.......................................THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS.................................................

Thinking back to the day before had Jessica wanting to kick herself. Her 'Secret Santa', had been literally right in front of her face, and she hadn't done anything to find out who it was. If she had only grabbed a hold of him before he left…

Oh who was she kidding?

She had been totally immobile after that amazing kiss she wouldn't have even seen who it was if the lights had been on.

As her thoughts went inventively back to the kiss, Jessica felt her face flush and her lips tug into a smile. Now she had other kisses to compare it to, but Jessica was quite sure whoever was giving her these unbelievable gifts was also an excellent kisser because that was definitely the best kiss she'd ever received.

If only I knew who he was so we could do it again… Jessica thought dreamily, but flushed even more when she realized how she was thinking. Her mother(were she still alive) would be sure to have a fit if she ever found out her only daughter was fantasizing about snogging a boy she had never met in dark classrooms. But her mother and father had been killed by two Death Eaters when she and Oliver were only five years old.

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While Jessica practically floated through the Hogwarts corridors, (no doubt hoping she would get another visit in a dark classroom), her 'Secret Santa' was still berating himself for losing control.

Idiot, he told himself over and over again, so many things could have gone wrong, she could have seen you… But no matter how many times he told himself it was a mistake, he couldn't help but remember how she hadn't resisted him, instead she had responded like she was actually enjoying it…

Well surely that's a good sign. He reassured himself for the hundredth time. Then he remembered the heart. The heart was supposed to grow warm or hot if she was liking and attracted to him and grow cold if she was disgusted, afraid, or feeling any other bad emotion. The only thing being that he had forgotten was to put on enchantment on himself so it could tell him whether she did or not before he gave it to her.

But she must've enjoyed it because she didn't pull away and when I felt her hand on my neck it was definitely hot which leads me to believe that the heart was in her pocket…he thought, trying to make some sense from his thoughts.

Well at least there's hope for me now.

With a new bout of confidence, the boy went off to prepare Jessica's surprise for today, the memory of her soft, sweet lips still swimming through his mind.

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Starlight found her mistress near the Charms corridor, and tapped on the window as she was passing. Seeing the red envelope her owl had delivered, Jessica quickly let Starlight in out of the cold.

The parchment was a bit longer again today (which meant either he was explaining his gift or it was another thing outside, like watching the pixies the night before), earning the steady beat of her heart to go up a couple notches.

On the ninth day of Christmas,

Your true love gave to you,

Nine fawns playing.

Go to the edge of the forest at noon to receive your ninth gift.

Don't be late, fawns get irritated if you make them wait.

Jessica checked her watch, 11:45, which gave her just enough time to make it to the forest. Telling herself she was insane, Jessica made her way through the corridors at a brusque pace. She was, of course, wearing her snowflake jewels and had her heart tucked in her pocket. Twirling the necklace as she walked, Jessica pondered what sort of performance the fawns were going to put on.

She thought about the fact that fawns were going to perform for her. Muggles thought fawns were just a mythical creature that existed only in fairy tales and Greek legends but they actually existed in the magical realm. They lived deep in forests away from humans so they could live and play their music in peace.

She smiled when she reached the forest. Standing there waiting for her patiently was a fawn. He had scruffy brown hair and brown eyes and was carrying a wooden flute. He beckoned her to follow him with his hand before disappeaing into the forest.

Jessica bit her bottom lip in indecision and wrapped her hand around her wand that was in her pocket before plunging in after it.

What if this is a trap?

What it I get attacked?

What if the fawns don't like me and make me leave and go back to the castle?

What if I stop thinking negatively and rambling and just go with the flow?

Jessica berated herself for her negative thoughts and just continued to follow the fawn.

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By the time Jessica's mind rambling had ceased, she found herself in a clearing not too far from the Hogwarts grounds (at least she hoped it wasn't too far) surrounded by nine of these nice fawns, men and women. One of them pushed her into the center of the circle they were making; Jessica sat down obediently and watched, too nervous to try anything else.

They each had a wooden flute, which they held at the ready. After they formed a perfect circle, beautiful music started to fill the air of the clearing. The fawn that lead her here began, with each of his companions following suit not to long after. They harmonized like a composers dream.

Jessica had never had music take her breath away before, and now she knew the meaning of the phrase. It had a magical feel about it, and lifted her spirits much like Fawkes's song would do.

When all the fawns had begun to play, Jessica's eyes widened when they started to move around. They gradually picked up speed with the music, and soon were leaping and spinning throughout the clearing in an all out dance. Jessica was laughing and clapping along with the music by the time she realized she wasn't the only thing watching this amazing spectacle.

At the edge of the woods, she could make hundreds of birds perched in the trees, all the normal animals you would find in a forest mixed with quite a few magical creatures. There was a group of centaurs watching proudly and quietly. Jessica gasped at the flash of gold that was a baby unicorn. Sitting under a tree, giving hungry glares at the birds was none other than Crookshanks, Hermione's cat. Jessica could also see some more fawns watching their friends or family perform.

Her attention to the crowd was only short, for she could not keep her mind off the music and dance that was happening all around her.

When the song finally came to an end, the lifted spirits it brought still lingered and Jessica couldn't wipe the silly smile off her face. The rest of the crowed dispersed, and the fawn that had brought her to the clearing approached her. He motioned for her to follow again, and reluctantly, Jessica was led out of the forest.

When Hogwarts grounds came into view again, the fawn held out a red package which Jessica took with unsteady hands. When she turned to thank him, he had seemingly disappeared.

"Oh yeah, fawns are very good at hiding and avoiding people when they don't want to be discovered and they don't want their homes to be discovered." Jessica recalled from a book she'd borrowed from the library called Mythical Beasts of Old Lore. She also remembered how they would play extraordinary music when celebrating something or just when they were happy.

Now that her guide was gone, Jessica decided it would be best for her to get back to the safety of Hogwarts no matter how close she already was, before opening her next gift.

As if seeing them play hadn't been enough of a present! She thought, shaking her head in wonder.

When she got up to the castle, She examined the present before opening it.

"You got a present along with getting to see fawns? Man, this boy must really have a thing for you, Jess." Nick said Jessica just grinned before tearing the paper from the odd shaped object, and smiling brightly at what she saw.

It was a wooden flute identical to the ones the fawns had used, but a bit bigger to accommodate her size. Jessica was a talented musician because she had inherited her father's talent at music but she knew that she would never even come close to playing anything like she had just heard (in fact she would probably be completely dreadful at it) but it was the perfect thing to remind her that it hadn't been all a dream.

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Any guesses to whom it might be?