All I Want for Christmas

A/N: This is my first attempt to write fan fiction of any sort. Plus, I don't have the knowledge that most of you do about Harry Potter, as I've only read fan fiction and seen the movies. I've tried to be as true to the series as I can considering my knowledge, but the story may be slightly AU. Please be constructively critical of my work. Thanks in advance for your kindness. Maybe I'll write more of these in the future if this one goes well.

Thank you to everybody who continues to read and review this story. I'm glad that so many of you are enjoying this plot idea that I'm working with. Please keep reviewing. You can help me improve my stories through them.

If any of you want to try to figure out where I'm going, you might want to read my replies to people's reviews, as I will occasionally drop a hint in there. However, be wary, I have been known to toss out some red herrings too. Speculate at your own risk.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story. All characters belong to J. K. Rowling.

All I Want for Christmas

Chapter 10: Sleepy-Heads and Owls

45 minutes later, Hermione slowly made her way down the stairs and into the dining room.

I wonder where Harry is…I would have sworn that he slept a lot better than I did last night.

“Have problems sleeping, sweetheart?” Mr. Granger asked.

Hermione moaned in response. Problems sleeping is putting it mildly.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“Tea would be nice,” she responded.

Mr. Granger got up and went into the kitchen to make Hermione a cup of tea. Moments later Mrs. Granger came out of the kitchen.

“Sweetheart, you look absolutely miserable! What happened?” Mrs. Granger asked her.

“I couldn't get to sleep because I was thinking about what you said while we were preparing dinner last night,” Hermione said giving her mum as evil a look as she could muster, considering how tired she still was.

Mrs. Granger ignored her look, “And did you figure anything out?”

“No. I'm even more confused now than I already was.”

“That's too bad.”

“What's `too bad'?” Harry asked groggily as he entered the room.

“Nothing, Harry dear” Mrs. Granger tried to reassure him.

“Okay,” Harry muttered.

Maybe Harry didn't sleep as well as I thought. He's got bags under his eyes this morning too. He didn't have another nightmare. I would have heard that. He must have been thinking about something. But what?

“I have to go back into the kitchen and finish breakfast,” Mrs. Granger informed them. “Harry, would you like something to drink?”

“Tea would be nice,” Harry said tiredly.

Mrs. Granger went into the kitchen to tell Mr. Granger to make Harry a cup of tea as well.

“Didn't sleep well, Harry?” Hermione asked in surprise.

“Yes,” he muttered, “Why does that surprise you?”

“I suppose because from my room it sounded like you were soundly sleeping.”

“I wasn't. I was staring at the ceiling thinking about something.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“The same thing I was thinking about when you came back into the room I'm staying in after washing your face last night.”

“Okay.” I'm not touching that subject any further until he's ready to address it. He seems a little more relaxed this morning after mentioning that than he did last night, though. I wonder if he figured something out…

Just then, Mr. Granger walked into the dining room with two cups of tea. He set one down in front of each of them and then took his seat. “Other than being tired, how are the two of you this morning?” he inquired.

“Not too bad. A nice cold shower will help me wake up after breakfast,” Harry responded.

“I'll second that,” Hermione murmured before taking a sip of her tea.

“That's good. We,” Mr. Granger said pointing at the kitchen as he continued,” have a meeting this morning, and then we're going to take the two of you out this afternoon to do something.”

“Where are you and Mum taking us, Dad?” Hermione inquired.

“You'll have to wait until this afternoon to find out. Just dress like you would for a typical day.”

Harry and Hermione exchanged a sheepish smile. Yeah, right Dad. Harry and I are going to wear our robes out in public. NOT!!!

A moment later Mrs. Granger entered the room carrying four plates with eggs, bacon, and toast on them.

“Eat up,” she told them setting the plates down on the table.

They dug in. Eating in silence for a moment before Harry turned to Hermione and asked, “Why were you thrashing around on your bed so much last night?”

Oh, crud. I was hoping he didn't hear me. He's sure to ask what I was thinking about if I tell him that I was, but I can't lie to Harry either…

“Well…” Hermione finally said after taking a deep breath, “I had the same problem you did. I had something on my mind that I had to think about.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“I'm going to ask for the same patience that you did. I need to think through things a bit more before I talk with you about them. I'll tell you when I'm ready.” Only fair that he give me the same thing he's asking for.

