Author's Note: Hey everyone! Okay, this is really my first piece of
fanfic so I would be so grateful if you would please read and review!
Criticism is welcome, as long as it's constructive. More to come!
Hermione sat alone with three bowls of ice cream in front of her: two melting and one relatively empty. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the top of the table. Where were they? She had told them to meet her at two o' clock. it was now three.
To keep herself occupied, Hermione, for the fifth time that hour, pulled out her Hogwarts book list and went down it with a quill, checking each item off as she spotted it amongst her many shopping bags.
"Being a bit obsessive aren't we?" asked a familiar voice behind her.
Hermione's face instantly brightened as she imagined the red-headed boy standing behind her. But then she remembered how mad she was supposed to be because her two best friends were late. Resolving to stay mad, she turned her grin into a frown and whipped her head around.
"Where were you?" she demanded.
Ron and Harry seemed taken aback. Puzzled, they looked at Hermione and then at each other, shrugging.
"What are you talking about Hermione? You told us to meet you here at three. didn't you?" asked Harry timidly.
"No, I said two. But obviously you two can't count that high," replied Hermione angrily.
"Look, we're really sorry Hermione, but your letter definitely said two. Look, I have it here." Ron reached into a pocket and pulled out a folded piece of parchment, holding it out to Hermione.
Hermione snatched the letter from his hand and opened it up. Her eyes scanned the page quickly and her face began to fall.
"I- I'm sorry. I must have forgotten," she said dejectedly.
"That's all right Hermione, don't worry about it," said Harry good- naturedly as he and Ron took their seats.
Hermione just stared at her two friends as they hungrily lapped up the soupy goop that had once been ice cream. She looked crestfallen and Harry, glancing up at her, put his spoon down and looked at her quizzically.
"Hermione, it's really all right. You yell at us all the time. we're used to it."
Hearing his friend, Ron looked up at Hermione's face and saw the same disheartened expression.
"Yeah, really Hermione, we don't really care. I mean, no offense, but you were the only one who really suffered for your mistake. Like Harry said, we're used to you yelling at us. you were the one who had to wait here an hour."
Hermione gave her friends a half-hearted smile, "It's not that. not entirely anyway. It's just lately I've been so. so. out of it. You know? I can't concentrate on things the way I used to be able to. I've been making." Hermione paused and lowered her voice, "mistakes."
She looked at Ron and Harry to gage their reactions and was surprised to find them both biting their lips, trying to keep from laughing. Unable to hold it any longer, the two burst out in laughter, holding their sides as tears rolled down their faces.
"What's so funny?" she asked, a little hurt by their obvious lack of concern.
"It's just that-," Harry gasped between laughs, "It's just that everyone makes mistakes Hermione. Most people don't think of it as that big of a deal. Sure, nobody likes to make mistakes, but it isn't as if it's a huge crisis or anything."
"Well, it is to me!" Hermione said defensively, upset by the cruelty of her friends.
"Come off it Hermione. Look, we'll be at the castle tonight. starting classes tomorrow. You'll soon get back into your usual habits: studying late into the night, reviewing for tests months in advance, nagging me and Harry about not doing our work and then refusing to do it for us. Don't worry! We're six years now, we know how Hogwarts works, we know what to expect, you're going to be fine. I promise," Ron said solemnly and a little guiltily considering how he and Harry had just acted.
"Do you really think so Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Ron replied smiling at Hermione. Gazing at her reassuringly, Ron noticed how beautiful she had gotten over the years. Her once wild hair had been tamed, her buck teeth fixed, and her mousy figure. now that was what had changed the most. It was quite obvious to Ron that Hermione was no longer a little girl, she was a woman. His eyes ran over her abundant bosom and curvaceous hips appreciatively. He smiled at Hermione. She smiled back, and together they shared a private moment as Harry devoured what was left of his ice cream.
"Ron, ready to get our books now, eh?" asked Harry, with some cream dribbling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah," replied Ron, his eyes still on Hermione, "Let's go."
And so the three set off together to make the rounds of Diagon Alley. Hermione herself had already bought all of her books, but she didn't mind accompanying her two friends, especially as she was going to Ron's house for the rest of the week so that they could head over to the train together on Friday.
As they walked, Harry and Hermione exchanged stories of their summers. Ron, however, merely contented himself with gazing down at Hermione, his mind full of the girl he knew he had come to love over the years. This year, he promised himself, This year is going to be different.
Unseen to any of the three friends, another pair of eyes lingered on Hermione's form. Draco Malfoy watched with a smirk as Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned down an alley. Slowly, he stepped out of the shadows and leaned against a wall. Running his hands through his shiny blond hair, Draco reflected on the sight he had just seen.
So the mudblood has finally grown up, he thought to himself, his eyes flashing, this will be a fun year after all.
Malfoy pushed himself away from the wall and followed the same way the three Gryffindors had gone, making sure to stay a decent distance away. He followed them quietly, remarking to himself on Ron's increased attentions to Hermione and her recent. developments.
So the muggle-lover's got a crush, eh? Doesn't matter. he's no competition anyway.
