Magical Hogwarts

sunday 15th february 2004

Charlie apparated into Hogsmeade and inhaled deeply, unused to the uncomfortable feeling of being squeezed through a space that was too tight to fit after having not done it in six weeks (minus the much less ambitious test he?óÔé¼Ôäód attempted in an alleyway near his house before embarking on the longer journey north).

He stepped out of the lane and onto the high street, shoving his hands in his pockets and using them to wrap his jacket--new, and obviously so, but he had to start wearing it in at some point--tighter around himself against the elements; it had been brisk in London but it was a good few degrees colder up here, and sleeting too.

His cast had been removed yesterday but he wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót so stupid as to come here immediately -- and especially not on Valentine?óÔé¼Ôäós Day. He wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót sure if Honey had any plans today, now that the ?óÔé¼?£holiday?óÔé¼Ôäó was over, but he?óÔé¼Ôäód also not wanted to owl and ask; his plan, therefore, was to turn up just before Honeydukes closed and hope she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót have anything in her diary.

Charlie paused to check his reflection in the dark window next to the sweetshop, and ran one hand over his slicked-back hair (it was his first real venture out of the house, he had to make an effort -- for himself, not for Honey). Content with his appearance, he proceeded to the bright pink door and pushed in through it with an accompanying tinkle from the bell overhead.

He spotted the top of her head before she popped it around the corner of an aisle; in his peripheral vision it was apparent that they were the only two in the shop (that he could see, he supposed). He smirked at her expression and mentally congratulated himself for not owling ahead. ?óÔé¼?ôEvening,?óÔé¼?Ø he drawled, lingering just inside the doorway for a moment. He made a half-hearted attempt to peer over the rest of the aisles before turning back to flip the sign on the door from ?óÔé¼?£open?óÔé¼Ôäó to ?óÔé¼?£closed?óÔé¼Ôäó for her (it was ten to seven, or just after by now).

They didn?óÔé¼Ôäót have to be Hogsmeade Thursdays -- though she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót sound exactly thrilled by the prospect. He hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót actually thought any further ahead than ?óÔé¼?£not Hogsmeade?óÔé¼Ôäó and now that he was?óÔé¼ÔÇØ But it wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót like this would be their first time not meeting up at one of their places -- they?óÔé¼Ôäód done Geneva, most recently, and that had been alright, he thought.

For a moment his mind went on a tangent--he?óÔé¼Ôäód had plans for that nightclub bathroom--but then he didn?óÔé¼Ôäót want to think about that too much because wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót apparating her out of there the cause of her little hissy fit on his birthday?

But they didn?óÔé¼Ôäót need to be Thursdays, either, and that was more promising. He nodded?óÔé¼ÔÇØ Promising for what? What was he doing? He?óÔé¼Ôäód been cooped up for six weeks, that was what. But it was fine. They were mates, now, and?óÔé¼ÔÇØ and that was why he wanted to be able to spend time with her not confined to her bedroom in the flat above Honeydukes, but not with the added worry of being seen out together -- like they were doing right now. Charlie scanned the pub (casually, he thought) and tried to figure out if it was better or worse that it was so quiet (less people to be seen by, but also less of a crowd to try and blend into). He glanced down at his drink and brought it to his lips for a slightly larger gulp.

He brought his attention back up--still mid-gulp--and blinked -- Wednesdays, so did that mean two days in a row or?óÔé¼ÔÇØ?

Charlie turned his head sharply and coughed into his shoulder. ?óÔé¼?ôWhat??óÔé¼?Ø he asked, grinning, as he turned back to Honey. He could be distracted by this, at least. He leant in a little to mirror her subconsciously. ?óÔé¼?ôWho? Since when??óÔé¼?Ø Charlie hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót seen Fergie since his second week of being stuck at home; he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót turned up to their standing pub catch up (postponed over Christmas, as always) and that had prompted the other man to check in. It must have been since then, if he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót mentioned it at the time. ?óÔé¼?ôIs she fit??óÔé¼?Ø

And there was that smirk; she realized she had smirked first, but still. Honey turned to look over her shoulder again--the whisky was doing wonders for her subtlety--when Charlie glanced over, but she quickly looked back to Charlie. She was regretting this now, passing him the note, bringing him out in the first place-- last time they had been out (in Geneva, six? months ago), no one had recognized them (him), no one had bothered them (him), and was that the reason that night had gone so well?

