“Just where exactly do you plan on taking me?” Hermione asked him.
“I was thinking Diagon Alley.”
Hermione smiled. She hadn’t been there in a while, and she was itching to find some new books in Flourish and Blotts.
“If that’s ok with you, that is.” Malfoy added hastily.
“Of course. Let’s go.” She smiled and took his hand, disapparating a second after.
They stood in front of the Leaky Cauldron moments after, and Hermione smiled fondly at the familiar sign. They were still holding each other’s hand, but Malfoy didn’t release it. He was also gazing at the sign, but a hint of sadness dulled his eyes. Hermione looked over at him, still smiling.
“Draco?”
Malfoy’s eyes widened in shock, like he was being pulled from his thoughts too abruptly. He released her hand quickly, like it was a hot potato. Hermione thought nothing of it. She just smiled and grabbed it again, pulling him toward the Leaky Cauldron. He didn’t object.
The bell rang as they entered the musty old tavern, causing the few witches in wizards in the pub to glance over. The Leaky Cauldron hadn’t changed a bit. Even Tom still worked there, which surprised Hermione quite a bit. They walked out to the brick wall, and Hermione tapped it three up and two across. The bricks on the wall unsheathed themselves and moved out of the way in a jigsaw like manner. Hermione still reveled in how much she loved the magical world. Diagon Alley was her first experience with something like this, and it held a special place in her heart.
“Hermione, are we going to stand here and stare at the bloody wall, or are we going to get a move on?” Malfoy asked, halfway joking.
“Oh, right, sorry.” She stepped through the archway the bricks had made and fixed her eyes on the magical world before her.
A witch shoved past her clutching a crying child saying, “Shh, don’t cause a scene, I’ll not pay seven galleons for such a thing!”
Hermione was taken aback, but she giggled at the little boy. She could remember when she wanted to buy everything in her reach when she was younger.
“Any sort of place you’d like to go? I was hoping you’d accompany me to Flourish and Blotts.”
Malfoy said, interrupting her thoughts.
Hermione smiled and turned to face him.
“You read?”
“Yes, Granger, you aren’t the only one. I just don’t read as MUCH as you. But then again, that’s damned near impossible, isn’t it?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment?” she asked instead of stated.
“You should. That’s the nicest I’m going to give out, I’m afraid.”
The corners of his mouth pulled up into a smile. He grasped her hand and pulled her along until they got to Flourish and Blotts. Hermione tried to repress a squeal that was budding in her throat. She’d been in desperate need of new reading material. Without thinking, she ran up to the door, flung it open, and sprinted in the store to marvel at the tons of books around her. She felt like she was eleven years old again.
“Excited, are we?” Malfoy said with a teasing tone.
“You have no idea…” Hermione mumbled.
“Well have a look around; I’ve got to see if they got a special book I’ve been wanting in stock.”
“What is it?” Hermione asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
