Summary: Christmas was a time for family. He knew that much. The Weasleys were kind of his family, but he didn't want to spend Christmas with them, because they weren't fully what he expected his family to be like. They were too fussy, too noisy, too clustered up and pushy, it made him uncomfortable, so he decided to decline their offer for him to join them on their trip to Romania to visit the second biggest Weasley brother. Besides, he already had enough of Dragons as it were already.

The TriWizard Tournament had already made him brood. He didn't need another reason.

Ron said not much about him wanting to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, but another one of his best friends minded. Hermione Granger somewhat understood what her best friend was going through, and after she got him to open up to her, her mind was set.

She was going home for Christmas. And Harry Potter was coming home with her.

UPDATED SUMMARY: Hermione notices that her best friend, Harry isn't looking merry for an occasion like Christmas. So she corners him and eventually he tells her his reasons. His reasoning gives her the passion to make this his best Christmas ever. What she didn't know was that they would grow closer over the hols and find things that help them face the dangers of Voldemort.

And he was going to have the best Christmas ever.

This story's idea was from a challenge on the HMS Harmony Discord. The idea and everything is all theirs but this story's plot and work is all mine. Of course, I am not the owner of any of the characters that right goes to the one and only J.K Rowling. I WILL NOT REPEAT THIS, so please remember that. Reviews are of course, welcome.

The event is CHRISTMAS WITH HARMONY joint with CHRISTMAS FANART CHALLENGE and WRITING FEST!

I dedicate this work to my friend, ExpelliarmusAndHarry. He's on Wattpad though, so check out his profile on this link: user/ExpelliarmusAndHarry and why don't you drop him a follow, because, why not?

Chapter I – Snowy Morning Blues

November was at an end today, and everyone knew that Christmas was just around the corner. It was like an unspoken rule that travelled the ancient walls of the magical school that one should know that Christmas was here when November ended, and December started. There was just something about the month of December that just screamed Christmas, snow, muffins and beanies, presents, and candy canes that no one could ignore that Christmas was here. The fact that just yesterday there was just a snowstorm and snow was still falling today, only heightened the excitement. It was as if even the castle was excited and merry, sending off an aura of joy and bliss. Yes, Christmas was here, and everyone was merry.

Everyone except one Harry Potter that is.

They say Christmas was all about the memories, the happy ones with friends and family. The thing is with Harry Potter, he didn't have a family, nor did he have happy Christmas memories he could think of. While the three Christmases before now was filled with presents from the Weasleys and his best friend Hermione Granger, it didn't feel right. The Weasleys were the closest to a family that he'd ever got, but they were too pushy, too noisy, and too fussy - especially on Mrs. Weasley's part.

What he imagined Christmas to be like with his family was a cozy living room, with snow falling outside, a Christmas tree laden with presents, the room nice and cozy with the fireplace alit, and his parents and him, watching some sort of Wizarding or Muggle program on a television or some Wizarding Technology thingymajig. He didn't want redhead twins blowing their sausages up, Ron Weasley's terrible etiquette, Molly Weasley's fussing, Arthur Weasley's questions about the muggle world, or Ginny Weasley looking at him like he was a piece of meat.

And to add to that, Christmases before that, included him being left in his cupboard while the Dursleys shoved turkey and chicken and candy canes down their throats, where the only thing Christmasy was the television Christmas special that he could only hair, and his first Christmas gift was Dudley's torn teddy bear. So basically, Harry Potter didn't enjoy Christmas, at least he wasn't looking forward to it, but there it was, in all its glory. As students walked around cheerfully and exchanges hugs and kisses, putting on skating shoes to skate on the frozen Black Lake, he was here, in an alcove in the Gryffindor Common Room, looking at them with a frown on his face.

