Her slender fingers turned the "open" sign to "closed". She then turned to face him, smiling. Her copper hair was braided into a French braid, it was once a tight braid; but during the day it had loosened. Her green eyes were bright as she walked back to the counter and started to wipe it down. "You liked it," she said.

Theodore watched her as a piece of hair fell from her braid while she wiped the counter. "It was interesting," he admitted, leaning back in the chair. "The characters were well written. The development was good."

"Even though Darcy and Elizabeth didn't have a lot of direct contact within the novel?" She spoke as she disappeared beneath the counter to place the spray she used to wipe the counter down in its place.

Theodore shrugged. "They had indirect interaction. They learned about one another through other people."

"You mean she fell for his character, his person, rather than his surly good looks and his money."

"Something like that," Theodore told her, waving a hand dismissively.

"Who is guilty of pride, and who is guilty of prejudice?" Olivia asked as she moved to the store side of the counter to wipe down the glass of the pastry display.

"They're both guilty of both."

Olivia looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, green eyes bright. "You see it in both of them, then?" Theodore nodded, seeming surprised that she'd asked him that question. Such a silly question. "You'd be surprised to know that there are some people that only see them as one or the other."

"Those people aren't reading it fully," he told her. "Or they are just reading what they want to read."

"Darcy and Elizabeth or Bingley and Jane? Do you have a preference in couples?"

"Jane and Bingley are the "true love" couple; they are the couple that the writer wants you to root for. But they are underdeveloped. Darcy and Elizabeth fit together because they teach each other about themselves. They overcome their own pride and prejudices to be together."

Olivia looked up at him and away from the counter, a bright smile on her lips. "Well, now I know what books to bring you. You're a romantic, who knew?"

Theodore rolled his eyes at her. "Romantic isn't what I would call myself."

He had never been particularly good at romance, and as a pureblood, he didn't have to be. His matches were limited to witches of the same blood caliber. He had never had to charm someone or win them over. He never had to do the whole roses or admitting that he liked someone.

"No?"

"No."

Olivia was now behind the counter again, wiping down the mugs that she'd taken from the dishwasher. Her back was to him. "You know," she started.

Theodore knew that tone of voice. The way that she held on to the o in the know, somehow playful and cautious at the same time. She was going to offer him another friend. A girl more than likely.

"Kim, a girl I know, said that she thought you were cute."

"Olivia," his tone warning.

"Michael thinks you're handsome as well."

Theodore's icy eyes opened wide, and he coughed. "Micheal?" he sputtered. "Olivia." His tone was beyond warning at this point.

She laughed as she turned to look at him, her green eyes playful and bright. "You've turned down every girl I have mentioned. I just thought I would try another route." She shrugged.

"You are very much so off base."

"You like girls, then?"

Theodore scoffed at her, taking a pack of sugar off the table he threw it at her. She dodged it and picked it up off the floor. "Very much so. However, I don't need you to set up a match. I am fine."

Olivia looked at him with her green eyes. "So, would you like to see an adaptation of it?" Her thin copper eyebrow arched.

"Pardon?"

"Well, this is one of my favorite books, and there's a television adaptation that I recorded from a few years ago." Her green eyes were back on the cup she was drying in her hand. "Would you wanna watch it?" She was quiet for a moment. "With me?"

Theodore's blue eyes fell on her. He'd never seen her look so… small, might have been the right would. Her head was down, eyes firmly on the cup she was drying and had been drying for the better part of a few minutes. She seemed to realize this because she put it down and started on another one.

"I mean, it's okay if you don't want to," she said when he didn't respond to her. "I just thought I would offer the option."

He continued to watch her. Her motions not as graceful as they usually were, and she almost dropped a mug several times. He frowned, what had her so flustered?

"Olivia?" He asked, approaching her at the counter.

"Huh?" She sounded startled by him speaking to her so closely.

"We can watch your series."

Her green eyes brightened, and she smiled. Her canine teeth showing. "Really?" He nodded. Something within him stirred, warmed, at the sight. That something that he'd said had caused her to go from looking small back to her usual bright self. "Oh, um, okay. I am… uh, do you want me to call you to set up a time?"

Theodore shrugged. "That's fine."

"Or I'm off later this week, we can watch it then? It's really up to you…"

She was rambling. Had Theodore ever heard her ramble like this? "Olivia," he said sternly. Her green eyes met his blue ones. "Call."

"Okay. Yeah."

And call she did. She'd said that she would be off Friday and that he was welcome to come over and watch it with her.

"To your house?" he asked, leaning on the wall in his kitchen. A cup of tea in his hands.

"Yeah!"

Theodore lowered his eyebrows. He had never been into a Muggle home before. And to be honest, he really had no desire to do so. He brought the cup to his lips and took a sip.

"Earl grey or coffee, black?" Olivia asked brightly.

"Just green tea."

"Changing it up, I see."

Theodore hummed in acknowledgment. He looked out into the living room, at the black leather sofa that only he had sat on. In the living room that, despite being underused, had no dust. It was in pristine condition. Not a coaster out of place. Even the television and VHS player, the one he'd bought to blend in, had never been used. He had no need. He'd never watched television before. He'd never felt the need to turn it on.

"Watch it here."

Olivia was quiet for a long moment. "At your house?"

Her tone was surprised, and to be fair, he'd also been surprised by his offer. He'd never had a muggle over willingly. When the men had come to deliver the furniture, he'd scowled at them the whole time they'd been there. They'd tried to make small talk, and he'd been less than pleased about that. However, they had told him the best tv to get for the space that he had. In an effort to look like he fit in, he purchased a television - a telly as the men kept referring to it - and never bothered to use it.

"Theodore?"

He was almost startled by her voice. "Yes?"

