Disclaimer: OK, as you all should know by now, I am not J.K. Rowling, so
these characters don't belong to me. By the way, the rating on this story
might, MIGHT go up to R due to violence. But then again, First Knight was
PG-13, so maybe not.
Chapter 9: The Gift of Giving
Harry sat bolt upright, staring at the young man in front of him. The pale eyes, the silvery blonde hair, his gaunt appearance. Yes, he certainly looked like a Malfoy. And yet, there seemed to be something different about him, maybe because he was smiling. Harry had never seen Draco or his father do anything except sneer, and the effect of a smile on a Malfoy's face was amazing. They looked.normal. Almost friendly, even. Harry stuck out his hand.
"Thank you, Sir."
"Benedicto, Squire Harry. It is a pleasure."
Harry now noticed that when he spoke, it was with a slight French lilt in his voice. He sounded as if English was not his first language. Harry shook his hand and bowed to him. Benedicto did the same, and turned and walked away.
"A most faithful knight," Arthur said. "He has been here for the past ten years, working to bring the rest of his family over from France. Although they are a prominent wizarding family, I'm afraid they are not very wealthy." Harry did a silent double take. Imagining the Malfoys without gold was like imagining Christmas without presents. Presents. Harry suddenly remembered. He had forgotten to get Hermione a present!
"Your Majesty, may I have a private word?" asked Harry. Arthur looked him in the eyes, nodded, and quietly asked Hermione to leave the room. "Ms. Granger, I would like a word with you as well. Please wait in the Hall. I will be with you shortly." Hermione nodded politely, gave Harry's hand one last squeeze, and left the room.
"Now, young Harry, how may I help you?" Harry paused, uncertain of how to begin. "Urm.Arthur, say there was a person in your life who you feel.very strongly for."
"You mean to love someone?"
"Yes," said Harry, "To love someone. Say that you didn't know how to tell her, and not only that, because of one thing and another, you didn't buy this someone a Christmas gift."
Arthur fixed Harry with a piercing gaze. "You mean Hermione, Harry?" Harry blushed scarlet, and looked at the floor.
"I've never felt this way about anyone before, Your Majesty. I was looking through Hogsmeade, trying to find something, but everything seemed too normal. They were all presents that you would buy for friends. There was nothing that would work for a person who was.something more than a friend."
Arthur looked passively at Harry. "Squire, you may have picked the wrong King to ask of such matters. I have had.rather bad luck with the opposite gender. The last girl I loved broke my heart, and caused me to lose my two best friends. As I looked back on those days, I began to search my own soul. Was it something I had done that had driven her into the arms of Lancelot? Could I have changed it? After a while, I began to see that fate has a way of overruling logical arrangements. That the heart has more control than the mind in its own affairs. And I thought that if love really did exist between these two people, who was I to stop them. But, sadly, they had broken the law. Nothing, not even love, could break the laws of Camelot. They were may greatest friends, but my pride, my vanity, forced me to tear us apart. Now, do you really want me to advise you on matters of the heart?"
"Arthur, all I wanted to know, is if you had a suitable gift for a girl like this?"
Arthur paused, and then smiled.
"I believe I do, young Harry, I believe I do."
Out in the hallway, the door opened in front of Hermione to reveal Harry and Arthur, standing in what appeared to be triumph. "I'll see you in our room, Hermione. Good night." And with that, Harry was gone, leaving only Hermione and The King.
"Please enter Hermione." She willingly did so. Arthur looked down into her eyes, and a look of pain crossed over him. "Ms. Granger, please permit me to apologize for my actions earlier. I was unkind for baseless reasons, merely because you looked like.her."
"Did Guenivere really mean that much to you?"
"Oh yes, and so much more. Hermione, I believe that the world lives in a state of balance, of order. And that in that order, two people were made specifically for one another. In my case, it was Guenivere. She, of course ended up disagreeing. But when I see you and Harry together, I see what might be a match. Look deep within yourself, Hermione. Do you see it too?"
Hermione was blinking tears out of her eyes. "Your Majesty, I don't know what I feel about Harry. I don't know how to deal with what I'm feeling. Why does the answer stay so hard to conceive when what I want is so apparent?"
"Young lady," Arthur said, smiling, "Please tell me when you have figured that puzzle out, for it will save countless lovers years of.I believe you call it 'beating around the bush'. Until that time, you will just have to try your best to express how you feel, and as a way of apologized for my behavior, I would like to help you in your journey. Have you purchased a present for Harry yet?"
