Archive of Our Own ^beta

'I'm not panicking! Everyone else is panicking! Shut up, brain!'

"Are you actually talking to yourself, Hermione?" Harry chuckled.

Hermione looked at Harry curiously and a bit crossly because she knows she didn't say anything out loud.... did she?

"Yes, you did." added Harry, making her realize she had also said that out loud. "Anyway, shouldn't it be my line?" he asked her. "So anyways, love, what's this about panicking?" He questioned her with that signature eyebrow cock she had a love/hate relationship with.

"It's nothing." she said. Harry looked at her in disbelief, forcing her to explain. "I'm just scared they might not accept your relationship, I guess..."

"But I thought you said they liked me?" he said. He was also starting to sound nervous. "They seemed to do it when I visited them the summer before Fifth Year."

"But they do!" she cried. "But you know how Mum and Dad are! They've been wary of the magical world ever since the Department of Mysteries. Last time you visited was before that - and we were only friends. Now we're dating! What if they don't like our relationship because you're a wizard? I love you, Harry, and I would never be able to break up our relationship if they asked me - but I don't want to cause a conflict between us either!"

Seeing that his girlfriend was on the edge of a panic attack, Harry shut her up by taking her in his arms and kissing her. It took a few seconds for her to calm down and begin kissing back. When they stopped, he looked her straight in the eyes. "First, I love you too, Hermione." he started, making her smile. "Second, I doubt very much they would ask you to do such a thing, even if they did not approve of our relationship. From what you told me - and from what I gathered when I met them more than a year ago, it simply isn't their thing. I believe what they care about the most is your happiness and if they know you're happy with me, then I do not believe they would try to break us up."

Hermione sighed in his embrace. "You're right." she said. "Maybe I'm panicking for nothing."

"Maybe." Harry said. "Now, are you ready to come inside because I think your mother is staring at us through the window." he whispered.

At his words, Hermione gave a start and looked back at the Granger household. Indeed, she could see her mother looking at them curiously through one of the windows of the living room. She was not surprised. She would also be confused if she found her daughter and his boyfriend standing on the pavement.

Emma Granger, in all her years of wisdom, could see through the frosted window that her daughter was clearly in her head about something. Again…

“Something on your mind, Pumpkin?” Emma said to her daughter as they came back inside.

"What!? No. I - uhhh... let's heat up some tea, shall we? Dad'll be home soon anyways. We can set out some of those biscuits he loves! And-" and a comforting hand on her back was all it took for her to stop rambling

Emma threw her daughter a weird look before turning to Harry.

Harry shook his head. "It's nothing." he said with more confidence than he actually felt.

As much as he told Hermione it would be fine, he had to admit that telling the Grangers his and Hermione's relationship was finally more than friendship did make him a bit more nervous than he'd let on.

"If you are sure." Emma said nonchalantly. She definitely knew it wasn't nothing.

Harry led Hermione toward the dining table. Emma could just make him whisper "Relax... relax..." to her daughter. She kept glancing at them in concern as she made tea.

“So, do you know when Dad will be home, Mum?” Hermione asked calmly.

"Oh, I assume he will be back soon." her mother said. At her daughter's questioning look, she added "He went with a friend to grab a fir tree for us. All we will need to do is decorate it together and we will have a beautiful Christmas tree."

"Ah. Well, anything more you need any help with, Mum?"

"Nothing in mind, honey." Emma answered. A few minutes later, she returned to the kitchen with a tray. She served tea to her daughter and guest and drank as she observed them. They were talking quietly enough that Emma could not hear their words. Once again, she wondered what secret they seemed to be keeping from her.

The mother sighed in her mind. Whatever it was, her daughter was obviously worried enough that Emma herself was growing concerned. Maybe if she could get Hermione to just speak about it now, it would be easier on the girl compared to waiting until her father came home and have her reveal whatever was on her mind to both parents at the same time.

"Hermione... Pumpkin, is something wrong?" Emma said, coming to sit down.

She had her answer when Hermione looked at her like a deer would a pair of headlights. "W-Why would you say that?" she stuttered.

"Because I can see it in you Hermione. I am your mother and have been raising you since you were born, So I definitely know that there is something wrong. So... speak up Pumpkin." Emma said truthfully and emotionally and when Hermione leaped into her mother's arms, her boyfriend got some water in his eyes as well, for obvious reasons.

