Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I do own a dowel which I am sanding to make my wand. I am having fun with that and this :)
Chapter Eight: A Hogwarts Christmas - Part 1
Gryffindor Tower awoke like always on December eleventh, nineteen ninety-one. Except this time, the Golden Quartet were not in their usual happy and awake state. They were sluggish, miserable, and tired.
"Be happy about it. The Hogwarts Express takes us home for the holidays in a week or so," Harry started.
"But Harry, you're staying here," persisted Hermione.
"Right," groaned Harry.
"Look on the bright side Harry, I think Daphne and Panz are also staying and they will prolly wanna help, so it isn't that bad," Nate stated.
"But their SLYTHERINS!" Ron exclaimed.
Nate shrugged. "So? They're nice once you get to know them."
"You're barking mad Nate," Ron stated.
"Honestly, he told us about them last week. Granted, we all were pretty tired, but he still mentioned it. And like a month ago when he was wanting your guys' opinion about letting them help up, you just ignored him! Let them help guys. Nate is, and so am I," Hermione concluded.
"Thanks," Nate said.
"Anytime. Now, I need to pack. I know you," she pointed at Nate," need to pack too."
"Mione, we still have a week."
"All the more reason. We need all the time we can get in the library."
"All right."
The Quartet split after that, with Ron and Harry heading to breakfast while Nate and Hermione went to pack.
The day went slow, but Hagrid allowed them to pick out the tree for his hut after classes. And after that, they groaned their way (even Hermione) to the library. The only person who wasn't surprised when Daphne and Pansy strolled to their table ten minutes later was Nate.
"Hey Nate," Daphne greeted, plopping her bag on the table.
"Hey Daph, Panz," Nate replied. Both girls smiled and sat down.
Ron was about to open his mouth when Hermione kicked him in the shins, hard, giving Ron a "don't open your mouth" look. The six sat in almost silence as they poured through book after book looking for Nicholas Flamel.
Forty-five books and three hours later and the group was empty handed.
"How hard is it to find something on a guy and an object in a school?" Pansy voiced when they walked into the courtyard.
"No idea to be honest," came Nate's reply.
"Oh no," groaned Hermione.
"What?" voiced Harry.
"Mudbloods and Blood traitors! How DARE you stick to these low lives. COME Pansy. COME Daphne. NOW!," Draco roared this and the two girls in questions smiled sadly at Nate before joining Draco.
"Now, piss off. And you two, in the common room. NOW!" Malfoy's voice actually echoed through the courtyard, and the girls scurried away in fear. The Quartet turned and walked away, leaving Malfoy on his own.
"Come on Nate, you'll see them at dinner," Harry stated.
"I guess." Nate sadly looked in the direction the girls had run towards.
Dinner was less chaotic, and the two girls never showed for dinner. The Christmas trees were all looking beautiful and magnificent as the flames from the candles reflected off the branches. Hermione was still nose deep in a book, looking through famous witches and wizards of the century. The one flaw in it was that a five-year-old Harry Potter was featured.
"Is there one book about famous wizards that doesn't include me?" Harry groaned.
"Apparently not mate," Nate replied, while looking over Hermione's shoulder.
After dinner, Nate dragged the group back to the common room, much to the protests of Hermione.
"We have looked for the past month or so in the library, Hermione. I've looked at the same books four times over!" Nate stated, "we four are going to sleep tonight. Unless you want to go to the library to find nothing on Nicholas Flamel?"
Hermione groaned but nodded slowly. The Quartet split, with Hermione headed up to the girl's dorms while Ron, Harry, and Nate to the boys.
Three Weeks Ago
"You have got to be kidding me Professor. The Dark Forest is Forbidden for a reason!"
Draco had repeated that line four times in the past minute after Professor McGonagall had assigned Detention to the Quartet and to Draco for being out after hours, while removing fifty points each from the Gryffindors for smuggling a dragon off of school grounds.
"Hush Malfoy, or I will remove points from Slytherin as well."
Draco promptly fell silent.
