Chapter 56: Invite!

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"Yes, you big oaf!"

I scoop her up into a bear hug and squeeze her just as firmly as she squeezes me. Her arms might be thin but they're deceptively strong. "You already know I love you."

I set her down after a minute and Harry wraps her in his own hug. It's quiet, but I hear him speak. "I love you too, Hermione."

Hermione chokes down a sob and I can't help but smile as I wipe the tears threatening to leak out of my eyes. When they finally break apart, Hermione tries for several moments to dry her face using her sleeves.

We resume walking silently, Harry and Hermione holding hands while I have Hermione's other arm locked in mine.

"You were right about one thing, William," Harry says after some time. "Her hair does smell really nice."

Hermione shakes her head, but she can't hide the smile that ruins her feeble attempt at indignation.

I grin. "Told ya so! Though I am a bit disappointed, Harry. You should have gone for a kiss on the cheek, too. She would have let you."

"Ugh, not now, Moment Ruiner," Hermione says with false sincerity.

"I know, I know, I just implied that it was too late."

"Maybe not," she says, then leans over and pecks Harry on the cheek, surprising him and making him blush.

"Way to go, Harry!" I say, clapping him on the back. I let them both blush for a short while before I speak up again. 

"Although, I'm feeling left out now. I mean, I kissed Hermione, she kissed you...so come on, Harry, get over here. It's only fair to complete the cycle. Which cheek do you want?" I squeeze them both while Hermione starts giggling uncontrollably. 

"I'd say my right cheek is slightly softer than my left. Or there's my forehead, I guess, but my hair won't smell as good as hers."

"You're an odd bloke, William," Harry says. "An odd bloke."

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The next week goes by rather smoothly. Hermione figures out how to cast muffliato and shares it with Harry, so either of them can escape the whispers either when they're alone or together without me. 

Harry still gets some grief in Divination on Monday while Hermione and I are in Arithmancy, but he keeps his anger in check admirably.

Daphne and I share a few glances, but I'm too busy training with Harry and working on my runic ward stones to offer to meet with her. Hermione and I push Harry to learn the Summoning Charm that we, quite conveniently, covered last week in Charms class. 

It occurs to me that I might offer an alternative solution to getting past the dragon, but he completes the Task faster than the other Champions in canon so I figure I should probably let him go with his plan from canon, assuming Moody/Crouch still gives him the hint.

On second thought, maybe I ought to go ahead and give him the hint myself. On third thought, maybe I should give him some extra ideas so he doesn't take a massive dragon tail spike to the shoulder.

"What do you guys think about Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Hermione asks, looking up from her Friday morning edition of the Daily Prophet.

"I could use a break from training," Harry admits.

"I'm looking forward to checking it out," I say. "There's a bookstore, right?"

Hermione's face lights up. "Tomes and Scrolls, yes! We'll definitely go there!"

"Ugh," Harry says, "didn't I just say I could use a break?"

"Oh I'm sure it'll be fun, Harry," Hermione says.

"We don't have to stay long, for Harry's sake. I figure at the very least we'll try to find some obscure books they have and see if the Room can produce them," I say.

"That's brilliant, William!"

"We'll have to get the titles of a good number to check. It won't be a perfect experiment, but it should be interesting enough. How about a clothes shop?"

Hermione frowns. "The only one I know of is Gladrags, but I think they're more for formal witch wear. I haven't been there, so I don't know what kind of stuff they'd have for you."

"Mm, probably not good for me, then."

Hermione turns away and lifts the paper to try and hide her pained expression.

"I've heard fun things about Zonko's, though," I say with a grin in Harry's direction.

"Now you're talking!" Harry says, sitting up excitedly.

"Oh, no," Hermione says with a worried expression. "The Tournament, Harry! Skeeter is in Hogsmeade!" She sets the paper down, and sure enough, there's an article written by 'Rita Skeeter, reporting from Hogsmeade' about the temporary expansion to the Three Broomsticks to accommodate Tournament attendees and how she's staying in such a room herself.

Harry slouches back down. "Well you guys go ahead, then, I'll sit this one out."

"Gosh, Harry, if only you had a way to come to Hogsmeade without being seen..." I say with a grin.

His eyes light up again and I laugh.

"You'll want to chaperone Hermione and I, anyway. You never know when her scoundrel of a date is going to try and get a little too fresh with her."

"William Allen Lerner, we are not going on a date, and you had better behave yourself!" Hermione scolds.

"Allen, huh? Not bad, but I think you can do better. I'm hoping for something a little more unusual. Like 'Awesome' for example."

"More like 'Awful' I think. And don't make me hex you!"

"Hey, I gotta keep Harry on his toes! It'll be good for his accuracy if he has to hit my hand with a Stinging Hex for roaming a bit."

"I changed my mind, I'm not going," Hermione says.

"Okay, okay, no roaming hands," I say with a laugh, "but if Harry's spell accuracy suffers, I'm blaming it on you."

"Why don't you invite Daphne?" Hermione asks.

My head cocks back in surprise. "Really? I wouldn't think you would be open to—"

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