Harry's Special Xmas
Hi..This the second chapter. :) Took me some time to complete it because i had some distractions, which is of course... SHOPPING!hehe... So the last time we left Harry was when he was pondering about Hermione and trying to comprehend these weird dreams he has been having... Initially I wanted to explain why he started to have these dreams but... nah.. u'll find out in the future..hehehe..so read on ya! Im still intent on making the dateline... Pray for me health and enjoy the next chapter.
Disclaimer: If i was JK rowling, i'll be happy that i'm a millionaire and probably laugh at this story... All characters belong to her ya:)
Chapter 2:
The cosy village of Hogsmeade was just as breathtaking as ever as the golden trio made their way through the crowd of fellow Hogwarts students and the village residents. The laughter of kids and the jingle of bells plus the chorus of Xmas carols from little tiny elves along the street added to the festive cheer of the holidays. The trees around the village were all covered with snow but bewitched in way so that it swayed to the beat of the Xmas songs. For the first time,Harry was clearly noticing the beauty of Hogsmeade during the Xmas season..Or..Maybe it was because it was Hermione who was excitedly pointing out to Harry all the magnificient sights. Ron on the other hand, was too busy eyeing the new Quidditch set on display to notice Hermione and Harry lagging behind admiring all the sights and sounds of Xmas.
"Eww.. Harry.. Look at that.." Hermione said while grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him towards the popular store, Honeydukes. Harry was surprised to feel the zing from his fingers to his toes as Hermione grabbed his hand and before he could utter a word, he saw the funny ugly things that had grabbed Hermione's attention. There were grumpy little gnomes in the air,dressed up as little fairies, supposedly flying while throwing out sample of sweets and mini chocs and sweets from Honeydukes. Harry looked at the gnomes unconvincingly as he brushed out the mini wrapped candies that fell upon his crop of hair as he walked along the pavement outside Honeydukes.
"Bad idea for advertising." He muttered.Hermione laughed and he squeezed Hermione's hand,as he gazed upon her face. She was now busy eyeing out the chocolates on display,making her "thinking-face" as she scanned through the array of choices from the window shop. Harry,on the other hand, was trying to comprehend why he was looking at Hermione weirdly. He knew it was not right.For the past few days, he realized he was mesmerized by her face. There was this innocence and earnestness in her face whenever she's saying something. Her expression on her face whenever she's exasperated,annoyed and angry was tugging the strings of his heart and probably making it thud even faster whenever he sees her. Thank God, the past few days Ron has been quite unattentive or rather not noticing Harry's OWN attentiveness towards Hermione. Giving a chuckle, he squeezed Hermione's hand again. Hermione turned sideways to face Harry...
"Are you laughing at the gnomes?They are probably not paid to that ...Let's hope they don't employ gnomes next to clean up Hogwarts..Those poor gnomes.. And the S.P.E.W movement isn't even set up proper. We don't have enough supporters and..."
"But they are rather disgusting and grumpy, Hermione..."
"But they do have a right too..."
"Welll...Yea...th..."
"Yea...A right to be ugly and unattractive...Don't tell me we gonna start a S.P.E.W thingy for them too!"Ron's voice suddenly emerged from behind them.
"Why not? If Honeydukes see that as cheap or free labour, other stores will probably use them too and we should protect the rights of these gnomes!",Hermione said angrily, completely dissatisfied with Ron's smirk.
Harry could only grin helplessly at the sight of 2 of them, although, he must admit, Hermione's face was cuter when she's angry.
"Okok. You obviously don't know there's a respectable number of population in our backyard and we already started an organisation specially for them. I think it was Fred's or George's idea." Ron said with sudden seriousness.
"Really????" Hermione's face was incredulous.
"Yea. Named respectably,ahem.. drum roll please...The G.A.D association." Ron exclaimed.
"The GAD???"Hermione and Harry said in unison, amusement and disbelief etched on both of their faces.
" Yep, we Weasly brothers are fully supportive of this campaign of ours that fully believe in the message that we hope can spread to the masses. A simple and strong message.
"So what is it?"Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Gnomes Are Dumb. Get it?Well, since we already addressed this unnecessary query of yours, Come on,let's enter Honeydukes to get your chocolates Herm. I wanna get some for Ginny and Mum.. "Ron's quickly explained before rushing off to escape the fiery gaze of anger and irritation from Hermione.
Hermione was about to let go of Harry's hand and , march inside the crowded shop when Harry intervened.
"Hey, why don't you get your other stuff. I saw a flying banner earlier on saying there's a 50 off sale going on in the Quills shop.. Anyways, it's crowded here, I can get your stuff for you,"he said automatically.
