Sarah Beth~
When I got my first pay day I was so happy that I had t go celebrate! Deciding not to get my own vault at Gringot's, I started putting my money in an old cauldron beneath my bed. I was afraid to get a vault because it would be possible for Auntie to get into it and freeze it. I would have to keep it on me. So, I put half of my earnings into the cauldron and pocketed the rest. Then, I Flooed Gregory and told him that we were going out and that he didn't have a choice. He laughed and happily agreed to pick me up.
I primped and preened, excited to see him. With all of the working I had been doing, I hadn't gotten to see him since Professor Dumbledore's funeral. As seven approached, I started to tie a pink bow in my hair, but stopped myself. It was too much like Auntie and I wasn't Auntie. I threw the ribbons into the floor and picked out nice yellow one instead.
Mr. Cornelius answered the door when Gregory finally came. I ran to the door and threw my arms around him. Then, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, but it didn't last very long. Something was off. I pulled away and took a look at him.
Across his upper lip was the smallest hint of a mustache. His chin was slightly furry, but only in patches. It was terrible! Almost like kissing a goat!
"What is this?" I rubbed my hand against the half stubbly and half smooth face, almost cautiously. Who knew, I could get intense beard burn on it if I wasn't careful.
"I'm trying to grow a beard!" He smiled triumphantly.
"No! Shave it off! It's yucky!" I demanded, my hand on my hip.
"No! I promise by the end of the summer it will all be even!"
"No! It's really, really yucky! And prickly! Isn't it, Mr. Cornelius?" I turned to the older man. He shook his head.
"It's none of my business, Sarah Beth."
"Hm." I crossed my arms as Gregory stuck his tongue out at me.
"I'm not shaving it off! I like it!"
"Whatever! We need to get going. The reservations I made are for seven fifteen." I looked him over; thank goodness he had worn dress robes like I had asked. True, they were a bit wrinkled, but at least he had them on.
"Be safe, Sarah Beth." Mr. Cornelius kissed my forehead as I took Gregory's arm.
"Okay, Mr. Cornelius!" I kissed his cheek back then looked up at Gregory. He nodded and then Disapparated.
We ended up standing in the front room of a nice restaurant in Diagon Alley called Smith's. I told the front desk worker about our reservations. He nodded and said that he remembered. After eyeing Gregory's scruffy facial hair he shook his head and led up to our table.
The table was in a really nice spot. A window was right above the right side of the table, letting us see the night sky. The stars sparkled brilliantly.
"Here you are. Your server will come momentarily." The man handed us each a menu and walked away. We studied them in silence and it wasn't until the server took our orders and menus that we spoke.
"I love you." We took each other's hands across the table.
"I love you, too." His voice was full of life and happiness. I looked into his eyes and watched them gleam. "So, how is work?"
"Pretty good! Fred and George are really nice! And they have a Muggle section in their shop!"
"Hm." He didn't seem to impressed. I went on.
"And usually I would be working at the Fudge Shop right now, but Mr. Bernard won't let me anymore. He said I have been working too hard. So, he only lets me work weekends now, since Fred and George won't let me at Wheezes on the weekends."
"You are working too much!" Gregory laughed. I shook my head.
"Gregory, if I want my own house, I will have to save up money!"
"No you won't! You'll have me!" He smiled. My breath caught in my throat. Him? He would get our house? Our as in both of us? That means we would be living together... Was he going to propose?! How soon?! When?! Oh, Merlin! Oh, Merlin! Oh, Merlin!
Okay... I needed to get it together. If I showed him I figured it out, then it might insult his manliness and post-pone it.
"How do you plan to make this money?" I tried to stay calm.
"When I become a Quidditch player-"
"Gregory..." I interrupted. He had had it in his head that he would become a world famous Quidditch player, and as much as I would like for that to happen, what were the chances? Very slight. He was very, very good, but I wasn't sure if he would make it. It wasn't a for sure job to obsess over.
"I know, I know." He replied. "Bit it's going to happen, I swear!"
"I just think you need a fallback is all."
"I told Snape that my fallback was going to be a hooker, and he told me no!"
"You know what I mean."
"I will happen, I swear."
"Okay..." I sighed. He looked out the window then back at me.
"So, have you taken off the week for the beach?"
"Yeah. I can't wait! A whole week with you and Vincent and Ellie!"
"Yeah! I can't wait to swim!"
"I'm not swimming." I immediately said. He turned his head to the side.
"Why not? Who goes to the beach and doesn't swim?"
"Me."
"Why?"
"I'm, um... scared..." I replied quietly. His face lit up with remembrance.
"Oh, yeah! That's right! You're afraid of water! Don't worry! I'll help you swim!"
"But Gregory!"
"I will! You will- oh!" He let out a breathy cry and grabbed his left arm. I squinted at him, puzzled.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"N-nothing. Just an arm cramp..."
"Oh..." I wasn't sure if those were even real, but I took his word for it.
"I'll- I'll be back!" He suddenly stood up and ran to the restroom.
I sat and patiently waited for him to come back. Eventually, our food came and he still didn't come back. After a while I decided to eat my meal before it got cold. Then, I sat longer, waiting.
When he still didn't come, I asked a man who had just come out of the restroom is anyone else was in there. When he replied no, an emotion that I couldn't decipher hit my heart head on. I was angry, but at the same time I wanted to cry. Gregory had left me there alone with his food and the check and nothing else.
