7

I Might Have Ben Unclear With My Intentions

"So, we're clear then." Lavender asked as she finished touching up Hermione's make up and taking a moment to admire her handy work. She was still thrilled the normally introverted girl had allowed her to do a bit of "Touch-Up" on her face.

"Nothing to be nervous about. You're simply going with your friend to the village. You'll show him around, and have lunch. Whatever happens is going to happen, right? You're not going to overanalyze every little thing he says or does, right?"

Hermione stared at her reflection, focusing on breathing and desperately attempting to calm her racing heart. She felt a bit dizzy like she had vertigo or something, and her limbs felts a bit like jelly. It had been two days since Harry had asked her to go to Hogsmeade. They hadn't talked anymore about the occasion, which had only led to Hermione dissecting his invitation and trying to figure out just what it had been all about. The only thing she felt certain of was that it was not a prank, though she couldn't say how she felt so sure of that.

"Hermione?" Lavender said, snapping her fingers in front of Hermione's face. "You in there?"

She nodded, though she looked almost as if she might become very ill.

"But what if we're not going as friends." Hermione asked, barely getting her voice to make any noise at all. Lavender hoped Hermione wasn't about to start crying and ruin all the work she'd done on her face.

"Hermione!" Parvati shouted in humorous exasperation as she finished her own makeup and turned to look at the very nervous brunette. "We've gone through this. You are over thinking it all again. You and Harry are going as friends. That's it. Unless he says or does something to change it, you are taking a friend to Hogsmeade."

"Then why did you two insist I get all dressed up and everything?" Hermione asked in near panic. Lavender gave a soft laugh and squeezed Hermione's shoulder.

"Because now you're giving him a reason to rethink his stance on the matter. Now, tell me what you think." Lavender said as she stepped aside so Hermione could get a good look at herself in the mirror.

Hermione turned around and looked at her reflection and felt… stunned. She was really very pretty. Lavender had done an amazing job on her hair and makeup. It looked almost as if she weren't wearing any.

"I just did enough to highlight your eyes and cheeks." Lavender explained

"Not to mention her lips." Parvati snickered, making Hermione blush.

"Will you stop it." Lavender slapped her best friend's arm. "She's nervous enough."

"Alright, I'm sorry." Parvati smiled as she turned to face Hermione now that she was finished with herself. "You look great, I'm glad my jeans fit you."

Hermione gave herself another hard look. Lavender and Parvati had come together to put together a smashing casual look for Hermione. Lavender had called it the devil may care look. It was supposed to look as if she hadn't really spent a lot of time on her appearance and give the impression that she dressed like that all the time outside of school.

Parvati's favorite jeans that hugged and accentuated Hermione's hips and rear. Lavender had loaned her a light blue button down topped with a black vest that accentuated her bust line without calling too much attention to it. Her hair was up in a loose ponytail, making it look as if she hardly spent anytime on her hair. The whole thing was finished with a pair of light trainers, as Hogsmeade was not really the place for nicer shoes, and according to Lavender, it would help her if she was somewhat comfortable.

"Now, just go and have fun." Lavender said, turning Hermione towards the door.

"And remember that he's still the same Harry you eat and study with every day." Parvati added.

Hermione just stood there staring at the door that led to the dorm room and on to the Common Room where Harry was likely waiting for her. Her mind had gone blank, and she wasn't even sure if she was breathing at the moment.

"GO!" Lavender shouted slapping Hermione's posterior when Hermione made no move to leave. The shout and the sting on her hind end apparently made her brain reengage, and the incredibly nervous bookworm headed out of the bathroom, stopping to pick up her light jacket Lavender had picked out, before leaving the dorm room altogether.

"She's going to be just fine." Lavender smirked. As she turned to the mirror and began running a brush through her thick blonde hair.

"If she can loosen up." Parvati smiled. "Do you really think she'll kiss him?"

"Oh not today." Lavender shook her head and grimaced. "God no. They both need to work on relaxing around each other. Her a little more than him. But I think they were made for each other. You can't tell me you haven't seen it."

"I don't know what I've seen."

"Parv, she's been completely isolated here for the last five years, and then out of the blue, this green eyed sex god appears and out of everyone in the whole school… he picks her to be friends with? Hermione Granger?" Lavender turned to her best friend. "Like I said that first night back after the summer… it's karma. It has to be. She's suffered a lot, and now, she finally gets her reward, and it just happens to be one of the hottest, albeit strangest boys in the world. It's fate."

