Chapter 9

An awkward date.

"I can't believe you've set up a date with this…Muggle!" Parvati yelled. Hermione sighed. Parvati was very sensitive about Hermione's love life; for some reasons.

"Look, Robert's a very nice guy, I think and he's a brilliant doctor. Plus, my father's been getting me to date him since I graduated from Hogwarts," said Hermione. "It'll be fine. You'll be there, you can tell me if he's alright or… not the man I'm looking for."

"Well, I guess, you sure he's not going to be mad that Dean and I are going too?" asked Parvati, braiding her hair.

"I don't think so, he's just very soft," Hermione claimed. She looked at her watch. It was already 8 o' clock. Robert was going to pick her up at 8:30. "Okay, Robert, let's see if you're really the man my father thought you were."

MOMENTS AFTER THAT….

"So after that, I became a doctor which is a job that I totally love," Robert gloated as he sipped his martini. They were at a very fancy restaurant. Everything was very neat and the food they were eating was delicious, couldn't beat Hogwarts though.

"So, Hermione, what do you do for a living?" asked Robert, trying to make a conversation between them.

"I'm a pre-school teacher, I own a pre-school," said Hermione lamely. She wasn't really enjoying the date but at least she had another man to hold to.

No, no, no Hermione! You cannot be happy with this guy! Why can't I? Ron left me! Ron didn't leave you! He just went for a five year vacation. All that he asked from you is just to be patient. I can't I'm sorry. Well, that does it! I better find another lost soul to consult with.

"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Dean, who was wearing a black suit, trying to match with his wife, who was wearing a black lacy dress. Hermione shook her head.

"Nothing, I think my conscience just left me," answered Hermione. Her fellow ex-classmates stared at her with their eyebrows raised.

"Well you won't be able to think properly after this, will you?" Robert laughed, as though that was the funniest joke he ever made. He immediately stopped when he saw everyone stares. He coughed to break the silence and poured some ice cold water into Parvati's glass. "So, when is it due?"

Dean and Parvati were confused of what he was referring to but then it hit them that he was talking about their daughter.

"Oh, two months more," said Dean.

"Two months more! You two probably should find a name for it then?" Robert said.

"Yes, I asked Dean to take care of that department," said Parvati, who was getting very angry at Robert for calling her baby 'it'.

"Yeah, I was planning on naming our boy Henry, you know, Henry Thomas," said Dean. Parvati gave her husband a sharp stare.

"Dean, we're having a girl," said Parvati with her bitter voice.

"Oh, right, sorry. How about Kevin?"

"Boy."

"Luke?"

"Still a boy."

"Frankie?"

"That's perfect!" screamed Parvati.

"Yes, exactly what I was thinking," said Dean. Hermione had a feeling he didn't know what he was talking about.

"Francesca Thomas, just like Frankie in the Sleepover Club! That is perfect," said Parvati with an excited voice. Dean sighed. Henry Thomas was such a good name. "Oh my God! I just simply have to tell my parents, Dean's parents! Bye Hermione!"

They went off with a tiny 'pop'. Before Robert could say anything, Hermione quickly (and softly) did a Memory Charm on him. Thank God nobody was watching.

"Listen, Robert, this date. It was nice, I think. Thanks for the wonderful dinner…. And company," said Hermione. Robert smiled and kissed her on the cheek. At first, Hermione felt odd but then she started to imagine Robert as Ron. "Thanks, Ron. I mean Robby."

That night, Hermione went to sleep, trying to clean her memory of Ron. Robert was quite a nice man. Hermione had felt guilty for not giving him a chance to go on a date with her for the past five years.