A/N: Sorry for the delay. Please leave a review!
Chapter Two: Visits
Harry Potter, a messy haired and emerald-eyed young man, waited patiently on the curb of the street in front of the London Eye. Checking his watch, it was a quarter past three and he was currently expecting Hermione Granger to pop out somewhere.
He glanced around. Several times, people had passed him by and looked at him curiously. It's probably my scar, he thought, brushing his bangs to his forehead to cover the oh-so-famous lightning bolt-shaped scar.
"Harry!"
His head swiveled left and right to catch a glimpse of the speaker. He managed to see Hermione running towards him, crossing the other street towards him. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair looked as if someone had pulled on it numerous times. She looked pretty to Harry.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. My last class for the day was held up longer because of a surprise quiz." She explained, breathlessly. Her scarf, red and yellow striped (which reminded Harry very much of Hogwarts), was slung around her neck and her jacket was unbuttoned.
"It all right, I've just arrived myself," said Harry, lying and circling the cashmere scarf around her neck in one loose loop.
"Well, could we swing by my flat for a while? I'm afraid I've forgotten to feed my cats," asked Hermione, walking away from the crowded pointed corner.
"Sure," replied Harry. He was quite interested to see her flat.
Hermione smiled him a grateful smile and they headed in various directions, often having Hermione steer Harry into the right ways.
"You don't live in London, do you?" questioned Hermione once they arrived in her one-floored flat.
Harry went rigid. "No, I don't. I barely know my way around here."
"I see. Where do you live then?"
"Er, Surrey. Yeah, Surrey." He suddenly remembered all of his horrible childhood memories.
Hermione nodded and unlocked her door. Once she entered, a large, black, mackerel tabby ran to rub against Hermione's legs, purring loudly.
"Oh, you silly girl, move over!" laughed Hermione, pushing through anyway.
Harry cautiously entered, in case any other cats came bombarding.
"You'll have to excuse my cat's behavior." Hermione called through a room in the back, which appeared to be the kitchen.
Harry followed her voice and went inside the blue and white tiled room. Hermione was crouched beside the refrigerator, the black tabby, meowing loudly. Eventually, it jumped over Hermione's shoulder.
Harry came over to see what Hermione was tending to. In between the silver refrigerator and the off-white painted wall was a box lined with soft linens, filled with the black tabby and four kittens with strange patterns on their backs. They were all struggling to get milk from the mother. Harry noticed there were two calico colored cats. Their patterns were just as strange as the other black mackerel tabbies.
"Morgana was the one who greeted us. I presume Ptolemy is still asleep in his wicker basket in my room," said Hermione, stroking a calico kitten.
One kitten managed to get pushed away, not being able to get any milk. Hermione stood up and pulled out a container of milk and poured some into a small bowl. She placed it by one of the legs of the small kitchen table.
"Harry, could you please give the kitten that strayed away?" asked Hermione, sitting on a chair. She was tired. Her studies in the university got harder each and everyday and having a whole litter of kittens (plus their parents) to take care of was not making anything any easier.
Harry bent over and gingerly picked up the black kitten. He handed it to Hermione, who set it down in front of the milk bowl.
"I'm sorry to trouble you. Morgana gave birth about a month ago. Her kittens are starting to drink on their own now," explained Hermione, motioning for Harry to sit.
Harry sat on the chair across her. "Did you name them?" He asked, softly.
"Oh, yes. Three of them are boys and the smallest calico is a girl. This little one" she stroked it with a toe whose nail was painted black (She had taken off her shoes as Harry had noticed), "isn't nearly as naughty as his twin. I named him Nox, the Latin meaning of 'night'."
Harry nodded and Hermione continued. "The male calico kitten is called Orion, after the constellation. His sister, though, is named after a galaxy, Andromeda."
Harry bent his head to stare at the black kitten lapping milk into his mouth. Hermione was yet to tell him this particular kitten's name.
"The last kitten," she said, looking at the cardboard box, "is the naughtiest one yet. I named him after my favorite star, the Canis Major. His name is Sirius."
Harry's head shot back up, wondering if he had heard correctly. "Sirius?"
Hermione nodded. "It's my favorite star. I got the idea during astronomy class in my university."
A look of realization came over Harry's face. "I see," said Harry.
"Well, what do you want to do now?" Hermione asked, picking Sirius up once he finished the milk and laying him back with the rest of his family.
"You could show me around London," suggested Harry. "If that's okay with you, that is." He added, hastily.
"Of course. I'd love to show you around," Hermione replied.
Just as she was about to slip her shoes back on, another cat came bounding in. He was a huge calico cat and yowling, which sounded like it was meowing and purring at the same time.
"Oh, so you woke up, did you?" Hermione asked the cat, which was peering up at her with wide set, blue eyes.
After feeding him, they left her flat. They went around London. They went to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the Tower of London, London Bridge, etc. They even went to Piccadilly Circus, where Harry was so determined to win her a plastic bubble, which contained sparkling ring with plastic diamond on it. He occupied the UFO Catcher for at least ten minutes. Hermione laughed her head off and even tried to pull him away. When he got it, he slipped it on her finger and grinned. Hermione just laughed and admired it in all its faux beauty.
They finally stopped to eat and rest at an ice cream shop. When they decided on sharing a huge bowl of coffee flavored ice cream with chocolate chips, they sat at a window booth.
"D'you like it?" Harry asked, sucking on his teaspoon.
"Hmm? Like what?" Hermione asked, in reply.
"The ring." Harry clarified.
