Chapter 10: It IS a Date

"…AND GRYFFINDOR WINS WITH A SCORE OF TWO-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE! Sorry, Slytherin, but it looks like you'll be taking the walk of a loser's shame! Congrats to Gryffindor!" Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff exclaimed with zeal into the magic microphone. "Good luck, Gryffindor, with your next match against the mighty Hufflepuff! You need it!"

"MR. MACMILLAN!" McGonagall said sternly. "I daresay that's enough, won't you?"

Up in the commentator and faculty box, Ernie blushed. "Yes, Professor. I'll shut up now."

"Best idea you've had all day!" McGonagall said, grabbing the magic microphone from his grasp.

Rows and rows of bleachers below the commentator and faculty box, sat Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood. The three were cheering on their other three friends – Harry Potter, and Ron and Ginny Weasley, all of which were on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

It wasn't the first time that Luna had bothered to wear her massive lion's hat, which always drew her much scornful attention; she didn't seem to care, however.

"Ronald was brilliant!" she said serenely, smiling. "He's a very good Keeper."

Hermione nodded, though she didn't completely agree; to be honest, Ron wasn't the greatest of keepers.

"Harry stole the show," Neville said as the stands began to empty. Dozens of feet below the Gryffindor Quidditch team were congratulating each other on their win whilst the Slytherin team stomped off in the direction of their change rooms, led by Draco Malfoy, of course.

"Of course Harry does," Hermione said, also standing from her seat. "He's one of the best seekers Hogwarts has seen in years."

Luna's smile widened. "I thought you didn't care for Quidditch, Hermione?"

"I don't." Hermione shrugged. "But that doesn't mean I don't know a thing or two."

Neville was the last to stand. "I bet there'll be a party in the common room this evening!"

"I don't think I'll attend," Hermione remarked, scowling. "I don't really fancy seeing Ron and Lavender Brown swap spittle."

"Me neither," Neville said, and then he blushed. "I meant, err, about the not attending part, not – not the Ron and Lavender part."

He fell quiet, looking away and feeling more heat rise to his cheeks. He always became so flustered around girls, but it was at its worst when he was around Hermione Granger. She was so nice and helpful, and she had been the first person from Hogwarts he had ever spoken to. He'd never forget her kindness on the train when everyone else had shut the compartment door in his face.

At that moment an idea occurred to flushed Neville.

"H-Hermione," Neville stuttered, fidgeting suddenly.

"Yes, Neville?" Hermione said as the three walked down the bleacher aisle.

"C-Can I, err, speak with you alone for a moment?" he asked. He didn't dare to believe he had just been brave enough to ask Hermione Granger for a moment alone. That itself felt like quite a feat.

Hermione stopped in her tracks, looking at him with curiosity, and then looking over her shoulder at Luna. Luna shrugged, apparently indifferent about Neville's request.

"I'll leave you two be," she said dreamily, floating past them and to the wooden, rickety staircase of the bleachers. "It's time I check my ant farm, father says they're as much of a responsibility as any other pet."

With that, she disappeared down the staircase, humming as she went.

Hermione turned back to Neville, again with curiosity written on her face. What could Neville possibly want to tell her?

Neville fidgeted some more, feeling his palms go sweaty, and butterflies begin to flutter in his stomach. Despite these nervous feelings he was feeling a mounting height of bravery. He could do it, he concluded, he could perhaps actually ask a girl out, and just be himself while doing so. So maybe he belonged in Gryffindor after all.

"Well, I – I just… I wanted to ask you," he said, trailing off. He sighed and decided to try again. "I wanted to ask you… would it be terribly horrible for you to go out on a date with me?"

Hermione's eyes widened and she looked utterly taken aback. Apparently she had suspected his question to be about schoolwork. She really shouldn't have been so surprised, however, and she told herself as much. Neville had asked her out before, though for more formal events. This - this was just... casual. Once the initial shock wore off, she looked at him, contemplating what her answer should be.

Neville was one of the sweetest, nicest boys she had ever met. He was definitely loads more sensitive than Ron, who really did have the emotional range of a teaspoon. Neville had always been so kind to her, he had always treated her with respect, and he was always there to eat lunch with her when she wasn't speaking to Harry or Ron.

Besides, she owed Neville anyway. She still felt awful about having to pass him over twice for other boys for past parties. If she hadn't promised Viktor or Cormac, she would have said Yes to her classmate. If not in both counts, then in at least one, for while going out with Viktor to the Yule Ball had been worth it, going with Cormac to Slughorn's Christmas party had most certainly not been.