"No, Your Majesty, I couldn't find anything perfect enough."
"Well put. Well, Miss Granger, I believe that I have something here just perfect enough for a boy like Harry."
It began again. The field, covered with thousands of Voldemorts. Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore disappearing from his side. Flashes of green light filled the air. A voice rang out "The Time of Sanctuary is over!!!" The sword came crashing down.
Harry awoke screaming, with his scar searing in pain, his eyes filled with the tears he could not hold back any longer. He cried for himself, for his friends, and for the fact that there was no one there to comfort him. The sadness and utter hopelessness began to engulf him again. He sat in the bed, crying his terror out into the unfeeling night air.
"Harry? Harry! What is it Harry!" Hermione's voice. It was close by his ear, shaking him out of his painful lull. He looked into her eyes, full of worry and compassion. He could no longer bear that sight. He jumped out of bed and sat by the window, looking out into the cold night sky, not wanting to see the fear in Hermione's eyes not wanting to know that he had put that fear there. Maybe it would have been better if they had never met.
"HARRY!" Hermione had run over to his window. "What's the matter, Harry? Why were you screaming?"
"Nothing's wrong, just leave me alone Hermione!"
"Harry, I don't think that it's a good idea."
"Think?! Why should we think nothing makes sense? Why am I here? Why are you here? Why does all of this keep happening to me?"
"All of what, Harry?!" Hermione was close to hysterics now, tears welling up in her beautiful hazel eyes.
"JUST LEAVE ME BE, HERMIONE!!"
"NO!! You cannot simply pull yourself away, Harry! You think you've been brave so far? Well real bravery comes in asking for help. Why are you so afraid of letting me in, Harry Potter?"
"I.you.and I." Harry looked up into Hermione's pleading eyes. The look he found there broke whatever resistance he had. He broke down, sobbing, his head on her stomach, just wanting all the rest of the world to go away. Hermione stood silently, holding his head. She stood him up, and sat him on the windowsill. "Let me get a blanket, you must be freezing."
"No. Please don't leave Hermione." Harry reached out and grabbed her arm. Hermione hesitated, nodded, and sat back down.
"It's just. I've been having these nightmares." Harry recounted his dreams of the past two nights. As he spoke, his grip on Hermione's arm never weakened, as if he were afraid she would disappear if he let her go.
"Harry.I'm so sorry." Hermione wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight to her. Harry returned the embrace weakly, draping his arms over Hermione's shoulders.
"Harry, I never got a chance to thank you for taking that curse for me in Hogsmeade today. So, thank you."
Harry looked up, a small grin on his face. "No problem. Anytime."
"No, Harry. Really, thank you. You know, I bet you've heard this a hundred time from a hundred different people, but you are very brave. I think you're the bravest person I've ever met."
Harry looked at her again. "You never met my parents."
This time, Harry knew Hermione meant to drape her arm over him. It took a while for him to get back to sleep, as he feared what he might find when he did so. And he also began to think about her present for the next day.
Hermione awoke to see snow falling outside her window, and a cold space in the bed next to her. Harry was gone. It was still very early, so Hermione looked around, trying to see if he had gone back to the window. She looked, and saw not Harry, but a small parcel wrapped in paper. Underneath the paper was a note, written in Harry's untidy cursive. "TO HERMIONE" it said "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS!" Well, Hermione thought, it's Christmas now. She opened the paper, and gasped. Inside was a ring, a gold ring with diamonds surrounding a pendant in the middle. The pendant was shaped like a small angel, with its wings spread and a small grin on its face. Hermione noticed that there was writing on the wrapping paper. "Put it on, then say my name."
Hermione looked at the ring quizzically. "HARRY POTTER!" she yelled, not exactly sure how loudly she would have to say his name for something to happen. In response, the angel's eyes began to glow an emerald green, just like Harry's. And with a small pop, it burst from the ring, and began circling Hermione's head. Hermione watched, astounded, and yet beaming at this wondrous devise. Suddenly, without warning, the angel took off down the hall, heading for the stairs. Hermione quickly pulled on a robe and her shoes and took off after the speeding cherub. It flew down all the flights of stairs until it reached the Main Hall, where it made a sudden left and sped into the Great Hall. It stopped in front of the throne, spun around once, gave a small but distinguishable wink to Hermione, and flew back into the ring. Hermione was awestruck.
"Surprise!" Harry yelled, appearing from behind the throne. "Happy Christmas!!"
