Christmas Surprises

Christmas surprises

"Get up, Harry!" Ron whined for the third time, only this time he brought a pillow slamming down on his friend's head. "Come on, you've got presents to open!"

"All right, I'm up," Harry mumbled, fumbling for his glasses.

When he put them on, his classmates, now sixth years, could be seen tearing at their gifts.

"Well, at least it's not another sweater," Ron moaned, holding up a knitted pair of blue-striped socks from Mrs. Weasley. "What'd you get Harry?"

"Red socks with gold snitches from your mum, treacle tarts from Hagrid, a few other sweets from different people, a note from Hermione saying: I'll give it to you later, and thanks for the chocolate frogs, Ron. Wait, what's this?" Harry picked up an envelope from the floor. "It's from the Dursleys! It says: Here are a couple cinco pesos. We're vacationing in Mexico."

"What are pesos?" Ron said as he turned one of the coins over in his hand.

"I don't know. They look like Muggle coins," Harry said, throwing them onto his night stand.

"You got a note from Hermione saying: I'll give it to you later?" Ron said, ending with an immature whistle.

"Shut up, bugger! I'm sure it's nothing. It's probably just big or something. What'd she get you?"

"Come off it, Harry. I was just kidding. She got me that new book, the Chudley Cannons' Guide for Keepers," Ron said, carelessly flipping through the pages of a Keeper darting back and forth between three goal posts.

"Come on, Ron, let's go to breakfast," Harry said, stuffing Hermione's note into his pocket.

"I'll be there later; I have to see Professor McGonagall first," Ron sighed with a faint grin on his face.

"On Christmas? Why are you so happy about it?" Harry said, confused.

"I... I'm not happy! It bloody well sucks! Stop jumping to conclusions, Harry!" Ron shouted, as he stormed out of the room, mumbling something about happiness.

"Well, I'm absolutely clueless. How about you, Neville? Let's go to breakfast," Harry said, staring after Ron's billowing robes.

"Um, sorry, Harry, I have to see Sev - I mean - Snape," Neville said, staring out the window as if in deep thought.

"You too! What the bloody hell is going on around here? I give up, I'm going to breakfast alone," Harry said dismally, leaving the dormitory without a backward glance at the daydreaming Neville.

Harry reached the Great Hall, still puzzled by Ron and Neville's odd behavior. He spotted Hermione with her head resting on an open book.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" He prodded her carefully as he sat down.

"Huh? Oh, morning, Harry. Did you get my note?" she said while grabbing a muffin.

"Um, yeah. What was that about?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"You'll see later. I promise, Harry, it's a good present. Speaking of which, I love the self-spinning globe you got me!" Hermione smiled over her book. Harry grinned back, blushing only the slightest bit.

"What is Malfoy doing now?" Harry said as he glanced at the Slytherin table.

"Haven't you heard? Malfoy's been telling everyone who's willing to listen, and some who aren't. His father got him a pair of leather pants. If you ask me, I'd rather see you in leather pants. I... mean... it's not like I want to see you in them. I'm just trying to make a bloody point here." Hermione hastily ducked behind her book again, now with flaming red cheeks.

"It's fine, Hermione! I know I'm just too irresistible," Harry laughed.

"Shut up, Harry! You guys are all the same!" She slammed her book down and stormed out of the Great Hall.

"I was just kidding," he mumbled. "I'll find her later."

A cold voice pierced Harry's silence. "Has little Harry upset his little Mudblood girlfriend?" Harry turned to face none other than Draco Malfoy. "Shut it, Malfoy! She's not my girlfriend!" Harry spat. Malfoy stood, holding his robes back haughtily to show leather pants that appeared to fit a house-elf better than Malfoy. "Merlin, I'm going to vomit. I heard you had gotten leather pants, but don't you think the Dobby wants his pants back?"

"You're just jealous because I have genuine leather pants. They were hand-made in France." Malfoy swung his robes further around revealing a rather large French flag stitched carefully onto the leather pants.

"That's it, Malfoy, because you know how much I wanted tight leather pants with a French flag on my arse for Christmas," Harry laughed, sputtering eggs onto his plate.

