by DrT - Sahits

Hermione sighed. "You might be right."
"I also tried to hire Winky to help out. She refused and demanded to be bound. I agreed, but insisted
that she take pay for her work anyway, and I told her she could leave whenever she wanted to be
with some other family as long as she would still keep my secrets."
"And she agreed?"
Harry winced. "She did, on the condition that she not have to directly serve 'she-who-tries-to-trickgood-house
elves-with words'."
Hermione flushed again. "Tell her I promise not to try and trick her."
"I will."
Hermione quickly finished her light breakfast, and then Harry tested her right there for Occlumency.
The key for the first steps in Occlumency were an organized and alert mind. Hermione had both.
She was quickly able to recognized when Harry was trying to direct her surface thoughts anywhere
she didn't want him to go. It also meant she would likely learn the next steps easily -- recognizing
when anyone was touching her mind and diverting her thoughts in any way. The next steps,
stopping a determined attack, would likely take months of hard practice. Still, Harry felt this was
enough to trust Hermione with his basic story.
The pair moved to the small loveseat in the room and Harry told her a fairly detailed summary of
what had happened at the trial and afterwards, and then gave her a slightly briefer synopsis of the
alternate time line. By the time Harry was finished, it was nearly 12:45, and to their slight surprise,
Hermione's breakfast dishes disappeared and lunch for two appeared on the breakfast table.
They also both only noticed then that they had been holding hands for some time.
"I suppose I should get dressed," Hermione said shyly.
"If you'll be more comfortable," Harry said, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "I hope you
don't mind my saying this, but I think you look adorable like you are."
"You have grown up," Hermione said.
"Thank you, I think," Harry said.
"Still, either you're overdressed, or I'm underdressed . . . eep!"
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