As they hopped the bus to the shops, Hermione was still deep in thought, thinking about what Ron and Harry had been saying. She had always fancied boys- or thought she had. Her experience was limited, but the reason she hadn't liked snogging or any of those boys had to be just because they weren't the right ones. A nagging voice in her head suggested that she just didn't like boys. Maybe she didn't have to define her sexuality. Maybe it was as simple as the person and not their gender that Hermione could fall in love with.
Wait- in love? Hermione could not be in love with Pansy, surely. She thought back over their relationship. Hermione had felt an undeniable pull to Pansy from the very beginning, despite the girl's off-putting negative attitude. She loved to show off for Pansy, during rugby practices and games, and Hermione hardly ever worked to impress someone. She wanted Pansy to know everything about her, and she wanted to know everything about the other girl.
And, if she was really honest with herself, she really did want to know Pansy intimately: know what her lips felt like when they pressed against her own, know which places Pansy wanted to be kissed or caressed, know which sounds she would make in the throes of passion. Hermione was startled by these revelations and immediately repressed them, since she knew there was no way Pansy could feel the same way. Despite the touching thing and Pansy's friendliness, well, Pansy didn't seem to like Hermione as more than a friend. Hermione could stay secure in their friendship and not require or desire anything more. At least, that was what she wanted to believe, and she was able to convince herself of it.
"Hey, Hermione?" Pansy nudged her. "Are you alright? It looks like you've got a lot on your mind."
"Oh, I'm fine. Don't worry about it, Pansy," Hermione shook her head to clear it.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Er- n-no, thanks," Hermione blushed. "It's personal." Hermione almost never kept anything from Pansy, and Pansy looked a little suspicious.
"Alright," Pansy said confusedly. "If you change your mind, I'm here."
"Thanks, Pansy. You're too good for me," Hermione sighed, laying her head on Pansy's shoulder. Pansy slipped her arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"Nah, I'd say we're just about even," Pansy said. Hermione thought she felt Pansy lightly kiss the top of her head, but she wasn't sure.
Hermione sat up straight and asked Pansy, "So, what would you like to get?"
"I have a couple of things I need, but we could just do some shopping around if that is alright with you?" Pansy questioned.
"Sounds brilliant," Hermione replied.
After getting the things on their lists, they wandered down the street. When Pansy saw a pet shop, she grabbed Hermione's arm.
"Hermione!"
"What? What do you see? Are you alright?" Hermione asked, not sure what had caused the change in Pansy's demeanour.
"It's a pet shop!" Pansy squealed, unable to contain her excitement.
"Alright," Hermione replied, perplexed. "Did you want to go in?"
"YES!" Pansy yelled, before grabbing Hermione's hand and dragging her into the shop. She went straight over to the puppies and dropped Hermione's hand to press her hands against the glass.
"Like dogs much?" Hermione asked, a smile hidden in the corners of her mouth.
"Yes!" Pansy grinned. "I have a dog at home. Her name is Sallie. I miss her." She looked over her shoulder at Hermione. "Can we have a dog?"
"Er- no. Not now. They don't allow pets that big into the rooms," Hermione reminded her. She glanced around the shop. "We can get a fish though."
"Really? Can we have a fish?" Pansy clasped her hands together and smiled winningly.
"Er, of course. Let's go look. Which kind of fish would you like?"
"This will be our fish, Hermione! Our baby!" Hermione had not ever seen Pansy so excited about anything.
"Right. Let's go pick out 'our baby,' Pansy."
"How about a beta? I like betas."
"A beta sounds fantastic, Pansy. I think I see them over there." The two girls went over to the betas and looked at each one very carefully.
"I like these two," Pansy declared, pointing to a couple of the red ones.
"I like those too, but what about this one?" Hermione held out another one, a shade of white with red and blue spots of many sizes.
"Oh, yes, that is the one!" Pansy agreed.
"Alright, let's get him a bowl, some food, and maybe some plants."
"Yes, he needs a big bowl," Pansy said, walking over to the large tanks.
"I think he'll get lonely in 100 litres of water- he doesn't need a mansion. Perhaps a 5 litre bowl will do the trick," Hermione told her.
"Alright," Pansy sighed. "It'll be easier to carry that way, I suppose." They picked out a bowl, despite Pansy's worry that he wouldn't have enough space, before moving on to look at the accessories.
"Let's see, which plant do you think he would like?"
"That one!" Pansy pointed. "And he wants a statue!" she giggled.
"How about this one of Neptune?"
"Brilliant! That one is perfect," Pansy sighed. "I am so excited."
"Haha, I noticed," Hermione bumped her shoulder against Pansy's.
"Watch out! He might spill!"
"Oops, sorry!" Hermione winced. After they had bought the fish and his supplies, they went back outside to wait for the bus.
"What shall we name him?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know," Pansy frowned. "I'm not very good at naming things."
"Hmm," Hermione said, thinking. "We could name him after Harry or Ron?"
"No, it would give them too much of an ego stroke," Pansy told her. "We could name him after Filch!"
"That would just be cruel!" Hermione giggled. "How about McGonagall?"
"That's a bit long. What would we use as a nickname?"
"You're right. What do you think of Daniel?"
"Simple, nice, easy to shorten. I approve!" Pansy declared. "Where did that come from?" Hermione pointed to her head.
"Where all my best ideas come from!" she winked. "I'm amazing at this idea thing!"
"Haha, sure," Pansy rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to her, Daniel, none of us do."
"Hey now!" Hermione called out as they boarded the bus.