Disclaimer: Nothing is mine
Chapter 5 – Christmas Love
"Wake up Harry. C'mon Harry, wake up," Hermione's voice drifted into Harry's dream. "C'mon Harry, its Christmas."
At Christmas Harry's eyes flew open. Hermione had pulled back the curtains and sunlight streamed across him. Hermione herself was smiling as she stood at the foot of Harry's bed in pink pyjamas.
"Hermione, you're not meant to be in here," Harry muttered, not really meaning, just keeping the Christmas tradition alive. He sat up slowly, his eyes blurry until he reached over and put his glasses on.
"Harry, you're alone in your dormitory. Everyone else went home for Christmas, remember? Now get moving!"
Ron and Ginny had decided to go home for Christmas this year, the first time ever since Ron had come to Hogwarts. Harry, of course, wouldn't be returning to Private Drive, but had declined Mrs Weasley's offer to spend Christmas with them.
Hermione had remained at school, she said her parents were visiting relatives, but Harry knew she and Ron had decided one of them should stay and keep him company. He was grateful, only a handful of students remained in the school and he needed the company.
"Get out bed! Come and open your presents," Hermione commanded impatiently. She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the stairs into the common room. The two were the only Gryffindors left in the school, so they had full use of the tower. Hermione gestured to a pile of presents in front of the fire; "Those are yours."
Harry found his presents contained the usual goodies; Mrs Weasley sent him fudge and a thick scarlet jumper; Hermione had given him a woollen hat (much like the ones she'd made for SPEW, only larger); Ron had given him a bag of canary creams, with help from the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and Hagrid gave him a sack of cauldron cakes, which Harry promptly dumped by the fire to soften.
At the bottom of the pile was a present wrapped in plain brown paper. Opening it, he found a heavy gold chain with a ruby pendant. The chain was unmistakeably male and Harry had never seen one like it. It seemed to have its own sort of glow, like it possessed its own magic. As he lifted the chain out from the paper, a note fell to the ground.
Hermione picked it up and held it out, "Here you dropped thi- oh wow Harry, that's beautiful. Whose it from?"
Harry shrugged, "Read the card out and then we'll know."
Hermione opened the note and started to read;
Harry,
Sirius Left this with me before he died.
I think he would have wanted you to have it.
Happy Christmas,
Remus Lupin.
"It was Sirius'? It's really beautiful Harry," Hermione whispered as Harry reached behind his neck and fiddled with the clasp until it was secure. The pendant fell just below the edge of his collar, where it hung heavy; like it was weighing Harry down with more power and responsibility than he already had.
Sirius had worn this? Harry tried to push all thoughts of his godfather out of his mind, but grief started to pore through him and unshed tears appeared in the corners of his eyes. He tried to blink them away before Hermione saw, and stood up. But his legs failed him and he wavered for a few moments until Hermione's arms encircled his waist.
She pushed him down on to the couch and sat next to him, waiting. They sat there for what seemed like an age; Harry with his eyes closed, thinking about Sirius and Hermione's eyes staring into the fire, as she though about Harry.
Harry glanced at the clock on the mantel over the fire and was startled at the time. "Hermione, we've got to move or we'll be late for the Christmas Feast."
Hermione blinked and looked at him, "What? Oh, I'd forgotten all about the feast, we'd better go. There won't be many others there."
They headed down to the Great Hall, where only one table had been set up. There were only six students how had remained at the school; one Hufflepuff, two Ravenclaw, Harry, Hermione and Crabbe. Harry was surprised to see Crabbe there, usually when Malfoy went home, his little cronies went too.
"Happy Christmas," Dumbledore exclaimed as he strode into the Hall, followed by Flitwick, McGonagall and Hagrid. "This is all there is of us this year, the rest of the staff have gone home to their families."
The Christmas Feast was always great, but this year it was excellent. Plate upon player of turkey, chicken, ham, stuffing, roast potatoes and the all time favourite; Christmas crackers were piled in front of them.
After the meal, Harry and Hermione headed outside into the snow. They walked along the footpaths, which had been cleared earlier by Filch and Hagrid. As they reached the ledge of the lake, they stopped. Hermione turned to face Harry as he did the same. Then, not really knowing why, Hermione stepped forward and quickly kissed Harry.
Before Harry could respond, Hermione had stepped backwards, a look of panic in her eyes. Without a word she turned and hurried back tot eh castle, with Harry staring after her.
