A/N: Hey guys! I had a rather hard time with this chapter, thinking up all those damn presents, and, as you will see, I have little to no imagination when it comes to these things. I hope you enjoy the chapter, and that it didn't take tooo long to come out, but I haven't been able to type much. On the plus side, the next chapter is nearly done, just a couple more Word pages to write, and that is when things atrt to get rather serious in the story. I hope you enjoy this chapter though! Please review!
Disclaimer: Sorry, I don't own Harry Potter, or anything to do with Harry Potter, it all belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling, because if I owned it, there would be quite a few changes. lol.
Chapter Twenty Nine
In the morning, Hermione awoke (once again) to Ginny jumping on her bed squealing her name. Like yesterday, she groaned and rolled over, covering her eyes.
'Come on, Hermione! It's Christmas! Bring your presents; we are all going down to the ROR to open them up!' She squealed again before jumping off Hermione's bed and started shaking her.
'Come on, Hermione,' she started complaining. 'Get up!' She gave up on that idea and put her hands on her hips, pulling her lips into a tight line. 'Hermione Jane Granger, if you don't get up this very instant then I will have to resort to drastic measures.' She said quite seriously.
Hermione peeked a look at Ginny under her arm and saw the younger girl pulling a freakishly alike Molly-face; the face that Mrs. Weasley has whenever someone wasn't doing the right thing. Hermione sighed and rolled onto her back.
'Alright! I'm getting up. Do me a favour and shrink my presents and put them in a bag for me. Getting out of bed may take a while.' She muttered.
They both heard a giggle from the other side of the curtain surrounding Hermione's bed.
'Getting fat in your old age, Hermione?' They heard Lavender ask. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.
'Shut up, Lavender! You stupid whore! You have no idea what you're talking about!' Hermione yelled, bursting into tears. Ginny started getting angry and flung the curtain aside, quickly shutting it behind her and casting a silencing charm on it so she wouldn't hear what Ginny was going to say to Lavender.
'You keep your horrible fat mouth shut. She doesn't feel very confident about her body as it is without you saying shit like that.' The young red-headed girl hissed at the brown haired girl brushing her hair in front of her vanity.
Lavender raised an eyebrow at her.
'What's up her ass? She's never reacted like that when I've said that to her before.' Lavender said. Ginny continued to glare at her, but avoided the question, asking one of her own.
'When was the last time you said that to her?' She asked. Lavender looked at her thoughtfully.
'I don't know, last year.' She answered. Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
'That would be why.' She muttered. 'Just get the hell out of here, Lavender. I now have to calm Hermione down enough to get her downstairs.' She said, turning around and heading back to Hermione's bed.
'Come on, Mione. Let's go down to the Room of Requirement. Everyone will be down there and we can open up all of our presents together. And we'll even let you and Draco suck face in front of us. It's not like Ron and Pansy don't, so we're used to it. Come on, get up now.' Ginny soothed, sitting on the bed next to Hermione and trying to get her to stop crying.
'No! Draco won't want to see me when I'm this fat!' She cried. Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. She didn't want to know how many times they had had this conversation during Hermione's pregnancy, but this was getting a tad ridiculous.
'He won't think you're fat because you're carrying his child. He'll you're beautiful for that Hermione. And plus, you can't even see your growing stomach because of the charm you put on it. Don't worry, everything will be fine. Come with me and you can see for yourself.' Ginny said softly. She heard Hermione sniffle and saw her lift her head out of her arms.
'Really?' She asked quietly. Ginny smiled at her softly. This was the quickest she had ever been able to break Hermione out of her tears and sorry feelings.
'Really really.' She said. Hermione smiled to her and sat up, rubbing the tears away from her eyes.
'What am I thinking? I'm being silly. Stupid hormones. I'm sorry, Ginny. You have to put up with me so much. Thank you.' Hermione said, smiling. Ginny smiled back at her.
'That's what friends are for, Hermione. Now come on, everyone will be wondering where we are.' She said, grabbing Hermione's hand and shrinking all of her presents at once, stuffing them into a bag that sat at the end of her bed.
The two girls ran out of the common room and down to the seventh floor, where they knocked on the wall and waited for someone to open the door. Draco did. He smiled brightly when he saw Hermione and quickly brought her into a huge kiss.
'Merry Christmas, my love.' He whispered to her when they broke apart. Hermione smiled up at him.
'Merry Christmas to you, too.' She said.
'How are you this morning? Are you feeling alright?' Draco asked concernedly. Hermione smiled at him.
'I'm perfectly fine. I had a little mishap with Lavender, but that's all over now, and I really just want to open my presents.' She said, smiling broadly and kissing him quickly before grabbing his hand and walking past him, dragging the blond along with her.
Draco laughed and caught her around the waist.
'You aren't getting away that easily.' He muttered into her neck, attacking it with kisses. Hermione giggled and squirmed, trying to get away from him, but he held fast.
'Ah! Draco, let go!' She cried in between giggles. Draco just smirked, and then pouted.
