A/N: Written for the 30 Days of Fanfiction

DAY ONE: Shameless Fluff

Pairing: NottGrass

Prompt: Romance drabble prompt (thank you Dramione FanFiction Forum): Cafe, Broken Shoe, Street Sign, "Excuse me, but is this yours?"


Broken Shoe

It had been several years since Theo Nott had stepped foot in Diagon Alley. After the war he, like several other former yet exonerated Death Eaters, had gone into hiding to avoid the scrutiny of the wizarding world media, living in a shroud of secrecy that not even the likes of Rita Skeeter could break into. But here he was, on the eve of his 25th birthday, heading for the offices of his father's solicitors.

Unwed, and with no siblings, he was about to become the wizarding world's most eligible bachelor according to Witch Weekly, as he stood to inherit all his incarcerated father's fortune. Pulling the soft collar of his overcoat up around his neck in a vague attempt to avoid being recognised, he made his way down the cobbled street, his gaze set firmly ahead as Gringotts loomed in the distance.

Truth be told, Theo would rather be anywhere but in Diagon Alley right now, but the untrusting goblins had insisted that he attend the meeting. Balling his fists tightly, he felt his heart thump with nervous anticipation with every step which took him closer to the inevitable.

Suddenly in the distance, he saw a flash of green as a young woman stumbled, her shoe catching on one of the cobbles. She shrieked as she tumbled, crumpling in the middle of the street. Seeing her fall, Theo rushed to her side, picking up her broken shoe.

"Excuse me but is this yours" he began, wincing at his own stupidity, as the woman brushed her dark hair from her face, a look of recognition passing between them.

"Daphne?"

"Theo?"

"Merlin, how long has it been?" he asked, helping her to her feet as she winced in pain.

"Eight years," she told him, taking her shoe from his hand. "Well, not even a reparo will mend this," she huffed before leaning against Theo to remove her other shoe, dropping six inches in height.

Theo tried to ignore the way his school-boy crush rose to the surface as she leant against him, nursing her sprained ankle. Looking up, he saw a street sign above them that read 'Cafe'.

"Here, let me buy you a coffee and take a look at your foot," he suggested, cursing the awkward cliche as Daphne laughed beside him, holding out her hand for him to take.

"Lead the way, kind sir," she smiled, her amusement causing Theo to relax slightly as he helped her inside.

Several cappuccinos later, Theo and Daphne had thoroughly caught up on each other's news, and Daphne's ankle was feeling much better.

"Merlin!" Daphne cried, looking at her silver wrist watch, a gift for her 21st birthday from her sister and brother in law, Astoria and Draco Malfoy. "I have made you terribly late for your meeting!"

Theo shrugged. "It's okay, those goblins are not as fierce as they pretend to be and Blaise can handle it; he's used to my tardiness," he winked, smiling as he paused. "I enjoyed this, can I see you again?" he asked, nervousness creeping into his voice.

"I can think of nothing I'd like more," Daphne smiled.