RP: Book Club Meeting Number Two

[shh_hermione]

Date: 3 July 2005
Character(s): Hermione Granger, Roger Davies, Ernie Macmillan, Zach Smith, Orla Quirke, Caradoc Dearborn, Anyone else
Location: The Loft above Bookworm
Status: Public
Summary: Second meeting of the book club
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[shh_ernie]

Ernie Apparated to the Bookworm. He had to be at work by 8 p.m. Night patrols began later in the summer since it remained light so late. He had a copy of Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets in his pocket, uncertain as to whether anyone would want to read it. Someone had left it laying around Auror Headquarters and, curiosity aroused, he'd picked it up and flipped through it. Mesmerized by the city of Baltimore (in the state of Maryland, in the United States of America) and the detectives who worked in Homicide, he'd devoured it in two days. However, murder, drugs, and rape weren't everyone's cup of tea so who knew if anyone would even trade with him?

He entered the shop and climbed the stairs to the Loft. And once again, Hermione and Roger were the only ones to be seen. At least there wasn't an awkward misunderstanding between Ernie and Hermione this time. He waved and approached them.

"Hello, Hermione, Roger. How've you been?" he said, extending his hand.

[shh_hermione]

Hermione looked up when she heard footsteps on the stairs. She gripped her wand but relaxed when she saw that it was just Ernie.

"Good evening, Ernie," she said, getting to her feet. She kissed his cheek before stepping aside for Roger to shake his hand. "I'm doing well; busier now that Eleanor's gone. I hope she's making good progress on her shop. How are you?"

[shh_ernie]

"I'm well, thank you. Actually on my way to work..." He glanced at his watch. "In an hour or so. And yes, Elle's making good progress on the shop. Hopes to open at the end of the month, I think."

He looked around. "Er...where is everyone?" He didn't think that either Roger or Hermione would be interested in his book. It would be an interesting meeting if it were just the three of them.

"Roger, Eleanor's excited about the work your crew is going to do. And we may even have another worker for you. Her brother might be coming to stay with us. I'm certain he'd rather fetch things on a construction site than help her make soap." He smiled. "He's sixteen."

[shh_roger]

Roger sent Ernie a nod when he entered the loft, standing to shake his hand when Hermione stepped aside. He grinned.

"Hey, Ernie. I've been pretty well. Yeah, we'll be able to start on that soon. I'm glad progress is good otherwise." His smile widened when Ernie mentioned Eleanor's brother. "Well, send him over; I could use all the help I can get. How's work?"

[shh_hermione]

"You're a little early," she told Ernie. "Hopefully a few more people will show. There's been adverts in the shop, though I forgot to send a reminder to those who were here last month."

She noticed Zach come in and smiled. "Excuse me. I've got to greet someone. Ernie, if you'd like something to drink, there's juice and edibles on the table."

[shh_ernie]

"Work's...work. It's a Tuesday so patrol shouldn't be too bad tonight." And hopefully, he'd be allowed to patrol on his own soon. Not that he didn't like working with Ambrose and Cormac. It was just that he wanted to be like the other Aurors and work without partners.

Ernie looked over when Hermione excused herself and bit back a groan. Smith. Well, Roger was Smith's boss and Hermione looked as if she enjoyed the prat's company. Ernie would have to be on his best behavior. Perhaps they could ignore each other.

"Have you spoken to Hermione about the two of you coming for dinner?" he asked Roger.

[shh_roger]

Roger grinned when he spotted Zach, nodding in the other man's direction before he focused on Ernie, who looked decidedly less happy to see Smith. He wondered briefly what was going on there, but it really wasn't his problem. Maybe there was some bad blood between them from when they'd been in Hufflepuff, or something.

Ernie asked about dinner, and Roger nodded. "Yeah, I spoke to her about it," he said, "and she's up for it, as am I. When were you two thinking about having a dinner?"

[shh_ernie]

Ernie thought for a moment. "Well, if Henry visits, it'll be mid-July. Would you prefer to dine with or without an adolescent boy?" He shook his head and grinned. "I quite like him. Says what's on his mind. And he's lived among Muggles practically his entire life." He paused and thought for a moment. "I reckon he'd be alright on his own for a night. He'd probably welcome the chance to get us out of the house. We could go out or something. Do you want to tentatively say the week of the 16th?"

He glanced at Smith again. He was going to be the bigger man here and greet the wanker, show him that Ernie could be as polite and charming as he pretended to be with Eleanor.

"If you'll excuse me, I see an old acquaintance," he said before heading toward Hermione and Smith.