Ice Cream Stall: Birthday Cake/Plum

Insane House Challenge: being stood up on a date

Word Count: 330


Walburga feels ridiculous. She should have known this would happen. Even though Orion is her betrothed, he still doesn't love her—not that she actually loves him, but this is a terrible blow to her ego.

She looks around the coffee shop, but it's still empty. The waitress comes back by, and Walburga sends her away with a scowl.

Orion should be here. They had made plans. Even if their future marriage is a sham, they still have to keep up appearances. This date should have meant something to him. She doesn't know why it hurts so much to learn that he truly doesn't care.

"I think he's a ruddy fool."

Walburga looks up, surprised to see Rubeus Hagrid there. He's a large boy, and she doesn't know how she has failed to notice him until. With a sniff, she turns pointedly away. "I don't recall asking for your opinion," she says sharply.

"Well, pardon me. But it's just like me dad always says—"

"I don't care what your father says," she snaps. "Shoo! Orion will be here any minute."

"He won't. Saw 'im sneaking off with Viana Greengrass, I did."

She's always suspected as much, but that doesn't make the confirmation sting any less. Walburga starts to climb to her feet, but Rubeus sits across from her, and she hesitates.

"Ruddy fool. Dunno why he would leave such a lovely girl waiting."

Walburga blushes. She's well aware that this is ridiculous. Nothing can come from this. At the end of the day, she is still a Black, and she has a duty to marry Orion.

But there's no denying that Rubeus is charming enough, even if he is a clumsy, bumbling oaf. There's something attractive about him, and he is the kindest person she's ever met.

The waitress comes back around.

"Coffee, black," Rubeus says. "And whatever she's having."

"Coffee, cream and two sugars."

Maybe her day hasn't turned out the way she'd planned, but things are looking brighter already.