I tap my fingers on the wheel. "Hermione?"
"Yes," she says. I can hear the annoyance in her voice.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have done that."
"Yeah well, you did."
Okay, yeah she's a little mad.
"You know we wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for your kid right?" she says.
"Excuse me? Mess?" I'm doing her a favor. In fact more than one.
"That's not what I meant." She runs a hand through her hair. "You've actually saved me a huge headache."
I turn the corner into a little shopping area.
"Oh. How is Rosie at fault in all of this?" I ask. I scan the parking lot for a spot to park.
"Well, not all of it. Just you and me meeting." Hermione says.
"Yeah, right. I'm still sorry about Rosie." When I reach over to unbuckle my seatbelt, Hermione's hand stops me.
Hermione squeezes my hand. "Will you stop apologizing? I'm grateful for you and Rosie. You really don't know how much you're both helping me. Especially you." She clears her throat. "Let's go get some furniture shall we?"
She gets out and shuts the door before I can process the way her hand on mine has sent a wave of chills down my back.
When we get in the shop, Hermione walks the rows of desks and chairs analyzing each one. It's cute to watch. Wait, what am I saying? How can she be so perfect?
Hermione sits in the chair she swears is perfect. A velvet mustard yellow one that swivels. "Ron? I guess I should probably explain some stuff."
I lean against a birch wood desk. "Well I know a few things."
"What exactly do you know?" Hermione asks. She checks the price of the desk.
"Well clearly my charm has worked on you," I say with a smirk. "And you're great with my kid."
Hermione blushes. "I don't think I said all that. And thank you. Rose is sweet."
I run my hand on the edge of the desk. "This is a nice one."
"Yeah. It seems big though. I'm not sure it will fit in your car." Hermione says. She bites her lip.
A salesperson walks by. "Excuse me," I say to get their attention.
"Yes, how may I help you?" They ask.
"The lady here really loves this desk. How portable is it? We came in my car."
I see Hermione sit back and watch with a look in her eyes. I can definitely sense my charm working. Not that I'm trying too hard.
"Oh it will absolutely fit. It comes disassembled in a box. Would you like me to get one from the back for you?"
"Would this chair fit as well?" Hermione asks. "They really match nicely."
As soon as we're alone to look around, Hermione turns in the chair and her eyes become the size of large tea cups. She stands up, edging closer to me.
"Just play along," she whispers in my ear.
"What are…" I begin to say when she sneaks an arm around mine.
"That's my mom. What is she doing all the way out here and at a furniture shop?" Hermione closes her eyes and leans into me. "Quick Let's go back this way." She pulls me in the direction of the bookshelves.
"Is everything okay?" I whisper.
"No. My mom can be quite annoying when it comes to me dating. She says she wants grandkids and…oh no. Here she comes."
I sense the panic in Hermione and decide to amp up our little game. I lean down and dare to peck Hermione on the top of the head.
"Hermione? Is that you?" A woman with straight brown hair asks.
"Mom. What are you doing here?" Hermione subtly squeezes my arm.
Hermione must get her hair from her Dad.
"Antiquing of course." She shifts her glance to me. "Who is this?"
Hermione Nestles into me. "Mom, this is Ronald. I live in the same apartment building as he does. He's helping me out with moving furniture."
"And how long have you known my daughter?" Mrs. Granger directs her question to me.
"Mom, why does that honestly matter?" Hermione asks.
"You two seem awfully close." She makes a gesture with her hands.
"We have been dating for the past month, so I'd hope so." I say.
Hermione starts coughing. Probably out of shock that I could make something up so smoothly.
I run my hand up and down her back. "You okay, Mione?"
She nods. "Mom, we really have to get going."
"Fine, but I'm calling you later this evening."
Hermione offers a small smile. "Bye mom."
The salesperson who helped us with the desk waves, indicating they have it waiting when we're ready.
I slip my arm around Hermione's waist and lead her to the checkout area. "Are you sure you don't want anything else? I think we can fit a bookcase or two."
She leans her head against my shoulder. "I'd rather go home."
"Sure," I reach into my back pocket to take out my wallet, but Hermione grabs my wrist. "I told you I am paying for this."
Once we get outside and are sure that Mrs. Granger is nowhere nearby, we let go of each other and I load up the car.
As soon as we shut both doors, I immediately turn to Hermione."I'm so sorry for just making that up! I'm an idiot and now your mom thinks we're dating."
"I would have done the same thing. My mom is a nuisance." She says.
I sit with the key in the engine. "If I made you uncomfortable, I'm really sorry."
"You were brilliant, honestly," she smiles and rests her arm on the small drink console in between us.
I pull away from the shop and we head back to the apartments. "You picked a really solid desk by the way. Birch is a good wood."
She chuckles. "You said that when I picked it out."
"Sorry." I rub the back of my neck.
"So, as you can see, my mom has high expectations of me.
My phone buzzes in the cup holder and Ginny's name flashes on the screen. "Do you mind?" I ask Hermione.
She takes out a small tablet and starts to draw something. "Go ahead."
Hey Ginny.
Ronald Weasley you are really bad at answering your phone.
What, I've been preoccupied. Busy.
Well I hope you are somewhere near Chudley.
I look at the navigation. I'm about 30 minutes out. Why are you in Chudley?
It's Rose. She got hurt pretty bad. Harry and I took her to Chudley Children's Hospital.
How bad is it? Will she be okay? My eyebrows scrunch in concern and I can feel my hands start to sweat.
"Ron watch out!" Hermione shouts.
I swerve and nearly miss a fallen tree branch.
Geez Ron, already trying to hurt your girlfriend? Get here as safely as possible. We don't need two Weasley's to take care of.
Hermione makes me pull over at a rest stop and insists I let her drive.
We don't address the fact that neither of us acknowledged Ginny calling Hermione my girlfriend, but at least from my internal reaction, it has a nice ring to it. I'd never jump in this quickly with a woman, but maybe down the road.