A/N: Hi, everyone! Okay, so here's chapter 2, and even though I know I was supposed to put some serious Draco in here...I didn't. Oh, don't worry, he's there! Just...towards the end. This was sort of the whole "gasp-Harry's-gay??" chapter. And I'm sure the next one will be something along the lines of the "gasp-it's-Draco-and-he's-bloody-gorgeous-and-quite-the-jerk!" chapter. Thank you all for reviewing. (I was terrifed no one would because I'm wiener.)
"So where does everyone hang out around here?" Harry asked, looking out at the shops they passed.
Hermione shrugged. "Umm…well, I guess mostly at the Java Hut. I wouldn't know," she admitted, suddenly shy again. "I don't get out much."
Harry looked at her in surprise. "Well, if you're going to hang out with me, that'll have to change," he told her firmly. "I'm out whenever I can manage it." He clicked his tongue ring against his teeth. "How about we go to this Java Hut, then? I've got a couple bucks, my treat."
Hermione nodded, inwardly hesitant. What if there were kids from school there? What if they took Harry away from her? Stop it, she told herself. You're being selfish and clingy…But the worry remained.
She parked the Jeep on the side of the street and led Harry to a small, busy café a block away. The sign was neon and lit, even in the middle of the day, spelling out the name of the coffee shop in spiky, sharp letters. Tables outside were practically full as people took advantage of the pleasant day.
They went inside and got their coffees, and, on Harry's insistence, went back outside and found a small table in the shade to sit at. Hermione watched as Harry downed half his latte in one gulp and then rummaged around in his hip pocket. "So tell me about yourself, Mione," he said conversationally, not finding what he wanted and beginning the search in another pocket. Hermione felt a rush of delight at the nickname that only her parents called her.
"Myself?" she repeated. Her gaze drifted to the people around her. "Well, I'm an only child. My mom and dad tried to have another, but then my mom found out she couldn't. I, uhh, like to read…and…uhh…" She trailed off, at a loss. She knew she wasn't a very interesting person. "I don't have a lot of friends," she confessed quietly after a few beats of silence. She glanced at Harry apprehensively, and was startled to find him smiling softly at her.
"I can already tell we're going to be great friends," Harry said, and then he shrieked, "Aha!" causing several people at nearby tables to jump. He held up a rumpled pack of Newports. "Don't mind, do you?" he asked her charmingly, and lit up without waiting for a response. Hermione had never known anyone who smoked. The little curls of grey that slipped through Harry's nostrils made him look a bit like a dragon, and she had to bite back a giggle at the thought.
"You seem to be a tad reluctant to talk about yourself, so I'll talk about my favorite subject—me!" Harry smiled at his own joke, and Hermione laughed. Harry shifted on the hard, wrought-iron chair, managing, somehow, to make it look like a Lazy Boy recliner, and took a drag on his cigarette. "My name's Harry James Potter, I'm 17, 6'1", I like soccer, piercings, metal, techno, and punk music, I streak my hair a different color every two or three weeks, I've been smoking for four years, drinking for two, having sex for three, I do rather poorly in school but try my damnest, I love people and socializing at parties, and I am currently single."
Single, Hermione thought, ignoring everything else but that last part. But before she could fully process the idea, the next words to come out of his mouth shattered every hope of a boyfriend she could possibly have:
"Oh, and I'm gay."
"You're what?" she blurted before she could stop herself.
A small flicker of doubt marred his face for a moment, gone as quickly as it appeared. "I'm gay," he repeated helpfully. "You know? I like guys? As opposed to girls? You aren't…you know, homophobic, are you? I just thought…well, anyway, it's how I am, and if there's going to be a problem…"
"No, no," Hermione assured him miserably. "No problem, I just didn't expect it. You…you told me I was beautiful."
Understanding dawned. "Oh, Mione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to give you the wrong impression. You are beautiful. Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I can't appreciate a pretty girl."
Somehow, that made Hermione feel better. Okay, so this wasn't her future and first boyfriend; but he thought she was lovely, and he was a great guy. Relieved, she smiled at him. "No harm done, and thanks. For telling me I was beautiful, I mean, and for being honest with me." She sipped her coffee, breathing in the aroma.
Harry seemed equally relieved. "Ah, Mione, perhaps I will like it around here. Bit different from Surrey, but I think—"
"Well, well, well," a drawling voice interrupted. "Looks like Granger finally got herself a boyfriend."
Hermione blushed fiercely, and turned to look up at the boy standing next to their table reproachfully. Harry glanced up, too, a fresh cigarette dangling from his lips, ready to defend his new friend…
…and felt his heart stutter to a halt.
Another A/N: Hopefully, the next chapter will be coming up soon. You'll have to forgive me if I lag, however, because I have a lot of midterms to be doing in the next two or three days. I was a complete fool to take college courses in high school....
For my reviewers:
madam-malicia: Heh, thank you! And I will try so hard not to start neglecting my duties.
Bibilien: I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well. I did my best. Thanks for reviewing!
Hannah Abby: I like timid!Hermione, don't you? I've been trying to decide whether Harry should help her out a little, appearance-wise. She could be adorable!punky!Hermione...what do you think?
oracale: Why, thank you!
asphixiation1013: I know, I went back and edited the first chapter, to add an author's note saying that while I knew it looked like it was headed that way, it wasn't. I'm so glad you liked it! Do keep reviewing.
Flame-OF-Ciara: Punkish Harry will probably be involved in all my future fics! I love him. Thanks for reviewing!
magic-shield: A keeper? Really? heart flutters Thank you so much!
DeathzBeauty: Well, here you go! I hope you liked it as much as the first!
fudgebaby: Wow, thank you. I'm such a sap for reviews
sarah-928: Yours is possibly the greatest review I've gotten so far. Thanks so much!
Twilight347: I'll update whenever I can. Thanks for reviewing!
Raven's Light: Thank you, and I certainly will.
feshnie: Well, there's a teensy tiny bit of Draco in this chapter, and certainly much more in the next. The reason I've given poor Harry more piercings than a pin cushion is that I, myself, adore piercings and have several, with more to come. Thanks for reviewing!
Cherry0214: Oh, I love your stories! I've read several, but I haven't seen one ofyourslike this yet. Trust me, though, as soon as I'm done thanking everyone for their kind words, I'll be looking it up! You're a fantastic writer, and I'm honored that you gave me a review!
Alright, guys, that's it. And though this probably seems horrifically repetitive...THANK YOU ALL! Updates soon (hopefully).