Disclaimer: I do not Own Harry Potter (even though I'd like to).
A/N: I will know use apostrophes for thoughts. Thanks E.C.R. Potter.
I wrote this chapter while I was sick so I'm sorry if it's not as good as the others.
Harry, Hermione, Olivea, and Samantha all made their way toward the mall. Hermione, Olivea, and Samantha were leading up front with Harry trailing behind. As they were walking towards the mall, Samantha began whispering something in Hermione's ear.
"Hey, what's up with Harry"? She asked looking back at Harry. "Has he been getting enough sleep lately". She was obviously referring to the black bags underneath Harry's eyes.
"I don't think so", Hermione sighed looking down.
They all stopped in front of the threshold in order to make plans.
"Ok", Hermione began. "You guys go on ahead", She said looking at Olivea and Samantha. "Harry and I will have breakfast at the coffee shop. We'll meet at the fountain at ten-thirty. Ok"?
"Sure", Olivea answered, while opening the door.
"We'll see you then", Samantha said following Olivea inside.
"Come on Harry", Hermione said grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him to start moving. "The coffee shop is a block further".
"You mean it's not inside the mall"? Harry asked as he started walking.
"They have one in the mall, but it's one of those franchises that charge you a pound a cup", Hermione answered letting go of Harry's hand. "I didn't mean that literally", she added when seeing Harry's shocked face. "Honestly, you're starting to remind me of Ron".
"Sorry", Harry said in a low voice.
"Here it is", Hermione said, stopping in front of an old building. "There isn't a single place in all of England that serves a better breakfast than this one".
Somehow, Harry seriously doubted this. It looked like one of those old shops you see truck drivers stop by to get some coffee on TV, only a lot more dirty. The windows were so dusty that you couldn't even see inside, the roof and walls were all battered, and Harry could've sworn he saw something crawl inside under the door. "Ah, are you sure about this Hermione"? He asked, giving her an extremely puzzled look.
"What's wrong? Don't you trust me"? She said giving him a glare.
"Well it's just", Harry started. "Look at this place", he said pointing at it.
"Appearance, can sometimes be deceiving", she answered giving him a mischievous grin.
"Are you sure about this"? Harry asked still in doubt.
"Positive", she said grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door.
As she opened the door a huge puff of dust was released. Hermione, who was obviously used to this, immediately covered her face with her shirt. Harry, who was not used to this didn't, and ended up sneezing for two minutes. As soon as Harry was able to get his sinuses under control Hermione led him inside the building heading towards the counter. The inside of the shop seemed to be even worse than the outside. The counter, the tables, the floors, even the man sitting at the counter were all covered in dirt and dust. Hermione led Harry across the dirty floor to the counter. Smiled at the unclean man and cheerfully said "Hello Frank". The man at the counter looked up at her and gave her a smile.
" 'ello there 'ermione", he answered cheerfully. "The usual, Ah presume"? He asked giving her a wink.
"Yes, except this time, a table for two", she said pointing at Harry.
"Is 'e a", the man began, eyeing Harry suspiciously. "You know".
"No need to worry", Hermione said reassuringly.
"K, then", the man answered giving them a smile once again. "This way", he said, getting out from behind the counter and leading Harry and Hermione to a door. He took out a key, looked around, and opened the door to reveal an incredible sight. Inside was a beautiful room. The floor was covered with a crimson carpet; the walls shone of beautiful gold; and from the ceiling hung a huge chandelier. Beautifully carved tables made of oak were seen all throughout the room, with a few extremely comfortable looking chairs by each one. People in robes and hats could be seen sitting and talking to each other, while eating all sorts of delicious looking foods. Harry stared at the place in awe, immediately realizing what was going on. He turned back to the dirty old man wanting to ask him if this was what he thought it was. Harry got his answer just by looking in the man's direction, for the filthy old man had disappeared. Instead Harry saw a man with blond hair and a neatly pressed purple robe.
"Follow me", the man said, leading them towards one of the free tables. "What's your name by the way"? He asked Harry, as he and Hermione sat at the table.
