Potter's Love Story
They didn't get to see the stars that night.
As evening approached, a light snow began to fall, and a damp, cold fog spread, enveloping London.
The four of them had dinner at a restaurant at the foot of the mountain, and then naturally walked to the station together. Queenie asked, "Where do you all live? Are we all going in the same direction?" She turned to Harry, "By the way, didn't your colleague named Sirius also live near my house yesterday? What a wonderful coincidence."
Harry answered first, "Only for part of the same route, we weren't on the same bus." Ron had unconsciously mentioned several kinds of magical food during dinner earlier—Hermione was eating, and Ron was so quick to talk that she couldn't stop him in time—and they brushed it off by saying that they were all foods from Southeast Asian countries they had visited.
Hermione pursed her lips. Today was supposed to be Harry and Queenie's date, and her and Ron's sudden appearance was already a disturbance—although Queenie said she didn't mind, they must have originally wanted to have a proper date, and that plan didn't include the two of them or anyone else.
Hermione chimed in, "Harry's right, you're taking bus number 53? We're waiting for number 177."
Just then, bus number 53 arrived. Harry pulled her onto the bus, and Queenie had no choice but to say goodbye to the two of them hastily. After she was seated, she looked out the window again and felt that Hermione and Ron's eyes had a longing look in them.
Harry's relief was so obvious that Queenie tilted her head and looked at him, understanding.
Are you regretting that you couldn't have some alone time with your partner today?
While it wasn't the whole reason, he couldn't deny it. Sirius had interfered with their date the first day, and Hermione and Ron had shown up on the second day's date. Why couldn't he just have a quiet date with his girlfriend? Who would show up tomorrow? The twins? After he took Queenie home, he'd have to go back and interrogate his friends properly.
"But it's good to know your friends. I can tell they are all very nice people. Your relationship is like that of Emily and me."
Harry looked out the window upon hearing this. Hermione and Ron were still watching them. When they saw Harry looking over, they immediately waved to him. He said softly, "Yes, they are my most important friends."
All passengers on the bus have boarded, and the driver has put the handbrake on.
"Please wait a moment!" Queenie's clear voice rang out, as energetic as ever.
The bus, which was slowly starting to move, stopped as instructed. Queenie stood up, and Harry, confused, stepped aside, letting her pull him off the bus. Queenie's "thank you" to the bus driver echoed in his ears.
Hermione and Ron were equally bewildered, "What are you doing—"
Queenie's smile made her full lips even more beautiful, and her blonde hair was bathed in a soft glow from the streetlights and snow shadows. "Perhaps you'd be interested in a second round?"
Her thinking was simple: since their time together as a couple was over, why not enjoy a time for the four of them? It was still early, and they were having a pleasant time together. She also wanted to learn more about Harry.
Despite his concerns that they might reveal more to Queenie, Harry was even happier that Queenie got along so well with his best friend. "Oh Queenie, I really—" He squeezed her hand, wanting to give her a hug or something.
However, the brown-haired girl rushed to Queenie and hugged her first. "Oh Queenie, I really like you!" She said this several times today, without any falsehood, from the bottom of her heart.
Queenie immediately let go of Harry's hand and hugged her back, saying, "I like you too."
Harry, "...?"
He looked at Ron.
"...Don't look at me, I won't hug you like that, buddy."
"..."
They found a bar for their second round, right on the banks of the Thames.
Hermione tried to refuse but couldn't find a suitable reason. As for Ron, his eyes had been shining like a werewolf ever since he heard they were going to a pub. Harry completely obeyed Queenie's orders, and Hermione alone was no match for the three of them.
They entered the bar without any hindrance. All three of them looked to be adults, and Queenie had her driver's license with her.
The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors caused Harry's glasses to fog up quickly. They found a spot, and Queenie wiped Harry's glasses first before picking up the drinks menu to look at them.
“Look Harry, we have wild strawberry gin here too!” Queenie ordered one for each of them and handed the drinks menu to Ron. “See what you’d like to drink?”
Ron read out the names of the unfamiliar cocktails with great enthusiasm. "Cool! I've been wanting to try this for ages! I bet it'll be way better than butterbeer!"
Hermione frowned. "Ron! You—you can't—you can just drink lemonade!"
Ron whispered, trying to persuade her, "Don't spoil the fun, Hermione, Harry can drink..."
