Chapter 45
Hermione Granger stepped through the front door of her parents' house, feeling happy to be home. The week in France with Draco had been an amazing experience but now she was back in the familiar comfort of home.
As she set her bags down, an owl swooped in, dropping a letter onto the kitchen table. Hermione recognized the handwriting immediately—it was from Astoria. Curious, she opened the letter and began to read.
**Dear Hermione,**
**I hope you had a lovely time in France. I was wondering if you could take me shopping in the Muggle world? I've never been to a Muggle store before, and I’d love to get some bras and panties like yours.**
**Looking forward to it,**
**Astoria**
Hermione smiled at the thought. Despite the complexities of their relationship, a shopping trip sounded fun and normal—something she hadn’t experienced in a while. What girl could say no to a shopping trip, especially with someone who had never been to a Muggle store?
She quickly penned a reply, agreeing to meet Astoria the next day for their excursion. The following morning, she met Astoria at a café in town, where the younger girl looked both excited and a little nervous.
“Hi, Astoria,” Hermione greeted, giving her a warm hug. “Ready for your first Muggle shopping trip?”
Astoria beamed. “Absolutely! I’ve heard so much about these stores.”
They started with a leisurely walk through the bustling streets, Astoria’s eyes wide with wonder at the sights and sounds of the Muggle world. Hermione enjoyed explaining the little things—traffic lights, buskers, shop windows—things she had taken for granted.
Their first stop was a department store. Astoria marveled at the array of clothes and accessories. They headed to the lingerie section, where Astoria’s excitement grew.
“Look at all these styles!” she exclaimed, picking up a lacy bra. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Hermione chuckled. “You’ll find there’s a lot of variety. Let’s find some that suit you.”
They spent the next hour selecting bras and panties, with Hermione giving advice on sizes and styles. Astoria tried on several sets, her enthusiasm infectious.
“These are amazing,” Astoria said, admiring herself in the mirror. “Thank you for bringing me, Hermione.”
“Anytime,” Hermione replied, smiling. “It’s fun for me too.”
After lingerie shopping, they wandered through other sections, picking out dresses, tops, and accessories. Astoria’s excitement never waned, and Hermione found herself enjoying the experience more than she had expected.
As they sat down for lunch, Astoria looked at Hermione with genuine gratitude. “This has been the best day. I can’t believe I’ve never done this before.”
Hermione reached across the table, squeezing Astoria’s hand. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. There’s a lot to discover in the Muggle world.”
Astoria nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I want to do this more often. Thank you, Hermione, for showing me all this.”
“Of course,” Hermione said warmly. “We can do this anytime you like.”
As they finished their meal and prepared to head back, Hermione felt a sense of contentment. The week in France had been intense, but today had been a refreshing break. She was reminded of the simple joys in life, like spending a day shopping and bonding with girlfriends.