"Oh, Harry, you really shouldn't have gotten it."
"But I thought you liked it?"
"I do. But I just said that it looked really nice. No matter, I'll pay you the five pounds back."
"No need. As long as you like it, that's payment enough." He scooped up more ice cream.
Hermione smiled. Harry was a really nice man. "Thanks, Harry."
"So. Are we meeting tomorrow again?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure. I won't be off from my university until five thirty." Hermione was disappointed as well as Harry.
"Can I visit you?"
"I guess it would be okay. What time do you plan on visiting?"
"Would three be alright?"
"Of course. Just go through the main lobby."
He nodded.
When Harry dropped Hermione, he went back to the Leaky Cauldron and went back to his flat.
"Harry?" Ron asked, when he heard the door click open.
"Hey Ron," Harry greeted, stepping out of his black and white trainers.
"How was your date with the Muggle?" Ron asked, grinning.
"Her name's Hermione Granger and it wasn't a date." Harry replied, scowling at the redheaded boy on the sofa. Harry plopped down on the couch beside him and placed his feet on the coffee table.
"Whatever, mate. How was it? Third date tomorrow?"
Harry fidgeted a bit. "Well, not exactly a date. But I'm going to meet up with her again."
"Just don't get in too deep." Ron warned.
"I'm not. Quit worrying."
* * *
Harry looked at the map of the school again. It was immensely confusing to him. The red dots meant emergency exits and the green lines meant classrooms so that meant the main lobby was where?
Harry sighed and scratched his head. Then he flipped the brochure to its other side. There was another version of the map with labels of the rooms. He was currently in the main entrance gate. He quickly followed the directions. Because of confusing directions, it was already a quarter past three.
He went into the main lobby, wherein students were passing by and going in and out of rooms. A gaggle of girls were idly standing by and passed by him, giggling. Harry frowned and looked around to see if Hermione would save him.
He finally caught her strolling down the hall, one arm clutching thick books and animatedly talking to a tanned girl with sleek, brown hair.
"Hermione!" Harry called out.
The brown-haired girl looked in his direction and grinned. "Harry!"
She immediately ran towards him, hugging him and dropping her books.
Harry gratefully returned the hug, smelling her sweet scent of chocolate and butterscotch.
"Harry," Hermione giggled.
"Mmm?" Harry had closed his eyes.
"Harry, let go, silly." She was laughing. It sounded like music to Harry.
Harry let go of her. "It's good to see you again." He said, smiling genuinely.
Harry couldn't help but love being with Hermione. She made him feel normal. She kept him sane and she didn't treat him like he was famous. But then again, she didn't even know he was famous. But still. Hermione was like a sanctuary he would leave to escape reality.
"It's only been a day." She said, picking up her fallen books. Harry squatted to help her, inserting pieces of paper back inside.
"I know, but still." Harry said, jumping up and holding his hand out to help her up. He saw that she was still wearing the ring.
When Hermione caught him staring at her hand, she smiled up at him. "I'm still wearing it, just so you know. It's really quite nice." She looked at it, grinning.
"So you gave Hermione the ring!" A high-pitched voice squealed.
Harry turned her attention to the sleek-haired girl behind Hermione. "Er, yeah. I'm Harry Potter." Harry extended a pale hand.
The girl shook it. "I'm Cassandra Davies. Pleasure to meet you."
"Same here." Harry said, pleasantly.
"Well, we've got class, Harry. Would you want to sit in?" Hermione asked as Harry took her small hand and they walked down a corridor.
"Sure. Can I sit next to you?" He asked, not wanting to be away from her even for a second.
"Of course." Hermione grinned.
"Hermione's been talking about. You've got her positively moony-eyed." Cassandra teased.
Hermione blushed and glared at her friend. "He has not!" cried Hermione, indignantly.
Harry grinned. "Have I? She's done the same to me, you know."
Hermione looked up at him. "Really?"
"Really." Harry replied.
A bell rang and Hermione ran ahead, pulling Harry along with her. "Come on, we're almost late!"
Harry laughed and ran with her as well.
* * *
"It's fine, Harry," said Hermione as they left the university. "I can go visit my mother without an escort."
Harry grinned and adjusted the books he was carrying. Hermione was carrying heavy books home but Harry had insisted on carrying it. After six minutes of arguing, Hermione had relented.
"I want to drop you off," replied Harry, sincerely, "besides, I can get back to Surrey through there."
Hermione had found this very odd since there were no train stations or any mode of transportations to go back to Surrey near her mother's house. But she had decided not to question her new friend.
"Let's go, then. The taxi should be waiting," said Hermione.
It took twenty minutes to reach Hermione's mother's house. "I guess you could use this taxi to get back to Surrey," suggested Hermione, retrieving her books from Harry. "See you tomorrow?"
"Sure. I'll come by around the usual time?" Harry asked, sounding eager.
"You could even go earlier. I'm off at lunchtime tomorrow. Maybe we could head off for lunch?"
Harry nodded. "I'd love to."
"Alright, it's a date. You choose, okay? We can meet at my place then leave from there."
"See you,"
Hermione smiled shyly then did something she's never done before and kissed his cheek. She opened the taxi door and quickly left.
Harry grinned goofily to himself. "Sir?" The driver asked.
"Oh, yeah—um—just head back to London," replied Harry.
The driver was confused since the girl he was with had said he lived in Surrey, but he didn't say anything. Although, he was slightly disappointed his pay wouldn't be very large. Surrey was quite far from where they were.
* * *