Laws of Love: Chapter 24
Every one was happy to move out of Grimmauld's place over to the Burrow. The Burrow brought good cheer to the three friends. It had been a 3 days since Harry's escapade and they were finally getting over the whole misunderstanding. Hermione's birthday was in 3 days and Christmas in one week.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny spent most of their time running around the garden to De-gnome it. Hermione was first completely scandalized when she had to throw little creatures forcefully over a hedge, but after one of them rudely attacked her hair which he had mistaken for a flying Hedgehog she had lost every little bit of sympathy for gnomes in general.
Mrs. Weasley was in a strange mood ever since Fleur and Bill announced that they were pregnant; and relished her cooped up anger in all directions. Even Harry barely managed to escape her wrath. He had been given a cold shoulder from her ever since he had returned and he couldn't bring himself to blame her. After all she saw him as a son, and felt responsible for him. It was of course not as bad as the Lupin's reaction to it. Being Harry's Guardian and all Lupin started acting uncommonly a lot like Mrs. Weasley and started fretting over Harry's skinniness.
After the last gnome was thrown over the hedge the group trailed back inside again tiredly. Mrs. Weasley was ready for them with plates full of sandwiches and mugs full of steaming hot chocolate. Ginny was shaking the snow out of her boots when a barn owl arrived.
The owl hopped over to Hermione and stuck out its leg. Hermione took the letter and fed the owl a piece of her sandwich.
Hermione unraveled the letter and skimmed over it.
Dear Hermione,
Great news. Ron appears to be awake and well. He is asking for you. If you want you can stay for the rest of the holidays at school.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Albus Dumbledore
Hermione face was glowing when she emerged from her letter; she flipped it around and hastily scribbled a note back. She tied the note to the owl, fed it another piece of sandwich which it took with a grateful hoot. She carried the owl over to the window and threw it out.
When she sat down again every one was staring at her. "What was that about?" Harry asked.
Hermione grinned and said nothing, then when she couldn't contain her happiness any more she jumped up and started dancing around while singing, "Ron is better! Ron is better! Better, Better, Ron is BETTER!"
Fred and George who just entered the kitchen and stumbled upon a dancing Hermione and fairly shocked other people:shrugged and started dancing along with Hermione.
"So, what are we dancing about?" Fred asked Hermione as he took her hands and twirled her.
"Ron!" Hermione laughed as she jumped up again and ran out of the room to pack her bags.
Fred, who just lost his dance partner, looked bewildered after her and said, "Now where did she run off too?"
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McGonagall was marking essays in silence when somebody tumbled out of her fire place. "Morning Miss Granger; Ron is in the Gryffindor Tower."
Hermione shook the ash out of her hair and stepped aside so that Ginny could also climb out. After Ginny came Harry, Fred and George. The twins decided to come too since they were sick of being treated like house elves.
As soon as they were de-dusted they went up to the tower. The hall ways were empty but the tower was nice and full since many people stayed for Christmas due to worried parents. Hermione had just dropped her trunk on the floor when Ron came running down the spiral stair case towards her. Hermione shrieked in delight as Ron swooped her up and quickly kissed her on the lips before putting her down. "Hermione!" he breathed.
After a long passionate kiss Ron turned to Harry who grinned and shook his hand, "Good to have you back."
The rest of the evening was perfect in Hermione's eyes. She had a good snog session, then she went off to Ginny for a little girl-to-girl manicure / pedicure time while Ron and Harry went out for a fly on the pitch.
During the fly Harry and Ron discussed recent events and…Hermione's birthday which was two days away.
"Well I thought about giving her a necklace." Ron said.
"What type?" Harry asked.
"Don't know yet. Tomorrow I'm going to Hogsmead with the Christmas shoppers. I'll see what I can get."
Harry nodded, "I'll come with you. I need to buy Christmas presents anyway."
"What about Ginny? Aren't you going on a romantic pre- Christmas date?" Ron teased.
"Uhm no." Harry said awkwardly, "Ginny and I broke up."
Ron fell of his broom.
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Walking around the shops searching for gifts was a drag in a guy's opinion. You wanted to buy the first thing you saw but deep down you knew it was crap.
So forced by your conscience you were going from one shop to the other. In the first place Harry had gotten Hermione small earrings for her birthday and for Christmas he had gotten her an extended version of Hogwarts a History. He also had already bought socks for Dobby and Dumbledore; and a nice book on strange creatures for Hagrid. For Mrs. Weasley he got a new frying pan and for Mr. Weasley a pen and pencil. Fred and George were easy; he got them so random joker items and with Ron's consent Harry bought him rain goggles for Quidditch. Ginny was harder though; he wanted to get her something nice but subtle. Eventually he settled with getting her nice quill and pot of golden ink.
