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[weather_vane]

Hogsmeade, Romilda considered forlornly as she sat at the bar of the Three Broomsticks sipping at a Butterbeer, was rather overrated. Sure, there was Honeydukes and Zonko's and even Scrivenshaft's if you like that sort of papery thing. But when it came down to it, there was only so much a girl could do.

She heaved a sigh, wondering vaguely how come

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[so_harry]

"You look bored."

The words were simple, yet there was a sort of wry tone to it.

Harry Potter came inside Three Broomsticks with a small bag from Zonko's in his hand. He had come round to fetch a table for Ron and Hermione, and realized he had come a bit early. He supposed Hermione was dragging Ron around to Scrivenshaft's for more note paper.

"Though I'd be bored to if I was reading that," Harry laughed.

[weather_vane]

Speak of the devil.

Romilda shifted sideways slightly in her seat so she could have a better view of the boy standing near her. She checked to make sure the butterflies in her stomach were still in full function. They were.

"Yeah, I figure you'd be," Romilda said, giving a bit of a smirk. "Not exactly your type of magazine? Like the original Witch Weekly better?"

[so_harry]

Harry didn't bother to ask for an invitation as he sat down beside her at the bar. Immediately Madame Rosmerta asked for his drink order and Harry obliged in letting her know he would like a Butterbeer. Afterward, he turned back to Romilda and stifled a laugh.

"Funny you say that," he told her. "I just picked up the newest issue."

[weather_vane]

"Oh? Read the article about the new five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile? Fascinating, hm?"

Romilda took a drink from her Butterbeer, a playful grin on her face.

[so_harry]

He chuckled. He could not remember a time when he had found himself this comfortable around Romilda Vane. For once she was actually friendly and rather cool. He liked it. If not for all the times she's made him feel uncomfortable, anyway.

"Didn't you know I was in the running?" he asked her, almost flabbergasted. "I've got to keep up on my own appearances, you know."

[weather_vane]

She felt incredibly happy for herself, and very proud of the fact she hadn't disintegrated into a giggling, eye-batting lovebird. Very proud indeed.

"Nah, I thought you wouldn't get nominated," Romilda teased. "Maybe for their Least Interesting Bachelor list, though."

[so_harry]

It was just as Madame Rosmerta brought his drink that Harry clasped a hand over his chest and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Romilda!" he exclaimed. "That's... that's--" And then he realized he couldn't quite play the part any longer. "Absolutely true. I was surprised myself."

[weather_vane]

Romilda laughed. "Smooth, Harry."

She took another sip from her Butterbeer, enjoying the warm feeling it gave her throat as it went down, and tilted her bottle slightly. "So are you waiting for someone?" she asked, banishing the notion he'd been there for him. There was plenty of time for fantasizing some time later.

[so_harry]

"Aye," Harry replied simply with a nod of his jet-black head.

"Hermione and Ron are taking their precious time though," he continued almost bitterly. However, he couldn't be enjoying himself more. Which was strange. Very strange, actually. "Are you meeting anyone?"

[weather_vane]

"No, not really. Most of my friends are probably in Honeydukes or something," she said, frowning slightly. The endless sugar-packed wares of the sweet shop were tasty but sometimes a little sense-impairing, something that was proved when she saw students loading up armfuls of the stuff.

She shrugged again. "And I don't really know where Natalie or Ginny would be," Romilda said, referring to her dormitory mates.

[so_harry]

At the mention of Ginny's name, Harry perked. He couldn't help it really, though he tried to tone it down a notch. Instead, he looked at Romilda and nodded his head.

"I think Ginny might be off with Luna," he told her, shrugging. "I'm not really sure."

[weather_vane]

She scrutinised him warily. It seemed like he'd suddenly gotten cheerier as soon as she said Ginny, though maybe it was a figment of her overactive imagination. Or something. Either way, she wanted to know whether there was a reason behind that.

Romilda was careful not to let any remaining disdain for Luna to cross into her body language and shrugged herself. "It's hard to keep track of your friends sometimes."