They just thought replacing chess with cards on a Friday night would be a good idea. Can Neville's cottage survive the chaos that insues?
Song: Desperado by The Eagles
Harry: So are we going to BB tonight?
Ron: It is going to be hard to find a table big enough for all of us
Theo: It is Friday night
Neville: Come to the cottage.
Harry: We are playing cards instead of chess tonight
Ron: Are you sure, Nev?
Theo: Everybody meet at BB to get their favorite drink and then head to Nev's?
Neville: Bring your favorite snack and card game
Harry: This is going to be interesting
Theo: I'm bring a trophy … and I will be taking it home
Ron: Not so fast, lawn boy
Neville: That trophy will look good in the window of my shop …
Ron slid his mobile into his pocket. He needed to close up the lab soon if he was going to get things together for tonight. He needed to stop by the grocers for crisps and dip. He should probably get some veggie and dip, too. Hermione was trying to eat better and she seemed to want fresh veggies with everything.
"Hey, George,' Ron stuck his head into George's office. "Mind if I knock off early tonight? We're headed to Neville for cards and I need to do a few things if we're going to get there by six."
"Sure, go ahead little brother." George looked over his shoulder as he laid his tweezers onto his workbench. "Just remember, you have the early shift tomorrow. Seven comes very early if you stay up all night playing cards."
"Thanks! Don't stay here too late, brother." Ron smiled as he walked towards the back door of the shop. "Last time I left early, I got a call from your wife. It was almost midnight and you still weren't home."
"She worries too much." George grumbled, turning back to his work. "It's not like she doesn't have that stalker app that the girls like so much. I know how to leave work on Friday night."
"I heard that." Ron's voice drifted back towards George's office. "Just make sure you are home before bedtime. Your children miss you and your wife said she needs a good snog."
Ron: What do you want to take to Nev's tonight?
Hermione: Isn't it Friday night
Ron: We decided to play cards instead chess tonight
Hermione: Does Luna know?
Ron: I guess
Hermione: What kind of stuff does Nev want us to bring?
Ron: Snack stuff
Hermione: Can you get me some veggies and dip?
Ron: Yes, dear … Love you
Hermione: Love you, more
Ron felt out of place as he wandered the aisles of the grocers. He had a couple of bags of crisps in his basket and now he was looking for dip. Hermione always made this look so easy. He did not want to have to call her to ask her where to find what he was looking for.
"Pardon me." Ron apologized to the back of the curly headed woman he had bumped into.
"No worries," Hermione turned around and smiled at Ron.
"What are you doing here?" Ron smiled as he reached for her hand. "I thought you had to work until five."
"The library closed early today because of the holiday weekend." Hermione laid her head on his shoulder. "I figured this is where you would shop on your way home. Besides, the little one wanted some salt and vinegar crisps and I forgot to tell you."
"Whatever the reason, I'm glad you are here." Ron kissed the top of her head and began to walk towards the vegetable section of the store. "I still need to find dips and pick up the veggie platter before we can head home. Is there anything else the little one wants."
"Just keep walking down the aisles and I'll let you know." Hermione put her bag of chips into Ron's basket and settle her free hand onto the slightly rounded belly. "Sometimes I don't know what I want until I see it. Look, juju hearts. Those are so good…"
Ron smiled a continued to push his basket through the grocers. Like with Hermione was never dull and his pregnant wife's cravings were making every trip to the grocers an adventure.
Hermione: Are you sure it's okay to have the card games at Nev's?
Luna: He is looking forward to it
Hermione: It is Friday night after all
Luna: and Mary is working
Hermione: I can't believe she is still there
Luna: John says she has been better since the incident but I am never comfortable when she is there
Hermione: She still doesn't like Chess Club?
Luna: No, so the boys playing cards at BB could be an issue
Hermione: They do know how to behave
Luna: Theo is bringing a trophy for the winner of the First Annual Chess Club card tournament to take home
Hermione: That is NOT a good idea
Luna: They will forget how to behave
Hermione: Hide all of the breakable stuff in whichever room we are playing cards in.
Luna: They can't be that bad
Hermione: Do you remember why they started playing chess at BB?
Luna: OMG … I have work to do.
Hermione did not know that Go Fish could be a cutthroat game. Ron was hunched over his cards looking around the table like he was on a battlefield. "Harry, do you have any Queens?"
"Yes, I do," Harry leaned over and kissed Ginny on the lips. "I have one Queen and she is your little sister. In my hand, I have NONE."
"For some reason, I don't believe you." Ron grumbled and looked back at the cards he was holding. "We are playing with a bloody double deck and NO ONE has a bloody Queen? Someone is a dirty, rotten cheater."
Hermione wiped tears from her eyes as she tried to stop laughing. "Ronald, dear, look at your hand. You have all of what you have been looking for."
"Woman, what are you talking about?" Ron laid his cards face down on the table. "How do you know what I have in my hand? Who taught you to play cards anyway?"
"First of all, the only reason you are not sleeping on the sofa when we get home is because I love you." Hermione continued to giggle. "And second of all, if you don't want me to see your cards, put them on the table when you decide to kiss my neck or touch my belly. You have flashed your hand at me so many times I think I have it memorized."
Hermione started to laugh harder as Ron's jaw dropped and no words came out of his mouth. Soon, the whole table burst into laughter. "She has you there, mate" Harry tried to speak and laugh at the same time. "If you would pay more attention to the cards instead of your wife, I would have won this game three rounds ago."
"Pots and kettles, Potter." Ron started to chuckle as pointed towards Ginny sitting on Harry's lap and holding their cards. "No one said you could double team in Go Fish. Bloody cheaters, the lot of you."
Hermione: Is he hugging the trophy in his sleep?
Harry: They are rubbing it in
Ron: Bloody cheaters, the lot of you
Ginny: No one cheated
Daphne: Anyone have recommendations for a cranky twenty something toddler?
Theo: I am not cranky
Luna: There was no cheating involved. Nev is a card shark
Hermione: He is something
Ginny: I had no idea cards could be so bloodthirsty
Harry: He used to be worse
Theo: There is a reason none of us would play cards with him at University
Luna: He was planning the display as he fell asleep
Daphne: As much as I am enjoying this conversation, I need sleep
Ron: Bloody wankers, the lot of you. That trophy is mine next year
Ginny: Hermione, take your cranky husband's mobile and tuck him into bed
Harry: Good night all
Theo: Night
Daphne: Are we still friends?
Ron: NO
Hermione: Ignore the grouch. We are still friends. Night
Ginny: Sleep well
Luna: Sweet dreams