Thanks so much to all those who reviewed. I'm glad you like it. Here's chapter two!
Chapter 2: The Restaurant
Hermione moaned as she stretched and rolled over. She sat up slowly and yawned. She was Ginny's old room. The sunlight was pouring in through the window causing her to wake up a little earlier than she would have liked. She heard the shower going and assumed Ginny was in there. She stood up and made her way sleepily to the bathroom. She entered and said, "It's just me, Gin."
She sat on the toilet and relieved herself. She stood at the sink washing her hands and staring in the mirror. Oh, I look horrible! she thought to herself. I can't let Ron see me like this! Oh, Lord what's gotten into me! Since when do I care how I look when Ron sees me? Well…always I suppose. But still…
She turned to the side and pulled her shirt close to her. I need bigger boobs, she thought. That'd get his attention.
She heard the water stop pounding in the shower. She was still facing it when the curtain slid open. Two screams could be heard from a mile away. Hermione dashed out the door as fast as she could. Her heart pounding in her chest she ran back to Ginny's room and sat on the bed. Her face was flushed and her mind was racing.
It had not been Ginny who was in the shower. It had been Ron. It had been Ron naked. It had been Ron naked and wet. She shook her head as if to rid the image from her mind. The truth was, though, that she didn't want to rid the image from her mind. She saw every muscle, every freckle, every…everything. She blushed at the thought again.
She'd seen Ron without a shirt many times before. She'd even seen him in nothing but his underwear. But this was the first time she'd ever seen him completely undressed. She'd pictured it. It was kind of hard not to. When they'd gone swimming she'd seen him in his wet swimsuit clinging to his body so she had a pretty good idea what he looked like without clothes.
She covered her face and shook her head one more time. Taking a deep breath she decided she'd have to face him sooner or later so she went downstairs. She entered the kitchen and saw Mrs. Weasley standing at the stove. Ron was sitting at the kitchen table. Hermione was slightly disappointed he was fully clothed. Then, remembering that it was not normal to sit at the kitchen table nude she sat down. She tried not to look at Ron but her eyes kept roving toward him. Their eyes met for moment and they both blushed. Ron's gaze darted in the direction of his mother. Her back was still turned from them. He motioned with his head for her to follow him into the living room.
She obeyed. They sat down on the couch and Ron cleared his throat. He was still blushing slightly. He looked at her and they both started to talk at the same time. Hermione motioned for him to go ahead. He took the offer and started by saying, "I'm so sorry. I really didn't know you were in the bathroom."
"No," she answered. "It was my fault. I thought you were Ginny. I should've made sure. I'm sorry."
"Well…it's okay," he said.
Mrs. Weasley called them for breakfast.
"I didn't see anything anyway, so it really doesn't matter," Hermione quickly lied as they walked to the kitchen.
Hermione followed Ron inside the candy shop. They looked around it. A lot of the shelves were empty because the shop had been closed for a while. Hermione went straight for the counter. She bent down and put a huge record book on it.
"Okay," she began. "Mrs. Honeyduke said that there's enough candy stocked in the basement for about two months. After that we'll have to start buying it again. I think we should start stocking the shelves and get this place cleaned up. That way we'll be able to open it by about next week."
Ron just nodded along.
"Can you go downstairs and see if you can find some cleaning supplies?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded. When he left the room Hermione exhaled. Her mind was racing.
Why the hell did I say I'd do this? she asked herself. I can't do this…I can't take it.
Ron returned carrying a broom, a mop, a bucket, and various other things for cleaning. Hermione took out her wand and put spells on the things to make them clean for her. Meanwhile she and Ron went over the books.
She felt a warm sensation course through her body as Ron's arm rubbed against hers as he leaned in to look at the page. He smelled so good. She stared at him longingly. They were going over which things they thought they'd want to put out first. Hermione tried to focus. But it was useless. There was no way she'd be able to concentrate with Ron so close to her. She was relieved and disappointed at the same time when he pulled away and stood up.
