A/N: I don't own Harry Potter
This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Writing Club February
Lyric Alley: 2 - No man is worth the aggravation
Show Time: 1 - Overture - (word) Class
Lizzy's Loft: 27- The day has come
Word Count: 628
Hermione flipped the golden sign to say 'OPEN'. She smiled slightly as the sunlight filtered through the glass window. She loved opening her shop in the morning.
She knew her customers would start trickling in slowly in about fifteen minutes. Madame Longbottom would be by to pick up the books she'd ordered, and try to convince Hermione to marry Neville, or at least go on a date with him. If she wasn't trying to set Hermione up with her grandson, she was chatting about something else entirely. Hermione had a feeling Madame Longbottom was lonely, with only Neville around.
She'd turned the offer down to marry Neville several times already. It wasn't as though Neville wasn't nice enough, or that she didn't care for him. No, after what Ron had done, she'd sworn off dating and focused on her career. It had been the best move of her life. Now, she owned Granger's Books, had saved up a fair amount and was fairly happy with her life.
The bell on the door jingled. Hermione glanced up, watched the person enter and then look around.
"Um, hi, Hermione. Um, my gram sent me to pick up her books?" Neville asked. This was the first time she'd seen him in her shop. Hermione smiled.
"Her gout acting up again then?" Hermione asked. Madame Augusta Longbottom loved to talk to anyone who would listen. Hermione usually played a captive audience at least once a week.
"Yes, she said she should have two books?" Neville asked, checking a sheet of paper in his hand. "She gave me a list to make sure I got the right ones and not the Encyclopedia of Northern Mountain Plants of the Himalayas," he explained.
"Here you go," Hermione said, pulling the books from the holds shelf. "Did you need anything else?"
"Um, actually, I was wondering, well, if you'd like to grab lunch some time?" Neville finally asked. Hermione blinked, staring at him.
"Like on a date?" she clarified.
"Yes," Neville answered, his voice sounding a little more sure, as if the hard part of asking was over. "I mean, I can understand if you say 'no'. You're busy, running the shop."
"You know, your gram is constantly trying to set us up," Hermione laughed after a moment. Neville's face reddened.
"I know. She thinks we'd be perfect for each other. Since, um, you don't think I'm a lost cause."
"Your gram is a powerful woman, although, I'm not sure we do have much in common. I'd never consider you a lost cause. You've taken the teaching position, right?"
"Yes! Professor Sprout is going to be retiring at the end of this year. I'll be the new herbology professor at Hogwarts."
"You'll need text books, all seven years worth, and some for the advance class. Possibly something about the medicinal property of plants," Hermione listed. Neville nodded, hanging on her every word.
"I'm sure you can help me pick the right ones."
"I would love to actually. You know what, I think I will take you up on that lunch offer, we will at least have something to discuss. How about Friday?"
"Is one alright? I've got an appointment in the morning."
"One will be fine, I usually close for an hour around then for lunch anyway. How about you just meet me here, at the shop?"
"Great, I'll see you Friday at one," Neville agreed, smiling as he picked up his gram's books and headed out. He paused, turned towards Hermione, and added, "And thank you, for everything."
"You're welcome, tell your gram I said hello, alright?"
"I will," Neville agreed, opening the door and making the little brass bell jingle again. Hermione smiled. Maybe Madame Longbottom had been right after all. Maybe her and Neville might be a good match.
