A/N: Well, apparenly now that I have fixed my first chapter hopefully I will get more reivews. And don't really worry about it, I just fixed the Author's Note so people wouldn't go reading my last story. God, lately not even I go back to it, I realized how much I have grown just by writing Harry Potter fanfiction.

Before I announce me reviewer of my last chapter, I want to encourage all of you to go to and check out my stories there. I have two sn's there. One has a story with Daniel Racliffe and him finding love called 'Someday My Prince Will Come' under the sn StarAngel613. My second sn has two stories. One is a romance in the furture and the second one is a version of Freaky Friday in a modern world, nothing like the rip off of the movie. That is under the sn of Newport-Sunshine613. If you have trouble finding the sn, the two books are call 'Blue Nights' (romance) and 'The Swan and the Goose' (humor)

The reviewer of the last chapter.

Tamar-Shakira: I haven't read from you in a while and am so thankful for your reivew. Well, you know that routine, I will be checking out your story's and leaving reviews.

Okay, I think I have talked enough so on with the chapter.

The Price of Love

Chapter 16: Holiday Spirit

Hermione POV

I sat on my bed at home, petting Crookshanks in my lap. It was Christmas Eve and it must have been around 8:00 p.m. The door to my room was shut, I did not want anyone to bother me, especially my younger brother or my parents. I came to the conclusion that nothing was going to cheer me up this Christmas. Even when I did get back to Hogwarts I was to go shopping with Lavender for the Winter Ball that would take place the night after we got back. No news came to me about Harry the entire week.

I shifted uncomfortably in my bed. My stomach not ached and I was regretting that I had skipped Dinner. Although I never ate much now lately. I couldn't enjoy the taste of food nor reading a simple book. Suddenly there was a soft knock on my door and I could recongize my mother's voice on the other side.

"Hermione, are you in there sweetie?" Mom asked me.

Well, it wasn't as though I could ignore my own mother. "Yeah, come in." I answered her.

My mother opened the door and led her way into my room. In one hand she was carrying a tray of warm chocolate chip cookies and a small glass of milk. Crookshanks got up from his place and ran away out the door. My mom shut the door behind him. She set the food down on my bedstand and then continued to sit down next to me on my bed.

"My poor baby. You look horrible." My mom began, pulling my hair behind my ear.

"I feel horrible." I admitted. "No offense Mum, but the last place I want to be is here. I would rather be back at Hogwarts, by Harry's side, taking care of him like I should be."

Mom smiled. "I know, I can always tell what you are feeling. I don't need that Emo thing that Harry got you." said Mom.

I had totally forgot about that. I reached for it on my neck and pulled it up to my face so I can see it. I had expected Harry's head to be asleep with nothing under his head. But it didn't. I gasped. Harry's head was wide awake. As was mine. Under my head it read 'Speechless' and then under Harry's it read 'Lonely.'

"Hermione dear, what is it? What's wrong?" she asked.

"He's awake." I gasped. My Mom's eyes grew wide like mine did.

"What are you taling about?" she asked me with a quiet voice.

I took the Emo-Teller off of my neck and showed her. "Look, he is showing an emotion. If he was sleeping than it would just say sleeping. But it isn't. He is awake, even his picture shows it." I explained.

"But, Hermione, even if he did wake up, wouldn't someone send you a letter or something? I mean Dumbledore-" Mom tried to say until I cut her off.

"Dumbledore is the one who said it would be a bad idea to stay there with him in the first place. If it wasn't for him, then I could be there with him. I could have been there when he woke up! But no, I had to come home, to try and enjoy life when he could have died any minute!" I yelled.

I could have gone ranting on and on but at thay moment a black barn owl swooped in and dropped a letter right on my lap and then left as soon as it came. My mother didn't say anything. I just picked up the letter and opened it and read it to myself.

Dear Miss Granger,

I am pleased to inform you that Mr. Harry J. Potter has awoken at precisely 7:37 p.m. on December 24th. His health is progressing and should be perfect by your arrival at Hogsmeade village on December 27th at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Potter is being allowed to return to his dormitory tonight and I expect he will be using his owl shortly.

Merry Christmas,

Professor McGonagall.

"See, I told you. I told you!" I screamed with a smile on my face.

But before I could be any more happier, a white snowy owl came flying through my room again. It landed on the bed next to me and began to nip at my leg. "Hedwig!" I cried.

I took the letter from Hedwig's leg and realized she must want something, I took a huge chunk out of one of the cookies my mother had brought up here. I set it down on my bed and watched her as she starting eating it up. She hooted gleafully as I tore open the letter.

Dear Hermione,

I am here at Hogwarts, missing you. Dumbledore told me how you were forced to go with your parents. I only wished that I had woken up earlier so that I could be there with you. Although I am going to talk to Dumbeldore and see if he will let me go down and see you come back from your parents. Then we can go into Hogsdmeade like we did last year for the Winter Ball. Although, try not to get your hopes up. Remember what happened at the welcoming feast in the beginning of the year. I have not yet told Ron or Lavendar that I am awake yet. I wanted you to be the first to know. I miss you dearly. At least I know that we can never be harmed again. Voldemort is gone, forever. And all those who had ever followed him are dead as well. I saw you by the way. I saw you everytime you came and visited me. You were my guardian angel and you watched over me. I love you. I have to go now, but please wirte back. Hedwig will be expecting a reply.

