"Do they always welcome new people like this?" Alex giggled as she looked from the boys to Hermione.
"I honestly don't know why they're acting like this. Hello…?" Hermione waved her hand in front of her friends' faces.
"Wha? Oh sorry Alex, Hermione. I think we were just, um, surprised that you guys snuck up on us." Ron stumbled through his explanation knowing full well that the reason for his and Harry's lack of a response was due to the fact that Alex was actually a female.
"Um, yeah pleasure to meet you Alex. I'm glad someone's been taking care of our 'Mione for us." Harry thrust his hand out for Alex to shake. To be honest Harry still hadn't gotten over the shock of meeting her. She was just a little taller than Hermione and had really short blond hair in a pixie cut. The craziness of her hair had to compete with Harry's.
Alex responded with a bewildered smile as she took Harry's hands in hers. "So I finally get to meet the ever talked about Harry Potter. Hermione won't ever shut up about you…and Ron." Alex added the last part after a sharp prod from Hermione in her side.
Harry just looked at her quizzically. "Well we've heard a fair amount about you, but a few letters couldn't possibly do you justice."
"Hey you guys, do you want to go over to that Starbucks over there so we can sit and chat? The band is about to start up its next set and we won't be able to hear ourselves think, let alone talk." Hermione suggested.
Harry and Ron just looked at each other and laughed. "Sure," Ron replied, "I need to find out what all this craze is about since you guys have so bloody many of them around here."
They all made their way up the stone steps and across the street to the Starbucks. Harry grabbed the door first. "Ladies first," he said with a small bow.
"Why thank you kind sir," Alex giggled.
"Aw Harry," Hermione smiled and reached out and squeezed his hand as she walked by.
"Oh thank you Harry, you're so sweet." Ron crooned in a high pitched voice.
Harry just smirked and pushed him forward into the shop, allowing the door to close. Almost immediately the air was filled with ground coffee beans. The counter to take orders was directly in front of them but to each side of them was an array of different recliners and couches arranged in cozy sitting areas for chatting.
"So what do you guys want?" Alex asked, looking between Ron and Harry.
"Uh…surprise me? I'm not too picky." Ron replied.
Harry just shook his head as he chuckled. "He's not joking either."
"How about Harry and I go get the drinks while you two go get round us up some place to sit? These places tend to fill up of you don't jump on an opportunity." Hermione chimed in.
Alex and Ron just shrugged in response and made their way over to some empty seats. "Get my usual won't you Herms?"
"Yeah sure Al," Hermione responded.
"Don't you guys go crazy drinking that much coffee all the time?" Harry looked at Hermione with a shocked look on his face.
Hermione just smiled at him. "I cannot believe you came here. It was such a surprise, a great one at that!"
"Yeah….so what's good here?" Harry asked, quickly changing the subject.
Hermione looked mildly hurt at his brusqueness. "Let's start you off with something small. White chocolate mocha sound alright with you? That's what I got hooked on in the beginning."
"C'mon Hermione. I want my drink!" Alex yelled from the sofa that she and Ron had picked. Hermione waved at her as a sign to hold on and was grinning. All Harry could do was stare at such a pretty smile.
"I can help whoever is next," the lady from behind the counter said.
"Oh yeah Hermione, Ron and I didn't exactly plan ahead and bring some money to exchange at the muggle bank so all we have is money from home and we spent all morning trying to find someone to help us." Harry admitted with a weak smile. He knew that she was going to reprimand them for their foolishness.
"Oh honestly Harry, why didn't you just transfigure something to muggle money?" She just stared at him with a look of surprise. "I figured that'd be the first thing you two would think of, not that I'd condone it or anything, but it would have helped if you hadn't run into Alex and me."
Now Harry's look turned from foolishness to one of sheer stupidity. He couldn't believe that they didn't think about that.
"It's okay Harry; really, don't beat yourself up about it." Hermione placed her hand comfortingly on his arm, and shot him a gentle smile before making her way up to the cashier to order.
Harry just hung back, letting her order without him breathing down her neck. He looked over to where Ron and Alex were and they seemed to be getting along just fine. They were talking animatedly back and forth with what Harry assumed would likely be quidditch or food because there wasn't much else Ron would get that chatty about.
