It was obvious to almost everyone that tensions were rising as the Christmas holiday approached. There were occasional fights between the houses, usually involving Slytherian on one side The medical wing was constantly busy, un-doing the damage of miscellaneous spells and hexes. Bodies covered with hair, strange appendages growing from odd places, and other maladies were becoming commonplace. Words and warnings from the teachers seemed to have little effect, and Dumbledore finally had to act.
It was three days before the start of the holiday break, and he addressed the school after dinner was over.
"Some of you may have noticed a slight increase in errant magic around the school lately." He said, trying to put a light touch on his message. "I certainly hope this does not mean that the quality of instruction has gone down." He paused and looked at the teachers along the head table. A few smiled, trying to join his soft approach.
"However, I am concerned that events outside of this school are being allowed to affect your learning. I can not allow that to happen." Now he decided to be blunt, and address the issue head on. "I will not pretend that you are too young to understand what is happening. I believe that you deserve to hear the truth." The entire school went silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Before long, there will be a confrontation between Voldemort and his associates and the rest of the wizarding world. The outcome will determine our future. Some of your families have been affected before, and some will be again." He looked from table to table with an expression that left no doubt of his seriousness.
"Regardless of your personal position in this dispute, or the position of your family, any student who violates school rules will be disciplined, and any attack on another student will result in expulsion." The room remained quiet as he sat down. Harry waited for several moments and then got up, nodding to Hermione and then to several prefects, who also got up, signaling that the students were free to leave. Harry fell into step with Draco and whispered to him.
"Would you please join me for a moment."
Harry turned down a classroom corridor where there were no other students, and then stopped and turned. Draco was smirking, but Harry ignored it and spoke quietly. "We probably don't agree, and maybe never will," he started. Draco looked wary, not sure of what was coming. "But we need to keep our students safe. Please do what you can. I want everyone to be able to go home for Christmas with their families."
That was it…no threats, no taunts, just an honest request for his help. Harry then offered his hand, and Draco took a moment to consider the offer. Slowly, he reached out his own hand, briefly shaking with Harry. It was a limited cease-fire at best, but it was a beginning. Then they went their separate ways, and Harry returned to his common room where Hermione was waiting.
"Well, what did he say?"
"Actually nothing, but he at least listened. He didn't just blow it off. We shook hands."
"Will he stop it?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure he can. I'm not really certain that he controls it, but I think he wants to be at school, if only to serve as a spy of some sort. With his dad in Azkaban, he doesn't want to make things worse."
"Different subject," she said and smiled.
"What?"
"Have you thought about what to say?"
Harry knew what she was talking about. "I had a couple of ideas, but they still didn't seem right. I dunno…maybe I'll just wing it."
"Don't screw this up, Potter, or I'll never forgive you," she tried to threaten him, while grinning at the same time. Now he grinned too, knowing that they both knew it was an empty threat. Actually, although he would never tell her, he had a very specific plan, including some surprises for her and her parents. She looked at him, trying to decide if he was serious, but his expression gave away nothing. Then she turned playful again.
"Did you get me something nice for Christmas?" she asked. Now he was going to tease her a bit. He reached towards his fly, faking opening his zipper. "I got you the same old thing…I know it's what you really want." Now she reacted, marching straight over to where he stood. Standing right in front of him, she responded.
"Humph! I hoped you would get me something useful, like a new quill or something.
"Nope, didn't want to waste the money."
"Well, I hope you're not expecting much. I might even outdo the Dursleys. Maybe only part of one tissue."
"You have pushed me just a little too far, Granger. You heard Dumbledore…students who attack other students will be punished. That includes verbal attacks!" With that said, he grabbed her hands and wrapped them up with his left hand, freeing his right to begin a large-scale tickle attack. She immediately collapsed on the floor, with Harry on top of her, continuing the assault. Her screams tested the Silencing Charm on the room, and he did not stop until she finally yelled her submission. He slowly released her and they rolled on the floor, kissing and giggling together.
Two days later, there had been no more attacks, and exams were finally over. Harry and Hermione joined the party in the Gryffindor common room, and Harry brought along a bag of candy. He quietly placed it in a bowl, adding a note that should have served as a warning.
Compliments of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes
Hermione didn't know about the candy, but read the note and wisely stayed away. Others, even those who should have known better, didn't refrain. Suddenly, Ginny screamed as Dennis Creevey turned into a large walnut and rolled across the floor, stopping against a chair. Just as everyone was looking at him, Neville, who REALLY should have known better, turned into a large rooster and began crowing loudly. Before anyone could react, the room was suddenly full of animals and other objects, moving about and making noise. Those who were left didn't know what to do…panic or laugh.
Hermione looked at Harry, who just shrugged and pointed at the note. "I warned them," he said, as if he had no responsibility whatsoever. Hermione thought that was fairly lame, but didn't push the point as Neville returned to his usual form and began smiling again, echoing his usual complaint.
