Harry Potter and Ron Weasley soon arrived at the table, dropping their wands and sitting down directly across from the couple.
"Harry, I know you have a date with Cho Chang today," Hermione began efficiently, clearing her throat, "But could you please meet me at the Three Broomsticks around two o'clock sharp?"
"What?! Blimey, Harry, what on earth are you doing agreeing to that?! That, that girl is bad news," Ron's startled ears turned a bright red, looking as if he had just woken up from a horrific nightmare or maybe his brain simply hadn't gotten up from poster curtains at all this morning, "I am never, ever dating a bloody Chine----"
"Ronald! That is an exceptionally racist comment—wait, Harry, are you alright?" At first, Hermione wanted to chastise Ron for his ignorance, who thought he had rather drowned in the Black Lake instead. But when she saw Potter's incredibly gloomy, miserable face, she immediately changed her entire tune.
Harry looked exactly as if he had just swallowed a crate of rancid Dungbombs. He was holding his head in his hands, completely unable to believe the reality of today's romantic schedule. To be perfectly honest with himself, he had actually set out early yesterday morning intending to ask Luna Lovegood if she would like to spend the holiday with him, after the girl had been so exceptionally nice to him over the years.
But when it came down to actually showing his moves in the corridor, his nerves had gotten so flustered that he had straight-on marched right towards Cho Chang, who was standing nearby with her friend Marietta Edgecombe, and popped the question to her instead without hesitation. In underlying brain, he had already discarded Chang from the list of his romantic fancies after severe emotional trauma of wet kiss.
The misery didn't end there, though. For a terrifying halt during intercept, he could have sworn he felt Luna's glare at his back from behind dreamy stance. The sudden, uncharacteristic drop in her mood had caused Harry to shiver horribly; he had literally toppled over his own footsteps in a panic and ran away down the stairs, not daring to look back at her eyes.
He had gotten so worried that other girls might find out he was privately learning a few seduction tips from Hermione in his notepad just to woo her greatest social enemy, Luna Lovegood of all the witches at Hogwarts.
Worse, instead of staying cozy up with his comfort zone that was RavenClaw girl, he was terrified if she'd found out his moves and lines were taken up from one Granger, whom she had openly relayed to him as---'narrow minded girl who needed to have everything shoved under her nose before her brain to click,' over the magical creatures she called Heliopaths.
She would be furious if she knew he had paid Granger, to be some kind of personal love teacher.
If that embarrassing secret ever came out to the public, Harry was sure he would die under the witches fists before Voldemort could ever knock on his door at Privet Drive to curse him with an 'Avada Kedavra' Was his blood line fishing too far out into the lake, going for a Ravenclaw? "Well... Cho might expect me to spend whole afternoon with her in the village," he said, letting out a nervous, cracking chuckle as he questioned whether he had gotten himself too deep into hole.
"Bring her along if you must, Harry, but this meeting is important for us, okay?" Hermione asked, wanting to make sure the boy was sane today; otherwise, her schedule would face a massive headache in rescheduling Rita Skeeter.
"Alright... fine..." Harry sighed heavily, almost giving up on the Gryffindor table. Why on earth was his friend circle so incredibly weird this term? Even Neville Longbottom these days looked dangerous, like a wizard walking a route to becoming criminal.
xxxxxxx
Just as Lucifer stood up from the bench alongside Hermione and Harry to head for entrance hall, Angelina Johnson arrived through the double doors, dressed in her scarlet Quidditch garb, "Ron, let's go right now! Lucifer, you too!"
"Merlin," Harry muttered under his breath, feeling relief that monitoring meant he wasn't playing for the Quidditch team right now. If he had been that stubborn, Johnson might be dragging his body through the Great Hall by collar.
Lucifer remained stoic. He gave the raven-haired a curious look first, analyzing what was so strange with him today, before his eyes shifted back to the new arrival's face, "Me too for what... exactly, Johnson?"
"Quidditch practice, Morningstar! I've got the entire pitch booked all day for team practice, so go up to the tower and get dressed into your uniform!" Angelina barked, trying her best to hurry the boy along.
