Hey guys! I know it's an early update, but I couldn't help it!
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"Bloody sun," Hermione mumbled. She made a sleepy note to curb her desire to curse every time she woke up.
"My, my. What a horrid vocabulary you have," Harry chuckled softly.
"Only because I've been around you two for seven years."
"Don't blame me for your terrible habits," he snorted.
She playfully swatted him on the shoulder, but it only made him bury his face into her neck. She pushed him away and in doing so brought her arms around his neck. For a second, all she could see were his eyes filled with love. In an instant, the night before replayed through her mind. Harry caught on and the both of them looked down at their compromising position.
I am in his lap. I. Am. In. His. Lap.
Harry opened his mouth several times that reminded her of a fish, but no sound came out.
On the couch opposite them, the first-year girl giggled. "You are so cute!"
They stared at her and then at one another.
"I should go change," she muttered.
"Yeah, me too," he answered.
She jumped out of his lap and ran upstairs. Great job, Hermione, you've scared him. You and your agreement with him last night. Now he's probably so embarrassed that he won't speak to me at all. She threw herself on the bed and sighed. Might as well prepare myself for a lonely Christmas.
Minutes later, a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," she answered.
The first-year from downstairs poked her head around the door. "Hullo, Hermione. Is it alright if I call you that? I know that you're really important and stuff and if I'm bothering you then…."
"You're not doing anything wrong. Come sit down." She sat up and patted a spot on the bed.
"Really? I get to come in the seventh years room? Oh wow, wait until Wendy gets back from holiday, she'll never believe it!" She practically skipped to the bed and sat down.
Hermione had spoken to her once or twice. She was tall for her age and her strawberry blonde hair made her stand out all the more.
"Harry sent me up here." She blushed slightly at Harry's name. "He-uh-wanted to see if you were coming back downstairs," she said while casting her brown eyes around the room.
"He wants to see me?"
"Of course. You're his girlfriend, aren't you?"
This time, it was Hermione who blushed. "Er-no. I'm just his friend."
"Oh," the girl answered with surprise. "I thought that you that you two were together. I just thought-never mind." She recovered quickly from her shock and continued with her message, "He said that he was sorry. He didn't want you to feel that he was making you do anything that you didn't want to. He also said that if you don't come down he'll give your gift to someone named Millicent Bullstrode."
"He wouldn't dare!" she exclaimed softly.
"He said that he would give it to her as soon as she got off the train."
"Evil prat," she muttered. "Tell him that I'm coming down and that he should be ready to run for his life as soon as I do."
The girl gave a bright smile. "I will." She got up and had one foot outside the door.
"Hold on," Hermione said. "What's your name?"
She stopped and looked back. "I'm Lucy Baker. Good-bye, Hermione." Lucy was out of the door before Hermione could say anything else.
"Give the gift away, will he? We'll see about that." She dressed in her Muggle clothes and walked down the steps, muttering all the while. At the bottom of the steps, he was talking to Lucy by the fire. Despite her irritation, she had to smile. He was a charmer. She noiselessly walked over to them. When she was five steps away, Harry turned to her. He returned her smile.
"You came down," he said.
"You threatened my Christmas gift. I had to do something," she countered.
"Knew it would. Would you like to eat or get your present first?" His stomach rumbled after he spoke.
"I think that we should eat for your sake. Wouldn't want you to die of starvation on Christmas."
"Good, because that was what I wanted to do anyway." He walked over to her and held out his arm. When she gave him a raised eyebrow, he replied, "I can't have my lady hurt herself on the way to the Great Hall. Who would I serve if something terrible happened to you?"
She took his arm and as they walked towards the exit, she quipped, "Perhaps Lavender."
"She's not enough like you. It would never work."
They both waved good-bye to Lucy and crawled out of the portrait hole.
* * *
Two hours later, they sat in a secluded spot near the greenhouses. Hermione clutched Harry's present to her chest. Would he even like it?
"You first, Hermione."
She handed it to him and looked away. She had never really seen him open a present that he had received from her. It was surprisingly nerve-wracking.
"This is great! Wow, Hermione, you always find the things I need!"
She looked up from a pile of snow on the ground and grinned at the look on his face. "You're welcome, Harry," she said shyly. Why was I ever nervous? And why do I feel so relieved?
