(A/N: This one's a bit of a joining of requests. The title is from iowa-tarheel, and the gift idea is from Ev'rdeen. I hope you guys don't mind that I sort of squished them together.)

SPOILER FOR CONUNDRUM!

Hermione stretched luxuriously under her covers and smiled sleepily, savoring the pocket of warmth and familiar smells that surrounded her. Hogwarts was fine and well as her second home, but there was nothing quite like waking up on Christmas morning in one's own bed and hearing your parents bustling around downstairs.

"Mi? Are you up yet, darling?"

Speaking of her parents...

She flexed one last time to pop a stubborn muscle in her back and reached for her slippers before making her way down the stairs to the kitchen. "Morning, mum, dad," she said, pressing a kiss to each of her parents cheeks. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, honey," her mother smiled, giving her a tight squeeze. "We miss you so much when you're away you know, being a magical genius and all that."

"I wouldn't say 'genius', mum," Hermione blushed, trying for modesty.

"Mi, why don't you open your gifts? Breakfast should be ready by the time you're done." her father chimed in from the kitchen. Hermione decided to follow his advice and kneeled by the tree, surveying the inventory. Her brows pulled together as she noticed one that hadn't been there the night before- a small rectangular package wrapped in dark green foil with no bow.

"Mum? Where did...?"

"Right, that one came just as you were getting up." her mother said, eyeing the box. "It was one of those owl post things. Gorgeous bird it was, big and white. I suppose it's from one of your wizarding friends."

Hermione peeled the paper off slowly, heart rate rising with every inhale. A big white owl... There was only one person she knew with a bird like that.

The box inside was unmarked, so when she opened it, she was completely unprepared for the brilliant emerald bracelet that gleamed back at her from the velvet cushion. It was made of silver and crafted to look like a coiled snake, with the green stones set in the scales and eyes. Her breath caught in a shocked gasp- it was GORGEOUS and realistic, sparkling even in the low light from the tree bulbs. It probably cost more than all her other jewelry combined.

With trembling fingers, she picked up the note that had fallen out.

Dear Hermione,

I saw this and knew you'd think of me when you wore it, so I got it for you. I was going to get you a book, but you've read everything so what's the point? Morgana thought it was nice too, so it's serpent approved. She says hello, by the way, and to bring her a mouse. Merry Christmas- tell Weasely he's a prat from me.

H.P

(Morgana the snake is a headcannon of mine, a little cobra that Harry befriended when he was a little kid.)