Who: Lavender & Eddie When: 26 December, evening Where: a restaurant in Muggle London Rating: G What: flirtation and wine
Eddie was uneasy. Or he wasn't, or he was, possibly, or he'd developed suddenly an obsessive interest in his tie. Seated at a table by the window he half listened to the murmured conversations of the occupants at nearby tables. Perhaps they were speaking of mortgages, or late night television, or the Prime Minister. He appreciated Muggle London because there was no talk of the war. For the Muggles, there was no war. For him, for that evening, it would be the same, eyes cast every few moments out the window to see if Lavender had found her way.
Apparating to an alley near the restaurant was easy. Keeping her very pretty dress and hair in order while doing so? Not so easy. Lav appeared with a pop well away from the street, then immediately set about the task of arranging her dress properly and getting herself in order before following Eddie's directions to the restaurant he had invited her to for the evening. Her stomach was a riot of nerves, her hands fluttering about aimlessly until she got control of them. It was okay. She was wearing a smashing dress. This was going to be wonderful.
She walked until she caught side of Eddie in the window, giving a charming (she hoped) smile before walking into the restaurant and toward where he was seated.
His gaze could not help but be appraising as she came near, in a dress that was clearly cut to taunt him, and all other men, in some way. He smiled, slow. "Miss Brown." A nod as he stood, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
She tried not to bask too much in the way he was looking at her, glad that her dress was doing exactly what she had intended it to. A brilliant smile, followed by her leaning forward to place a chaste kiss upon his cheek. "Mr. Carmichael. Happy Christmas."
A smile and he took his seat again, toying with his empty wine glass to keep his hands busy. "And how was your Christmas?"
She sat across from him, giving him another smile. "Loud. Yours?"
Eddie's expression betrayed his amusement. "Not so much. My mum and I paid a visit to my grandmum. Her English has degenerated into a mix of Welsh and nonsense." He considered a moment. "And I'm sure she's never even been to Wales."
She giggled, brushing her hair back from her eyes. "Sounds charming. My brothers gave me noogies, tackled me, threw me on every couch and bed within reach, put salt in my cereal, rubber snakes on my pillow, and pretty much anything else they could think of."
Laughing appreciatively, Eddie cracked open the menu placed before him and gave a nod to the waiter to bring a bottle of wine. "How old are they? Your brothers?"
"Two, four, and six years older than me. We're all very close. I didn't stop wanting to be a boy until I was about ten." She slid her hand across the table, casually linking her fingers with his.
"I am very glad you decided otherwise." A grin, and he stroked her fingers from the nails down. "Though boyhood has it's pleasures, I suppose." His tease was evident, and he accepted the wine the waiter brought, pouring both himself and Lavender a glass.
She was surprised by the sudden appearance of the wine, giving him a look that clearly said she was touched. "Oh Eddie, you didn't have to."
"You needn't worry, I'm certain I gave them the correct information as to your Gringott's account." He drank, winking at her over the lifted glass.
She laughed again, squeezing his hand. "That was useless. You should have given them directions to the box under my mattress." She lifted her glass in return and toasted him.
A nod, and Eddie produced two small, merrily wrapped packages. "These are for you." Eddie had known just who to seek out when purchasing Lavender's gifts, though he'd spent two nights entirely scouring the pieces for hexes before replacing the few he'd found with protective charms.
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And if she knew that information, she probably would have kissed him for weeks. With a little noise of delight, she opened up the two gifts, giving his hand another squeeze after she saw them. "Eddie! I would kiss you but I think this restaurant is full of voyeurs." She said with a wink.
Eyebrows raised. "You're quite right. We'd best not indulge them by leaping madly at eachother over the table."
"Good plan." Reaching into her bag, she produced a small, long box, containing two tickets to a rugby game. "Open yours!"
Eyeing the tickets with well hidden skepticism, Eddie spared a grin. "I know just who to take." Anyone but his father, who loved the sport.
"Do you like the sport?" She said, looking hopeful. "It's my favorite. Especially when there's ale. It's okay if you don't, though. I can get Quidditch tickets instead."
Eddie tucked the tickets into his inner jacket pocket, a winning smile spreading from his mouth to his face entire. "I'd like it better if girls played." He turned to his menu. "Now, the lobster..."
She laughed, shaking her head as she picked up her menu as well. "Always the same with you." She wasn't sure what she should order. Everything looked very good and very expensive, and she didn't want to tax Eddie's finances. Maybe a salad?
When the waiter returned Eddie placed an order for pasta and scallops, his attentions diverted to the wine when Lavender was to order. The atmosphere of the restaurant once again seemed to fold around him, a foreign comfort.
After much debate, Lav ordered a salad with chicken, giving into her bodies demands that she actually eat some human food. Lavender was never a salad-and-dinner-roll kind of girl, much to the delight of her brothers. After the waiter walked away, Lav gave him a tentative smile.
Eddie lifted his glass and smiled in response. "How shall you be spending what remains of your holidays, Miss Brown?"
"Daydreaming about your handsome face, no doubt." She said with a wink.
He laughed appreciatively, leaning forward with his elbows braced on either side of his salad plate. His expression was one of mischief. "We plan our holidays around the same rewarding activity, then." He drained his glass. "I suspect my mum will insist on my company now and again."
She returned his sly expression. "However shall you find time for that between mooning over me?" She said, her voice laughing.
"Years of practice, Miss Brown." He refilled his glass, and hers. "Through narcissism all things are possible."