De' Lover's Locket
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The golden trio was on the train ride home. Hermione sat closest to the window on Ron's left, her mind anywhere but where her body was. Snape's bold declaration from just a few short hours ago had her reeling. How should one take it when one such as he asks to court you? Hermione did not know how to react at all.
Should she be mad? Should she be happy? Should she want to cry or jump up in down in glee? Should she ask her friends for their input? And why did she feel the need to not let him down? She grabbed his sleeve agreeing to be friends. Why did she do that?
"Hermione please stop daydreaming about snogging Ron." Ginny said snapping Hermione out of her rumination.
"I was not daydreaming Ginny."Hermione told her nearly pealing herself off the glass window.
"Well you did look rather aloft." Harry smiled as Ginny rested her head on his shoulder. Hermione looked the pair across from her over. There was not a doubt in her mind that they were meant to be. They had so much in common from their love of quidditch to their daft use of counter curses. They also seemed to be on an equivalent level. Harry didn't need to dumb down his talking for her. They are like two pieces of one whole.
"Oh and guess what everyone? I promised mum I wouldn't say anything but I just can't hold it in!" Ron shouted.
"What?" They asked collectively.
"Fred's awake!"
"How come mum didn't tell me?" Ginny asked crossing her arms and sticking out a bottom lip.
"I accidently received a direct owl that was meant for dad. Sorry, Ginny."
"You'd think someone would tell me about MY OWN brother," she threw her hands in the air, "What does one have to do to get a little respect be friends with Harry Potter?"
"But your snogging Harry Potter Gin-Gin. That matters to me." Harry said coyly.
Glaring, but reserved Ginny rejoined her boyfriend on the bench. Ron pulled closer to Hermione and grasped one of her hands. It made Hermione sick that after all these years Ron was still shy with her. Sure that was cute five years ago, but now it's rather annoying. So, as usual, Hermione had to make the first move. She laid against him experimentally moving bit by bit. The moment contact was made he stiffened.
Across from them Ginny was glaring at her brother in disproval while Harry was pinching the bridge of his nose. After watching Hermione and Ron attempt to cuddle for ten minutes Ginny couldn't take it no more.
She marched over to them, painfully raised Ron's right arm, ordered Hermione to sit closer, and then put Ron's arm over her shoulder.
"Honestly, you both can snog, but when it comes down to a little cuddling …"
"Relax Gin-Gin."
"Ok James."
"Gross, pet names? I can't believe my best mate has a pet name." Ron hung his head in shame.
"You call her Mionie." Ginny retorted.
"Yeah Ron so let me pick out one for you" Hermione said deviously, "How about elf?"
"I was thinking troll." Ginny suggested. They went on bout pet names with Harry liking Won-won (on is pronounced 'on' not won as in I won a race), Ginny sticking to troll, and Hermione preferring Carrot Top. Eventually the train rolled in.
Outside they saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Dudley. Harry had mentioned that he wanted to introduce Ginny to his family. After Harry moved out the two became more like real brothers.
Just shy of two hours later they ended up at the burrow.
"Home at last." Ron said grabbing his trunk and walking towards his home. Hermione watched as Harry near struggled to carry Ginny's trunk as well as his own before whipping out his wand and casting a locomotor spell to do the job far easier.
"Why thank you James."
"And you our most certainly welcomed Gin-Gin." Harry told her kowtowed at the door. Mrs. Weasley beamed proudly at the pair before looking sadly at Hermione. Huffing Hermione used the same spell and took her own stuff up to the room that she would share with Ginny.
"So mum," Ginny asked, "When will Fred get here?"
"Who told you about the surprise!"
"He did." Ginny instantly pointing to Ron who was once again stuffing his face.
"The gift of gab does not suit you well son and he should be home at ay minute. George is picking him up. Or at least he should be." She deathglared George as he walked dow the steps.
"Hey."
"George you were supposed to be getting Fred! You are lucky we have company or I would surely … Fred that is you!" she screamed punching him playfully on the arm.
"Hey." The real George said coming down the stairs.
"It is so great to have the whole family together for dinner."
"Umm Mrs. Weasley if I may?" Harry asked.
"I was wondering if you would let me cook dinner tonight."
"All on your lonesome!"
"Well I used to always cook when I was at the Dursleys. I wanted to make it special to show how much of a family you all are to me."
"That is sweet Harry, but you don't have too …"
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley you're the best!" Harry said giving her a hug. He knew the best thing to do was to not take no for an answer. He hurried out the door and apparated to the nearest convenience store.
"Well that was most certainly odd."
An hour later Harry reappeared with tons of grocery bags. So within five hours Harry had managed to cook with near constant unwanted aid from Mrs. Weasley and place Bangers and Mash, Cucumber tea sandwiches, scones, treacle tart, and Dutch apple pie on the table.
All eleven of them ate and talked comfortably throughout the meal when Harry cleared his throat.
"Umm I hope you all liked everything?"Harry asked nervously.
