Chapter 2 - Invitation
"Hey guys," came a familiar voice. Ronald Weasley grew the most out of the infamous trio during the seven year interval. It was no surprise that he was the tallest in the school either. "What are you two doing?"
He joined Harry and Hermione at the table and sat himself on Hermione's right.
"We're just studying," she said, flipping through another one of the books she had.
"We!?" exclaimed Ron. "'We' as in you and Harry 'we'?"
"No Ron," she said matter-of-factly, "the person behind him."
Ron stood out of his chair, craned his neck over Harry's head, and pretended to look for someone behind him. Harry chuckled under his breath. Hermione's laugh through her nose told Ron that their little skit was over.
Ron did mature over the years; it was what you would define as "mature" that told whether or not he had matured. There were times when he and Hermione did quarrel, but the quarrels were at least sensible this time around; most other rows they had were the sheer reason that Ron being either an "Insensitive wart" or a "Really big prat".
"So are you guys busy?" he asked, turning his chair around and straddling the chair with his arms crossed on the top of the backrest.
"No, not really," replied Harry.
"Yes, definitely," said Hermione at the same time. Ron smiled peculiarly.
"Well, I hope you two aren't too busy," he continued, resting his chin on his crossed arms, "because me and Luna want you two to come with us to Hogsmeade."
"Why?" Harry inquired. "Don't you two want some quality boyfriend-girlfriend time alone?"
"Of course I do, but it was Luna's idea and you know how I got to follow her…"
Harry gave an obvious fake cough that sounded a lot like, "Whipped!"
"You two are so cute together," said Hermione out of the blue. Harry and Ron turned their heads toward her. She was still looking back and forth from her book and her parchment, mindlessly scribbling away some sort of solution she found. "A lot of student's think you two are the perfect match."
Ron blushed at least the same shade as his hair.
"So are you two up for a Hogsmeade visit?"
"Sure we'll go," Hermione intervened, before Harry could politely decline. "We'll double date it then. Harry and I just have to put all our things away first."
Harry swallowed.
Did she say double "date"?
"Great!" said Ron. "I'll go tell Luna. We'll meet in front of the Great Hall in about 10 minutes?"
"More than enough time," said Hermione, putting the finishing touches to her essay and drying her quill.
***
Harry threw his bag over his shoulder filled with is and Hermione's writing supplies while she carried her books out of the library as soon as Ron left. They walked side by side down the corridors, passing some younger students who couldn't help but gawk at the pair of them. It was strange at the kinds of looks that they received; as if there was something going on between the two of them… As if they were a couple or something… Hermione didn't seem to take notice.
"Quite a bit of girls have talked about Ron," she said, once again out of the blue, as if she were trying to explain herself. "That's why I said a lot of student's think that he and Luna are a perfect match."
"Is that so?" said Harry, not knowing what to say or how to respond to that. "Not including that Ron is twice the height of Luna?"
"Quiet Harry!" scolded Hermione, but there was a hick in her voice that made it sound like a giggle too. "But yes, there are girls that talked about him."
He couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable being alone with Hermione. He had done it many times before with ease, but then again he didn't like her in that way before either.
Ha! I knew you'd admit it Harry Potter!
Harry couldn't recall when he actually started to gain interest in Hermione as more than a friend. He did, however, know that it was sometime after he began being interested in girls.
"Hermione," he asked, the both of them still walking with the same steady stride. "Do any of the girls talk about me?"
Whoa! When did that courageous Gryffindor trait really kick in!? And what the heck kind of question was that!?
"No," she said simply.
"Oh…" said Harry disappointingly, and couldn't help but feel his self-esteem plummet. "Am I that bad a minority or something?"
"No it's not that," she comforted, as if she could feel Harry's emotions. "They think you're… well, taken."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks, making Hermione a few steps in front of him before she came to a halt; she turned around and sighed impatiently at him.
"By who!?" frowned Harry, his face twisted in confusion.
"Goodness, Harry. Me!" said Hermione. She looked almost hurt.
"You mean they think that me" - he pointed to himself - "and you" - he pointed to Hermione "are…"
"Yes, yes and a whole bunch of other rubbish," she said with a wave of her hand. "Now come on, these books are getting heavy." She stretched out and arm and grabbed Harry's pointed finger to drag him along.
Many things ran through Harry's mind as he followed Hermione.
What were those girls thinking?
What gave them that idea, that I like her as more than a friend?
Does Hermione know?
Surely if girls, that he made little or no contact with, thought and talked about something (though their assumptions were wrong) that was going on, then Hermione must notice something too shouldn't she? Maybe she already knows how I feel about her and she's helping the situation by giving me clues too! She did say a double date with Ron and Luna…
Wonderful thoughts continued to swell Harry's head.
There was that possibility that Hermione knew that he liked her in that way and there was also a possibility that she could like him too! He thought back to the memories he had with her. If he derived it correctly, it was signs that she liked him!
There was that "walk" around the Lake in fourth year, not to mention that kiss she gave him on the cheek too. Harry touched the spot with his hand.
In fifth year, she gave him so many relationship advice with Cho, not to mention she did seem a bit jealous about it though… Even Cho thought there was something going on with Hermione and him! Then there was her, "You probably should've mentioned how ugly you think I am too" statement.
But… I don't think you're ugly…
She wanted me to say that! Now there's this new ordeal with her telling me that the girls don't talk about me because they think I'm taken… by her! Now she's dragging me down the hall by my index finger.
I never knew Hermione's skin was so soft…
"You following Potter," she said in a sort of way a mother would say it. "Or do I have to carry you the rest of the way?"
Oh please do!!!
"I'm good Hermione," Harry answered. "You can let go of my finger now."
Then again maybe you shouldn't… you know you like it…
He and Hermione had already come to a stop by her private Head Girl room.
"Go to your room, get changed, and wait for me outside here," she ordered. "Then we can go meet Ron and Luna."
"Can't I change in there with you?" Harry teased. "I promise I won't look…"
He could have sworn that Hermione blushed along with that smile.
"Why would you want to look at something ugly like me?"
"But, I think you're pretty," said Harry with a lopsided grin. He felt the same familiar nervousness run through his body. "Remember what I told you?"
"Remember what?"
"Back in fifth year?" Harry urged. "I told you that you weren't ugly."
Hermione seemed to be in thought, but smiled a second later to show that she had remembered.
"Oh Harry, you're as bad as Ron."
"Am I?" said Harry quietly.
"Well… no you're not…"
"As I recall, that's exactly what you told me last time," said Harry. "What do you mean by that?"
Hermione didn't answer. "It's nothing… it's just that you're the first guy to say something like that to me."
"Is that so?" said Harry, looking bemused. "Not even Krum?"
"Funny you would think that," she said sadly, "but he never did…"
Harry frowned and decided not to push the subject. He came close to her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and gave her a sideward hug (her books hugged to her chest were in the way, not to mention, he wanted to be as subtle as possible.) Her pressed his body into hers, giving her a firm hug. It felt wonderful.
"You're beautiful to me." She had no idea how much he was patronizing her.
"Thank you…" she said nervously, as if not knowing how to take a compliment. Harry leaned his head in close to her ear.
"So did that buttering up change you decision on my offer to change in there with you?" Harry whispered teasingly.
"Sorry Harry," she smiled. "You aren't authorized to do something like that."
"When will I be!?" he said, acting like a child when he knew he going to receive a gift of some sort.
Hermione shrugged, took herself out of Harry's hug, and opened her door. "Bye Harry."
She entered her room, closed her door behind her, and Harry ran to his room to change.