Precognition

3rd year chapter 2: a treacle tart for two

Hogsmede was the highlight of third year.
All the older students raved about the different shops, streets and the ones who were old enough often spoke highly about the pubs.

For Ava, it was Honeydukes.
She'd heard lots of positives, students had told her in passing about all the different kinds of sweets they had on offer.
It was common knowledge that Ava had a sweet tooth, and even more common knowledge that her favourite snack was a chocolate frog.

Which is exactly what she intended to buy.

Ava had decided to go to hogsmede with her friends- Artemis and Emma- and a friend of theirs, Xenophilous Malfoy.

Ava hadn't spoken to Malfoy much, aside from a few lessons they had together.
"Well, I'm rather fond of salt water taffey." Xenophilous softly added, offering a very shy smile in the redheads direction.

"Taffey is great but I will defend chocolate frogs until the day I die"
Ava retorted, snapping her head in the direction of honey dukes the second it came into view.
"I'm gonna- go do- something different."
Artemis began, trailing off mid sentence as she took a sharp turn and disappeared out of view.

As Ava began to make her way to Honey dukes, practically sprinting away from her friends in order to beat the queue, she felt a gentle hand pat her shoulder.
She turned around, half expecting Artemis to be back already, only to be met with the scarred face of Remus Lupin.

"Oh hey Remus, is everything okay?"
The girl inquired, intrigued as to why he was preventing her from buying her snacks.
"I owe you some frogs don't I?"
Ava smiled, face heating up noticeably.
"Yeah but you don't have to give me five Lupin."
The boy shook his head, sandy brown hair falling slightly over his face.
" I have five galleons on me, let's see what I can get for you huh."

He only noticed his hand was still sat on her shoulder when she placed her hand upon his, leading him into the shop.
"Remus- I did not think the were going to be that pricey- you don't have to get any don't wo-"
Remus shook his head and reached into his pocket and retrieved a handful of gold coins.
"No, I'm getting you atleast one. I owe you."
The red head began to protest but before she could get the words out Remus had made a beeline to the counter and quickly swiped the frog, throwing the money down on the counter and dragged her out by her hand.

"Remus! I told you not to! Come on that was too expensive!" Ava felt like she wanted to cry, she never wanted anyone to owe her anything, especially not someone so sweet.

"No, you gave me and my friends them for free. You gave me two, I owe you something."
"Well, how about I buy you a drink? There's a pub that sells butter beer with no booze if you want?"

Remus was surprised by her proposition, however he felt a strong desire to simply follow her and see what happened.

They didn't even speak another word, comfortable in the silence they each offered as they made their way to the three broomsticks.

The pair took a table inside and swiftly ordered butter beer and a treacle tart to split. It looked significantly more... romantic than intended.

Or was this her intention the whole time? Did she feel something? Did she simply not notice?
Remus was actually beginning to sweat, his face had turned a whole shade redder than usual and it seemed like and his scar was much more prominent Ava was none the wiser.

For a Ravenclaw she was surprisingly oblivious.
The two of them reached for their drinks and began a mild conversation.
It wasn't anything truly captivating, however the pair felt at ease alongside eachother.
It was as though she was freezing cold and he was boiling hot. They evened eachother out like the perfect potion.

"Get out you little bastard!"
One of the barkeeps howled as he dragged out a manic looking man- wait no.
It wasn't a man, it was Sirius.
A manic looking Sirius was being dragged out of the pub by a small old man.

"Wait I'm with them!" Sirius pointed at Remus and Ava, winking at them as if telling them to play the part.
The barkeep scoffed, throwing him in the direction of his 'friends'.

Sirius cleared his throat, staring at the two infront of him. One looking as though he had just been kissed for the first time and the other looking as though she had tried her first butter beer.

"So..."
Sirius drummed his hands on the table, sending a knowing look in remus' direction.
"What's going on here?"
"I owe A-"
"I asked Remus if he wanted to come get a drink with me." Ava interrupted, taking a long sip of her drink as Sirius' face stretched into a wide grin.
" I owe her for the chocolate frogs too"
Remus pushed the smile from his lips and kept a straight face.

"Ohh is that so?" Sirius chided, cocking his head to one side whilst smirking at Remus.
"So this is like a date?"
Remus' eyes went wide, he didn't want Ava thinking this was only because he liked her- wait did he?. Never mind.
"No"
"I suppose".

Both boys turned their attention to the redhead, both their mouths agape in shock. Clearly both in awe of the confidence of the girl.

"Well it's not like we're dating or anything, dates can be platonic right?" She continued, making a start on the treacle tart that was going cold.

Remus felt his heart sink. It wasn't that he expected anything different, but to hear those words coming from her lips seemed to cut through him like a knife.

Sirius hissed through his teeth and began humming, turning his attention to the window.
"Wait- Artemis?"
Sirius stood up, making his way over to the window.
His cousin was sliding her body out of the window,
Her robes clearly full of stolen booze as she began to sprint away from the scene of the crime.

"Welp- there goes the sober side of the black jeans" Sirius began.
"I think I need to have a word with her." Was all he said - unusually stoic for Sirius- before he too made a sprint for the door and followed the girl, leaving Remus and Ava to their own devices.