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Harry had been looking forward to the holidays untill he realized that Hermione's parents would no doubt want her home for the celebration. He didn't say anything about it, leaving the choice up to her and when she told him about wanting to be with her parents on Christmas morning he was able to smile.
"As long as I get to see you for Christmas dinner." he took her hand and held on tightly as they made their way through the school halls. Christmas decorations had been up for almost a week now, reminding Harry to go pick up the pressent he had spotted for Hermione when they had been the Muggle mall.
In school no one stared any more and there were no more whispers following them down the halls but it didn't go unnoticed that they had become closer than ever. It was habbit now to sit with their shoulders touching or a hand resting on the other's leg. A gentle touch or a hand seeking another hand was normal. Even back in Grimmauld they slept touching. If it got too warm to snuggle Harry found that he would wake with one arm stretched out, his fingers touching skin.
He'd found that he really loved the skin on her neck and shoulders. It was far softer than anything he'd ever touched and running his finger's gently up and down the side of Hermione's neck was his favorite way to wake her up. Kissing her awake was always good too.
It frustrated him to no end that he wouldn't be the one to wake her on Christmas morning but he understood that it was important to her and her parents that she be there. He just wished he hadn't agreed so quickly to go to the Weasley's for that night. Even if he had been left alone at Grimmauld he would have been able to sleep in a bed that still smelled like Hermione.
Their relationship had progressed as relationships do and now Harry hated being out of her reach. During class it was hard not to think about just how soft her skin was whenever she took his hand under the desk. More than once he'd found himself blushing from one memory or another that had no place in a school class room. It was terrifying to think that one of these days someone would realize just why his face turned red when Hermione leaned into whisper to him or why it was hard for him to not be near her.
He loved her and she loved him.
Now it was just a deeper love. One that left him smiling even long after morning had come.
Ron seemed to suspect that something had changed between Harry and Hermione but he had yet to actualy figure out what it was and Harry wasn't about to tell him either. As cool as Ron was with the two of them dating Harry thought the whole disussion about how Harry didn't just sleep next to Hermione in bed would be a bit too much for the redhead to handle. Harry couldn't even remember if they had even told their friend that they shared a bed when it had just been an innocent thing.
As far as Hermione was concerned no one needed to know. Harry agreed but it was hard to form a sentence whenever Ron cornered Harry and asked if he and Hermione had had a fight. Of course Harry would tell the truth and say that they hadn't but then Ron would push and ask why they had been acting strange. At that point Harry would blush and try to change the subject.
And somehow he had volunteered to spend a night under the critical gaze of his best friend. The only way Harry could think to get away from Ron's constant questioning was to go to sleep early. Going to sleep early just meant that he was the first one awake in the mroning and the house felt empty without all the usual noise.
Downstairs there were a few pressents under a thin tree. Harry felt bad when he realized that he was wishing he was back in Grimmauld place. He'd left Hermione's pressents under their fully decorated tree after she had left with her mum and that was what he'd been wishing he was looking at. His tree and the decorations they had picked out together.
About an hour and a half later there was a loud bang from upstairs and it suddenly sounded like there were a bunch of elephants on the narrow stairs. George came rushing down the stairs with Ron hot on his heels. One side of Ron's face looked blackened with soot. They were both yelling and within minutes the rest of the family was awake and gathered around as Ron explain how George had woken him up.
"I thought I was dying!" Ron shouted, "It was just so loud and it was so bright that I couldn' even seen anything!"
"It was just a flash firework. Made for indoor use at parties and what have you." George shrugged innocently, "You should have been smart like Harry and gotten up before I did." George sent Harry a teasing wink before seating himself on the floor.
Opening pressents was followed by a very large breakfast. Both of which were very loud as Bill and Fluer and then Charlie also joined them.
Harry didn't say much but enjoyed listening to everyone esle as they talked over one another. Being at the Burrow made him feel like he was twelve again. One of the things he had learned during his first visit was that nothing was ever the same from one minute to the next. There were just too many people and too many things in one room for any conversation to stay one sided. There were always small surprises and one person or another asking how you'd been since they last saw you.
Everyone stayed around the table even after breakfast had been finished. The conversations kept going and Bill had dragged his father into a deep discussion about magical creatures' rights.
Harry thought he heard something from the livingroom but seeing as no one looked up to see what it was he figured he was just hoping it had been the sound of the fireplace as his girlfriend stepped out of flashing green flames. Twice more Harry thought he had heard something but from where he sat there was no way he could even crane his neck around to take a look.
Looking back to where Mr. Weasley and Bill were seated Harry caught a very amused look on Mr. Weasley's face. Bill also seemed to be smiling while avoiding looking in Harry's direction. Wondering what was going on at the other end of the table Harry was caught off guard when someone suddenly wrapped their arms around his shoulder's from behind. Ron, who was seated next to him, seemed just as surprised as he nearly fell out of his seat.