'Aw, why? I'm having so much fun.' He whined. Hermione giggled and turned around in his embrace.
'Because we have to be nice and open our presents with our friends.' She answered. Draco continued to pout and Hermione kissed it away, but as she began to pull away completely, Draco held onto her and wouldn't let her go. Hermione didn't even bother struggling, she just melted into the kiss and held onto him tightly, pulling him as close to her as possible. Behind them, they heard someone clear their throat.
'When you two are done, we'd like to get to the presents.' They heard Harry say. They could tell he was smiling though, and not really that angry. Draco turned to him.
'Just give us an hour; we should be done by then.' He told Harry, smirking. Harry rolled his eyes and threw a pillow at him, but Draco used Hermione as a shield.
She stood there in shock, while Draco and everyone else laughed.
'What the hell? I'm the pregnant one here! Why am I being used as a shield?' She asked.
'You were standing in front of me anyway, and it's only a pillow.' Draco answered, kissing her one more time before leading her to the chairs, where he sat her down on his lap.
'Who else are we waiting for?' He asked the room at large.
'Sirius, dad and Remus. I asked Narcissa if she wanted to join us, but she said that she had to leave and make sure the house was still in good shape.' Harry answered. Draco nodded and kissed Hermione's neck again, before resting his head on her shoulder. Hermione sighed and leaned against his chest. The mention of James made her think about how she was going to tell him about her pregnancy. She knew he wasn't going to blow up at her, but she just didn't know how to broach the subject. She hoped someone would be nice enough to help her.
'How long are they going be?' Ron asked. You could hear everyone sigh and some rolled their eyes. Just then, they heard a knock on the door. Harry laughed and got out of his seat next to Sierra, going to the door.
'Looks like you don't have to wait any longer, Ron. They're here.' He said. Ron grinned and started to get excited over the idea of opening his presents.
Harry opened the door and let his father, Godfather and his father's friend into the room.
'Merry Christmas everyone!' They yelled simultaneously. Everyone laughed and wished them a merry Christmas back, before they sat down in the circle of people gathered there.
'So are we going to open these presents or not?' Sirius asked. Harry laughed and held up his hands.
'One, two, three, open up!' He yelled. With that, everyone started tearing into their presents. Hermione got make-up and jewellery from Ginny, a book on cats from Pansy (Hermione had a sudden interest in finding out more about cats a little while ago and had been researching them ever since), a gold heart pendant from Sierra that said Sister on it (Hermione was so touched by this she started crying), a book of useful spells and curses from Remus, a red and gold scarf from James (he didn't know Hermione very well, but she was still touched for him trying), a book of pranks from the twins, which the sent with a letter telling her that she had to lighten and loosen up or they would do it for her. Everyone laughed at this and Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes at them, even without them there. From Sirius she got a golden lion pin, which was filled in with red, Hermione loved it and she gave him a huge hug for it. From Harry, she got an advanced transfiguration book that had stuff about Human Transformations in it, which he knew Hermione was interested in. From Ron she got a new quill and ink set. The quill was from an Eagle and had some very nice neutral, earthy colours flowing through it, with a variety of different coloured inks. From Blaise, Hermione got a charm bracelet, that had a snake already attached. He said to consider a gift from the whole of Slytherin, and started calling her an honorary snake. Hermione just laughed and hugged him. Mrs. Weasley sent her usual jumper and a box of chocolates. Last, Hermione received Draco's gift. It was a gorgeous black dress with red accents. It was floor length and had a relatively tight corseted bodice, with a halter neck. It was beautiful and made if satin. Hermione's jaw dropped open when she opened it, and she felt tears threaten to spill over her eyes. She looked up at him with an awed expression.
'You got this for me?' She asked in a whisper. Draco nodded and cupped his hand around her cheek.
'Of course. A beautiful girl deserves more than one beautiful dress.' He answered, grinning softly. At this the tears did spill over Hermione's eyes and she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
'Thank you.' She whispered. Draco smiled and wrapped his arms even tighter around her.
'You're quite welcome. It's always my pleasure to see you happy.' He said. Hermione smiled and hugged him tighter before letting him go and looking around the room at everyone's smiling faces. They were all having the time of their lives unwrapping presents and such with each other. She knew times like these she had to keep locked in her memory forever, because they could be very short lived.
Voldemort wasn't defeated yet, and Harry would soon have to put all his energy into stopping him. She knew that everyone here in this circle would help also, they would always stick by Harry's side, whenever they were needed. They would be the ones offering support and encouragement for him, and travelling with him wherever he went. They wouldn't let anything happen to Harry, even if it killed them.
Draco noticed Hermione looking off into the distance and wrapped an arm around her.
'What's wrong, love?' He asked. Hermione snapped out of her daze and quickly turned her head to look at Draco before smiling lightly and resting her head on his shoulder.