"Maybe you should stop spending so much time with Trelawney." Parvati laughed. Lavender flung a lipstick at the pretty Indian girl who laughed uproariously when it failed to hit her.

Hermione couldn't remember walking out of the dorm, or her trip down the stairs. She only became aware of the fact she was in the Common Room because Ron Weasley asked her how much longer Lavender would be. When she didn't answer, the redhead seemed to get irritated and wandered off. It was then that Hermione's brain turned back on, and she felt her stomach twist up so tightly she thought she might throw up what breakfast she had managed to choke down that morning.

She began looking for Harry and found him with Neville next to the bulletin board. Neville was still trying to explain the concept of Chocolate Frog cards. Hermione had concluded that Harry had grasped the idea of collecting the cards, but as with so many things, if it didn't help him in battle, he dismissed it entirely. That hadn't stopped Neville from trying to get Harry interested in it at least.

Harry was decked out in the same black clothing she had first met him in. She wondered if he owned anything else beside his school uniform, his black outfit and the shorts and shirt he ran each morning in.

"H-hi Harry." She managed when she got next to him. Neville saw her first, and apparently lost his ability to speak as he looked at her. Hermione knew it was likely due to the fact she was wearing makeup. Something she hadn't done since the Yule Ball.

Harry turned and smiled, but then it faded as he examined her. He arched an eyebrow, and looked as if he was about to ask a question, but closed his mouth and turned to Neville, who was still staring at Hermione in surprise.

"So, do you still want to go to the village?" Hermione asked, suddenly feeling her stomach drop. Had he not liked what he saw when he looked at her? Did he no longer want to be seen with her?

"Yes." He said as he turned back to her. She gave him a nervous smile and began leading him out of the Gryffindor Common Room and down the stairs. Harry followed behind her, quite confused, though he really couldn't say exactly why. He hadn't felt anything like the strange tightness in his chest since Tonks had first appeared to help him train nearly two years ago. Had Hermione used the same variation of the confundus Tonks had?

Hermione kept looking over her shoulder making sure Harry was still following her. She kept expecting to see he had disappeared, or was running back up the stairs, but he was always one step behind her.

They were checked off the list by Filch at the entrance to the school, and took a carriage into the village. Harry sat across from her, studying her, and making her more uncomfortable than she already felt.

"WHAT?" She finally snapped, making Harry flinch, which surprised her.

"Your face." He replied sounding curious. "It isn't normally so…

"So what?" She asked, not sure if she wanted to know.

"Colorful." Harry said, leaning in a bit to examine her closer. "It's different."

"Is that…bad?" Hermione asked rather stupidly. She had no idea what was happening to her, but she felt really out of place and self conscious at the moment. The only thing she had on that actually belonged to her was her underwear, and even that felt as if it wasn't her somehow.

"No. In fact it's rather pleasing." Harry said after a moment of silence. "It's just different. I'm just not used to seeing you in this manner. I know other girls paint their faces, but you never have."

"Do you… Do you like it?" She asked, not sure what answer she would prefer at this moment.

"I don't know." Harry said honestly. "I'm still unclear on the concept to know whether or not I enjoy the effect or not."

Hermione actually gave a soft laugh at that. Of course Harry wouldn't have an opinion. So far as she knew, Harry still had no idea what he found attractive in a girl to begin with. Upon realizing this, Hermione began to relax at last. Lavender and Parvati had been right. She was just going to the village with her friend, and all her over analyzing what he had meant when he asked her was for nothing. Harry was still trying to figure out what having friends really meant, much less having a girlfriend.

When the carriage stopped the two got out and Hermione turned to Harry and clapped her hands together.

"So, welcome to Hogsmeade. What would you like to see first?" She asked.

Neville had told her the previous evening that he and Harry had had a long conversation about the village and that he felt Harry was at least informed on what there was to se, though he wasn't certain that Harry really cared one way or another.

"What is your favorite place to visit?" He asked looking up and down the high street. He had that look in his eye that Hermione now knew to be his strategy look. Harry was looking for escape routes, defendable areas and ambush points.

"Well, I need some new quills and some other things. Why don't we head to Scrivenshafts, and if anything catches your eye between here and there, we can go inside. If not, after we're done, we can just go in everywhere until you get hungry and then have lunch at the Three Broomsticks."

