Beater 2, Wigtown Wanderers QLFC Season 10
Main Prompt: Ron
Optional Prompts: 3. [setting] Muggle London and 4. [spell] Aguamenti
Word Count: 1232
~wWw~
"You think I should do what?" Ron asked, his voice rising in pitch as he stared at his best friend.
"Take Hermione on a date in Muggle London," Harry spoke, pausing a moment before continuing. "Think about it, Ron. She is very connected to her Muggle roots."
"Yeah, that's true, I guess. I'll think about it. Thanks, Harry," Ron said, his head tilting slightly to the side as he pondered his best friend's words.
"Let me know if you need any help setting something up," Harry offered as the pair refocused their attention on the files before them. Ron nodded absent-mindedly, his attention on the file he was flipping through.
"Take a look at this," Ron said, handing the file to Harry, his pointer finger indicating a sentence about halfway down the page.
Harry quickly skimmed the file, slowing down as he reached the indicated text. His breathing paused as he contemplated what the text before him meant. "This is it. This is the evidence we need for a warrant," Harry murmured, eyes scanning the text again, wanting to ensure he wasn't missing something.
Ron nodded absent-mindedly as his thoughts drifted to Hermione. Their relationship wasn't exactly going to plan. Hermione wanted to further her career and wasn't yet ready for kids, but he wanted many kids as soon as possible. Hopefully, this could provide the spark to rekindle their relationship.
"Let's head down and see if Hermione can get us one," Ron said with a grin as a plan slowly took shape in his head. Harry followed Ron out of their office and to the Ministry elevators.
~wWw~
"Hey, Hermione," Harry said with a grin as he and Ron sauntered into her office.
"Boys, what can I do for you this afternoon?" she asked in response, a grin of her own covering her face.
"A warrant to search the Goyle family home," Ron said as Harry handed Hermione the file.
She gave them a questioning look before carefully reading through the file before her. Even though they knew they had what they needed, both men nervously shifted as they waited for her to finish. After a few moments, she looked up.
"Looks good. I'll try to catch one of the judges before they leave for the day. Let me know if you need anything else," Hermione spoke, attention still partially on the papers before her. A notebook now joined them as she began rapidly scribbling notes across the page. As Harry left the room, her attention fully turned to the notebook before her, distracting her from the fact that Ron remained behind.
"Oh, Ron, sorry I didn't notice you'd stayed," Hermione said when she finally noticed him.
"No worries, Hermione," he said, his voice deep and rough compared to hers.
"What can I do for you?" she asked, pushing her notebook and papers to the side, giving him her full attention.
"I was wondering if you would like to go on a date this weekend?" Ron asked, his voice betraying his nervousness.
"I would love to," Hermione said with a small smile towards him.
"Brilliant, wear Muggle clothing. Now I've got to catch up with Harry," Ron said, quickly turning and scurrying out of her office.
Hermione stared after him, perplexed. He had never indicated any interest in going to the Muggle world before, and now it seemed he was taking her on a date.
Ron quickly caught up with Harry, who was waiting just outside Hermione's office, far enough away that he wasn't in hearing distance, allowing the couple some privacy. Ron grinned at Harry, glad that his conversation with Hermione had gone well.
~wWw~
Hermione sat on her bed, eyes glued to the clock on the wall.
11:31
Twenty-nine minutes remaining until Ron would be here to pick her up for their date. Something about this date made her more nervous than any of the previous dozen they had been on. This one was in the Muggle world. As far as she knew, Ron had never been to the Muggle world. She just hoped it would go well.
11:37
Twenty-three minutes remaining. Hermione flopped onto her side, pulling her book from the shelf when time moved too slowly. She read for a little bit, her eyes darting across the page.
11:47
"Close enough," Hermione said to herself as she looked up at the clock again. Putting her book to the side, she sat up, exited her room and walked downstairs to wait for Ron. She waited for fourteen minutes until the knock she was waiting for came.
"Hello, Ron," Hermione said, a pleasant smile spreading across her face at the look of him in Muggle clothing. It fit him well.
"Hello, Hermione," Ron said with a sheepish grin, "Sorry I'm a bit late. Harry only told me at the last minute that Muggles give flowers on dates." He pulled out a beautiful bundle of flowers and handed them to her.
"Oh, thank you, Ron. They are wonderful," Hermione said as she carefully took them from him. She turned slightly to put them in the vase in her entryway. The flowers nicely filled the previously empty vase.
"Aguamenti," she said, speaking clearly. The pair watched as her wand filled the vase, allowing the flowers to sit in a few centimetres of water.
"So I haven't been much in the Muggle world, but Harry suggested a movie and dinner. Showed me where everything was on a map too. I figured we could walk as we are going the Muggle way?" Ron suggested, his nails clicking against one another nervously as he appraised her facial expression.
"That sounds wonderful Ron," Hermione said with an encouraging grin at the nervous boy-turned-man before her. He held his hand out to her like she had done to him many times in the past. She carefully took it, allowing him to guide her out and away from her home.
~wWw~
"Entrapment was so good!" Hermione gushed as they left the theatre.
"I wasn't so sure about a Muggle movie, but it was amazing," Ron said, still in wonder at the scenes that had played out before them.
"I've never seen anything make insurance and art interesting. Are you ready for dinner?" Ron continued, gently pulling Hermione the few blocks down the street until the pair reached a small, semi-formal restaurant. Ron pulled the door open, carefully holding it open so Hermione could step through first.
"Hello, a table for two, please," Ron said with a bright smile at the hostess.
"Of course, right this way," she replied, leading the pair to a semi-secluded spot near the back of the restaurant. "Your server will be right with you."
Ron carefully pulled out Hermione's chair for her, gently pushing it in for her as she sat down before returning to his own chair.
As he pulled out his own chair, Ron took a deep breath, willing the last of his nerves away. He really needed to thank Harry for suggesting this. Everything had gone well so far, and the way Hermione was excitedly looking at the menu suggested the rest of the night would, too. If Ron had his way, this was the first of many dates they would have in the Muggle world.
When Hermione looked up at him and smiled, a pretty blush gracing her cheeks, Ron thought she might be thinking the same thing, too.
