"You look beautiful," Ginny told her, hands on her shoulders as she looked at her through the mirror. "He's going to be knocked off his feet."
"That's if Harry and Ron don't do it first," Hermione glowered. Ginny and Bella laughed but Hermione wasn't swayed. The arrival of her two best friends had been a surprise, one that she hadn't been planning on when she floo called for Ginny.
"Ginny," Hermione called her voice loud and demanding. Ginny, who had been lounging in The Burrow's front room with Ron and Harry, almost fell of the couch in her speed to get to the fireplace. "I need you to come here. Now!" Ginny didn't even check anything before running into the fireplace, handful of floo in her hand and shouted her destination. Ron and Harry, the two boys who were barely awake and aware were soon to follow.
The boys burst into the Swan's front room, noticing Ginny's flaming hair leave the room so that they were alone with Hermione's Uncle who looked more resigned than shocked. "Er, Mione, you forgot some!" He called and she waltzed into the room, confusion on her face. When she saw her two best friends standing in the living room, postures tense, she rushed over with excitement.
Throwing an arm around each of their necks, she pulled them in for a hug before kissing them on the cheek. "What are you guys doing here?" She asked once she released them both. "I only called for Ginny." Both Harry and Ron glared at her.
"Well we know that now," Ron defended. "But we were worried when you come calling for my sister in a whirlwind of panic." Behind her, Charlie raised his beer in apparent respect before guzzling it. "So, where's the fire?" Hermione blinked at him before transferring her glance to Harry who was grinning proudly.
"Have you been practicing your muggle expressions?" She asked slowly, grinning when he blushed.
"Answer the question 'Mione," he growled.
"I didn't know what to wear," she offered as an answer and the two narrowed their eyes. "Thought i'd get Ginny to help, even more so since she's always wanted to play Barbie with me."
"What you're wearing looks decent," Harry said, arms crossed and gaze analyzing. "What's wrong with it?"
"It isn't very date like."
Since they'd become aware of her date, the two of them had been sat down in the living room with Charlie - all of whom were plotting ways to appear threatening to Paul but get away with it to prevent Hermione from hexing their balls off. As if she wasn't already aware what they were planning, she mused as she rolled her eyes. "So," she said, breaking the silence. "How do I look?" Ginny was grinning whilst Bella nodded appreciatively.
"Why didn't you ever let me dress you up before?" Ginny complained. "You could've had any wizard you wanted." Hermione scoffed and turned back to the mirror, checking her make-up and hair one last time. The doorbell rang before Hermione could form a response and she instantly became nervous. This was like any other date that she'd been on – though the main significant difference was the fact that they didn't know she was a witch.
She heard Charlie open the door and welcome Paul in. She heard his gruff tones as he greeted her Uncle and best friends. "Hermione," Charlie called and she barely contained her grin before walking down the stairs. He was standing in the living room taking up a lot of the space and towering over both Ron and Harry considerably but still managed to look chastised and nervous. When he caught sight of her, his jaw dropped and his eyes widened and she faintly blushed. "Close your mouth kid, you'll catch flies." Paul's jaw snapped shut and he straightened his back, walking towards her and offering her a small bouquet of roses.
"Thank you," she murmured quietly, aware of their audience. "They're beautiful."
"They hold nothing on you," he responded and her blush deepened. "I have reservations booked for eight," he informed her, checking his watch.
"Let me just put these in water and we can go." Ginny rushed forward and practically snatched the flowers from her before grinning at the pair of them. "Or Ginny can do that and we can go now," she added weakly. They walked to the front door and he helped her put her coat on.
"Hey, 'Mione?" Charlie called, catching her attention. He walked over and passed her bag to her. "I added a can of pepper spray in there, just in case." Paul snorted softly behind her, so soft that she wouldn't have been aware that he'd done it if she wasn't aware of him. She took a glance at Bella's face to know that this wasn't the first time that Charlie had done something like this. "But you two have fun," he added louder and patted his holster, staring at Paul over her head in silent threat.
"Well, we'll be going now," she offered as a way of goodbye and she noticed the amused smirk on Paul's face as he ushered her to his car, opening the door for her and shutting it once she was in before going round the other side so he could get in himself. She was silent as he buckled himself in and started the vehicle and he was just as noisy as her as they started driving away. "So what's the plan?" She asked curiously, fidgeting with the hem of her black dress.
"I'm not telling you," he replied, smiling at her though he didn't take his eye off the road. "We'll be there soon. In the meantime, tell me about those friends of yours."
#
They arrived at a fairly posh restaurant in Port Angeles which was some sort of relief because she felt neither overdressed or underdressed in her simple black dress that was both form flattering and yet not revealing. He fit in well too with his dress shirt and trousers, a black tie topping off the look.
