The next morning, Hermione was awake extra early, to be honest she was just tense of a slight possibility of Lucifer not being able to go with her.
But now he actually was and she felt incredibly happy and excited and-
'Breathe, Hermione... breathe...No need to get overly excited or potentially make it awkward for him,' she thought to herself,
'Even though you are in love with him... and want to feel those lips on your-' she mentally slapped herself.
It was just hormones going wild, after being too engrossed in completing her load of homework.
Even though he was spending time with her, it's just doing work not hanging out as a couple.
She shouldn't be making a big deal out of it anyway.
She also didn't like the fact that Harry would be going, again, but Lucifer was right, there was no reason for her to waste her breath on them.
She got dressed and went down to the Common Room to await his arrival.
That was her plan, but then she saw him sitting in one of the big poofy chairs, "You're already awake?"
Lucifer looked up at her, "Yeah, yeah I... I have been for a little while now. Maybe an hour?" He said, looking at his watch.
"But it's six o'clock, you've been up since five?" She asked him.
"Is it a crime to get excited for hanging out with my girlfriend after a long time?' Lucifer asked cheekily, too active for not a morning person like him.
"No... but still," Hermione sat down across from him and pulled out a book to read until the Great Hall was opened to serve breakfast.
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She looked at him for a moment longer, "So... being Emancipated, Dumbledore didn't say anything else about it? Just that you're an adult now?"
"Basically. I have the letter, or maybe a copy of it, that the Minister signed, acknowledging me as a descendant of Merlin Ambrosius, and that I live on my own and can fend for myself, and I get all the Rights and Privileges that come with being an Adult Wizard," Lucifer said, both of them standing up to go to the Great Hall.
"That means you can do magic without the Ministry tracking you!" Hermione got more excited by the second.
"Well, at Lux I was able to do that anyway, an anti-tracking Barrier around it. I practiced a lot of spells at O.W.L. level over the summer. Well the basic Fifth Year spells found in the first thirty pages of Grade 5," Lucifer explained, "technically Lumos Maxima is a Fifth year spell, and I used it in Second Year," he shrugged.
"I just heard Professor Flitwick mention it once in class and I thought I'd try it out myself...."
"Really?" She was in awe and had a hard time comprehending just how gifted of a Wizard he was.
"If you ever think for whatever reason you aren't someone to be idolized by First Years, or even Adult Wizards, think again, because you are what all Wizards should strive to be. Dedication, Diligence, Kindness, Loyalty, Intelligence, Courage, Ambition; the Sorting Hat was right about you being a fit for every House."
Lucifer felt his cheeks burning under her massive praise.
"And you're probably the strongest Wizard in existence, you might even already be stronger than Dumbledore," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"You really think so?"
"I do think so. I can see you surpassing Merlin, honestly. I doubt Black would want to cross you, Lucifer, if he knew just how powerful you were," Hermione smiled as they entered the Great Hall, being the first ones there.
They sat beside each other and piled on some food.
When Harry and Ron walked in, they obviously did not sit that close to them.
"Harry and Ron were curious about what Dumbledore wanted you for yesterday morning," she explained to him.
"Let them wonder. I'm not happy with either of them right now, and I'm not sure if I ever will be again," Lucifer said, glaring at both boys a moment before going back to his food.
Hermione looked at him, "Well, Harry's in the right for being angry with me... I did get his Broom taken from him, and it was confirmed to be hex and jinx free, but I was worried for his safety," she defended her action.
"I'm not faulting you for that. I still think we should've left him to his own decision, and if he died, he died," Lucifer shrugged, not caring much.
"I don't agree with that, but he is being extremely careless about everything, isn't he?" She said.
"Too careless. Sirius Black won't hesitate to take advantage of that carelessness... assuming Potter is Black's target," he said quietly.
"Right... it still doesn't make any sense, why he would be over Ron's bed instead of Harry's..." Hermione said just as quiet.
"And no one would want Weasely dead, no one on Voldemort's side at least. So why?" Again, they just couldn't come up with a rational reason for Sirius Black to be over Ron's bed.
Pretty soon it was time for Hogsmeade, and even though the snow was gone, it was still around Forty Fahrenheit, which was approximately Four Celsius if Lucifer had his conversion right.
They were bundled up in some warm clothing that wasn't restrictive in movement.
