Theodore sighed and sat down at a table near the window in Margo's. He had just noticed Tracey entering the cafe a moment before. As he watched Tracey at the counter he felt guilt overwhelm him. Even her walk exuded something feminine and beautiful; the way she talked, the way she smiled at the man behind the counter innocently unaware of her own sex appeal. He was happy he had relieved his sexual frustration before seeing her again, if he hadn't he was sure he wouldn't be able to control himself after seeing her now and this was in public. His behavior, as embarrassing as it was in private, would be unbearable in public.

Margo's wasn't usually this busy in the early evening. Tracey turned with her Frappuccino and planned on going to her regular seat by the window, only to see that it was taken. Something within her bubbled as soon as she saw who it was. He didn't look surprised to see her, and she realized that he had probably watched her come in. That was why she liked the seat as well. She smiled, face flushing slightly, and gave him a soft nod before turning to sit at another table.

"Tracey?" She turned back slightly, brushing the hair behind her ear. "I'd be honoured if you'd allow me your company." He gestured to the seat across the table. "Please, take a seat."

"I wouldn't want to intrude," she said quietly, her smile not leaving her face. "You're not here with someone then?"

He shook his head and her smile widened as she gracefully sat down. "Do you come here often then, Theodore? I haven't seen you"

"No. I prefer avoiding the wizarding world when I can. The Muggle world as much too offer; great coffee houses for one thing." He forced a smile. "How are you?"

Her eyebrows raised. She wasn't sure what to say to that. This man was an enigma. Muggle restaurants and coffee houses. A completely different world that what she was used to. Blaise had just gotten her to eat Muggle take-away, and Pansy had introduced her to Muggle shopping. How did you tell the person who made your stomach bubble in such nerve wracking and delightful ways that you thought he may be barmy and that you may be shortly following in his insanity? Ducking her head and smiling at him shyly, she answered and honestly as she could. "I've been busy, what with the Halloween Extravaganza coming ever so near. How about you? How are you since the last time we were together?" Flushing immediately, she took a quick drink to cover her shock over her own words. Why... WHY would you bring that up? she berated herself. Shaking her head she continued, hopefully covering up her faux pas, "It seems like it's been forever since we spoke, and yet it's only been a few days."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Work mostly, I suppose. Work seems to be my life these days actually." He paused to take a drink of his coffee. Her flush told him she had not forgotten the embarrassment of their date. He swallowed, hating himself at that moment. "Halloween Extravaganza?" he prompted, wanting to avoid the subject of the other night.

She nodded, glad that he had changed the subject. "Yes. This year they're trying something new for the children, and for the students at Hogwarts. Just some general 'Trick-and-Treating' I think it's called. Children go shop to shop getting candy. I'm not sure about all the mechanics of it but I think it's an American thing. They don't do our fireworks for Guy Fawkes, so I suppose it's their tradition for All Hallow's Eve. Anyway, I've organized the shops and the village for the children, but then there are going to be activities for adults later that night. There was a blurb about it Prophet a while ago, and there will be more adverts on the wireless as well, if I can get my assistant to talk to Brindy McGovern at the WWN." She'd hardly taken a breath. Realizing this, she looked to him, and instead of looking bored, he actually looked as though he'd been listening.

"I haven't read about it," Theo stated, showing interest in something he would never be interested in normally. Somehow hearing it come from Tracey made it interesting to him. "Yes, trick-or-tricking is an American tradition, so why are you planning to do it here?" He paused again, speaking again before thinking. "Do you need any help organizing?"

She tucked another piece of hair behind her ear. "The Village Association apparently heard about some of the Muggle communities in Britain doing it, so they've asked me to plan. I don't really have to do much, and now that I have an assistant it's mainly just overseeing things. I did have to go into the Three Broomsticks this week. That was interesting. I hadn't been back since Hogwarts." Tracey smiled at the memory and her eyes glowed in a faraway kind of way. "There was this one time, Blaise had turned Draco's hair green, and he was hiding from him under our table, then Draco came in with the horrible hat, you remember the one? And I was sure that he was going to set Blaise afire without his wand." She looked down. It had been fun to remember good times at school. Her friends had been the most important part of her life then, they still were, in fact.

He nodded, he tried to block out Hogwarts. It had not been a time in his life he was proud of. "Yes, I think I vaguely remember that, though I don't imagine he was very successful. I still see Blaise around every so often." He paused. "Oh, you know, I was actually going to owl you about the Philharmonic Monday night. I'll have to cancel. Can we just have a late dinner somewhere instead?"

She had been taking another sip of her drink but as he said that she looked up quickly and managed to look him in the eye. "Of course. Though, if you're really busy we can reschedule." Please don't reschedule, she thought to herself. "Is there something I can help with? Or is is work related? I wasn't rubbish at Charms, if you'll remember, but I doubt I'll be very much help to you."

He shook his head. "It has nothing to do with my work." He cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable. "I actually have to look for a new flat. The Philharmonic is too early. I have to go straight from work to the flat hunt. However, it is no use to search during the night. Would you like to meet for dinner around nine Monday night then? I have the tickets for the Philharmonic and since I won't be using them, I can give them to you instead so they won't go to a waste." The words rushed out of his mouth uncharacteristically. His discomfort showed in his words. He wished he could slow down, but it didn't seem possible at the moment. "If you don't want them, that is fine too. I wish I could go, honestly, I just can't make it." He forced himself to stop babbling.

