Summer Writing Series Challenge (July 16)
Challenge: Story Week Finale
Topic #1: Harry/Hermione learns something new about the other.
Topic #2: Harry/Hermione asks the other for a huge favor.
Topic #3: Harry/Hermione visits the other at work/on duty/at practice.
Challenge Conditions: You may choose 1, 2, or all 3 of the challenges listed. If more than one is
chosen, you must be able to weave it with the other topics seamlessly. As a bonus, for each extra topic you choose
above the first, add 1,000 words to the length of your story for today. 1 topic = 2,000 words, 2 topics = 3,000 words,
and 3 topics = 4,000 words. You need to try and tie up any and all mysteries/loose ends in this final chapter as this
is the last challenge for Single Story Week!
Title: Poseidon's Diner
Word Count: 2,000
Currently, Harry and Hermione found themselves standing in the middle of a busy street. They had taken the trolley that magically appears whenever visitors arrive at the Apparition Site to take them to the downtown area. The similarity between the bright orange trolley and the Knight Bus were too noticeable to be ignored, from the loud 'bang's' to the unsteady way of driving. Small as the island was and fast as the trolley was, it still took twenty unnerving minutes to arrive to where they were now.
Downtown Atlantis could not have been more different from the area where the Portkey had taken them. The buildings here were much more modernized. All around them, Hermione could see thirty-story high apartment complexes, shopping malls, and skyscrapers, or rather ocean-surface-scrapers, that one would only find in the largest and most prosperous cities such as NYC and Paris.
It was hard to imagine that this glorious city could have been hidden from the muggles for so long. Of course, this was obviously not the sight the muggle explorers were greeted with when they gazed upon Atlantis. An old shipwreck is most likely what a muggle in a passing submarine would see after the numerous layers of illusions cast on Atlantis.
Altantis appeared to be more populated than what Harry and Hermione had ever imagined. The Atlantians paid no attention to the newcomers as they buzzed around the pair in their daily routine except for occasional 'could you please move aside, miss?' or 'excuse me, sir.'
"Well, 'Poseidon's Diner,' that's the restaurant," Harry stopped walking and pointed to a building on the other side of the street.
Following Harry's finger, Hermione's eyes fell upon a large sign that was covered in blinking white lights. If Hermione had seen the lights on any other place, her instant thought would be that the workers of the restaurant were just too lazy to take off the Christmas lights from several months prior, but with this restaurant, the lights only added to the elegant flair. In the middle of the sign were the words 'Poseidon's Diner' in the most graceful cursive writing she'd ever seen. The writings were in a deep blue color, not unlike the color of the seawater that surrounded them beyond the water-repellent shield.
The building itself was white on the outside. A beautiful set of marble stairs led the couple to a dark glass revolving door. White lights intertwined with green plants snaked around the two pillars that stood on either side of the entrance.
Walking through the revolving door, Harry led Hermione to a wizard in black uniform standing behind a large reservation book.
"Good evening, do you have reservations?" the wizard asked smiling at the couple.
"Yes. Potter, at seven o'clock."
"Harry Potter?" the wizard asked excitedly, while trying to get a peek at Harry's scar. Harry was obviously famous even hundreds of thousands of miles underwater. "I can't say how delighted we'd been when we heard that you'd be here tonight."
The host shook Harry's hand vigorously, "And you must be Hermione Granger, delighted to make your acquaintance. We have our best table reserved for the pair of you. Our best chef returned from his vacation two weeks early just to be here tonight. I can't tell you just how enthralled we are. Right this way."
Passing through a glass door separating the lobby from the actual restaurant, the host led the blushing couple to the second floor reserved only for celebrities. Only a few other parties were here tonight.
The walls were a soft peachy white and beautiful carpets of assorted colors and designs covered the floor under their feet. A large crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the room, while candles floated in the air all around them.
On the far end, a violinist was playing a solo concerto by Vivaldi accompanied by a pianist. The soothing melodies filled the grand hall.
The host led them to a table by the huge window that gave the guests a clear view of the busy city below them.
"Here you are, the best table in the house. I hope you'll enjoy your evening here at Poseidon's Diner."
The small, round table was covered with a burgundy tablecloth with small roses embroidered on the edges. A single red rose in a crystal vase stood at the center of the table. The napkins were folded elegantly at the side of the crystal plates and wine glasses.
"Thank you," Hermione said softly when Harry pulled out her chair for her. "This place looks awfully expensive, Harry. Are you sure it's alright?"
"Of course, have you seen my Gringotts vault?" Harry said with a grin as the menus magically appeared in front of the two. "Order anything you want."
"May I suggest the Seafood Extravaganza? It's one of our house specialties," suggested the waiter, who arrived when the host left, politely when he saw that they were having trouble deciding.
"That sounds great," Hermione said, looking up.
"I'll have that also."
"Anything to drink?" the waiter asked as he wrote down their order.
"Two iced-teas."
Minutes later, the waiter came back with their food carefully balanced on a tray.
"Is there anything else you would like?"
"No, not for me."
"Me neither. That's all for now. Thank you."
After the waiter left, the two ate their dinner in comfortable silence, enjoying the music flowing throughout the room.
"How'd you hear about this place?" Hermione asked curiously, breaking the silence.
"Well, actually, Dumbledore told me about it," Harry replied with a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "I think he might have taken Professor McGonagall here once or twice."
