One thing Nick happened to be very good at was listening. Being quiet allowed him to learn so many things about people, not just from what they said, but also from certain expressions or tics or nervous habits. It didn't hurt that it let the speaker know his attention was fully theirs, the way he focused on Lavender's face, seeing not just her scars, but also her lovely eyes. And, Merlin. When had he started thinking of her eyes that way? Whatever the answer, it was true, and not just about her eyes. He couldn't really help himself when a lock of her hair slipped free of its place behind her ear. Nick reached over and gently replaced it. His fingers trailed over Lavender's neck, but only briefly. So brief that it could be written off as an accident. His silence following might have been awkward, but he smiled and looked down at the remainder of his food, willing his face not to turn red. It was a wasted effort.
"The right people will notice you regardless of what you wear," he mused, then laughed. "I didn't quite fit in powder blue. Perhaps we should have suggested our schools switch uniforms. Granted, I think many of our girls would have thought the same as you." Nick prodded at one of the baguettes. It was lukewarm, but he started to pick it apart and eat it piece by piece anyway. "I didn't date at school. It was hard, for a long time, trying to figure out who liked me and who was more interested in my family's position or money." He shrugged. "I liked dueling and playing Quidditch, so I focused on those. No time for girls." His tone was teasing and light. There were no major regrets from that period of his life. Since then, perhaps. "Now I wear bright pink for a living."
Unfortunately, picturing his robes brought another pink garment to mind and Nick had to look away again to compose himself.