Tracey had been waiting for nearly twenty minutes. It was really quite tiresome. She always seemed to be waiting for something. She wondered if she wanted to get involved with planning an event for an organization that was so clearly unorganized. St. Mungo's had never really been her favourite place to begin with, so she was probably just being biased. Her father had died there, and though she couldn't really remember much of that time of her life, she did remember the smell of his hospital room... and it was something that still turned her stomach every time she walked into the hospital. Looking down at the watch on her broach, she sighed heavily. Maybe if she heard Administrator Smethwyk's proposal and agreed to it quickly, she would still have time to get down to Gulliver's for a bite to eat. She had Halloween to plan for after all.

Theodore sighed. He hated these meetings; they were too long and boring. What Smethwyk was droning on about didn't even concern him. He was in the research department thinking up ways to save real diseases, not treating the idiots who came in here to be healed from their own incompetent Charmswork. Jarring Theo out of his thoughts, the person next to him abruptly stood up. Glancing around himself cautiously, he saw that everyone was getting up and exiting the room. Finally. Smethwyk was in a private conversation with someone else and didn't look up at Theo. Gathering his folder of paperwork that he had brought with him, he strode quickly toward the door.

Finally, the office door burst open and Tracey could see the numerous Healers and MediWizards leave and wander out in groups of two or three, all looking seemingly thrilled for the end of another work day. The receptionist nodded to her and Tracey stood up just as a single man came out the door. He was clad in dark grey robes and had his head down. His brown hair slipped into his eyes as he studiously exited the room. Tracey knew him at once, though she hadn't spoken to him in years. Was it too forward to say something?

Tracey could tell he was trying not to pay attention to his surroundings, and he didn't seem to see her standing right in his path.

Theo was trying to get to his office without being distracted and found himself nearly bumping into a slender witch who was standing right out the office door. "Wha-" he said, jumping backward and looking at the witch closely. He could tell who she was immediately and said as much. "Tracey?"

An uncharacteristically shy smile slid across her face, "Theodore Nott. I thought it was you. Imagine bumping into you here of all places. How have you been?" Tracey had no idea what compelled her to stand in a doorway like a commoner speaking to him, but she couldn't make her feet do the proper thing and walk into the office.

"I work in the Charm research department here," Theo explained, glancing over her shoulder at the lift. The door was closing. Just as well, now I won't have to go on a crowded one.

"You do? I hadn't heard that. Amazing, since I associate with some of the biggest gossips this side of Gryffindor." Tracey grinned. She knew she had to get into the office, but she felt compelled to talk to Theodore longer. They hadn't been close friends during school, but she had always liked the quiet young man. It didn't hurt that he wasn't hard on the eyes either, though she could tell that smiling more would improve his looks immeasurably. She flipped her long hair over her shoulder and smiled, "Well..."

Glancing back at Tracey, Theo made eye contact. She has green eyes, he thought. He had never noticed during school. Glancing down at her fitted tweed robes, he noticed that she had a nice figure too. His frustration at not having sex for 18 months kicked in suddenly, and he felt a tightening where he hadn't thought of for quite a while. Shaking his head to try to get his thoughts and mind on something other than sex, he said, "Well, I have to get back to the lab. So, if you don't mind..." Stepping to the side, he hoped she would take the obvious hint and walk passed him. "Send me an owl sometime," he added quickly, trying not to be rude.

Tracey tried not to let the confusion flicker across her face before her patented mask on indifference slipped over her pretty features. She wasn't sure why the way this whole conversation was ending bothered her so much, but there was something larger here that she didn't understand. Pushing it to the back of her mind, Tracey nodded politely, "I will. Perhaps we can catch up over coffee or something." She looked into the office, Smethwyk obviously waiting for her. "Good bye, Theodore. It was really nice seeing you again."

"It was, Tracey." A small, almost forced smile appeared on his face. He walked past her and headed for the lift, glad to see no one else was waiting for it. Hitting the down button he waited impatiently for the doors to slide open when, against everything his brain was screaming at him, he turned around and noticed that Tracey hadn't gone into the office yet. Instead, she'd just watched him walk away. Before he could stop himself he stepped toward her and asked, "Tracey! Would you want to meet me at the Cafe Parisienne in London on Friday? Say eight?" His words shocked even him. Being so forward was not his normal style, but it was clear that he was really feeling the lack of intimate relations. It was effecting everything he did. Tracey had always been my friend...

Tracey tilted her head to the side, almost as if she was sizing him up. Muggle London? Was he kidding? "I... I've never been to a restaurant in Muggle London before," she said quietly.

Theo paused, taken back for a moment, but quickly recovered. "You haven't? Well, then where would you like to meet? Somewhere in Diagon Alley perhaps?"

"No, no. Just because I've never been there doesn't mean..." As much as her head told her to say she didn't want to meet him, there was something stronger that said she would say yes to almost anything he asked, no matter how distasteful. "I'd love to meet you on Friday. Muggle London it is."

"Good." Theo smiled genuinely for the first time their entire conversation. The lift doors opened suddenly and two older witches stepped out. Glancing from the waiting lift back to Tracey, he hesitated. Something was tugging at him to stay and talk with his former house mate, but something else was telling him not to be at the Cafe Parisienne that Friday. Friday night it is, Tracey, he forced himself to decide as he stepped into the lift.

Their eyes were still locked as the doors slid close.



(Summary: Two old friends meet and feel compelled to talk. )