"Ron Weasely", Harry replied, quickly telling him the first name that came to his head. This caused Hermione to give a slight chuckle. She stopped when she saw Harry glaring at her.
"Ok then, just call me Frank", the man said taking Harry's hand and shaking it. "I'll be right back with your menus". With that the man disappeared.
"Why didn't you tell him your real name"? Hermione asked as soon as Frank left.
"Look around", Harry answered as if it were obvious. "I don't want to start an uproar here", he finished checking to make sure that his untidy bangs completely covered his scar. "And why didn't you tell me that this place was actually a part of the wizarding world"? Harry asked starting to get a little annoyed.
"I said appearances can be deceiving", she answered gloatingly. "You'd never expect a place like this inside an old building like the we saw outside, now would you? I wasn't too sure myself, the first time I came here".
"How did you know about this place anyway? And what happened to that guys accent"? Harry asked her looking a lot calmer, now that the shock of seeing the room wore off.
"I read about it in the daily prophet. It just opened this summer. Olivea and I came here a few times already", Hermione answered. "And the accent is just there to make the muggles who actually come inside the coffee shop think that he's some stupid old yokel".
Just at that moment Frank returned and handed them their menus. "Just say whatever you want, and it will appear on the table", he said looking at Harry.
"I'll have the pancakes, with a little bit of syrup, and some herbal tea", Hermione said without even opening her menu. Immediately a plate full of pancakes, a cup full of herbal tea, and a jug of syrup appeared in front of Hermione.
Harry was surprised, but shook it off as he opened his own menu. He looked at it for about a second, and closed it immediately with a stunned look on his face. "I'll have whatever she's having", he said, giving back the menu to Frank, wondering how anyone could eat some of the entrees he saw in it. Instantaneously a plate full of pancakes, a cup full of herbal tea, and a jug of syrup appeared in front of Harry.
"I'll come back with your bill later", Frank said turning around to leave. "Oh by the way, I like your new look Hermione", he added giving Hermione a wink.
"Now that we're on the subject", Harry started. "What is that stuff that you put on your hair"?
"It's called a Polayjuice potion", Hermione explained. "It's a lot like the polyjuice potion, only it doesn't restructure your DNA". Seeing the confused look on Harry's face, she proceeded to explain. "A polyjuice potion uses the DNA from another person, to restructure yours in that other persons pattern. It does it in a way so as not to affect your personality, only the way you look. A polayjuice potion takes the genes that are already preset inside it and it; uhh, how can I put this"? Hermione started thinking.
"It masks your genes", Harry answered for her. "Like a dominant gene masks a recessive gene".
"Exactly", Hermione agreed. "This particular potion was preset for hair color. It had a dose of the blond gene in it. When I drank it the gene for blond hair masked my own genes for brown hair".
"Drank it"? Harry questioned. "Didn't you say, you put it on yourself"?
"I only said that, so as not to worry my dad" Hermione answered with a smile. "He doesn't like it when I ingest strange things, like potions".
"And what was it that you said about freaky hair colors, and your hair falling out"? Harry continued.
"That only happens if you take too much. Although the potion is meant to only mask your DNA, if taken too much it can break the weak hydrogen bonds that attach the purines and pyrimadines, resulting in a mutation. Thus giving you an unnatural hair color, or causing it to fall out", Hermione explained. "But don't worry", she assured. "With the small doses that I took, there's no way that anything like that will happen to me".
"When will this stuff wear off"?
"I took it right before coming to Privet Drive, so it should wear off tonight or tomorrow", she said confidently. "Although, I'm not exactly sure. The average is two to three days, but it's different for all people. I hope it doesn't wear off while we're in the mall", she said with a little less confidence. "Speaking of which, we better start eating, we have to meet Olivea and Samantha by ten thirty", she said as she stuffed a whole pancake in her mouth and washed it down with the tea.
"Just one more thing", Harry persisted, as he took a bite out of his own pancake. "This potion could be used to mask any gene right? Not just the gene for hair color"?
