A/N: Hello! and Merry Christmas to you all! This is the first, slightly Christmassy chapter, Chapter 13 will be the main Christmas one. I will try and get that up ASAP, but it may be a couple of days. I hope you enjoy,
As some of you may have noticed - and as one person has told me - I have married off Ginny to two different people - oops - At the beginning of the story I had her married to Neville, that was my original plot, and as I have continued through on this re-write, it just seemed as if that scenario has become less and less plausible. so I'm sorry to any Ginny/Neville shippers, but I have changed the beginning, and decided to go with the Quidditch player.
And now, onto the story please enjoy, and if you have the time review :D
xBx
DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to JKR
~ Chapter 12: Moving Forward ~
Harry stared, from looking at Hermione's calm expression, he started to wonder if she'd actually heard him say 'I love you', but the confusion and wariness in her eyes implied she had fully taken in every word. After a few minutes Harry finally answered her question: "I think that really depends on you." Harry started, then suddenly changed track, "What are you doing for Christmas?" He asked, Hermione looked momentarily confused at the sudden change in conversation, "Erm, I don't really have any plans – my usually plans generally include, curling up on the sofa with crookshanks, watching a DVD, or whatever films are on TV. Oh, and of course, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without watching the Queen's speech" she added with a laugh,
Harry rolled his eyes, "No, seriously,"
"What makes you think I'm not being serious?"
"That's all you do at Christmas?"
"Well, sometimes I'll go down the pub at the bottom of the hill for a drink, there are always a few locals in there," she added in a defensive tone.
"well, you're not spending Christmas alone this year, would you like to spend Christmas with me?"
"I'd love to," Hermione smiled, then asked "My place or yours?"
"So you're not objecting to spending Christmas in wizarding London then?" Harry attempted to clarify,
"I guess not," answered Hermione cautiously,
"Good," Harry stated, "Because I already told Molly I'd be spending Christmas with them, and she's told me to invite you along – or rather drag you along. I have the letter with me to prove it if you'd like to see it" He added, seeing a slight panic rising in Hermione's features,
"Erm, I don't know – will the really want me there Christmas day?" She asked,
"Honestly Hermione, for someone who used to be the brightest witch of our age you can be incredibly simple sometimes – of course they want to see you, and especially at Christmas. You have to face them sooner or later. Stop putting it off."
"And you're certain they invited me?" She tried to clarify, Harry shook his head and pulled out a letter from his jacket pocket, the letter Molly had sent him last night, and handed it across the table, Hermione took it wordlessly, and unfolded the parchment, quietly she read, letting the words sink into her. Finally she spoke, "Erm, Christmas is only three weeks away, I don't think I can face going around there before hand. And I'm going to need the three weeks for present shopping – I've been shopping for Christmas presents for years, I'm out of practice."
"I told Molly not to expect you before Christmas, but she made me swear to bring you on the day. So there's no getting out of that one. And shopping will be no problem, We'll make a day of it -"
"One day?" Hermione interrupted, "You get all your shopping done in one day?"
"Half a day usually, why?" he asked, seeing Hermione's face, "Is that bad?"
"Never mind. Sure, lets make a day of it, where do you want to go, up into Whitby? There are some pretty good, unique stores there, Great for gifts."
"Hmmm, on second thoughts, maybe we ought to make it two days," Harry suggested, Hermione looked at him slightly confused, waiting for him to elaborate, "One day for muggle-shopping, the next I'm taking you to Hogsmeade. So you better get that wand out soon and start getting used to it, because we will be apperating – I have no idea how to find the damn place the muggle way."
Hermione laughed, and rolled her eyes, nodding slowly, "I guess I could manage that," Hermione started hesitantly, "It would mean leaving the store for the a full day though,"
"You have Katie, she can run things surely? You're not getting out of this,"
"I wasn't trying to get out of it, I was just voicing a concern – I'm going to have to train her up with managing the close. It shouldn't take more than a couple of days," she said more to herself, "How about next week sometime?" she asked,
"And that will give you plenty of time to get used to using magic again" Harry said with a grin, "speaking of which, why don't you help me clean up?" he suggested, Hermione rolled her eyes, and stood up from the table, "fine" she muttered as she made her way upstairs.
