When Hermione camped with the gang back in Japan, they used simple tents with canvas and bamboo poles. Something students were expected to erect without magic. Here, Mr Weasley and Charlie simply took out the tents, which popped into place. A larger one for the boys, which made sense, and Hermione bunked with Ginny in the "smaller" one, which while looking like a small fabriced dome from the outside, was nearly the size of the common area in father's living quarters.

"I know about expandable charms," Hermione said looking around the vaulted ceiling and two cots. "But this is—is it cliche if I remark that it's 'bigger on the inside'?"

Ginny stifled a giggle. "Who worries about being a cliche? That's cliche!"

"Give me a break, Gin," Hermione shrugged. "I grew up in a literal dungeon."

"Oh, no!" Ginny grinned. "You don't get to claim that anymore. You've seen more of the world than I have now."

Hermione rolled her eyes and threw her bag onto the unclaimed bunk. "I'll grant you that. Though most of Japan I've seen was also inside a school."

Ginny rolled on to her stomach and propped herself on her elbows, her feet swinging behind her with an expectant grin. "Speaking of Japan..you said Hiro's going to be here?"

Hermione's heart fluttered at the thought, before urgency kicked in. "Let's get the water! If we do it quick enough we might be able to survey the campground and look for them!"

"Hermione!" Ginny whined. "I thought you were the one ready to faint!"

It was Hermione's turn to grin when she threw her bag back over her shoulder. "That, my sweet child, is the power of love!"

"Ugh!" Ginny moaned. "I'm eleven months younger than you!"

Hermione stuck her tongue out and the two girls left the tent ready to retrieve the water.

Despite Hermione's count being interrupted, luck was on their side. Something that seemed impossible when Harry and Ron were sent out with her and Ginny suddenly declined the trip. The stood in line for ages, wizards of all ages debating which team would win in hushed voices. Two older men sat cross-legged on the grass, one admonishing the other for wearing women's clothes, the other stating he enjoyed the breeze. Hermione tried not to giggle, but found it hard to believe a grown man would so loudly announce how he airs out his privates.

She quickly regained her focus, stretching this way and that to try and get a glimpse of Hiro and Kaori. So far nothing, and Hermione was treated to Ron's explanation of every game Bulgaria ever won. Until an excited voice shouted:

"Mione-chan!"

Hermione turned back and found a petite older girl with blond curls waving from three men behind.

"Anya-chan!" Hermione yelled back, delight taking her heart. Of course Kaori would take her girlfriend!

"Stay a while after getting your water!" Anya called, still speaking Japanese. "We'll talk after!"

"Hai!" Hermione proudly announced.

"Who was that?" Ron asked.

"Anya," Hermione smiled. "She's a friend from Mahoukatoro."

"Really?" Ron squinted in Anya's direction. "I'd have thought she was from one of the continental schools. You look more Japanese than she does."

"That's because I'm half-Asian," Hermione sighed. Don't ruin this for me, Ron. "And Anya's a summer transfer student like me. She's from Beaux Batons."

"There are continental schools?" Harry asked, looking at the vast number of school age kids none of them recognised.

"Of course, mate," Ron shrugged. "Did you think it was just Hogwarts and Mahoukatoro? Charlie had a pen friend from a school in Brazil once. Tried to take part in a program like Hermione's, but Mum and Dad couldn't afford it."

Harry looked down, embarrassed. "I reckon it makes sense, I can't believe I never thought of it before."

"There are witches and wizards all over the place, mate!" Ron reiterated, perhaps proud to have known something Harry didn't.

Harry looked around as a palpable realisation dawned on him. Hermione smiled, knowing what it was like to have the world suddenly grow exponentially before her. That sense of wonder and belonging were hard to come by.

"It's odd Ginny's still not feeling well when Hermione's up and about, innit?" Harry mused.

Hermione and Ron exchanged knowing looks and both suppressed laughter. If Ron of all people caught on, how could Harry have not?

Hermione couldn't imagine being so oblivious to such an obvious crush, but she also did suppose that Harry had a hell of a lot more on his mind than girls.

And you should have more on your mind than Hiro and Kaori!

