Sorry for taking so long. This is the last part and it's the longest part. I tried to make the plot realistic as possibe. Please read and review :)
In the morning Hermione was shaken awake by Parvati. "Arg," Hermione moaned. Hermione rubbed her eyes and saw that the sun had not even risen yet. Hermione had never known Parvati to get up before noon on any holiday except for Christmas, but this was taking it to the extremes. Parvati was already dressed. She wore mint green robes that had a flower pattern stitched into it. Lavender was by the dresser doing her hair. "We have to get you ready," said Parvati.
"Oh yeah," mumbled Hermione still groggy. She stumbled out of bed. "I'm going to take a shower. I'll be back in around 15 minutes."
After taking a shower Hermione returned to the girls' dormitory. She tried to change into the light pink robes she had bought over the summer. She didn't like them all that much, but the saleswoman said she looked absolutely striking when she tried them on. Hermione figured the robes would grow on her and he as in Harry would like them. The saleswoman had also shown her how to properly tie the straps of the robe into a knot at the side. After a few minutes she finally managed to tie the straps. It was a bit tight over her muggle clothing although the muggle clothing was thin. She reached for her a piece of her finest parchment and a quill. She had already planned out what she would write and wrote as neatly as possible.
Dear Harry,
Merry Christmas. I'm sorry I didn't leave your gift with you, but I wanted to give it to you in person. Ron's present is by his bedside. Tell him that I only got it for him so that Snape can't deduct fifty points from Gryffindor. I will wait for you at 8' o clock at the far end of the library till I see you. Please come alone. I need to speak with you privately.
Hermione
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when she finished and got up. Parvati took a look at the robes.
"Wow, that looks terrific!" exclaimed Parvati.
"Thanks," said Hermione. She tugged on the knot on her side hoping it would stop hurting her. Lavender nodded in agreement.
"I wish I had gotten to them first." Hermione felt a twinge of success. She had never thought that Lavender would ever envy her. A part of Hermione though wished that Lavender had gotten to the robes first too because she was not used to wearing such this type of uncomfortable clothing.
Parvati did Hermione's hair and made it into a twist adding a floral pin. Lavender took out her makeup kit, but instead of applying it by hand the makeup began to move. Hermione nudged her seat away from it instinctively. "It's a witch's makeup," said Lavender.
"Oh, right," replied Hermione. The bottle of foundation moved closer and poured some liquid into the air, which a dainty sponge caught and applied, to Hermione's face. Hermione never thought she go to these lengths for a boy. Harry was special though. After twenty minutes the makeup kit had finished its job. Parvati handed Hermione a mirror.
"What do you think?" she asked sounding pound. Hermione glanced into the mirror. She thought that she looked like another person like one of those models in the muggle world.
"I like it," she replied.
"Like it? I've practically performed a miracle," Parvati replied sarcastically. Hermione didn't bother to scold her. "What till Ron sees you," added Lavender.
"What?" Hermione blurted out.
"But I thought--" said Parvati. Hermione cut her off.
"I don't like Ron." Lavender made to speak, but Parvati kicked her.
"Whatever you say," Parvati said. Hermione fidgeted nervously with stray strands of her. She calmed herself and said, "I like, I like… Harry." Parvati raised her eyebrows.
"Harry Potter?"
"Yes," replied Hermione. She strapped on my new heeled white shoes. Lavender shrugged.
"I guess we should have known he would be the type you would go for."
"I wouldn't think you'd like him," said Parvati. Hermione didn't say anything. She thought Parvati was still sore about last year's Yule Ball.
Lugging Harry and Ron's gifts up to the boys' dormitory wasn't easy. The cauldron weighed about 50 pounds. She stumbled down the steps dragging the cauldron and Harry's gift in it to the Common Room. Getting the cauldron down wasn't the hard part, but getting it up to the boys' dormitory was. Then it came to her. She could use a lifting spell or a flying spell. "Subvola," she said. The cauldron lifted from the ground and Hermione directed it up. When she reached the top Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. The Weasley twins were snoring by the door. Everyone was still asleep. Hermione was glad because even though she went through a lot of trouble, she wouldn't want some people… to she her like this. She walked over to Harry's bed where Harry looked extremely calm and innocent sleeping. There was a lot of admire about Harry. She wondered what kinds of dreams he had. Ron on the other hand looked like he was dreaming he won the Quidditch World Cup. He smiled and snorted. He moved slightly. Hermione made to run, but then he just turned in his sleep. She placed the large brass cauldron next to his bed. She then nervously placed Harry's letter in his hand, which wasn't under his blanket and tiptoed out of the boys' dormitory the best she could with new shoes.