Harry nodded his acceptance and Hermione began leading the way with Harry at her side. He kept looking everywhere, though Hermione knew it wasn't because he was fascinated by the sights. She wondered how he might have acted if he hadn't been raised to be some sort of super soldier. She wished she could have a chance to ask the people who raised him why they had done the things they had and what the whole point of it had been.

"Harry, didn't you ever do anything fun why you were growing up?" She asked. He turned to look at her with those curious questioning eyes she liked seeing so much. He reminded her sometimes of a child. Albeit a cold, calculating deadly child who could hex you apart in seconds..

"Fun?" He asked puzzled.

"Yeah, you know, fun. Something that wasn't related to your training that you did because you enjoyed it and it was relaxing?"

"Like when you read?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head sadly and turned back to the street.

"I don't read so much because I enjoy reading. I do it because people tend to leave me alone. I mean, I like reading, I always have, but it's not what I do for fun." Hermione admitted.

"Then what do you do for fun?" Harry asked. Hermione thought about her life and realized that she did very little in the name of fun, and it stung.

"I read a lot." Hermione said.

She gave a soft laugh and almost tripped when she hear Harry snort. She turned and found that there was the barest hint of a smile on his face. To anyone else, it would have been impossible to see on his normally stoic face. But Hermione saw it plain as the sun in the sky.

"Did you ever play with other kids? Run around and climb trees or build forts or whatever?" Hermione asked and Harry shook his head.

"No." Was his reply. Hermione felt her heartbreak a bit at that. She understood his life had been spent mostly in training for a war that his keepers was sure to come, and it turned out they had been right, but to deny any child the simple joy of being around other kids and playing was just borderline cruel in her opinion.

She was about to ask him another question when without warning, Harry stopped dead in his tracks. Hermione stopped and asked him what was wrong, but Harry just stood, rigid. It was like someone put him in a body bind. That is until Hermione noticed how he was standing. She had watched enough military movies with her father to recognize that Harry was standing at attention. She then began looking around and noticed two men walking towards them.

The first was a tall, broad shouldered man with shoulder length wavy black hair. His face had a chiseled look and he had a nicely trimmed goatee. He wore rather expensive looking black clothing and a heavy traveling cloak. He was watching them with a look Hermione had seen on Harry's face too many times to count. He was sizing her up, assessing her as a threat.

The second man was a bit shorter than the first with short sandy blonde hairs and a thin moustache. His face was heavily scarred and he had the look of someone who had been recently ill. This man wore lighter colored clothing, and a heavy brown cloak.

"Harry, we told you that you no longer have to do that." The first man spoke as he drew closer, his eyes still on Hermione. "We're not at headquarters, and you are not in training any longer."

Harry only relaxed his head and neck. His eyes remain firm to the horizon.

"Care to introduce us?" The man asked, still not having looked away from her. Hermione wasn't certain, but she swore she felt the gentlest nudge in her mind. It was difficult, but she managed to rip her gaze away from his piercing brown eyes. She thought she heard him chortle.

"Was he trying to use Occlumency on me?" she wondered, now more wary of these two men even taking a step back.

"Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, this is Miss Hermione Granger." Harry said in his even tone.

"Ah, the Miss Granger." The man now identified as Sirius Black said, holding out his hand to Hermione, who accepted it tentatively. "We've heard quite a bit about you. It is very nice to actually meet you in person, milady." Sirius smiled.

Sirius' expression softened after the introduction, and Hermione once again began to relax, though she still felt ill at ease with these two. The man called Remus stepped forward and also shook her hand in greeting. Remus was less rigid than either Sirius or Harry, and actually seemed friendly.

"It is indeed an honor." Remus said with a smile. He had a warm and gentle voice that reminded Hermione of one of her uncles. "As Sirius said, we have heard quite a bit about you of late, and it is nice to put a face to the stories."

"I'm sorry, but how have you heard of me?" Hermione asked, looking to Harry who hadn't moved.

"Or for the love of…" Sirius groaned as he followed Hermione's gaze and saw Harry still standing stock still. "At ease kid. You're making people stare at you."

Harry then relaxed his stance. Sirius shook his head and turned to look at Hermione, giving her a "what can you do?" sort of roll of the eyes. "You can take the boy out of the soldier, but you can never take the soldier out of the boy."

Hermione gave in and smirked at the joke. Remus chuckled, though Harry stared curiously at them all.

"To answer your question, my dear, we've been kept informed on Harry's situation at Hogwarts. Although we're not here for a visit, it was our hope we might run into the lad this morning and see how he was doing in his new situation.." Remus explained.

