"I'd rather it didn't," he said, letting his thumb brush against her cheek.
"And we can believe it won't,"
Archie sighed and leant his forehead against hers, closing his eyes for a moment. "This is not how I imagined seeing you again."
"Sometimes I imagine I never left..." Dora admitted
"I guess even wizards and witches struggle with long distance after all," Archie said, meeting her gaze but didn't move away.
"Maybe it was better it didn't work, because of this," she couldn't pull away
"Are you sure it didn't work?" Archie mused before he caught her lips with his own.
"It won't after this," Dora murmured
"You don't know that."
"Even if we see each other, you won't know it's me."
"What about when it's all over?" he asked.
"I don't know when it will be," Dora replied
Archie side softly, running his fingers through her hair. "What made you come, Dors. To tell me in person? Or?"
"I needed to see you, that's all."
Archie nodded and then pulled her into a tight hug. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too, so much, and I will try my best to come back to you," she leaned into him
"You better." Archie kissed her temple. "I'm thinking of heading back to Leeds."
"Gotta protect what you love right?"
"From everyone apparently," Archie muttered grimly. "Daily Prophet has been sniffing around," he explained. "They seem to like calling Harry Potter a liar, but they also can't stop themselves dragging up crap and crying death eater."
"No one listens to the Quibbler...and if you're going home and I'm going under..." Dora's chin crumpled
"I do. Not everything obviously but you know," Archie said, gesturing towards the table that held both papers. Aluko clacked her beak from her perch by the window.
"But is that for me?" Dora teased
"Well, I do like your articles," he said with a grin.
"I know, you've been looking at my articles for years," she arched an eyebrow.
"And I thought you never noticed."
"Massive flirt,"
"You took a long time to realise it was aimed at you," Archie said. "And meant."
"And we stalled. And after tonight, it's over." Dora murmured
"Not completely," Archie said, moving closer. "But, why not stay the night?"
"Last hurrah huh?"
Archie felt the twist in his chest at that and even though he tried not to let it, he was sure it had shown on his face. "Maybe. Maybe not," he murmured.
"I don't want you to get stuck...I mean have you been, while I've been away?" Dora asked
Archie shook his head.
"So there's been no one, for three years,"
"No. Not bad for a massive flirt, I guess," Archie said dryly.
"What is this Arch? Do you love me?"
Archie's forehead creased. "You're really asking me that, now?"
"Yeah, I really am."
"Would it make a difference?" he asked quietly.
"Something to live for."
He closed the gap between them again, reaching out to brush his fingers through her hair. "I do, yes."
"I love you too," she kissed him softly. "But I still need to do this."
"I know." Archie leant his forehead against hers. "Please, just be careful."
"Of course I will be, I don't actually want to die, I just can't sit back and let other people die either."
"I know." Archie kissed her.
"I'm going to miss you so much...at least we had letters before," Dora murmured against his lips.
"Promise me, when you're out, when you're safe, you'll get in contact?" Archie said. "And if you get in trouble."
"When I get out, I'm coming to Leeds. If I get into trouble, I won't be able to say love, you know that."
"You could. You could send a patronus message."
"You mustn't keep sitting waiting," Dora murmured
"Don't." Archie kissed her again, sliding his arms around her waist.
She let herself be pulled closer, "lets just not talk about this any more."
"OK." Archie slid his fingers into her hair and deepened the kiss.
Dora sank into him, her one that got away, knowing she needed to be gone before morning