Hey hey! Im back! I didn't die I swear! Thanks for all the reviews!
Hermione opened her eyes and saw at the end of her bed a pile of brown packages. It was only then that she heard someone close to her right already ripping the paper off some of their presents. Hermione turned her head and saw Ron sitting on his knees, gladly tearing off the rapping, and a huge grin on his freckled face.
Hermione shook her head and turned around to see if Harry was awake. He too was unwrapping his presents, though with more grace.
'Morning Harry.' Hermione said, stretching her arms and yawning.
'Hermione! Good, you're awake! I thought I might have to open your presents myself!' Ron said, snapping his head up and staring at her, the grin still in place.
'Morning Ron.' Hermione said, smiling. 'And,' she said, looking over at a small clock. 'It's only seven thirty.'
'But you're Hermione Granger…you're always up before this…' Ron said.
'Nah really Ron? Am I really Hermione Granger?' Hermione saw out of the corner of her eye Harry sniggering. 'And like you, I am on holidays, I have every right to sleep in.'
'sleep in?' Ron said, shock plastering his face. 'Sleep in?'
'Yes Ron. Sleep in. It's what you do when you don't get up at the normal time.' Hermione remarked, getting out of the warm sheets and walking slowly to the end of her bed.
She sat herself gracefully on the bed and reached for the first gift. It was obviously from Ron- the bad wrapping gave it away. Inside there was a new quill and a very fancy bottle of ink. Hermione thanked him, seeing him go red behind the ears.
The next one was from Harry, being neatly wrapped. Hermione opened it, pausing slightly when she saw what was inside. A gold ring. Hermione took it out of the paper, her mouth wide open.
'Harry…' was all she could say. 'Harry…' suddenly, she found her voice. 'It's beautiful.' The ring was a gold lion, kind of like the Gryffindor Crest, but with a red ruby in the lion's eyes.
'It's for being such a great friend.' Harry said, smiling at her from over her present- a box of sweats, a voucher for Honeydukes and a small snitch on a stand. He smiled. 'Thanks.'
Hermione looked back at her ring, then at Ron.
'I helped.' Ron smiled proudly.
'I see. You picked well guys.' Hermione grinned, carefully taking the ring and putting it on her finger. She held out her hand to admire the effect.
Hermione got on to opening the rest of her presents. In the end, there was only one left- a small package. By this point, she had a very good collection of presents. Ginny had got her a book Hermione was dieing to have, Aj sent a box of sweats and a nice gold and red book mark, Fred and George sent a voucher for their shop, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had the usual home baked food and a nice sweater knitted by Mrs. Weasley, Lupin had sent her another book, though Hermione appreciated it all the same, and a pair of odd socks from Dobby. She had many cards from people, wishing her a happy Christmas, and see you soon.
The last present was sitting at the bottom of the pile, which meant it was first to arrive. Hermione reached out for it and looked at the wrapping. Normally, she could tell who sent it before opening it by the way it was wrapped, but this was very hard. Either she was loosing her touch, or she had never got a present from this person before. Just as she was about to open it, a loud CRACK echoed around the Ron's room.
Hermione jumped and looked up. Seeing Fred and George standing there, smiling happily, she put the last present down on her bed.
'Morning all.' Fred chirped. 'Thanks for the book on marketing Hermione.' He grinned.
'Yes, thankyou.' George agreed, also grinning.
'And you Harry for the old school beater's bats and balls.' Fred grinned. Harry smiled.
'And Ron, thanks for you're sweats.' George smiled. Again, Ron went red behind his ears. 'It's ok.' He mumbled.
'Well, im starved.' Fred said, then apparated sorry about spelling, followed by George.
'Yeah, I'm a bit hungry, let's eat.' Ron said, getting to his feet and walking over to the door.
'Hold on Ron, Hermione still has one more present to open!' Harry said, seeing Hermione's last present on her bed.
'No no, its alright Harry, I'll open it later.' Hermione said. Harry looked at her, but walked over to Ron and through the door, waiting on the landing.
Hermione quickly pocketed the small gift and walked out after him.
Breakfast was very loud with everyone discussing his or her presents. Hermione was happy to hear that Percy's family sent him some things, and it seamed, just for today that everything was back to normal. He hadn't sent Hermione a present, but didn't want to mention it incase it spoiled a nice family day.
"thankyous" where called from one end of the table to the other, adding to the noise.
Hermione was smiling, talking with Ginny and laughing as Fred swallowed a piece of toast whole, then coughed it up, reveling a trick of his- it was really a piece of chocolate with an illusion charm on it to make it look bigger and a different object.
Once breakfast was over, the boys decided on another game of Quidditch, and invited Ginny along. Hermione had asked Ginny about her friend, Matilda, but Ginny said she went home late last night, not feeling well. Ginny agreed to have a game, so Hermione walked with them up to the area in which they played, having gotten changed with the small present put carefully into another pocket.
When they where all up and flying, Hermione sat herself against an old tree and took out the gift. Again, pausing to think of who could have sent it. IT could have been Percy, but she doubted it a lot…as much as she doubted that Malfoy would send her a present.
She was about to rip the corner of the brown paper present when she heard Mrs. Weasley calling.
'Hermione dear?' Hermione looked up and saw Mrs. Weasley walking towards her fast.
'Oh good, here you are dear. Can you come and get Crookshanks? He's playing in my garden trampling the roses.'
