Author's Note: Sorry for not updating this sooner but RL and writer's block got in the way. It's a bit of a filler chapter, but it's still important. You also get a very short snippet of a future chapter although I haven't written any in between, I know how this bit is going to be written.
Hermione walked along Diagon Alley to Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze's to meet George before having lunch with Rodolphus. Mr Weasley, Bill, Percy, and George had all consented to be her chaperones and had given her a self updating schedule so she knew when one of the times had been taken by Ginny.
Hermione made her way through the crowd of people in Weasley's Wizarding Wheeze's towards the counter where George was waiting for her.
"Hello Hermione." George said greeting her with a smile.
"Hi George, are you ready?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, I just have to give the keys to Verity and then we can go." He said looking for his new deputy manager.
"There she is." George said pointing to somewhere in the crowd. He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her through the throng of people until they got to Verity.
"Here are the keys Verity. I am chaperoning Hermione's lunch and don't know how long I will be, so lock up if I'm not back in time." George said handing the keys to her.
"Okay George." She replied before beginning to serve another customer.
Once they got out of the shop they started to walk down to the exclusive end which both of them had rarely ventured to. Neither had seen the point to spend an extortionate amount of money on something you could get elsewhere for half the price. Rodolphus, however, had insisted that they dine at the top restaurant. Delizioso was an upmarket Italian restaurant that was only present in affluent areas of the wizarding world. The owner had boasted that they sold the finest food and wine in the world, and many of the customers agreed.
Hermione had only been there once and had loved it. She had been trying to find another special occasion to go there, but hadn't managed to. Her birthday didn't seem special enough and there was no other occasion she could think of.
Rodolphus was already waiting for them outside the restaurant and smiled in acknowledgement. Hermione noticed that the coldness she had seen at Malfoy Manor was no longer there and felt relived.
"Hello Hermione." Rodolphus said taking her hand and kissed it. He then turned to George and said, "Hello Mr Weasley, thank you for taking the time to chaperone our lunch."
"George please, and it's perfectly fine. Hermione is practically my sister so I would do anything for her."
Rodolphus offered Hermione his arm and led her and George into the restaurant. The decor consisted of warm terracotta walls and cream furnishings, and was extremely welcoming.
They walked up to the podium the maître d was stood at.
"Can I help you sir?" she asked.
"I have a reservation for three under Lestrange."
"If you would like to follow me please." She said leading them through a maze of tables until they reached a secluded one at the back.
Rodolphus pulled out a chair for Hermione before sitting himself, and George took the last chair.
"Here are the menus,I will send the waiter over in a momentto take your drinks order and tell you today's specials." She said smiling.
"Thank you." George said.
"Would you like wine Hermione?" Rodolphus asked.
"I would love some." She replied.
"Would you mind if I picked the bottle?"
"Not at all."
A waiter came up to the table and said, "I am Alessandro and I will be your waiter this afternoon. Are you ready to order your drinks?"
"A bottle of water for me please." George asked.
"A bottle of you house white please." Rodolphus asked.
"How many glasses with that, sir?"
"Two."
"Today's specials are scallops in a garlic sauce, chargrilled chicken with Mediterranean vegetables, and Neapolitan ice cream with a twist." Alessandro recited.
"Thank you." Hermione said.
"I will be back shortly with your drinks."
When Alessandro was out of earshot George joked, "Well I know what 'm not going to have."
"Yes George, it wouldn't be goo to show yourself up by eating spaghetti bolognese and getting everywhere." Hermione replied laughing slightly.
"What would you like to talk about?" Hermione asked Rodolphus.
"What was your childhood like?"
"It was happy, but it was also a bit lonely. My parents were always working and I didn't have many friends. All the other children used to tease me for my love of learning and books. It wasn't until Harry and Ron saved me from mountain Troll in my first year that we became friends as they had also seen me as a know-it-all."
"You fought a mountain Troll in your first year?"
"Technically Harry and Ron did as I was too scared to do anything most of the time."
"That's still impressive. What other adventures did you have?" Rodolphus asked somewhat eagerly.
"I brewed Polyjuice potion in second year to try and infiltrate the Slytherin common room, I broke the time turner laws in my third year by saving Sirius Black. Fourth year I spent the majority of my time helping Harry in the Tri-wizard Tournament, and in my fifth year I helped organise an illegal defence group. There weren't many adventures in my sixth year and I never attended my seventh."
"Wow...that's a lot of adventures."
"That's what happened if you were friends with Harry." Hermione said shrugging.
George sat quietly letting the two of them converse. He knew that Hermione, Ron, and Harry had many adventures at Hogwarts but didn't know it extended to brewing illegal Polyjuice potion, or fighting a mountain Troll at eleven.
