Hermione's teeth were chattering rapidly the closer they got home. Despite the brief time at the Ministry, it did nothing overall to warm her up. She didn't hear Jake complaining from behind her about the cold, so she wasn't going to either. She figured if he could tough it out with discomfort, she could too, even if she was seriously despising herself for deciding such a ridiculous plan. When her home came into sight, she sped up, despite the cold; her desire to get inside near a warm fire, and to cuddle up with Jake and share his warmth overrode any numbness her body may have wanted to feel.
She had let go of Jake's hand without realizing it and began shaking off the snow from her clothes and boots as best she could. She opened the front door, "Mum, we're b-b-back!" Hermione hollered into the empty feeling house.
The appearance of her mother proved it wasn't, though, "Oh, Hermione, where on earth did you both go!"
"W-Well, we-" Hermione started, but Jake decided to explain.
"We found a place in the park that was nice and secluded from view. We sat and chatted for a while, then we made a pretty serious decision, serious to Hermione and I at least," he explained.
Jane cocked an eyebrow, " 'A pretty serious decision?' You aren't going to tell me that you both..." she lowered her voice, "popped your cherries, so to speak, did you?"
"Mum!" Hermione felt so embarrassed, she literally thought she'd die.
"No... we - we definitely did not do that..." Jake trailed off, "but Hermione and I decided to not wait on something else, and I asked her to be my official girlfriend."
"And you said yes, right?" Jane looked at her daughter expectantly.
"O-O-Of course I did, Mum," Hermione stuttered out.
Jane squealed with delight and hugged her daughter, realizing just how cold to the touch she was, "I'm so happy for you both! I can't say your father will be as excited as myself, but I know that if you had to fall for any boy, he wanted it to be Jake," she turned to him, "with all you've done for Hermione since you both met, you have my blessing to be with my daughter, but you had it last year too."
Jake's face turned a light red, "That's good to know... I wish I'd acted on my true feelings sooner," he looked at Hermione apologetically.
"D-Don't worry about it, what matters is we are together now," Hermione said and boldly kissed him in front of her mother, who just gushed more with glee.
"Well I'm glad you both are back. Mark went out about ten minutes ago, saying he had something to grab before tomorrow, and I need you both to help me with moving his present behind the tree without him knowing it's back there," Jane asked the two teens.
"Of course, mum," Hermione agreed and pulled Jake's arm, "come on, we should get out of these and into dry clothes."
"Gladly," Jake followed Hermione to the split between their rooms.
They separated and each changed into comfy, dry clothes. Jake had got changed first and walked back out into the hall, noticing that Hermione's door was slightly cracked open, so he decided to take a peak. Stepping right next to Hermione's door and peering inside allowed him to see something he didn't expect to see for at least a couple more years; Hermione was standing next to her closet, completely topless. Her head was down and he realized that she was examining herself. Her chest was of modest size, and he saw her feeling around them. He didn't know what the reason was for her doing so, and he wasn't going to know because he was not going to let her know he had been spying on her. What he did know was that his pajama bottoms and underwear felt tighter on him. He pulled himself away from the door, turned and walked away from there, and closed his eye to try and calm down.
He wanted to feel bad for spying on his girlfriend, but truth be told he wasn't sorry about it at all. He loved Hermione, all of her, and he wanted to appreciate how her body looked, even if it was currently from a voyeuristic point of view.
He reopened his eye when he heard the door to Hermione's room creak open behind him. He turned and saw her closing the door to her room, and when she turned to him, he averted his eye from her gaze, "You okay, Jake?"
"Y-Yeah... of course I am..." he said lamely. There was no way she'd believe him, and he knew it.
She just looked at him for a second, "Are you sure?"
He cleared his throat, then looked at her, "No... I'm not sure..."
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked, stepping closer.
"No, not right now, we've got something important to do first," he said, not trying to avoid the topic. He cursed himself for doing so.
"Okay then, let's go help Mum," Hermione said and grabbed his hand, leading him back to where her mother was.
*******
It was Eleven Fifty-one at night, almost ready to turn over to the next day, which would officially make it Christmas Day. Jake was unable to sleep and was in the main room, sitting in a comfy chair staring at the Christmas tree, and all the lights that he had helped wrap on it when he arrived with Hermione. He was in a trance-like state with the slowly blinking lights. The anticipation of the next day gave him an uneasy feeling. He knew Hermione would love her Book, but in front of Mark he'd be giving her the Earrings, and she'd want to know the price of them.
If she asked, he'd tell her, but only if she asked him.
