Christmas Magic (Snamione) **COMPLETED**

Chapter 1 - A Call To Hogwarts

The Christmas Tree twinkled ablaze with hundreds of tiny magically charmed lanterns. Beside the tree a fireplace crackled noisily casting a warm gloaming over the small room. A couple of presents sat under the tree. One was wrapped finely and topped with a silver bow; the other looked like it had fallen into the paper and wrapped itself. One was from Ginny and Harry and the other from Ronald. Nothing changed much.

Hermione Granger sat on the small but comfortable settee, with her feet tucked under her, a book in one hand and occasionally picking up and sipping from a glass of warm egg nog from a small side table.

Four days before Christmas and all work at The Ministry of Magic had finished for the holidays. All of the staff had left for the Yule period with the normal reverie and Hermione was no exception in raising a glass of cheer and smiling and laughing with them and generally joining in with the Christmas salutations. It was only when she came into her little cottage, and shut the solid oak door behind her that she was engulfed in the loneliness and cold solitude that she'd become accustomed to after the last ten years. It's only a day. Two at the most. Enjoy the rest Granger.... she'd say to herself. She tried not to feel down. The Potters - Harry & Ginevra had invited her year on year to join them, as had Ron and the rest of the Weasleys; she'd even had an invitation from Neville and Luna and Xenophilis, Luna's father, to join them in Florida where they now resided teaching a small magical school in Davenport. But she'd always politely but firmly declined, stating that they should be spending time with their own families and she wouldn't want to be intruding. Of course they told her that she WAS family but nothing would change her mind as she was sure they had only invited her out of pity.

And Hermione Granger neither wanted nor courted anyone's pity. When her parents had had their memories wiped during the last battle they had effectively died. When, long afterwards, a counter curse had been found, and despite them being told her actions had saved their lives, they could not (or would not) forgive her and so she never saw them again. From that time on Christmas' and birthdays came and went with little meaning, serving only to remind her of what could've been.

The tapping of her window brought her out of her melancholia and she opened it to find a small and somewhat dishevelled tawny owl, hopping from foot to foot with a rather large parchment attached to one leg. She quickly removed the paper and offered him a slice of bread for his troubles which he gobbled down greedily. As was owl custom, he settled down on the window ledge to rest should she want to return a reply.

Hermione sighed and unrolled the parchment, hoping to goodness that it wasn't bad news. The Hogwarts Crest stood proudly at the top and Minerva Macgonagall's scrawling handwriting was clearly recognisable.

Dear Miss Granger (the letter started and then continued less formally.)
Hermione, dear, I hope my letter finds you well and you are enjoying your Yule break?

I am in a bit of a predicament and need to ask a favour. Hermione raised her eyebrows. The Annual Yule Ball is upon us - Always three nights before Christmas Eve if you recall? - and Madame Hooch has been taken ill with DragonPox and Professor Sprout has had to leave to look after her sister who had the most awful incident with a Trailing Venuswart. Therefore I am two guardians down for tomorrow night's festivities. If I cannot replace them with a qualified and certified Professor by this evening then I will not have an adequate Teacher/Student ratio and the whole ball will have to be cancelled. Think of the disappointment this would cause, Miss Granger!

I believe before joining the Wizengamot at the Ministry you obtained your Professors Certificate did you not? And therefore you would be ideal to replace Madame Hooch. I have already secured a replacement to Pomona Sprout.

Please owl by return if you are willing to help - the children are counting on you! I have a lovely Chambers ready for you and you would be welcome to stay at the castle for the rest of the Yule period and celebrate Christmas with myself and a few others who have chosen to remain.

I await your owl.

Yours sincerely

Minerva McGonagall (OM 1st Class)
HEADMISTRESS
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

Hermione read the letter a couple of times desperately trying to decide what to do. Minerva was certainly no slouch in trying to guilt trip the young witch into agreeing to her demands but she would not be manipulated or bullied into doing anything she didn't want to do. That being said, the thought of spending Christmas in company, rather than completely alone did afford a certain appeal. She thought for a moment longer and then reaching for a parchment and quill wrote her hasty response.

Dear Headmistress MacGonagall

Thank you for your parchment; I would be more than happy to attend and shall arrive at Hogwarts this late afternoon.

I very much look forward to seeing you all.

Regards

Professor Hermione Granger (OM 1st Class. Member of the High Order Merlins Council.)

Hermione rolled the parchment and gave the little owl a small stroke before attaching it to its leg which he was holding out for her.  She then sucked on her finger that was bleeding from where the little owl had pecked her.  She gave him a slight shove out of the window and shut it hastily, watching him fly off into the sky.  She returned to the settee and drained the last of the egg nog.

Deciding she needed to pack her bag she climbed the small carpeted staircase to her bedroom. She opened her wardrobe to see if she had anything suitable for a ball and after taking out half a dozen dresses and placing them in a row on the bed, she decided on two: A calf length figure hugging, shoestring strap dress, in black, made of the finest Chinese satin with an organza over lay. The second was sapphire blue velvet, empire line and off the shoulder. Both complemented the young witch's hourglass figure. She also packed some comfortable day wear and changed her clothes into a pair of bottle green velvet slacks and light green chiffon blouse with darker green cashmere pashmina. She brushed her hair into a sleek wave and put it into a top ponytail. Adding a hint of make up and a dab of her favourite perfume, she decided she would 'pass muster' and took her bag back to the lounge. Making for the fireplace in order to floo to Hogsmeade she quickly picked up the gifts her friends had left her and also placed them into the bag. Warding her house and extinguishing the candles, she threw a handful of Floo Powder into the hearth and was sucked away into the ether to the magical village of Hogsmeade.