"I don't wish to be rude Miss Granger, but would you mind terribly if I spoke to my godson for just a moment?" Sirius asked with an apologetic smile.

"Um, no." Hermione said looking to Harry and then back to Sirius.

"Why not join me over here?" Remus motioned and Hermione followed the scarred man a short distance away but not far enough that she couldn't see Harry and his godfather speaking to each other.

"That's an unusual name, Hermione, isn't it?" Remus asked politely.

"My parents really like Shakespeare." Hermione said, glancing over her shoulder to see that Sirius had stepped closer to Harry and was looking a bit grave as he spoke to the youth. "Is he in trouble?"

"No." Remus shook his head as he turned to watch Sirius and Harry. "Not at all. Though, personally, I would like it a bit more if he stopped using his wandless magic. I'm afraid Sirius finds it endlessly hysterical knowing his godson is making girls clothing disappear right off their bodies and humiliating moronic imbeciles."

"He doesn't really strike me as the humorous sort." Hermione replied before she realized what Remus had just said. "How do you know about that?"

"As we said before, we are being kept informed about Harry's situation." Remus replied with a wink. Hermione didn't know what he meant, and also knew that he wasn't going to tell her either. "If I may be so bold to ask, are you here on a date?"

Hermione felt her face burn and she began to stammer, something she always did when she became embarrassed.

"I don't mean to pry, but… well, you may have noticed Harry is quite different from your other peers." Remus remarked. Hermione noted that when the man smiled, his scarred visage was actually very pleasant.

"Kind of hard not to." Hermione nodded.

"Quite right." Remus chuckled.

"Um, no… it's not really a date, I guess." Hermione admitted, turning to see that Harry was looking very confused by whatever Sirius was saying now. Confused, and a bit angry as well.

"Are you certain?" Remus probed. Hermione's smile faltered a bit as she nodded that she was certain it was not a date.

"Ah, well. That's too bad." Remus sighed. "Though I guess it was a bit premature to hope for something like that. He's likely not even sure what he's feeling, much less ready to act upon anything."

Again Hermione turned a shocked expression to the older man who was still smiling as he cast his eyes to the raven haired boy and the man whom he was speaking with. She remembered only moments ago she had wanted to ask Harry's guardians why they had chosen to raise Harry in the manner they had. However, before she could open her mouth to inquire, Remus spoke again.

"Certain people speak very highly of you. Top of your class, and intelligence to rival perhaps even Rowena Ravenclaw." Remus continued. "We have also heard that you have had a rather difficult time at Hogwarts up until now."

Again, Hermione's jaw dropped at just how much this man knew about her. It was clear to her now that he was not getting information from Harry though. It was the comment about her being at the top of the class that gave it away. It was likely a teacher who had informed them about her, but which one, and why?

"Harry has also had a difficult time, though he wouldn't know it not knowing any other way. Though he may appear to be made of stone, he is in truth just as confused and unsure of himself as any other boy your age." He said. "Harry has many obstacles to overcome, and he will be slower than most on understanding what others take for granted. He may appear to be in control, but I promise you that that young man is very confused right now. It would be difficult for anyone to live their life a certain way and then have to change it so dramatically."

"I think I know what you mean." Hermione said, flashing back to earlier in the week with all the dating confusion.

"How much has he told you about his upbringing?" Remus asked looking quite curious.

Hermione shrugged a bit. "Not a lot, but I haven't really asked either. I figured if he wanted me to know, he'd tell me."

"That isn't how he was raised, I'm afraid." Remus said regretfully. "But, if you were to ask, I'm certain he would tell you all you wished to know. That is, so long as you don't try and interrogate or torture him."

Hermione nodded that she understood, though she felt horrified at the thought of Harry tied to a chair while someone continually cast the torture curse on him.

"You might also share a bit about yourself with him. Show him that sharing is okay. Don't dance around something and assume he'll know what you're talking about or you could find yourself in a very uncomfortable situation."

"I think we had a bit of that this past week." She said, wrapping her arms around herself.

"My deepest apologies." Sirius said now guiding Harry over to them. "I know I would be quite upset if someone were to interrupt my date."

"It isn't…" Hermione began to say but Remus cut across her.

"You misunderstand. Miss Granger is merely Harry's friend and is showing him around the village today Sirius." Remus corrected. Harry looked at Remus and then at Hermione with a rather confused expression, which made Hermione look away with embarrassment.

