Game of Life - Prompts: The Hopping Pot, ginger, and 450 words (min).

The Hopping Pot

Hermione Granger sighed as she listened to her date talk about... something that was sending her to sleep. There was only so much longer that she could listen to Cormac talk about Quidditch and about how many hours he spent in the gym.

She wasn't even faking a smile anymore.

They hadn't even moved from the bar to the restaurant part yet, and despite Hermione's many hints that she was hungry, Cormac was too caught up in his own talking to pay any attention whatsoever.

As he talked, she planned what she was going to order from the local takeaway around the corner. A curry, perhaps. Maybe a naan bread, some Bombay Aloo. She could eat the leftovers tomorrow, it'd save cooking dinner. She also managed to plan what shopping she needed in her flat.

"Hermione?" Came a voice, and Hermione lifted her head off her hand and glanced up, spotting familiar ginger hair.

Charlie Weasley. She was saved.

"Hey, what are you doing at the Hopping Pot?" Charlie asked.

"On a date," she replied. 'Help me, please', she mouthed at him.

A slight nod and he disappeared, reappearing a minute later with a girl.

"Aren't you Cormac McLaggen?" The girl gushed, taking a seat next to him. "I'm a big fan."

The moment Cormac turned his attention to the girl, Hermione slipped from her seat, grabbing her bag and coat and following Charlie.

...oOo...

"Thanks," Hermione said, as they moved around the other side of the bar.

"Bad date?" Charlie asked.

Hermione nodded. "All Cormac has done is talk about Quidditch and the gym. We were supposed to eat almost two hours ago."

"Missed your reservation?" Charlie asked, sympathetically.

She nodded. "I'm going to call in a takeaway on the way home," she replied. "Thanks for getting me out of there, but I'm sorry for ruining your date." Her gaze fell on the girl who was leaning in close and touching Cormac's biceps, and Hermione winced, feeling sorry for the girl being used as a distraction.

"Date? Nah, just an old friend," Charlie replied. "I was taking her out to dinner for her birthday, but she's a massive Quidditch fan so it worked out well. She forgot all about dinner when I mentioned I could introduce her to Cormac McLaggen."

Hermione smiled. "I really owe you," she replied.

"As for the take-away," Charlie continued. "I hear the food here is really good and I have a reservation in a few minutes, if you'd like to join me?"

Hermione smiled at Charlie. "It's only fair since it's my fault you're on your own," she said. She blushed as his gaze moved down her body.

"You look good," he murmured, his hand moving to the small of her back as he guided her across the room. "This night is really looking up."

Hermione smiled at him, she couldn't agree more.

"Won't your friend be upset you're having dinner with someone else and she's missing out?" Hermione checked again.

"I told her that she could spend the evening with Cormac instead, and I'd get to have dinner with a gorgeous witch," Charlie replied. "It works out well for the both of us."

Hermione couldn't argue and for the first time that night, she was glad she agreed to go on the date with Cormac, since it led to a date with Charlie Weasley.

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