Title: A Bit Longer
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Hermione/Kingsley
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 452
Summary: Hermione has been stood up, but it's not all bad.
Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Bridget Wenlock - Bronze - Prompts Used - Arithmancy, Seven, Secret, Travel

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: February Event - My Love - Prompt Used - restaurant (location)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: [Writing Club!] The Word Prompt Express - Prompt Used - 37. Attach

Hermione sat alone at the fancy French restaurant. She played with her napkin, going over Arithmancy calculations in her head. She was doing everything to not think about the fact that it was now seven, and it was almost an hour since her date was supposed to be here.

It was no secret that she wasn't attached to anyone. With her job requiring her to constantly travel, it was easier to be single, but that didn't mean she wasn't lonely. And when a man she vaguely recognized from Hogwarts, a man that was a couple of years older than her, asked her on a date, she jumped at the chance. And now she regretted it.

She sighed. She knew she should just leave. It was obvious that he wasn't showing up but something kept her glued to her seat.

"Hermione?" a familiar gravelly voice asked.

Hermione looked up and met dark, friendly eyes. She attempted a smile. "Kingsley, what are you doing here?"

"My date's a no-show."

She smirked grimly. "Join the club."

Kingsley sat down across from her with a furrowed brow. "Your date didn't show up?"

"You sound surprised," she murmured, eyes moving back to her empty plate.

"I am."

She looked up again, surprise coloring her voice when she asked, "Really?"

"Hermione, you're a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, wonderful woman. If a guy is lucky enough to have a chance with you, he should hold onto it with both hands, not throw it away. The guy obviously didn't have any brains.

She smiled, and this time it was genuine. "Thank you. I was feeling pretty bad about myself, but you've me feel so much better."

Kingsley reached for her hand. "You know, I've wanted to ask you out for a while now, but I didn't think you would be interested because I'm so much older than you. And now I regret never asking you."

Her breath caught in her throat at the intense look he was giving her. "What's stopping you from asking me out now?"

He took the not-so-cryptic hint. "Hermione, will you like to have dinner with me?"

"Now?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, we're already at a restaurant and neither of us has eaten. The timing couldn't be better."

She grinned. "I would love to have dinner with you, Kingsley."

He leaned forward and he raised her hand, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. "Wonderful." He called the server over. "I think we're ready to order."

Hermione leaned back in her chair, ignoring the fluttering in her stomach as she ordered her dish. She was so glad she listened to her instinct and stayed seated at the table just a bit longer.