Chapter 5
Hermione threw the comb she held down onto her vanity with a huff. She watched as the tool bounced and fell to the ground. Her hair was not cooperating, and she ran out of Sleekeazy’s while getting ready for the anniversary ball. The urge to floo to Harry and Ginny’s was taking over her, but she knew Ginny would accuse her of bailing if she showed up there.
She stood from her vanity and went to scour her closet again. Hangars with discarded clothes were laid on the floor in a heap, and she stepped over to examine what she hadn’t thrown off the rack. Everything felt too casual or too formal, so she was hoping Melody would bring over the perfect outfit. If it felt too scandalous for Hermione, she was prepared to charm the outfit and pay Melody back for messing up her clothes.
She felt like kicking something, but a stubbed toe would add to her problems.
The sound of the floo roaring stopped the millions of thoughts whirring through her brain, and she stepped over the mound of clothes to greet her friend. Melody stood in her living room with multiple clothing items in her arms. She turned to look at Hermione with a wide grin, but her smile dropped once she saw the state of her.
“Merlin, Hermione! What have you done with your hair?”
“Please just tell me you can fix it.”
Melody didn’t answer her, but she breezed past her to go to her room. Hermione looked at the black cat that sat on the couch. Abernathy gave her a sad meow, and Hermione stuck her tongue out at the animal and followed Melody back to her room.
The clothes that were once in Melody’s arms were now laid out on her bed, and Hermione scanned the options and turned to her friend.
“You’re kidding, right?”
Every outfit Melody brought over was varying dark shades of red, purple, and green. If the neckline was high, the dress was short. If the dress was long or the outfit involved pants, the neckline was plunging.
“These were my tamer picks! Hermione, I know you are my boss and all, but you have a great figure. You should be more comfortable showing it off!”
Hermione pursed her lips and turned her attention back to the clothes lying in front of her. They honestly weren’t that bad; her nerves were just at an all-time high. She hadn’t been on a date in over 2 years, and after that awkward encounter, she hadn’t wanted to have any blind dates planned by her friends since.
It was hard to look at Seamus the same way.
“Can we at least do my hair first? That way, I can decide on an outfit when I have no time to second guess anything.”
“Alright, sit down.”
By the time Melody was finished, Hermione felt like her scalp was raw from the amount of pulling Melody while detangling her curls. The result was well worth the pain, according to Melody. Hermione had to agree. Her hair had somehow ended up in defined curls, and it was pinned back into a half-up, half-down look with a classy amount of volume. The final product reminded her of a character on one of the shows her mother used to watch. Some woman named Eileen? Elise?
She couldn’t remember exactly, but she was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
Somehow, Melody convinced her to put on some makeup, but she kept it light with blush and mascara. It elevated Hermione’s cheekbones and she was half-tempted to ask what the product was.
“I am pleasantly surprised, Melody.”
“I’m glad, you look beautiful. That blush really suits you.”
Hermione smiled at her friend. She was used to these evenings with Ginny and Luna, but Melody was an unexpected friendship.
“I’m glad you’re here to help, truly.”
Melody smiled at her in the mirror, and she leaned down to rest her head on top of Hermione’s.
“It’s outfit time, so don’t say anything you don’t mean yet.”
Hermione just laughed and stood to return to the bed. Without thinking, she grabbed the closest outfit to her. It was a sleeveless, deep purple dress with a high neck and a ruffled hem, and it looked like it would at least cover her bum.
Hopefully.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she went into her closet to slip the dress on. Her blonde friend gasped when Hermione stepped out of the closet. Hermione quickly turned to the mirror that stood beside her door, and she softly smiled at her reflection.
“It’s perfect.”
“Oh, thank Merlin I didn’t have to convince you. Now for shoes.”
-
Hermione’s ankles wobbled as she approached the restaurant on the cobblestone street. The praise she had given Melody would be taken back at work on Monday for making her wear these heels.
If she didn’t break her ankles first.
She had never felt more thankful to enter a restaurant for a date. The feeling of anxiousness she normally associated with a blind date was tucked away due to the pain in her feet. The main entryway of Vin et Dîner screamed fine dining and the familiar feeling of anxiety reared its ugly head.
Just breathe, Hermione.
The hostess greeted her with a kind smile and led her back to a table for two. It sat next to the window, and she sat down in the chair facing the entrance. Her date was not there yet, but Hermione was always prompt.
This meant she was 10 minutes early.
