Dora shuffled from foot to foot. The Chinese was being kept warm in the oven, and she was feeling ridiculous. Her place was much like her clothes, quirky, retro and slightly intense.
Archie made his way to Dora's. He had bribed a couple of bottles of firewhisky - toffee and regular - from Rosmerta whilst trying to ignore the comments she threw his way. He blew out a breath and knocked.
Dora checked her hair, now bright red and opened the door. "Hi," she took in the two bottles of whiskey. "Wow."
Archie smiled at her and then chuckled at the 'wow'. "I know you like it, so I wangled both." He held them out to her. "How are you?"
"I'm good, you?" She reached for the whiskey and stepped aside to let him in.
"I'm good, thanks." He moved inside and glanced around as he unbuttoned his coat. "I was going to get some cat treats as well, but I wasn't sure which ones were best."
"Honestly, this is enough," she waved the bottles. "Am I opening them?"
"Yeah, go for it. It's a celebration after all."
"Toffee or plain, or starting with butterbeer?"
"What do you fancy toasting your new job with?"
"Toffee, of course!"
Archie chuckled. "Toffee it is. Why don't you get some glasses and I'll open it?"
Dora bustled into the kitchen and re-emerged a moment later. "Do you like the place? Of course, I know it'll be spelled straight over when I go."
"That would be a shame. It's great. Very you. You going to do your new place the same or have an experiment?"
"I'll play, I'm not really sure of size or light yet," she handed him a glass.
Archie popped the bottle and gestured for her to hold both glasses out so he could pour. "Looking forward to it?"
"Getting away, yes," Dora replied, not looking at him.
"From what?" Archie asked with a slight frown.
"The damn school floats over everything here."
"I suppose it does." He set the bottle down and reached for his glass. "When do you start again?"
"12th January"
"And when do you leave Hogsmeade?"
"10th, notice is handed in and everything," Dora's eyes shone as she looked around the room.
"So, I'll be able to see you before you leave?"
"It's London not the moon, you can come see me whenever you like," Dora pointed out
"I know that. Making me think about going to where southerners live," he teased. "I just mean, I'll be able to properly see you off and wish you luck, in person."
"You will, you could even come with me to the train, if you wanted? No one else will."
"Then I will," he said with a warm smile. "In the mean time, congratulations on the new job," he tipped his glass towards her. "You'll be bloody great."
"Chinese?" Dora asked after she'd clinked
"Sounds good. Want me to do anything?"
"It's fine, I just hope I got the right thing... Actually pour me another drink!" Dora laughed
Archie echoed her laugh and picked up the bottle to refill their glasses.
Dora came through, balancing a few plates. "I sort of got of everything!"
Archie automatically moved to help her. "Not a bad thing."
"Hope you can eat a lot then," Dora teased
"I'll give it a good try."
"Thought you might," she put some plates down and settled down on the sofa.
Archie chuckled and handed her a full glass of toffee firewhisky.