She was used to his undivided attention, something like that, blah blah blah. Hunger (and the promise of what was to come after) had blinded her to how dumb it was to come to this pub together. Her smirk faltered, just a little.

But did she have a reason he shouldn?óÔé¼Ôäót be? She?óÔé¼Ôäód just come up with a few in her head, but she wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót about to voice any of those aloud. Honey raised her eyebrows instead, trying to think of some other reason-- thought it might have been nice to not have to be on all the time, embrace not being recognized, but once she remembered his ego, she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót think that reason would be very convincing. (The ego hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót been quite as prominent the past several weeks and though it pained her to admit, she was into it).

?óÔé¼?ôNope,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, lingering on the p sound for a second. She added a little shrug before having another bite of her haggis. ?óÔé¼?ôJust--?óÔé¼?Ø she swallowed and picked up her whisky again-- ?óÔé¼?ôGiving you the out.?óÔé¼?Ø It was the most basic reason, and nothing to do with-- ?óÔé¼?ôAm not--?óÔé¼?Ø jealous, she was going to say, but just before she did she realized that would be the least convincing argument for it, even though he was the one that had showed up unannounced.

Her gaze shifted briefly to his jacket behind him as she had another sip. ?óÔé¼?ôYou carry a marker round with you??óÔé¼?Ø She asked with a small smirk.

Charlie told her to get fucked and Honey smiled, almost laughing. ?óÔé¼?ôYour loss,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, shrugging as she used her knife to scoop a bit of everything onto her fork.

Honey raised her eyebrows, prompting Charlie to finish her thought, elaborate on what he wanted her to promise her to do-- but judging from his expression (and the few conversations and countless non-conversations they?óÔé¼Ôäód had recently) she knew exactly what he was getting at. She grinned, then reconsidered, looking serious after another second. ?óÔé¼?ôNot worth it.?óÔé¼?Ø She pulled her plate toward herself again and had another bite, smirking as well as she could around chewing-- they both knew she?óÔé¼Ôäód do it anyway.

She set her cutlery down with a small sigh?óÔé¼ÔÇØthe week was still catching up with her?óÔé¼ÔÇØand picked up her coffee, having a large sip before she traded it for her first glass of whisky. Finishing that, she traded it for her refill, but before she could have another sip, something else?óÔé¼ÔÇØnot Charlie?óÔé¼ÔÇØcaught her eye. There was writing on the small cocktail napkin that had accompanied her second glass, and she pulled it toward her to get a better look.

If that?óÔé¼Ôäós Charlie Baker, can I get his autograph?

Honey set her glass down?óÔé¼ÔÇØnext to the napkin?óÔé¼ÔÇØand turned in her seat, spotting Isla behind the bar, clearly trying to look like she hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót just been staring in their direction. She was mostly surprised that Isla hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót asked Charlie herself, but maybe if she wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót sure it was him?óÔé¼ÔÇØ she shouldn?óÔé¼Ôäót want to draw attention to who she was sitting with, but at the same time?óÔé¼ÔÇØ

She swiveled forward again, looking at Charlie with a wide smirk, holding eye contact while she slid the napkin toward him across the table as if it were some highly covert message. She gave him a second to read it before she leaned in over her meal to ask in a stage whisper (and with somewhat more of a smirk): ?óÔé¼?ôAre you Charlie Baker??óÔé¼?Ø It was almost strange to think of him like that now, so used to staying in and ignoring everything else.

Honey blinked slowly, zoning out after staring at the same box of Pepper Imps too long. She was taking her time straightening the products on the shelves, making note of what she else needed to reorder or remake or-- she was moving slowly in an effort to run down the clock, close the shop and have dinner, make it an early night. She had spent the better part of the day in the kitchen, and she had sent her employees home even before the customers stopped showing up. The day after a holiday was always rather slow, but today seemed exceptionally so, probably with the weather keeping most of the village home.

She blinked a few more times as the bell above the front door jingled, snapping her back to ?óÔé¼?£working?óÔé¼Ôäó mode, though she still held out a little hope that they wouldn?óÔé¼Ôäót need to much help or attention, knew exactly what they wanted, wouldn?óÔé¼Ôäót be complicating her plans-- complicating was certainly one word for it, she realized, spotting Charlie as she rounded the corner of the aisle.

