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Potter met her outside the gates at the front of the park.
Tom had arrived five minutes earlier to maintain her punctual image but not so early as to appear eager. She was not sure when Potter would arrive for they ran in different enough social circles at school that her informants hadn't been able to give a cohesive account, but he thankfully made an appearance only a few minutes after Tom, running up red faced and panting.
"Thomasin!" Potter called out in greeting. "Sorry to keep you. I hope you weren't waiting long."
She smiled and gave the polite answer. "It's fine. I just arrived myself not too long ago."
"Thank you for agreeing to go out with me today, Thomasin."
"Are we not be more familiar than that? Call me Tom."
Despite the cool attitude he attempted to affect, Tom could spot the signs of nervousness. Potter's hair was even messier than typical and not once had he managed to stay still, fidgeting with his hands and shifting on his feet. Most men were arrogant when approaching Tom, a swagger to their actions that implied certainty of a 'successful' encounter. It was always a pleasure to bring them down, to remind them of their place below Tom. Potter's meekness, while not impressive in the least, was more palatable than conceit.
"You look delicious- I mean GORGEOUS!" Potter shouted, flustered. "Gorgeous!" His face turned positively red. Even his ears flushed.
Tom laughed, amused.
She had put the most marginal of effort into her appearance: combed her hair and checked for flyaways, a touch of gloss on the lips, and half a spritz of perfume. Tom knew she was naturally beautiful. She didn't particularly care if Potter found her attractive, but the fluster he displayed was to her entertainment.
She could see Potter had put much more effort into his appearance with half the results. His dark hair flopped everywhere across his forehead, clearly having won the battle against whatever product he'd attempted to tame it with. The shirt and trousers he wore were pressed but looked worn and older in style, likely borrowed from an elder acquaintance. At least his face was comely and his body fit from athletics. He wouldn't be embarrassing to walk around the park with.
"Shall we?" Tom prompted, ready to get this over with. Potter had chosen the utterly mundane amusement park for their date. If not for his general social popularity and the impressiveness of his inheritance, she would not have humoured him with this outing.
"After you."
A thrill ride and two market halls later, Tom was disappointed to say the date was going far too similarly to previous dates she'd attended. There'd been some polite conversation and what others would deem a cute moment when Potter became too embarrassed to share a candy apple with her, but otherwise their interaction had remained friendly and dull. She'd thought Potter was a bit more interesting that that. The school rumour mill was always abuzz with what fantastical adventure he and his merry band of friends had been embroiled in for the year.
Currently they stood at the airsoft gun booth. The back of the stall was lined with shelves of small balloons of varying size and colour, the objective was to pop three for a prize. Potter had been attempting the game. His aim was quite accurate, but he struggled with the airsoft gun's slight recoil. Tom also suspected some of the balloons were rigged in some manner, though she wasn't sure how yet. She was ready to pull out her phone, certain they'd be stuck at the booth for at least another fifteen minutes until Potter satisfied his ego or gave up in frustration, but then Potter turned to her.
"What are doing?"
"Would you like a go?" He asked.
"I'm not very good." Tom hedged. She was, in fact, quite good at handling weapons as they were a little hobby of hers, but in her experience men hated to be shown up. Furthermore, the skill was disparate with her public image; Tom was intelligent and beautiful, but she was not known to be strong or athletic.
"That's ok, I'm not very good either." Potter pushed the gun into her arms. "Just try it!"
She'd already graciously provided him an out and now he was putting her on the spot. Quite suddenly, she felt fed up with the pretense of it all. If Potter insisted on her participating, then she wouldn't do herself the disservice of pretending to be unskilled. Hefting the airsoft weapon, she lined up and easily shot down the requisite three balloons. From observing Potter's attempts, she'd spotted several balloons that seemed untouched and normal to pop.
The attendant goggled and sputtered at her as she turned to Potter, prepared to be frowned at over his bruised ego.
"That was amazing!"
Hm?
"Tom, you shot them so quickly! And you say you're not very good?"
The praise had her feeling wrong footed; pleased but a bit indignant as she'd been ready for confrontation. "You're not upset?"
"Why would I be upset?"
"I did what you failed to do."
"That doesn't upset me. Has it upset someone else before?"
"Pretty girl, you want to pick out your prize?" The attendant interrupted. The man had a leer to his expression Tom was well acquainted with. From the corner of her vision, she spotted a frown on Harry's face.
