Chapter Three - A Bad Day
I swear to God, that Saturday could be remembered as one of the worst days of my life. I tried to avoid going, but Harry gently reminded me that this was Ron's fiancée and if I couldn't do it for me, at least I should do it for him. I hate when he's right.
So, there I was, sitting in a café in Picadilly, waiting for Elizabeth, who was already half an hour late. I had the sense to brought my sunglasses, in that way I could gave her death glares and roll my eyes at her, and she wouldn't notice it. I had already drunk three cups of coffee. I felt I would need all the caffeine to stand this day.
I had asked Harry to go with me, but he refused. He was going to pick his own tuxedo with Ron. Which of course, was making me very nervous. Knowing Ron, he would ask all the questions that he wouldn't dare to ask me. And Harry was a really bad liar. I didn't know if he would be able to put up with the story of our engagement.
"Hi, Hermi, I see that Ron was right when he said you are always on time," said that annoying voice, coming from behind.
"Hello, Elizabeth," I greeted her, politely. I decided not to mention anything about her lateness and I followed her through the boutiques while she was chatting without interruption.
In less than ten minutes, I learnt that, although she was American, she traveled to England every year, so she knew London like the palm of her hand. Her family owned a manor in the outskirts of the city, and that's where Ron and her would live for a while. The worst part of it was when she kept mentioning how fantastic Ron was, how charming, cute, lovely. . .
She make it sound like Ron really loved her. She was so naïve. I mean, Ron couldn't possibly love her for real, he was just infatuated or something... Dazzled by this new beauty. I bet she was pressing him. The Ron Weasley I knew would never marry a girl knowing her that little.
Too bad for you, dear Elizabeth. I'll make sure Ron realizes that he's making a mistake.
Finally we entered in the boutique, where a French dressmaker started taking my measures.
"You have a slim waist and long legs," the dressmaker commented, writing some notes down.
"Hermi, what color would you like?" asked Elizabeth, looking at cloth samples.
What did I care about the color? I was going to try on a dress I wasn't going to wear.
"I think blue would go lovely with your skin, hair and eyes," suggested the dressmaker.
"Sure. I like blue," I said, not interested at all.
The modiste nodded and started working with her wand. Two minutes later I had a beautiful strapless blue dress on. Elizabeth clapped happily and I looked at myself in the mirror. It was an incredible dress, I'm not going to deny it, although I thought it was a little too tight.
"Nonsense," said Elizabeth when I pointed this. "You look amazing. My other maids are wearing a regular pink dresses."
"Why?" I asked, confused.
"Ron and I decided that your dress should be special, because you're the most important maid. You're my Maid of Honor!" she said with a warm smile.
OK, I have to admit I did feel flattered, but I wasn't going to show it. Instead, I looked at myself in the mirror again.
"Do I have to use high heels?" I asked, suddenly horrified. I truly hate those shoes, honestly, I always trip when I use them.
"Please no, we don't want you falling in your way through the altar," said Ron's voice.
I turned around to face him. He was grinning, like he always did when he teased me. I didn't realize he was in there.
"Ha-ha, thank you Ron," I said, scolding him playfully.
"By the way, you look really great in that dress," he said. I started to feel nervous with his stare. I'm pretty sure I was blushing, so I turned my back to them.
"We'll take it," said Elizabeth. With a flip of my wand I was wearing my plain clothes again.
"Did you two had fun shopping?" asked Ron when we got out of the boutique.
Sure.
"Oh, honey, we had such a great time!" exclaimed Elizabeth, excited "Hermi is such a funny person."
"Of course she is," nodded Ron, winking at me. "That's why she's my best friend."
Ron and Elizabeth were holding hands and that was making me uncomfortable... And angry. I had to leave.
"Well, it's been lovely to share this morning with you, Elizabet,." I said. Didn't that sound weird? Even I can't be that formal. "I see you later, I guess."
"What? You're not going to have lunch with us?" asked Ron, looking a bit disappointed.
"Ehr... I'm sorry. I can't. I have to be somewhere else."
"Where?" he demanded. Gosh, why can he ever take no for an answer?
"Work," I said, biting my lip.
"It's Saturday," he argued "I know perfectly well that my Dad's policy is that no one works on weekends."
Right. His dad's my boss. "Uhm, well..." I started, trying to find a good excuse, but his piercing gaze was blocking my mind.
"Oh, I know," said Elizabeth, giggling.
"You know what?" I snapped involuntary.
"You're going to meet Harry, aren't you? A romantic lunch just for you two. We can certainly understand that, can't we Ronnie?"
But "Ronnie" didn't seem very pleased at Elizabeth's theory. So, I decided to follow her.
"You caught me," I said. "Well I don't want to make Harry wait..."
"You say hi to Harry for me," said Ron in a whisper. I nodded and I was about to dissaparate, when he spoke again "Oh, Herm, we'd like you and Harry to go out with us tonight. You know, a double date so you can get more acquainted with Lizzie."
I would have loved to say no, but the pleading look in his eyes got the best of me.
"That would be great."
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"Come on!"
"I told you, I can't."
"Please Harry!" I was almost begging him.
"Hermione, you know if I could go, I would, but today I can't," he said, sighing.
"Why?"
"Because... I have something else to do," he said, blushing a little.
For a single second, my mind stopped thinking about Ron and that night. Harry was hiding something for me, something he never achieved to do. This wasn't going to be the first time.
"And may I know what that something is?"
He avoided my eyes and kept eating.
"You have a DATE, don't you?" I said, accusingly.
Silence.
"Harry."
Silence.
"Tell me!" I demanded.
"Fine, I do have a date, OK?" he said, frustrated, pushing his plate away.
Normally, I would be delighted at the idea of Harry having a date, but not now, not in the situation I was in.
"I can't believe you! How can you do this to me?"
"Do what to you?" he asked, looking confused.
"Harry, you're supposed to be my fiancé! Can you imagine what'll happen if Ron sees you with another woman?"
"Ok, first of all, what are the odds that Ron will see me? London is a big place, don't you think? And second, I only supported your ridiculous story with Ron because I didn't want you to make a fool of yourself in front of him, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to pretend I'm your fiancé 24 hours of the day. I got a life too, you know?" he said, with his usual calm tone, though I could sense he was a little angry.
"What are you talking about? You never date! Why did you have to start just when I need you the most? Don't you see I need to go out with them tonight? It's going to be a great chance for Ron to notice the big difference between his "I'm-sorry-but I-only- have-one-neuron-left-and-I-don't-know-how-to-use-it" girlfriend and me!"
"Then why don't you go alone?" he suggested.
"That's a great idea, Harry!" I said sarcastically. "I don't want to be a third wheel. How do you think I feel when Ron is all cute with her?"
"I don't see why my presence there would change that."
"He is jealous of you, I can tell. And besides, you would be there for moral support."
"Sounds great," said Harry "But, no thanks."
"What's the matter with you?" I asked, not believing what I was hearing. Was Harry saying no?? To me??.
"Why? because for once I won't do what you ask me to?" he said. He was starting to become upset.
"You're being selfish!" I exclaimed, standing up.
"I'm being selfish? Hermione, what's gotten into you? You're not like this. You're usually a logical, sweet, fair person, and now you're acting like some sort of psycho. You're obsessed with Ron. Can't you see he's happy?"
"He's not happy. He can't be happy with her. She's just a fling!" I said stubbornly. "Fine, don't help me. I can do this on my own. I don't need lousy friends like you! I hope everything goes well with your date!" I blurted, furiously, getting out of his apartment through the door. Of course I could have dissapparated, but it wouldn't have been such a dramatic exit without the door slamming.
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