Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lady of the Lake 
He had noticed she couldn't stop smiling, apparently. 'I have my reasons.' she replied, looking sideways, but continuing to grin. This time she almost didn't blush when Jory called her beautiful. Almost. Compliments started to feel natural. They were getting there.
'I just said it as a joke, but it WOULD be entertaining.' Finding Gwen a boyfriend-tremendous fun! 'I'm seriously starting to consider it. Then we could double-date!'. One step at a time, Ari, one step at a time.
He was being such a gentleman! Gallantry wasn't dead, after all. Some boys still held their girlfriends' chairs for them. Luckily, Jory was one of them. 'Thank you.' Ariadne said and sat down, glancing at the menu. 'How about a couple of cream teas?' Yes, it was the most expensive thing on the menu, but it included scones, jam, cream, and most importantly for a Brit, tea. If they bought a cake and a beverage separately, the total amount would probably be higher. Ari was a practical girl.
When she finally looked up from behind the menu, she noticed the exquisite flower in front of her. 'It's beautiful!' she gushed. 'How did you know roses were my favourite flowers?' She was really impressed. This was SO romantic! 'I'm so lucky to call myself your girlfriend.' That she was well aware of.
'I want to know as much as possible about you, so tell me something I don't know yet.' the Gryffindor encouraged Jory, prepared to spill some of her own secrets if asked.
“Am I at least part of the reason?’’ Jory asked, playing along and smiling all the same. Of course he was.
“I know you’re the entire reason why I’m so happy.’’ Yup, she definitely was.
“Yes, It would be,’’ he said. “
And so would double dating.’’ It was something he always wanted to do.
“But I don’t think would Gwen be too happy if she ever found out we are trying to set her up.’’ He was sure of that.
“Maybe she would change her mind though, about dating if she got used to us.’’
“Anything for you,’’ the boy told Ari. Thanks to his parents, he had learnt good manners. His Dad especially. As a child, Jory would always try to learn everything his parents thought him whether it was by words or by actions. Whenever his family went out to dinner, he would always see his dad holding the chair for his mom. So that stuck with him always.
“Cream teas, it is then,’’ he said as he signaled to get the shopkeeper’s attention so she could take their order.
“We’ll have the Cream Teas, please,’’ he told her.
Jory was pleased Ari liked the rose.
“I didn’t know,’’ he told her honestly.
“I wanted to give you something along with it but this-I mean we, happened so fast.’’ He already knew what he was going to give her and he would put his plan into action when he got back to the Castle.
“No, I’m the lucky one to call you my girlfriend,’’ he told her simply.
What didn’t Ari know about him?
“Well, I was sort of a sports maniac before I came here,’’ he began.
“I was into everything- cycling, football, cricket, basketball, you name it. I don’t get to play any now, of course, because I’m here.’’ He didn’t really mind as he would rather be at Hogwarts.
“I was on my school cricket and football teams.’’ Okay, well he did miss that and Quidditch really wasn't his thing. Jory was sure he would have been on some team in high school as well. It was fun competing with other schools.