When a group of friends gathers, the conversation never seems to run out. From summer holiday stories to everyday oddities, from food and fun to celebrity gossip, girls' chatter is always lively and unpredictable. Yet, they somehow manage to seamlessly pick up where the other leaves off. The lively banter, far from annoying, is actually quite charming.
This, however, had little to do with Glenn. Sitting quietly beside Hermione, he remained as inconspicuous as ever.
Not that he minded—it suited him just fine.
Even if invited to join the conversation, Glenn doubted he could keep up with the girls' lively banter.
Glenn has left the group chat.
"Speaking of which, Hermione's birthday is coming up soon, isn't it? I remember it's... September 19th. How about we go buy your gift after dinner?" Lavender's topic took a sharp turn from romantic gossip to Hermione's birthday as she chewed on her food.
"There's still almost a month to go... But if you want to prepare in advance, I won't stop you," Hermione replied, sipping her soup and slightly averting her gaze, her head tilted down.
Despite her words, it was clear the young girl was delighted by the attention.
"Tsundere," Parvati teased.
"Yep, total tsundere," Lavender chimed in, less restrained than Luna, who merely smiled.
"Oh, come on! Fine, I'm happy, okay? Geez..." Hermione's face turned red as she admitted her feelings, unable to hide her joy at her friends' thoughtfulness.
"By the way, isn't Glenn's birthday on the same day as Hermione's? Glenn, is there anything you'd like? We could pick up something for you too," Lavender asked, glancing at Glenn, who seemed lost in thought.
Hearing his name, Glenn momentarily paused his mental observations and turned to Lavender, shaking his head gently. "No need. Just focus on Hermione's gift. If I were to accept a gift from you, I'd feel obligated to return the favor on your birthdays. But I'm not good at picking gifts for girls, which makes it a troublesome task. Giving a gift without thoughtfulness would be disrespectful."
"Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. If you feel bad, a verbal birthday wish will suffice. I'll do the same for you when your birthdays come around," he added.
Parvati and Lavender exchanged a look, smiling helplessly. Luna, on the other hand, simply nodded to show she understood.
"You're quite straightforward—but we don't mind. Honestly, even though girls are more detail-oriented, picking a gift for someone like you would be a challenge for me," Parvati admitted, shaking her head.
"Totally agree. Besides, if other girls gave you birthday gifts, Hermione would get jealous, wouldn't she?" Lavender teased, her gaze falling on Hermione, who had been listening intently. Feeling Lavender's eyes on her, Hermione froze slightly.
"Not really. You guys are my friends. I wouldn't get jealous if you gave Glenn a gift..." she replied, her voice trailing off.
"Oh? Really?"
"...."
"Fine, maybe just a little jealous."
"Just a little? I don't believe you."
"Me neither."
"Ugh! Fine! A lot jealous, okay? Happy now?" Hermione finally burst out, her face flushed as she covered it with her hands.
These two! So embarrassing!
"Come on, Hermione, we know you too well. Your possessiveness is off the charts," Parvati teased, rolling her eyes as she and Lavender giggled.
"Sometimes, it's better to be honest than to force yourself," Luna chimed in, her ethereal voice breaking through the chatter. She nodded slightly, as if concluding the matter.
"Exactly! Little Luna is so wise!" Lavender exclaimed, hugging the petite witch and nuzzling her affectionately. Luna didn't resist, simply smiling as she allowed the gesture.
"But—Glenn, you said you're not good at picking gifts for girls. I'm curious, what kind of birthday gift would you give Hermione?" Lavender asked.
Before Glenn could answer, Hermione eagerly spoke up, her eyes sparkling. "If we're talking about Glenn's gifts to me, I could go on forever!"
Like a little girl showing off her treasures, Hermione excitedly displayed her bracelet, necklace, and the charm tucked in her pocket on the table. "He made all of these himself! There are more, but I didn't bring them with me. Take this bracelet, for example. It looks ordinary, but it actually hides a practical little knife inside!"
Some items, like the charm enhanced with an Undetectable Extension Charm, were too private to reveal. But Hermione described the functions of the other items in detail, her pride evident in her voice.
What a show-off!
The three girls couldn't help but enjoy her enthusiasm. The sight of Hermione, usually so composed and reliable at Hogwarts, now brimming with childish pride, was utterly endearing.
As her close friends, Parvati, Lavender, and Luna knew this was the real Hermione beneath the perfect exterior. Adorable, yes, but also a little maddening.
While Hermione's words focused on the items' features, her tone was filled with admiration for Glenn. Every sentence radiated the affection of a girl deeply in love.
Ugh, so sweet it's sickening!
But also... so enviable.
Hermione, do you realize you're practically rubbing your happiness in our faces? Could you spare a thought for us single girls, huh?!
"Feels like we've opened a can of worms," Parvati muttered, rubbing her stomach. She hadn't eaten much, but she already felt full.
"Damn it, I want a sweet romance too!!!" Lavender wailed.
"Wait, didn't I say that before?" she added, puzzled.
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