He nodded quickly and glanced down at the clipboard in his hand. Where had his wand gotten to? He spotted it after a moment, wedged under the box of quills, and lifted it to point it at the kettle in the storeroom. Alice's expression, when he looked up, had the strangest effect on him. The smile on her face made him ache, it was so familiar to him, and yet-- she'd changed, in the many months since they'd last spoken, and while he'd traveled. It had been nearly nine months, he thought suddenly, toting it up hastily in his head. He couldn't return her good-natured look. Doubt flickered across his features. He wondered just how different she was-- what had changed, other than the obvious awkwardness between them? Anger licked at his insides, though where it had come from, he couldn't say. Perhaps he blamed her for changing, and for making him miss it.
Without another word, Freddie tucked everything on the counter out of sight-- he supposed stock could wait-- and headed off into the back room. The kettle was whistling. Through the open door, he kept at eye on her, and waved his wand again at the shop door. The sign flipped to read 'CLOSED' and the orange shutters came down noisily outside the windows. "Oi," he called to Alice, hoping he hadn't lost her attention while out of sight. "Pssst. C'mere." He inclined his head towards a staircase which led to the floor above. "This way. I'll bring the tea."