He began to wonder how he and Hermione should reveal to everyone that they were officially in a relationship. Should they just tell Harry and Ron, maybe Ginny as well and let it spread from there? Should they make out on the train ride back to Hogwarts and accidentally allow themselves to get caught by someone? Or maybe just hold hands in the corridors, give off public displays of affection and let people find out that way? It would definitely be something to discuss with Hermione on the train ride back.
He looked up at the clock and it was Eleven Fifty-four. He heard movement to his right and he looked to see Hermione walking in, her night clothes hanging a bit loosely in her silhouette, "Jake?" She said his name. Her voice wasn't tired, she had to have been up for a little while, "Is everything okay?"
"It is now," he said, looking at her.
"So romantic," she said, and he could hear the smirk on her face, "But what about before I arrived?" She asked, walking in and sitting down on the arm beside him. She noticed that he didn't have his eyepatch on.
"I was just... lost in thought..." he looked back at the Tree.
"What were you thinking about?" She placed a hand on his shoulder, rubbing her hand in soothing circles on his shoulder blade.
"Us, and what we were going to do about our relationship back at Hogwarts..." he said.
"Well... we should at least tell Harry and Ron," Hermione said, "no reason to keep them in the dark about it now that we are official."
"That was one of the thoughts I had..." he paused, "I also thought we could get caught being lip-locked on the train ride back and let it spread that way, or show each other affection in public at Hogwarts and let everyone figure it out that way," he looked at her, "you and I, it won't stay quiet once someone is told, so I was thinking how we could go about letting it get known."
"Well," Hermione said, standing up and standing in front of him. She moved to him and began to straddle his lap, placing her hands on his shoulders, "How about all three?" Before he could answer, she placed her lips upon his, pressing her body as close to his as she could. She moaned into his mouth as her hips involuntarily grinded against his lap, and she felt something bulge up against her. She pulled back from his mouth as her eyes widened, she wasn't surprised about the fact she was arousing him, what surprised her was how big he felt when she turned him on.
His eye was looking at her, but it wasn't lustful, it was almost an embarrassed look, "S-Sorry, Hermione..."
"No, I-I'm the one who should be sorry... I got caught up in the moment and caused... w-well..." she looked down, "I didn't mean to turn you on that hard."
"That's not something to apologize for, my love," Jake said, getting her to look back at him, "if we weren't waiting to make love, we'd do so right here on this chair."
Hermione's face heated from his words. Oh how badly she wanted to give into her lustful desires, but it just wouldn't feel right to make love this early. She wanted to wait until the end of Seventh Year, and she was still going to, but the temptation to not wait was strong.
She glanced over at the time, before looking back at him, "Happy Christmas, Jake," she kissed him again. It had just switched to Twelve-oh-one.
When they separated, he looked deep into one of her eyes, "Merry Christmas, Hermione. I got you a Present that I can't give in front of Mark, do you want me to go ahead and give it to you?"
She got off of him and stood up, "If you want to, sure."
He stood up when she was clear and went to the guest room, pulling out his infinite pouch and retrieving the book. He took the book back to the main room, where she was sitting in the seat he had previously occupied.
"It's nice and warm from how long you were sitting here," she said, watching his silhouette much in the way he had hers, "Oh, a book! What did you get me this year?" She asked eagerly.
"Well, it's a special book, one that I repurposed just for you," he said, sitting on the floor in front of her. She slid off the chair to sit with him, "Last year I remember that you complained about the inaccuracies of Hogwarts: A History ... so I bought a copy at Flourish and Blotts, and charmed it."
"Charmed it? How did you Charm the book?" She asked, not knowing what he was talking about.
"It's a Charm I read about at the Tower," he handed her the book.
" Hogwarts: The Complete History ? You changed the name of it too?" Hermione looked at the Author name, "and it has you listed as the Author..." Hermione began to skim through the book, finding an immediate difference within the first few pages, "The House-Elf number... it's significantly lower than what Nearly Headless Nick said it was."
"And that was before he was even born. The year 1137 in the book, right?" He asked her.
"Yeah... but it says that House-Elves were used since the start of Hogwarts founding... and it was only about Twenty then..." she said sadly.
"Skip to 1991-92," he informed her.
Hermione did just that and read about Harry Potter saving the Stone from Professor Quirrell, who had Voldemort on the back of his head. It also listed Ron getting them through the game of Chess, herself getting through Snape's logic puzzle, and Jake taking out a Manticore. She then went to the next school year and read about the Chamber of Secrets event, where Jake killed the Basilisk, and Harry destroyed Tom Riddle's diary. The next event was the Dementors, Jake and Harry learning the Patronus Charm, Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup, and Jake successfully casting a Corporeal Patronus, driving off a hundred Dementors. Then last year the Triwizard Tournament, Harry being put into the Tournament by Crouch Jr, and worst of all, Cedric's death at the hands of Pettigrew under Voldemort's order, and the return of the Dark Lord. It also had a section for this year, with Umbridge becoming Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, becoming the High Inquisitor, and the formation of the D.A. She looked up at Jake, "Does this update in real-time?"
