A few hours passed and dinner time crept up. Many things had happened during the day, but nothing more distracting than seeing Cho on the ship. Harry was up to something, and Hermione knew it. She just didn't know what it was, and didn't want to know for that matter.
The three stooges, or as they had behaved, decided to spend their dinner hour at one of the nicer restaurants. There would be dancing, and fine dining. Not to mention, the chance to discuss the events of the day.
Hermione smiled to herself as she got dressed for a fun night with her friends. On the day she went shopping with Harry, she had picked out a dress especially for this vacation, and for when nicer attire would suit better than the usual t-shirt and jeans. Harry picked one out, but she switched it last minute to one she knew he had liked more. He turned that particular dress down because it looked too drafty, and she might get cold. But it was Hermione's favorite out of them all. So she got it. She also helped Harry with picking out his new clothes. He grabbed a couple nice, button-up shirts and some nice casual-dress pants. The three shirts he decided on were black, maroon, and the usual white. He also got a couple nice cable-knit sweaters for cooler nights.
Harry heard a knock on his back door and rushed to open it. It was Hermione. She was all decked out and ready to go to dinner. His jaw dropped open and he could swear he felt it hit the floor hard. Hermione blushed and looked at him. He didn't quite have his maroon shirt buttoned up all the way. Harry just gaped at her for a few seconds before snapping out of it and letting her in.
"I thought you got the other dress!" he said in a surprised tone.
"No. I knew you liked this one more," she said softly, a smile playing on her shiny lips. Harry cleared his throat.
"You know me too well don't you, Noni," he stated. He was still staring at her in her sky-blue, one-shoulder strapped dress. It clung to her every curve, and went down to her mid-calf. "Go on, turn for me," he requested. Hermione smiled and turned slowly, showing off her ensemble. Harry still thought it was a bit drafty as he watched the muscles in her half-bare back contract from the cool air passing over it as she turned. "Incredible," Harry managed to say as he buttoned up his shirt. "You're very stunning. I'm sure every guy in the restaurant is going to be looming over you tonight," he added.
"Thanks Harry," she blushed. "Here, let me help you."
Harry was having a bit of difficulty folding down the collar of his shirt. Hermione's white strap-y heels tapped softly against the tiled floor. "Thanks," he choked out.
Hermione gracefully slinked her hands around his neck and softly folded down his collar. Once or twice, her fingernails gently scraped against the back of his neck, giving him goose-bumps and totally turning him numb all over. She slowed her fingers a bit, seeing the way he was looking at her. "Honestly, Harry. You'd think I was the only girl you've ever seen," she teased. Harry smiled.
"Well you're just so stunningly beautiful tonight."
"There you are," she said, finishing up with him. "Is Ron going to be ready to go soon?"
"Who knows," Harry shrugged. "He's walking down with us but I think he's going to sit with that girl he met today."
"Josie, is it?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah that's it. He told me she was amazing. I'm kind of anxious to meet her. You know, because Ron's so ecstatic about the whole thing."
Hermione nodded and looked as if she was about to say something.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
She hesitated for a bit and opted to watching Harry slip on his black shoes. "Oh nothing. It's not important."
He stopped for a moment. "If something's bothering you I want to know, alright?"
"Fine, but we'll discuss it at dinner. Like I said, it's not that important."
"If you say so," he responded.
A few minutes later, Harry and Hermione headed out of the suite to check on Ron. When he didn't answer the door, they took that as a hint that he might have gone down with Josie. So they walked together, chatting lightly on the way until they came upon the entrance to the outdoor restaurant, Chenelle's.
For five minutes they waited, until Ron showed his face with Josie slinked around his arm.
"Harry, Hermione, this is Josie. Josie these are my best friends Harry, and that's Hermione," he gestured. Both of them shook her hand and smiled at her.
"Nice to meet you Josie," Harry said with a smile.
"You too. And-Hermione, right?" she asked, looking at Hermione.
"Yes. It's Hermione. So Ron, will we be seeing you after dinner? It's alright if you want to go and do something else. Harry and I have a few things to discuss."
His face wrinkled up a bit. "Harry, is everything alright?" Ron asked, with Josie still holding firm to his arm.
"Yeah it's just-" He paused and looked at Hermione.
"Ron, we saw Cho today. She's on this ship."
Ron looked like he just got hit with his own worst Quidditch stats. "She is? Oh Harry, mate, I'm sorry. That's got to feel-"
"Incredible?" Harry finished for him.
"Not what I was thinking. Just what exactly do you mean by 'incredible'"
Harry smirked. "Look Ron, it's not bothering me one bit that she's on the same vacation as us. I'm just anxious to see her reaction when she sees me here."
Ron and Hermione laughed. "So that's what you're thinking! I thought you were wanting to hook back up with her," Hermione said, full of relief.
"No way!" Harry said in disgust, then wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Well you two, we'll see you later," Ron said. Harry and Hermione nodded at him and watched him find a table in a far corner of the open restaurant.
"Harry, if you could do anything to get Cho all hot and bothered, what would it be?" Hermione asked before they stepped through the crowd of tables. She had stopped him and had him looking directly at her as she held onto his arm.
"Well, I'm not sure exactly. I guess it would be funny just to see how she reacts when she sees you with me," he smirked. Hermione did the same and hugged him gently.
"I've got an idea. If you really want--" she whispered into his ear, then pulled away to see the sly smile on his face.
"You read my mind, Noni," he said with a wink.
She nodded and felt as if the world had just fallen into her grasp. "We just have to make sure we don't look like we planned this."
"No problem. Shall we? He held out his arm to her and they walked together into the restaurant.