This is one of those nastily short chapters. Sorry! This was actually supposed to be the final chapter, but I figured that it won't work.
Go on . . .
That day, they also created the steps. The trio were in their own elements in the Room of Requirement. Everyday, they would practice. Harry slowly pulled Hermione out of the darkness that was Alexandrea. The contest drew nearer and nearer, but they didn't care much.
"Time to buy costumes," Hermione announced after morning practice two days before the contest.
"Hermione, we could wear the ones we wore at the acquaintance dinner," Harry reasoned.
"We could," she said. "but we're doing a Muggle dance, remember?"
"Hermione—" Ron contested.
"Would you two stop being babies and let's just go?" She groaned. She pulled out her purse. "Let's go back to the room. We look too much like wizards."
After a few more complaints, pushes and threats, they were walking down the street of Muggle Venice.
"Ah, here we are," Hermione said, stopping in front of a huge unisex boutique. The boys entered hesitantly. Harry looked at the price tag and his eyes grew wide.
"Hermione, it's too expensive in here." He whispered to her.
"Pish, posh" she scoffed. "Now, you two go try these on. I want to see how it looks like."
"I don't need new clothes, I'm not dancing remember?" Ron said, pushing the tux away.
"Hell, you need a new suit, Ron, you're the manager." She replied, pushing the outfit to Ron again. He sighed in defeat and entered the fitting room next to Harry. Hermione waited patiently on the poufy chair in front of the dressing rooms. Harry came out first. Her jaw almost dropped when he saw him.
Harry wore a red shirt with a black coat, which was only buttoned halfway up, over it, framing his shoulders magnificently. Hermione asked him to turn around. Hermione almost fainted at the sight of Harry looking like a model.
Ron came out next. "Finally, something not maroon!" he exclaimed. He wore a black coat under a white shirt. The coat had no buttons, so the black shirt inside could easily be seen.
"Keep that on while I try mine." She entered the fitting room and put the hanger on the hook. She stripped all the way to her undies and then donned the silk gown.
"Whoa," Harry said as she went out of the room. Hermione twirled around gracefully for them to see. Ron was speechless.
"So?" she asked. "How do I look?"
"Fantastic," Ron finally managed to cough out.
"Awesome," Harry added. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror.
"Wow, I look pretty darn good!" she said to her reflection. She was wearing a sparkling off-shoulder yellow gown that looked so bright it made Hermione glow. The gown was almost floor length.
"What an understatement," Harry replied. "you look like Belle!"
"Who is she?" Ron asked confused.
"She's from one of the Muggle fairytales, Beauty and the Beast." Hermione replied. "So that statement makes you the beast?" Harry and Hermione laughed since Ron still couldn't understand much. They reentered the fitting rooms and dressed in their previous outfits. The three of them approached the counter holding their respective items.
"Bon giorno," the woman at the counter said.
"Bon giorno," Hermione replied. "We'll be taking these." She put handed her dress over and asked Ron and Harry to do the same.
"We can't let you pay for these," Ron whispered to her. "Have you seen the tag?"
"Come off it," she took the garments forcefully from the boys and handed them over the counter with her dress. Harry though he heard her say, "Men so need to learn about vanity" under her breath.
"Bag or coat guard?" the woman asked.
"Coat guard," said Hermione. "we won't want them spoiled, do we?" she smiled back at the woman and handed over her credit card.
"Sign here, please," the woman gave her the receipt that had a small form attached stating that it was indeed her who paid for the clothes. "Grache. Come back again." Hermione smiled back and walked out of the boutique with her two boys. The people stared at them enviously as they flaunted the bags they held over their shoulders that had the words Isabella Schneider stamped on them.
***
"God, I'm nervous," Harry said as soon as his eyes opened on the day of the contest. Apparently, he was the only one awake so far. He went to the sitting room and looked out the window. They had been preparing for this for so long.
"Hey, Happy Feet," Hermione said from behind him. "Ready?"
"I guess so," he replied, shrugging.
"Mr. Manager-slash-Composer's still sleeping in?" she asked.
"Yep," Harry replied sitting on the beige couch. "He was on one of his midnight strolls last night. Probably indulging in that piano. We're leaving soon."
"Maybe," Hermione agreed. He sat next to him. Both of their heartbeats sped faster.
"Today is the day," Harry sighed.
"It's now or never," Hermione said. They looked at each other and then burst out laughing. "What the hell's funny?" Hermione asked between fits of laughter.
"I don't know," Harry replied. He took the time to look at Hermione and study her face. He wished she'd never wipe that smile off her face. It made her glow.
When they finally stopped, Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. I wish it could always be like this, both of them thought.
Okay, so the title was inspired by one of Stephenie Meyer's supposed to be title in Twilight, Shopping with Alice (a chapter which I have so fortunately read). Just two more to go . .
Chapter 6: Shopping with Hermione
