A Little Less Romione, A Little More Harmony

“Oh, come on, Harry,” said Hermione, suddenly impatient. “It’s not Quidditch that’s popular, it’s you! You’ve never been more interesting, and frankly, you’ve never been more fanciable.”

His face flamed red and he was certain the temperature in the hall had risen to a tropical climate.

“I don’t know what you mean -” he stuttered.

“Oh, come on,” snorted Ron derisively. “Even I’m not that clueless.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” said Harry dubiously.

Ron rolled his eyes slightly and continued to spoon his breakfast into his mouth. He gazed at his spoon for a few more seconds before charming it to automatically bring cereal into his mouth periodically. Hermione decided to ignore him (although she couldn’t help noting how much his charm work had improved).

“So,” said Hermione casually. “I was wondering -”

Ron lost control of his charm, dropped his spoon onto the floor, and hastily bent down to retrieve it. “I’m not sure if I can see this,” he muttered.

“- If you’d like to go to Hogsmeade with me next weekend,” she finished.

“So long as it’s not to Madam Puddifoots,” said Harry, smiling. Suddenly his day looked ten times brighter and he couldn’t help beaming at his friends.

“Of course not,” said Hermione briskly. “It looks like Umbridge’s office and I think we’ve seen enough of that -”

“For a lifetime,” groaned Ron, who had re-emerged.

“So,” said Hermione. “I’ll draw up a time table for our day and -”

“No,” said Harry flatly.

“No?” said Hermione looking crestfallen.

“No time tables, no time keeping, no colour coding, no organising -” said Harry, counting off his fingers each time.

“No books, no checking your watch and no coming back to study,” finished Ron succinctly, checking off his own fingers as he continued the list.

“Am I that bad?” asked Hermione ruefully.

“Hmm,” said Ron ponderingly. “What do you think Harry?”

“Well, Ronald, I do believe that she is,” replied Harry. “In a good way, of course.”

“Okay, I get the point,” snapped Hermione. “No rules, no organisation. Just…” she cast her mind about for the right word.

“Fun?” suggested Ron.

“Yes,” said Hermione, seizing on the word. “Fun.”

Harry looked at her sceptically for a few seconds, inclining his head.

“I know how to have fun, Harry!” she said defensively.

“Name the last time you had fun,” said Harry suspiciously.

“Without a book,” added Ron quickly.

“I can’t quite remember,” said Hermione, wrinkling up her nose. “We haven’t had any late night explorations lately, have we?”

“No,” said Ron. “Because you’re a Prefect and Prefects aren’t allowed to be up out of hours unless for an emergency, death, suspected attack from the dark forces or a student’s refusal to obey the rules.”

“Well,” said Hermione. “That’s fine because now you mention it, I’ve come over a little…”

“Rebellious?” suggested Ron hopefully. “I love those days.”

“Yes,” supplied Hermione happily. “How about we have a break today?”

“Sounds good to me,” said Harry in relief. “I thought you were going to have us writing revision timetables again.”

“No!” said Hermione looking scandalized. “I was going to take you on an extended tour of the library.”

“You’re joking,” said Harry bluntly. “Please tell me -Ron - she’s got to be joking…”

Hermione’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Really, Harry, what do you take me for?” Seeing his non-committal shrug she shook her head and laughed.

*

“Harry!” called Hermione. “We’re going to miss checking out if you don’t hurry.”

Harry grunted in response and pulled a t-shirt on over his head, and then a soft woollen jumper.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” his voice was muffled as he hopped around the room trying to find his shoes.

“Honestly, Harry, a simple ‘Accio Shoes’ would do,” said Hermione impatiently as she walked up the staircase. “There.”

She handed him his shoes, found him his cloak and sat on his bed waiting for him to get ready. His back was still turned to her and he muttered his thanks and continued to get ready. His shoes were almost fastened when he turned to look at her. His jaw dropped slightly when he took in her appearance. It was not, of course, that he had ever considered Hermione as ugly but he had never thought about how pretty she was. Until now.

She had done something different to her hair, hadn’t she? Harry wasn’t sure, as he had never been particularly observant. But her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling and her hair had been somewhat tamed.

He couldn’t be quite sure but he was positive that he had breathed a quiet, “Wow,” when he had seen her.

She blushed slightly and said, “Ready -”

“As I’ll ever be,” he said, smiling down at her.

“ - for a day of fun?”

“As long as Ron doesn’t come midway through and punch me,” said Harry.

“Why would he do that?” laughed Hermione.

“You never know,” said Harry darkly.

“I wouldn’t worry unless he had a bludgers bat in tow,” she said carefully.

“What a vote of confidence!” exclaimed Harry, laughing.

“So, where first?” asked Hermione companionably, ten minutes or so later as they walked into the small village.

“Zonko’s,” responded Harry automatically.

He saw the look on her face and said, “We can stop by the bookshop on the way back if you’re that desperate to go.”

“You know me too well,” she smiled.

“When people asked who stole my friend away from me I’ll tell them it was Hogwarts: A History,” said Harry mournfully.

She clucked her tongue and grabbed his hand.

“Race you there,” she giggled.

Harry, being slightly taller, and faster, caught up with her in a few seconds. “Got you,” he breathed in her ear.

She pouted slightly and said, “I should have known I couldn’t win that one.”

“Was that Miss Granger admitting she was wrong?” said Harry playfully.

“Tell anyone and I’ll hex you so badly that you’ll wish you resembled Grawp,” she replied.

“Point taken,” grinned Harry.