Disappointments, Cheap Coffee And Shades of Pink

The aurors meeting had not gone as planned. They expected some answers from him, some proof that the case on which Hugo and Louis had been working moved from the starting point. They didn't even try to hide dissatisfaction mixed with a hint of contempt that was written on faces, of all of them. Every single person. They wanted a proof and Louis couldn't give them any. It wasn't because he didn't have any, but because he didn't have any that wouldn't connect him with the crime scene. In that moment, he hated them all, both, aurors and Death Eaters, only because he's involved with both the groups. Although he knew that aurors are good guys, that he's one of them, he lied just to save his ass, position. Reputation? He couldn't wait to leave the room that suddenly became too small, with all those bodies around him he found it difficult to breathe, as if their scowls somehow reduce his lungs, preventing the air to obtain them. Clenching his teeth Louis found a spot above their heads and focused all his attention on that little piece of wall, focusing on breathing he ignored them, he could see their mouths move with his peripheral vision but he didn't cared. They weren't saying anything he didn't heard before.

He failed.

As soon as the meeting was over, he rushed out of the rooms, out of his office, accidentally knocking down a bunch of papers from the table nearby. Even with all the evidences of their investigation spread all over the floor, those papers, the same papers he spent hours writing on, were left there, on the carpet, which was once a crimson, but now had some unnatural brown color with dozens of holes on it, he left. He loosened his tie while he was leaving the building, listening his footsteps on white marble floors of Atrium, the only sound he found calming, and counting his steps towards the exit. Towards the freedom.

Louis Weasley was never a fan of apparating but he apparated as soon as he reached the part where apparition is possible, escaping, the way he always do when things get tricky. Running away. He couldn't imagine spending another second in the Ministry building, at least not today, however, he didn't feel like going home, either, needing somewhat soothing environment his mind led him to Hogsmeade. When he found himself surrounded with familiar buildings, the same buildings he often visited while he was at Hogwarts, he felt calmer. His heart beats slowed, his breathing became normal again; there was something woven into this place that bought the young innocent Louis back to life, the one that didn't fail every time he tries to do something, the one that didn't join the organization he hates, the one that never had his heart broken, even if he could picture that Louis only in his mind, he didn't care, that Louis was an escape he was seeking for, and he'll take it.

With a smile taped on his mouth, he decided he won't be indisposed, not here, he entered the first shop he saw - Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, how suitably, bitter laughter left his throat as he opened the door and stepped in the room painted in hundreds shades of pink. Weasley ordered a cup of coffee and sat for one of the empty tables ignoring giggles of few students int he corner. The confetti started falling down the exact moment he sat down, encouraging gigglers even more.

Well, he wanted something comforting, although this wasn't exactly what he had on his mind, it might work.

Vanessa stepped into Madame Puttifoots shop in Hogsmeade with one thought in her head. A large coffee. A cappucino to be exact. It was one of her favorite drinks for after she got off work. Well, besides fire whiskey or butter beer.

She sat at the bar and crossed one leg over the other. She was dressed for a night out and was just waiting for her friends to arrive. She had recently gotten a job as a professor at Hogwarts and spent all day around students. She needed a night out with her adult friends. She ordered her drink and saw a person walk in. She smiled and turned to her dirnk once it arrived

It's been a while since the last time Louis has been here. In truth, during his schooling he tried to spend as little time as possible here int his tea shop, sitting in one of these boots, because guys didn't like guys who spends all days in pink tea shops so he stayed away keeping his ego whole and undamaged reputation. That was one of the main reasons he was glad he entered the shop today, not because its colors but because its memory-free zone. Okay, he could remember his awful date on valentine when he was fourth grade but those were safe memories and he never fun away from them, hell, he sometimes finds them even funny, but mostly they were degrading. No, he was glad because there's no memories including eastern accent and ginger hair.

He lifted his head hearing a familiar femine voice ordering a drink, and found older version of Vanessa Di Angelo sitting on the chair. Louis couldn't remind the last time he saw her, the last time he saw any of his Hogwarts classmates (that's because you've been avoiding them, a voice in his head pointed) but he was glad he saw you today. Vanessa was one of the few people he was actually sad he lost contact with. And hell, with every year passed, she looked even better. Before he could think, he was on his feets and walking towards her. Leaning on the bar beside her his lips parted into a smile.

"Waiting for someone?"

