A/N: The Christmas break largely goes according to canon. Harry still gets his Invisibility Cloak, and he still sneaks around the Restricted section in the library trying to find out more about our secretive friend Nic Flamel, and he and Ron also pay the Mirror of Erised a visit. This chapter will instead be simpler and more light-hearted in nature - Hermione and Kellen get a little time to simply enjoy being children without having to worry about the pressure of school.
"Hurry up, Kellen!" Hermione called out as she clambered up the stairs to board the Hogwarts Express. "I need to make sure we end up in the same compartment!"
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Kellen sighed. "Nature called."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you could have gone at the castle, or waited a few extra minutes until after we've boarded the train. You're the smartest person I've ever met, but you are a bit lacking in common sense." She smiled sweetly. "The truth hurts sometimes, doesn't it?"
Kellen returned the smile. "Thank Merlin you're with me."
The two friends came across an empty compartment and took after putting their bags away, they took their seats.
"So, what reading material did you bring with you this time?" Hermione asked. She giggled. "Novels, at least. Knowing you, you've probably brought some astrophysics textbooks to read for pleasure."
Kellen grinned. "I brought some Ursula LeGuin, Ray Bradbury, and Lloyd Alexander with me. Any of those authors interest you?"
Hermione beamed. "Alexander for sure. I love the Chronicles of Prydain series."
Kellen unzipped his pack and gave Hermione a paperback copy of The Book of Three. "Here you go. This should tide you over for a while."
"Thank you. What are you going to read?" asked Hermione curiously.
"I think I'm in the mood for some Terry Brooks," replied Kellen. He plucked out a copy of The Sword of Shannara and within minutes completely immersed himself in the world of the Four Lands.
A little while later, the same kindly old witch that served snacks and treats in a little trolley arrived at Hermione and Kellen's compartment. "Hello dears, would you care for any treats?"
"Hello," Kellen replied. "Just a couple of chocolate frogs, a couple of pumpkin pasties, and a couple of pumpkin juices please." He looked over at Hermione. "Do you want anything besides that?"
She shook her head 'no'.
Kellen gave the kindly witch a few sickles, and she gave him the chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties, and pumpkin juices. "Have a happy Christmas, dears," she said cheerily.
"Happy Christmas, ma'am," replied the children.
Kellen gave Hermione her share of the snacks, then proceeded to unwrap his chocolate frog.
Kellen munched on the snack while he read the card that came with it:
"Considered by many to be the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of Dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling."
"Hermione!" Kellen exclaimed.
"Yes?" Hermione replied, somewhat perturbed that Kellen interrupted her reading.
"It's the chocolate frog card," Kellen said. "I got Professor Dumbledore!"
"Great," Hermione replied nonchalantly.
Kellen knew by Hermione's tone that he had to get to the point. "It says here that Dumbledore is famous for his work with Nicolas Flamel in the field of alchemy!"
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Well, why didn't you say so? Let me see," she said as she beckoned for the card. Kellen handed it over.
"You're right," she said, nodding. "It still doesn't tell us much, but it is rather interesting nonetheless." She smiled at Kellen. "You know, you're probably going to end up on a chocolate frog card one day."
"I'm really only a farm boy, not a wizard," Kellen protested. "Who'd want to collect a card of a rube from Minnesota?"
Hermione glared at Kellen. "Stop, Kellen. You're impossibly intelligent and you're going to be one of the most powerful wizards in the world someday." She sighed. "You're more self-deprecating than humble sometimes, and honestly it's rather aggravating."
"I'm sorry," Kellen said sincerely. "I didn't mean to annoy you."
"You're fine," sighed Hermione. "Now unless you have something of substance to add, I'd really like to get back to this book, thanks."
Kellen shrugged, and returned to his book as well. Hermione seemed a little short with him since they got on the train, so maybe staying silent would be for the best, he reckoned. He read a few chapters of The Sword of Shannara then drifted off for a bit of a nap.
He woke up maybe an hour or so later, to find Hermione grinning at him. "Well hello, sleepyhead," she murmured.
"Oh, howdy," replied Kellen. "What did I miss? How long was I out?"
"Nothing really," said Hermione. "Maybe an hour at the most. I was thinking about this morning..." Her smile broadened.
"What about this morning?" Kellen asked, oblivious to where Hermione was going.
"Oh, how you and I were under the mistletoe in the common room? I really enjoyed that kiss," she said.
"Oh, no, you're not getting another one for a good long while," Kellen said, shaking his head.
"You were the one who initiated it, buster," Hermione giggled.
"I blame Neville," Kellen groaned. "If he didn't say anything we would have been none the wiser."
"I would have been perfectly happy with just a quick peck on the forehead," Hermione admitted. "But nooooo, it wasn't proper enough for you," she added with a giggle.
"I figured we'd have to do it right," Kellen replied. "But I'd also be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it."
Hermione giggled harder. "I figured as such," she said.
"Sooo... what did you want to do during the holiday break?" Kellen asked. "This time of year I usually go ice fishing, or play ice hockey on the frozen pond, or have snowball fights... but I guess that's just farm stuff."