"Johnson, I have a pre-arranged date down in Hogsmeade with Hermione today, so I am not going to the pitch," Lucifer said flatly. Just as Harry had predicted in his brain, the boy had chosen a holy grail war, standing ground without fear.
"I better see you at that pitch in half an hour, Lucifer," She stated, trying her absolute best to stare down his black pupils.
"Then I hope you intend to find a brand-new starting Seeker for the next house match," Lucifer said, his voice dropping into a dangerous pretense. He was not going to let Angelina boss him around. Was this girl blind? What on earth was Fred doing anyway, couldn't the bloke take her out on a bloody date to remove this unneeded stress from everyone's holiday?
"Look at the facts: I originally joined this team back because Harry was getting unfair detentions with Umbridge, and I agreed to be the full-time Seeker when his sky record was under monitoring... But I'll be damned if I am going to let you force me to practice on a Hogsmeade weekend, on Valentine's Day, no less. So, Angelina Johnson, I am not going to the pitch."
Angelina looked downright furious, her face turning a dark red as she shook, "If you don't show up for team practice today, Morningstar, you forfeit the Seeker spot on my roster!"
Lucifer looked down for a brief second, thinking about ultimatum she had just spoken, before eyes snapped back up on her face, "Well... then I wish you the best of luck in next game." He turned his back on her, taking long strides walking straight away from Johnson's position, completely missing the sudden, pained expression of shock that broke across her face.
Even Harry and Ron were left utterly stunned by Lucifer's sudden, total change in tune regarding his Quidditch loyalty. Harry also looked mildly infuriated at him for so casually turning away from a spot that he would give almost anything to be a part of again.
Hermione was entirely sure she saw a few tears falling from Angelina's eyes as the older girl turned around and almost stomped away toward the oak doors, grumbling under her breath that she wished You-Know-Who had cursed the 'Defense Against the Dark Arts' subject even harder so that the toad woman Umbridge had died early in her office, not at the near end of the year.
Fully agreeing with the captain's bitter sentiment regarding Ministry, Hermione rapidly caught up with her boyfriend's steps down the stone lane.
"Lucifer?"
"If that ruined your Hogsmeade holiday mood, pet..." Lucifer began, a trace of sorrow in his voice.
"No... no, it's okay. I honestly can't believe she possessed the nerve to try and force to go to play in grueling Quidditch practice on Valentine's Day of all choices... Just because her own life doesn't currently host a significant other to hold, doesn't mean you don't have one," Hermione said softly, her hand sliding down to run firmly along upper bicep, her fingers feeling the dense muscles beneath his cardigan. Even though she did not grow a physical muscle fetish, the touch grounded her senses beautifully, that's right, she was not growing more kinks for the time being.
He stopped on the stone path, turning around to look straight down into her eyes, "Thank you, pet. Truly."
'That desperate captain bitch! I certainly didn't push these silicone balls inside my pussy this morning for nothing. Like I would ever just allow her to take my boyfriend away for some stupid Quidditch practice on our first holiday, hah!' Hermione was furious inside her own mind, but she somehow managed to pass a tiny, beautiful smile up at his face, "You're very welcome. So, where are we going for Valentine's Day?"
"Well, I vividly remember you previously stating about having no interest in the venue," Lucifer smiled, his fingers catching hers as they continued walking toward the gates, "But I was thinking that for at least an hour or two, we could go down to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop? If I am right, the establishment will look like it did during my previous visit last year."
The bushy-haired girl tightly linked her arm around his bicep as they cleared the boundaries.
"It's fine, Lucifer. It is probably the only commercial place in Hogsmeade I've not visited yet, so one trip there won't hurt my record," Hermione said with a half-smile, leaning her weight close into his arm to feel the spheres shift within her heat.
After a little bit of walking down the muddy, thawing paths, the young couple successfully made it into the bustling lanes of Hogsmeade village, and Lucifer guided his girlfriend straight toward the pink-painted front door of 'Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop'
Looking through the glass windows into the interior establishment, tearoom was, as expected, decorated for the holiday: golden cherubs were hovering regally over each lace table, though they noticebly were not throwing pink confetti today onto the unsuspecting couples below them like they had done last year.