"So, will you tell me what is wrong?" she added once Hermione sat back down next to Harry. The two teenagers glanced at each other.

"Well...nothing's really wrong," Hermione replied as she looked down, her voice small, "it's just that..." 

"That what?" Emma prompted upon noticing her daughter's hesitation.

"We're dating!" she blurted, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them.

"Congratulations!" Emma said happily and pulled her daughter into a hug. "Why the hesitation, though?"

"Because I'm a wizard." Harry muttered quietly.

Emma looked at them with a confused face. Didn't she already know that Harry was a wizard? What was Hermione trying to tell her? "Yes, I know you are Harry and Hermione is a witch, known for years. What's wrong?"

Hermione hesitated. "Well, I know you and Dad don't like the magical world and wish I wasn't part of it. Since Harry is magical, it means I have one more link to this world." she mumbled quietly. That and most of the dangerous situations she had been in were related to Harry. While she did not blame him one bit, it might not be the same with her parents. 

"Wish you weren't part of-" Emma abruptly stopped mid-sentence. "Oh, why would you ever think that, Pumpkin? Is this about what happened back at the beginning of May? Are those Death Eaters still causing trouble?" Hermione had given her parents the basic rundown of what had transpired back on May 2nd and stated her intention to return to Hogwarts to complete her Seventh Year. She was ecstatic at the discovery that Harry was too.

"No, the Death Eaters have all been arrested." she said. "It's just... during the summer, you kept trying to convince me not to return to Hogwarts and study for my GCSEs so I could get to college instead of returning to Hogwarts. I thought you didn't want me back in the magical world." she explained quietly. In fact, she believed the only reason they hadn't ordered her not to return was because she was an adult and not a minor.

"It's just, it's dangerous," said Emma. "I mean, you..." she left her mouth open to speak but froze in contemplation. The silence hung for several seconds until she sighed, and her shoulders relaxed. "Well, you can take care of yourself just fine. I suppose you can return.

"And by the way, Hermione, blokes like Harry don't come along every day." She winked at both of them. Their faces lit up.

"So, you approve?" Hermione asked.

Emma rolled her eyes, "do you even have to ask?"

"Just wanted to make sure." she said to her mother. She then raised on her feet and hugged Emma. "Thank you." she whispered in her ear.

“I thought you would be more excited,” Emma chuckled, enthusiastically hugging Hermione back.

"Oh, believe me, Mum, I'm barely keeping it together." Hermione looked towards Harry, and with a little squeal, she quickly walked around the table and kissed him full on the lips.

The couple was still enjoying their kiss when the trio heard the front door open. Mr. Granger's voice was immediately heard as he spoke with someone else. "Careful there, Jack. We don't need the tree to lose some of its branches." Then, he spoke louder. "Honey, we're home!"

"Who's Jack? Harry asked.

"Dan's best friend." answered Emma, raising on her feet. Hermione and Harry did the same and followed her to the parlour where Mr. Granger's voice came from. "We're in the kitchen, Dan!" Emma called.

Dan soon entered the kitchen with a few bags of groceries. He was a tall man with greying curly hair atop his head, a strong jaw and keen eyes. They swept over everyone in the kitchen in a moment, resting for a few moments on Harry.

The previous moment of excited relief trickled away as Hermione wrapped her arms against the freezing tendrils slowly slithering their way in from the wintery exterior.

“Honey, you remember Harry, don’t you?” Emma narrowed her eyes purposely as she jumped forward to relieve her husband of the various grocery bags. “Hermione‘s friend from school all these years.”

Dan hummed thoughtfully.

“He’ll be with us for the holidays. Isn’t that lovely?” She called over her shoulder, continuing the unpacking and sorting with a kind of ruthless efficiency Harry recognized from so many Potions classes with Hermione.

“Well, I suppose it never hurts to have an extra pair of hands. Come on then Harry…” Dan clamped his hand on the young man’s shoulder, directing him out towards the parlour. “No way Jack will be able to wrestle that tree all on his own.” He winked back at the two women.

A quick sigh released Hermione’s locked shoulders and she slumped against the counter next to her mother. 

“Don’t worry dear, even your father can’t find trouble between here and the front door.” Emma laughed.

"It's not dad I'm worried about. It's Harry." she said with a small smile. Harry attracted trouble like sugar attracted ants.

