Author Notes: This is a seventh year that uses canon up to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, however it does not contain any canon information from the Half Blood Prince.
Thank you to my beta reader: Cheerio Chum Chum!
Christmas Joy: Chapter One: All I want for Christmas is You.
It was the Christmas season, and most everyone was in a jovial mood in Hogsmeade. Why shouldn't they be? Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, had defeated You-Know-Who a few weeks earlier and was now walking though Hogsmeade. He noticed, that many people weren't there that used to be, and his mind couldn't help but dwell on the death toll. So many wizards died fighting in the streets of Hogsmeade, where the final battle had taken place.
Most of the losses were death eaters, but, try as they might, some of the fallen wizards had been allies. Harry fought not to let the many deaths chipaway at him, it wasn't his fault he reminded himself.
Harry sighed as every passer-by wanted to shake his hand and touch him. Finally, once they were done with the "Mr. Potter. It's such an honor" and "Can I have your autograph?", he was able to escape. At least Tonks was with him, since a few of Voldemort's followers might still be alive. It was she who'd finally dispersed the crowd, much to his joy and their annoyance.
He picked up Ron's present first, more junk food than the redhead would know what to do with; for Luna he chose a little mythical statuette that he thought she would like, Ginny got chocolates the same as Ron, Neville Longbottom got a book on Herbology, and on it went.
It was his best friend's present that drove him mad. He loved her, she didn't know it yet, but surely she deserved a better present than a book. Although books were her favorite thing, there wasn't much romance in getting her book. A book didn't say I love you and I've loved you for years, please be my girlfriend.
His mind ran through possibly romantic ideas before discarding them:
Perfume? No. Hermione hated the stuff. Although she did smell like vanilla a lot of the time.
Flowers? She would like them but they wouldn't last long enough and weren't romantic enough of a gift.
He felt frustrated enough to bash his head on a wall, but contented himself with a sigh.
Jewelry? Hermione rarely wore anything like that, although she did seem taken with one ring that was in his parent's vaults; but as it was a wedding ring that had been passed down to the oldest Potter heir for generations, he couldn't give it to her.
Poetry? No, if he wrote her poetry she'd be taken with fear, and would probably end up laughing at him.
Why did girls have to be so confusing? Why did love have to make the usual gifts so unromantic and why couldn't he just tell her that he loved her? Why did he have to take Luna's advice? Why was he getting advice on girls from Luna of all people?
"Yes. I like this girl a lot and I want to get her something romantic, but I don't think she'd enjoy any of the things I came up with." he said, his voice a bit nervous.
Tonks was silent for a while thinking through it, finally she whispered, "I have the perfect idea."
She then proceeded to whisper a nice plan to one Harry Potter, but let's leave them for a while and join Miss Hermione Granger.
'I wish I was inside reading anything at this moment.' she muttered. It was cold outside in Hogsmeade and she was not all that fond of shopping. Mentally she checked off names. I've got everyone's gift but Harry's, what should I get him?
She ignored the mental voice that cried, Yourself, naked in his bed with a note that says I fancy you and have for years. Although that would be what it would take for him to notice.
For a few years now she'd thought that he liked her as much as she liked him but he'd never said a word. She'd watched him date Ginny for a while and she'd cringed all the while. She had fought the jealous urge to hex her red-haired friend into oblivion.
That relationship had ended before the war was over when Ginny had realized that she didn't love Harry in a romantic way,and was caught by Harry kissing Neville. Harry had been hurt at first until he realized that he didn't love Ginny like that either. And he'd wished them well. They really did make a cute couple and they were quite happy together. It sometimes made her jealous, but so did watching Ron and Luna go all googly-eyed at each other. She wanted a realationship like that too. She wanted someone who loved her and who she loved in return. She was tired of being single and alone. The war was over it was time for her and Harry's life to begin. She was so certain that he loved her and she prayed earnestly that she wasn't wrong.
Browsing through every store, and denying every gift as being the perfect gift, she soon
gave up hope, and decided to browse the second hand book shop. She walked through the familiar door and begian to browse through old books. She loved the musty smell of the shop it smelled like a library reassuring and calm. She walked through looking at whatever volume caught her eye.
Displayed in the back was a book that caused Hermione's whole face to light up in wonder it was the perfect back. Charms A Guide by Lilly Evans. Harry would love it! She practically sprinted to the front of the store with it clutched possessively in her hands. She knew that while many people talked to Harry about James Potter, very few people talked about Lily beyond telling him that he had his mother's eyes. She wondered if Harry even knew that Lily had written a book? She could find out on Christmas.
