WHO: Ernie MacMillan and Megan Jones
WHAT: Eating and Talking
WHEN: Afternoon
WHERE: Susan and Megan's flat
RATING: PG
STATUS: DONE!



Megan was surprised at her luck. She didn't have Quidditch practice and the Herbologist she was studying under was feeling rather ill. The combination of the two meant a free day for her. There had been very few free days and Megan had no idea how she was going to spend her time. Susan was at St. Mungo's doing her job and Megan didn't have any idea about what the rest of her friends were up to. That meant she was most likely just going to hang around the flat she shared with Susan. Megan had no problem doing that. This gave her a chance to make more brownies and muffins, both of which she had been craving the past couple of weeks and had not had time to make until now. Of course, she would not keep all that she made, just enough for her and Susan. The rest she would send to her other friends to enjoy.


Today was going to be a good day. Although Megan didn't like being kept inside when she would rather be outside, baking was enough to keep that feeling down. Besides, baking had its advantages. It meant Megan could make a mess and feel as if she were getting dirty from working with plants. She had started mixing up a muffin mix when she heard a knock on the door. Before she headed for the door, Megan looked between the door and the bowl. After a moment, she took the bowl with her to the door to see who was there.


Ernie had been accused of being a workaholic well before he entered the actual workforce so when his employees started teasing him over it, he had no problem grinning and explaining that's what kept them all making galleons. He had been raised to work hard and without complaint, but he had lost the lesson about balancing it with fun. However, that day he decided to take an early leave and do his father proud in visiting an old friend. He hadn't seen Megan for awhile and with the way she had been so kind and understanding at the funeral, Ernie felt it was time to repay the favor. Hence, he arrived with sandwiches and whine. "Time for an old Puff?" He joked when she opened the door.

"Of course! I always have that sort of time." Megan said with a big grin. "Come in, Ernie! Make yourself comfortable. And when I'm done with these..." holding up her bowl of muffin mix for him to see. "You can help yourself to as many muffins as you want." Megan looked at the mix, not remembering which kind she was making. "I think these are blueberry. But enough about the muffins right now. I am very much surprised, and happy, to see you. Thought you'd be at work or some place. And I see you've brought something!" Megan paused to take a breath. "Okay. I'll let you talk now."

Ernie laughed at how excited Megan was. It was contagious and he couldn't help wrapping his arms around her despite the huge bowl of mix in her hands. "I missed you," he explained. "Besides, even us workaholics need a break now and again." He stepped back, holding up his brown bag filled with sandwiches and chips. "Some lunch, my darling Megan."

"Missed you too, you workaholic. Though I think being a workaholic is a bit contagious, don't you think?" At least that was what Megan thought since she was working two jobs. "Today is your lucky day, you know? I would have been at my herbology job, but he was sick and we didn't have practice." Megan went back to stirring the mix as she looked at the brown bag. "Wonderful. Follow me and I'll pour this in the muffin tray so that in 10 minutes we shall have muffins for dessert. Sound good to you?" She had already begun walking back to the kitchen as she talked. "How have you been, Ernie? Work going well for you?"

"You don't think I checked first?" Ernie teased as he followed her around, looking for something to do in order to be useful. Seeing as the kitchen wasn't his biggest skill, he stepped back, letting Megan handle the muffins. "I'm doing well." It was the truth too. It had been hard to lose his father, but Ernie was bouncing back. It was a far cry from the avoiding young man he had been in those first few months following Ernest's death. "How is the team, anyway? Going to win the big match?" He carried his bag to the table and started setting things out.

"I'm a hard person to track down sometimes," Megan said, giving Ernie a wink. "That is good to hear, Ernie. I'm glad you are doing well." She had finished mixing and started pouring it into the tray. "Want the batter? It tastes pretty good." Megan asked him, holding up the spoon she used. "I think the team is doing very well. I am fitting in quite nicely with them and Harper and I make a good pair. And we have a very good chance of winning the big match against the Wasps. You did get the tickets I sent, right?" She got some dishes from one of the cabinets and set them on the table and sat down.

"Aw, just like my mum does." Despite feeling ridiculous for it, Ernie leaned over and licked the spoon she was holding. He flashed a devilish smile. "Thank you." He straightened up, grabbing a napkin to wipe his mouth. "I did! Hermione wishes she could make it." His smile faltered some, but he tried to keep the conversation flowing. "I'll be there though. And Teddy too."

"You're welcome! I love batter. One of the best things ever." Megan said with a big grin. "I wish she could come too. How is she doing in France? I am glad you and Teddy will be there. Do you know if either of you have found anyone else to bring to the match. The more the merrier! It'll be brilliant!"

Ernie sat on one of the chairs. It was exciting to watch Megan talking so happily. He really loved that everyone seemed to be reaching a point of happiness. It was a new feeling after the years of worry and war. "I think Hannah is coming and I'm sure Teddy's trying to rope Draco into it." He shrugged. "Don't know if the daddy to be will be interested."

"Oh, I read about that! Is he excited? And isn't he the one who complained about not getting a ticket to the world cup?" Megan asked as she took a seat at the table. "I think he should try and get out and have fun before the baby comes. It should be a great match. The Wasps are our biggest rivals. And it'll be great to see you all. You all should come over here after the match, win or lose."

