Chapter 13: Home for the Holidays
The Hogwarts Express was chugging through the snow, as everybody was heading home for the holidays. The squad were at their compartment, as they were talking about the Unbreakable Vow. "Unbreakable Vow? You're sure that's what Snape said?" Ron stated, as everybody looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. Harry nodded, "Positive. Why?" he asked. "It's just, well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow," Hermione stated. "She's right, think of it like a blood pact, except with a few extra steps," Naruto added. "I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough," Harry retorted. Ron shook his head, "No, you don't understand - Oh, bloody hell…" Lavender stands outside the compartment door. Fogging the glass with her breath, she etches "Ron Lav," encircles it with a heart, mimes "I miss you," and exits with a pout. Naruto, Harry, and Hermione all gave Ron a look of sympathy, as the redhead groaned. "Lovely," Harry stated, as Ron gave him a look. "All she wants to do is snog me. My lips are getting chapped. Look," Ron stated, showing his lips. "Ok Ron, we get it already. Your girlfriend is clingy, so what?" Naruto stated innocently, as Ron gave him a deadpan look. "So what happens? If you break an Unbreakable Vow?" Harry asked, as everybody looked grim. "If you break an Unbreakable Vow…you die," Hermione stated.
Soon the train arrived at Kings Cross, as everybody got off the train. Harry was going to Ron's place for the holidays, while Naruto and Hermione went to spend time with their respective families. Naruto arrives home with Itachi and the two are greeted by Tsunade and Mito. "Hey mom, hey Mito," Naruto greeted, as he picked up Mito and played with her. "Hello Naruto, welcome back for the holidays," Tsunade said, after hugging her godson. Naruto goes to his room to unpack, before heading downstairs for dinner. After dinner was over, Naruto decided to watch some Christmas themed movies with the family, before they all went to bed.
The Next Day
Christmas had arrived, as everybody woke up for the holidays. Naruto greets everyone, as they all greet him. Soon it was time for the gift opening, as Naruto and Mito opened their presents. Naruto was given a copy of Resident Evil for the PlayStation from Tsunade, while Itachi gave Naruto a leather watch. Naruto thanked the two and soon everybody had breakfast, which consisted of pancakes, eggs, and bacon along with a glass of eggnog to finish it off. Sometime later in the afternoon, there was somebody knocking on the front door, as Naruto went to open the door to see who it was. It was Hermione and she was dressed in a blue winter coat, a white turtleneck sweater, a black skirt, black pantyhose, dress boots, brown leather gloves, a purple scarf, and a beanie. "Hey Naruto, merry Christmas," she said warmly, greeting her boyfriend. "Oh hey Hermione, merry Christmas to you too. You look amazing," Naruto complimented, as she nodded.
He soon invites her in, along with her parents of course as they greet him and everybody else. "So what are you guys doing here, although we're happy you guys came in," Naruto asked, as he wondered what Hermione's parents were doing here. That's when Tsunade stepped in to explain, "I invited them here, as it is the holidays and I wanted to make a Christmas feast not for ourselves. So I figured why not invite Hermione's parents over, that way you two can spend some time together, while the adults here can talk about stuff." Mrs. Granger nodded, "That's right, also I'm helping out Tsunade with the dinner, so you kids have fun," she stated. Naruto nods, as he turns to Hermione. "I'll be ready in a few minutes, wait for me ok?" he asked, as she nodded. The blond goes up to change from his pajamas to something fitting for outside. A few minutes go by and he comes down ready to go out. The blond was dressed in a military green winter jacket, gray hoodie, blue jeans, black boots, black gloves, and his red scarf. "Ready to go out?" he asked, as Hermione nodded.
"Make sure to come back for dinner you two," Mr. Granger stated, as he was talking with Itachi. The two nodded and left the house to do who knows what. Given that it was a snowy day, there were many things the couple went to do. Firstly they decided to go ice skating at some indoor ice skating rink. While Hermione seemed to be a natural when it came to ice skating, Naruto was having a tough time, as he had never done this before. He struggled to keep balance in and out of the rink, due to how hard it is. Hermione decided to step in and help out the blond, "Want me to show you how to ice skate?" she asked. The blond looked at her and nodded, as she began teaching him the steps. She showed him the proper movements, along with how to keep balance. Soon she decided to hold his hand, as he began to step into the rink. "Come on Naruto, you can do this, I know you could," she encouraged him. In the beginning, it was difficult for the blond given he fell down a few times, but he didn't give up and continued onward. "Hey I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!" he said excitedly. "That's the spirit! I knew you could do this!" she cheered. They spent about an hour or so ice skating, as it was starting to get really fun for the two.
After ice skating, the two went to Tower Bridge as they viewed the sights. Naruto paid some photographer to take a picture of him and Hermione, as the two smiled with the snow in the background. The photo turned out nicely, as the two got a copy of the photo. The next place the two went to was Piccadilly Circus and it was pretty packed, given that the scene was lively with many kinds of people there, along with many kinds of music playing. Later on, the two went to some coffee shop and bought a cup of hot chocolate, as they left to go to Hyde Park. "Man this was a nice way to spend Christmas, huh?" Naruto said, as Hermione nodded. "It was indeed and it was really great spending it with you," she said gratefully. "Ah you're making me blush you know," Naruto said, waving it off as he blushed. The two chuckled, before finding somewhere to sit down.