And with that, Draco stalked off, his cloak whipping behind him.
Hermione sat alone with three bowls of ice cream in front of her: two melting and one relatively empty. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the top of the table. Where were they? She had told them to meet her at two o' clock. it was now three.
To keep herself occupied, Hermione, for the fifth time that hour, pulled out her Hogwarts book list and went down it with a quill, checking each item off as she spotted it amongst her many shopping bags.
"Being a bit obsessive aren't we?" asked a familiar voice behind her.
Hermione's face instantly brightened as she imagined the red-headed boy standing behind her. But then she remembered how mad she was supposed to be because her two best friends were late. Resolving to stay mad, she turned her grin into a frown and whipped her head around.
"Where were you?" she demanded.
Ron and Harry seemed taken aback. Puzzled, they looked at Hermione and then at each other, shrugging.
"What are you talking about Hermione? You told us to meet you here at three. didn't you?" asked Harry timidly.
"No, I said two. But obviously you two can't count that high," replied Hermione angrily.
"Look, we're really sorry Hermione, but your letter definitely said two. Look, I have it here." Ron reached into a pocket and pulled out a folded piece of parchment, holding it out to Hermione.
Hermione snatched the letter from his hand and opened it up. Her eyes scanned the page quickly and her face began to fall.
"I- I'm sorry. I must have forgotten," she said dejectedly.
"That's all right Hermione, don't worry about it," said Harry good- naturedly as he and Ron took their seats.
Hermione just stared at her two friends as they hungrily lapped up the soupy goop that had once been ice cream. She looked crestfallen and Harry, glancing up at her, put his spoon down and looked at her quizzically.
"Hermione, it's really all right. You yell at us all the time. we're used to it."
Hearing his friend, Ron looked up at Hermione's face and saw the same disheartened expression.
"Yeah, really Hermione, we don't really care. I mean, no offense, but you were the only one who really suffered for your mistake. Like Harry said, we're used to you yelling at us. you were the one who had to wait here an hour."
Hermione gave her friends a half-hearted smile, "It's not that. not entirely anyway. It's just lately I've been so. so. out of it. You know? I can't concentrate on things the way I used to be able to. I've been making." Hermione paused and lowered her voice, "mistakes."
She looked at Ron and Harry to gage their reactions and was surprised to find them both biting their lips, trying to keep from laughing. Unable to hold it any longer, the two burst out in laughter, holding their sides as tears rolled down their faces.
"What's so funny?" she asked, a little hurt by their obvious lack of concern.
"It's just that-," Harry gasped between laughs, "It's just that everyone makes mistakes Hermione. Most people don't think of it as that big of a deal. Sure, nobody likes to make mistakes, but it isn't as if it's a huge crisis or anything."
"Well, it is to me!" Hermione said defensively, upset by the cruelty of her friends.
"Come off it Hermione. Look, we'll be at the castle tonight. starting classes tomorrow. You'll soon get back into your usual habits: studying late into the night, reviewing for tests months in advance, nagging me and Harry about not doing our work and then refusing to do it for us. Don't worry! We're six years now, we know how Hogwarts works, we know what to expect, you're going to be fine. I promise," Ron said solemnly and a little guiltily considering how he and Harry had just acted.
"Do you really think so Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Ron replied smiling at Hermione. Gazing at her reassuringly, Ron noticed how beautiful she had gotten over the years. Her once wild hair had been tamed, her buck teeth fixed, and her mousy figure. now that was what had changed the most. It was quite obvious to Ron that Hermione was no longer a little girl, she was a woman. His eyes ran over her abundant bosom and curvaceous hips appreciatively. He smiled at Hermione. She smiled back, and together they shared a private moment as Harry devoured what was left of his ice cream.
"Ron, ready to get our books now, eh?" asked Harry, with some cream dribbling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah," replied Ron, his eyes still on Hermione, "Let's go."
And so the three set off together to make the rounds of Diagon Alley. Hermione herself had already bought all of her books, but she didn't mind accompanying her two friends, especially as she was going to Ron's house for the rest of the week so that they could head over to the train together on Friday.
As they walked, Harry and Hermione exchanged stories of their summers. Ron, however, merely contented himself with gazing down at Hermione, his mind full of the girl he knew he had come to love over the years. This year, he promised himself, This year is going to be different.
Unseen to any of the three friends, another pair of eyes lingered on Hermione's form. Draco Malfoy watched with a smirk as Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned down an alley. Slowly, he stepped out of the shadows and leaned against a wall. Running his hands through his shiny blond hair, Draco reflected on the sight he had just seen.
So the mudblood has finally grown up, he thought to himself, his eyes flashing, this will be a fun year after all.
Malfoy pushed himself away from the wall and followed the same way the three Gryffindors had gone, making sure to stay a decent distance away. He followed them quietly, remarking to himself on Ron's increased attentions to Hermione and her recent. developments.
So the muggle-lover's got a crush, eh? Doesn't matter. he's no competition anyway.
And with that, Draco stalked off, his cloak whipping behind him.