"That Ron is such a ... Argh! Ok.Thanks Harry,"Hermione said,giving Harry a grateful glance. "I'll meet you including that insensitive wart over at the shop later on then.."
"Oi Harry,... Where the hell are ya," yelled Ron, "can you get your ass in here and help me. It's a super packed and crowded.I cant breathe in here!"
After getting a whole basketful of chocolates for Ron's family and Hermione and a whole lot chocolate related stuff for their close friends,like that chocolate bars filled with surprise fillings including sardine,lemongrass,onion and garlic as gifts for Fred and George, they went out, utterly exhausted and a bit sweaty despite the cold weather.
" If only there was ever Internet shopping in Hogwarts... it'll be better than all this...," Harry said as he sat down at the newest pub in Hogsmeade, "Wicked Wizzy ", the hottest new venue targeted for youngsters.
"What's..."
"Ron,you can't even know the correct way of using the "fellytone" so... there's no use of me explaining it to you."
"Err.. yea..Haha! Where's that Hermione? Nah, let's go and have fun at the my bro's shop.We can nick a few stuff from there.. no, they wont let me.. They'll probably give a whole box for you free, i suppose...hahaha"
"Haha. Probably,alright,wanna finish up my drink first and Ron..I need to ask..."
Before Harry could continue, Ron was well out of the door closely followed behind by a group of cackling and giggling girls, most of them from Harry's year. With a gulp, he magicked his large packagings so as to make it a whole lot lighter before carrying them out of the door. He almost bumped into Cho in his hurry to get out and catch up with Ron. The moment was well, awkward. Giving not so much of a glance towards Cho and Michael Corner,he muttered a half-hearted hi towards them before walking up the streets towards to Fred and Geoge's shop, the ultimate heaven and mecca for pranksters and the like.
Harry didn't expect to see Hermione until the later end of the day, but he could spot that hair of hers anywhere, plus she was wearing a really pink striking wooly sorta cap.She was in the fashion boutique with Ginny, which was located only 2 stores away from his destination. Ginny was holding out a gorgeous dress towards Hermione.It was nothing like the periwinkle dress she wore for the dance 2 years ago. In fact it was better;a magnificent shade of purplish pink. He grinned at his friend, her utmost resistance against wearing that dress probably because it was tight and figure hugging and as Harry could have guessed;not Hermione's style.
What was Hermione's style then, he suddenly wondered to himself. A visual image of a previous dream that hit him. A very elegant Hermione, in a dress that has a modest square neckline accented with beaded embroidery at the neckline and inverted center pleat. Simple elegant. It was that one single dream out of all the dreams that he has that made him nervous.
Judging by Ginny's body language, she can be pretty convincing and pushy too as he saw Hermione give up and took the dress from Ginny before going to the dressing room to try it. Ok, this was interesting. He walked nearer to the shop to get a better glimpse of Hermione and was glad Dean was outside, muttering about girls and their shopping so that he can at least have a decent conversation with him while eyeing the scene that was about to enfold inside. He didn't know the reason why,but a part of him really wanted to see Hermione in that dress. It didn't matter that Dean was probably talking about some Quidditch practice session with him,his eyes were still somehow fixed against the the window of the shop,waiting...
The girl who finally emerged from the dressing room was a vision. The dress hugged Hermione's curves in all the right places and her hair, which was tied up in a high and messy ponytail showed off her trim shoulders and neck and even though there wasn't a smile on Hermione's face as she whirled around showing the laughing Ginny how short the dress was,she still looked spectacular.
Even Dean who was blabbering stopped short...
"Bloody hell. Is that our Hermione??? Hermione! Haha!! Baby got back!" Dean joked,slapping his knee in laughter.
Harry on the other hand, was simply speechless. He knew he should not be thinking about Hermione in that way, but looking at her in that dress certainly made him think of her in THAT WAY!
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"Ginny,stop laughing!! I am just going to ignore the fact that you,my friend has FORCED me to wear this dress when I wanted to wear try on THAT light blue one. And I am OUTRAGED that you little,sneak,sued a charm to SOOOO shortened it before i actually try it ON! URGH. I mean look at this monstrosity that I'm wearing!" Hermione said as she whirled around, pointing to the hem of the dress.
"Haha..It's pretty and my my,herMYnie..I didn't know that there was a hotter babe than me beneath all those shapeless potato sacks that you wear...HAHA! I mean I knew you looked hot during the last dance but this..." Ginny circled Hermione like an eagle eyeing its prey, tapping her index finger on her chin as she made her analysis.