Vanessa smiled and looked toward him, "Hello to you to, Louis. Long time no see. And to answer your question, No I am not waiting on someone. Well not anymore. My friends are not coming, so it is just me for now. Now I have a question for you. A few actually. You might want to take a seat for these." She giggled softly and pushed a strand of her brown hair behind her ear and kicked a chair out for him, "Why havent you been owling me is my first question." She sipped her drink again, her bright blue eyes shining in the light of the tea shop. She had always been good friend with Louis, but they had recently lost touch. She missed him. he looked good. Really good. "Youre looking really well, Louis. Finally grew out of that awkward lanky stage I see." She smirked and pushed her light brown hair behind her ear and a few of her piercings showed.

"Great, than you won't mind if I sit here." Louis replied at the same time as she suggested for him to sit, than laughed at the awkwardness of the situation. He settled himself on the chair. God, he always hated those bar chairs, they're just too high, and while he could be utterly still standing on the and of the roof, sitting on a chair like this one was completely different feeling. No, it was not fear, discomfort, maybe. He put an elbow on the bar, not only casually but also to unnoticeably steady himself and flashed a smile to Vanessa.

Owling her? How did she notice that? He thought he was discretely, but being discovered did nothing to ruin this angelic expression on his face, really, the only things he misses were wings and halo.

"I think you misjudged that. I was just scrutinizing the bar, I want to buy one for my flat and I feel something like this one may fit perfectly. That's it." He doubt she's gonna believe him but he didn't want to give her a reason to mock him, and him owling her was definitely a good one.

"You're as charming as always Vanessa, but I must admit you look well too."

Vanessa listened to his explanation of why he hadnt been writing to her. She didnt beleive a word that came out of his mouth, but she decided to just go with it. "I see. My next question is, why on earth you would want to buy a bar?" She then giggled and bit her lip, "Just kidding. My next question is how you have been since graduation. I havent really heard anything about you. Its like you went off the grid as the muggles say." She finished her drink and ordered another and then ordered one for Louis. The bartender brought the drinks and she quickly paid and handed one to Louis. She blushed when he said she looked good, "I hope so. I mean, its kind of my job as a model." She said with a soft smile on her ruby red lips

(Oh, I think I misunderstood meaning of the word 'owling', so my previous post sounds rather ridiculous.)

Louis suddenly shut up, knowing that he probably told enough of silly things for a week. Why would he want to buy a bar? He was confused until he remembered that he told her he's going to buy a bar. Very clever Louis, he congratulated himself, of all the lies, he'll find the silliest one to go with. He inhaled as she added she actually doesn't look for an answer. Awesome, because he couldn't give her any.

"I've been...well." There's no way of describing few years of his life in only one sentence. He wasn't even sure if he told her the truth. Was he well? Not in the last couple of months, for sure. "I've finished my auror training. And you?" He raised his brows as she extended her hand with a glass, but accepted the glass. "Thanks, I believe I needed to do that, though." Louis laughed and put the glass on the bar. He needed to stick with non alcohol drinks, and he assumed there's some in those drinks. "Model? That must be interesting." The more they talk about her the less they'll tal about him, and Louis Odalis Weasley really didn't like to speak about himself.

Vanessa smiled and giggled softly at him. "Same old Louis. A total goofball. I love it." She said with a wide smile. She noticed he didnt drink the drink and just shrugged it off before rolling her neck a bit and turning her attention back to Louis, "You still dating that girl from Hogwarts?" She asked in a curious tone of voice, "Or did you finally get rid of her like I tried convincing you to for two years?" She said in a teasing manner. She blushed when he asked about her modeling career, "Yeah its alot of fun. I recently got signed with Witch Weekly. So... yeah."

He smirked and rolled his eyes, hearing goofball used as a description of himself did nothing to boost his self-confidence, and although he got used to it long time ago, it was the favourite word of one of his cousin's he never liked hearing it, yet he never did anything to stop it. Next Vanessa's words caught his attention and he raised his brows quizzically. He dated a few girls during his Hogwarts years but those wasn't serious relationship, more like just having someone to spend time with, so he wasn't sure on which exact girl is she referring to. „Which girl?“ Louis knew that sounded awkward, after all he wasn't type of the person to stuck with another girl every evening, yet he simply couldn't remember.

„That sounds like something worth of celebrating, congratulations.“ He smiled broadly.

Vanessa couldnt help but laugh when he asked which girl, "The one with the blonde hair and the green eyes. What was her name...? Lindsay?" She asked quizzically as she tried to remember the girl who dated her best friend. She blushed again when he congrtulated her, "Thanks." She giggled and finished her drink and started on her next one, "Why dont we get out of here? Head back to my flat. Maybe watcha few muggle movies for old times sake." She smiled and batted her eyelashes at him innocently and chewed on her bottom lip as she looked at him