On his way out of the Castle with Hermione, Filch stopped him.
"Hold on there, you form was taken by Deputy Headmistress, you're not going to Hogsmeade," his grin was malicious.
Before Lucifer could say anything, Professor McGonagall arrived out of his vision.
"Hold on there, Mr. Filch," she said, catching him off guard, "I have been reassured that Morningstar would control his anger, besides that boy has now received unrestricted permission to go to Hogsmeade from the Headmaster. He is allowed to go with Miss Granger."
Filch said nothing, but grumbled as Lucifer went past him, Hermione by his side.
When they were on the trek towards Hogsmeade, Ron came up behind them, "How did you get permission to go to Hogsmeade?"
"Do you hear something, Hermione?" Lucifer asked her and she couldn't stop her giggling.
"Seriously, Harry tried to get his form signed but couldn't, how could yours was given back?" Ron persisted, because the news of McGonagall taking away Lucifer's form was quickly made public, taking his past tantrums into account.
"Because I don't have a Psychopath after me," Lucifer said like it was obvious, which it kind of was.
Ron said nothing else as he sped walked right by them.
Lucifer couldn't help laughing when Ron was out of earshot.
"I wonder what Harry is going to say when we next see him," Hermione said, wondering if she would see him at Hogsmeade.
He told Ron he'd be there, but anything could happen.
"Who cares?"
"Lucifer, don't be like that," Hermione said.
"I'm just responding to his idiotic decisions. I don't want to not be associated with him, but his current choices are making it hard right now," Lucifer explained, hoping she understood his point of view.
"That doesn't make it right, though..." Hermione trailed off.
They soon arrived at Hogsmeade, she immediately wrapped herself around his arm. "Where to first?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Lucifer said happily.
Hermione's affection had gone from embarrassing to endearing in a heartbeat.
He loved it now when she latched herself onto his arm.
The way she pushed her hair back before she let her face fall down onto him.
The way she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly.
"Earth to Lucifer."
"Sorry,' Lucifer said, shaking his head. "Lost in thought. What were you saying?"
'You want to start with the Shrieking Shack? We didn't get a proper look last time."
"Of course I do. Anywhere with you is a delight."
Hermione's cheeks went pink, but she beamed up at him and together the two of them happily made their way into the town.
They took the turning just inside the entrance and began the steady climb up towards the Shrieking Shack.
"It's an odd feeling, isn't it?" Hermione asked, "The building is haunted, to the point where it got named after it. And yet I feel calm here. It's like I want to just go inside and explore."
"There's an entrance under the Whomping Willow," Lucifer replied from what he heard inside the boy's bathroom, "but obviously you'd need to get past the Willow which is fifty times easier said than done."
Hermione turned to face Lucifer, holding his hands in hers.
She raised her face to look into his eyes and he stared down into hers.
"It feels weird that we're always having these moments in front of this shack. Of all the places. There are so many more romantic places in Hogsmeade, and yet here we are."
"We can head to Madam Pudifoot's tea shop if that's more interesting to you," Lucifer said, remembering the small, cramped, pink store that seemed to have been designed specifically for couples that they'd passed on their first trip through the town.
"Shut up!" Hermione chided, while a smile curled her lips. "Don't think that's either of our scenes."
"Are you not a pink and frilly kind of girl?"
"Not really my style. Not saying I wouldn't rock it, but a little bit too girly for me. Blue seems far more fitting for me," she said slyly.
"What's wrong with being girly?" Lucifer asked, eyebrows raised, curious to know which Hermione he is dealing with.
"Brains are hotter," she reached up and grabbed Lucifer's face pulling him into a kiss.
It was a fierce kiss, with the same energy she'd had usually ----It must be the bold Hermione's day today.
And it was a while before either pulled away.
Then, in sync, they both did.
"Always in front of the Shack," Lucifer smirked, glancing across towards it. "What is it about it? The way the boards are nailed in? Or the way the wind ripples through the gaps?"
"Shut up!"
"Or maybe it's the way the house looks slightly crooked, as though someone tried to push it and didn't quite get it all the way."
"I will jinx you, Lucifer!"
'Oooooh I know! It must be the silence despite the fact that it's meant to be haunted. Really helps add to the atmosphere of wondering.'
Hermione's arm moved and Lucifer flinched, her hand had just disappeared into her robes when she sighed and simply laughed.
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