It was very, very early morning on Harry's third day in the Leaky Cauldron when he awoke to an extremely high pitched squeeking, and the sound of pecking glass.
"What in the hell?" He murmered, wandering sleepily over to his window.
"Pig, what on earth are you doing here at this time of the morning? You idiot..." Harry said, grabbing the fluttering pouf and untying a letter from his leg.
"You need a rest?" Harry asked the little fluff. Pig hooted happily and jetted over to Hedwig's cage, immediately falling to sleep on her pearch.
"I s'pose that's a yes, then," Harry laughed to himself as he opened the letter.
Harry,
'lo mate! How've you been? I'm well, we're off on a trip to visit Charlie, and you won't guess what's happened! Bill's dating Fleur Delacour, but that's not the amazing bit. -
"Woah... " Harry said aloud. "I've got to go show Hermione." He put on his robe quickly and rushed down the hall.
"Hermione!" He said in a hurried whisper as he tapped on her door. "Hermione! Open up! It's me, Harry."
"I know who it is, you fool," Hermione groaned, opening the door. Her bushy brown hair was much bushier than normal, and her eyes were clouded with sleep. "What do you want?"
"You've got to hear this, it's a letter from Ron. He's met a girl he fancies and he's blind smitten with her!"
"How do you know that?" Hermione asked hotly.
"Because it says so," Harry pulled out the letter and held it out to Hermione.
- I've just met Fleur's cousin, and I'm blind smitten with her, mate! Her name is Giselle, and she speaks amazingly good English. Great French, too, if you catch my meaning-
"Well, you see, Hermione, what Ron is trying to say is that-"
"Oh, I know exactly what he's trying to say! I'm appalled!" Hermione snapped.
"Well, then," said Harry, taking back the letter.
"You give that here! I haven't finished with it."
-- She's quite a looker, too. Long dark blonde hair, brown eyes, perfectly dead-center nose-
"Oh I don't believe it! Again with the nose being centered!" Hermione burst out. "My nose is dead-center, you don't see him fawning over me!"
"Maybe he's partial to blondes," Harry laughed.
"Partial to blondes, my arse..." Hermione muttered. Harry stiffled the giggles, as he reckoned Hermione would get a bit angry at him. She didn't seem to know she was speaking at all.
"Well, I'll just read the rest, shall I?" Harry asked pompously, acting like nothing had happened.
- Anyway, she's just amazing. We've become really good friends, and I really fancy her. Not just because she's pretty, either... she always gives me a good laugh, and she's much nicer than most girls-
"Does that mean he thinks I'm not nice?" Hermione asked angrily.
"No. I think that means she doesn't nag him to do him homework, or join spew."
"It's S.P.E.W., Harry!"
"Whatever. Here we go, then... back to the letter."
- I'm hoping she'll be able to come to Hogwarts this year, but she seems pretty attached to her own school. Can't see why, they certainly haven't got Dumbledore, but still. You can only make them do so much. Don't know how I'll survive without her, mate. 'Course, I s'pose I can still write to her. Anyhow, it's time for dinner, and I've promised Giselle we'd go for a walk before I have to leave tomorrow. To say goodbye properly, and all that. I'll see you in a few days.
Best wishes,
Ron
"That was entertaining," Harry said, smiling.
"Yes, very..."
"What's wrong with you, Hermione?" Harry prodded. "You don't fancy Ron, do you?"
"Of course not! I just don't think this is good for Ron. He's setting himself up to be let down."
"A bit like you and Vicktor, isn't it?"
"Oh don't be ridiculus. I just wanted to be friends with Vicktor."
"Don't you think that may have let him down a bit?"
"I doubt it," Hermione sighed. "I'm just not the sort of girl boys fancy."
Harry looked at Hermione long and hard, taking in the whispy strands of hair floating around her face, her big brown eyes, and her sad smile.
"I fancy you, Hermione," he said at last.
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked. She was sure she'd heard him right, wasn't she?
"As a friend. I fancy you as a friend, Hermione," Harry added quickly.
"Oh... yes. Of course you do," she added dejectedly. She suddenly latched on to Harry in a tight hug.
"What's wrong with me, Harry? I know my hair's a bit ... large, but what else? Are my eyes too brown, is my nose off-center, am I too pale, have I got freckles, what?" she burst out.
Harry wrapped his arms around her, and really hugged her back for the first time ever. She seemed to noticeably relax in his grasp.
"No, no, no, and yes. Your hair is fine, your eyes are a lovely shade of brown, your nose is perfectly center, as you stated earlier, you aren't too pale, not that it would matter, and yes, you have got a few freckles just on your nose there, but they're fine," He said.
Harry had never realized he'd thought any of that until just then. He could feel something dampening the front of his robe, and sopping through to him bare skin underneath, and he reckoned he must have started Hermione crying.
"D'you really think so, Harry?" Hermione asked him, sniffling and trying to sound as though she wasn't crying.
"Yeah. I reckon I do," He answered with a smile. She let go of him just in time to see his smile, and she stood on her toes, and kissed his cheek. Harry blushed a thousand shades of red and pink, but said nothing. He simply backed up one step, sat down on Hermione's bed, and beckoned her to him. She curled up next to him, and with a sigh she said, "Please don't leave." So Harry lay back on the covers, wrapped his arms around her, and they slept.