"You mean this might actually be good for you?" he asked as he took a sip and smacked his lips repeatedly, as if it would make the tasting process any more efficient.
Hermione hoped he got all this silliness out of his system before Harry showed up, and preferably didn't go mad like he did on vacations, because she didn't think constantly rolling her eyes with a long-suffering expression would be the thing to do to start shifting things between her and Harry along in the right direction.
"Ooo, this is good," her father declared. "Don't tell your mother or she might insist we start drinking carrot juice again," he said with a shudder.
Deciding she'd had quite enough of that, Hermione got up and walked up to the bar.
"Excuse me," she said by way of getting the barman's attention.
"Butterbeer?" the hunchbacked man asked.
"Er- no, thank you," she replied. "I was wondering if you could help me, I'm looking for Harry Potter."
The barman squinted at her curiously.
"He and some friends of mine were supposed to meet me here," Hermione explained.
"Oh, ya mean the Weasleys," the barman smiled a gap-toothed smile; the man definitely needed an appointment with her father. "Sure, the whole gaggle o' them came through a while back. That dark-haired young feller," he said with a look, "he ran through here like a banshee was after him. Ain't you, init?" he finished with wide eyes, gaping mouth, and a finger pointing at her like he'd said something particularly funny.
Hermione didn't answer; she was too busy running to alleyway behind the pub.
Any hope she had they'd be waiting on the other side of the archway disappeared when she saw the steady stream of people moving from shop to shop. It was all completely Weasley-free. The only hint Harry'd ever been there was a green sign in a window saying, 'Come See Harry Potter's Shoes!'
Hermione supposed since the shop was a cordwainery, a place which by definition makes shoes, they could've actually kept the old ones for display purposes, but with more than one person already taking advantage of Harry for their own gain this would certainly be something his lawyer should look into if they haven't already.
"You shouldn't run off like that," her father huffed beside her. The strange dentist wasn't used to exercise; being thin didn't mean being in shape. "Is that Indiana Potter they're talking about over there?" he asked, gesturing to the sign. "Running from boulders and tribesmen will be rather difficult without shoes."
Hermione rolled her eyes. She loved her Dad, but the man was impossible to live with.
...
He had to wait. He wasn't buying so he had to wait. He hated having to wait. Why did you always have to wait when you really wanted to be somewhere else? The anticipation was always the worst part. He squirmed around in his seat again.
"Alright, don't get your wand in a knot," Madam Malkin said. "Now what do you want?" she asked with a smile.
"I was wondering if you could fix me up again," Harry said, slipping on his outer robe. Last year he'd wondered why wizards bothered with it but it did make for a nice lightweight jacket.
"You know you could always step up and do it proper," she said, gesturing to the stool.
"I'll come back, promise," he said hurriedly.
"What's the rush?" she asked as she scrutinized the changes she had to make. "Court date today or something?"
"I'm meeting someone - a friend," Harry answered.
"Friends are nice," Madam Malkin murmured, lengthening the right sleeve of his shirt. "What's his name?" she asked, lengthening his left trouser leg.
'Why did she have to be so torturously slow? It didn't take this long last time,' Harry thought to himself.
"Her name's Hermione," he said quietly as a witch with spiky pink hair came in to ask her assistant if they could get scorch marks and ground in dirt off some robes.
"Oh, well in that case," she said cheerily, "you'll need a tie."
She tapped him with her wand and as quick as a flash his other shirt sleeve and trousers leg lengthened, his Gryffindor crest disappeared, and a tie appeared and tied itself around his neck before his robe buttoned itself up. Another tap had the tie change colors to green.
"It sets off your eyes, dear," she said with a wink that made him even more embarrassed.
He started to head for the door before she drew him back.
"Oh, no you don't," she chuckled. "That'll be a sickle. You come in here again without buying anything and it'll be a galleon," she said with a look passing for good-natured but trying to be stern without smiling.
"Yes, Ma'am," Harry said as he slapped a sickle into her hand and bolted for the door.
The crowd in the alley was still going strong, most of the traffic going to and from Gringotts and the bookshop, Flourish and Blotts. Quick glimpses of faces and brushes against cloaks marked his passage as Harry dodged and weaved his way through people as fast as he could. He was going to be late; he just hoped it wasn't too late to make a good impres-
The people in front of him parted to make way and Harry skid to a halt and felt his whole body seize up like he'd been turned to stone. Right in front of him was a wide-eyed Hermione who looked as surprised as he felt.
"Uh - hi," Harry said stupidly.
"Hi," she replied stiltedly.
'Oh great,' Harry thought, 'our friendship's ruined. I'm going to have to move to Brazil and see if we can still be pen pals .'
Just as they were about to be drowned by the shocked uncertain stillness, help came from the strangest of places.
"Ooo! Is that ice cream?" the man beside Hermione asked, knocking her forward in his mad dash for sweets. "Don't tell your mother," he said in lieu of an apology, leaving Harry to catch her as he fled.
Hermione watched the man dash off with an incredulous look on her face before looking down to see her hands were on Harry's arms. When he noticed this too Harry found himself becoming very warm. Should he apologize for something? The girl partially in his arms slightly shook her head.
"Hey Harry," she said, smiling shyly up at him.
.....
Want to read ahead. Then Join my Pa*treon 60+ exclusive chapters that are waiting for you.
Even Free members can enjoy 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.
Link: pa*treon.com/Lotus_Lover (Remove the *)
Join Right Now