A Gift

Hours pass, her nose stuck in a book as her usual when she bcomes frustrated with something. With a soft sigh, she close the book and sits up. Darkness is starting to fall and she has not heard him since he had left earlier that morning. She closes her eyes, a part of her sad that they had argued. She never did care for fighting, no matter who it was she was fighting with. The quiet of the house finally botheringher, she slides off the bed and walks over to her bags. A smile touches her lips as she reaches in and pulls out a small globe. Harry had found it early on in the summer and packed it with everything he knew she would love. Since they could not bring any muggle devices with them, they had to find other ways to record and listen to the muggle music they had grown up with and loved so much. She cradles the globe in her hands, taking it back to her warm spot on the bed. Once comfortable again, she gently setles it into her lap and searches her mind for a song. The globe softly starts to glow a soft pink, a haunting tune issuing from its depths.

He had walked the length and breadth of the property, his temper calming in slow stages. Cursing himself yet again for agreeing to this fiasco, he walks around the side of the small cottage towards the front door. Soft music catches his attention and he stops, tilting his head to listen for it.

The winter here is cold
and bitter
It\'s chills tos to the bone
I haven\'t seen the sun for weeks
Too long, too far from home
Feels just like I\'m slipping
And I claw for solid ground
Pulled down by the undertow
Never thought I could feel so low
Through all the darknes I feel like letting go
Follow the strength
Follow the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better than this
Full of grace
Full of grace
My Love

Something in the voice singing pulls him in and the saddness almost overwhelms him. He leans against the wall, his eyes closing against the tears that threaten to fall.

It\'s better this way
I say
Haven\'t seen this place before
Everything we say and do
Hurts us all the more
It\'s just that we stay
too long
In the same old sickening skin
Pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
And in all the darkness I feel like letting go
Follow the strength
Follow the courage
come and lift me from this place
I know I can love you much better than this
full of grace
I know I can love you much better than this
But it\'s better this way

\"She has a haunting voice doesn\'t she?\" A soft voice asks from behind him. He spins around to see Sarah watching him, saddness in her eyes. \"She has such a beautiful voice, one that conveys her emotions wonderfully. Almost siren like it is.\"
His eyes widen slightly. \"That was Miss Granger?\"
\"Yes, it was.\" She looks up at the window he is standing under. \"There is alot I bet you do not know about her. Maybe if you talked with her...\"
He looks up, a frown tugging at his lips. \"Perhaps, but not at this moment.\" He walks slowly back towards the front door, leaving her to watch after his retreating back.

She looks out again, realizing darkness has finally fallen. Deciding it will be best to just head off to bed now, she walks towards the bathroom in hopes of washing her face before changing her clothes for the night. She stops at the door, a soft noise catching her attention. She opens the door just enough to see inside. Her eyes widen as she sees him standing by the sink brushing his teeth with nothing more than a pair of pajama pants on. She quickly closes the door again, making sure to not be heard, and crosses the room to her bed. Laying down on her back, she stares vacantly at the ceiling. The image of him nearly naked runs through her mind and she suddenly realizes that he can be quite handsome when he cleans up. Thoughts moving quickly through her mind, she does not notice when sleep finally overtakes her and her dreams begin.

He settles on the couch, breakfast having been overwith hours ago and yet still no sign of Miss Granger. His body relaxes in the quiet of the room, his eyes wandering over the pages of the Daily Prophet for anything of interest. He almost forgets about her when he hears the soft click of her door. He sees her fuzzy slippers come into his peripheral view as she decends the stairs. He gives her no notice until she starts to walk past him.
\"Coming down late, aren\'t you?\" He flips to the next page, never sparing her a glance.
She stops, frowning down at him in confusion. \"I was studying.\"
One brow lifts but his eyes stay on the paper in front of him. \"The term has not even started and yet you are studying already. Pray tell, what is so interesting that you must know of it now?\"
Her nostrils flare slightly in anger. \"If you must know, I was studying the uses of virgin\'s blood.\"
His eyes narrow as he lays the paper down to look at her. \"You will not be learning that til the end of term.\"
She blushes slightly. \"I thought it might be necessary to know in case I should ever meet someone who might have..\" Her blush deepens. \" the wrong intentions.\"
One eyebrow slowly lifts. \"I see. Then perhaps you should stay away from those you do not trust.\" He lifts the paper back up, acting as if the knowledge of her \'condition\' does not interest him. \"It would not do for you to encounter someone with enough potions knowledge and ambition, as yourself has, to use such things.\"
She smirks. \"Or potions masters who might need to replenish their stores.\" She turns her back on him, walking back to the kitchen.
He nearly drops the paper, stunned by her apparent jest. He eyes the kitchen door, almost a bit nervous now at the thought of her reappearing again.