"Why is it always me?"
Ginny pointed out the sign. "It's your own fault; you should know better by now." Then she started laughing. "Actually, I liked you better as a canary." Neville responded with an attack of tickling, and they were off, chasing each other around the room and into the hallway. Gradually, the others returned to their normal form and the party continued.
Colin Creevey returned from the kitchens along with some younger helpers, all loaded with additional treats, and his brother saw an opportunity, giving them each a piece of candy. Moments later a new round of animals materialized and the prior victims got a chance to see what they'd missed.
Hermione leaned over to Harry and whispered. "It's so nice to be back in the normal world for a while." Harry smiled, thinking exactly the same thing.
The train was waiting the next day, and without exception every student was leaving school for the holidays. Because the Hogwarts Express schedule was common knowledge, Dumbledore arranged for Harry and Hermione to travel by Portkey, going to the Leaky Caldron, where her parents were meeting them. After saying good bye to everyone else, they took their trunks and went to his office.
"You have both done very well and I am very proud of you. You will need to remain vigilant during the holidays, even though Voldemort can not find you with the charm in place. Please let me know what your parents say and I will plan accordingly." Hermione walked over and hugged Dumbledore.
"Thank you, Professor. Harry and I can never tell you how much this means to us." Dumbledore just nodded and smiled, holding out the broken plate that would serve as their transportation. With both of them holding it and touching their trunks, he counted to three and they left Hogwarts for holiday. After two butterbeers, and a few minutes waiting, they bid goodbye to Tom and went outside to muggle London, dragging their trunks to the curb and loading them into the car. With her father driving, Hermione and Harry sat very close in the back seat, holding hands and constantly touching, knowing that this was a very important time for them, her family, and their future.
When they arrived at the Granger house, Hermione took Harry to the guest bedroom and helped him settle in, sneaking a kiss or hug now and then. Both her parents had taken the day off, and they all gathered in the living room to talk. Harry and Hermione mostly avoided the subject of Voldemort, but did discuss their program of independent study, surprising her parents with both the freedom they enjoyed and the depth of their research. While her parents did not understand many of the specifics, they seemed to appreciate the effort that they made, and asked many questions. Being dentists, they did understand something of the concepts of potions and their similarities to prescription drugs, and easily understood that different ingredients would yield different results.
At dinner, their discussion turned to the Dursleys as her parents asked Harry about growing up a wizard in a muggle family. There were many things that Harry didn't reveal, and frequently Hermione had to hide her face as Harry created a fictional childhood to cover reality. Her parents were left with the impression that Harry's was probably very similar to Hermione's, though of course nothing could be further from the truth.
After dinner, they moved to the living room, and Hermione's father discovered a BBC program on the Salem Witch Trials that they watched together, laughing as Harry and Hermione explained reality, in stark contrast to the "facts" presented in the documentary. It was followed by a companion piece on Witchcraft in England that was even funnier. They did enjoy the story and woodcut of the beheading of Sir Nicholas, and Harry made a mental note to tell him when they returned to school. Still laughing, they all went to bed, Harry sharing a brief kiss with Hermione before they went to their separate rooms. "So far, so good!" Harry thought, as he lay awake dreaming about the girl in the room next door.
A couple nights later, on Christmas Eve, Harry executed step one of his plan. He was already committed by other steps he had taken earlier, so he had to proceed. He kept telling himself that if he couldn't do this, he certainly couldn't stand up to Voldemort. Dinner was the time, he thought. Right after dinner, while they were still sitting around the table! Hermione had no idea what he had planned and, amazingly enough, she hadn't even pestered him about it so far. Maybe she thought he was going to wait until just before they went back to school, or maybe on Christmas Day, or New Year's Eve.
Dinner on Christmas Eve was a surprise for the Grangers. Harry had suggested that he prepare the meal, and Hermione insisted her mother let him. She promised that they wouldn't be disappointed, and they weren't. When they sat down to eat, the table was full, covered with a great variety of tasty dishes. At Hermione's request, Harry prepared baked salmon as the main course, with the sauce that she loved. He also baked a Key Lime pie for dessert that even Hermione's mother had to admit was outstanding, although not a normal Christmastime food.
As they sat around the table, each silently complaining they had eaten too much, Harry spoke up.
"Mr. Granger, I'd like to ask a question, if I may," he said, sounding very formal and respectful. Hermione looked up, noting that his tone of voice was somehow different.
"Certainly, Harry. What would you like to know?"
"Well, I realize that this may be an odd question but, er…I'd like to ask you…for your daughter's hand in marriage." Hermione gasped. Her mother gasped. Her father was completely stunned and just looked at Harry, saying nothing. Harry mind was racing…what if he said no…then what? Now Hermione was grinning, and her mother was staring at her with a little twitching smile on her face. Her father took a deep breath.
"I assume you have talked with her about this," he said, also sounding rather formal. Harry wasn't sure whether he was playing with him or just buying time to figure out an answer.