He walked inside the warm, steam-filled room with Hermione close to his side, and they were immediately greeted by Madam Puddifoot herself, who was smoothing her frilly apron, "Oh, Lucifer! I was quietly wondering if I would see your handsome face inside my shop again this winter or not."
"Yeah, I haven't had a reason to report until now, honestly," Lucifer said, his eyes tracking the store.
"Oh, whatever happened to that lovely French girl you brought last year?" Madam Puddifoot asked casually, her eyes passing over guest's shoulder to evaluate the shorter girl standing by his elbow.
Hermione's head snapped toward his neck instantly, a huge, burning look of jealousy breaking across her features. Her knuckles tightened around his bicep so possessively her nails dug through the knit fabric. She had no idea her boyfriend had come to this romantic shop with Eve Delacour last year! 'When did that happen? Did they snog behind my back? Did he touch her?!' She felt glad she had made the right decision of inviting him over the Christmas holidays to lock down his loyalty.
"Oh... Eve is just a very good friend, Madam Puddifoot," Lucifer said, his voice level as instincts warned him to not dare look down at the terrifying expression currently tightening across his girlfriend's face.
Hermione still didn't lose an inch of her tight, possessive grip around his arm, breathing shallow.
"Granger here is my girlfriend."
"Fair enough, dear. Well, let me take your coats and guide straight to your reserved table," Madam Puddifoot said, turning to lead them through the crowded rows of couples.
On the short way through the tables, Hermione leaned her head close to his lips, momentarily forgetting all about the French girl entirely as the internal spheres rolled against her walls, "Did you actually go ahead and reserve a table here beforehand, Lucifer?"
"I may have, pet. I wanted to be certain our holiday was guaranteed a table without waiting in the wind, so I owled Madam Puddifoot about a reservation for Valentine's Day weeks ago," Lucifer responded right as they arrived at their secluded corner table, guiding her into her seat before sitting down directly across from one another.
"Were you even sure I would want to come to a place like this?" Hermione asked him, eyes tracking the golden cherubs overhead.
"No, it was a blind gamble on my part," he stated with a smirk, "Knowing very well you only like to play the game when the odds are heavily in your favor..."
"What will you both be having to start off with today, luvs? Or rather, what specific kind of tea, can I start your morning off with?" Madam Puddifoot asked, putting her hands on her hips. Instead of sending a common girl attendant to the corner, she had personally come over to serve the youth's needs.
"I'll have a cup of... Genmaicha...? Green tea, please?" Hermione asked, hoping her tongue pronounced the syllables correctly.
"I'll take a cup of Assam black tea," Lucifer instructed without looking at the menu his girlfriend had claimed over for the time being.
"Coming right up, luvs. I'll get your pots brought to the table shortly," Madam Puddifoot smiled and darted away to tend another table.
Hermione watched her apron vanish for a brief moment before looking back across the lace table on Lucifer, "I'll be honest with you... I have no idea what kind of tea I just ordered..."
"Genmaicha is a very specific type of Japanese Green Tea mixed with roasted brown rice," Lucifer explained effortlessly.
"And how did you know that detail?" Her eyes widened in awe.
"I know almost everything in the Muggle realm, pet," Lucifer said with a classic smirk, "But I asked 'Madam Puddifoot' for parchment list of her international selections last year, and she listed the precise geographical origin of each, so I could order a better variety of leaves for our kitchen at Lux..."
"So, where does Assam Tea originate from?" She asked, leaning forward over her knees, the movement causing her braless nipples to press firmly against the silk of her blouse.
"India."
"I always knew British people loved their tea habits, but I never actually learned the history of where leaves originally came from," Hermione explained to her boyfriend.
"Lucky for your studies, I have," Lucifer smiled warmly across the candles at her face, "The tea that the Brits drink originally derived mainly from Asia, and more specifically from China during the Seventeenth Century, give or take a few decades. For the longest time in history, only people of highest Nobility status could afford to drink the import," he said, casually removing the memory of him once going in disguise as a simple plantation worker in the Singhpo tribe region to evaluate the crops, "While Britain was colonizing over half the globe, the tea trade was officially started, and soon, like it remains today, became a national staple of this country... When people think of tea ceremonies now, they tend to think of the United Kingdom instead of China, Japan, or India."
