Accidentally In Love
Chapter 2: Jump
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
A/N: I'm trying to keep updates with this quick. I know the chapters are short and sweet, but really the story is short and sweet, and I'd hate to ruin it just for the sake of lengthy chapters. Hopefully the quickness of updates will make up for it. Enjoy!
Your eyes tell me how you love me
Can feel it in your heart beat
I know you like what you see
Hold me, I'll give that you need
Wrap your love around me
You're so excited, I can feel you
Getting hotter, oh baby
-Jump (For My Love), Pointer Sisters
Hermione rubbed her face as she flipped though the files piled on her desk in the office above The Weaze. The company's plans to break into the American market were proving to be more difficult than expected. While several prominent American Wizardry school had initially agreed to allow catalogues of the twins merchandise to be distributed in their schools in exchange for donation to their education funds, many were now being send back, undistributed, with angry letters of the havoc the few sample products that had been sent along were making. The twins were no help. The had been delighted to hear that their love for shenanigans was now branching to another continent, and were confident that now that children had been given a taste of their goods, they'd find ways to get them, with or without the school supplying order forms. Hermione however was the one who had to deal with the angry headmasters and principals of the American institutions, and the money lost on the wasted adds.
Fred had other concerns.
"I can't believe you're going out with this guy," Fred exclaimed from his desk where he was lamely twirling in circles. Either of the twins rarely did anything when they were seated in the office, but for some reason they had decided they should take turns being in the shop and the office, one of them manning each post at all times. Generally Hermione wished they would both stay downstairs and leave her and the several other people who ran the office alone to do their jobs.
"It's just a date Fred," Hermione replied, annoyed.
"You don't even know him! What if he's a murderer? Or some sort of creep?"
"He' a friend of Harry's!" Hermione pushed her chair away from her desk and turned to face Fred, giving up on getting any more work done.
"Have you asked Harry anything about him?"
"He and Ginny are still on their honeymoon Fred. You know that."
"Well I think you should call and cancel. Talk to Harry before you get yourself into anything. Just because he was at Harry's wedding doesn't mean Harry would recommend dating him. I mean, Mad Eye Moody was there, I don't think Harry would fancy you dating him."
"Fred, Karl is just a nice guy, and it's just a date. Give it a rest."
"Just trying to watch out for you," Fred grumbled under his breath as he turned back to his desk as though he was actually going to do work.
Hermione had just slipped on her left shoe when her doorbell rang. He was there. She hurried out of her bedroom and to the front door, unlatching the chain she threw the door open.
"Hi," she smiled at the man standing at her door.
"Hi. It's good to see you again," he replied.
"You too." Hermione was relived to fine that Karl had no candies or flowers in a hand, a gesture that had always made her slightly uncomfortable. "Come in."
"Nice place you have here," Karl noted glancing around the flat.
"Oh thank you. Its small but its all we need. Just give me a second to say goodbye to Sam and Fred and I'll be ready to go."
Hermione turned and padded off to the bathroom. Inside she found both Fred and Sam in their swimming trunks seated in the bathtub.
"I'm leaving now," she directed at Fred. "Sam, have a good night with Fred, mommy will kiss you goodnight when she gets home."
"Bye mommy!" Sam laughed, not fazed that she was leaving.
Karl took Hermione to a lovely small restaurant before they were to go to the theatre to see a play that Karl had received tickets to through work. As the awaited their food Karl struck up conversation.
"So you have two roommates?"
"Pardon?" Hermione asked, slightly confused.
"Well I met Fred at the wedding, but…Sam did you say his name is?"
"Oh!" Hermione bit her lip. "Sam's my son."
Karl seemed surprised to find that Hermione was a mother but took it in stride.
"Is Fred…I don't mean to pry."
"Its alright," Hermione smiled. "No. Fred's not the father. I was married," Hermione looked for a reaction to this but found none, "I was married for several years, but my husband became ill and passed away when I was only a few months pregnant."
"Hermione I'm terribly sorry," Karl spoke sincerely. "You don't need to discuss this; not on our first date."
"It's alright. My son is something you should know about right off the bat, and with Sam comes Oliver. It doesn't bother me to talk about it."
"Were you together long?"
"We dated for two years and were married almost the same."
"I can't even imagine. So how old is Sam?"
"He's three." It was crazy to Hermione that Sam was already three.
"I have a niece who's three," Karl noted. "Funny how fast they grow up isn't it? Though, I doubt your son's grown quite into the spoiled princess my brother's raised my niece to be."
Hermione laughed. "I'm lucky he hasn't the way Fred spoils him half the time. I swear I must have been on something the day I offered to let Fred move in with us."
"He's a good friend though, to move in with a woman and her baby and not expect more than…well…"
Hermione laughed again. "Fred and I together is the most laughable thing I've ever heard of. We'd never work, we argue too much as it is, and Fred's against committed relationships."
"Interesting fellow I reckon."
"Interesting doesn't even begin to describe him."
Their food came shortly after that and they engaged in comfortable conversation for the remainder of the meal. Karl was incredibly intelligent and Hermione felt so excited to be able to discuss academic topic with a peer without feeling like a complete nerd. The Weasley's and Harry were good company but despite the intelligence she knew all of them had, she rarely found herself intellectually stimulated by any of them.
After dinner she and Karl walked to the small theatre just down the street from the restaurant. They had fantastic seats and the play was beautifully done. It had been ages since Hermione had been to any type of performance besides Quidditch, and even that had been years.
Surprisingly, Hermione found herself slightly sad when the evening was coming to an end, Karl walked her to her door, but she was happy that he made no hints or gestures of coming in.
"I had a great time Hermione," he told her.
"I did too. Everything was so great."
"May I call you again?" he asked.
"Of course! I'd love to see you again."
"Great!" Karl beamed, his eyes sparkling at her response. "Until then." Karl leaned in lightly brushed his lips across Hermione's cheek.
"Until then," Hermione barely whispered, swooning and the power Karl's small gesture had hit her with. Before another word was spoken Karl was gone, and Hermione was left in the hall of her building wondering how soon was too soon for a second date.