"Pfft, that tastes awful! Waiter, a glass of apple juice!"
Her table manners shattered the elegant atmosphere.
Pepper covered her face, unable to watch.
Tony's mouth twitched as he mourned the bottle of wine he had just let breathe.
But Peter saw things completely differently.
Hermione wore a black off-the-shoulder evening gown that perfectly outlined her curves. Her bare shoulders and collarbones were dazzlingly pale beneath the lights.
Her long hair was pinned up, exposing her fair neck. Silver earrings swayed in the light, and delicate, subtle makeup adorned her face.
Peter felt as though something had slammed into his chest. His heart raced so fast it threatened to leap into his throat.
Back at Stark Tower, Hermione had worn loose casual clothes with her hair tied back carelessly, looking like the girl next door.
Now, dressed like this, she gave off an entirely different impression.
Those dark brown eyes were focused on the table. Paired with her soft pink lips, they made her look like a young heiress from a movie, and he simply couldn't look away.
Cleansed by magical power, Hermione was far more beautiful than she had been at this point in the original storyline. Just looking at her was enough to set a heart racing.
Her uninhibited behavior and eating habits did nothing to detract from her appeal. Instead, the contrast was unexpectedly charming.
Peter sat across from her, holding his knife and fork, but had no idea where to start.
He stole a glance at Tony and Pepper. Neither had touched their food.
When he looked back at Hermione, she had already polished off half her appetizer.
Watching Hermione single-mindedly eat while the stiff, nervous Peter kept sneaking glances at her, Tony and Pepper felt utterly helpless.
Tony sighed.
If they expected these two to