August

August 4th 1998

I walked down the grounds and round towards Hogsmeade with Hermione. The Three Broomsticks was fairly empty of Hogwarts students, as it wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend (these were organised more frequently in the summer though). There were a whole host of creatures present- hags and goblins, ghouls and ghosts. However, there was a smattering of eighth years- I could see Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones in one corner, they were some of the Hufflepuffs that Draco was now on good terms with.

Draco had become friends with these Hufflepuffs, Antony Goldstein, Kevin Entwhistle and Mandy Brocklehurst from Ravenclaw, and he was becoming friendlier with my friends. It was definitely a vast contrast from the band of menacing Slytherins he had been allied with in the past years. He looked a lot happier now, as he approached his friends with some butter beers, Madame Rosmerta was carrying the rest, and sat down to talk to them.

I sat down at a small round table in the corner, while Hermione went to get drinks, when Susan approached me.

"Hi Harry- I just wanted to say that Draco is completely smitten than you, even if he doesn't say it. He really is, he can't stop talking about you.

"And also he's getting you something from Hogsmeade and it would completely surprise him if you did the same."

She smiled and waited for my response.

"Oh, well, that's so cute. Sorry...um of course I'll get something, I was planning on anyway. Tell Draco to meet me outside here, at 3:30pm."

I grinned at her as she nodded and turned away. Hermione approached and was definitely curious about what Susan had wanted.

"Well, you know how Susan is Draco's friend. She told me he was getting me a present and it would surprise him if I did the same. So we are meeting outside here at 3:30pm."

I was excited. Very excited. Hermione smiled and proceeded to talk about her school work. I was only half listening. More like a quarter.

Soon we finished our butter beer and walked out of the Three Broomsticks. It was around one o'clock. So I had two and a half hours to find the perfect present for Draco. That wasn't much time.

So we scoured the village for flowers, ornaments and chocolates. We found some very good and pretty presents. But none of them were perfect.

After what felt like years- it was was only around an hour- I found it. It was a small pebble. Pebbles are given by penguins to their mate, as a sign of love, and they spend hours finding the perfectest pebble on the beach. But of course it was magic. It was enchanted to display messages that I could place in and Draco could see any time whenever he touched it and said 'omnes revelare'. In Latin this meant 'to reveal all'.  I had already set two messages, 'you are very cute' and 'I hope your day is going perfectly'. Innocent but sweet.

Hermione had found it and taught me how to use it. I bought it and strolled back to the Three Broomsticks. Now I waited, Hermione thought me and Draco would walk back up together so went with Neville and Parvati.

I was drumming my fingers against my thigh when Draco turned the corner with Susan and Justin in tow. They waved at me and split off from Draco, and he walked up to me.

"Hey Harry. I don't really know why you wanted to meet with me but okay. I'm here I suppose."

He was clearly nervous about giving me his present but it was very sweet.