Chapter 80

The two walked side by side on the walkway.

Now that Christmas is approaching, the street is full of festive lights and decorations.

There were also people dressed as Santa Claus handing out flyers, and the shop windows on both sides of the street were filled with exquisite Christmas gifts.

Ah, speaking of Christmas gifts, he still had to prepare a gift for Hermione.

I wonder what she likes; what should I give her?

Should I give her wizarding trinkets or Muggle trinkets?

As it happens.

Both of them were the only Muggle-borns in their respective circles, so they could talk about anything, whether it was wizarding world matters or Muggle world matters.

So even if he gave her Muggle things, it shouldn't be a problem.

John walked along, pondering Hermione's preferences.

She is smart, pragmatic, and loves to learn; instead of giving her some flashy but useless trinkets, why not pick a book she might be interested in?

John walked along, eyeing the shop windows on the street, hoping that some gift he thought was good would pop up.

As he walked.

Duang!

Not paying attention, John's head suddenly bumped into a lamppost on the side of the road.

Sss!

John gasped, clutching his forehead in pain.

"John?"

Hermione, who was also looking around, heard the movement and turned her head.

She saw John clutching his head in pain by a lamppost.

She immediately understood what had happened.

"That's what you get for not watching where you're going."

Hermione smiled helplessly, reached out to pull away John's hand that was covering his head, and examined his forehead.

Although it was only slightly red, in the middle of winter, the pain from physical injury was definitely intense.

John waved his hand and said stubbornly.

"It's fine, Hermione, it's not a big deal."

Saying that, John continued to walk forward.

Hermione looked at his figure as he tried to act tough and shook her head helplessly.

John, walking in front, was once again thinking about the gift problem for Hermione.

Suddenly, he felt a warmth on his hand. Turning his head, he saw that Hermione had taken his hand.

"There are so many people on the street, I'll hold your hand so we won't get separated."

"And this way, you can continue looking around without worrying about bumping your head."

Hermione looked at John, her eyes curved into a smile as she said this.

John blinked, looking at the smile in Hermione's eyes, and feeling the softness and warmth coming from his hand.

His heart skipped a beat, very uncharacteristically.

John turned his head away unnaturally, gritting his teeth secretly. Damn it, I actually got flirted with by her...

Calm down, calm down, can't show any flaws.

Clearing his throat, John nodded as if nothing had happened, and then let Hermione lead him forward by the hand.

But Hermione had already noticed John's reaction, and the smile in her eyes grew even brighter.

The two walked slowly down the street hand in hand like this.

Hermione's hand was soft and supple, and holding it in his hand made one want to give it a squeeze.

Thinking this, John unconsciously rubbed Hermione's little hand in his.

And Hermione, in response, gently squeezed back, as if responding to John's little action.

Huh?

Is she this good at this?

John's heart trembled again. He secretly glanced at Hermione and found that the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, as if she had him figured out.

No, can't just sit and wait for death.

John suddenly saw a couple walking toward them; they were also holding hands.

But the way they held hands was that intimate way of interlocking fingers.

John hesitated for a moment, steeled his heart, and also tried to probe his fingers into the gaps between Hermione's fingers.

!!

Just as John made the move, Hermione beside him clearly paused. John could clearly feel her hand tremble slightly.

But Hermione didn't pull away, letting John slowly interlace his fingers with hers.

Hmm? Why no reaction?

John stole another glance at Hermione and found that although her cheeks were slightly flushed, her gaze was still calmly fixed ahead, without the slightest panic.

Are you that calm?

John couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Since that's the case.

John no longer hesitated and gently tightened his fingers again.

The two's hands slowly became completely intertwined and locked together.

Hermione's figure trembled slightly again, but she still didn't pull away.

John stole another glance at Hermione and finally discovered a trace of nervousness and shyness on her face.

Heh, little one, I can't handle you?

Sss, why is it suddenly getting hot in this weather?

John was feeling smug in his heart, only to realize belatedly that his body was heating up.

Little did he know, his own cheeks were also bright red at this moment.

Clearly, John wasn't any better off in this regard.

The two walked all the way with red faces, fingers interlaced, and neither of them spoke again.

Passersby on the road would occasionally cast kind or curious glances at them, and some would even give a teasing smile and give John a thumbs up.

Being young is great.

Once the two reached the market and finally bought their things, they couldn't continue holding hands anymore.

Because John's hands were full of things.

After returning home, they both tacitly didn't mention a word about what happened this morning, pretending that nothing had happened.

The two prepared lunch in the kitchen together, and then, like before, ate lunch while chatting and laughing.

In the afternoon, they cozily huddled on the sofa, reading books and chatting.

Hermione was covered with a warm blanket, while John was holding a living biological hot water bottle.

The two sat on opposite sides of the long sofa, each leaning against an armrest.

At this time, John was looking at the book on Transfiguration in his hand, and when he encountered a problem, he couldn't help but frown.

"Hermione, what is Transfiguration frequency?"

John pointed to a technical term in the textbook in his hand and asked Hermione on the other side.

Hearing John's question, Hermione thought for a moment and said.

"Transfiguration frequency, in layman's terms, is the common resonant frequency that exists between all things. Wait, this isn't knowledge from the textbook, is it?"

As she spoke, Hermione propped herself up strangely, leaned closer to John, and poked her head to look at the book in his hand.

"Who told you to read this?"

Looking at the book in John's hand, Hermione asked somewhat strangely.

This book was a rather rare, theoretical expansion reading written by an individual wizard.

Although it was somewhat useful, it was mostly whimsical.

"Luna, she said the content in this book is very interesting and very helpful for understanding Transfiguration."

Hearing Luna's name, Hermione showed a look of realization; she was indeed the type of person who would recommend this book.

But following that was a subtle feeling.

John would actually read such an obscure and niche book because of Luna's recommendation.

It seems Luna's influence on John cannot be underestimated.

Thinking this, Hermione didn't sit back in her original position.

She naturally leaned against John's side and pulled John's hand holding the book over so they could look at it together.

"I'm also curious about this book, let's read it together."

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me at any time."

Hermione's gaze fell on the page, and she said softly.

And looking at Hermione leaning against his side, John was also slightly stunned.

This was the first time they had read a book so close together.

He could even clearly feel Hermione's warm breath and body temperature, as well as the faint, clean fragrance emanating from her hair.

What's gotten into her?