"Oh, my apologies." Sirius said looking a bit forlorn at that revelation. "Well then, carry on, and try to have fun. It was a pleasure, Miss Granger."

Sirius shook her hand, and gave Harry a very pointed look before turning to leave. Remus bade them both farewell and headed off in the direction of the castle with Sirius. Harry watched them for a few minutes with Hermione at his side, watching him.

"Was it bad news?" She asked hesitantly.

"No." Harry said shaking his head. "No, not bad just… disappointing."

"If you don't want to stay I understand. I mean…"

"No, it's fine." Harry said turning to look at her now. He took a deep, cleansing breath and let it out. "Sirius keeps telling me I need to get used to disappointment. Life is supposed to be full of them. So, Scrivenshaft's then?"

Hermione nodded and they returned to their original journey. They walked in silence for about twenty seconds.

"So those were two of the men who trained you?" Hermione wondered.

"Yes. Sirius is my godfather and trained me in dueling mostly. Remus is sort of like an uncle, I suppose, and was largely responsible for my theoretical education. He says he was the smartest amongst my father's friends. Sirius doesn't argue it, so I guess it's true. There was also Alastor Moody. He was an Auror for many years, and he taught me charms and defensive magic. They all pitched in and taught me transfiguration and potions."

"Who taught you Herbology?" Hermione asked.

"No one."

"Huh, no wonder you're rubbish at it." Hermione smirked. Harry gave her a sideways glance, which only made her laugh.

"Dumbledore also came around every so often and taught me Transfiguration and Defensive spells." Harry continued.

"Dumbledore taught you?" Hermione looked startled. They had arrived at the stationary shop and walked inside. Harry began scanning the store and Hermione made her way towards the quills.

"Every so often. Mostly during summers. I expect it was because his duties as Headmaster made it hard for him to get away. By the time I was ten, I was beyond what is taught in seventh year. Or, that's what I'm told. I had no basis to compare."

"How long has Dumbledore been teaching you?" Hermione turned to him as she picked up an eagle feather.

"Since I was eleven. My lessons with him were much more straight forward and he didn't spend a lot of time on theory. I guess it was felt that it wasn't that necessary for me to learn that part of it. I did learn it, but it was more about getting the spells to work, and increasing my magical core." Harry said matter-of-factly as he examined a few different quills.

Hermione couldn't think of anything to say to that and found herself staring at Harry who seemed oblivious. He finished examining quills and started looking at inks. He turned to her and saw her staring.

"Are you getting those?" He asked, motioning to the eagle feather quills in her hand. This brought her out of her stupor.

"Uh.. No, not these." Hermione stuttered and replaced the quills to pick out others. She then began following Harry as he examined inks.

"What is the purpose of color changing ink?" He asked quizzically.

"It's fun?" Hermione answered looking just as confused as Harry. "Some girls like writing notes to friends with it. It doesn't have a purpose per se. It's just amusing."

"Huh." Harry replied as he turned back to the inks. She could see he was getting bored now. Not that writing supplies would hold anyone's attention for long. She took her new quills to the counter where a nice looking plump woman stood watching the two interact, and paid for them and then gathered Harry and led him back into the street.

"So, you just trained and studied growing up?" Hermione asked as they started walking.

"Yes." Harry shook his head.

"That's horrible." Hermione said. "I can't imagine not being able to play with other kids or going to play parks and just being rambunctious.

"Did you play with other kids a lot?" Harry asked. Hermione's face fell a bit.

"No, not really." She admitted. "I've never been good at making friends."

"We became friends, and that seemed fairly easy." Harry commented.

"That's different." Hermione chuckled.

"How?"

"I can't explain it. Besides, we didn't become friends in the normal way. You just kind of told me we were friends, and that was it, remember?" Hermione said as she nudged Harry with her shoulder. Harry didn't even move, and Hermione nearly lost her balance. He was like a moving slab of marble. Or maybe it was because she was so petite compared to him.

"What is the normal way to make friends?" Harry asked.

"I don't know." Hermione shrugged. "Hanging around a person, sharing things with them. Talking."

"Isn't that what we're doing now?"

"Well yeah, but we were already friends."

"Now you're confusing me." Harry said, his brow furrowing.

"Forget it." Hermione said waving her hands as if wiping an invisible blackboard. "Let's just say that you and I had an unusual beginning to our friendship and leave it at that. You and Neville have had a more normal start to a friendship. Lavender and I have had more of a normal start to a friendship as well."

