Albert turned to look at Hermione, who was clinging tightly to him. He also noticed the Granger couple waving and calling reminders in his direction. After giving them a slight nod, he lowered his voice and said to Hermione, "Let's talk somewhere else!"
"Kiss me!"
Hermione looked up at Albert with blazing eyes.
Albert lowered his head and kissed Hermione's cheek. After scanning the surroundings to make sure no one else was nearby, he took Hermione away by Apparition.
They reappeared in the wilderness, where Albert and Hermione had briefly stopped to rest while crossing Australia.
"Let's go into the suitcase first, all right?"
Albert had anticipated that such a day might come long ago. He just had not expected Hermione to be so bold as to actually act on it.
"Okay."
Hermione buried her head in his embrace.
"Can you let go first?" Albert soothed her softly. "Let's go into the suitcase and talk this over properly, all right? I'm not going to run away."
"I like you!"
Hermione still did not let go. Instead, she stared at Albert with a burning expression.
"I like you too, but..."
Albert gently stroked Hermione's hair and said in a very soft voice, "But we should still part ways."
"Why? Don't you like me?"
Hermione abruptly looked up at Albert, her face filled with shock and confusion.
"I'm already married. I'm destined to be nothing more than a passing figure in your life, and I can't give you the future you want." Albert reminded her gently, "Precisely because I like you so much, I think letting go and separating before this relationship with no future hurts us both is the best choice. A person may have many relationships in a lifetime..."
"I don't want to hear this." Hermione interrupted loudly.
"All right,