Disclaimer: Only own the plot and the mysterious Jennessica Sanders…
The song sung by Draco in the last chapter was All in All by Lifehouse and the song sung by Hermione was Depressed by D.H.T
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Winter sunlight shone into the Head Girl's room on Christmas morning. While the other three in the group had gone to the Burrow for Christmas break Hermione had stayed at Hogwarts. As Hermione groggily woke up she sat up in her queen sized bed. Once awake Hermione looked at the end of her bed to see piles of presents and on the very top of it all was a rectangular box wrapped in red paper and had a green ribbon tied to it. A letter was tied with the bow. Hermione quickly grabbed this gift and took the letter off. She opened the letter up to see that the letter was written in both red and green ink. Obviously her secret admirer had spent some time writing this. Hermione began reading the letter with a smile on her face:
Ms. Lovely Hermione Granger,
A very Happy Christmas to you! I hope you like your gift, it took me forever to choose it, but I think it'll match you perfectly. If you'd open the present now I can tell you its meaning.
Hermione quickly untied the ribbon and tore the paper off. Hermione opened the rectangular black velvet box and found the most beautiful charm bracelet she'd ever seen in her life. She delicately took it out of the box and began finishing the letter.
Well now that it's open I can tell you each charm's meaning. The book stands for your love of reading. The quill and roll of parchment stand for your love of learning and writing. The ruby O stands for all the Outstandings you receive. The jar doe symbolizes the month of your birth, August. Last the gold band that holds all these charms. The gold stands for your heart of gold. In addition to the gold is the ruby from the O which stands for the Gryffindor in you. The ruby alone stands for the ruby red blood that runs through your delicate veins. You may have noticed the diamonds encrusted in the gold. If you look closely you will see your initials, H.C.A.G.
A somewhat cheerful,
Dragon Warrior
P.S isn't the blood in our veins actually like a bluish purple? Weird…
Hermione sighed cheerfully and put the bracelet on. It was just so beautiful. It slightly creeped her out that whoever her secret admirer was knew her birthday month, but she ignored that. Many people knew that after all and whoever this guy was could've overheard. Hermione opened the rest of her present which weren't all that special. She received some makeup, hair accessories, many books, and socks from Dobby and Dumbledore, Dumbledore did always say you could never have enough socks! Nothing lived up to the wonderfulness of the bracelet and Hermione wished that she knew who it was that sent it to her so she could thank him.
Hermione showered and dressed quickly. Her outfit of the day consisted of dark blue jeans, a red sweater and a red and pink scarf. She put her hair up in a high ponytail, tying it with a red and green ribbon. After putting on some natural looking makeup Hermione headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Not many people had stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays for they wanted to spend as much time as possible with their families before the war as they possibly could. There were so few people actually that there was only one medium sized circular table for everyone to eat at. Even the professors who actually bothered to eat with the students sat at that table. The only people staying were Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Jennessica Sanders and herself. It seemed Jennessica and Theodore had gotten together. It looked as though it was now ok for Slytherins and Gryffindors to date, big shocker there! SERIOUSLY! Hermione sat down at the table between Dumbledore and Draco. A bright smile was still on her face and the others noticed but didn't really pay attention to much to it for they too were in good moods, everyone that is, except Draco. He seemed rather sad and Hermione couldn't help but wonder why. She ignored this however because nothing would damper her mood on Christmas. Hermione thought about the last line in the letter from her secret admirer and silently giggled. Hermione ate at a normal pace, listening to the conversations surrounding her. It was something she knew was rude but also necessary. After everyone finished they all went their separate ways. Jennessica and Theodore went outside after conjuring their winter cloaks, scarves and gloves. Blaise and Draco headed towards the Slytherin common room and Hermione headed up to the Heads' common room. She had decided that she would start reading one of the books she received from her friends and teachers. What a wonderful and relaxing Christmas she was having, literally…
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Two weeks later Harry, Ron and Ginny had all returned and told their stories about Christmas at the Burrow. Although Hermione absolutely loved her present from her secret admirer she didn't tell the boys about it. On this particular day however Hermione was sitting outside with Ginny by the lake (did you notice I like having her by the lake?) telling her all about the bracelet.