Harry sat there, musing on the conversation, on the things they had shared, and triumphing slightly on getting her to come back with him at Christmas. He was still sitting there ten minutes later; Hermione was nowhere to be seen. "Hermione?" he called, rising from the table and going to follow her.
"Hermione?" He called again, going up the stairs. When he entered her room
he saw her stood in the middle of her walk in closet, just staring at the table on which stood her wand,
"What are you doing?" he asked, as he walked up to her,
"It's just, harder than I thought," she said quietly, "Which is stupid really, all I'm wanting to do is pick up a piece of wood"
"It's been a long time. And your wand is more than just a piece of wood." He added, "It will hold a lot of memories," he said moving forward and picking up the wand box from the table. He opened it and held it out to Hermione, "Baby steps" he added; she reached out her hand slowly, and held it over the box a couple of seconds, before taking a deep breath and removing her wand from it's box for the first time in years.
As she held her wand, she felt the familiar warmth spread through her had and up her arm once more, she smiled at the familiarity, and wondered why it was had been so hard to take this very simple step.
Harry smiled at her expression, and decided to push her into the next step, "Go on then," he coaxed her "Give us a spell."
###
Ten days later, Hermione was now in the habit of carrying her wand everywhere – even at work, she had it hidden under her apron, in a little, custom-sewed pocket she decided to attach a week ago. The first couple of days, Hermione had been somewhat hesitant at using magic, but now she was using it everyday, almost without a second thought – she had to admit, the nightly clean-down ritual went a lot quicker with magic. Tonight, however, she had to revert back to the muggle way, as she was giving instructions to Katie (for what felt like the Hundredth time) for tomorrow, when Hermione would be taking a couple of days well earned break,
"Jenny," Katie said, placing her hands on Hermione's shoulder, - She was still known as Jenny to the locals, as she was yet to correct them on this tiny little detail, "You've told me this a million times, you've watched me go through it tonight. Everything will be fine. And if something goes awfully wrong – which I'm sure it wont" she added hastily, "I will call you on your mobile."
"I know, you'll be fine, I know that. It's just strange to think I'll be having a couple of days off, that's never happened. Oh here, I almost forgot," Hermione unhooked a small bunch of keys as she spoke, and handed them over, "You'll be needing these in the morning. I might still be here when you arrive, but let yourself in, and get started, I'll pop in to say bye before I leave"
"Don't worry about it, go enjoy your date-" Katie said taking the keys and turning to pick up her coat,
"What? It's not a date" Hermione spluttered somewhat flustered, "Just friends, shopping"
"Whatever. It's totally a date" she maintained, walking to the door. Before she left she turned, "Accept it's a date, and make a move" she advised, "He's totally into you, and you're into him, quit pussy-footing around and be happy for darn-sakes. You deserve it." With that she turned and disappeared into the dark wintry night, as Hermione looked out, a few flakes of snow began to drift slowly down from the sky, shivering she locked the door, turned away, and jumped at the sight of Harry standing in the doorway leading up to her flat,
"She's right you know, you deserve to be happy," Harry said immediately, forgoing all greeting, "Oh, it's also totally a date, I'll come round at 9am, we'll muggle shop first" he clarified, before turning on the spot and disapparating with a grin, without giving Hermione any chance to speak.
At 9am the next morning, Harry promptly appeared in Hermione's kitchen, expecting to see her waiting for him, but the place was deserted,
"Hermione, I'm here!" he called out, and a disembodied voice replied from above, "I'll be down in a second!"
Upstairs, Hermione stared around her usually compulsively neat bedroom, which this morning was completely covered in what looked like her entire wardrobe. Yesterday's realisation that today was actually a date had lead to a certain panic over what to wear, and overnight her wardrobe had gone into that one state that every woman dreads, and only a woman can fully understand: Lots of clothes, but nothing to wear.
