"Hermione," Ron called out to her and she looked up from her book. "When I asked you for a proper date, were you nervous?"
Hermione furrowed her brows for a moment and then put her book down. "Yes. Why?"
Ron turned to Harry and spoke again, "See. I liked her. I asked her out, still she was nervous too. If Malfoy said yes to you, doesn't mean he won't be all freaking out as you are..." Ron gestured with his hands when he said the words "freaking out," which didn't exactly comfort Harry.
Hermione sipped on her mulled wine and edged closer to Ron and Hermione. "Of course, Malfoy is nervous. I've already told you he likes you. Why are we talking about this again?" She took in another big gulp and then shook her head as if realising she shouldn't have done that.
"If you see him tomorrow, just ask him if he's free tomorrow night and get the first date over with," she said.
Ron nodded along with Hermione's advice, "She's right, you know. That's what Charlie did with Neville. He just said he didn't want to wait—"
"No. Malfoy likes order," Harry said, as he stared at his hands and thought about his friends' words. "If I've already asked him for Friday, and if I change it to Wednesday night, he'll just think something is wrong or he might just get annoyed. I don't want to annoy—"
"That's true," Hermione said, cutting him off and adjusted her Gryffindor scarf. She still wore her old school scarf around during Christmas time. She was definitely the nostalgic sort. "I remember how Jones from Creatures had asked Malfoy out but he kept on changing the plans and Malfoy got frustrated and called off the date altogether—"
"Malfoy went out with Jones?" Harry asked, frustrated, and feeling jealous. Suddenly his chest burned and all he wanted to do was go up to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and punch Jones in the face.
"No. He did ask Malfoy out for drinks, but eventually failed because he kept changing the plans. Malfoy thought the man didn't know anything about courting..."
"I don't know anything about courting," Harry said.
"Still he said yes didn't he? Just don't be flighty," Ron said, patting Harry on the back. "Or you know, someone else like Jones will come around and sweep Malfoy off his fee—"
Harry glared at Ron who immediately shut up. "Sorry."
Hermione didn't stop her giggles though. "Still want to call it off?"
The idea Malfoy would have gone out with Jones from Creatures really did upset Harry. Jones was a good looking bloke with dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He knew the Minister's secretary had a huge crush on him and always bent over backwards for Jones. If he'd asked Malfoy out— The idea of Malfoy kissing Jones made Harry's stomach turn.
No. He would not cancel this date. He was going to be the one kissing Malfoy.