A/N: Okay, so I know I have been MIA for a long long time, and I'm so sorry, in truth I did get a little sidetracked, then when I did get back on track, I found this chapter a lot harder to write,, and before I knew it, it became epically long, so it has now been split into two. The second part will be along very shortly, within 48 hours (if I'm happy with it).
Sorry for keeping you all waiting for so long, but I hope you enjoy the update, and thank you for sticking with me :D
Also, thank you for all the great reviews to the last chapter, I hope I'll continue to keep you all happy - and as ever, if you see anything wrong, any mistakes, please tell me :D
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DISCLAIMER: Everything Harry Potter and/or related to the HArry Potter universe does not belong to me...how ever much I wish for it...
~ Chapter 14: A Magical Christmas pt 1 – Christmas Eve~
Hermione woke on Christmas Eve, feeling incredibly light-hearted, incredibly content, and most definitely incredibly satisfied. Her lips curved into a fulfilled smile, and letting out a contented sigh she snuggled closer to the warm body wrapped around her.
Feeling her move into wakefulness, Harry also began to stir into consciousness, wrapping his arm tighter around Hermione, pressing her into his side. He turned his face into her hair, breathed in her scent and kissed her head, "Good morning beautiful"
Hermione giggled – yes, actually giggled – and turned her head to look up into Harry's eyes, "Good morning, Handsome," she replied with a smile, before meeting his lips with hers, in what she intended to be a brief kiss. Harry, it seemed, had other ideas: as she attempted to pull away, Harry tightened his hold on, pulling her even closer and deepening the kiss…
By the time Hermione managed to extricate herself from Harry's arms and lips, she was running very late indeed, after a hurried shower and throwing on the first clothes she found, she gave Harry a quick kiss, shouting behind her as she hurried out of the door "I'll see you later, call down and see me if you like, it should be pretty quiet"
Harry barely had time to call "Bye" before he heard her front door slam.
Hermione hurried through her morning set-up (Thank the Lords that Katie was as anal about cleanliness as Hermione was, so there was very little to do except count out the till) and Hermione managed to open her door only a half hour late. Not expecting anyone for a while, she brewed herself a hot chocolate, courtesy of Honeydukes, and sat herself down at a table with a random book from her ample collection. The book held her attention for at least ten minutes, before her mind wandered off to her bedroom, wondering if Harry was still lying in her bed. A smile graced her lips as she began thinking of last night, and this morning.
She was awoken from her reverie, by the sound of the door opening, and her first customer entered, speaking as she did so, "So you are opening today? I thought you had a taste for vacation and decided to just take the day off" Betsy greeted jovially,
Hermione jumped up and smiled, "I'm sorry, I was hoping no one would have noticed my late-start…It was a bit of a struggle getting out of bed this morning" she finished truthfully, with a grin and a slight blush. She then made her way to the counter, "the usual?" she asked along the way,
"Of course. And you can sit and tell me all about your Hogsmeade date with Harry. I want all the gossip, thank you," Betsy demanded as she took a seat at the table Hermione had just vacated.
Hermione laughed, "How did you know?"
"Minerva told me: she was told by Neville, who apparently gate-crashed your date according to Rosmerta – who also gossiped with Minerva about it. You of all people should know how quickly gossip spreads up there, Hermione."
Hermione laughed again and nodded, as she brought Betsy's tray over to her with another drink for herself also, "Well, it was more of a shopping trip than a date," Hermione tried to clarify,
"It's still a date, whether you want to think it is or not. I've seen the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him, come to think on it." Betsy countered,
"Either way, it was fun." Hermione decided to cut her off, not wanting to delve into feelings which she herself was uncertain about as of yet. "It was actually really nice not to have to be up at the crack of dawn to come down here; I forgot what it was like to have a day off. And going back to Hogsmeade, was…. was more enjoyable than I thought it would be." Hermione finished truthfully; Betsy nodded at her, her silence inviting Hermione to continue if she wanted,
"I mean, it was a little awkward at first, and every shop I went into, my heart was pounding at the thought of seeing someone I once knew – I didn't know what I would say if I did. But on the other hand, it felt like going home." Hermione finished with a smile.
