A/N: Thanks HPfan! List of Death Eaters no longer necessary!

            "Harry, wake up!" Ron said, "It's Christmas!"

            Harry got up, stretched, and went to the sitting room. Ron, Hermione, and her parents were already waiting for him, all in pajamas.

            "Happy Christmas, Harry," Hermione said, with a smile.

            "Happy Christmas, Hermione," Harry smiled back.

            "Now that we've established that Christmas is happy, can we please get to the presents?" Ron pleaded.

            "Open mine first," Harry said to Ron, handing Ron a small envelope.

            "This is it?" Ron said, incredulously.

            "Ron, stop being selfish," Hermione snapped.

            Ron opened it and started to shriek. "Harry, this is brilliant. You're the best. Best. Absolute top. Awesome friend. Can't believe-…I'm going…top box…Harry you…you…YES!" Ron began to do a little jig in the middle of the sitting room.

            Harry grinned.

            "What's so great?" Hermione asked, looking in the envelope. "Two top box tickets to the next Chudley Cannons game. So what? Honestly, I don't know why the pair of you make such a big deal over Quidditch."

            "Well you'd better figure it out, because I'm taking you!" Ron shouted, in the middle of the jig.

            That should be an interesting date, Harry thought.

            "Okay, Harry," Ron said, tired from all the dancing, "Open mine." Ron picked up a small box from underneath the tree and handed it to Harry.

            As Harry unwrapped the box, he felt it shake and rattle. Warily, he opened up the box and a Snitch zoomed out. Using his Seeker reflexes, he immediately snatched it out of the air.  

            "A Snitch?" Harry said.

            "Not just any Snitch, a Snitch signed by all the members of the Ireland Quidditch Team," Ron said.

            "How did you get this?" Harry exclaimed.

            "Got Wood to get it," Ron said.

            "Quidditch again?" Hermione exclaimed, "I thought you were shopping Muggle style!"

            "I was, but it was an opportunity too good to pass up. Don't worry, your present is one hundred percent Muggle," Ron assured.

            "Is that so?" Hermione said, "Then where is it?"

            "Right here," Ron said, whipping a box from behind his back.

            Hermione took the present and opened it. It was a boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia. "Your mom said they were your favorite," Ron said, shyly.

            "Thanks, Ron," Hermione said, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Ron set a new standard for blushing.

            "Well here's my present to you," Hermione said. She pulled out an album full of pictures they had taken throughout the break.

            "They don't move…" Ron said, confused.

            "Yes, Ron," Harry smiled, "We've been over this. Here's yours Hermione."

            Harry picked up a flat rectangular box from the ground and passed it to Hermione. She tore through the wrapping and her face lit up. It was a set of silver butterfly clips.

            "I just wanted you to know," Harry said, blushingly, "that me and Ron don't just think of you as a walking textbook."

            Hermione smiled and said, "Thank you Harry, this is one of the best presents I've ever gotten." She hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek.

            No, Harry thought, don't let go. He touched his cheek.

            "And what about my present?" Harry asked.

            "Here it is," Hermione said, "I hope you like it." In her hands she held another photo album book.

            Harry opened up the book and saw his godfather's face on every page.

            "I sort of stole Hagrid's idea," Hermione blushed. "I got them from people in the Order."

            Harry felt hot tears coming to his eyes. He turned away, not wanting anyone to see him cry. "Um, I…er…forgot something in my room…," Harry said. He strode back to his room with the album. He heard soft footsteps following him.

            "Hermione, I really don't want to talk right now," Harry snapped, turning around.

            Hermione stepped back for a second, as if she had been slapped, but began to talk. "Harry, I've been meaning to talk to you about this. I don't care if you want to talk, but I need you to listen," Hermione said.

            I've never heard Hermione speak this way, Harry thought.

            "You blame yourself for what happened to Sirius, but it's not your fault.," Hermione said.

            "How can you stand there and say it's not my fault," Harry bellowed. "You said it yourself, Hermione! I was there playing the hero!"

            "Maybe you were, but that's not your fault. You're brave! It's one of the best things about you! Voldemort tricked you, just like he tricked thousands of witches and wizards before you," Hermione said, almost in tears.

            "I killed him, Hermione!" Harry screamed. "I-, I-, I killed him…." His voice broke and he sobbed on Hermione's shoulder.

            She wrapped her arms around him and whispered, "No, Harry. You didn't. I don't know how I can get you to believe me. But you didn't…"

            Through his tears and looking over Hermione's shoulder, Harry saw a black dog sitting on the carpet. The dog simply nodded its head and before Harry could cry out, it had disappeared.

            "I believe you," Harry said softly. He wiped away his tears and said to Hermione, "Thanks."

            Hermione was looking up at something. Harry looked up and saw what she was looking at. Mistletoe.

            "Again?" Harry said, jokingly, remembering Cho.

            "We don't have to…if you don't want to…" Hermione said.

            "And have Ron labeling me as a chicken?" Harry said. "I don't think so. I just wish whenever I kissed someone, someone wasn't crying."

            Hermione laughed. Her laugh is so pretty, Harry thought. It's a shame I can't kiss her for real…Whoa, Harry…back up. There are three reasons why this kiss means nothing. One, you have a girlfriend. Two, she's your best friend's girlfriend. Three, the only reason she's kissing you is because of that stupid mistletoe. Besides, if its anything like the kisses you and Ron have been getting, it's not that great.

            With all this in mind, Harry leaned in and kissed Hermione. He took in her scent. Almonds…like my mother…her lips were so soft…why is this lasting so long?...Bright lights…fireworks…happiness…nothing like Stella…so warm…

            After what seemed an hour, although only a few seconds, Harry pulled away. The two stood close, looking into each other's eyes. "Your heart's beating fast," Hermione said, softly.

            "So's yours," Harry countered.

            "Have you two finished talking?" Ron interrupted, coming in the room.

            "Um, yeah," Harry said, walking away from Hermione. "I'm alright now."

           That meant nothing, Harry thought. Everything's still the same. Ron's still my best friend. Hermione's still his girlfriend. Hermione feels the same way. We both understand each other. Right? Everything's the same. Nothing changed. Right? Right?

Reviews:

Avalon64: Yay for Sagittarius! Thanks for the smashing review!

HPfan-Excalibur: Am I that predictable, or are you really that good? Let's go with the second one. Thanks for the Death Eaters, btw.

Lutefa: Thanks so much for adding me to the favorites list…where is the recommend thing? I can't find it!

Raven-Padfoot-Marauder: Whatcha gonna do about it Raven? Huh? What now? It's H/Hr and there's nothing you can do about it! Mwahaha….lol…don't bother looking anymore…HPfan found it for me! Keep reading!