"Geez, Hermione!" Ron clutched his chest, "Give us a heart attack while you're at it!"
"Sorry, Ron." Just from the sound of her voice Harry could tell she was smiling, "Merry Christmas everyone."
Molly jumped to her feet and clapped her hands, looking quite happy as she made her way towards Hermione, "It's lovely that you all could be here."
"All?" Harry asked as he looked up at a grinning Hermione. Just past her he could see her parents standing there with their arms loaded with pressents.
"Surprise." Hermione whispered in his ear, "It was the only way I could back to you before tonight."
"You are brilliant." Harry stood and hugged her before going to greet Mr. and Mrs. Granger.
"We've brought pressents."
There was one pressent for each person there. The Grangers had even bought one for Fluer. To George they gave a muggle magic kit and Ron got a magical calander filled with moving pictures of different Quiditch teams. Bill recieved a pair of tough dragon hide gloves while his wife seemed pleased with a flowery barrett for her silver hair. Ginny frowned at the necklace she unwrapped and Harry was sure she would never wear it even though the blue beads were beautifull. Mr. Weasly was thrilled with a "build your own radio" kit and Mrs. Weasly smiled happily at her book of "do it yourself charms for the everyday housewitch."
"Those were really good gifts." Harry smiled. It was fun seeing how everyone reacted to the muglle and magical gifts.
"Your's are home." Hermione said and Harry's heart fluttered when he realized she was talking about Grimmauld Place, "But I did bring one along to give you now." she held out a box that was slightly bigger than her hand and smiled, "I hope you like it."
Harry took the box and was amazed with the texture of it. It felt fragile and as if it wasn't really there at all but it was heavy enough to suggest that even if it wasn't quite real the gift inside deffinitely was.
Opening it carefully Harry watched Hermione's smile grow. Inside was a light yellow and brown egg. At least it looked like an egg. It fit in the palm of his hand and gave off a warmth that made Harry wonder just what he was holding.
"It's an owl egg." Hermione cupped her hands around his, "I was hoping that it would have been hatched by now so I could give you the actual owl inside. I've placed a few charms on it to keep it from getting cold and it's been nice and safe in the bottom of my closet for the past two weeks."
Harry couldn't help but gape at his girlfriend "This is an actual egg?"
"Yes." she nodded, "A new owl for a new part of your life."
The idea made sense even if he did sorta feel like he was betraying Hedwig's memory by even considering keeping the egg. But holding the egg and having it be from Hermione, Harry felt happy. Hedwig would forgive him.
"I love it." he kissed Hemrione, caught up in the moment, and forgot that they were surrounded by people.
Hermione beamed at him when he pulled away and all the adults were looking elsewhere while Ron and Ginny stared in shock. Harry blushed and dropped his eyes down to the egg in his hands. He'd completely forgotten that there were people around. Hermione and her smile had the effect on him.
"I have something for you too." he said at last. He had thought that he wouldn't be seeing her untill that night back at Grimmauld but something had made him pick up the smallest box under the tree and pocket it before he left for the Burrow.
Inside was a silver heart shaped locket. It wasn't anything special really. He'd seen it when they had spent time at the mall and thought it would look good on her.
"It's beautiful." she stared at it's shining surface as it sat in the box, "I've always wanted a locket."
"Now you have one." Harry beamed. He was happy she liked it. He'd never picked out jewelry before and the sales clerk had kept trying to get him to buy small heart shaped earings to go along with the locket. For over an hour he debated between getting the earings and the locket or maybe just the earings or just the locket. He'd finaly left with the locket in it's blue velety box feeling good about his choice.
"I love it." Hermione suddenly smiled and held the locket out to him, "Help me put it on."
Harry handed his egg to Bill before taking the locket. Hermione turned around and held her hair up out of the way. If they'd been a lone Harry would have at least kissed the skin he could see so well but they weren't alone so he just clipped the locket around her neck and spun her so he could see how it looked. He wasn't ready to embarrass himself agin just yet.
"You're beautiful." and she was. Her eyes were bright and there was a slight blush on her cheeks when she faced him.
Hermione ran to the hall to see how her new locket looked sitting just below her shirt's collar and Harry smiled. This was by far one his favorite holidays of all time.
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A/N: Ok, I'm back and hoping that no one is mad about my long vacation from writing. Good news is that I just bought a laptop and will therefore get more writing done now that I don't have to sit in the one room in the house that doesn't have heat just to write. I am alive and well and would have been back sooner if I hadn't had a tooth pulled last week.
Ok, about Harry and Hermione sleeping together- it just wasn't coming out right when I would try to write it out. It was actualy quite horrible. So I skipped it completely and just hoped you could handle the loss of details. You are not missing out on much believe me. There will be more on the whole subject and hopefully nothing corny. I'll do my best with it.
Hope you all had a great holiday!
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