"So you and Lavender are friends now?" Harry asked.

Hermione gave a thoughtful nod. "I think we are. She's been really nice to me this year. I don't know why and to be honest I'm afraid to ask. In fact, everything's been different this year because of you."

"How so?"

"Well, usually by this time every other year, I'm ready to pack up everything and go home because I'm miserable. People like Malfoy and Parkinson go out of their way to find me and make me feel like I'm less than nothing."

"Have you ever gone home?"

"I meant go home for good. As in leave the magical world behind." Hermione clarified.

"Why would you do that?" Harry looked rather disturbed at the idea.

"To escape. To get away from people who just want to hurt me for no reason." Hermione explained.

"Why didn't you do it if you were so miserable?"

"I don't really know." Hermione said. "Maybe because things in the muggle world would be no different for me. Like I said, I never had any friends as a kid. I was too different from everyone else. When I found out I was a witch and that I'd be going to a school with others like me, I thought that I'd finally make friends. But I was wrong. I was too different even among witches and wizards."

"You keep saying you're different." Harry noted. "What do you mean by that?"

Hermione gave him a soft smile and lowered her head a bit.

"You may have noticed I'm pretty into to my studies."

Harry nodded.

"Well, In first year, I was desperate to make friends. I was always very good in school, and I thought the best way to make friends was to try helping other people. But… I wasn't very good at it. I was bossy and rather abrasive. It didn't help that I typically caught on to new spells first. People started thinking I was showing off, or something. Then when I tried to help Ronald Weasley, he took it badly that I could perform the spell before him, and better. He started the ball rolling then, and sort of turned most of the school against me. The Slytherins already didn't like me because I was a muggleborn and a Gryffindor. Malfoy has always been the worst, but he isn't the only one who's enjoyed making me miserable."

"So how are things different now?'

"Well, with the exception of the Slytherins, people stay away from me now. Even Ronald hasn't insulted me since the train. I've made friends with Lavender and Neville. I wouldn't say Parvati and I are friends, but she's nice to me now." Hermione shrugged. "I think you intimidate everyone and they all know you're my friend and they don't want to make you mad. Especially after what happened to Pansy."

Hermione saw that same hint of a smile she had seen earlier on Harry's face.

"I suppose I should thank you for it all." She said.

"They way I understand it is that it's what you do for a friend." Harry said.

"Where did you learn that?" Hermione asked.

"Sirius gave me a few lessons before I came here."

"Lessons on friendships?" Hermione looked curious now.

"It was mostly stories about what he, Remus and my father got up to while they went to Hogwarts. In all honesty, I'm not sure I believe any of them. They just don't match up to the Sirius I grew up with, though I suppose the strain of preparing me for war likely changed him. I mean, I can't even begin to understand why anyone would want to charm the taps in the girl's loo. It makes no sense."

"They charmed the taps in the girls bathrooms?" Hermione looked scandalized.

"Turned a lot of girls skin purple apparently." Harry shrugged.

"Why would they do that?" Hermione wondered.

"I asked the same question. He just shrugged." Harry replied. "I think we've walked through the whole village." Harry said, noting they had passed all the shops. Hermione turned and saw that as well.

"Oh." She said feeling embarrassed. "Well, if you're hungry we could go and eat and then try and get in the shops after."

Harry nodded, and Hermione led him across the street to the Three Broomsticks. The pub was quite crowded but the meal was quit sumptuous. The two friends continued talking, but the topics were less serious now, as Hermione felt a bit drained after their earlier conversation.

After the finished their lunch, Hermione finally got Harry into a few of the shops. Harry didn't really care for Honeydukes, as he wasn't a fan of sweets, though he did purchase a few different things to try on Hermione's insistence. Hermione also got a rather large bag of treats, claiming that her supply was low.

Harry did find Zonko's quit amusing, though he wasn't interested in any of the products. Actually Harry's and Hermione's experience was so good because Ronald Weasley got his finger caught in a biting Chinese finger cuff, and while trying to get it off fell into a display of trick toilet seats. Although Harry didn't outwardly laugh like everyone else, Hermione saw that he had fully enjoyed his roommate's rather comical trouble.

Harry did seem to like Spintwiches, as there was so much sporting equipment. Tents and camping items as well as a large selection of knives, which Harry seemed to enjoy looking at the most. He even asked the stout little wizard if he could handle a few. Harry explained to Hermione when they left that he had trained with edged weapons.

