AM I TOO LATE
Double Date
Chapter Ten
Harry shoved open the doors to the library and instantly heard Hermione's laughter. He cringed. She was having a good time. Why did that bother him? Had he really been hoping she'd have a rotten time with Prince Ridley? Yes. Yes, he'd been hoping just that.
I'm a bastard, he thought.
He stood near the front doors and stared at the novel in his hand. Should he drop off the book (which he'd checked out minutes before the library closed last night) and leave or should he meander back to Hermione and say hello? Another burst of laughter propelled his feet in the direction of a table near long windows.
He caught sight of her before she saw him. Ridley was sitting next to her and leaning too close to her for Harry's liking. But Harry straightened his shoulders and strolled through the stacks until he stood beside their table.
"Harry," she said. Her eyes were sparkling, and her smile was infectious.
"Potter, how are you?" Ridley asked. He stood up and held it his hand out to Harry.
Harry shook it and grinned. Ridley sat back down.
"I'm good. I don't mean to interrupt, but I'm returning this book, and I thought I heard Hermione. I only wanted to say hello. I'll let you two get back to whatever you were doing," Harry said nonchalantly.
"Oh, we weren't doing anything," Hermione responded quickly.
"Hermione was showing me her new project on Merpeople, and I recalled a story about Ron and I off the coast of Majorca involving a bikini, a jellyfish, two bottles of rum, and a fishing boat," Ridley explained. He touched Hermione's shoulder, and she giggled at him.
"It's really a funny story," she said, smiling at Harry.
"I bet it is." Control yourself, Harry. "Well, I'll be going now."
"Oh, that's okay, Harry. You aren't interrupting," Hermione said. "What book are you returning?"
Harry tried to hold the book out of reach, but Hermione was too fast. She snatched the book from his hand. "It's just a little something," Harry said quietly.
Ridley leaned over to read the spine of the book as well. "Pride and Prejudice?" she asked incredulously. "You were reading this?"
Harry looked from Hermione's shocked expression to Ridley's confused one. And he did the only thing he could think of. He lied. "Oh, no," he forced a laugh, "I'm returning it for Ginny."
"Oh," she said. "It doesn't seem like something you'd read."
"I read," Harry said defensively.
Hermione looked up at him. "I know you read, Harry. I only meant that love stories don't generally end up on the top of your reading list," she explained.
Ridley propped his arm on the back of Hermione's chair. "I've actually read that one. Great Muggle author. The book is amazing. I have a first edition copy."
Hermione turned to him. "Really?"
"Of course. The tumultuous relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett is riveting," Ridley said. He leaned closer to Hermione as he spoke.
Harry rolled his eyes though no one was watching him. He wished Ron had been there to insert a sarcastic comment. "Okay," Harry said. "If you'll hand me my book back, I'll return it."
"Oh, sorry, Harry," Hermione said sheepishly. "So, I'll see you this evening?"
"Yeah. Five or six. I'll come to your place," he said as he took the book from her.
"What's going on tonight?" Ridley asked, clearly interested.
"Harry and I are making pizzas and watching wedding DVDs," she answered.
"How exciting!" a woman's voice chimed in.
Harry turned around, and there was Beth, looking radiant and perfect. "Beth?" he asked.
"Hey, sweetheart." She planted a kiss right on his lips and slipped her hand around his bicep. "Surprise." She smiled at Hermione and Ridley. Then, she held a hand out to Ridley. "Hi, I'm Beth Jordan, Harry's fiancé."
Ridley stood to his feet and took Beth's hand. "Ridley Todd. Nice to meet you. Weasley told me Potter was getting married. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."
"You could have seen my face in the fashion magazines, but that's no matter. It's a pleasure to meet you," Beth said sweetly.
"I'm not much into fashion. A Seeker's uniform is good enough for me," Ridley replied.
"Isn't that sweet? Harry, did you hear that? Ridley is a Seeker, too. I bet you two have lots in common," Beth said. She leaned her head against Harry's shoulder.
Like loving the same girl? Harry though bitterly. "What are you doing home?" he asked.
"Spur of the moment change of plans," she smiled. "And what's this about pizza and watching DVDs?" She looked directly at Hermione.
"We were going to look at some wedding DVDs to come up with ideas for you," Hermione said. Unease slithered around in her stomach. "Pizza was going to be dinner."
"Sounds great to me. Let's make a date of it. What do you say, Ridley? Are you up for a double date?" Beth asked. She brushed lint from her starched capris.
"Well, I…I don't know. Hermione? Is that okay?" he asked Hermione.
She glanced up to Harry. And he shrugged his shoulders and looked away.
"The more the merrier," Harry said flatly.
"Oh, wonderful! Pizza and wedding plans. We'll be over at your flat around six, Hermione, okay? Okay. Come on, sweetie, I want to spend some time alone with you. We'll see you two later." And Beth whisked Harry away.
"Bye," Hermione said after they'd both gone. She stared at books tilted on a shelf.
"You okay?" Ridley asked after quiet seconds had passed.
"What? Oh, sure, I'm fine," she answered.
"Is this okay? It sounded like you and Harry had plans. I don't want to spoil them," Ridley said gently.
Hermione smiled but it was only to cover her annoyance. "Don't be silly. You can't possibly ruin what Beth has already spoiled." Ridley looked surprised. "I don't mean that to sound harsh. She's just…aggressive."
"And pushy," Ridley added.
"Yes, and pushy," Hermione said, and she smiled at him. "Hope you like pizza."
"If you're there, I'd eat dirt."
Hermione laughed. "I won't make you eat dirt. Not tonight at least."
Ridley and Hermione spent a few more minutes making idle conversation, and then they parted. She gave Ridley directions to her flat, and he said he'd bring dessert. As she made her way home, she felt disturbed.
She'd had a wonderful time with Ridley. He was so kind, so funny, so charming…so everything. But Beth's interruption left a dark smudge on the day. Why did having a double date with Harry and Beth make her cringe so horribly? Why did she want to smack the smile off Beth's lips? Why did she want to be alone with Harry so badly? She shook her head as she walked and prepared herself for an interesting evening.