Week 26

Ron cleared his throat and straightened his legs out. Harry lay behind him, slouched across Hermione's sofa. While Hermione sat on the ground adjacent to Ron, scribbling some notes onto a paper.

"Hermione," Ron said softly.

"Yes?"

"Are you looking to date anyone right now?"

Both Hermione and Harry turned to stare at him. Hermione wide-eyed and Harry practically gawking.

Ron's face was flushed. "I'm just wondering because someone in the office has been asking about you."

Harry sat up. "Who?"

Ron looked at him quizzically. "Banister." He turned back to Hermione. "He's older than us, but he's got a good head on his shoulders. He didn't want to push for a date or anything, he just told me he'd like to be introduced to you."

Hermione pushed her fingers through her hair. "I haven't really thought about dating again. But, I guess I wouldn't mind just meeting him."

Ron wiped his hands on his jeans. "Great. I'll introduce you two whenever you come by the office."

Hermione stretched to her feet. "What should we have for dinner? Pizza?" She shuffled out of her little sitting-room and ventured into her kitchen.

Harry whacked Ron in the shoulder. "What are you thinking?"

"What?" Ron whined. "I was just asking. She doesn't have to meet him."

"Banister, really?" Harry slid off the sofa, sitting down on the floor beside Ron. "He's a hit wizard."

"And? He's a good bloke, plenty smart. He seems to be her type too."

Harry's brows creased in thought. "Type?"

"Come one, you know," Ron's face flushed further, "tall, dark hair. Most of the people she's dated have looked like that." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, there's no guarantee anything will come from this."

"True."

"Pizza's in the oven," Hermione announced from the kitchen.

"So," Ron lowered his voice, "you and Astrid?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm going to take a break, like Hermione."

Ron laughed lightly. "Let's see how that goes."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Girls hardly leave you alone, Harry, Boy-Who-Lived."

Harry groaned.

Ron braced Harry's shoulder and used him to help get to his feet. He walked into the kitchen. "I think I'll head out."

"I'm making pizza!"

He laughed loudly. "Alright, I'll stay for a slice or two, but then I have to head home."

Hermione scoffed. "Slice or two, as if."

Harry leaned his head back against the sofa.

Hermione reached up and kissed Ron on the cheek. "Say hello to your mum for me."

"Will do. Later, Harry." Ron stepped back and disapparated with a crack.

She rejoined Harry at the table and grabbed another slice of pizza. He was currently nibbling on his fourth and skimming over the muggle newspaper.

"It's still kind of early," she said carefully, "do you want to do something?"

Harry shrugged, keeping his eyes on the paper. "Like what?"

"Should we go see a movie?"

"Okay." Harry stuffed the rest of his pizza in his mouth. "Let's go," he muffled.

They readied themselves, getting shoes, wallets, and their wands and disapparated together.

They jostled together down the street, weaving between people on the crowded sidewalk.

They arrived at the movie theatre. Harry pulled Hermione closer as they lined up to purchase tickets.

"What should we watch?" Hermione reviewed the showtimes and movies available. "Something funny? Action? That one is a psychological horror film, supposedly."

Harry considered carefully. "I'm not in the mood for something funny. The horror one starts in ten minutes."

Harry purchased their tickets and in the lobby asked if Hermione wanted any snacks. "I'm buying," he reassured her.

"You don't have to -"

"I want to." Harry got in line for food and bought them some popcorn and a drink.

When they entered their theatre, they quickly found seats toward the back and settled in.

Hermione took a quick sip of her drink and set it back down between them. "You only bought one, does this mean I have to share my soda?"

Harry tugged on his jeans. "I'm not really thirsty, but yeah. I assumed it would be okay if I took a few sips."

She glared at him playfully."You're lucky it's me and I'm not greedy with my food or drinks."

"Hey, I got your favorite though."

"Yeah, you did. Thanks, Harry."

The theatre room darkened and after a series of movie trailers, the movie began.

Hermione jumped and slunk back into her seat more often than she would have liked and she smacked Harry's arm whenever he snickered at her jumpiness.

After the movie, Hermione and Harry slowly walked through a shopping corridor, letting the flow of people lead them.

"Well, the movie had a happy ending of sorts," Hermione said.

"Yeah, but she did kill her good friend."

"It was an accident," she quickly defended. "That was sad though. But, what do you think about the town they lived in?"

Harry shrugged. "What about it?"

"They lived inside a nature preserve. No one inside knew. What if we did something like that? But for magical persons."

Harry blinked. "That's how preserves for dragons work, don't they?"

"Britain doesn't have a livable area sectioned off for just magical persons, that's not Hogsmeade. When I was in Greece, I visited a cluster of villages that were borderline cities that was just magical people and those aware of magic." Hermione munched on some popcorn. "I wonder if something like that is possible here."

Harry grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Who knows."

"Thanks for hanging out with me, Harry."

His forehead furrowed. "You don't have to say thanks. It's not like it's an obligation."

She beamed. "That's sweet, Harry."

"What? It's not." He finished off his popcorn. "So, do you think you'll go out with Banister?"

"Come on Harry, I haven't even met him yet…"

He shot her a sideways glance. "But…"

"I don't know. I'm enjoying my time just being on my own. It's been great. Not preoccupied with another person's schedule. I can hang out with my friends and family whenever I want. I can sleep late or sleep in. Go wherever I want with whoever."

He stared at her skeptically. "Your boyfriends didn't let you do that?"

She took a deep breath. "Not like that, it's just, I always tried to consider what they were doing. If they wanted to spend time together. That communication takes time. And yeah, sometimes they wouldn't like it if I hung out with just you or Ron."

Harry stopped suddenly, making someone bump into him. The passerby grumbled under their breath and kept walking.

"Your boyfriends didn't like you hanging out with us?" This was news to him.

She scrunched up the now empty popcorn bag and tossed it in the nearest bin. "Some were a little uncomfortable with it. But, I thought if they got to know you and Ron better they wouldn't be so worried. I think they were a little more worried about Ron since he's my ex-boyfriend."

"Didn't they trust you?"

"I don't know," she grumbled. "It doesn't matter now."

"I trust you," he stated casually and began walking again.

She snickered. "Thanks, Harry, but you're not my boyfriend."

He took her hand and tucked it in the curve of his arm. "I still trust you though. I trust you won't try to get into my pants or give me food poisoning."

Hermione let out a trill of laughter. "Harry, sometimes you're just odd. I don't think a lot of people see that side of you."

"Of course not," he tightened his hold of her hand. "I don't trust them."