"Kicking Arse and Taking Names: A History of Aurors," he read from the back of the book. "Also includes guidelines and suggestions into becoming an Auror yourself." He flipped through the pages. "I'm going to start on this before I go to bed. This is fantastic."
Hermione drew patterns in the snow. "I'm glad you like it."
"Now, for yours." He put a hand in his right pocket and withdrew a small wrapped box. Curious, she took it and took the wrapping off in way that she didn't destroy the wrapping paper.
"Come on, you're making me nervous," he joked.
The paper came off gently and she took the top off the box. She gasped.
Inside was a small necklace. A silver heart hung from the chain that sparkled in the light. She looked closely and saw that it was covered in a fine powder of diamonds. It was simple, yet beautiful. She took the necklace out of the box and realized that the chain was covered in the same powder as the heart.
"Harry, it's beautiful," she breathed.
"Really? I thought that it would be too much."
"It's exactly right." She turned it over in her hand. "You got this from Hogsmeade?"
"It took some hard searching, but as soon as I saw it, I had to get it for you. You're my only heart, Hermione."
She could feel his love for her coming from him in droves. She looked into his eyes and for a moment, felt something inside of her snap. It was almost like a strap that was holding something down. She held out the necklace.
"Could you help me put it on?"
"Sure."
She turned around and lifted up her hair. He put it around her neck and when it was on, backed away slowly.
"Wanna go back inside?"
She nodded and he took her hand. The jolt of electricity from the Room of Requirement flooded through her, but she didn't notice. Harry's words were echoing in her mind.
You're my only heart, Hermione.
* * *
Later that night, the occupants of Gryffindor Tower had a small Christmas party. Hermione had only met some them that very night, but it didn't stop them from having fun. Jonathan, the fifth year, had produced a pile of wizard crackers from nowhere and small pops filled the room. Harry, however, took himself away from the party early and sat by the fire, tossing a pillow into the air and catching it. Hermione went over to cheer him up.
"I'm guessing the pillow is engaging you with deep conversation."
He grinned. "We were just discussing the meaning of life. He makes very valid points."
She scooted closer to him. "He looks like a philosopher."
"All he has to do is sit here all day, thinking. A very smart bloke." Harry set the pillow in his lap and unexpectedly hugged her.
"Happy Christmas, Hermione. I just wanted to tell you."
She hugged him tighter. "Happy Christmas, Harry. How about we go back to the party?"
"Yeah," he answered and sat back, his arms still around her waist. A small gust of air from above made them look up. "Mistletoe," he mused.
It wobbled once, and then righted itself. Hermione looked around to see who was levitating it, but she could find no one. She glanced at Harry to find her staring at her.
"You know what they say," he said, flicking his eyes to the once again wobbling branch.
She knew all too well. He leaned towards her and she knew that she should have said "Stop" or "I feel sick". But she didn't want to. She leaned closer to him and shut her eyes. It wouldn't hurt for one kiss….
Fireworks went off. Literally. She opened her eyes to find that they were inches apart, but the fireworks continued.
"What in Merlin's name," she started when Harry pulled her down quickly. Something whizzed over their heads. After getting up, a very impressive fireworks display commenced.
She looked over to the table where two of the first years, both Muggle-borns, gawked open-mouthed at the fireworks. A half of a wizard cracker was in their hands. The transferred their awed looks to one another and exhaled in unison, "Wizard."
Hermione felt anger cloud her judgment. They weren't the ones responsible for ruining her kiss with Harry.
I never wanted one. I didn't. I don't know what I'm talking about, she thought determinedly.
The fireworks created words and she grew even angrier.
Made by Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes!
"If I ever find the person who helped them set up that ridiculous shop, I will personally give them such a hexing that they won't know which way is up!" she huffed. Harry had a queer expression on his face. She asked him tenderly, "What's the matter?"
"Ah-nothing. Just thinking of-er, past business, is all." He looked a little pale.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I think I should go to bed." He let go of her and stood up. "See you in the morning?"
She smiled. "Of course, Harry. Good-night."
He bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "'Night." He walked away and up the stairs.
Sighing, she leaned back against the cushions. What had happened back there? And why had she welcomed that kiss? Well, almost kiss. She rubbed her temples. This was getting very confusing.
Underneath a table, Lucy cursed softly. Professor Flitwick had told her that her Wingardium Leviosa needed some work.
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