Chapter Text
Poor Hermione… Harry thought sitting next to his petrified friend. Ron was down in the Great Hall gathering some food for the both of them but Harry wasn’t really too hungry. Reaching over to grasp her hand Harry made a silent promise to find what did this Hermione. Feeling something crunch Harry looked down in alarm thinking he had accidently broken her hand. However, it was just a piece of crumpled up paper. Frowning, Harry gently worked the paper from Hermione’s tight grasp. To his surprise there were two sheets of paper and one looked like it was torn from a book. That isn’t like Hermione at all. Seeing a page that looked like notes Harry placed that one on top to read first as usually Hermione’s notes were easier to make sense of than the reading material. However, to Harry’s surprise they weren’t notes about whatever she was reading. It was titled ‘Ways to get Harry Potter to notice me’
What?!?
Harry was quite shocked at what he was reading. He had no idea Hermione felt this way about him. His eyes continued to scan down the page.
#1. Tame my hair.
Harry didn’t see any reason Hermione should have to tame her hair. It was the only thing about her that was out of control. Hermione held so tightly to rules that she could barely let loose once in a while. Harry liked the fact that her hair listened to no rules. Much to Hermione’s chagrin.
#2 Ask mum and dad if there I anything to be done about my large front teeth.
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise then frowned as he glanced towards Hermione’s frozen body. He had never noticed that her teeth were large. Even if they were to be considered abnormal, Harry was now a big advocate for anything that was out of the ordinary. He got enough normalcy at the Dursley’s thank you very much.
#3 Find out who Dobby is and ask him what he is trying to accomplish.
Harry wouldn’t much mind that one. Harry would definitely be grateful if Hermione could get a straight answer out of that house elf.
#4 Ask mum to send a training bra through the mail.
Harry could feel his face heat up as he folded the piece of paper back up and shoved it in his robes without reading the rest. Feeling like a snoop for reading that far into Hermione’s private notes Harry resolved to forget that last one. He pulled out the other sheet, hoping that it wasn’t anything like the first one he read and he wasn’t disappointed. Harry let out a gasp and ran out of the infirmary intending to find Ron. This page was the answer to everything they had been searching for. The other sheet of parchment was long forgotten.
~Later~
Harry and Ron sat picking at their dinner knowing that the mandrake draught had been administered at some point in the day which meant that Hermione should be joining them any minute. Seeing the doors to the Great Hall open, both Ron and Harry whipped their heads around and spotted their bushy-haired friend running towards them. Standing up to greet her, Harry was almost bowled over by the force of her hug. After Ron was greeted as well and the excitement of Hagrid coming back had settled down, Harry thought back to that list that was still in his pocket. He kept it with him at all times, although he still hadn’t read the whole thing and struggled to think of a good time to talk to Hermione about it.
Now sitting on the train ride home, Harry still had not approached Hermione about the list. Spotting his chance as Ron had excused himself to go to the loo, Harry cleared his throat. At Hermione’s inquiring look Harry stumbled to explain.
“Uh…..Hermione.. When you were petrified I found something in your hand. Something other than the page about the basilisk.” Harry could see the confusion morph into understanding and then horror on Hermione’s face.
“Did you read it?!” The blushing girl squeaked out.
“Um..Some but not all of it. I got to about number four when I realized I was snooping through your stuff.” Harry said ashamedly. He waited for her to start yelling at him but when it didn’t come Harry glanced up. Hermione’s face was still red and she was looking anywhere but at him.
“Do you still have it?” She asked quietly. Harry immediately held up the folded and rumpled piece of parchment which Hermione was quick to snatch away.
“Just so you know Hermione, I think you’re perfect just the way you are.” Harry told her feeling the heat rising up in his cheeks once more. Hermione offered him a small smile.
“We’ll see what you say in a couple years.” She stated boldly.
“I’ll say the same thing.” Harry said with a grin.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“When I do will I get to see the whole list?”
Hermione was about to respond when their red headed friend opened the door and let himself back into the compartment. Obliviously, Ron sat back down next to Harry and glanced between them.
“What did I miss?”
“Nothing.” Was the only answer he received.
The two friends shared secret smiles and Hermione gave a slight nod.
Hermione said a couple years right? Fourth year hear I come.