"It does," he said, "anything that happens at Hogwarts of even mild significance is listed in there. I think the Death Day party from our Second Year is in there, and it also mentions the kiss we shared almost exactly a year ago. I'm not entirely sure why it does, but this is the only copy of the book that exists, and the only copy that will exist. This is your book, Hermione, no one else's."
Hermione felt touched and began to tear up, "This is wonderful... the best gift I've ever received for Christmas... thank you so much, Jake."
"Merry Christmas, Hermione," he smiled at her and she smiled back at him.
*******
It was early morning on Christmas Day, and Hermione had gotten up and out of bed at Six-thirty. The only reason she had done so was so she could spend the day with Jake as much as she possibly could. She crept out of her room and over to his room across from hers, opened the door, and went inside. He was still asleep, but that wouldn't be the case for long. She walked over to him and sat down on the bedside; she began to caress his face with her hand, "Jake, it's time to get up."
He stirred a bit in his bed, and she saw his eye open, "Is that you, Hermione?" His vision was blurred, so he was unsure if it was actually her or not.
She leaned down and placed a kiss upon his lips for a brief second, "Does that answer your question?"
He was much more awake now, "It does, I recognize the feel of those lips anywhere," he yawned and stretched as he continued to lay there.
"Well, then if you want more, you're going to have to get up. Mum will be up at Seven and Dad said he'd be over by Seven-thirty," she said to him, standing up.
"What time is it now?" He asked her as he sat up.
"Six Thirty-three," she said and watched him swing his feet from under the covers, and stood up, showing that he slept only in his boxers. Needless to say, Hermione was quite enjoying the view.
Jake put on a pair of pajama bottoms with a matching shirt, then his eyepatch, and turned to her, "You hungry?"
'For you? Of course.' "I am, were you planning to fix breakfast?" She asked him.
"Only something small to eat, nothing grandiose," he said, smiling at her.
"If you're offering, I'll take some toast with marmalade. While you make that, I'll get some tea going," she said, holding her hand out to him.
He accepted her hand in his own, "Sounds good to me."
She blushed lightly when she realized just how small her hand was in comparison to his. She took him out of the room and to the kitchen, where they let go of each other, and she began to get the tea going while he toasted some bread. After a few minutes' wait, Hermione poured two cups, and Jake had one piece of toast for each of them with marmalade on them.
They sat down at the kitchen table and began to eat and drink when Hermione started talking again, "So, what did you get me for Christmas besides that book?" She asked, hoping he'd let it slip.
"Well, it's nothing big physically, but they cost more than the book did," he said, glancing at her. 'If you only knew just how much more.'
"Oh, now I can't wait to see what you got me," she said eagerly.
"Well, it's more jewelry, but I've never seen you wearing them, so I figured maybe you'd start after seeing them? It's up to you, but if you don't like them I can always take them back and get something else," he said to her.
"Did you really spend a few hundred Pounds on some jewelry for me?" She asked.
His heart skipped a beat, "Yeah, I-I did... because I love you, Hermione."
"Such a Casanova," she practically purred, "So if you've never seen me wear the jewelry you bought... it has to be earrings, right?" She asked and he nodded, "Well, I can always go and get my ears pierced after today and then after so long I can start wearing your earrings you bought me," she smiled at him, which to her, he seemed to relax. "Speaking of, after we finish eating, let me go and get the necklace you bought me. You can get the one I got for you," Hermione said, "Oh, but... I didn't pay too much for yours, I hope you don't mind? Even though my parents are dentists and make good money, I couldn't ask them for too much to buy it with. The Sapphire in your necklace is a real Sapphire, but the jeweler said the carat and clarity were the cheapest he had... I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, it could've been a fake Sapphire and I'd wear it proudly," he said, causing her face to heat up.
She smiled at him again, "I love you... just so much."
He placed his hand on hers, "I know you do... and I love you just the same."
It was five minutes to Seven, and the light in the hall turned on, drawing both teens' attention. Hermione's mother had appeared, Mark slightly behind her, "Good morning, Hermione, Jake, did you both sleep well?"
"Well enough with how giddy I was last night," Hermione said bashfully.
"Oh, and why were you giddy?" Jane asked in a teasing tone.
"W-Well..." Hermione paused.