"It was great my boy." Arthur said raising his glass.
Harry walked past Fred and George and 'tripped' behind Ginny's chair.
"Are you ok Harry?" Ginny asked pulling him up slightly from her chair when he pulled a small box out of his back pocket.
"Oh my … Harry you're not …" she said sitting back in her chair as Molly moved from her chair along with Arthur to see what was going on.
Opening the box and pulling out an engagement ring with a chocolate stone in the center with a diamond on both sides. Molly's gasp was audible as a slight pause over took the dining room.
Looking up at Ginny, "I'm not practically good at this. You can ask Hermione. I'm way better with action than words. In that when you were captured your first year at Hogwarts I was horrified, but I'd be damned if I let Voldemort hurt you and when I saw you lying there on the cold floor I thought you were lost and that was the worst feeling in the world, ever.
Worse than being cursed. Worse than losing my parents. Worse than Potion's class. It was at that moment that when I thought I had lost you forever, that I realized how much you mean to me. I've loved you for a long time and now that schools almost over, Voldemort's dead, and I've died once, will you please do me the honor of being my wife?"
"Of course." Ginny smiled as he slid the ring on her finger. Nearly half of a half of a half of a half of a half of a second later they were both being held tightly to Molly's bosom.
"Oh my little Harry and Ginny are going to be married. Finally, a marriage I approve of."
"Mom!" Bill glared at her comment.
Ignoring him, "So when are you going to get married my dears?"
"I … I … cant … br ..bre." Harry gasped.
"Molly sit them down, their turning blue literally." Arthur told her.
"Oh sorry loves."
"That's ok Mrs. Weasley and I was thinking we should get married after school is out."
"Sounds great to me." Arthur said gripping his shoulder with a meaningful look.
"Congrats Harry and you better take care of my sister or else!" Ron said giving the most serious look he could muster.
"Ronald." Hermione scolded lightly.
"If he got you a ring today," George
"Then I wonder what he got you for Christmas?"Fred finished.
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Snape
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It had been nearly two days without her scent to waft by his nose and ensnare his senses. Just a few months ago he would had been thankful for this stagnation, but now he was rather destitute. His original plan was to get the girl nothing.
But a part of him felt like he had to. That it was expected of him. But what do you get a girl that prefers the scratch of a quill to paper than the glint of a gem? He didn't want something that said commitment. It had to be something that a man would give to a female friend since that is what she allowed their relationship to be about.
Snape sat beside his lit fireplace, coffee mug in hand. Should he get her a book? That would be to obvious a gift. A journal? She probably had at least a thousand of those already. More homework? Although funny that wouldn't suffice as a proper gift.
What about flowers? No not those either. Flowers tended to have a way of speaking with more volume than the varieties of colors they held. Maybe chocolate? No that is also a personal gift. He couldn't get her jewelry either.
'Maybe a walk in a muggle shop will help' he thought as he sat down his mug. Stretching slightly he went into his bedroom and came out properly dressed for a day in London. He briskly walked from the castle and apparated.
Four hours later he was fed up. Muggle stores all held aimless ceramic trinkets and spoons that better benefited someone of McGonagall's age. The there were a bunch of cards, but the happiness that came oozed out of them were like garlic to a vampire so he avoided those. He turned a blind eye to Christmas smelling candles and 100 paged notebooks that cost far more than it was worth.
Eventually he came upon a Simon Flinch bookstore. Inside were many different titles. His favorite being a book that discussed new positions to have sex in which he tucked firmly under his arm before scanning the rest of the store.
The clerk he spoke to talked of romantic books. He envisioned Hermione to be above such things and continued on. Displeased he turned to leave when he saw a thin wire and faux gem bookmark with red and gold tassels. Strangely enough it had a lion on it. Smiling he picked it up and headed to the checkout line.
At home he placed the bookmark carefully on his coffee table. He couldn't just give her a bookmark. That would be cheap. Maybe he had something nice at his mother's home. As a child he hid many of his magical trinkets in the hiding compartment of the attic.
Apparating again he arrived. His mother was not home so he let himself in. Everything was as it had been when he left, morbid. One could mistake the house for a funeral home. Walking upstairs he went to the attic, walked directly five paces northeast of the stairs and removed the five floorboards before him.
Underneath that was the hidden compartment that was locked both by a combination and by a simple spell. He flawlessly flourished his wand a little and put in the combination, 1-30-60, Lily's birthday. He would have to change that. A password should be meaningful and he had lost feelings for her years ago.
Inside were his first broom, trunk, magical mouse for his cat Bibbs that his father gave away, a self writing quill, his picture of Lily, and a pair of binoculars. Perfect.
They were small, but ornate. He remembered getting them from a young Professor he fancied in his first year of Hogwarts.
Flashback
"My my Severus do you always have to get beat up?"
"It's not my fault Professor Cucina!" he spat at her.
"Not your fault?"