There was a lot to focus on and she couldn?óÔé¼Ôäót figure out where to let her gaze settle first: he wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót using crutches (and wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót falling over as a result), he was properly dressed (shoes included), he had done his hair (the other way)-- all of that and he was standing in her shop after what felt like ages of her making trips to London. ?óÔé¼?ôHi,?óÔé¼?Ø she said after a second, rearranging her (somewhat surprised) expression into something more of a smirk.

Neither of them moved--Honey was deciding on her best course of action, considering he was here now but she wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót closing for another hour--until Charlie flipped the ?óÔé¼?£closed?óÔé¼Ôäó sign over and effectively made that decision easier. She especially didn?óÔé¼Ôäót want to tell him that she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót mind, closing early for him, so she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót say anything, instead just glancing out the window as if she were checking for witnesses to anything salacious that might be about to happen. Him walking--and standing up without aid--certainly opened up a few more possibilities for them, anyway.

A few wisps of hair had escaped her bun and she tucked them behind her ears as she looked him over again. ?óÔé¼?ôWant a drink??óÔé¼?Ø There was a bottle of whisky in the downstairs kitchen, which was good because as untidy as that kitchen was, the flat upstairs was much worse. She tilted her head toward the back before she moved in that direction, going around the till to reach the kitchen, wasting no time grabbing glasses and clearing enough counter space to pour a couple drinks.

?óÔé¼?ôHi,?óÔé¼?Ø he repeated, smirk widening.

Charlie kept his attention on Honey as she looked out of the shop window, taking the opportunity to give her a slow once-over in her work apron; his mouth twitched into a small smile. Did he want a drink? ?óÔé¼?ôDoes the Pope shit in the woods??óÔé¼?Ø he asked in reply, stepping forward to follow her around the counter and through the back door.

He paused just inside, eyes widening a fraction at the state of the kitchen. It wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót the worst he?óÔé¼Ôäód seen it, nor did it offend him any -- if anything, it gave him a sense of scale of just what Valentine?óÔé¼Ôäós Day was for her (professionally, not personally -- though he thought he knew that, too). ?óÔé¼?ôI?óÔé¼Ôäóm not giving you a hand with this too,?óÔé¼?Ø he said, referencing the limited assistance he?óÔé¼Ôäód given her with writing the personalised cards (and what had come after).

Charlie strode over to meet Honey and picked up the glass she was sliding along the bench towards him, his cold (from outside) fingers half-closing over hers in his haste. His eyes flicked up to meet hers and he smirked again, before taking both half a step back and a sip of whisky. ?óÔé¼?ôWas hoping you weren?óÔé¼Ôäót busy,?óÔé¼?Ø he commented.

Honey poured some whisky--a little more than what she would normally start with--into their glasses, sliding one along the bench toward Charlie. He reached for the glass before she could let go of it; his fingers were cold and she looked up from their drinks with a small smile before returning his smirk.

He was hoping she wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót busy, and she shrugged as if the only reason she was entertaining him was because she truly wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót otherwise occupied. Still: ?óÔé¼?ôI should be.?óÔé¼?Ø She lifted herself onto the one clear spot of the countertop before tilting her head toward the mess of the kitchen, letting him figure it out for himself. She also wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót meant to close for another hour but even then, she was meant to have plans with Janice-- before Janice had told her to fuck off. Honey didn?óÔé¼Ôäót want to get into that now, though. ?óÔé¼?ôBut if you?óÔé¼Ôäóre not here to help?óÔé¼?ª?óÔé¼?Ø She trailed off and smirked again, having another drink.

He could help in other ways, of course, standing there in front of her. And speaking of standing: ?óÔé¼?ôSo your leg?óÔé¼Ôäós all fixed,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, assuming as much. It was fixed enough, anyway. There was something else that was still off but she couldn?óÔé¼Ôäót place it.

