Ever since starting at Hogwarts, Silan had grown quite a bit taller, and his fingers had become more slender as well.
Hermione held Silan's wrist in a posture that was almost like linking arms with him, but even that did not satisfy her. She opened her hand and cradled his palm from below.
Their fingers interlaced, their palms pressed tightly together.
Neither of them spoke.
Holding a handkerchief in her left hand, Hermione carefully wiped Silan's fingers, and she kept at it for a long time...
Only after she had rubbed Silan's hand red did Hermione reluctantly let go.
"If only I could have held it a little longer..." Hermione said, somewhat annoyed as she changed the subject. "Where are we going later?"
"You decide today." Silan smiled. "I'll listen to you."
Hermione clearly already had a plan. Without hesitation, she said, "Then let's go to Diagon Alley. I want to take a photo and buy a few things while we're there."
"No problem."
Come to think of it, they really did not have a photo of just the two of them together.
Behind a tree not far away, Mrs. Granger lowered the brim of her hat, concealing her helpless expression.
"She spent that long wiping such a tiny hand... Hermione's intentions are far too obvious."
As she wondered whether she ought to teach Hermione a thing or two, Granger poked his head out and quietly reminded her, "They seem to be leaving. Let's head back too."
"All right." Mrs. Granger still seemed somewhat unsatisfied.
They had only watched a bit of hesitant, sneaky hand-holding. They had not even seen them kiss.
They were far too innocent.
Better wait until the children were a little older.
No, that would not do either. Once they were really grown up, it would