HP: I got Transmigrated into the World of Magic [Chapter 98: Tight Hug! ] (Patreon)

The next gift is a copy of our current Arithmancy text without a note, and I quickly open the second-to-last, which is a copy of our current Ancient Runes text, also without a note. 

Perplexed, I set those aside and open the last gift, which I recognize as a copy of one of the books on wards Hermione and I looked at way back in the beginning of the year. This one has a note in it.

-William,

Ever since we first met in the Room of Requirement, I've been combining our notes from Arithmancy and Ancient Runes and making relevant asides and cross-references to this book on warding in the margins of our textbooks. 

For your copies I've pruned some of the extraneous things that are in mine, but I think I captured the most important stuff. But of course you're brilliant, so I'm sure I could have removed even more. This way you can also have your own copies of at least these two textbooks to write in, or just do what you please.

Love,

Hermione-

Now that all of my presents are open, I don't feel bad about flipping open my Arithmancy textbook. Sure enough, there are very neatly-written notes in the margin as well as relevant page numbers for topics in both the other textbook and the book on warding.

"This is awesome, Hermione," I say with a broad smile. "I can't believe you got me so much amazing stuff!"

She beams. "Well, originally I was just going to get you those three books, but when I saw what you made for Neville and how hard you were working, I knew your gifts would be better than mine. So when Harry said he was writing to Bill, I couldn't help attaching my own letter."

"No way, your gifts to me were way better than mine to you. Thank you, Hermione." I pull her into a tight hug. "Now let me see what else you got."

------------

Breakfast is actually one of two feasts today; since dinner at the normal time would cut into the ladies' prep time for the Ball, breakfast goes later and dinner starts earlier. We run into Luna immediately outside the Great Hall, who quickly envelops me into a hug.

"Hey," I say, surprised, then I return her hug. "Hello, Luna."

"Hello, William," she says, still not letting go.

She's been giving more frequent displays of affection, but I still smile at this one. Obviously it's about my gift, but I don't want to bring it up first. I do enjoy a good, solid hug.

Ron shifts uncomfortably, and Hermione and Harry just smile at us. But then I note Neville shifting as well, so I figure I better cut this short. "Thank you for the gift. I'm looking forward to having some comfortable workout clothing next time we run."

"Thank you for the picture and the frame, it's really beautiful," she says. I feel her smiling. Then she finally pushes away. "Oh, and thank you for this, too." She pulls the medallion I made for her out of her robes.

"What is that odd-looking creature on there?" Neville asks, squinting her eyes and leaning in close. "I might have said a badger but what's wrong with its face?"

I chuckle lightly. "This masterpiece of evolutional hilarity is a duck-billed platypus – a non-magical creature that lives in Australia."

"There's no way that's a real animal," Ron says with a laugh.

"No, it is," Hermione says, chocolate eyes dancing with mirth at my description.

"Just because you've never seen it firsthand doesn't mean it doesn't exist," I say sagely. "I'll show you the picture I used as a reference next time we're in the Room."

Luna's eyes keep growing brighter and brighter as we speak, and she once again throws her arms around me.

I laugh when my stomach rumbles. "I do love some hugs, Luna, but at this rate I'm going to have to carry you to breakfast."

Luna ends up following us to the Gryffindor table, but once again she's so tiny I don't think anybody notices. 

Breakfast passes rather slowly, first with many of the students exchanging stories about what they received, and then with discussion of the upcoming Ball. 

With the mention of the Ball I'm reminded that I haven't seen the Greengrass sisters yet, so I look over to the Slytherin table. However, they don't seem to be over there.

Hermione catches my glance. "Do you want to go look for them?"

My eyes shift back to her to find an unreadable expression, but at least it seems to be less hostile than it usually is when she asks about Daphne. I shrug. "I'll see them later."

"Daphne still hasn't apologized to you for Stunning you," Hermione points out, anger creeping into her voice.

"Well, to be fair I did hug her," I say with a chuckle.

"You give good hugs, I don't see why she would get angry about that," Luna puts in.

"Thanks, Luna."

"We can go find her, William. We're all finished – well, except for Ron but he'll sit here until the food disappears – and I think I've heard quite enough speculation about the Ball." Harry says.

I look at Hermione, who sighs. "Can't argue with that."

"You want company?" Neville asks.

"Sure," I say with a shrug. "She might not want to apologize if there are too many people, though."

"That shouldn't matter," Hermione says firmly.

"I'll stay!" Ron volunteers eagerly, earning a laugh from the rest of us.

Neville frowns, looking between us. "I'll stay here, as well. Be careful, though."

"I'll stay here, too," Luna says, then looks somewhat seriously at the bushy-haired Gryffindor. "Hermione, make sure she realizes that William gives good hugs and that's no reason to be angry with him."

I chuckle, then squeeze her to my side and kiss her on top of the head. "I'll make sure she sees reason. Thanks, Luna."