The Bracelet.
Chapter 4.
It was the beginning of November. Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking through the snow that had fallen thickly the night before, down to Hagrid's cabin, all wrapped up in jumpers and scarves. They hated the outside subjects in this weather, although the castle could get cold, it was always warmer than the icy temperatures out there. They joined their fellow freezing students at Hagrids. The lesson seemed to go on forever. Seamus kept dropping his books as his hands were numb and a rather unsightly shade of red. Harry was spending yet another lesson staring at the back of Hermione's head. She had partnered with a Gryffindor girl, and Harry with Ron. He was amazed by her, the end of her nose was tipped pink, and her hands were only a shade or two under the colour of Seamus', yet still she was working away with the new little creature Hagrid had given them. (Harry had missed the name of it due to Ron's chattering teeth). Most of the students were just looking at the creature, and Harry soon became aware that Hermione was the only one doing any work. He smiled, and quickly caught himself, and blushed. Although he had made a promise to himself to calm down these feelings for Hermione, he couldn't contain it. As he was watching her, a though occured to him. "I'll just give her that goddam bracelet. Yes....I'll just risk it. I can..I dunno, work around it to make it ok if she says no, and not awkward between us. But she won't say no. I hope. Yes, I'll give her the bracelet for Christmas. After all, it IS hers, and it was bought for her, and what would I do with it. Yes....Oh god...Thank god I've a month to prepare myself." He ran various scenes and outcomes in his head. All of them seemed unreal, this thing he's dreamed about doing for so long...and now he's planning successful ways to do it...it was weird. That was the only word for it. He was snapped out of this daydream by Ron jabbing him with his elbow.
"Ow, Ron, what..?"
"Come on Harry, Hagrid's let us go early, because no one's working and it's so cold....you ok mate? You were in a daze."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." He replied, unable to stop a big grin slide over his face, thankfully unnoticed by Ron and Hermione, who were sorting their stuff.
Over the next few weeks, he had many debates in his head as to whether he was doing the right thing. Hermione had been asking him what was on his mind, and even Ron had noticed something. But, as a result of the many arguments with himself, he had come to the conclusion, (again) that he would just tell her how he feels. Yes. She was staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas Holidays too. Which...admittedly, could be awkward if she doesn't feel the same. Ron was going home. Which would add to the awkward atmosphere. But he wasn't to know how things would turn out, and he told himself to be optimistic...or at least to try.
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It was two weeks to Christmas, and Harry was getting increasingly nervous. He had no-one to talk to about this, so he was left with his ever-debating head. He was nervous, of course, but also slightly excited...this is the end of all these months of frustration. His mind would finally be at rest, whether it be for better....or worse.
Harry woke one morning, feeling very positive about things. He was sleeping a bit better (except when it stomach was cartwheeling with nerves), classes were beginning to slow down....and it was only a few weeks till The Day. Seeing Ron had already left for breakfast, Harry dressed and made his way down to the Great Hall.
"Whafh r yoo sho appy abow?" Ron asked, with a mouthful of toast.
"Ron, that's disgusting. I think he meant...'what are you so happy about', not that I should give you the translation!" Hermione said with a grin.
"Oh nothing, I'm just happy, you know, Christmas holidays".
The three sat down and began discussing that day's timetable, when hundreds of owls filled the room. Post had, evidently, arrived. Hermione jumped when a large brown owl landed in her cereal. Taking the note off its leg with a puzzled look on her face, she looked at Harry and Ron, who were looking curiously at the note. Hermione opened it, and let out a short gasp.
"Oh no!"
"What?" Harry and Ron said in unison.
"I have to go home for Christmas." Hermione started. "My aunt and cousins, whom I've not seen for years have turned up for a shock Christmas visit, and I must go and see them."
Harry and Ron were silent.
"You see, mum doesn't want to tell them I'm at Hogwarts...they're not the type of people who'd react well if they said that their niece was off at a school like this. Plus, I want to see my cousins. I've not seen them since they were little kids."
"Why are you upset though?" Ron added, looking at the frown on the girl's face.
"I don't want to leave Harry here all alone over Christmas."
"He can come to the burrow, you know how mum is!" Ron said. "Won't you Harry? Come spend Christmas at my place?"
But Harry had gotten out of his chair and was walking slowly out.
"Hey, Harry?"
He heard Ron, but he didn't want to answer. He kept on walking, straight back to the common room. He barked the password to the fat lady, not caring to be nice, and ignored her complaints of disrespectful students, and marched into his empty dorm, where he let out a roar of frustration. He threw himself on his bed and wept. This wasn't how he planned it. He didn't want to spend Christmas with Ron. He wanted to spend it with Hermione, in Hogwarts. He wanted to go for walks around the grounds in the snow and hug her close to keep her warm. He wanted to spend every day until term started with her, no classes, no teachers, no Ron...just Hermione. She was killing him slowly, without knowing it. He'd been crying a lot recently, and he never used to cry. Everything was for her....Oh that stupid bracelet...He couldn't think. He just lay there, weeping into his pillow.
