she who entangles

Who: Justin Finch-Fletchley, Victoria Frobisher
Where: Magic Bean
When: Sometime in the late summer/early fall, 2003. Justin's still living in his crappy flat.
What: Justin finally starts a conversation after months of just smiles. Also? Justin's a dork.
Rating: G for ridiculous cuteness.

Victoria walked down the Lane after dropping her daughter off for the day, enjoying the slight chill in the air that heralded the end of summer. It was a Monday, and Mondays were never her favorite, but the lifting of the oppressive heat gave a spring to her step and put a smile on her face. She always looked forward to her jaunt into the Magic Bean; it was perhaps the only part of her day that belonged fully to her. For the rest of the day she was bound to her child or her boss, but the Magic Bean...it was her place. She walked inside, her smile growing at the comforting smell of the coffee beans. She didn't mind the queue, it gave her a chance to regroup and read a page or two of the Prophet. Once she reached the counter, she smiled at the barista...her favorite, really...he always made her drinks perfectly. "Just a latte this morning, please." "Right," Justin replied with an easy grin. He wasn't exactly sure who this very pretty lady was, but she was definitely a sight better to look at than most of people in that place. Not to mention, Justin easily got bored, and lattes were pretty easy to make. While he bustled around behind the counter, Justin let his brain zone out for a while. The drink was ready in no time, and set it on the counter. "Nine sickles, two knuts, please," he said with another smile. Vicki found the sickles easily, but spent a moment searching for knuts. Coming up short, she shrugged and handed him ten sickles instead. "I'm sorry, almost out of change this morning," She liked to give exact change (mostly because it eliminated the clanking in her bag), but it seemed that her daughter had gotten into her change purse over the weekend. Justin just shrugged it off and replied, "Doesn't matter, don't worry about it," as he rang up the sale and counted out the change. Just as he was handing it back, he took a glance around and noticed that, even though there'd been a long line before her, there was no one behind her. He seized the moment and said, "I can never find change, either. Ruddy coins give me such a headache that I just horde them in my flat and leave them there." Vicki's smile grew a bit as she tucked the change away. "I feel like I'm always trying to get rid of it, to be honest. Makes such a terrible clanking sound," She tucked her hands around her mug and took a sip, savoring the warmth and comforting taste. "And this is a wonderful way to get rid of it indeed." "It is rather good, isn't it?" Justin asked smugly. It was strange that he was pretty unassuming normally, but he definitely gloated over his coffee. Probably because it took him so long to actually learn how to make it. He turned slightly and picked up a towel to wipe off the extra milk froth on the steamer. This was a strategic move, since it partially hid his face and how red it was guaranteed to turn in a few minutes. "So, it's a pity that we see each other so often and haven't been properly introduced, isn't it?" He sent another grin her way, not pushing it in case she wasn't interested in getting to know him. Vicki, for her part, also turned a bit red. Still, some part of her rejoiced quietly that she still had it. She'd been quite the flirt in school, but this time she had to acknowledge that she hadn't even been trying. "Guess you're always busy hiding behind that coffee machine," Putting her coffee mug down, she reached out a hand. "Vicki Frobisher, loyal customer and coffee addict." "Justin Finch-Fletchley at your service, Ms. Frobisher," Justin said in his best tutor-taught manners as he shook her hand. "The pleasure is all mine." And it certainly was, considering how pretty she was when she flushed. Maybe turning red wasn't such a bad trait after all? Suddenly, Justin realized that he'd heard that name before. "Do we know each other? Hogwarts, perhaps?" he hazarded a guess. Nodding a bit, Vicki took another sip of her coffee. "Of course, that's it. You were a year ahead, I think. With Harry Potter and the rest of the lot, yes?" She glanced at him a bit curiously. His name was one she recognized from school, but she was fairly certain it hadn't been one in the papers. Still, she was admittedly out of the loop during most of the war, so she could easily have been mistaken. Justin smirked a bit but it came out as a twisted smile. It was no surprise that everyone lumped his class as the one with Potter in it, but it was a bit surprising that she knew his name anyway. "You must be thinking of that Chamber of Secrets rubbish. I was petrified during it." He tried to busy himself with doing something behind the counter. The whole incident was still embarrassing for him, even after all these years. Vicki tried to think back, and vaguely remembered what he was talking about. "I suppose," She shrugged and smiled at him. It was obviously embarrassing for him for whatever reason, and she was more than ready to let it gloss over. "I don't remember much about the first few years, really. I was too busy figuring out how not to kill people with my wand." Her candor brought a smile to Justin's face, and he laughed at the idea of a little blonde girl running about hexing people, her hair flying. "Why, were you such a little terror then? I'm sure I would have noticed if people began complaining about you!" This flirting thing was starting to get easier and easier. Justin wasn't sure if he should be worried or elated. He opted for the latter. She shrugged, grinning mischeviously. "My roommates were a little sick of me, really. But I figured it out eventually. Besides, who notices some terrible little girl a year below when your own year is so interesting?" It was almost a good sign that Justin didn't seem to remember her reputation. Granted, the older kids at school were never much interested in her, but she was certainly well known by some of the younger years. "Well, our year was loads of fun but that doesn't mean we lived in a bubble or something," he said fairly, still smiling. "We were in the common room, Great Hall, and on the Quidditch Pitch. Believe me, we would have noticed..." He paused a little, wondering if he should go on. Then he took the plunge. "Especially someone as pretty as you." A blush certainly rose then, and Vicki dropped her eyes. It had been a while since anyone had been so frank about it, though she knew she was pretty. She supposed having a child on one's arm tended to stem the flow of compliments. "Oh, I was there, don't worry," Victoria glanced up and then shrugged. "I chose charms over Quidditch though, so maybe I faded into the tapestries," She smirked then. Vicki had -never- faded into any tapestries. Justin's eyebrow shot up. "Somehow, I doubt that!" he said with a little snort. She stood out by a mile, even in the coffee shop. Speaking of which... "Oh, I'm so sorry to be blathering on," Justin said politely. Of course he could have gone on all day, but she was probably bored of him by now, "You must be wanting to sit down or finish whatever plans you had." Victoria smiled at him again, nodding a bit. As much fun as adult conversation was, she needed a few minutes to be still and quiet before work. "I enjoyed the blathering. Just need to read the Prophet before heading into work...but I'll see you in the morning?" She found herself hoping it was true as she asked. There was very little time in her life for adult friends, much less a bit of harmless flirting, and Vicki thought that it might not be an unwelcome addition to her morning routine. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away," Justin quipped, and instantly felt stupid. "Err, bosses won't allow it either. I'm afraid I'm at your mercy, Miss Frobisher." Somehow that ended up sounding worse! Justin gave up and decided that he really wasn't smooth at all. Vicki couldn't help but laugh. Not -at- him, exactly, just...ok, sort of at him. "I'll look forward to it. Have a good day, Justin," She turned and made her way to a table near the window, purposely sitting so that she couldn't stare at him, because that might be awkward and she knew she would. She was laughing at him, and Justin knew it. He could feel the blood rushing to his face again, but thankfully she didn't mention anything about it. "You too," he called with a small wave as she left. He was relieved that she'd taken a seat where she couldn't see him, because he didn't think he could stand the embarrassment. Two minutes passed by, and Justin found himself wishing that she'd been facing him after all.