"I don't know," Ernie admitted as he passed a sandwich to Megan. "I think he's in...full on husband to be mode. It's scary. I think he's avoiding." Ernie sighed, trying not to think of what Hannah would say about the judgment. Ernie just couldn't help feeling like his friends were making a mistake.

"Thanks," Megan said as she accepted the sandwich. "Oh? Why do you say that?"

Ernie hesitated as he heard Hannah's voice reminding him that Draco was only doing right by Pansy. "I don't know," he said slowly. "I mean Hannah pointed out I'd do the same...you know, do right by the girl, but..." He paused to take a bite of his turkey on rye. He chased it down with some tea before looking back toward Megan. "It is different when it is a friend. I mean...he could take care of the baby and not rush into marriage." Ernie knew it was judgmental, but didn't they know the risks of young marriage?

Megan took a bite out of her sandwich as she listened to Ernie. "Ah." She didn't think there was anything wrong with it. "But what if he really wants to marry her? If there wasn't a baby, maybe he'd stay on this same course? That is possible. I'm sure everything will work out for them, especially if they love each other outside of this context."

"But that's the thing. It wasn't like they were even together. They always..." He shook his head, knowing he was being that stuffy Ernie everyone secretly rolled their eyes at, but it was hard not to fret over something so important. "Breaking up and you know..." He stuffed some more food into his mouth, trying hard not to be too incredibly rude about the whole thing. "You believe in that then? Love winning out and all that?" Ernie sometimes believed it, but other times he just thought it was rubbish.

"No, I don't really know because I don't really know them," Megan admitted. Her last run in with Pansy was not a pleasant one. "I do believe in love winning out and all that. I wouldn't want to enter into a long-term relationship or marriage if I didn't love the bloke."

Desperate to get off the topic, Ernie raised his eyebrows. "Hm, yeah? Anyone like that in your life then?" He reached out to tap her wrist playfully.

Megan shook her head. "No. No one like that in my life. Don't really have the time at the moment. Maybe when I settle on one career, I'll think about it more."

Ernie chuckled. "Yeah, Quidditch star or Herbologist?" He winked. "You have it made either way, yeah? Look at me, having these smart and talented mates!"

"It is a tough decision. I love them both so much." Megan grinned. "Yeah, I do. I'm pretty lucky. Hey, you are smart and talented too, Ernie!"

"Oh, I know." Ernie smiled cheekily before polishing off his food. "It is what makes me such a handy mate to keep 'round."

"It really is. If you weren't so handy a mate, I might just have to dump you as one and be forced to find one more handy." Megan winked. "I think the muffins might be done. Let me check them."

"Hey! That breaks my heart!" Ernie held a hand over his chest, feigning great hurt. When she got up, he called, "Good thing I like muffins enough to forgive that!"

Megan laughed. "Aw. That be very sad." She laughed again. "I'm glad you do! And it looks as though they are done." Megan said as she inspected the fresh-from-the-oven muffins. "I was right they are blueberry. And they look delicious." She brought the tray of muffins over to the table. "Careful, they are still hot."

Still laughing, Ernie grabbed a muffin and sampled it. "Hmmmm. Very tasty. Nice work, Jones."

"Thanks MacMillan." Megan grabbed one herself and took a bite. It was indeed very tasty, as she knew they would be. "I suppose if being a Quidditch star or Herbologist doesn't work out, I always have my baking."

"You can go on one of those muggle tellies Hannah showed me! They do cooking!" Ernie was clearly proud to know that much about the muggle world and to reward himself he grabbed another moist biscuit.

"Oooh! That sounds like fun, being on the telly. Think I'd be good enough? Showing other people how to bake things?" Megan asked. She remembered her mum watching those shows when she was little, but that had been ages ago.

"Well, sure, why not?" Ernie took another bite and patted his stomach to show his appreciate. "See that? You could bring that to millions."

Megan laughed. "They would only be able to watch, though showing them how, they would get to enjoy them just as much. Okay. We are talking just about me. Lets talk about you."

Ernie shook his head. "Yes, but they could try out what you taught. See?" He took another sip of his tea. "Honestly not much to tell." Sure, he didn't see his girlfriend as much as he would have liked and, yes, he worked pretty much all the time, but that wasn't anything to interest anyone.

"I see." Megan looked at him. "Not much to tell? How's work going?"

"I'm boring. You know that," he joked. "And work is...work? I mean it's not how I saw myself, but I like it." He smiled again, trying to convince both himself and Megan that he truly meant all that.

Megan shook her head and smiled. "You are not boring, Ernie. Well, at least you like it right?"

"Hmm," He said, trying not to commit. He did like it, but it still hadn't been what he expected and sometimes he still thought about the Ministry and his hopes to be Minister.

"You don't have to do it forever do you? One day you could do something you love rather than like?"

Ernie chuckled. "That obvious am I?" He pushed his empty plate and cup away. "I don't know. It's my father's company and I...I'm honored to look after it."

"Just a little bit. I'm sure he's very proud of you." Megan told him, giving him a smile. "He probably didn't expect you to look after it forever."

"I just can't let it out of the family," Ernie divulged. "I just can't."

"Oh. Well, I have faith in you, Ernie. You'll be great."

Reaching out to grip her hand again, Ernie squeezed. "And so will you, telly star or not."