"Mhmm", she nodded with a mouth full of pancakes and tea.
"So, you can change your skin color, eye color, even your height"? Harry asked her.
She swallowed and said, "It all depends on how you make the potion. Like I said mine was made specifically for hair color. You have to be very careful when making this potion, because if you slip up by even a milligram or milliliter, it could have drastic consequences. I doubt that we'll learn how to make this potion anytime soon; that is if we learn to make it at all. It takes years to master it, because there are so many different ways of making it; because each different way results in a different phenotypic change", Hermione stopped to take a breath and then proceeded to ask "Do you understand everything I'm saying"?
"Yeah, I read all about genetics and DNA from Dudley's human anatomy book. How did you know all this"? He continued the conversation.
"Mrs. Weasely explained more or less how the potion worked. I worked out all the scientific stuff on my own", she said while taking another bite. "It's really a shame that normal people in the wizarding world don't have common scientific knowledge".
"Yeah, I guess".
They finished their breakfast, Hermione paid the bill, and Frank escorted them out of the nice room, and back into the dirty one.
"See, y'all lata'", he shouted as they were leaving. "Bah 'ermione, bah 'arry".
Harry immediately turned around, giving Frank a stunned look. "How did you know"? He asked.
"Ah noticed yo' scar when y'all sat down", Frank answered giving Harry a smile. "Ah didn' say nothin' cause I respected yo' right to secrecy", he continued, smile getting wider. "See y'all lata'".
With that Harry and Hermione left the coffee shop, and headed back towards the mall. They got to the mall entrance ten minutes before they were supposed to meet Olivea and Samantha. They crossed the threshold of the mall and started to head directly for the fountain. The mall was huge, a lot bigger than any other mall that Harry had been to. It had shining white marble floors, white stone columns holding up the second and third floors, the roof was transparent, and there were trees planted in the center of the mall near the fountain where they were supposed meet Hermione's friends. Harry and Hermione got to the fountain five minutes ahead of schedule, and therefore decided to sit and wait for Olivea and Samantha. Sure enough, Olivea and Samantha showed up two minutes later, each holding three bags in each hand.
The rest of the day, in Harry's opinion was very boring. The girls just ran around the mall stopping at stores randomly to try on all sorts of different clothes, while Harry just followed them around carrying the packages. The entire day Harry did nothing except pretend to smile and act like he was interested. Five hours later, the girls were all tired and decided to call it quits. Harry thought he was out of the woods, when Samantha yelled the four dreaded words: "LOOK, A SHOE-SALE".
'Great', Harry thought sarcastically. 'A shoe-sale'. Immediately afterwards the three girls dragged Harry inside and started trying on what seemed like every single pair of shoes in the store in front of him. After about the first thirty pairs that were shone in his face, Harry wanted to start banging his head against the wall in order to make himself unconscious. 'Even potions is better than this', he thought to himself. Finally, two hours and ten bags later Harry, Hermione, Olivea, and Samantha left the mall to go home.
They got to the bus stop and placed their packages on the ground and began waiting for the bus to come, while talking about what a great day it's been, and how they should do it again sometime soon. Samantha's bus was the first to get there. She took her packages onto the bus, waved goodbye, paid for the ride and went to take her seat.
"Well, now that she's gone", Olivea started. "We can finally start talking about something interesting".
"Like what"? Asked Hermione.
"Like how your date went", Olivea answered giving both Harry and Hermione a shrewd smile. This left both Harry and Hermione silent for a moment, Harry confused, and Hermione beet red. "Well, how was it", Olivea persisted breaking the silence.
"It wasn't a date", Hermione was finally able to let out. "We just missed breakfast, and decided to have some at the coffee shop that's all, right Harry"?
Harry, who was still confused by the question couldn't think of anything else to say except: "Whatever".
"Right", Olivea said sarcastically. "Hermione", she started, grabbing Hermione's elbow. "Can I talk to you alone for a minute. You don't mind do you Harry"?