Hermione laughed, "I wonder what his excuse was to get past the security."
"So, how are your classes with Madam Pomfrey coming along? You must be thrilled about that letter." Harry was talking about the letter Hermione received from St. Mungo's offering her a position as a full-time Healer as soon as she graduated.
Whereas Harry had expected her to start telling him animatedly about her healing classes, Hermione only sighed. "I don't know, Harry. I'm thinking about rejecting that offer."
"What? Why? I thought you wanted to be a Healer?"
"I've been thinking a lot for the past weeks about what I want. When I was little, I always wanted to become an actress. To be there on the big screen, and to get one of those Academy Awards. It's always been a dream of mine. But then, I got my Hogwarts letter when I was eleven. Me, I'm a witch," Hermione gave a small chuckle. "I guess I gave up on my muggle dreams. And then the war began, and I wanted to help people, to heal. But now that the war is over, and with the Wizard-Muggle alliance, that movie production place is opening and conducting auditions, I'm not sure any more. Do I still want to heal? Or do I want to fulfill my childhood fantasies?"
"Wow, Hermione. I never knew you wanted to be an actress. Sounds like a pretty amazing dream. I can't make that decision for you, but I can tell you that I'll be behind you one-hundred percent no matter which career path you choose," Harry, said taking her hand.
"Enough about me, what about you?"
"I think going to play Professional Quidditch."
"Really? What about all that Auror Training you had?"
"Yeah, I'm dreading to tell McGonagall about it. After all those nights she put in so I'd qualify, I never she'd follow through with that promise even after Umbridge left. But, I think I've had enough of Dark Wizards to last me a lifetime. And there's that offer from Puddlemere United for the Seeker position."
"Harry! You didn't tell me about that! When did that happen?" Hermione interrupted.
"A couple weeks ago. Their Seeker for seven years retired, had enough of Quidditch, I guess. Wood must have put in a good word for me. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think I was going to accept. Chuddley Cannons offered a Chaser position to Ron too. I can't believe how much better he was at Chasing. I don't know if I want to play against my best friend."
"Oh, that's just silly! You two aren't even playing the same position. You should accept; it sounds like a wonderful opportunity! Quidditch has always been your passion. I've seen how you missed playing these past two years. But once you're out of Hogwarts, Umbridge's stupid ban will no longer have any effect."
"I think I'm going to. Thanks, Hermione," Harry said warmly.
The waiter returned to take away their dishes and asked about dessert. Hermione got a tiny, saying something about keeping a low-calorie diet, chocolate cake shaped like a starfish, while Harry got a huge ice cream sundae with every topping imaginable.
Once they finally finished their dessert, Harry ended up sharing his sundae with Hermione when she finished her cake and wouldn't stop staring at his dessert, the pair went down the stairs to pay for their dinner. After ten minutes of polite argument with the host, who refused to accept payment from Harry insisting that their dinner was on the house, the pair found them on the busy street once again, now walking back toward the trolley stop.
"'Poseidon's Diner.' What a fitting name for the best restaurant in Atlantis. Poseidon was the God of the Sea, wasn't he?" Harry asked Hermione as they strolled though the city.
"Yeah, Atlantis was the domain of Poseidon. Harry, this has been a wonderful evening, thank you so much. It was a like a dream come true." And on that busy street in the middle of the Lost City of Atlantis, Hermione and Harry shared their first kiss since they'd been on their first date.
So engrossed in their kiss, they completely missed the unmistakable 'bang' of the trolley.
"Are you two getting on or what?" came the annoyed voice of the trolley driver. At the interruption, the two broke apart, blushing furiously.
Mumbling a quick apology, the pair quickly got on and readied themselves for the bumpy ride back to the Apparition Site.
When the grandfather clock stuck ten, the pair finally found themselves at the bottom of the steps that led to the Head Girl and Boy's dorms.
"I had a lot of fun tonight," Hermione whispered.
"Yeah, me too."
"Have you thought about where we go from here?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you and I, us. Our relationship. We'll be graduating in three months, you'll have your Quidditch, and I'll have my career, whatever I've chosen, what'll happen to us?"
"I've been thinking about that. I thought that maybe after we graduate, we could er- move in together. Find a flat and stuff, you know," Harry said awkwardly, while brushing furiously.
"Are you kidding? You want me to move in with you?"
"I know this is only our first date and everything, and I understand completely if you don't feel comfortable-"
"I'd love to!"
"-or if your parents would let you do that, I mean, they might think we're living in sin, and everythi- wait. Really? You want to move in with me?"
"Yes!" Hermione said enthusiastically. "And don't worry about my parents, they love you. Besides, mum's always known my obsession," Hermione blushed at saying this, "with you. Can't get anything past mum."
"Oh. Then that's settled," Harry said with a broad smile, while leaning in for a final goodnight kiss. "What do you think about muggle London?"
"Unplottable?"
"Untraceable."
"Away from the annoying fans."
Their face inched closer together.
"Hidden from the press."
And closer.
"Just the two of us."
"If you want it to be. How does that sound to you?"
Their lips were barely inches from the other.
"Like heaven."
"Good," Harry whispered, his lips brushing against Hermione.
"Good."
Hermione gave a small giggle before closing the space between them and capturing Harry's lips with her own.