"Come on, Crabbe, Goyle. He is not worthy of our company." Malfoy strutted away, still holding his robes back.

Harry stared for a moment, still laughing on the inside, then he returned to breakfast, realizing Ron and Neville were still gone.

Where're Ron and Neville? McGonagall and Snape aren't here either; what'd they do to get into trouble on Christmas Day? I might as well go find Ron.

Harry climbed the many stairs to the Transfiguration room. As he neared the door, he could hear McGonagall's voice. But she wasn't yelling or even speaking harshly. She was speaking in a gentle tone that Harry rarely heard.

"Ronald, it's beautiful! You went all out, didn't you? But how could you possibly pay for this?" she asked sweetly.

"Forget how I paid for it. Minerva, these past five months, have been really - wonderful," Ron's voice croaked.

What the...

"Oh, Ronald. You know, we should go somewhere a bit more...private. How about the Room of Requirement?" Harry had now peered around the doorframe and could see McGonagall and Ron sitting very close to one another and McGonagall holding a long, slender box, which held a stunning emerald necklace.

"O - okay," he stuttered as they walked hand-in-hand towards the door, where Harry stood paralyzed.

Harry finally came to his senses and ran down the stairs he had just come from. He came panting to a stop to lean against the wall near the dungeon's entrance.

What the bloody hell did I just see? Ron and McGonagall? It's impossible! Where's Hermione? Damn, she's probably still infuriated with me. Neville might know something.

He made his way down to the Potions classroom. Apparently, Neville had just arrived.

"Severus!" Neville cried out.

"Neville? Is that you? It took you long enough! Is it that bloody hard to descend a few flights of stairs to see me?" Snape snapped.

"I'm sorry, Sev, but Harry kept me," Neville squeaked, using a pathetic excuse.

"Damn Potter! How dare he keep my Nevy from me? I'll be extra harsh on him as soon as class starts," Snape shouted as he went into his office. He came back carrying a small parcel wrapped in elaborate silver. "I've gotten you something."

"Why don't we open it in the Room of Requirement?" Neville hinted, holding a small golden bundle in his hands.

"If only we could: Minerva claimed it yesterday. That damn Weasley and her are probably up there now. I just don't know what she sees in him. His flaming red hair, I must admit, attracted me at first, but he's a bloody prick when it comes down to it," Snape scoffed.

I've got to get out of here. This is just insane. Neville and Snape? How is that possible? In third year, Snape was his Boggart and now Snape's his... lover. Gross!

Harry walked blindly towards the Great Hall. But, just before he reached the stairs out of the dungeon, he heard Malfoy's cold voice coming from a nearby door. Harry couldn't help but stop and listen after he heard what Malfoy said.

"Who said Malfoys were sexy?" he demanded.

"I heard that brute, Goyle, saying it," Crabbe's voice came from inside the door.

"Gregory is not a brute, Vincent," Malfoy said swiftly.

"But he was talking about you like... like I talk about you," Crabbe said upsettingly.

"Vincent, I've got to tell you something. But, before I do, I want to do something for you," Malfoy said, making his way over to a dark corner.

Since when does Malfoy call Crabbe and Goyle "Vincent" and "Gregory"? Harry pondered, peering around the door frame.

Malfoy pushed a large, gothic-looking piano out from the corner.

"You didn't get me a piano for Christmas, did you?" Crabbe asked skeptically.

Harry heard footsteps coming from behind him, so he tucked himself between the door and the wall, peering between the crack.

"No, you idiot! Just listen," Malfoy shouted as he took a seat at the piano bench. Suddenly, he began singing off key while he banged on the piano keys. "Sing us a song, you're the piano man. Sing us a song tonight. We're all in the mood for a melody. And you've got us feelin' all right."

"Color me purple!" Goyle's voice sounded angrily from the doorway. "I thought you only sung that to me!"

"Draco, what is Goyle talking about?" Crabbe asked, shaking his fist toward Goyle.

"Vincent, Gregory, I've got news for both of you. I've been fucking both of you for the past three months," Malfoy said, his voice sounded like he was asking about the weather.

