Disclaimer: Yup, none of this is mine. Sue me, I don't care one bit.
A/N: Here's Chapter 2, hope ya like it! Please R&R! Sorry it's been a while. Oh, BTW, if I got the coffee terms wrong, sorry. I'm not a big coffee drinker; I just obsess over frappacino's! Lol
Chapter 2
As Harry continued his stroll through muggle London, he found himself standing in front of a small one-story brick bistro called The Bison Witch Café. He found himself unable to resist a laugh at the cartoon drawing of a buffalo with a pointed hat and cape flying on an enchanted broomstick against the starry-black window front. If only the creator of this drawing really knew… He shook his head and laughed again, wondering what his best mate, Ronald Weasley would say. Deciding to take a break from the cold wind (and get some caffeine), Harry pushed open the door of the Bison Witch. The door jangled and the small dining area buzzed with the noise of the many customers who were happily sipping their cups of coffee. He saw another sign with the flying bison that said, "Come in and seat yourself!" He looked around until he found a small, round table in the back corner of the restaurant. Not caring that his selected table was right by the kitchen, he draped his coat on the chair and sat down, waiting for a waiter to come and give him a menu.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Hermione had just looked up and seen the new customer entering into the café. As she gasped at the realization of seeing him again, her face flushed a crimson flow. As dumb luck would have it, Melba entered the kitchen at the exact moment, and, upon noticing Hermione's face, began to question her.
"Love, what's wrong? You only get that look when you're absolutely mortified or just being shy."
Hermione gave a nervous giggle. "Do you see that man over there? The one in the corner?"
"You mean that really handsome one?"
"Yeah." Hermione gave a sigh. He's the reason that I was late for work today."
Melba grinned with this new understanding. "Well, dearie! I personally believe in love at first sight, and I believe Eros and Cupid are dancing on Mt. Olympus at the fact that he's right here right now." She jumped out of the way of Hermione, who was trying to pop her with a dishtowel, and continued. "Now, I know you may be a bit reserved, but you're the only waitress we got, so you best get your bum out there and do your job. Go on now, get!" She gave a Hermione a little shove and watched as the girl walked slowly towards the table with her pad of paper.
Hermione was not enjoying Melba's watchful eye. It was hard enough walking to this Harry's table without the glare of her boss. She watched him as he sat at the table looking out the window, lost in his thoughts. The way that his messy black hair fell over his forehead made her heart pitter.
Shaking her head to clear that new thought. She approached his table while looking at her feet.
"Welcome to the Bison Witch Café! What can I get you this morning?"
Harry stared at the waitress in amazement. Whoa, is that the Hermione I met in the park this morning?!? How odd that she works here, even stranger is how I was drawn to this place!
"Uhh, Hermione, is that you?" She looked up, as if caught before giving a broad smile!
"Why, it's Harry-by-the-way! I knew our paths would cross again! Nice seeing you, this time with your scarf! What would you like me to get you?"
Harry smiled at the beautiful waitress. "I'll have a cappucino, please." She jotted his order down and scurried off to the kitchen. Harry watched her walk away, intrigued by her, yet not knowing why. He could sense a mystery about her, a mystery he wanted to discover. He shook his head to get rid of his thoughts and turned to once again look out the window.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Hermione was trying to force her nerves to calm as she poured Harry's cup of coffee. Granger, get a grip! It's not that weird that he's here! I mean, come on! It's just a café! Everyone loves the Bison Witch! Yeah, that's it. I'll never see him again after I give him this coffee! She grabbed a complimentary "London's Best" Bison Witch crumpet and placed it on the saucer before carefully placing the steaming cup beside it.
"Ooh! Hermione, I see your future husband wants coffee!" Hermione shot a death glare at Melba before picking up the tray and heading for the dining area. She made it a point to greet each dining person whose table she passed. Melba had always told her that the way to make a customer return was to make them feel welcome. It was a good thing that Hermione was a people person, or else she would never have been so successful at her job.
Soon she was right near Harry's table. She was planning on just coolly placing his coffee down and going on about her job, but plans often have a funny way of not working out perfectly. She felt her shoelace tug and watched almost in slow motion as her tray arched slowly through the air. The steaming coffee splashed all over his sweater as she fell towards him, tripping over her own feet. Harry reached out and caught Hermione, mere seconds before her skull crashed into the tiled floor.
For a few moments that seemed like hours to Hermione, everything went silent. She was being held in Harry's arms, and his piercing green eyes were looking right through her. She noticed that the part of his chest that her hand was resting on was abnormally warm from the spilled coffee. He gave a little grin and pulled her hair from her eyes to behind her ear. As the café customers diverted their attention from the fall and began to speak again, Hermione gave a little gasp.
"Oh my… I mean… OH!" She pushed away from Harry and ran into the kitchen with embarrassed tears in her eyes. The customers once again looked at Harry in surprise. He slowly got up from his crouched position on the floor and walked to the counter where Melba was standing. He knew that his face was flushed from all the attention he was getting, but he just ignored the stare of the crowd.
Melba spoke first. "Sir, I'm so sorry about what just happened. Here, let me give you your money back and…" Harry placed his hand on the counter to interrupt.
"No, really, it's alright! You don't need to pay me. Just please tell Hermione that I'm sorry about what just happened. Good day." With that final word, he turned towards the door and walked out of the Bison Witch Café.
*** *** *** *** ***
As Harry watched Ron's face turn as red as his hair with laughter, he wished that he had never told him of his
experience at the Bison Witch. At 6'2" with bright red hair and freckles, Ron was Harry's best friend
despite his extreme immaturity, but today he was going way too far. He beat Harry's kitchen table with his fists as
he howled with laughter. Harry gave him a little scowl as he proceeded to attempt charming the coffee stain off his
sweater with a tricky little spell.
"So, there goes your chance with that girl! Mate, stick with the witches."
"Really, Ron! She's different from all the other girls!"
Ron snorted. "And how do you know?"
"I don't. I just feel it. I see so much about her through her actions, her eyes…"
"Well, it's not as though you're going back there. You'll never see her again."
Harry looked at him, surprised. "What do you mean? Who said I'd never see her again?"
Ron looked at him, baffled. "You mean you're going back to the Bison Witch?"
"Maybe. Would you like to join me for coffee tomorrow?"
A/N: Uh-Oh! Ron's going with Harry for coffee! This could be trouble! Poor Hermione…
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