24th Gryffindor Note [action/written]

[loyalotter]

[Hermione's outside today. Mostly. Kinda sitting out on the porch nervously holding onto her Notebook. Those who have seen her lately might have noticed that in the last few weeks, she's been noticeably happier, and today's no different. She might just also have a case of the nerves for some reason.

Eventually, she pulls out her journal.]

Is anyone

Comments

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

[Harry is in his room, trying to brainstorm. It's a lot harder to find Christmas presents in a place with no money. He's hunched forward on the bed, looking thoughtful while Hedwig is perched on his shoulder. Should she choose to knock, he'll holler that his door's open.]

[Action]

[loyalotter]

[Augh, nerves! She does knock, only entering when he calls out. Conspicuously, she makes sure the door's shut and no one's in the hall listening and that might be a Muffliato spell before she approaches.] Harry? Do you have a minute?

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

[At that, Harry will put his notes away. Secret Christmas present stuff, you see.] Of course. What's up, Hermione?

[Action]

[loyalotter]

[If there's a spare chair, she's taking it.] I was just thinking about Christmas this year and how nice it is with so many friends here.

[pause.] I think Ron's calmed down since we all... rowed over Malfoy.

[Nice segue into the right topic, Hermione.]

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

[There is, by the desk he doesn't use very much.] A little quieter than last year, but it'll be nice all the same.

[He bites his lip at that.] A lot, yeah.

[Action]

[loyalotter]

[Then she takes it!]

Maybe I ought to start thinking of something to prepare for Christmas dinner, like Mum and Dad would do.

[She looks down at her hands for a moment.]

I know he was just worried.

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

Do you know of any good recipe books? I'm not that great with cooking holiday dinners.

[He bites his lip.]

I know. He's angry because he's concerned. Probably still is.

[Action]

[loyalotter]

No, but I remember a few recipes I've helped Mum and Dad make and I'm sure there's a book or two in the library that might help.

[She looks up.]

He's not. I mean, he is concerned, but he's not angry. Not anymore.

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

Having the instructions to go by would be great. Together we can come up with something.

What makes you think so?

[Action]

[loyalotter]

I'll look through the library and let you know. There has to be something out there.

[pause. Nervous blush.]

We talked. A few days ago. He was a little annoyed by the cold and the snowball he'd gotten thrown at him, but when I went out to keep him company, he was all right, pleasant even.

[There's more according to that blush on her cheeks.]

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

Thanks. [He's sort of avoiding the fact that the only reason he knows how to cook is because of all those times Petunia made him help with breakfast.]

Did he ever find out who threw it at him? [Raising eyebrows in amusement.] You had a very interesting conversation, from the looks of it.

[Action]

[loyalotter]

[She'll avoid that, too. No use ruining a good talk.]

I don't think so. [Sob blush. She's trying very hard not to smile and failing at it.] We did, for a while. And then we... [She looks like this is hard to say, even though she's totally still smiling.] ...we snogged, a little.

[She still has a little trouble wrapping her head around that.]

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

[ORLY. Harry is rather amused by this. He's been watching those two go around in circles for, oh, ever.] Only a little?

[Action]

[loyalotter]

Yes only a- [Wait a minute.]

What do you mean, "only a little?"

[Action]

[cruxofapotter]

It's just a question. [He's innocent. Innocent!] I just wondered if either of you might have gotten carried away.

[Action]

[loyalotter]

[She blushes bright red for a second.]

No, of course we didn't! [She's a proper lady, you know!] It was just a bit of snogging! [And then cuddling.]