Here's the eighth one!

I don't own Harry Potter. That belongs to J.K Rowling and various publishing companies including Scholastic Corporation, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Raincoast Books, or any other company that has to do with the movies or merchandise.

Harmione Winter Oneshot Eight – The Tree

"Er, love?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"How come I have an axe? Wouldn't you rather use magic to get a tree this year? And how come we're heading into the Forbidden Forest?"

"Well, I gave you that to cut a small tree down. Using magic would take longer, I think. Constantly casting the same spell and what not. The trees can be thick you know. And since Aragog died, his children have moved onto to different places and no longer inhabit the area. So we should be safe to wander in the daylight."

Harry nodded, less confused than when he first followed Hermione. What she said made sense.

"Yeah, ok. And I guess we were there during fourth year. We'll be fine then."

And being seventh year students now, a lot changed since then. They both had no fear of going into the Forbidden Forest.

"Precisely. And besides, I don't plan on going that deep anyways. There's a lot of thinner ones scattered around, even on the edges. Those will be perfect for our dorm, not being overly tall or anything."

"Sounds good to me, Hermione.."

As they kept walking, Harry thought it was a nice day. There were blue skies, and it wasn't freezing. With the tiny breeze occasionally, it was a little chilly. But he hardly felt it due to being bundled up how he was. And he bet his girlfriend felt the same.

"So, do you have any decorations for the tree?"

"Oh yes! I found some two nights ago. And they weren't broken or anything! I put the box near the fireplace."

"Great. Thank you, Hermione."

That was good. He knew how much she loved Christmastime. She liked everything to run smoothly, which would have gone off track had there been anything that needed replaced.

Harry stared at the baby tree in front of them. That was being generous since it was about the size of a regular non-magical tree in a Christmas lot. Then again, it made sense. The adult trees were so massively tall, they towered over everything in the area. Even more taller than Hogwarts castle. So to say this was a baby was appropriate.

Having never cut down anything in his life (nor seen anyone do so), Harry didn't really know what he was doing. He held the axe not too close to the blade and stood normally. He figured it couldn't be too hard. He was wrong.

As Harry made contact on the first swing, he felt the strong vibrations travel through his whole body. Oh boy. This would take some getting used to. Or maybe if…

He changed his grip to be more secure on the handle and near the blade, and adjusted his stance so he stood nearer to the tree. He wanted to bonk himself on the head. Of course, it all made sense.

Swinging again, he was wholly unprepared for what happened next.

The baby plant jumped back. Literally tore it's roots from the earth and leapt out of the snow. As it landed further away from them, it spread some branches near the top and middle. This made it seem like it had eyes and a mouth. Which was made even more real, since the grooves were a bit sunken in (how that was possible since all the branches were the same, Harry and Hermione didn't know).

Hermione looked at Harry in shock, about to open her mouth and ask something. But then she heard a sound. The tree was growling, going from a quiet rumble and increasing to a loud one. She even heard the roots crunch the snow as it stepped towards them.

Harry then surged to life after his shock. He quickly made is way over to Hermione and took her hand. Turning both of their bodies around, Harry tugged her into a run. But the bad thing was how they could hear the baby following.

Unfortunately, it was in the wrong direction.

Hermione and Harry both puffed air as they kept going. Eventually they hid in a raised hollow tree trunk in the ground. Panting, they caught their breaths.

Hermione spoke in an incredulous whisper, being careful not to be loud unless it carry over to the sapling seedling one hunting them.

"Did you see that?!"

"Yeah! Who knew that would happen?"

Hermione grabbed the ends of her hair.

"Ohhh. I'm so sorry, Harry. I've made a mess of everything. That baby is after us and now we don't even have a tree for our room for Christmas."

Harry pulled her to himself. Her breaths brushed his throat and left pleasant tingles across his skin. No, not the time. He had to comfort her.

"Hey, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known it'd come alive. And maybe it'll give up soon? Besides we can still have Christmas without that tree. Or hey, we can even get one from a non-magical lot."

So Harry and Hermione sat huddled together under their wooden shelter. They did wonder why no more trees came to life like this one. Hermione decided to count it lucky that that happened. Since the whole Forbidden Forest could have for all she knew. It also made her wonder if there were any records of this happening near Hogwarts throughout the years.

Harry and Hermione looked around, ever vigilant. But as minutes passed, there was only silence.

Their luck hit another snag, however.

A horrible high-pitched wail rang through the forest. Followed immediately by multiple trees coming to life just as the baby had before. Harry heard roots tearing from the ground all around him. And when one plant passed their hideout (not noticing anything), Harry was able to get a good glimpse of it. His alarm grew as he saw it sported the same sunken in features that made them look mad.

