The snobbiest of the dates, and so much fun to write. While Hermione is suffering, Ash and I were having fun thinking of ways to make it worse lol. As always, reviews are encouraged; tell me what you think…
Hermione was trying very hard not to curse Blaise out loud—she was mentally cursing Blaise in every language she knew. At the same time, she was trying not to let her date realise something was wrong.
The garden party was at the Parkinson Manor. The house was old style, looking like a manor more than just a house. Flowers could be seen everywhere, and all kinds of flowers too. Hermione had to admit that the Parkisons had excellent taste and were admirable hosts, but she still felt like a fish out of water around them.
"Who would have thought that you knew Pamela and Patrick?" Ernie, her date of the day, said conversationally as they stepped foot on their property. He was dressed in a light grey suit and his blond hair was combed to the side, making him look like an aristocratic man. Not her favourite type of man, but Hermione couldn't deny that he looked dashing. "I don't think we've ever crossed paths before."
Hermione plastered a smile on her face. "I don't actually know them. One of my best friends is friends with their daughter, Pansy. He thought that I would enjoy the party, so I thought 'why not?'"
Ernie scoffed. Before Hermione could think about what that meant, they had arrived at the front door, where their hosts were welcoming everyone to the party.
"Ernie! I didn't realise that you were coming!" Pamela Parkinson beamed as she hugged Ernie. Hermione just looked at the interaction with a surprised look on her face. "Your mother didn't say anything when I met her yesterday."
Hermione groaned internally; it was just her luck that her date would know the hosts. She thought it was a good thing that his parents weren't there, or else things would have turned awkward quickly.
"Initially, I wasn't intending to, but my new friend asked me to come, so I decided to make an appearance," Ernie replied smoothly. "Pamela, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Pamela Parkinson, our beloved hostess."
Hermione and Pamela exchanged greetings, Hermione trying not to show how nervous she was. Although she knew how to behave in these situations most of the time, she still wasn't used to such high-class parties. This was her first time at a garden party and she was starting to feel a little disconcerted. She had never had a date at one of these events, and right now, she was regretting having listened to Blaise.
"We shouldn't keep you. We'll see you inside, Pamela," Ernie said, taking Hermione's hand and walking towards the party.
"Of course, darling! Pansy is going to be delighted to see you," Pamela called out before turning to say hello to the next guest.
After this little conversation, and seeing how Ernie seemed to be so at ease with the Parkinsons, she started to wonder if he was close to Pansy and if that was the case, why Blaise hadn't mentioned anything?
Hermione let Ernie drag her around, seeing how he appeared to know where he was going. She had thought a garden party would be a nice place for a date, but she hadn't accounted for her date knowing the hosts-or being such good friends with them.
"I didn't know you knew the Parkinsons," Hermione said when they arrived at the huge garden. They made their way towards an empty table. "You could have said something when I asked you to come here with me."
Ernie shrugged, and Hermione could see some irritation appear on his face; she didn't understand why, she was just asking a question. "I went to school with Pansy, and my parents were good friends with her parents, so we always went to their events."
"Oh, I see." Hermione tried not to feel bad about the way he was acting, but it was starting to get to her. Pointing to an empty table near them, she asked, "What do you think about sitting at that table?"
"Yes, it seems like a table as good as any other," Ernie deadpanned. Hermione tried not to roll her eyes, but the urge was stronger than her will. She was glad that she could sit down since her new heels were starting to hurt.
Ernie suddenly said, "What do you think you're doing?"
Hermione blinked at the venom in Ernie's voice. She looked up to see him glaring at her. "What? I'm sitting. Is there something wrong with that?"
"You can't sit like that; what are you thinking, crossing your legs like that?" Ernie was still glaring at her, but Hermione couldn't understand why. "It's very unladylike—not to mention, rude."
"Wait... Did I hear you say the way I sit is 'unladylike' and 'rude'? Why would you say that?" Hermione asked, trying not to let her temper get the best of her. "Do you even realise that you're the rude one?"
"I'm not the rude one here, but I don't expect you to understand high-class manners and etiquette." Ernie huffed before sitting next to her. He made a show of slowly putting the napkin on his lap and looking around with a high and mighty expression. "I hope your manners at the table are better than what I've already seen."