Ron's presents for other people were all the same; sweets. His budget was of course lower then Harry's and Ron's main intention was to safe money for Hermione's combined Birthday gift.
Ron finally made to the jewelry store and was excited to pick something. The store attendant was a young blond girl who was equally excited to help.
"What are you looking for sir?" she asked him.
"Well," Ron started, "A necklace."
"Excellent sir, I do believe we have some of those." The girl squeaked as she rushed away to get some.
Ron shrugged at mumbled something under the lines of, "Of course you have necklaces you blithering twit."
The girl came back with a rack full of necklaces and Ron looked at them but didn't like any.
"You know…maybe you should design one on your own." Harry proposed.
Ron dropped the necklace that he was holding and looked at the girl, "Is that possible, because that would be excellent."
The girl brightened up again, "Oh yes indeed its possible. Hang on and I'll get my supervisor."
The girl disappeared and returned with an old man.
"Just explain to him what type of necklace you want and he'll make it."
Ron nodded, "Alright. Shall I draw it or something?"
"Yes, do that young man." The old man said, "By the way I'm Master Gobs. Professional Magical Jewelry maker."
"Good." Ron said, shaking the man's hand.
"Now tell me, boy. For who is it?" the man asked once they were seated around the designer table.
"Well my girlfriend Hermione."
"Ah, young love." The man sighed, "Good, good. Go ahead and draw out your design."
Ron poured down over the table and started drawing out his idea as neatly as he could. It was a silver necklace, on it hung a pendant. The pendant was shaped like a heart; the inside of the pendant was blue, a dark navy type of azure blue. The heart was shaped in such a way that the thick silver lining that held the navy blue grew thinner until it was a little trail of which another blue stone dangled. Harry must admit it was beautiful and it would be perfect for Hermione.
When Ron was done and showed the picture to Master Gobs; Master Gobs smiled, "Yes, a nice design. Have only seen such a pretty design once before made by a customer. A certain Albus Dumbledore once drew a very appealing necklace. But that was more then 60 years ago."
Harry and Ron exchanged bewildered looks but continued to listen.
"I'll make that necklace for you. And for a discount price because it's so pretty. Now let's look at the ingredients. Okay the silver colored bit. I'd say Sterling Silver but what ever you want will do. And the navy blue, hmmm. Soldalite, Sapphires or blue zircon? What do you prefer?"
Ron blinked, "Uhm, could you show me them first….and urm...their price tags?"
The old man laughed, and clapped his hands together. Instantly 3 blue gems appeared in front of Ron. Ron pointed at one and shook his head, "Don't like that one."
The man nodded and tapped it away, "That was Soldite."
Ron peered at the other two, "I like uhm both, but the sapphire it just too expensive. I'll take the blue zircon."
The man smiled, "Good choice. And the silver? I'll do it for half prize."
"Yeah, the sterling silver. That'll be nice."
Master Gobs twirled his wand and tapped the stone and the silver, then he started directing and molding it into shape with magic. The end result was gorgeous.
He hooked the pendant to the thin chain then placed the entire necklace into a small red box.
"So how much?" Ron asked, taking out his money bag.
The man thought, "30 galleons, 10 knuts and 5 sickles."
Ron sighed and tipped out every bit of money in the bag. He ran 5 galleons short. Harry immediately drew them from his pocket and gave them to Ron, "You'll pay me back later."
Ron grinned and handed them to Master Gobs, "Good afternoon. Thank you very much."
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The evening before Hermione's birthday was strange. Hermione hadn't had a real chance to talk to him since he was awake; and now that they had some time alone she choose to enlighten him about everything that happened. Ron was a good audience, he'd swear and curse when Hermione told him about the Malfoy- Ginny incident and then he'd be excited when she told him about Bill and Fleur.
Ron was finding it hard to believe that Lavender could pull such a stunt, but he was also mad at Lavender for it. Most of all Ron felt ashamed. He'd apologize to Hermione non – stop and wait on her hand and foot. But nothing could ease his conscience. He kissed Lavender and as far as he could remember he enjoyed it.
The end of the evening was nearing and they were both pretty tired. Hermione had spent the whole day with Ginny in Hogsmead and afterwards Hermione had helped Ginny with training. Currently the couple was lying in each other's arms by the fire; Ron was playing with Hermione's curls and Hermione was reading a book.
Harry, Ginny and Neville were also there, but both doing their own thing. It was a nice evening. But all good things have to end some time. It was about 11 o clock when they all went to bed. Hermione eager for the next day.
And the next day was something to be eager about.
It started off with Ginny running into Hermione's dorm with a large lumpy present. Hermione got up and stretched before taking it from Ginny's hands. "Morning Gin," Hermione yawned. Ginny squealed and wiggled on the bed before exclaiming, "Happy birthday!"