"You know…with this war that is going to come, all these moments we're spending together…we might not get any more chances of it happening," Naruto said, as he thought of the inevitable thing known as the future. "Honestly you're right, with everything that is going on, it's going to be a long time before we have another date between us," Hermione stated, as she knew that this might be the beginning of a rough year with all that has been happening. "I can't believe I'm saying this but…I'm afraid of what is going to come," Naruto stated, showing deep down he really is afraid to fail. "Me too, Naruto…Me too," she stated, patting the blond's back. "Can I be honest with you? Sometimes I feel like running away from all this, you know? Like all I want right now is to just live my life in peace with you, forget about all this nonsense that is going on. I know that it's a cowardly thing to say, but truth be told, I'm tired of this," the blond said, looking ashamed.
"There's no shame in thinking that way, it's ok if you feel tired of all this, I understand," she said, knowing that nobody wants to fight in a war, as there was enough loss in this world so much that it could take a toll on a person. "While I might think like that sometimes, deep down I know if I run away from all this, I'm just letting down everyone I know that has died for me. I'm not going to run away from this inevitable war, I'm going to stand my ground and help Harry finish this once and for all. When this is all over, maybe I could finally live a peaceful life…with you by my side," Naruto said, surprising Hermione. "Wait, are you saying that…" she was going to ask, when the blond nodded. "Yes I want to spend the rest of my life with you, as you are my world…my everything. All my happiness in this world comes from you. I know it's far too early, but this is how I feel, from the bottom of my heart," Naruto said.
Hermione was in tears, as she was really happy to hear how the blond really felt about her. She tearfully hugged him, as he hugged her back. "Ok then Naruto, when this war is over, I too would like to spend the rest of my life with you. But we have to tell my parents about this before we get their blessings, ok? Also promise me you will give me a proper marriage proposal ok?" she asked. "For you Hermione, anything, but let's wait after the war is over and when we're finally adults ok?" Naruto said, as she nodded. The two laughed, before they smiled at each other and hugged. "Thank you, Naruto…for everything," she said, as he nodded, saying the same as well. The two kissed for who knows how long, knowing they feel safe with each other and nothing could ever take away their happiness, not even Voldemort or Menma.
Soon the two walked back to Naruto's place, feeling content with themselves as they held hands. She wraps her arms around his arm, as she smiled at him, while he smiled at her. When they arrived at the house, they saw that the adults were there as dinner was served. "Welcome back you two, I see you guys had an enjoyable time," Tsunade stated, as both Naruto and Hermione blushed, but smiled nonetheless. "Yeah…yeah we did," Naruto stated, dreamily as he thought about that moment he spent with her at the park. Like Naruto, Hermione too can't stop thinking about the moment they shared at the park. The adults were curious as to what was up with the two, before they chuckled thinking it's just a thing couples do. Soon everybody was at the dinner table saying grace before indulging in the Christmas dinner. As they were eating, both Itachi and Tsunade noticed how Naruto and Hermione were acting, as they seemed really happy with each other. Tsunade and Itachi smiled at the two, thinking those two in the future will live a happy life together. Yes both Tsunade and Itachi knew Naruto wanted to spend the rest of his life with Hermione, as whenever he talked about her, he always seemed like a different person-just from the way he acts when he is around her or if someone mentions her.
Dinner was over, as the guests were about to leave. "Thank you guys for coming and once again merry Christmas to you all and have a happy new year!" Naruto said, as they said the same. Before Hermione left, she and Naruto decided to kiss once again. "Good night Naruto," she said warmly. "Good night Hermione," Naruto said warmly, as well. The two hugged, before waving goodbye. Naruto happily sighed, not noticing that Tsunade, Itachi, and Mito were there watching the exchange. Mito was oblivious of course, but smiling nonetheless, as both Itachi and Tsunade were chuckling at the blond. "Alright Romeo, it's off to bed with you," Tsunade said. "Night guys," he stated, as he went to his room for some shuteye.
With Hermione
The brunette arrived home with her family, as they were talking about all the stuff that happened today. She didn't mention Naruto's marriage proposal, as she wanted to wait until the time was right. Soon she went to her room and changed into her pajamas before brushing her teeth. As she went to bed, she thought of how today had to be one of the best days of her life. She smiled and drifted off to sleep, as she dreamt about her and Naruto together.
Note: Hey guys I wanted to explain some things. Firstly regarding Menma and the evil Nine Tails, I just wanted to say that the reason why I mention evil Nine Tails is because the Nine Tails in Menma's universe influenced Menma early feeding off of his hate along with the influence of dark chakra powering him, whereas the Kurama of the main Naruto's universe hated Naruto in the beginning but after meeting Hagormo in the first volume along with getting to know his host over the years, he isn't evil as his goal was to protect Naruto as requested by Hagoromo. Anyways hope you like this chapter and feel free to review