Love protection (book 1: to be loved)

All blue ?

Samuel POV: 

Betford, England 2005, 5 September, seven years after the end of the Wizarding War.

— Oh! I didn't see you...

She's stunning, by Merlin's beard, he thought when he saw her. Beautiful wavy brown hair, undeniable charm. The coffee spilled all over her shirt because of him.

— I am truly sorry for my clumsiness. He apologised, honestly again, stopping himself from staring at her.

— It happens, she replied in a soft voice.

He broke down a little more. His attitude showed, his charm often enough to his advantage, but above all not to frighten her, not to push without sign.

— I'm sorry about your top. I'll take care of the dry cleaning and a coffee to make up for it? he prolonged the conversation, looking for signs, reading her reaction.

— She blushed, pushed up her glasses and smiled, a good sign for the moment. — I'd love a coffee! Dry cleaning, I refuse!

— How about coffee and dinner? He tried, determined to charm her.

— She smiled, even more beautiful. Yes, for the coffee, dinner remains a possibility.

— Samuel Greengrass, he presented himself at last, charming, riding the wave.

— Happy to meet you. Abby Holt.

— Abby, a pleasure to meet you. What a charming name! he complimented.

She blushed a little more. Too pushy?

— Are you available for that coffee now? she asked, so enthusiastic about his advances.

— Free as a bird, he smiled, delighted by the initiative and reassured.

— Café Alberto, in 10 minutes? asked the beautiful Abby, tucking one of her brown locks back behind her ear. The more he saw of her, the more beautiful he found her. She has beautiful emerald green eyes and a smile, what a smile.

— Perfect, he replied, ecstatic, definitely under her spell, charmed even more by this exchange.

— Perfect. See you in ten minutes. She smiled at him.

He smiled and set off again, more than delighted, not at the accident, but at the opportunity before him. This coffee, this coffee with Abby.

She returned two minutes early, changed, the trace of coffee forgotten. He smiled, again admiring her, before stopping so as not to be creepy.She ordered a latte. She's been in Burford for a fortnight, a journalist on the local paper.

— I work at the Debenhams shop. He replied in turn.I've been here four months.I grew up in London, left to live my life after my studies," he replied, remaining vague.

He can't talked about Hogwarts or his family. His parents would kill him for even talking to a Muggle here. Once he'd got past the basics, he learned that she liked reading, writing, her favourite books, a question that made him smile and leave with an unconcealed joy that made him crack.

— Favourite colour? she asked.

— Blue.

— He smiled, for nothing. Like me. All blue?

— She thought about it, and he smiled even more, as Abby continued to amaze him. Light blue, a little less, Egyptian blue and from steel blue to sapphire blue, with a preference for ultramarine. And what about you?

— I have a strong preference for Prussian blue and cobalt blue. He didn't hesitate.

They remained in a comfortable silence.

— Animals ?" he continued, to avoid the question about the family.

— No, but I've just moved in.

— I haven't either. No dogs, allergic. He said, before saying why I said that. The discussion was easy. They got to talking about their jobs, their desires. She wants to be a journalist for a big newspaper, to travel. He admitted that he didn't have the life he'd dreamed of, even though he didn't know what he knew. He didn't say, but it certainly wasn't his parents' life. She loves museums and art. When asked who her favourite artist was, he didn't know. For her, Henri Gastineau, known for his watercolours, from what she taught him.

He could already tell she's intelligent and inquisitive, and that makes him fall for her even more. Being able to talk and just be him was refreshing. His name doesn't influence anything for good or ill, he's just Samuel on a date that's going very well with a very beautiful young woman and very good company. Abby finally looked at her watch.

— Oh! I'm expected. I'd love to stay, but I can't. Will you be available for dinner, as you suggested ? She finished with a smile.

— I'd love to.'It was a pleasure to meet and talk with you.

— It really was, yes. Tomorrow evening?

— Yes, I'd like to speed up the time, to be there already. He said without thinking, then he heard himself and blushed.

She smiled, he smiled happily,

— Tonight then ? 7pm ?

— Perfect!" he answered on a cloud. I'll go and pay the bill.

— We can share if you like.

— We... we," he forced himself out of his cloud. A gentleman always pays on the first date.

— She smiled, looking at him, charmed. Gentlemen are rare these days. I didn't give you my number, she wrote it down on a piece of paper and handed it to him.

— Thank you very much! Any preferences for the restaurant?

— Italian ?" she offered, looking up at him with her beautiful eyes.

— I'll send you the address.

— See you tonight, then, Samuel.

— See you tonight," he stammered.

What just happened? He's not babbling. He... Abby Holt. He's not sure what just happened. He... he would have liked to tell Astoria, to confide in his twin sister, but no. He's promised himself he'll live without his family, even without Astoria and Daphne.

He's quite happy here, far from his name, from magic, from his parents with their outdated ideas of pure blood, who would have shot him for even asking Abby out on a date. Astoria and Daphne would not have judged him, perhaps laughed, but affectionately at his behaviour. Nevertheless, the situation was new. He's a wizard and she's a Muggle, two different worlds that don't know each other. He may live without magic, but he can't be completely honest. Sorcerer and Muggle in love is complicated, very complicated, judged. His parents, if they knew, he pushed the thought away, they are nothing.

He left everything after his final year to study and live as a Muggle. Bedford is his small town, far from his name, far from people's eyes, far from magic. Despite all their differences, something has happened, but Abby thinks he's just like her. She knows nothing of his world, nothing of magic. A real relationship between them is impossible under these conditions. Astoria's voice came to her, you're getting carried away. She's right.