"Are you sure you want to do this Harry?" Hermione asked again. The trio were back at Hermione's house in her room. They had been back just over an hour and they were trying to form a plan on how to deal with the situation. Dumbledore had instructed them to lie low and not do any magic. He had warned if she could sense magic being used there, which was the only place she's been, even Apparating, it could bring her back again. Dumbledore only thought they should tackle her when they were fully prepared.
"Hermione," said Harry, turning to her. "You were the one encouraging me to do what's right, and that means fighting Rose, so then it's a bit for late for saying don't."
"That's not what I'm saying!" she argued. "You know me and Ron will support your decisions, no matter what you choose to do. You need to stop her before she hurts anyone. I was just asking to see if you're still up for doing this."
"She's right, Harry." Ron said. "You need to be prepared; physically and mentally."
Harry nodded, looking at the floor. "Yeah." Harry agreed. "You're right. You're both right." He stood up, looking at his two loyal friends. They had always stuck by him no matter what happened, and now was no different.
Nobody could think what to say so there was an awkward silence.
"So… you guys want to go for a walk? I know a really nice park a few roads down." Hermione suggested.
"Yeah sure," Ron said. "Harry?"
"All right." He agreed, smiling. Hermione and Ron realised Harry was just trying to look cheerful, but said nothing. At least he was trying to keep his head up.
"You were right, Hermione, this is nice." Ron commented. They were walking down a path in the park, the three of them taking in the beautiful scenery. There were children playing and laughing in the small playground, dogs catching freebies with their owners, couples on picnic blankets on the grass area surrounding the big lake, and birds singing among the huge trees.
Hermione suggested they go on the swings in the playground, as there were no people near them.
Once there, they swang slowly in silence, lost in the heat of the day and their minds going through everything, all of the days events.
When Hermione realised no one was going to say anything and they would probably just sit there not doing anything, she said aloud to Harry and Ron, "Do you guys want an ice cream?"
Harry and Ron looked up at her and nodded. They got off with her and followed her out the playground gate to the ice cream truck. "What do you want?" she asked them. A young child of about six, stood in front of them with his mother, the ice cream man and his mum trying not to show their impatience. The boy finally decided when his mother hurried him seeing the line growing behind them.
Hermione ordered hers, Harry and Ron after her. She paid and as she turned around she almost knocked into someone walking past the van.
"Hermione!" The girl exclaimed.
"Chloe!" Hermione replied. "Long time no see!"
"Tell me about it!" the girl said. She had light brown hair, just below the shoulders, and a smile nearly as beautiful as Hermione's. She had a light tan on her arms and face, and was holding a can of coke.
"Who are your friends?" Chloe asked, her eyes sweeping over Harry and Ron.
"These are my best friends, I told you about ages ago; Harry and Ron."
"Nice to meet you!" she said to them, shaking their hands. "I've heard so much about you."
"You have?" asked Ron nervously.
"Sure," Chloe answered.
Harry tapped Hermione lightly on the arm. "Can I talk to you a sec?" he said quietly.
"Yeah." She replied. Hermione walked with Harry just out of earshot of the Chloe and Ron. "What is it?"
"What exactly did you tell her?" he inquired, turning his back to them.
"I told her we went to a private school and we met there and we've been friends since first year." She told him impatiently.
"So… nothing about us? About the wizarding world?"
"I didn't say anything Harry. You can sleep soundly tonight." And with that, she put her hand on his arm, steering them back to Ron and Chloe.