In that pause, Jake spoke in her stead, "She and I shared a Christmas kiss. Our first one as an official couple."
Hermione was blushing, but she wasn't trying to hide the smile on her face, "It made getting to sleep difficult."
"Oh, how lovely," Jane was happy for the two. She turned to Mark and kissed him, but not for the first time on that day.
"So Dad will be here in half an hour, right?" Hermione asked.
Jane turned to her daughter, "Yes, he will be here in half an hour," Jane said. She had no ill will towards her soon-to-be ex-husband, they hadn't finalized their divorce yet, but they were nearing the closing of the divorce.
"Okay... um... there's something I need to ask..." Hermione said slowly.
"Well, out with it then," Jane said playfully as she and Mark went and sat at the table.
"After today, can I get my ears pierced?" Hermione asked her mother.
"Your ears pierced? You're asking to get them pierced?" Jane asked to be sure she heard her daughter.
"Yes... I-I understand if I can't, but-" Hermione started, but Jane cut her off.
"Of course you can, Hermione, I have no problem with it," Jane said, "although your father might, but if you don't want to tell him... I won't. And it's hard to say no if you've already gotten them done."
"Really?" Hermione asked and Jane nodded, "oh, thank you, Mum!" Hermione jumped up and hugged her mother.
Half an hour later, John came over with his new girlfriend, Samantha, and had Hermione's gift in tow. Hermione politely greeted Samantha, much as she did the first time she met her earlier in the break, and they enjoyed a nice breakfast before the gift opening occurred.
"Well, that was a lovely breakfast, Jake," Jane said afterwards, "Hermione said you could cook, but I didn't know just how well until today."
"Kinda had to learn when I started living on my own," Jake said, "can't live on fast-food forever."
"And what did you say the breakfast was called?" John asked him.
"Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuits with Hash browns on the side. It's American styled, because I know British people refer to what I call Cookies, as Biscuits," he answered.
"Well it was definitely lovely, like Jane said," Samantha said, smiling at him.
"Well, you all are very welcome for breakfast, and thank you, Mrs. Granger, for letting me use your ingredients, I'll pay you back for them when I next stop by the bank," he said, almost apologetic sounding.
"Oh nonsense, they don't cost that much to begin with," Jane laughed as she spoke.
"Well, I think we should get to opening the presents, Hermione looks impatient to tear into her gifts," John chuckled.
It was true, Hermione's eyes darted around quickly, as though she wanted to leave for the presents that had gathered under the tree, "What?" She asked as the adults gazed at her, "It's true..."
"This is a side of you I've not seen from you in a while, Hermione," Jake said, leaning back in his chair as he looked at her.
"Sh-Shut up," she said, standing up and going to the main room.
Jake laughed as he stood up, going after her. The adults followed a few moments later, Hermione's mother the last one to follow, 'Probably cleaned up the plates from the table... I should've done it myself...'
He sat on the ground with Hermione in front of the tree as she grabbed the first present for her. Jake had two presents underneath the tree: one was Hermione's gift to him, and the other was from her parents. He'd have been fine with no presents, personally; having Hermione in his life was more than enough for him.
The more presents Hermione tore through, it was a lot of clothing, but she was glad to be getting clothes. Jane did tell her daughter to not open one of them until she was alone, so she set it aside for later tonight. Samantha had gotten Hermione some beauty products if she ever wanted to apply makeup, paint her nails, that sort of stuff. Hermione was grateful, and would put it to use, she just wouldn't buy it herself with how expensive it could be.
It finally got down to where the last present Hermione had left to open was Jake's, and it was small, 'He did say they were earrings...'
"You're not proposing to my daughter, are you?" John asked Jake.
"No sir, not yet at least," Jake said, and Hermione turned into a stuttering mess.
"Th-That's not f-f-funny!"
"I'm not laughing," Jake said, "you know I love you, Hermione, and the goal is to eventually get married and have a family, but that'll be after school is over, obviously," he finished with a smirk.
"Okay, that's enough, that's enough," John said, not wanting to think about that anytime soon.
"Go on, Hermione, open Jake's present," Jane urged her daughter.
Hermione carefully opened it and saw a small note attached to the top of the small box, " For the best, most intelligent girl I know, Merry Christmas ..." she lifted the small box and saw Ruby Earrings, "Jake... these are beautiful..."
Jane saw them and went wide-eyed, "So that's why you asked me... Jake, how much did these cost?"
"Y-You don't wanna know..." he said, looking at the Tree.
"Earrings?" John asked as he saw them from his seat, "it's jewelry, you've gotta tell us. They aren't fake, are they?"
