Chapter Ten

A Sad Christmas Gift

Alex watched Hermione as she lay in the bed in the Hospital Wing. He had barely left her side since he brought her up here three days ago. He had asked to have his work brought to him there, because he didn't want to leave Hermione's side. Now that it was proved that the Figure was real, he wasn't about to let her out of his sight. Snape, of course, would just like to have failed Alex right then and there, but the only thing that stopped him was that Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. Alex sat there holding her hand. She had been drifting in and out of sleep for past 3 days. When she was awake they would talk, but then she'd be right back asleep if they stopped for a moment. Alex just sat there, keeping an eye on her. He loved her dearly, and would not let anything happen to her, even it meant costing his life. She stirred and Alex immediately jerked himself out of what ever thoughts he had been thinking. He looked at her. "Hermione? You ok? You need anything?" Alex asked her. She shook her head lightly. "No," Hermione said. He smiled slightly. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Fine actually," she replied. "How long have I been here?" she finished. "Three days. But its been arranged that you are excused from any missed assignments that you may have," Alex told her.

Hermione let out a soft sigh and slowly sat up. "Good. For a moment there I was starting to worry," she said while Alex helped her into the sitting position. She looked at him. He looked terrible, as though he hadn't slept in days. His eyes looked tired, and his hair was slightly messy. "Have you been sitting there all three days?" Hermione asked him. Alex nodded. "I wasn't about to let you out of my sight. Not after what happened. If you had died…I would have been very sad that I didn't get to apologize to you for that snip we had, of which I am sorry. I didn't know that you were going to take Harry's side. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions," he said in one breath. Hermione looked at him for a long moment, then leaned close to him and gave him a small, gentle, kiss on the lips. "Thank you," she said. He sat there, not shocked, but slightly surprised at the kiss she gave him. He sat there for a moment, just looking at her with his weary eyes, not blinking, then leaned close to her, and returned her kiss. As he pulled away he looked at her. "I love you Hermione. If anything ever happened to you I don't know what I'd do," he said. She looked at him for a long moment. It was as if she read his mind. She knew there was more to that dream than he led on.

"Alex?" She said finally. "What else happened in that dream. I mean, there was more to it than just that figure telling you what was going to happen. What was that other part?" she asked him. He sat there not saying anything. Perhaps what he just said gave it away. Alex didn't want to tell her. I mean, what would she think? If two of the five murders had happened already, what would she think if he told her, her fate? He looked at her for the longest moment staying very quiet. Hermione looked at him. "It was something with me wasn't it? What happened to me?" she asked. He stayed quiet. He wasn't about to tell her. Another long moment passed. "Tell me! I want to know!" she demanded.

Alex looked at her. He was going to have to tell her. He took a deep breath and spoke. "In the dream you…you…," he paused, choking on the thought. "I what?" she said. He looked at her, there were a few tears rolling down her cheek. "You died," he said, now his eyes were brimming with tears. "That's why I didn't leave your side at all. I didn't want you to die. I didn't want to risk the Figure coming here and…and finishing what he tried to do." Then it hit him. She was in Transfiguration with him that day, and she left the same time as he did. "Hermione," he said. "How did you get to the common room so fast? And what were you doing in the boys dormitory?" he asked. She looked at him. "There was a secret passage way up to the portrait of the Fat Lady. I was going to meet you there because I wanted to talk to you. Then I heard a sound from inside the common room. When I went in, this wave of cold hit me, and felt myself floating into the boys dorm. It was going to kill me. That's when you came in," Hermione told him. Alex didn't know what to think. There was a passage way up to the portrait of the Fat Lady? The class must not have been far behind. Alex looked at Hermione. "Did the Figure say anything to you? You know, about the murders?" he asked her.

Hermione shook her head. "No. It didn't say anything until you came in. Alex…what if it comes back to try again. That spell you did, did nothing to it. What are you going to do?" she asked desperately. "I had someone go get Dumbledore after I found you. So he knows. He has talked to Professor Flitwick about charms to do to keep Dark things out of Hogwarts," Alex told her. Alex looked at her. She still looked scared as to what was going to happen. He switched from sitting in the chair to sitting on the bed and took her in his arms. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise. I'll die before I let anything happen to you Hermione," he said reassuringly. She had started to cry softly. The sat there for feel what felt like an eternity until a woman's voice came from behind them. "Excuse me?" she said. Alex and Hermione stopped hugging and faced the woman. It was Madam Pomfrey. "Sorry to interrupt this moment, but I need to check Miss Granger here to see if she's fit enough to leave. Then you two can go back to your affection," Madam Pomfrey said. Alex and Hermione smiled slightly at each other. It was five minutes later when Madam Pomfrey decided that Hermione was well enough to go. The both thanked her, and walked hand-in-hand out of the Hospital Wing.