"Alright, now we wait." Hermione said as she sidled up next to him. "So are we ever going to talk about the real reason why you really came with absolutely no warning or is this something I'll have to get out of you later?"
Harry broke out of his reverie and looked down at her looking back at him with her brows furrowed. "What?" She looked back innocently, her face relaxing. "You think that just because I haven't physically seen you for two years that I can't still read you Harry James Potter?"
Harry just stared back at her wide eyed, not quite knowing what to say. She smirked. "I'll take that as an 'I'll tell you later.'"
"Alright I have two tall white chocolate mochas and two tall soy chai lattes," shouted the lady behind the counter.
"Oooh there is us." Hermione said, pulling Harry forward so they could get their drinks and head back to Ron and Alex.
"It's about time," Alex grumbled, "my throat is dry from debating with Ron about how the Pride of Portree is going to sweep the Cannons this season, but he seems to think otherwise." She graciously accepted her latte from Hermione but as she went to set it on the table after taking a drink she tipped it over. "Oh no!" She cried.
Harry quickly bent and scooped her drink upright so only a little puddle had formed. "Honestly Alex if Harry wasn't here you'd have wasted another latte." Hermione said with a shake of her head in disappointment. "This girl is like bad luck on two feet I swear."
Alex blushed a shade of crimson as she shyly ran a hand through her choppy blond hair. "I suppose it's a good thing that we have a seeker with us then isn't it?"
Ron took a swig of his latte and then spit it back into his cup. "You alright there Ron?" Hermione asked with a semi concerned and a semi amused look on her face.
"Why didn't you tell me it was hot?" Ron looked as if he was going to cry. "I think I burnt my mouth a bit is all." Everyone just started to smile.
"So I have heard from Herms here that you guys got yourselves a new flat. How is it?" Alex asked no one in particular.
"It's bloody brilliant…even if my mum is always bugging us. She always wants to make sure Harry and I have enough food or if the flat is clean."
"Haha I knew Mrs. Weasley would always bug you two. I miss her, and the rest of your family. How did Ginny do this year on her schooling? She would always dodge my questions and always talk about something else." Hermione said with a wide grin breaking across her face. She had heard about the crush between Ron and Luna from both Harry and Ginny.
Harry was the only one to catch onto Hermione's grin.
"Gin did pretty good…I think." Ron responded, oblivious to Hermione's last comment. "So what shall we do? I am almost finished with this drink thing."
"We could show you some of the city. You have already seen Pioneer Courthouse square…and obviously all of the Starbucks." Alex chimed in.
*~*~*
"Oh I am beat. Portland is pretty amazing." Harry said while sitting down on a park bench on the waterfront next to the Willamette River. "Of course it's no London."
Hermione smiled at Harry, sitting down next to him, "Yeah yeah, I know."
"I still can't believe you and Ron got the highest marks in the school," she said, slapping Harry playfully on the leg.
"Well you better believe it. You should have seen the look on good ol' Severus' face when we were called up in front of everyone. You would have thought that his looks couldn't get any worse," Harry looked over at her and chuckled.
"I've really missed you guys Harry, you especially. I know we've been writing and everything but it's just not the same you know? I feel like I've missed out on so much." Hermione sighed, her demeanor turning a little bit sadder.
"I know what you mean 'Mione, trust me. We'll make up for it though. Well at least we'll try to. Why else would we be here?" Harry cringed a little as he said that, hoping she wouldn't notice.
"That's right, why are you here Harry? You said you'd tell me later and it's later." She peered at him with her inquisitive eyes. "Oh no Harry, you can't just avoid this forever, you have to tell me."
Harry racked his brain not wanting to go blurting out the real reason as to why he was here. He didn't want her to overreact and he surely didn't want her to think that he was babysitting her because he really did want to come see her. It's just that the dream sped up the process a little bit.
"Well you know…" Harry started before Ron came bounding up to them, Alex in tow.
"So when are we going to see this house of yours?" Ron asked.