"Are you sure that's okay?"

"Sure." His answer was preceded by some sort of shrugging motion, that he knew that she couldn't see.

Her end of the line was quiet for a long moment. "Friday, then?"

"Sure."

"Around 1?"

"That's fine."

"I can bring food," she suggested. "There's a place that has good fish and chips."

"Alright."

"Okay, so I'll see you then," Olivia said, her tone a bit awkward. "For tomorrow for you coffee, black or Earl Grey?"

"Earl Grey," he told her.

"Earl Grey, it is."

At five past one, the doorbell rang, echoing throughout the house. Theodore placed the cup of water he'd been holding on the counter and made his way to the door. Despite knowing who he was expecting, he still looked out the peephole. Copper hair and green eyes greeted him.

"Olivia," he greeted as he opened the door.

"Hi, I'm sorry I'm a little late." She offered a sheepish smile. "I got you a coffee, black for the show, and you know, the fish and chips I promised." She held up a cup holder with two cups of coffee. Theodore observed her. Copper hair pulled up into a bun on the top of her head. The slightly pointed tips of her ears were visible. The freckles on her nose and cheeks were more noticeable. Theodore reached out and took the bag of fish and chips from her and stepped to the side to let her in.

"Wow," Olivia said, looking at the inside of his house. "This place is as beautiful on the inside as I thought," she told him.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he locked the door behind her.

"I always loved the brick on this house," she explained. "I've lived in Blackpool for my whole life, and I've always liked this house. But I never had a chance to go in. The hardwood is beautiful."

Theodore stayed quiet as he watched her. Her fingers trailed along the wall as she took small steps in the entryway. Her green eyes panned across the space as she turned in place. When she came to face him again, her cheeks were flushed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to ogle your home." Theodore waved his hand, dismissively he walked past her. Olivia trailed him, continuing to look at the space. "It looks like no one lives here."

"What?" he asked as he sat the bag on the coffee table in the living room.

"It's so sterile. There's no pictures or tears in the furniture," Olivia told him as she ran her slender fingers along the leather of the sofa. "It's nice, and it's clean but sterile."

"Thank you," he commented. "The show?"

Olivia placed the cup holder on the table and slung her backpack off one of her shoulders. Before grabbing a box from within it. She flipped it open to show six VHS tapes. "It's six episodes, but we don't have to watch them all today. I just have them as a set here." Theodore shrugged and gestured to the television.

"Let's start then," he said, turning on the television and taking the tape labeled one from the box. He'd decided to read up on how to work the set so that he didn't look odd not knowing how this own tv

With the tape inserted, Olivia settled on to the sofa. She made herself comfortable with her legs tucked under her body and leaning on the arm of the couch, her cup of coffee in her hand. Theodore sat on the opposite end of the sofa also holding his coffee.

He glanced over at her as the show started. Her green eyes were focused on the screen, and a smile played faintly on her lips. He turned his gaze away from her and towards the television.

VHS one turned to two and then three, four, five, and six.

Theodore hadn't expected to enjoy television watching so much. However, he found that it was an impressive way to pass the time. Watching the characters come to life. Watching what he'd read come to life. It was quite enjoyable.

During the process, Olivia had shifted from the arm of the sofa with her legs tucked under her to sitting cross-legged. Theodore has also moved from his position to one that was closer to the center of the couch.

"Did you like it?" Olivia asked excitedly as she turned to face him as the final credits rolled.

"I don't know if Colin Firth was a good Darcy."

Olivia laughed. "He wasn't quite surly enough, was he?"

"Something like that. Otherwise, it was quite good. I think it did the book justice."

Olivia smiled, and again, that warmth rushed through him. He couldn't place it in the cafe. However, now he could. It was like when her fingers had brushed against his hand. That shock of warmth that coursed through him at her touch; only she hadn't touched him.

"I'm glad that you liked it," she said, still smiling. "I have a video of the Great Gatsby too. An outstanding interpretation of the book. I can lend it to you, if you like." Theodore shrugged. Something that she'd learned was an indication of his indifference to what she'd said. "I'll bring it to the cafe, and if you want it, then you can borrow it."

"Noted," he told her.

Olivia stood from the sofa and started to pack her tapes away. Theodore moved to eject the tape from the player and hand it to her. She placed it in the box, the label six facing upward next to the other numbered tapes.

"Thank you for watching the show with me," she told him. She looked up from her box and at him. Theodore noted a pink shading beneath her freckles, and he nodded. "We should do it again?" she offered. However, she hadn't really expected a response from him; instead, she started towards the door. She turned and placed her hands on the back of the sofa and looked at him. "Theodore."

"Hmm?" he answered, surprised by her suddenly turning to face him.

"Are you satisfied having only one friend?" she asked. "Truly?"

"I am truly satisfied having the number of friends I have." His hands were in his pockets as he walked towards her and the door.

They had migrated towards the door. Olivia seemed to be thinking as she chewed on her bottom lip. Theodore opened the door, allowing a cool breeze to enter the house. Olivia walked out and turned to face him.

"Alright. Well, I will continue to be your only friend."

Theodore felt the corner of his lips twitch upward. Is that what she had been meditating on? He tilted his head, acknowledging her statement.

"Have a good evening, Theo."

His blue eyes snapped to her. No one had called him Theo since he'd left the Wizarding World. The word stirred a sense of familiarity within him. Only those close to him called him that and got a polite response from him, Draco and Blaise, Pansy in later years.

This girl was so far from those people. They were all Purebloods, and she was a muggle. Someone with no magical ability. Someone who knew nothing of the world that he was from.

And yet, her using that nickname was okay.

A/N: Hi, thanks for reading! I hope that everyone is having a great start to their new year. Let me know what you think in a review.