Over 500 hits and only 10 reviews? Come on, guys, I only wanna know what you think about the story. I'm getting a little discouraged... kay, maybe not. I'm gonna continue this thing until I'm finished AND I'm working on another story (which I plan on posting soon) you lot might enjoy. Here's the next chapter!
*kisses*
lil_irish_girl
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Hermione was currently getting yelled at by Mr. Smith. Apparently her lie was the truth- someone did forget to turn the oven off and she, apparently, was the only one who knew how to make it stop emitting little bursts of smoke. With a flick of her wand all noises coming from the oven stopped and Mr. Smith stared at her in awe.
"How do you always know the incantation for everything?"
"I suppose I've read a lot of books in my time," Hermione replied modestly. "And everything pops up if you read enough books."
"I guess," Mr. Smith said. "Oh, that reminds me. Hermione- how goes the entertainment committee?"
"Very well, sir," Hermione answered. "Mr. Room 123 has had me sing to him twice now."
"Are you sure that's not just because he likes to look at you?" Mr. Smith inquired.
"Mr. Smith!" Hermione exclaimed, trying and failing to look annoyed as a blush crept up her cheeks. "I'm positive that Mr. 123 didn't ask me to sing to him again just so he could look at me. Who would want to? I'm so plain."
"Hermione," Mr. Smith said solemnly. "You are not plain. You're gorgeous. But I am happily married, so kindly do not tell my wife what I just said."
The young witch laughed. "I won't," she promised.
"I'm sorry for being such a pain this week," Mr. Smith apologized. "But my ex-wife is in town and trying to sue me for everything I own. Including this hotel. But she won't get it, because I had it before I married her, so legally I am in the clear. That reminds me- I have to consult with my lawyer tomorrow and will be out of town for about a week. Would you mind running the place for me while I'm gone?"
"Me?" Hermione asked incredulously. "Why would you want me to run the hotel while you're gone?"
"Because," Mr. Smith said bluntly. "You are my most dedicated employee, and I trust that you will do a magnificent job while I am in California with my lawyer."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione replied, honored. "I won't let you down."
"Alright, then," Mr. Smith said, his voice regaining it's briskness. "I will need you to stop by my office tomorrow morning at eight sharp to pick up the keys and the weeks plan so you know what to do. OK? OK. See you at eight."
And he walked away in the direction of his office.
Wow, Hermione thought. I get to run this entire hotel for a week. What an honor. What a nightmare this is going to be if I'm not prepared. I'm going to have to find replacements for almost every single one of my jobs- every one except for the entertainment committee, of course. I wouldn't miss the opportunity to sing to Harry.
As she was thinking these things, Hermione ran into someone.
"Oh!" she whispered. "I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was-"
She looked up to find Harry looking down at her.
"-going," Hermione finished quietly.
"My my my," Harry murmured. "Isn't Mia a busy little bee?"
Hermione laughed softly. "Yes," she answered truthfully. "But I just figured out that I'm going to be running this place for a week, so I have reason to be a "busy bee," as you put it."
"Oh, I see," Harry replied, nodding. "Well, since Miss Mia is so stressed, would she like to accompany
me to lunch?" he held out his arm.
Hermione hesitated, then smiled and looped her arm through his. "Gladly," she answered.
Loosely arm in arm, Harry and "Mia" walked down to the little restaurant in the hotel, called Le Petite Fromage. When they reached the entrance, the woman at the podium smiled politely.
"Hello," she greeted them. "What table can I get you?"
"Table for two in the back please," Harry answered with a smile. "Non smoking."
"Right this way," the woman said as she started back towards the non-smoking section.
When they were seated, they had ordered, and were waiting for their food to arrive, Harry began to make light conversation.
"So Mia," he began. "Where did you go to school?"
"Hogwarts," Hermione replied automatically, then regretting it immediately.
"Really?" Harry asked, bemused. "So did I. I wonder why I never saw you there."
Stupid, stupid, stupid, Hermione chided herself. "Well," Hermione started, wildly trying yet again to think of a lie that would get her out of dangerous waters. "I wasn't one to- stand out. I was there to learn magic, and that's what I did."
"I see," Harry said. "But you still look awfully familiar."
No duh, I saw you every day. "I don't have much of a unique face- I look like a lot of people."
Just then their food came: for Harry, a steak, and for Hermione, the house salad. When they had finished, Hermione made to get her wallet out of her purse, but Harry stopped her.
"It was my idea to take you to lunch," Harry explained. "So I am going to pay for it."
Reluctantly, Hermione let him pay. They left the restaurant and sat down on the couch in the main lobby.
"Thank you," Hermione said. "That was wonderful. I needed that."
Harry chuckled. "My pleasure," he said. Then his face became puzzled once again. "I just wish I remembered where I've seen you before."
No you don't, Hermione thought. "I don't think we've seen each other before."
"You think I would've remembered a face like yours," Harry said with a smile, his green eyes boring into Hermione's. She blushed and looked away quickly.
Yes, Hermione thought. One would think you remember what your best friends' face looks like.
"Well," Hermione said as she quickly got up from the couch when she realized how close they were. "I should probably get back to my job. Thank you for lunch and I guess I'll see you around."
She was about ten feet away from the front desk when Harry stopped her.
"Mia!" he said. She whirled around to find him about three inches from her.
"Yes?"
"Will you sing again for me tonight?" Harry's tentative look was just too adorable.
Hermione smiled. "I'd love to," she replied sweetly.
Harry grinned. "Alright, then," he said. "I'll see you at nine." With that he bent down and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek, then hurried back up to his hotel room. Hermione walked to the front desk in a daze.
Did Harry just kiss me? she thought. I don't know what that means, but he kissed me! OK, I'm going to have to tell him it's me now. But how to do it? Oh! I know.....
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I know you wanna hit that pretty little review button over there and tell me what you think of this chapter...
Don't you wanna figure out how Hermione tells Harry it's her? Don't you wanna see his reaction??
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!!! I absolutely adore hearing from you!!
*kisses*