"So have you started studying for the N.E.W.T.'s yet?"
They walked hand and hand through this winter wonderland. The soft snow crunched beneath their feet. The brunette looked up at Hermione, nose and cheeks lightly dusted with pink from the cold of the winter air. A smile spread across his face.
"No. No I haven't."
"Why not?"
"They're five months away, Hermione."
"So. IT doesn't hurt to get a jumpstart on things, that way you're well and ready with no doubts in your mind that you'll get anything less than an A. Besides it's not healthy cramming 5 months of education into your head the night before. You could fall asleep during the test if you don't get any sleep the night before. Let me tell you something. It you get 3 out of a hundred on your N.E.W.T.'s I will have to hurt you."
HE stared into those chestnut eyes trying to see if she was at all serious, which she was being completely honest. He laughed; she actually believed that he would put it off till it was too late.
"Look, I have too mush riding on this test, my career options, how much pay I could get and possibly you, I would not just gamble with all that just because I wouldn't want to study."
That last comment caught her off guard. How could he ever think that? She loved him, probably more than any other person could love any other person could ever love another human being. That girl loved him so much it would tear her apart if one tear would find its way to his eyes, his two beautiful emerald eyes that she would just stare into forever if she could. She could tell him anything, he made her laugh, and they had fun together, and even if you were to strip all that away she would still love him, deeply and truly love him. They were meant for one another. Now that she had him she would never let go, she couldn't live without him, just plain and simple, and no stupid test could ever change that. Hermione stopped and made him look into her eyes.
"Harry…" Her voice was gentle and barely above a whisper. "You could never lose me. I love you and no test could ever change that, but I refuse to let you slack off. I'll just have to find a way to make this interesting for you."
She giggled. He got the biggest smile she had ever seen on anyone's face when she had said that. "May I ask you as to how you might keep my attention … maybe a demonstration?"
"Well if you get an answer correct …"
Her hands slid up from his stomach, over his robes, up and onto the cool smooth skin of his neck, sending shivers up and down his spine. Those two perfect eyes shut and came closer and closer till the lashes lightly tickled his cheek. Their lips met and he was suddenly warm and his heart began to speed up. Her bubble gum tongue slid into his mouth and stroked his, his breathing was getting more excited, trying to contain himself and not go too far. They broke apart.
"So that's what I'll get if I get a correct answer while you're quizzing me?
"Yep."
"So Then what will I get it I'm wrong?"
"Depends on how hard the question was."
He sat down on the white soft powder leaning up against a tree. Harry looked up at Hermione with big sad puppy dog eyes, motioning for her to sit with him. She shook her head no. Not only did he have puppy dog eyes but now he had stuck out his bottom lip, he was so cute she couldn't resist. She sat down in his lap, his arms wrapped lovingly around her waist. They sat there for a few minutes not needing to say anything to each other, just watching the sunset. The gold melted and blended with the reds the pinks and the oranges, all of them being swallowed by the lake and leaving them with only the stars and the moon.
"Can you believe tomorrow is Christmas?"
"No… The year has just gone by so fast."
"So … What did you get me?"
She looked at him. "Well… I'm not going to tell you, but should I give it to you today or tomorrow?"
"Today?"
"Yeah… you can exchange presents on Christmas Eve."
"Today then."
"Okay."
And with that she got up and sprinted off toward the school, Harry following close behind. He saw her run through the doors to the school close quickly behind her, as if swallowing her whole. His feet carried him quickly up the stone steps. Pushing his way through the mamoth oak doors he stepped into the castle. She had already passed through the entry hall and was running wildly through the labrynth-like halls of the school.
/Okay. I hope she went to Gryffendor because that is where I'm going./
The portrait swung open to reveal the red and the gold of Gryffendor, golden fire birning brightly and dancing with much vigour./Hermione isn't down here? What, did she lose my present in her room/ He smiled. /Maybe I should at least try... /
Taking a few steps back, he breathed in deeply and took off, tearing up the girls staircase. He got to the fifth stair when the walls and the staircase began to tremble. The stairs under his feet sunk down into a stone slide. He landed at the bottom hard. /Well it was worth a try. / Sighing, he walked up the boys staircase and turned the handle to the dorm room, stepping inside. The floor was blanketed with red and white rose petals. The room smelled of vinilla. He looked up and found the hangings pulled around his four postar bed, a white candle on each side, the two flames shedding little light on the room. Harry walked over to his bed and pulled the hangings back to reveal Hermione. She was wearing a red silk robe that stopped just a few inches above her knee. She held up a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses."Happy Christmas, Harry."