Harry Potter woke on Christmas morning in the arms of his lover. He smiled and turned to pull her into his arms and gaze at her. Hermione looked so peaceful. Some more of her features had changed. They were subtle changes that most wouldn't notice. She was a little taller and though Harry knew she had been working out with Fleur there was no tone to her body. Her skin was so soft Harry could just nuzzle her all day and her skin was perfect; no blemishes. There was a confidence to Hermione that he loved seeing grow. It had all started when they'd told other people. They had agreed to not go into detail about the sex drive. They would tell everyone the same things the Weasleys knew. And they did. To surprising results.
-Flashback-
They first decided to tell their dormmates. Harry sat with his arms around his lover as she explained that she was a Veela. Knowing how the girls were Harry was worried. "So that's what happened to your hair! Your hair has looked amazing lately," Lavender said.
"And we thought you got Harry to shrink your teeth! Though granted we were unsure about your tits," Parvati said, tilting her head thoughtfully.
Harry's eyes widened. Hermione just shook her head and kissed his cheek, "We're girls Harry. We've seen each other nearly nude a few times."
The look on Harry's face caused the girls to all laugh. Neville patted Harry's shoulder comfortingly, "Don't worry Harry. No one else understands girls either."
"Hermione how come Seamus and I aren't drooling like idiots like we were at the Cup?" Dean asked.
"Well that was a large number of Veela in an enclosed magical space. They were all blasting their allure too. I'm pretty good at controlling it. The Veela who I talked to said that you don't know until you're fifteen and your powers unleash but I can control it. Unfortunately if I do blast it accidentally, or even just let it leak a smidgen, Harry can't tell."
"Why not?" Seamus asked.
"True love," Lavender said with a dreamy look on her face, "oh that's so sweet! We always knew you and Harry would be a couple but that it's true love…"
Lavender let out a squeal that had Parvati and Hermione snickering while Harry explained, "I'm immune to the Veela allure. Whether Hermione casts it or another Veela does. Our love renders it null."
Neville smiled, "That is pretty romantic."
"It works on anyone who has true love. At the cup Arthur Weasley and the Bulgarian minister were both immune too," Hermione said. "Though Lucius Malfoy and the Minister made fools of themselves." Harry chuckled at the memory. The others laughed at their imaginations of the two's antics.
-End Flashback-
Hermione shifted and burrowed into his chest. His hands gently rubbed her back. From telling their friends they'd then told the rest of Gryffindor. Again there was no problem. Next they decided to tell the rest of the school. Admittedly, a few people were hostile. Most of them were Slytherins. None of them were dumb enough to verbally or physically attack Hermione save Malfoy, though.
Hermione moved again and Harry glanced down to see her gazing up at him, "Good morning," she smiled.
"Good morning," he leaned down to kiss her, "Happy Christmas my love."
"Happy Christmas Harry," she sat up and looked at the foot of their bed, "Dobby and Winky must have left our presents in front of our separate beds."
"Well we don't want to draw attention to our absences there," he got out of bed to find their pajamas and put his on after tossing hers onto the bed, "I'll see you in a half hour or so?"
She nodded and after one last kiss Dobby took Harry back to his dorm room with Winky taking Hermione back to hers.
At the foot of his bed was quite the collection of presents. Harry was just about to open his first present when Dobby appeared, "Harry Potter sir is so generous! Dobby is loving his socks!"
"I'm glad you like them Dobby," Harry smiled.
"Dobby wants to give Harry Potter sir his present too. Dobby made them," he handed Harry a small package. Harry opened it to reveal two different colored socks. A red sock with broomsticks and a green sock with golden snitches. "Wow Dobby. These are great," he smiled at the elf who was bouncing with joy, "I should open my presents now. I want to be able to see Hermione soon."
"Dobby must go help prepare dinner," he said before bowing and vanishing. Harry smirked and put the socks aside. He opened up his present from Hagrid to reveal a wide assortment of candy. From Remus he received a pair of sunglasses. Sirius sent him a pocket knife with attachments to open any lock and undo any knot. From Winky he got a new winter hat that she'd obviously made herself. A Gryffindor lion was on it. Harry was surprised to find a present from the Grangers. He opened it to reveal a set of James Bond books and a letter:
Harry,
We hope that you enjoy these books. Dan is a huge James Bond fan and Hermione and I would probably consider the books and movies to be guilty pleasures. Now don't you tell her I said that! She thinks she's crafty about hiding that from us.
