AC/DC

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Chapter 2: AC/DC?

“Now, don’t you look fantastic?” Ernie twirled her around, letting out a whistle. “I’ve never seen so much skin on you, and let me tell you, it looks wonderful!” The pulsing music and swirling lights were doing nothing for her headache, so she downed whatever drink Ernie had shoved into her hands.

“Thanks, Ern. Is it always this loud?” This was definitely not where she wanted to be. She felt absolutely sick to her stomach, and the pop music was deafening.

“Yeah, but aren’t the men just divine?” Ernie sighed, gazing at a couple of bronze gods a few feet away, jiving together. Now, that was one point she couldn’t disagree with.

“Why are all the handsome ones gay?” Ginny pouted with her already full lips. “I swear it’s ridiculous.”

“Well, darling, some of the men here are AC/DC, you know.” Ernie winked at her and laughed when her face lit up.

“I think I’ll go to the bar and get a few more drinks.” Ginny slinked off with a slightly scary look on her face, her long, red hair swaying over the back of her satin green dress.

“I don’t think we’ll be seeing her anytime soon. Doesn’t she look gorgeous? I wish I had that hair!” Ernie turned back to Hermione and watched as she downed another shot. “So, what’s this the angel over there told me over the Floo about man trouble? Anyone specific?”

Hermione couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from the line of empty glasses in front of her. Were they all hers? “Yeah. Ummm, did you hear that Harry’s getting engaged?” She managed to glance at him through her eyelashes before returning to the glasses.

“Yeah, Ginny mentioned it. Sounds wicked!” Ernie’s smile didn’t last long, however. “Oh, no. Oh, honey, it’s him, isn’t it?”

Hermione suddenly needed to blink quite a lot and instead focused on the heels that Ginny had forced her to wear.

When she didn’t answer, Ernie sighed. “You poor dear. No wonder you’re trying to drown your sorrows.” He slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the bar where he promptly ordered shots for the both of them. “Why didn’t you ever tell him about your feelings?”

“I didn’t know myself! I always thought that we were just friends.” She tried to gulp down the lump in her throat - a result of tears that were still threatening to spill. “I just thought that we were closer than Ron and I. Besides, even if I’d known, how could I have told him?” Her forehead made a thumping noise as it hit the bar. “I would never have been able to look at him again once he turned me down!”

“Drink up, sweetie, and then I’m taking you home. You’ve had far too much.” Ernie looked around for Ginny and finally found her further down the bar, surrounded by men. “How does she get them so easily, even in a gay bar?” Ernie sulked. Meanwhile, Hermione started losing her ability to focus, and it took her a minute to decipher Ernie’s mumble. “I’m going to tell Ginny the plan. Stay here.”

“Of course!” She finished her drink in one swallow and asked the bartender for another, wincing slightly at the sensation of drunkenness.

“You’d better watch yourself there. You’ve been drinking those faster than I can make them!” He had a charming smile, but his mannerisms were decidedly camp.

“You know,” Hermione whispered over the bar, “he doesn’t deserve me. He can marry that bloody Mary.” She had thought that Ron was being inane only a few hours ago with his Mary joke, but now she couldn’t seem to stop laughing. “Bloody Mary!”

The bartender didn’t even try to cut in and set her drink in front of her. She took a long gulp of her drink, and her inebriated curiosity made her ask, “What is this anyway? It’s so yummy!”

“It’s a Sex on a Beach.”

If Harry marrying Mary was funny, that was riotous.

“Okay, it’s time to go now, Hermione,” Ernie said as he returned from talking to Ginny. Hermione frowned at him. “Thanks for taking care of her, Luke. Just put it on my tab, and I’ll see you later.”

“Wasn’t he dishy?” Hermione giggled as she bumped into Ernie.

“Yes, Luke’s a dear.” When he had to stop Hermione from colliding with a rubbish bin for the third time, he couldn’t help but mumble, “This is going to be a long walk.”