The next day, all of the Gryffindors gave the cold shoulder to the Quartet, and Nate's friendship with Daphne and Pansy was made pure, or solid per say. Hermione isolated herself in the library, and Ron and Harry were sulking in the Common Room playing Wizards Chess.
Nate had been sitting under a tree when the two Slytherins promptly sat themselves on either side of Nate.
"What's up, Nate?"
"Yeah, it wouldn't happen to do with the point loss?"
"Pansy, Daphne, please don't rub it in… I was a git. Just let me suffer in peace," Nate groaned and shoved his head in his robes.
Both girls yanked his head out of the robes and spoke swiftly.
"Don't blame yourself –" Pansy started.
"-What friends would we be if we didn't help you?" finished Daphne.
Nate looked at the girls and a small smile escaped his lips.
"I guess. Thanks." Nate drew them in a hug. "Friends forever?"
"Always," came the simultaneous response from the girls. The trio shared a small laugh.
That night, Harry, Ron, Nate, Hermione, and Draco were escorted to Hagrid's hut to serve their detention in the Dark Forest.
Hagrid was stern, but jolly at the same time. He had instructed them to help him find harmed unicorns and the assassin drinking its blood. Ron and Hermione stuck with Hagrid, while Draco, Harry, and Nate broke off. It was about ten minutes later when they found the harmed, now dead unicorn, and the culprit. Draco ran away with Fang, Harry slipped and fell on his bum, and Nate shuddered back and shot a spell into the sky.
"Periculum!" Nate shouted, and red sparks shot from his wand high into the sky. "Thank you Hermione," Nate thought.
Harry was in bad luck, however. The hooded culprit was headed right for him, unicorn blood dripping from its face. Harry was horrified. Nate was about to jump the figure when a very large horse-man animal scared it off.
"You are safe now, Harry Potter," the animal stated.
Just then, Hagrid, Ron, Hermione, and Draco showed up.
"Firenze," Hagrid stated, politely nodding.
Firenze nodded curtly and looked at Harry and Nate. "You will be safe with Hagrid. I must go now." And with that, he ran off.
Later that night, the Quartet were sitting in their common room.
"Who was that?" Nate asked.
"What was that?" Ron added.
"I think it's Voldemort," Harry replied.
"Voldemort is dead though, Harry," Nate stated.
"Not necessarily. When I got my wand from Ollivanders, Hagrid had told me that Voldemort was a spirt, trying to possess a body until he returned to full health," Harry said.
"But what do Unicorns blood have to do with You-Know-Who returning?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," stated Hermione.
The Quartet was stumped.
Harry woke up that morning with a massive headache. His groans woke up Nate, and his movements made Ron shift so his loud snoring was once again audible.
"Morning Harry."
"Morning Nate."
"Sleep well?"
"Nope. You?"
"I slept okay. Anyways I'm gonna go and see if Hermione is awake. I have a hunch about something."
"What is it?"
"I don't know yet," and with that, Nate bounced out of bed and down to the Common Room.
Hermione was there, in her spot, as Nate sat down next to her.
"Hi," he said.
She looked up from her book and smiled. "Hi."
"We need to talk," Nate said.
"Okay?"
"Not here. Not now. I'll explain later, during lunch, meet me at our spot in the library."
"Okay."
"Bloody Potions. I hate Snape," Harry groaned as he stepped out of the dorm, Ron in tow.
"I think we all do," Hermione stated.
"Lets go eat. I'm hungry!" Ron practically yelled.
"Food. That's Ron. Alrighty, let's go." Nate stated.
Classes that day had been painful, to say the least. Snape appeared to hate the holidays, so he constantly abused the Quartet for not taking the Slytherin's bait. Defense was painful, well, literally for Harry. He had a massive headache all throughout the class. After Defense and their free period, the Quartet grabbed a bite of food and went to the library.
"Unicorns," Nate said.
"Unicorns?" Ron asked.
"Yeah."
"Why?" Hermione interjected.
"It has something to do with You-Know-Who," Nate said.