Dan and I look forward to getting to know you this summer. We have heard much of you from Hermione's letters home; you've long featured them. Dan would love for an explanation of quidditch. Hermione's letters detail your games but primarily your performances in them.
Have a good Christmas Harry and I hope you and Hermione have a lovely night at the ball.
Dr. Emma Granger
Harry smiled at the letter. He remembered Dudley watching some James Bond films but he'd never been allowed to watch them. Operation Don't Get Killed By An Angry Dad seemed to be off to a good start. He was opening a gift from Viktor when Ron suddenly sat up loudly, "Presents!"
Harry rolled his eyes and resumed opening the box to reveal a full set of seeker armor. He smiled. From Fleur he received a speedo that had him blushing, especially when he read the note:
Why should you be the only one to have a nice view on the beach? Hermione will certainly approve.
Neville looked over at Harry, "What's up?"
"I think Fleur gave Hermione a second present," Harry said, the blush deepening. He showed the Neville the speedo and the other boy chuckled.
After reading the note Neville smiled, "Well she has a point Harry."
"Don't I know it. And I'm sure I'll be expected to wear it since I'm sure she'll tell Hermione about it." Neville grinned at his friend's obvious discomfort. Harry picked up Hermione's gift to him and opened it to reveal two tickets to a quidditch match in France that summer. A letter in Hermione's neat script fell out and he read:
Harry,
I know how important family is to you and while you're worried about how my parents might react (or probably will react) to our intimacy I want you to remember that they're not just my family. They're yours too. If there is one thing my father has always wanted it's a son. My parents probably won't see it right away but through you they have the son they always wanted. And, in fifteen years, we can see about giving them a grandson.
Love,
Hermione
A grandson. Their son. Harry felt his body warm at the thought that Hermione wanted to give him the family he'd always desired. Harry suddenly blinked and shook his head. Hermione wasn't giving him the family he'd always desired. She was the family he'd always desired.
He looked back into the box to find another letter:
Harry,
I'm sorry this box is empty however what I want to give you would have become inoperable inside of Hogwarts. Your Christmas present from me is a Nintendo Game Boy. I think I can create runes to make it run on magic but I can't do that here. When we get out of Hogwarts for the summer we'll go get the Game Boy and a couple games for you to play. I hope you can accept a belated Christmas gift.
Love you!
Hermione
Harry grinned and made a pile on his bed of things to go in the trunk Dobby wore around his neck. The books from the Grangers, Hermione's letters and the tickets, the speedo, and the sunglasses all went into the pile before he noticed that Dobby had laid out his clothes for the day. "Dobby you are the best elf ever," Harry whispered, grabbing his stuff and going to take a shower.
Hermione looked at the collection of presents. There were quite a few. She hoped Harry liked his gifts, or the promise of them. She smiled at the present from Hagrid. It was a brand new hippogriff quill and some cat treats for Crookshanks. Sirius had sent her a book of fairy tales that wizarding children all had read to them in their youth, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Remus sent her a book about Alchemy, and her parents sent her some muggle books. There was also a small box in among the books from her parents and she opened it to reveal some lovely diamond earrings and a small note:
Have fun tonight. Your Harry is quite special.
Love, Mum and Dad
She smiled and gently set them aside to look at the other presents. Viktor had sent her a bottle of perfume his mother recommended that would prevent any subtle releases of allure and Fleur had sent her bikini bottoms. "Of course there's no top. Thank you for making my decisions for me Fleur," Hermione shook her head, a smile on her lips. Harry's eyes would probably fall out of his head if past experience was any indication. Her last present was from Harry. She opened the package carefully to reveal a very beautiful white gold diamond teardrop necklace, "Harry…" Then she had a thought. She picked up the box with the diamond earrings to see that they were also teardrops and white gold. "You wrote to my parents. Oh Harry. You are getting quite the Christmas snog."
Winky popped in, "Happy Christmas Miss Hermione. Winky is wanting to gives you your present now."
"That's great Winky. I want to give you your present too," Hermione pulled a package out from under her bed, "I know how you feel about clothes but I thought you might like some new dresses so I bought you some fabric to make your own."
Winky happily unwrapped the material, "Can I use it to make Dobby something too?"
"Use it however you want."
