Summary: Harry got a gift and Ron & Hermione found out something about the holiday at Hogwarts.
Pairing: Future R/H and many others (You guys can suggest some to me!).
Disclaimer: Harry Potter & co. belongs to the great J. K. R. The plot is inspired by the movie Love, Actually, which is written by Richard Curtis.
Chapter 1: Book and Mistletoes
It was about a month before Christmas in Harry's sixth year. Students and teachers were bustling to finish some last minute work before the holidays. The package came just as Harry was sitting down for breakfast today. The shape told him that it was a book, though he couldn't think why anyone would ever send him one. He read the card attached to it:
Dear Harry,
I found this while cleaning up my attic the other day. I promised myself that I would pass it on to you once you've grown up, but over the years, it just slipped my mind. I haven't read it myself, due to its personal nature, but I know that she would have wanted you to have it. Take care of yourself and, hopefully, I'll see you soon.
Remus.
Wondering what it could possibly be, Harry put down the note and tore open the wrappings of Lupin's parcel. Underneath, he found an old, leather-bound book. The stains on its crimson-coloured cover bore evidence to the passage of time. He opened it and felt this sudden, prickling, hot sensation on his spine as he saw the inscription inside:
The Diary of Lily Evans – The Good Times.
His mother's diary! Harry quickly flicked through it, his heart beating rapidly as he saw his mother's tiny scrawl filling in the pages. It suddenly occurred to him that this was the first time that he ever saw his mother's handwriting. The thought that he was learning something about his mother – even something as simple as her handwriting – gave him a feeling of joy that he could not explain. The realisation that he would learn so much more, through all these pages that were just waiting to be read, made him feel absolutely elated.
"What is it, Harry?" Hermione's voice snapped him out of his reverie. He looked up to see her and Ron watching him curiously from across the breakfast table. At his excitement, he had completely forgotten that they were there.
"It's… It's my mum's diary."
Ron's eyes widened, "Blimey! Who sent it to you?"
"Professor Lupin – I mean, Remus. He found it while he was cleaning his attic," he answered absent-mindedly.
"That's really great, isn't it, Harry? You'll find out a lot about her through that." Hermione was unsure of whether to be happy or sad for him.
"Yeah…" Harry found that he was no longer hungry. He wanted to skive off lesson just so he could start reading in private. "Listen, I think I'm going to take off. I'm not really hungry. Can you cover for me if I don't make it to Charms?"
"Sure, mate, but…"
Ron wasn't given a chance to finish though as Harry bolted out of the Great Hall shouting, "Thanks!" behind his back.
Ron turned to look at Hermione, "What did you make of that?"
Hermione just shrugged, "I don't know. I suppose getting his mum's diary would be a big deal for Harry – especially since everything he knows about his parents he learned from someone else. It should take his mind off all the horrible things that have been happening… Still, I really don't think he should skip lesson. Professor Flitwick's going to give us revision today to get us through the holidays…"
"Oh, will you lighten up, Hermione? I'm sure that you'll be there to regurgitate the whole lesson to him if he needs it." Ron began to pile up his plates with bacon and hash brown. "Besides, it's the holidays. It's not like the expect us to do real work…"
Hermione threw Ron an annoyed look, but said nothing. She wasn't about to get into an argument with him about his study habits (or lack thereof) so early in the morning. She grabbed a toast and began buttering it. Besides, as she cast a look at her jolly surroundings, she couldn't help but take in the lax holiday mood. The customary Hogwarts Christmas trees had been perched all around the Hall, tinsels were hanging from every table, and, above them, several dozens red-and-white candy canes were floating beneath a lightly snowing enchanted ceiling. It was indeed very hard for anyone not to get into the holiday spirit.
Unfortunately for Hermione, however, her newfound enthusiasm would soon be broken by the sight of people breaking school rules.
She was about to take a drink of her pumpkin juice, when she noticed two Ravenclaw second years who were trying to charm something to the doorway leading to the Great Hall. She quickly set her goblet down and pulled on Ron's robes. "Come on."
"What? But, Hermione, I'm eating!" He managed to grab on to some crumpets before Hermione dragged him away.
When they reached the doors of the Great Hall, she took no time before starting to yell at the two 'perpetrators'. "Just what the two of you think you're doing?"
"Yeah, you two snot-face better explain yourself quickly so I can get back to my meal."
The two second-years were obviously startled at being ambushed by the prefects that it took a while for one of them to answer, "It's mistletoe. We were trying to put it up."
"Yeah, it's just mistletoe. See?" The other waved his wand so that the offending plant floated down to the prefects' view.
"Well, do you realise that you're not allowed to hang your own decorations in public area?"
"But we got permission. We were told…"
"Yes, I told them to charm it there, Miss Granger," said the squeaky voice of Professor Flitwick, who was ambling to the group, carrying several mistletoes in his hands. "Enchanted mistletoes! They make any two people who stand underneath them to spontaneously kiss! I've been putting them all around the castle."
"Alright… But why?" asked Ron.
"It's all for fun, Mr. Weasley! Professor Dumbledore thought that we could all do with some affectionate gestures this holiday."
The evidently cheery Professor Flitwick then took out his wand and proceeded to charm the mistletoe onto the threshold. The two Ravenclaws, who stood directly underneath it, spontaneously gave each other a quick peck on the lips. Professor Flitwick looked absolutely delighted, while Ron and Hermione instinctively jumped away from underneath the doorway before they could share the same fate.
"Now, now, Mr. Weasley, Miss. Granger! No sense in avoiding it. I've put them up all around the school. You can't keep your eyes peeled to the ceiling all the time, now can you?" He shook his head as if the idea was completely ridiculous and then walked away, the two Ravenclaws in tow, no doubt off to fix some more mistletoes around the castle.
Ron and Hermione cast a furtive glance at each other and then at the mistletoe.
"Whose bloody ridiculous idea was this, putting enchanted snogging leaf all around the school?"
"Well, we can't really do anything about it, now can we, Ron, if Professor Dumbledore had agreed to it?"
"Can you imagine pashing someone completely disgusting though? I'll drink bobotuber pus before I have to snog Malfoy. Ugh! Remind me never to stand close to that git anytime in the near future."
"Still…" Hermione's expression was a bit odd and somewhat hopeful. "It won't be too bad if you could kiss someone you want, now will it?"
"Like who?" snapped Ron suspiciously.
She looked at him rather appraisingly for a second before shaking her thoughts away, "Forget it. Forget I said anything. This mistletoe is a bad idea. I think it's best if we keep an eye out for it at all times."
"Of course…" Ron continued awkwardly, "After all, we wouldn't want to be caught in, eh, anything 'embarrassing'."
"I agree…" Hermione was aware that neither of them was elaborating on whether 'we' referred to the both of them, in relation to each other. She decided that it was not a question she wanted to pursue today. "Well, I think we should go to class now."
"Okay." Ron cast one worried look at the mistletoe before following her out of the Great Hall.
A/N: Okay, what do you think of the idea so far? I know it's not much, but I'm just testing to see whether you like the concept. Please tell me what you think. I'm open to any criticisms or suggestions.