She returned to the girls' dormitory where nearly everyone was up. She glanced at Ginny's bunk. Hermione had hoped that she could slip Ginny's present to her while she was sleeping. After all Ginny would want to know why Hermione was dressed up and Ginny had that crush on Harry. Hermione took out Ginny's present from her trunk and went to Ginny's bunk. Ginny wasn't there. Hermione was glad and left Ginny's present on her bed. The sun was now beaming light through the windows. It was probably close to eight o' clock. "Oh no," said Hermione out loud. She grabbed Harry's present and walked briskly down the empty halls.
When Hermione arrived at the library, Harry was already there. He was standing at the far end of the library like she requested. A sick feeling formed in her chest and the knot around her waist. Hiding seemed like a good idea. The knot at the waist was bothering her again. Hermione thought ignoring the pain. She didn't feel like talking to him, but of course she had to. He was one of her best friends and if she couldn't talk to him, who could she talk to? Then again he wasn't just any boy. Calm down, she thought. Everything is planned out already. She took a breath and stepped forward.
"Harry," she said softly as she could manage. He looked up.
"Hello Hermione," he replied. She wanted for him to comment about the way she was dressed. "You look nice. Why are you so dressed up?" I wanted everything to be perfect, thought Hermione.
"It's Christmas. I thought that I would try to do something special," she replied.
"Oh, I almost forgot," said Harry. He pulled a small irregularly shaped object from his pocket, which was wrapped with festive paper. Hermione took it.
"Thank you," she said softly. "Here is yours." Harry took the neatly wrapped package.
"Oh yeah, I saw the cauldron you were giving Ron. It's great-- " Hermione cut him off.
"Let's not talk about Ron."
"Okay," he replied looking at her. He tore his package open. Harry's face almost lit up. "This is wonderful," he said. Hermione felt relieved.
"Well…" she said pausing.
"Open yours," said Harry smiling. He watched Hermione open her gift. She stopped.
"There's something I want to tell you," said Hermione. She made sure that she looked into his eyes.
"What?" he said.
"I…" Hermione stuttered.
"What?" asked Harry. Hermione stopped staring into his very green eyes.
"I'm going to finish unwrapping this present first." Hermione tore the wrapping paper. There was a glint of green. Then she said softly "I like you Harry Potter." Hermione was glad that she finally followed through. She looked at him for a reaction.
"What?" he said. "I didn't hear you." She tugged on her robe straps and raised her voice a little.
"I like you," she said.
"What did you say?" he looked like he really didn't hear a thing.
"I SAID I LIKE YOU!" blurted Hermione.
"What?" he said looking surprised. Hermione scanned his face frowning. After a few moments, he spoke. "I'm sorry. I never thought of that, uh, you that way." Hermione kept looking at him.
"Well then," she said. She felt stunned. Nothing made sense.
"Can we, um… er… just be friends?" He said looking worried and concerned.
"Yes," she said after a pause. She dropped the gift into her pocket. Hermione stopped staring at him. "I think I should leave now," she said.
"Maybe I'll see you at breakfast," Harry added trying to sound cheery.
"Yeah," she replied, turning away quickly. He walked over to her. Wrinkles formed on his forehead.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said. She put on a weak smile. She walked around a bookshelf where she couldn't see him anymore. Speeding out of the library, Hermione formed tears in her eyes. She stopped running after she reached the hall and realized she didn't know where to go. The sound of faraway steps echoed in the hall. Hermione tried to find somewhere to hide, but it was no use. All the classrooms were locked for the holidays. A small redheaded figure came down the hall. It was Ginny Weasley with an armful of presents. Ginny didn't look like she could see over them so Hermione did the first thing that came to her mind. She ran.
Hermione thought of the most private place she could think of. Moaning Myrtle never seemed to be around anymore and no one ever went there. "Hermione!" shouted Ginny. Oh no, thought Hermione. Hermione ran faster. She couldn't let anyone especially Ginny Weasley see her like this. Hermione heard the sound of Ginny's presents fall. When Hermione reached the second floor girls' bathroom she opened the door and listen for Myrtle. The room was silent. Hermione sat and leaned on the one the stall doors. The straps of her robes were killing her. She mangled with the knot violently until it gave. Then she took off the pin in her hair and threw off her shoes. She muttered to herself. "I am such a failure." Dark splotches of mascara formed under her eyes from her tears. Dripping tears caused dark splotches of mascara to circle her eyes. She went over what Harry said. She did the best she could. Everything was perfect.
Just when she thought things couldn't get in worse there was a knock on the door. "Er, is there anybody in there?" It was Ron. A thought occurred to Hermione. What if Harry had told everyone about it? "Hermione are you in there?" He must have. Hermione buried her face in her arms. She hoped that he would go away if there was no answer. "Okay if there is anyone in there please speak up because I'm coming in."
"No, don't come in!" cried Hermione.
"Hermione?"
