Prompt:

The first date after a divorce
Chaos level 1 prompt: Dobby plans the date

AFFECTION

It was snowing heavily when Hermione swung her leg out from the cab to the sidewalk . She was standing in front of a large North London villa that was already decorated with Christmas lights.

She raised an eyebrow, but she was sure it was the correct address. She took a step toward the gate, her heels sliding on the wet tiles. She climbed the stairs and hesitantly turned the doorknob.

Inside was a spacious reception desk, lined with probably very expensive marble. Behind her sat an elegant receptionist who smiled and waved her closer to the counter.

She handed her a piece of paper and asked, "Can I have your name?"

Hermione blinked a few times as she automatically wanted to say Weasley, but stopped herself at the last moment. For two months she had been free and allowed to use her maiden name.

"Granger."

"Excellent, please fill in the questionnaire and, as it said in the invitation, we will ask you to wait in the restaurant after verification. This is your first time?" The woman handed her a piece of paper, and Hermione nodded in the meantime.

She went pale when she saw the first question.

"Is this really Lonsdale Drive?" The receptionist nodded and handed her a pen, Hermione's legs weakening underneath her.

What did Dobby do?

One week earlier

She came home late again this week and was overjoyed when Dobby brought her hot chocolate and dinner. She could see he wanted to say something before disappearing, but didn't dare. She encouraged him with a smile, and he hesitantly began.

"You should work less and ... goforadate." Hermione raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat in surprise. "We recently discussed this new Club for Divorced Wizards during our House Elves meetings. Maybe ... Maybe ... " he paused, and she smiled gently.

"Do you want to arrange a date for me?" It was funny, but he flushed pink and nodded vigorously.

"Okay, I don't mind trying." she replied without thinking and he grinned.

She stared at the card so intensely that the receptionist was confused and asked, "What's wrong, Mrs. Granger?"

Hermione felt she was making a fool of herself. But the questions on the paper made no sense. At least for her.

"Is this the Divorced Wizards Club? Where can you go for a date?" However pathetic and stupid the question sounded, she had to ask it.

The receptionist smiled gently, "Of course. It could also be a date."

Also.

Hermione swallowed as her eyes skimmed over the options,

Age Play, Bondage, Daddy Kink, Edging, Spanking, Dom/sub. She didn't even know many of them, because so far she had been rather… vanilla.

"Do you need any help...?" The receptionist was very charming, but Hermione rejected her offer and nervously marked two, maybe three, random options before handing the card back to her. The receptionist showed her the way to the restaurant and said that she would be informed about the next steps by memo.

Hermione, red-faced, walked into the restaurant, stripped off her coat, and sat down at the bar. The bar was full of voices, cigarette smoke and the smell of expensive whisky. Most of the people wore expensive suits, dresses, and some wore masks.

She felt that she did not fit in with the surroundings, despite her little black dress and high heels.

She heard a grunt and realized the bartender was talking to her. She assumed he was asking what to drink, so she replied without thinking, "Espresso Martini." She never drank it, but she always felt like it.

"First time?" he asked as he made her drink and she sighed. Was it so obvious?

After she got her drink, she took a few sips and the paper plane landed in her palm. The bartender noticed, flashed his teeth and tossed her, "Have fun."

Hermione opened with trembling hands, and inside it said, Second Floor, Room Two.

Her shoes sagged into the soft, plush rug as she took the steps. She felt her heart beat faster and her blood rattled in her ears. She wanted to run away and murder Dobby.

The massive oak door marked Two was slightly ajar, so, full of apprehension, she entered.

She saw no one, but the door to the terrace was wide open, and on the terrace she could see a table set, candles, and a bottle of champagne.

She bit her lip and took a few steps when she heard a warm male voice.

"How do you feel after the divorce?" She felt big male hands on her shoulders. They squeezed her lightly. She turned to see large brown eyes and a dimple in his cheek.

"Mr. Potter." She slipped out and he corrected her right away, " James."

"James," she repeated and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"

James smiled and gestured to the previously prepared table. "Come on, let's talk over the wine."

They sat down and Hermione drank half a glass for a good start, "I didn't know you like places like this."

He raised an eyebrow and laughed softly, then looking straight in her eye, replied: "Daddy kink, dom/sub and edging, Hermione?"

She felt warmth pouring down her cheeks, feeling stuffy, embarrassed.

Hermione bit the inside of her cheek and shook her head, "It's not what you think. It's all a coincidence. "

"You don't have to be ashamed of your... kinks." The last words almost caused her a heart attack, so Hermione drank a full glass of wine this time. James smirked, as he poured her more wine. "Don't worry, nothing will happen here today if you don't give your consent. That you won't allow me... or yourself. "

His voice had a pleasant timbre, but at the same time it was pugnacious and slightly flirty. His broad smile and the gleam in his eye made Hermione feel a little more comfortable. Just a little.

"We're both divorced, and it's a great place to meet, go on a date, or, and, more." He winked at her, and food began to appear on their table.

They ate in silence, Hermione still stunned, unsure. After he finished, James smiled at her,

"You've had a rough time, you deserve some relaxation." He walked over to her and asked, "Can I touch your arms and massage them? You look tense. "

She nodded, so that was what adult dating was like? After a while, she realized that her last first date was when she was very underage. And from that point on, she wasn't on any other first date.

James started massaging her muscles, and Hermione had to admit that she was unexpectedly enjoying it. He had large, warm hands.

She had actually forgotten that he had been James Potter, Harry's dad, until now.

"Forget about Harry. Now, only you and your feelings matter. At last for this evening you are the most important person in this room, no one else. "

She closed her eyes, when he whispered to her ear something which made her shiver.

"Have you ever tried edging?" Hermione licked her lips and involuntarily parted them.

"Never." She replied and felt his lips touch the hollow of her neck, and she actually made it possible for him. She could feel James smiling, so she giggled in response.

" Should I continue?" His soft voice made her nod.

So he continued, and it didn't end with only kisses.

Morning came faster than Hermione thought as she opened her eyes and blinked half-consciously. Her lips were swollen from kisses, and she could see the signs of their evening and night on her body.

She blushed but didn't regret a minute. All she feared was looking James in the eye.

James was still asleep when she got up and picked up her garments from the floor. She dressed, but could not find any underwear.

Eventually she found her tangled up in James' pants. As she crouched next to them, a small piece of paper slipped out of his pocket.

"Miss Granger will be at the club like you asked. Dobby "

She got up and was out of breath, she wanted to wake James up and yell at him, saying that he had used Dobby to get her here. And used her later on.

Only it wasn't true. She wanted it too, whatever happened, - James was bloody handsome and once she was single, what did she have to lose besides time?

James woke up to find her standing with his pants in her hand and a piece of paper in her fingers. He smiled lazily at her, and she was silent. For a long moment she thought what to say, then finally choked out,

"Was that your plan from the beginning?"

James got up from the bed, still naked, and walked over to her. He hugged her tightly against him, so that her head rested against his breastplate, just below his chin. He held her in a hug and kissed her hair.

Hermione was confused and he reemained silent. He finally lifted her chin and said with affection - something she had never experienced from Ron -

"Perhaps."

And he kissed her, making her believe edging wasn't just an empty word in a dictionary.