Love Always,

Harry.

"Hermione, I am going to leave you be. And try not to stay up too late now."

I exited the train with Ron and Lavendar. They too were excitied that Harry was in full health and we all scanned the platform trying to find him. Ron was doing the best, seeing as how he was the tallest.

"All 6th and 7th years may enter the village of Hogsmeade at the time being to prepare themselves for the Winter Ball." I heard Professor McGonagall call out. I made my way over to go check in with her. "Yes Miss Granger, you may go now."

"Where is Harry?" I asked at once.

"Mr. Potter is up at the castle. The Headmaster thought it would be better for him to stay up there today. You may see him when you return up there. Now shoo!" Professor ushered us away and we found ourselves walking down the street of Hogsmeade. It was filled with 6th and 7th years. Here and there would be a younger student but there were rare.

"Well, common Hermione. Ron, we will meet you at the Three Broomsticks in an hour and a half." Lavendar spoke up.

Lavendar and I made our way to the small shop were I had brought my dress for the Winter Ball last year. Lavendar and I both walked in and began looking through all the clothes. There were a couple of 7th years in the back of the shop but other than that it was empty.

Lavendar almost immediately found the perfect dress for her. It was a pale pink dress that had a tank top style with a 'V' cut neck. It was made of silk and dropped down the her ankles. When Lavendar tried it on it looked perfect on her. The color really brought out her facial features.

I looked through the shop and it was hard for me to find anything that I really liked. I knew that I didn't want to do blue because I had done that last year and I didn't want a sleeveless dress because I almost always had a sleeveless dress. A lot of the colors didn't really suit me. Yellow clashed with my skin. I already had wore red at least twice before. I wanted something new. Plus, I wanted to look stunning for Harry. I was beginning to lose all hope when the perfect outfit finally came into view. A gown that was made of silk hung up against the wall. It was a dark, dark emerald color. It held up by a tie around the back of my neck. It had was a low cut in the back and the fabic didn't start until about mid back. Lavendar quickly found it in my size and pushed me in the back to go and try it on.

When I came out of the changing room, Lavendar dropped her jaw. I already knew exactly what she was thinking. This dress was practically made just for me. I smoothed out the silk at the bottom and noticed that it flowed all the way down to the ground. It fit every inch of my body perfectly. "Hermione, you look stunning. Harry might faint if he sees you in that." Lavendar said.

I went back into the changing room and changed back into my regular clothes and carefully hung the dress back onto it's hanger. Lavendar and I both paid for our dresses and got them into protecting bags. We then continued our shopping at 'Witches Touch' a jewerly store. We looked through the store until Lavendar and I found perfect touches. Lavender got a silver chain that had a pink lily on it which sat perfetly on her check. It came it silver hoops that had the small lily, only smaller, on them. My jewerly on the other hand had a gold chain and on it was a emerald in the shape of a heart. It came with matching emerald heart studs.

We finished our shopping by going to a shoe store wear we both got matching high heels for the occasion. We quickly made our back to the Three Broomsticks to meet up with Ron. We found him still in a booth by the corner. Butterbeer was already waiting for us. Lavendar sat down next to Ron and I continued to sit across from him. I raised the bottle to my lips and took a big gulp.

"Hey guys, I though you had gotten lost." Ron admitted.

"Well, you know how we love to shop." Lavendar said taking a drink of her butterbeer.

"So, did you resever your suit?" I asked Ron.

"Yeah, and it looks like you both have done a load yourself." Ron said pointing to our shopping bags. I noticed that he had a bag of Honeydukes and a bag from Zonko's Joke Shop as well.

"Ron, your plan was suppose to be to go shopping for the Winter Ball, not to fill up on sweets and jokes." I pointed out.

"Hey you expected me to do nothing for almost an hour?" Ron asked me.

"I thought that all the sweets I got you for Christmas would last you till at least Feburary." I said.

"Excuse me." came another voice. I turned to find Neville standing there with a butterbeer of his own.

"Hey Neville. Did you want to join us." I asked.

"I'd love to." Neville said taking a seat next to me.

"Well Hermione, I am getting tired. I am going back up to the castle, coming Ron?" Lavendar spoke up.

"Yeah, but we have to go and see Harry." Ron said getting up.

They both left with just me and Neville there. Neville didn't have any bags with him and it looked as though he had just gotten into the village.

"So Hermione," Neville started a conversation. "Are you still planning on going to the Winter Ball?"

"Well I mean I kind of have to been there I mean I am Queen." I answered him. I took another drink of my butterbeer. "Look, Neville. I know you must be hurt. I mean I know you liked Ginny and well, now that-"

"Hermione, I was just wondering if you would go to the dance with me." Neville cut me off.

I was taken back. Apparently, Neville hadn't heard about Harry. "Neville, that's really sweet but I thought you would already know that I am going with Harry, he's my boyfriend." I answered him.

"But I thought Harry was almost dead." Neville said.

"No, see he came out of his coma over the break. He is actually up at the castle waiting for me." I informed him.

"Oh." Neville looked down at the table as through he had flunked Herbology.

"But I''ll save a dance for you. I am sure that Harry won't mind." I said patting his shoulder.

"Thanks Hermione." Neville said with a smile. I was sure that it wasn't fake. "Can I at least walk you up to the castle?"

"I would love that."