Hermione stared intently at him, and Ron's expression was conflicted. On one hand, he really wanted to try, but on the other hand, Hermione was indeed a bit fierce.
Queenie took her hair tie off Harry's wrist, ran her fingers through her hair which was flattened by the hat, and hastily tied it into a ponytail. "Alright, Dr. Granger, you should know that moderate drinking has some health benefits."
Harry folded their scarves and set them aside, then began to tug at the stray hairs on Queenie's coat.
“But you are still—” Hermione lowered her voice, “you are still a minor!”
Queenie lowered her voice as well, "It's okay, the average age of the four of us is already an adult."
"..." Actually, no, in this respect, the three of them even dragged Queenie down.
Harry paused, and the three exchanged a knowing glance.
"Since you're here, drink as much as you like. I suggest you try mulled wine. After heating, most of the alcohol evaporates, and you get more aromas of cinnamon and fruit. If you can handle your liquor, eggnog is also an option."
Oh well, since we're already here.
Hermione's eyes darted around. Although she always insisted that minors shouldn't drink alcohol, she had fantasized about whether she should drink red wine or champagne when she turned 18—you can't be considered grown up if you don't do things that only adults do—but then again, she's only a year away from adulthood now, not ten years away, so it's no big deal to have a little drink.
Ron keenly sensed Hermione's change of heart and quickly ordered two drinks for them, while Harry, like a seasoned pro, ordered a pint shrimp and a mini beef burger, even though this was only his second time at the bar.
Queenie casually brought up Harry's drinking capacity, "Speaking of which, Emily—well, she's my best friend—she said sailors generally have a good capacity for alcohol, except for Harry. Are you two not very good drinkers either?"
Hermione calmly said, "I think Emily was referring to the old crew. Times have changed. Our company has strict requirements, and drinking alcohol is prohibited during voyages."
Queenie nodded in understanding. "I noticed you don't seem to have cell phones either? What do you use for entertainment on the ship?"
"We also have a TV for reading, playing chess, swimming, and so on. Although there is no signal, we can play DVDs."
Ron chimed in, "Speaking of reading—you know what? Hermione can read forty books in two months!"
"Forty books? Two months? My God, you're amazing!" Queenie's surprise was genuine.
Their drinks and food arrived, and the four clinked glasses. Hermione took a sip of her mulled wine and said somewhat sheepishly, "It's nothing, I only skimmed most of the content..."
“That’s impressive too. It shows you’re a good learner. You know, I hate reading, and Harry still dreads homework.” Queenie nudged Harry’s shoulder.
Harry put his arm around her. "That's normal, isn't it? Ron hates homework too. Anyway, Hermione is the only person I've ever met who genuinely enjoys doing homework."
Queenie, hearing his words, asked curiously, "Have you known each other for a long time? I thought you became friends after you started working together."
Ron took a bite of the shrimp. "We've been friends since first grade—oh, you guys should try this, it tastes good."
Harry also picked up a shrimp and started peeling it. "Hermione has had the nickname 'Know-It-All' since she was little. She knows everything."
Hermione sensed pride in their tone and took another sip of mulled wine. She felt that the wine was not as low in alcohol as Queenie had said; at least she felt a momentary dizziness from the alcohol. Perhaps she just couldn't hold her liquor.
“No wonder you two get along so well.” Queenie picked up a mini beef burger. “Then you must know all about Harry’s romantic history?”
Harry's shrimp trembled, almost falling onto the table. Hermione tilted her head. "Love history? Cho?"
Ron, with a mini hamburger stuffed in his mouth, mumbled, "And Parvati, his dance partner. Oh, and by the way, so many girls came to ask Harry out back then! From upperclassmen to lowerclassmen, but he had such self-control, he turned them all down."
Hermione sighed. "That's why Ginny didn't dare to invite him back then."
"Ginny? What does that have to do with my sister?"
Harry, “…” Stop talking! You two!
"So Harry's been quite popular since he started school?" Queenie rested her chin on her hand, the pinkish-red wild strawberry gin on the table shimmering slightly in her honey-colored eyes.
Ron gave a strong affirmation, "Of course, he's been famous since he entered school!"
The famous Harry Potter was completely frozen.
Queenie leaned on his shoulder with a half-smile, taking the half-peeled shrimp from his hand. "Choi, Parvati, Ginny, which one was your favorite girl before? The popular Mr. Potter?"
"..."
"I'm guessing it's Cho? After all, Hermione mentioned her first."
"..."
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