Dense Heart
Theo sat at a corner table in the crowded pub sipping his third butterbeer. He was here like he was every Friday night, and it wasn’t for the drinking―as if there was enough alcohol in butterbeer anyway―it was for the company.
Or a woman rather.
One woman in particular who messed with all his sensible faculties and reduced him to a nervous tongue-tied Hufflepuff when they discussed anything other than work.
“So, have you got plans for this weekend?” Hermione asked as slipped into the seat opposite him, having just returned from the bathroom.
“Er, no. Not as yet. You?”
“It remains to be seen,” she replied. “I’ve been wanting to go to the new exhibition at the National Gallery for a while now. I just hate to go alone and it’s really not something I can drag Harry or Ron to.”
Theo nodded. “Not really their thing, I suppose. It’s a shame to let such opportunities go to waste.”
Hermione nodded fervently and leant forward, her elbows were on the table which meant her cleavage became more pronounced despite the modest neckline she wore for the office. Theo struggled to keep his eyes up and not ogle her like a heathen.
“It really is, I’d so love to have someone to go with that appreciates art as much as me. There’s something just so inherently invocative about it.”
Theo nodded and they spoke for a while about the new exhibition, before they moved onto other topics.
“Have you tried that new restaurant in Hogsmeade yet?” Hermione asked him.
Theo shook his head. “No, not yet. It certainly seems interesting though, the mix of muggle cuisine with wizarding components.”
“Yes, I’d love to go. Did you know they’ve apparently got a wine list that spans the world? Bottles from every region.”
“It sounds good in theory though I imagine it would take a while to work your way through them.” He joked.
“Maybe that’s the point?” Hermione pointed out, “repeat business? Returning customers, couples maybe, recreating their dates and sampling wines and dishes from everywhere? Why you could go once a week for a year and not get bored.”
Their conversation continued and eventually, they had to call it a night. Theo walked Hermione to the apparation point and they chatted lightly as they went. But when they reached it, Hermione sighed and turned to him, a small frown on her forehead and her lips pursed.
“Look, Theo… For weeks now, I’ve tried being subtle, I’ve tried not being subtle. So now I’m going to be direct. Do you have any intention of asking me on a date? If you do or if you don’t, I’d appreciate you telling me before I make a fool of myself or get too invested.”
Theo stared at her gobsmacked. She… date… what?
A long moment passed between them where he was unable to do anything more than stare at her.
“Right.” She said with a decisive little nod. “I’ll see you Monday and we can pretend this never happened.”
She began to turn on the spot, preparing to apparate when Theo grabbed her by the elbow and spun her back toward him.
“Wait! I― you’ve been dropping hints? You want me to ask you on a date?”
Hermione fidgeted with the hem of her beaded bag and Theo swallowed, trying to wait patiently for an answer.
“Yes. Are you asking?”
“I would ask every day until you tell me no.”
Hermione smiled at him.
“I’d really like that.”
Theo felt a warmth blossom within him, radiating outward until he realised he was smiling―quite dopily―at the woman that had captured his dense heart.