A/N: Welcome to the first installment of this series: all about First Dates. I hope you enjoy it. Please, leave me your thoughts!

Thank you to Beckintime, 2DaughtersOfAthena, and AelysAlthea for betaing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This applies to all following chapters.


The Worst First Date Ever


I can't believe I'm doing this, I repeat to myself while walking along the street towards the restaurant we're to meet at. What are you thinking, Percy?

It seems as though I haven't been thinking at all. The nearer I get to the restaurant, the worse the idea appears to be. It's just … he seemed so lost at Draco and Hermione's engagement party. He looked as lost as I felt. Since Oliver had broken up with me – because he wanted to concentrate on his career at Puddlemere United, and a boyfriend apparently wasn't conducive to pursuing it – I haven't really been the same. The way Oliver had said it made it sound like I was the problem; like he was ashamed of me.

It broke me like I had never been broken before.

And now, I'm walking straight to my next disappointment, I suppose. Why have I agreed to this again? I ask myself when I turn the corner.

There he stands, and I know why. The insecure expression on his face while he's waiting outside – unsure if I would show up at all, half-expecting to be left in the lurch – jolts right through me. Then he sees me and his face lights up. All the emotions I can see mirrored in his eyes this one second – disbelief and joy, panic and hope – confirm that I made the right decision.

I took a chance with this. And even if it turns out to be a horrible date, a terrible evening, I can be proud of myself for showing up at all.

Oliver hadn't been the only one having a hard time accepting my sexual orientation – or rather denying it. My mother pretended for the whole year of my relationship with Oliver that it was 'just a phase' and I would grow out of it, find a nice girl – "Penelope Clearwater is still single, my dear!" – marry her, and have lots and lots of children. Then, I stopped going to the Sunday dinners. I couldn't bear the thought of being a disappointment to her; a disappointment to my whole family.

But I won't deny who I am for them or for my career. Not like other people.

"Hi," Theo calls out and walks towards me to greet me. "I'm glad you showed up."

I try to smile, but it feels like a grimace. "Me too." My eyes glide over his handsome features, his charcoal hair, and his expensive robes that emphasise his lanky body. He's actually a bit taller than me, I realise.

I tug insecurely at the hem of my robes that aren't half as nice and expensive as his are. My gaze wanders to the restaurant, and for the first time I really notice it. The Lunar Palace. One of the most expensive Wizarding restaurants in London.

"That's where we going?" I stutter, surprised. Theo wouldn't tell me the restaurant, just owled me the address. He wanted to surprise me, he said.

A proud smile dances on his lips. "Yes! I can't believe I actually managed to get a table."

I nod. I can't believe it either. "But … this is …" My gaze flickers back to his face. "Too much," I conclude. I can't afford this restaurant. Probably the wine alone would take up my dinner budget.

Theo bites his lip. The proud expression vanishes and is replaced by one of guilt. "I didn't think about that…" he swallows. "I'll pay, of course."

"Nonsense," I say and smile at him, because I don't want him to worry about my financial problems. "This was a great idea. I heard they have the best red wine in town."

He relaxes a little. "Blaise would agree on that. I haven't been here before, to be honest. I just followed recommendations."

"Then let's get some of this delicious wine," I say and open the door for him. A small smile flickers across his face as he enters. My heart pounds nervously in my chest.

Theodore Nott – really? Why in Merlin's name am I doing this? I ask myself again. All of it, from the lush carpet and the dressed-up waiters with the posh accent, to the polished silverware next to the plates and the hushed whispers, intimidate me. I feel the eyes of every single wizard in the room on me. I know I don't fit in here with my robes that probably cost as much as a single shoe of one of the other guests. I know I'm out of place with my glasses and my cheap haircut, with my red hair that betrays my heritage.

"… a Weasley," I hear whispered.

My eyes glide over the crowd of rich pure-bloods, trying to identify the culprit, but nobody meets my gaze. Theo looks decidedly uncomfortable as well after the maitre d' has disappeared. Only now do I realise it's not only me that's being stared at. It's us.

The hour and our behaviour make it clear that this is not a business meeting but something else entirely. A date. I can see their thoughts racing, trying to find a 'reasonable' conclusion: just two friends meeting; two men talking business; a school reunion.

I can feel how the realisation hits when our bottle of nineteen-eighty-nine Gaja Barbaresco arrives. The way we toast, the way Theo smiles at me, and the nervousness in our movements. The stares turn less polite, and my shoulders stiffen.

"Are you hungry?" Theo asks, trying to sound casual, but he feels it, too. The atmosphere has changed into something hostile.

"Not particularly," I answer, although only a moment ago I could have eaten a hippogriff. My insides have turned to ice.

Theo forces a smile. "But the recommendation sounds lovely, doesn't it?"

I glance at the menu. "Yes," I say, even though I don't care for Coronation Chicken right now. I can hear them whispering, feel them throwing disgusted glares at us. I can see the waiter watching us, as if deciding if he wants to attend to us at all.

I'm so tensed up that I don't even hear what Theo says next. Only when he touches my hand, I snap to attention.

"What?" I ask and flinch back.