Hermione, jumped back, startled, and then began giggling.
Harry grinned mischievously. "So, do you like it? Arthur said you might. It once belonged to Guenevere, and was passed down from generation to generation in her bloodline. That angel will find whoever you want, just say their name." Hermione stood beaming at Harry. "Oh Harry, its wonderful! Thank you so much!! Oooooo!!" She suddenly slapped the top of her head. "Stay right there, I'll be right back!!"
Harry stood rooted to the spot as Hermione raced out of the room. In a few minutes, she returned, clutching a stitch in her side and with her other hand, a small wrapped package.
"Happy.Christmas, Harry," Hermione gasped holding out the package. Harry took it, unwrapping it with trembling fingers. A stone fell out. The stone was emerald green and enclosed in gold. This, in turn was attached to a long, thin golden chain, like a necklace. Harry stared at it.
"Hermione.it's.its beautiful."
"I thought it matched your eyes," Hermione said, her eyes twinkling. "This stone is called the Eye of Truth, supposedly, the wearer can see things as they should be. I had Merlin give it its old power back, I suppose that's what you did, too?" Harry nodded, and slipped the chain around his neck. Strangely, everything looked the same. or did it? Harry saw doors in the hallways that weren't there a second ago. Harry realized, he could see the secret passages! "Wow, Hermione, this is amazing."
"Happy Christmas, Harry."
"Happy Christmas, Hermione."
And as Harry looked up, something on the ceiling caught his eye. Directly above the throne was a large patch of.
"Mistletoe?" Harry asked. He looked suddenly at Hermione, who grinned sheepishly. They felt their heads coming closer, and each kissed the other's cheek, lightly, and pulled back quickly, looking into each other's eyes. They stood this way for a full minute, before walking off, back up to their rooms.
In the corner, there was suddenly a rustle of a cloak, and Merlin stood out from behind a pillar. They were finally understanding, he thought. They must realize that to each other, they are the real gift. They are the gift. Merlin smiled wisely. "I knew I put that mistletoe up for a reason," he muttered to himself, before walking away, up the stairs, to his room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, I promised you a H/Hr story, and it's starting to come into focus, isn't it? Merry Christmas to all of you, in case I don't get my next chapter out before that. Thank you to all who reviewed, and I beg you to keep reviewing. It makes me want to keep writing faster!! Thank you all again.
Hudson_lv426
Chapter 9: The Gift of Giving
Harry sat bolt upright, staring at the young man in front of him. The pale eyes, the silvery blonde hair, his gaunt appearance. Yes, he certainly looked like a Malfoy. And yet, there seemed to be something different about him, maybe because he was smiling. Harry had never seen Draco or his father do anything except sneer, and the effect of a smile on a Malfoy's face was amazing. They looked.normal. Almost friendly, even. Harry stuck out his hand.
"Thank you, Sir."
"Benedicto, Squire Harry. It is a pleasure."
Harry now noticed that when he spoke, it was with a slight French lilt in his voice. He sounded as if English was not his first language. Harry shook his hand and bowed to him. Benedicto did the same, and turned and walked away.
"A most faithful knight," Arthur said. "He has been here for the past ten years, working to bring the rest of his family over from France. Although they are a prominent wizarding family, I'm afraid they are not very wealthy." Harry did a silent double take. Imagining the Malfoys without gold was like imagining Christmas without presents. Presents. Harry suddenly remembered. He had forgotten to get Hermione a present!
"Your Majesty, may I have a private word?" asked Harry. Arthur looked him in the eyes, nodded, and quietly asked Hermione to leave the room. "Ms. Granger, I would like a word with you as well. Please wait in the Hall. I will be with you shortly." Hermione nodded politely, gave Harry's hand one last squeeze, and left the room.
"Now, young Harry, how may I help you?" Harry paused, uncertain of how to begin. "Urm.Arthur, say there was a person in your life who you feel.very strongly for."
"You mean to love someone?"
"Yes," said Harry, "To love someone. Say that you didn't know how to tell her, and not only that, because of one thing and another, you didn't buy this someone a Christmas gift."
Arthur fixed Harry with a piercing gaze. "You mean Hermione, Harry?" Harry blushed scarlet, and looked at the floor.
"I've never felt this way about anyone before, Your Majesty. I was looking through Hogsmeade, trying to find something, but everything seemed too normal. They were all presents that you would buy for friends. There was nothing that would work for a person who was.something more than a friend."