She leaned in and pressed her lips to his, because that was more than enough talking. She let go of her glass and slid her hands around Charlie?óÔé¼Ôäós waist, underneath his jacket, still wary of not making any sudden movements-- she wanted to get out of the mindset she?óÔé¼Ôäód been in for the past six weeks but if she wanted to be any fun that night--

Honey pulled back just enough to give her space to talk. ?óÔé¼?ôI?óÔé¼Ôäóve got to have dinner before?óÔé¼?ª?óÔé¼?Ø She smirked, letting him think she needed to get her energy up, if that?óÔé¼Ôäós what he wanted. She wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót cooking dinner for herself, either. ?óÔé¼?ôCan I buy you a drink??óÔé¼?Ø She had said it before but she meant it this time, tilting her head toward where she knew the pub to be, before she could overthink what it might look like if they went somewhere together. ?óÔé¼?ôOr you can stay here. I won?óÔé¼Ôäót be long.?óÔé¼?Ø

Charlie watched Honey push herself up onto the counter and had another sip of whisky. He supposed he technically was here to help, just not the doing-the-dishes kind of help. He smirked and slotted in between her knees, lifting his chin just a little to look up at her.

Charlie looked down at his leg as she addressed it, felt like an idiot immediately for having done so, then looked back up at her. ?óÔé¼?ôYeah,?óÔé¼?Ø he affirmed, then tilted his head and pulled a face; ?óÔé¼?ôMostly.?óÔé¼?Ø It was probably best not to get too carried away -- last night he?óÔé¼Ôäód at least had a nurse (the fit nurse) on hand had anything gone wrong. He didn?óÔé¼Ôäót think Honey would be quite so prepared if he buckled carrying her up the stairs.

But before he could think about it too much she was kissing him, and he leaned in to meet her; his free hand caressing up the outside of her thigh to her backside -- maybe he could get a little carried away?óÔé¼ÔÇØ

Honey pulled back and Charlie blinked softly, only really able to look right back in her eyes at this proximity but unable to miss the crinkles at the corners from her smirk. He smirked back and wet his lips?óÔé¼ÔÇØ then followed the direction she?óÔé¼Ôäód nodded her head in. His expression faltered for half a second as he realised she meant really buy him a drink. ?óÔé¼?ôYeah,?óÔé¼?Ø he said quickly, clearing his throat in an attempt to cover his hesitation (had it been hesitation or something else?).

Charlie looked at Honey again. ?óÔé¼?ôNo, I?óÔé¼Ôäóll come with you. Haven?óÔé¼Ôäót been out for a pint in fucking ages.?óÔé¼?Ø Excluding last night, but she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót need to know about that -- and it hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót strictly been a pint, rather a glass of wine from a shared bottle. He stepped back just enough to let Honey down. He finished his whisky--with effort, the serve was larger than he was used to (lately)--and set the empty glass down, turning back to her with his hands in his pockets. ?óÔé¼?ôWhere d?óÔé¼Ôäóyou fancy??óÔé¼?Ø

She was regretting needing (and wanting) to eat something, not with Charlie not giving her space, licking his lips like that. All of that, and his rather unconvincing yeah-- she offered him the out, even though he had literally just got there.

Honey had asked Charlie to go with her, but she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót know if she had expected him to agree. It wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót something they really did, go out-- especially not after the last six weeks, like he said, but also not since they were in Geneva, right? ?óÔé¼?ôPoor you,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, trying to keep things on the lighter side instead of worrying about how weird this was going to be.

She slid off the counter and they were still close, almost close enough to help her change her mind. But Charlie finished his drink, and Honey reached for hers to do the same, pushing her towards wanting another one, and one she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót have to fix for herself.

Hogsmeade didn?óÔé¼Ôäót have too many options for pubs--they needed to stay in the village, stay close to her flat--and it didn?óÔé¼Ôäót take more than a second for Honey to pick one. ?óÔé¼?ôThe Thistle??óÔé¼?Ø She didn?óÔé¼Ôäót consider the Hog?óÔé¼Ôäós Head and compared to the Three Broomsticks: ?óÔé¼?ôBetter whisky there.?óÔé¼?Ø Plus, the Unicorn and Thistle was usually less crowded this time of night on a Sunday--presumably, as she was meant to be working at this time of night on a Sunday, but she could see the pub from her front door well enough to take a guess--and she had never run into Fflur and Robin there. And Elspeth was less of a gossip than Rosmerta and-- she was coming up with a lot of reasons for a decision she wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót about to explain.

