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A/N: Nope, still don't own it. Maybe I'll go double check…
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" 'Reckon she'll like this?" asked Ron uncertainly, handing Harry a thick book titled The Path. Harry opened the novel and read the inside cover.
" 'Elizabeth Thompson shares her life with us through this amazing novel; her journey from muggle to witch, and the hardships that followed...' Come off it Ron, she wouldn't want this rubbish."
" Well then you choose," he muttered. " I have no idea what girls like.."
"And I do? Just buy her something girly... didn't you give her perfume a few years ago or something?"
" My mum bought it," said Ron, ears turning bright red. "No clue.." he mumbled. Harry laughed.
" Listen, just get her a book and a bracelet or necklace or something. 'S the best I can do for you mate."
" Where's Gin when you need her? " Ron mumbled.
" Behind you."
Ron jumped, and Harry laughed as he watched Ginny pull off the disguise of a hunch-backed witch. He had to admit, Fred and George trained her well.
" How long have you been spying on us?" asked Ron angrily, putting the book back on the shelves.
" Just got here. Such a shame. Snow slowed me down. Anyway- what do you need?"
" Hermione's Christmas present."
" Well I haven't got it," she said, turning to look at what Ron put on the shelves.
" No- you moron, I need you to help me pick it out."
Ginny read the cover to the book and flipped through a few pages.
" She'd like this.." said Ginny placing the book in Ron's hands. Ron looked at Harry who shrugged.
" How was I to know?"
"Right.. well, that can be her birthday present. What do you reckon for Christmas?" he was starting to look worried. Harry wondered if he had enough money to buy both.
Ginny walked around the shop before coming back to him carrying a package of beautiful moving bookmarks and a handsome new quill with some shiny pink stone near the point.
" That should be enough," she said and started to walk off. Ron called her back and she looked annoyed.
" Ginny- I need... I mean- can I borrow some money? I'll pay you back and all..." Ginny tutted as she reached into her robes and pulled out a few silver coins.
"You're gonna owe me more than just money big bro." she said and walked off.
"You're a lifesaver!" he called after her.
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Hermione sat down in the great hall, sipping pumpkin juice while reading the morning paper. Last night alone, 4 wizards, 2 witches, 3 children, and 12 muggles faced the wrath of Lord Voldemort. None had escaped. Her fork slipped while grabbing some eggs as she read the name "Avery."
She laid the paper against a milk jug and read with interest... He was a confirmed death eater,( though she already knew this) who was found dead in his bed last night with his wife... Dark Mark was found hovering over his house...thought of failed mission... address to send flowers too...
She felt guilty while sighing and feeling somewhat happy about the death of this man and his wife. But it meant that Voldemort was loosing control his ranks, a small sign ( but a sign none-the-less) that their side was up.
Hermione folded up her paper and threw it in her bag. She finished what was left of her eggs and juice, and left the Great Hall feeling somewhat more relaxed.
"Snarglefur" she said, reaching the fat lady.
The common room was completely empty. She made her way up to her dorms. Also empty. She didn't know how long the silence could keep her there. Maybe she ought to join Harry and Ron after all...
She entered the bathroom getting ready to shower. Pulling off her robes, she watched as something fluttered to the ground. The parchment from that morning. She picked it up, and very slowly, opened it.
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" That'll be 1 galleon and 3 sickles."
Ron handed the silver and gold to the witch at the front counter, and grabbed his bag. A minute later, Harry and Ron were outside in the snow. Loose flakes from the tops of trees blew over them as a wind whipped around their heels.
"Where do you reckon we head now?"
"How bout a butterbeer? My treat," Harry offered. Ron's ears were slowly turning red, and Harry added quickly" part of your Christmas present, eh?"
Ron laughed, ears returning to their freckled selves. They made their way to the Three Broomsticks, where Ron held the door open for Harry, who made an act of being mildly surprised and faking a blush. Ron laughed, and was grateful that Harry was making him happy after worrying about Hermione.
" Think she's gonna join us?" Ron asked as they hung their things by the door. He didn't need to refer to whom he was talking about.
" Nah, she's probably off studying again."
They made their way over to the counter, Harry getting the change out of his pockets to pay for the drinks. Madame Rosemerta appeared a moment later, a broad smile on her face.
" Ah! My favorite customers! What'll it be? Two butterbeers?"
Ron's ears turned pink, and he smiled quickly. Harry tried not to laugh and nodded, handing over the money.
" Don't be silly dear! It's nearly Christmas! Just don't tell anyone.." she whispered " you'll put me out of business."
Harry smiled, and, to Ron's surprise, tossed the money into a jar labeled "Tips" just as she disappeared.
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Hermione recognized the hand writing as her own, and vaguely remembered writing it, but couldn't remember why. She frowned at the paper, and read it 5 times quickly.
Break it off with Ron, but stay friends. Keep him in close view.
Her head pounded as she tried to remember why she would write such a thing. Keep him in close view... did that mean he was in trouble?
She put a hand to her head and released it quickly. She was burning up. Dropping the note, she jumped into the shower and turned the warm set water to cold. She let the water rinse over her, shivering after a few minutes. The coldness drove all her thoughts from her mind, and not until she exited with a towel wrapped around herself did she see the note again.
She would not have played such a cruel joke on herself. What was the point if she already knew the outcome? Still, the note was starting to look like a warning. There was a good reason for her writing it, she knew it. And she knew what she had to do.
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Ron and Harry made their way up to the castle hours later, cold and tired, hands red from dragging shopping bags behind them.
" She better like it after all that trouble," Ron said, rubbing his sore hands stopping at the fat Lady.
"Yeah...Snarglefur."
They walked through to find Hermione studying by the fire. There were large bags under her eyes, and Harry remembered his first look at Sirius with a pang. He really missed him.
He looked at Hermione, who was looking very sad and very confused. He could tell she wanted to talk to Ron alone by her glances from him to Ron.
" Hey M'ione. Ron, I'm going to take these upstairs..." he took hold of Ron's bags.
Ron sat down next to Hermione very slowly. He was noticing that her brown eyes weren't looking at him.. and one was starting to tear...