Author's note: There was a little delay in this one, too. For that, I am truly sorry. This was originally going to be one chapter…but I decided to break this up and hopefully, you won't have to wait all that long for the second part of this chapter. In this one, our Mr. Potter gets a little jealous and gets an eyeful…I can't tell you of what, but you'll see soon enough. Please let me know what you think!
Chapter 6
The Green-Eyed Monster
On Wednesday evening, Harry and Hermione found themselves at a dinner party at Ginny & Draco's flat celebrating the happy couple's wedding. The dinner party itself had been quite small with just Harry and Hermione, Ginny and Draco, and Luna and Ron. Katie was still getting over an ear infection so Ron and Luna left early. Harry and Hermione, however, had decided to stick around and help clean up.
Harry and Draco were in the sitting room listening to a Quidditch match on the wireless and Ginny and Hermione were sharing the last piece of cake in the kitchen.
"You know," Ginny began, looking over at her friend, "Stefan is really interested."
"Who?" Hermione asked, dropping her fork on the plate.
"Stefan Marone," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, Hermione. I've told you about him loads of times. He works with me. I've shown him your picture and I must say I think he's already smitten."
Hermione inwardly groaned. She'd hoped that Ginny had forgotten all about matchmaking. She'd gone nearly a week without bringing it up again, but no such luck. Ginny looked quite determined. Hermione wondered if the younger witch already had china patterns picked out for Hermione and Stefan.
"You'd really like him," Ginny said quickly. "He's talk, dark, and handsome. Don't roll your eyes, Hermione. He really is!"
Hermione listened as Ginny droned on and on about every positive attribute that this Stefan possessed.
"He's quite athletic, too. All the girls at work think he could be a model. I was shocked beyond belief when I found out he was single."
"There could be a reason for that, you know," Hermione said reasonably. Ginny chose to ignore this, however, and continued to sing Stefan's praises.
"I immediately thought of you, Hermione. I think you two would really hit it off."
Hermione sighed. "I really appreciate it, Gin, but it's too soon after Brian. I don't think I'm ready to date just yet."
"Rubbish," Ginny retorted. "It's been nearly two months since you and he split. It's time to get back out there, Hermione!"
"What if I'm happy in here," Hermione said with a laugh. "What if I don't want to get back 'out there' just yet?"
Ginny didn't crack a smile. "You're going on a date and that's final."
"What's final?" Draco said, coming into the kitchen followed by Harry.
"I think I've finally convinced Hermione to go out with that bloke from work, Draco," Ginny said smugly.
Hermione didn't see the smile on Harry's face fade at this news.
"I haven't agreed to go out with him," Hermione said shooting a look at Ginny.
"Not yet," Ginny said with a smile. "Stefan is absolutely gorgeous, Hermione. He's got this great body and this great sense of humor and this great…"
"Hey!" Draco interjected. "Remember me? Your husband?"
Hermione and Ginny laughed. "You know I only have eyes for you, sweetheart. I'm just trying to convince Hermione what a great guy Stefan is and that she should give him a chance."
Hermione opened her mouth to respond, but Harry beat her to the punch.
"I think he sounds like a wanker," he answered quietly. He had been looking down at the floor as the entire conversation had been going, but he couldn't help the comment that escaped his lips as Ginny talked about this guy Stefan.
Hermione looked over at Harry. "You don't even know him Harry!"
"I don't need to," Harry said with a laugh. "What kind of name is that anyway? Stef-an?"
"He was born in Italy," Ginny explained. "His dad is from London and his mum was born in Naples."
"I've always wanted to go to Italy," Hermione admitted.
Ginny beamed at this. "Well, if you play your cards right, Granger, you just might get to go…maybe on a honeymoon?"
Hermione shook her head. "Slow down, Gin. I haven't even agreed to go out with him yet."
Draco looked pointedly at his wife. "You better tell her, Gin."
"You sort of already have," Ginny said sheepishly.
"What?" Harry and Hermione said at the same time. Hermione looked over at him in shock. He looked away and Hermione wondered what his problem was. She focused her attention back on Ginny. "You already set something up?"
Ginny nodded. "I'm sorry! I just thought that if I waited for you, it'd never happen. Hermione, come on. You know you want to. What could be bad about spending an evening with a good-looking man and enjoying a fabulous dinner and a stimulating conversation?"
"Yeah," Harry scoffed. "Spending a fabulous evening with Stefan sounds like a great way to spend an evening." He used his fingers to indicate quotation marks when he said Stephan's name and Draco guffawed at this.