Harry shook his head and began leaning against a streetlight, as Olivea dragged Hermione towards the other end of the block.
"Ok", Olivea said giving Hermione a very serious look as they both stopped at the end. "Spill it".
"Spill what"? Hermione asked pretending to not know what Olivea was talking about.
"What's up between you and Harry"? Olivea asked.
"There's really nothing", Hermione answered looking away to hide her blush.
"Come on Hermione", Olivea persisted. "I'm your friend, as well as Harry Potter's biggest fan. I only want both of you to be happy".
Hermione looked down not knowing exactly how to answer her.
"Hermione", Olivea continued in a soft voice. "I've seen the way you look at him. I know how you feel about him. It's because of him that your relationship with that other guy didn't work out, isn't it"?
"You just don't understand", Hermione sighed looking down.
"Well, then tell me"?
"The truth is, I don't understand myself", Hermione began in a low melancholy voice. "Something happened to him last semester. Something horrible. And whatever happened seems to have sucked all the life out of him, as well as all of his feelings".
"Yeah", Olivea agreed. "I noticed all of his fake smiles, and how he feigned having fun with us today".
"Right now", Hermione continued in the same melancholy voice. "I can't tell him about my feelings, because right now, I don't think he has any feelings that he can give me in return. It would only make him more upset if I told him how I feel".
"What do you mean"?
"I already know what it feels like to have someone love me, and me not being able love them back. It's a horrible feeling, when someone has feelings for you; feelings that you can't give in return. And", she sighed looking up at Harry on the other side of the street. "He's already been through so much".
"Hermione", Olivea said in a low smooth voice.
"I saw him last night", Hermione continued looking down again. Tears started forming in her eyes as she struggled to hold them back. "He's in such a terrible state now", she sobbed as more tears began accumulating. Olivea immediately jumped in front of her in order to block Harry's view. "He was on the brink of insanity. And if I told him, it would put him over the edge. I CAN'T DO THAT TO HIM", she sobbed louder, putting her face into her hands allowing her tears to flow freely. "I can't let that happen to him. I love him too much".
"So you wont tell him", Olivea muttered in a voice so low that Hermione couldn't hear her. She let Hermione cry for a few minutes, and then changing the subject, she asked if she could sleep over at her house tomorrow night.
Hermione took a minute to regain control of herself, wiped away her remaining tears, looked Olivea up in the face and said sure.
"Great", Olivea said. "I have something that I've been wanting to tell you all summer, and with Harry there it'll be… well you'll find out".
"Here comes your bus", Hermione said pointing in front of her.
They walked back over to Harry just as Olivea's stopped in front of him opening the door. "Well, bye Harry see ya soon", Olivea said in a cheerful way. "And Hermione", she said as she leaned in close to her and began to whisper so low that Harry couldn't hear. "This is something that you should definitely commit to memory being the kind of person that you are. 'When a person gets to the position that Harry is at, he doesn't need guidance; he needs support'. So support him as much as you can during this troubling time of his". With that Olivea picked up her packages, got on the bus, paid the driver, waived back to Harry and Hermione, and moved inside the bus to find herself a good seat.
Harry and Hermione continued waiting at the bus stop for another twenty minutes, neither saying a word to the other. The bus came and took them back to the Granger residence. The twenty-minute bus ride was also silent. They walked back to the house from the stop, still silent; stepped inside the house, left the packages in the living room; and both sat on the couch, silently.
"Harry", Hermione spoke up, breaking the long silence.
"What is it", he asked turning left to look at her.
"I'm sorry, if you didn't have any fun today", she said in a timid voice.
"It's okay, I had a lot of fun", Harry lied.
"Yeah", Hermione said giving Harry a small smile, not believing a word he was saying. "And also", she continued. "I want you to know that I…" she stopped, took a deep breath and said "that I will always be there for you, to help you anyway I can".
"Thank you", Harry said. "That means a lot to me".
"No problem".
And with that, they said good night to each other and went to bed.
That night, for some unknown reason, maybe it was because he was so bored from all the shopping, Harry was able to fall asleep.