He was searching for a new flat? Hadn't he already got one? "Theodore, you're moving? Of course I don't mind about the Philharmonic, we can go another time. Can I help you on the flat hunt? I'm actually fairly adequate in finding gems in oceans of rubbish. I do it all the time for work." She was feeling open. Who knew that just talking to him would make her feel this uninhibited? "Are you looking in Muggle London then? To be close to the hospital?"

"I'm looking wherever I could find one, actually. I got the eviction notice last night, actually. I was going to owl you about Monday night when I got home."

She couldn't keep her mouth from dropping wide. "An Eviction? That's dreadful. Are you all right, then?" Her mind was moving fairly fast and the sane voice in her head was shouting that her heart wasn't allowed to carry on in this direction. "You're sure you need a flat? Or would a house do?"

"They are tearing down the complex," he added unneeded information. "Anything with a roof would do actually." He had no clue where she was going with the question.

Don't do it, Tracey! "So any house would do then?"

He nodded, as he drag another swig of coffee and motioned to the waitress for a refill.

"I have a house. A big house." You didn't just... Tracey stamped on that part of her. "Why flat hunt at all? You can stay with me, if you like. Technically you could have your own wing and never have to see me at all, not even at meals, we have three dining rooms. Though," and she looked at him again, "I'd rather you be a little closer than that. To see you and all that."

He was shocked. Her just coming out and inviting him to stay with her out of the blue surprised him. He sat in silence for a moment, thinking over her words. Despite her blatant invitation, he found himself at a lost for words. His mind was giving him conflicting answers. Part of him wanted to say yes, but another part, a smaller part, wanted to say no. He didn't want to take advantage of a friendship -- a timid friendship that he wanted more out of. He didn't want to think about this fragile thing they had blossoming. He didn't want to think about what had happened earlier in the week with Pansy Parkinson, and he knew being around Tracey would bring all sorts of feelings of guilt right out in the front.

Clearing his throat he said, "I really don't want to impose, Tracey..."

Fighting her own nervousness, she managed to roll her eyes at him. "Are you kidding me, Theo? You would not be imposing. I have more room than I will ever use, even if I do eventually fill the house with children like my mother wants me to. Besides, you had to of noticed how happy Baxter was on Tuesday to have another male in the house. Practically over the moon, he was. I'd love to have company myself, as well. Not that- er, Buggar!" She just SWORE in front of him, Bloody Hell! "Not that I'm saying you'd have to spend your waking moments with me. I'm just saying- I'm fucking this up, aren't I?" She looked at him hoping the amused excitement she was projecting was coming out in her eyes, but not too much.

Theo chuckled. "No, you're not. I don't think--" You can fuck anything up, he finished silently to himself. "Anyway, if you truly think I would not be imposing upon you and your house-elves, I suppose it couldn't hurt for me to stay there until I can find a place. It would certainly give me time to look for the right place rather than the place I can move into immediately." He paused. "I'm sure I won't be there long enough to intrude on your mother's wishes for you to fill the house full of children." He forced himself not to grin at the idea. Tracey would be a good mother -- not that it had anything to do with him. He paused. "So, when can I move in?"

She hadn't grinned this wide in a long time. "Any time you want to, Mr. Nott. Whittom Park will be your happy home until you can find another. And by 'happy' I mean 'adequate'. I don't think a single Davis in at least nine generations have ever found true happiness in that house - it's one of the curses, so I'm told. But yes, you can move in any time you please. Do you need help moving? Like I said, I wasn't top marks in Charms, but I know a few shrinking ones to help with the packing. Though I'm usually much better at the unpacking part. Part in parcel of all the shopping I do - I go shopping a lot with Pansy, on our Tuesday luncheons-- Buggaring shite!" She exclaimed. "I forgot to owl Pansy about not making it this week. I hope she hasn't made the reservation already."

"Pansy?" Theo said, blanching a bit, but then quickly covered his surprise as he went on. "I can move on my own, thank you for the offer. If you can merely tell me when you will be there to assist me on moving into the house, with keys and wards and such." He paused. "Not to put any pressure on you, but I do have to be completely out of my flat by Tuesday evening, is that too soon?" He paused again and then stood up, making a snap decision that suddenly came to him and wouldn't leave him alone. Unexpectedly extending his hand to her, he quietly said, "Tracey, would you like to see my flat as it is now? To get a better idea of what will be going on? I'd really like to show you."

She tilted her head and nodded. "Of course, Theo. I'd love to come with you." She raised her hand to his and he helped her up. She pulled her scarf round her neck tighter, but didn't let go of his hand as they walked out of Margo's together. She wasn't sure why he hadn't let go, but she wasn't arguing one bit. For once, the voice in her head was quiet and she felt completely happy.

He didn't let go of her as they walked down Diagon Alley. "It's about a quarter of a block away from the Leaky Cauldron, so we can just walk there." On impulse, he let go of her hand and dropped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his side tightly.



(Summary: Tracey and Theo have coffee where two invitations are made.)