"Does that mean you'll be gracing the place with your presence again? Only Rosmerta would quite like to know, she was disappointed she didn't get to have a good chat with you – apparently she was rather busy."
Hermione shook her head and laughed, "Do you speak to everyone up there?" she asked incredulously, her only response was a half-shrug, a raise of the eyebrows, and a sly smile, "What can I say, I have my contacts, when I want to know, I can know anything and everything" Betsy took a drink then proceeded to scour out the real gossip,
"So, did Harry spend the night?" she asked abruptly, Hermione coughed a little on the drink she had just taken,
"Erm, yes actually. We were erm, up late wrapping the presents we bought. By the time we were finished, he was too tired to make it back to his place-" she trailed off, but a slight blush had rose to her cheeks, and a smile warmed her lips, leaving Betsy with a fair idea of the nights turn of events,
"mmhmmm, yes well, I guess that explains your lateness this morning. Now I know why getting out of bed was such a struggle for you." She said with a grin causing Hermione to once again choke on her drink, Betsy laughed, before changing the subject, feeling Hermione wasn't quite ready to discuss the physical side of their relationship just yet,
"So, will Harry be spending Christmas with you this year?" she asked, innocently enough, but the smile that had been playing on Hermione's lips all morning slowly slid away and was replaced by a look of anxiety, as Hermione began nibbling her lip
"I'll be spending it with him, yes. But we'll be going to the Weasley's. Like he does every year." Hermione explained,
"Ahhh, you can't put it off forever, you know" Betsy said quietly, completely understanding Hermione's swift change of mood, "And the longer you wait the harder it will be. But at least this way, everyone will be together, the first meetings, or reunions if you will, can all be done at once, instead of drawing it out over a number of days" she added, consolingly, Hermione nodded,
"You're right. I know you're right. And at least Harry will be with me" Hermione added, a smile working it's way back into her features.
Betsy stayed for an hour or so, immersed in genial chit-chat with Hermione; as expected business was naturally slow, with only a handful of people turning up for a quick take-out to warm them through. After lunch, about a half hour before Hermione had planned on closing up, Harry emerged from the back – Hermione was busy cleaning down the tables so his appearance went un-noticed until he came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her lightly on the neck, "How's your day?" he murmured against her throat,
Hermione leaned back and smiled, "quiet, boring. It just got a lot better though," she added as she turned in his arms and kissed him quickly on the lips before extricating herself and returning behind the counter, "no-one's been in for a while, so I might close up earlier than I planned," she said
"Need any help?" Harry offered, Hermione looked around her,
"You could mop if you want? It's my least favourite part of the job" she grinned,
"Thanks," Harry responded dryly, "I hope that's not the only thing left to do?"
"No, the coffee machine needs cleaning, I'll do that while you mop. And before you ask, there is no way I'm letting you, or your wand, anywhere near that machine – my livelihood depends on it, I can't afford it to be broken."
Harry looked slightly offended for the space of five seconds, until he shrugged his shoulders in acceptance that if he thought about it, he did have a certain clumsy-ness about him, and trusting him with expensive muggle machinery that he knows nothing about was probably not one if the brightest ideas.
As Harry set to work with the mop, he started up the conversation, asking: "I was wondering, since you don't have to worry about this place tomorrow, would like to have dinner at my place tonight, and maybe spend the night?" Harry had his back to Hermione, and couldn't see her shoulders tense, but her silence told him everything he needed to know, so he continued, "I know that it will be hard to go back to Grimmauld Place, after everything that happened there, but I thought it might be a good stepping stone, before heading to The Burrow." Harry shrugged, "I don't know," he continued shrugging his shoulders, realising he wasn't being as articulate as he would like, "I thought maybe, tomorrow might be a little less intimidating if you'd spent the night in a house with similar memories to those held by the Burrow," Harry let the silence fall then, waiting for Hermione to respond:
Hermione had taken in each single word, and while the thought of spending the night with Harry again was what she wanted most right now, the idea of returning and spending the night in Grimmauld place filled her with anxiety. But Harry was right about one thing, it would be easier to face this than the Burrow, and if she could get through the night, then facing The Burrow and the entire Weasley clan might be a little easier,
"Kreacher wouldn't mind, the extra work?" Hermione asked hesitantly, Harry laughed,
"Kreacher wont mind at all: for a start, it's hardly extra work, and believe it or not, I think even he has missed you. Also," Harry added slowly, "He's kind of already expecting you," Harry finished sheepishly, Hermione turned to face him,
"What do you mean? Why is he expecting me?"
