Disclaimer: All JKR's characters - I just like to take them out to play!

A/N: Thank you to all my loyal readers. I hope you like this next chapter. I always find it hard to make up gifts for stories. Please R/R!


"Come on, Hermione! If you want to get Harry something for Christmas, we need to leave early for Hogsmeade or all the good presents will be gone." Hermione quickly grabbed her coat and scarf and ran out of the tower with the other girls. She had been reminded at the party last night that today was the final Hogsmeade trip before the holidays and she had no idea what to get her boyfriend.

"What am I going to get him? He has a broom and he doesn't read books unless he's being forced to. I don't have a clue how to shop for Harry when he's my boyfriend." She bit her lip as she tried to think of things that he might like. Even she knew that getting him quills and parchment for their first Christmas was pathetic, so that was out. She wasn't going to buy him clothes especially since Mrs. Weasley was bound to give him another gaudy sweater. Dear Merlin, what's left? Jewelry? Ha, I don't see Harry as the necklace type.

Ginny glanced at Hermione sympathetically. She recognized her friend's desire to get Harry a nice present for their first Christmas as a couple, but she was just as stumped. How do you shop for the wizard who is rolling in money? The girls continued their walk into town silently, focused instead on staying warm and avoiding snow drifts.

The group broke up when they reached Hogsmeade as they all had their own last minute shopping to do. Hermione noticed that some traveling merchants had set up their wares under a large tent on the edge of town. Maybe I'll find something in there. She walked into the tent and hummed at the Heat Charm which was quickly thawing her frozen extremities. With a glance around she realized that the tent was much larger inside and housed about twenty tables. Slowly, she began to peruse the wares, hoping that something would eventually stand out to her.

Idly, she picked up a leather wrist cuff and began to toy with it. Then she noticed the runes etched around the edges and she gasped. "I see that you can read Ancient Runes, girl." Hermione raised her eyes to a wizened old woman sitting on a wooden chair, studying her intently. She nodded and was prepared to ask where she got the cuff, but the woman beat her to it. "I made it, child, not everyone in the magical world has forgotten the power of doing magic with your hands instead of your wand." The older woman smiled enigmatically.

"Can this…can it really protect from death?" Hermione was amazed by the object in her hand. It looked so simple, but this piece of leather was infinitely precious and she needed to make sure that Harry got it.

The woman cocked an eyebrow at the slip of a girl standing before her, reverently running her fingers across the etchings in the leather. She was curious why such a young thing would be so concerned about the protection it offered the wearer. She nodded in response to the question. "It protects the bearer from death, yes, but only an unnatural death. Without a Philosopher's Stone there is no way to prevent old age or a death of natural causes. This is more to protect against malicious intent or accidental injury."

Hermione hugged it fiercely to her chest and breathed, "How much? I will pay whatever you require for it, but I'm not leaving without it." Once again the woman was surprised by the girl's intensity. Of course, they were living in dark times, but she suspected that this was far more serious than she would ever realize.

"Take it. No charge. You obviously need it for someone, and I suspect it's not for yourself. But you need to know how to activate the charm before you go."

Hermione stared at the woman in shock. "Th-thank you. You have no idea what you have just done." She couldn't prevent the tears of happiness from falling at the kindness of the merchant. The woman only nodded and explained what needed to be done to insure the effectiveness of the cuff.

After receiving the instructions Hermione spoke again, "I want to pay you something, so I would like to ask you to etch an inscription on the back, please." Once more the gray head bobbed in acceptance and Hermione smiled faintly. "I would like it to read, 'HP – All My Love, HG.'" Without a word, the woman took the cuff from Hermione and turned it over and began to deftly etch the inscription. When she was finished she cast a Permanent Seal charm on the back to keep the words from ever wearing away.

Hermione laid a substantial amount of money on the table before smiling brightly and leaving with her perfect gift for Harry. As she walked away, the woman was counting the money when the inscription came back to her. "HP? That sounds familiar…HP, hmmm…oh!" Money fell to the ground completely forgotten by the old woman. "HP stands for Harry Potter!" When she recovered from her shock, she cried silent tears of thanks to the gods for the small part she had unconsciously played in the effort to rid their world of evil.


Harry and Ron were also wandering around Hogsmeade doing their last minute shopping. Ron had filled his pockets with sweets from Honeydukes and was munching as they went from shop to shop. Frustrated, Harry snapped, "Must you chew so loudly?" Ron looked at him for a second before he loudly smacked his lips at Harry. The dark haired wizard smirked, "Sorry mate, I'm just freaking out. The day is almost over and I have no idea what to get Hermione." He ran his hands through his hair. Knowing Hermione she had probably done all her shopping months ago and here he was, late as usual.

Ron pointed up the road, "What about that tent? It looks like some traveling merchants are in town. Let's check 'em out." Harry looked where his friend was pointing and smiled broadly.