"Why is this such a big deal?" she muttered, "he's seen my in my work clothes, covered in coffee. Nothing is worse than that" Hermione sighed and looked down at her chosen outfit, silently cursing Crookshanks and his destruction of the only full-length mirror. She'd opted for her dark blue skinny jeans, with a knitted grey dress, under which she had donned a long sleeve T' for added warmth as the sleeves on the dress were to short to be even considered as such. For footwear she'd finally decided on her brown leather ankle boots, with fur trim, and a small heel – nice and warm, comfortable and practical, that gave her posture a bit of a lift, and made her legs look fabulous. Perfect. Grabbing her bag and a warm winter coat, she left the scene of carnage and descended to the kitchen,
"Sorry" she said, slightly breathless, "I took advantage of my first lie-in in years, and then I couldn't find my bag" she explained, slightly stretching the truth. Harry smiled, and simply asked, "ready?"
"Sure, lets go."
Four hours later the pair were sat on Whitby pier, eating the traditional sea-side delicacy of fish & chips. The morning had certainly been productive of sorts – though not to the original intended purpose. Hermione had taken Harry around everything touristy that Whitby had to offer: they climbed the 199 steps up to the abbey ruins (Hermione making Harry count them when he didn't believe there were 199), they looked into the parish church of St Mary and around it's graveyard, admiring the view that gave Bram Stoker the inspiration for 'Dracula'. They then descended back down into the main part of the city (Harry counting the steps one more time, just to be sure – turns out there really are 199) along to the port where Hermione told him the history of Captain Cook, they then took a walk along the beach, before returning to the pier for lunch.
"Does it always get this cold?" Harry asked, shivering slightly though he was dressed as if he was going into the Artic; Hermione laughed,
"quit your wining. The sun is out, the snow last night didn't settle, it's not that cold. And I suppose when you've lived here as long as I have you get used to it." She took a breath, then warmed, "It gets colder, you know."
"Well, lets go get some shopping done this afternoon, before I freeze solid in this position" Harry said, standing as he spoke, Hermione rose to join him,
"There are lots of little stores, that sell all sorts of local and traditional things, which I thought would be good for gifts. I thought of making up some little hamper-type gifts for everyone, mixing in a few things from my life here, with things I'll get tomorrow in Hogsmeade. Do you think they'll like that?" she finished hesitantly, looking at Harry and nibbling her lip with nervousness.
"Definitely" he reassured her.
A few hours later, Harry and Hermione returned to the Bay, loaded with bags, half their Christmas shopping done – Harry had also found a few good presents in some unlikely looking shops.
As Harry placed his bags down on the table, Hermione made her way to the stove, turning on a ring, and pouring a bottle of wine into a pan, "Want to stay for some mulled wine?" She asked, adding, "try and warm you up a bit."
"Sounds wonderful," he said, ignoring her jab at his inability to handle the northern climate. He took of his coat, and looking around noticed a couple of boxes in front of the fire, nodding towards them he queried, "What's in the boxes?"
"Christmas decorations, I've yet to put up my tree" Hermione admitted, removing her coat and then proceeding to pour out a couple of mugs of wine. Handing one to Harry she continued, "I was going to put it up this evening, if you want to help?"
"You've left it this late? It's Christmas in three days," Harry said in slight disbelief, Hermione shrugged, "I haven't had much time, are you going to help or not?"
"Are we doing it the muggle way, or can I use a wand?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, and instead of answering simply pulled her wand from a pocket in her dress and proceeded to un-box and assemble the tree by magic.
Harry grinned, "Wands it is then."
When the tree was complete, and the wine finished off, the pair stood to admire their handywork,
"Now it feels more like Christmas," Hermione said happily, "Thanks for the help," she added turning to Harry,
"It was fun, but now I should go. It's getting late, and I'll be back here at 9am to take you to Hogsmeade" he reminded her.
Harry hesitated in leaving; Hermione could see in his eyes that he was having an internal battle of some sorts. Within seconds Harry came to his decision, and taking a step forward he brought a hand to Hermione's cheek, bringing her face up to his he placed his lips gently on hers. Hermione melted at his touch, and brought her arms up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to her and deepening the kiss ever so slightly. Harry hesitantly let his tongue trace the outline of Hermione's lips, sending shivers down her spine; she opened her mouth slightly, inviting him in, her tongue seeking his at the same time.
After a few minutes Harry pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers he whispered, "Now I really have to go." Kissing her forehead, he then stepped back, and turned on the spot, disappearing with a crack, leaving Hermione feeling the happiest she'd felt in years.
A/N: I thought the time was right for a little bit of smut...it's only a little taster, there is more to come :) Merry Christmas all
xBx