Chapter 7: A Hunt and A Party
"Okay, so, where do you want to start?" Hermione asked, looking around and twirling a lock of her hair. "I...don't know, 'Mione," Harry answered helplessly, also looking around, though not twirling a lock of hair. "Well, let's start over here in the bookshop," Hermione suggested, heading over. "Maybe we can find something in there." "Okay," Harry replied in a small voice. "Wait!" the pretty brunette prefect commanded before him, halting in her tracks. Harry didn't stop soon enough and walked straight into her, nearly knocking her over. "Sorry," Harry said, grinning apologetically. "What 'wait'? Why wait?" "I have it! Harry, I have the perfect gift for you to give to Draco!" she told him excitedly. "Really? What is it? No, never mind that. Where is it? I want to see it," Harry asked, feeding off of his friend's excitement. "Follow me!" Hermione started racing down the street at break-neck speed. Harry, becoming more and more startled by her actions, hesitated unconsciously before running after her. Five minutes later found them panting in front of the window of a jewelry store. "Hermione, you're not suggesting I...propose to him, do you?" Harry asked uncertainly, finally catching his breath. "Of course not," Hermione replied briskly. "Because we're not ready for that yet," Harry went on, apparently not hearing his friend. "That's gonna happen sometime near the end of next year, hopefully. Oops," the raven-haired Gryffindor added meekly when he realized what he'd just said. "Harry, are you actually thinking about proposing to Draco at the end of our seventh year?" Hermione asked, turning to look at him. "Um, would you hurt me very badly if I said yes?" Harry replied. "Oh, of course not!" Hermione cried again, laughing. "Oh, I hope you do!" she added as she threw her arms around a startled Harry. "Now, let's go find him a birthday gift." She strode over to the door and, after pushing open the door, walked in. Harry stood staring at the window. "I hope she knows what she's doing," he murmured before shrugging going in. He found Hermione staring thoughtfully at a case on the side of the desk. "Um, 'Mione? What are you looking at?" Harry asked tentatively. "That," Hermione answered him matter-of-factly, pointing at an object in the case. Harry glanced in the case and did a double take, his mouth dropping open in surprise. It was a small dragon with its wings open and teeth bared. Its body was a smoky sort of diamond. The wings were made of all kinds of powdered jewels, pounded into a glitter dust. The teeth were tiny daggers of yellow topaz and the eyes were light grey pearls with microscopic emeralds in the center. "Oh, Hermione, it's perfect," he breathed, kneeling down to get a closer look at it. He saw Hermione kneel down next to him in the mirror. "Isn't it?" she murmured. Suddenly, Harry turned and threw his arms around her, knocking them both to the ground. "Thank you," Harry whispered after they'd stood up. "Anytime," Hermione whispered back. "Now, you had better buy this dragon before someone else does." "You're right," Harry replied. "Of course I am," Hermione responded, her eyes twinkling. "Shut up, Hermione. Excuse me!" Harry insulted and called all in one breath. "Hi, can I help you?" asked a young woman wearing a badge saying, "Hi, my name is Amy. How may I help you today?" "Yes, can we please see the crystal dragon right there?" Hermione requested. "Of course," Amy replied. She reached under the desk and unlocked the case, carefully pulling out the dragon. She handed it to Harry, who held it up in the light to examine it. "Miss, you're very lucky to be receiving this dragon," Amy remarked to Hermione as the brunette looked at the dragon over her friend's shoulder. "It's a very sought after piece." "Oh, no, it's not for me," Hermione corrected her, laughing at the absurdity of the thought, to the confusion of the young salesclerk. "It's for my boyfriend," Harry supplied, looking up for a moment. "Oh! Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry," Amy apologized, turning a bright red. "I had no idea, I just assumed-stupidly, now that I'm reflecting on it..." "It's all right," Hermione assured the agitated girl. "I'll take it," Harry suddenly stated firmly. Amy nodded and rang up his purchase. "The total comes to...18 Galleons, 6 Sickles, and 12 Knuts," Amy told them. Harry placed the coins on the counter and carefully took the wrapped up package Amy handed him. Harry and Hermione thanked her and walked outside. "Harry, do you want me to take that so Draco doesn't see it?" Hermione offered. "Could you?" Harry asked hopefully. Hermione grinned and put the package in her shoulder bag. "Let's go find our boyfriends!" Hermione suggested. "Let's. I miss Draco," Harry sighed. "What on earth are you going to do when the summer holidays roll around?" Hermione asked incredulously as they started walking up the street, not knowing anyone was watching and listening to them. "Drac asked me that exact question a week before Valentine's Day," Harry told her. Suddenly, they heard two voices call their names. "Harry!" "Hermione!" Harry grinned and melted into Draco's arms and lips as soon as he reached him. Hermione was surprised with a kiss and a rose as a reminder of their eighteen-month anniversary coming up next week. They started the short trek up the street to The Three Broomsticks. Rita Skeeter slid out from behind a tall tree, her eyes glued to the four Gryffindor sixth-years heading away from her, laughing and having a fabulous time. Her eyes glittered and widened as she strained to listen to their fading conversation. "This should make an interesting article," she murmured to herself. Rita pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and, whispering to her Quick Quotes Quill zooming over a pad of parchment in her enormous handbag, followed the teens into the bar.
"Happy Birthday, Draco!" Draco's mouth dropped open in shock. If he had been expecting anything on his seventeenth birthday, this was last on the list. He looked around and saw all his closest friends. He turned to Harry at his side. "Did you know about this?" Draco asked, a bit of a stupid question when he looked back on it in later years. "Of course I knew!" Harry cried, laughing. "I planned the whole thing!" Draco stared at his boyfriend in amazement and awe for a moment before wrapping his arms around his neck. "Thank you," Draco whispered, a solitary tear unnoticed by both of them slipping down his cheek. "Happy birthday, Drac," Harry replied, sweetly kissing him. "Presents!" Hermione called, appearing at and bearing a small pile of gifts down the stairs. Draco burst out laughing at the sight of Hermione carrying a bunch of gifts blocking her view, and yet she didn't trip or drop anything once. "Here, this one's from Harry, and this one's from me and Ron, and Seamus and Dean want to present the rest of them," she said, handing him the presents. Draco looked at Harry curiously as he opened the little wrapped box. His eyes widened as he pulled the dragon out. "Oh, Harry, I-I don't...I don't know what to say," Draco breathed. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" Hermione shouted, again hurrying towards them. She gently pulled the dragon out of a thoroughly startled Draco's hand and turned away, shielding what she was doing from everyone. Finally, she turned around and, grinning widely, presented the dragon back to Draco. Everyone burst out laughing hysterically when the saw what she had done. Hermione had knitted a tiny, little Gryffindor scarf and tied it around the dragon's neck. She had also made a little Gryffindor red and gold pendant and fitted it through a tiny crevice between to fingers in one hand. In the other was a rectangular sign that said, "Go, Gryffindors! Slytherins Suck!" The pretty brunette sixteen-year-old looked immensely proud of her artistic prowess. "Thanks, Hermione," Draco told her dryly, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "Anytime," she replied, grinning whole-heartedly. "We're gonna have to make a larger, non-breakable version of this and bring it to the next Gryffindor versus Slytherin game," Ginny called from their left. "Oh, yeah, Gin, that'd go over real well with the teachers," someone shouted. "Even better with the Slytherins!" Everyone started laughing again. Draco felt like he'd known these people for years since their first year here. He felt a pair of arms snake around his waist. "Happy?" Harry murmured, dropping feather-light kisses along Draco's jaw line. "Mmm, very," Draco replied, guiding Harry's mouth to his. After a moment, they were both led to a couch and, with Draco sitting on Harry's lap, began opening presents. Draco couldn't remember being so happy in his life, other than when he was with Harry.
A/N: Hope you like it!!!!! This chapter's dedicated to all my readers and reviewers. I love you all!!! You totally made my day when I saw how much you like my story!!! Love you!!