This Christmas seemed to be one of the worst ones yet it appeared. To begin with, he was unwillingly made a TriWizard Champion on Halloween at the beginning of the term, which made him edgy and didn't exactly set the right Christmas mood for him, then, he had to fight the complete opposite of snow, a fire-breathing dragon, and now, he had to find a date for the inevitable Yule Ball. Because this TriWizard Tournament was different, mostly because of him and a little because of the age restriction, another part of the tournament had been altered. Usually, the TriWizard Tournament held a Yule Ball on Christmas Day, but the Department of Magical Games and Hogwarts had come to an agreement to hold the event two days before school reopened. The reason being that those fourth years and above wouldn't be able to spend Christmas with their families. Dumbledore was being as thoughtful as ever and explained to the Great Hall on the morning before Christmas break started that students can return home to their families in December, spend Christmas with their families and return to Hogwarts on December 28th. On December 29th, the Yule Ball would be held, and on January 1st, school would reopen.

Of course, those who didn't have to go back would stay in Hogwarts, as usual. Harry knew Ron was going back home. Ron was talking for hours and hours about how Charlie was returning home for the entire Christmas break with a dragon egg that he had to look after, and Ron, of course, volunteered to help Charlie as much as he could. Harry had been invited, but he turned it down. Honestly, after being the prey for a dragon - a Hungarian Horntail no less - he didn't exactly want to rumble with another one. And he could do without the Weasley family's blatant nosiness right now. so he turned down the offer, Ron looked disappointed but said nothing otherwise.

He didn't feel the Christmas spirit right now. And apparently, only one person realized that.

Hermione Granger was ever the observant one. She figured that she grasped this trait because of focusing too much during classes back in primary school when she had to spot the differences in those kids' books. In hindsight, that was rather ridiculous of her - silly, really. But excluding the silliness and childishness, it was highly beneficial. For instance, she could always tell whenever Ron was trying to cheat off her homework by the red of his ears and the guilty cough, she could tell when Lavender Brown had a new boyfriend by the giggles and touching her lips while dreamily sighing, but most importantly, she could always tell when something was wrong with Harry. He wouldn't pay attention, he would trail off his sentences, he would always look downcast and forlorn as he rubbed the back of his neck as a nervous gesture and he would look vulnerable and ... afraid.

Harry Potter was one of her best friends and she knew him better more than anyone else. She was sure that not even Mrs. Weasley knew as much as she did. Harry was also the strongest, most loyal, and kind-hearted person she even knew, so when he looked so vulnerable, so much like the shy kid he had first come here as she had to find out why. She knew little of his past, something that greatly bothered her. From what she knew though, he didn't have the best of childhoods with the Dursleys. Every time his relatives were brought up, he looked so lost, so scared, so vulnerable, but he refused to say anything on the matter. It was a trait of his that she didn't like.

The boy in question had already had a horrid year with the Triwizard Tournament, and considering everything that happened to him before, like his parents' death, Quirrelmort, the Basilisk, and the Dementors, his life was quite unfair, to say the least. Outside, he put up a strong demeanor, one that persuaded others that he was alright, that everything was alright, that his life's events hadn't affected him, but fortunately Hermione Granger wasn't like most others.

Harry was currently at the little alcove at the end of the Gryffindor Common Room hugging a pillow from one of the couches to his chest, looking as forlorn as she had ever seen her. She wondered why. Looking where he was looking as she came up beside him, she frowned in recognition. Harry was now looking at the Weasley family's traditional snowball fight that looked quite violent but still fun and cheerful from their point of view. Christmas was a time for family, Harry didn't have any. She internally sighed and rested a hand on his knee, which was pulled up to his chest, the pillow the only interference between the two body parts.

He jumped, startled by the sudden interference but visibly relaxed as he caught sight of Hermione, was frowning at him, even though her sudden appearance was startling, she knew that Harry was jumpy for a whole different reason. She had only heard of Harry's nightmares, but they seemed to be affecting him more than he let on. Harry sheepishly offered her his best smile as he made space by his feet for her to sit, she complied.

Harry gulped as he watched Hermione watch him with a thoughtful gaze, but eventually, she was the one who broke the silence. "Harry," she said cautiously, "Harry, what's wrong?"

He smiled at her ever-present concern for his well-being, "Nothing's wrong, Hermione. Why would you think something's wrong?"

Hermione's lips thin and she gave the best impression of Professor McGonagall looking at him from above her glasses with a quirked eyebrow, "Let's see..." She held out her hand and counted her fingers as she spoke, "One, you're brooding. Two, you sighed so heavily while looking outside during your brooding. Three you have that frown on your face. Four, whenever - "

"Alright, alright, Hermione, I get it!" He said hastily, he wasn't quite in the mood to have his brooding traits described to him - not that he was brooding of course!

