OVER AND OVER

Disclaimer: This is an unauthorised tribute to the works of JK Rowling who, with her publishers and licensees, owns the characters and situations elaborated herein.

With thanks to all my reviewers and especially to my previewers, Bellegeste and Cecelle. This is my last pre-written chapter, so I can't guarantee to update next week.

When Hermione got up from the table to use the facilities, Ginny went too.

"I suppose this the first time you've eaten in a Muggle restaurant?" Hermione said, as they were washing their hands. It was one of those fancy bathrooms where the taps have no handles and the toilets flush themselves when you stand up. She'd already had to explain about motion sensors to her bewildered friend. "What do you think?"

"Not only the first time in a Muggle restaurant. The first time I've eaten Moroccan. I thought it would be the same as what we ate in Egypt that time we visited Bill."

Hermione turned and put her hands under the hand-dryer. Ginny copied her, but jumped back when she felt the heated air. She grimaced and tried again, more gingerly.

"Weird," she muttered.

Hermione shrugged, rubbing her hands over and over each other. She spread her fingers and waggled them in the warm flow.

"You get used to it," she said and returned to the subject of food. "Isn't it the same? They both eat couscous, don't they?" They weren't that far apart on the map.

"Yes, but the meat is more fruity or spicy or something. Good though. I wonder if I could get Mum to learn to make tagine." Unconsciously, the younger girl licked her lips.

"Or the house elves? You won't be eating your mum's cooking for months yet."

Ginny's hands were still damp. She fetched some paper to dry them. Snape had insisted on confiscating their wands, to her annoyance and Colin's. Luna had merely mumbled something about last month's Quibbler report on wood-chomping Werrinonga infestations in Muggle eateries.

"Hmm. Snape would guess it was us, though, and he never needs much excuse to give detentions. Not sure I want to spend two weeks gutting toads just for a change from beef and two veg."

Hermione pulled out her lipstick and began to outline her mouth. Ginny looked at her sidelong.

"Pity it had to be Snape chaperoning. Couldn't you have asked Dumbledore for a different teacher?"

Hermione blotted her lips together and studied the effect as Ginny's eyes narrowed.

"Or did Malfoy ask you to ask him? That's it, isn't it? You're sweet on Malfoy and you wanted to make him more comfortable by asking his favourite teacher."

Hermione snapped her purse shut rather harder than necessary. It banged open, spilling the contents to the floor.

"I don't think you understand," she said, bending to scrabble them together. "He's not here to chaperone and he's not here for Draco. He was the one I invited first and the rest of you were a bonus." She glanced up, shrugging an apology. "It never occurred to me they'd let you come, you see."

"You mean you wanted him?" Ginny said. "You wanted Snape? Snape, Hermione?"

Hermione coloured.

"Yes, I did!" she snapped. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your comments to yourself. I like him."

"Weird," Ginny muttered again. "Utterly and completely weird."

A/N In case you'd forgotten and were confused, Hermione wrote Snape in chapter 10 that if he brought her student-friends she'd invite Draco to keep the numbers even.

Tagine is a slow-cooked food; Ginny is talking about changing the meal menus, not sneaking down to the kitchens for a top-up.