"Well, it's a good job someone was thoughtful and brought you food," Archie pointed out, tapping the edge of her plate.
Dora tucked into her sandwich first, still slightly dizzy.
"Do you want a drink? A different one, maybe water or something?" he asked, his brow creasing slightly.
'Coffee would be good, but I'm out of cash...which I should have said before I had the sandwich.'
"Don't worry about it," Archie said, rising to get her a coffee.
Dora watched him, suddenly embarrassed, wanting to push back the chair and run.
Archie returned a moment later. He set a mug down in front of her before he retook his seat. "I think I remembered how you take it. I don't do teas and coffees enough."
"You did...how did you?"
"I have a good memory?"
'Mmm but why bother?'
"Because it makes doing you a coffee easier," Archie said.
'Mmm.' Dora eyed him
He arched an eyebrow. "What?"
'I should go.'
Archie gave a short nod. "I was serious about the celebratory drink and catch up though. Send me an owl when you're free and we can sort something out before I leave."
'I...yeah, OK, but if not, have a good Christmas.' Dora pushed herself up from the seat.
Archie followed suit. "You too, Dors. Get home safe."
"Enjoy Leeds."
"I'll look out for that owl," he called back with a smile before heading back up to the bar.
Dora returned his smile, knowing there'd be no owl.
Archie slid back behind the bar. He watched Dora leave with a sigh. He could feel Rosmerta wanting to say something but he didn't dare look at the landlady.
"You could just follow the girl and tell her, you can work a longer shift tomorrow."
Archie shook his head. "I don't want to make her uncomfortable."
"And she doesn't send an owl, goes to London and you never see her again?"
Archie ran a hand down his face. "If I don't hear from her before I leave, I'll contact her. I'm not going to push, Ros."
"How many years has it been now?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"Yes you do."
Archie's gaze flicked from the door to Rosmerta. "Does it matter?"
"Does if she doesn't come back."
"If I don't hear from her... I'll send Aluko with a message."
"Merlin's Beard! A slight lean in and she'd have kissed you five minutes ago, she's not going to send you a snog back by owl."
Archie narrowed his eyes. "Maybe if you hadn't made her uncomfortable with whatever looks you were throwing her way, she would have stayed a bit longer."
"I was side eying you!"
"What the bloody hell for?"
"So you'd pull your finger out."
"I haven't seen her in a while, we were talking."
"And when she goes to London?"
"Bloody hell, Ros..." He shook his head. "She's here for days yet."
"Mmm, and how long will it take you to make a move?"
"Ros..." There was a note of warning and frustration in his tone. "Dora's my friend first and foremost, I don't want to lose that. I don't even know if she feels the same."
"It's up to you, but you will lose her if she goes."
"I don't want to push. She already thinks I'm a giant flirt," he muttered, folding his arms atop the bar.
"Well you are!"
"I'm not! At least, I don't do it on purpose. Not with everyone anyway."
"With enough people. You'll break hearts back at that school."
He rolled his eyes. "I'm still a few years off of getting a chance to work at that school," he pointed out. He latched onto the subject change. "I bet you're looking forward to the prospect of serving Harry Potter butterbeer next year?"
"I already feel for the boy, a lot of pressure in a world he's only just getting to know."
"Never easy to come in from the muggle world, but add in the fact that everyone else knows of and have prejudged him... I can't imagine," Archie muttered. He thought it was bad enough that some people knew his mother was a Selwyn.
"Lonely I should think," Rosemerta shrugged.
"Depends if he's made friends, I suppose."
"It can be a vicious place, friends or not."
"I know. I know."
"Get back to work...then send an owl!"
"Aye, aye, Madame!" Archie saluted and headed off to grab some empties.