"How?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Nate said.
"How are we supposed to research something if we don't know where to start?" Ron asked.
"We start with Unicorns. Anything and everything about them. Something about them is related to You-Know-Who." Nate replied.
Harry just stared with a pensive look on his face.
"What's up?" Nate asked.
"Oh, Nothing,: Harry replied.
"Mmhm," Nate said.
"Wait," Hermione began," What if what Snape wants – that has to do with Nicholas Flamel – is part of the Unicorns and You-Know-Who?"
"Hermione, explain to me how that is logically possible," Nate stated.
"You explain how its possible to link Unicorns and You-Know-Who together," she retorted.
" I don't!"
"Well neither do I!"
"Shut it! Both of you!" Ron stated sternly," Just relax. We have pieces but they don't fit together. If they fit together is out of my mind, but I doubt it! Unicorns and You-Know-Who are related somehow but not Snape!"
Nate and Hermione nodded, and the Quartet walked out of the library and to their remaining classes.
"I hate Astronomy," Nate groaned when he and the other first year Gryffindors trudged into the Common Room at two A.M.
"For once I agree," Hermione stated.
"If it wasn't so long I would appreciate the constellations," Harry added.
Ron simply nodded and walked up the stairs. The rest followed to their respective dormitories.
"Wake up Hermione!"
"Wake uppppppp!"
The shrill voices of Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown merely 5 hours later did not sit well with the bookworm, but shrugged it off as she allowed herself to be dragged presumably to the Great Hall by her two favourite dormmates. Unsurprisingly, Nate was standing in the Common Room, next to their normal reading spot, tapping his foot and crossing his arms.
"Good morning 'Mione."
"Hi Nate," she replied wearily.
"Breakfast?"
"Sure. Harry or Ron?"
"Still out. I doubt McGonagall will be lenient this time though." Nate sighed.
Parvati sensed the tension so she squeaked, "Breakfast!" while dragging Lavender with her left hand and Hermione with her right. Nate chuckled and followed behind, much to the annoyance of Hermione.
They got to the Great Hall and started eating vigorously until Annalise popped her head through the roof and flew over to Nate, dropping three letters at his place.
"What are those?" Hermione asked.
"One from Anna, one from my parents, and one from your parents," Nate replied, passing the third to Hermione."
"Thanks!" She smiled and opened her letter.
Dearest Hermione,
Mum and I would love for you to come home for the Christmas Holidays, but based on your previous letters you will already be coming home. We are so excited to see you! We hope you have loved Hogwarts as much as you had hoped and we will see you in 8 days!
Hugs and Kisses,
Mum and Dad
Hermione smiled internally and then at Nate who looked even happier than he had ever been.
Dear Nathaniel,
Don't be mad I used your full name, I'm being funny. Anyways I convinced my parents to let your parents bring me to be with you when you get off your train! I have so many gifts for you! I also have a gift for Hermione, it's a book, not sure what witches read but I found this one to be funny.
Are your other friends nice too? I heard you made even more enemies and you also became an outcast for a while, I'm sorry I couldn't be there. Anyways your mum is really excited to see you, but remember that she and your dad don't know about the ugly troll from Halloween. Youre gonna have to tell them at some point, because I don't want you hurt. Anyways bye Nate and see you before Christmas!
From the awesomest friend on the planet,
Anna
P.S. Sorry I used regular paper. I tried the parchment you sent but it… well let's say it was messy. Its okay though!
"From Anna," Nate stated.
Hermione went to grab the letter but Nate recoiled.
"Anna didn't want you to see this letter," Nate said with a smirk, " it'll ruin the magic."
Hermione kicked Nate from under the table and at a sudden "Yelp" she smiled sweetly.
"Ha ha, very funny Hermione," but Nate smiled too.
Nate,
Happy early Christmas! We heard from Anna's letter that you will be staying for the holidays! I'm not sure why you hadn't just owl'ed us but that is an issue for another day. We have some presents for you and we hope you have some for us! (Dad said pretty please!) Please respond quickly, me and your dad have no idea when you arrive in London. And as you know, it takes 6 or more hours just to get there.