They finished getting the water and Hermione scanned the thick crowd, inhaling deeply and clutching her water bucket close to her. This was muggle Tokyo all over again, there were so many damn people. How could she not have outgrown her fear of crowds by now? Everyone else chatted and laughed, but all Hermione saw around her was a chance to be trampled or judged harshly. Suddenly every lecture her father treated her to on the world's cruelty came to the forefront of her mind.

They have more important things to think about than you! Hermione admonished herself, pushing it down. What is wrong with you? You're nearly fourteen, engaged, grow the fuck up!

"This is incredible!" Harry spun around to take in the view of tiny children flying on toy broomsticks.

Hermione refocused her efforts until she spied what she was looking for. Hiro stood by a tree, his untidy black hair rustling in the soft breeze and laughing at a joke, until his hazel eyes found hers, and suddenly the crowds fell away.

"Yo!" Hiro waved her over. "Mi-chan!"

"Hiro-kun!" Hermione's heart fluttered, giving her feet wings as she ran as fast as she could without spilling the water.

Hermione barely had time to set her bucket at her feet when Hiro threw his arms around her, the two looked into each other's eyes. Hiro lowered his face to hers, and Hermione rose to her tiptoes when a sudden coughing brought them back to the moment.

"Plan on introducing us then?" Ron asked, his ears turning pink.

"Right!" Hermione turned on her heel and stood at attention. "Ron, Harry, this is Hiro, you've met Anya. And—" Hermione's cheeks flushed as she realised she'd forgotten about Kaori, who stood by Anya stifling a giggle, along with Miyuki and Saiyaka, furiously cleaning her glasses.

"Kaori, Hiro's older sister, and this is Saiyaka!" Hermione happily hugged each before gesturing to them."Oh! Tomodachi Harry-kun desu, Ron-kun desu," she indicated Harry and Ron to the group.

"Ohayo!" Hiro, Kaori and Saiyaka bowed to an awkward reception and Anya giggling.

Hermione bit her lip. This was great, in some ways too good to be true, but it wasn't without apprehension. Hogwarts and Mahoukatoro were always separate worlds in her mind, and she wasn't sure how she felt about her at home mingling with her life in Japan.

"You know I speak English, right?" Anya said, in English. "And Miyuki here's almost fluent."

Hermione slapped her forehead. "Of course you do! I feel so thick!"

"It's okay," Miyuki smiled.

"Where are you set up?" Saiyaka asked in Japanese. "We can set our tents up close together!"

Harry inched closer to Ron and whispered. "Do you reckon we should leave them to catch up?"

"Dunno," Ron shrugged.

Hermione turned back to face her British friends, she knew how awful being left out was. She smiled and picked up the water. "It's alright, we'll probably run into each other later and should get back with the water. I-is it—erm—okay if they set up camp next to us?"

Harry looked them over and turned to Ron. "I don't reckon it's my–erm–place to say."

Ron folded his arms over his chest and looked away. "I reckon it's up to Dad."

"Figure what's up to me?" a kind older voice asked.

They all saw Mr Weasley smiling kindly at the lot of them, adjusting his glasses. Hermione bit her lip and clasped her water bucket tightly to her, unsure how to ask. She imagined how her own father would react to the question—but Mr Weasley was kinder, wasn't he—and—

A sudden thought wave hit Hermione and she gestured to each of them. "These are my friends from back in Japan, Mr Weasley. Hiro and Kaori Yamato are the grandchildren of Headmaster Yamato, Anya's an exchange student from Germany—-"

"Kaori's girlfriend!" Anya volunteered, taking the taller beautiful girl's hand.

"Oh, erm," Mr Weasley chuckled uncomfortably. "I think that means something different in English, Anya."

"I know what it means,sir."

Hermione smiled at the two and tried not to be jealous of Anya's boldness. She certainly would have been in Gryffindor! "And this is Miyuki Hitoromi, a halfblood from Tokyo, and Saiyaka Okasha, a muggle born from Okinawa."

"A muggleborn and Halfblood, from Japan!" Mr Weasley gasped. "Oh girls, I have so many questions! Say, where are your parents? Maybe we could set our tents up closer together!"

Saiyaka backed up and squeaked, overwhelmed by the older man's excitement, turning pink. Hermione translated for the poor girl, and Saiyaka still nervously played with her twin plaits, but did seem less frightened, while Miyuki was thrilled to be the centre of attention.