"Oh my god."

It was barely a whisper, but Harry felt the same as Hermione. They looked at one another in fear. How would they escape? Harry didn't have his invisibility cloak or his broom. And surely they would all see he and Hermione when they made a run for it.

"Wait, I've got it. Let's do a disillusion spell, that way those things don't notice."

Harry thought that sounded okay, but had a question.

"But Hermione, won't they see the distorted air behind us?"

"You're right, Harry. Though I was hoping if we hurry, we wouldn't be caught?"

Hermione wasn't sure if her plan would work, but they couldn't spend all night in the forest. Especially being hunted by things much bigger than them. And with no warmth either, because bluebell flames would surely emit light and attract the alive trees. Plus, no casting a patronus for the same reason.

Harry had no problem with going through with her plan. He just worried how fast they would be. And how loud the leaves and other twigs would be when they made a run for it.

"Alright, let's do it."

Counting down from three to one, Hermione and Harry took off away from their shelter. True enough, their boots made a loud ruckus. But as the family of trees turned in tandem towards them, Harry and Hermione stopped and stayed still. Hoping that the plants didn't want to come and investigate.

That hope was dashed almost as soon as it began. Harry was beginning to see a trend.

Tree after tree began heading their way. Hermione felt her boyfriend's coat touch her arm and grabbed his hand. Her body shaking as she saw some run and others even leaping forward into the air. Hermione then noticed magic spout from Harry's wand and scrambled to do the same.

The two students let their beams glow bright for a moment and used that distraction to run again.

The teens were able to come up with a plan, somehow. Even though they were huffing and puffing. It was absolutely mad, but then again what was there to lose? It would only be a bad plan if it didn't work out, anyways. Though if that happened Harry shuddered to think of what those plants would do to him and Hermione if they caught up.

He spared a look behind his shoulder.

"Hermione, we have to corral them in one area together! Then I'll use fiendfyre on them! Maybe that'll work and they'll stop chasing us and drop dead!"

Hermione's mind was working furiously as she kept up with Harry.

"I know a spell to gather them in a group! But based on how many there are, I'm not sure if I can maintain it for very long!"

"Not a problem! I'll work fast!"

He didn't want to set the whole forest on fire, so he had to time things just right. The second after Hermione got them together in a contained group, he would begin his own casting.

Bursting through the edge of the surrounding area, the two continued to run. Not stopping for a millisecond. The only difference was how there was nothing but open space. The good thing was they could see the castle, so that meant they weren't far from a more permanent shelter.

Harry abruptly came to a stop, pivoting his legs hard to spin around in an instant. Their pursuers were still loud and getting closer by the minute. He could see the plants had separated from the rest of the Forbidden Forest.

That was all that mattered.

Hermione drew her wand and shouted while bringing it up to her eye level. A large rope of golden magic came out of her wand and wrapped around all of the trees ahead of them. The plants had no chance of escaping the forced huddle.

Harry swung his wand in a wide arc before dropping it down towards the ground. A large wave of black magic fire sprang out in a circle, all around the trees. As well as around he and Hermione, to help protect them.

All the tree's menacing growls turned into shrieks of terror.

There was no sticking around to see if any trees would reanimate. Harry and Hermione booked it and ran to the castle.

From one of the windows, the older teens could see the pile of burning wood. And thankfully none emerging this time.

They then sagged down a wall and sat. Catching their breaths and trying to calm down. Harry and Hermione held hands as they leaned heads together. Eventually the adrenaline faded away and they were able to relax.

"So…that was something."

"I agree. Not as scary as facing a basilisk or Death Eaters who want to kill us. But it's definitely up there."

"Mmhmm. Let's say top 20? Of wildest things to have ever happened to us?"

"Oh for sure."

After relapsing back into silence, Hermione and Harry looked down at their bodies. The clothes were dirty and wet. Plus both teens were sweaty,. That was never fun to sit in. Getting up amd shedding, the two went to their bathroom for some much needed rest and recouperation.

Quickly scrubbing off in the shower, they made sure every part of themselves was clean. Harry didn't even bother toweling off before he left the cubicle. He did a short walk up to the bath. Turning on the hot water he waited for a bit before stepping in. Hermione immediately got in right afterwards.

Both let out a long sigh, much like they did in the shower. The water was really rejuvenating, helping to calm them further.

Once done, Harry and Hermione got out and dried off. They quickly put on pajamas and went through their nightly routines. Getting into bed, the two fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

A few days later, both Harry and Hermione mutually decided to get a normal tree in a non-magical lot. It did not come to life.