Let us know what Hogwarts looks like during the holidays, and we will see you in a week! Lots of Love!
From,
Mum and Dad
Nate smiled and packed the notes in his case. Harry and Ron shuffled into the Great Hall, still tired, but awake.
"Well Good morning to you," Hermione said.
"Hi," Harry responded.
"Morning," Ron replied.
"Ready for Transfiguration?" Hermione asked.
"Of course," the boys replied simultaneously. Hermione giggled.
Transfiguration came and went, and Charms was equally enjoyable, but Potions, man, Snape hated Christmas. He lashed out at the Quartet whenever possible, deducted thirty points for working too slow, and sneered in Harry's direction every minute or so. Snape was one of those teachers that, regardless of the mood, always made you feel like crap.
The Quartet dragged themselves into the Great Hall, and Ron immediately stuffed his face with food. Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table, three owls swooped in and landed in front of Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, and Draco Malfoy.
"Oh no," Daphne muttered. Glancing at Pansy, she was thinking the same thing. Draco was wearing a smug smile on his face.
"Here we go," Daphne muttered as she opened up her letter.
Daphne,
It has come to our attention that you have affiliated yourself with Harry Potter. That we cannot be angry at, but you have also decided to affiliate yourself to Ronald Weasley, one pureblood. We, again, are not angry at you for that.
However, it is the rumor going around that you are affiliating yourself with two MUDBLOODS! One Hermione Granger and Nathaniel Harrison. Confirm or deny these rumors, you will not be welcome into our home until you break contact with the mudbloods. Do not bother coming home for Christmas, you will be pushed out.
From,
Father and Mother.
Daphne read the letter, and using all of her will power, she did not cry. She was kicked out. She wasn't welcome. "This is all DRACO's Fault!" she thought. Looking over at Pansy, she looked like an emotional wreck as well. Pansy had gotten a similar message, and she too was trying not to cry.
As she dragged Pansy out of the Great Hall, she saw Draco smile wider.
The Gryffindor Table, unintentionally, hadn't seen any of the action at the Slytherin table. Harry and Ron were stuffing their faces, Nate and Hermione were looking over notes, Dean and Seamus were being tutored by Neville in Herbology, and Lavender and Parvati were still giggling and looking in Harry and Ron's direction.
The Quartet spent their free period at the Black Lake, simply enjoying nature and the cold breezes that made the trees swoon. They then headed to Professor Binn's classroom, and as always, Harry and Ron fell asleep while Hermione was as alert as you could be and Nate slugging behind slightly as he wrote a lot but he wrote fast.
Finally, Herbology arrived to end the Quartet's day. Professor Sprout was joyful and she brought out thick mini Christmas trees.
"Shape them today, and on December 21, the tree will expand to its original size!"
The students were bobbing with enjoyment, as Hermione went for an unorthodox sphere-cone shape, Harry went for a comic-styled Christmas tree, and Ron simply shaped his in a cone. After Herbology, the students dispersed, with the Quartet headed to the library, so Ron and Harry could look at books involving Unicorns, and Nate and Hermione simplifying notes for the group.
Despite Harry and Ron's searching, they found nothing on Unicorns relating them to You-Know-Who. By the time dinner was being served, Nate and Hermione had finished simplifying and copying notes and Harry and Ron were weary and dragged themselves to the Great Hall.
Ron immediately stuffed his face. Nate and Harry followed soon after. Hermione, despite her etiquette while eating, was wolfing food down as well.
That night, the Quartet sat by the fire in the Common Room and dozed off. Harry and Ron in plushy armchairs, and Hermione and Nate on the couch, with Hermione sleeping on Nate's shoulder.
The students who funneled their way into the Common Room walked past the sleeping students, but Lavender had a somewhat evil plan.
*SNAP!* Came Lavender's camera.
Parvati giggled. "What was that for?"
"To show the world that Nate and Hermione have been crushing since first year!"