Arthur looked passively at Harry. "Squire, you may have picked the wrong King to ask of such matters. I have had.rather bad luck with the opposite gender. The last girl I loved broke my heart, and caused me to lose my two best friends. As I looked back on those days, I began to search my own soul. Was it something I had done that had driven her into the arms of Lancelot? Could I have changed it? After a while, I began to see that fate has a way of overruling logical arrangements. That the heart has more control than the mind in its own affairs. And I thought that if love really did exist between these two people, who was I to stop them. But, sadly, they had broken the law. Nothing, not even love, could break the laws of Camelot. They were may greatest friends, but my pride, my vanity, forced me to tear us apart. Now, do you really want me to advise you on matters of the heart?"
"Arthur, all I wanted to know, is if you had a suitable gift for a girl like this?"
Arthur paused, and then smiled.
"I believe I do, young Harry, I believe I do."
Out in the hallway, the door opened in front of Hermione to reveal Harry and Arthur, standing in what appeared to be triumph. "I'll see you in our room, Hermione. Good night." And with that, Harry was gone, leaving only Hermione and The King.
"Please enter Hermione." She willingly did so. Arthur looked down into her eyes, and a look of pain crossed over him. "Ms. Granger, please permit me to apologize for my actions earlier. I was unkind for baseless reasons, merely because you looked like.her."
"Did Guenivere really mean that much to you?"
"Oh yes, and so much more. Hermione, I believe that the world lives in a state of balance, of order. And that in that order, two people were made specifically for one another. In my case, it was Guenivere. She, of course ended up disagreeing. But when I see you and Harry together, I see what might be a match. Look deep within yourself, Hermione. Do you see it too?"
Hermione was blinking tears out of her eyes. "Your Majesty, I don't know what I feel about Harry. I don't know how to deal with what I'm feeling. Why does the answer stay so hard to conceive when what I want is so apparent?"
"Young lady," Arthur said, smiling, "Please tell me when you have figured that puzzle out, for it will save countless lovers years of.I believe you call it 'beating around the bush'. Until that time, you will just have to try your best to express how you feel, and as a way of apologized for my behavior, I would like to help you in your journey. Have you purchased a present for Harry yet?"
"No, Your Majesty, I couldn't find anything perfect enough."
"Well put. Well, Miss Granger, I believe that I have something here just perfect enough for a boy like Harry."
It began again. The field, covered with thousands of Voldemorts. Ron, Hermione and Dumbledore disappearing from his side. Flashes of green light filled the air. A voice rang out "The Time of Sanctuary is over!!!" The sword came crashing down.
Harry awoke screaming, with his scar searing in pain, his eyes filled with the tears he could not hold back any longer. He cried for himself, for his friends, and for the fact that there was no one there to comfort him. The sadness and utter hopelessness began to engulf him again. He sat in the bed, crying his terror out into the unfeeling night air.
"Harry? Harry! What is it Harry!" Hermione's voice. It was close by his ear, shaking him out of his painful lull. He looked into her eyes, full of worry and compassion. He could no longer bear that sight. He jumped out of bed and sat by the window, looking out into the cold night sky, not wanting to see the fear in Hermione's eyes not wanting to know that he had put that fear there. Maybe it would have been better if they had never met.
"HARRY!" Hermione had run over to his window. "What's the matter, Harry? Why were you screaming?"
"Nothing's wrong, just leave me alone Hermione!"
"Harry, I don't think that it's a good idea."
"Think?! Why should we think nothing makes sense? Why am I here? Why are you here? Why does all of this keep happening to me?"
"All of what, Harry?!" Hermione was close to hysterics now, tears welling up in her beautiful hazel eyes.
"JUST LEAVE ME BE, HERMIONE!!"
"NO!! You cannot simply pull yourself away, Harry! You think you've been brave so far? Well real bravery comes in asking for help. Why are you so afraid of letting me in, Harry Potter?"
"I.you.and I." Harry looked up into Hermione's pleading eyes. The look he found there broke whatever resistance he had. He broke down, sobbing, his head on her stomach, just wanting all the rest of the world to go away. Hermione stood silently, holding his head. She stood him up, and sat him on the windowsill. "Let me get a blanket, you must be freezing."
"No. Please don't leave Hermione." Harry reached out and grabbed her arm. Hermione hesitated, nodded, and sat back down.
"It's just. I've been having these nightmares." Harry recounted his dreams of the past two nights. As he spoke, his grip on Hermione's arm never weakened, as if he were afraid she would disappear if he let her go.