'I was just thinking that days like this, where everyone was happy and without a care in the world, where numbered. Harry has to start fighting soon, and we'll all be fighting with him. I just, I want to remember days like these, when we have nothing to worry about.' She told him. Draco flinched slightly and wrapped his arm around her tighter before clearing his throat and pulling back, putting his hands on her shoulders. Hermione knew something big was coming.
'Hermione,' He paused, bringing up all his strength. He knew this could possibly hurt her and she could completely blow up. 'Hermione, I don't want you to fight, when the time comes.' Hermione looked at him with curiousness.
'What?' She asked. Draco took another seep breath.
'I don't want you to fight in the final battle.' He said more clearly. Hermione looked at him with shock.
'But, Draco, I have to! I have to stand and fight with Harry! I promised him that I would fight with him till the end! I can't just ignore that promise, Draco!' She cried. Draco sighed.
'But Hermione, by that time, you'll have had the baby, and you'll have to take care of him or her. And I would be able to fight better knowing that you were safe.' He answered. Hermione looked at him with a sour look on her face.
'And you think I'll be able to sit around at Head Quarters, knowing that you could be dead and not coming home to me and your child? I think not.' She said fiercely.
'Well, who's going to look after her if you come and fight? Hermione, Molly hasn't been a mother to a baby in fifteen years, I doubt she has the breast milk to feed it, Tonks doesn't have children and there are no other females that have babies that we know of. Please, I need you to stay home. I won't be able to concentrate if you are out on the field somewhere where I can't see you, and anything could be happening to you. Please, listen to me.' He pleaded. Hermione gazed into his eyes and saw the pain there that would be even more prominent if she were to get hurt, or killed. He was right, she knew that, but she didn't want to acknowledge that to him.
But before she was able to say anything, James jumped into the conversation from his position next to Sirius, who was next to Hermione.
'What was that talk about a baby?' He asked. The whole circle went quiet and started to listen to what was going on in there conversation.
Hermione and Draco exchanged glances.
'This really wasn't the way we wanted to tell you, we even still have to send a letter to Mrs. Weasley and the rest of her family, but, well, Hermione's pregnant. She has been for about four months now.' Draco answered. James looked between the two of them looking dumbstruck, with his mouth hanging open. Sirius rolled his eyes and shut his mouth for him, effectively breaking James out of his trance.
'But, you're only sixteen!' He cried. Harry jumped in before either of them could answer.
'It was a matter of life or death, dad. It was necessity.' Harry answered. James looked confused and Draco summoned the letter that he had gotten from his mother, which had been seen by many more eyes than he would have liked, but it was just easier than having to explain it himself. It would have taken him much longer than James did reading about it.
Potter Senior handed back the letter and nodded.
'I get it now. I thought that curse of yours took a hike years ago, because it didn't seem it affect Lucius, though you may have a step sister that you don't know about running around somewhere. I wouldn't put it past him.' James said to them. Draco scowled.
'You're probably right.' He said angrily. Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder.
'We shouldn't be talking about such depressing things at Christmas. Let's just eat and talk like we should be doing. I'm sure the dinner tonight will be delicious, and I, personally, can't wait for it.' She said. Everyone agreed with her and started up normal conversations. Draco looked down at Hermione and smirked.
'You know, the dress was only part of you present.' He whispered to her. Hermione looked up at him with a slight smile and a raised eyebrow.
'Really?' She asked. Draco nodded, a sly look on his face.
'Yep, just meet me down here after dinner tonight. I'll make sure you get the rest of your present.' He murmured huskily. Hermione groaned and kissed him heatedly.
'Could you two go in a different room to do that please?' Harry asked., effectively killing there little mood. Hermione glared and Draco smirked at him.
'Ruin the fun, Harry.' Hermione grumbled. Harry laughed and went back to his original conversation.
After they had finished talking, they walked downstairs and ate a quick breakfast, before going outside and having snowball fights. Then, they went back inside and had lunch, before relaxing by the fire and talking before heading down to have Christmas dinner in the Great Hall with all the teachers and the students that had stayed after the ball.
James and Sirius spent there time annoying Snape, Remus was talking to Flitwick, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco, Sierra, Blaise and Pansy were all talking to each other and Dumbledore was once again playing with the party hats one could get out of Muggle bon-bons, having to burst one with every person at the table.
After dinner, everyone was extremely tired and full, so they went straight up to there rooms, apart from Hermione and Draco, who took the long route together and made there way up to the Room of Requirement, for the other half of Hermione's present.
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A/N: Hey! I hope you liked it! I just wanted to say that there aren't going to be too many chapters left, but I will inform you on the title to the sequel when I think of one, and if I stupidly forget to inform you, then yell at me and check out my profile, it'll be on there when I put the first chapter up. I'm going to do things a little differently with it though. I've been putting chapters up as I write them, so now I'm going to write a few chapters, then put them up, and write as I go. It might be easier for me, and you probably won't have to wait as long! Yay!
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Thank you to all you guys! You made my day! Please review! Love all of you lots!
Sarah xo.
