"So what now?" Rory asked as they entered Hogsmeade. The village was beautiful. She knew that already from the little time she and her mum had seen on their first day here but now it Autumn was truly kicking in and the whole place seemed to have a slightly golden glow.
"Well I was kind of hoping you had an idea. I didn't want to plan it in depth because I wanted you to enjoy today. So I was hoping that when we got here you'd have an idea of what you'd like to do."
"OK, well what's the book store here called?"
"Bloody hell. I know you've been spending time with Granger but this is ridiculous. The first thing you think of doing in a village like Hogsmeade is book shopping!" Tristan said exasperatedly.
"Did you or did you not just ask me what I would like to do?" Rory asked.
"Yeah sure but I thought maybe you'd want to go get a butterbeer or something. Not wander around a dusty bookshop searching through millions of books to find maybe one that's interesting." Tristan said. "And anyway there isn't a specific book shop here in Hogsmeade. There's Dervish and Banges, that's an equipment shop. They sell a few books but in reality it's not that wide a selection. If you wanted to go book shopping you'd be much better off in Flourish and Blotts In Diagon Alley. But that's in London."
"Why don't we go there?" Rory questioned.
"Because it's in London- didn't I just tell you that?"
"Are you a sixth year at this school or a first. We could go to the Post office. They would register a port key for us. Or we could use their fireplace to floo there. Honestly anyone would think your stupid." Rory smiled mischievously.
"Sorry to burst your bubble Rory but it's against the rules."
"So? …As far as I've heard rules never bothered you before," she said.
"Well, well, well, not such a little Mary after all, are you? Lets do this" He smiled and took her hand leading her through the streets towards the post office.
XXX
They both stepped out of the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron in fits of laughter.
"I can't believe you actually went through with this Gilmore." Tristan grinned at her as they dusted soot off their clothes. It hit him at this point that this is why wizards preferred to wear black- it made the soot less obvious.
"Please stop calling me that." Rory protested. "I'm sick of always having you call me Gilmore or Mary. I have a real name. Use it."
"Ohhh we're getting bossy now aren't we?" Tristan teased, smiling.
"So where is this Flourish an Blotts you were talking about?" Rory asked taking in their surroundings. She was slightly disappointed. She'd heard of this pub it was quite famous being the doorway into a wizarding street. However it was slightly dingy and several of the customers had rather suspicious appearances and smells.
"Follow me."
Rory followed him through the back of the pub and into a small back yard rather like a walled courtyard, it was empty except for a few weeds and a couple of empty dustbin's. Tristan walked over to one of the dustbins and took out his wand. He counted three up and two across then he tapped the wall 3 times the brick began to twitch, then wriggle and a hole began to form. It grew slowly wider then taller, and a few seconds later it formed a seven foot archway that revealed a long and winding cobbled street. It was beautiful, picturesque. Nothing like the fancy muggle-like shopping malls she and her mum brought her school supplies for back home. There everything was so precise, one could find whatever they wanted almost instantly- which left no room for impulse buying. Rory smiled thinking what a pleasure it would be to finally be able to browse through shelves and discover hidden treasures instead of having whatever book you ordered immediately jump out for you.
"Well, Impressed?" Tristan asked her smiling at the expression that had taken over Rory's features?
"Not yet" She answered. "Where's the book shop?"
"Come on…" He took her hand and began to make their way through the busy street.
XXX
Meanwhile back at the castle…
"Luke… Luke… Where are you!"
"Lorelai?" a rough voice questioned.
"Yeah. Where the hell are you?"
A moment later she was answered. A sleepy looking Luke stumbled through a doorway that could only lead to his living quarters. He was wearing pyjama bottoms flannel- no less but nothing else. Lorelai smiled at the sight of his bare chest. Those flannel shirts did absolutely nothing for him. And she resolved to buy him something that suited him better. In the meantime she had come down here for something- oh yeah… coffee. The house elves had sent some up but it didn't compare to what she'd been drinking all week."
"Why aren't you up yet?" she demanded of the bleary eyed man before her.
"Well, Lorelai. It's a Saturday. The one day a week I have some me-time."
"But it's ten o'clock and Rory's gone out her date and I have no coffee. The stuff the house elves made me were awful- no offence," she added to the elf that had just passed and given her a hurt look. Its big eyes looked like those of a puppy who'd done something wrong and was trying to earn it's way back into a world of bones and hugs.
"Well ok give me five minutes to get dressed and I'll make you some coffee."
"And deprive me of this view?" she said, her face showed the innocence of teasing but if Luke had looked closer her eyes glinted and gave her toughts away.