"Harry.I'm so sorry." Hermione wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight to her. Harry returned the embrace weakly, draping his arms over Hermione's shoulders.
"Harry, I never got a chance to thank you for taking that curse for me in Hogsmeade today. So, thank you."
Harry looked up, a small grin on his face. "No problem. Anytime."
"No, Harry. Really, thank you. You know, I bet you've heard this a hundred time from a hundred different people, but you are very brave. I think you're the bravest person I've ever met."
Harry looked at her again. "You never met my parents."
This time, Harry knew Hermione meant to drape her arm over him. It took a while for him to get back to sleep, as he feared what he might find when he did so. And he also began to think about her present for the next day.
Hermione awoke to see snow falling outside her window, and a cold space in the bed next to her. Harry was gone. It was still very early, so Hermione looked around, trying to see if he had gone back to the window. She looked, and saw not Harry, but a small parcel wrapped in paper. Underneath the paper was a note, written in Harry's untidy cursive. "TO HERMIONE" it said "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS!" Well, Hermione thought, it's Christmas now. She opened the paper, and gasped. Inside was a ring, a gold ring with diamonds surrounding a pendant in the middle. The pendant was shaped like a small angel, with its wings spread and a small grin on its face. Hermione noticed that there was writing on the wrapping paper. "Put it on, then say my name."
Hermione looked at the ring quizzically. "HARRY POTTER!" she yelled, not exactly sure how loudly she would have to say his name for something to happen. In response, the angel's eyes began to glow an emerald green, just like Harry's. And with a small pop, it burst from the ring, and began circling Hermione's head. Hermione watched, astounded, and yet beaming at this wondrous devise. Suddenly, without warning, the angel took off down the hall, heading for the stairs. Hermione quickly pulled on a robe and her shoes and took off after the speeding cherub. It flew down all the flights of stairs until it reached the Main Hall, where it made a sudden left and sped into the Great Hall. It stopped in front of the throne, spun around once, gave a small but distinguishable wink to Hermione, and flew back into the ring. Hermione was awestruck.
"Surprise!" Harry yelled, appearing from behind the throne. "Happy Christmas!!"
Hermione, jumped back, startled, and then began giggling.
Harry grinned mischievously. "So, do you like it? Arthur said you might. It once belonged to Guenevere, and was passed down from generation to generation in her bloodline. That angel will find whoever you want, just say their name." Hermione stood beaming at Harry. "Oh Harry, its wonderful! Thank you so much!! Oooooo!!" She suddenly slapped the top of her head. "Stay right there, I'll be right back!!"
Harry stood rooted to the spot as Hermione raced out of the room. In a few minutes, she returned, clutching a stitch in her side and with her other hand, a small wrapped package.
"Happy.Christmas, Harry," Hermione gasped holding out the package. Harry took it, unwrapping it with trembling fingers. A stone fell out. The stone was emerald green and enclosed in gold. This, in turn was attached to a long, thin golden chain, like a necklace. Harry stared at it.
"Hermione.it's.its beautiful."
"I thought it matched your eyes," Hermione said, her eyes twinkling. "This stone is called the Eye of Truth, supposedly, the wearer can see things as they should be. I had Merlin give it its old power back, I suppose that's what you did, too?" Harry nodded, and slipped the chain around his neck. Strangely, everything looked the same. or did it? Harry saw doors in the hallways that weren't there a second ago. Harry realized, he could see the secret passages! "Wow, Hermione, this is amazing."
"Happy Christmas, Harry."
"Happy Christmas, Hermione."
And as Harry looked up, something on the ceiling caught his eye. Directly above the throne was a large patch of.
"Mistletoe?" Harry asked. He looked suddenly at Hermione, who grinned sheepishly. They felt their heads coming closer, and each kissed the other's cheek, lightly, and pulled back quickly, looking into each other's eyes. They stood this way for a full minute, before walking off, back up to their rooms.
In the corner, there was suddenly a rustle of a cloak, and Merlin stood out from behind a pillar. They were finally understanding, he thought. They must realize that to each other, they are the real gift. They are the gift. Merlin smiled wisely. "I knew I put that mistletoe up for a reason," he muttered to himself, before walking away, up the stairs, to his room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, I promised you a H/Hr story, and it's starting to come into focus, isn't it? Merry Christmas to all of you, in case I don't get my next chapter out before that. Thank you to all who reviewed, and I beg you to keep reviewing. It makes me want to keep writing faster!! Thank you all again.
Hudson_lv426