Crabbe's mouth simply fell open in astonishment. But Goyle stood there, staring blandly at Malfoy.

"How could you, Draco?" Crabbe criticized menacingly.

"Well, Crabbe here may have a problem, but I know you really love me, Draco, dear. Crabbe's just your toy because I'm not enough satisfaction, right?" Goyle was slowly going on in a looming and hurtful voice.

"Oh, please, you were both simple objects of my affection. My true love belongs to Blaise. My father likes him much better than either of you and he's not a bad kisser, but fucking him is just not as good as you two," Malfoy said crudely.

"But what about August twenty-fourth, Draco? It was your birthday and we had that special day together," Goyle protested.

"Ooh, you're a Virgo! That means virgin! Are you a virgin?" Crabbe said excitedly.

"Of course he isn't! Right after the start-of-term feast-" Goyle was sharply cut off by Crabbe.

"I did not want to know that!" Crabbe said disgustedly.

Alright, Harry thought, I need to find Hermione. She's the only sane one around here.

Harry left the dungeons, still able to faintly here the yelling of Crabbe and Goyle. He stopped briefly by the window to check if the snowflakes had lightened since he woke up. They hadn't, but he could see Hermione sitting on the front steps of Hogwarts. Harry smiled. This was much better than walking the many flights of stairs to the library.

"Hermione?" Harry asked quietly as he shut the door behind him.

Hermione jumped up. "Oh, Harry!"

"Hermione, you'll never believe what I've seen since breakfast!" Harry said quickly. "Ron and McGonagall, Neville and Snape, and Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise Zabini. It's like Hogwarts turned into a giant love triangle."

"Harry, what are you talking about?" Hermione sat down again.

"Ron, Hermione, Ron and McGonagall! I went up to the Transfiguration room to get Ron. When I got up there, Ron had given McGonagall an incredible necklace. And they were talking all nice: Ron was calling her 'Minerva' and McGonagall kept calling him 'Ronald'. It was disgusting. And then they went to the Room of Requirement. That's when I bolted," Harry rambled on.

"You're kidding! Ron and McGonagall! It can't be, that's so wrong and disgusting. Students and teachers shouldn't associate like... that," Hermione demanded.

At that moment, the castle door flew open. Cho came running out of the castle, right past Harry and Hermione.

"Come back!" a squeaky voice followed close behind her. A small house-elf was running after her and stopped near Harry and Hermione, completely ignoring them. He was holding a small Niffler, which started to struggle furiously when it saw Hermione's watch.

Cho turned furiously toward the house-elf. Her face was streaming with tears and her hair was tossed to one side.

"You disgust me, Poppy! You inconsiderate, sex-crazed, kinky house-elf! Our first Christmas together and you ruined it!" Cho was screaming at the top of her lungs. "First, you bring up his name. Then you give me this animal. And then you think I'm going to sleep with you!"

"I thought it was a good plan," the house-elf muttered.

Cho burst out with a fresh wave of sobs. She buried her face in her hands and ran towards the lake. The house-elf named Poppy scampered after her, struggling under the weight of the Niffler.

"Hermione? Tell me I didn't see that," Harry said uncertainly.

"I don't think I can," she said with her jaw still dropped slightly and her eyes focused on Cho.

Cho stopped again along the lake with her head still concealed in her hands. The house-elf quickly made his way next to her. Harry and Hermione remained on the steps like two statues watching a silent movie.

Cho's arms were flying in the air as she yelled at Poppy. In turn, he looked to be begging her for forgiveness. He was looking at her with sad eyes and held her hand desperately. He now let the Niffler go. It first made a dive for Cho's ring, but after she took a violent swing at it, it scampered towards the Forbidden Forest.

Cho apparently said something that enraged Poppy, because in one moment the expression on his face turned from pleading to a look of fury. With one violent push, Poppy sent Cho tumbling backwards into the lake. Poppy yelled something furiously and ran towards Hagrid's hut.

"Should we be helping her?" Harry asked hesitantly.

"Wait," Hermione said, carefully taking hold of Harry's arm to stop him from slowly getting up.