XXX
Two hours later in Diagon Alley Tristan and Rory were both sat contentedly in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour where Rory was still eating her ice cream. Tristan had brought a bowl that kept re-filling itself. Which Rory seemed very pleased about as she continued to eat the Ice-Cream even though she was reaching her third bowl. It made Tristan want to laugh, the amount of food she could put away into that tiny body. In fact he'd hardly been able to finish one bowl, after the amount he'd had at that muggle movie thing last night. He figured this was a skill of Rory's that she and her mother had probably practised from the moment she could digest solid foods.
"I must say", Tristan began, "I am rather surprised at the rebellious side of you I've seen today."
"Well nothing can save me from the lure of a good book, or twenty" she said smiling at the three heaving bags by her feet.
"The only problem now is going to be hiding the fact that we got these in Diagon Alley when we go back to school."
"That's easily solved" Rory explained, "we go to the post office at Hogsmeade, and order a first class owl to take them to my dormitory. They'll get to the castle before we do. I'll say I ordered them,"
"It's a good plan." He admitted "You're a sneaky little thing aren't you. Only it will take at least four owls to carry this lot." He motioned towards the bags. "I want to get you something, a gift." He said suddenly.
"Why?"
"As a reminder. As far as I'm concerned today's been really great and I wanted to get you something as a thank you for making an effort to be nice to me and remind you of a good day." He said honestly.
"OK, what kind of gift were you thinking of?" she asked.
"You see over there…" He pointed across the street. "That's a pet shop, a wizarding pet shop. And I know you haven't got a cat, or an owl but I thought maybe I could get you one."
"Well ok. But it'll have to be an owl; my mum has a strange aversion to cats. She thinks she is going to end up an old spinster with only cats for company." She explained.
Tristan laughed, "Sounds like your mum."
"Did you just? Yes you did! Tristan DuGrey just laughed. He's human after all" Rory joked.
"Very funny" He said getting up and picking up her bags. "Lets go get your owl so we can have a butter beer before we leave. OK?"
"Yeah ok." Rory replied reluctantly putting down her spoon and leaving a tip for the waitress that had served them. She walked across the street with Tristan and entered the pet shop. It had the unmistakeable smell of wet fur and animal droppings but Rory couldn't help but smile at the animals. They were all so cute. The cats were all purring rather loudly, the rats scurrying around and showing off, the toads croaking and swimming in circles around a tank. In fact the only peaceful animals in there were the owls.
They were all perched, almost nobly, on a long pole than ran the length of the shop. There were big owls, small owls, scrawny ones and podgy ones, off all colours and breeds. But there was one, as soon as Rory saw it she knew it was the one she wanted. It was a medium-sized owl; its feathers were a soft honey colour and it had such clear blue eyes.
"You want that one don't you?" Tristan asked following her gaze.
"Yeah" Rory said wistfully.
"How much for that one over there?" Tristan asked the sales woman who was learning on the counter absent-mindedly turning the pages of witch weekly.
"Five galleons sir"
"Ok" He handed over the gold coins and another galleon for a cage. When they managed to get the bird into the cage, Rory paid for some owl food and treats. And they made the journey back to the leaky cauldron.
"What do you think your gonna call her?" Tristan asked sipping at his butterbeer.
"I'm not sure, nothing cutesy, animals deserve more respect than being called fluffy and snowball. I want something classy. Harry's is called Hedwig, I want something like that a name an owl would be proud of."
"Well I'm sure you and your mum will think of something"
"I suppose so."
"Look, Rory can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"Well you know how I said if you come out with me today I'd leave you alone if that's what you wanted."
"I do"
"well is that still what you want? For me to leave you alone?"
"Not particularly, but don't you think it's going to be a bit hard for you to suddenly become friends with me. All the Slytherins will disown you if they see you with me."
"I know that. But don't you think we could maybe keep this quiet for now."
"So now your ashamed of me!" Rory heard her voice rise.
"You know it's nothing like that"
"You just said you want to keep our friendship quiet."
"Only because you'll get taunted even more than me. You'll be the laughing stock of the school. Even the Ravenclaw's and the Gryffindor's will turn their backs on you, call you a traitor. They'll all think your just another one of my conquests. But you're not Rory. Although I do admit, my interest in you is defiantly more than platonic." And with that he leaned forward, took the bottle of butterbeer out of her hand and cupped her cheek to tilt her head slightly. Smiling at her he searched her face for any sign that he should stop…
Her breathing had suddenly become shallow, and her pulse began to quicken. As she saw him close his eyes and lean in closer she automatically followed suit. Next thing she knew his lips had somehow found hers and her was leisurely exploring them.
She tasted sweet, like cherries. Must be her lip-gloss he thought. Or the taste of the ice cream she'd been devouring earlier. He almost hesitantly ran the tip of his tounge over her bottom lip, knowing what a goody two shoes she was. When she didn't protest but opened her mouth and returned the kiss he thought all his Christmases had come at once.
