Discovery

35.

March came, and Harry finally got another letter from Sirius:

Be at stile at end of road out of Hogsmeade (past Dervish and Banges) at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Bring as much food as you can.

"He hasn't come back to Hogsmeade?" said Ron incredulously.

"It looks like it, doesn't it?" said Hermione.

"I can't believe him," said Harry tensely, "if he's caught..."

That Saturday afternoon, I dug through my trunk to find my cloak for Hogsmeade.

"Are you ready?" Hermione said, heading towards the door.

"Yeah, let's go."

Hermione and I headed down the stairs. As we reached the bottom, Fred, George, and Lee came through the portrait hole.

"Hey, Ella!" Lee exclaimed. "We've been looking for you!"

"Looking for me?" I repeated. "Why?"

"Fred has something to ask you," George smirked.

"What's that?" I said, looking over at Fred, who was avoiding my eye.

"Dunno, but I've just got to— I've got to grab my— er— shoes..." George stuttered. He hurried up the stairs without another word.

"Yeah— yeah me too. See you later." Lee ran after George.

"Oh, you know what?" Hermione suddenly blurted out. "I've forgotten something..."

"What?" I asked.

"Just— something—" she turned around and headed back up the girls' stairs.

"That was weird..." I muttered.

Fred, who had been strangely silent throughout this conversation, chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, they're strange alright."

"So what did you want to ask me?" I questioned.

Fred moved closer to where I was standing.

"I was just— just wondering if you would want to come to Hogsmeade with me?" he said hesitantly.

"Like with you, George, and Lee?" I said. "That sounds great!"

"Well, actually," Fred cleared his throat and finally made eye contact with me, "I meant just the two of us."

I didn't know what to say. Was he asking me out? Like, on a date?

But just then, Harry and Ron came back from their dorm.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Oh— she's upstairs," I said, standing up. "I'll go get her."

I hurried up the staircase without looking back.
I flung the dormitory door open and saw Hermione sitting on her bed, folding her cloak.