A/N: I will know use apostrophes for thoughts. Thanks E.C.R. Potter.
I wrote this chapter while I was sick so I'm sorry if it's not as good as the others.
Harry, Hermione, Olivea, and Samantha all made their way toward the mall. Hermione, Olivea, and Samantha were leading up front with Harry trailing behind. As they were walking towards the mall, Samantha began whispering something in Hermione's ear.
"Hey, what's up with Harry"? She asked looking back at Harry. "Has he been getting enough sleep lately". She was obviously referring to the black bags underneath Harry's eyes.
"I don't think so", Hermione sighed looking down.
They all stopped in front of the threshold in order to make plans.
"Ok", Hermione began. "You guys go on ahead", She said looking at Olivea and Samantha. "Harry and I will have breakfast at the coffee shop. We'll meet at the fountain at ten-thirty. Ok"?
"Sure", Olivea answered, while opening the door.
"We'll see you then", Samantha said following Olivea inside.
"Come on Harry", Hermione said grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him to start moving. "The coffee shop is a block further".
"You mean it's not inside the mall"? Harry asked as he started walking.
"They have one in the mall, but it's one of those franchises that charge you a pound a cup", Hermione answered letting go of Harry's hand. "I didn't mean that literally", she added when seeing Harry's shocked face. "Honestly, you're starting to remind me of Ron".
"Sorry", Harry said in a low voice.
"Here it is", Hermione said, stopping in front of an old building. "There isn't a single place in all of England that serves a better breakfast than this one".
Somehow, Harry seriously doubted this. It looked like one of those old shops you see truck drivers stop by to get some coffee on TV, only a lot more dirty. The windows were so dusty that you couldn't even see inside, the roof and walls were all battered, and Harry could've sworn he saw something crawl inside under the door. "Ah, are you sure about this Hermione"? He asked, giving her an extremely puzzled look.
"What's wrong? Don't you trust me"? She said giving him a glare.
"Well it's just", Harry started. "Look at this place", he said pointing at it.
"Appearance, can sometimes be deceiving", she answered giving him a mischievous grin.
"Are you sure about this"? Harry asked still in doubt.
"Positive", she said grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door.
As she opened the door a huge puff of dust was released. Hermione, who was obviously used to this, immediately covered her face with her shirt. Harry, who was not used to this didn't, and ended up sneezing for two minutes. As soon as Harry was able to get his sinuses under control Hermione led him inside the building heading towards the counter. The inside of the shop seemed to be even worse than the outside. The counter, the tables, the floors, even the man sitting at the counter were all covered in dirt and dust. Hermione led Harry across the dirty floor to the counter. Smiled at the unclean man and cheerfully said "Hello Frank". The man at the counter looked up at her and gave her a smile.
" 'ello there 'ermione", he answered cheerfully. "The usual, Ah presume"? He asked giving her a wink.
"Yes, except this time, a table for two", she said pointing at Harry.
"Is 'e a", the man began, eyeing Harry suspiciously. "You know".
"No need to worry", Hermione said reassuringly.
"K, then", the man answered giving them a smile once again. "This way", he said, getting out from behind the counter and leading Harry and Hermione to a door. He took out a key, looked around, and opened the door to reveal an incredible sight. Inside was a beautiful room. The floor was covered with a crimson carpet; the walls shone of beautiful gold; and from the ceiling hung a huge chandelier. Beautifully carved tables made of oak were seen all throughout the room, with a few extremely comfortable looking chairs by each one. People in robes and hats could be seen sitting and talking to each other, while eating all sorts of delicious looking foods. Harry stared at the place in awe, immediately realizing what was going on. He turned back to the dirty old man wanting to ask him if this was what he thought it was. Harry got his answer just by looking in the man's direction, for the filthy old man had disappeared. Instead Harry saw a man with blond hair and a neatly pressed purple robe.
"Follow me", the man said, leading them towards one of the free tables. "What's your name by the way"? He asked Harry, as he and Hermione sat at the table.