"We could start heading over there soon." Hermione said while getting interrupted by the sound of Ron's growling stomach. "We just ate a couple of hours ago. I still cannot believe that you still eat like that and aren't absolutely mammoth in size." This remark caused the group to start to laugh.
"He isn't the only one that's hungry Herms. We've been walking around the whole day, and I've worked up quite the appetite," Alex said as she held her rumbling stomach with her hands. "Besides, we should probably check up with your mom and dad before we head out for the night."
"Head out? Where too?" Harry asked. He hadn't really had much of a night life once they had graduated.
"Oh I don't know, you guys brought dancing clothes didn't you?" Alex asked waggling her eyebrows at the boys.
"Oh you're bloody brilliant Al, going clubbing will be so much fun!" Hermione clapped in agreement.
"Clubbing?" Ron looked from Harry to the girls and back to Harry again. "Dancing?"
"Oh come off it Ron, it'll be fun. Trust me." Alex added clapping him on the shoulder. "Well let's get going to Hermione's parent's house then so we can eat and get changed for tonight."
Hermione shot Harry a look that he interpreted as a 'we'll talk later' look and just smiled at her with an innocent smile before standing and helping her to her feet so they could walk with the others.
*~*~*
"So what is this thing that we're waiting for again?" Ron asked as he scratched his head.
"Honestly Ron, for the hundredth time, it's called the MAX train," Hermione spoke in her all-knowing tone and shook her head.
They were waiting at a train station with a group of about ten people when the light rail train came to a slow stop in front of them.
"Oh Merlin Harry look!" Ron spoke in awe, pointing out at the thing that had nearly killed him earlier.
"So that's what this thing is," Harry said with a chuckle, "Ron almost had a near death experience with one of these things this morning."
*~*~*
"Alright, here we are."
"Wow 'Mione nice place." Harry said.
"Yeah much better than our flat at home." Ron added.
All four of them stood before a large two story country style home. It had a white picket fence surrounding the whole property and a cute wraparound porch that had a swing hanging in one of the corners.
"Well come on you guys, I thought you were hungry." Hermione said with a smile.
They all made their way up the walkway to the front door, which Hermione opened with one of the keys in her purse. She had to get into a habit of it because they lived in a muggle neighborhood.
"MUM…DAD, I'm home. You'll never believe who I have with me." Hermione yelled as she opened the door.
The Granger's living room was the first room that they saw. It was many shades of blue and there were a lot of family photos framed and placed sporadically on the walls.
The boys followed the girls into the kitchen where Hermione left them to go find her parents.
They sat in silence while Ron took it upon himself to start searching through the cupboards to find him something to eat.
"Hey guys, it looks like my parents went out to dinner so you'll have to see them tomorrow." Hermione came through the door holding a note that had given away her parents absense.
"Did they say where to?" Alex asked.
"No, but most likely Three Degrees. It's that one restaurant over on the waterfront. They love going over there."
"Ah, we'll have to go there sometime." Alex nodded in response.
"Well it looks like you wasted no time." Hermione looked over at Ron who was stuffing himself with a box of Cheez-Its.
Ron just smiled back with a little cheese ring around his lips.
"So what do the rest of you want?" She looked between Harry and Alex for an answer.
Harry just shrugged in response. "Don't your parents have any of those frozen pizzas left?" Alex asked, her stomach growling quickly afterwards.
Hermione's eyes lit up at Alex's suggestion. "Good thinking."
The kitchen table was soon littered with the remnants of three pizzas. Ron of course had one all to himself. Alex just stared at him in awe. "Wow you guys weren't kidding."
Harry and Hermione just looked at each other and laughed as Ron licked his fingers clean.
"Alright well Herms and I need to go take showers and get changed and all that fun stuff, and I'm sure you guys want to too." Alex said as she stood up from the table, flicking her wand to clean up the kitchen table.
"Yeah we'll be in my room, and you guys can go into my parents' room. It's up the stairs, down the hallway right and the last door on your left. We'll be upstairs if you need us in the room on the right." Hermione followed Alex up the stairs to her room. "Oh yeah, if you get done before us make yourself at home."
