"Wait here for a second," Harry said, as he ran ahead. Two minutes later Dan heard Harry shout from behind him. "I think this street loops around somehow," he concluded.
"Then how do we get out of here?"
"Uh, let's just ask Ms. Malkin." They stepped into the shop, where the seamstress was waiting with the dress, neatly packed into the box. The colour would match Hermione's earrings perfectly.
"It's ready, dear. I had ever so much fun with this dress, it reminds me of one of my favourite witches..."
"Thanks," said Harry. "Um, could you tell us how to get out of Unifer's Alley? We didn't see any kind of exit..."
"Are you trying to walk out of here?" Ms. Malkin laughed. "You've got to floo or apparate out of his Alley! We don't have any muggles accidentally wandering in here, like they do sometimes at Diagon."
Dan looked thoroughly unamused while Harry said, "Well, I guess it's Floo again. Time to go back to the Leaky Cauldron."
The men arrived home just before the women did. Harry hastily began wrapping up the present when he saw Emma's car pull into the driveway. He stopped midway when he saw Hermione step inside. She had cut her hair so that it was now shoulder-length, instead of reaching all the way down her back. Not only that, the hairdresser had apparently given her a perm and conditioner as well, so it lay straight and shiny, as opposed to the dull, bushy mass that she had before. It looked very much like when she climbed out of the pool after her swimming lessons with Harry, which he loved.
"Hermione! I almost didn't recognize you!"
"Do you like it, Harry? I did always want to try something new... Mum helped me choose." Hermione was shyly biting her lip again. The look, combined with the new haircut, was driving Harry mad. He had to constantly remind himself that both parents were watching as he restricted himself to "just" a hug.
"I love it! The shorter hair looks really good on you. Nobody will know what hit them when you step into the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Oh, I got you your present! I'm wrapping it now. Don't look!"
"I got you yours, too. Are you going to tell me what you got me?"
"Of course not! You'll find out tomorrow morning."
Dobby somehow knew to arrive right when they were about to prepare dinner. The Grangers were amazed at how quickly and efficiently Dobby worked. Emma tried to keep up, but eventually ended up sitting back and watching the little elf work his magic around the kitchen. He ended up cooking a delicious feast that the Grangers didn't even know was possible, given what they had (or thought they had) in the refrigerator. As he prepared more and more dishes, he was flying around, and it actually became dangerous for the humans to go anywhere near the kitchen as knives and pots went flying back and forth through the air.
After stuffing themselves with the best (technically) home-cooked meal they had ever eaten, they all settled down in the living room to watch some Christmas films together, including Dobby. The little elf kept fidgeting as he couldn't figure out something to do. Emma suggested that he make some hot cocoa, and he disappeared immediately at the chance to do some work. The evening eventually ended with Harry and Hermione cuddled in each other's arms, sipping the last of their cocoa together.
"You know that was the first Christmas dinner I've ever had? Except at Hogwarts, of course. I mean a nice family dinner... even if they're not family, your parents are so accommodating."
"I've been sneaking in a good word for you in my letters home," Hermione said with a wink. "I really hope that, one day, they really will see you as family. For now, they're just happy that I've made such a wonderful friend."
"You know you're more than that to me, Hermione." Harry stroked Hermione's new hairdo. He still wasn't quite used to it yet.
"Hopefully, I'll have convinced them enough by the end of the year to take you in for another summer. Maybe you'll never have to see the Dursleys again!"
"You really think they would?" Harry asked, his voice filled with hope. A Dursley-free life would be a better Christmas gift than anything that could be bought in a store.
"I'm sure they will. They were actually pretty happy to have you around last summer already, but they were worried about us getting too close."
"I'm not sure if I want to give... this up just to keep pretending for another summer," Harry said as he squeezed Hermione tighter.
"No, I'd suggest just the opposite. Maybe they'd welcome you more if you showed how much you really love me. It might still mean less kisses and cuddles, so they know it's not just some silly teen romance."
"I guess you're right. I don't know what I'd have to do, though, unless it means jumping in front of lorries every time you cross the street..."
They both laughed as they tried to plan out the rest of their year, until they fell asleep together on the couch in front of the Christmas tree. Harry dreamed of the Grangers adopting him from the Dursleys, while Hermione dreamed of her white knight, stopping buses with his bare hands for her...
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