The previous night had ended as quickly as it began. The sun was now shining through their window and attempting to pull them from their slumber. They remained sleeping for a few more minutes before the completely expected happened.

"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Hugh screamed, bursting through the bedroom door.

"SANTA CAME! HE WAS HERE!" Jasmine exclaimed, matching her older brother stride for stride.

Harry and Hermione both bolted upright following their entrance and just stared at their kids in wonder. "Do you guys have any idea what time it is?" Harry asked sternly.

"Yeah, dad, it's 10. We've been up for hours waiting for you to wake up, but we couldn't wait anymore." Jasmine explained. Harry glanced over to see Hermione holding in her laughter while trying to look serious.

"Oh… I was just making sure you knew." He said with confidence. The others couldn't contain their laughter anymore.

"If you say so dad… we'll be downstairs!" Hugh finished. They both left the room at break-neck speed towards the stairs. Tearing his gaze away from his children rushing from the room in no time flat, he found Hermione staring at him.

"Hmmm, do I already know what that look's about?" He asked. She playfully swatted his chest.

"Of course you do! How did we manage to sleep till 10am when our alarm was set for 9am?" Harry began playing with the sheets that entangled them.

"Ummm…what alarm?" She rolled onto her other side and found that the only thing on the nightstand was a candle that had long been extinguished and a simple black box. Her eyes widened upon seeing it. Harry slid closer towards her and held an object in front of her.

"Looking for this?" He asked, holding the clock in front of her face. She brushed off the alarm and focused again on the box.

"Harry, is this what I think it is?" He saw the box and sighed at his mistake; He was so tired the night before he forgot to put the box under the tree.

Deciding it was best to tell her the truth, he said, "Well, it's your gift, Hermione." She looked at him dumbfounded.

"But we agreed that we didn't have to get each other anything." He suddenly took interest in anything that wasn't Hermione's eyes. "Well, It is Christmas, after all, and I just couldn't…not get you anything." He concluded.

He closed his eyes, expecting her to reprimand him for not following their agreement; however, he was stunned when her lips were on his. He forced his eyes open and fell into her mesmerizing orbs. He responded with as much passion as he could muster before finally pulling back.

"So, you're not upset?" He asked cautiously. She looked at him as if he had just burned her favorite book.

"Of course I'm not upset!" Then her expression softened, "Considering I went and did the same thing…"

Her words finally registered in his mind and he jumped at this rare occasion, "What happened to the old days of Hermione Jean Granger and her will to follow the rules?" He asked light-heartedly.

She smirked and said "I guess I've been hanging around you too long." He laughed aloud.

"I guess so! So, are you going to open your gift?" Unable to contain herself after hearing him ask, she removed the lid from the box and marveled at the trinket inside… the horcrux locket. She had never felt so much hatred and love at the same time for anything; she hated it because of what it once held, but loved it because of what it represented.

Her gaze alternated between the locket and him, before she said, "You kept it after all this time?"

"I never had the heart to get rid of it… it meant too much to me." He whispered. She threw her arms around his torso.

"Happy anniversary, Harry" She breathed.

"Happy anniversary, Hermione"

They stayed like that until they were interrupted by a yell from downstairs, "ARE WE EVER GONNA OPEN OUR PRESENTS?"