Ernie really missed his best mates. He wasn't sure when he started thinking about Teddy in that manner again, but he did and it really burned that they were on polite, but not exactly friendly terms. Ernie hadn't meant to act like a know it all or hurt his friends; he had just been trying to protect Hannah. It was an instinct that he simply couldn't ignore. Hannah had been his first Hogwarts friend and he was protective of her. He would say like a sister, but, lately, that was a lie. Yet, he couldn't admit it to anyone, least of all himself.
He was trying to clear his mind as he walked around the city, enjoying the unusually sunny day. He thought about stopping for a bite when his eyes landed on Teddy and Megan sitting at a small table looking like they were waiting on lunch too.
Megan was glad that her and Teddy were able to hang out again and things were becoming a little less awkward between them. "I'm glad you could take a break from work, Teddy. I know you've been really busy a lot more lately. And then everything else." Megan said. "So how is...." While she had been talking to Teddy, she hadn't really been looking at him the whole time. She liked to people watch and there were a lot of people walking by. One of them looked a lot like Ernie and she lost track of what she was saying.
Teddy was making an effort to pretend his feelings away. If they caused that much trouble, there was no need to keep harping on them. No, he was going to act like their little conversation never happened. It was hard, but he was actually succeeding at being normal when Megan stopped short. "Meg? You alright? What is it?" He turned to look, trying to see what she saw.
She simply nodded her head when she heard her name before turning her face to look at him. "I think I just saw Ernie." Megan looked back to where she thought she had seen Ernie and the person that looked like Ernie was still there and she pointed at him. "Right there."
Teddy's stomach twisted at the sight of his friend. He did miss Ernie. The only contact they had involved work things via owl and the journals. Their last conversation on Father's Day reminded Teddy that Ernie was going through quite a bit too. And, despite it all, Teddy knew Ernie would never do anything maliciously. "Maybe we should invite him over," he suggested.
"I suppose." Megan didn't really want to. It was stupid and possibly very childish, but Ernie getting into something he should have left alone had hurt, and she didn't want to have anything to do with him. She hadn't seen him in a while and though they had spoken very briefly in the journals, she wasn't exactly speaking to him. Maybe she wouldn't stay too long, say she was busy and leave the boys.
"We don't need to," Teddy replied, feeling silly for bringing it up. He could tell she didn't want to and he couldn't entirely blame her. "I don't think he's seen us anyway."
"Even if he hasn't seen us, we probably should. It wouldn't be nice if he did see us." Megan said. It was the right thing to do.
Teddy shrugged, unsure what to do. He wasn't particularly fond of being rude, but he didn't want to put anyone, either Megan or Ernie, on the spot. "Well, if you are sure..."
Megan sighed. "I'm sure. Call him over."
Teddy nodded, half standing to hold an arm out. He called, "Hey, Ernie? Oy, MacMillan!"
Ernie had pretty much stopped dead in his tracks. He had seen them, but had hoped they hadn't seen him. He certainly didn't expect to be signaled out. Were they going to tell him off? Teddy had sounded nice enough the other day, but that was concerning their fathers and Draco...
Knowing he had no choice, he sucked up his courage, walking over to the pair. "Hullo," he said, shaking Teddy's hand and nodding politely at Megan. "How are you?"
"Hi, Ernie." Megan said quietly, "I'm fine. Yourself?" While he was here, she was going to be polite.
Ernie hated how awkward it felt, but he didn't know how to apologize anymore than he already had. It was done. He had his reasons, as stupid as they seemed in hindsight. "Pretty good," he said, glancing at Teddy, wondering why they asked him over.
Teddy smiled encouragingly. "We were just about to order. Want to join us, mate?"
"That's good to hear, Ernie." Megan smiled, not her usual bright one, but it was a smile all the same. "We don't mind if you do."
Well, that wasn't exactly a ringing invitation, but Ernie would take it. "Thank you," he replied, taking the extra seat. "I haven't really seen anyone outside my family for a bit."
Teddy peered at Ernie over his menu, concern filling his eyes. He knew something was bothering Ernie and he felt guilty for abandoning him. Again. "I should have owled you to come out sooner," he said in way of making amends. "I haven't done much besides work as Meg here will tell you."
Megan nodded her head. "This is the first I've seen him since my match. Did you go, Ernie?" She couldn't really remember what she had said to Ernie about going to her match, but she didn't think he would have gone. "I hope your family is well."
"Of course I went," Ernie responded, his feelings besting him. How could she think he wouldn't?
