Summary: It's Hermione's sweet, sixteenth birthday, and she's spending it… in the Hospital Wing? O_o ::gasp.:: H/H, you know, adorable. WARNING: SOME SPOILERS MAY OCCUR!!!
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Okay, so I got a little sentimental here! ^_^;; I'd just seen the second movie, which was AMAZING, so I started typing. I was doing this in a true fan-girl stage – don't hold it against me! ;-; (P.S.: EVERYONE GO SEE THE MOVIE! O_O)
Sixteenth Gift, Ch. 1Hermione sighed drastically, and shut her heavy textbook. Herbology could only keep her entertained so long, and once all schoolwork was done, she became bored without her friends. This year, she had traveled to Hogwarts early, so she wouldn't miss the train, and so her parents could go to Italy for a couple weeks. She would be able to greet Harry and Ron as soon as they entered, but even that was days away. Already, she had done the first week's schoolwork, after having requested the assignments from her professors.
She refused to let her mind dawdle, and went swiftly to the Common Room. The fat lady met her there, smiling daintily.
"Password, please Miss Granger?" she said, looking at Hermione's intense load of books.
"Perfidious Todalicus," Hermione sighed, who smiled faintly. The lady nodded, and swung forward on her rusty hinges. Hermione's arm ached from carrying about too many books, and her eyes felt swollen from too many long hours studying, getting ahead. She muttered a few words to herself.
"I can't go on like this!" she cried, and dropped into a cushioned chair. Her face fell onto her open palms, which pointed towards the hearth before her, flaming embers ignited. "Where could they possibly… be?"
~
A sharp owl's hoot woke Hermione the next morning. Slowly, her vision increased, and she rubbed her blurred eyes. On the windowsill sat Hedwig, Harry's owl, with a letter clutched in its beak. She pet the snowy owl's neck, and thanked her. It climbed onto her shoulder, as if wanting to read the letter herself.
Dear Hermione,
I know that this may seem odd, but I know where you are. Please stay there, and keep away from any sort of danger that may come your way: relax, don't study. It's still vacation for a couple more days. I know it will be your birthday soon, by the way, and it'll be a fun one, hopefully. I miss you,
Harry
Hermione sighed, and read it over again. He had mentioned her birthday… Yes, it would be her sixteenth. She didn't need any gift from him, though, his missing her made her happy enough. Refusing to tell Harry how she felt about him, she ran down the steps to the Great Hall, to eat breakfast.
Dobby greeted her downstairs, clutching to Hermione's robe. She smiled kindly down at the little house elf, who had brought her some pastries from the kitchen. He had packed them into a wicker basket, and wrapped them up so no animals or bugs could get to them. Hedwig had remained on her shoulder, and nibbled on some of a croissant Hermione handed her. Dobby had become frightened by Hedwig's flapping about, and bid her farewell.
"I shall see you soon, Harry's friend!" he smiled, dashing off, and out of her sight. Again, Hermione was unhappy. She missed her friends more than a letter could communicate, and she absolutely, positively would not tell Harry how she felt. It would be too strange: they had been friends for so long, how could they possibly be more?
In addition, there would be Ron to deal with. If only they had been friends, maybe it wouldn't have been such a problem, but having Ron included was difficult if they were more intimate with each other than with him. She couldn't be split between them, and didn't have any feelings for Ron except in friendship.
~
Arrival night was pouring, and only made Hermione more anxious for the boys to get there. How she wanted to run down the stairs and hug them both tightly, and tell Harry her secret. Her hands clung to one solid windowsill, which seemed to be the only thing that kept her from falling. The cool rain pattered against the glass, which now seemed to be steaming. She wondered where they were. If anything so much as hurt a hair on their heads, she would've fumed.
A knock disturbed her thoughts, and her head jerked towards her bedroom door.
"Harry's friend?" questioned Dobby, poking his head past the door. She scuttled towards him, smiling. Hermione knelt before him, so they would feel a little more equal.
"They're here! Harry and Harry's other friend is here!" he grinned up at her. Hermione felt her eyes water, and shoved him out of the way. She looked shocked at her own action, however, and apologized for a while, then darting down the rock-hard stairs. She slid down the banister of one staircase, and then another after that. Finally, her brown eyes caught sight of Harry and Ron.
"HARRY! RON!" she squealed, now crying. Both boys looked up from their trunks to be strangled in a breath-killing hug.
"Oof," muttered Ron, shaking his ginger-colored head. "Hermione, you ought to be more gentle. I'm delicate." He grinned at her, whilst she pouted at him. Hermione hugged Harry again, seemingly confused. The old group revived, they all trotted happily into the main hall, and Hermione more joyous than either boys.
END OF CHAPTER ONE! ^_^