Emma was in the middle of unpacking another bag when she suddenly stopped, realizing what she was doing. "Wait, why did he go to the grocery store? He was supposed to get a Christmas tree." When Dan returned with a few other bags a few minutes later, she asked "Why did you go do the groceries now, honey?"

"Well, getting the tree was a lot faster than I anticipated so I thought why not get the groceries as well instead of waiting until tomorrow?" he said, dropping the bags on the counter.

Emma hummed. "Well, thank you, honey." she said, giving her husband a kiss on the cheek.

"You're welcome," he said with a smile.

"Dad? Where's Harry?" Hermione interjected.

"Should be helping Jack put the tree in the parlour." he answered. Hermione stood up and made her way out of the room, which the man noticed. With a laugh, he said "I doubt they'll need help, princess! The tree is not that big!"

"Welp, that should about do it! Thanks for the help kid," Jack wiped his hands and yelled out towards the kitchen, "Happy Christmas Dan, Emma! Gotta get back to the family now!"

"Bye Mr. Cartwright. Thanks for helping my dad."

"Anytime little Hermione," and as he passed by her, he stopped, put his hand on her shoulder and not so quietly whispered, "Got yourself a strong one, eh?" 

If her and Harry's faces could burn any hotter, she didn't see how. Mr. Cartwright just chuckled on his way out.

"I think he believes you two are dating." Hermione's father chuckled as he closed the door behind his friend. Thus, he missed the glances Harry and Hermione shared.

Emma chuckled knowingly. "I think he was more spot-on than you think, honey." she said.

"What do you mean?" he asked before his eyes found the faces of the two teenagers, who were standing right next to one another and blushing bright red.

"Uh - well, Dad... Harry and I are dating." she quickly explained. Harry took her hand and squeezed it.

Dan blinked. "Well, I guess that explains it." he said before shrugging. "Always wondered when it would happen."

It was the teenagers turn to blink. "What do you mean, Mr. Granger?"

"It's Dan." the man corrected. "And you might not remember but I remember finding you all cozy with one another last time you visited, Harry. I saw the writing on the wall."

"Were we that obvious?" Hermione asked.

"HA!" Dan bellowed out. "Obvious is the understatement of the century! You and young Harry here look at each other like..." 

"Like you look at me, dear," Emma chimed in, a soft smile on her face while gazing at her husband.

"Yeah... like that." 

"Oh really!? Do you two have to make eyes with each other in front of my boyfriend and me?!"

Dan bellowed out a laugh at that, "I'll never stop making eyes at your mum, kiddo," and wiggled his eyebrows at Emma.

"I get the feeling." Harry said before giving a kiss on Hermione's cheek, making her blush.

"I love you." she whispered, looking in his beautiful bright green eyes.

"I love you." Harry returned before they shared a kiss. For a brief moment, their entire focus was on the kiss they shared as, despite dating for some time already, it never got old for them. But it didn't take long for them to remember they weren't alone, thanks to Hermione's dad.

"Awww! Look how cute they are!" Dan said teasingly, interrupting the teenagers' kiss. Hermione glared at her father.

"Let's stop teasing them, shall we?" Emma chuckled. "Now, why don't we do something about this tree?" she asked, nodding in the direction of the plain fir tree sitting in the corner of the parlour. "Let's put up the Christmas decorations!"

"Okay!" her husband said. "I'll go get their boxes. Mind helping me, princess?" he asked his daughter.

Hermione followed her dad up to the attic. The musty smell of non-use wafted through her nose. The dust was so thick it seemed to clog the air. She could feel the tickle in her nose before it happened.

“Dad, whe- AAACHOOO!”

“Gesundheit! Sorry, princess, it seems like it’s a might bit dusty in here.”

“It’s fine, but dad…” Hermione gestured around her, “when was the last time you and mum aired this place out?”

“Oh, well it can’t have been that long… must’ve been the last Christmas we had togeth—.“ Dan stopped in his tracks. Hermione’s head hung low.

“Sixth year… two years ago. Before…” 

The warm hand of her father ruffled her hair as he pulled her in for an embrace. “Hey, none of that now. Chin up. Your mum and I… we understand. This last year… Well, we’re together now.” She nodded into his shoulder. “Let’s get those boxes then, shall we? And you can tell me about how you finally asked Harry out, cause I’m certain it was you who pursued him!” Dan chuckled and gave her a little wink.

