She went for a spring roll. "So, what are your plans."
"Still the same really. Work in the Three Broomsticks until I can apply for a position at Hogwarts," Archie said as he perused the food. "Mum thinks I should have a back up in case. She still doesn't like the idea."
"I thought all mum's liked Hogwarts?" Dora asked
"Clearly not. I think she's just worried, what with all the rumours going around," Archie said. "I have promised her I won't apply for defence against dark arts."
"Well yeah, job application and will with the same quill," Dora replied
"Yeah. Though Mum would probably kill me before I even got that far," Archie quipped before he snagged a roll.
"She wouldn't, she'd be proud, it's what parents do."
"I know. They both would be. Even if Dad doesn't understand half of it."
"What's it like, growing up half muggle?" Dora asked, grabbing a bowl and starting to fill it.
"I don't know. I liked it. Mum tried not to use magic around the house so much, not before I went to Hogwarts anyway." He shrugged. "I suppose it had it's bad moments. Some people on both sides not accepting me as either or."
"I always did, better than being almost a squib," Dora replied, grabbing some chopsticks
Archie began to fill his own bowl. "If you're talking about yourself, you're not."
"I lack a lot of skill, I know that," Dora replied
"Depends what you want to do or be."
"A half decent bloody witch," Dora replied
"I thought you already were one of those," Archie said as he tucked into his food.
Dora snorted, then choked on her rice
"You alright?"
"Fine, just me, a decent witch!"
"You are far too hard on yourself, you know that."
"There was a reason Hogwarts hated me," Dora replied
Archie frowned. "What do you mean?"
"When you weren't around, sometimes when you were, I was bullied so much. No one helps much."
"Oh. Sorry." He reached out to cover her hand with his. "I tried to stop as much as I could... I know that doesn't help."
Dora stared at his hand. "You made it worse. I wasn't the only one who adored you."
"I... what?"
"Defended but not truely protected by the man everyone wanted...well boy."
"And that made it worse?"
"No one knew why...I didn't know why," Dora replied
"Because it was wrong."
"I got what those idiots thought I deserved," Dora replied. "Then you left."
"You didn't deserve it and I couldn't exactly help that, Dora."
"I know," Dora muttered
"I'm sorry," he said. "I never wanted to make things harder for you. I just wanted to help."