A/N: Deep breath everyone. That's it, inhale slowly and exhale slowly. It's going to be okay, I promise.
Bri892 - Thanks for prereading!
Chapter 24: Dating Lee
Lee Jordan leaned against the doorway of Hermione's office. He watched her work and soon realized she was too focused on her work to notice him. He cleared his throat but there was no response. He resorted to knocking on the door frame, startling Hermione.
"Oh, Lee! I didn't see you there. Come on in."
Lee stepped in and smiled, "How are you, Hermione?"
She was pleased that she was able to make small talk without butterflies in her stomach or her tell tale blush. Hermione confirmed their dinner plans for the next night.
"Great, now would you like to head to Happy Hour?"
Hermione smiled, "First, it's 11:00 am. Second, I am working."
Moving in closer, Lee whispered, "Okay, how about at 4 O'clock?"
Tilting her head up, Hermione gazed at him, "No, I have to get home to Sabrina."
Lee reached out and caressed her cheek, "But I can't wait until tomorrow night."
Hermione stood up and placed her hands on Lee's shoulders. Turning him around, she marched him out of her office. "Stop trying to distract me! I have work to do. Out with you!"
Laughing, Lee called over his shoulder, "Adieu, my lady."
~~~~O-O~~~~
"Who is the cutest boy in the world? Jamie is! Yes, he is!"
Harry pulled baby James out of Hermione's hands. "I will not allow you to baby talk to my child!"
Sabrina giggled and parroted her mother's words back to James and Harry. "Cutest boy, Jamie is!"
Hermione helped situate Sabrina on the couch so she could hold the baby. "Don't wiggle when you are carrying Jamie, okay? You have to be very gentle."
Harry placed the boy in blue footie pajamas into Sabrina's lap and her little arms wrapped around him.
"Look Aunt Ginny! I'm holding Jamie!"
Ginny smiled behind the camera; snapping away, "Good Job!"
The ladies exchanged pointed looks and Harry sighed, "You dress yourself every day, why do you need help for a date?"
Ginny and Hermione headed back to Hermione's room leaving Harry with the two children. They decided on the perfect "drool inducing" outfit and styled Hermione's hair.
When they returned to the living room, Severus and Harry (with Jamie napping in Harry's arms) were arguing over an article in the Daily Prophet as Sabrina zoomed around the room bouncing Kanga from object to object.
"Shall we head out?" Ginny asked Harry.
Turning towards them, Severus startled as he looked at Hermione. His eyes dropping slowly from her face down to her feet before settling on her face once again.
Harry broke the awkward silence, "You look really nice, Hermione. I'm sure you will have plenty of laughs tonight."
"Sabrina, can you help find all of Jamie's stuff?"
"Hold Kanga, Mummy." Sabrina passed her stuffed animal to Hermione before gathering up the blankets and toys littered around the living room.
After the Potters left, Severus tried to discuss dinner with Sabrina.
"Do you want to help Daddy cook or do you want to order from the kitchens? No, Mummy won't be home. No, ice cream is not dinner. Mummy will eat dinner with her friend. Oranges are not enough, would you like pasta? "
Giggling, Hermione watched as Severus tried to rein Sabrina in. "Remind me to only go out when she has a sleepover. Sabrina, come give me kisses. I will see you in the morning."
She crouched down and spoke with Sabrina and teetered as she tried to stand. Severus grasped her arm and helped right her. "Thank you, Severus."
Hermione left as Sabrina tried to convince her father that pasta was really worms and shouldn't be served for dinner. She didn't notice his eyes on her as she walked away.
~~~~O-O~~~~
Hermione went to lunch with Ginny the next day, "Oh, I have never smiled so much. My cheeks hurt. We didn't stop the whole night. First, we went to a tapas place and tried so many things. Then we walked through the botanic gardens before he was hungry again. We had to get pizza. Then we went to see this wizarding band. It was awful and I couldn't stop giggling. Every song had the word Magic in it. So he said he was entitled to a kiss each time they said it."
"So you kissed, mmmm mmm mmm!"
Taking a sip of her water, Hermione smiled, "Oh yes, we kissed and a little more than that."
When the hooting and hollering attracted attention from the other diners; they quieted down.
"We are going out again this weekend. I have to say I am beyond thrilled that my parents are hosting another sleepover. I may have to have a sleepover of my own."
Ginny laughed, "I'm sure there you won't be watching the Little Mermaid at your sleepover."
"He is just so, I don't know... So fun. Anyway, have to get back to work. I have a meeting with Vanessa."
The women hugged their goodbyes and Hermione returned to the office.