"Most wizards rely to heavily on their magic to win in a fight." He explained. "By using other methods, Muggle methods, you can often catch your enemy off guard and win. You may do less damage with your fists, but it can give you the advantage you need by throwing your enemy off their guard."

Hermione thought that made a lot of sense as she thought back to all the fights she'd seen at Hogwarts.

Hermione made Harry go inside Tomes and Scrolls as she wanted a book she glanced in the window. He was very patient with her as she perused a few aisles. He was always right at her side, watching her, as if he was studying her again. It was Lavender's opinion that Harry was somehow fascinated by Hermione, and in that instance, Hermione actually began to wonder if it was true.

"No, he's just bored being in a book shop, that's all, but he's too polite to complain." Hermione reasoned with herself.

Their final stop was at Gladrags where Hermione stopped to get presents for her parents for Christmas.

"I always shop for them early." Hermione explained. "Mum absolutely loves the self warming socks, and this year I thought I'd get her a dressing gown to go with them. Dad is sometimes harder to shop for, but he has this quirky thing with his ties. His patients really love his obnoxious ties, so I try and find him really awful ones. They both love learning about the magical world, which is why I got those books on magical creatures and landmarks."

"Sounds like a good plan. Always be prepared, right?" Harry asked, gazing at a rack of jumpers.

"Did you celebrate Christmas?" Hermione asked. She was afraid of what the answer might be. She already had a growing dislike for Harry's guardian for their treatment of him, but if they had refused him Christmas, she might hex them into ash the next time she saw them.

"Actually I did." Harry nodded. "But, I was never really fond of it. It was confusing. All year we work and train and then one day… we don't. Remus explained to me once that Christmas is supposed to be this really happy time when we spend time with the people we care about most and all that… but… they never looked happy. They smiled, but it seemed false to me somehow. It was just a waste of a day that could have been better spent with training."

"Didn't you exchange gifts?" Hermione asked, feeling a strange tightness in her chest.

"Of course." Harry said. "I got books, manuals, and the occasional weapon."

"Those aren't gifts." Hermione scowled. "Well, ok, the books maybe, but… Harry you give gifts to people at Christmas to show you care for that person. You give them things they like, or things that show you think highly of them. Things they enjoy, or would appreciate."

"I appreciate my knives." Harry stated. "And that Japanese sword Sirius got me two years ago is one of my favorite weapons. Way better than Moody's claymore."

No." Hermione shook her head. "Last year my parents got me some really nice things. Things like clothing, and these super beautiful earrings my mom found that she thought I would really like." Hermione pointed to her earlobe where she wore small delicate looking sapphire studs. "They give me gifts to show how much they care about me, not because I need to be better prepared for war or something."

"How did they react when they found out about your affinity for magic?" Harry asked changing subjects. Hermione sighed, realizing that he was clearly not comfortable with their original topic. She decided now was not the best time to push him either. They were having a really good time, and she didn't want to spoil it if she didn't have to.

"It freaked them out at first, but Professor McGonagall helped them se that it wasn't bad. It explained a lot to them I guess. I had my first outburst of magic when I was five. My mum promised me that we could stop at the toy shop after my doctor's appointment. I really hated going for my check up. My doctor was a bit scary. Anyway, Mum used to bribe me with a new toy or a book."

Harry gave her a pointed look at that and Hermione found herself chuckling.

"Oh shut up." She said, reaching out to smack his arm. "Anyway. It wasn't a very fast check up, and we were running late, as Mum had an appointment to keep. She didn't take me to the toy store. So when we got to the car, and she tried belting me into my seat… the belt sort of disintegrated. And then… all the tires sort of fell off the car."

"Guess you wanted that toy." Harry said.

"I guess. I got to go to the shop later. Mum missed her appointment waiting for a tow truck, so we had time to kill." Hermione shrugged. "What was your first bit of magic?"

Harry took in a breath as he looked at her, his emerald green eyes boring into her own cinnamon brown.

"I blew up the house."

"What?" Hermione gaped.

"Well, not the whole house." Harry corrected. "But we had no windows or doors, and Sirius said the foundation got cracked in a few places and a few walls were messed up pretty bad. I saw pictures of it. They had started my regiment very early. I also had to do schoolwork. Basic things, reading writing, all of that. Well, I was tired, and didn't want to do it. Things were pretty firm, and you follow the orders you're given. That day I refused, and shouted no. When I did…"

Harry pantomimed walls blowing outward with his hands.