"Ron Weasely", Harry replied, quickly telling him the first name that came to his head. This caused Hermione to give a slight chuckle. She stopped when she saw Harry glaring at her.
"Ok then, just call me Frank", the man said taking Harry's hand and shaking it. "I'll be right back with your menus". With that the man disappeared.
"Why didn't you tell him your real name"? Hermione asked as soon as Frank left.
"Look around", Harry answered as if it were obvious. "I don't want to start an uproar here", he finished checking to make sure that his untidy bangs completely covered his scar. "And why didn't you tell me that this place was actually a part of the wizarding world"? Harry asked starting to get a little annoyed.
"I said appearances can be deceiving", she answered gloatingly. "You'd never expect a place like this inside an old building like the we saw outside, now would you? I wasn't too sure myself, the first time I came here".
"How did you know about this place anyway? And what happened to that guys accent"? Harry asked her looking a lot calmer, now that the shock of seeing the room wore off.
"I read about it in the daily prophet. It just opened this summer. Olivea and I came here a few times already", Hermione answered. "And the accent is just there to make the muggles who actually come inside the coffee shop think that he's some stupid old yokel".
Just at that moment Frank returned and handed them their menus. "Just say whatever you want, and it will appear on the table", he said looking at Harry.
"I'll have the pancakes, with a little bit of syrup, and some herbal tea", Hermione said without even opening her menu. Immediately a plate full of pancakes, a cup full of herbal tea, and a jug of syrup appeared in front of Hermione.
Harry was surprised, but shook it off as he opened his own menu. He looked at it for about a second, and closed it immediately with a stunned look on his face. "I'll have whatever she's having", he said, giving back the menu to Frank, wondering how anyone could eat some of the entrees he saw in it. Instantaneously a plate full of pancakes, a cup full of herbal tea, and a jug of syrup appeared in front of Harry.
"I'll come back with your bill later", Frank said turning around to leave. "Oh by the way, I like your new look Hermione", he added giving Hermione a wink.
"Now that we're on the subject", Harry started. "What is that stuff that you put on your hair"?
"It's called a Polayjuice potion", Hermione explained. "It's a lot like the polyjuice potion, only it doesn't restructure your DNA". Seeing the confused look on Harry's face, she proceeded to explain. "A polyjuice potion uses the DNA from another person, to restructure yours in that other persons pattern. It does it in a way so as not to affect your personality, only the way you look. A polayjuice potion takes the genes that are already preset inside it and it; uhh, how can I put this"? Hermione started thinking.
"It masks your genes", Harry answered for her. "Like a dominant gene masks a recessive gene".
"Exactly", Hermione agreed. "This particular potion was preset for hair color. It had a dose of the blond gene in it. When I drank it the gene for blond hair masked my own genes for brown hair".
"Drank it"? Harry questioned. "Didn't you say, you put it on yourself"?
"I only said that, so as not to worry my dad" Hermione answered with a smile. "He doesn't like it when I ingest strange things, like potions".
"And what was it that you said about freaky hair colors, and your hair falling out"? Harry continued.
"That only happens if you take too much. Although the potion is meant to only mask your DNA, if taken too much it can break the weak hydrogen bonds that attach the purines and pyrimadines, resulting in a mutation. Thus giving you an unnatural hair color, or causing it to fall out", Hermione explained. "But don't worry", she assured. "With the small doses that I took, there's no way that anything like that will happen to me".
"When will this stuff wear off"?
"I took it right before coming to Privet Drive, so it should wear off tonight or tomorrow", she said confidently. "Although, I'm not exactly sure. The average is two to three days, but it's different for all people. I hope it doesn't wear off while we're in the mall", she said with a little less confidence. "Speaking of which, we better start eating, we have to meet Olivea and Samantha by ten thirty", she said as she stuffed a whole pancake in her mouth and washed it down with the tea.
"Just one more thing", Harry persisted, as he took a bite out of his own pancake. "This potion could be used to mask any gene right? Not just the gene for hair color"?