I can see the rejection on his face, and, instantly, I regret my action. "I asked how that paper you told me about in your letter went along."

I swallow. "Fine. Nearly finished."

He nods stiffly. I can see him starting to regret this date. I don't want that. I don't want it to be a horrible date, because he deserves something good after all the things he has gone through after the war. From Hermione, I know that he's all alone. His father had died in prison, his mother long ago. He has no family, and his only friends seem to be Draco and Hermione. It is as though all his relationships never exactly worked out, just as mine hadn't.

I want this to work so badly. I know there is something between us, a deeper understanding and a spark of something more – not love yet, but something that could be love some day. Most of all, it's the loneliness, the lostness, that draws me to him. Maybe because I want to fill it and hope he will fill mine in return. I don't know, but I don't want to ruin it. I don't want to disappoint him like I've disappointed everyone else in my life.

"How has your week been? Have you found a location for Draco's wedding yet?" I choke out, nervously straightening my glasses.

He chuckles, but it sounds false. "No. They change their mind constantly about the size of the bloody wedding. I swear to you, if I marry, it will be a quiet affair. I don't know what got into me, offering them my help."

Before I can answer, the maitre d' appears with a sour look on his face. "Gentlemen, I'd appreciate it if you would finish your wine and pay. You are bothering our other customers."

My mouth falls open, and I close it with a loud clack. I look to Theo, and he seems frozen in shock. He should be used to this treatment by now, I think. He'd been on the wrong side of the war, after all. Hermione had told me what Draco had suffered through, and it probably hadn't been any better for Theo.

"Has anyone made a complaint?" I ask politely. "If yes, I'd like to address them personally." I won't let myself be insulted by a homophobic bigot. I'm not shy of my sexuality. Actually, I'm proud of who I am, and I will not duck my head and accept disparagement and discrimination.

The maitre d' presses his lips together. "There have been several complaints, in fact. I'm afraid I can't tell you who made them since it would violate our restaurant's customer policy."

"And forcing someone out of you restaurant doesn't?" I counter coldly.

His gaze turns icy. "If you would please leave now," he demands, "or I get security."

I exchange glances with Theo, who is deathly pale and shaking slightly.

"Let's go," I say. "This wine isn't half as good as Blaise Zabini told us it is." I reach for the glass and 'accidentally' push it over, so dark red liquid spills all over the crisp, white table cloth.

"Mr. Zabini recommended it to you?" the maitre d' asks in a high voice, a nervous flickering in his eyes.

I shrug and stand up. With a smile at Theo, I confirm what the maitre d' is already thinking, "You made a mistake, by the way. I'm the Personal Assistant of the current Minister of Magic and my boyfriend," I put extra emphasis on the word and enjoy how the maitre d' winces, "is the best friend of the most influential pure-blood in London, Draco Malfoy, and his fiancée, Hermione Granger, the future Minister of Magic." I take Theo's hand and walk towards the door. Over my shoulder, I add, "We will make sure that no decent witch or wizard will ever visit your establishment again."

Then, we're outside. The cold evening air hits my heated face, and I draw my jacket closer around me. I feel so mad that it takes me a few moments to realise that Theo is no longer beside me. I turn and see him standing rooted to the spot in front of the restaurant.

"Are you all right?" I ask, walking back towards him. He stares at me.

"I …" he swallows. "I'm sorry. This was the most horrible date ever."

I grin lopsidedly. "True, admittedly. But at least we scared the living daylights out of them."

A wan smile sneaks onto his lips. "You were amazing. How could you be so calm and collected while they …" He shakes his head.

"Practice," I answer with a note of bitterness. "Come on. Let's not stand around. It's freezing."

I reach for his hand, and he only flinches slightly when I touch him. "I thought … I thought …" he stutters.

"That I'd go home now and leave you standing here? Not likely," I answer, feeling braver than I actually am. "Let's find a pub and have some beer and chips. What d'you say?"

He nods slowly. "Sounds … good."

We turn on the spot and disappear.

Later, when we sit in a small pub and enjoy our beer, Theo says, "I wanted to thank you. Nobody ever stood up for me like this." His fingers tighten around his glass. "I'm sorry I picked that restaurant. I wanted to impress you."

"I know," I reply, sipping my beer with forced casualness. I feel suddenly very clumsy. The words I want to say won't come out of my mouth.

But I don't have to say anything as he continues. "So you're not disappointed?"

"Of what? You? The date?" I shake my head. "No. I'm actually pleased and a bit surprised that we're still sitting here."

"Me too," Theo whispers barely audible over the noise in the pub, where nobody cares about us. "I'm glad …" The rest of the sentence is drowned in loud laughter from the neighbouring table, but I know what he meant. I feel it, too.

I lift my glass of beer and toast, "To many more dates to come. May they be better than the last."

He laughs and relaxes for the first time. His sapphire eyes sparkle, and his hands are no longer shaking when he sips from his beer. I take a swig of my drink, smiling to myself. Yes, to many more dates to come.


*Written for the Houses Competition, Round 6*

House: Ravenclaw

Category: Themed

Prompt: Horrible Date

W/C: 2, 104