Have a Merry little Christmas

Chapter II A reason and a favor

"Ron? Hey, would be a mate and bring my stuff upstairs for me, I need to find Hermione about the stupid Potions essay." Harry asked grabbing two pieces of parchment, his quill and then handing his bag over to Ron.

"Uh-but-" Ron began.

"Thanks mate!" And before Ron could even breath another word, Harry was already half way down the hall towards the library.

"Great…"

"Hi, Ron!" Ron nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around and yet saw another thing that would just top off his night as one of the worse luck nights in a long time.

"Sorry, Luna, don't have time to talk- got to go- got loads of things to do- bye!" And before Luna Lovegood could say another word, Ron took off faster than a Firebolt.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"…Hardwood. Hollow on the inside with strings running on the top of the body, wound tightly at the top. Played with a…pick?"

"Hermione, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you." Harry

stumbled into the room and looked overly whelmed to have found Hermione, books scattered all around her.

"Wha-?"

"Well, you see I went to the library but they said you left about an hour ago to go to the common room. Then when I got there two of the girls said that they saw you leave towards the hospital wing but the other one said that they saw you went to the Muggle studies room. So, I checked hospital wing first, which you went present at, and now I checked Muggle studies… and here you are!" Harry finally took a breath and opened his arms apart, gesturing that "here I was!" kind of display.

"Quite an adventure you had there, Harry. And you didn't even get a detention for it!" Hermione said wittily behind books.

"Ha ha, very funny, Mione." Harry took a seat across from her and began thinking up some ideas to get her to help him with his Potions essay, when he looked over towards the lump of wood that was on her lap.

"Hey, Hermione, what's that?" Harry asked pointing at the thing on her lap.

"Wha- oh! This is a Muggle instrument called a guitar. Its components include-"

"Hermione, I know what a guitar is. I lived with Muggles all my life too, remember?" Harry said lightly smiling as he saw Hermione mouth formed an "O" and nod her head quickly. "And anyway, I know how to play a couple of cords on it too."

Hermione's eyes now were as big as saucers and she frantically said, "Would you mind playing it for me?"

Harry hesitated for a second. The only song her knows it this one sentimental romantic song and he didn't want to give Hermione the impression that he was the "sappy" kind of guy. But then he looked at up at her and saw into her pleading chocolate brown orbs and could not deny anything sort of her happiness.

"Sure."

Hermione gave a silent cheer as she handed him the instrument from her lap and watch him intently as he loosed his fingers up and adjusted himself comfortable. He strummed a couple of cords and then said sheepishly, "I've only got a chance to play a couple of years ago over the summer. I would sneak out of the house when my uncle and aunt weren't home and went to an old man's house named Mr. Ermstrung. He had an old guitar and let me play with it and practice with it until one day he gave it to me and said that I can keep it but I had to promise him that I was to never come back to see him again. I found out the ever next day at the breakfast table that he had pass on the night before…" Harry's face sunk as he fell into deep thoughts. A moment later he said softly, "Ah well… it's all in the past now."

"Harry…?"

"So, I hope you like the song. I think it by this one Muggle group called Habbasunk or Hibbostrank or… something like that." Hermione made a funny face and chuckled to herself lightly as he began to strum on the instrument.

"I'm not a perfect person
As many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know...

As Harry kept playing, he slipped here and there but never did his soft voice stop her heart from fluttering. Each word that came out of his lips were like lyrics that were blessed from the heavens. Hermione could not help but fall hopelessly into the abyss of sweet melody.

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

His mind started to shut off and went into automatic mode. The lyrics just kept falling from his lips and his fingers kept playing as if he was a recorder and merely playing back what he had stored in his memory. Playing so willingly for his audience of one but none the less a crowd for him. His heart hammered in his chest as he said the next set of lyrics.

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why i need you to hear

As the song went on, Hermione's eyes began to mist over. Its probably really late. That's would explain why her heart clenched when he sang 'I've found a reason to show, a side of me you didn't know, a reason for all that I do...', or even more that her soul almost sang with him when he looked up into her eyes and sung softly, slowly ending the song,"...and the reason is you".

They were both quiet for the longest time, neither one had the heart to break the comfortable silence. Her racing heart began to slow down as something in his eyes flickered and immediately looked away. Was that... no it can't be. That emotion was not something that Harry would ever display when he was with her! But it was there, wasn't it? As she looked up again he was looking and reading something on the back bulletin board with little to no emotion. Inevitably, it was the old grand father clock that rung its heartless chimes through out the school that rang 12 o'clock.

"Wow... Harry... I didn't know that you... could sing."

When he didn't reply, she merely busied herself by closing her book that was in front of her."Well, I guess it's getting late. I'm going to turn myself in, how 'bout you Harry?" Hermione asked as she began to gather her things.

When Harry again didn't answer her, she snapped at him. "HARRY?!"

Harry immediately broke from his trance state and abruptly turned to her and asked in that same melodious voice, "Would you do me a favor?"

Hermione looked at his quizzically and then asked cautiously, "What is it?"

"Would you mind if I escort you to the Snow Ball?"

AN: Thank you all for reveiwing my story. You are really the ones that is keeping this story running!
See you in Chapter 3: Mysteries and decisions!