Chapter 35: A Day Out

"So, our first stop today is…" Hermione, dressed in all black with a fluffy black hat and a matching scarf, mimicked Glenn's tone as she flipped through her notebook. Inside were notes on places she wanted to visit or things she wanted to do during Christmas.

After much deliberation, I chose a warm-looking outfit that seemed fitting for the little girl.

Hermione slightly parted her lips, exhaling a puff of white breath. "Albert Square!" she announced as the first destination of the day.

The weather was frigid today, and she was bundled up tightly. As for why she wasn't using a magical alchemy device to keep warm? Glenn had suggested it was better not to expose anything related to magic in the Muggle world, to avoid unnecessary attention. Reluctantly, Hermione had turned off the warming function of her amulet.

From head to toe, only her face and hands were exposed. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and her small hands were tucked into her sleeves, occasionally pulled out to blow warm air onto them and rub them together. She couldn't help but stomp her boots to keep warm.

Why not wear gloves, you ask? Because Glenn wasn't used to wearing them; he felt that gloves made his hands less nimble.

Hermione quietly slipped Glenn's hand into her sleeve, intertwining their fingers. In a soft voice, she said, "This is for warmth."

But Glenn's hands were colder than hers. Who was she fooling?

The two had already taken the bus and arrived at one corner of Albert Square.

This was Manchester's most famous and bustling square, especially lively during Christmas. Hermione had decided that they would spend the first day of their holiday here.

"The People's History Museum… The People's History Museum—aha! Here it is." After several twists and turns, they finally found the history museum that Hermione had been longing to visit. She had always wanted to come here but never had the time. Now, with three weeks of free time at their disposal, Hermione planned to spend half of it studying and use the rest to explore all the places she was interested in.

Upon entering the museum, the warmth inside was intoxicating. The cold that had bitten into their bodies began to fade away, and a contented smile unconsciously appeared on Hermione's face.

Glenn glanced at their hands, still tightly clasped even in the warm indoors. He had initially intended to remind her, but decided against it. Let her be.

If she said so, then so be it.

Hermione had clearly done her homework, having gone through a lot of books beforehand. She provided Glenn with detailed explanations about the exhibits, gradually piquing his interest.

Seeing Glenn, who had initially shown little enthusiasm, now curiously examining the exhibits, Hermione proudly lifted her chin.

"Hmph! I know Glenn best."

Her explanations gradually grew louder, drawing surprised looks from nearby adults.

Such a knowledgeable little girl was a rare sight.

Standing in front of one exhibit, Hermione became engrossed in narrating the history and story of an ancient book to Glenn. When she finished, the surrounding crowd erupted into applause. Startled back to reality, Hermione noticed people smiling and clapping for her. Realizing how much attention she had drawn, she let out a small "Ah!" and quickly pulled her hat down to cover her face, shyly hiding behind Glenn.

A woman visiting with her child complimented, "Little girl, you explained that wonderfully! Did you prepare all this before coming here?"

"Yes, I did," Hermione replied modestly, her cheeks flushed.

"Impressive!" A man gave her a thumbs-up. "At such a young age, you know so much about our history. It's rare to see kids these days take such an interest!" His admiration was echoed by those around him.

"Hermione, they're praising you. I think you're amazing too—no need to be shy," Glenn whispered to her. His clear black eyes met Hermione's bright brown ones, which were nervously darting around.

To avoid drawing attention, Glenn had tied back his black satin-like hair before heading out. Before their outing, he had even let Hermione trim his hair a bit, just enough to reveal his eyes.

Hermione had always been in charge of Glenn's hair, while Glenn took care of hers. Both of them had naturally curly hair, which grew in a way that didn't require much styling. Over-trimming wouldn't look odd, either.

In the past, Glenn had been Hermione's practice dummy for haircuts, often ending up with a messy hairstyle that left Hermione crying in guilt. Now, things were much better—Hermione's skills had visibly improved. Glenn didn't care much about his hairstyle, but seeing Hermione's delighted expression, he guessed she was quite pleased with her work this time.

As a side note, Glenn used a dagger instead of scissors to cut Hermione's hair. As a boy with fully maxed-out dagger skills, styling hair was a piece of cake.

Returning to the present…

Glenn's serious and affirming gaze gave Hermione the courage to step out from behind him. She smiled sweetly at the applauding crowd and said, "Thank you for your compliments."

The self-doubt within Hermione was gradually being eroded by Glenn's subtle influence. Watching this transformation, Glenn felt a sense of satisfaction.

Many people noticed their intertwined fingers, and their faces lit up with knowing smiles.