Winky beamed and handed Hermione two packages, "Dobby is getting you a gift too." Hermione unwrapped Dobby's to reveal a scarf of many colors. She smiled. Dobby loved colors; the more they didn't go together the more he loved them. Winky's present was a pair of winter gloves that had lions on the back of them.
"I love them Winky. Thank you. And thank Dobby for me."
Winky nodded her head eagerly, "Winky is going to help in kitchens. Winky has much work to do for tonight."
The elf popped out and Hermione smiled. The elves were both happier than ever being part of their family. She got her towel and robe and headed to the shower. She had a boyfriend to thank.
Harry and Hermione entered the common room at the same time, Hermione kissing him for his gift, "You wrote to my parents."
"Yeah," he admitted, "I needed help with getting the present. The Marauders are good for a few things; picking out jewelry isn't one. There is a reason they're both single and it's not that they're gay."
Hermione smirked and hugged him, "Fleur sent me a swimsuit for the beach."
"Yeah I got one too," he admitted, "do I have to wear it?"
"Yes you do," she kissed him again, "you'll love mine. Fleur seems to have forgotten to send me the top."
Harry was mollified (and slightly aroused) by that. He gazed at her for a moment before saying, "I look forward to the Game Boy but the greatest present was you telling me we'd give your parents a grandson one day."
She smiled, "You had to have suspected we would have children one day Harry."
"Well hoped yes but I didn't want to take anything for granted or get my hopes up. I'm used to having dreams dashed," he admitted.
"Oh Harry," she pulled him into a full hug and Harry sighed into Hermione's shoulder and closed his eyes.
"Ugh way to ruin my appetite," they heard. Harry didn't pull away. Ron had returned but in the past week since his return he had shown that he hadn't changed.
-Flashback-
Ron Weasley entered Gryffindor tower to receive no 'welcome back' or 'missed you mate'. His eyes landed on Hermione, who was talking to Lavender and Parvati about the Yule Ball, and he walked over, "Hey Herms. You can be my date to the Yule Ball."
It was Parvati's hand on Hermione's that stopped the Veela from drawing her wand. Her words were sharp, "I have a date, Ronald Weasley. Harry is my boyfriend and my date for the evening."
Ron's face reddened, "Fine! Be with that fame-hungry bastard!" He stormed up the stairs to the boys' room and only once he was gone did Parvati let go of Hermione's hand.
"I'm amazed you didn't roast him."
"Ever since Moody brought out the harpy I've been working on controlling it. Mira, the Veela who told me about my powers, has offered advice in her letters and I've been practicing with Fleur and Harry."
-2 Days Later-
Fleur Delacour was talking to Hermione about getting ready for the ball together when Ron Weasley entered the Great Hall and saw the two Veela together. He straightened his robes and sauntered over to them in what he thought was a macho style. "Hey Veela! You…" Ron tripped over his robes and fell flat on his face. Snickers were heard from those who'd witnessed it and he grumbled before finding a place to sit and eat.
-End Flashback-
After that every time that Ron tried to talk to the two Veela and seemingly ask them to the ball the strangest things seemed to happen to him. Trying to lean against the wall as he asked them had him falling into three suits of armor. Another time he seemingly became unable to speak and merely got out, "You…go…ball…me." Perhaps one of many people's favorite attempts was when Fleur and Hermione were already angry and just let loose some allure targeted at Ron. He'd humped a pillar near the great hall. And, not unlike his encounter in the Defense classroom with the Imperius curse, he'd continued it long after they'd ceased the allure. That led to more laughter and teasing.
"Ignore him," Hermione said, kissing Harry gently, "you have a girlfriend to take to breakfast."
"Yes ma'am," he smiled.
Draco Malfoy woke to a letter from his parents informing him that his mother was pregnant and he would have a little brother. Draco had blown up the letter with his wand. He had forgiven his parents for not sticking around after the task. In the pureblood world he came from if you embarrassed your family you were out. It was that simple. He had embarrassed his parents and should expect no comfort from them.
But his parents having a baby? He was the heir to the Malfoy and Black fortunes! How dare they take his inheritance from him! A still seething Draco's mood was only slightly mollified by the knowledge that he at least had a date for the night. Weasley had found no one to go with him. Although, unknown to Draco, Lucius had offered up 1200 galleons to Adrian Greengrass to get his youngest daughter Astoria to attend with Draco.
