"Hermione, did you catch all that?" Ron asked. She turned to him as they walked down the ramp to the dock.
"Of course I did. We do whatever we want today, and board the ship at midnight to travel to Honolulu. They gave each of us a map so we should be fine."
Harry walked with Ron and Hermione off the ship and looked back as the ramp slid back up into ship. "So what are we going to do first?" Harry asked, looking at his copy of the map. Soon the other two were looking at the activities planned, and where everything is located on the map.
"Well it looks like there's a bus heading out to Kameha Falls and the botanical gardens in thirty minutes," Hermione said, looking at the two of them. "Please tell me you dressed in your swim trunks before we got off the ship."
Ron and Harry glanced at each other. "We kind of forgot that little detail," Harry answered. He and Ron laughed when Hermione rolled her eyes, but pulled their wands out of their pockets.
"Well then, I suggest that when the opportunity arises, you change."
"Oh, and what about you?" Ron asked.
Hermione smiled and pulled at the red string tied around her neck, hiding the rest of her suit under her purple sun dress. He nodded. "Oh, right."
"Now come on! We had better get walking if we want to make it to the bus on time!" Hermione said, starting to walk up the shore line. She slipped off her shoes and looked back to see Ron and Harry jogging to catch up with her.
She held her sandals by the straps and let the warm sea water run over her feet. Ron and Harry did the same when they realized what a nuisance sand was.
"This bloody sand is disgusting!" Ron complained. Harry and Hermione just laughed at him.
"Ron, it's actually better walking in it bare foot because with shoes on, you'll be cleaning the sand out for months down the road." Harry pointed out.
"Well that's why I have my wand."
"Oh, please. You take the fun out of everything! I'm trying my best to do without magic. They never said it wasn't allowed but it's a challenge."
They started walking again, taking in the scenery all around them. The water was a crystal aqua-marine blue and it sparkled in the sunlight. There were forests of trees to the side of them, but quite a bit off the shore line.
Never has Hermione or anyone she knew for that matter, seen a blue sky as blue as the one above them. Everything was so clear; the water, the blue sky, and the sand seemed to stay consistent in its creamy white tone.
A few minutes later, they arrived at a dirt path, with the bus waiting at the end for new passengers. They climbed on, took a seat and looked around at all the other faces. Someone struck Harry right away and he jumped out of his seat.
"Well Wood makes that the third person we know on this trip," Ron said to Hermione. She nodded distractedly and watched Harry converse with his long time friend. "So, what will we be doing at this Kameha Falls place anyway," he asked.
Hermione turned her head and smiled at him. "Well the list states that it's a very beautiful waterfall with a large, clear pond at its base. It's also surrounded by hundreds of trees, flowers, and plants. It's invisible to the muggle eye so it's perfect."
Ron's eyes widened in surprise. "Is Hermione Granger telling me that she actually wants to go for a swim?" he winked.
A sly grin stretched out on her lips. "Perhaps."
Harry came and sat back down, all pumped up again from seeing someone he knows. "Ron, did you ever catch up with Josie?" he asked.
"Oh, that. Yes I did. She's going the same place we are, but she must be on the other bus."
Harry and Hermione shrugged. "So, what's this place all about, the one we're headed to?" Harry asked, looking at his two best friends for answers.
"I don't know really, but from what Hermione's told me, we're going swimming," Ron answered.
Harry looked at her and smiled. "Well I guess that just means another dunking contest."
"Oh? I believe I've won that battle! You know you'll lose, Harry James Potter," she teased, swinging her leg as it was crossed over her knee.
Harry looked at her for a moment, in awe and excitement. For some reason, he felt different now, looking at her. She definitely sent a jolt through him as she looked at him just now. He mentally beat himself for letting his mind wander. She was, after all, his best friend. But something just nagged at him. Maybe it was just the fact that he's single again. Or perhaps it's the fact that Hermione's finally free and not interested in anyone at the moment. Whatever it is, Harry definitely had better figure it out before this trip totally wrecks him over. He was definitely thinking too much about it, but the kiss they shared in front of Cho electrified him, almost like he changed into someone else, and that is definitely a good thing.
