How We Got Here

3

Hermione,

Hi. I'm…well, writing to you. How're you? How're the holidays? I know we didn't get to talk much after lunch. Sorry about that.

Harry

Harry,

I'm fine, and the holidays are…honestly boring. I've started reading again. The neighbours are just about as annoying as usual. But I dunno, some of their ideas kind of interest me, in a weird way. They're daughters want me to go shopping with them. Should I? How're you? Are you all right? I'm just worried. About everything's that happened.

Hermione

Hermione,

I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about. The worst thing I'm battling here is a new diet my Aunt's got us all on. Apparently Dudley's the size of a whale now. The only problem with that is that his school doesn't have uniforms in his size anymore. Definitely was a point of action. I'm starving here. You should go shopping. Atleast give it a try.

Harry

Harry,

They're starving you? I mean, from what you say, I believe your cousin could do with losing a little weight. But Harry, you don't! I've spoken to Mum and Dad about this, and they've fixed you up a box of sweets. Mind, they're sugar free. One word: Dentists. I hope they'll do all right for you. Tell me if you run out, I'll send another.

Well…maybe I will give it a try. Mark my words, Potter. I'll haunt you if I get killed.

Hermione

Hermione,

Thanks loads for the sweets. They saved my life. I got a few parcels from Ron and Hagrid too. Also, a letter from Sirius arrived this morning. That's why I haven't been able to write for a while. I sent him a letter with Hedwig, and it took her a week to finish the journey. Incredible, really. I wonder where Sirius is right now…but he says he's all right, and so is Buckbeak. He hopes we're all well and enjoying our vacation. I am, actually, to tell you the truth. The Dursleys barely say a word to me now. I think they're afraid Sirius'll turn them into bats. Now that would be a sight…

Seriously, you are not going to die. It's just shopping. How'd it go, anyway?

Harry

Harry,

It was mortifying. It was terrible, Harry. Those girls are wild. I lost the feeling in my legs after the first two stores. It would've been all right if they'd just gone through the whole thing the normal way. We were there for EIGHT HOURS! And they're annoying. The way they talk. They just snap back and forth at each other. It was like I wasn't even there. I'll kill you, really, for talking me into it. They keep asking me what school I go to, and what I learn there, and why I have to go to school so far away, and whether I have a boyfriend or not. Merlin – they're just fourteen, and already thinking of that!

And about the Sirius thing: I doubt the Ministry would like that, Harry. But atleast Sirius is okay. I wonder how far he must be, if it took Hedwig a whole week to send him the letter…

Hermione

Hermione,

First of all, you DO have a boyfriend, remember? Me? And you're fourteen too. Goodness, that made me laugh. Well, even if you were there for eight hours, something good must have come off it, right? I mean…Right…?

Harry

Harry,

Nothing. Nothing at all. And yes, I know I have a boyfriend, thank you very much. That's what I told them. I was bored out of my eyes, Harry. The minute I got home, I ran to my room, and headed for a book. I've returned to the old standby, Harry. It's much safer.

Hermione

Harry,

Happy Birthday! I hope it'll be a good one this time. I sent you a cake, see, thought it'd be some kind of necessity, considering how they're starving you like that. It's disgusting, what they're doing. I also however, enclosed something else in the package this letter is attached to. I hope you like it. I miss you, and I hope you're well. Happy Fourteenth!

Hermione

Hermione,

Thanks, Hermione. I loved it. It's great. It fits perfectly. I now have yet another shirt that fits properly. Thanks, really. Sorry I wasn't able to send a reply earlier. I sent Hedwig again to Sirius. It'll probably take her a while again before you get this. She's still recovering from the trip at the moment. I'm not sure when she'll be up for a new one. honestly, if you've spent all this time hovering over a book, why is it that your eyesight is still a whole lot better than mine, and nothing's happened to change it? It's like you've got some kind of forcefield against…eyestrain. Okay, that was a joke. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I miss you too. Can't stop think about you, honestly. I can't wait to see you again.

Harry

Harry,

I just got your letter. Are you sure you like it? I know you said so. Darn. All right, forget that question. I'm smiling right now at how idiotically cute you just sounded in my head when I read what you wrote. You're a moron, really. But you made me smile. Thanks. I needed that.

Hermione

Hermione,

Yes, I'm definitely sure I liked the present. It's great. Thanks. I'm idiotically cute and a moron? Wow. I think it's the first time you've said that to me. Isn't it? I'm glad I made you smile though. And why the heck did you need it? Are you sad or something?

You have a beautiful smile, by the way.

Harry

Harry,

No, Harry, not really sad. I'm just feeling a little off, all right? But I'm fine now. Better atleast.

Is it really? You're just joking aren't you, trying to make me laugh? Or smile again?

Hermione

Hermione,

No. I'm not joking or just trying to make you laugh. I mean it. You have a beautiful smile, and a wonderful laugh. Not a joke.

Harry

Harry,

And I suppose I'm very cute as well, aren't I?

Hermione

Hermione,

I detect sarcasm. But yes, you are very cute.

Harry

Harry,

You're starting to sound cute, Harry. And thanks. That actually made me smile…a lot.

Hermione

Hermione,

So you think I'm cute? Or do I just sound cute?

Harry

Harry,

You are cute, Harry. No point denying it. The whole wizarding world looks at you like a prince.

Hermione

Hermione,

The whole wizarding world looks at me like I'm a prince. It's an ugly thought, honestly, but we both know the only reason they look at me that way is cause they think I'm some kind of hero for apparently killing Voldemort. It's stupid, and pointless, and furthermore, I don't care what the whole wizarding world thinks. I'm asking you – my girlfriend – the question. Not them.

Harry

Harry,

Oh, honestly. Yes. You're very cute, Harry. Especially when YOU smile, or when YOU laugh. You're very handsome. And you're funny. And kind. And good to people, and good to me. And you're not that bad a kisser either.

Happy?

Hermione

Hermione,

Well, yes, now I'm happy. But that's besides the point. What you said was very sweet, thanks. I'm gonna take your word for it. And now I'm going to sound cheesy, so bear with me. You're cute, Hermione. Pretty. Beautiful, even. You're brilliant too. Knocked me out of every test, along with everyone in our year. You're sweet, just like you said I am. And you're there for me. And you're not so bad a kisser yourself. Do I sound idiotically cute, yet?

I'm laughing here, just so you know. And smiling too.

Harry

Harry,

Yes. You're being idiotically cute, Harry. And no, I haven't knocked you out at every test. You beat me. This year, infact. In Defense Against the Dark Arts. It's a sore point. But you earned it.

Hermione

Hermione,

What? You can't be serious. The pigs are flying, Hermione. They definitely are. Listen. I just got a letter from Ron. He says his Dad got tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. They'll be picking me up tomorrow. I'm gonna make Hedwig send this to you first before she heads off for Sirius. I guess I'll see you at Ron's, then.

Harry

.:.:.

A/N: Allright, it's a cutesy chapter. But i felt it was deserved, seeing as how in Chap 2 i did mention the whole 'Write to me' thing. So it was fitting. Bear with me. And Ron'll find out in the next two chaps, promise. And I was gonna use Italic for Hermione's writing, but I felt that would make it too irritating to read the whole fic like that, so I just bolded Harry's. Thanks for the reviews. Please review this one as well? Oh, and the purpose of this chap, despite the cutesy-ness, is to establish a few thoughts for later chapters, all right. I'm multi-tasking here :)