Of course that something in the date was going to get wrong after that whole conversation with Albus and Ariana.
Aberforth made his way to the little pub where he would meet his date and go home, getting inside and greeting the barman before finding a spot by the bar and sitting down, asking for a beer. The pub was full, as it usually was in a Friday evening, with some lads drunkenly watching a football game and screaming out of their lungs when someone did a good pass. There were some families there, some people Aberforth knew, and some lonesome lads and lasses that were just enjoying a nice drink or maybe looking around for a good night.
He was waiting for a girl and some of his friends, but as he turned around with a known movement of the chair next to him, he found himself staring right into Ariana's teacher's face.
And she smiled at him.
"Aberforth" she said, turning to face him and crossing her legs. She was not wearing the same clothes from earlier. She now wore a pink crop top that said 'rosy skies ahead' in a floral pattern, and some high waisted black jeans that went all the way down to her fancy boots. "What a surprise to find you here."
"It is such a coincidence" he admitted, turning to her and smiling, although he felt his heart jumping up to his throat for some reason. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"I do, but I was going to offer you just that" she said, winking at him and making Aberforth chuckle.
"Oh come on, I will pay" he said, but she shook her head and lifted her hand.
"None of that" Chris said, firmly. "I will pay. What do you want?"
"I... I will take a cosmopolitan" he said, as soon as he remembered the name of some fancy type of drink. Chris looked at him surprised before giggling.
"Wow, you got the guts" she said, waving to the bartender. "Please sir, a cosmopolitan for my friend and a strawberry margarita for me."
The man nodded and turned away to do the drinks as she looked back at Aberforth. He looked back at her and smiled, and she smiled right back, none of them saying anything until the drinks arrived.
When they did, Aberforth made a face at his own.
"This stuff is grey" he mumbled, almost whining, showing her and making Chris laugh lightly at his reaction.
"Well yes, it is a cosmopolitan" she said, tilting her head. "It is basically city trash."
"I don't want to drink city trash."
"Do you want to drink my margarita instead?"
Aberforth looked at her, and Chris pushed her margarita close to him. He thought for a second too long and Chris took the cosmopolitan from him, taking a sip and making a face.
"Is it that bad?" he asked, feeling bad for making her drink it, and she nodded, putting her tongue out and making a 'blerg' sound.
"Oh god its horrible" she mumbled and shook her head. "Oh I want some water, gosh this taste is terrible!"
"S-sorry I will get one for you" Aberforth said, feeling even worst, but she looked at him and laughed at his concerned face.
"Aberforth I'm fine!" she giggled, holding his hand and making him sit from where he had stood to call the barman. "I'm fine. Sit down. Drink some of the margarita in my behalf."
"Don't you want some?" he asked, pushing it to her. "Go ahead, drink some. It is yours anyway."
"Nah, I bought it for you" Chris shook her head, pushing the margarita back to him. "You know, I wish they sold caipirinhas here."
"Cai... what?" Aberforth frowned, and she chuckled.
"Caipirinhas. It is a Brazilian drink" she explained, leaning on her hand as she supported her elbow on the bar. "You can do it with sake, vodka, or another Brazilian drink called pinga or cachaça. Basically it is vodka but made of cane sugar instead of potatoes" she explained, looking at him. "It is sweeter, but just as strong. Anyway, to make the caipirinha, you gotta pick up some lemonade made with fresh lemons, not what americans call lemonade, and then you add the fruits you like, and mix it all up in a mixer, and then add some ice. It's very summery."
"Sounds very tropical" Aberforth said, smirking, and she nodded.
"I lived in a tropical country. Blessed by god and all that" she chuckled to herself and shook her head. "Anyway. You should try it whenever. It's really good."
"I shall taste it then. But you would have to make it for me" he winked, and she hummed, tilting her head.
"You never told me what you were doing here" she said, curiously. Aberforth then remembered the reason he was there, and looked over, seeing his friends and his supposed date already inside the pub, walking around and finding a table. Luckily, they hadn't seen him.
"Well" he said, turning back to her "I just like coming here on Fridays. You know, get off some steam."
"Oh" she chuckled and nodded, tilting her head. "that's nice. And what else you do on Fridays?"
"Hm... usually I come to the pub, find a pretty girl, buy her a drink and check my luck" Aberforth said honestly, and smiled at her. "You?"
"I have never been to a pub like this before" Chris admitted, looking around before turning back to him. "But if I did, I would find a handsome boy, buy him a drink and check my luck."
She winked at him, and he felt his cheeks burning, heart racing, and reached for the martini for a sip.
"So, would you like to drink some caipirinhas at my flat?" she asked, acting as if she didn't really mean anything by it, and he almost choked on his drink but held it back and nodded.
"Yes. Yes I would love that."
"Good. Come with me" she nodded, standing up and leaving a few libras back to pay before walking to the backdoor. Aberforth jumped out of his seat and walked after her, following her out to the parking lot and completely ignoring the friends he had left inside the pub.
Eventually they reached her car, and he hoped inside as she nodded for him to do so, smirking as she drove off and taking him to her flat. Aberforth looked at her and then outside to the night in Godric's Hollow, biting his lip as his heart hammered against his chest.
Albus would kill him... and Ari would tease him to death.
But he was being taken to a pretty girl's house, and he was so ready for whatever life was expecting from him.
"Albus, can I ask you something?" Ariana asked, voice soft as the two of them watched TV in the living room, leaning against each other. Albus gave her a quick look and then nodded.
"Of course."
"Have you ever... loved anyone?"
Albus looked at her again, frowning, and slowly sat up, being mimicked by her, both sitting with their legs crossed in front of the other.
"I... no, I don't believe I have" he said, honestly, and tilted his head. "Romantically at least. Why do you ask?"
"I just... wanted to know" she mumbled and pulled her legs closer with her arms hugging them. "I mean... I have never loved anyone. I wonder what that feels like."
"Love has many ways of making itself be felt. That's what I've heard at least" Albus said, smiling at her. "Sometimes is happiness, sometimes is worry, it can even be anger. Love is complicated."
"Do you think anyone will ever be able to love me?"
"Ari..." Albus whispered and moved closer, taking her hands and making her look up at him. "Ari, there is nothing not to love in you. You are wonderful. I bet everyone would love you if you went out there. There would be lines and more lines of people wanting to be with you."
"I don't want lines. I want one" she mumbled and looked down again. "I want someone... but how can I find that someone if I don't go out? If I don't know anyone..."
"Soon you will be able to go out, to have fun, like everyone else" Albus promised, intertwining their fingers. "I promise you. I will get everything sorted out, I will help you, and you will have a normal life, meeting new people that will love you."
"Don't... make promises you can't keep" she mumbled, pulling her hands away and turning to the side with a sigh. "Albus... are you being honest? Have you never, ever, loved anyone?"
"Why do you doubt me Ari?"
"Because you don't talk to us" she stood up, crossing her arms. "Aberforth and I never know what you're thinking... what you're feeling... is it too weird that I feel like you're not honest with us?"
"I am... Ari, I promise..." Albus said, again, standing up, and she sighed, shaking her head.
"Don't make promises you can't keep Albus" she mumbled and turned around, looking at him with a frown. "You know you can tell me anything right? Any secret, anything you're hiding... you can share with me. You know that."
"I do" he whispered, and nodded slowly. "I know it."
"Good" she mumbled and looked to the stairs. "I'm going to sleep. Talk to you later Albus."
"... Goodnight Ari."