"THIS IS a pretty hot girl!" Ginny squealed and laughed.
"I know, i mean.. I DON't KNOW!!My mum will kill me and burn my books if she saw me wearing this and say that i looked like a..."
"Like a what?" Ginny demanded as she grinned mockingly at Hermione.
"A scarlet women as quoted from a person whom you very well KNOW!" Hermione said much to the laughter of Ginny which made her felt worse about herself.
"Relax 'Mione.It looks great. Of course, if it's a bit more longer,like that..."Ginny waved her wand.. "Then i guess it's alright. Alright but not as hot and bootylicious!"
"What about..."
"No,stick with that one.. You need a dress so I picked one for you.As for moi,I need to go now to comfort Dean who is probably bored waiting for me right..." Ginny turned around and was surprised to see not only Dean outside waiting and smiling cheekily but also her old flame, Harry Potter looking so..NOT himself at the moment. His eyes were so wide opened and there was sort of dazed look on his face which reminded Ginny of the time during Quidditch practice when one of their players accidentally hit a bludger to his head.
Ginny turned back to the red-faced Hermione,grinned.
"Seee.Even sweet innocent Harry likes it. It's official. You've been labelled a Hottie." Ginny placed her index finger on the tip of her tongue and then placed it on her bum and did the official sizzle sound.
Hermione could have just died from embarrassment at that very second.
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After that incident, Harry was smart to keep his mouth shut and pretended he wasn't affected by the scene earlier on. It was very clear when Hermione met with the 2 of them later that day she was still rather embarrassed. Back in the common,arms laden with packagings and such, the trio warmed themselves up in the room which was now crowded with Gryffindors.
"I could really use a Firewhisky right about now."Ron said, shivering before he used a charm to try to warm himself, only to make his sleeve catch on fire. Harry,Ginny,Dean, Fred and George laughed at the sight of Ron, attempting to make it stop.
"Oh Ronald,"Hermione said before muttering the incantation to put it off.
"Ya. That's better, thanks for making me soaking wet again,Hermione. Now i'm colder than ever...
"The least I can get is a thank you,Ronald." Hermione said with a slightly hurt voice
"Geez!Alright!Thanks 'Mione.From the bottom of my heart!You want me to add bits of love into my thanks as well." Ron joked before turning to Harry and the others asking them whether they wanted to play Exploding Snap before most of the Gryffindors head home the next day for the Christmas holidays. Hermione rolled her eyes at that comment as she and the others joined in the fun. Harry,on the other hand, was pretty tired after the whole shopping trip and decided to just watch them play,laughing occasionally each time Ron grumbled whenever his cards exploded in his face.
"Hey Harry,come on. Don't be a wet blanket. Join in. It's the holidays. Let go of your worries. Don't think about You-Know-Who and his plan Z or anything else related to him. He's probably roasting marshmallows by the fire and singing Xmas carols while his deatheaters wait longingly for him to kiss them under the mistletoe. It's the holidays! Let loose, footloose!" Fred joked as he high-fived his twin.
Harry snorted. Yea,easy for them to say. At least they don't have Horcruxes to worry about. No worry about getting killed each year. No worries about saving the rest of the wizarding world from an evil monster that's getting stronger by the minute. He sighed as he turned his comfy chair towards the crackling fireplace,deep in thought. He knew that this was his destiny. It didn't make things any easier because he knew he could stop caring and just let things go. Stop caring and let others take the responsibility. Just let..just let... Voldemort rule? Damn, he must be tired to be thinking about that. With a groan, he sank back into the chair, arms hanging limp and tired by its side as his eyelids closed. If only things were much less complicated.
A soft tenderness woke him from his nap. Someone was tenderly holding his hand,calling him to wake up. A sweet scent of something familiar. Very familiar. He opened his eyes slowly and there was Hermione, dressed in her nightgown, smiling and shaking him awake.
"Hey... Ron tried waking you up earlier on but you would'nt budge. Guess you were really tired."
Harry yawned and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?" he said as he turned to smile to Hermione who was looking rather cute in her bunny slippers. Her hair was tied to the side and he could smell the subtle fragrance of lavender. Probably her favourite shampoo.God, why hasn't he noticed that.God,she smells nice.
"It's nearly 1am. Why are you smiling?" Hermione asked.
"Oh.. Nothing.. It's just that... you..erm.. smell really nice..."
"Oh really?"Hermione sat on the arm of the chair, scooting nearer to Harry
"Err.. Yea.."Harry uttered nervously, his heartbeat beating fast.
"Ohh.. You are always the gentleman,Harry.So kind.So sweet," she suddenly trailed her fingertips playfully along Harry's left arm.
