A/N: Hello everyone! Another late update, sorry for the wait. Exam week is upon me, and it's horrible! Well anyway, here's the latest chapter. I hope you all like it! Thank you so much for every single review! They really make my day! Uh, can someone tell me how to reply to them? Hihi, I'm new, and oblivious… = ) And to my beta as well, thank you! See chapter one for disclaimer. Enjoy!
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"So, where to first?" asked Harry.
Ron spoke up. "I don't know. I just want to stay away from the castle today. Why don't we go to Hogsmeade first and grab something to eat? I'm starving."
Hermione looked at him incredulously. "You're starving? We've just finished with breakfast, Ron."
"Yeah, so? I'm still growing. Besides, going up seven flights of stairs really burns up everything we just ate."
Hermione wondered how much more Ron could possibly grow. He was so tall now that she only came up to his shoulders, and she wasn't short at all. Harry was already half a head shorter than him. She looked at Harry as if to say 'can you believe this?' He looked back at her and with a smile, he shrugged.
"Sounds like a plan Ron," said Harry, "unless, of course, Hermione objects to anything." He turned to look at Hermione.
"Oh, don't mind me, really, anywhere is fine," she said with a bright, fake smile.
"Righto. Hogsmeade it is then."
The sunlight hurt Hermione's eyes as they exited the castle. It took her longer than she remembered to adjust to the brightness of the midmorning, but the moment she stopped squinting, the sight that greeted her took her breath away. The familiar school grounds looked somehow foreign, making it a pleasant deviation from the four dull, dusty walls of the library. Dammit, how long had she been confined up there? She even wondered if the grass had always been as green as it was now. Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes as a gentle wind blew, rustling the leaves and ruffling her hair. She smiled serenely, remembering how it felt to not have anything to obsess about. She instantly felt grateful to Ron and Harry for, albeit forcibly, bringing her out here, where she could feel the breeze, see the trees, hear the Giant Squid somersaulting somewhere in the lake. She was so absorbed in this rediscovery that she never noticed Ron and Harry smiling contentedly at the sight of her enjoying the world she had avoided for more than half the school year.
They walked for about ten more minutes, discussing Quidditch and Muggle movies, before arriving at the village. They stopped by a new place called Le Coup de Maitre. It was a small place, just enough room to seat about thirty people. The round tables, cushy seats and warm colors gave it a cozy atmosphere. Ron ordered some pasta, while Harry and Hermione just had butterbeers. Harry had insisted that she eat something because two pancakes and pumpkin juice just weren't going to hold out until lunch time, but she adamantly refused. They lingered in the pleasantly homey restaurant for a little while, watching the Saturday crowd bustle, before crossing the street and entering Honeydukes. It wasn't as packed as usual, since it was not an official Hogsmeade weekend for the 3rd to 6th years. A variety of new products were on display, including: Sugarfree Hot Mints, which made you breathe harmless artificial fire; Hairballs hair color-changing gum, and Milk Suds, which had apparently caused the multicoloured bubbles that greeted the three when they sauntered in. After having a look around, Harry, Ron and Hermione purchased some of the new stuff along with their usual supply of Sugar Quills, Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and Fizzing Whizbees. They left Honeydukes and walked at a leisurely pace, with Ron and Harry on either side of Hermione.
"All this sugar should keep you going well beyond midnight," Harry smiled at Hermione, indicating the bag of sweets in his hands. "But," he said seriously, "not until after the weekend, got me?"
"But Harry, the weekends are--"
"Please, let me boss you around for once," he said pleadingly. "I'm not keeping you away from your books forever; this is just so you don't kill yourself studying for exams that you'll pass anyway."
Hermione fell silent. She knew she needed a break. The fatigue was catching up to her. Hell, She was looking more and more like Lupin on his bad days, minus the bruises and abrasions. She picked on the hem of her tee, torn between actually having fun and facing the possibility of less than perfect exam results. "Look Harry," she began, "I really appreciate this--"
Harry suddenly stopped walking and turned to face her. "I'll make you a deal, okay? We do this twice a month so it doesn't drastically change your study schedule. Twice a month, we go out and have fun; forget about anything and everything that concerns schoolwork. We'll --We'll do whatever stupid things we feel like doing, pig out, run around the lake screaming, jinx random Slytherins--"
Ron finally spoke up, "ow at ud ee a ian eea."
Both Harry and Hermione looked up, chuckling. "What was that Ron?"
With difficulty, Ron swallowed the two chocolate frogs he had simultaneously stuffed into his mouth. "Jinxing random Slytherins, now that would be a brilliant idea!"
Hermione laughed.
It had been a long time since Ron or Harry heard her laugh. It was a real laugh that actually lit up her eyes and had a wonderful sound.
"So, do we have a deal?" Harry held out his hand. Hermione seemed hesitant and started biting her lip. Ron shoved another Chocolate Frog into his mouth and waited for Hermione's response. When he got impatient (two seconds later), he said, "Oh come on Hermione, we're just trying to keep you alive at least until graduation! And trust me, secluding yourself and being all antisocial is not going to help us achieve that goal!"
Ron, Hermione had to admit, was right. He made a lot of sense these days. It was scary.
Weighing her options and calculating her odds, Hermione decided that unwinding a bit might not be so bad. Besides, being out of the castle today made her realize how much she missed being outdoors, being with her best friends. And so, with a deep breath and squared shoulders, she took Harry's hand and shook it. "Deal," she said firmly.
"Great!" Harry grinned. Ron nodded in approval, and they resumed walking.
The boys did a low five behind Hermione's back. Mission accomplished.
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