Like Parents, Like Teens

Part 10

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, and his entire universe, does not belong to me. They are the property of J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Thanks a bunch for the great name suggestions! They were both wonderful so I combined them!

"So. Decide on anything yet?" Ron asked as he sat down at the table. Harry looked up, surprised.

"Decide on what?" He raised his eyebrows as Ron energetically heaped a generous amount of bacon onto his plate. Satisfied, Ron turned to his friend.

"The name for your baby!"

"Right. The name." Harry stared at Ginny's flame-red hair as she shook it out of her face, sitting down a little way down the bench. Not next to Dean, he noticed with a touch of surprise and, he had to admit, delight. Dean had been at Ginny's side since the beginning of term. Did anyone else find it odd he was not there now?

"Little slow this morning, mate?" Ron asked jokingly through a mouthful of bacon. Harry grudgingly tore his gaze away and chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess so. But the name. Well, we talked about it for a really long time. After a while Parvati thankfully dropped Esmeralda." Ron grinned. "And then," Harry continued, "since she'd made that horrible sacrifice, I was expected to 'explore new possibilities' as well."

"Fun." Ron laughed.

"Finally we decided on…Emma-Lily Ginevra Potter." Ron cocked his head at the announcement.

"Nice name Harry, but isn't it a bit long? I mean, I'd go nutters having to say that every time I needed her attention." Harry nodded, chewing slowly. Both boys had seemingly forgotten that Harry's 'daughter' was a flour sack.

"Yeah, I suppose it would be a bit of a hassle." He replied.

"So what are you going to call her for short? Emma? Em? Lil? Gin?" Ron continued to probe.

"Dunno." Harry shrugged. "Probably Em…Maybe Gin though." Ron nodded knowingly and Harry felt a slight flush creeping up his neck. He was saved from his friend's reply by a book-bag, then a body, settling on the bench next to Ron.

"Hello everyone," Hermione smiled cheerfully.

"Why are you so perky this morning?" Ron eyed her with distrust, Harry forgotten at once. Lips pressing together slightly, Hermione tried to retain her happy mood despite Ron's brutishness.

"Why shouldn't I be? It's a beautiful day," she replied. A gleam appeared in her brown eyes. "And…"

"What?"

"This coming Saturday we get to go to Hogsmeade!" She looked at Ron meaningfully. He stared blankly back, then replied, "Cool," and continued to eat.

Hermione looked forlornly at him for a few more moments, then sighed heavily, all pretenses of cheerfulness melting from her face. Ron looked inquiringly at Harry, who shrugged.

"I can't believe you two," Hermione muttered. "You must be the only two students in Hogwarts who don't know." Over the indignant remarks aimed at her, Hermione called down the table, "Ginny, what's so special about this Saturday?" Turning her attention to the other girl, Ginny thought for a moment, then replied slowly,

"Well, it's Valentine's Day…"

"Precisely!" Hermione stated decisively, then, turning away from a slightly bewildered Ginny, continued, "And I just so happen to have a gift certificate to Madame Puddifoot's Tea Shop."

"I gave you that for Christmas," Ron observed, then asked with attempted nonchalance, "Who're you taking?" He didn't want Hermione to realize he actually cared who she was taking on a more than 'friendly-interest' level. He'd love to go with her, but what were the chances of that happening?

"Who do you think, Ron?" Hermione rolled her eyes at his silence. "You, of course."

"Me?" He sputtered, air of coolness crumbling. He glanced at Harry frantically. Seeing this exchange, Hermione's confidence began to evaporate. She looked down, voice softer.

"Unless you don't want to go, of course." She said hesitantly. Was I too pushy? She wondered. I didn't really consider that he wouldn't want to go with me.

"That's not what I meant! Of course I want to go, Hermione," Ron stuttered, aghast at the effect his previous comment had made. "I'd love to!" She looked up at him, saw the earnest look on his face, and smiled.