"Brilliant!" They walked inside and Harry began his shopping in earnest. He was tempted to head over to the book merchant's table, but he wanted to get Hermione a gift that wasn't a book. He wasn't sure what he wanted to get Hermione really, but he wanted it to be special. As he was searching the wares, he felt eyes on him and instantly he tensed, looking for who was responsible. He met the wise eyes of an older woman who obviously worked with leather.

Intrigued, he walked over to her table. She smiled softly at him and he felt his lips twitch in return. "Young man, if you are shopping for someone special, I recommend you visit the silversmith's table in the back corner. His work is exceptional and will be sure to take her breath away." Harry's smile widened and his green eyes sparkled in excitement.

"Thank you very much. It's our first Christmas and I really want it to be special." He shyly shuffled his feet.

The older woman smiled tenderly at his sincerity, at the same time that her heart broke that such a young man should have to carry the burden he did. She was suddenly very grateful for the tiny girl who bought the cuff from her earlier. Such purity of heart needed to be protected at all costs. "Believe me, you won't regret making a purchase from him. Now go on and get something for her."

He smiled and nodded his thanks again before walking across the tent to a table in the back. A middle aged man was bent over a silver bracelet, reverently working delicate patterns on the surface. Harry stood silently by; he didn't want to be responsible for breaking his concentration and ruining a work of art. When the man was finished he placed the bracelet on the table and wiped away the light sheen of sweat on his forehead.

Looking at the young man at his table, he asked, "What are you looking for?"

"Something for my girlfriend. I want it to be special because it's our first Christmas, but I don't want it to be our last." Harry was surprised that he said the last part out loud, but he figured honesty was the best policy when trying to find the perfect gift. The smith nodded and began looking over his wares speculatively.

He picked up a simple silver band and passed it to Harry. "What do you feel when you hold it?" Harry thought it was an odd question, but he thought about it and realized that it felt cold and heavy for such a small ring. When he told the smith, he took it back and began looking among his wares again.

They must all be magically charged with different emotions, which is why they all feel different to different people. After a couple other unsuccessful attempts Harry was beginning to get nervous. What if he doesn't have anything that will work?

"Are you in love with her?" The sudden question caught Harry off-guard, but he answered in the affirmative. "How long have you known each other and how well did you know her?"

"Um, well, I've known her for almost 7 years and she was, still is, my best friend. Why does it matter?" The smith studied him before he gave a ghost of a smile.

"I have just what you need. Hold on." With a loud CRACK the man Disapparated, leaving a bewildered Harry behind, but only a minute passed before he reappeared looking triumphant. "I'm sorry to run off. Have a seat while I explain some things to you. You need to understand how important and rare this is." A chair popped into existence and Harry sat down anxiously to hear what the taciturn silversmith had to say.

"It took me a while to realize what you required, because frankly I would never have expected a student to have need for such an item. I have to admit that I thought your feelings for your girlfriend would be fleeting like any young man, which is why the items I was choosing for you weren't working." He smiled softly again. "I work emotions into every piece and as you know, some emotions are deeper, stronger than others, so not every piece will work for every occasion. There is also the temperament of the individual buying it. The reason you are able to be so honest with me about what you are shopping for is my doing. I have spelled my area so that no one can lie to me and buy something that does not mean something to them."

Harry nodded. He had guessed as much, but he was wondering where this conversation was going. What could the smith have that he would not have expected a 16 year old to need? It made him nervous.

"This is what I went to get. I had to pop into my room at the inn, since it's so precious I don't keep it with my other wares." He showed Harry a thin band of what looked like bone, but shot rainbows across the ground and walls when light touched the surface. Harry gasped at it's simple beauty and longed to touch it.

Very gently the smith passed it to Harry to hold. Once it was in his calloused palm, Harry hummed in pleasure and smiled at the warmth that was spreading from his hand into his soul. The smith nodded in satisfaction. "That is unicorn horn which is why it shoots rainbows when light touches it. It's precious because only the pure of heart can touch it without destroying it and I know that it's meant for you because only soul mates can share the feeling of the ring."

Harry looked up confused. "What do you mean?"

"When you give that to your girlfriend, she will feel the depth of your affections just as you do and so will you for her. You don't even need to wear a matching ring – that's part of the magic of the horn. It's true that the most powerful force in the world is love. That ring will be a wealth of shared feelings and experiences between you and your girlfriend for the rest of your lives, which has the added bonus of strengthening both of your magical abilities."

Harry's mouth was hanging open. He and Hermione were soul mates? He would feel her love for him and she would feel his, forever? It would make them both stronger? "Wow…" The smith laughed suddenly and clapped Harry on the back.

"You are one lucky man. Now go home and process what I've said and tell that girl that you love her. Every day." Harry nodded dumbly while the smith gently placed the ring in a velvet box. The dark haired boy carefully placed the box in his inside coat pocket.

"What do I owe you?"

The smith returned to his taciturn self and replied, "Not a Knut. I have been holding onto that ring for years and never thought I would find the perfect couple. That is reward enough." His attitude left no room for argument. Seeing it was useless, Harry just shook the smith's hand and thanked him once more before leaving the tent to go back to Hogwarts.