The streets of Hogsmeade were quiet now; she walked past the Three Broomsticks, the windows dark and candles unlit, to mourn the death of Madame Rosemerta. It always reminded Hermione of the war and of the final battle.
Shaking herself, she moved on; it was not the time to think of the last battle now, it was time to think about Christmas and life moving on. What was it Harry had said during his speech after the battle? Something about death being the next great adventure?
She allowed her mind to flash back. The battle was over. So many people were dead and so many people were asking for Harry to give a speech. He was weary. His vivid green eyes were tired. But he stood up and addressed the crowd. "Tom Riddle the man who became Voldemort is dead. Victory is here but victory came at a heavy cost. Many of us lost many people to that man and his horrid followers, and the only words I have of comfort came from our headmaster, Dumbledore. My first year when I prevented Riddle's spirit from getting the sorcerer's stone he said, that death was the next great adventure. In my third year when I was surrounded by dementers and thought I saw my father rescuing me he comforted me by saying that those we love never truly leave us. Remember that. Remember those who have fallen. Remember those that you love." The audience cheered. And Harry stepped back down.
Christmas Eve came and went. Ron was so busy hanging out with Luna that it left Harry and Hermione to their own devices. They spent it in the common room, by the fire, pretending to read books while being lost in their own thoughts.
Finally, Harry opened his mouth and spoke, "Hermione I was- that is, Hermione your present won't be ready until tomorrow night, and I had to keep at Grimauld Place, so at 7:00 tomorrow will you go there with me to see your present?" He stammered his way through it.
"Sure Harry, I'll wait to give you your present until tomorrow night. But do we have permission to go to Grimauld Place?" Hermione said, wondering why on earth he'd be so nervous.
"I got permission from the Headmistress." He said. It had not taken too much persuading for Headmistress McGonagall to grant him permission, although it had felt strange not see Professor Dumbledore sitting at the desk with his shining blue eyes.
He could still see in his mind the headmaster taking the killing curse for him in the final battle, allowing Harry to kill Voldemort, although even now Harry was unsure of what happened. He only remembered the grief and sorrow he'd felt, and how Fawkes sang brightly into the night. Then there was a flash, and it was like the strength of his emotion was too much for the bond he and Voldemort shared, and then the Dark Lord had died.
Sadness was in his eyes now, and he felt Hermione put her hand on his shoulder in comfort. Both of them were trying to learn not to mourn the dead, but to move on.
Christmas Day went by in a blur of presents, laughter, and of course a very nervous Harry who barely looked at Hermione all day. It was close to seven o'clock and Hermione was bursting with curiosity. What had he got her?
They were sent though the floo to Grimauld Place, and Hermione was struck at once by how different Grimauld Place looked; it was bright, cheerful and roomy. The portrait of Mrs. Black was gone; in its place was a portrait of her, Ron, and Harry that had been painted earlier that year.
Her portrait waved merrily with a smile, and Harry and Ron both gave her cheeky grins; she smiled back at all of them
"It looks so cheerful in here now." She said.
"Dobby was a big help getting everything clean. Though I'm not sure what to do about his wish to serve me." He smiled and laughed uncomfortably.
"You'd be a decent master for Dobby, if he was to be bound again."
Harry brushed her compliment aside and grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's go see your present."
Besides that it would surprise no one, if Dobby left Hogwarts to serve Harry Potter, most people assumed the elf was his anyways, the way the elf idolized Harry. Everyone probably assumed that would happen anyways. She'd given up SPEW when she'd realized that most house elves weren't interested in being free although she did intend to campaign for the better treatment of house elves by their masters.
Her mind left the subject of the house elf rights to see where they were heading.
They walked up the stairs, and headed down the hall;at the doorway to the library, they stopped. His warm hands covered her eyes, as he led her into the room. She was wondering what book he'd gotten her or had he perhaps gotten her something else.
As he uncovered her eyes, she let out a startled gasp.The library practically tripled in size! The walls were an elegant hard wood, but Hermione's eyes were on the books themselves. The library was almost as big as Hogwarts; she walked through the room, exclaiming at titles occasionally.
Harry was smiling widely; she loved his Christmas present to her after all.
"Harry, it's wonderful! But how did you get them all?"She exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck.
"I had help. A lot of them belonged to Sirius--those were scanned by Tonks and Remus for anything dangerous. The rest I ordered from Flourish and Blotts, which brings me to the rest of your present." He handed her a card but she just stared at him slack jawed.
"You mean this library is mine?"
Of course it is. I like to read occasionally, but I don't love them like you do. There is even a reusable portkey for you to take you straight to the library, although the headmistress would like it if you notified her before going while school is in session." Harry smiled at her and then pointed back to his card.
Her hands were shaking as she opened it up and began to read.
