RP: Running Errands

[rar_hermione]

Date: Friday, March 15, 1999
Characters: Hermione Granger, Anthony Goldstein, Others?
Location: Hogsmeade
Status: Public
Summary: Hermione finishes running her errands
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_anthony]

Anthony had ended up in the heart of Hogsmeade village after his walk had done a good job clearing his head. He hadn't meant to browse so long in the bookstore, but he'd got lost in the stacks, as he tended to do, ignoring the fact that his stomach was beginning to rumble.

He wasn't much in the mood to see anyone, despite his resolution to become more social, but he figured just getting out of the house was a good first step. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spent doing something so enjoyable and only for himself like browsing in Tattered Pages.

As he headed for the other side of the shop, he passed the front window, and a figure outside caught his eye. He knew that head of curly hair, and he wasn't sure he was up for speaking with Hermione Granger. He gave a little groan and picked up the nearest book, burying his face in it. Perhaps she wouldn't notice him there.

What a sodding coward you are, he chastised himself.

[rar_hermione]

When she entered the bookshop, she looked around to see if Mrs. Weasley was working. It could be her lunch time, which might be a relief. While she did like Mrs. Weasley, she wasn't sure if she wanted to be distracted at the moment. It was unkind to think that way, she knew, but Mrs. Weasley could talk an ear off if she had the time.

She started for the history section when she noticed someone familiar standing by the shelves nearby. Anthony Goldstein. It was tempting to pretend that she'd not seen him; they hadn't really spoken beyond minimal polite conversation as needed in class since his revision group nonsense. However, ignoring him was silly and immature, even if he was a right bloody prat.

"Good afternoon, Anthony," she said politely before she looked at the shelves.

[rar_anthony]

Anthony coughed and pretended to be startled out of a deep study of the book he'd chosen at random. He blinked at Hermione, then smiled what he hoped was a genuine-looking smile.

"Hermione," he said, "Hi--I didn't see you there." Bad liar, his conscience scolded him. He soldiered on despite the scolding.

"What brings you to Tattered Pages today?" He asked. Great, now he sounded like a salesman. He shook his head at himself.

[rar_hermione]

"Well, aren't we fortunate that I saw you then?" she asked sweetly. She was no longer annoyed with his views during the revision group, as there were a lot more important things in the world, and she'd been through a lot since then. However, she didn't feel entirely comfortable around him anymore, either. It was terribly tempting to ask if he'd thrown anyone off a tower lately, but she was too mature for such questions.

Barely.

"I'm looking at books." She pointed to the books on the shelves around them. "I assume that's why you're here, so I'll skip that question, if you don't mind. How are you since our internships ended? Going crazy or better since we received our exam marks?"