Chapter 2 - Smitten
Simon was smitten beyond his first simplest desires for intelligent feminine companionship. Simon decided to take her to the theatre in Muggle London since he'd seen her looking longingly at an advert for a revival of Bell, Book, and Candle. After the show, Hermione decided she needed to know more about this mysterious man. She had an inkling that there was something terribly, terribly familiar about Simon Blount. She just could not place it exactly.
"Did you enjoy the show?" Simon asked.
"Yes, but don't you think it a bit silly that witches lose their power by falling in love?" Hermione commented.
"Of course," he replied with a chuckle, "but what do you expect from Muggles and how they see our world."
"So, Simon, when we first met, you said you'd been out of the country," she began.
"Indeed. I was in Madrid for a while. Then I traveled to the seacoast for a year or two," he remarked over the pie.
"What was it like? Spain, I mean?" she was positively curious.
Simon smiled warmly, "I could show you some time. The Wizarding community there is warm and friendly."
"Where you here when 'he' was defeated or in Spain," she looked at him carefully.
"Does it matter?" he inquired.
"No, I suppose it doesn't really, no…" she trailed off.
"Would you think me a coward if I left Britain in its dark hour?" Simon baited her; he was ready for that line of questioning.
"No, I don't think so," Hermione offered.
"I never said anything before, but now that you wanted to know…it's just that I know you personally lost so much in those days, and all that," Simon spoke so softly that Hermione almost missed his words.
She smiled compassionately and took his hand. He stroked her palm with gentle fingers, dancing his nails sensuously along her fingers.
"Hermione, you have the most beautiful hands. How is it that you never became a Potions Mistress or Healer?" Simon played with her hand.
Hermione giggled, "Oh Simon…"
He devoured her visage for a moment more before excusing himself. Out of her line of sight, Simon sipped more polyjuice from a small vial he had tucked in his jacket. His hands were trembling.
Upon his return to Hermione, "You know it's getting late and I don't want your proprietors to ban me from the shop. I should get you home now," Simon's smile was contagious.
"Tired of my company already," she teased.
"Never, Hermione, never," he said as he placed her wrap over her shoulders. "Did you enjoy the play?"
She took his arm, "Oh yes, very much so."
Once out of the public eye, they side-alone apparated to her doorstep. Simon leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"Until tomorrow," with a nod, he disapparated to his own flat.