Hermione reached the portrait of the Fat Lady in record time. "Dancing Elves," she stammered as she frantically clambered through the hole into the common room. She reached her bed and flew into it; burying her head under the covers. She pictured again those moments in the courtyard. It had felt so right to kiss him, yet once she had, it had been so wrong.
She touched her lips, the warmth of Harry's still remained there. She didn't know what she had been thinking, Harry was her best friend and best friends just don't go around kissing each other.
Hermione buried herself deeper into the bed and lay there, motionless, waiting for sleep to find her. In the early hours, just before the break of dawn, Hermione fell into a dreamless sleep.
Harry was running out of time. He needed to talk to Hermione before Ron got back and today was the last day of the term holidays. It was now or never. For the past few days, since Christmas night, they had skirted around each other, both to frightened and confused to bring up the topic of the kiss.
Harry rose from his seat by the fireplace and joined Hermione at the window. He looked at her for a moment and she returned his gaze. Then they both started to speak at once.
"Hermione, the other night..."
"Harry, what happened..."
They both stopped and laughed. "You go first," said Hermione.
"Well...err...about the other night...Christmas I mean...err...oh I guess what I want to say is this." Harry reached forward and pulled Hermione to him. He kissed her and felt her surprise, but then her enthusiasm as she responded.
"Well it's about bloody time," Ron said as he entered the common room. Harry and Hermione broke apart, each blushing furiously. Ron seemed oblivious to their discomfort and strolled causally over to them.
"So, what have you two been up to then?"
"Nothing. And you really do need to get a life you know, instead of always interfering in other peoples," Hermione replied coolly, having recovered faster than Harry.
"Well, when you two gaze at each in that sickening way when you think the other isn't looking its kind of hard not to notice what goes on." Ron then decided to drop the subject, probably due to the murderous glare he was receiving from Harry and proceeded to chatter on about the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
Harry stared at Ron, watching his lips moved, but no sound seemed to be coming from his mouth. He was deep in thought about Hermione, he was sure she felt the same way, the look in her eyes as she listened to Ron told him she was thinking of other things too.
"Well, I'd better take my stuff to my room," While Ron had been talking the common room had filled up with students. Ron tugged his heavy suitcase up the stairs and disappeared from view.
Harry turned to Hermione, who was staring at him again, this time with a determined expression on her face.
"Err...Hermione..."
But before he could make out a word, Hermione interrupted.
"Look, this is stupid. It's obvious to everyone around us that we like each other. We know how we feel about each other; I think we should move on. So, Harry will you go out with me?"
Harry's mind went blank. Hermione was right; it was pretty obvious, but still...
"Harry, are you going to give me an answer today or am I going to have to wait another six months as the information sinks into his brain.
"Of course... I mean yes," Harry managed to stutter, but a huge grin filled his face; the same sort that covered Hermione's face at bowling.
"Can I come back now?" Ron's voice drifted down from the stair. A few moments later Ron himself appeared at the foot of the stairs.
Hermione laughed, "Were you waiting there the whole time, listening to our conversation?"
"No, well only some of it. I was waiting for you two to sort things out. You've only taken three years, but you know, what was another three minutes?"
"On lay off Ron. Leave us alone or we might change our minds and ruin your fun," the smile on Ron's face faltered as he released what Harry was indicating to. But the smile of Hermione's face gave up the joke. She looked as happy as Harry felt, which was a lot happier than he had been since Sirius died.
They settled won in front of the fire again, and by the time they had finished catching up, what had been a roaring fire was only glowing embers.
"We should go to bed, its past midnight," Hermione said, standing and stretching. Crookshanks, who had been curled up on her lap jumped down and headed out of the room.
Ron stood and nodded, "Yeah, I'm beat and we start classes again tomorrow." He turned and headed toward the stairs, pausing at the foot to turn and ask; "Are you coming Harry?"
Harry, who had remained seated, shook his head. "Not quite yet, I'll be up soon."
Ron and Hermione nodded and both climbed the steps to their dorms. But at the fork in the stairs, as Ron went to the left, instead of going to the right, Hermione ran back down the stairs.
She quickly reached Harry and leant down to kiss him. When she pulled back she was smiling, "Night Harry."
"Good night Hermione," Harry remained by the fire, staring into the dying embers until there was nothing left but black charcoal dust, before he headed up to his dorm.
LittleAquarianPrincess