Both girls giggled before walking up to their dorm.
The Golden Quartet slept that night in the Common Room, surrounded by themselves and the glowing fire.
The next morning, many of the students in the Gryffindor Common Room surrounded the sleeping Quartet, umoved since they had fallen asleep the night prior. Hermione stirred first, and when she noticed the group around them, she nudged Nate. Nate, jolted awake by Hermione, also noticed the group. He turned to Harry and Ron. Nudging both, neither woke.
"Good Morning everybody," Nate greeted.
"Morning Nate," Dean greeted.
Hermione awkwardly waved and smiled.
The group dispersed after that, and Hermione was a little uneasy, but shook it off and went upstairs to change. Nate did too, but in the boy's dorm.
The pair met up in the Common Room and headed to breakfast. Harry and Ron were still sound asleep.
Nate and Hermione entered the Great Hall and were immediately flagged down by Pansy and Daphne, who promptly dragged the pair into a broom closet. It was tights, especially for the four students, but Pansy and Daphne started speaking so fast neither Nate or Hermione could understand what they were saving.
"Woah! Slow down!" Nate exclaimed.
Daphne and Pansy looked at Nate then took deep breaths.
"I'm not allowed home for the holidays!" Daphne exclaimed when she calmed down.
"Neither am I!" Pansy followed.
"What?!" Nate roared, "Why?"
Daphne spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, "You."
Nate felt shocked. "And you Panz? Am I the reason too?"
Nate didn't need an answer because Pansy's eyes said it all. Nate pushed past Hermione and out of the closet, running until his legs gave out and collapsing into tears. He was at the Black Lake.
Nate was sitting on that rock for about twenty minutes before he was interrupted by three pairs of footsteps.
"If it's who I think it is, go away," Nate sniffled out.
"Nate, please," Daphne pleaded, tears coming to her own eyes.
Nate buried his face in his robes and muttered, "Go away."
"We're sorry, I'm sorry. It came out wrong. When I said you, I meant that it was because I was your friend – I didn't know how to tell you, I'm so sorry Nate."
Daphne inched closer and closer while Pansy and Hermione stayed back. Daphne sat herself next to Nate, wordless. Pansy joined a minute later, Hermione watched as Nate re-opened himself to his two Slytherin friends. She smiled and walked off.
"I'm really sorry too," Pansy whispered in Nate's ear. The three stayed huddled until it was drawing near time for their flying lesson.
Nate stood up and offered a hand to the girls, who happily accepted and made their way over to the training grounds for their lesson.
It was a normal flying lesson, however Hermione, Ron, and Harry noticed that he had kept to himself a lot more than they were used to. One stern look from Hermione, however, kept the two boys in line in regards to Nate.
After Madam Hooch's lesson, Nate walked by himself to the Great Hall. He piled a few grilled cheese sandwiches on his plate and pulled out a piece of blank parchment.
Dear Mum and Dad,
Sorry I haven't replied yet, I was dealing with lots of schoolwork and the letter slipped my mind. My friends got kicked out, well, shoved away from their houses for the holidays, and they need a place to stay for the holidays since they were originally travelling home. Is it possible to put up with two more for the holidays? I know it's a lot since Anna is staying with us for the first few days, but I don't want them staying here alone, for Christmas.
Nate looked up and saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione approach him.
"Hey Nate," Harry stated.
Nate smiled. "Hey Harry. Sorry I was being stupid earlier during lesson. Daph and Pansy said something that I misinterpreted."
"No worries, just glad you're here," Harry replied.
"Who you writing to Nate?" Ron asked.
"Oh, just to my parents. By the way, who's going home for the Holidays? I am," Nate said.
"Me," Hermione chirped.
"So am I. We're going to spend the holidays with Ginny's friend north of our house," Ron added.
"I'm staying here. The Dursleys don't want me back until Summer," Harry stated sadly.
Nate roughly but kindly patted Harry's back. "It's alright Harry. I would offer you to stay at my place, but Anna is already staying with us and I might be joined by two more."
