Red and Gold

Hogwarts was blanketed in snow, the morning sun glistening through the trees and onto the grounds. The lake was glistening, and everything was frosted, the perfect day before Christmas, in Hermione's opinion. Unable to wait until more people were awake, Hermione began to get ready for the day. It couldn't have been passed eight, but Hermione was full of energy, and couldn't wait for the day to begin. She took a hot shower, dried her hair with a charm (it wouldn't do to get a cold the day before Christmas!) and changed into a white sweater and black pants. She grabbed her usually cloak but then hesitated; she wanted to look nice today, and she had a new brand new dark red one with white embroidery. She had planned not to wear the cloak until after the New Year, but a week wasn't really a big deal. She pulled it out of the store wrappings, and pulled it on. She grabbed white gloves and a scarf as she walked out the door.
As she walked out of the Common Room, Hermione thought about what she would do that day. She had never considered herself the type to plan out how to get a boy, spending weeks figuring out the perfect way to bump into her crush, like Lavender and Paravati, but in some ways, Hermione couldn't help but think of ways that she could be near her crush. Everything was different when you already spent all of your time with the boy you liked, and he thought of you as just a friend. That was the reason she hadn't ever really tried something with Harry: it would be too strange. It had been hard enough dating Ron, even if had only lasted a few weeks, and their friendship had barely survived. Those had been a rocky weeks, right after their break up, but Hermione was extremely glad that their friendship was now thriving.
When she had first developed a crush for Harry, she decided not to pursue it, and an opportunity to do so had never come up. That is, until the Christmas holidays. Ron and the rest of the family were going on a vacation to France to visit Bill, who had recently announced his engagement to Fluer Delacour. Ron had been hesitant about not spending Christmas with his friends (and his newest girlfriend, Lavender) but he had eventually gone, seeing as the whole family, including Percy-who had made-up with the family-was going.
Ron not being there really didn't leave Harry and Hermione alone; they spent most of their days with Neville and Luna (who were unofficial an "item") but Neville had gotten an awful virus, and was in the hospital wing, and Luna planned on spending most the day with him.
Hermione skipped the Great Hall and instead stopped by the kitchens and took an extra-hot coffee with her down to the lake. The lake was definitely one of Hermione's favorite places to think; most people only hung around the eastern and sometimes the western side of it, so Hermione usually walked all the way to the southwestern side so she could be alone. Of course, most the school had gone home, so Hermione really had the whole lake to herself.
Hermione considered last night's fresh snow an early Christmas present; she loved being able to walk through new snow. The snow crunched under her feet as she walked, and the snow before her was perfectly undisturbed. The heat of her drink comforted her hands through the gloves, and her breath was making little clouds in the cool air. Soon, Hermione was at her customary "thinking spot;" a mammoth rock which extended quite a ways onto the lake. Hermione could sit near its end and be surrounded by the lake on three sides, but still safely on land, or she could sit at its base, in the shadow of a large willow. She found a suitable spot that was too far from the tree to be shady but close enough so that the tree had prevented it from getting snowed on. When Hermione looked back at where she had walked, she saw her footprints, small black markings in the white snow.
She remembered that she had to send out an owl to her parents; she had written a Christmas letter the other night, but hadn't had the time to go up to the owlery. She also wanted to go to Hogsmeade to return the non-smearing ink she had bought the other weekend; the ink hadn't smeared, but turned a sickly yellow color that was practically invisible.
Hermione must have gotten lost in her thoughts, because suddenly, Harry was in front of her, holding a thermos and a cup. "'Lo Hermione," he said, smiling. "I saw you from the Common Room, thought you might want a refill."
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione said, smiling back up at him. She moved over so he wouldn't have to sit in the snow and handing him her cup. As he filled both of their cups up, she said, "What time is it?"
Harry pulled up his sleeve to look at his watch and smiled sheepishly. "I keep forgetting my watch is broken," he said. " It's was almost nine when I left, so it's probably just after. How long have you been down here?"
"Since eight I guess," she said distractedly, thinking Harry really did look good in dark colors; he was wearing charcoal slacks, a slate blue sweater, and a midnight blue cloak. Hermione remember that she had bought it for him for his birthday, and it really did bring out the color in his eyes. "How did you see me from the Common Room?" she asked.
He gave her the drink he had poured and took a sip from his. "Gryffindor red is pretty easy to see in the snow," he said smiling. "Or, it was, when I was up there, but now, the shadows probably make us invisible."
Hermione looked down; it was true, the shadow of the tree made pretty designs on her pants. "Yea," she said. "So what do you want to do today?" she asked him.
"Well," he said, worrying the hem of his cloak. "I was thinking we could spend the afternoon at Hogsmeade, you know, eat lunch there and just hang around. That is, if you want, of course," Harry said quickly, his eyes darting up and down from his cloak to Hermione's face.
"Yea," Hermione said, trying not to sound breathless. She mentally chided herself for being such a twit. "I have to send out some owls this morning, but we can do something this afternoon," she added, trying to give the Hogsmeade trip a more practically side.
"Yea, I have to do some stuff this morning, too" Harry said. They both looked out at the lake, until finally Harry said, "It's a really pretty day out, isn't it? I love the fresh snow."
"Me too," she said. "It's a great for Christmas."
The two talked until they finished their coffees, and agreed to meet at deli they both had visited. When they got to the Common Room, they both went to their separate dorms. Hermione grabbed her letters and left. As she walked to the owlery, she wondered if Harry had been asking her out on a date. Of course not, she told herself. Harry didn't like her like that.
Hermione sent her letters off with a school owl, and wondered what she would do with the rest of her morning. It was just passed ten, and she was meeting Harry at the deli at twelve. She remembered that she still had some presents to wrap, namely, Harry's, so she returned to her room.
All of Hermione's other room mates had went home for the holidays, so Hermione's dormitory was empty. Hermione liked her roommates, but she enjoyed the emptiness of her room, and she could think in peace.
She had bought Harry's gift spontaneously, seeing it in the store and thinking it was perfect for him. She had been shopping for earrings for her roommates, but when she saw the watch, it had immediately reminded her of Harry. The straps were a burgundy leather color, and the watch itself was gold; Gryffindor colors. It was sturdy looking, but somehow delicate, just like Harry. She had bought it right away, even if it was a little out of her price range.
Now she was sitting on her bed, the watch in its box sitting at her feet. She wanted to put some type of note in it, something that would...she didn't really know what, but it seemed incomplete. She pulled out a piece of paper and wrote, To Harry, because the time we spend together is precious. Love, Hermione. She crumpled it up and threw it away; it sounded so fake. She pulled out another piece of paper, and just wrote what was on her mind. When she was finished, she re-read it, and smiled.
Harry,
I saw this watch in the shop, and it reminded me of you. At first I thought it was because of the Gryffindor colors, but now I think it was something about the way that when I look at it, I know that I can depend on it, and that's how I feel when I look at you. Have a happy Christmas, Harry.
Love,
Hermione