"No, no not at all," Jake said hastily.
"So what... a few thousand Pounds?" Jane asked.
His lack of an answer got them almost needing to know the exact number, "Well don't leave us in suspense," Mark said.
"Tell us, how much did you pay for these?" Jane asked.
He closed his eye and sighed, "Just over Fifty-four Thousand Pounds."
The room was dead silent. Hermione practically cradled the box in her hands, afraid of dropping the earrings. She looked down at the Emerald Necklace he had gotten her years ago, "H-How much was the necklace?"
"..." He sighed again, "just under Forty-nine Thousand..."
Hermione thought she was going to hyperventilate. The bracelet that was in her room didn't have any special gem in it, so she felt safe in assuming that it wasn't even a fraction of the price of both pieces of jewelry she now had in her possession, "Jake," she said his name quietly, "I-I can't accept this... you shouldn't have spent so much on... me ..."
"Don't be ridiculous, Hermione," he said and shifted over a bit closer to her, "You're the single most important person in my entire life... I'd give you the moon if it were for sale," he said, causing both women in the room to let out a sound of awe . "There is nothing in this world I won't buy for you, especially if you want it."
Hermione couldn't control herself and she reached over with her lips, connecting them to his in a teary, but passionate kiss. When she sat back, she was smiling at him, "You... you're unbelievable..."
"Sorry about lying earlier... I was afraid of telling you the actual price..." he said, ashamed.
"No, don't worry about it," Hermione said and looked back at the earrings, "I'll start wearing these the moment I can after I get my ears pierced."
"When were you planning to do that?" John asked his daughter.
"Sometime before Christmas Break is over," Hermione said.
John sighed, "Okay... you're Sixteen, you can decide that for yourself," John said begrudgingly.
"Oh, thank you!" Hermione stood up and rushed to hug her father for approving of her getting her ears pierced.
Jake didn't miss the glare he received from John, but at that moment he couldn't find it in him to care. He was too glad to see Hermione happy about being able to get her ears pierced, John could be wishing death upon him and he wouldn't care.
"Okay, Jake," Hermione said after she went and sat back down in front of him, grabbing his present she got for him, "Open yours!"
He took it and placed it in front of him, opening it carefully. Inside was something he wasn't expecting to see, "My Outsiders Book..." he looked up at her, but the look on her face said to not open it, "Thank you, Hermione, you didn't have to return it, but thank you. I had actually been missing this book," he joked.
"It was a fantastic read for an American book. I'm glad you loaned it to me," she thanked him.
He opened the one from her parents, and it was a Solid Gold Wrist-Watch. He looked at the both of them, "You both didn't have to get me this..."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, we wanted to get it for you. You are the single best thing to happen to our daughter, being her first real friend, I only wish John and I could've gotten you something more," Jane said to him.
Jake took it out of its confines and put it on his left wrist, he was right handed after all. It fit suspiciously perfectly, but he didn't think about it too long, "Thank you, both of you."
"Treat Hermione right, and you'll always be welcomed in our Households," John said.
Jake looked down, ashamed for the few times where he and Hermione didn't do that great socially. He glanced up at her, but her smile was gentle and genuine. She placed a hand on his knee comfortingly, and mouthed the words, 'I love you.'
Later that night, when Hermione was alone in her room, she unwrapped the final present from her mother, and the way she acted, she almost didn't want to open it. She tore the paper off, and it was another clothing box, she expected that. What she didn't expect was seeing a lingerie set in the box. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she pulled it out to get a better look at it. "What in the name of all that is Holy did my mother buy for me?" She looked down at herself, then back up to the lingerie, "Might as well see if it fits..."
She made sure her door was locked as she disrobed herself to only be in her bare skin, before she pulled on the lingerie. She walked over to her mirror and felt a little ridiculous, but she figured it wasn't her opinion that mattered.
"Jake, his opinion is the only one that matters, but I'm not going to wear this for him until I'm ready to make love to him..." She gave herself a long, hard look, and tried to look sexy.
No matter what, though, she couldn't find herself looking even semi-attractive, let alone desirable. She sighed, taking the lingerie back off, but instead of reclothing, she decided to go and take a bubble bath. She hadn't taken one in years, but she wanted to experience it again. She grabbed some underwear and her night clothes, taking them into the washroom with her, being careful to not make any noise as she was currently nude out in the hallway. She carefully checked and no one was in the washroom, so she stepped inside, turned the lights on, and ran some water, adding the soap for the bubbles in after a moment. After it was to her desire, she got in, feeling instantly better once the warm water hit her skin.
She decided that the only thing that would make this better would be if Jake walked in on her, and offered to join her.