Anya piped up as Hermione translated: "Headmaster Yamato couldn't come with us, so we're on our own. But I'm of age, and Kaori's of age while in Europe."

Mr Weasley tutted, almost mimicking his wife before directing his offer at Miyuki and Anya. "Oh, no, that won't do! You kids should be with someone. Why don't you set up next to us?"

"Erm," Ron spoke from the corner of his mouth,but Hermione could hear him. "You might not want to do that. Hiro is Hermione's boyfriend. They might—you know!"

"Nonsense," Mr Weasley dismissed this. "It's not like they'll be bunking together, will you Hermione?"

"O-of course not, sir!" Hermione lowered her head.

"See? Nothing to worry about."

After a million and one questions translated and answers translated by a blushing Hermione holding Hiro's hand, Ginny's dad was pleased enough and they were free to hit the market booths with what little pocket money he could afford.

Ginny eyed Hermione and Hiro joking together jealously. The boy stood head and shoulders above her, and made her giggle demurely at jokes Ginny didn't understand. Hiro Yamato smiled easily and shrugged casually. He was maybe fifteen or sixteen? Like Harry, he seemed cool, and very handsome.

How'd Hermione ever manage to get a bloke like him? Ginny didn't like thinking such mean things, and she knew Hermione wasn't as ugly as everyone claimed, but she wasn't a great beauty either. Bushy hair, overlong front teeth, and a bottom lip shredded by said teeth, and doll-like eyes that, while pretty, reminded Ginny of a sad animal on the verge of a complete breakdown. Surely if she had a chance with someone like Hiro, Ginny should stand one with Harry, shouldn't she?

"Tell me you don't fancy that git, too, do you?" Ron whispered in her ear.

Ginny forced a smirk and flipped her hair coolly. "The way you were staring at him, I thought you did! Not that either of us have a chance, he's asked her to marry him!"

Ron's eyes bulged out of his head and his eyes burned scarlet. He clenched his fists and glared at the two smiling as Hermione rose to her tiptoes to place her red and gold scarf around Hiro's neck. Her older brother huffed and stomped off to rejoin Harry.

Oh, I think I fucked up, didn't I? Whatever, he won't remember if Bulgaria wins.

Before her dad let them go free, they ran into a middle-aged man with broad shoulders with fair hair and rosy skin. He smiled at her dad and waved at them. Ginny noticed as he waved that he had very muscular arms that contrasted with the beer gut that appeared to be forming.

"Really let himself go after the accident, didn't he?" George asked Fred.

"Reckon I would too," Fred shrugged. "Rather fancy my vertebrae where they are, you know."

George was the one to blush now, looking at his mucked up trainers. "Yeah…"

"Blimey, Arthur!" the man called. "Are these all yours?"

Ginny's dad wrapped an arm around her and Ron's shoulders, smiling, but Ginny recognised the exhausted narrowing of his eyes and the protectiveness of the arms around his two youngest children. "Just the redheads, Ludo."

"Oh! Right!" he chuckled. "The ginger brood, how could I forget? Here I thought you adopted another lot from 't blame you, knowing what they do to girls there."

Hermione and Miyuki glared at the man while the rest of the Japanese lot whispered to each other nervously. Anya translated and more eyes shot daggers at the man.

"Kids, this is Ludo Bagman," he introduced him to them. "He was the best beater in the Wasps' history. Ludo here even played for England during the last World Cup. He's the Head of Sports and Games now."

"Erm, nice to meet you, erm, sir," Harry squirmed after a silence.

If Ginny thought Hermione and Luna had giant eyes, Ludo Bagman proved her wrong when he noticed who spoke to him.

"Blimey!" he gushed. "You must be Harry Potter! I never thought I'd see you in person! Do you ever look like your father! We played Quidditch together, you know? Great man, terrible shame. But you, my boy, are just brilliant!"

"Erm," now Harry turned pink. "Thanks?"

Cool and modest, Ginny mused. What do I have to do to be more than your best friend's little sister? She looked back at Hermione and Hiro, wishing desperately she could have that with Harry.

"Harry?" a voice called in near disbelief.

Hermione rose to her tiptoes to see it was Dean Thomas that called him over. The tall, Black boy was almost unrecognisable, having hit a growth spurt at some point over the summer, and usually close-cropped black hair curling upwards. He smiled at the lot of them.