“Dad! Honestly!” Her face couldn’t help but flush over as she told the tale of how Harry asked her to Slughorn’s Christmas party and things just finally clicked. Conveniently leaving out how a bit of mistletoe might’ve been the true matchmaker.

“Well, now I’m certain there’s more to this story than you’re telling your old dad.” He eyed her in the way only dads could, “but let’s just leave it at that and get to decorating that tree.”

The two Grangers walked back downstairs with the boxes of ornaments in hands. They found Harry and Emma waiting for them, making small talk. As Hermione later found out, she too was learning how Hermione and Harry became a couple.

"Okay, do we have everything?" Hermione's father asked, looking at the boxes sitting at the foot of the tree.

"Do we need anything else?" Harry asked, sounding very curious.

"I guess that's a no, then, Dan." Emma chuckled. She moved to one of the boxes and took out a smaller box full of white and red round ornaments. She took out four of them, giving one to Hermione, Dan and Harry, keeping the fourth for herself.

"Now, Harry, since it's your first Christmas with us-" she began before her husband interrupted her.

"The first of many." he said teasingly. The teenagers' cheeks turned pink, getting what he was insinuating.

"Since it's your first Christmas," she repeated, sending a small glare at her husband. "You need to know a small tradition we do here at the Grangers. Hermione?" she asked her daughter to explain.

Hermione smiled and smiled at her boyfriend. "It's simple. Since I was a baby, we always put the first ornaments together at the same time." she said.

"I see," he said with a nod. But then he frowned. "Do you mind if I transfigure it? I mean, if it's going to be the first ones, it would be nice to make unique ones with magic, don't you think?" he suggested.

"That's right!" Hermione beamed. "We totally could! Can we?" she asked her parents.

Dan chuckled. "Why not. Do ours too, though, or it won't be special!"

Harry smiled, already having his idea in mind. Using transfiguration, he changed the regular ornament sphere into a figurine of a young couple holding each other. The young couple was none other than him and Hermione. Hermione teared up when she saw it, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Putting the bar high there, Harry." Dan said jokingly.

Harry really did know how to be sweet and loving, but she also wanted to let him know just how loved and a part of this family he was now.

With a swish of Hermione’s wand, all 4 ornaments floated in front of her. There was a light glow emanating around them as the three untransformed ones slowly merged together around Harry’s.

It was their family. Their whole family… Dan and Emma were behind Hermione and behind Harry stood none other than James and Lily. A small engraving of “Granger – Potter” at the bottom completed the ornament. 

“Is that my…” words failed Harry at that moment. He looked so awe-struck as he looked from the ornament to Hermione. Tears pooled at the corners of his eyes and his lips held the softest of smiles.

“Thank you for being a part of my family, Harry.”

Recognizing the moment for what it was, Dan and Emma each held one end of the small delicate ornament as both Harry and Hermione placed the string around one of the tree’s branches.

The placement of the family ornament was a sign of how the rest of the holidays took place. Every day, Hermione and her parents made sure to make Harry understand he was part of their family, a semi-foreign concept for someone who grew up on the waste-side.

On Christmas Eve, the two couples took a family photo which would soon be printed and displayed over their fireplace. Harry had the biggest smile of them all.

A few minutes before midnight, Hermione found her boyfriend standing on the porch looking at the stars all by himself. "Harry? What are you doing outside?" she asked, concerned about the temperature.

"Thinking." he told her. Hermione shifted to stand next to her and Harry soon slipped an arm around her waist.

"What about?"

"Us," he said. He looked away from the sky to stare at her. His eyes were full of love, but there was also a hint of amusement in them.

"What is it?" she asked, not knowing how to interpret his look.

Harry let out a slow chuckle. "I feel like we're at the point in the holidays where I'm supposed to kneel in front of you, pop out a ring and propose to you." he told her.

Hermione stifled a gasp. "Would you?" she whispered.

He smiled. "I would, if we'd been dating longer." he confirmed. Her heart burst in happiness. Two years wasn't bad, but neither were known to rush relationships. "You?" he asked her.

"Yes." she gave her answer with a nod.

"I'll hold you to that once I do propose." he whispered before kissing her.

The ringing bells of a nearby church were soon heard, interrupting their kiss. Hermione looked at her boyfriend. "Merry Christmas, Harry."

"Merry Christmas, Hermione." he returned before kissing her again.

Harry did end up proposing to her another two years later, again on Christmas Day while at the Grangers. Hermione gave him the same answer.

"Yes."

THE END.