AN: Next chapter! Yay!

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Recap:

Luna didn't seem to notice Harry's sudden fixation – if she did, she didn't mention it – and Harry was left feeling relieved that he wouldn't be seeing Malfoy and his stomach-flutter inducing facial expressions again soon.

-o0o-

Harry was, regrettably, very wrong about not seeing Malfoy again for a while.

It was like Malfoy was everywhere; Harry was buying some Dreamless Sleep – disguised, of course – when he happened to turn and see Malfoy walking down the street; Harry went to Gringotts to check his accounts and Malfoy was at another teller; Harry went to visit Luna at her office at the Quibbler and bumped into Malfoy on the way out.

It was slowly driving Harry mad. Ordinarily, he wouldn't care; but whenever Harry saw the blond, all he could think of was the way he smiled at Luna, which made his stomach do that odd tingly-twisty thing all over again.

Harry endured this for about a week, until finally he realised something might be amiss. Still, it wasn't until Harry dreamed of Malfoy's smile that he decided that, yeah, he might need some help. Naturally, he went to Hermione.

Luckily for Harry, Hermione, being an ambassador for magical creatures with more paperwork than the whole Auror office combined could – and often did – work from home. He threw some Floo powder into his fireplace, called out the address and stepped into the flames. After a headache-inducing rush of colours and soot, Harry found himself rudely deposited face-first on Hermione and Ron's sitting room carpet.

He picked himself up from the floor, cursing the Floo system under his breath, and removed the soot from his clothes with an absent wave of his hand. It was only moments later that a familiar, still bushy-haired head poked into the room.

'Harry!' Hermione cried, rushing over to him and crushing him in a hug worthy of Molly Weasley herself. 'It's been so long!' She said into his chest.

'I know. Sorry, 'Mione,' he said.

'Never mind that now,' she said, pulling away and looping her arm through his. 'I want to show you something. Come on!' She dragged him out of the room and down the hall, stopping in front of a light green door. She ushered him inside, and Harry stared around himself in awe.

Hills of pastel green dotted with cows, sheep and the odd Hippogriff covered the walls, and the roof reflected the weather outside in a smaller – but no less grand – replica of the Great Hall's roof. The shelves along the walls held a mix of Muggle and magical baby toys – a wriggling purple dragon that occasionally puffed green smoke sat next to a bright yellow plastic keyboard. A white child's cot lay in the centre of the room, hanging above it a solar system mobile, and resting inside it a stuffed snitch and a few bears. Harry spun back around to face Hermione, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet in the doorway.

'I'm pregnant!' Hermione announced, grinning.

'Oh my god, Hermione, congratulations!' He swept her up in a hug and spun, sending the girl off into excited giggles. He set her on her feet after a twirl or two and was treated to a mockingly stern glare. 'Now don't you dare tell Ron, Harry. He doesn't know yet, being off on that mission in Italy and all.'

Harry, grinning, drew his fingers across his lips in a zipping motion. 'Not a word,' he assured her.

'Good,' she said, looping her arm in his again and leading him to the kitchen. 'Now, what are you actually here for? Not that I mind the visit, of course, but I believe you had a goal in mind.'

Harry smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

'It's a long story.'

'Tea, then?'

Harry nodded, offering to help before Hermione waved him off. Levering himself onto a counter, he waited and gratefully accepted the steaming mug handed to him a short while later. Hermione leant on the counter across from him, sipping her own chamomile tea and waiting for him to speak.

Harry, who had suddenly become rather nervous, fiddled with his cup.

'Do I have to drag it out of you, then?' Hermione said, managing to sound fondly threatening, Harry sighed.

'It all began last week when I was at a café with Luna…'

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Hermione had, after checking Harry over for curses at his insistence, sighed and dragged a hand through her hair – a habit Harry was sure she had picked up from Ron.

'I'm sorry, Harry,' she said. 'But this is… well, something you need to figure out on your own.'

Harry gaped at her uncomprehendingly for a few moments before he burst out with, 'But Hermione! You always know what's going on!'

'I do know what's going on, I'm just not going to tell you.'

Harry frowned. 'Why not?' He whined.

'Because it'll be much better if you figure it out on your own,' she said. 'Trust me.'

Harry, who was most definitely not pouting, crossed his arms. 'Harry Potter, what am I going to do with you?' She said fondly. Shaking her head, she led him back into the sitting room and handed the bowl of Floo powder to Harry.

'Kicking me out?' Harry said, putting on his best kicked puppy expression. Hermione merely raised an eyebrow at him.

'If I let you stay, all you'll do is bug me until I tell you. And don't deny it,' she said as Harry opened his mouth to do just that. 'You know it's true. Now get out of here.'

With a put upon sigh, Harry threw some powder into the flames. 'I bet you a Galleon Ron cries when you tell him,' he wagered. Hermione laughingly agreed.

'I bet you a Galleon he calls you before Molly.'

'Deal!' Grinning, Harry called 'Grimmauld Place!' and stepped into the flames, Hermione's smiling face the last thing he saw before he was whisked away in a swirl of colour and ash.

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AN: I'm having a bit of trouble pinning down character reactions and things, so if you think anything is out of the ordinary, feel free to comment or PM me with any advice—it's greatly appreciated. :)