'Oh no, I'm so sorry Mrs. Weasley. Of course I'll come.' And Hermione once again was denied opening her present in piece. She followed Mrs. Weasley from their small Quidditch pitch and out into the garden.
'Oh, there he goes!' Mrs. Weasley called after walking slowly over to where he was hiding- he shot out like a bullet and into some more bushes.
'It's alright Mrs. Weasley, you get on with whatever you have to do and I'll take care of him.'
'Oh thankyou Hermione.' Mrs. Weasley said gracefully and walked back to the house.
Hermione walked over to where Crookshanks was hiding, and saw his bottle brush tale flick out of sight before he did another runner. Hermione let out a frustrate sigh and followed him. This continued for twenty minuets before Hermione tired of it. Carefully throwing a stick at the bush he was currently hiding in, Hermione caused her cat to run straight at her. She caught him and cried out in triumph.
Carrying him carefully inside, Hermione walked into the kitchen and saw Mrs. Weasley cleaning up the kitchen.
'Oh good, Hermione, you caught him.'
'Yes.' Hermione smiled.
'Take him up to Ginny's room- he's bound to find a way out of Ron's old room.'
Hermione nodded and carried her cat up the stairs to Ginny's room.
When Hermione opened the door, Crookshanks jumped from her arms and onto Ginny's bed. Hermione shook her head and closed the door, just as her cat was curling up in a patch of sun.
She walked up to Ron's room and got a book from her trunk.
After trying to catch her cat, Hermione's mind had completely forgotten the little gift jumping around in her pocket. Hermione walked back down the stairs and out into the sunshine. She headed back to the pitch and busied herself with reading while the others flied over her head.
When it was about five, the others landed and walked back with Hermione into the house. Mrs. Weasley asked for some help with dinner, so Hermione put down her reading material and helped Harry and Ginny, sill not remembering the present in her pocket.
After helping to cook, Hermione helped set up the table. Once it was all cooked, set up and everyone seated, the noise took over, but quieted down when Mrs. Weasley's magnificent Christmas feast came out. The only sound heard was the clinking of knives and forks, and the occasional chatter. Hermione talked little, not having eaten since breakfast.
Soon after the main course was finished, the noise level rose again, but like before, it dimmed, but less this time, when the pudding, cakes and ice-cream came out.
By the time that was all consumed, the air was drowsy and comfortable.
'Oh, I'd better feed Crookshanks.' Hermione said, remembering her cat somewhere upstairs.
Ginny rose to her feed and said she'd come.
They walked up the stairs together, talking about the day and what they had got. When Hermione opened the door to Ginny's room, she saw Crookshanks still fast asleep, moving his head every now and then. Hermione walked over and threw herself onto the bed. Only then did she feel something dig into her leg. Shifting a little, Hermione's brain clicked, and she remembered what was in her pocket.
Oh no! I hope I didn't break it- what ever it is! Hermione thought quickly.
'What's up?' Ginny said, seeing Hermione's look of brief horror.
'Oh, its just something in my pocket.' Hermione answered, trying to brush it off.
'What?' Ginny asked, sitting down on a wooden chair.
'A present I haven't opened yet.' Hermione smiled.
'From who?' Ginny inquired.
What is this? 20 questions? Hermione thought.
'I don't actually know.' Hermione said truthfully, then pulling it out.
'Looks like a box.' Ginny said, eyeing it.
'Really?' Hermione said in mock sarcasm. Ginny threw a small pillow at her grinning.
'Open it.' Ginny said at once.
'Why?'
'Because it's a present!' Ginny exclaimed.
'Oh. No, I will later.'
'No, now.' Ginny pressed
'No later!' Hermione argued.
'Please?'
'Fine, open it.' Hermione said, handing the package to Ginny who greedily reached out to take it.
Just as Ginny was about to open the parcel, it slipped out of her hands like a bar of wet soap. Ginny looked very confused as it went fling through the air and landed in Hermione's lap.
'What was that?' she asked.
'Must have been a charm.' Hermione said quietly.
'Well I know that, but why put a charm on it?'
'Maybe only I'm supposed to open it…' Hermione whispered.
'Maybe. Well, come on, open.'
Hermione looked at Ginny, her eyes wide and excited. She sighed and ripped off the paper.
Inside, there was a small box.
'Guess I was right.' Ginny said quickly.
'Guess you where.' Hermione agreed.
Slowly, and very carefully, Hermione opened the lid.
Inside, there was a necklace. But unlike one Hermione had ever seen. It was a sward in great detail with a snake wrapped around it. The snakes eyes, when Hermione looked closer where two reed rubies shining in the light. It was made out of Jade, so it was a beautiful green.
'Oh my Hermione, who did you impress?' Ginny asked in awe.
'I don't know.' Hermione answered confused. 'Nobody the last time I looked.'
'Try it on.'
Carefully, Hermione took the necklace from the box and put it around her neck. She looked at Ginny. She was smiling.
'It looks good on you.' She pulled out a small mirror and Hermione looked at herself. It wasn't the colours that looked good, I mean, the necklace was green with a bit of red, and her hair and eyes where brown. No, it wasn't the colours. It was the shape of the necklace.
'There's a note.' Hermione said, spotting a small piece of parchment.
From me to you.
Ok, now, you're all smart…WHO SENT IT? Hehehehe its not really a mystery, but its cute in a way. I hope the necklace impresses you…it would if I was Hermione! I hope the colours do not offend…if they do, let me know and I'll try to change it… make it have a colour charm or something.
Anyways, hope you all like and R&R!
aj