"You want to get something to eat?" he asked.
"Sure," she answered automatically.
They walked down the street in Hogsmeade after locking the shop up. They stopped at the restaurant on the corner and found a booth. Hermione settled in and picked up a menu. The waitress came up to the table and smiled at them. Hermione noticed Ron was smiling back.
"What can I get you?" she asked sweetly. She was very pretty, which annoyed Hermione immensely. She had sandy blond hair that reached her waist and Hermione couldn't help noticing that the nametag that read "Megan" was placed on breasts twice the size of her own.
"What do you recommend?" Ron asked. Hermione saw him blushing slightly. Anger and jealousy surged through her veins.
"Oh, the…" the waitress began. But Hermione wasn't paying attention to her. She noticed the girl was flipping her hair and grinning broadly.
Finally Ron told her what he wanted and Hermione was able to reluctantly mumble her own order. When the waitress walked away Ron watched her leave. Hermione inhaled angrily. Ron didn't seem to notice.
"I think I'm going to ask that waitress out," Ron whispered to Hermione. Hermione's face fell. "Do you think she'll say yes?"
"No," Hermione blurted out before she could stop herself.
Ron leaned back with a hurt expression on his face. "What? Why not?"
"Sh—she doesn't seem like…you would be her type that's all," Hermione stuttered.
"What's her type?" Ron asked with a hint of anger in his voice.
"I don't know," she replied. "Just…you in particular don't seem like the kind of person she'd be interested in."
Ron's offended face made her feel awful but she couldn't help herself. She looked down. When the waitress returned with their food Hermione didn't look up. She felt ashamed of herself. She may have had feelings for Ron but he was still her friend and she had no right to do that and she knew it.
"Ron…" she began as she poked at her salad. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
Ron sighed. "It's okay," he replied as he shifted in his seat.
She felt that he wasn't being truthful. He may have forgiven her but she knew his feelings were still hurt. She remained silent and didn't express her thoughts. They didn't really talk much while they ate the rest of their food.
Silently they made their way back to the shop. Hermione hated the silence. It felt awkward. Ron brought some of the boxes of candy from the basement up and they began to unpack them. They barely said anything to one another. It was getting dark and they'd been working for hours without speaking much. Hermione slammed the box she was holding down on the counter and said, "Damn it, Ron! Will you say something please?"
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Don't play dumb," she insisted. "Ever since lunch you've been mute. Now tell me what the hell is wrong."
"You know what's wrong."
"No, I don't," she replied. "If I knew I wouldn't ask."
"Well, you should know," he said. "One of my best friends thinks I'm hideous and no girl could ever want to be with me."
"What?" she exclaimed. "Ron, that's ridiculous. I don't think that."
"Then why'd you say that waitress wouldn't go out with me?"
"Because I--" Thankfully she was able to catch herself. She was about to say because she wanted to be with him. "I told you the truth. You didn't seem like her type."
"You keep saying that," he mumbled.
"It's the truth," she said, swallowing hard.
Ron sighed yet again and grabbed their cloaks. "Let's go," he said. She followed him out the door and into the windy street. Hermione entered Ron's apartment and shivered. Even though it was March and it was warming up the blustery air made her feel frozen. He took his wand and lit a fire in the small fireplace. They sat on his couch.
"What's her type?" Ron blurted out.
"Ron," Hermione said exasperated. "Please drop it."
"No, I want to know what type you think she goes for," he replied. "Obviously it's not me."
"Fine!" she yelled. "You're too good for her okay? It seems like she'd go for the bad boys. The guys that break your heart but somehow keep you coming back for more. And you're not like that. You're sweet and kind and funny. You deserve better than her."
Ron just stared at her. "Well, who should I go out with then?"
Say it! a voice inside her head screamed at her. Say it's you. Say that he should be with you! Say it now! You may never get another chance!
She gulped and said, "I don't know. You'll find someone though."
He nodded and looked away.
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