because i liked a boy

one

Ron whipped up an overly-caffeinated frappuccino after the third lamp got knocked over.

Koz accepted the drink sullenly, too drowsy to complain about the bucketload of sugar that melted on her tongue with each sip.

"Before you get all 'scary Hufflepuff' on me," Ron began, snatching a banana muffin from a glass display, "I'll remind you that someone mistook a croissant for a butterfly."

"Did you see its wings?" she inquired, accent thick with wonder.

He reached over the cashier, fingers curling around her wrist as he sent her catapulting to the edge of the marble counter.

"Hey! Watch it, dude! That's my bruise!" Koz yelped, rubbing her forearm tenderly as soon as he released his hold on her.

"Dude?" Ron deadpanned. "What're you, a full-time American now?"

She flashed him a row of pearly whites. "That's the goal. Also, did you know that it's immature to change the subject instead of apologizing for your selfish reasons?"

He blinked. "For something you got from a lampshade?"

The blooming argument cut off abruptly as a loud crash echoed across the cafe, very conveniently coming from table number four.

"What was that?" Ron asked, slightly panicked.

Koz grinned. "Tourists."

"Well, it looks like they're ready to order."

"Really?" She feigned surprise. "I thought they were ready to run a marathon! No shit, sherlock. Here." She snatched a half-scribbled notepad off a side table and slid it across the counter. "So table four's hungry. What are you gonna do about it?"

"I'll start them with waters all around. And I can't forget the ketchup." He clicked his tongue once. Twice. "Can't forget the ketchup."

The corner of her mouth twitched. "And if the ketchup is questioned?"

"We switched it out with red buttercream, but left the label on the bottle to make another tacky edition to the cafe."

"Don't forget to remind them that we don't serve tea," she implied, jabbing a finger toward table four. "This is a strict no-tea establishment."

He frowned.

"What?" she said smugly. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that your love for coffee is growing."

"Koz."

"That is my name, indeed."

"This is a topic that should not be spoken upon."

"Of course." She nodded her head in mock understanding.

"Ever," he added. "If I hear rumors that a certain redhead Auror likes sugary drinks, I will steal something dear to you."

Koz tensed, eyes narrowing to suspicious slits. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, yes I would. Anything for my daily dose of caffeine."

She blinked. "Well, in that case, my beloved is more than prepared to take on a man-child. I'm more than sure that the week-long karate camp I sent him to over the summer was enough training."

His jaw dropped. "You sent your niffler to a week-long karate camp?"

"Obviously," Koz replied, unphased. "I'm not going to let the love of my life lose a simple little fight. And not to brag, Muffin has knocked out three Death Eaters at once," she continued proudly. "I think I win the Best Pet Award, unlike your spoiled cat."