Dear Hermione,
I've loved you for the longest time but I've been scared to admit it to you, who've always been by my side. I was afraid of putting an even bigger target on you than you were already wearing. Knowing that I'd be unable to bear it if something were to happen to you, and fearing that even if you went untargeted that I would ruin our friendship.
It took a dream, in which I was berated by my mother for being foolish, for me to realize that I need you in my life as more than just my friend. You are my light, my hope, and hopefully you'll be my love.
Love,
Harry.
Her cries and trembles increased as she read it. That by the end it was hard to read due to all the tears that were in her eyes. She ran to the nervous wizard and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as she hugged him hard.
Then she kissed him. It was a soft kiss that slowly deepened as both of them put their love for each other into the kiss.
"I love you too." she said after the kiss. She then handed him his present, "I hope you like it."
Harry opened it and stared at it stunned; his mother wrote a book? No one ever mentioned it. Not that he should be surprised by now, few people talked about Lily, though he did make a mental note to ask the headmistress about it.
He did understand that Remus had felt it difficult to talk about both Lily and James, and Sirius had only ever talked about James. He just wished that someone had said, "Harry, your mother was so talented at Charms that she wrote a book on it."
He smiled at her brightly and caressed the cover of the book. Brown eyes met green and she knew without him having to say a word. Soon she was engrossed in a book on Ancient Runes, and he was devouring his mother's charm book. They sat together in an easy silence.
A knock on the door startled them but Harry called to them to come in.
"Hello, Professor." They greeted together. Minerva pushed back the grief that threatened to well up as her two favorite students reminded her of Albus. He wouldn't want her to be sad, but Merlin she missed her husband.
"Minister Fudge has passed a short-sighted policy that will cause you and many other 7th years problems."
"What?" The two of them asked together, worried.
"He declared that, due to the population loss in the war, all seventh years must get engaged by the start of the new year and be married by the end of the next year."
"What?" They exclaimed.
"But we'll be so young!" Hermione exclaimed.
"It's not uncommon for witches and wizards to get married straight out of Hogwarts, Miss Granger; what is uncommon is for the minister to suggest it, although we have had a huge population loss."
"What about couples where one half of the couple will still be in Hogwarts next year, like Ginny and Neville and Ron and Luna?"
"As long as they get engaged this year and get married at the end of the year that both are Hogwarts graduatuats it will be allowed. I know that it's hard to be forced into marriage; I was among those fighting against it, but few would stand with me."
Harry was deep in thought as he listened to it. While the minister was an idiot and a jerk, he did understand the wizarding worlds fear of dying out. The population had been cut at least in half by the war and more than anything the wizarding population needed growth, lest it fall further into stagnation.
"What happens if we don't get married?"
"Then you will not be allowed to stay in the wizarding world. Miss Granger. Mr. Potter. Please think about it. Marriage isn't a fate worth than death and arranged marriages are common enough. If either of you has a hard time coming up with a partner, please see me and I'll see if I can help. Have a good evening, but try to be back by midnight." Said the headmistress, both Harry and Hermione couldn't help noticing just how tired she looked.
"Wait, Professor what about half muggle couples?" Hermione asked.
"They will unfortunatly be faced with some hard decisions. Since this law is mostly concerned with keeping the magical population high, it would not allow a witch or wizard to marry a muggle as the chances of a witch being born are not as high." the professor explained before leaving.
Alone in the library once more, the two stared at each other. Neither of them wanted to leave the wizarding world to go back to the muggle world, after all the trouble they had been through to save the wizarding world.
The headmistress's words kept repeating in Harry's head. Marriage was hardly a fate worse than death. He loved Hermione, she loved him; would marriage, and children be all that bad? Besides, they both were planning on teaching at Hogwarts after graduation. Harry had been approached about being the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and after Professor Flitwick's death, Hermione had been asked to teach Charms.
Hermione was lost in her own thoughts about how marrying Harry wouldn't be so bad. It would be better than being forced to marry a complete stranger; she would be marrying her best friend.
"Yes I will." she replied.
Touching their wands together, they repeated their intent to marry and even named a date, Christmas Day of the next year. Thus their engagement would be registered with the ministry.
The next day in the Great Hall there was an explosion of noise as the 7th years read what was expected of them. Ron immediately proposed to Luna. A shaking Neville proposed to Ginny. Pansy Parkinson looked to where Draco would have been sitting and then stared forlornly at the Slytherin table where she was the only 7th year remaining.
Then the Daily Prophet arrived. The Great Hall exploded once more, as did many of the wizarding homes, as Rita Skeeter reported that the Boy Who Lived was engaged to Hermione Granger.
For once, Rita was correct when it came to the two of them.