"You jumped on a troll to save my life, Harry. How was I not supposed to fall for you?" Hermione laughed and pulled him into a hug kissing his cheek. "I would love to go to Hogsmeade with you, Harry. And yes I would love to be your girlfriend as well." She pulled back and gave him a stern look while holding him at arms' length. "But just so we're clear, mister, I have zero intention of losing my best friend. If this gets weird or if you ever feel uncomfortable you say something immediately and we step back and reassess. I care about you deeply, Harry, but I would much rather maintain a friendship than a relationship if it's going to tear us apart." She started to glare at him. "Why are you laughing? I'm serious!"
"Sorry, Hermione!" Harry got out between his wheezing. "It's just that I literally told Daphne to say almost that exact same thing to Tracey!"
Dinner that night was…interesting. Harry and Hermione were eating dinner shyly holding hands and blushing when a tiny brunette girl plopped down across from them smiling widely at Harry. "Hiya!" she said.
"Err, hello? Have we…" he trailed off as he looked more closely at her. She was exceedingly familiar.
"Astoria." The girl held out her hand, smile widening. "You can call me Tori. You're friends with my sister."
"Hello, Tori," Hermione reached over and shook the younger girl's hand. "I'm Hermione."
"I know. And you're Harry. My sister has talked a lot about both of you."
"Good things I hope?" Harry asked already feeling a bit lost.
"Mostly. Though she does complain a bit that you both should've been in Slytherin like us," she snorted and shook her head. "I just say that it proves you're both smarter than us because you're Slytherins hiding in another House. That's so amazingly sneaky of you! Sal Slytherin would've been so proud!"
"Suuurre…" Harry said. 'How can she be so perky?'
"So are one of you going to date Daphne? I was hoping for a big brother but another big sister would be cool too."
Hermione spurted out the juice she had just drunk and Harry started groaning. Astoria for her part deftly avoided the juice and looked between the two expectantly. "Tori," Hermione said trying and failing for a semblance of calm and amusement, "we actually just agreed earlier to date each other."
"Oh," Astoria shrugged. "Well is there room for Daphne too? She could be a consort to continue the Greengrass line that way."
The two Gryffindors' mouths dropped open. They were saved from replying as Daphne shouted from behind them, "Tori! What are you doing? Shut up you little menace!"
"I was just asking a question. You said I could start talking to your friends after the New Year. It's after the New Year."
"I am so sorry guys," Daphne said groaning. She picked her sister up and started pushing her back to the Slytherin table. "I swear we raised her better than that. Talk to you later!"
"Bye, Harry! Bye, Hermione! Think about what I said!" Astoria yelled waving as she let herself be dragged along.
Harry thumped his head into the table. "Were we ever that…energetic?"
Hermione sighed and refilled her glass. "Honestly? I don't think so. But we really should count ourselves lucky. Imagine if Luna acted like that."
Harry's eyes widened and he stared at his friend. "And with that thought I think I'm going to have nightmares for the rest of the week."
Thanks to RhysThornbery for the continued beta assistance.
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