"He does have a point," Draco said, looking at a clearly not amused Ginny.
"Don't listen to them, Hermione," Ginny said. "They don't know what they're talking about. Stefan will pick you up at your house this Friday at 7 p.m. He's going to take you to Café La Russe."
"You don't fight fair," Hermione said. "That's my favorite restaurant."
"I know," Ginny said. "So, what do you say?"
Harry looked over at Hermione silently hoping she'd say no. To him, this guy seemed like an absolute tosser. He wondered what Ginny could be thinking setting Hermione up with someone like this Stefan.
"Okay," Hermione said, her cheeks reddening as Ginny let out a loud whoop.
Harry tried not to let the others see how this discomforted him. He tried not to listen as Hermione and Ginny discussed this perfect man. Feeling quite irritated and needing to get out of this house, he cleared his throat and announced that he was tired and ready to go home.
"Are you coming?" he asked abruptly. When he saw the look on Hermione's face, he regretted the tone he'd used.
"Yeah," she said pulling a puzzled face at him.
She and Harry said quick goodbyes to Ginny and Draco and then within a couple of minutes, the two of them disapparated and were back at 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione was silent as she took off her jacket and watched as Harry did the same.
"You're awfully quiet," she said softly.
"Just tired," he said, giving her a weak smile. He hoped she wasn't going to start asking questions that he didn't know the answers to himself.
"Are you sure that's all?" she asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah," he said, not turning to look at her.
"Okay," she said quietly. She didn't want to push the issue further when she knew that when he was ready to tell her what was bothering him, he would.
"I guess I'll head on up to bed," she said, heading for the stairs.
"Hermione?" he called out to her just before she reached the first step. She turned around and looked expectantly at him.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked feebly.
"About what?"
"This date?" he asked. "You don't know anything about this bloke. He could be a serial killer for all you know. I mean, for all you know, he could have three wives and six children."
Hermione laughed. "I should hope not. Besides, Ginny's one of my closest friends… I doubt that she'd set me up with a serial killer, Harry."
Harry stepped closer to her and the look on his face was so serious, so full of concern. Hermione hadn't seen him like this in quite some time.
"How would Ginny know really?" Harry argued. "She only knows this guy from work, right? Does she know what he's like after work? He could have dead bodies stashed in his cellar or he could like dressing up in women's clothes."
Hermione chuckled. "That would just mean he's eccentric."
"It's not funny, Hermione."
"That might not be," she answered matter-of-factly, "But the way you're acting is. It's just one date, Harry. It's not like I'll marry the guy. You and I both know how blind dates usually are, right?"
Harry relaxed a little at this. She was right. It was just one date. And he certainly didn't begrudge Hermione having a nice time out. But, something about this date with this Stefan character didn't sit well with him.
"Okay," he said reluctantly. "I hope you have a nice time on your date with 'Stefan'."
"Do you have to say his name like that?" Hermione asked.
"Like what?" Harry asked innocently.
"Stefan," Hermione mimicked. "You sound as if you're describing a fungus or a virus or something you just stepped in and are picking off your shoe, Harry."
"I can't help it," Harry said laughing. "It's that name. You have to admit it's horrible, Hermione."
Hermione shook her head and hid a smile as she walked slowly up the stairs. Sometimes she didn't understand men. Tonight, was definitely one of those times.
"Good night, Hermione," Harry called after her.
"Good night, Harry."
***********
When Friday rolled around, Hermione couldn't have felt less like going on a date than she did as she walked through her front door. The phrase "day from hell" didn't even begin to adequately describe her day.
She'd been called to present research at two tribunals and would have had to attend a third if it hadn't been delayed until next week due to an unfortunate apparition incident where the main witness had splinched himself and a team of highly-skilled wizards had yet to make any progress on remedying the situation.
The last thing in the world she wanted to do was go on a blind date, but here she was rushing frantically about her bedroom trying simultaneously to pick out a suitable outfit for her date and cursing herself as to why she had even agreed to this evening in the first place.
She was never one to worry over clothes, but as she stood in front of her closet, she scrunched her nose up in disgust at nearly everything she set her eyes upon. Glancing at her watch and seeing the time dwindling away, she hurriedly picked out a black skirt and a simple grey jumper with a v-neck. She set the clothes out on her bed and grabbed her dressing gown and headed out her bedroom door and down the hall to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she emerged from the shower and wrapped a towel around her wet, naked body. She reached for her bra and knickers, but to her dismay, she'd left them in her bedroom. She hesitated a moment before opening up the bathroom door. Harry wasn't at home. There was no danger of him catching her walking around the house half-naked.
