Date With Someone New
Longer Summary: As Lavender and Parvati enjoy their life with Harry and Dean. Hermione is feeling more of a push to find a significant other. In a moment of whimsy, she tells Lavender that she feels like a third wheel and needs that "significant other" Lavender pulls Hermione into a blind date with a Slytherin boy in Hogwarts. Almost every night and every day, she embarks on a new date that seems to lead nowhere – despite the fact that Hermione has a perfectly good time when she's out…forgetting someone old
Chapter One
Lavender Brown sank into a chair at her favorite place in Hogsmeade – Three Broomsticks.
Man, she thought, taking a big slurp of her butterbeer and glancing around the shabby-wizards and witches joint, I haven't been in here forever.
Actually she hadn't been there since she passed 5th year (she's in 6th year). She's set up camp at this window-side table with her latest issue of Witch Weekly and sketch pad and a steady supply of the famous butterbeer.
When you think about it, she thought, I owe my degree to this place.
Lavender rolled her eyes as she remembered what a struggle tests had been. It was weird because her friend, Parvati Patil, had been a total smarty-pants. Her other friend, Hermione Granger, was also a straight A student. And then there was her late friend and very special friend, Olivia McCartney, who died a year ago from leukemia. Olivia was her next-door neighbor and friend. They always played and told stories to each other ever since they were kids. Olivia knew that Lavender was a witch but she didn't mind. But at Lavender's 3rd year in Hogwarts, she received a letter from her mum and Olivia's mum that Olivia had just died 5 minutes ago.
Tears formed in Lavender's eyes as she remembered this but held it all back.
"Hey Lavender"
Lavender looked up to see who called her name; it was Hermione and was seated across her.
"Hey Mione" she said
"So, how are you and Harry?" Hermione asked
"We're fine" Lavender said, gazing over the promise ring Harry had given her when he asked Lavender "to be his".
"So…any plans of marriage?"
Lavender spitted the butterbeer she was drinking and nearly hit Hermione, "We have no plans of getting married"
"Yet" Hermione added, "C'mon Lav, you two look perfect for each other. I'm surprised Harry had the guts to get down on one knee inside the common room and propose to you and gave you that ring," Hermione giggled
"I almost had a heart attack. I was just sitting there, playing Wizard's Chess with Ron when Harry suddenly came up to me and got down on one knee and showed me this little black box and flashed it open. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw THIS silver ring with two hearts engraved on it" Lavender said showing the ring to Hermione, "Plus, everybody was watching and you almost dropped your books. And Ginny fainted."
"Which reminds me…your anniversary is coming up in a few days"
"Yeah I know…I don't have anything for Harry yet!" Lavender wailed
"Just give him a scarf or a tie…" Hermione suggested
"Mione, you never experienced love, right?"
"It was a crush…"
"A crush?"
"Okay then…maybe more than just a crush" Hermione felt herself blush pink.
"On who?"
"This guy just right across the street from me…it was a new family, moved in across the street. I was just sitting at the front porch when a blonde haired boy with hazel eyes went towards me. I stood up and smiled. We shook hands and he introduced himself as Cole Sinistra."
"And then what happened?" Lavender asked
"Well, we went on a few dates and he told me that he fancied me. I did too…but…me…I'm a girl who studies in a school that deals with magic. And I don't know how he will react if I tell him. I really liked him and I want to send him a letter now…to see how he's doing right now"
"I bet he's doing fine. Have you two kissed?"
"Almost…"
"What do you mean almost?"
"He was leaning over to kiss me when mum opened the door and ruined the moment."
"Nice going Mrs. Granger" Lavender mumbled, "But did you kiss again?"
"Yeah" Hermione whispered
"WOW! Was he a great kisser?" Lavender asked with a sly grin on her face.
"Totally. We kissed for…10 seconds"
"OH-MY-GOD! Mione! You devil you! I never knew you were into guys!!"
"Oh shut up. We better get going" Hermione said glancing at her watch, "It's almost dinner"
"I can't believe it!! Hermione! You should go back and tell him that you love him and…" but Hermione cut her off
"See his girlfriend…I know" Hermione mumbled
"WHAT?! He has a girlfriend?! After all the things he has done to you he has a girlfriend?! WHO?!"
"Some girl named Nina Reed. I saw them walking down the street last summer"
"I thought you stayed at Ron's house? The Burrow?"
"I did…but only for a week…I wanted to see Cole again"
"I solemnly swear…Sheila or whatever her name is…will be dead!"
"Lav, you're exaggerating again"
"You better take me home with you! I want to see this Cole guy and Mina!"
"Nina" Hermione corrected
"Who gives a damn about her name!"
"I have a picture of me and him together though…it's inside my trunk underneath the pile of clothes"
"Let me see"
"Yeah…when we get back inside the castle" Hermione said
"Ginny, have you seen Lavender?" Harry asked
"I heard she was going to Hogsmeade. She must be there"
"Okay. Thanks" Harry gave Ginny and pat on the head and was headed for the door (portrait) when it swung open and in came Lavender with Hermione by her side.
