Title: The Point Of All Emotions
Author: ThePhantomsRedRose
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Phantom of the Opera.
Summary: AU, 7thYear. The war looms in everyone's thoughts. To take their mind away they begin work on a Musical. Strong partnerships are established, but are they strong enough to win the war?
Authors Note: I just want to let everybody know that I will be in Canada this weekend and may not have a chance to write much. We are taking a bus so I will try to write there. Hermione's thoughts are in Italics.

The Point of The Holidays

Hermione spent the morning of Christmas Eve in Severus's quarters. A lively debate was taking place about Muggle versus Magical fiction. Hermione had decided that muggles were more imaginative than wizards.

"Muggles steal from our society!" Snape said slapping his fist of the tray table.

"Severus calm down, you don't want to upset your wounds again!" Hermione said fussing over him. "Anyway, muggles are more creative, even though they don't believe in magic they write about them in depth!" She began, starting the debate all over again.

"Good morning Severus, Miss Granger. Hermione, why don't you go check on your eggs," Dumbledore said dismissing her. "We should be done in about an hour," He said, turning to talk to Snape.

Hermione walked to the library and thought to herself, I wish the portrait worked both ways. before jumping into the icy pit of water. Well that was refreshing. She thought sarcastically while drying herself off.

"Hermione!" Aslan called from a large rock on the side of the trough.

"Hello Aslan," Hermione said in greeting to the lion.

"What brings you by?" Aslan asked.

"I am checking on the eggs," she responded.

"Speaking of those, they have been moving quite a lot and they are making odd noises," Aslan said raising his giant head to look up to the nest.

"Oh dear!" Hermione said just before taking form. She flew up to the nest and saw one of the gray and green speckled eggs moving with cracks running all over it. She blew her fire on the egg, hoping that it was not hatching too early. There Hermione sat, breathing fire on the eggs for hours, watching it crack a little more each time.

Happy Christmas to me, Happy Christmas to me. Heck why couldn't it be Easter, at least it would be a little more festive

She went back to human form to send a message to Dumbledore and Snape from her patronus, detailing where she was. Within an instant a message came back from Dumbledore, saying to go back and take care of Severus and that he would take care of the rest. Hermione rose and began to think of her last days of freedom, before she was trapped in the pit, worn down by her dragonlings.

Once she entered Severus's quarters again she new something was amiss. "Severus? Severus! Are you here?"

"Yes Hermione close your eyes!" Snape said from his chamber.

"No presents until tomorrow!" Hermione yelled back to the depths of the quarters.

"You will be at the Weasley's tomorrow, and I want you to have it before then," Severus said. Hermione heard a door shut and then heard gliding footsteps coming towards her. "Okay open them, the box first" There was a leather bound book, with a box on top of it. She took the leather box and opened it seeing an ornate necklace. It was made of one circle of moonstone. This circle was bound by a golden frame, which contained rubies.

"Now that gift is to symbolize your new found relations to Godric Gryffindor. It is also charmed to be a two way talking system. In addition, the Book is Gryffindor's notes on the foundation of the school. I know how you loved Hogwarts a history. There is something very similar to Harry's map in there. I found it in my years of being a death eater and I recently rediscovered it," He said casually.

"Oh Severus, there incredible!" She said kissing him passionately.

"There's more," Severus said.

"Oh no I can't - " She was cut off by a kneeling Severus with a small black dragon hide box. He opened it and the lid gave way to show a beautiful large diamond and small diamond.

"Hermione Granger, you are the only woman who has made me feel like this. We are equals and I am requesting your hand in marriage. Hermione will you marry me?" Severus said with the most genuine look Hermione had ever seen in a man. Silent tears began to flow down her face. "Oh Severus, I… Of course I will marry you!" She said as he got off his knees and swept her off her feat.

He then placed the ring on her finger, kissing her hand. "That's not an ordinary diamond Hermione, that is a mood diamond. I have a matching band that will tell me how you are feeling. You can tell how I am feeling on the smaller diamond. The main diamond will change color with your mood. I was able to do this by a simple charm. I hope you like it," He explained.

"Severus it's the most gorgeous ring I have ever seen." Hermione said. The diamond had turned a deep red showing her love for Severus. "My present is not as elaborate," Hermione said with shame.

"It doesn't need to be elaborate, The greatest gift is just to love and be loved in return," Severus said as Hermione accioed her gift for him. There was a picture frame and a Figurine. The figurine was a smaller copy of Hermione's Dragon form, a little bigger than the figures from the Triwizard Tournament. The frame held a picture from the night of the ball taken before Ron had broken Severus's jaw. Colin Crevey had given it to her. The Frame was black with Silver and green running along the sides.

"Hermione these are the most beautiful things anyone has ever given me. I love them because they are both of you." He said taking her hand and bringing her down to the couch to spend their Christmas Eve.

It was noon and Hermione was getting ready to go to the Weasley's at one. She had convinced Severus to come along so they could announce their engagement. They had decided to only announce it to the Order to keep the death eaters in the dark. Hermione had changed into a pair of red holiday robes while Severus changed into a green pair. They were going to go to The Burrow by floo in Severus's Quarters. They bade each other good luck and stepped into the flames.

"Hermione!" called Mrs. Weasley. " And Severus, what a surprise" She said as she bustled towards Hermione and gave her a hug. She walked over to Severus, meet with an awkward pause. Finally she shook his hand and invited them to come into the living room.

"So Severus, What brings you here?" Molly asked. Hermione and Severus shifted glances. They had expected word to get to her from Ron back when he punched Severus's jaw.

"We might as well just get on with it," Severus sighed.

"Okay, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ginny, Ron, and Harry. I have an announcement to make," She paused waiting for the chatter to go down. " Earlier today, Severus asked me to marry him, and I said yes," There was an eerie silence. Broken by Fred and George saying, "You are going out with that bastard!"

"Fred and George Weasley! How dare you! Scourgify!" Molly cast, followed by a quick sealing charm on their mouths. "Well Hermione we are all so happy for you both, despite our verbal vomit," Molly said while giving her sons a glare to challenge Severus. The festivities continued awkwardly, until Ginny pulled Hermione aside.

"Look I need to talk to you," Ginny said pulling her into her room. "Harry and I were supposed to announce our engagement tonight, but your reaction, well I am so nervous!" She said while wringing her hands.

"Oh Ginny I wouldn't have announced it if I had known." Hermione said with guilt.

"Hermione, it's not your fault, I just don't know what to do!"

"What about the Order New Years Eve Party?" Hermione asked.

"That's a good idea! Why hadn't I thought of that before?" Ginny said.

Dinner was a festive occasion, the cooking was good and the company was great, though the charm on Fred and George was starting to wear off. Hermione exchanged gifts with Harry. He got her a music box that was based off of the idea of the monkey music box only this one played The Point of No Return and it had a dragon as its figurine on top. She had gotten him an encyclopedia of Defense Spells and Hexes. Ron had gotten her an assortment of magical yarn for her knitting and she had made him a black sweater. Ginny had gotten her a new trunk and a bottle of perfume. Hermione had gotten her a necklace she knew she wanted Mrs. Weasley handed her a new Weasley sweater. Hermione handed her a collage of pictures of Her, Ron, and Harry at Hogwarts taken by Collin. Everyone bade Hermione a good night and thanked her for the gifts. Then they grudgingly said goodbye politely to Severus.