Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.

Chapter Four

I'm not really sure how the next few hours passed. I suppose I may have bought some gifts for my family, maybe I joked around with George a little bit. I don't really know. All that I do know, however, is that Hermione and I were going to get tea later. It was enough to keep a smile on my face, even while I helped Ginny pick out a cloak for Harry.

As it started to get darker, I began to get worried. We technically hadn't agreed upon when we would have tea. She very well could think that 'later' meant tomorrow. Or a week from now. Or when we were 35! I had to fix this, quickly.

"So, Hermione," I drawled, sauntering up to her. Her eyes lifted and made contact with mine, and I felt my heart flutter.

"I think we are going to head back."

I stopped in my tracks. My eyes flew over to Ginny, who was standing by Harry and Ron. "Wha-?"

"We're pretty much done shopping, and we told Mum we'd be back by dinner."

I felt my heart drop to my knees. If we left now, I'd definitely have to wait to have tea with Hermione.

"Actually." My eyes flew over to Hermione. I was starting to get dizzy. "Fred and I are going to stay behind for a little bit," she continued. She looked up at me. "Right?"

"Right," I said, moving to stand next to her. "We'll see you guys back at the Burrow."

"Oh. Okay," Ginny said. She and Harry walked away, once again standing very close to each other. I think George and I were going to have to have a chat with the boy.

"Um. See you." Ron gave a rather pathetic little wave (hehe) and followed Harry and Ginny. George sent a wink our way before jogging off after the other three.

Hermione grinned up at me. "Shall we?"

"After you, m'lady."

We found a tiny café easily and were directed to a table in the back. We gave our order to the waitress and our tea arrived quickly.

"So," Hermione said, stirring sugar into her tea (three scoops; I'd have to remember that). "How are you?"

"Me? I'm bloody fantastic. Sitting here, with a gorgeous girl, in a lovely café. Who wouldn't be happy?"

She blushed. "Well, that's good."

I laughed. "It definitely is."

We talked about everything and anything under the sun. She told me about her parents and her Muggle life, and how she felt when she learned she was a witch. I told her how I felt about having such a huge family, and a twin. We talked about books and music and anything else we could think of. Somehow, though, the conversation led to Ron.

"He just doesn't get it," she said. "I mean, yes, we briefly dated and he is fantastic, but I can't help thinking of him like a brother. Kissing him…well, it's not how one should feel when one kisses someone who is supposedly the love of their lives."

"Have you had much experience kissing other people? To know what it feels like?"

She blushed a little. "Not really. Besides Viktor Krum, I've never…kissed anyone else. But I know with Ron. I know that that's not how it is supposed to feel. It should be…magical and electric. With Ron, it feels like I'm kissing my dad, which is so very wrong."

I smirked at her. "That is very true."

She looked me straight in the eyes. "What about you?"

I cocked my head at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, we both know that you've…kissed a lot of girls-"

A bark of laughter escaped from my lips. "Hermione!"

"What?" she said, blushing again.

"You make me sound like a floozy!"

She laughed. "I didn't mean it as necessarily a bad thing. I was just going to ask if it always felt…magical. When you kissed them."

I thought for a moment. Inside I was sweating bullets. I wasn't sure how comfortable I was with this subject matter.

"It hasn't been magical with every girl," I said finally. "If firewhiskey is involved, then that almost always guarantees that it wasn't special. But some girls have been special, kisses included."

"But not long-term?"

"No. Not long-term."

She bit her lip. Christ, she was adorable. "Have you ever…done more than just…kiss a girl?"

I loved the way her cheeks were now persistently pink. "I have done more than just kiss girls, but I haven't ever done…the big one."

Her face was now the same color as my hair. "I'm sorry for asking you such personal questions. I guess I'm just…curious."

"It's alright. If I didn't want you to know, I wouldn't tell you."

"So how come you don't have a girlfriend now? I mean, you're obviously attractive-"

"Why, Miss Granger! Did a compliment to me just come out of your mouth?"

She laughed, loudly. "You make me sound like an ogre!"

"Never," I said, my voice suddenly serious.

She cleared her throat. "So, ah, why are you single?"

I brushed my hair out of my face. "Ah, I'm not really sure. It's not so much from choice as it is from…the circumstances that I am currently in." If it were choice, I would be dating you right now, I thought to myself, choosing not to say it aloud.

"What about you?" I said after a pause. "I know why you're not dating Ron, but why aren't you dating anyone else?"

"I don't know," she said finally. "I'm not exactly looking for a boyfriend, but no one is exactly looking for me, either. Besides, I've never really thought of myself as a 'girlfriend,' anyway."

"Why not?" She looked up at me in surprise. "What? You're beautiful, and smart, and funny. Any guy would be lucky to date you."

She dropped her eyes and smiled. "I guess no other guy sees me that way."

"Or maybe they're just too wimpy to say anything to you about it."

"Well, I hope they man up sometime soon." Her smile sent a surge of heat through my body.

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