"Go away!" she shouted. She dried her eyes with her sleeve. The door was being pushed open. Hermione tried to get up and jump into a bathroom stall, but slipped on the wet floor. She managed to get her balance before she fell.
"I've been looking all over for you." Ron walked closer. Hermione tried to find a way to save herself from embarrassment. "Ginny said that she saw you crying."
"Crying," repeated Hermione not knowing what to say.
"Who is he?" said Ron.
"Who is who?" replied Hermione. He didn't know. Hermione was relieved. Harry didn't tell him. "No one, just this boy."
Ron didn't say anything. He sat down besides Hermione pulling up his knees.
"Ron," said Hermione.
"Yes?"
"Do you think I'm a failure?
"Failure!" shouted Ron. "You shouldn't go through all this trouble to become someone else when you are fine the way you are. Who's the smartest fifth year in the school, the leader of SPAW, and"
"SPEW," corrected Hermione. She wiped her tears from her eyes. Black splotches smeared the sleeve of her robe.
"Whatever, and one of the nicest girls I know."
"You really think that?"
"Yes, but there are things I hate," said Ron.
"What! You're insulting me now?" Hermione scowled.
"You are way too easy to beat in chess," Ron smiled and lightly punched Hermione in the arm. Hermione felt a bit better that there was someone to talk to.
"Did you see your gift?"
"Gift? Yes, and honestly how could you keep on bugging me about it when you got me the cauldron already? To watch me suffer?" Hermione couldn't help but smile. If Ron were to break the rules, he needed to suffer a bit.
Hermione heard a voice coming from outside the door. "Hermione?" The door swing open and Ginny walked in still carrying a load of presents. "Oh, there you are." She looked at Hermione. "Are you okay?" Hermione looked at herself. She must have looked terrible.
"Yes, I'm fine." She pulled away from Ron and got up. She looked into the mirror. Her hair was all over the place and bushy again. Dark circles circled her eyes and her robes were a mess. She turned on the faucet at the sink.
"Let's get you cleaned up," said Ginny. She looked at Ron. Ron stared back.
"What?"
"I'll help her. You shouldn't be in here."
"Oh," said Ron. Ron reluctantly got off the floor and slowly moved to the door. "Wait, the present."
"Right," said Ginny. She dropped her armload of packages by the door and pulled out a small plain box out of her pocket.
"Thanks," said Hermione wiping her hands on my robes to dry them. She took the box.
"It's from both of us," said Ginny. Hermione opened the box seeing a stone sitting in it. It was an orange and blue Contegian Stone.
"Do you like it," asked Ginny. A tear rolled down Hermione's face.
"What's the matter?" said Ginny.
"Nothing, I really like it," replied Hermione. She didn't think that they remembered her talking about it. The stone could be worn as a necklace, so Hermione slipped it over her neck and under the t-shirt she wore under her robes.
"I know you wanted the green one like the one in your book, but we thought you like this one more."
"I caught Ron looking at it, but he didn't have enough money so we chipped in." Ron's ears turned red. Hermione thought the Ron was getting embarrassed about not having money again.
"I —," trailed Ron. His ears turned redder. "Well, I should be going now. You two better meet Harry and me for lunch. Hermione frowned.
After Ron left Ginny helped Hermione washed the rest of the makeup off her face and clean off her robes. She ran to the girls' dormitory and returned with Hermione's regular robes. "Thanks Ginny, I really appreciate you helping me like this."
"No problem," said Ginny. Hermione glanced at the bunch of presents Ginny had dropped at the side of the bathroom door.
"You should go give out the rest of those presents now," said Hermione. Ginny started to say something. "I'll be fine," said Hermione. She smiled.
"Ok," said Ginny. "You'll be all right?"
"Yes, I'll be fine. Merry Christmas."
"You too. I'll be back in a flash and we can go to lunch." Ginny left and Hermione sniffled and splash her face with water a few times. She tried to straighten her hair with her fingers. Hermione worried about seeing Harry again. She hoped she could be friends with him again even after what happened. She knew it wasn't Harry's fault that he didn't like her. Her plans for her future weren't all ruined, but she didn't know whether they could be friends again. Hermione felt her pocket as she took off her robes. She slipped in her old robes and then took out Harry's gift out of the new ones.
"Hermione!" called a voice from the door. It was Ginny.
"Go down first. I'll meet you there."
"All right," Ginny called back. Hermione didn't know if she wanted to go. Maybe she could just stay in the bathroom a bit longer. She sat back down and sighed. Ron, Harry, and Ginny would be waiting for her downstairs. Hermione decided to finish unwrapping Harry's present. It was a small green glinting plate with an inscription. "Only Two in the World. To My Two Best Friends Ron and Hermione. Let Us Stay Best Friends Forever." Hermione smiled. She got up and headed for the Great Hall for lunch. She knew they would all stay friends no matter what.
Thanks for reading. Please review with comments and criticisms.