A slow smile lit up Hermione's features. Perhaps giving Neville a chance wasn't so illogical after all. As seconds passed, Hermione fancied the idea of a date with Neville more and more. Finally, she knew it was a good decision to give it a try.

"Yes," she said shortly. Her smile widened upon seeing the look of relief on Neville's face. "Yes, Neville – I'll go out with you."

Neville looked as if his prayers had been answered. He released a relieved sigh, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. "Brilliant! Um…. how about next Tuesday? Valentine's Day in Hogsmeade, you know, and…."

Hermione smiled affectionately at him. "Sure."

"It's a date, then!" And Neville scampered away.

Hermione watched him go, thinking to herself for a moment, before smiling. "Yes," she reiterated to herself. "It is a date."

Neville was among the first students in the Great Hall the following morning. Some of his classmates quickly paired off, but the Hall was still relatively quiet at this hour, despite the excitement. Neville blinked rather rapidly when he saw Hermione, coming down in a nice sweater and a little wool cap.

"You didn't have to get up early for me!" Neville admonished in a gentlemanly way. Hermione just shrugged.

"I wanted to. And I was up, anyhow. Harry and Ron are still asleep."

"Did you tell them? About our date?" Neville found himself asking.

"I told them enough," Hermione replied. In truth, she had told her friends that she wouldn't be joining them in the village today, but had stopped short of saying who she was going with, fearing how they might react. Ron and Harry had always treated her like a baby sister, ever since they were small children. Never mind that she was the oldest of the three, by however many months. The gesture vacillated between cute and annoying to Hermione, depending on her mood. Quickly realizing how Neville might misconstrue her vague response, she quickly tried to clarify. "I don't mean to say that I am ashamed of this, Neville. I really am touched that you asked me. It's just... Harry and Ron can be very... protective, you know? Especially when I'm around another guy."

Neville smiled, understanding. Just then, McGonagall ushered the first wave of sixth-years on, to the carriages. The threstrals made multiple trips between Hogsmeade Village and Hogwarts Castle, so Hermione was confident that when her friends did wake up, they would take a later carriage into the Village.

Neville and Hermione first stopped at Madame Puddifoot's, which had been decked out in Valentine's Day regalia. The winged cupids who acted as servers were irritating in their attempts to get Hermione and Neville into a romantic, compromising situation. The pair stayed long enough for tea, before moving on to Hermione's favorite bookstore - Tomes and Scrolls. When Hermione selected a volume on house elves, Neville insisted on paying for it himself.

After leaving the bookstore, Hermione and Neville strolled through the whitened streets. The snow was falling heavily now, but not dangerously so. In Neville's mind, it made Hermione all the more attractive, as he stole glances at her.

At last, they reached the outskirts of Hogsmeade, near the woods and just beyond the Shrieking Shack. It was here that Neville noticed Hermione was shivering... and he was startled to discover, for the first time, that she wore no gloves. "Aren't your hands cold?"

Hermione flushed pink, obviously disappointed in herself that Neville had noticed. "My old gloves are frayed. Mum and Dad are sending me new ones. I put a Heating Charm on my hands when I woke up this morning. I..." She seemed to be searching for her wand, and in a moment of bravery, Neville suddenly took her hands in his. Opening his coat, and the shirt beneath, he placed Hermione's hands on his chest, hoping his body heat would keep her warm.

Hermione stared at her hands, then up into Neville's face, startled at his gallantry. She could feel his heartbeat, thumping erratically. "I don't want to make you cold," she murmured.

Neville gazed at her. "I quite like it," he whispered sincerely. He felt his hands slide up Hermione's arms, gripping her just beneath the shoulders. Hermione's eyes widened, but then seemed to grow heavy. They almost fluttered shut. Unconsciously, her hands suddenly bunched up some of Neville's chest, fisting the skin. She let out a tiny gasp, that turned into a whimper as Neville began to pull her close…..

"HERMIONE!"

Neville and Hermione jumped apart, barely giving any thought to the fact that they had very nearly just kissed in the middle of the street. Turning, they saw Ginny sprinting up the snowy road towards them, her red hair flying behind her like a banner.

"Gin, what is it?"

"Katie Bell," Ginny gasped with a wheeze, out of breath. "Harry and Ron found her…. she's been cursed!"

Hermione put a hand to her mouth. "I…. I have to go." She turned back to Neville apologetically, not quite sure what to say and afraid of what might need to be addressed even if she could. "I'm sorry, Neville, thank you. I had a lovely time, really. I…." She took off running after Ginny, leaving a forlorn Neville staring after her.