She was having trouble believing what a good kisser he was. She'd only really been kissed once before and it was absolutely nothing like this. This was pure pleasure and happiness. Unfortunately though, as with all good things, it had to end. As it did Tristan leaned his forehead against hers and smiled.
"I'm so glad we came here. If we'd stayed in Hogsmeade I never would've had the courage to do that." He admitted.
"That is because you're a Slytherin you sly little fox."
"I'm a fox now am I? I thought Slytherins were snakes."
"Technically they are, but foxes are sly too. Did you never hear the story of chicken licken as a child?"
"No. What on earth is that?"
"Oh it's a muggle story about a chicken who, when an acorn falls and hits him on the head, is convinced the sky is falling down. So he runs off to tell all his friends. They all run into a fox trying to find somewhere safe. And the fox convinces them to follow him and he'll give them somewhere safe to stay. The animals don't know weather to believe him, but they're all terrified that the sky is going to fall down on them so they follow. He leads them straight into his den. Where his wife and children have them all for dinner." Rory explained.
"So hang on your telling me that your putting the fact that I kissed you and convinced you to agree with me to keep this secret is equal with luring you into my den and having your for dinner?" Tristan questioned.
"Yes and anyway who said I agreed to keep it a secret?" she demanded
"No-one. But you will. I know you'd never do anything to intentionally hurt a person. And anyway it wont be a complete secret any of your friends at the movie night can know because they know that if they tell on anyone they'll wake up the following day with a very suspicious, and very visible rash."
"You are a fox DuGrey, you thought this all out didn't you?"
"Yep. Come on we need to get back to the castle"
"Ok if you say so" Rory picked up her new pet's cage and watched Tristan struggle with her bags of books."
"They walked over to the fireplace. Rory took a velvet pouch from her pocket and threw the powder onto the grate beneath them and said clearly "post office, Hogsmeade" they were transported in a lick of green flames.
XXX
"Well I didn't think I was going to cry" Lorelai whined to Luke.
The pair had also been to London, only the muggle part. And there they'd gone for dinner and a movie. Lorelai had cried at the end, she hadn't wanted too but somehow she couldn't help herself. Now they were back at the castle talking and in Lorelai's case drinking coffee
"Your such a softie at heart aren't you Gilmore?" He mocked
"You have no idea" she said.
Did I just imagine that look or was she flirting with me? Luke wondered. He didn't have to wonder for long.
Looking at her watch she sighed. "I have to go Rory should be back and me and Lane told her we want details. Thanks for today Luke, I really enjoyed myself"
'She's somehow gotten really close'. Luke thought 'too close' before he'd had time to process what was happening Lorelai was kissing him. 'Huh?' he had no idea where this had come from but he wasn't going to stop it anytime soon. When Lorelai pulled away she just said, "See you tomorrow" and was gone.
XXX
"Well thanks for today Tristan" Rory said honestly. "I can actually say that today wasn't a complete waste of time. I enjoyed myself. And thanks again for Pet, I really do have to think up a proper name don't I?"
"Yeah" Tristan said. "Look I better leave you here. It'll be risky walking into the castle together." He explained as they reached the Hogwarts gates.
"Ok, when can I see you next?" She asked.
"Well how about you meet me in the potions classroom tomorrow afternoon at six?" Tristan suggested.
"Isn't that a bit risky with Snape? How about the charms classroom instead?" she asked.
"That works. Bye Mary."
"Bye DuGrey."
XXX
Rory rushed to find her mom. Lorelai was pacing her room frantically. Where is Rory? She was mentally screaming. She'd kissed Luke. The kitchens supervisor Luke. The coffee angel Luke! She was going crazy.
"Mum. Where are you? I have BIG news" Rory asked coming through the door.
"So do I, so do I" Lorelai said more than a little overdosed on coffee.
"I kissed Tristan!"
"I kissed Luke!… What?"
"No what you kissed Luke? You know you can't date the giver of coffee. You'll break up and we'll have no coffee and awful pancakes for breakfast."
"Too late honey. We kinda already went on a date?"
"What? When? I've only been gone five hours."
"Dinner, movie. We didn't plan it, it just happened."
"That's what you told Nana and Grandpa about me being born." Rory said exasperatedly.
"Yeah well a lot of the things that happen in life aren't planned. So what's this about you kissing Tristan? I thought you didn't like the guy"
"Well, it wasn't planned" Rory quoted.
The girls both collapsed on the Sofa in giggles.
I'm thinking… hear the cogs spinning in my head…maybe not. Could you maybe give some suggestions for the owl's name? Nothing too cutesy. I don't do cutesy pet names my cats are called 'Julie' and 'Fathead' and I have a dog-called 'Meggie' Please review there will be lots more Luke Lorelai in the next chapter.