The bus came to a stop a little while later in a batch of lush green trees and radiant flowers. It was surely paradise. There was a light rustling of little animals scurrying throughout the little paradise thicket. Hermione followed Ron and Harry off the bus and scowled darkly when she saw a familiar face on a very familiar body, leave the bus that was stopped ahead of theirs. The blonde hair and surety in the way he walked was enough to make her sick. Ron and Harry turned around when they noticed she wasn't following them.
"Noni, you coming? I have a dunking challenge to win, you know," Harry joked. Hermione snapped herself back to reality and looked at him.
Ron rolled his eyes and curiously walked off, wanting to get right down to jumping into one of the many pools that surrounded the various waterfalls. Harry saw that Hermione had a strange look on her face, and meandered toward her in utmost curiosity.
"Noni, is everything alright? You look like you've just seen a Malfoy." He said nonchalantly. When she didn't change her expression, he knew something was up.
Hermione's fingers gripped the strap of her bag as she held it casually over her shoulder. Slowly, she moved toward him, desperate to vacate the vicinity before being caught in the radar of Draco Malfoy.
Harry turned as Hermione walked up beside them and they followed far behind Ron and many other tourists.
"Harry," Hermione whispered secretively.
"Yes?" He asked, turning his full attention to her.
"Do you think that maybe Ron's right? I mean about Josie?" She asked stubbornly.
"You mean about her being a Malfoy? I think it's highly possible, especially that it's been revealed Draco Malfoy himself, is on this trip. She appears to have a lot of money."
"Yeah," Hermione nodded distractedly, making sure Ron wasn't going to turn back and become curious all of a sudden. He had caught up with Josie and seemed wrapped up in a chatty conversation. "Do you think he'll be crushed if she is a-a-Malfoy?"
He looked her in the eyes, and that was enough. "Noni, we're talking about Ron here. If he went bonkers over thinking she looked like one, what do you think he'll do if she IS one?"
"You're right Harry. You're absolutely right. But who's to say she's a Malfoy. Just a couple coincidences aren't a big deal. Well anyway, we better catch up with Ron so we can decide where to wander off to," she said with a smirk.
Harry hopped further ahead to keep up with her as she started jogging in Ron's direction. He and Josie turned around and grinned at his two best friends finally catching up with them.
"Hi Josie," Hermione said politely. Harry did the same and they stared at Ron.
"What's that look for?" he shook his head. "Josie suggested we head off toward the botanical gardens and then go for a swim. How does that sound."
"Fabulous," Hermione said, still claiming that smirk she shot to Harry. "Just let me change really quick."
"Change? How many pairs of clothes are you wearing, Hermione?" Ron complained. Josie and Harry laughed at his remark.
"Oh breathe Ron. If we're going to be walking around for a while, I want to be comfortable. I'll be right back."
The three of them watched surprisingly as Hermione walked off behind some thick trees. A flash of glittery flame and smoke later, she returned, thoroughly stunning Ron and Hermione with her choice of dress.
Her red, halter swim top was visible as her upper dress, and her previous sun dress appeared to be transformed into a wrap around skirt, tied into a knot at her hip. She was ready for the day and couldn't be happier.
"What," she asked in a demanding tone, obviously not seeing what it was they were looking at.
Ron smiled and looked at Josie, pecking her on the cheek as they turned down the path to the botanical gardens.
Harry eyed her thoughtfully as she followed along, and he too picked up his feet and followed behind her.
A short walk later and the botanical gardens came into view, showing an opening of sunlight pouring through, and framing its contents mysteriously. Hermione's loosely curled and side-parted hair glowed in the misty sunlight. Everyone stopped and took in the sight of the greenery around them. Hermione was the first to step up to the opening and enter it, carefully and respectfully.
