Author's note: You can credit a snowy day in North Carolina for this chapter. I had nothing else to do but drink massive cups of hot chocolate and write this chapter! I hope you enjoy it. The song for this chapter comes from an old, old song that I absolutely love.
Chapter Five
The Way You Look Tonight
"Someday, when I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow
Just thinking of you…
And the way you look tonight"
"Oh, but you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me, but to love you
Just the way you look tonight"
(written by Jerome Kern and Dorthy Fields and sung by many artists)
Hermione awoke Saturday morning with a smile on her face. Today was the day. The day for what, she didn't know. The suspense was nearly killing her. Harry was walking around all last night, smug and content over the fact that he knew something she didn't. It was infuriating beyond belief. Yet, tonight all her questions would be answered. A small part of her wondered if after tonight, she'd just have more questions.
She told herself not to think like that. This was probably just a little friendly get-together. It was probably just his way of being a good friend to her and getting her out of the castle to have a good time. There was no need to get all romantic and gushy over a guy who was never going to see her as more than a friend or a sister.
At least, that's what she told herself to think. It didn't matter that her heart wouldn't allow her to think like that. Though she was a sensible, logical person, she was also a romantic at heart. She liked sweet, sappy movies. She cried at weddings. She even listened to sad music every now and then. She was a girl, after all, even if her two best friends refused to see it.
She quickly showered and dressed. She pulled on a pair of blue jeans and a plain grey sweatshirt. She pulled her hair back with a headband and slipped on some socks and trainers. She knocked on the door to Harry's room, but was surprised when he didn't answer. She looked down at her watch. It was nine o'clock. Usually, Harry slept in on Saturdays, unless he had Quidditch practice. Yet, it couldn't be Quidditch because he had mentioned to her that he hadn't scheduled a practice this weekend.
Oh, well, she muttered to herself. He was probably out planning whatever it was they were going to be doing tonight, she thought.
As she was making her way out of the portrait hole to their suite, she caught sight of Ginny walking down the corridor just a few feet ahead.
"Gin!" Hermione called out. "Wait up!"
Ginny turned around and Hermione's heart went out to the younger girl at once. She looked pale and listless. Her hair was a little messy and she wore no makeup. Her clothes were somewhat wrinkled and she looked as if she hadn't had a good night's sleep in Merlin knows how long.
"Hey, Hermione," Ginny said softly. "I was just heading down for breakfast. You're up early."
"Yeah," Hermione said, falling into step with her friend. "But this is normal for me. You know that I've never been one to sleep in."
Ginny gave a half-hearted laugh.
"So, I haven't seen much of you these past few days," Hermione began. "Is everything going okay?"
"Yeah, of course," Ginny said. "I've just been really tired lately with all the classes and things."
"I can understand that," Hermione said sympathetically. "You know that if you ever need help or someone to study with, I'd be happy to help you. I mean, I know we're not in the same year and everything, but I had the same lessons last year that you're having now, so…" she let her voice trail off.
"Thanks, Hermione," Ginny said. "But I think I just need to sort everything out for myself right now. I appreciate the offer, though. I'll keep that in mind if I get too bogged down in everything."
"Please do," Hermione said. She stole a glimpse at Ginny and couldn't shake the feeling that something was definitely going on with Ginny. Yet, Hermione didn't want to pry. At least, she'd told Ginny that if she needed someone to talk to, Hermione would be there to listen.
"So, have you got any plans for this weekend?" Hermione asked her as they walked into the Great Hall. The place was not full, by any means. Most of the students did take advantage of the weekends to sleep late. If Hermione had to venture a guess, she reckoned there were only about 30 students in the room at the moment. No teachers were present at the staff table.
Ginny simply shook her head. "Not really. How about you?"
Hermione thought for a moment.
"I don't really know," she said truthfully. "I guess I'll just see where the weekend takes me."
Ginny nodded.
Hermione didn't notice that as she and Ginny took their seats at their house table, Draco Malfoy walked into the Great Hall, followed by his ever-present cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione also didn't see Malfoy wink discreetly at Ginny, who stifled a smile.
