The Best Christmas Present

The Best Christmas Present- Just Another Ordinary Christmas Eve

_

It was just another ordinary Christmas for Harry. It was snowing and he was getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner in the Great Hall. Apart from the fact that he was no longer a skinny knobby-kneed eleven-year-old boy, everything was just the same as his first Christmas Eve at Hogwarts.

Harry looked into the mirror again. Seven years of Quidditch had definitely done him some good. Muscles could be seen around his arms, legs and abdomen. He chuckled as he thought of the time when he was just a skinny boy living with the Dursleys, and a good Christmas could only happen in his dreams.

"Ron, are you ready?" Harry yelled towards the empty dormitory before he remembered that Ron had been forced to go home that Christmas along with Ginny to see Charlie receive a special award for his outstanding work with dragons in Romania. Harry was, of course, invited to the special occasion. However, he had declined, for it was a very special get-together for the Weasleys which he did not wish to intrude upon. That left Harry and Hermione alone for that Christmas. Since the majority of the students had gone home, as usual, Harry and Hermione would probably be about the only students left at Hogwarts.

Wow, first Christmas alone with Hermione! Harry thought as he walked down to the Gryffindor common room. Maybe not everything will be exactly the same. He had been alone with Ron for Christmas once, but never with Hermione. Maybe she would drag him to the library for some light reading or force him to take up some action for S.P.E.W. It promised to be an interesting Christmas, if nothing else.

When Harry walked into the common room, Hermione was already waiting there. "Hey, let's go down to the Great Hall, shall we?" asked Hermione casually.

"Sure, I'm starved anyway," answered Harry.

Hermione laughed lightly as they pushed open the Fat Lady's portrait. "Starved? I've always thought Ron was the one for food."

"Well, maybe I am really Ron under the influence of Polyjuice," joked Harry. He couldn't help noticing how pretty Hermione looked that day. She was wearing a short, pale pink Muggle dress that caused Harry to become mesmerised by her slender legs. What on earth is wrong with you? Harry checked himself immediately. She's Hermione, your best friend, remember?

The Great Hall was, as usual, covered with all sorts of fancy Christmas decorations, charmed by the Hogwarts professors. All professors, apart from Trelawney who stayed up her tower once again, were present.

The food, made by the house-elves, was great. Harry ate quite a bit that night, consuming one large steak with gravy, two chicken drumsticks, some pumpkin juice and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert.

Harry was just about to pick up another slice of pumpkin pie when Hermione suddenly pulled a wizard Christmas cracker near him. Harry dropped the piece of pie he was holding in surprise.

"Hermione!" Harry complained loudly. "Look what you've done!"

Hermione grinned cheekily at him. "Well, I think you've had enough. You've eaten more food than Ron usually does. I think you should stop eaten now or you might turn fat like that big cousin of yours. Now, we can't have that can we? If that happens, we'll lose our best seeker!"

"Hermione, you are going to pay for that," Harry laughed as he lunged for another wizard cracker pulled by Hermione. However, Hermione was already out of her seat and running towards the Great Hall entrence.

"No, I'm not!" she giggled. "You'll have to catch me first!"

Harry also jumped out of his seat as he darted towards the entrance. "Oh really? Like I'm not going to catch you anyway. I'm the Gryffindor seeker for a reason, you know."

The professors at the high table stared after the pair, most with knowing grins on their faces. Professor Dumbledore chuckled lightly in amusement while Snape gritted his teeth, unhappy that Harry was actually having a good time.

"I'm going to take ten proints from Gryffindor from Granger and Potter for causing such a big racket during our Christmas Eve dinner!" Snape said, determined to do something to make Harry's life miserable.

"Severus," said Dumbledore calmly, "it's Christmas. Let them have some fun."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Harry chased Hermione all the way to the icy lake, where he finally caught her.

"Got you!" Harry yelled as he grabbed Hermione's cloak and caused her to fall back on him.

"No you don't!" Hermione retorted as she struggled playfully.

Harry grinned and began to pull his wizard cracker by Hermione's ear.

Bang! A deafening explosion echoed off the Forbidden Forest and three white mice fell out of the cracker and into Hermione's dress.

"Ahhhhh!" shrieked Hermione as she threw off her cloak. "Get those mice out of my dress!"

Harry stood laughing, thinking it was very funny to see Hermione hopping around, trying to get the mice out of her dress. He watched in amusement as she caught one and threw it away. While Harry laughed, a large snow ball hit him right in the face and threw him off his feet.

"Harry James Potter! If you think you are about to get away with this, then you are very wrong!" Hermione shouted as she stood over him like a Goddess of Revenge.

Harry immediately leapt back to his feet. "Oh yeah? Bring it on!"

A snow fight followed shortly after. Snowball after snowball was thrown with neither Harry nor Hermione willing to let the other win. They were both striving for final victory.

The fight went on. Both Harry and Hermione's clothes were soaked as snow melted against the heat of their bodies.

Finally, Hermione stopped and panted on the edge of the lake. Not as used to physical activities as Harry was, she tired sooner than Harry.

"You lost!" Harry laughed with a glee. "And I won!" He lunged once more at Hermione.

Hermione moved instinctively as Harry was about to land on her. Unfortunately, she didn't know that she was by the edge of the lake or that the lake wasn't completely frozen.

"Arrgh!" Both Hermione and Harry landed in the icy lake as Hermione rolled down the bank and Harry followed.

The two quickly got out of the lake before they turned into ice blocks. However, they were now even wetter than they had been before.

Harry put on his cloak and then wrapped Hermione up in hers as she was so cold that she could hardly move.

Harry could feel Hermione shaking as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to warm her up. "I'm terribly sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean..." Suddenly, Harry realised that Hermione was shaking with laughter.

Hermione smiled as she lifted her face towards Harry's. "That was fun!"

Harry was bewitched by Hermione's lips. For a moment, he couldn't see anything but them.

Hermione looked up and saw Harry's emerald eyes darken. They had an unusual glint in them that she had never seen before. "Wha...."

Harry did the first thing that crossed his mind. He lowered his head and touched Hermione's lips with his.

Hermione was shocked at first but quickly pulled away from Harry's embrace. She avoided looking at Harry as she ran hurriedly back to the castle.

Harry stared after Hermione. God, what have I done?

I kissed my best friend, groaned Harry inwardly as he dragged himself back towards the castle. Hermione must be so angry at me right now... I've probably just ruined our friendship.