Hermione smirked.
"Oh stop it you," Nate retorted, pinching Hermione's shoulder.
Hermione giggled and shoved her arm into Nate's arm.
"Ow!" Nate replied before he and Hermione erupted in giggles.
"Alright lovebirds, no need to flirt in public," Ron stated.
"W-what?" Hermione stammered, turning red.
"I'm not flirting," Nate replied, also turning red.
"Sureeeeee, Ron stated, nudging Harry. "Wizards chess?"
"You're on!"
The two boys ran out of the Great Hall.
Hermione and Nate erupted in a fit of muffled – attempted muffling – laughter.
"I have a letter to finish – Hermione Jean Granger don't you dare give me that look!"
Hermione was smirking innocently at Nate. "Who's the two companions that are joining you?"
"Not telling you!"
"I'll tell them!"
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me!"
Nate proceeded to tickle Hermione's stomach.
"F-fine! You win!" Hermione stuttered out between fits of laughter.
Nate smiled and sat back down, continuing his letter.
Anyways, everyone at school thinks I like Hermione Granger, you know, the girl that helps me with my school work and such. I mean, she's pretty, but shes just an awesome friend.
"Aww!" Hermione gasped, "Do you like me?"
Nate turned a deeper shade of red. "M-Maybe?"
Hermione giggled and turned back to her food.
Help me. Anyways again, I'm bringing something special for you guys, its like a magical Christmas gift, I don't know how else to describe it. I'll wrap this up, I don't know if you want to reply, but Annalise will wait by unless you tell her otherwise. Lots of love!
Love,
Nate
Nate rolled up the note and packed his items away.
"Owlery?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah. Wanna come?"
"Sure. We can go to the library afterwards!"
"Of course," Nate smiled and offered his free hand. Hermione happily accepted.
The pair walked down to the Owlery where Annalise was currently staying. She was happily hooting in conversation with Harry's owl, Hedwig.
"Hey Anna, I have a letter for you to deliver home," Nate stated.
Annalise hooted happily and offered her beak and took the note, flying off with it. Nate and Hermione then walked back inside and to the library. She wanted to do some reading about three headed dogs and their weaknesses. Nate simply did homework for Flitwick.
Four hours, one essay, and seven books later, the pair emerged from the library. The last person either of them expected to run into was the shy redheaded girl named Susan Bones.
"Hi Nate, hi Hermione. This is for you Nate, happy Christmas!"
Susan said it so fast and thrust a small package into Nate's hands, and smiled widely.
"Thanks!" came Nate's reply.
"You're welcome! Also Hermione I did get you a gift too, but my aunt is still collecting it! I'll get it to you before we leave though!"
"Oh, thanks Susan," Hermione replied, smiling.
"SUSANNNNNN! COME ONNN! I WANT PUDDINGGGGGGGG!" The shrill voice of Susan's best friend, Hannah Abbot, came into existence as Susan sheepishly scurried away to be with her friend. Nate always took a liking to the two Hufflepuffs. They were friendly and calm.
"HI HANNAH!" Nate yelled. He got his reply a few seconds later when Hannah yelled "Hi" back. Nate smiled and Hermione laughed. They made their way to the Gryffindor Common Room and found Harry and Ron in an intense game of Wizard's Chess.
"Hey guys," Nate greeted.
"Hey Nate, Hermione too" Harry replied.
Hermione waved.
"Checkmate in six moves," Ron proudly stated.
"Oh bloody hell," Harry grinned and moved. Nate and Hermione watched as Harry played the next six moves, and as predicted, Ron called out "Checkmate" after he moved his sixth turn.
"GG Ron," Harry grinned.
"Nice," Ron replied.
"Remind me to never play against Ron," Nate joked. The Quartet laughed for a solid minute.
"Great Hall anybody?" Harry asked.
"Food!" Ron exclaimed as he instantly made a beeline for the Common Room portrait. The three kids laughed and followed.
"Typical Ron," Hermione giggled.