Both Glenn and Hermione were exceptionally attractive. Glenn had a delicate, almost ethereal appearance that evoked a protective instinct in others. His slender frame, sharp facial features, and calm, indifferent expression gave off an air of aloofness. Yet, his mysterious and captivating jet-black eyes drew people in, making it hard to look away.

Hermione, on the other hand, radiated warmth with her bright smile. Her brown eyes sparkled, and her petite, slightly chubby face added to her charm. With her fluffy brown curls spilling over her shoulders and her face partially hidden by her scarf and hat, she looked irresistibly adorable. She was the type who grew more endearing the longer you looked at her, making people want to pinch her cheeks.

This must be a couple! It's obvious they're a couple!

The seemingly fragile boy subtly shielding the slightly taller, smiling girl behind him—what a delightful contrast!

Seeing these two standing together was simply a visual treat.

The spectators couldn't help but feel that this beautiful Christmas had become even more magical.

Some overly friendly young women approached Hermione to gossip about their relationship. Noticing Hermione's growing embarrassment, Glenn gave a slight nod to bid farewell to the enthusiastic crowd and quickly led her away.

The two spent a wonderful time at the museum. In the later exhibits, Hermione gradually gained the courage to share her knowledge with the crowd, eventually catching the attention of the museum's curator.

When the kind old man presented Hermione with a commemorative medal, Glenn could clearly sense the joy and pride radiating from her.

"Hermione, you were amazing," Glenn praised, gently patting her head.

By then, they had finished their visit to the People's History Museum and were strolling the streets in search of food.

Each holding a warm sandwich in one hand and the other clasping their partner's, they leisurely wandered through the bustling streets adorned with festive Christmas decorations. Occasionally, they would stop by a shop to browse or grab some snacks or drinks.

They spent a long time in a fashion store, where Hermione tried on new outfits and asked for Glenn's opinion.

He had no clue about fashion and was dazzled by the sight of Hermione in various styles and colors. In his eyes, everything looked great, and he wanted to buy them all. However, Hermione thought that was too wasteful, especially since she was still growing and wouldn't fit into these clothes for long.

Reluctantly, Glenn relied on his instincts to pick what he thought were the best-looking pieces: a pure white turtleneck sweater and a brown coat.

Hermione, in turn, picked out some clothes for Glenn. His wardrobe was pitifully sparse, consisting of only one or two outfits. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity to shop, Hermione insisted on choosing a few nice outfits for him.

Of course, they also visited a lingerie store. Hermione had grown and needed to pick out proper undergarments, as her old ones were starting to feel tight.

Initially, Glenn thought Hermione might ask for his opinion or let him choose. Instead, she kicked him out of the fitting room in a flustered rage, leaving him to stand outside the store with shopping bags in hand, enduring the curious stares of passing women.

But Glenn didn't mind the attention and patiently waited for Hermione to finish.

Fortunately, she didn't take long. Glenn went to the counter to pay, and the two headed to their next destination.

As they strolled through the streets, stopping and starting, Glenn noticed a different side of Hermione compared to the one he saw at school.

Now, Hermione was livelier and more adorable. The usual anxiety she carried about her studies was completely absent, replaced by a radiant smile that was as warm as the winter sun.

Though Glenn wasn't sure what girls her age were supposed to be like, he thought this must be it.

"What are you thinking about, Glenn?" Hermione asked curiously, noticing his gaze fixed on her. They were sitting on a bench in a specially cleared area of the square. Her slender legs swung back and forth as she looked at Glenn's contemplative face.

They had learned there would be a special Christmas fireworks show at Albert Square that evening. Tired from a day of walking, Hermione had agreed to Glenn's suggestion to wait here for the show to start.

The night wind was even more biting, and the temperature had dropped several degrees. Glenn took out the new black fleece-lined coat Hermione had picked for him and draped it over both of them, shielding them from the cold.

They sat quietly, leaning against each other, their hands never letting go.

"I was thinking about you," Glenn answered honestly.

Hermione fell silent, her ears turning red as she inched closer to Glenn.

Yes, it's too cold. Snuggling together helps block the wind.

"The fireworks are about to start," Glenn said, drawing Hermione's attention to the growing crowd around them.

With the ignition of the first firework, a burst of colorful light illuminated the sky, accompanied by the crowd's gasps of delight.

"Boom!"

"So beautiful," Hermione murmured, her eyes fixed on the fireworks.

"Yeah," Glenn replied, his gaze fixed on Hermione.

Another firework exploded in the sky, casting a radiant glow on their flushed faces.

"Boom!"

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