"I know you're famous and all, but didn't think you were this popular with the girls," Dean chuckled.

"Actually, they're—erm—Hermione's friends from Japan," Harry said.

"Bit more popular over there than in Britain then?" Seamus Finnegan asked, grey eyes coming over the group.

Hermione let go over Hiro's hand to clasp hers together before her. "I–erm—actually met them all through Hiro."

"Mione-chan is too modest!" Miyuki skipped up to the group and introduced herself along with the others, throwing a friendly arm around her shoulders, and another around Hiro's.

"Do you even need to ask?" Seamus brandished a green flag bearing a golden harp when Harry asked who Seamus and Dean were rooting for.

"Bugger off with that!" Dean gave Seamus a playful shove. "You're more Irish than those leprechauns on the pitch, aren't you?"

Seamus grinned up at Dean. "Maybe I like being a stereotype. Should wear a shirt that says 'kiss me, I'm Irish', I should!"

"Only one kissing you is your mother!" Dean teased.

"I heard that!" a slender woman with shoulder length black hair and Seamus's grey eyes exited the tent, with a playful smile. "If y—" her expression changed as her eyes fell on Harry and the rest of them. "You must be Harry Potter. And Ron Weasley, yeah? Seamus has written about the loads of mischief you've done. Heard you saved the school a few times, did ya?"

Harry's cheeks blushed as he looked away and Ron, with his ears burning scarlet, seemed torn between standing taller and shrinking, before settling on the former, beaming. Hermione was similarly torn, but for her it was the desire to stay obscure or to cry out that she was there too.

It doesn't matter…Hermione clasped her hands before her, trying to suppress her anger. It's fine.

"Are you okay?" Hiro asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

Hermione flashed a smile at him with a nod. "Just thinking. These are my classmates—or—erm—technically kohai, I guess, since I was advanced. The tall one is Dean Thomas, and the shorter one is Seamus Finnegan."

"You didn't mention you had so many friends from—-" Mrs Finnegan paused in thought. "Japanese or Hawaiian? Liam—Seamus's dad—taught English in both before Seamus was born, but I only visited."

Anya, Miyuki and Hermione all answered at the same time, Hermione stumbling over her words, Miyuki beaming and Anya shrugging. Miyuki then bowed, and Hermione lowered her eyes as well before adding "Mrs Finnegan, Ma'am."

"Mrs Finnegan is my mother-in-law," she scoffed with an eye roll (Seamus and Dean covered their mouths and exchanged laughter. "Call me Niamh. And you can stop laughing," she grinned, resting her elbow on Seamus's head and sticking her tongue out.

"Mam!" Seamus nearly whined.

"Oh, fine!" Niamh feigned a sigh. "I'll go get some firewood and embarrass you later, mo bhuachaill beag!"

"Mam!"

"I'm gone, you can tell me about the pretty girls when I get back!"

Niamh left the lot of them and Seamus grew pink at being called a little boy, though Hermione was happy to see other parents of kids her age couldn't seem to refrain from it.

"Is it just you two and your mum?" asked Harry after Seamus's skin returned to its typical milky shade.

"Well," Seamus said with a shrug. "Da's a muggle, so he wouldn't be allowed even if he wanted to go."

"That's awful," Hermione commented to a nod from Hiro, Kaori and Sayaka.

"I hate the statute of secrecy," Anya nodded.

"We have one in Japan too," Miyuki said. "I think Papa would have loved this if he was allowed to see it."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Quidditch would be wasted on my 'perfectly normal' aunt and uncle. My cousin too. I'm glad they don't get to see this," he gestured to the encampment.

Hermione opened her mouth to argue but remembered how disrupted she felt when her father and Remus suddenly showed up in Japan. It wasn't as if she owned the Japanese wizarding world, yet she savoured her time there as a little secret world. Even now, with her hand in Hiro's, something felt wrong about the worlds colliding. And if the Dursleys were as awful as Harry said, he had even more reason to want that separation than she did from her father.

"My mum and David would like to see it too," Dean said, watching the wizarding families bonding around small fires.

"David?" Ron asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Stepdad, both of them are muggles," he answered.

"What about your dad?" Ron pressed.

Dean narrowed his eyes at Ron before dropping his shoulders as if this were a question he were tired of answering. Seamus placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it with a reassuring smile.

