Author's Note: This story is dedicated to my friends Lu Mezenga, who encouraged me to write it and Stefanie, who was the inspiration for my OC. I own anything, all rights go to J.K. Rolling. Read it, enjoy it and review it! :)
Chapter 3: Dating.
After that night, the week passed faster than Hermione wished it would. Finally, Saturday came and Hermione needed to get ready for her date with Max. Stefanie went home with her to help. Hermione was taking a shower while Stefanie looked through her closet to find something decent for Hermione.
"He said to dress something formal," Hermione said leaving the bathroom wrapped up in a towel.
"The problem is that you don't have any nice dress. When was the last time you went shopping? You need to update your closet," Stefanie complained.
"I don't waste my money on futile things. Besides I have a nice dress that will look good."
"You can't look good, that's bullshit!" Stefanie basically screamed. "You have to look amazing at least. Anyways, put it on so I can see what I can do to save it."
Hermione rolled her eyes and went to the bathroom again to get changed. When she got back she was wearing a simple purple dress that went until her knees with long sleeves.
"Are you kidding me? Is this what you were planning to wear? Thank Merlin I'm here to help you. You're never going to get a man wearing stuff like this," Stefanie shook her head in disappointment.
"I don't want to get a man. I don't even know why I accepted to go on this dinner. I mean… He's my boss. It's unethical."
"Who cares about ethic if your boss is smoking hot? If you don't want him, please, give him my number. I'd go out with him at any time he wants."
"Do you want to go on my place? I wouldn't mind," Hermione replied.
"He asked you out, not me, Hermione," Stefanie said analyzing Hermione's dress. "Now stand still. I'm going to fix this mess."
Hermione stood in the middle of the room and Stefanie just waved her wand, changing the dress completely. She cut off the sleeves leaving just straps on the shoulders and changed it to a V neckline dress. Stefanie made the dress longer and a little bit tight, so it emphasized Hermione's curves on the right places. In the end, she changed its color to red. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror amazed.
"Ok, I admit. That dress was horrible compared to this one."
"I knew you would like it. Now you look much better. Put some jewelry on while I think about what to do with your hair and makeup. What shoes are you going to use?"
"Don't worry about the shoes. I have the perfect match to this dress."
Hermione chose silver high heels that were approved by Stefanie. She put hoop earrings and a silver necklace to match. Stefanie didn't put much make up on Hermione, just enough to emphasize her eyes and to make her lips more desirable. About Hermione's hair, Stefanie dried it on smooth waves, so it wasn't so curly and bushy. When Hermione looked at herself in the mirror again, she barely recognized herself. She looked stunning.
Finally, Max arrived and he was waiting for her in front of her building. Hermione put some things on a small purse, but before she could get her med-coin, Stefanie stopped her.
"You're not going to take that with you, are you?"
Every doctor on Collins Hospital had a med-coin. It was a simple silver coin with the symbol of medicine engraved on it. Whenever the doctor was needed at the hospital, the snakes would shine.
"You never know when an accident will happen," Hermione replied putting her med-coin on her purse.
"If this shines, it will ruin your date," Stefanie stated.
"It's my job. Max will understand."
"So you're on first name basis now?" You're getting intimate," Stefanie smirked.
"Oh, shut up, ok? I have to go. Good bye"
"Good luck! Kiss him for me," Stefanie called.
Hermione went downstairs and pretended not listen her friend. She met Max in front of a black car.
"You look very beautiful," he said giving her a kiss in the cheek.
"Thank you," she smiled shyly.
He opened the door for her and took the driver's seat. Max drove her to a fancy restaurant in muggle London. They went to their reserved table on a corner. It was a very expensive restaurant and Hermione was happy that Stefanie had helped her to get dressed.
Max looked very handsome, but Hermione couldn't find any romantic interest on him. He was a very nice man and he knew how to treat a woman, but Hermione was sure she wasn't the one for him. Max ordered the best wine of the house and an appetizer. The waiter left and Max smiled to Hermione.
"So, what do you do besides working? I barely see you out of the hospital," he said.
"Well, I'm a workaholic, as you already know. I love my patients, especially the kids, but when I have some free time I like to read a lot and I like to spend time with my friends. However, it's getting kind of hard to be with them, because everybody is moving on with their lives and we are always busy with work. It's not as simple as it was," she drank her wine. "But that's life isn't it? You can't force everyone to stay. I'm sorry," she looked down. "I'm talking too fast, right?"
"Don't apologize. I'm following every word you're saying. I like to hear you speaking about you."
"I'm sorry. I usually speak fast when I'm nervous. That or I stutter," she drank her wine again.
"Am I making you nervous?"
"Yes… No… I mean…" Hermione blushed. "See? I'm stuttering now."
"You look lovely blushing, did you know?"
"I'm sorry. I'm way more confident. It's just that this is weird. I mean you're my boss," she blushed again.
"Stop saying you're sorry. There is nothing to apologize. I want you to be yourself with me, ok? We're out of the hospital. I'm not your boss here. I'm your friend."
"I know it and I appreciate very much that you consider me your friend, but it's hard to me see you as something else than my boss."
"I know what you mean," he looked down and smiled.
The waiter got back with the appetizer and they started to eat.
"So what a man like you is doing going out on a date with his employee?" Hermione dared to ask.
"I hadn't found any woman yet. I want to get married and have children, but first I had to find someone. Now I believe I found the one. The only thing is that she has no clue that I feel this way about her."
"It seems serious. Do I know her?"
"I believe you know her pretty well," he smiled at her.
Suddenly, Hermione's purse, which was on the table, started to shine. She opened it and saw her me-coin's snakes shining. She had to go to the hospital. Max looked at her.
"Go," he said calmly.
"I'm sorry," she said getting up.
"Don't worry about me. Just go."
Hermione got her purse and left the restaurant almost running. She walked on the street until she found an alley dark enough to apparate. Hermione apparated on the ER, where Stefanie was taking someone to a room on a stretcher in a hurry. She grabbed her smock and followed the nurses.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"He's having an asthma attack. He can't breathe!" Stefanie answered. "We'll take care of him, but you should pass by his room later and you should talk to his father. The man is freaking out at the entrance of the hospital."
Hermione nodded and left, but not before she saw who the patient was. It was the same healthy little boy she had met in the beginning of the week. It was Scorpius Malfoy. Hermione found Draco walking side to side on the entrance of the hospital. He was really freaking out like Stefanie had said. She walked up to him and he grabbed her shoulder with tears threatening to fall.
"Granger!" he basically screamed. "Save him! Save my boy!"