Dinner was eaten in relative peace. Draco still sneered at Nate at every glance he got, which annoyed the living daylights out of Nate. Hermione felt his anger and kept him from punching the slimy git right there.
"Nate no," she said quietly, and Nate calmed down.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
Hermione smiled a little and squeezed his hand.
Three days Later
"Oi, Nate, wake up mate!"
Dean Thomas was looming over the boy's bed, whacking his arm.
"Wake up!"
"No," Nate dug himself deeper into his pillows.
Dean smirked. "Guess I'll tell Lavender to tell everyone that you and Hermione are dating, you like her so much you let her sleep on you!"
Nate shot up. "What the hell Dean?! She was sleepy!"
Dean was laughing. Ron, Harry, Seamus, and Neville chuckled as well.
"Oh you gits!" Nate smirked and whacked Dean with a pillow.
"So you do like Hermione?" Dean pressed Nate with a grin.
"No! Totally not! Totally not." Nate failed to notice he was blushing.
"Sure Nate, we'll just tell Hermione that you don't like her while you were blushing," Ron
added.
"Oh you git! I'll owl you mum and tell her to tell Ginny to send me a love letter, just to piss you off!"
"You wouldn't dare!" Ron exclaimed.
Nate laughed. "I'm joking Ron. Haha."
"I'm just gonna stick with the fact that every guy in the tower knows you have a crush on Hermione Granger," Neville added, smirking, well, practically everyone, except Hermione, and you, you thickheaded idiot!"
"Oh, shut up Nev," Nate retorted, tossing his pillow in Neville's direction.
"How long?"
"What Harry?"
"How long have you liked Hermione?"
"Honestly, probably mid-October, before the troll fiasco," Nate replied honestly.
"You've had a crush on Hermione for 2 months and never told us?" Ron exclaimed.
"Duh, plus, y'know, how do you know if she likes me back?"
"For the record, I'm not the only one who thinks this. You're thickheaded, Nate!" Seamus
stated.
"What do you mean?" Nate asked.
"You're oblivious to your feelings! Have you even given her that flower that was charmed to emit orange puffs of smoke in the form of a pumpkin?" Seamus continued.
"I didn't get a chance to. Ron's git actions got her in the bathroom for the afternoon, and we almost got killed by a troll saving her. Then I end up in the hospital wing for what, 2 days? Whole thing slipped my mind. But I talked to Professor Sprout, and she helped me re-charm it so it lights up green and emits smoke of a Christmas tree instead. I really hope she'll like it. But it's more of a 'thanks for helping me with my schoolwork even though im a git at school' gift." Nate concluded his statement by pulling out a small box wrapped in light blue wrapping paper with a nice red ribbon tied on it.
"She'll love it mate," Dean said.
"That's kinda the point Dean, for her to enjoy it," Harry added, making the group chuckle.
"Nathaniel Harrison! Get your butt down here nowwww!"
"And here comes the missile…" Nate said smiling, as he walked out of the dorm.
Hermione was standing in the middle of the Common room. Tapping her foot. Crossing her arms. She was angry. "She looks cute when she's angry," Nate thought to himself.
"Hi 'Mione," Nate greeted her.
"Don't 'Hi 'Mione' me! Why weren't you at breakfast?! We have class in TEN minutes!" Hermione practically shrieked at Nate.
"Um, overslept." Nate scratched the back of his head, and Hermione yanking him out of the Common Room. Without his stuff. Nice.
"Honestly, you know we aren't supposed to be late!"
"Hermione, my stuff-"
"You're using mine today!"
Nate stayed silent and ran with Hermione until they walked/jogged into the Transfiguration classroom.
"Phew, forty-five seconds to spare!" Hermione smiled in achievement. They sat down and Hermione plopped her notebook and a quill and ink to Nate.
"What about you?"
"You were almost late, you write the notes," Hermione responded, with a mischievous smirk on her face.
Nate grinned. "Always for you, Hermione."
