Hermione Granger left that intriguing little shop in a wave of annoyance but soon enough shrugged it off as soon as she saw two male figures farther down the street. "Harry! Ron!" she yelled and began running towards them.
The ebony haired one spun around and elbowed his flame haired companion, spotting their friend coming towards them. "Hermione! There you are! We've been looking for you for at least a half-hour! Where have you been-". Harry was grinning ear to ear.
"Hermione!" Ron hollered at the same time while she caught up to them. "Harry, look at that shop over there. The one Hermione just left. Is that a new one?" He asked before Hermione captured Harry in a hug.
"Hello! Harry, look at how tall you are! You too, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed at the two individuals who seemed to know tower almost a foot over her. "Any trouble getting here?" she asked innocently.
"No, not at all." Ron hugged her while Harry went into a list of all the shops they been looking through while waiting. "Where have you been Hermione? Is that new shop any good?".
"Well I did give you a different time because I thought you would be late, about a half-hour actually. But now it seems you won't be late for anymore classes now that you have mastered the art of being on time. Oh and yes, that new store is wonderful, you should see it! It has loads and loads of titles and authors that I have only dreamed…" Hermione went on to gush animatedly of her find while the trio began to walk towards the other end of Diagon Alley in search of a place to brunch. "I found this one novel that seemed to evade me last year at school, because it was always checked out. I was about to purchase it when Malfoy-"
"He wasn't bothering you, was he, Hermione?" Ron asked quickly, grabbing hold of her arm in order for her to face him.
Harry, who was a few steps ahead, backpedaled and replied for her. "Ron, I'm sure that our Head Girl would have been able to give Malfoy a verbal beating as good as any physical one you had planned for him. Besides, it isn't likely that the shopkeeper wasn't present while two" he made the appropriate quote motions with his fingers "quote on quote children were in his shop."
"You know," Hermione shot Harry a thank you gaze and exclaimed proudly, "I believe you two would have been proud of how speechless I left that tall boy. You know, I think he may even be as tall as you, Ron!" She looked up at her flame haired companion, who was the tallest out of the trio and grinned.
Ron caught her teasing smile and playfully punched her arm. "Okay, whatever you say Hermione, but Harry" Ron exaggeratedly gestured to his friend who stood a few inches shorter than himself, "and I," he gestured to himself, "know that you have been a fan of the infamous Draco Malfoy for quite some time."
Both boys burst into laughter as Hermione opened her mouth feining shock at Ron's comment in a small attempt to cover a smile that could only lead to joining the boys' laughter. "Why Ronald Weasley, I thought you said you were hungry! And here we are talking about those of us who possess feelings for Draco Malfoy, don't you think Harry should come as clean as I have?" Hermione started giggling as Harry wore the same expression feigning shock as she had only a moment beforehand.
"I am hungry! Lets go!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry exchanged a look with Hermione and winked at her. "Yea Ron, we know what you're hungry for…or shall I say who-"
With that said, Ron turned to face Harry, red in the face, silently daring him to continue.
Hermione caught none of this and went on to finish Harry's comment, "why Ron we all know its Draco Malfoy of course!"
Harry continued to stare at Ron in silent laughter in anticipation for his taller companion to react to Hermione's comment.
"Let's go get brunch. I have a craving for something sweet." Ron said decidedly, taking Hermione and Harry both by the shoulder and leading them to a small café.
Unbeknownst to them, their entire bantering conversation had been slightly overheard, for a tall boy with flaxen hair and a metallic gaze had been following, catching snippets from their conversation. He was chuckling to himself as he replayed Ronald Weasley's comment in his head. 'She's a fan of mine, hmm? The Head Girl has a thing for her best friend's worst enemy. Well, she has quite a year to look forward to as long as I'm Head Boy!' With that thought Draco Malfoy went about his errands and left his thoughts about Hermione Granger for a later time.