Chapter 3

It had been two weeks since Bill had dinner with Hermione, they had only seen each other and the weekly dinners at the Burrow and the funding meeting (which went well thanks to Hermione's insight).

On that Friday afternoon Hermione received an owl in her office.

Hermione,

It's my turn for a question.

Will you meet me for a drink tonight?

-Bill

Butterflies went wild in her stomach, and as Hermione responded she could feel her hand shaking with excitement.

Bill,

Of course I will. Pick me up at 8?

-Hermione

The rest of the afternoon seemed to drag on until finally it was time for ministry workers to end their day. Flooing straight to her apartment Hermione sent to get ready for her drink with Bill. She took a shower and magically dried her hair, with another flick of her wrist it was curled in a perfect way to accentuate her face. She reserved this hair do for when she went to bars with Ginny.

Taking a look in her closet she then decided on a pair of dark jeans and a light blue short sleeved shirt. The shirt had a vee-neck that went deeper than normal tee shirts, so Hermione added a diamond pendant. Finally pulling on her black pumps and grabbing a matching wristlet she was ready, and just in time as Bill was knocking on her door.

When Hermione opened the door to her flat she was happy to see Bill's eyes widen.

"You look great," he said leaning in and giving her a small kiss on her cheek. "I was worried I would be overdressed." He was in a black button down shirt with no tie and grey dress pants.

"I think you look dashing. Shall we go?"

The pair stepped into Diagon Alley and headed towards a new bar that had opened up recently. They found a small table in the corner and Bill went to get them a couple of drinks while Hermione looked at the appetizers.

"Hello love, mind if I buy you a drink?" The menu had been so interesting that Hermione hadn't noticed the oily sleezeball approach her. The man had such greasy hair he rivaled Snape with his shirt unbuttoned so far his chest hair was spilling out of it. "You look a bit thirsty."

"I'm fine thanks." Returning her attention back to the menu Hermione tried to ignore him, but this guy was persistent.

"I'd really like to buy you a drink gorgeous." This time the man reached up to touch Hermione's hair. "I think the famous Hermione Granger deserves it."

"She told you no, so maybe you should take the hint." Bill had returned with their drinks and was looking at the guy; Bill towered over him and after years of playing quidditch was much broader in the chest.

Finally, the man left but not without sending pointed looks their way for a few minutes until spotting another victim.

"Thanks for that."

"Well, I did ask you out for a drink. It wouldn't be very gentlemanly if I let someone else make you feel uncomfortable." They ordered a couple of appetizers and their menus disappeared. "I believe it's your turn to ask a question."

"What is this drink? It's fantastic!"

It wasn't what Bill had been expecting but he was glad she liked it. "It's a cherry vodka and cola. Delicious if I do say so myself, all though it's more of a muggle drink." He was glad that the questions weren't all sexual like most of the time this game was played. "Did you ever have any pets?"

"I did have a hamster growing up, his name was Pistachio. I carried him around in a little sock thing I knitted him." She smiled and bit her lower lip. "I know it sounds silly, but when he died I cried myself to sleep. He was the best little friend a girl could have."

"That's not silly at all. That sounds really sweet actually." They finished their drinks just in time for the appetizers to arrive and Bill ordered two more. "Have you ever travelled abroad?"

"I've been to France and Bulgaria on holidays, once with my parents and the other on my own. Not to mention the traveling Harry, Ron, and I did."

"You went to visit Viktor Krum?"

"Again with the double questions, you're really not good at this game are you?" Flirting with Bill was easy for Hermione. He was so laid back and Hermione felt comfortable with him. "Yes, to visit Viktor but only so he could show me around, we were just friends."

"You get to ask me two questions now since I flubbed it up."

It seemed as though Bill was a little put off by Hermione traveling all the way to Bulgaria to visit Viktor Krum. He can't be jealous can he? "Have you ever been to a professional quidditch match?"

"I did get to see Puddlemere United play a game once, Oliver Wood is their star keeper so he invited a bunch of people, someone couldn't go so Fred and George offered me the ticket."

"Do you miss playing?"

"I haven't really played much since Hogwarts. I play with my brothers some times, but it's gotten a bit lackluster since the twins will always bewitch one of the balls and Ginny is just amazing at being a chaser, so their team always wins. I do try to get out on my broom every once in a while though. Do you like flying?"

"Not particularly, I flew only when necessary and even then I was so frightened of falling!"

The night progressed with more questions and more drinks. The pair were making each other laugh and learning more and more about the other.

"Your turn Hermione."

Maybe she was feeling bold, or maybe she just decided she liked Bill enough to ask her next question. "Will you come back to my flat with me?"

Bill was taken aback, shocked really at how forward Hermione was. Not that he was complaining, he paid for their drinks and food, took her hand and walked back to the flat with her.

A/N: Say whaaaaaaaaaaat?!