"I already told him you would be spending the night," he admitted, Hermione raised an eyebrow, "I went back there earlier to check in with him, and organise dinner,"
"Should you not have waited to make sure I actually wanted to? I may want to spend the night in my own bed, and wake up on Christmas Morning in my own place, surrounded by my things,"
"Alone?" Harry interrupted, "Well, I don't want to wake up alone again on Christmas day. For once I would like to spend the entire day with, which includes waking up next to, the woman I love. I've be wanting to do that for over ten years, so I'm not taking no for an answer."
"Ok" Hermione said quietly, "ok." She was a little taken aback at his speech: whether he realised or no, Harry had just told Hermione that he was in love with her for the first time – she remembered their argument a few weeks ago, where he had hinted about being in love with someone hiding away from the truth, at the time she thought he may have meant her, but she never let herself truly believe it until now. Granted, he hadn't actually said the words "I love you", but his meaning was pretty clear this time. Unsure as to whether or not she was ready to say it back to him she contented herself with saying:
"I'll finish up here, pack a bag, grab the presents and come over. Shall I meet you there? Or will you need to apparate with me? Have you added any extra security charms?"
"No, still the same charms there have always been, so you'll be able to apparate in no problem. I'll grab the gifts and take them over now. There's a likely possibility that George will be there, I'll tell him to go, and that you'll see him tomorrow. Then you don't have to worry about the stress and anxiety this evening, you can just relax."
"Thank you." Hermione said, touched by his thoughtfulness. Harry, having finished his mopping duties proceeded to clear away and head to the door leading through to the back, when Hermione added: "He won't be offended will he? It's not that I don't want to see him, I'm just not quite ready yet," she finished lamely,
"Don't worry about it, I'll just tell him you want me all to yourself" he said with a smirk; Hermione made a sound of indignation and threw the cloth she was holding in the general direction of his face. The cloth missed him by mere centimetres as he lurched through the doorway laughing,
"Prat" Hermione spoke,
"I heard that," Harry called back to her,
"Well, I said it out loud!" she called back smiling, "I'll see you in a half hour" she called as she heard Harry start taking the stairs. After making sure everything was locked and secure, she followed Harry up the stairs; barely five minutes behind him, she gained the top of the stairs, opening her door just in time to here the tell-tale "crack" of Harry disapparating.
###
Harry apparated into the kitchen at Grimmauld place, laden down with the bags of presents he'd taken from under Hermione's tree.
"Welcome home, Master Harry" Kreacher greeted him from near the stove,
"Hi Kreacher, the food smells delicious" Harry complimented, as he placed the bags on the table, he turned towards the stove to see Kreacher with a crestfallen expression, looking back at him, "Something wrong, Kreacher?" Harry asked concerned,
"Master Harry is alone, I thought…" the elf trailed off,
"She'll be here in half an hour, don't worry, your hard work has not gone to waste." The elf's expression cleared, and he smiled once again,
"Good," the elf expressed, "Master Harry has been alone on Christmas eve for too long now." Kreacher stated, turning back to his cooking, Harry had no response to that, and was starting to think that letting Kreacher be always open and honest with Harry could backfire badly pretty soon. Harry was distracted from his thought process by the kitchen door opening, and George entered the room,
"Blimey Harry," he said, noting the bags, "you went out on a limb with your gifts this year didn't you?"