A lax vine lie in front of Hermione's feet, causing her to be more cautious as she nearly tumbled to the ground. She stopped once she was in and motioned for the others to come in after her. Ron and Josie snuck carefully through the gap, watching out for the vine as well. Harry was distracted and didn't seem to pay much attention. His foot snagged and he lunged forward, reaching aimlessly around him for any other attached vine to keep him upright. No such luck.
Hermione was busy taking in the lush scenery around her when she felt herself falling to the ground. She hit hard on her front with a thud, but managed to have landed in a batch of leaves; making the fall less painful. A heavy weight rested on top of her as she lifted her head off the ground. The damp leaves and smooth dirt stuck to the side of her face and weaved into her nicely curled hair.
"Whoa! Hermione, you all right?" Ron commented. She looked up and scowled at him, trying to imagine what had just happened that caught her by such surprise. He and Josie choked back their laughter immediately, but continued as they walked when she looked away.
A few moments went by and she realized someone had fallen on her. She wiggled helplessly for what seemed like an everlasting battle with gravity, and she maneuvered onto her back. Harry was straddling her stomach, examining the cut on his arm and oblivious that he was still pinning Hermione to the ground. His eyes shifted and he met the look of frustration on Hermione's face. He grinned helplessly and slowly brought his arm down.
"Comfortable...up there…Harry?" she strained, trying to cast off the amused look on his face.
"I'm very comfortable. You know, your skin is so soft, you feel like a velvet blanket." Harry froze at the words he had just used. That must have sounded so stupid, he thought. Where it came from, he couldn't conjure up, but the look on her face at his comment made her blush.
"Harry, get off me! I can barely breathe with all your weight pressed into my stomach," she moaned, her feeble attempts at shoving off his strong legs unsuccessful.
He absent-mindedly, looking at his pink and red arm, got up from her and muttered, "Sorry." His mind returned fully to his head and he reached down to help her up. Hermione was regaining her strength after the fall and nearly lost her balance, falling into Harry's chest.
She nervously backed away. Harry smiled at her and started smoothing out her hair, moving behind her to get all the leaves out.
"Thanks Harry. I don't know how all those leaves got there."
Harry smiled again and kept picking at her hair. His stomach gave an awkward turn when she lifted up her hair, exposing her neck. A sly grin spread across his face and he lightly traced the back of her neck with one of the leaves. She didn't make a sound or move really, but just tipped her head to the side relaxation. Harry knew this had an affect on her when he saw small bumps appear on her downy skin.
Hermione's thought were elsewhere, somewhere she wished she hadn't dipped into. This sensation on her neck soothed her, quieted her, but somehow, knowing Harry was doing it gave her mind an awful turn.
She let down her hair carefully when Harry stopped the slight tickling and turned slowly to contemplate the meaning behind his sage-colored eyes.
"Well now I know how to get you to relax," he said hoarsely. Hermione grinned unknowingly shyly at him and nodded a bit. "Especially on those days when you really need to relax." He tapped her shoulder with the leaf and threw it to the ground, making his point.
Feeling the awkwardness between them, Hermione turned and began to walk down the narrow path, through the beautiful plants and trees that lined it. Harry watched her from behind as she took on the image of a maiden in the middle of a quiet forest. It was like a photograph. She was innocent, as she always was, but this appealed to him so greatly, he found himself mentally punting thoughts out of his mind.
As Hermione turned around slowly, she saw Harry staring at her contently as he slowly caught up. Her stomach flipped over when she took in the scent of his cologne. Suddenly her mind was flooded with foreign thoughts of her best friend; thoughts she had never once pondered about him. As he came up to her side, she glanced sideways at him, as if he were the most angelic thing she had ever seen. It made her shy all over again as these new and awkward thoughts began to take her over completely.