He gathered his things and went to take a shower. He really wasn't looking forward to the ball although seeing Weasley potentially humiliate himself might be worthwhile.
Hermione and Fleur went to the Room of Requirement three hours before the ball. Harry asked why it took so long and Hermione said their dresses were complicated. Harry had no clue what that meant and a look at the other boys said that they didn't understand it either. About an hour before the ball he went up to the room to find that the door appeared for him and he entered to take a shower and change into his robes.
Fleur zipped up Hermione's dress, "'Arry will love it."
Hermione's gown was silver and showcased her legs (Harry's favorite view) and her cleavage. She gazed at the mirror, "I think so too. I think he'll like how we did my hair too; he always prefers it down anyway."
The brunette helped the blonde into her dress robes before they heard a knock, "Hermione? How do you tie a bowtie?"
"Go to your lover," Fleur smiled. "I will be out shortly."
"You sure?"
"Oui. Go."
Hermione exited the changing room the room had created to see Harry's eyes widen and his jaw drop. "Now this looks like I used my allure," she teased.
Harry gave her a lopsided grin and moved to her and kissed her, "You look amazing Hermione. I'll be the envy of every guy there."
She took his bowtie from him, "Harry you tie a tie every day."
"But not a bowtie," he pouted. She rolled her eyes and quickly tied his tie for him before straightening it, "I love you Hermione."
"I love you too Harry," she pulled him to her for a kiss, "I like the white dress shirt and black pants and silver accents. You look very handsome."
"Hopefully I measure up to my girlfriend," he smiled.
When Fleur exited the changing room they exited and walked down the hall to find Viktor Krum waiting. "You should recognize my date," Fleur said to Hermione, winking as she moved to Viktor's arm.
"I should have seen that coming," Hermione whispered to Harry.
"That makes two of us," he responded. "I didn't know who Viktor was taking either. He said he wanted to spare her the angry fangirls."
Hermione bit her lip to hold back a laugh, "Fleur wanted to protect her date from being dueled."
"Sneaky friends we have," Harry smirked.
"Yes we do." She kissed his cheek, "Today has been an amazing day."
"Hopefully Ron behaves himself."
"Famous last words Harry," she shook her head, "he hasn't thus far. He doesn't take no for an answer."
"Still it's better for him you use your allure rather than your wand," Harry said.
"Without a doubt."
"Draco has gone quiet."
"I think he was properly shamed in the first task. Maybe he'll learn a lesson." Harry gave her a knowing look. "Well he might Harry. It's possible."
"I doubt his bigotry will shift but I guess he could maybe learn that he actually has to study."
Hermione smirked at the sarcasm in Harry's voice. She didn't think Malfoy would change either; he was, after all, still Malfoy. "We should stop by the Tower. I want to see Ginny's dress and the twins. They said they had some present for us but I haven't seen them all day."
"Me either," Harry said. "Alright then milady, on to Gryffindor Tower!"
The pair said goodbye to Fleur and Viktor and walked up to Gryffindor Tower. During their walk Harry saw the slit in Hermione's dress which showcased her leg and he smiled, "I like that."
"I thought you might," she kissed his cheek, "so what did my parents get you?"
"James Bond books," he answered. "How did you know?"
"They got the presents to the school this year through Winky, who told me that they'd bought you a present too."
"Ahh," Harry nodded in understanding.
The Fat Lady smiled at them, "Oh you look lovely dears! Have a lovely time tonight."
"Thank you," Hermione said as the portrait swung open.
The Gryffindor common room was in quite the state as Ginny had her wand pointed at Ron who looked to be the victim of her infamous bat bogey hex. "Uh, what happened?"
"Ronald yelled at poor Neville and proceeded to punch him when he learned that Neville asked me to the ball."
Hermione pulled her wand from an invisible leg holster (a gift from Fleur), and went over to heal a bruised and bloody Neville as Ginny, Parvati, Colin, Dean, Lavender, and Seamus told the story to Harry.
-Flashback-
Since returning to Hogwarts Ron spent little time with his family. They were friends with Harry still and thus traitors. Ron frequently spoke loudly about this in the boys' dorm, which was also full of traitors. Ron had spent his Christmas grumbling about Harry's present from Viktor Krum and that he was snogging a Veela. Ever since learning Hermione was a Veela Ron had begun to cease using her first name. She was mostly referred to as 'the Veela' and when referring to her if she was with Fleur he would call her 'Granger'. That irritated all of their house mates but Ron was oblivious.