She took his hand in hers to turn him around, directing him to follow her out before she got a grasp on what she was doing; she let go of his hand and they left the shop in silence. Honey locked the door behind them as Charlie kept moving, probably eager to get back out of the rain, and she joined him at the door to the pub a handful of seconds later. They were inside--and already warming back up--before she realized she hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót taken her apron off; she untied her apron strings as she walked past the bar to a table near the back--even though the crowd really was sparse--removing her apron the rest of the way and draping it over the back of a chair before she sat down. ?óÔé¼?ôThis alright??óÔé¼?Ø she asked belatedly, grabbing a menu she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót need to look at.

His lips twisted into a smirk. ?óÔé¼?ôYeah, shite company,?óÔé¼?Ø he said. Then realised he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót made that specific enough. Twat.

As soon as he?óÔé¼Ôäód put his hands in his pockets, Charlie was withdrawing them again to try and seem less awkward (it wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót really working). Honey suggested The Thistle and he nodded -- better whisky, apparently, nevermind his throat was still faintly burning from the glass he?óÔé¼Ôäód just downed (he vaguely wondered how long that would be a novel sensation for). ?óÔé¼?ôRight, yeah.?óÔé¼?Ø

Honey took his hand in hers and pulled him back through the door from whence they?óÔé¼Ôäód just came, and Charlie almost walked into the doorframe because he was too busy focusing on the fact she was holding his hand, properly, without alcohol as an excuse?óÔé¼ÔÇØ And this was why he preferred to turn up with at least one (large) glass (or three) in his system, but he was trying to be better about not drinking and apparating -- the fact that this was the first night he was able to put this new resolution into practice--and was already doubting its merits--was irrelevant.

She let go of him and Charlie met Honey?óÔé¼Ôäós eye briefly, before walking out of the front door ahead of her. It was still sleeting so he didn?óÔé¼Ôäót linger, crossing the street in a few long strides and waiting in the pub?óÔé¼Ôäós alcove. As Honey approached his eyes fell to her apron. He pressed his lips together, choosing not to comment on it in favour of opening the door for her and following her inside.

It was warmer in here than in Honeydukes, and Charlie had always assumed that was something to do with keeping the sweets and chocolate from melting. Or just Honey being Scottish. He followed her (again) through the quiet pub, realising that she?óÔé¼Ôäód probably chosen this one because it would be less troublesome (with him, specifically) than the Three Broomsticks.

Charlie shrugged out of his jacket and slung it over his chair before sitting. He took the opportunity now to look around. He?óÔé¼Ôäód never been in here -- once, almost, with Fflur, but had done an about-turn upon seeing Honey and her brother, back when they hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót been on quite as good terms. Charlie picked up a menu to distract himself from thinking about how they were on good terms, now?óÔé¼ÔÇØ It was very Scottish: cock-a-leekie this and haggis that. His brow furrowed as he realised he recognised half the menu from meals he?óÔé¼Ôäód been brought over the last six weeks, and he flicked his eyes up to look at Honey, a small smile creeping onto his lips.

She either sensed him looking, or genuinely cared if he was happy with her selection. He straightened his expression quickly and nodded; ?óÔé¼?ôYeah. Probably just get the bangers and mash,?óÔé¼?Ø he said, rubbing at the side of his neck; then narrowed his eyes at the print as if it was tricking him. ?óÔé¼?ôIt?óÔé¼Ôäós just normal sausage, ain?óÔé¼Ôäót it??óÔé¼?Ø he asked, glancing back at her.

Honey knew the menu back and forth but she looked it over for something else to do, rather than stare at Charlie anymore. Her gaze slid over her usual order--for this month, anyway, because she at least changed her diet with the seasons if nothing else--and she wondered if maybe she ought to avoid haggis breath. She glanced up at Charlie for a second and decided whisky breath could compensate well enough.

She had brought him a meal here and there while he was recovering and more often than not, they were from The Thistle--she needed to eat, too, and he couldn?óÔé¼Ôäót travel and they were friends--so the pub should have been an alright choice-- but he agreed and she closed her mouth, surprised (and somewhat disappointed, maybe) that she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót have to argue with him about it.

There it was: it?óÔé¼Ôäós just normal sausage, ain?óÔé¼Ôäót it?. Honey rolled her eyes--good-naturedly, mostly--and nodded. ?óÔé¼?ôIsnae haggis,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, laying it on thick, and doubly deciding that was what she was going to order. She rolled her eyes one more time and dropped her gaze back to the menu but not without glancing at his uncrossed arms first; she had found herself in the habit of that, now, and she hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót yet connected it back to him getting that one tattoo removed (and her enjoying not seeing it).