Hermione smiled lazily and starting unwrapping the lump. When she had finally managed to tear away the last piece she gasped at the sight. "Oh Ginny, it gorgeous!" Hermione held the black shirt against her body and grinned, "Where did you get it?"
Ginny batted her eye's modestly and said as nonchalantly as she could, "Oh, I made it."
Hermione jumped off the bed and threw off her pajama top and pulled on the shirt, "Oh Gin, you shouldn't have!"
Later, when both girls were dressed (and Hermione in her new shirt and the new pair of jeans her parents got her) they went down for breakfast.
Harry and Ron were there already, and greeted them cheerily. Harry immediately got up and gave Hermione her earrings. Hermione hugged him and kissed him on the cheek before sitting down and having breakfast herself.
The rest of the day was…..easily expressed in one word: PERFECT! Neville, Luna, Harry, Ron and Ginny took Hermione out to the frozen lake and started the day off with a good snowball fight. Hermione and Ginny were exhausted after an hour and both well down into the snow.
"I love my life." Hermione laughed she started making angels in the snow.
"Yeah, me too." Ron said as he also fell down into the snow right next to Hermione and leaned over to kiss her. Hermione giggled under it since Ron had some snow on his lips and made the kiss rather ticklish.
Hand in hand they walked back to the castle for a hot steaming lunch. Hermione had expected him to give her her present already and waited curiously for it. But she wasn't disappointed when she hadn't gotten it yet for lunch. Instead they went back out side and skated on the lake. They only did this for a short while since the squid got agitated and started thumping against the ice.
Until dinner they were to be found in the common room, with the exception of Luna who couldn't go there. They played some games, and Fred and George entertained Hermione with their specially designed fire works.
After the fire phoenixes died away and the multi colored butterflies dissolved did the group go down for dinner.
The teachers had put the Gryddindor, Ravenclauw and Hufflepuf tables together to make one big table to accommodate all the students and teachers. Every one was present except for the late eaters (Slytherins) and two teachers.
Dumbledore had just gotten up to persuade every one to sing Happy birthday for Hermione when Snape and McGonagall came into the room bickering loudly.
The two of them came through the teacher's entrance which was linked from the teacher's lounge to the great hall. McGonagall looked positively fuming and Snape weary.
They noticed people staring and started speaking softer, determined to end this disagreement before coming to the table.
Dumbledore smirked and waved his wand, making mistletoe magically appear right above the two teacher's heads. They didn't notice it at first but after one loud, "Severus enough!" one of the students couldn't resist to yell, "Yeah Professor Snape, enough of the fighting and get on with the snogging!"
Hermione and Ginny both gasped at Justin Flinch Fletchley's boldness while the guys laughed and started chanting "Kiss, kiss, kiss."
The two teachers, who didn't know what was going stared stunned at the students, then at Professor Dumbledore, demanding him with their glares to do something about it. Instead he pointed at the mistletoe above their heads and sang along with the students "kiss, kiss, kiss!" as Minerva and Severus stared at him in horror from the mistletoe back to him then back at the mistletoe and finally at each other. "You know the rules." Dumbledore laughed as you could see McGonagall starting to gag at the thought alone.
Slowly, very slowly, to the shock and the amazement AND the mere horror of the students; Minerva and Severus stepped at each other, circled around each other and finally placed a very prudent, very small kiss on each other's lips.
The girls reacted all the same way: gasping and squealing while the boys laughed and stamped their foots out of sheer joy.
Dumbledore turned to Hermione and said in a soft whisper, "Here Ms. Granger. Your BIG present from me to you. You can laugh about this for years; even when the darkest hour meets, the memory will bring a smile to your face or cause you to vomit either way."
Hermione smiled at him, "Oh this is nice."
Finally when the noise dimmed and the guys were starting to laugh less jubilantly did the meal appear.
Severus and Minerva walked over to the table and sat down as far away from each other as possible. Then Dumbledore got up again and commanded, not requested, commanded every one to happily sing along to Happy Birthday. Hermione blushed and hid her face in her hands as the music broke out, and Ron clapped an arm over her shoulder.
The song went by quickly, after which every one cheered and congratulated Hermione. The meal continued to Ron's pleasure and soon every one was traipsing back to the tower.
It was at the very last stair that Ron took Hermione's hand and guided her away from the group. He took her up to the Astronomy tower where he had placed one big bean bag for them to sit on and a couple of candles. It was simple, but very romantic.
Hermione sat down softly next to Ron, with tears in her eyes. Ron took out the little box and handed it over to Hermione as he whispered, "Happy Birthday 'Mione."