She folded it up and tucked it into the box. She wrapped it in a gold and red stripped paper, but when she looked at it, she thought it looked corny, so she ripped of the paper, and decided not to wrap it.
If she left for Hogsmeade now, she could take the long way and still have time to return her ink, and she wanted to pick up new Christmas treats for Crookshanks.

At eleven fifty, she left the pet store and started heading for the deli. Just as she was about to cross the street, she saw Harry, headed towards her and the deli. They both reached the deli at the same time.
"Hey Hermione," Harry said, his cheeks pink from the wind.
"Hi Harry," Hermione said as he opened the door. There was an awkward silence as Harry got them a table and they waited for a waiter. Hermione worried that the whole day was going to be like that, but Harry broke the silence, and they spent the rest of the day browsing through Hogsmeade, talking, laughing and having a good time. Hermione got caught up in having fun that she forgot her crush on Harry and just enjoyed the day.
As the sun started setting, Harry and Hermione started walking towards Hogwarts, taking the long way around the forest. As they walked through the shade, Hermione shivered, and Harry put his arm around her shoulders. Hermione's heart was pounding, but she slipped her arm around Harry's waist. They started walking around the eastern side of the lake and out of the shade, but Harry kept his arm around Hermione, and Hermione kept her arm around him. Suddenly, Harry stopped, and looked out across the lake.
Hermione followed his eyes, and saw it. The sun was setting across from them, and the lake was golden red. "It's beautiful," Hermione sighed. As the sun sank, it reminded her of Gryffindor colors and of the watch she had bought Harry. She pulled the little box out of her cloak pocket and gave it to him wordlessly.
He gave her a strange look, but opened it. His eyebrows jumped when he saw it, and he pulled out the note. Hermione watched in apprehension as his eyes moved across the words. He swallowed, and said, "Thank you. It's perfect."
"Here, let me put it on you," she said, taking it out. He gave her his wrist and she buckled it on. "It looks good on you," she said, smiling.
"Thanks," Harry said, pulling a small box out of his cloak. "This is for you. Merry Christmas," he told her.
She opened the box, and inside was a gold-chain necklace, but the words "gold-chain necklace," didn't do it justice. It was three spider web thin threads of gold wrought together. Hermione thought it was absolutely amazing.
Hermione didn't know what to say, and the only word that came out of her mouth was, "Harry." Harry took of his gloves and undid Hermione's scarf from around her neck. His eyes locked on hers as he carefully took the necklace out of the box and put it on her. He really did have the most beautiful eyes, Hermione thought. The necklace was cool around her neck, and even though it wind was whipping at her, Hermione felt warm, too warm. His hand was at her chin, lifting it up as his lips came towards hers. It was a gentle kiss, surprising gentle considering all of the feelings that were racing inside of Hermione, and their eyes were still locked.
Harry let go of her chin, and their lips parted. "I'm sorr--" he started to say, but Hermione grabbed the lapels of his jacket, and kissed him again, this time with all her strength. One of his hands was at the small of her back, a warm presence pushing her towards him, while the other was at her head. Her own hands were still clutching the lapels of his jacket, pulling him into her.
This was not the first time either of them had been kissed, but they both agreed it was the first time it had ever mattered. In the end, they had to go back inside eventually, but when they did, the sun had completely sunk, and only the faintest amount of golden-red light remained.