Chapter Nine
Hogsmede weekend was finally here and Hermione and Neville were walking down together. "Professor Sprout suggested I get a Flutterbye bush and I also want to pick up a Squill flower as well." Neville said reading over his list as they walked. "Didn't you mention needing some pesticides as well?" Hermione asked. Neville nodded and quickly scrawled it onto his list. "My Mimbulus could use a new pot as well but that's not super-"
"Hermione! Neville! Wait up!" A voice interrupted. The two students turned and found Harry waving as he weaved through the crowd towards them. "Harry!" Hermione said surprised. He finally made it to them and took a second to catch his breath. "Mind... if I... join you?" Harry asked between breaths. "Of course not!" Neville answered. Hermione looked at him confused, "Aren't you going with Ginny?" She asked. Not it was Harry's turn to look confused, "Why would I be?"
"She asked you to go with her, didn't she?" Harry shook his head. "No she didn't." Hermione was still very confused, Ginny wasn't the type to chicken out. "Well, like Neville said, of course you can join us."
The trio finished the walk to the village together. Once in the village they mutually decided to stop at Honeydukes first. Harry got a Chocolate Frog, Neville got a handful of Licorice Wands, and Hermione got a Cauldron Cake. After purchasing their sweets they made their way to Dervish and Bangs. Harry needed to get some phials for Potions since he had gotten rid of all of his at the end of fifth year.
"Can we head to Deathcap now?" Neville asked as they exited the shop. Hermione laughed lightly "Yes, let's go." She said. Neville took off towards the shop and Harry and Hermione followed. Neville managed to spend an hour in the store browsing the shelves before settling on two plants he intended to buy originally and a Fanged Geranium that was on sale.
With Neville's new plants in tow the trio decided to stop at The Three Broomsticks for lunch. They sat at a table with their Butterbeers and waited for their food. The door chimed and a couple walked in. "Is that Ginny? With Dean?" Neville asked. Hermione's head snapped up and sure enough it was. The two walked in arm in arm. Ginny was laughing at something Dean had said. Hermione looked over to Harry and saw obvious hurt in his eyes. The young couple sat close together at a table in the back of the pub. Harry continued to watch them only pulling his eyes away when Hermione squeezed his hand. Their food came quickly and they ate then left.
The walk back to the castle was silent. Harry walked a few steps behind the other two and kept his head down the whole time. Once they back in the castle she pulled Harry to the side. "We'll come back to the common room in a bit." She said to Neville. "That's fine, I'm heading down to the greenhouse anyway." Hermione proceeded to pull Harry through the halls. He dragged his feet and whined the entire time. Finally they made it to Astronomy tower. "Alright, what's your problem?" She asked. Harry shrugged "I don't have a problem." Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You've been moping since lunch. What's up?" Harry sat down and sighed, "I don't know, I guess just..." He paused. "I guess seeing Gin with someone else just got to me." Hermione sat down next to him, "I just don't understand, she told me she was going to ask you to go with her." Harry looked sheepish and refused to meet her eyes. "She may have tried, and I might have brushed her off a few times." He said quietly. "What do you mean you brushed her off?!" Hermione asked. "She kept trying to talk to me after practice, I just thought it was Quidditch related and I said I'd get back to her. I guess I forgot." Hermione shook her head. "I didn't realize how much I wanted to be with her until I saw her with Dean."
"Well that's kinda your own fault," Hermione said. Harry's shoulders fell, he knew she was right. "Look, I don't thing Ginny and Dean are a long term thing. Just wait it out, and when they break up make your move." Harry just nodded. "You made her wait six years, you can wait a few months."
A/N Happy Friday! A new chapter for you! Hope you enjoy! Please please please review! Even if it's bad, as long as its constructive I love hearing from you guys.