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.

Thanks to everybody who's reviewed so far! It's quite flattering to know that so many of you are enjoying my story, especially since this is my first attempt at writing fan fiction.

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

All I Want for Christmas

Chapter 2: A Conversation Over Eggnog and Cookies

Why in the world did I say that Harry and Ron could be father and son? Hermione pondered as she led Harry downstairs and into her mum and dad's living room. If I don't have a clue why I said it how in the world can I tell Harry what I meant by it later. I know he's going to ask me about it too. He always asks me about things like that that I say that he doesn't understand. The problem is…I don't understand it this time either.

“Hey sweetie,” Mrs. Granger said with seemingly endless enthusiasm as Hermione entered the living room, followed closely by Harry. “Harry, it's so good to have you here for Christmas this year. Hermione's told us how you've always been at your Aunt and Uncle's or stuck at Hogwarts. If there's anything you need, just you ask, and we'll get it for you.”

Hermione couldn't help but to smile amusedly at Harry turn a light shade of red in embarrassment in response to her mum's comments. “Umm…thanks, Mrs. Granger,” Harry stammered. “I'll be sure to let one of you know if I need something.”

“I'll leave you two to relax and enjoy the eggnog and chocolate chip cookies,” Mrs. Granger told them, and smiled at the two of them before leaving the room.

“Don't mind Mum,” Hermione reassured Harry after her mum had left the room, “she's like that every time we have company, which is quite often. It's not like it takes much to please you either.” She added teasingly with a wink.

Harry chuckled for a moment, then suddenly turned grim. “It would take even less if Voldemort wasn't after me anymore,” he said bluntly.

Hermione instinctively reached out and grabbed Harry's arm firmly. “Let's not talk of Voldemort during the holidays,” she told him. “This is supposed to be a time when you can forget about that, if only for a couple of weeks.”

“I'm going to have to face him for the last time soon, you know, Hermione.”

“I know, but let's not talk about it anymore. The holidays are supposed to be a happy time, not one where we dwell on things that make us sad or worried.”

Hermione touched his smooth cheek tenderly. Harry smiled at her in gratitude. “All right. I'll try not to think about it while we're here…too much.”

Hermione smacked his arm. “No! You won't think about it at all while we're here,” she scolded him. “We're going to relax, have fun, and enjoy ourselves.”

Harry merely lifted his hands in surrender, and then poured himself a glass of eggnog and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and sat down on the couch. She did the same and sat down next to him.

Well, at least he promised me that he'll try not to dwell on it while we're here. I wish I could stop his dreams about Voldemort, though, Hermione thought as she carefully took a bite from her cookie. I wonder how long he'll wait before asking me about that father/son thing I said earlier.

“Hermione,” Harry interrupted her thought process, “You remember that song you were humming as we came up the walk this afternoon? What was it?”

What was I humming earlier? It must have been a Christmas carol. Bugger, I can't remember which one it was.

“I'm sorry, Harry,” Hermione said apologetically, “but I don't remember what Christmas carol I was humming earlier.”

“You mean `All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth'?” Mr. Granger, who had entered the living room without Harry or Hermione noticing, interjected with a chuckle on his way through the living room towards the stairs.

Harry also chuckled at the title. Hermione smacked him. “Thanks Dad,” she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

“No problem,” Mr. Granger said jovially as he disappeared up the stairs.

Harry looked at her. “Didn't remember or didn't want to tell me?” he asked with a spark of mischief in his eye.

Hermione smacked him again. “I honestly didn't remember,” she protested.

“I believe you,” Harry said with a big cheshire grin on his face. “I just found it amusing that you would be humming a song about wanting your two front teeth after all the jokes that have been made about them at Hogwarts.”

Hermione leaned her forehead against Harry's, “You can certainly be a dork when you want to, Harry,” she said with a clearly amused tone in her voice. She noticed a cookie crumb at the edge of his mouth, so she wiped it off with a finger and showed it to him. “Saving some for later?” she questioned.

Harry wiped it off her finger with his napkin. “No, Mum,” he said with that all-to-familiar mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Hermione smacked his arm again. “I never said that I was your Mum.”

“That's right, you said something else. Now what was it…” Harry's voice trailed off in thought.

Please don't let him remember, Hermione pleaded. I want to figure out what I meant before I talk with him about it.

“Oh yes, now I remember!”

Remind me to curse you later, she told the unknown being she had been pleading to.

“You said something about Ron and me being father and son. Which of us is which and where do you fit in that picture?”

Hermione stood up and walked over to the window with a contemplative look on her face as her mind raced away from her. How did I mean that? Which of them would be the dad? Which one the son? What should I tell him? Why did I say that?

Suddenly, she felt the warmth of Harry's hand on her shoulder. “You don't know, do you?” he said softly. All she could do what shake her head sadly with tears welling up in her eyes and droop her head. “I understand,” Harry reassured her, cupping her chin with his hand and lifting it up. “Knowledge comes so easily to you, but this doesn't seem to be knowledge you can read in a book, otherwise you would know the answer.” Hermione smiled weakly through her tears as Harry continued, “This must be knowledge of the heart instead. I wish that I could help you understand it. If you want my help in trying to figure it out, I'd be glad to offer it, but I don't think that I'd be the best one to help you find the knowledge you're seeking right now.”

When did Harry get to be so wise? That's my job.

“Who do you think would be best able to help me?” Hermione asked through her tears.

Harry softly wiped her tears away. “Your parents are the people you have easiest access to. Ginny might be able to help too, and you could always owl her. Hedwig could use the exercise. Besides, that would allow us to find out how Luna's surviving her first Weasley family gathering.”

Hermione smiled up at him gratefully. “Thanks Harry. You always seem to know just what to say at times like these.” The red crept back onto Harry's cheeks at her praise. “I'm going to go wash up, and then we should go see if Mum needs any help with dinner.”

“That sounds fine, Hermione,” he told her as she started towards the stairs. “I'll wait here for you to come back.”

Hermione nodded to acknowledge that she heard him and disappeared slowly up the stairs. Harry sat down on the couch to wait for her. A couple of minutes later he heard heavier footsteps than Hermione's on the stairs, indicating that Mr. Granger was coming down the stairs. Harry turned around to look at him, and saw that Mr. Granger had a contemplative look on his face.

“Harry, would you please come up to my room with me?”

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