Hermione. He placed his fingers on her back and gently glided his fingers up towards her shoulders, and down her bare arms.
Hermione tingled all over as waves of chills washed over her repeatedly, her lips felt slightly swollen as thoughts of kissing him filled her head, she couldn't help but give a soft whimper when she felt his hot breath against the side of her neck.
Harry smiled to himself, it felt amazing to be able to do this to her, to make her melt with passion. He carefully took the necklace from its case and brought it up to her neck and fastened the buckle. Then, slowly, he kissed her bare shoulders with soft repeated kisses.
"Oh Merlin." She whispered in a husky voice.
She felt Harry grin against the side of her neck where he had slowly made his way.
"Actually… it's Harry." He teased.
He noticed her cheeks had risen, which meant she was grinning.
He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and brushed his fingers under her pajama top where her stomach was. She had slightly stiffened with his hands on her bare stomach, but as soon as he kissed her neck again he felt her relax and give into his arousing touch.
"Mmm." She moaned when he had reached her jaw line, she just couldn't hold the pleasure she was feeling any longer.
It was what Harry had been waiting for, he tilted her so that he could see her beautiful face and glistening eyes, and kissed her swollen lush lips. It was a chaste kiss compared to the ones they had already shared, but it was a kiss full of love and one that held promises of devotion.
For years and maybe forever, Hermione felt like there was a part of her missing. Sometimes the hole would grow larger, it caused her pain to feel the emptiness eating away at her, to feel like her soul was only half there caused her hundreds of sleepless nights where she would lay on her back and stare into the darkness surrounding her. It almost felt like she, herself, was in an ominous abyss waiting for a guiding hand, waiting for someone to comfort her, someone to love her the way she desperately craved to love someone in return.
She lay in Harry's strong arms, and when she closed her eyes it felt like an angel was caressing her within the safety of his heavenly wings. With a pounding heart she gently left his embrace and stared into his eyes. She tried to swallow the thick lump in her throat as she prepared to confess three hidden words she desperately needed to say, she was undeniably certain that she couldn't, and didn't want to say those three breathtaking words to anyone else.
Tap, tap, tap, tap
Harry looked in the direction of the spiral staircase as a pair of shoes tapped against the hardwood floor.
"Morning Mr. Granger, Happy Christmas!" Harry called.
Hermione let out a sigh of exasperation. Harry looked in her direction wondering if she was upset at their broken moment, or if there was something more to it.
"Good morning kids, Happy Christmas to you both!" Trevor called once he spotted his daughter, and the boy with the scar sitting before the Christmas tree.
"Happy Christmas daddy." Hermione replied giving her father a half smile.
"I hope you didn't start without me." Mr. Granger said softly with a smile.
Harry gave Hermione a quick glance, she knew exactly what he had meant.
"No sir, we were waiting for you." Harry answered not quite looking Hermione's father in the eyes.
"Are you saying that my Hermione didn't even open one present?" Mr. Granger teased, as a soft blush crawled across Hermione's cheeks.
Harry shook his head, he didn't want Hermione lying to her father, and he didn't want her father to ask questions about the present he had given her, even though Harry was sure that Mr. Granger would eventually find out.
Trevor sat himself down beside his daughter.
"Okay then, let's open… ready… set… go!"
Harry laughed as Hermione and her father raced to find a present that had their name on it and were competing to see who can un-wrap it the fastest.
"Ha!" Hermione called out triumphantly when she had managed to unwrap her present from Ron, before Mr. Granger could unwrap his present from a friendly co-worker. She wore a smug expression on her face and Harry guessed that she was used to winning at this game.
The phone rang and Mr. Granger left the two of them to answer the call.
Harry reached for his present from Ron as Hermione started un-wrapping a particularly large gift that was addressed,
To: Hermione From: Viktor
Harry felt a slight jolt of jealousy and watched Hermione to see what her admirer had given her.