"I never knew my dad," he said. "Probably a muggle too, but could be a wizard. I'll never know. Mum married David when I was five, and he's great."

Your father and my mother have a lot in common, Hermione thought bitterly of the woman who walked out on her, while also admiring Dean for having a life so well put together. They were both abandoned, yet Dean functioned. Though she wondered how much the constant wondering hurt him. She ventured to give him an understanding smile, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Sorry, mate," Ron's ears burned scarlet. "I-erm–didn't know."

"Well, you didn't ask ever, did ye?" Seamus glared at him.

Hermione stepped between Ron and Seamus, clasping her hands once more and mentally counting in triples. "Ron's never been good with absent parents, Seamus. He–erm–he's said all sorts of—erm—I–he doesn't know any better."

"Hermione!" Ron groaned before moving her aside.

Hiro moved beside her, pulling into his arms.

Dean rolled his eyes then straightened his back. "It's not a big deal, honest. Ancient history! Prehistoric even!"

"So!" Anya clapped her hands after Kaori whispered something in her ear. "Who are you rooting for–erm–Dean?"

"Oh, I—" Dean's eyes scanned the crowd, perhaps hoping for an easy answer. The Weasleys clad in a strange mix of orange and green, that given the host country may have seemed disastrous. Ron stood apart, decked solely in orange, and Ginny in her green sundress. "Ireland, I definitely–erm–-want Ireland to win."

Seamus knit his black eyebrows in confusion and stared at Dean. "Really? I thought you said you didn't–" he turned to follow Dean's gaze and flushed a violent pink, before averting his eyes. "Nevermind."

Hermione thought back to a conversation she walked in on while she was trying to get through the castle unseen. Seamus ventured into adopting a kitten before agreeing to an owl at Dean's suggestion. The way he gripped Dean's shoulder, and now the way he flushed and fell at Dean's interest in Ginny's team of choice. Do you have a crush on Dean? And Dean it seems…

Hermione then turned her gaze to Miyuki, who never seemed to miss a beat in the romance department, and wondered if she were fantasising about matchmaking Seamus and Dean, or Ginny and Dean.

Hiro smiled down at Hermione, also noticing his sister's best friend's smirk. The fact that Miyuki's meddling brought them together last summer wasn't lost on either of them. She was so grateful it did, and that despite Hermione's many faults, she and Hiro just worked.

She leaned her head against Hiro's chest, grateful that she and Hiro had it all figured out.

Harry felt as he did when he first entered Diagon Alley with Hagrid as he passed the dozens of stalls, each peddling their wares. Items that still brought a sense of fascination, like the green florette Ginny bought that projected a cheeky, dancing leprechaun, refilling water bottles that tasted of whatever the drinker desired, and colourful displays of that mingled with the purple twilight below the tree line. Children whizzed around on toy broomsticks and cast "spells" with toy wands, squealing in delight. He swore he could feel the magic coursing through him with every delighted laugh, and fantastic display.

This time, it was better. The Weasleys and Hermione, along with her friends from Japan, followed along, sharing in the awe. The smell of the pines blowing in the breeze, the shouting and laughter with playful shoving and the grand displays were all things he thought Dudley with his friends would get while he watched from the shadows. How happy he was to be wrong as he let the sun bathe him while his friends laughed around him.

Fred and George stopped at a particularly shady booth with an old wizard and none other than Ludo Bagman lurking over the other side.

"I'll bet Bulgaria wins the game," Bagman said, "A Seeker like Krum, Ireland has no chance."

Fred smirked and sidled up to the broad shouldered man. "My brother and I disagree."

George turned out his pockets with a staggering number of galleons. "Between the two of us, 38 galleons says Ireland wins the game."

"But Bulgaria takes the snitch."

Bagman's eyes bulged nearly out of his head at the sight of the flashing gold, and Harry swore he could see pound signs in his eyes.

"I'm the head of Sports and Games, m' laddo," he averted his gaze. "I can't just take your pocket money, young man."

George had an answer to this as well, a sly smile to match his brother's. "I know, Mr Bagman, but Fred and I are nearly of age."

"You twist my arm, laddie," he shook George's hand, not looking half as torn as he claimed.

Hermione released Hiro's hand, for what Harry thought was the first time since they hit the stalls, and crept up to Fred, standing on her tip-toes to whisper something to him.