Their waitress--her name was Isla and Honey only remembered it because that was her mum?óÔé¼Ôäós name, too--came over and Honey offered her a smile, though it drooped a bit when Isla asked if she had closed early-- after Honey had decided to not tell Charlie about it. She had definitely used that line--I don?óÔé¼Ôäót close early for just anyone--on him (and not only him, but she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót think that was what Charlie would be focusing on now). ?óÔé¼?ôNobody needs sweets after yesterday,?óÔé¼?Ø she said with a shrug. And that was mostly the truth.

She ordered ?óÔé¼?£the usual?óÔé¼Ôäó and stifled a yawn as Charlie ordered, surprised he wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót also quizzing Isla on the sausage origins. Honey reconsidered and asked, ?óÔé¼?ôCan I get a coffee, too??óÔé¼?Ø She nodded as Isla followed up-- ?óÔé¼?ôSeparate from the Talisker, aye.?óÔé¼?Ø She smiled one more time as they were left alone, stashing her menu away before looking at Charlie, who was looking at her with a smug smirk. Honey narrowed her eyes. ?óÔé¼?ôWhat??óÔé¼?Ø

Isnae haggis. Charlie half-suppressed a grin and glanced back down at his menu one more time before settling with his decision (he certainly wasn't about to order haggis -- and, was pleasantly surprised to realise that Honey hadn't brought him some when she'd been making her house calls, given how otherwise limited the menu was now that he was reading it).

The waitress came to take their order and Charlie flicked his eyes up quickly when she asked Honey if she had closed early. He glanced at Honey, the flash of pink apron hanging over the back of her chair, and then back to Honey's face, smirking smugly as it dawned upon him -- she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót close early for just anyone, after all. She was avoiding looking at him, which was even more telling than if she had just owned it. If he wasn't convinced that he owed her for the last five weeks, he might?óÔé¼Ôäóve said something.

Honey ordered 'the usual' and Charlie was left to wonder what that might be. He glanced up at the waitress when it was his turn and ordered "The bangers and mash, please." Then hesitated over whether he could get away with ordering a Jameson's. Honey interjected with her own drink order and he decided that it was safer to stick with scotch, in Scotland, nevermind that he couldn't see anything else on the drinks list, and he'd had one back in the kitchen that hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót been awful-- "The same, thanks love. Whisky, not coffee."

She left them alone with another smile (one that Charlie recognised for what it was, and hadn't realised how much he would miss it in his housebound six weeks), and he relaxed back in his chair, looking at Honey smugly -- had already changed his mind about not saying anything about closing early. He could owe her a little more.

Charlie shrugged and reached forward to put his own menu away, still smirking. "Do you always close early the day after a holiday?"

Honey glanced at the table before she looked at Charlie again. He was biding his time before answering her, which was answer enough-- it was going to be something about her closing early, not about her ordering whisky and coffee, and she tried to figure out a good response, or an excuse, or something. He came out with it and she narrowed her eyes again; he could guess the actual answer, and it wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót the one she offered. ?óÔé¼?ôYes,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, keeping a straight face for a couple of seconds before offering a small smirk.

She leaned forward and set her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her fist. ?óÔé¼?ôYou?óÔé¼Ôäóve been here how many times and haven?óÔé¼Ôäót read the hours on the sign??óÔé¼?Ø She asked with another smirk; they were both idiots, when it came down to it.

Isla returned with their drinks--and milk and sugar for Honey?óÔé¼Ôäós coffee--and a look for Charlie; Honey raised her eyebrows and looked between the two of them before trying to be more interested in spooning sugar into her coffee. Isla was pretty but she shared her name with Honey?óÔé¼Ôäós mum and that was weird enough to stop her from finding her attractive. (And Charlie was.. Charlie. And clearly here with Honey, if not with her.)

She sipped her whisky, that glass in one hand, as she fixed her coffee with the other. She waited until they were alone before speaking again. ?óÔé¼?ôIf you?óÔé¼Ôäód told me you were coming, it might have been intentional.?óÔé¼?Ø Closing the shop, she meant.

