Hermione felt consciousness sweep over her and blinked open her eyes. She was shocked to see a man's upside-down face before her so she opened her mouth to speak, although he seemed to get there before her,
"Are you ok?" His soothing voice sounded.
Glancing around, Hermione realised she was still in the middle of the street, bags laid open on the ground. She was nearly lying on the floor, yet her arms were held by this stranger behind her. She looked up at the face staring down at her, immediately noticing his bright blue eyes looking into her own.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine I think." Hermione said slowly, trying to stand up at the same time, the stranger used his arms to lift her to her feet and began to help her collect her things.
Hermione crouched down and started to place her books back into the bag,
"Aren't you going to tell me what happened?" She asked inquiringly. The stranger looked up and Hermione saw his face properly for the first time. He had quite fair skin with piercing blue eyes, his thick blonde hair sweeping across his forehead. Taking in all this, Hermione came to the conclusion that he must be around her own age.
The stranger smiled,
"Well, I was just happily walking down the street when this dark haired beauty seemed to collapse in my arms. Hey, you into divination?" He asked, reading the title, 'Prophecys:how to tell the fake from the fluent' from the book he had just picked up.
Hermione narrowed her eyebrows,
"No, its actually the only subject i despise." She muttered, packing the last book into her bag and standing up. The man followed her actions, stood up and passed her the bag he had packed up.
"Don't worry about the thank you, honestly, it's Ok." He said with a smile on his lips.
Hermione raised her eyebrows,
"I also despise sarcasm."
"I'm sure we would get along just fine then." He said, still with a grin on his face.
Hermione took a breath in,
"Thank you for helping me, but I've really got to go." She said dismissively.
The man nodded,
"I totally understand, there must be at least three more bookshops you need to buy in Diagon alley alone. You know, you would think at least one of those books would teach you how to smile."
Hermione opened her mouth in shock,
"Would you be smiling if you had just fainted in the middle of a street?"
"Ah, touché. I'm Alamon by the way." He said, holding his hand out. Hermione took it,
"Hermione."
The man raised his eyebrows,
"Her-what-now? And I thought I was unlucky."
Hermione took her hand away,
"I've known you for no more than five minutes and you have already catapulted me with insults."
Alamon grinned once more,
"It's a good job that we are only strangers bumping into each other in the street then."

Hermione nodded, refusing to lose her composure.
"Couldn't agree more. This way I need not put up with your insults."
"And I don't have to learn how to pronounce your name. Sounds perfect."

"It does. Now, goodbye Alamon." Hermione said, smiling politely.
Alamon nodded,
"Hope to not see you again soon." And with that the two walked away from each other in opposite directions.

Hermione took large strides through the street, often having to stop to control the volume of her mutterings. That grin of Alamon's was fixed in her head regardless of how much she tryed to put it out of her mind. She had acquired another bag of shopping, this time of robes from Madame Malkins, yet as she looked down at her bags all she heard was Alamaon's echoing words,
'There must be at least three more bookshops you need to buy in Diagon alley alone.'
Letting out an annoyed breath Hermione shook her head and tried to continue walking without thinking about that insufferable man. She soon reached Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream parlour and her eyes automatically scanned for Ron's red hair. She spotted what looked like Ron from where she was standing, yet he wasn't alone. As she continued to walk up to where they were sitting outside she realised he was sitting with none other than Harry and Sirius.
"Hey." Sirius' warm voice and grin greeted her, "We saved you a seat." He inclined his head to the empty white chair beside him.

"Thanks." Hermione replied, sitting herself down beside him and Ron.
"Hey, what you buy Herm?" Ron asked, reaching down to pick up one of her bags. Hermione quickly turned her head and grabbed the bag back,
"leave it." she snapped. A shocked yet hurt expression flickered over Ron's face,
"Oh, sorry." he said quietly. Hermione felt a pang of guilt looking at his forlorn face and reached out her hand to his arm,
"I'm sorry Ron, I'm just a bit rattled about something someone said. I'll buy you an ice cream to make for it Ok?"
Ron nodded ad Hermione glanced around at Harry and Sirius,
"In fact, seeing as you all have waited for me to get here before you ordered, I'll get you all one. What does everyone want?" she asked, standing up.
"Ron and I will have the giant chocolate sensation to share please- we decided earlier." Harry stated, then looked to Sirius.
"I'll come with you to order, I need to see how the mood strikes me." He said earnestly, getting up from his chair. Hermione couldn't help rolling her eyes playfully and proceeding inside the parlour, her spirits considerably lighter