Daphne knew about what was going on between her best friend and a certain Gryffindor witch so she wasn't surprised when Erin closed the compartment door as quickly as she could and told Daphne everything. About how she feels about Hermione and that they almost kissed while reading poems by Sappho.

Erin knew what she was getting herself into when she told Daphne everything. Daphne started teasing Erin whenever was Hermione near, saying things like; "Go talk to your girlfriend." or "Go ask her out."

But every time Erin tried to ask her crush out, she, instead of a date, said "hang out." So they ended up hanging out almost four times a week.

Even on Valentine's day.

Erin offered Daphne, Astoria, and Luna to hang out with them but they all refused. Hermione said that same happened with Ron and the Slytherin could only wonder if her best friend kept her mouth shut.

"I think my potions essay did not go well," Hermione suddenly said.

After they wandered around Hogsmeade and started to get a little cold, they decided to get a butterbeer at Three Broomsticks.

Erin rolled her eyes. "Mione, you never stop thinking about school, do you? I'm sure you did fine, you always do! Even Snape, who is a prick, almost always gives you an O."

"Yes, almost always," she bit the inside of her cheek. "What if—"

"No, stop!" Erin placed her pointing finger on Hermione's lips to shut her up. "I don't wanna hear no more about school, okay? It's weekend, there's no school and you are relaxing in this amazing pub where they have the wizarding world's best butterbeer."

Hermione mumbled an 'okay' and started staring at the table and her drink.

Erin sighed. "Merlin, Mione, what are you worrying about now?"

"About Harry's date with Cho."

Erin coughed. "Harry has a date with Cho?" She asked.

When she felt people's gaze on her, she said, "What? Mind your own business." As if she just didn't think of an idea that someone who is minding their own business wouldn't think of.

"So anyway," the Slytherin cleared her throat, "how do you feel about some spying? I must make sure that your Harry is good enough for my Cho."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you and Cho are friends."

"We were really close in my third year. Then we drifted apart but that doesn't mean we are enemies. I wish her the best," Erin explained.

"I don't think they are meant to be together," Hermione whispered.

"Oh yeah, because he and Ginny like each other."

"You know?"

"Spending two weeks with them, I learned a thing. And that is that Harry looks at Ginny like I look at my Agnetha Fältskog poster."

Hermione laughed. "I didn't know you like ABBA."

"Oh, honey, you have so many things to learn about me," Erin grinned at her friend and then said, "So how about the spying?"

***

Erin Mckinnon never thought she would step inside Madam Pudifoot's Tea Shop.

At first she thought that there is no way Harry would willingly go in there but then she remembered that Cho was sort of a romantic.

Erin liked the colors pink and red, don't get her wrong, but this was just a bit too much for her liking.

Inside the shop, everyone was kissing, cuddling with their partners. Hermione and Erin looked at themselves with disgust in there faces at the sight.

They were immediately greeted by Madam Pudifoot who clapped her hands and cooed at them.

"You girls are so cute!"

It took them a second to realize what was the woman thinking. "No, we're not—"

"Come with me." She placed a hand on Hermione's back and lead them both to the only empty table in the shop. After the girls sat down, the woman asked, "What will you have?"

None of them were there before, they had no idea what kind of things were they serving.

"Surprise us," Hermione answered for the both. When Madam Pudifoot left the Gryffindor said, "Why does she think we're dating?"

"She thinks that everyone who walks in here with someone are a thing. It can be best friends or even. . . siblings." Erin scrunched her nose as she remembered how Daphne once told her that she and Astoria explored more of Hogsmeade and Madam Pudifoot mistook them for a couple. Astoria was eleven and Daphne twelve years old at that time.

Before Hermione could have any questions, she gasped and pointed to a table. "That's Harry and Cho!"

Erin looked to the direction Hermione was pointing at and she was right! Cho was talking about something they obviously couldn't hear. She seemed that she was not having a very good time and Harry. . . Well, he looked as if he didn't want to be there.

"It seems that Potter truly is a born romantic, isn't he?"

Hermione bit her lip and nodded. "He always gets nervous around pretty girls. Though, I can't blame him." Erin raised her brow at that but Hermione shook her head. "Anyway, how good are you at lip reading?"

Erin pursed her lips. "Not good at all, you?"

"Me neither."

At that moment, a bartender came to their table, put two glasses on the table and wished them "enjoy your drinks".

Erin scanned the dark pink liquid in the glass. There was a lighter pink foam at the top and heart-shapped Tapioca Pearls of red colour in the liquid.

"Do you think it'll taste good?" Hermione asked.

"There's only way to find out." And with that, Erin took a sip of the drink. It tasted like strawberries, raspberries and more kind of berries. It wasn't that sweet like she expected it to be. Surprisingly, it was pretty good. "I approve, love it."

Hermione liked it too so after they finished their first drinks, they ordered second ones.

Suddenly, Erin's eyes landed on a Cho, who looked like she's at the edge of breakdown.

"What the hell. . ." The Slytherin muttered.

But then, Harry started to look around the shop, the girls both panicked when they saw him looking at a spot near them.

"What are we gonna do?" Hermione asked in panic.

Erin got an idea but she wasn't sure Hermione would like it. She took her friend's face in her hands and whispered, "I'm very sorry about this."

And then, she pressed her lips against Hermione's. Before the Gryffindor's brain could fully register what on the earth was happening, she was kissing the blonde back.

The kiss lasted much longer than Erin planned, not that she minded. Hermione's hand out of nowhere, appeared on Erin's thigh as the Slytherin's hand travelled to the back of Hermione's head, deepening the kiss.

They pulled away and both took a deep breath.

Harry didn't seem to notice them. Hermione and Erin most likely blended into the crowd of sickly-romantic couples.

"I—"

"Oh it's already. . . too many o'clock," Hermione looked at her wrist, where she was not wearing any watch and stood up. "I'm sorry, Erin, but I have to meet Harry in few minutes at Three Bromsticks."

"Mione— Harry is —"

"Bye!"

And with that, she left, leaving Erin wide-eyed in shock.