"Maybe we can go to the ice skating rink sometime," suggested Hermione. "I haven't been in a few years."
"Are you a good skater?" Kellen asked.
"I like to think so," replied Hermione. "I probably can't land a triple axel jump or anything like that, but I was pretty good prior to Hogwarts."
"I'm sure you're better than me," Kellen chuckled. "I'm usually doing good just staying on the ice."
Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Are you implying you want to try something else then?"
Kellen chuckled. "No, I really don't mind. I'm not that bad. I did play on the local ice hockey team for a bit, even though I wasn't anything special."
"We can also go around the neighborhood and sing Christmas carols, play board games, visit my grandparents... I'm sure they'd really like you," Hermione added.
"That sounds delightful," Kellen replied.
It was already dark by the time the Hogwarts Express arrived at Kings Cross Station in London.
A pair of well-dressed Muggles, appearing to be in their late thirties, were waiting for Hermione and Kellen.
"Mum! Daddy!" Hermione cried out as she embraced her parents. "I've missed you so much!"
"We missed you too, princess," the man that must have been her father said.
The woman Kellen surmised to be Hermione's mother extended her hand to Kellen. "Hello, dear," she said warmly. "You must be Kellen. Our little Hermione has told us so much about you. She says you're exceptionally bright, and that's saying something because she's quite the precocious one herself. Would you mind saying a little something in Norwegian? I'm curious."
Kellen shrugged. "Hey, Hermione," he said. "Hvorfor sier du ikke noe til moren din?" (Why don't you tell your mother something?)
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Hun spurte deg." (She asked you.)
"Oh my goodness!" Hermione's mother squeaked. "You never told me you've learnt Norwegian, Hermione!"
Hermione giggled. "I have Kellen to thank. I'm truly flattered he wanted to share his culture with me."
"Well, it's getting late, so why don't we stop for a bite and head on home?" suggested Mr Granger. "I know it's been a long day for you two."
When they all arrived at the house, Kellen and Mister Granger brought the luggage out of the garage and into the house. It wasn't long before Hermione got changed for bed.
Mrs. Granger then pointed Kellen to the guest room. "It's down the hall, the last room to your left. The loo is right next to it. Any questions?"
"I'm good, thank you," replied Kellen. "Thanks for having me as a guest during Christmas. It was very kind of Hermione to offer."
Mrs. Granger chuckled. "It's not every day she invites guests that don't come over kicking and screaming."
"I don't know why, she's a really cool girl," Kellen said.
Mrs. Granger nodded. "She was the resident clever-clogs in her old school, and it kind of gave her classmates the wrong impression. I felt so bad for her because she really is a sweetheart."
"I can relate," Kellen replied. "I wasn't all that popular at my old school either. I had a few friends but never very many. I can't help my gifts, I never asked for them, as all they ever did was scare people away." He smiled at Mrs. Granger. "Something just... clicked when I met Hermione on the train back in early September. We bonded over books, and we've been inseparable ever since. She's the most amazing girl I've ever known."
"She thinks you hung the moon, Kellen," Mrs. Granger replied with a broad smile. "I saw her face light up this evening. Your very presence brings her a particular joy I rarely see in her. Thank you so much for everything you've done for her... you are without question her happy place."
Kellen grinned. "And she is very much my happy place."
Mrs. Granger wrapped Kellen in a hug. "I'm glad to know she means as much to you as you mean to her. We'll see you in the morning."
Hermione and Kellen spent some time at the ice skating rink the next day. Kellen was a solid skater, much better than he gave himself credit for, but Hermione actually looked graceful on the ice.
"You look beautiful on the ice," Kellen complimented Hermione. "If it weren't for your other gifts, with time and training you could be an Olympic figure skater."
Hermione blushed. "I'm not that good, Kellen," she giggled. "And you're not bad yourself."
"Well, thanks. It's a little weird, you know, being in the m-u-g-g-l-e world again," Kellen said softly. "I mean, I grew up in it, but I didn't expect to hit me this hard."
"I know the feeling," replied Hermione. "But it's an opportunity to just be children for a little while, and I've missed that."
They spent much of their Christmas break playing board games, singing Christmas carols, and just chit-chatting. They wrote Christmas cards to send to their friends - Harry, Ron, Neville, Desiree, Daphne, Tracey and Pansy - and even wrote one to Kellen's parents back home in Minnesota.
On Christmas morning, there were several gifts for the children. Most of them were for Hermione, as was expected, but to his surprise Kellen got a couple of gifts.
Kellen got a sweatshirt and a couple of new science fiction novels by Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game and Speaker For the Dead.
"Wow, thank you so much," Kellen said appreciatively. "You really didn't have to go through the trouble to get me anything." He smiled. "Believe it or not, I've never read his works - but I've heard they're awesome."
"You're welcome, Kellen," Mrs. Granger replied with a grin. "I got some input from Hermione as far as what you'd like."
"She knows me like the back of her hand," chuckled Kellen.
"And you know me like the back of yours," giggled Hermione. "Happy Christmas, Kellen Grimseth."
"Happy Christmas, Hermione Granger," replied Kellen as he wrapped her up in a gentle hug. "It's a Christmas I will never forget."