Fred nodded and gave Hermione a pamphlet and she examined it, biting her lower lip as she ran what Harry could only imagine were countless calculations. Deep in thought, she ignored Saiyaka's attempts to gain her attention, while Hiro smiled in admiration at her.

"Yatta!" Hermione squeaked, before bashfully turning her eyes down. She tugged on Fred's sleeve, who bent to let her whisper in his ear.

Fred smirked before taking a fistful of galleons from Hermione."My little friend here suggests we up the ante. She'll add nine galleons to the pool, making it forty-eight. Reckons Ireland wins 170 to 160. If she's right, triple the pot."

Ludo Bagman shifted uncomfortably, perhaps fourteen was too young for him to gamble with? Harry wondered what Hermione was playing at, but watched nonetheless fascinated.

"And what's your name, girly?"he asked.

"No Engrishu," Hermione blinked up at him.

Miyuki shuffled forward and bowed to the man, speaking in heavily accented English. "Harumi-chan is my small sister. We stay with the Weasleys. Our English is not so good."

Fred tried to hide a smirk while George took over. "Harumi and Miyuki's parents are muggles in Japan. Penfriend of Ginny's, so the extra tickets we got went to them. No one will ever know if you took her deal."

A huge, shit-eating grin appeared on Ludo Bagman's face, and Harry now thought his eyes twinkled at the prospect of all the money he could earn from, what he assumed was, a little foreign girl who spoke no English.

"Tell your little friend that I accept her terms."

He didn't know what kind of money Hermione had access to,but he did know that what the twins offered was very likely, all they had, saved up for a long time. If they lost it, he didn't know how long it would take them to likely had nothing to lose if she did.

Damn it, Hermione, I hope you know what you're doing.

Hermione fell back into her knot of Japanese students taking Hiro's hand again. She whispered and they all laughed before rejoining the rest of the group. Once Bagman was out of sight, he noticed Miyuki and Hermione high-five and laugh hysterically..

"What was that?" Harry asked.

Hermione flipped her hair and grinned. "Bagman has a well documented gambling issue, and he called you lot Mr Weasley's 'ginger brood'. Assumed we were Chinese, and that all—racist... If anyone earned being conned, it's him."

Ron nodded but narrowed his eyes. "But 170 to 160's rather specific, innit?"

Hermione nodded. "The maths work. I got to look at each of the player's numbers. Krum seems to be a star Seeker, but the rest of the team is less—erm—stellar. Ireland's team all seem to be rather consistent. Adjusting for a margin of err—"

"Ugh, forget I asked," Ron groaned. "I'd say I'd hope you didn't just lose Fred and George all their money, but I reckon they did that when they voted against Bulgaria."

Anya and Miyuki translated for the Japanese lot, and Ginny, completely decked out in green, stayed silent between the twins. The latter of whom could not stop grinning.

"Nani kore?" Hiro asked, looking at various sets of strange, multi-lensed goggles.

"Sugoi!" Sayaka cried rushing to his side. She went on to describe the item as Hiro shifted through the lenses.

"Eee? Yabai!" Hermione cried with excitement. "They're omnioculars! They'lll let you view things at a slower pace," Hermione explained to Harry. "The balls, the players, they'll all move very quickly. You can also replay moments. All referees wear them. Saiyaka says the muggle equivalent is—erm—instant replay? And a Slo-Mo camera?"

"I know what a high speed camera is, Hermione," Harry sighed, but tried on a pair.

Saiyaka nodded before turning back to the table and flipping through the different settings.

Harry watched amazed as the world around him slowed to a crawl. The bustle of the market now appeared in readable, exquisite detail. He went around zooming in here and there. He noticed small things, the shiny shamrocks in Ginny's flaming hair, cherry blossoms hidden in Hermione's bushy locks, a constellation eerily close to the Big Dipper on Ron's face from his freckles, Fred had a chipped canine tooth where George didn't, and way, way behind them, Mr Weasley drank pints with his elder sons, all three laughing happily.

"Ron, mate!" Harry called. "Check this out! These things are incredible!"

Ron eagerly ran up to him grinning. He tried the goggles and grinned widely. "These are gonna be fantastic to watch the game in! We could see everything, mate!" Ron's grin grew even wider and he turned his gaze to the Japanese lot and Hermione. He wondered briefly if it was Miyuki or Kaori he eyed, both girls being gorgeous, almost as pretty as Cho.

