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Day one. She opened a golden lined journal with a silken bookmark. She traced her name engraved on the front cover. She hadn't expected to get anything in the mail today, but she couldn't help but smile at the gift. She had known some people were doing a Secret Santa thing, but she hadn't signed up. Still, maybe someone had been inspired by the idea? She glanced around to see if anyone was watching her. But everyone seemed focused on their own things.
Day two. Another wrapped package, the number 2 written on it in red to match the ribbon fell into her lap at breakfast. She unwrapped it slowly, revealing a beautiful white quill and a bottle of shimmering red ink. She almost couldn't wait to use the ink in the journal that had arrived yesterday. She tucked her gifts into her bag, scanning the room, wondering who could have sent her these things. She smiled slightly though, thinking about how just a few years ago she would have been suspicious of receiving any gifts. But now, the war was over, and she wasn't nearly as paranoid as she had been.
Day three. She watched the owls swooping overhead, trying to figure out which one had just dropped the wrapped gift into her lap. This one was slightly squishy in her hands. She pulled the paper apart, revealing a knitted scarf in Gryffindor colors. Could her Secret Santa be a Gryffindor? She looked up and down her table, but Ron and Harry were ignoring her, Dean was talking to Seamus. No, none of them seemed to be paying attention to her. Ginny did look her way, but Hermione had a feeling if this was Ginny's doing, she'd have known it. No, she was starting to think her Secret Santa wasn't a member of her own house. Tomorrow, she vowed to watch the other tables a bit more closely.
Day four. This time, she watched the other tables, focusing on Hufflepuff. It would be just like one of them to randomly decide to send someone gifts. Besides, it wasn't as if Gryffindor had a good relationship with Slytherin. It was the least likely in her opinion. She watched Ernie flirting with Hannah, watched Susan trying to finish her homework, ink splattering on her nose. Then that day's gift dropped into her lap. It, like yesterday's, was squishy in her hands. She looked at the glittery number on it, 4. It wasn't handwritten, so there wasn't a clue to go by there. This time, it was a pair of knitted gloves that matched the scarf perfectly. She slid them onto her hands, marveling that they were exactly the right size. No one at the Hufflepuff table seemed interested in watching her watch them, so she turned her attention back to her breakfast, slightly chuffed that someone had taken what appeared to be more than a passing interest in her.
Day five. Ravenclaw was in the spotlight this time. She could see Luna flirting across the room with Ginny. This was only further proof Ginny had nothing to do with this. No one else was even looking up, or interacting with the rest of the Great Hall. She turned her attention to the owls, maybe if she could figure out which one was dropping the gifts, it would help her figure out who was behind them?
She saw Draco's owl, ignored it. It was most certainly not him! It wasn't Harry's new snowy owl, it wasn't a Weasley owl. She saw a wrapped package in the talons of one of the school owls. That didn't help her solve this at all! The owl in question dropped today's gift into her lap. This one was a rectangular shape. A book. It had to be a book. She unwrapped it, revealing a volume of poetry she already owned. For a moment, she frowned. Yes, she did like this one, but if her Secret Santa knew her, then they knew she already owned this volume. She opened it, smelling the scent of the pages, a smile spreading across her face. There was writing inside the cover.
Dear Hermione, I know you probably know all of these by heart, but I highlighted my favorite verses, ones that make me think of you.
Your Secret Santa.
Hermione's eyes lit up as she flipped carefully through the book, reading the highlighted sections, her heart filling with joy as some were ones she loved as well. Maybe her Secret Santa really did know her!And she was starting to really want to know who it was behind these gifts.
Day six. She glared at the Slytherin table, knowing it had to be one of them. It had to be, or someone was very good at pretending they weren't interested in seeing her open her gifts. For half a moment, she almost considered one of the professors, but that was just silly. None of them would be sending gifts to a student, not gifts like these, ones that were made just for her. No, it had to be a Slytherin. She watched them, ignoring the flock of owls in the air. Draco stared back at her, glaring just as she did. It wasn't him. She knew that for certain. Blaise was watching her too, but last she knew, he wasn't interested in witches. Theo barely looked up from his breakfast, scribbling something on the sheet of parchment next to him. She wondered what he was writing, maybe something to be sent with a school owl the next day? She felt her face flush slightly at the thought of Theo being her Secret Santa. It made no sense, but she remembered that day in muggle studies where he'd been talking about muggle literature and poetry. He raised his head and she quickly looked away, not wanting him to think she was watching him. It didn't matter what Draco and Blaise thought she was doing. Today's gift was lighter than the others, wrapped almost like a Christmas cracker. She pulled it open and out fell a pair of ice skates, enchanted to be light until revealed. She marveled at the bit of magic that had taken, smiling as she realized this was an invitation to join whoever her Secret Santa was in the ice skating event the next day.
Day seven. No post today, as they all trooped outside. Hermione wore her new scarf and gloves, her eyes searching for some sign that her Secret Santa was here. She wondered how they would reveal themselves. She stood on the edge of the lake, watching a few of the other students skating. To the left was a hot chocolate stand that had been built for this occasion.
“Did you want a drink?”
She turned, seeing Theo standing there, biting his lip as he looked at her. She was about to mumble something, flub any lines she had running through her head, when she noticed he was wearing two hats. He had a Slytherin one on, but underneath that, she could see a bit of red and gold peeking out. Her eyes widened.
“You're my Secret Santa?”
Theo blushed, pulling off the Slytherin hat, and handing her the Gryffindor one.
“Yes,” he replied softly.
“In that case, yes, I'd love to get some hot chocolate, but maybe after we do a lap around the lake?” she suggested, offering him her hand. He reached out, wearing a pair of gloves just like the ones he'd knitted, and took it, letting her lead him onto the ice.