"Great!" She exclaimed, and Ron felt his face growing hotter as she continued to hold his gaze.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, scooting over next to Harry as many of the Gryffindors left, their breakfasts finished. Harry opened his mouth to reply, surprised at her appearance, but Hermione began before him.

"Oh, we were just making plans to go to Madame Puddifoot's on the next Hogsmeade trip. I have a gift certificate."

"Oooo, I've got one of those too! Two free coffees if you buy two pastries?" Ginny inquired happily.

"Yes," Hermione answered. "I'm taking Ron, since those coupons are meant for two." Ginny nodded, then grinned.

"Hey! Wouldn't it be fun if we all went together?" Not waiting for an answer, she turned to Harry. "Wanna go with me, Harry? It'd be a lot of fun, like a double date." Harry smiled back at Ginny, trying to suppress his feelings of elation.

"Yeah, sounds like a blast."

"Awesome! I've got to run now, unfortunately. Potions starts in ten minutes." She made a face, then strode out of the Great Hall. Harry watched her go, red hair rustling as she walked. Excitement welled up in him, along with a bit of an odd feeling-Ginny had gotten that certificate from Dean. Shouldn't she be taking her boyfriend?

"I can't believe we're doing this, mate," Ron sighed, shaking his head. "We must both be absolutely nutters." He held two shirts out at arm length, peering at them carefully. Harry buttoned up his own shirt, looking out the dormitory window at the sunlit grounds. Saturday had finally arrived, bringing with it a nervous anticipation that hung around the two friends, impossible to shoo away with false confidence.

"I mean, who cares about Valentine's Day? Besides girls I mean," Ron continued.

"If you don't care about Valentine's Day, then why is it taking you such a long time to decide what to wear?" Harry teased his friend, who flushed, and promptly slung one of the shirts on.

"I just want to look nice," he muttered.

"I know, Ron. I know how you feel."

Hermione glanced up from her book as Parvati and Lavender, creating a large amount of noise, burst into the dormitory.

"Ooo, Hermione!" Lavender giggled. "We heard you and Ron are going on a date to Madame Puddifoot's today!"

Hermione, wondering how the two girls knew everything, stated stiffly, "It's not a date." She hated to contradict the wonderful idea, but if it got back to Ron that she hadn't denied the claim…To her great dismay, this caused them to laugh even more. "And there's nothing funny about it," she snapped, and, having had enough of this treatment, rose to leave.

"Sorry, Hermione. We weren't laughing at you, really!" Parvati managed to say between giggles. Rising, she and Lavender moved between Hermione and the door.

"I'm sure," Hermione said coldly. The two girls just smiled infuriatingly and, opening the door, began to leave. Before fully shutting the door, Lavender stuck her head back in.

"Are you leaving now? Don't go just because of us."

"Of course I'm leaving. Why would I wait?" Lavender looked shocked by this answer.

"You're finally going on a date with the guy you've fancied forever," she ignored Hermione's objections," and you're wearing that?" She shook her head, then continued her way down to the common room with Parvati.

Hermione stared at the closed door, then looked down at the jeans and t-shirt she had donned for the outing. What's wrong with this? She wondered. It's not like they were going to an opera. It's not like Ron actually cared what she wore. And she certainly didn't mind if Lavender, of all people, didn't think her outfit was up to par. But…

Sighing, Hermione began to sift through her other clothes. She had never obsessed about outfits, or her looks in general, like other girls, but she did care. The desire to look nice, especially today, over powered her resilience to people's opinions, and, feeling defeated, Hermione changed into a pair of khakis and a nicer shirt. I still have to wear my cloak anyway, she thought irritably, then headed out the door to meet her friends.

A/N: A pretty short chapter, but I hope you liked it anyway. I'm really sorry about the wait, and my next chapter will come much more quickly. I'm beginning to draw this story to a close and the end is in sight. Please review!

KW