Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Hermione stared into the fire. It crackled and spat before hissing into life. Its lambent light stole away the velvet-black shadows dancing on the wall. Flames of rainbow-orange licked hungrily at the chimney as they clambered higher and higher. Hermione was planning on getting up early, hoping that the greatest illusionist of them all had visited. Hermione was sitting cross-legged in front of the leaning on the couch in front of a roaring fire. She had been reading about the history of Hogwarts, in one of her new textbooks for Hogwarts, when she suddenly found herself staring at the fire. The hypnotic, crackling of the flames and the deep red-orange colour, just took her out. Her parents were also reading, it was customary in the Granger household to find the three of them reading, but this was different. Of course, it was different. Hermione was not reading a young vampire teen fiction novel, but a big and old textbook that contained spells on how to use magic.
"Sweetie, it's Christmas tomorrow. You should be in bed, so as to not let Santa see you trying to peek at your presents."
Hermione turned and looked at her mother. She had learnt that Santa was not real last year, when a girl in her grade whispered it to her. Hermione was distraught, but her mother had been there and calmed her down and told her a story.
"Okay mummy," Hermione replied. "Goodnight to you both. See you in the morning." She got up off the floor and walked over first to her father and gave him a kiss on the cheek, then walked over and did the same to her mother.
"Goodnight darling. I hope Santa visits tonight." William stated as Hermione was leaving the room.
…
A fresh layer of snow had fallen during the night. A Christmas treat, many would say, but Professor Dumbledore knew different. He wanted to keep the peace that had been for the last 10 years. Voldemort had been wounded significantly when he attacked the Potters, but Dumbledore knew that he was not dead. He would come back.
But he decided that he would make it snow the night before every Christmas as a treat to all the children, muggle and wizard alike.
"This again Albus?" Minerva tutted as stepped out of the entrance hall through the grand wooden doors.
"Yes Minerva. I love snow, don't you? It is so innocent. I love seeing children throwing snowballs, making snowmen and throwing their heads up and sticking out their tongues to catch snowflakes. It reminds me of peace and innocence. It takes me away from the terrible times we live in, with Voldemort and the death eaters."
Minerva thought for a second. Her colleague was right. It may be a small thing, but it highlights peace in the world currently. The lull before the storm. Both Minerva and Albus stared at the children in the courtyard throwing snowballs and making snowmen and just sighed. They knew that this peace would not last forever.
…
A fresh pad of snow had fallen overnight, it hid even the tallest of SUVs, under a white blanket. Hermione thought as she stared out of the window this morning. It was a Christmas delight for all. But it was overshadowed by the screams of joy, from children waking up early and jumping on their parents' beds to open their presents from Santa. Hermione could hear the screams of the neighbour's children.
She took her stocking that had been laid out on her desk, as she had been sleeping and made her way to her parents' bedroom door. The slow, steady footprints dictated that she didn't want to wake her parents up, but at the same time she wanted to be able to jump on them with all the excitement that Christmas and the mountain of presents that it brought.
The door handle felt cold to touch, but Hermione grasped it with her right hand and pushed it open. At a moment she was standing in her parents' bedroom and facing her at the door was the bed where William and Mary were sleeping.
However, Hermione heard a mumble, "Merry Christmas sweetie." She focused on the bed in the dark room and saw her mother attempting to sit up in bed. "Hermione, my love, could you open the blinds for us. Then we can do your presents."
Hermione walked over to the window and pulled the cords to activate the blinds and raise them to the top of the window. Light poured into the room as Hermione opened the blinds, and William also stirred in his sleep and began to sit up.
"Merry Christmas to my two beautiful girls."
The wrapping flew off the small mountain of presents in her stocking, and Hermione's face grew into a big smile. She saw that her parents had kept some of the extra gifts she bought for herself at Diagon Alley for Christmas, but she had forgotten all about them till now. That's the kicker in a child's memory, they do so much that little things are forgotten quite quickly.
"Aww thank you. Now for the tree presents?"
William and Elizabeth looked at Hermione and both at once stated, "once we have dressed and had breakfast first, if we could."
Hermione looked at her parents, smiled and walked out of the room.
…
The Christmas tree shone bright and lit up the living room, bringing it to life. The colours of the Christmas lights created a happy and cheerful atmosphere. Hermione ate the croissant quite quickly, wanting to open the rest of her presents under the tree she had viewed earlier that morning.
So, breakfast was fast today. William and Elizabeth sat down in the living room and watched Hermione open all her presents smiling and grinning. Ever so rare, one of them would receive a present from Hermione as she had bought them one too or was given money by the other parent to buy a gift, as is the way for most children.
Before long midday came and the Grangers grabbed a washing basket full of presents for the extended family and got in the car and drove to William's brother Robert's house for Christmas lunch. There were festivities and fun to be had today. As everyone loved Christmas, a time of giving and receiving for all. However, Hermione was hesitant as she and her cousin Ethan had never gotten on. He would always bully her without being in the eye of both parents. He was very sneaky in achieving this and Hermione had wanted to hurt him if she could remember.
Little did she know that today would be the day she got even.
Hermione and Ethan were helping to set the table, she was carrying a plate of oysters Kilpatrick while Ethan was carrying a carafe full of water.
As the two of them left the confines of the kitchen Ethan whispered, "Hey Hermie, how's the freak doing this Christmas?"
Hermione just stared at him. She had just had enough of all his little digs, threats, jokes. She had just had enough and before she knew it, she was staring at him so hard and so frustrated that the carafe of water in his hands exploded. Water went everywhere. Luckily, the carafe was plastic, but being in such close proximity to the carafe, Ethan was soaked, and his hands cut rather deeply by the plastic.
Ethan screamed. All the adults came running out of the house to his screams. Hermione immediately stopped staring at Ethan, turned and placed the plate of oysters Kilpatrick on the table and looked shocked.
"Son, what the hell happened?" Ethan's mother stated. After seeing her son's injuries, she rushed him inside, and yelled, "ROBERT, WHERE ARE THE CAR KEYS? I AM TAKING ETHAN TO THE HOSPITAL. HIS HANDS ARE DEEPLY CUT."
Robert replied "Ok. I will drive you guys. Just give me a second." Robert turned to Hermione and asked, "Do you know what happened, Hermione? I am not blaming you, but plastic carafes do not just explode."
Hermione did not know what to say, she looked to her parents for answers, even though she knew it was magic, she didn't want to tell Robert that she was responsible. William and Elizabeth instantly knew that Hermione had used magic but wanted to keep it a secret from the rest of the family. So, they replied, "Not sure. But I know that Hermione was not responsible, it was an accident."
Robert shrugged and ran after his wife and son. Hermione was shocked at what she had done, but knew it wasn't an accident. She had meant to explode that carafe. She now realised that there were non-verbal forms of magic. But most importantly, she was even, and Ethan would never bother her again.
Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed.