Ch.3 The Setup
"Harry, what do you think of Kostas?" Hermione asked her fiancee as he finished brushing his teeth.
"Oh, I think she's great," he said after spitting. "She's a real nice bird."
"Yeah. Do you think she has any prospectives for boyfriends yet?" she continued.
"Mione, how am I supposed to know? I only met her a couple hours ago!" Harry replied. "And what have you got planned, anyway? Don't you go around poking into other people's love lives. Remember what happened between Parvati and Ron in 6th year?" he warned.
"Yes, yes, I know. It's just," She laid back on the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Well, did you notice how Oliver was looking at her?"
"Actually, love," Harry began, as if he had noticed something, "no," he said firmly. "And I don't want you creating feelings that don't exist. They'll be fine just being friends, and leave it at that. If either of them try to make a move, then so be it. But don't go setting them up!"
"But Harry! I never would have gone out with you the first time if it wasn't for Ron," she reminded him.
"OK, OK, so I guess not ALL set-ups are a disaster. Just because ours worked out, doesn't mean everyone else's will. And there are horrible consequences! Ron can't even talk about Parvati without getting upset and turning red," Harry reminded. He crossed to the bed and sat down. Hermione sat up and looked in his eyes. No matter how many times she looked into those dazzling emeralds, her heart melted.
"OK," she agreed, rather reluctantly. "I'll stay out of it. But if they do get together, it just goes to show you how great a matchmaker I really am."
~*~
The next Monday were the gang's first classes. Harry, Ron, and Draco had Advanced DADA, as they were training to become aurors. Hermione headed off to Elementary Teaching to begin her career as a Hogwarts professor, and Lav was taking Classic Wizard Literature. But Kostas and Oliver had both come to school not knowing what they wanted to do, and had a multitude of different sessions and lectures describing different careers and jobs that Bundum U. offered training in. Oliver and Kostas bumped into each other outside Godric Building (Bundum was clearly a Gryffindor supporting school, which is why Malfoy wasn't accepted until Dumbledore had sent B.U. a letter specifying Malfoy's situation) before their first lecture.
"Oh, hi," Kostas began. "I see you haven't quite decided what you want to do, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess I'm still hoping that the Appleby Arrows will 'discover' me," Oliver said, slightly blushing at how silly the idea sounded out loud, even to him.
"So, you want to sit together?" Kostas asked.
"Sure, I really don't know anyone else here," he replied. So the two found two empty seats among the other hundred students in the room which was only supposed to seat 50 but had had expansion charms put on it. The speaker, a certain Grivelda Godfrey, rambled on and on, while Kostas and Oliver, paying no attention whatsoever, passed notes back and forth about quidditch. Kostas told him that she had also played keeper on her team at school. The notes went something like this.
-Can we all say 'boring', class?
-Hehe, Tell me about it. So you want to be on the Appleby Arrows, huh?
-Yeah. You don't have to tell me how corny it is.
-No, I wouldn't say that. I was just going to say that you might try a better team. Say the Oia Olives?
-Hmm.are they in need of a new keeper? -Well, Angelo Martinia is getting pretty old. His nickname is Bapi! (Greek for grandfather)
-Wow! I just may have to visit Oia sometime. Hey, you wanna apparate this place? Say go grab some tea and chips?
-Sure. Is The Phoenix OK? I here they make a great chai.
-Yep. Ready? ;)
So the two apparated into The Phoenix within a couple of seconds and were headed up to the counter.
"Ham and cheese, chips, and a cup of chai, please," Kostas asked politely.
"Fish and chips and a mug of butterbeer," Oliver added. Kostas reached for her handbag, but Oliver grabbed her wrist.
"No, I've got this," he said. After they had received their order they headed to a corner table in the back. They chatted awhile longer about quidditch and their early lunch.
"So do you often get a good meal?" Kostas asked.
"Not usually. Ron, Draco and I usually snack a bit or sometimes we all go out for a bite somewhere. Usually a fast food place. Or when I'm feeling really courageous I try the cafeteria food. But it's nothing like Hogwarts. Back home the house elves made the best treacle fudge."
"Well, you know, my mom taught me a lot of my grandmother's old world recipes when I was still home. And we all cooked a lot for ourselves at school. House elves aren't a popular thing in Greece."
"Then you and Hermione would get along great. She's been on a house elf freedom movement for ages now." She giggled a little. She could easily picture Hermione standing up for something like that.
"Anyway," she went on, " I was just wondering if you'd like a home cooked meal sometime." She seemed quite interested in dipping her chips into her catsup. Oliver was glad she wasn't looking at him, because he blushed quite deeply.
"Well, yeah. Is everyone else going to be there?" He could tell by the look in her eyes when he said this that she wasn't expecting it. "I mean, not that I want them to be, or, er," he trailed off. Her spirit lifted a bit at this last remark.
"Well, they can if you want them to, but I wasn't planning on it. I haven't quite mastered cooking for that many yet."
"Great. So, when is this dinner going to be?" he asked, now regaining the blood that had suddenly left his head moments ago.
"Um, well, I need a day to shop, so is Wednesday OK?"
"Sure," he said, and they went back to their lunch. Hermione had just happened to get out of her class and was at the counter ordering her own lunch. She had noticed the couple eating and had 'accidentally' heard them talking. She was quite excited and made it a priority to talk to Lav ASAP. She quickly apparated to outside Lav's classroom and waited impatiently for class to be over. As soon as Lav stepped outside the door, Hermione grabbed her arm and yanked her aside.
"Mione! What the.?" she said, very surprised.
"Shh! Just listen!" Hermione insisted. She proceeded to tell Lav all about Kostas and Oliver's conversation and dinner date.
"No way! You can not be serious! Kostas was asking me about Oliver the other night!"
"Really? I was talking to Harry about how they would be so perfect together!" Hermione rushed. The two girls jumped up and down and were absolutely delighted for the friends' new relationship.
"Harry, what do you think of Kostas?" Hermione asked her fiancee as he finished brushing his teeth.
"Oh, I think she's great," he said after spitting. "She's a real nice bird."
"Yeah. Do you think she has any prospectives for boyfriends yet?" she continued.
"Mione, how am I supposed to know? I only met her a couple hours ago!" Harry replied. "And what have you got planned, anyway? Don't you go around poking into other people's love lives. Remember what happened between Parvati and Ron in 6th year?" he warned.
"Yes, yes, I know. It's just," She laid back on the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Well, did you notice how Oliver was looking at her?"
"Actually, love," Harry began, as if he had noticed something, "no," he said firmly. "And I don't want you creating feelings that don't exist. They'll be fine just being friends, and leave it at that. If either of them try to make a move, then so be it. But don't go setting them up!"
"But Harry! I never would have gone out with you the first time if it wasn't for Ron," she reminded him.
"OK, OK, so I guess not ALL set-ups are a disaster. Just because ours worked out, doesn't mean everyone else's will. And there are horrible consequences! Ron can't even talk about Parvati without getting upset and turning red," Harry reminded. He crossed to the bed and sat down. Hermione sat up and looked in his eyes. No matter how many times she looked into those dazzling emeralds, her heart melted.
"OK," she agreed, rather reluctantly. "I'll stay out of it. But if they do get together, it just goes to show you how great a matchmaker I really am."
~*~
The next Monday were the gang's first classes. Harry, Ron, and Draco had Advanced DADA, as they were training to become aurors. Hermione headed off to Elementary Teaching to begin her career as a Hogwarts professor, and Lav was taking Classic Wizard Literature. But Kostas and Oliver had both come to school not knowing what they wanted to do, and had a multitude of different sessions and lectures describing different careers and jobs that Bundum U. offered training in. Oliver and Kostas bumped into each other outside Godric Building (Bundum was clearly a Gryffindor supporting school, which is why Malfoy wasn't accepted until Dumbledore had sent B.U. a letter specifying Malfoy's situation) before their first lecture.
"Oh, hi," Kostas began. "I see you haven't quite decided what you want to do, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess I'm still hoping that the Appleby Arrows will 'discover' me," Oliver said, slightly blushing at how silly the idea sounded out loud, even to him.
"So, you want to sit together?" Kostas asked.
"Sure, I really don't know anyone else here," he replied. So the two found two empty seats among the other hundred students in the room which was only supposed to seat 50 but had had expansion charms put on it. The speaker, a certain Grivelda Godfrey, rambled on and on, while Kostas and Oliver, paying no attention whatsoever, passed notes back and forth about quidditch. Kostas told him that she had also played keeper on her team at school. The notes went something like this.
-Can we all say 'boring', class?
-Hehe, Tell me about it. So you want to be on the Appleby Arrows, huh?
-Yeah. You don't have to tell me how corny it is.
-No, I wouldn't say that. I was just going to say that you might try a better team. Say the Oia Olives?
-Hmm.are they in need of a new keeper? -Well, Angelo Martinia is getting pretty old. His nickname is Bapi! (Greek for grandfather)
-Wow! I just may have to visit Oia sometime. Hey, you wanna apparate this place? Say go grab some tea and chips?
-Sure. Is The Phoenix OK? I here they make a great chai.
-Yep. Ready? ;)
So the two apparated into The Phoenix within a couple of seconds and were headed up to the counter.
"Ham and cheese, chips, and a cup of chai, please," Kostas asked politely.
"Fish and chips and a mug of butterbeer," Oliver added. Kostas reached for her handbag, but Oliver grabbed her wrist.
"No, I've got this," he said. After they had received their order they headed to a corner table in the back. They chatted awhile longer about quidditch and their early lunch.
"So do you often get a good meal?" Kostas asked.
"Not usually. Ron, Draco and I usually snack a bit or sometimes we all go out for a bite somewhere. Usually a fast food place. Or when I'm feeling really courageous I try the cafeteria food. But it's nothing like Hogwarts. Back home the house elves made the best treacle fudge."
"Well, you know, my mom taught me a lot of my grandmother's old world recipes when I was still home. And we all cooked a lot for ourselves at school. House elves aren't a popular thing in Greece."
"Then you and Hermione would get along great. She's been on a house elf freedom movement for ages now." She giggled a little. She could easily picture Hermione standing up for something like that.
"Anyway," she went on, " I was just wondering if you'd like a home cooked meal sometime." She seemed quite interested in dipping her chips into her catsup. Oliver was glad she wasn't looking at him, because he blushed quite deeply.
"Well, yeah. Is everyone else going to be there?" He could tell by the look in her eyes when he said this that she wasn't expecting it. "I mean, not that I want them to be, or, er," he trailed off. Her spirit lifted a bit at this last remark.
"Well, they can if you want them to, but I wasn't planning on it. I haven't quite mastered cooking for that many yet."
"Great. So, when is this dinner going to be?" he asked, now regaining the blood that had suddenly left his head moments ago.
"Um, well, I need a day to shop, so is Wednesday OK?"
"Sure," he said, and they went back to their lunch. Hermione had just happened to get out of her class and was at the counter ordering her own lunch. She had noticed the couple eating and had 'accidentally' heard them talking. She was quite excited and made it a priority to talk to Lav ASAP. She quickly apparated to outside Lav's classroom and waited impatiently for class to be over. As soon as Lav stepped outside the door, Hermione grabbed her arm and yanked her aside.
"Mione! What the.?" she said, very surprised.
"Shh! Just listen!" Hermione insisted. She proceeded to tell Lav all about Kostas and Oliver's conversation and dinner date.
"No way! You can not be serious! Kostas was asking me about Oliver the other night!"
"Really? I was talking to Harry about how they would be so perfect together!" Hermione rushed. The two girls jumped up and down and were absolutely delighted for the friends' new relationship.