'Why would he sign it up for a date if he's going to complain about everything? He doesn't even seem interested!', she thought. Hermione took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face, not wanting to beat him up in front of all these people. Her smile was real when she imagined herself beating him to a pulp with one of the teapots on the tables.
"What tea do you drink?" Ernie asked in that same snotty tone that he'd been talking to her with.
"I'll have some Earl Grey, please," Hermione said in a saccharine-sweet tone, trying to regain some footing on this date.
"Typical." Ernie rolled his eyes before motioning to one of the many waiters that were milling about with trays of appetisers and hors d'oeuvres. "Good afternoon, I'll have chamomile tea and the lady will have an Earl Grey. Could you bring some appetisers with the tea, please? Thank you."
Hermione was pleased that he was at least polite towards the waiters; it was always a good sign if someone isn't rude towards the people bringing your food, but that only meant that he was rude towards her. Hermione had tried to make some conversation, but Ernie wasn't the best talker in the world. They sat in an awkward silence, and Hermione couldn't be more glad than when their tea arrived.
"I don't understand how you can drink a tea that has so much caffeine in it. To each their own, I suppose," Ernie said, watching Hermione pouring a cup of tea.
Hermione gritted her teeth, regretting accepting going out with Ernie. "It's what helps me get through the day without having to resort to black coffee or Redbull. And I don't know how you can drink chamomile tea before you retire for bed."
"It helps calm me down."
Hermione could only hope that drinking the tea would mean he would be a better date. She was taking a sip of her tea, while listening to him talk about something that she didn't understand when Ernie's shrill voice cut through her mental fogginess. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Drinking my tea. I thought it was obvious," Hermione deadpanned, taking a deep breath. "What did I do wrong now?"
"You looked at someone while drinking your tea! Don't you know that is the epitome of rudeness?" Ernie was getting more incensed by the minute. Hermione didn't know what was wrong with him, why he was being such a prick. Why couldn't he let it loose and just have some fun? "You seem like you've never gone to a garden party before."
"Well, guess what, Ernie? I've never been to a garden party before, and I don't like people calling me rude." Hermione closed her eyes, trying to gain any semblance of calm. "Can we please eat without you saying anything else about how I'm acting?"
Ernie shrugged and made a motion that she didn't bother trying to understand. Hermione knew it was only a matter of time before she did something he considered 'rude' again. Looking at the plate of food, Hermione looked at what had caught her attention and decided to pick up a scone since it was her favourite. Hermione was cutting the scone to add some hazelnut chocolate cream or maybe some strawberry jam, when she felt Ernie's eyes on her.
Ernie's eyes bored a hole in the side of her head, and she couldn't help but snap, "What? What have I done wrong this time?"
"You don't eat your scones first! Everyone knows the correct order to eat is sandwiches, scones, and then, sweets! And you sliced the scone in half, too!"
"Yes, I did. How else did you think I was going to eat it?" Hermione replied, still eating her scone.
"What are you: American? No, you rip off the scone in bite-sized pieces, apply butter with a knife," Ernie said, demonstrating it for her, "and then eat! It's not that difficult."
"I didn't know there were rules of eating scones." Hermione huffed, eating her scone the way she liked. She picked up her teacup to take a sip. To lighten the atmosphere, she commented, "I like the way they brew tea here."
It was at that moment that Ernie seemed to finally lose his temper.
"You can't drink tea to wash off your food! What are you? Five?" He stood up and dropped his napkin on the table. "You know what? This is too much. I don't think I can go out with someone with such despicable manners. Have a nice day, Hermione."
Hermione couldn't do anything but watch Ernie walk away. He sat down at a table away from her and began talking to a beautiful brunette. He seemed to be having more fun than when he was with her, not that Hermione could complain.
She grabbed her cellphone and decided to call Blaise, only for her call to go straight into the voicemail. "Oh, Blaise, you're going to buy a nice dinner for me when I see you," Hermione said to her phone. She finished eating her scone, before continuing. "And you'll buy me all the scones my heart desires, and you'll do it without complaining."
She wasn't going to go out with Ernie again, and she was fine with that. Who would want to go out with a pompous arse like him anyway? Hermione sighed, finishing her plate and her tea. She would probably have to go alone to her family Christmas party. She only wanted to find someone suitable. Was that too much to ask?