"Mhmm", she nodded with a mouth full of pancakes and tea.
"So, you can change your skin color, eye color, even your height"? Harry asked her.
She swallowed and said, "It all depends on how you make the potion. Like I said mine was made specifically for hair color. You have to be very careful when making this potion, because if you slip up by even a milligram or milliliter, it could have drastic consequences. I doubt that we'll learn how to make this potion anytime soon; that is if we learn to make it at all. It takes years to master it, because there are so many different ways of making it; because each different way results in a different phenotypic change", Hermione stopped to take a breath and then proceeded to ask "Do you understand everything I'm saying"?
"Yeah, I read all about genetics and DNA from Dudley's human anatomy book. How did you know all this"? He continued the conversation.
"Mrs. Weasely explained more or less how the potion worked. I worked out all the scientific stuff on my own", she said while taking another bite. "It's really a shame that normal people in the wizarding world don't have common scientific knowledge".
"Yeah, I guess".
They finished their breakfast, Hermione paid the bill, and Frank escorted them out of the nice room, and back into the dirty one.
"See, y'all lata'", he shouted as they were leaving. "Bah 'ermione, bah 'arry".
Harry immediately turned around, giving Frank a stunned look. "How did you know"? He asked.
"Ah noticed yo' scar when y'all sat down", Frank answered giving Harry a smile. "Ah didn' say nothin' cause I respected yo' right to secrecy", he continued, smile getting wider. "See y'all lata'".
With that Harry and Hermione left the coffee shop, and headed back towards the mall. They got to the mall entrance ten minutes before they were supposed to meet Olivea and Samantha. They crossed the threshold of the mall and started to head directly for the fountain. The mall was huge, a lot bigger than any other mall that Harry had been to. It had shining white marble floors, white stone columns holding up the second and third floors, the roof was transparent, and there were trees planted in the center of the mall near the fountain where they were supposed meet Hermione's friends. Harry and Hermione got to the fountain five minutes ahead of schedule, and therefore decided to sit and wait for Olivea and Samantha. Sure enough, Olivea and Samantha showed up two minutes later, each holding three bags in each hand.
The rest of the day, in Harry's opinion was very boring. The girls just ran around the mall stopping at stores randomly to try on all sorts of different clothes, while Harry just followed them around carrying the packages. The entire day Harry did nothing except pretend to smile and act like he was interested. Five hours later, the girls were all tired and decided to call it quits. Harry thought he was out of the woods, when Samantha yelled the four dreaded words: "LOOK, A SHOE-SALE".
'Great', Harry thought sarcastically. 'A shoe-sale'. Immediately afterwards the three girls dragged Harry inside and started trying on what seemed like every single pair of shoes in the store in front of him. After about the first thirty pairs that were shone in his face, Harry wanted to start banging his head against the wall in order to make himself unconscious. 'Even potions is better than this', he thought to himself. Finally, two hours and ten bags later Harry, Hermione, Olivea, and Samantha left the mall to go home.
They got to the bus stop and placed their packages on the ground and began waiting for the bus to come, while talking about what a great day it's been, and how they should do it again sometime soon. Samantha's bus was the first to get there. She took her packages onto the bus, waved goodbye, paid for the ride and went to take her seat.
"Well, now that she's gone", Olivea started. "We can finally start talking about something interesting".
"Like what"? Asked Hermione.
"Like how your date went", Olivea answered giving both Harry and Hermione a shrewd smile. This left both Harry and Hermione silent for a moment, Harry confused, and Hermione beet red. "Well, how was it", Olivea persisted breaking the silence.
"It wasn't a date", Hermione was finally able to let out. "We just missed breakfast, and decided to have some at the coffee shop that's all, right Harry"?
Harry, who was still confused by the question couldn't think of anything else to say except: "Whatever".
"Right", Olivea said sarcastically. "Hermione", she started, grabbing Hermione's elbow. "Can I talk to you alone for a minute. You don't mind do you Harry"?
Harry shook his head and began leaning against a streetlight, as Olivea dragged Hermione towards the other end of the block.
