I have a single rule when it comes to girls.  You never let them know you like (maybe even love) them because once you do they use it against you for everything.

That didn’t sound half as bad as Apparating.  Well, you giant overstuffed turkey of a bird, you don’t scare me! Turbulence and ear popping are nothing.  I’ve been through a war, turkey bird!  What have you been through? Turbulence and ear popping. Ha!

Nobody, and I mean, nobody perfects the smirk quite like we do.

Tilting my head, I whispered to Granger, “Do you trust me?”

“Not in a million years,” she shot back.

“Good, this ought to work perfectly then.”

Wait. Did she just call me a ferret?  And did she just use that as a reason for why I am one day going to punch her in the face?  What in the bloody hell does a ferret have to do with punching? If I’m a ferret, I can’t punch anyone anyways.  Although, I bet I’d look like a bloody attractive ferret. All the lady ferrets will flock to me, and then Granger will be sorry!  I’ll be getting more girlfriends than she ever will!  Well, I mean, I suppose boyfriends for her.  I mean, I think. 

There were no beauty charms to make my face look absolutely flawless anymore now that I couldn’t use magic.  I mean, I look great most of the time, but just a little bit of charm work can make me look like a Greek Adonis.  And really, what girl doesn’t love an Adonis? 

I can feel the words forming on their lips, the spells ready to fly out.  So I’ve got some choices.  I can 1. remind them that I am in fact unarmed, 2. plead to Granger to be reasonable, 3. hide behind my furniture, or 4. scream and wave my hands around like a banshee so as to discombobulate the enemy.

Well, she looks beautiful tonight. 

I smiled a little bit before standing up and offering my hand. “Dance with me?”

Peeking my head in, I let out a sigh of relief as I spotted my mother’s pale blonde hair.  “Mum?” I asked.  She let out shriek and threw a pastry she had been holding in my direction.  It flew with surprising speed and accuracy at my head.  I only just avoided it, and I heard it splat against the door in front of me.

I tried to scoot back subtly, but instead, I overshot, and I landed on my arse.  A few waiters hurried over to help me, and I cursed a little.  Merlin, of course I would end up embarrassing myself in front of Hermione at a crucial time like this.  Now, my face is probably pink, and my bottom is stinging.  It’s just not fair.

I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking this is going to be the gateway to a wonderful new life. And it’s one I get to share with the love of my life. I’d say I’m rather lucky, don’t you?