Hero of the Story || James Potter x Hermione Granger Fanfiction

26 | it starts with our eyes well acquainted in the dark

xxvi.

it starts with our eyes well acquainted in the dark

(Overture by Sleeping at Last)

__________

December 25, 1977

Hermione watched her brother in amusement as he nervously darted from one room to another.

Today was Christmas Day, meaning that Mary MacDonald was coming over and joining the Pettigrew family for Christmas lunch. Peter had thankfully gotten over his initial hesitation and had invited Mary over to finally meet his family. Anya was actually the first one to know about this. Hermione was only able to discover it when her mother sent an owl, excitedly breaking the news and already wondering what she would do for Christmas lunch.

Hermione's amused glance landed on their small dining table, decorated with stuffed Christmas turkey and pigs in blankets, baked potatoes, delectable puddings and pies with pitchers of pumpkin juice and tea. It was relatively less grand than the last meal Anya had prepared for Lily and Sev. Knowing her mother, Hermione had taken it upon herself to help Anya make Christmas lunch, making sure she didn't get too excited and start baking and cooking enough to feed a battalion.

"Peter," Hermione called out with a laugh. "Blimey, just sit down."

Peter walked out of the toilet looking paler than usual. "Listen, Mary is brilliant," he vehemently reassured. "Maybe she gets a little too excited with things she loves – Sirius did once say she gushes a lot – but she's terribly sweet and very kind and—"

His sister laughed once more, cutting him off from his tirade. "I'm sure she'll be fantastic," she replied. "James did say she's a riot and she's close with Lily."

"Speaking of James," her mother piped in as she laid a tray of various biscuits on the table, "why didn't you invite him over?"

Hermione's cheeks reddened, unable to meet her mother's eyes. "It's not the same as Peter, Mum," she said with a deep frown on her face.

"Oh, it's definitely like my relationship with Mary!" Peter exclaimed, stomping inside the kitchens. "You should have seen how much hand-holding they've been doing lately, Mum."

"Shut up," she hissed with a glare, swatting him across his chest.

Anya quirked an eyebrow, clear interest in her eyes. "Well, sweetheart," her mother said, "why don't you invite him over for New Years?"

"It's not like that," the brunette insisted once more. "Besides, the Potters are spending the holidays in Italy to visit family. They'll be gone until a few days before the start of term."

She noticed how Peter and Anya exchanged meaningful glances, prompting her to scowl darkly at the Yorkshire pudding she was making.

Her relationship with James was still... complicated, simply put. She already allowed herself to give in to temptation and had basked under the sunshine she realised he had always been. She had already allowed herself to hold his hand while they walked through the school corridors, or to spend study sessions with him alone in the library, or to even let him carry whatever things she had around just so he could shift them in his arms and hold her hand again.

Hermione knew she was venturing through dangerous waters. It had been exhausting fighting to pull away from James' orbit, which was why she had finally relented. What was worrisome, however, was what would happen if she let herself get too attached. What would happen to her if James realised Lily Evans was the only one for him? What would she do then?