"OH MY GOSH! It's soooooo beautiful! Oh whoever gave it to you spent a lot of money on it! It looks so expensive and beautiful. He also must have excellent taste! Damn girl, you've got a good one. I wish I knew who it was!" Ginny exclaimed once Hermione showed the bracelet to her. She rarely took it off except when she showered or slept. She didn't want it damaged at all, it was actually precious to her and she didn't even know who gave it to her!
"I know! So do I! Oh I want to thank whoever it is that gave this to me so much!" Hermione replied just as enthusiastically. Just then they heard snow crunch right next to them and they looked up to see Blaise and Draco standing in front of them smirking.
"What would you say if we told you we know who it is?" Blaise asked, sitting down in front of Ginny. Draco sat down next to him which just happened to make him be in front of Hermione.
"Oh please tell me!" Hermione practically begged. She couldn't believe it. She was actually asking something like that from a Slytherin!
"Nope, sorry, can't do that. You have to figure it out on your own." Draco replied this time while smirking that kind smirk he had been giving her lately.
Hermione huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. She should have known better than to ask that of a Slytherin. But as she looked at Blaise she saw that she would find something out, even if it wasn't the name of her secret admirer.
"I will tell you this. He really likes you, he's attractive, he's tall, and is damn rich." Blaise told her. Draco was looking towards the lake so she figured nothing else was coming from him.
Hermione sighed. This was all stuff she had already figured out. She smiled gratifyingly anyways and thanked Blaise for the small amount of information she was given. Blaise nodded at her and stood up as did Draco. Blaise gave Ginny a short but loving kiss on the lips and then the two guys left while talking lowly. It was then that Hermione noticed something. She had seen the Slytherins talking lowly a lot lately. All the Slytherins also seemed to have become very nervous. They seemed rather jumpy too. Just the other day Professor McGonagall had slammed a book down in frustration and nearly every one of the Slytherins had jumped, most having been concentrating on something else. Hermione then figured it out. The war was fast approaching and they were all worried. They were still teenagers after all and they had to make a huge decision, just like Jennessica did, though their thoughts may have been a little different from hers.
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Someone was shaking her hard. Hermione groaned and opened her eyes to see Harry, Ron and Ginny all standing in her room. They forced her out of bed and told her to get dressed quickly. Hermione did as she was told, in her bathroom of course and when she exited the bathroom the three dragged her all the way to Dumbledore's office. Once there Hermione saw many members of the Order of the Pheonix standing in the room, some pacing, some looking nervous and some trying their best to look calm. It was then that Hermione figured it out. The war was beginning…
Dumbledore quickly explained that Death Eaters were coming across Hogsmeade and would enter Hogwarts grounds at any moment now. Everyone was silent, they were all scared, but also proud that they were doing their part to stop this war and somewhat relieved that this would hopefully be the Last Battle. Nobody, not one single person, was calm. Harry had his eyes closed obviously trying to calm himself. This could after all be his final day, or it could be Voldermort's final day. Everyone hoped it would be Voldermort's. Hermione placed a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder and rubbed his back in slow circles. It was a habit of hers to give massages when she was stressed out and she figured Harry needed it the most. Harry relaxed some under her touch and smiled gratefully at her. Hermione smiled back.
A bang erupted from somewhere outside and automatically Order members ran out of the office. The four teenagers ran in the back for that was where they were told to be. They ran through the corridors where students were emerging, ready to fight, at least the older ones were ready to fight. First through Fourth years stayed behind for they didn't know enough spells to be of much use. They emerged outside and stood in formation with the other Order members and people (and creatures) fighting on their side. The Death Eaters came over the hill and then they saw him. There was Lord Voldermort in all his evil glory standing in front of the Death Eaters with Lucius Malfoy on his right side and Peter Petegrew, a.k.a Wormtail, on his left…
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