O.O.S: I love my reviewers for inspiring me. You are all very wonderful… :] Keep it up and I will try to do the same. :D

B.I.S:

Disclaimer: I do not own anything created by the amazing mind of J.K. Rowling. The phrase 'fuck my life' is appropriate to be said after said statement. :P

Rating: T for totally Shrek the third. Sorry guys, taking a while to get to the true rating. My apologizes. (There are some 'F' bombs though for good measure… :D)

Stolen

Chapter 5:

The Giant Muffin

Harry's P.O.V.:

To be honest, I had never been a coffee fan.

Thanks to Hermione, I could hardly go without it after that day.

After we had left the train station, Hermione and I had let off to Ron that I was just 'taking her home', so we were clear to be on our own. I felt pretty dodgy lying to my best friend, but I could tell that Hermione needed it.

What's one lie when it comes to help one of your best friends? Just another lie. Though, truthfully, there were other things that I had wanted to find out.

My curious interest in Hermione was both irresistible and terrible.

I couldn't have turned it down.

I was eager for a new discovery.

Once we were free from the Weasleys, Hermione proudly led the way to her secret coffee shop. Within a few minutes of walking side by side, we came across the 'hidden treasure' as she called it. The name of the place was 'Three Magic Beans'. She commented on the irony and wittiness and I had to agree, it was clever. Outer appearance wise, the building looked like nothing too special, but she swore I wouldn't be disappointed.

I trusted her.

Taking my arm in hers, she pulled me into the small building to taste the 'magical' coffee. Inside the shop, it was a little nicer than I had thought it would be, and bigger. Thanks to a charm no doubt. All in all, I did like it. Stepping up to the counter, I noticed a scrawny gray haired man with large glasses standing at the register. Once laying his eyes on Hermione, instantly his whole face brightened.

"Hermione!" he greeted her. "How are you doing today?"

"Great Sam, how about yourself?" her smile was sparkling.

"I'm just fine thanks. Had a busy morning though…" Sam wiped his brow as if to mime wiping sweat away. Hermione's gentle laughter floated into the air. Turning to me, the man's eyes widened. "Ah! So I finally meet the boyfriend I am guessing? Ron is it?"

"Oh-… Erm." I began uncomfortably. "No, actually… I'm-."

"No Sam… This is Harry." Hermione explained with a laugh. "We're, friends."

"Oh, my apologizes! How embarrassing…" Sam shook his head looking a bit ashamed. Looking up at me again, the large eyes behind his big glasses widened even more, if that was possible... "You're not Harry Potter are you son?"

It was really hard to go anywhere near other wizards without being noticed.

I had forgotten how much I had hated it.

"Yeah, I am." I let my hand run through my hair with a nervous laugh. Being away from the magic world for so long, I had almost forgotten that people knew me.

"Well bust my buttons!" Sam exclaimed, reaching a feeble hand across his small counter. "Pleasure to meet you son!"

Taking his hand, I gave it a shake.

"Nice to meet you too Sam." I replied with a quick glance at Hermione. Meeting those pretty eyes with my own, she looked apologetic. I winked at her softly as to tell her it was alright.

"You are a remarkable young man my boy," Sam commented, taking his hand away. "and you have a wonderful taste in girls." he pointed to Hermione.

I couldn't stop the hotness in my face.

"Thanks." I said with a smile. "Hermione's great." I found myself starring at her and I couldn't look away. I had meant what I had said.

Though, I didn't know what meant.

I didn't get myself to look away until Sam's voice interrupted my miniature trance.

"Well, coffee on the house for you two today!" he exclaimed, going underneath the counter and retrieving two cups of coffee and I was sure the biggest muffin I had ever seen. I had to be the size of a basketball.

"Oh Sam… You mustn't." Hermione tried to object.

"Hermione, you are my best costumer and your friend isn't just any other ordinary young man."

"Sam, I really am not all that special." I added. "I don't need any special attention. I don't need perks for how my life turned out."

"You sure are humble, aren't you son?" Sam shook his head with a soft smile. "He's a good boy Hermione, keep him at your side."

"I plan on it." she said. I looked to her, but I couldn't meet her eyes. I wished I could have seen them right then. I wished I could have seen maybe what I was feeling.

But that was stupid.

Completely…stupid.

"As humble as you are my son, I must insist." he pushed the coffee towards us again. "Now go sit down before you torture an old man's mind." Giving us a wink, he turned away and walked into a back room.

I heard Hermione sigh as she reached out and took our coffee.

"He's about as stubborn as Ron." I joked, reaching forward, picking up the large muffin. It was so big, I nearly had to use two hands to carry it.

Hermione let out a little snort of laughter.

"You have no fucking idea."

Leading the way, she sat us down on a small table near a window that had a clear view of London. So clear, it almost felt like there wasn't a piece of glass separating the space between outside and inside.

"He charms the windows." she said, looking out of the one near by. "He's brilliant really… And no one suspects of him being anything other than a normal Muggle."

"He's definitely smart if he likes you." I said, setting down the giant pastry, trying to find her eyes. Though, once again, she didn't look at me.

"Shut it Harry." she replied with a smirk on her lips as she took to putting cream in her coffee.

"What?" I asked, feeling my face get a little hot again. "It's true you know. Only the intelligent, good people like you Hermione. The ones that don't are bloody trols."

She laughed again. I liked this soft airy noise. It was almost calming to hear her laugh and see her smile.

Glancing up at me, she squinted her eyes.

"Well, that makes anyone who hates you completely mental if the ones who don't like me are trols."

"Is that right?" I reached over and took some sugar to put in my own cup. "And why is that?"

We were in a starring contest of some kind now.

Neither one of us wanted to look anywhere else.

"Harry, you're basically-…" she stopped suddenly and removed her eyes from my own down to her coffee. "Erm…"

"Basically what?" I asked, trying my hardest to meet her eyes again, but it was impossible. She wouldn't let me back in.

"A hero of the world." she said, putting a fake smile on her face. This wasn't her smile… "Come on, you saved all the good people in magic world. That makes you pretty saint-like by default."

"Ha." I snorted, trying to keep the conversation going, for I knew that is what she wanted. "Right, how could I forget… Must have left my fucking halo at home." I smiled at her, enjoying my own self made irony.

"What are we to do without it?" she began, returning to her normal self as she took a sick of her coffee.

"Not sure… Possibly we will need to start eating this giant muffin. I am sure this thing has some divine power. It's fucking huge." I said, laughing at the whopping thing. Hermione joined in the laughter, covering her inner self with perfect ease.

Finally finding her eyes, I looked deeply into them.

I had wanted to know what she was going to say.

I had wanted her to let me in.

I had wanted to know what she was feeling right then.

I had wanted to be near her more often…

"Can we do this again?" I asked suddenly. I looked at her, feeling my desires apparent in my eyes, but I wasn't sure if she could see them. "Regularly?"

I waited for her to process the information in her head. My heartbeat was rising to my ears when I saw her smile.

"I'd like that." she said with a nod.

Everything was out on the table and I could feel something between us right then, and it wasn't just the giant muffin.

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