Suddenly, the giant squid rose to the surface of the water with Cho carefully wrapped in one tentacle. Cho was fine; she was gently stroking the giant squid and she appeared to be telling it everything that happened between sobs. Cho wrapped her arms as far as they would stretch around the squid. When she pulled away, one of the squid's tentacles reached to her face and stroked her hair carefully.

"Hermione? Can we please go? I don't want to see anymore of this love story." Harry got up, pulling Hermione to her feet by her hand, which she hadn't removed from his arm.

"Yes, let's go," Hermione said, glancing back at Cho and the giant squid. "If we stay here much longer, I just might vomit."

"Well, that wouldn't be very attractive, would it?" Harry said teasingly. Hermione gave him a sharp, that's-not-funny look. "Oh, come on, Hermione. I'm just kidding around."

"I wish you would just be serious once in a while. You are a great guy, Harry, if you'd only learn to be more serious," Hermione said as they slowly made their way to the Gryffindor common room.

They spent the rest of the walk in silence. The common room was quiet and empty. It was Christmas; everybody was with their loved ones.

"I wonder what everybody's doing," Hermione stated simply as she sat on the couch next to Harry.

"Let's see. Ron is with McGonagall doing stuff nobody wants to know about in the Room of Requirement. Neville is in the Potions classroom with Snape doing what Ron and McGonagall are doing. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle are either at each other's throats or doing what Neville and Snape are doing, except there are three of them. Cho is doing the same thing, except it's with a squid. Dean, undoubtedly, is off with Ginny, but hopefully, they're not doing what everyone else is doing. Seamus is probably off with Lavender or Parvati, I forget which one he's going out with this week. And whoever he's not with is probably stalking one of the seventh year Ravenclaws," Harry slowly, ridiculously listing all of the people he could think of.

"Harry!" Hermione laughed. "That wasn't necessary - it was a rhetorical question. I'd really prefer to keep my nose out of other people's business. I don't want to end up like Parvati and Lavender."

"How was I supposed to know?" Harry asked, putting an innocent face on.

"How could I possibly blame that adorable face?" Hermione grinned at Harry's pouting lips and puppy-dog eyes.

"So, where's my Christmas present? Is it later yet?" Harry hinted. It was becoming obvious that the suspense was getting to him. Hermione stopped grinning and started to blush slightly.

"Well, I wasn't going to give it to you until later," Hermione said as if she was embarrassed.

"Would it help if I recited the Pledge of Allegiance? Not many wizards know it. For some reason, they felt we should learn it while I was going to Muggle school. I don't know why. We don't live in America, anyway. I guess they were trying to teach us some American culture," Harry said, holding back from laughing.

"How could I not give it to you after that?" Hermione laughed. "Okay, close your eyes."

Harry shut his eyes smiling. Hermione took a quick breath in, nervously. She leaned into Harry softly and closed her eyes. With a final thought of doubt, she lifted her lips to his. Harry was stunned. He did not struggle against her; if anything, he was lost in the moment. He brought his hands to her waist and held her to him. She held one hand on his shoulder and she ran the other tenderly through his untidy, black hair. Both were nearly out of breath. They broke apart hesitantly.

Her warm, brown eyes met his passionate green eyes. She drew a sharp breath in as her cheeks flushed with scarlet. She looked away, embarrassed.

"I... I'm sorry. I'll go," she stuttered as she got up from the couch and made her way towards the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

Harry got up and grabbed her arm. "Wait. Don't be sorry."

He lifted her chin and brought his lips to hers. This kiss was much better and more avid than the first one. Harry held her closely, his arms wrapped around the small of her back. Her arms were draped around Harry's neck.

Suddenly, they heard Ron saying the Gryffindor password. Harry stepped backwards sharply, slamming his leg into an armchair, but was still holding on to Hermione. They both tumbled backwards into the armchair.

"Harry? Hermione? What the bloody hell are you doing?" Ron asked angrily as he saw Hermione and Harry laughing in the armchair, Hermione still on top of Harry.

"I don't know, Harry. What were we doing?" Hermione laughed, finally able to stand up.

Harry lifted himself off the chair. "I think I remember."

He bent his head down and with both hands held Hermione's face to his. They barely had any time before Ron interrupted.

