(( Sorry this took so long to get up.

I'd just like to say that I've been a bit self-conscious posting my writing now because it's been brought to my attention that 2 people from real life that I am not particularly fond of, nor I of them, have been reading my stories and mocking them to some of our mutual friends. So, if you're one of those two, Nicole and Margaret, I'd really appreciate if you didn't because that's just fucking catty. We're not friends but that doesn't mean you have to go off insulting my work. Especially when I've had access to your works FOR YEARS and have never made fun of them, whether our relationships were good or bad. I can't stop you from reading them or control your opinions. But when you're just being disrespectful and putting my writing down because you don't like me personally, you're just showing what you really are. If you don't like them that's fine, but when you guys doing it out of spite, it's embarrassing. Especially when the 'friends' you're saying the shit to just run and tell me anyways, again very telling.

Sorry for ranting, especially to anyone who reads this who doesn't give two fucks (aka everybody). I just needed to get that off my chest. ))

Eleanor and Walter Granger (mostly Eleanor) and Peggy Murdock continued to talk about the mundane for over twenty minutes while Hermione and Joel sat idly at their respective parents sides before Joel finally perked up, seeing a Segway out of the conversation.

"It really is a lovely town.'' Said Mr. Granger, "There's a quaint little market just up the road.''

"Oh, mom!'' Joel exclaimed hopping to his feet, his volume was such a sudden peak that Hermione jolted a little in her seat and tuned back into her surroundings. His face was lit up with an excitement that Hermione could tell he was faking, because she did that same thing quite often. It didn't seem as if any of the adults had caught onto his farce though.

"You said you needed milk, I should go get it at that market.''

"Joel, right now? We have guests, that's rude!'' Peggy Murdock scolded, gesturing towards the Grangers. Joel started to sit down again when Hermione's father spoke.

"Actually, it's half past 6, the store closes at 7.'' He was staring down at his wristwatch. Hermione couldn't tell if her father had clued into Joel's ruse or if he was being genuine, but regardless Joel stood up again, holding a little smile in on his face.

Peggy interlocked her fingers and put her hands over her knee, her eyes scanning the floor as if in deep thought.

"Well, I suppose…'' she muttered. Suddenly Mrs. Granger outstretched her arm and began giving Joel detailed directions, and he nodded accordingly. Hermione didn't want to be stuck sitting here for any longer listening to the small talk, especially not by herself, so her mouth blurted out what she wanted before her brain had even told it to speak.

"I'll take him.'' She rose to her feet; everyone's eyes took to her as she stammered out her reasoning. "If he gets lost he'll never get there in time, so I'd better show him.''

Hermione started walking towards the door and buttoning her jacket simultaneously to discourage her mother from forcing her to stay.

"Come on, grab your coat.'' Hermione said over her shoulder as her feet speed walked her towards the front door. She could hear her mother calling out a farewell to her as Joel scuttled behind her, ripping his jacket off the hook beside it.

"Finally!'' Hermione practically yelled when she felt the pair was far enough from the house that their parents wouldn't hear her. Joel chuckled as he caught up beside her, struggling to do up the buttons on his black pea coat and maintain the same pace as her.

"Glad I'm not the only one.'' He said panting. Hermione slowed back down to a normal pace as they reached the sidewalk. She glanced over at him and felt a flop of tension well up in her chest. She was overjoyed that she was finally free of playing statue, but hadn't quite grasped until now that it meant she would be alone with the boy.

The only people her age Hermione really had any experience talking were at Hogwarts, and even though they were great company she'd known most of them so long that she'd almost forgotten what it was like to meet someone new. She didn't know what to talk about with him either, it's not like they could discuss spells or gossip about Luna's fascination with Nargles. It was very few and far between when Hermione's mind became blank, but for the moment, it was.

Joel had his hands stuffed into his pockets and kept glancing over at Hermione, probably waiting for her to come up with a topic of conversation. It was a long silence until he finally cleared his throat and spoke.

"So…'' he said, Hermione turned her head to face him. "What do you do for fun around here?''

Hermione's mind, usually so overcrowded with racing thoughts went blank. She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly stopped herself when she realized that reading up on the great wizards of the last millennia or the encyclopedia of magical creatures probably wasn't something she could very well discuss with a Muggle.

"There's um, there's a cinema?'' she spluttered, and the boy chuckled.

"Anything else?'' he asked, his blue eyes wandering over the surrounding scenery. Hermione shrugged.

"There's a beach but, er, it's not quite swimming weather.''

"Sure it is!'' Joel exclaimed, stretching his neck out over the railing as they crossed the bridge. Hermione snickered at his sarcasm and felt her cheeks turning red as she joined him, looking into the muddled gray water. Small ripples appeared all over the water's surface as the sky started to drizzle lightly.

"Come on.'' Hermione insisted, grabbing his arm and pulling him along, "Before it starts to pour.''

"You're no fun.'' Joel murmured as the pair continued walking. Hermione could feel her smile fade at that comment, and even though she knew he was kidding she felt saddened.

"No, I suppose I'm not.''

"Oh, no. Hey,'' Joel touched Hermione's shoulder gingerly; "I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sure you're fun.''

Hermione, thinking about the stack of books and essays sitting in her room, didn't exactly agree, but didn't want to be a downer, so she changed the subject.

"Well what do you do for fun back in, wherever you're from…''

"I don't know.'' Joel shrugged, "Hangout with people, drink, go to parties. You know; the usual.''

No, no. Hermione really did not know. The closet thing that Hermione had ever done to drinking or partying was the time she walked in on Ginny and Luna sharing a stolen bottle of Fred and George's 'special' butter beer brew in the girl's dormitory and offered to share it with Hermione, only to accidentally smash the bottle on the floor when she went to pass it.

"Are there any parties around here?'' Joel inquired, snapping Hermione out of her memory. She stared at him wide eyed, not sure if she should lie again and then be asked for more information. Luckily Joel came to his own conclusion.

"Oh, right. Homeschool, so…I guess not.'' He chuckled. Hermione was surprised he had not mocked her about it, and very grateful.

They could hear the chatter of the town ahead of them, and Joel reminded her that they still had to come back with the milk, causing Hermione to inexplicably blush once again. She nodded and led him into the market, holding open the door for him, which caused them both to laugh.

As they walked back with the plastic grocery bag sagging between them, Joel suggested that they have a party of their own the following weekend, unless of course she was holding out on a real invitation.

"No, I'd love too.'' Hermione said as she struggled to contain her smile.

"Great.'' They'd arrived back at his doorstep. "Is Friday here okay?''

Hermione's mind was scattered once again, her first reaction was to lie and make up some excuse as to why she couldn't come, but nothing popped up in time. She couldn't think of a good reason not to spend time with him anyways.

"Sure.'' She said, but Joel's brow furrowed.

"Unless, you've got some hot date you're not telling me about?'' he said teasingly. Hermione shook her head vehemently as she tried effortlessly to stop herself from blushing.

"No, no. Friday's fine.'' She tried to sound as casual as possible, knowing her cheeks were more than likely a bright brick red. Joel either didn't notice or was too polite to comment on them, so he just nodded and then sighed when he looked at his door.

"Well, back into the lion's den. Shall we?'' he had an eyebrow quirked and his hand on the knob. Hermione had to stop herself from making a quip about how she was a Gryffindor, and should be used to a lion's den by now. So she just sighed and nodded. Joel twisted the knob and held open the door for her this time.

"After you.''

((I'll try not to take too long with the next chapter, again sorry for the petty rant at the beginning))