Chapter 15

"Er, hello, nice to meet you, too," Ron managed.

Uncle Ned turned to Hermione and winked at her, "This one's a keeper. Nice, firm handshake."

Hermione blushed, "Uncle Ned!"

"Just kidding, enjoy yourselves. I'll send a waiter over to take your orders. It's on the house as always for my family."

"Thanks," Hermione replied. Uncle Ned walked away.

When her uncle was out of sight, Hermione turned back to Ron, "I apologize for my uncle."

"It's okay, he's just being friendly," Ron replied.

"I guess."

"Hello, it's Patrick, and I will be your server for this evening," the server said, interrupting Ron and Hermione's conversation.

"Oh," Hermione turned to look up at the waiter, and when she saw him, her face broke out into a huge grin, "Patrick!"

She jumped out of the booth and gave him a hug.

"Hello, Hermione, nice to see you, too," Patrick said, his voice muffled through her hair.

Hermione broke away from him and turned to Ron, "This is my cousin Patrick."
"Nice to meet you," Ron said.

"Nice to meet you, too," Patrick smiled at Ron.

"I didn't know you worked here. I thought you were still in the States! I haven't seen you in forever!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Yeah, I moved back a couple weeks ago and Uncle Ned gave me this job. I was planning to drop by soon, but this is a happy surprise," Patrick replied.

"It is," Hermione agreed.

"So, may I take your order? What would you guys like to drink?

"Just water," Hermione said.

"Same," Ron agreed.

"All right, coming right up," Patrick replied, "I'll be back to take your meal orders. Mind you, Entertainment Time starts up very soon."

"What's entertainment time?" Ron asked Hermione after Patrick left to get their water.

"It's the part of the night where we sing karaoke and dance," Hermione explained.

"So, are we going to sing and dance?" Ron asked.

"Of course, Ron, that's what makes this place fun!"

"But, I can't sing," Ron mumbled.

"What?" Hermione asked, not understanding.

"I can't sing," Ron spoke a little louder, but still mumbling.

"What?"

"I can't sing," he said clearly.

"I'm sure you can, Ron," Hermione said, "Besides, it's not like I can either…or half of this restaurant. It's just to have a good time. And, if you really don't want to, we can just dance. But, once they start, I'm sure you'll change your mind. It's just too much fun to pass up."
"Whatever you say," Ron replied, with a smile.

"Here are your waters," Patrick said, coming back to the table holding two glasses of water. He set them down on the table, "Now what would you guys like for your main course? I suggest something light, considering that you are dancing soon."

"I'll have a salad, in that case," Hermione said. She was not trying to be like one of those girls who barely ate anything in public, she just did not want to feel sick later from dancing on a full stomach.

"All right," Patrick jotted her order down on a piece of paper, "And, you Ron?"

"I'll just have a turkey sandwich."

"Got it," Patrick said, finishing writing it down, "I'll be back soon."
"Okay," Hermione said, "I love this place, but I have not been here in forever."
"Yeah, it is really nice," Ron replied, "Your family seems to have a lot of family own businesses and things."

"Yeah," Hermione said, "My family likes to be their own bosses." She laughed.

"So, have you talked to Harry recently?" Hermione asked.

"I sent him a letter last week, but he hasn't replied yet. But, he did warn me in his last letter that it might be a while till he sent me his next letter because the Dursleys were feeling more anti-magic than usual."

"That stinks," Hermione sighed, "I wish there was something we could do. Why does he have to stay with them, of all people?"

"They are all he has," Ron replied.

"I know."

The two fell silent for a little while and then Patrick came back with their food. The two thanked him and began to eat, the table solemn from their earlier conversation. Halfway through their dinner, there was a loud feedback from the mike. The two winced at the sound and glanced up at the stage where her Uncle Ned was smiling sheepishly at the audience.

"Sorry about that," he apologized, "But, now here is Entertainment Time! I'm going to start us off with a song to get the ball rolling and then you guys can step up to the plate and perform as well. Any requests?"
There was a silence through the crowd as people tried to think of a song.

"Thriller by Michael Jackson!" One man called out.

The crowd all exchanged looks and began to chant, "Thriller! Thriller! Thriller!"

"I guess that's unanimous. Hit it, Patrick!" The beginning notes of the music began to fill the restaurant. Hermione watched mortified as her uncle began to sing and dance like Michael Jackson, her face turning red.

"It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight

You hear the door slam and realize there's nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand and wonder if you'll ever see the sun
You close your eyes and hope that this is just imagination, girl!
But all the while you hear the creature creeping up behind
You're out of time

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
There ain't no second chance against the thing with forty eyes, girl
Thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight

Night creatures calling, the dead start to walk in their masquerade
There's no escaping the jaws of the alien this time
(They're open wide)
This is the end of your life

They're out to get you, there's demons closing in on every side
They will possess you unless you change that number on your dial
Now is the time for you and I to cuddle close together, yeah
All through the night I'll save you from the terror on the screen
I'll make you see

That this is thriller, thriller night
'Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a
Killer, diller, chiller, thriller here tonight

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller, ow!

(I'm gonna thrill ya tonight)
Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y'alls neighborhood

I'm gonna thrill ya tonight, ooh baby
I'm gonna thrill ya tonight, oh darlin'
Thriller night, baby, ooh!

The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years
And grizzly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom

And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the thriller"

Here's Chapter 15 finally! I'm super sorry for the long wait! I hope it was worth it though. Life is super busy right now and I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again. I'm going to try my best to update One Hairy Challenge and Supah Lemons! today, but there is no guarantee I'll be able to. I hope you enjoyed and read and review!

XOXOXO Bubblelina15