"They're not all from me," he explained, "They're from Hermione, as well"
George raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Is she here?" he asked slowly, Harry shook his head, and George jumped in again before Harry could speak, "So you've effectively stolen Hermione's gifts? Nice."
"No, of course not, I brought these back with me, Hermione will be coming over in a half hour."
"Excellent! I'll get us some drinks ready," George announce,
"No, no" Harry clarified, "you won't be here, you will see her tomorrow. You have 20 minutes to talk to me then you're out"
"Well, that seems rather harsh," George commented, slightly crestfallen, "I always spend Christmas eve here, what am I going to do now?" he asked,
"Maybe go to the Burrow" Harry pointed out, "you can keep the rest of you family from dropping in unexpectedly, like they have a habit of doing,"
George looked at him suspiciously, "Why?" he asked, then a look of comprehension crossed his face, and a sly grin graced his feature, "ohhhh" he said knowingly, nodding as he spoke, "It's one of those evenings you've got planned, eh? Making your move?" he asked with a wink, Harry simply responded with a glare, George continued, dropping his teasing air, "Seriously though, Kreacher is right, you've been alone far too long. We all know how you feel about Hermione, and we know you've felt it for a long time. It's time she knew as well."
"Easier said than done mate," Harry stated simply, pulling out his wand he cleared the gifts from the table, sending them under the large tree at the end of the kitchen, and then conjured up crockery, glasses and cutlery for dinner, "Though I think I may have let it slip in the heat of the moment" he added, thinking back to his slight outburst from earlier,
George chuckled, "heat of the moment eh?" he repeated suggestively,
Harry rolled his eyes, "you really need to find yourself a girl: your one-track mind is getting ridiculous. I meant that our discussions can sometimes get a little heated – she's still retained her fiery temper, and you know what I'm like," he finished.
George nodded, "Well if you don't tell her, I will. And I'm sure Ginny and mum will also tell her, and they won't keep quiet for long, so you best get it out there."
"Thanks, now if you don't mind, Hermione will be here in about five minutes, and I need to change."
"Say no more, I won't cramp your style. I'll see you tomorrow. Lunch will be served at 2pm, as always. But mum will be expecting you by 11am."
"As usual" Harry finished with a smile, "I'll see you tomorrow morning,"
George disapparated with a wave, and Harry turned to his house-elf, "Sorry Kreacher, I need to change, have you got everything under control?"
"Of course, master Harry,"
"If Hermione arrives before I come back down-"
"I will take her things, pour her a drink and seat her at the table to await your return" Kreacher finished, Harry smiled,
"Thanks Kreacher."
Five minutes later Harry came back into the kitchen to find Hermione sat at the table, a large glass of wine in her hands being served snacks and talking amiably with Kreacher. Harry stood in the doorway watching her for a few minutes, smiling at how happy and comfortable she appeared to be, until Kreacher spotted him,
"I hope you don't mind, master Harry, But I took the liberty of serving some appetisers: I didn't think it would be right to keep mistress Hermione waiting after her long day working."
Hermione turned in her chair, "Hey Harry," She smiled up, "Hope you don't mind, I was pretty hungry, and Kreacher's cooking smelt delicious,"
"Of course not," he started down the steps and walked toward the table, "You ok?" the question was simple and generic, but the look in his eyes gave it a deeper meaning.
"I'm fine" she assured him, "actually, I feel really good" Harry came over to her, kissed her on the head in an automatic action way, then sat down next to her. Kreacher took this moment to serve out the first course of dinner; saying as he placed a bowl of steaming soup in front of Hermione,
" 'tis good to have you back mistress Hermione; the house and master has been gloomy without you."
A/N: So there you have it, the next instalment, not a lot happens I know: it's more of a build up to the big reunion which will be taking place next chapter. Chapter 15 will hopefully not be far behind, it's been taking me a while to get it down right - I feel the first time Hermione returns to the Weasley's is such a huge occasion, I really want to get it right, which is why there has been such a delay with these two chapters, but I think I'm about there now, which is why I have now decided to post the first one up. So please review, and please come back for more :D
xBx