It was the weekend and finally...no classes for a few days. Eric needed some time to himself. He was so busy with teaching and dealing with Voldemort was never easy, which added extra pressure. Eric was up in his room and decided to head out to Hogsmeade, to see what was going on there for the weekend. He quickly got himself up too snuff, grabbed his cigarettes and left the grounds. He walked past a few old shops and came to the three broomsticks and quickly remembered his run in with Carmen. He often thought about her. She was it...she was the one for him, but every time they met it was a disaster. He remembered that she had her own place here now and was no longer staying at Voldemort house. "I wonder if I will see her", he thought to himself. "If I ever get another chance with her..I'll make it worth her while", he thought as he kept walking.

Eric couldn't shake the memories of Carmen. The woman had a hold of him and it hung on tight. He thought of her beautiful flowing hair, her nice body shape, her beautiful eyes and her voice...just hearing her speak drove Eric crazy. He always felt bad about the things that happened between them, but what is done is done. He leaned up against the fence just outside of the old book store. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette and lit it and observed the streets. Eric looked up after taking a drag of his smoke and blinked twice. He couldn't believe it, there was Carmen walking so gracefully towards him but still was quite far.

Carmen had been out getting a few things she needed. She shopped often as it was the only thing she really had to pass the time with. She had limited friends and no boyfriend. So the time between work and Deatheaters meetings were spent at the hotel, which grew boring after time, or out in the shops and streets. She saw many deatheaters on the streets sometimes and grew both excited and worried knowing the war was coming. She had been out today picking up few new quills for work and pretty parchment. She had bought a bottle of light blue ink. Of course books were in the the bags as well. Carmen went through books quickly. She loved to read. Her mind was a library which no one could disturb.

She was thinking about her parents as she made her way back to the hotel with bags in both hands. Carmen missed them greatly but knew that they would have nothing to do with her due to her following Voldemort. "This is it...it's a sign" he thought to himself. He couldn't believe that he saw her, and how she made his heart skip a beat with her presence. "I'm going to make it right this time" he said to himself with confidence. He threw his smoke on the ground and twisted the butt with his boot. He then ran his hands through his hair and made sure that he looked okay. He then walked towards Carmen. "She probably won't even talk to me." He said under his breath hoping for the best but expecting the worse.

The pretty girl did not notice the man moving up behind her and when she felt the tap on her shoulder, she jumped slightly and let out a little yelp. Carmen turned to find Eric behind her. She took a step back. "Hello Carmen, It's very nice to see you again", he said with a handsome grin. "I was wondering if you would like to go to the sweet shop and get an ice cream with me...my treat" he asked her in a begging sort of way. Carmen looked up at him for a long moment but said nothing at first. Ice cream? It was a bit chilly for ice cream but what harm could it do? With a bit of hesitation, she nodded. "Alright." She told him softly. Eric blinked and shook his head a bit in disbelief, that she was actually agreeing to go anywhere with him.

He stood up as straight as a board, and grabbed her arm and Carmen flinched slightly. It was the same arm that she had injured a few days ago in the Three Broomsticks as she had run from this very man. Eric steered her in the direction of the sweet shop. He was walking with her and not knowing where to start, and what he should say. Carmen looked up at Eric as they walked. It was a sin how attractive this man was. Carmen mentally scolded herself for seeing his attractiveness instead of being stronger focused on how rude he had been to her. She really did not need anymore heartache right now.

Eric reached inside his long trench coat and pulled out his gold case with his cigarettes in it and reached as well for the matching lighter. He opened the case and put his mouth over one of the cigarette ends and pulled it out with one of his teeth. He then held his cigarettes in front of Carmen. Carmen took one and then with his lighter he offered her next, lit it and inhaled deeply. Carmen ignored the other Deatheates on the street. She was sure they would run back to their leader but let them... she didn't care... but she would later.

"So Carmen, what's your favorite flavor at Flouren's Ice Cream Parlour?" he asked her just to create small talk to kill the silence. "Mine in mint with chocolate bits" he said to her, again in a raspy voice. Carmen murmured at the rumble of his voice...why did she like that so much? "Black cherry." She finally told him softly. Inside the shop was not surprisingly empty. Not many wanted ice cream when the weather was like this. Carmen slipped her arm out of his hand as politely as possible and then headed for one of the tables and set her bags under it. She she favored him with a small smile before moving to the counter. Carmen did like Black Cherry ice cream, but there were so many different flavors here.

Eric followed behind her and put his arm around her waist and moved her a bit closer to him, and looked at her and smiled. Carmen jumped slightly and looked back over her shoulder at him. Her own hands moved to rest on his arm. She blushed softly and then forced herself to look back down at the ice cream. There were so many flavors to choose from, but Eric did love his mint ice cream. He brought Carmen with him in his arms to look at all the different kinds. Eric, for a man loved this place. It was always so warm and inviting. Eric couldn't keep his eyes off of her, while she was looking at all the different kinds of ice cream.

Eric was not looking at the ice cream though he was wondering when to make a move. "I think I'm going to have Maple walnut today", Eric said to her. "I haven't had that in ages either, and from what I remember it's quite tasty" he said. "Shall I order you a large black cherry?" he asked her with a smile, while bringing her more close to him and took a chance and gave her a small kiss on the cheek, and waited for her response.

Carmen was about to answer when she felt him shift from behind her and then his lips touched her face. Carmen blushed even harder now. She could not stop the smile that formed on her face even though she knew she should not be allowing this. She should not be enjoying this but it was as if she could not help herself. She nodded though. When the woman placed her cup of ice cream on the counter Carmen took the treat. She turned in his arms now and then very quickly and very briefly, she moved up onto her toes and kissed his lips. The kiss was very brief and very soft but it was there. He slightly jumped back a bit out of pure shock.