Chapter 4.
It was the beginning of November. Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking through the snow that had fallen thickly the night before, down to Hagrid's cabin, all wrapped up in jumpers and scarves. They hated the outside subjects in this weather, although the castle could get cold, it was always warmer than the icy temperatures out there. They joined their fellow freezing students at Hagrids. The lesson seemed to go on forever. Seamus kept dropping his books as his hands were numb and a rather unsightly shade of red. Harry was spending yet another lesson staring at the back of Hermione's head. She had partnered with a Gryffindor girl, and Harry with Ron. He was amazed by her, the end of her nose was tipped pink, and her hands were only a shade or two under the colour of Seamus', yet still she was working away with the new little creature Hagrid had given them. (Harry had missed the name of it due to Ron's chattering teeth). Most of the students were just looking at the creature, and Harry soon became aware that Hermione was the only one doing any work. He smiled, and quickly caught himself, and blushed. Although he had made a promise to himself to calm down these feelings for Hermione, he couldn't contain it. As he was watching her, a though occured to him. "I'll just give her that goddam bracelet. Yes....I'll just risk it. I can..I dunno, work around it to make it ok if she says no, and not awkward between us. But she won't say no. I hope. Yes, I'll give her the bracelet for Christmas. After all, it IS hers, and it was bought for her, and what would I do with it. Yes....Oh god...Thank god I've a month to prepare myself." He ran various scenes and outcomes in his head. All of them seemed unreal, this thing he's dreamed about doing for so long...and now he's planning successful ways to do it...it was weird. That was the only word for it. He was snapped out of this daydream by Ron jabbing him with his elbow.
"Ow, Ron, what..?"
"Come on Harry, Hagrid's let us go early, because no one's working and it's so cold....you ok mate? You were in a daze."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." He replied, unable to stop a big grin slide over his face, thankfully unnoticed by Ron and Hermione, who were sorting their stuff.
Over the next few weeks, he had many debates in his head as to whether he was doing the right thing. Hermione had been asking him what was on his mind, and even Ron had noticed something. But, as a result of the many arguments with himself, he had come to the conclusion, (again) that he would just tell her how he feels. Yes. She was staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas Holidays too. Which...admittedly, could be awkward if she doesn't feel the same. Ron was going home. Which would add to the awkward atmosphere. But he wasn't to know how things would turn out, and he told himself to be optimistic...or at least to try.
--------
It was two weeks to Christmas, and Harry was getting increasingly nervous. He had no-one to talk to about this, so he was left with his ever-debating head. He was nervous, of course, but also slightly excited...this is the end of all these months of frustration. His mind would finally be at rest, whether it be for better....or worse.
Harry woke one morning, feeling very positive about things. He was sleeping a bit better (except when it stomach was cartwheeling with nerves), classes were beginning to slow down....and it was only a few weeks till The Day. Seeing Ron had already left for breakfast, Harry dressed and made his way down to the Great Hall.
"Whafh r yoo sho appy abow?" Ron asked, with a mouthful of toast.
"Ron, that's disgusting. I think he meant...'what are you so happy about', not that I should give you the translation!" Hermione said with a grin.
"Oh nothing, I'm just happy, you know, Christmas holidays".
The three sat down and began discussing that day's timetable, when hundreds of owls filled the room. Post had, evidently, arrived. Hermione jumped when a large brown owl landed in her cereal. Taking the note off its leg with a puzzled look on her face, she looked at Harry and Ron, who were looking curiously at the note. Hermione opened it, and let out a short gasp.
"Oh no!"
"What?" Harry and Ron said in unison.
"I have to go home for Christmas." Hermione started. "My aunt and cousins, whom I've not seen for years have turned up for a shock Christmas visit, and I must go and see them."
Harry and Ron were silent.
"You see, mum doesn't want to tell them I'm at Hogwarts...they're not the type of people who'd react well if they said that their niece was off at a school like this. Plus, I want to see my cousins. I've not seen them since they were little kids."
"Why are you upset though?" Ron added, looking at the frown on the girl's face.
"I don't want to leave Harry here all alone over Christmas."
"He can come to the burrow, you know how mum is!" Ron said. "Won't you Harry? Come spend Christmas at my place?"
But Harry had gotten out of his chair and was walking slowly out.
"Hey, Harry?"
He heard Ron, but he didn't want to answer. He kept on walking, straight back to the common room. He barked the password to the fat lady, not caring to be nice, and ignored her complaints of disrespectful students, and marched into his empty dorm, where he let out a roar of frustration. He threw himself on his bed and wept. This wasn't how he planned it. He didn't want to spend Christmas with Ron. He wanted to spend it with Hermione, in Hogwarts. He wanted to go for walks around the grounds in the snow and hug her close to keep her warm. He wanted to spend every day until term started with her, no classes, no teachers, no Ron...just Hermione. She was killing him slowly, without knowing it. He'd been crying a lot recently, and he never used to cry. Everything was for her....Oh that stupid bracelet...He couldn't think. He just lay there, weeping into his pillow.