“So, how are the rescue efforts going?” Hermione was nervous and, honestly, just trying to make polite conversation as she sat across from Rick at a table inside The Three Broomsticks. “I've been so busy with the education part of things that I haven't had time to get any updates the past few weeks.”
Rick threw back a shot of firewhiskey before he answered her. “We're closing in on 220 refugees at Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall made a deal with an American magic school in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Starting next month, they'll take all of the North American survivors while we handle Europe.”
“What happens when we run out of room for survivors here?” That was a worry that had been on Hermione's mind for a while.
“Professor McGonagall promised the Ministry of Magic that we'd cap off the number of survivors on the Hogwarts grounds at 400 people,” Rick explained as Madam Rosmerta delivered another round of shots. “Draco's offered up his family's mansion and Sirius donated a townhouse in London. Right now, we still have room for a little under 200 more survivors. Everyone with any kind of connections – McGonagall, Harry, Draco, Sirius, Lupin, even Snape – are putting out feelers for more places we can use for housing.” He passed her one of the full shot glasses. “Ya know, Hermione, I asked you out on a date. This wasn't meant to be a work meeting.”
Hermione blushed. “I know. I'm just rubbish at dates so I went with a safe topic of discussion.” She held her breath and threw back her shot of firewhiskey and tried not to vomit. She wasn't a whiskey girl. She preferred red wine or giggle water.
Rick chuckled. “Well, I ain't been on a date in 15 years and I've had all of two girlfriends in my entire life. I'm not exactly an expert myself.”
“Carl told me what happened to your wife,” she recklessly blurted out. “I am so sorry,” on so many levels.
Rick nodded. “I loved Lori from the moment I met her but...we had problems.”
“What do you mean?” Hermione boldly reached across the table and took his hand in hers.
“I never quite managed to live up to Lori's expectations of a husband. Before the virus, we'd fight every other damn day. When she thought I'd died during the first days of the outbreak...she was with my best friend, Shane. Judith's my daughter but she's not my blood.” He sounded so hurt and Hermione felt like a horrible person for bringing up bad memories for him.
“Judy adores you,” she squeezed his hand. “And so does Carl. Not every relationship is meant to last forever.”
Rick raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you're speaking from experience.”
Hermione nodded. “When Harry and I were at Hogwarts as students, we had another best friend, Ron, Ginny's older brother. After the war, Ron and I dated for 2 years but we split up because I refused to marry him and become a stay-at-home mum. Now we can't even be in the same room together. 15 years of friendship down the drain.”
Rick shrugged his shoulders and smiled warmly at her. “It's his loss.”
And Hermione was starting to hope that it would be Rick's gain.
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