Theo sat at a two person table by the large front window. It overlooked the busy road outside; the streetlights casting a sickly yellow light with lengthening shadows. Somehow the scene comforted Theo. He ordered himself a cup of black coffee because he knew he was in for a wait. Finishing up his research early on yet another medical use of the Cheering Charm, he had gotten to Cafe Parisienne at quarter to eight. He knew Tracey was a creature of habit and would be there at exactly eight. He was content to wait.

It had rained, and as much as she hated to wear rain gear, she didn't want to look like a drowned sewer rat when she finally got to the cafe, her hair curled in this humidity and she wasn't sure whether there would be an appropriate place to charm it to lay flat. Tracey Apparated a safe distance away from the road and looked around. She'd never eaten in a Muggle restaurant, but she did think she knew how to find addresses, so she walked up the ally and out on to the busy sidewalk.

Theo saw a figure walking toward the cafe in the rain and for some reason, he recognized Tracey immediately. She was glancing at the shop's addresses like she was lost, but trying very hard to hide it. He smiled. She was adorable in that way -- proud. She straightened her shoulders -- if that were possible since she was generally a woman of great poise -- suddenly and he knew that she had spotted the Cafe Parisienne.

The restaurant's sign was bright and large; Tracey felt a little silly for missing it. She walked confidently toward the door when she saw Theodore through the long glass wall of windows. He was looking thoughtful, holding his coffee mug with both hands. She smiled. He was always lost in his own thoughts, even in school. They'd lived around one another for so long that along the way he had sort of melded into the background. Seeing him looking so preoccupied, she wondered how should could have ever thought that about him. He stood out to her brightly amid the bustling people walking by the cafe. Pulling back a strand of hair behind her ear, she took the last few steps toward the cafe and opened the door.

Theo was purposely looking down at the table as he held the coffee cup with both his hands, relishing in the dark fragrance, when Tracey approached the table. Without glancing up, he said, "Hello Tracey. I'm glad you could make it." Looking up at her through long eyelashes, he forced a smile.

She sat down and smiled. What on earth was wrong with her? This would be the time for a witty remark and all she could do was smile like a Hufflepuff? "Thank you, Theodore. It wasn't too hard to find, though I dare say it's quite a different feeling being here among Muggles. Blaise works here with them, but I never saw much attraction to leave our world."

"Call me Theo," he said setting down his coffee. "You don't like Muggles? I know you're a pure blood but I wasn't aware you had any particular feelings toward Muggles?" Sitting back, he looked around. "I love coming here. It's relaxing. It's quiet. It's a good place to escape the pressures of work. Of being a wizard, really." Why the hell am I babbling like this? She does not care. Waving at the waitress walking by, he turned to Tracey and asked, "Would you like a drink before we order?"

"I'd love one," she smiled in relief. Politics was not the best dinner conversation. Tracey was known for making scenes when people disagreed with her on pure-blood rights, though why Theodore Nott, fellow Slytherin and pure-blood would disagree with her completely escaped her.

As the waiter stepped up to the couple, he looked at first at Theo and asked, "What can I get the lady a drink while you both look over the menu?"

Theo nodded toward Tracey. "The lady will have..."

"Riesling, please."

"The lady will have Riesling, and I'll a refill on my coffee, please." The waiter scurried away, leaving the pair alone again. Theo picked up his menu and opened it in front of him. Glancing over the top, he asked, "What looks good, Tracey?"

She had never been one to blush, but she felt the unfamiliar flush rising up her neck. When did things get so complicated? she wondered. Stamping back the curious embarrassment, Tracey tried to remember that she was just eating out with a friend from school with whom she hadn't seen in a while. There was nothing to blush and it had nothing to do with the way his blue eyes looked so intently at her over the top of his menu when he didn't think she was looking.

"I've never been here, what do you suggest? Do you have a particular favourite dish here?"

Theo glanced back down at his menu, nodding. "The sea bass is good. All the fish is really. I prefer the haddock." Why can't I just look at her? Theo wondered as he started at the familiar words without reading them. He had noticed the Tracey's blush right away, and to his dismay, he felt a jolt of arrogance that he could make the high class witch blush so easily. "I'm going to have the haddock," he decided quietly, forcing himself not to look up at Tracey.

The waiter walked by their table deliberately, as if waiting for them to wave him over. Tracey looked at him and he came closer, "Have you decided what you'd like to have this evening?" He looked to Theo who in turn nodded toward Tracey.