She stepped away from his arms now and with a soft smile, made her way to the table where she sat. When he had joined her, Carmen glanced at his face and then began eating. She had a peculiar way of eating this. Carmen picked out all of the halved cherries and then ate them before eating the actual ice cream. Eric snickered at her little habit. " I have to say that it's pretty cute the way you eat your ice cream Carmen,' He teased and Carmen smiled. "until it looks like a chunk of swiss cheese." Eric slowly reached under the table and he put his hand on her leg and smiled at her with his sexy grin.

Carmen was surprised by how bold he was after all that had happened. Eric however was oblivious to this. He couldn't believe how great this was going. That she even considered giving him another chance. It was the happiest he has been in years. Eric was licking his ice cream and looking over at Carmen. "There is something I have to ask you Carmen", he said to her quietly "Are you free tomorrow night at all?" He asked her while moving his hand more towards her thigh, awaiting her reply. Carmen stiffened at his hand. What was he thinking? Did he really think this was appropriate? She placed her hand over his stopping it and then gently pushed it away. "I think I could be free tomorrow." She replied. "Why?"

"Well" He told her and Carmen tilted her head slightly. "There is a St. Patrick Day's dance and celebration at Hogwarts in the Great Hall and I was wondering if you would be my date?" Carmen's eyes widened a little. She had not heard anything about the celebration. She thought for a moment and then asked him jokingly, "Do you plan on leaving me there?" She paused. "I have been to Hogwarts before and at least I'll know my way back if something happens." Eric knew exactly what that meant. "Such wit you have Carmen", he said to her with a smile and then put his head down and bit and then raised it back up and looked at her and smiled with a flirtatious grin. She forgave him.

Carmen slipped a little closer to him and then kissed the side of his jaw before turning back to her ice cream. She didn't want it to melt. "That's two." Eric said softly. Eric then closed the difference between them. He was so close that he put his mouth right by her ear and whispered to her in his low sexy voice, "I have something for you". Carmen shivered at the rasp of his voice. She watched as he pulled his wand out and cast a spell. Slowly a beautiful rose came into existence.

She smiled brightly and then reached up for it. Carmen brought it towards her face inhaling the fragrant scent. "For you my lady" Eric told her "Thanks for coming with me today" Carmen turned her head to thank him for the rose and then he was kissing her. Carmen's words were lost in her throat and instead she gave a soft sigh/moan combination. Carmen kissed him back softly and the hand not holding the rose moved to tangle in his dark hair. She shifted in the seat to face him. The kiss seemed to last forever before Carmen broke it. She pulled away and then moved back giving a second much quicker kiss.

Carmen smiled again and then looked at the rose once more. "What should I wear and what time is the party?" She asked now in a soft voice. "You leave that to me..I would love to buy you your outfit..please allow me to do so Carmen?..it would be my pleasure as your date". He told her. Carmen tried to protest. She did not need him to buy her dress... She was able to take care of herself. Eric put the money into her hands, she shook her head. This was enough for three dresses. She was about to protest when he kissed her again.

"This is way to much", she replied. Her hands now moved to his dark long hair. "It's not enough for you Carmen" He closed her hand around the money. "Please allow me to do this Carmen", he pleaded to her. He was always persistent. He looked at her with a look that he had never given her before. He reached his hand up and held onto the side of her face while rubbing it slightly. "You are so beautiful Carmen" He told her he again kissed her a little more harder and longer than before. He loved it and he couldn't stop thinking about making love to her, and it was getting more and more harder to control. Eric had to get up before he took her right then and there in the shoppe.

"Carmen...do you want to go outside for a cigarette", he said to her as he stood up and held out his hands to help her up. Carmen nodded softly. She took his hand and stood. She was disappointed to ay the least. Carmen had liked the way they had been but clearly he had not. She forced a small smile back however and then led the way out outside. Carmen took her pack of cigarettes from her pocket and then took two from the pack. Carmen offered one to Eric and then slipped the other into her mouth before lighting it. She inhaled and then looked around. Carmen was feeling out of place now. She had liked being close to him and it hurt her a little that she was no longer having that. She sighed and then looked down.

"I'll by the dress and then return the rest of the money to you." She said softly now. "And thank you for the ice cream." Eric almost looked angry for a moment. "That's ridiculous Carmen" he said to her quite stern. "I would never accept the change back, I would hope that you would use it to buy anything you needed". He then took his hand and ran it down the side of her face and then kissed her cheek. "And you are very welcome for the ice cream but I should be thanking you for coming with me", he said to her with a smile on his face. She thought about how she was almost not going to come. But she was happy she had decided to. It have proven to be enjoyable.

It was a shame that it had to end so quickly but Carmen knew that he had things to do most likely. "Your not thinking about leaving right now..are you?" Eric asked now as if he had read her mind. Carmen was silent for a long moment as she looked up at him. "Did you not want me to?" She asked softly. "I thought..." She cut herself off. The last thing Carmen wanted to do was tell him in any way or form that he did not want to leave. She did not want to seem desperate. "Did you have something in mind?" She asked him now.

Carmen looked through the window of the shop at her bags that were still under the table. Eric noticed her glancing in the shop. He turned to see what she was looking at and saw that her shopping bags were still underneath the table that they were sitting at together. Eric than moved to the doorway of the shoppe and took out his wand and gave it a wave and cast "Accio bags", and her shopping bags were in his hands in no time. "Not really." Eric replied and then he grinned. 'Can I walk you back to the inn?" Carmen nodded softly and then they were off.