Professor McGonagall had started her lesson, and the class went by uneventfully – wait Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville were late to Transfiguration. Oops. Minus twenty points. Ouch. Potions was Potions, Snape was a git, Malfoy was an arse, and the Slytherins were painful. Except for Daphne and Pansy.
Defense was a joke, Lunch was peaceful, and Charms was a no-brainer. History of Magic was boring, again, as always, but Nate took diligent notes while Hermione shot death glances at him every five seconds. Personally, Nate found it amusing.
The Quartet took a break from the library to help Hagrid bring Christmas Trees to the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff Common Rooms.
Susan and Hannah were overjoyed when Hagrid came lumbering into the Hufflepuff Common Room followed by the Quartet and two Christmas trees. The other Hufflepuffs were happy that they were getting a tree, well two trees, and the Gryffindors delivering them had wicked smiles on their faces.
The group repeated the process and got two more trees for the Gryffindor Common Room. Gryffindor Tower was excited. Harry asked about the Ravenclaw Common Room, but Hagrid had explained to them that they already had a large Christmas tree for the Common Room.
The Quartet waltzed into the Great Hall that night excited and joyful. Hermione and Nate were singing Christmas carols while Harry and Ron "danced" to it. They all got a laugh out of it.
Classes for the next few days were enjoyable. Except Potions. Obviously. The Quartet spent their free time in the library, often visited by Daphne, Pansy, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Susan, and Hannah.
Professor Flitwick was more than happy to further charm Hermione's gift to add one last special effect, and the ability to preserve the gift and replay it whenever she wanted.
December Twentieth arrived with a bang. Literally. Thank Seamus. Either way, The students heading home that day had only a few hours to prepare before they were escorted out of the castle and down to Hogsmeade station.
"Nate!" A female voice rang through the boy's dorms.
"Hermione," Nate whispered, smiled, and hopped out of bed.
Hermione was beaming from ear to ear. "Ready to go home?"
"Of course!" Nate smiled widely too. Hermione bounced up the stairs and dragged Nate to the Great Hall. Nate walked to the Slytherin table, while Hermione headed to the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ron were already situated, playing Wizards Chess.
"Knight to C-6," Harry stated. His knight piece magically moved.
"Checkmate in four moves, Harry!" Ron grinned, "Queen to C-6!"
Ron's Queen moved and smashed the knight in the spot, before occupying the space itself.
"That's totally barbaric!" Hermione exclaimed.
"That's Wizard's Chess," Ron said, then looked at Hermione. "I see you've packed."
"See you haven't."
"I'm staying here. Mum and Dad are going to visit my brother Charlie in Romania. Something
about a sick dragon."
"Good then. You and Harry can look in the library for anything on Nicholas Flamel."
"Hermione, we've gone through the entire library six times already!" Harry exclaimed.
"Not in the Restricted Section. Happy Christmas." Hermione turned around and pulled her trunk along. At the same time, Daphne and Pansy were hugging Nate tightly at the Slytherin table.
"I think Nate is going insane," Ron stated.
"Why do you say that Ron?" Harry asked.
"He is like best friends with Slytherins. Aren't we enough?"
"Ron, I've accepted it, so should you. Come on, lets keep playing."
Ron grunted in disapproval and watched as Nate and Hermione walked out of the Great Hall, hand in hand.
"And he says he hasn't told her that he likes her," Ron chuckled.
Harry smirked. "Only a matter of time."
At the Slytherin table, Daphne and Pansy scurried out and to their dorms, re-emerging twenty minutes later with packed trunks, walking to meet up with Nate and Hermione. As if on cue, the four students met at the bottom of the staircase.
"You ready?" Nate asked.
"You bet," Daphne responded.
Hermione and Pansy smiled and the four walked in unison with their trunks as they walked to join the rest of the departing students.
Author's Note: Thanks to those who still remember I exist! (yay!) I am a day late coming of my HIATUS, but it's alright. Part Two will be up in a week or so. I had loads of fun writing this chapter, and I'm still working on revising the original chapters for errors. Thanks y'all, see ya next time! Cheers!