Dora was tired. I was winter so of course here it meant snow. Even if that lead to an excuse to wear her most extravagant faux fur, but it meant boring shoes. And she hated the cold.
She shook off the worst of the weather as she entered The Three Broomsticks, and her face lit up as she spotted who was on the bar that night, but she tried to smother the expression.
Archie pulled a pint of Dragon's Scale beer and slid it across the bar to a red-scarfed wizard, before he turned to the next person, a welcoming smile on his face.
His gaze flicked to the door as a small flurry of snow swirled inside with the latest addition. His smile widened and he raised a hand in a half-wave before he was called by another patron.
Dora waved back, her hair flickering from red to a soft pink as she moved to the bar. "Hi." She desperately wanted to wave Madame Rosemerta away, but she wasn't brave enough.
Archie was in the middle of serving another customer, as she got to the bar, another lined up right behind. He caught Rosmerta's eye. One side of the landlady's lips twitched into a knowing smile - which Archie chose to ignore - and she swapped ends with him.
"Hey, Dora, how you doing?" he said. "What can I get you?"
"Firewhiskey please, it's too cold out there to be a lady," she shook snow from her hair to prove the point. "Always know it's nearly Christmas when you have to break out the sledges." The flakes melted as they hit her ladybird spotted long coat. She suddenly felt like she was dressed like an idiot.
Archie chuckled. "One firewhiskey to warm you up, coming right up." He plucked a glass from the stack behind him and set it down in front of her. He pulled a bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky from beneath the bar and poured it into the glass. "Rosmerta's waiting on an order of some cinnamon flavoured bottles."
"I swear she makes sure she never has my favourites while I'm here," Dora teased. She wasn't much of a fan of Hogsmeade, far too close to the school for her taste.
"Makes sure you come back, apparently," Archie said with a shrug, sliding the glass closer. "If it were up to me I'd have a bottle under the counter for you."
"So be charming, and make sure of it," Dora replied
"Best come back another day then,' Archie said. "How are things anyway? Been busy?"
"Really busy, I might be here even less soon," she took a sip of her drink and smiled
"How come?" Archie leant against the bar.
"Quibbler job," Dora's smiled widely
"That's great. When do you start?" Archie returned her smile. "What are you going to be focussing on?"
"Beginning of next month, and shapeshifting legends...of course," Dora chuckled
"Of course. That's great news, Dora. You'll have to come in the day before you start. Proper celebratory drink. I'll make sure your favourites are in."
"It won't clash with anything, will it? I know you're looking at extra study?"
"Course it won't. My schedule's flexible enough." Archie glanced at the door as it admitted another small party. "Besides, I want to."
"I should let you work," Dora moved to step back
"How long you in Hogsmeade?" he asked.
"A few weeks, promised my parents I'd do Christmas here."
"So I should see you again for I leave?"
"When are you off?"
"22nd. Heading back down to Leeds for the holidays."
"So, you'll be here all the time?' Her voice faltered
"In Hogsmeade, yeah. Sometimes Rosmerta actually releases me from her clutches and I get to go home and eat and stuff," he said with a wry smile.
"That's what I meant, just some none pub time?" Dora stuttered
"I'd like that. That's why I asked how long you were here for.
"I mean you don't have to...family and all that, and we haven't spent that much time together since school."