"Have you by any chance seen Harry or Ron this morning?" Hermione asked Ginny as she helped herself to some toast and marmalade.
Ginny didn't answer.
"Ginny?" Hermione asked, looking at her friend, who seemed to be staring off into space behind Hermione. Hermione turned her head to see Ginny staring at the Slytherin table.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked Ginny. Her friend broke out of her reverie and focused her attention back on Hermione.
"Nothing," Ginny said. "I was just looking at Crabbe and Goyle stuffing their faces. They're almost as bad as Ron."
"Yeah," Hermione said, still not really convinced. "Don't go telling Ron that. I don't imagine he'd like hearing that he had anything in common with those two thick idiots."
Ginny smiled. "You're probably right."
Ginny and Hermione continued eating and for awhile, Ginny seemed back to normal. They discussed simple, easy things and everything seemed fine. Hermione was glad. Maybe, she'd worried for nothing over her friend.
Luna Lovegood approached their table.
"Would you mind if I sat with you?" Luna asked. "I know we usually don't do that, but there are not many people here and I didn't think anyone would mind."
"Of course," Ginny said, ushering her friend to have a seat.
"Thanks," Luna said. "So, I guess I'm not the only one who gets up early on the weekends."
"No," Hermione said with a smile. "So, how have you been, Luna?"
"Okay," Luna said, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. "I've been wanting to ask McGonagall if she'd let me publish a school newspaper."
"Really?" Hermione asked, intrigued. "I think that'd be an excellent idea."
Luna smiled. "You think so?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "I've always thought it a little odd that we never had one before now. You're not, I mean, it's not going to be like-"
"Like my father's paper?" Luna finished for her. "No, I wasn't thinking of a tabloid style paper or anything like that. Maybe, a little like The Daily Prophet, but with less nonsense and rubbish."
"I think that's a great idea, Luna," Ginny chimed in. "I'd love to help you out."
"Me, too," Hermione said. "I mean, my schedule's pretty full now, but I'd love to help you anyway I can."
"Thanks," Luna said. "Well, the first thing is getting McGonagall to agree."
"She will," Hermione said. "She loves stuff like that. I mean, it's not like you're asking Snape for permission. Then, I'd say you had a snowball's chance in hell for that to happen."
Luna giggled. "Isn't he creepy? I mean, I'm into the strange and unusual, but he's about more than I can take."
Ginny snorted with laughter. "That's putting it mildly."
She looked up to see her brother and Harry walking into the Great Hall.
Ron stopped nearly dead in his tracks when he saw who was sitting at their table.
"Did you forget how to walk, Ron?" Harry said, who had nearly bumped into Ron when his friend had stopped abruptly.
"Look who's at the table!" Ron hissed to his best friend.
"Ginny, Hermione, and Luna," Harry said, looking at the three girls.
"Exactly," Ron said. "What does she want?"
"Probably to eat breakfast," Harry said. "Like I want to do."
"Harry!" Ron said, pulling his friend back. "We can't sit with her."
"Why not?" Harry asked. "She's just sitting there, eating. Do you think she's just waiting for you to sit down so she can jump your bones?"
"Well," Ron said, flushing. "Yes, to be honest."
"You give yourself too much credit," Harry said. "She's harmless."
"You wouldn't be saying that if she was chasing after you," Ron said.
"That's because she's chasing after you," Harry said. "Which come to think of it does prove she's kind of mental. I mean, anyone who would fancy you must have a few screws loose."
Ron smirked at his friend. Harry walked toward the table, laughing. Ron, reluctantly followed. He made it a point to sit far away from Luna. He took a seat on the other side of Ginny, while Harry sat down beside Hermione.
"Good morning," Harry said to the girls.
"You sure are in a happy mood this morning, Harry," Hermione said, looking at him.
"Of course," Harry said. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know," Hermione said, staring at him. "You were out and about early this morning, weren't you?"