"Ha..Well, only to some...," he laughed nervously, his heartbeat getting faster...
"Well, for that compliment, I think you deserve this..." Hermione's eyes met him, her brown beautiful ones staring back into Harry's green eyes and much to Harry surprise, brought her face nearer to his, lips inching nearer and nearer to him and locked themselves into his. Harry's surprise turned into pleasure as he wrapped his arms around the girl,taking in the scent of her, the nice tender feel of her, the softness of her hair around him...A piece of heaven against his lips that was finally his,which made him realised it could only be a...
"OOF!"
Something soft was definitely on his face. But it was something soft that was hitting him repetitively and obstructing his breathing.He managed to voiced out a muffled "OI!" before his attacker stopped.
He expected Ron's face to emerge when he finally managed to breathe,instead it was...
Her soft laughter was rather unexpected,considering the fact that it was only a couple hours back when both of them couldn't really face each other in the face due to an incident involving a particular dress. Hermione grinned at Harry and he found himself grinning back.
"Did you know that you were snoring? I didn't know that you snore like a washing machine!" She laughed as she hit him in the face again with a pillow.
"Ha Ha. Thanks..What time is it by the way... Where are the rest? Why didn't you guys wake me up?"
"Well, Mr Harry Potter.. It's nearly one and Ron's probably sleeping like a baby in his dorm with the others. We wanted to wake you up,really we did! Fred even suggested we put Crookshanks over your snoring face...Hey, don't you dare throw that pillow at me...haha! It was his idea,not mine.. But you were looking so peaceful and blissfully sleeping that we didn't had the heart to do so.."
Yea,wonder why, he thought silently to himself as he watched Hermione re-tie her pony tail.
"One thing's for sure," she continued, " it's definitely not Voldermort you're thinking about since I caught you several times, smiling in your sleep." Hermione giggled.
"Oh, look who's making fun of me now. That right should have been given to me considering the fact that ahem... someone was wearing this dress that was so...HEY!" Another pillow hit him in the face and so a pillow fight followed.
After several throws here and there, they both landed on the carpet,laughing. Hermione gave a sigh as she stared into the fireplace. The look on her face told Harry that she was reminiscing about something and before he could ask, Hermione turned towards him.
" I remembered how when I was small, I used to argue with my parents every single Christmas's eve. You see, I wasn't like the others. I was quite cynical about this Santa guy and will always bombard my parents with questions on whether he really existed. I would plan many traps for this supposed Santa,who was of course my dad, which unfortunately landed him a couple of times either limping and groaning with pain every single Christmas morning. Yep, it was funny. They finally told me that Santa was officially fired after that." Hermione laughed. "How was your Christmas like before you came to Hogwarts?"
Harry gave a snort and explained that the Dursleys were very much into Christmas, decorating their backyard with Christmas paraphernalia, lights here and there and occasionally, parties were held.
"Yea, They would usually give Dudley all the big presents and I would be lucky to even get half a pair of socks from Uncle Vernon.. In fact, I used to hate Christmas because that's the time when I would usually either be locked in my cupboard under the stairs whenever there was a party. The presents, I didn't really bothered much. But back then, I knew Christmas was usually the time I would miss my parents the most..." He said sadly as he stared into the fire,another ache hitting him as he remembered Sirius.
Hermione took Harry's hand into hers, stroking it gently. Harry tore his attention from the fire and glanced at their hands,giving a small smile. He hated being weepy in front of people, especially Hermione but before he knew it, tears began to form. He hastily wiped them away with the back of his hands.
" I used to dream every night, before Christmas about the perfect Christmas morning. It's pretty much like those Muggle advertisements they have on tv. Perfect Christmas tree. Singing Christmas Carols. Running down the stairs eagerly to find my presents under the tree. Kissing Mum and Dad, thanking them for their parents as they smiled,watching me play with the presents that I've got."
He thought about the Dursleys and gave a cynical laugh at the thought of them doing the same thing. Hermione squeezed his hand and this made him smile, his stomach giving that familiar flutter that he used to get whenever he saw Cho nearby. This made him nervous. Before he could utter a single word,Hermione spoke.
"Well, you got us here at Hogwarts Harry. My mum and dad,as you know, are on their what,fifth honeymoon? Hahaha!So... Yeah... You can be sure it'll be a fun and special Christmas this time like always at Hogwarts!"
He grinned and again, couldn't help but lingered his gaze upon Hermione's lips.
"Yes.A special Christmas,"he said...
A special Christmas with a special girl...
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I had fun writing this chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading it. Tell me what you think... Happy Holidays!!! X)