A/N: Hey everyone.
So I found a couple pieces of loose leaf in an old notebook with this randomly delightful story on it. I don't remember writing it, but I liked it, so I typed it out and posted it here.
I like the idea of this as a full length story, so if I get some attention for it, I'll feel encouraged enough to do it.
Lemme know what you think, please!
(p.s. Opp is meant to be short for opportunity, in case it wasn't clear).
Opp
As I took his empty tea cup from him, he smiled at me as if he knew a truth that would effect me later in life. Feeling uncomfortable, I picked up a tin of mints and offered them to him.
"Thanks," he said happily. He took it and buried it in his pocket.
"Do you have three knuts on you?" I asked. He only looked at me. "So I can give you back a galleon."
"Oh! Yeah, I think so, hold on." He dug a hand into his right coat pocket. I waited patiently as he sorted through the things he took out. Along with a couple of coins, which he put down on the counter with gumption, he shuffled through various receipts and wrappers. There were two loose almonds, and a short quill, and lastly what I made out to be a crumpled picture. The corner of it was showing, in which I saw a hand making an 'okay' sign.
"There you go," he said with an air of satisfaction, as he plunked two more knuts on the counter, and shoved all of his pocket rubbish back into his jacket.
As soon as I dropped the galleon in his hand he looked up at me.
"So do you ever go out for a drink after work?" He was passing the galleon back and forth in his hands. "...'Cause I know this muggle pub, and I thought it'd be nice to catch up with you sometime. If you want to, I mean."
"That sounds lovely-"
"I just haven't seen any of my Hogwarts mates in a while and I-"
"Neville," I stopped him. "The only thing is is that I... never really stop working."
"Oh," he replied, turning a delicate shade of red. "Well that's fine, then."
"I'll see you later," I said, as he continued backwards and out through the door.
"Hannah," Tom piped up, walking out from the back wiping his hands with an old rag. "Why don't you go with the boy. It's dead in here. I'll close up the kitchen, and you can take the night off."
I looked back to the door where Neville was outside, lighting a cigarette, and then back to Tom. He nodded his head.
If I hesitated one more second, or reminded myself that I worked early the next morning, I wouldn't have taken the opportunity. But I didn't think of those things. Instead, I smiled, and ran out back to grab my coat. I pushed in a chair under it's table as I left the Cauldron with a feeling like I was doing something right.