Harry raised an eyebrow, but answered lightly, “Sure thing. Take all the time you need. I'll be here for you whenever you need to talk”

Hermione gave him a puzzled look before turning her attention back to her breakfast. I wonder why Harry raised his eyebrow like he did…Does he think that he has an idea of what I was thinking about? I hope not! That would be an awkward conversation to have.

Hermione was the first to finish her breakfast. “I'm going to go shower,” she informed them before focusing on Harry, “Can I borrow Hedwig this morning? I need to owl Ginny about something.”

“Absolutely. She'll be glad to get the exercise.”

“Thanks,” she said, smiling gratefully at him. If only you knew exactly what I was going to write to Ginny about…

Hermione quickly made her way upstairs, grabbed the stuff she needed for her shower, and headed to the bathroom.

Good. A chance to think about why I have so little knowledge of the heart. Hopefully I'll be able to figure something out before I write to Ginny so I can run any idea I may come up with by her.

20 minutes later, now wide awake and ready to face the day, but still just as clueless about her problems, Hermione emerged from the bathroom and returned to her room to write to Ginny. Hermione grabbed a new sheet of parchment and her quill and sat down at her desk.

She took a few deep breaths as she tried to figure out how to start her letter. Relax Hermione, she told herself. This is only a letter to Ginny to ask for her advice about girl things. This is NOT an admission that you're in love with Harry, because you're not. Just write and let your feelings come out on the paper. Don't try to revise it. Just send it as it turns out. She'll be best able to help you if you do it that way. Just like you look over Harry and Ron's assignments and help them out. It sure feels weird to have the shoe be on the other foot. Okay, enough blabbering to yourself. Just write already!

Hermione took a huge breath and said aloud, “well, here goes nothing,” and she started to write.

Ginny,

I really need your help with something! My mum thinks that Harry and I may fancy each other. I think she's gone mad, but I can't stop thinking about what she said. I can't possibly fancy Harry. Can I?

I know that you don't fancy Harry anymore, so I feel I can talk to you about this, despite the fact that you and Harry have a history. Maybe that will help you be the best person I could possibly turn to, because I can't possibly talk to Harry about it right now.

Yesterday, while I was talking to Harry in my folks' guest room (where Harry's sleeping while he's here) I said something that even I don't understand. He said that I was like a mum to him and Ron, and I told him that I wasn't necessarily their mum, and one of the counterexamples I used was that they may be like a father and son. You know Harry. He asked me about it later, and I didn't know what to say. It's sure hard to tell somebody what you meant when you don't know what you meant yourself. Harry tried to reassure me by saying that I didn't know because it's knowledge of the heart instead of knowledge of the head. That's bothering me, because now I'm asking myself why I have so little knowledge of the heart. Do you have any ideas? I know that Harry meant well, but he left me with more to think about.

To be honest, I don't know how I feel about Harry any more. What if I fancy him, but he doesn't fancy me back. I don't want to tell him that I fancy him if he doesn't feel the same way. Do I even want to fancy him? He still has to face Voldemort, after all. I know he'll defeat Voldemort, but what if he has to give up his own life in the process? I'd die! I can't imagine living without Harry!!!

Talk to Neville recently? I can tell he fancies you. It'd do you good to date somebody.

Why does life have to be so complicated? Please help me!!!!!

Your friend,

Hermione

Hermione folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, sealed it, and made her way to Harry's room to give it to Hedwig. She heard the shower running, so she knew that Harry wasn't in the room. She opened Hedwig's cage and let her out. Hedwig flew casually around the room before landing on the desk that Hermione was standing next to. Hermione patted her and gave her the letter. “Can you take this to Ginny for me?”

Hedwig hooted an affirmative reply as Hermione went to open the window for her. Then, she flew out the window and off towards The Burrow.

Hermione watched as Hedwig disappeared into the distance, thinking, I sure hope Ginny can help me figure out the most confusing thing I've ever had to deal with…

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