"Ron, Seamus, Dean and I had a pickup game of Quidditch," Harry said.
"You didn't clear it with the wife, Harry?" Ron asked, laughing.
Hermione's cheeks flushed hotly.
"I didn't say he had to clear everything with me, Ron," Hermione said crossly. "I just know that he doesn't usually get up early on weekends. I was a little concerned when I knocked on his door and he wasn't there."
"Oh, I was wrong," Ron said, inhaling a scrambled egg in nearly one bite. "You didn't clear it with your mum first."
"Ron, you are a disgusting pig," Hermione said, her mouth agape at him, shoveling his food in. "You must have been raised in a barn."
"What?" he asked, his mouth full. "I'm a growing boy. Can I ever eat a meal in peace?"
"I was just wondering when you'd eat a meal with manners," Ginny said.
"See, now you've got my sister in on your mothering act, Hermione," Ron snapped.
"Leave me out of this," Ginny said. "I just spoke the truth. Besides, it wouldn't hurt you to learn some manners."
"I've got manners," Ron said, as a piece of jam from his toast fell onto his shirt.
While Hermione and Ginny looked at him in disgust and Harry with amusement, Luna was looking over at him with a look of utter adoration. Ron, who'd been trying to ignore her, was now acutely aware of her.
"Hi," she whispered.
"Hello," Ron said, uncomfortably.
Ginny, Hermione and Harry shared a knowing look.
"Harry," Hermione said. "Why don't you take your breakfast back to our suite? I was going to help you out with that assignment."
She looked pointedly at Ron and Luna. Harry's clueless expression went away as he caught on.
"Oh," he said, gathering up his plate and mug of juice. "Yeah, right."
Ginny, too, wiped her mouth with her napkin.
"I better get going, too," Ginny said. "I have some reading to catch up on."
Ron looked helplessly at his friends.
"Guys," Ron said.
"Bye, Ron," Hermione said sweetly as she led Harry away. Ginny followed behind them.
Ron gulped as he and Luna were alone.
"Alone again," Luna said.
"Yeah," he said, taking a sip of his juice. "I guess so. You, um, don't have to stay here to keep me company. I'm a big boy. I can eat alone, you know."
He prayed she'd take the hint.
"I don't mind," Luna said. "You sure do have a hearty appetite."
"Not you, too," Ron said, rolling his eyes and putting his fork down hard on the table. "Why does everyone have to pick on me about how I eat?"
"I wasn't going to pick on you, Ron," Luna said. "I was just making as astute observation."
Despite himself, Ron found himself smiling.
"So you don't think I'm a pig?" Ron asked her.
"No," she said. "I know you are, but its okay. It's who you are. You can't expect anyone to be any different than who they are."
"I wish more people thought like that," he said, relaxing for the first time since he'd sat down.
"You shouldn't care so much what people think," she said. "It can hold you back."
Ron looked up at her in amazement.
"You don't care what people think, do you?" he asked her.
"Not especially," she said, helping herself to a muffin. "I mean, I have to life my life as I want to and do the things that make sense to me. It doesn't really matter to me if anyone else understands it as long as I do."
"I know what you mean," Ron said. "It's like me with Quidditch. My mum thinks it's a total waste of time to think about a career in that professionally, but I absolutely love to play. I can't see anything else that I want to do with my life, but that. You probably think it sounds like rubbish, too, huh?"
Luna looked thoughtful for a few moments before answering.
"Not at all," she said. "I've seen you play before. You look like you're having the time of your life. I get that way about my writing. Nothing else on earth is quite like it."
For the first time since he'd known her, Ron actually enjoyed talking with her. It surprised the hell out of him, but at the moment he didn't question it or wonder what everyone must think. He just talked to her and at the moment that was all that mattered.
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For the first time in a long time, Hermione was finding it absolutely impossible to concentrate. When she and Harry made it back to their quarters earlier in the day, he'd left her alone in the common room. He hadn't divulged any information to her other than that she should dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes because they'd be doing some walking where they were going.
