August | Hermione Granger x OFC

Chapter Forty-Two

CW: allusions to homophobia also like brief discussion of consent? also the lion king spoilers? lol

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Day Two

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Robyn landed with Winnie at her side in front of The Pink Griffin for the second time. She didn't see Hermione, though.

"Boo!"

Never mind.

"Rude," she said lightly while the girl moved in front of her. "Not that you even scared me, though."

"I so did," Hermione insisted with a smile.

"Not."

"Your heart's definitely beating faster."

Maybe it was.

Before she could retort, Winnie spoke up, "Miss Robby will returns at the same time, half four, she will! Miss Hermione, won'ts you look after Miss Robby?"

What was it with people telling Hermione to look after her? Did they not think she could look after herself?

Actually, scratch that. She couldn't, not in the Muggle world, at least, which was filled with terrifying things like cars.

"Of course I will!" Hermione said brightly with a glance to Robyn. "I do hope you've been enjoying your time off!"

Winnie nodded enthusiastically and clapped her hands, "Yes! Miss Robby spends time with Winnie in the forest! Miss Robby is Winnie's best friend!" she exclaimed. By the end she had tears in her big eyes and she held on tightly to Robyn's leg.

"You're my best friend too, Winnie," Robyn said with an affectionate pat to her head. It was true, too. Apart from Astoria and the Ravenclaws. Winnie had looked after her since she was a baby; she couldn't imagine life without her.

Hermione was watching them with a soft smile. "Cute," she commented when Robyn met her eyes.

Robyn shook her head and prompted Winnie to return home. "Hermione and I have got a film to watch, don't we?"

"We do, indeed."

"Winnie will lets you go, then! Bye-bye!"

"Bye, Winnie," they chorused.

The elf disappeared not a moment later.

They strolled through Malarkey Market and then Sapphic Alley. Robyn asked if they could one day take a visit to the Museum of Muggle Curiosities, which Hermione agreed to, though she pointed out that she could just tell or even show Robyn anything she wanted.

"I can show you the world," she said with a giggle.

"Okay, thanks," replied Robyn ignorantly.

But Hermione continued, "Shining, shimmering, splendid."

It was a bit of an odd thing to say but Robyn wasn't going to question her. "I'm sure it is, somewhat," she agreed.

"Tell me, Princess, now when did you last let your heart decide?"

Okay, never mind. Robyn was going to question her.

"'Princess'? My heart? What?"

Hermione burst into laughter. Robyn laughed with her, confused. "I'm confused," she admitted.

"Yes, I'd expect so," said Hermione, who had automatically reached for her hand as they left The Lanes. Well, Robyn had automatically held her own out first, waiting.