"I walk blindly into their spells. I … I am not as good as they are." Severus said with clutched fist.
Bending down to his height with a hand on his shoulder, "Take this."
"What is it?"
"They're special binoculars. What do you see when you look through them?"
"I see you and your wand is rather sparkly all of a sudden."
"Correct, not only can the binoculars magnify the area the viewer is looking at, it also has the ability to see magic. That way you will be able to tell if you're walking into a trap. Although I suggest not permanently gluing them to your head Severus."
"Thanks!" he said jumping into her arms, "Sometimes I wish you were my mother."
End Flashback
Snape remembered that Professor had to leave back to America for a family emergency. He never saw her again after that. And the following year James and company made sure to relieve him of them. It might had took a year of living in a few potion's books, and twice that practicing it, but a few spelled tarts and a poly juice potion later he had it back.
It would be the perfect gift for Hermione from one friend to another, not that he'd give it to her though.
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Christmas at the Weasley's
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"Oh umm thanks Ms. Weasley." Harry said blushing at the baby booties she gave him.
"I'm not saying you have to rush into it … son. I am just being prepared is all." Mrs. Weasley smiled back at him.
"Right …," Ron said pretending he didn't see that gift or heard that comment, "How about you open this one Hermione."
Hermione extended her hand to their poorly wrapped gift.
"Thanks Ron."
"Open it Hermione!" Ron nearly begged.
"Don't get your knickers in a bunch Ron." She said opening the gift and went silent.
"I told you she'd love it." Ron smirked satisfied.
"She might be quiet because she can't think of the first swear word to use to describe it." Ginny muttered under her breath.
In her hands Hermione was holding a locket with a thick golden chain. The locket part however was the size of her fist and the faux red jewel in front held a picture of Ron smiling. It was rather gaudy and horrible.
"Ron it's different." She said bringing an appreciation to her voice that she did not feel."
"Look Hermione every time I , you, or someone else says Ron or Weasley the picture changes. It even speaks a little!"
"How wonderful." She looked at the picture that now sported Ron on a broomstick winking at her.
"How do you get it to speak." She asked.
"Just say Granger." Ron told her.
At the sound of her middle name it said 'Wat'sup Mionie'. After a few minutes she found that it said five things:
Wat'sup Mionie
Want to go on a date with a real Gryffindor, growl
I love my Ronnie Bear
Ron's the best in the whole world
Jingle Bells (extended version)
And she realized it had five moving images as well:
Ron with arms crossed
Ron winking on broom
Ron shirtless blowing her kisses
Ron dancing in his underwear
And Ron as an elf singing Jingle Bells from a script
'How Horrible' she thought to herself as she rewrapped the present best she could to go look for another one.
"No don't wrap it!" Ron stopped her.
"Why not Ron," she saw the downcast in his face, "I didn't want it to get lost among everyone else's gift."
"Wear it Mionie. For me?" he pleaded.
Mentally sighing, "Of course Ron."
"It looks beautiful on you." Fred giggled aloud with George.
"If by beautiful you mean god awful."
"Be nice Ginerva, not everyone can have an engagement ring." Her mother told her.
"Hey whose gift is this?" Percy asked pulling out a …
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Earlier that Morning
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Snape came top with his feet cold and nose stuffed. He looked around confused. Did he not go to sleep in his bed? Then he realized he had something in his mouth. He opened the small burlap sack to reveal the gift that he did not remember wrapping for Hermione.
Behind him were large cat prints.
'So I changed again' he thought to himself 'where am I?'
Then her scent smacked him in the face almost causing him to fall on his rump. On closer inspection he realized he was no more than a mile away from the burrow. Apparently his inner self wanted her to have a Christmas gift.
Knowing it would be a waste of time to turn around he snuck to the home and levitated his gift under the tree through an open window. When he was sure it was secure he apparated away making sure to leave not a trace of him behind, except for her gift.
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Continuing X-Mas with the Weasley's
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Percy asked pulling out a maroon wrapped box.
"It says it's for Hermione," Charlie said taking it from him.
"From who?" Fleur asked.
"It says Professor Snape."
"Him!" Ron and Harry grown together.
"Mind your matters boys." Percy snapped.
Hermione opened the gift feeling all ten sets of eyes upon her. Inside was a beautiful bookmark and binoculars. Odd but cute, better than the cursed lovers locket.
"I know what that is." Arthur smiled.
"Which are you talking about? The glasses or the bookmark." She asked.
"The binoculars. They were big quite a few years back. Able to see all magic's, even hidden ones. The lot of them were destroyed by the Death Eaters at their height, but the few that were sold were sold when, by George, Snape had to be but a boy, not even Ron's age."
"Really!" Hermione said smiling ear to ear.
"Strangely enough their American."
Hermione loved the gift. It made her wish she had gotten Severus something.
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Severus apparated outside the castle when he heard someone growl out Avada Kadavra!
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Please review; thank you
I know you all want the Lovers Locket right? (sarcasm) :}