"None of it was your fault, people are people after all," Dora replied
"Still... Sorry."
"It's OK, I'll be gone soon, never have to look at it again."
"Do you know the leaky cauldron has a good stock of various firewhisky" Archie said.
"I heard that," Dora teased
"You might prefer the service there."
"I very much doubt it," Dora murmured
"Oh?"
"Who exactly could be better than you?"
"I'm sure there's lots of people."
"Not that I've met,"
He looked at her. "I'll miss you, you know. Miss you popping into the Broomsticks."
"Keep writing. It's not as if we've seen each other that much since school
"I will. And I will come and visit," Archie said.
"No, you won't,"
"I just said I will. Why don't you think I will?"
"Because," she raised and dropped her arms
"Is there more to that?"
"I like you, I always have, but it doesn't matter," Dora replied
"It doesn't?"
"No, because you're you and you want Hogwarts more than anything else, and I won't even be here."
"I wouldn't say more than anything," Archie said, rolling his glass of firewhisky, watching the light catch the amber liquid before he downed it.
Dora downed her own glass and moved to refill both.
"Though, with all the rumours spiralling around, who knows what will happen in the near future."
"That place will always be there Arch,"
Archie sighed. "Let me know when you get to London and get settled yeah?" he said. "I'll send a message with Aluko." s "And that's it?"
"I said I'd visit but you didn't seem to believe that."
"Well where have you been when I lived two miles away!"
Archie shook his head. "What do you want me to say, Dora?"
"Nothing!"
Archie sighed and drank half of his drink.
"You'll be fine without me," Dora muttered, throwing back her drink.
"Dors? You know I care about you right?"
"Mmm, very fond I'm sure," Dora replied
Archie's lips tightened slightly. "Maybe I should go. It's getting late."
"I'm just...I suppose, giving up on this place,"
"And everyone associated with it?"
"No, some things were good."
"Then, how about you try trusting me, just a little?"
"Maybe, this once."
"I promise, I will write to you and I will visit."
"OK," Dora smiled and held out her hand. "Pinky swear?"
Archie chuckled softly and did the same. "Pinky swear."
"OK, eat some more chinese I bought way too much,"
"Gladly," Archie leaned over to refill his plate.
Dora did the same. "If the Hogwarts job doesn't come up, will you try one of the others, go abroad?"
He shook his head. "Probably not. More likely, I'll look at some of the schools in London or Leeds." He swallowed. "Muggle schools, I mean," he added.
"Would you want to be a muggle teacher?"
Archie blew out a breath. "I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe I'll just stick to being a barman."
"You know you're better than that," Dora replied.
"Am I? I'm good at it and if Hogwarts falls through, there are worse jobs."
"But is that all you want?"
"Sometimes I wonder if I even know."
"You must have an idea?"
"I've always had ideas. I used to want to be a footballer. Then an artist. Or be in a band." He shrugged. "Then you know, the magic side wanted to do something with that obviously. That's why I got the teaching bug, I guess."
"So do it, if you can't get here, then I can come and visit you too," Dora replied s Archie smiled. "I'd like that."
'I've never figured out how far the Floo Network stretches.' Dora replied