"I'll have the Magret de Canard au Cassis. I've always enjoyed duck. Theodore?"

Changing his mind quickly, he muttered, "Coquilles St. Jacques et Crevettes, please."

The waiter took their menus and let them be.

Reaching over, he picked up his coffee again and held it below his nose, savouring the smell as he watched Tracey over the edge. She looked bored, making him smile in amusement. Her haughty facade seemed to fade slightly when she found her surroundings uninteresting, or perhaps she just found him uninteresting. Either way, Theodore found it alluring. The woman was complex without even trying. "What were you doing at the hospital yesterday?" he asked calmly before taking a sip of his coffee.

Tracey had never felt comfortable in the Muggle world, and looking around the restaurant she was reminded just how different things here were. When she was perplexed about things she had always pasted on her uninterested face so as not to arouse any suspicion that she was ill at ease. When the conversation swung back to something she was familiar with, she couldn't help but become more animated. "I was actually there to set up a benefit concert for the Dai Llewellyn Ward at St. Mungo's. Administrator Smethwyk asked me to coordinate with the Hogsmeade Philharmonic for a gala event." At his look of confusion she added, "It's what I do. I plan parties so rich people can throw their money at good causes." He didin't look impressed. "I guess it's all I'm really very good at," she added. She was suddenly nervous and began picking at the corner of the napkin in her lap. Way to go, Tracey, prove to the one of the smartest men you know that all you're good for is being a high society bint with little to do and and even less worthwhile to contribute to the conversation. While Tracey couldn't help berating herself in public, but she could sure as hell cover up her insecurities with a proper Slytherin smile.

Theodore nodded, lacking true interest in what she was saying but enjoying the fact she actually seemed interested in him again. He found the innocent brightness in her green eyes aluring and sexy. He shifted uncomfortably. He found everything about her sexy it seemed. The waiter took the lull in conversation to top off his coffee. After politely nodding a thank you, he forced a smile at Tracey. "When is the date of the concert? Or is it not set yet?"

Tracey knew her smile was pasted on, but she was covering it as best she could and she hoped he wouldn't be able to tell. "The plan isn't set in stone, this is an early stage in the process. Smethwyk left the date up to the Philharmonic, but he was just relieved that I agreed to oversee the arrangements. I don't accept just any cause. I suppose when it's completed, I'll see you at the gala, then? Though, you never did say what department you work in at the hospital, or did you?"

"I'm in Research. In particular, I work with charms." He shrugged. "It's not as exciting or glamorous as your job is, but it pays the bills." He hadn't meant his comment has an insult, but the flash in her eyes told him she might have taken it that way. "I mean, planning parties and benefits must take knowledge, people skills, and other abilities I clearly lack." The waiter walked over to the take and placed their plates in front of each of them.

"Bon appétit," the man said with great flourish.

"Merci," Theodore said looking down at his plate of scallops and shrimp, "This looks good."

Tracey smiled at the waiter, but had an irrational urge not to look up at Theodore. He'd touched a nerve and yet she wasn't sure why. She was usually the first person to admit that her job was fairly pointless. It wasn't saving people's lives. She planned parties. She knew she didn't have to work, but that she did it so she wouldn't end up like Pansy, drunk or shopping most of the time. For a split second she'd thought Theodore would understand, since he himself was working when he didn't have to... or did he have to? But he's contributing to society. You're just spending other people's money, she thought as she grimaced to herself. Proving to him and everyone that this is all you're good for. She knew she was being sullen. She hated being sullen in front of others. Putting it from her mind for a moment, she gladly took her fork and began to eat. Duck was one of her favourites and chewing gave her the opportunity to think rather than embarrass herself with more trivial information about herself that he wouldn't care about.

"Is it good?" he asked the woman across from him. She nodded in silence, not really looking up at him. He couldn't tell whether she was insulted by his thoughtless comment or whether something else was bothering her, but this carefully projected mask of hers wasn't hiding anything, at least, not from him. He cleared his throat. "Tracey, I think it's good that you're doing something out there when you don't have to work. God forbid you end up like Pansy. That would be a scary sight honestly. One Pansy in this world is more than enough." He had tried to make her feel better by taking the heat off of her and insulting Pansy, but somehow it didn't seem to be working, she still had furrowed eyebrows. He refused to apologize when he wasn't truly sorry what he said. He didn't intend to be insulting, but if she was going to take his comment about her party planning wrong then it was her problem.