Hermione grinned at the cover of a new book, her eyes twinkled with joy and she looked as thought she wanted to leap in the air with excitement. Krum had obviously given her a book that she had wanted. It was fairly large, a deep navy blue, with silver writing in the front, and was probably full of many new and complicated spells for Hermione to master. Looking closer, Harry read the book's title,
A Healer's Guide
Harry felt like cursing. That was the same gift he had planned on getting Hermione at the end of the school year when she would be beginning her career as a Healer. He knew well that Krum had spent a fortune on that very book as it was an expensive medical book that had to be specially ordered through the Wizarding Medical Association.
"What's wrong Harry?" She asked.
"Oh… ah… nothing Hermione… it's nothing." He answered focusing his attention on an un-wrapping box of assorted sweets from Fred and George.
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Harry," He looked at her all knowing cinnamon eyes. "Viktor's just my friend, and always has been just a friend… you don't need to be jealous, okay?"
How did she just know?
"I know, I just… I was going to get you that book as an `end of the year' present."
She placed her hand on his cheek and smiled sweetly at him, suddenly forgetting the world around her.
"Harry… you've given me the greatest gift anyone can." She said softly.
Harry looked to where the necklace encircled her neck and was about to grin when Hermione pushed his chin up to look back into her eyes.
"No Harry, not that." she shook her head. "You gave me your heart." She said breathlessly.
Harry felt the vice press against the sides of his heart and hot tears settled in his bright green eyes.
Mr. Granger stood hidden in the distance, bracing himself against the corner of a wall, tears clouding his dark eyes and cascading down his tired cheeks. He no longer saw his beautiful daughter as a little girl, she would of course always be his little girl, but she was a women, a grown woman who was ready to give every piece of her heart to the young man before her, to give herself unconditionally to him without question. He knew she was undoubtedly in love with Harry, he could see it in her sparkling eyes; it was the same radiant glow that came over his face when he had fallen in love with Amelia.
She had grown up so fast.
Where had the time gone? It felt like just yesterday when he held her in his loving embrace before she left for the magical school for the first time, it felt like just last week he and Amelia had taught her how to walk together, it felt just like last month when his eyes filled with joyful tears at the first sight of his beautiful baby girl with her glittering big brown eyes, rosy cheeks and her perfect little lips, hands and tiny feet.
He watched the boy gently cup his hand around his Hermione's beautiful face, he watched his lips break into a soft smile and as his green eyes dance with passion and deep emotion, he watched his daughter's eyes flutter closed as the boy slowly glided towards her perfect lips, he fought an inside struggle as half of him watched the not so little boy, kiss his not so little girl. His heart danced with joy for her finding such truly beautiful love, while at the same time felt the pain of having the only thing he had left in his life being taken away from him by the boy with the scar. Mr. Granger rested his forehead against the unwelcoming cold wall and watched Harry Potter carefully capture his Hermione's delicate hand and whisk her away towards her room; he watched his beautiful darling daughter step into Harry's life and walk away from his.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello Everyone! Thank you VERY much for all your wonderful reviews, I can't even explain how much they brighten my day after I post a new chapter (It definitely lets me know my hard work was enjoyed, and boy what a feeling that is!) I love this chapter, I put a lot of my heart into it, especially the moment where Harry gave Hermione her gift and the moment when Mr. Granger realized that Hermione was all grown up… we shall be retuning to Hogwarts in the next chapter just as I had predicted… I've been thinking a lot about sequel two and three, and now I'm realizing that sequel three may actually have to be divided into two separate sequels, which would make the "Sacrifice trilogy" 4 sequels long.. now I'm not sure if I WILL be splitting it into two halves, but the more I think about it, the more it seems logical… I guess I'll come to that barrier when I reach it right?? I just hope I don't lose my incentive to write these! Anyways... I thought maybe you would all enjoy seeing Hermione's gift from Harry… yes it is an actual necklace because I needed some inspiration so I did a search and my goodness, as soon as I saw it I thought… it's perfect!... so here it is! http://www.truenorthgems.com/i/photos/emerald-neck-2.jpg
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