She'd expected him to elaborate a little more, but to her disbelief he'd left her alone in the common room. But, not before saying, rather cheekily, "And, if you wanted to opt for the 'no-clothes' thing, again, I would not be opposed to that."
She'd laughed and thrown a pillow at him, which had missed him completely and knocked over a glass on the table.
Her curiosity had threatened to get the best of her the majority of the afternoon. She'd tried to listen at his door, but had only been greeted with silence.
So, she'd read. She'd written some letters and even walked up to the owlery to send them off. These things had occupied her time, but certainly hadn't occupied her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about this evening and what it could possibly hold.
When she'd returned back to their suite later that evening, she'd found a note that told her not to eat dinner because they would be eating out tonight.
She smiled as she read the note. She looked at her watch. It was nearing 7 p.m. In just a couple of hours, she'd know exactly what he had planned.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Harry, too, was nervous. When he'd first suggested this to Hermione, to be honest, he had no idea what they would be doing. Yet, with some help from Fred and George, who'd he'd sent an emergency owl to, he formulated a plan.
They were to take a portkey into Muggle London. It was totally undetectable according to Fred and George, who gave it their 100 percent guarantee that this would not fail him. They'd also teased him unmercifully about Hermione. Yet, he'd expected as much when he turned to the two of them for help.
He had thought about Hogsmeade, but they'd been there together many, many times. He wanted to take her somewhere special. He hoped that she'd like what he'd chosen for them to do tonight. He was still a little uneasy about this, but not because it was her, but because the last time he'd been on an actual date had been with Cho Chang, and to make himself feel better, he'd told himself that it couldn't be possible for anything to be worse than that.
He felt stupid as he agonized himself over what to wear. It was just a casual night out, he tried to tell himself. Yet, here he was trying on shirt after shirt and jumper after jumper trying to find the right one. He'd also fought a losing battle with his hair, trying to get it to sit right on his head.
He checked his watch and noticed that it was now 8:55 p.m. It was time to collect Hermione and head on out. He grabbed the book that Fred and George had sent him that would serve as their portkey.
He took a long, deep breath as he opened his bedroom door and walked into their common room. He felt his pulse quicken as he walked over to her bedroom door and knocked softly.
She opened the door and he caught his breath as he looked at her. She wore a pair of simple blue jeans and a pretty white lace top and a grey cardigan sweater that had embroidered flowers along the neckline. She wore a silver necklace around her neck and had even put on a little makeup, which Hermione usually didn't bother with at all. She looked different, but not too different.
"Your mouth is hanging open," she said, blushing at him.
"Uh, um," he muttered. "Sorry about that."
"I'm not overdressed am I?" she asked. "I mean, this will be fine for the-, well whatever it is that we're doing?"
"You look absolutely amazing," he said sincerely, unable to take his eyes off of her.
They stared at each other for what seemed like a long time.
"Well, I guess I'll just get my coat," Hermione said. Harry took her coat and helped her put it on. She was pleasantly surprised.
"Let me guess, I have to pay extra for the chivalry," she said.
"No, that's free," Harry said.
She smiled. "So, how are we doing this?"
"Portkey," Harry said, picking up the book.
"Portkey?" Hermione asked, intrigued. "How did you get a portkey?"
"I have my connections," Harry said, mysteriously. "Namely two red heads with a history of troublemaking and rule-breaking behind them. I figured that I needed to go to the very best for help on this one."
"Good idea," Hermione said. "So, where are we going?"
"You'll see," Harry said. He offered the book to her and she placed a tentative hand on it. She felt the familiar tug on her navel and then felt her feet lift off the ground and though she couldn't see Harry, she could feel him beside her as his shoulder kept banging into hers. She closed her eyes. She didn't like traveling like this, but it would be worth it.
A few moments later, she felt herself fall to the ground with a thud.
She looked up to see Harry dusting himself off. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Thanks," she whispered. She took in her surroundings. She and Harry were in an alley.
