Of course, Hermione Granger wouldn't just let something rest. "What do you mean you're not friends with Ron?" Hermione said, her voice somehow sounding squawking, as she fought to keep her voice down while showing her incredulity.*
"I'm..." Harry put both hands behind his back, holding his left wrist with his right hand, "Using him as a stalking horse."
"A what?" Hermione asked.
"A stalking horse," Harry responded patiently, "Basically, doing what he does makes me seem more like a Gryffindor than I'd otherwise seem."
"But- you are a Gryffindor!" Hermione said, putting a hand on her hip, "I can see your tie!"
"About as much as you are, I reckon," Harry said, waiting until Hermione's eyes dropped, "You realize, it took me ages to convince the Hat to put me in Gryffindor?"
Hermione's eyes flashed up again, a glint of recognition in them, "You too?"
"Yeah, me too." Harry said, a trace of his real grin coming to the fore. "Thing is, and tell me if I'm wrong, I think you would have been in Ravenclaw."
"Yeah, that's right." Hermione said quickly, and then more slowly, "How'd you know?"
"I think the books kind of gave it away." Harry said.
"Hufflepuffs are hard workers, and I could be an ambitious Slytherin." Granger countered.
"If you were a Hufflepuff, you'd have put more effort into making friends, instead of sinking into books." Harry said.
"How do you know I wasn't about to be sorted into Slytherin?" Granger said.
"Because Slytherins are good at being sneaky and subtle." Harry said, lacing his hands behind his head, and looking up at the clouds in the sky, "Like me."
Hermione processed this in silence, which Harry was glad of, because he really didn't want to explain why he was a Slytherin. Or be told that it was impossible, or something like that.
"Why me?" Hermione said. "You've got to see some advantage in this, right?"
"You're intelligent, perhaps the smartest kid in our year." Harry said, "And we could practice, learn together."
"You want to be study buddies?" Hermione said, "But you never study!"
"I do, actually. A lot. It's just... offhours." Harry said softly.
"I don't think we can just decide to be friends." Hermione said, frowning a bit, "But I'm willing to give it a try."
"Will you keep my secrets, even if we later decide, mutually, not to be friends?" Harry asked.
"Of course, provided they aren't dangerous to others or yourself." Hermione said.
"Mortally dangerous - a prank is fine to keep quiet about, isn't it?" Harry Potter asked.
"Sure. I like a good laugh as much as the next person." Hermione said.
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Harry Potter said, smiling. "Now, I would like to suggest a mission."
"A mission? You've had this whole thing thought out already!" Hermione accused.
"Well, yes. Did you really think I wouldn't think something through the whole way?" Harry asked, "Do something on the spur of the moment?"
"Why a mission then?" Hermione said.
"Because it's more fun that way." Harry said, "And it's for the love of learning, so it's nothing silly or stupid."
"Okay." Hermione responded.
*god, I love writing intelligent Harry. Normal Harry doesn't get to use words like that.
[a/n: I love reviews! write me one, and I'll give you a new chapter, I promise.]