She rubbed her sweaty palms against her dress. Suddenly she started to question how she was sitting, if she should have taken the seat facing away from the door. Would it be better to see him coming? Should she face away from him to seem more mysterious?
She jumped every time the door to the restaurant swung open. She stared at the lit candle in front of her and tried to force herself to calm down. The water she sipped was not wine, unfortunately.
She should’ve taken Melody up on her offer to have a glass before she left.
Finally, a man entered the restaurant alone. He looked kind, and after greeting the hostess they started to move towards Hermione. His dark hair was expertly styled, and his charcoal grey pants looked expertly pressed. Everything about this man screamed class, and when the hostess waved him towards her she awkwardly stood to greet him.
“Hermione, right?” He said to her, and suddenly he was offering her a single rose.
“Yes. Oh, how lovely.” She took the flower and sat back down. He slid into the seat opposite her and took a sip of his water.
“I’m sorry, Ginny never told me your name.”
“Oh, how silly of me not to introduce myself. Dominic Grey, or just Dom. The only person that really calls me Dominic is my mother.” He offered a hand across the table to shake, and Hermione laughed while shaking his hand.
“Hermione Granger. Not many nicknames for Hermione, so that’s usually what I go by.”
“I’m sure if this goes anywhere, we can come up with something.”
They were interrupted by their waiter, and before Hermione could say anything, Dominic ordered a bottle for the table. He did so without even glancing at the menu, and Hermione opened the menu to see what bottle he ordered.
The bottle of red he had chosen was one of the most expensive ones the menu offered. When Hermione further examined the prices, she realized she would never suggest this place for a first date. An anniversary dinner, perhaps. Her parents instilled in her that fancy restaurants were for special occasions.
Hermione shifted awkwardly in her seat while she scanned the rest of the menu, but she looked up when Dominic cleared his throat.
“Have you ever been here before?”
“Not yet. Ginny said she had been here with Harry once, but I don’t really go out to eat much.”
“You must have a great elf at home then! I haven’t found one yet that can get my childhood elf’s recipes right.”
Hermione's eyebrows shot up, and she suddenly realized it was going to be a long evening.
-
The rest of the evening was filled with awkward conversation, mostly with Dominic boasting about his career and his wealth. Hermione nodded along uncomfortably, and every time she started discussing her career, the subject would be changed back to him.
Before the food had even come, Hermione had decided she did not want a second date. The food ended up being small portions of posh food. The final straw was when the bill came, and he had the waiter go back to split the bill.
After boasting his abundance of wealth all evening.
When they left the restaurant, Hermione dodged a kiss with a quick hug instead. She muttered a quick goodbye and practically ran to the apparition point, heels be dammed. With a crack, she landed on the stoop of Grimmauld Place.
She pounded a fist on the door. When a few moments passed, she continued to knock until the door swung open. Harry’s hair was stuck in all directions, like he had rushed out of bed to answer the door.
“Hermione? Is everything alright?”
“Where is Ginerva?” Hermione shoved her way past a very confused Harry and strode into the home and started up the main stairs.
“Hermione, she’s not here. She went out with Angelina and Luna.” Hermione stopped on the stairs and she turned her attention to her friend. She sighed and descended to enter the kitchen, where she pulled a bottle of white wine off of the counter.
“What is going on?” Hermione took a drink directly from the bottle and turned to face him.
“Your girlfriend set me up with a pompous ass.” Harry’s eyes went wide, and he grabbed a bottle of firewhiskey out of the cabinet over the fridge. He poured two glasses and sat down at the table.
“Alright, tell me all about it.”
-
By the time the floo roared to life and Ginny stepped through, most of the bottle Harry opened was gone. When Ginny looked at her boyfriend and her best friend, the two were sitting opposite each other on the couch and soft snores filled the room.
“Ugh, that bad.” Ginny wrinkled her nose at the firewhiskey smell, and she grabbed two blankets out of the basket by their couch and covered her friends. She quickly transfigured Hermione’s dress into a nightgown and removed her makeup with a wave of her wand. The movement caused Hermione to stir, and she squinted her eyes at Ginny.
“You…that man was a swine, Ginerrrrrrva.”
“Alright, ‘Mione. You can tell me all about it tomorrow after a hangover potion.” Hermione nodded slowly and once again shut her eyes. Ginny summoned the trashcan from the kitchen and placed it on the floor in front of the two. She placed a quick kiss on Harry’s head and grabbed the remaining bottle of whiskey.
“Merlin, Potter. And you were gonna get shagged tonight too.”