Now it was the Christmas Holiday. The school would be emptying out until the first of January. Everyone one would be gone, except for a handful of people. That handful of people included Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Alex. Alex, of course, had had the opportunity to leave but turned it down. He told his father that he had loads of homework that he needed to do. But Harry and Hermione knew differently. He was going to stay to keep watch over Hermione. Alex, by now, had told Hermione that Harry figured out they were together. But they were keeping Ron out of the loop, simply by request from Alex. Alex knew that Ron also had a crush on Hermione. Alex hadn't asked Hermione out because he knew that it would make Ron mad, but because Alex felt it time to reveal his feeling to Hermione. Ron should have taken advantage of the situation before. When Hermione wanted to know the reason Alex didn't want Ron to know, he didn't say anything or he would change the subject rather quick. Hermione was slightly curious about this, but didn't say anything.

Christmas morning came quickly. Ron had been the first one up and was shouting up the stairs to Harry, Alex, and Hermione, the only Gryffindors remaining behind. They all tiredly got up and went down into the main room of the common room. Ron had gotten another sweater from his mum which bore the letter "R" on it. Harry and Alex also had one. "Blimey Ron, doesn't you mum ever send you anything different?" Alex asked. Harry and Alex had gotten sweaters the past four years. At least Mrs. Weasley kept changing the colour every year. This year Alex's was a very bright red, Harry's was a bright green, and Ron's was a dim blue colour. Hermione looked around for her presents. She found one from Mrs. Weasley, but hers wasn't a sweater. Hermione's was a very well made winter coat which bore her name on it. "Well at least you didn't get a sweater," Alex said with a chuckle and tore a package open from his father. While the others had their backs turned, opening their various packages, the jumped when they heard something hit the floor.

They turned to see that a box had dropped onto the floor. Alex had dropped it. They looked at him. "Alex? Everything ok?" Ron asked.

Alex didn't say anything. Then Hermione stepped forward. "Alex? What is it?" Hermione asked. Again Alex didn't say anything. Hermione looked down at his hands. There was a silver chain dangling from his closed hand. Hermione reached her hand over and put it on top of his closed hand. "Alex? What is it? If you won't say anything, then let me see," she said. Alex's hand opened slowly, revealing a locket. Hermione now knew why Alex wasn't saying anything. When Hermione first met Alex's mother, she was wearing this necklace. She looked at Alex, then back to the necklace. "This was my mum's," he told her. He was smiling, but there were a few tears in his eyes. Hermione nodded. "Yeah, I saw her wearing it when I met her for the first time," she told him. Alex turned and faced her. "My father sent it to me. There's a note in the box. I haven't read it yet. I'm not sure I do," he told her. Hermione began to reach for the box but he grabbed her hand. "No. I don't want you to read it…" he said. He opened it. There was nothing in it. He was somewhat relieved to see this. He turned his eyes back to Hermione. "I want you to have it," he said.

Hermione looked shocked. "Consider it a Christmas gift from me," he finished. Hermione shook her head. "No. I can't take it. Your father sent it to you. Its yours now," she said. Alex looked at the necklace once more, then looked back to her. "So? That means its mine to give away," he told her and placed it in her open hand, and then closed her hand gently. Hermione had a tear skidding down her cheek. Alex reached up and wiped it away. "Don't cry. Its empty, and obviously I'm not going to wear it. Its women's jewelry. Put some pictures in it," he told her with a smile. Then it hit him. Harry and Ron were still standing there. Alex looked over at them. Ron's mouth was gaping. "Ron," Alex started, then stopped when put a hand up. Ron was clearly shocked. Alex didn't want Ron to find out this way. He would have rather told him by owl post. Harry poked Ron. Ron's mouth snapped shut. "Um…am…am I right in thinking," Ron stopped when he saw Alex nod. "Ron…I didn't want you to find out this way," Alex said quickly. Ron stayed silent. "I…I thought I'd wait to tell you," Alex said. "Wait how long?" Ron asked. "Um…until summer," Alex said. Ron stared a hole through Alex then began gathering the rest of his unopened gifts and walked up the stairs into the dorm. Alex looked at Harry, then to Hermione.

