I Never Thought It Would Be You

Second Interlude - A Floo Conversation

By Pigwidgeon37

“What are you doing at home, Hermione? It’s Friday night!”

“I could ask you the same. To answer your question: I’m preparing the material for tomorrow's meeting. We have to be convincing, or otherwise the Ministry won’t fund our project. And you? What is your excuse for skulking in the dungeons?”

“Grading homework?”

“Sev, this particular excuse is getting a bit old. How do you expect to meet anybody if you never go out?”

“I don’t want to meet anybody, just in case you forgot.”

“That's not true, and you know it. You’re just frustrated, because you picked the wrong person twice. It’s perfectly understandable, and I’m having the same problem. You know what? We should pick dates for each other!”

“Why on earth should we do that, Hermione? Did you have too much wine, or what?”

“No, just listen, it's perfectly logical. And don’t raise that eyebrow, I’m not impressed. So: the big problem are hormones. When we pick a date, we can’t see clearly because of them. But if I chose a woman for you-”

“Hermione, please, this is insane!”

“It’s not! On the contrary! We know each other so well by now, we’ve been friends for more than a year and are spending lots of time together. You know exactly what I might like, and vice versa. Plus, we could avoid the hormonal trap. If it weren’t for your narrow-mindedness-”

“What? What do you mean? I’m not narrow-minded!”

“Oh yes, you are. Or would you date a Muggle?”

“Ha, ha. That's the same as asking you whether you’d date Lucius.”

“Of course I would-”

“Really? Very well, I'll bring Lucius. He’s filthy rich, he’s a widower, he’s one of the heroes who killed Voldemort-what else can you ask? Or are you back-pedalling?”

“N-no, of course not… Then I’ll bring a Muggle friend. She’s dying to meet you. Deal?”

“Deal. Next Friday at Caligula's?”

“Perfect. Eight p.m.?”

“Eight p.m.”