Scurrying down the hall, she entered her bedroom just as the front door opened downstairs. Harry set his jacket on the coat rack and called out for Hermione, but no answer came. He wondered crossly if she'd already left for her date.
Today hadn't been a picnic for him, either. He'd had to do paperwork with that jerk Brian Finley who kept slipping in snide remarks about Hermione. Well, Harry gave as good as he got, and peppered the conversation with his own snide comebacks about how Hermione had finally decided to go after a real man and not some cheap imitation. Needless to say, Lupin hadn't been pleased with either of them and had again read them each the riot act.
Harry climbed the stairs knowing that upstairs there was a shower with his name written all over it. Thinking that Hermione was already gone and there was no need to be modest, he unbuttoned his shirt and was nearly to the bathroom when he heard a door open just behind him. He heard someone gasp and he turned around quickly and he nearly forgot his own name as he stared at the sight before him.
Hermione was standing in the middle of the hall, clad only in a towel. Her damp, brown hair cascaded down her back. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Neither of them moved. Neither of them was sure they remembered how to move as they looked at each other.
Hermione's cheeks turned red as she saw Harry looking at her as if he'd never seen her before.
"I-I didn't know you were home," she stammered.
"I-I, um, " Harry began, but his voice trailed off as he watched a bead of water trail down Hermione's cheek and then drop slowly onto her shoulder. He tried again to string a coherent sentence together.
"I, um, didn't know you were home either," he mumbled. "I, um, well…shower…long day…you
know?"
She nodded as if she comprehended what he'd actually said, but she had no clue what he was talking about or why he was looking at her in such a way. It was almost as if…well, it was like he was…but she knew that couldn't be. He didn't think of her that way and never would.
"So, um, when's your date?" Harry asked. As he did so, he couldn't help visibly wincing at his bringing up the one topic that he didn't want to talk about with her. The idea of her dating anyone had always been a bit of a sore spot with him. He didn't think any of the blokes she'd dated had been right for her. She deserved much better than the lot that had passed in and out of her life, Harry thought.
As he stared at his best friend, he was hit with this overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and snog her senseless.
Okay, where did that come from?
Hermione's eyes grew large. "Oh, he's picking me up at 7. I better get a move on or I'll be late."
Harry nodded as Hermione brushed past him and he watched as she quickly walked toward the bathroom. Just before she opened the bathroom door, she turned and gave him one last look and a slight smile before closing the door firmly behind her.
Harry stared at the closed door and again wondered what had just happened. For the first time, however, he had an answer…he knew what had just happened and he wasn't sure what, if anything, to do about it.
****************
Thirty minutes later, Harry had taken his own shower and had just changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt when the doorbell sounded. He rolled his eyes. He had a hunch who was at the front door…Prince Oh-Not-So Charming.
"Harry?" he heard Hermione's voice calling to him. "Can you get that? I'm not ready just yet?"
He sighed before calling out "yes". As he opened his own bedroom door and walked down the hall, he heard Hermione's door open and she poked her head out behind the door and gave him a stern look. "Be nice."
"Yeah," he muttered under his breath as he walked down the stairs.
Standing on his doorstep was a man who stood about six foot three and was athletic, tanned and had thick, dark hair. Harry took an instant dislike to the bloke standing before him and tried, for Hermione's sake, to be at least on the surface---polite.
"Does Hermione Granger live here?"
Harry stared back at him and found he was tempted to tell this guy that no one by that name lived here, but he knew Hermione wouldn't be too pleased with him if he even attempted that.
"Yeah," Harry said, nodding. "Come on in. She's almost ready."
Stefan nodded and walked inside the house and gave the foyer an appraising look. Harry closed the door and walked past Stefan without a word and into the kitchen. To his horror, Stefan followed him.
"I'm Stefan Marone, by the way," Stefan said, extending his hand for Harry to shake. Harry hesitated a moment before shaking his hand. "Harry Potter."
"Oh, yeah?" Stefan asked. "I should have sussed by the scar who you were."
This guy is a frigging genius.
Harry nodded and went about getting a bottle of ale from the refrigerator. He didn't offer Stefan one and stood against the refrigerator hoping that he was making this bloke uncomfortable.
"So," Stefan said.