"Okay, so, where do you want to start?" Hermione asked, looking around and twirling a lock of her hair. "I...don't know, 'Mione," Harry answered helplessly, also looking around, though not twirling a lock of hair. "Well, let's start over here in the bookshop," Hermione suggested, heading over. "Maybe we can find something in there." "Okay," Harry replied in a small voice. "Wait!" the pretty brunette prefect commanded before him, halting in her tracks. Harry didn't stop soon enough and walked straight into her, nearly knocking her over. "Sorry," Harry said, grinning apologetically. "What 'wait'? Why wait?" "I have it! Harry, I have the perfect gift for you to give to Draco!" she told him excitedly. "Really? What is it? No, never mind that. Where is it? I want to see it," Harry asked, feeding off of his friend's excitement. "Follow me!" Hermione started racing down the street at break-neck speed. Harry, becoming more and more startled by her actions, hesitated unconsciously before running after her. Five minutes later found them panting in front of the window of a jewelry store. "Hermione, you're not suggesting I...propose to him, do you?" Harry asked uncertainly, finally catching his breath. "Of course not," Hermione replied briskly. "Because we're not ready for that yet," Harry went on, apparently not hearing his friend. "That's gonna happen sometime near the end of next year, hopefully. Oops," the raven-haired Gryffindor added meekly when he realized what he'd just said. "Harry, are you actually thinking about proposing to Draco at the end of our seventh year?" Hermione asked, turning to look at him. "Um, would you hurt me very badly if I said yes?" Harry replied. "Oh, of course not!" Hermione cried again, laughing. "Oh, I hope you do!" she added as she threw her arms around a startled Harry. "Now, let's go find him a birthday gift." She strode over to the door and, after pushing open the door, walked in. Harry stood staring at the window. "I hope she knows what she's doing," he murmured before shrugging going in. He found Hermione staring thoughtfully at a case on the side of the desk. "Um, 'Mione? What are you looking at?" Harry asked tentatively. "That," Hermione answered him matter-of-factly, pointing at an object in the case. Harry glanced in the case and did a double take, his mouth dropping open in surprise. It was a small dragon with its wings open and teeth bared. Its body was a smoky sort of diamond. The wings were made of all kinds of powdered jewels, pounded into a glitter dust. The teeth were tiny daggers of yellow topaz and the eyes were light grey pearls with microscopic emeralds in the center. "Oh, Hermione, it's perfect," he breathed, kneeling down to get a closer look at it. He saw Hermione kneel down next to him in the mirror. "Isn't it?" she murmured. Suddenly, Harry turned and threw his arms around her, knocking them both to the ground. "Thank you," Harry whispered after they'd stood up. "Anytime," Hermione whispered back. "Now, you had better buy this dragon before someone else does." "You're right," Harry replied. "Of course I am," Hermione responded, her eyes twinkling. "Shut up, Hermione. Excuse me!" Harry insulted and called all in one breath. "Hi, can I help you?" asked a young woman wearing a badge saying, "Hi, my name is Amy. How may I help you today?" "Yes, can we please see the crystal dragon right there?" Hermione requested. "Of course," Amy replied. She reached under the desk and unlocked the case, carefully pulling out the dragon. She handed it to Harry, who held it up in the light to examine it. "Miss, you're very lucky to be receiving this dragon," Amy remarked to Hermione as the brunette looked at the dragon over her friend's shoulder. "It's a very sought after piece." "Oh, no, it's not for me," Hermione corrected her, laughing at the absurdity of the thought, to the confusion of the young salesclerk. "It's for my boyfriend," Harry supplied, looking up for a moment. "Oh! Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry," Amy apologized, turning a bright red. "I had no idea, I just assumed-stupidly, now that I'm reflecting on it..." "It's all right," Hermione assured the agitated girl. "I'll take it," Harry suddenly stated firmly. Amy nodded and rang up his purchase. "The total comes to...18 Galleons, 6 Sickles, and 12 Knuts," Amy told them. Harry placed the coins on the counter and carefully took the wrapped up package Amy handed him. Harry and Hermione thanked her and walked outside. "Harry, do you want me to take that so Draco doesn't see it?" Hermione offered. "Could you?" Harry asked hopefully. Hermione grinned and put the package in her shoulder bag. "Let's go find our boyfriends!" Hermione suggested. "Let's. I miss Draco," Harry sighed. "What on earth are you going to do when the summer holidays roll around?" Hermione asked incredulously as they started walking up the street, not knowing anyone was watching and listening to them. "Drac asked me that exact question a week before Valentine's Day," Harry told her. Suddenly, they heard two voices call their names. "Harry!" "Hermione!" Harry grinned and melted into Draco's arms and lips as soon as he reached him. Hermione was surprised with a kiss and a rose as a reminder of their eighteen-month anniversary coming up next week. They started the short trek up the street to The Three Broomsticks. Rita Skeeter slid out from behind a tall tree, her eyes glued to the four Gryffindor sixth-years heading away from her, laughing and having a fabulous time. Her eyes glittered and widened as she strained to listen to their fading conversation. "This should make an interesting article," she murmured to herself. Rita pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and, whispering to her Quick Quotes Quill zooming over a pad of parchment in her enormous handbag, followed the teens into the bar.
"Happy Birthday, Draco!" Draco's mouth dropped open in shock. If he had been expecting anything on his seventeenth birthday, this was last on the list. He looked around and saw all his closest friends. He turned to Harry at his side. "Did you know about this?" Draco asked, a bit of a stupid question when he looked back on it in later years. "Of course I knew!" Harry cried, laughing. "I planned the whole thing!" Draco stared at his boyfriend in amazement and awe for a moment before wrapping his arms around his neck. "Thank you," Draco whispered, a solitary tear unnoticed by both of them slipping down his cheek. "Happy birthday, Drac," Harry replied, sweetly kissing him. "Presents!" Hermione called, appearing at and bearing a small pile of gifts down the stairs. Draco burst out laughing at the sight of Hermione carrying a bunch of gifts blocking her view, and yet she didn't trip or drop anything once. "Here, this one's from Harry, and this one's from me and Ron, and Seamus and Dean want to present the rest of them," she said, handing him the presents. Draco looked at Harry curiously as he opened the little wrapped box. His eyes widened as he pulled the dragon out. "Oh, Harry, I-I don't...I don't know what to say," Draco breathed. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" Hermione shouted, again hurrying towards them. She gently pulled the dragon out of a thoroughly startled Draco's hand and turned away, shielding what she was doing from everyone. Finally, she turned around and, grinning widely, presented the dragon back to Draco. Everyone burst out laughing hysterically when the saw what she had done. Hermione had knitted a tiny, little Gryffindor scarf and tied it around the dragon's neck. She had also made a little Gryffindor red and gold pendant and fitted it through a tiny crevice between to fingers in one hand. In the other was a rectangular sign that said, "Go, Gryffindors! Slytherins Suck!" The pretty brunette sixteen-year-old looked immensely proud of her artistic prowess. "Thanks, Hermione," Draco told her dryly, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "Anytime," she replied, grinning whole-heartedly. "We're gonna have to make a larger, non-breakable version of this and bring it to the next Gryffindor versus Slytherin game," Ginny called from their left. "Oh, yeah, Gin, that'd go over real well with the teachers," someone shouted. "Even better with the Slytherins!" Everyone started laughing again. Draco felt like he'd known these people for years since their first year here. He felt a pair of arms snake around his waist. "Happy?" Harry murmured, dropping feather-light kisses along Draco's jaw line. "Mmm, very," Draco replied, guiding Harry's mouth to his. After a moment, they were both led to a couch and, with Draco sitting on Harry's lap, began opening presents. Draco couldn't remember being so happy in his life, other than when he was with Harry.
A/N: Hope you like it!!!!! This chapter's dedicated to all my readers and reviewers. I love you all!!! You totally made my day when I saw how much you like my story!!! Love you!!