They sat in a corner table and quickly perused the menu before turning their attention to each other. He'd just finished telling her about the first time Bella had discovered the pack of wolves running around La Push and Forks and she was filled with disbelief, shock, worry and amusement.
Her worry was mainly for Paul's face when she learnt that Bella had punched him and she knew it was irrational since it was months ago and he was very clearly healed, seeing as his genes would've dealt with it. Her amusement was due to Bella's ignorance to the situation and all the clues that had been given to her. If Hermione had been around, the clues would've been solved within days of her being told – not left to her own devices and then finding out by accident.
The evening progressed and she felt herself relaxing in his presence, relaxing in a way that she hadn't been able to do since long before the war. Her magic felt at ease and she just knew that tonight would be a good night for her.
Food was eaten, drinks were consumed and she got to know more about him than she had before – which was the point, she guessed. Every time he had asked her a question which required an answer where she wouldn't be able to hide the magic easily without appearing to lie, she quickly passed the attention back over to him. Each time he gave her a calculating look, and she had a feeling he knew but he never picked her up on it.
"So tell me," Paul started, as they walked along the path back to the car. "Hermione Granger, who is she?" She smiled softly and looked at the ground as she hopped over a crack and landing gently in her heels. "I only know what Jake has told me about you and even then it normally evolves around how you've suddenly returned into his life."
"I'm a book worm," she offered to begin. "I love to read and to learn and to read some more." She smiled wistfully. "I got bullied a lot because I'm a know-it-all and my best friends didn't even get along with me at the beginning of school but they saved me." She didn't specify how they saved her and though he sensed there was more to the story, he didn't ask. "I'm just a nerd. I'm not special."
"You are special," he defended immediately, tugging on her arm so she stopped walking. "You're like a magnet Hermione. I barely know you and I'd barely been in your presence longer than two hours before I asked you on a date and yet I find myself inexplicably drawn to you." He gently tipped her chin up with his pointer finger so that he was staring directly into your eyes. "I feel that if you were to decide I wasn't the one for you, I'd still be there, watching and waiting, just to have a fix of Hermione Granger." She blushed faintly and for a second he thought he'd over done it, but then she smiled.
"And what if I want to have more of you?" He stepped closer and then his brain was at war; the gentlemanly side was shouting at him to step away and wait until the third date but his wolf was screaming at him for something. He cupped her left cheek with his right hand and felt her breathing get heavier.
"Then I'd probably overdose in your presence," he answered. "If you'd let me."
Her answer was to softy press her lips against his.
#
"So," Bella said, extending the 'o' till it became annoying. "How was it?" Hermione looked up from her book and grinned. "That good, huh?" The witch nodded furiously and shut the book, setting it aside and crossing her legs. Bella took the invitation and sat down opposite her in the same position.
"We kissed," she exclaimed, barely containing her squeal of happiness. "There's just something about him, you know? He's all mysterious and handsome and I find myself intrigued by everything about him. I've never felt like such a girl," she sighed, leaning back and staring up at the ceiling with a satisfied smile on her face.
#
Paul! Hey man, Seth greeted when Paul went to take over patrol that night. Jared was pretty confident that we wouldn't be seeing you tonight.
Shut up doofus! Jared groaned, annoyed that he'd been ratted out.
Yeah, well you owe me twenty dollars because I bet you he'd be patrolling with you tonight. Anyway Paul, how'd it go?
Seth, bless his soul, was a good kid and had taken to the pack life amazingly. He was like the annoying little brother that everyone adored – especially for Leah – and Paul had often shared secrets with the younger lad before anybody else.
It was amazing. She's amazing. Paul sensed the knowing grin that Seth was wearing and he couldn't even begrudge him that. My wolf is already paws over tail in love with her; I could be in the same position by this time next week.
And? How was the sex? Jared asked, winking. Immediately, Paul's wolf was overcome with anger and he growled, images of attacking the other male filling his mind. Shit Paul, calm the fuck down! It was just a question.
Don't. Ever. Speak. About. Her. That. Way. Again. Paul could barely contain his anger and a growl came out loudly between each word. She's more than just a night between the sheets. She deserves flowers and chocolates, romantic gestures and gentleman actions. Sex was never part of tonight's plan.
The two other wolves were stunned for a few moments afterwards and Seth couldn't help but yip happily. How romantic, he sighed wistfully.
Shut up pansy.
The ongoing support for this story amazes me every second. This chapter was meant to be up at the weekend but family life held me back. Next chapter will be Paul's POV of bonfire to before the date. Review please and I'll see you soon.