"Not exactly the safest place to arrive in, is it?" Harry apologized. "Let's get out of here."
Hermione nodded and took his hand as they walked quickly out of the alley. She recognized the street corner they were on.
"Harry!" she exclaimed. "What are we doing here?"
"Having a very Muggle style evening," Harry said. "No magic tonight. Just you and me."
She beamed at him. "So what have you got planned?"
"Dinner, first," he said. "And then there's a movie at the Palace Theatre. They're showing some old films. You told me once how your dad used to take you there when you were little. I thought you'd like to do something like that again."
Hermione was utterly speechless.
"That's--," she managed to get out. "That's absolutely the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me in the longest time."
Harry grinned at her. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Me, too," Hermione said. "The last thing I ate today was some biscuits for lunch."
"Well, let's get going," Harry said, offering her his hand. She took it willingly and they set off down the street.
They had a great time at the restaurant. It was a nice, small Italian restaurant. The scene inside was intimate and cozy and warm. Hermione loved everything about it-from the red and white-checked tablecloths to the Italian family who owned and operated the place.
For the first time in a long time, she and Harry just talked. Not about school or about warding off evil spirits, but about each other. They talked about what they liked to do when they were kids and about their families. Hermione listened with indignation as Harry told her tales about growing up with the Dursleys. He'd laughed when she told him about the time when she was six and she'd snuck some chocolate toffees into the house. Her parents had been none the wiser, until she'd eaten way too many and had promptly gotten sick.
Hermione hadn't eaten so well in a long time. She'd ordered Eggplant Parmesan and try as she might, was unable to finish it. Harry had ordered lasagna and had managed to eat his food, plus the leftovers on her plate. They'd even shared some tiramisu. All in all, it had been quite an enjoyable first part of the evening.
They walked out of the restaurant and toward the movie theatre in silence. They were both enjoying each other's company so much that words weren't really necessary. Harry had taken her hand as they walked and she hadn't been surprised by it at all. It had just felt right, much as most of the evening had.
Hermione didn't even notice that they'd reached the cinema. She smiled at Harry as he pulled her toward the ticket booth.
"Two for Breakfast at Tiffany's," Harry said, handing over some money to the ticket taker.
Hermione gasped. "That's one of my favorite movies!"
"I know," Harry said. "You know it's not like I just picked you up and this is our first date. I've been your friend for six years, Hermione. I would hope I would know things about you by now."
Harry let go of her hand to open the door to the theatre, but Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"What?" Harry asked, looking at her.
"Um, you consider this a date?" she asked him uncertainly.
"Yes," he said nervously. "I mean, I asked you out and you said yes and we've been to dinner and now we're going to see a movie. I mean, this is sort of a date when you think about it."
He noticed her expression and quickly stammered, "I mean, you don't have to call it that unless you really want to and then it wouldn't matter because you know that's the problem with everything these days, people having to put labels on everything."
"Harry!" Hermione interrupted, smiling at him. He was adorable when he was uncomfortable.
"Yes?" he asked her.
"If you wanted to call this a date, I wouldn't mind," she said softly. "In fact, I'd like that a lot."
He smiled at her.
"Then, it's a date," he said, ushering her through the doors.
"Definitely," Hermione said, smiling at him. "Besides, guys don't usually go to 'chick flicks' without having an ulterior motive."
"Oh, so you think I've planned this whole thing to seduce you, do you?" Harry asked her with a look of indignation.
"Yes, well, you're plans have been foiled, Potter," Hermione said, smiling at him. "I've seen right through you."
"Well, I guess my skills are going to need some work," Harry said, as they walked toward the theatre their movie was showing in.
"You have skills now?" she asked him, teasingly. "I had no idea."
"Yes, well," Harry said, laughing. "They're still in the developmental stage, but I have them nonetheless."
Hermione giggled as she and Harry found seats in the middle of the theatre.
She couldn't believe this was happening. She was on a date. She was on a date with her best friend, to top that all off. Few things in life were perfect, she thought, but this was about as close to perfect as you could get.