Teddy cleared his throat. He had spent most of school avoiding conflict. He didn't need it on his doorstep.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean - I wasn't sure if you had gone or not. I didn't want to assume." Megan said. This was going to be a horrible afternoon if things continued as they were.
"It was a really great match," Teddy said way too cheerfully, catching an odd look from Ernie.
"Yet, nice playing, Megan." He pretended to be really interested in his menu. Why had he said yes to this insincere invitation?
"Thanks." Megan said sincerely, "I don't play again until August. Not sure of the dates yet, but when I find out I'll let you know."
Ernie shrugged, thinking it was better than actually saying something else that would just be wrong.
"Can't wait," Teddy chimed in with that too cheerful voice again.
Megan drank some of the water she had in front of her and stared at the menu. She shouldn't have said anything, shouldn't have pointed out Ernie. "I'm sorry, Ernie."
"Nothing to apologize over," Ernie answered, shooting a nearby waiter a look that plainly said to get over to their table.
Teddy shifted in his seat, trying to make small talk with the waiter as they placed their orders. It felt too tense. "This place is really good, you know. I picked it out."
"Good to hear that it is. Never eaten here before. Do they have good desserts?" Megan thought it best to stay through the meal, then leave, but she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle the next few minutes. She did know that she was going to keep her mouth shut.
"Now would I take you anywhere there wasn't?" Teddy teased. "Though not as good as yours, naturally."
Ernie smirked. "Brown-noser," he kidded.
Megan shook her head smiling. "No, you wouldn't. And you know I make the best." In fact she had thought about switching to being a baker.
Teddy was almost feeling normal again. Maybe they could do this, maybe they could all sit at one table and pretend nothing had happened. "I am learning," he insisted.
"Learning not to burn the place down?" Ernie joked.
"He's very good an not burning the place down." Megan said. "And he is doing very well. We've successfully made cupcakes and brownies and biscuits."
Ernie's attention turned back to Teddy. "Oy, you don't say? Teddy, where's my share?"
Teddy chuckled. "I'll send some right over."
"He was supposed to do that the last time. But we always make plenty for just about everyone." Megan joked.
"Really?" Ernie asked before he could help himself.
Well, so much for feeling normal. Teddy sighed as the waiter placed their food before them. He didn't take a bite. Instead, he looked at his old friend. "Ernie, for Merlin's sake, I don't want to do this anymore. We're mates, okay?"
Megan started eating because she knew she'd say something she'd regret if she didn't have something in her mouth. She swallowed and knew what she could say. "You're welcome to come over anytime and help and take some home to your family."
Ernie knew Megan well enough to pick up on her twist of words. It made him sad, but he couldn't press it, not there in front of Teddy. Instead, he shot Teddy a grateful smile before turning to thank Megan. "I will have to do that," he said, not meaning it one bit.
"Good. It will be fun!" Megan said with a smile.
Ernie didn't really think so, but shrugged, pretending he was chewing.
Teddy, on the other hand, smiled brightly. "Absolutely! Smashing even." If he tried hard enough, maybe, just maybe, his words would become truth.
Megan thought Teddy was trying too hard, but she had been serious about her invite to Ernie, whether he was going to take it as such. "I'll let you know when a good time to come over will be. I'm thinking of dropping my study with the Herbologist."
Teddy looked surprise, but Ernie put down his fork to focus on what she announced. "For cooking?" It wasn't that long ago that Ernie had tried to convince her to follow that passion.
She nodded her head. "Yes. I've been thinking about it lot more lately, ever since you suggested it to me. I seem to enjoy it far more than being a herbologist or a quidditch player at the moment."
"I think it's brilliant," Ernie gushed. "Really, you'd be amazing at it."
Teddy was finally relaxed enough to eat some of his lunch, but he put his sandwich down in favor of grinning at his mates. "You can open up a shop, Meg. I bet my Aunt Cissa would use your catering."
"Thanks, Ernie." Megan beamed. "I suppose. I'm only good at baking, but I wouldn't have to be alone in a shop. So that would be nice to have at least one customer. You'd both buy from my hypothetical shop, wouldn't you?"
"Of course I would," Ernie replied, "I'd buy the whole shop and tell my sisters to as well."
"Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be good enough to help you with it," Teddy joked.
"You would certainly keep me in business. But be sure to wait in between buying the whole shop so I can get more food to sell." Megan laughed. "Maybe." It would be interesting to see Teddy helping her with it one day, but she doubted it would really happen, it was something fun to think about.