"Which prizes are we allowed?" Tom demanded.
"Oh, everything hanging from here to here!"
Having only won one round, Tom was fairly certain they had not popped enough balloons to be allowed the larger prizes, but she'd become accustomed to these simpering gifts. Why would she not take them if they were given freely?
"You choose." Tom gave the choice to Harry as she'd long outgrown wanting children's toys. The prizes were plush animals of various sizes.
Harry seemed flustered. "You sure? You did all the hard work of winning."
"Go ahead."
Harry hesitated a moment longer, disbelieving, before turning to gaze at the prizes lining the booth. The attendant seemed unhappy that it wasn't Tom herself choosing, but she blinked innocently at him and he shut his mouth, unable to take back his offer to her beautiful face. They soon left with a pudgy snake; larger than Harry's torso and a soft combo of pastel green and pink. She hadn't expected Harry to choose such a feminine coloured prize.
"A snake?" She queried, interested why he wanted that animal when a more suitable lion was also available.
"You were looking at it earlier."
Tom was taken aback. "When was I looking at it?"
"I noticed your gaze lingering as we walked up. This one matches your dress."
She couldn't deny the observation. Tom had been looking at the snake plushes earlier. She hadn't owned a doll of any sort since she was very young but snakes had always been her favourite creature. Watching Harry hug the massive doll with a shy smile and a pink flush to his face felt oddly satisfying. Surely because this was a rare moment in which Tom's prowess had been acknowledged by the opposite sex without her having to fight for it.
Tom found herself speaking her mind more as the outing progressed. At first a few stray comments, but eventually even the snarky observations she would have kept to herself were spoken aloud and chuckled at by Harry. They rode multiple thrill rides (which were much more enjoyable now that Tom was free to mock the cowards testing them), shared a few of the overpriced food items (all paid for by Harry), visited half a dozen more game booths (where Tom won each time after encouragement from Harry), and then took a commemorative memory at a photo booth.
Two copies of the photo strip were printed, one for Harry and one for Tom. She didn't typically request these keepsakes but found she wanted to put the small image of Harry and the plush snake in her treasure box. She'd won the snake for him after all. There was a feeling of triumph when looking at the two together.
As the sun began to set, they found themselves outside the park gates in the same spot they'd started their date. Tom was surprised to admit she was reluctant to end things here. She wouldn't be opposed to a second outing, but Harry would have to ask first as Thomasin Riddle did not beg for dates from any man.
"Thank you again for agreeing to come out with me today," Harry said shyly. He'd become bolder as the day progressed, but all the improvement seemed to have disappeared, leaving him the same fidgety boy who'd met her in the morning. "I-if you did want to go out again…" He trailed off, voice becoming almost too quiet to hear. Tom still heard him though.
"What other dates ideas did you have in mind?"
"I don't want to be presumptious. I'm already grateful for the time you've given me."
"Tell me, Harry."
"I…They're not very interesting."
"Humour me."
"Well…We could watch a film or perhaps have a long walk along the beach."
More mundane date ideas.
Tom's previous suitors had tried all manner of dates to impress her. VIP tickets to symphonies and sporting events, private viewings at art exhibits and museums, personal tours of manor houses and estates, all expenses paid trips overseas, the list was endless. She hadn't had an invitation to something as unexciting as a walk in literal years. "Are you mocking me, Potter?"
"No!" Harry was aghast. "I would never." She hadn't thought he was, but his reaction confirmed it. Some of the ponces who'd attempted to date her before would have considered such plebeian activities an insult to their reputation and wealth. "I just…I think you're so clever and fascinating and I would like to hear more of your thoughts. I feel like we didn't speak enough today, and it's a shame because you're very smart, Tom. Much smarter than me."
She was unable to detect any trace of sarcasm or underlying judgement. He truly did enjoy hearing her speak her mind. Harry might be the first man to have ever complimented Tom for her intelligence and meant it.
Tom didn't usually break her own rules, but if the outcome were beneficial for herself then she didn't hesitate to. Asking Harry for a second date wouldn't be begging, not when he was so eager and pleasant. "I wouldn't be opposed if you were to take me out again."
It took a moment for Tom's words to register in Harry's mind, but once they did, his face lit up and his eyes danced - as cute as the snake plush he was hugging.
