Chapter 17: The Second Day of Christmas-Shopping!
Harry woke up quickly. Five years of living in constant danger had given him very good reflexes. The small sound of soft footsteps, treading almost completely silently on the tile floor, made Harry's eyes snap open and his brain instantly started to work. Was this friend or foe? If foe, where is my wand? If friend, who is it?
"Harry?" the voice was soft and trying to be quite but Harry recognized it instantly.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked just as quietly.
"Yes it is me," Dumbledore said as he drew closer to the bed.
"What do you need Professor?" asked Harry.
"Nothing I was just coming to wake you up. It is almost 8 o'clock."
"Oh thanks."
Dumbledore drew even closer to the bed, and realized why Harry was not sitting up to look at him. Hermione lay, snuggled up against him, with her head on his chest. Dumbledore smiled, and Harry frowned, wondering what had caused him to smile when Hermione stirred against him and Harry also grinned.
He reached a hand out from under the covers of the bed and gently shook her.
"Wh-wha-what is it Harry?" she yawned.
"We have to get up Mione. Professor Dumbledore is here to get us up."
"O.K."
Hermione groaned, sat up and stretched.
"How are we getting home, Professor?" asked Hermione.
"You are going to ride the Knight Bus from Hogsmead to your parent's house."
Harry made a face, and Hermione punched him playfully on the arm. Dumbledore just smiled slightly, "There is food down in the Great Hall when you two are ready, and Professor Magonagal will walk you to Hogsmead at nine."
They both nodded in understanding and the Headmaster turned and walked out just as silently as he had walked in. Hermione turned and gave Harry a good morning kiss.
"How are your ribs?" she asked, still kissing him.
"A bit stiff but fine." Harry paused, "Hermione?"
"Hmm?" Hermione was still kissing him.
"Do I have (kiss) to go back (kiss) to your (kiss, kiss) parents house? (Kiss, kiss, kiss)"
Hermione sat back from him and grinned slightly, "Unfortunately you do. Don't worry about it though. I am positive that he will absolutely worship the ground you walk on after this, just relax and enjoy what time we have without parental supervision."
"I think I can agree to that."
"Good now kiss me again."
Harry, let's say was very enthusiastic about fulfilling that last command.
"I hate the Knight Bus." Hermione grumbled, looking slightly pale as she stepped off the purple bus with Harry as Stan waved cheerfully in the doorway, before the bus door closed and it disappeared with a bang. Harry nodded in agreement as they walked up to the front door of Hermione's house. Hermione banged on the door, which caused harry to raise his eyebrows and shake his head.
"What," Hermione asked, indignant, "It is cold out here."
The door opened and Harry froze, Mr. Granger was standing in the doorway. They both looked at each other, and then Mr. Granger did something that took both Harry and Hermione by surprise. He rushed forward and grabbed Harry in a huge bear hug, the whole time apologizing profusely for hurting him, and how he had overreacted and how he should have trusted him more, etc. Hermione had to step in and pry her father off of Harry, to keep him from suffocating her boyfriend. Harry grinned and accepted Mr. Granger's apology.
"You two need to go Christmas shopping," shouted Mrs. Granger from the kitchen where she was cleaning the kitchen.
"Yeah we do," said Hermione with a pained expression, "I still have to get gifts for Lavender, Pavarti, Luna, Ginny, Ron, Mom, Dad, etc."
"Well we can drop you off at Diagon Alley tomorrow if you want to get wizarding gifts for your friends," said Mr. Granger, "How about at ten, then we can come by and pick you up at say four. That should give you all enough time to get everything you need."
Harry gaped at Mr. Granger; they were willing to leave him alone with Hermione for six hours! And this being from the man who had originally not wanted him to leave his sight for fear that Harry's raging hormones would come into play.
"Is that ok with you Harry?" said Mr. Granger smiling at the look on his face.
Harry blinked then managed to stutter, "Yeah that is just fine."
The next morning true to their word the Grangers dropped Harry and Hermione off at the Leaky Cauldron at ten o'clock with a cell phone, money for lunch and their own personal spending money for gifts.
"Whom do you want to get done first?" asked Harry as they strode casually down the street gazing at all the people bargaining for items.
"Well who is the easiest to shop for?" asked Hermione.
They both looked at each other and grinned, "Ron," they said in unison and they turned and walked into Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ten minutes later they walked out with a complete history on the Chudley Cannons from Hermione and a real miniature model of the Firebolt from Harry. Next they went to a sweet shop and got sugar quills, fudge, chocolate, Bertie Bott's, Ice Mice, and other assorted sweets for the rest of their friends. They were passing a jewelry store when Hermione spotted something in the window, which caught her eye. It was a necklace with a pendent that was shaped like a phoenix, which happened to be Ginny's favorite magical creature.
"Oh Harry, look at that! Ginny would absolutely die!" Hermione immediately turned into the store and Harry groaned and followed her inside. Hermione was already browsing the counters while a sales lady helped her so Harry decided to look around as well hoping that something will spark his imagination about what to get Hermione.
He wanted to get her something special, not a book, or perfume, besides she didn't like to wear any, but something really special. His eye fell on a display of rings. He was about to move on then did a double take. There in the corner of the shelf, halfway hidden in shadow was the most beautiful ring that Harry had ever seen. It was gold, with three stones, the side stones being diamonds, and the center stone was the prize though, it was an emerald done in a fire cut and what little light was shinning on it caused it to sparkle like the green flames of St. Elno's. (A.N.-Don't ask I just made it up)
Harry glanced around and saw that Hermione was till bent over the displays while the sales lady was pointing something out. Another sales lady came over to Harry and asked if he needed help with something.
"Actually," Harry grinned, "I do. That is my girlfriend over there and I want to get her this ring." He pointed out the one he wanted the sales lady dived under the counter and retrieved the ring in question and brought it into the light. Harry caught his breath, in the light it was absolutely gorgeous the diamonds sparked like white lightning and the emerald seemed to have its own burning flame within.
"This is a very nice ring, pretty but not distracting like some," the sales lady said and pointed out others that were in Harry's mind gaudy, "I trust you need to know her ring size, but without her knowing what you are doing?" Harry nodded. "I will be right back." The sales lady disappeared, with a ring sizing chart and went over to the sales lady that was helping Hermione, after a whispered conversation, Harry's sales lady returned with a triumphant smile.
"You are very lucky Mr. Potter, we have only one ring in her size and this is it." She said nodding to the ring in her hand.
Harry grinned and said, "How much?" Right now though that ring could have cost a fortune and he still would have gotten it for her.
"Thirty galleons, sir." Harry wordlessly handed over the gold. "Would you like it gift wrapped?"
"Yes, please," said Harry, he wasn't the best with wrapping paper. The lady waved her wand and the ring was boxed and the store's Christmas paper was wrapped around it. She handed it back to him and Harry immediately pocketed it just as Hermione came up to him.
"Hey, Harry, are you ready to go?"
"Yeah I have been ready, did you get Ginny's necklace?" he asked as he steered her towards the exit.
"Yes and I got something for Luna too. It is a charm bracelet that has all of these weird charms on it."
Harry laughed, "I am sure she will love it."
As Harry went to shut the door behind them he glanced back at the sales lady that had helped him, she grinned and winked at him and Harry grinned and grabbed Hermione's hand and together they walked back toward the Leaky Cauldron where Hermione's parents were waiting for them.