They both looked confused. "What was that all about?" asked Harry. Alex sighed and told them why he hadn't wanted Ron to know. How Ron liked Hermione, and how Ron had entrusted him with the secret. "I just saw an opportunity to ask you Hermione. I didn't do it to make Ron jealous," Alex said. Hermione and Harry looked at Alex. "Look, I understand if you guys want to leave too-" Hermione stopped him. "You beat him to it Alex, you were ready when he wasn't," she said. Now it was Alex's turn to be confused. "What?" He said. "To put it in a blunt sort of way, you beat him to the punch," Hermione said. Harry was surprised to find that he agreed with what Hermione was saying. Alex was relieved slightly to hear this, but in the back of his mind, he felt he had betrayed Ron. "If you think this isn't bad, why do feel like I've just betrayed him?" Alex asked.

Ron didn't show himself again until dinner. Alex walked over to Ron. "Ron look I-" but he was cut off by Ron hitting him right square in the face. Alex had to lean against the wall so he wouldn't fall down. Hermione went to Alex while Harry grabbed Ron and held him back. All of this was interrupted by the voice of Professor Dumbledore. "What is going on here?" Dumbledore exclaimed.

Alex looked from Ron to Dumbledore. "You better have a good explanation for this Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said. Ron looked down at Alex, who was sitting on the floor with Hermione looking at the, now, red spot where Ron hit. Alex also had a cut on his lower lip. Ron looked back to Dumbledore. "It was a trust issue gone wrong sir," Ron said. But Alex knew there was no distrust involved in this, so Alex bolted up. "He's not telling the truth sir! I didn't break his trust at all!" Alex exclaimed. He reached up and wiped the blood off his lip. "But its ok sir. I forgive Ron. I don't want to see him get expelled for this sir," Alex said. Hermione and Harry couldn't believe what Alex was saying. True, Harry and Hermione didn't want Ron expelled, but if he had been, it would have been well deserved. Dumbledore nodded. "Very well then. But Mr. Weasley, you shall receive a month's detention for this," said Dumbledore. Ron nodded, looked at Alex, then walked off. As soon as Ron turned the corner into the Great Hall, "OW!" Alex shouted. Harry and Hermione both jumped. "Now you say ow?" Harry asked, then walked off into the Great Hall to go and talk to Ron. "I didn't want to admit that hurt in front of Dumbledore and Ron," Alex told Hermione. Hermione smiled slightly. "Well, it was good of you to do that for Ron after that," Hermione told him. Alex nodded. "Yeah…I know…You think I should go tell Dumbledore that it isn't ok and that Ron should be expelled?" Alex said with a light chuckle. Hermione smiled. "Come on, lets go get something to eat. I'm starving," Alex said to her.

Alex had forgotten about the Figure until they were halfway through dinner. An owl came soaring in over the table and dropped a letter in front of Alex. Alex recognized the owl as his fathers. Alex looked up the table at Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded. Alex picked up the letter. The letter had arrived on his fathers owl, but the letter wasn't from his father. The letter had come directly from Cornelius Fudge. Alex looked at Dumbledore again. "What is it? The letter is to you isn't it?" Dumbledore asked. "Yeah. But this is directly from the Minister of Magic himself sir. I don't want to open it," Alex told Dumbledore. Dumbledore stayed quiet for a moment. "I am not going to ask you to let me open it, but would you like me too?" Dumbledore asked finally. Alex sat there and thought for a moment. "No sir…I'll…I'll open it. Shall I read it aloud?" Alex said. "If you'd like," Dumbledore said. All the others sitting at the table, which consisted of the teachers and only a couple more students, himself, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They all watched as Alex slowly opened it. Then Alex began to read aloud:

Dear Mr. Alexander Price,

We at the Ministry of Magic regret to inform you that-

Alex stopped reading, dropped the letter, stood and began to walk slowly towards the door. Dumbledore walked over and picked up the letter to finish reading it. After a moment, Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore. "Albus, what is it?" she asked. Dumbledore stared off after Alex. "Minerva, do you remember at the staff meeting about that Figure Mr. Price saw in his dream, then up in the Gryffindor tower?" Dumbledore said. "Yes Albus, what is it?" McGonagall asked. Everyone else was listening intently. "Alex's father has been killed by that Figure," Dumbledore said finally. Professor McGonagall gasped lightly. Hermione, however, got up and ran after Alex.