"Ok", Olivea said giving Hermione a very serious look as they both stopped at the end. "Spill it".
"Spill what"? Hermione asked pretending to not know what Olivea was talking about.
"What's up between you and Harry"? Olivea asked.
"There's really nothing", Hermione answered looking away to hide her blush.
"Come on Hermione", Olivea persisted. "I'm your friend, as well as Harry Potter's biggest fan. I only want both of you to be happy".
Hermione looked down not knowing exactly how to answer her.
"Hermione", Olivea continued in a soft voice. "I've seen the way you look at him. I know how you feel about him. It's because of him that your relationship with that other guy didn't work out, isn't it"?
"You just don't understand", Hermione sighed looking down.
"Well, then tell me"?
"The truth is, I don't understand myself", Hermione began in a low melancholy voice. "Something happened to him last semester. Something horrible. And whatever happened seems to have sucked all the life out of him, as well as all of his feelings".
"Yeah", Olivea agreed. "I noticed all of his fake smiles, and how he feigned having fun with us today".
"Right now", Hermione continued in the same melancholy voice. "I can't tell him about my feelings, because right now, I don't think he has any feelings that he can give me in return. It would only make him more upset if I told him how I feel".
"What do you mean"?
"I already know what it feels like to have someone love me, and me not being able love them back. It's a horrible feeling, when someone has feelings for you; feelings that you can't give in return. And", she sighed looking up at Harry on the other side of the street. "He's already been through so much".
"Hermione", Olivea said in a low smooth voice.
"I saw him last night", Hermione continued looking down again. Tears started forming in her eyes as she struggled to hold them back. "He's in such a terrible state now", she sobbed as more tears began accumulating. Olivea immediately jumped in front of her in order to block Harry's view. "He was on the brink of insanity. And if I told him, it would put him over the edge. I CAN'T DO THAT TO HIM", she sobbed louder, putting her face into her hands allowing her tears to flow freely. "I can't let that happen to him. I love him too much".
"So you wont tell him", Olivea muttered in a voice so low that Hermione couldn't hear her. She let Hermione cry for a few minutes, and then changing the subject, she asked if she could sleep over at her house tomorrow night.
Hermione took a minute to regain control of herself, wiped away her remaining tears, looked Olivea up in the face and said sure.
"Great", Olivea said. "I have something that I've been wanting to tell you all summer, and with Harry there it'll be… well you'll find out".
"Here comes your bus", Hermione said pointing in front of her.
They walked back over to Harry just as Olivea's stopped in front of him opening the door. "Well, bye Harry see ya soon", Olivea said in a cheerful way. "And Hermione", she said as she leaned in close to her and began to whisper so low that Harry couldn't hear. "This is something that you should definitely commit to memory being the kind of person that you are. 'When a person gets to the position that Harry is at, he doesn't need guidance; he needs support'. So support him as much as you can during this troubling time of his". With that Olivea picked up her packages, got on the bus, paid the driver, waived back to Harry and Hermione, and moved inside the bus to find herself a good seat.
Harry and Hermione continued waiting at the bus stop for another twenty minutes, neither saying a word to the other. The bus came and took them back to the Granger residence. The twenty-minute bus ride was also silent. They walked back to the house from the stop, still silent; stepped inside the house, left the packages in the living room; and both sat on the couch, silently.
"Harry", Hermione spoke up, breaking the long silence.
"What is it", he asked turning left to look at her.
"I'm sorry, if you didn't have any fun today", she said in a timid voice.
"It's okay, I had a lot of fun", Harry lied.
"Yeah", Hermione said giving Harry a small smile, not believing a word he was saying. "And also", she continued. "I want you to know that I…" she stopped, took a deep breath and said "that I will always be there for you, to help you anyway I can".
"Thank you", Harry said. "That means a lot to me".
"No problem".
And with that, they said good night to each other and went to bed.
That night, for some unknown reason, maybe it was because he was so bored from all the shopping, Harry was able to fall asleep.
