The Best Christmas Present

The Best Christmas Present- Ch. 3: The Best Christmas Present is... You!

"Harry?" the sleepy voice called again. "Are you there?"

Harry quickly ran towards the fireplace and found Hermione half-lying on the chair, with her eyes partly closed. Crookshanks was curled on her lap and sleeping peacefully.

"Hermione, where have you been all day?" Harry asked anxiously. "I've been looking for you but I couldn't find you."

Hermione smiled. Ah ha! Another sign displayed. "Up in the owlery reading. Why?"

"Owlery?" Harry was shocked. Hermione hardly ever went up to the owlery. "You could have read in the library, you know. I can't believe I didn't check the owlery!"

"Why have you been looking for me?" Hermione asked again patiently.

"Well..." Harry lowered his head. "I wanted to apologise for what I did by the lake last night." He looked up and saw the murky gray sky. "Or the night before. I'm terribly sorry...."

Hermione interrupted him. "You don't have to be. I'm not angry. Don't apologise."

Harry knelt by Hermione's chair, but he kept avoiding her eyes. "I don't know what took over me, Hermione. I just looked at you for a second and ... I just really wanted to kiss you. I really am sorry. You ... you will forgive me, won't you?"

Hermione laughed. "Harry, you never pay attention to what I say, do you? I just told you that I don't mind. Maybe you should stop looking around the common room as if you're trying to find me. I'm right here, Harry; you don't have to look around."

Slowly, Harry looked up and their eyes met. An uneasy tension came between the two.

Harry's eyes drifted away from Hermione's in an attempt to look away. However, they landed on a place that Harry regretted looking at the minute he saw it.

Somehow, Harry's eyes had found their way to Hermione's lips again. No, you can't kiss her. You've already screwed it up once and if you do it again, Hermione will peel the skin off your back. You don't want to lose your clever, understanding friend like that.

"Harry?" Hermione's voice sounded so far away as Harry battled with himself.

Those lips. They're so soft and so sweet. What would I give to taste them again? No, I mustn't. It's just teenage hormone. It's just lust, isn't it?

"Harry?" Hermione called again. "Earth to Harry! Earth to Harry!"

Not even Herme's calls worked. Harry was in far too many battles to hear her.

I have to kiss her! I can't hold myself back. Just look at how her lips moved calling my name. I want to feel my name being mouthed on those lips.

Finally, Harry couldn't contain himself anymore. Teenage hormone or not, Harry did not care anymore. All he knew was that he loved Hermione and had to possess those adorable lips. Quickly, Harry threw his face towards Hermione's and covered her lips with his.

"Har..." Harry's name was muffled as Hermione was kissed.

Hermione was shocked at first, but quickly kissed Harry back passionately. She didn't expect Harry to kiss her again so soon.

Harry was surprised that Hermione responded. He was puzzled but quickly pushed away the thought and enjoyed the kiss.

Five minutes later, they broke apart for lack of oxygen. Harry and Hermione leant against each other, both gasping for breath.

"You know, Hermione, I don't think this has ever happened to me before. I mean, this new feeling when I kissed you. It was a warm, nice feeling. It felt like..." Harry didn't know how to put it.

"Love?" asked Hermione as she lifted her head and gazed calmly into Harry's emerald eyes.

Harry felt as if his soul was sucked out of him by the large pair of chocolate orbs he looked into. "Yeah... like love. It's never happened before. Not even when I kissed Cho. It felt as if I've been loved. You know, really loved."

Hermione smiled. "That's because you've never really been loved before. Not by anybody. However, it can only happen when two people love each other. Do you love me?"

Harry was a little surprised by the question. "I... do? I think I do!" The realisation suddenly struck him. "Merlin! I've... fallen in love with my best friend!" Harry looked down anxiously at the surprisingly calm Hermione. "Hermione, aren't you angry? I think I'm in love with you!"

Hermione looked at Harry with her usual calmness. "No, why should I?"

Harry stared at her in disbelief. As he watched Hermione's lips turned up in amusement, he realized another thing. "You... know? Already?"

"Yes, Harry, I do. I figured it out today in the owlery. It's all in the book, Harry. It's all in the book," Hermione said as she pointed towards the romantic novel lying on the floor.

Harry laughed. Always the one for books, Hermione was. "I believe you, Hermione, I do. Can I tell you something?"

"Hmm?" Hermione had already closed her eyes and rested her head against Harry's chest.

Harry whispered for Hermione only to hear, "I love you." Then, he too leant on Hermione's shoulder and closed his eyes.

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

Knock! Knock! Knock! Something was tapping on the window.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Harry was awoken by the tapping sounds.

"I'll be up in a minute, Aunt Petunia," mumbled a still sleepy Harry with his eyes closed.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! The tapping sounds were even louder.

"All right! I'm up! I'm up!" grumbled Harry as he opened his eyes. However, he found himself not in the Dursley's cupboard or Dudley's tiny room, but on the floor of the Gryffindor common room. He was also aware of the weight leaning against him.

Harry found Hermione deeply asleep beside, no, on top of him. How did she get there? Harry asked himself before he remembered the events of the night before, no wait, a few hours ago.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! Harry found his snowy owl tapping impatiently against the window. Hedwig held up a small white envelope. His Christmas gift from the Dursleys', no doubt.

Looking around, Harry also found two large piles of presents under the Christmas tree. He lifted Hermione lightly off his body, not wishing to disturb her from her sweet slumber.

"What time is it?" mumbled Hermione as she sat up, still half asleep. Apparently, Harry did wake her.

Harry checked his watch. "Around nine." Harry stood and opened the window to let Hedwig in. Hedwig glared at Harry for taking so long and flew off again. She hooted so loud when she flew away that the sound woke the still sleeping Crookshanks, who meowed loudly in protest.

"Look, Harry, presents!" Hermione exclaimed. This time, she sounded more sober than before. "Wait, I have to get your present from my room."

But, before Hermione could run off, Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. "There's no need for that. You've already given me your gift and I dare say it's the best of the lot."

"Impossible!" laughed Hermione. "I haven't given you anything yet. Beside, you haven't opened even one of your presents."

Harry shook his head furiously. "Sure you've given me my present. It's so good that I'm not interested in the other gifts." Harry saw the puzzled look on Hermione's face and laughed. "For a witch as clever as you are, Hermione, you're being very thick today." He leant forward and kissed Hermione again.

When they broke apart, Harry grinned from ear to ear and whispered into Hermione's ear, "The best Christmas present is... you!"

**__The End__**