Rick was no Casanova but being around Hermione sure made him feel like he was. The woman would blush scarlet if he paid her so much as an honest compliment. On the walk home from the Three Broomsticks, he was pretty sure he actually heard her giggle when he reached out and took her hand in his. Hermione was a smart, beautiful woman. He had heard other witches and wizards refer to her as the ‘bright witch of her age.’ Rick was amazed that it took so little to impress her.
Instead of parting ways on the foot path where the trail to the gates of Vita-Nova began, Rick continued all the way up the path so he could safely see Hermione up to the castle. While he too lived in the medieval structure, he was usually on call most nights in the operations tent or within the gates of Vita-Nova dealing with one problem or another. He walked Hermione to her chambers at the base of Gryffindor Tower. “Thanks for coming out with me tonight, Hermione. I really expected you to shoot me down cold, darlin’.”
“Why would I do that?” Hermione looked bemused.
Rick couldn’t help but smirk a little. “Well, sweetheart, from what I’ve heard from literally every single one of your friends here at Hogwarts and from what I’ve read in the Daily Prophet, you’re kinda a big deal in this world.”
Hermione didn’t blush like he expected her to. Instead, she rolled her eyes and huffed. Then she crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t believe everything you read…especially if it was written by a foul little woman named Rita Skeeter. We have…a complicated history. As for my friends, you’ll have to admit they are a bit biased since they are my friends.”
Rick had heard of Hermione’s heroics during a wizarding war that had been fought in the 1990’s when she was just a teenager, not that much older than Carl. The fact that she chose to brush off the recognition made her all the more attractive in his eyes. Fame and adoration rotted the brain and destroyed the soul. Hermione was wise to shun the spotlight. He let the subject drop. “Regardless, I’m happy you agreed to spend the evening with me.” He reached up and brushed some of her curly hair behind her ear. “I wouldn’t mind doin’ it again sometime…soon.”
“I’d love to do it again.” Hermione’s pretty blush was back. “I have to make a trip to Diagon Alley tomorrow for some extra school supplies. You’re welcome to come along. You could bring Carl and Judy.” Hermione was the only person who called his little girl ‘Judy.’ The fact that the witch had such a close relationship with his kids was yet another part of her appeal. Carl loved being taught by her and was often found hanging around her classroom. Judith was the youngest child on the grounds, so she was fawned over a fair bit, but she always seemed to be at her happiest when she was in Hermione’s arms. Kids were the best judges of character they said. “We could visit the ice cream shop and my friends, Fred and George, own a joke shop that I’m sure Carl would get a kick out of.”
Hermione was nervous and rambling. Rick decided to silence her with a kiss to her motormouth. “Sounds like a plan,” he told her when they parted for air.
Rick was starting to think that the blush on Hermione’s cheeks might just become permanent, but he was pleased by the happy little smile on her lips. “Meet me in the entrance hall tomorrow at two. We’ll travel by apparition in the village. Easiest way with the kids.”
Rick couldn’t resist giving her another quick kiss. “See ya tomorrow, sweetheart.”
ns 15.158.61.20da2