Tracey was used to this kind of reaction. Her mother gave it to her often enough, though she could tell that he was trying to make her feel better by mentioning Pansy, and though they were friends, Tracey couldn't help but admit to herself that she too had thought about Pansy. "Theodore?" she said softly. "I'm sorry I'm being broody all of a sudden. I just had an eerily similar conversation with my mum earlier this week. Though she thinks I should spend my time shopping with Pansy and searching for a nice pure blooded husband rather than offer the only real talent I have to people who need someone who can organize things." The words were no sooner out of her mouth when she realized what she'd just said and her face turned pink. He's going to think I'm in search for husband.

Theodore smiled at the witch. "I shouldn't have been so careless with my words." Even slightly admitting that he could have made a mistake was something new to him. "Well, we should get together to set up a benefit for the Charms research department. We're sorely in need of funding." As if on cue, his magical pager went off in his robes. "Damn it," he muttered, reaching in and pulling it out. "Tracey, I'm sorry to cut this short, but Applegate -- my assistant -- needs me now." He glanced back down at the pager. "Apparently, it's an emergency."

He looked apologetically at Tracey. She was frowning, her green eyes shining with disappointment and something else. "Owl me. Please," he added as he stood up, dropping Muggle money on the table. "That should pay for everything."

Watching him walk away, Tracey wasn't exactly sure if the night had been a success or not. She was leaning toward the 'not' side. In fact, she was fairly sure it had been a disaster as she remembered her embarrassing slip ups, her broody silence, and Theo's obviously happy escape. He'd never want to see her again, and she wasn't sure why that mattered so much, but it did. She didn't think she would be able to finish eating, and she certainly wasn't about to let all those Muggles see her cry, so, giving the waiter a haughty look, she stood, brushed down her dress calmly and walked out of the restaurant. She needed to find someone she knew liked her. And as Greg was currently engaged elsewhere, she knew exactly where to find the only other person in the world who 'seemed' to care about her.

Turning the corner into the alleyway she'd arrived in, Tracey pulled her wand and Apparated into the front Foyer of Zabini Manor. It was dark, which wasn't completely unexpected, but she knew the place backwards and forwards so she walked room to room and still couldn't see him. "Didly?" she called.

The little house-elf appeared. He hadn't been expecting anyone and was shocked to see Miss Tracey. She looked a fright, with her eyes blood shot and puffy, but he didn't say so, she'd always been pleasant to him. "Miss Tracey, is there something you needed Didly for?"

Failing at keeping the misery out of her voice she replied softly, "Is Master Blaise home, Didly?"

The house-elf shook his head sadly. Tracey waved the back of her hand at him, dismissing him, and found herself running bleary eyed to the second bedroom on the right. She flung herself down on Blaise's black duvet and began to cry. She cried until there were no more tears. She cried for her date. She cried for Theo and for all the negative things he must think of her. She cried for the fact that Blaise wasn't here to make her laugh at herself. She knew she was being melodramatic and it killed her that no one was there to tell her to snap out of it. It wasn't as if the date had been so horrible. Her heart just hurt and she felt like a complete idiot for pinning her hopes so high on such a trivial thing.

Eventually she lay staring blankly at the ceiling. Clearly Blaise wasn't coming home at a reasonable hour. This was the first time she'd ever wished that she hadn't come home at a reasonable hour. Still mopey, but unwilling to be there should Blaise bring home a date, Tracey stood and pulled the linens tight and neat on the bed before Apparating home. Her house was empty, but at least it was hers. This was why she kept herself out of the dating scene. This was why she didn't become enamoured. Horrible things like this were bound to happen.

Her sleep was fitful, and she dreamt of her next dreaded visit to St. Mungo's, complete with dozens of Theodore's pointing and laughing at her and telling her she was worthless from every doorway and every pane of glass.



Theodore walked into the alley to Apparate to the lab, frustrated that Applegate would bother him. He felt guilty for ditching Tracey so early on the date. They barely had received their dinner when he had to flee. He honestly hoped she didn't think that he had intentionally done it, he had wanted to at least finish their dinner. If this isn't an emergency, I'll fire him. he thought bitterly as he walked toward his office. "Applegate, what do you want?" he asked curtly the moment he opened the door.

"I had a breakthrough!" the short man yelled with enthusiasm as he waved papers at Theodore.

I'll owl her in the morning to reschedule our dinner, Theodore thought with a sigh as he took the papers to read them.