WC: 365

Written for Horse Race at Hogwarts.

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked around. She seemed to be alone, as she could find nobody around. She was up late studying for the Arithmancy test she had the next morning, and everybody else (seemingly) had gone to bed.

Then, a head poked out from behind a red couch in the common room. "Hermione?"

Hermione turned towards the noise. "Oh, Dean!"

"Yep, it's me," he said, and got up from behind the couch. "Could we talk for a little bit?"

Hermione shrugged and put down her quill. Studying could happen later, right? Anything for a friend, and Dean looked a bit worried.

"What can I help you with?" Hermione asked. Dean walked towards her table and sat in the chair opposite hers.

"I have a little problem," he said, darting his eyes back and forth. "I thought you might know the solution since you're one of the brightest witches here..."

"You don't need to flatter me to get me to help you," Hermione said with a smile. "Go on."

"Well," Dean started. He twiddled his thumbs. "The problem is I want to ask a certain someone to go to Hogsmeade with me the next time we go, but I'm not sure how."

"Okay, well, first, who is it who're going to ask? That definitely matters," Hermione said, almost rolling her eyes. She wasn't in the mood for this conversation, not tonight. "I can tell you a little bit about most of the girls in Gryffindor."

"Well," said Dean, even more nervously. "I don't think that's important."

Hermione sighed. "Suit yourself, then. In general, most girls like the person asking them out to be neat and tidy in dress, and I think most girls prefer that they be asked at a good time."

Hermione didn't miss how Dean looked down at his own clothes hurriedly.

"Are you planning on asking me?" Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Not that I'm jumping to conclusions, but I'd like to know that before I give any advice."

Dean flushed. "Well... I suppose this isn't a good time, but when do you think I could ask you again?"

"Tomorrow morning, after my arithmancy test?"

"Okay, it's a date."

Dean and Hermione shared a smile.