"Why were you trying to infiltrate the Slytherin common room?" Rodolphus asked.
Hermione took a deep breath and explained, "The Chamber of Secrets was open again and Harry and Ron suspected one particular person in Slytherin was the heir. We wanted to know whether they were or not, so I suggested that we use Polyjuice potion to change into people we knew they would trust hoping they would confide in us."
"Sounds like a great plan, what happened?"
"We obviously found out that it wasn't them, but we did get other information from them." Hermione answered. "What was your childhood like?"
"I didn't really have a proper childhood. From the moment I could read, write, and talk I was given tutors. I was instructed in the traditional ways, etiquette, and the superiority of being a pureblood. I was also taught the responsibilities that came with being the heir to the Lestrange family." Rodolphus responded.
"What about your Hogwarts years?"
"They were nothing special really. I was sorted into Slytherin, I got good grades, got detention from Pringle for using magic in the hallways, and that's about it."
"Never got into any adventures like me then?" Hermione joked.
"I daresay my Hogwarts days were boring compared to yours." He said smiling.
"Here are your drinks." Alessandro said placing them in front of them. "Are you ready to order your food?"
They nodded.
"I will have the bread bites with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and the chargrilled chicken with Mediterranean vegetables please." Hermione replied.
"I would like the scallops in garlic sauce, and the lasagne thank you." George said.
"I would like the pesto and padano cheese bites, and the brie and bacon pizza please. Rodolphus ordered.
"Any sides with your meals, or desserts?" Alessandro asked.
"Not at the moment thank you." George replied whilst Hermione and Rodolphus shook their heads.
"Is there anything else I can get you?"
"No thank you." Hermione said politely.
Alessandro took their order to the kitchen and started to serve someone else.
"You work in experimental charms don't you? How is that going?" Rodolphus asked.
"It's going really well thank you. I've just finished the researching part on one and will start the experimenting stage within the next couple of weeks once the findings have been validated and approved."
"I heard that you first worked in the Department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures? Why did you leave?"
"I left because I wasn't making any progress. I have always been passionate about the rights of magical beings since I was at Hogwarts, and I really wanted to make a difference. Not many other people in my department and in the Wizengamot itself supported my agenda which made it hard to change current laws, or pass new ones."
"That sounds frustrating."
"It was."
The rest of the lunch date went well and conversation flowed easily between Rodolphus and Hermione. George kept mostly quiet, but commented when Hermione hadn't quite told everything to Rodolphus, such as blackmailing Rita Skeeter.
The date lasted into the late afternoon and realising the time George told them that Angelina would be expecting him home soon.
"Sorry George." Hermione said.
"It's not a problem, just thought I should warn you." He replied.
Rodolphus signalled Alessandro to the table.
"How can I help you sir?" Alessandro asked.
"Could we have the bill please?"
"Of course." He said going to his podium and getting a paper bill. When he came back he handed it to Rodolphus who tapped his wand against the paper to authorise the payment from his vault.
"Thank you for dining with us today." Alessandro said hoping that they would be back very soon.
Rodolphus pulled Hermione's chair back and offered her his hand. Hermione took it and let him lead her out of the restaurant. Once in the fresh air they waited for George to come out.
"Thank you for today, I had really good time." Hermione said looking into Rodolphus's eyes.
"I did too. I never knew I could enjoy someone's company so much."
George walked out the restaurant and saw Hermione laughing in Rodolphus's arms. They already looked like a couple and if everything went as well as this date had done, then the marriage would be close to perfect.
"Break it up now." George said laughing slightly.
Rodolphus let Hermione go.
"I will see you in a few days. Have a good time with Rabastan tomorrow." Rodolphus said kissing her hand once again.
"I'm sure I will." Hermione replied. "Good night Rodolphus."
"Goodnight Hermione." He said before disapparating.
"Let's get you home Hermione." George said before taking Hermione side-along.
When they appeared in Hermione's flat all she wanted to do was sleep. The wine had gone to her head and she didn't fancy being sick.
"Thank you George. Say hello to Angelina for me."
"I will do. See you soon Hermione." George replied before flooing home.
As Hermione got ready for bed she thought about lunch today and how charming, kind, and sincere Rodolphus seemed. For the first time she thought that she may be able to happy with them.
Snippet from a future chapter:
"I can't believe you could do that to me! I'm your brother!" Rabastan shouted.
"It's a good job I didn't isn't it." Rodolphus said harshly.
Hermione backed away not wanting to hear anymore. Her mind was reeling from everything she had heard so far and wanted to make sense of everything before rushing in.