"Oi!" the old witch at the booth said. "If you're going to use them to perv on foreign girls, you'll have to buy them."

Ron's ears turned near scarlet. "I wasn't doing that!"

"Sure you weren't. Hope one of them speaks English or Irish so I can warn them," she spat.

"Whatever," he grumbled. "How much are they?"

"Ten galleons," the witch said.

Ron turned out his pockets with a sickle left over, a dancing Victor Krum action figure, and the orange rosettes he bought to outnumber Ginny's green ones clearly marked where his money went. And, in truth, he hadn't had the money before then anyway.

Ron's ears burned scarlet and he handed the omnioculars back, more ashamed to be poor than he was when the witch caught him peeking at the girls.

The damage was done, and Harry couldn't undo Ron's shame, but he might have been able to soothe it. He decided to take out the money needed. If he bought one for Hermione too, he could pretend that it wasn't just because he was poor.

"Don't hand it back, Ron," he said, dropping thirty galleons. "I'll take three. The 'foreign girls' over there are our friends, the short one's is about as foreign as I am."

"An English boy in Ireland?" the witch blinked. "You are."

Warmth flooded Harry's face and he turned to look at his feet. He didn't really think of the fact that the isle across the sea was another country, not just another British Isle. Torn between shame and the indignity of being called out, Harry quietly handed the gold over, taking the goggles, for once that night, happy that Hermione was too swooning over Hiro to pay attention. If she did, she would have never let him hear the end of it.

Harry craned his neck to see them near the end of the booth, Hermione with a flower topped purple pen that matched Kaori's, both eagerly scribbling down on a note-pad. He smirked wondering how happy they were to have muggle pens and paper. He hated to admit it, but as cool as quills and parchment were, he missed how easy pens were to use.

"Hey, Hermione!" Ron shouted."Think you can unglue yourself from your fiance for a second?"

Hermione did weave through her friends on the other end of the table, after whispering something in Hiro's ear, but she glared at Ron the whole time. Hermione opened her mouth, but then looked at Harry, Ginny and the twins before rolling her eyes and simply sighing: "What is it,Ron?"

Ron's ears burned scarlet and he looked down at the set of goggles in his hand. Harry wondered if he wanted to get a rise out of her. It would have explained the embarrassed disappointment, but Harry, too, was surprised Hermione neither treated him to hissed remarks or put her head down in her own embarrassment. Instead, she acted normal.

"Erm—Harry—bought us omnioculars, aren't they cool?"

Hermione blinked in confusion and clasped her hands, staring at the lenses in Harry's hand. "Harry, that's—erm—I can't–I can't accept that. I-it's too much. Wh-why—thank you, but I–erm–I can't."

"No refunds, girly!" the old witch called from her booth. "Consider it an apology from the ginger!"

"Consider it, what?" Hermione's eyes darted between him and Ron. "Ron, what did you–"

"Oh," the witch cackled. "Fancied he'd get himself a glimpse o—"

"Oi," Ron snapped. "D'you have extendable ears too? Private conversation over here!"

Miyuki didn't seem to understand 'private' as she translated the whole interaction to Hiro and the other Japanese girls, Anya simply hooting with laughter along with Ginny and the twins.

"Do they understand any English," Ron grumbled.

"Hiro does a bit," Hermione mused, "but seemed to be shamed out of it when my oh-so-concerned father had a conversation with him. One neither of them will tell me about...Prat."

"Reckon I can claim the same next time he calls on me in class?" Harry laughed.

"Serves you right," Ron said. "Marriage? You're both mad, complete nutters"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You sound like my father."

"I do not!" Ron cried.

"You kind of do, mate," Harry sighed. "And Hermione, the omnioculars are for the Herald. Dumbledore wanted you to report on this, yeah? Reckon it'll be better if you can see. Might even start featuring matches in the school paper again."

"Erm–yeah–thanks," she took them with an awkward bow.

An announcement boomed over the stalls.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the match will proceed in five minutes. Please proceed to the stands."

"Right," Fred announced. "To the balcony!"

"Let the games begin!" George beamed pointing in the direction of the stands.

Harry followed, hardly believing his luck. This was going to be the best night of his life.