*~*~*
Hermione silently shut the door behind her waiting for the soft click to let her know it was shut. Almost instantly she cast charms all over the room to lock the door and trap all the noise inside so the boys wouldn't be able to hear them talk. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the door letting her head bang softly against it.
"You can wipe that smirk off your face." Hermione spoke out loud, keeping her eyes closed.
Alex smirked even more as she looked at the obviously smitten look on her friends face. "I take it your snippy attitude is a direct result from your swooning? I can get you a chair if you think you might not be able to stand."
"Ha, ha, ha."
"Well at least I finally get to see who you've been pining away over for the past two years. And might I add that you have very, VERY good taste. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so sexy before."
"He is isn't he?" Hermione's eyes instantly shot open and she covered her mouth as a blush crept over her face. "Alex! Don't let me say things like that, we're friends. Best friends at that. Best friends don't find each other sexy."
"Now now, I am a firm believer that best friends make the best lovers." Alex smirked in response as her friends face continued to deepen its red shade. "If it's any consolation, he's got only eyes for you my dear. In all the walking around we did he didn't look at any other girl, which I can't say the same for Ron."
"Yeah uh-huh, right. Look at me. I'm a right mess." Hermione sulked her way over to her bed and sat down.
Alex shook her head and made her way over to sit next to Hermione. "Hermione Jane we are going to get all dressed up and we are going to go out tonight and you are going to see that I'm right. Then I'll be waiting to say 'I told you so.'"
*~*~*
The boys walked into the bedroom and shut the door. "Now do you want to start talking, or shall I begin?" Ron asked giving Harry an all-knowing grin.
"Talk about what?" Harry asked looking at some of Mr. Granger's books on the nightstand, obviously attempting to avoid the subject.
"Well you can start by telling me when you are going to snog Hermione senseless because honestly, this beating around the bush thing is getting a little old fast."
Harry whipped his head around staring incredulously at Ron.
"Don't tell me you don't fancy her Harry. You've fancied her for a long time, at least since the end of fifth year," Ron just smirked at Harry's reaction. "I'm thick, but I'm not that thick."
Harry sank lifelessly to the bed. "Let's just say I hypothetically liked her a little bit, I couldn't do anything about it. We're best friends. Best friends don't 'snog each other senseless.'"
"Just trust me on this mate. She fancies you back. Don't hold back with her, you'll miss out on something special."
"When did you get all ruddy romantic?" Harry looked up at Ron.
"I think Luna brings it out in me or something. Just don't spread it around. I have a reputation to uphold of course."
Harry just laughed and shook his head. His mind was still swirling over his newly renewed feelings for Hermione. He knew she was in danger by just being his friend, Voldemort proved that point, but if they became more than that, that would only make things worse for her. They would have to take things slowly, given if she even liked him.
"Hey mate; doesn't it seem the least bit odd to you that none of the Order members have come to haul us back home?" Ron plopped down next to him on the bed. "We haven't been stopped for anything or seen anything dodgy."
"You know, you're right. I did realize that earlier today. I was just having too much fun that I forgot. I'm sure we're being watched though. We can't put anything past Dumbledore." Harry pulled off his glasses, rubbing the sleepiness away from his eyes.
"Yeah, we'll just have to keep our eyes out." Ron stood and made his way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"
Harry just shook his head with a laugh as he returned his glasses to their original position. Ron always knew how to make light of a serious situation. He would have to keep his eyes out. He didn't want to compromise Hermione's life in any way.
*~*~*
They had finally finished getting ready and knew the girls were no where near finished since they both wanted to take showers. They found out the hard way whenever they went to any of the balls at Hogwarts.
Harry had ended up transfiguring his clothes to an emerald green silk shirt and a pair of black slacks. His attempts to calm his hair were futile. Ron attempted to transfigure his clothes to some that he saw one of guys at Starbucks, but he couldn't get quite right so he decided on a form fitting black shirt and a pair of khaki colored pants.
Once they were downstairs, they started looking at all of the pictures of Hermione from when she was younger that were hanging up in the living room. There was a picture of her from her fifth birthday posing with her cake that was shaped as a Barbie Doll. Then there was another one where she is waving happily at the camera from her position on a carousel horse. Harry couldn't quite decipher what age she must have been.