"Lavender!"
"Harry!"
They ran up to each other and kissed.
"Ginny, do you have a barf bag?" Hermione asked feeling disgusted in front of the two
"I'm sorry to say Hermione that you have to ride Lufthansa Airlines for the barf bag" Ginny said looking over her textbook, (A Guide to Transfiguration)
"Ugh" Hermione said and walked up the girls' dorm and kicked her trunk open. She rummaged through her things until she saw the picture of Cole and her, taken last summer by Cole's mum.
Cole had on a black shirt and khaki baggy jeans. Hermione, on the other hand, had on a white sleeveless top and black flares. There was a dedication at the back. She flipped it over and read it:
Dearest Ione,
I treasure this picture and now, I'm giving it to you. As you go to your school, I hope you will still remember me. You could send a letter to me, I'll be home and waiting for you. I enjoyed our summer days and nights together. I want to hug you right now. Ione, please come back to me.
-Cole
Hermione remembered that nickname: Ione. Cole called her Ione on their second date. Just then, the door burst open and in came Lavender.
"Mione!" she yelled
Hermione threw the picture back inside her trunk and looked at Lavender, "Yeah?"
"I got you a blind date!" Lavender announced
"You got me a date that's blind?"
"No! I know you're single and Cole has Nina and I set you up with a guy from Slytherin!"
"Slytherin?"
"He's really different from others! I swear! He's not like that arsehole, Malfoy!" Lavender yelled
"Uh…I'll think about it"
"WHAT?! No! I need your answer before Friday! And that's the next Hogsmeade visit!"
"So? It's still Tuesday…I got two days before Friday"
"But he needs your answer now" Lavender said
"I'll think about it. Look, we are 10 minutes late from dinner. We should go now" Hermione said walking out of the girls' dorm and out of the Common Room with Lavender behind her and with Harry beside her.
They got inside the Great Hall and sat on the Gryffindor table. Harry and Lavender snuggled together. Hermione suddenly dropped her spoon on the floor and bent down to pick it up. But before she picked it up, she saw Dean's hand on Parvati's leg and nearly up to her thigh and getting his way to glory when Parvati stopped him and mouthed the words: Not here, at him and Dean slightly nodded. Hermione got her spoon and went back to eating her steak and mashed potatoes. While eating, Hermione noticed a light brown colored hair boy at the Slytherin Table, whom she never saw before.
"Lav, who's he?" Hermione asked pointing at the unknown guy
"He's the guy I was talking about! He's your blind date!"
"Now it's not blind anymore. It's already a 'I-already-know-my-date' date now"
"You make no sense when it comes to dating or love"
"What are you two girls talking about?" Harry asked getting curious already
"Nothing" both said quickly. Harry looked at Lavender with sad puppy eyes
"Ah…that isn't going to work now Harry"
"Aww…C'mon…tell me. Please?"
"Should we tell him?"
"No" Hermione giggled
Harry shook his head and mumbled something like Girls and went back to eating.
"So, what's his name?"
"That's for you to find out on the day of your date"
"A little clue, please!" Hermione pleaded
"His name starts with a S"
"Uhh…I'm stuck! ONE MORE PLEASE!"
"Nope" Lavender said
After dinner, they went back to their Common Rooms and got ready to go to sleep. But Hermione, Lavender and Parvati stayed up a little longer.
"That's him?" Lavender asked
"Yeah" Hermione said
"Wow. He's cute"
"Now we know why you like him" Lavender said
Hermione showed them the picture of her and Cole together. It was a cute picture, especially the background. Both Hermione and Cole were seated on a swing and behind them were a bush of red roses and pink and white tulips.
"I bet this guy is so sweet" Parvati said after reading the dedication at the back of the picture.
"You should take us to your home and we'll stay there until the next term"
"That would be great…" Hermione muttered
"Hermione, write him a letter. It's pitch black and Cole won't even know how the letter was sent to him."
"C'mon Mione, just do it…"
"Alright fine. But he can't reply."
And the two of them nodded.
Hermione proceeded on writing the letter on a fresh parchment. She dipped her quill in the bottle of ink and started writing.
Dear Cole,
How are you? I'm doing fine. I bet you're excited about this letter since it's the first time I wrote to you from my school. Anyway, how are you and Nina doing? Cole, I kept the picture of us inside my luggage when I went back to my school. I can't stop crying every time I see that picture. I don't know why. I must be missing you. I wish I could see you right now. I wish I could see my best friend again. Anyway, I'm off now. Don't reply.
Goodnight. Take Care.
-Ione
Hermione rolled the parchment and tied it to her owl's (Porky) legs. The snowy owl spread its wings and flew off to Cole and the three of them went to bed.
Who's the mystery guy? Will Cole receive the letter?
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