"So, you admit it then?" His best friend asked. She wore a smirk, although a playful one, one that she wore when she thought she won one of their playful banters, that was so unlike hers and Ron's which often just left Hermione in tears or her storming off.

"I admit nothing," Harry replied, his voice just as playful as hers, though his smirk - in her opinion - was quite charming if she does say so herself.

Hermione's demeanor changed drastically and she was suddenly looking at him worriedly and with such great affection that Harry gulped inwardly. Why she worried about him as much as she usually does, he would never know. While she worried over him as much as Mrs. Weasley usually did, she was more subtle about it and differently less fussy and pushy.

Her hugs were definitely better and stronger than Mrs. Weasley's as well.

Hermione sighed, he could be so damn difficult at many times. So stubborn! Well, she was just as stubborn, but that didn't matter right now! "Harry James Potter..." She said with another McGonagall look, though, with a little playfulness in her voice, "If you don't tell me what's wrong, I'm never going to speak with you ever again." She got up folded her arms and walked towards the nearest couch and sat down plumply. She showed even more maturity by sticking her tongue out at him.

Harry sighed, "Hermione..." He said. But she ignored him. He sighed again and walked over to her. For some reason, her silence towards him greatly upset him. It reminded him horrendously about how low he stooped in their friendship back in their third year over a broom.

He sat down next to her, and he inwardly smirked when he saw that her cheeks were red. It was widely known that Hermione Granger was not only smarter for her age, but also, mature and more independent, so, to see her acting so childishly was - while funny - unusual to him, and probably embarrassing to her. She did have a quite cute pout, however.

"Alright, ask away, and I'll try to answer them to the best of my ability," He said to her. A smile tugged at her lips as she unfolded her arms and hopped up to turn and face him, her legs folding under her as he says Indian style.

"Promise, Harry?" She asked.

"Promise, Hermione."

"Okay then, good." She nodded approvingly, looking highly pleased that her plan had worked. "What's wrong?"

Harry visibly hesitated. His reluctance clogging his vocal cords as he tried to find the right words. "Argh!" He relented, "I've never had a good Christmas before at the Dursleys, Hermione. While I did get better Christmasses at Hogwarts from the first year, they weren't... they weren't - they weren't exactly me if you know what I mean.

"I appreciate Mrs. Weasley and the rest of the Weasley's hospitality and care, but it isn't what I expected - it isn't what I want my family to be like. I haven't had a family - a real one - to know what Christmasses really are like, but I have this gut feeling that if my parents were alive, they wouldn't have celebrated the Christmasses holidays like the Weasley's have.

"I guess... I guess... - I guess I'd just like to experience a Christmas like it would have been if I was with my parents." He finished. He angrily wiped away the tears that were forming, angry that he had gotten emotional in front of Hermione.

He was surprised beyond belief when she threw her hands around him, her own tears wetting his neck and collar."Oh, Harry," she moaned through her tears, "Oh, Harry, why'd it have to be you? It surprises me day after day that you're the way you are. People - especially children - who would have gone through what you have, would have already given up! I'm so sorry, Harry!"

Harry awkwardly patted her back with one hand, the other rubbing her shoulders, trying to soothe her. "It's - it's okay, Hermione. It's not your fault. It never has been."

She pulled back and she was angry that she got emotional, just like he had been a few minutes ago. After her tears were mostly gone, she looked into his eyes with such passion, that Harry was rendered speechless momentarily. "No," She said. "In a sense, it is partially my fault. Harry I've been your friend for four years, and I consider you my best friend. As your best friend I should have made sure that you don't feel the way you are, but I've done a real piss-poor job of that."

"Hermione..." Harry tried to interrupt, but Hermione interrupted him back.

"No, Harry," she said, "I won't allow this to happen again. I'll be going home for Christmas hols, and you're coming with me!"

It was an order. Not a request. And Harry had no choice but to be quiet while Hermione ran off to write to her parents. He wasn't angry though, he was ecstatic.

A/N: Thanks for reading.