Ron was looking at pictures on the other side of the room when he got tired and just sprawled out on the black suede couch and landed on the television remote. The TV blared on and revealed the news. Ron instantly jumped up, pointing his wand threateningly at the TV. "What in bloody hell is that thing?"
Harry couldn't help but crack up of the response of his friend. He hadn't realized that Ron wouldn't really know what a TV was. He went over and reached for the TV remote and turned down the volume. "That is a television. It shows moving pictures and stuff like that. Muggles use it for information or entertainment."
Ron nervously sank back down onto the couch, pocketing his wand. "You lot are mental." He grumbled as he fixed his attention on the television. It was the weather broadcast showing that there was a fifty percent chance of rain that evening. "Fifty percent chance? It's like saying I have a fifty-fifty chance of meeting someone famous today. What a load of rubbish. It is about as bad as Divination."
"What is rubbish?" Alex questioned as she came down the stairs. She was wearing a sheer purple v-neck tank top with a black frilly skirt and black heels that laced up her ankles. She was gripping the railing to assure herself that she wouldn't trip.
Ron coughed loudly and just stared at Alex with a very blank look. "Uhh…the weather."
"Riiight." Harry and Alex said together.
"So where is 'Mione?"
"She's coming. She tends to take her time." Alex turned back towards the stairs to yell. "Herms get your butt down here now!"
Hermione came down the stairs slowly, worrying about what her friends, especially Harry, were going to think. She was wearing a pair of black pants, a red tank top glittered with rhinestones, and a pair of red heels that matched Alex's. Her hair was tied back into a pony tail that had a slight bounce to it since it was waving side to side with each step she took.
"Well don't you two just look stunning?" Ron commented on them first realizing that Harry was going to be awhile before he got his bearings again.
Harry's eyes locked with Hermione's. "Yeah absolutely beautiful."
Hermione felt a blush creep up her face as she noticed how gorgeous Harry was and that he was looking right at her.
"You too don't look to shabby either. You pull together nicely Weasley." Alex commented, shooting a knowing smirk to Ron who was also shaking his head in disappointment at the other two.
Ron coughed loudly to break Harry and Hermione out of their own little world and offered Alex his arm. "So shall we go on our way?"
"Sounds positively divine." Alex giggled as she latched onto Ron's arm.
Harry blushed profusely finally turning his attention over to Ron and Alex who certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves at his expense. "So how are we getting to this club anyways?"
"Oh this club is owned by wizards, but it's both a muggle and wizarding club. They make more money that way. There is a room designated for apparating, so we'll go there before we go in." Hermione answered.
"Yeah, you guys can hold onto one of us and we'll apparate us to the room." Alex added.
Harry made his way over to Hermione, holding his arm out for her like Ron did for Alex. He locked eyes with her again as he heard a loud crack indicating that Ron and Alex had left.
"You really do look beautiful 'Mione." Harry whispered so his voice wouldn't falter.
"You don't look to bad yourself handsome." Hermione stared back into his green eyes. "Shall we go?"
"Let's go."
In an instant the surroundings of Hermione's house were replaced with that of a room surrounded in wall to wall curtains.
Ron and Alex were no where to be found so they followed the loud music that permeated the air figuring that would lead them to their friends.
As they walked, Harry couldn't help but be nervous with such a beautiful girl on his arm. It made it even worse the fact that it was Hermione. He couldn't decide how to act around her now. He briefly stole a glance at her, which she returned with a genuine smile, the one he'd missed so much over the years.
**A/N: Thanks much for the reviews! That's the most reviews we had gotten for one chapter. We're so glad you're enjoying this story as much as we are. I'm so glad we managed to pull of the whole Alex is really a girl thing. We thought it'd be fun. However, it seems we're stumbling through a bad patch of writers block. We're plowing through it though. We should stay on course as far as updates go, and if anything it'll maybe be pushed back a couple of days. So please all comments and encouragements in that cute little box down there would be much appreciated.**