"So," Harry repeated.
"You live with Hermione?"
"Yeah," Harry said, not bothering to elaborate any further for Stefan. Normally, he would have pointed out that he and Hermione were just friends and that everything was strictly platonic, but Harry didn't feel as if he needed or wanted to clear this up for Stefan.
Upstairs, Hermione was looking at her reflection in the mirror and was absolutely mortified. She looked as if she was
going to teach school. Her sensible black skirt and grey jumper weren't something you would wear on a date, she
thought irritably. But, what could she wear? Stefan was already downstairs and Harry probably is being a complete…she
stopped herself. She didn't want to think about Harry being downstairs and giving her date a complete
interrogation.
To top it all off, she was still trying to get over how Harry had looked at her when he'd seen her in nothing but a towel.
Stop it Hermione. Don't think about Harry. You're not going out with Harry tonight…or ever, for that matter. You're going out with Stefan Marone…a man that Ginny said personified tall, dark and handsome. And you at the moment, personify, plain, simple and prudish. This will not do.
She quickly pulled her jumper over her head and discarded it on the floor. She shimmied out of her skirt and clad in only her bra and knickers walked over to her closet. Her eyes fell on a dress that she had a feeling would do quite nicely.
A few minutes later and Hermione was standing at the foot of the stairs, hoping that she wouldn't trip in these shoes. She usually never wore shoes that had such a high heel, but the dress wouldn't have looked good without them. With a deep breath, she made her way toward the kitchen where she heard Harry's voice.
Her dress was simple and elegant, but with a sexy, sophisticated touch. She'd only worn this dress once before and was glad to see that it still fit perfectly. Ginny always said that a girl should always have that one little black dress and for once, Hermione had to agree. Her knee-length dress had spaghetti straps and a v-neck twisted bodice. She wore a simple black choker around her neck and a pair of diamond earrings her parents had given her for graduation. She'd worn her hair down and with a liberal amount of Sleek-Easy's hair potion; she'd managed to style it in ringlet curls.
Both men looked up when they heard her footsteps approaching. To say both men were stunned by her appearance would have been an understatement. One of the men wore a look of pleasant surprise. The other wore a look that could only be described as dumbstruck. He tried to get a word in his mind that would adequately describe the way she looked and couldn't find one that would do her justice. The word beautiful wouldn't even begin to cut it, Harry thought as he looked at her. She was exchanging pleasantries with Stefan and Harry felt a pang of jealousy at the smile on Hermione's face as she spoke to the other man.
"Is everything okay, Harry?" she asked, breaking him out of his reverie.
"Hmm?" he asked, trying to focus his attention. "Oh, yeah. Fine. You look, um…you look…"
"Stunning," Stefan finished for him and Harry fought off the urge to throttle him as Hermione blushed and thanked Stefan for the compliment.
"Thanks," Hermione said softly. "Shall we get going?"
Stefan nodded and followed Hermione toward the foyer. Harry brought up the rear and wondered if Hermione would be upset if he accidentally tripped Stefan.
"Do you think I'll be okay with just my wrap?" she asked, pulling her matching black wrap around her shoulders.
"You should be fine," Stefan said. "You know we couldn't have asked for a more romantic evening, Hermione. It's almost as if fate wants us to have a good evening."
Harry coughed, but neither Hermione nor Stefan heard him. Harry looked at Hermione and wondered if she was seriously buying this line of crap. To his dismay, she smiled warmly at Stefan.
"Good night, Harry," Hermione called to Harry as Stefan put a hand on the small of her back and pushed her lightly toward the door.
"Yeah, good night, Harvey," Stefan said, as he followed Hermione.
"It's Harry," Harry corrected, but Stefan hadn't heard him or had either chosen to ignore him. Harry stood at the door contemplating what he was going to do. As Hermione's best friend, he certainly couldn't allow her to be susceptible to someone as smarmy and transparent as Stefan. Hermione was still on the rebound and she didn't need someone who was going to take advantage of her lowered defenses.
An idea came to him as he stood there and he hoped that Hermione wouldn't be too mad when he showed up at Café La Russe. Surely, she would understand that it was for her own good that he was doing this, Harry told himself as he picked up the telephone to call Sabrina. Hopefully, Sabrina wouldn't be too busy to enjoy a night out. She'd be an easy decoy and it wouldn't look so suspicious for him to show up at the restaurant on his own "date".
Hermione's going to see right through me.
Maybe so, he told himself, but it was a chance he was willing to take.