"Yes, sir. We have discussed it."
"And what did she say?"
Harry decided to have some fun, now that he thought this was going to work out. "Well, she was very reluctant at first (explosion from Hermione), but she gradually warmed to the idea (another explosion) and I think she actually likes it, now that she's thought about it. (third explosion) Her mother was now grinning, with tears starting to form. Her father turned to look at Hermione, who was still grinning.
"Are you certain that he didn't pressure you into this decision?" he asked, still looking stern. "He didn't use a spell or something, did he?" Hermione snorted at the thought.
"No, he didn't pressure me. And he's lying…I said yes immediately. I'd been waiting forever for him to FINALLY get the nerve to ask."
"Well, Mr. Potter, it seems that not only are you an outstanding cook, but you also have excellent taste in women, and you certainly know how to make a memorable evening." He looked at his wife and they both smiled, betraying their suspicion that this was coming sooner or later. "If my daughter wishes to marry you, she may do so with my blessing." Hermione screamed, and shoved her chair back, racing around the table to her father and hugging him. Her mother reached out and took Harry's hand, smiling and weeping at the same time. Then everyone got up and it became a group hug, with Harry sneaking in a kiss with Hermione.
Eventually, they retired to the living room, and Hermione immediately plopped down on the couch next to Harry. As they sat together, she started nudging him; playing her usual games. When her parents weren't looking, she leaned over to Harry's ear, whispering. "I'll get you for that. You will never live that down." Harry just grinned. She might be many things right now, but disappointed and offended weren't on the list.
The conversation wandered all over the map, returning periodically to their pending marriage and plans for the future. Finally, it was time for bed, and Hermione's mother called her into the kitchen for what was obviously a private conversation. Hermione returned very quickly with a big grin on her face. When she got next to Harry, she just smiled and poked him in the ribs. They walked together to his room and she kissed him before departing. Her parents went upstairs to their room.
Harry lay down on the bed without removing his clothes. He had done it! Now it was official. He was replaying the evening in his mind when he heard a soft knock on the door. Why was someone knocking? He got up and opened the door, finding Hermione standing in the hall, wearing a robe. Without a word, she came into the room and closed the door.
"What are you doing?" he whispered, genuinely confused.
"My mother asked if I wanted to share a room with you tonight."
"She WHAT! You're kidding!"
"Nope. She had already figured out what was going on, although you did surprise her. She asked me if we were, well, if I was still a virgin."
"You didn't tell her, did you?"
"Yes, I did. I told you we discussed things, remember? It's okay. She told dad last summer that I was growing up, and they both understand. She just asked if we were taking precautions. We can spend our nights together until we go back to school. We just need to be discrete."
Harry thought he had died and gone to heaven. The last three nights had been hell, knowing she was right next door but completely untouchable. Now, she was practically moving in with him. He pinched himself…this couldn't be real! Hermione took out her wand and silenced the room, then she spoke again.
"Harry, I can't believe you did that. I love you so much. I just…" She stopped talking, and opened her robe, throwing it on the floor. Underneath she had on only the blue nightgown that Harry had given her last year. It might as well have been transparent. Then she started working on Harry's clothes, and they rapidly joined her robe on the floor. When she was finished, she pushed him back onto the bed, and whispered quietly in his ear.
"Now, I want to remind you why you want to marry me."
Christmas morning came too early, and Harry wasn't certain that he had even slept. It seemed as if they never rested all night. Finally, regretfully, Hermione left to go to her own room and dress for the day. Now she met Harry at his door, and they walked into the living room together. He whispered as they sat down.
"You should get lots of presents," he said, grinning as always.
"Why?"
"You've been a very, very good little girl."
She poked his side, grinning with him as her parents came in from the kitchen, carrying their morning cup of tea. Her father walked over to the tree and assumed his traditional position as Distributor of Presents. Having guessed what was supposed to happen, he picked up a small box and looked at Harry, who nodded almost imperceptibly. He gave it to Hermione, explaining to Harry that as the only child, she always opened the first package.
"Who is it from?" her mother asked gently.
"I don't know," she answered, somewhat puzzled. "There's nothing on it except my name. Maybe there's something inside."
Now she began to open it, removing first the bow and then the paper. It was very well wrapped, and when she opened the box, she found another inside. Three boxes later, with her frustration growing, she finally found a small wrapped package and tore the paper off. It was a small, square, case, closed with a spring hinge. Somehow it never dawned on her what it might be. Lifting the top, she screamed and turned to Harry, sitting beside her. Her parents just watched and smiled as Harry slowly got her back under control, taking the ring out of the box and sliding it gently onto her finger. She was crying buckets, and her mother left to get a box of tissues from the bathroom.
Finally, Harry pried himself loose from her grip and announced, "Hermione, there are other packages for people to open, and we will still be here next week if we don't move along." She smiled, thinking that he had outdone even her present from last year, something she never thought possible.
