AN: So, we finally get to the part you've all been waiting for. It's also the last chapter of this story.
Charlie turned to watch as Hermione walked down the stairs. She looked absolutely beautiful. Ginny was wolf-whistling, which he found slightly disturbing.
All was going well, Hermione decided, until she tripped on the last step and started to fall. Thank goodness for Charlie's seeker reflexes – he managed to catch her before she hit the floor. Hermione blushed fiercely, feeling somewhat humiliated. Ginny sniggered quietly, while Charlie glared at her, and helped Hermione to her feet.
"Hi, Hermione. Ready to go?"
"I think so. Ginny, remember to feed Crookshanks."
"Yes, Mya. Now have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do." She winked at the pair of them as they left.
"Now, Crookshanks. How about you and me do a little bit of… exploring before I try to figure out how to use the phone." Crookshanks looked disapproving. "You don't like that? Ok, you stay in here." And with that, she put the yowling cat into the kitchen and closed the door.
She knew she shouldn't, but she really wanted to have a look round Hermione's bedroom, to see if she kept anything embarrassing in there. The obvious place, of course, would be wherever she kept her underwear. However, upon finding the right drawer, she was distracted, and began sorting Hermione's lingerie into piles of what she deemed acceptable and what definitely had to go before Charlie ever saw it. It may be embarrassing having your friend seeing this stuff, but it would be a lot worse if your boyfriend saw it, she reckoned.
"Oh hell, Hermione! That has got to go."
After rummaging through most of Hermione's room, Ginny decided the film must have finished and they'd be on the way to the restaurant. Smirking, she headed back downstairs, picked up the phone, frowned, put it back down and went to the fireplace.
…………………
Charlie and Hermione were still laughing as they came out of the cinema. She'd chosen to watch a comedy, and it appeared to have been a good choice. They made their way to the restaurant, a short stroll down the road.
…………………
"Fred? George?"
"Yes, Gin?"
"Listen closely."
Hermione had made a big mistake by confiding in Ginny about where they would be going. Ginny was as keen to spy on them as the rest of the Weasley siblings.
…………………
"I have a reservation for two under the name Granger."
"Certainly, madam. This way, please."
They followed the waiter, who seated them at a small table away from the few other diners. Charlie glanced around, checking that his brothers were nowhere in sight.
"They won't turn up. I wouldn't tell Ron where we were going."
"That's a relief." He reached for her hands across the table, lifted one and kissed it. At that moment, a camera flash went off. Charlie and Hermione both turned to see where it came from, and spotted a glimpse of red hair behind a very large ornamental plant. They crept up to it, and found the twins, Ron and Ginny. George was clutching a camera. The four of them knew they'd made a dreadful mistake when they saw Hermione's expression. Charlie may be older, stronger and spend most of his time working with dragons, but it was common knowledge that Hermione was the most talented witch of her generation. Luckily, they were in a muggle restaurant, so she couldn't start hexing them just yet.
"I suggest you all leave. Now. We'll deal with this later." Charlie's voice was quiet, and sounded dangerous. The four Weasleys sped towards the door as fast as they could.
"I'm really sorry, Hermione. I should have known that they'd try something like this."
"It's probably my fault – I mentioned to Ginny that we were coming here."
"Don't worry about it. They've gone now, and we can enjoy our meal in peace."
As they walked back to their table, he slipped an arm around her waist, and she moved closer to him.
The rest of the evening passed by pleasantly and without further incidents. Before either of them realised it, it was time to leave. Before they apparated back to Hermione's, however, Charlie conjured a rose and handed it to her.
"I had a really good time tonight, Hermione."
"Me too."
Neither of them knew who made the first move, but they were in each other's arms, kissing as though their very lives depended on it. It was the catcalls of people passing by that brought the couple back to reality.
"We'd better go."
They moved into a shadowy area, out of sight of all the muggles, and apparated. Arriving in Hermione's living room, they found the four miscreants waiting for them. Crookshanks was sitting on the coffee table, watching them carefully. It looked as though they'd spent the entire time there.
"Good boy, Crookshanks." The cat leapt into Hermione's arms, purring loudly.
"All of you can just go home. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now."
Looking at each other in amazement, they all apparated away before she could change her mind.
"Charlie? Do you think we could do this again sometime?"
"How does next Saturday sound to you?"
"Perfect."
It wasn't long before he left as well. Hermione placed the rose in a vase of water, and wandered upstairs. Everything was in its proper place, so she didn't even realise that Ginny had been there.
She sighed happily, and closed her eyes.
AN: Well, you didn't think it was going to be uneventful, did you? Read and review, please.