"Guys! How long has this been going on?" Ron asked, yanking Harry's arm.

"About ten minutes. When were you planning on telling us about you and McGonagall, Ronald?" Harry mocked.

Ron's face flushed of all color and then it rushed back in a furious red.

"Um... I... well. Soon," Ron stuttered embarrassingly.

"I'm sorry, Ron. It's okay. It's a bit weird, but okay. But, it's your life, right?" Harry patted him on his shoulder.

"Yeah, that's it. My life," Ron said, walking to the boys' dormitory and mumbling something about being weird.

"He'll be fine, I hope. How about that walk now?" Harry smiled. Snow was still falling serenely outside of the castle.

"Sure, let me grab my coat." Hermione ran upstairs as Harry turned to get his.

A few minutes later, Harry and Hermione returned with their winter boots on and scarves and coats in their hands. They walked down the many flights of stairs and corridors in a silent bliss.

As they were walking down the last flight of steps, Neville was jumping up the same steps.

"Hey, Harry, Hermione," Neville said quickly as he passed them.

"Hey, Nevy," Harry said as he kept walking forward. He could hear Neville trip on one of the steps and get up quickly.

"Harry, that wasn't very nice," Hermione said, trying hard not to laugh.

"And who ever said I was nice?" Harry grinned, placing his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

"I did. Is there a problem with that, Mr. Potter?" Hermione said, leaning into Harry's warm body and resting her head on his shoulder.

"I suppose not. Who am I to refuse someone like you?" Harry said as he placed his scarf and coat on and proceeded to help Hermione with hers.

"And who exactly is 'someone like me'?" Hermione asked. She seemed to be thinking about Harry's last comment as they walked onto Hogwarts' snowy yard.

Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her tightly. "Someone like you is someone who is beautiful, intelligent, and always there when you need them."

"You know, you're not so bad after all," Hermione smiled as they sat under a tree near the lake.

Harry and Hermione sat under the same tree for the rest of the day. They even skipped lunch and dinner: who needs food when they've got each other? They occasionally said something, but spent most of the time in a silent embrace. Harry would wrap one of her cinnamon curls around his finger, inhaling the deep sent of her hair. Hermione had her arms wrapped around Harry and laid her head on his chest, listening to his relaxing heartbeat. They watched the sun set serenely, and after the first few stars appeared, they decided they should go back to the common room.

Ron was snoring loudly on the couch; everyone else seemed to be sleeping already or still out with their dates.

"I'm going to bed, Harry. Take Ron upstairs, or somebody's liable to suffocate him with a pillow if he doesn't shut up." Hermione laughed, glancing at Ron's half open mouth.

"He's used to it: Dean usually does it." Hermione looked at him stiffly. "Alright, alright, I'll get him upstairs."

"G'night, Harry." Hermione stood on the balls of her feet and kissed Harry. Just as she was about to pull away, he pulled her closer and gave the kiss more depth. A loud snore roughly broke the silence and they parted hastily.

"A good night indeed," Harry said, as he watched Hermione climb the steps to her dormitory.

Harry made his way to where Ron was mumbling something about attacking spiders.

"Ron!" Harry gave Ron a rough shove, which cause Ron to roll off the couch and start swinging his arms furiously.

"Damn spiders!" Ron stood and blinked his eyes. He took a moment to focus his eyes to the light of the crackling fire and Harry laughing as he stood behind the couch.

"Sorry about that, Ron. You should get to bed, or somebody's going to suffocate you with the sounds coming out of your mouth," Harry echoed Hermione's words, in a slightly revised version.

Harry slept soundly in his four-poster bed. He may have discovered some odd relationships between his friends and enemies, but he also discovered a love of his own, and that was the important thing. He had decided months ago that he and Cho could never work out - she was too complicated and overly dramatic to be capable of understanding Harry and vice versa. Hermione, on the other hand, had already gone through five years at Harry's side and still felt for him. She could overlook his quirks and discover his deepest feelings easily. Harry may not have been as able to comprehend Hermione's thoughts and feelings all the time, but he felt the same desire for her as she felt for him. That alone would make their love last through the toughest of times and the most depressing days.