"Well, don't I just have the most intelligent boyfriend ever?" Hermione couldn't help the massive, ear-to-ear smile breaking across her face as their steaming teapots were soon brought to the table. She took a slow, careful sip of her Genmaicha Tea and instantly fell in love with the nutty taste against her tongue. "This is wonderful, Lucifer!"
"I'm glad you like it so much, pet," Lucifer said, taking a calm sip of his own hot tea.
"Can I... can I sample yours?" Hermione asked him, her eyes shifting down to track the dark, rich colour at the top of his cup. She noted the placement where his lips had just been resting against the porcelain, intending to place her own right there on the same coordinate to claim a secret taste of his mouth.
He just smiled warmly at her, eyes glinting with a knowing amusement. "Of course you can," he murmured, sliding his cup across the lace cloth toward the brunette's fingers.
Having secured a beautiful window table for their date, Lucifer leaned his head back slightly, blankly gazing out the clear glass casement as the pale winter sun broke through the clouds to warm his face. Out in the lanes of Hogsmeade, he saw rows of Hogwarts students happily walking around the village, laughing and enjoying their holiday with no care in the world, no fear of Voldemort on their minds, and no thoughts of the escaped Azkaban prisoners to break their peace.
He was abruptly brought back from his sightseeing, however, when he felt the edge of cup brush softly against his hand. He looked down at saucer and saw nothing but a completely empty cup resting. Lucifer blinked, his brows raising as he looked up at her flushed face, "Don't tell me... did you seriously just drink the entire portion---"
"I'm so sorry!" Hermione exclaimed, her face turning pink as she tried her best to play the innocent, childish girl about what her mouth had done, secretly hoping her Daddy would forgive her greed, "But the Assam blend is just soooo good, Lucifer! I've never tasted such wonderfully exotic tea before!"
Lucifer let out a soft sigh, shaking his head while chuckling richly at her enthusiasm, "Don't worry your pretty head about it, pet. I'll just call and order another cup for the table."
Which he did when Madam Puddifoot bustled over to their corner, carrying a complimentary plate of desserts just to honor him for being the most prestigious guest inside her shop. He tried his best to politely decline the presentation, but the proud shopkeeper wasn't having any of his protests, setting the silver tray down with a firm nod.
Pretty soon, after having thoroughly indulged in numerous types of rare teas and premium sweets, namely clearing a few rich varieties of Chocolate truffles, a Dolphins lava chocolate cake, and hot goose pancake, Hermione sat back against her chair, delightfully satisfied with herself. Her inside spheres rattled gently with the shift of her waist, sending a sudden flush down her thighs, "Oh, thank you so much for bringing me to this shop, Lucifer. This was a wonderful date."
"I never thought I could get so much internal enjoyment out of simply watching you happily enjoy each new cup brought, but I truly did... Seeing your face brighten up with flavours tasted was a real treat, Hermione," Lucifer sighed softly. He had his chin comfortably rested on palm for the past half hour, his elbow propped against the table as he admired her beauty.
"I'm just glad you could find enjoyment watching me drink, Lucifer. No matter how odd and embarrassing that is to say out loud..." Hermione's voice trailed off into a shy whisper. She noticed his eyes shifting back toward the glass window, and her own curiosity peered over his shoulder to see what specific element outside could possibly be more interesting than her fishy smell.
"Oh, you just missed the window when Harry and Chang walked right into the tea room a few minutes ago," Lucifer drawled, a lazy smirk on his lips. "They went straight to sit on opposite end to avoid the crowd, though."
Hermione turned her face sharply to the right side, scanning the pink dividers until she spotted them, "I hope those nerves hold out and date goes well... Come on then, Lucifer, we have a meeting with Rita Skeeter to keep down at the 'Three Broomsticks."
She stood up fluidly from the chair, the movement causing silicone balls to roll tightly against her walls as she sidled out from the narrow space between the table.
"I can barely contain my excitement..." Lucifer said with a thick sarcasm. He stood up, adjusted his clothes, and carelessly left ten gold Galleons on the tablecloth as a massive thank-you for excellent service before guiding her out door.
xxxxxx
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