Given his refusal to talk to his family he had only on Christmas day learned that Neville was taking Ginny to the ball; his response was to try to pulverize Neville's face. Dean and Seamus had managed to pull Ron off of Neville after some struggle and then Ginny had descended, yelling at her brother and hexing him with various curses before topping it off with the bat bogey hex.
-End Flashback-
"And that's when you and Hermione entered," Dean finished.
"Hermione your dress is gorgeous!" Lavender and Parvati exclaimed. Harry snickered. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Hermione was a Veela, they were a couple, but for the gossip girls Hermione was still the same bookworm in their dorm who had only recently begun to dress in a fashionable way. He certainly wasn't complaining. This was his first year just being 'Harry' and he quite enjoyed it.
Hermione nodded in acknowledgement of her roommates as she fixed Neville's broken nose. Once she'd finished with that she cast spells to clean Neville's robes, "Thanks Hermione," Neville said.
"You're welcome Neville," she patted his arm, "are you okay?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Dunno why he's upset with me if his sister is a traitor he's not talking to."
"Neville I don't think Ron knows why he does half the things he does," she straightened his bowtie for him before moving to Harry for an explanation of what happened.
McGonagall appeared, "What is going on in here? The portraits reported a fight had occurred."
Again the six who had told Harry the story told McGonagall, "Mr. Weasley you will remain in Gryffindor tower for the evening. Since you can't behave yourself I find it to be an adequate punishment."
Hermione looked at her lover, "Harry you might want to cast wards on your trunk then."
Harry nodded and kissed her before heading upstairs to his dorm, Neville, Dean, and Seamus hurrying up after them. "What do you mean Miss Granger?"
"Professor, Ron has already shown he has no respect for our relationship. Harry has valuables in his trunk that he should probably protect, not to mention some candy that Hagrid sent him for Christmas. Neither Harry nor I trust Ronald. Harry knows how to cast anti-theft charms and I was merely reminding him that he should do so. I'm sure he'll help his dormmates do the same. Harry has two family heirlooms in his trunk. If Ron did anything to them nothing in this castle could stop my Harry from taking Ron out." In all honesty Dobby wore Harry's heirlooms around his neck as he carried the other trunk, having relinquished Hermione's new trunk to Winky once Hermione took her as her elf. Hermione's words had been to remind the other boys too. She knew Dean's mum sent him care packages and Seamus' mother did as well. Harry could cast the spells on the trunks for the boys if they asked for it.
Albus Dumbledore had been about to go down to the Great Hall when his deputy had informed him that Ronald had been beating up Neville Longbottom. Hermione Granger had healed him which served to lower the old wizard's blood pressure somewhat. At the beginning of the year Albus had hoped Harry would accept Ron back as a friend. But then something miraculous had happened. The device Albus used to keep track of Harry's scar had exploded. He was aware that Harry and Hermione were a couple. Could love have forced out the horcrux? Dumbledore wasn't sure. Perhaps it had to do with Hermione being a Veela. But regardless, the horcrux was gone. That much Albus was sure of. And he'd noticed the changes. Harry laughed and joked more, he wasn't shy about kissing his girlfriend on the cheek, the lips, or holding her hand. Harry had become friendlier with other students and his grades, as well as his magical abilities, had improved across the board. His class participation was also on the up and even Severus had admitted to some talent within young Potter.
The thought that the horcrux might have been holding Harry back was a thought that haunted Albus. Had his refusal to remove it, or to work out how to remove it, meant that Harry had suffered? He knew the Dursleys was not the best place for young Harry to live. He would have to write the Grangers and Sirius Black and he planned to apologize to Harry once the winter holidays were over. Maybe they would forgive him; maybe not. He really couldn't blame them.
Ron Weasley seemed to be going down a dangerous path. He was obstinate, he didn't control his temper, and he was failing out of Hogwarts. According to his professors Ron's homework that had been turned in was still troll worthy. Albus was no longer sure if it was because Ron didn't understand the homework or if he just wasn't trying. He wasn't sure which was worse, either.
The aging headmaster got down on his knees to floo the Burrow. There was one option left that wasn't expulsion. Hopefully it worked.