Charlie?óÔé¼Ôäós smirk widened. They both knew she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót -- and if he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót known, that little smirk of hers would have told him.

Honey leaned forward and Charlie wet his lips before mirroring her. He lowered his voice, out of consideration; ?óÔé¼?ôThey don?óÔé¼Ôäót really apply to me, do they??óÔé¼?Ø He was being a prick but he felt like he could be, now that he was capable of getting around by himself -- wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót at her mercy. And he had been, and he?óÔé¼Ôäód known it, too; he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót exactly been on eggshells around her, but things had definitely been different.

Their drinks were brought over and Charlie sat back in his chair, glancing up and making eye contact with the waitress. Under normal circumstances--not dining with Honey--he might?óÔé¼Ôäóve made the most of that look he was getting, but that nagging reminder that he owed Honey was convincing enough to avert his gaze back to the redhead. The waitress took the hint (or finished delivering their drinks, more likely) and left them alone again.

Charlie had a sip of his whisky, watching Honey?óÔé¼Ôäós hands as she added sugar to her coffee. When she spoke his eyes flicked up to meet hers, the corners crinkling when he smirked, again. ?óÔé¼?ôDidn?óÔé¼Ôäót want to ruin the surprise, did I??óÔé¼?Ø And it had been a good one -- he wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót about to forget the look that had been on her face in a hurry.

He had another sip of whisky, then set the glass down -- he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót eaten dinner yet either (poor planning on his part -- or was it?) and he hadn?óÔé¼Ôäót been drinking much, if at all, whilst on the muggle pain medication he?óÔé¼Ôäód been prescribed, and he?óÔé¼Ôäód just necked a triple (quadruple?) that Honey had poured him five minutes ago, and his head was already starting to feel a little lighter.

He folded his arms on the table. ?óÔé¼?ôI?óÔé¼Ôäóll be sure to owl ahead next time.?óÔé¼?Ø He paused. ?óÔé¼?ôWell, probably not. You can have him back.?óÔé¼?Ø Habitually, he picked his glass up again for another drink. ?óÔé¼?ôAnd I can have my garage back.?óÔé¼?Ø

Charlie said the hours didn?óÔé¼Ôäót apply to him and Honey scoffed. They didn?óÔé¼Ôäót, clearly, but that didn?óÔé¼Ôäót mean she had to admit it. None of her rules seemed to apply to him, either?óÔé¼ÔÇØ they had spent far more (sober) time together than she should have been comfortable with, they were out together and their ?óÔé¼?£friends?óÔé¼Ôäó excuse could only go so far, they?óÔé¼ÔÇØ he was still looking smug and she was still into it, so there really wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót any point in arguing now. Honey smirked again as she shrugged one shoulder.

She sipped her whisky as she finished fixing her coffee. ?óÔé¼?ôI hate surprises,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, trying to sound serious but her ongoing smirk probably gave her away. She wasn?óÔé¼Ôäót kidding?óÔé¼ÔÇØshe really did hate surprises, almost always especially when they interfered with work?óÔé¼ÔÇØbut this particular surprise was alright (and she had been about to close the shop, anyway). She might have appreciated a warning, though, could have fixed her hair, put some lipstick on, or at the very least attempted to match his level of effort. She swapped her whisky for her coffee and took a large sip.

There would be no surprises next time, though next time sounded like they weren?óÔé¼Ôäót going to go right back to Thursdays. Honey switched back to her whisky; there had been special circumstances that warranted them getting a little off schedule, but now that things could go back to normal?óÔé¼ÔÇØ but poor Potato. She?óÔé¼Ôäód bought two new owls since lending Potato to Charlie so she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót particularly need him back but that was beside the point. ?óÔé¼?ôSure,?óÔé¼?Ø she said, shrugging again and leaning in a little bit, not really noticing what she was doing.

Honey had another sip of her whisky, grateful she didn?óÔé¼Ôäót have to ask for the double she was poured. She smirked softly as she set her glass down, looking at it briefly before she flicked her gaze back up to Charlie with a soft smirk. ?óÔé¼?ôYou owe me a lot of not-London Thursdays?óÔé¼ÔÇØ?óÔé¼?ô because Thursdays needed mentioning. And not-London reminded her they were in Hogsmeade, so she straightened up in her seat (without bothering to fix her expression).