"Wow." Hermione smirked. "Don't make Harry angry."

"Not when he's tired, no." Harry confirmed. "I've been that way all my life Sirius and Remus say. When I'm tired I get very irritable, and usually hex first."

"How were you able to learn magic all those years? Didn't you get in trouble with the Ministry for casting spells and such?" Hermione asked as she realized what he'd been telling her.

Harry shook his head. "I got my wand when I was eleven, but Dumbledore took the Trace off of it. Before I was eleven, I would practice wand movements with a stick, so I could get them down. Make them second nature. When I got my wand I was able to cast everything because I knew the wand movements, but I had to build up my core. It's one thing to pretend to cast, but something else entirely to actually do it."

"You had to get used to actually controlling magic." Hermione said with understanding.

"It was very draining at first. Took the better part of two years to get up to where I could cast for hours on end without tiring myself out. After that, it was combat training right up until my first raid."

"The Ministry?" Hermione asked. Harry shook his head.

"That was my second, and I wasn't even supposed to be there." He said. "My first was in Albania about three months before. But… It didn't work out."

"What happened?' Hermione asked curiously.

"Nothing." Harry shrugged. Hermione watched him, expecting more from the story, but there apparently was no more.

"When did you first learn you could use magic wandlessly? She asked, changing topics.

"A year or so ago." Harry replied, examining a fine looking Dragon hide jacket. "Moody felt that I might be able to accomplish it, but the only thing I was really good at was banishing charms, and vanishing spells. I'm able to do a bit of transfiguration without a wand, but not much else, save summoning. I try and practice more, but… it's a lot harder without a wand to focus the magic through."

Hermione looked impressed by this, as she knew she couldn't even do a levitation charm without her wand. Harry clearly was a very powerful wizard to be able to do anything wandlessly. So far as she knew, even Dumbledore himself couldn't do anything without a wand.

As it was starting to get late, Hermione paid for her items, and the two headed back into the village and started for the carriages. Harry assisted her into one of the carriages and took a seat across from her. Hermione noted that he looked as if there was something bothering him. Hermione also noted that it was funny she could now tell when he was trying to figure something out, as his face was usually so stoic normally. Even now there was very little change in his expression, save the slightest crinkle at the corners of his eyes.

"What is on your mind Harry?' She asked.

"Something Remus said earlier." Harry replied. "When he said that we weren't on a date."

"Oh." Hermione's eyes went wide. "I just thought… I mean… I didn't know if… that is… um, was it a date?"

"Well, if I understand what you and Neville explained to me, then I believe it was. I asked you out, and we did several activities, and enjoyed a meal. Wasn't that the criteria for a date?" Harry asked looking at Hermione rather puzzled.

"I-I suppose it would be correct. But…" She stammered.

"And you did make special effort with your appearance for today, as did I."

Hermione cocked her head at that remark. He had looked almost exactly the same as he did every other day.

"I'm sorry Harry." Hermione said quickly to prevent Harry from trying to delve to deep into the topic. "It was me."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, leaning forward a bit.

"I thought you had asked me to go as a friend, not… not as a date."

"I still don't understand." Harry sat back now. "I asked you to accompany me to the village. Was I unclear?"

"In a way." Hermione said softly. "You never said that it would be a date, and I assumed that you just wanted to go, you know… as a friend." Hermione said softly, feeling really uncomfortable now.

"Perhaps Neville didn't explain it to me well enough. He made it seem as though one could take a friend on a date." Harry mused.

"No, he was right, you can, but…well, I guess it is really complicated." Hermione sighed.

"Perhaps we're both to blame for this misunderstanding." Harry claimed. Hermione gave him an apologetic look as she nodded in agreement.. "Next time I ask you on a date, I will be much clearer with my intentions."

"Next time?" Hermione's voice cracked as her eyes bugged out in panic.

"Yes." Harry said. "If that is acceptable to you, that is. I enjoyed your company and our time together immensely, and after much thought I've decided that I did like your appearance today. You were… different than normal. It was … " Harry seemed lost for an appropriate word and startled Hermione when the corners of his mouth pulled upwards in the barest hint of a smile. Hermione thought her heart might leap out of her chest at that moment.

"Yes." She gasped, hoping her voice would hold out for a bit. "It really was."