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"Oh, Milly!" John waltzes into her office without bothering to knock, like he owns the place. "Here I am!"
Amelia looks up from the map on her desk, marked with countless leads on where Sirius Black might be. She glares at him, but her expression softens quickly enough when she smells the warm aroma of coffee mixed with sweet caramel. "Oh, that smells nice," she says, setting her quill aside. "What are you up to?"
Anyone else could bring her coffee, and she wouldn't question it. Not John. He always seems to have a plan, and Amelia knows exactly what that plan is: get her to go on a date with him. It isn't that she hates the idea of it. John is lovely enough bloke, but she is just so busy with work, and, besides, as the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, it might be a bit inappropriate.
John just flashes her a winning smile. It's the sort of smile that could so easily melt someone's heart. If she's honest, it stirs something within Amelia.
"You've been so hard at work," he says, sitting across from her. "Ever the Hufflepuff, eh? Working after hours and all."
Amelia glances at her clock, then outside her window into her department. Sure enough, it is mostly empty, except for a few Aurors filling out paperwork. Blushing, she accepts the coffee and picks up her quill, returning her gaze to the map, searching for a pattern in reported sightings. There has to be something they're missing.
"Milly?"
"Amelia," she corrects, trying to keep her tone as sharp and stern as possible, a subtle warning (or more of a plea) for John not to get too close.
"Do you play chess, Milly?" He really likes to push his luck, the bastard.
"I'm just going to go scream," she grumbles. "Excuse me."
John laughs. "You know, you can just enjoy the moment. I brought you coffee," he says. "If you'd like, I can order dinner too."
"Why are you being so nice to me, Dawlish?" she asks.
He leans forward, resting his elbows on her desk. "Because you're stressed, and I think you need a little kindness in your life right now," he answers.
He's right. Twice this week, she's fallen asleep in her office instead of going home. She can't remember the last time she's actually focused on herself. Maybe it isn't a bad thing to sit and breathe for a moment and actually enjoy herself.
"A quick bite," she says, smiling. "Nothing fancy. Maybe fish and chips."
"Right after I kick your ass in chess."
Amelia snorts. "As if you can beat me," she says, summoning her chessboard and setting the pieces on the square.
In the back of her mind, she knows this is what he's wanted all along. They're alone together, and she has to admit she enjoys his company. Maybe this isn't so bad. He has a good heart, and so much kindness to spare.
When this is all over, and she can breathe again without the pressure of deadlines weighing so heavily on her, maybe she will have to let him take her on a proper date.
