Hermione followed Cleo out the front door and down the street. It was about 3:00 at this point, she hadn't slept for too long. She felt strange wearing a dress and longed for her usual pair of jeans. Hermione rarely dressed up, if she did it was for a very special occasion. She smiled as she thought of Ron's reaction to her at the Yule Ball. He had looked so silly in those old dress robes. She found herself missing Ron, though she had not even left him a day ago.
"Hermione? What is it you're thinking about? You've been so quiet and have some sort of dreamy look on your face..."
Hermione blushed. "It's nothing," she said.
"C'mon, you can tell me." Cleo nudged her with her shoulder. "I mean we're supposed to be like friends or something now, aren't we?"
"I've only just met you," Hermione pointed out. Cleo raised an eyebrow. "Fine," She sighed, "You're right, it's a boy."
"A boy, hey? Tell me about him."
"Well he has red hair and an awful lot of freckles. He's really funny and can be really stubborn at times, but he's always loyal to his friends."
"He sounds great, how long have you two been dating?" Cleo prodded.
"A few months," Hermione answered.
"The way you described him, I had expected you had been dating for years..."
"Well I've known him for a pretty long time. But enough about me, do you have a boyfriend?"
"Yeah, his name is Lewis. He really really cares about me. He'd never do anything to hurt me or break my trust, on purpose at least. He's really into science, marine biology in fact, and can get pretty wrapped up in his little projects. Actually he just got back from the States where he was studying. He's so smart and cute and just a wonderful guy." Cleo gushed.
"He sounds perfect for you."
"He is," Cleo said grinning. "Look, we're here." They had come to a rather large building with the word "Rikki's" in neon red lights. Cleo opened the door, "After you..." They both stepped through the door to the cafe. Cleo led Hermione over to a table in the corner.
"Come here often?" Hermione asked. She looked around the place. It had a modern feel to it with sleek booths and tasteful tables and chairs. The crowd consisted mostly of teenagers hanging out in the afternoon.
"At least once a day," Cleo said sheepishly. "This is where my friends like to hang out." 'Aside from the moon pool' she added in her head.
"So tell me about yourself."
"Um, well I grew up in England of course. I lived with my mum and dad, they're both dentists. I've always been sort of a know-it-all, but I have the right to be. I'm first in my class at my old school, you know. Ron, that's my boyfriend, we've been the best of friends since we were eleven along with our other friend Harry. Ginny has sorta joined the group recently, but she's never going to be as close and Harry, Ron, and I. Now that I think about it, I've never really had a girl as a best friend. Never had any slumber parties or"-
"Wait, hold on, you've never had a slumber party?" Cleo asked, shocked. "My friends and I are having one tonight, you should come." 'Uh oh what was she thinking? The full moon was tonight! What if Cleo or her friends became moonstruck and exposed themselves to Hermione?' Cleo thought.
Before she could backtrack, however, Hermione answered with an enthusiastic, "That sounds great! Of course I'll come!"
Seeing no way of uninviting Hermione now, Cleo continued the conversation. "Wait so you and Ron are dating, doesn't that make Harry sort of a third wheel?" she asked struggling to make sense of their friendship.
"No it's not like that. It's like we've always been so close that it doesn't matter that two of us are now in love. Harry's nothing but happy for us. He's seen our whole relationship from the beginning and is glad to finally see us happy. When three people go through the things that we have, a bond is created, one that can never be broken... Sorry I've gone off topic haven't I? Please, just forget I said that. You probably have no idea what I'm getting at anyways," Hermione said.
Cleo knew exactly what she was talking about, however. She had formed the same kind of bond with Rikki and Emma and now Bella because of their mermaid secret. But what was it that Hermione was talking about? She certainly wasn't a mermaid because Harry and Ron weren't mermen. She'd have to try and get Hermione to spill another day though because at that moment she saw Rikki walk through the door with Bella and Lewis close behind. "Hermione I'd like to introduce you to some people."
The trio walked over to the table and filled in the empty seats. "This is Bella and Rikki, my best friends, and Lewis, my boyfriend."
"Hello," Hermione said. "I'm Hermione, you know, the foreign exchange student." The three Australians exchanged hellos with Hermione.
"Hermione is going to be joining us at our sleepover tonight." Cleo told them.
Hermione watched as everyone's eyes widened. "Tonight?" Bella sputtered. Why did everyone suddenly become tense?
"Cleo, might I have a word with you, outside?" Rikki asked angrily.
"Look if it's such a problem for me to be coming I don't have"-
"It's no problem at all," Rikki said with a sickly sweet smile on her face. She stood up. "Cleo, you coming?" Cleo got up as well and followed Rikki out of the cafe.
Hermione sat back in her chair, in awe of what just happened. Bella looked up at her kindly. "Don't mind Rikki," she said. "Trust me, it's nothing personal. I'd love for you to come."
Hermione was confused. If it was nothing personal, then what was it? Was Rikki the kind of magical creature she was looking for? The idea was entirely ridiculous and Hermione quickly shook it out of her head.
"So Hermione, I hear you're smart," Lewis said trying to make conversation. "What's your favorite subject?"
Hermione racked her brains trying to figure out what she had liked back in primary school. "Erm, English," she answered reckoning it was the only Muggle subject she had more than a fifth grade comprehension on.
"Oh that's interesting. Who's your favorite author?"
This she could answer. She loved books, Muggle books and Wizard books equally. However she got too excited and blurted out "Bathilda Bagshot," before she could properly think of a Muggle author.
"Bagshot, I don't think I've heard of her. You'll have to loan me one of her books sometime," Lewis said.
"Um, yeah, of course," Hermione stammered. "Look I better go finish unpacking before the sleepover tonight..."
"Do you even know your way home?"
"I'll manage," Hermione answered as she briskly got up and walked out the door.