AN: The long-awaited chapter 9. Enjoy.
Saturday morning dawned, bright and sunny. Hermione dragged herself out of bed, knowing that she had to look vaguely presentable before Ginny arrived. Exactly why Ginny thought they needed all day to prepare her for this date, she had no idea. Still, there was no dissuading a determined Weasley.
"Morning, Hermione." Ginny's head appeared in the fireplace while Mya was still sitting in the lounge, drinking her coffee.
"Morning."
"What's up with you?" Ginny stepped through the fireplace into Hermione's house.
"Ginny, I've just got up. I am not a morning person, you should know that by now."
"Oh, how silly of me. Of course. Well, finish your coffee, then it's into the shower with you."
"Ginny, why is this going to take all day? It can't possibly take more than an hour, at the most."
"Didn't Charlie tell you? He wants to go to that place the muggles call a cinema, so he'll be meeting you earlier. I told him to send you an owl – it should have got here by now."
Sure enough, the Weasleys' owl Errol was outside the window, desperately trying to stay in the air. Ginny shook her head in despair.
"I didn't know he'd sent it with Errol. No wonder it took so long." She opened the window and grabbed the aged owl, took the letter and handed it to Hermione.
"Dear Hermione,
I hope you don't mind me changing the plans at such short notice, but is it ok if I meet you about three hours earlier? A colleague introduced me to the cinema and I'd like to go there with you.
Charlie."
"OK then, that's fine. But I don't know what films he'd like."
"Just pick something you want to see. He won't really be paying attention to the story – he'll be too busy being fascinated with the moving pictures that make noise to care."
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure. Trust me on this one. Now, shower."
Hermione left, muttering something about bossy Weasleys.
"I heard that, Mya!"
…………………
It took hours, but finally Ginny declared herself satisfied with Hermione's appearance.
"You can look now."
"I'm scared to – I have absolutely no idea what you've done. I probably don't look like me any more.
"Oh, just shut up and look, will you." And with that, she pushed Hermione in front of the mirror, who whistled approvingly.
"Very nice indeed. Your young man won't be able to keep his eyes off you!"
"Ginevra Weasley, just what have you been telling my mirror?"
"Hermione! As if I would! All I said was that you were going out tonight." Downstairs, the doorbell rang. "That'll be Charlie. I'll go let him in."
Hermione waited a few moments before following her friend. She was nervous, but didn't want to admit it. At least she could walk in those stupid heels now, so she wouldn't look a total idiot. She could hear Ginny and Charlie talking, and decided she'd better make an appearance. Get the awkward hellos over with while Ginny was still there; before it was just the two of them. She walked downstairs, slowly.
AN: I know, I know. It's cruel leaving it at this point. Review, and more will be posted.