This is being cross-posted from Ao3. It was originally posted on 17 January 2023.

Thank you to GaeilgeRua for allowing me to use her Grammarly! Any other mistakes are definitely my own..

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, and Warner Bros. No copyright infringement is intended.

Prompt: Maira request for Neville/Pansy Chef/Restaurant/patisserie AU

Table for Two

Rated: Teen & Up

Pairing: Neville Longbottom/Pansy Parkinson

Word Count: 755

Summary: Pansy catches the eye of the most popular Chef in London.

"A gin and tonic please," pansy told the bartender as she sat down on the stool.

She swivelled around to take in the sights of The Greenhouse, London's most famous restaurant. It'd opened a little over a month before, and business was booming. But, unfortunately, she had a lengthy wait every time that Pansy came by. It was alright, though, because the drinks were strong and the staff was pleasant.

As she accepted and paid for her drink, Pansy smiled and looked around. Plants hung from the ceiling and grew from a myriad of pots and planters all around the restaurant. It was very green and lively, which was not your typical decor for a restaurant. Pansy loved it, though. Something about it drew her in and left her wanting more.

Then, there was the Chef and owner, Neville Longbottom. He was tall and handsome and made the best food this side of London. While others flocked to The Greenhouse to fawn over Chef Longbottom, Pansy returned time and time to try all of the wonderful dishes on the menu. Okay, so she did try to catch glimpses of the Chef, but her ultimate goal was to see what was new to the menu.

Like tonight, for instance. Pansy had been stood up by an idiotic Tinder date, and so she'd called and tried to get a spot on the reservation list at The Greenhouse. There were no open spots, but they told her she could come in and get on the regular waiting list since she was just one person. Sipping her gin and tonic, Pansy cringed at that. Nevertheless, she was waiting again for a seat at her new favourite restaurant.

Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts. As Pansy turned, she nearly choked on her drink. Chef Longbottom himself was standing there with a slight grin on his face. Her mouth had dropped open, but when she realized it, she popped it shut and tried to shake the shock from her system. Another gulp of her gin and tonic helped do the trick.

"Sorry if I startled you, Miss," Chef Longbottom said, casually ignoring her surprise. "I saw you were sitting here alone, and I couldn't have that. May I ask your name?" He extended his hand to her in greeting.

Pansy blinked once and then twice before sense returned, and she could speak. "Oh, um… I'm Pansy. Pansy Parkinson." She placed her hand in his and let him give it a gentle shake.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Parkinson," Neville said as he let go of her hand. "I'm-"

"You're Chef Longbottom," Pansy said in a calm voice, full of admiration. "It's such an honour to meet you. I love your restaurant."

Chuckling, Neville shook his head a second. "You can call me Neville. I'm flattered, by the way, that you love The Greenhouse so much. I've noticed you here many times. You caught my eye."

"Gosh, that's embarrassing," Pansy muttered, covering her face with one hand to hide her blush.

Neville reached out and gently removed her hand from Pansy's face. "No, don't be embarrassed. I love that you come here so often. It's just that I've found myself looking for you," Neville explained, a blush forming on his cheeks now. Then, clearing his throat, he added, "Can I ask you to have dinner with me?"

"Really?" Pansy asked, her eyes wide. "You want to have dinner with me?"

"I'd love to," Neville told her, offering his hand again, but this time to help her from where she sat at the bar.

Pansy eagerly accepted, her heart nearly beating out of her chest. "I would love to have dinner with you," she said, amazed at how the evening had taken a turn for the better. She let Neville hold her hand as he led them to the maître d.

"Table for two, please," Chef Longbottom told the maître d'., who nodded and immediately grabbed two menus before leading them to one of the best seats in the restaurant.

As they sat down, Pansy couldn't keep the grin from her face. Tonight she was about to have dinner with one of London's most handsome men. Picking up her menu, she set it aside and asked him, "So, what do you recommend?"

Neville laughed and reached for her hand. "The chef's special for sure," he replied, and they laughed.

Pansy couldn't wait to see where the night would go, but she suspected that it would be a fantastic evening.