It was three o'clock in the afternoon, and the sun was streaming through the window of Pat's bedroom, illuminating everything in its 2 foot diameter of light. Pat lay on her back, her knees bent, on her carefully made bed, reading the copy of Notable Remedies and the Healers Who Use Them she was holding above her head; she had covered the morning rush so Anne could, again, stay off the floor should her morning sickness decide to revisit. It was uneventful, bordering on dull, without any schoolwork to do, and no friends to talk to. Once or twice Pat had almost considered admitting defeat and making her way back to Hogwarts; but, she reminded herself, this was impossible - even if she did go back now, she'd be so far behind that she'd end up worse than when she left.

She sighed as she turned the page, listening to the bell at the front door give a resounding ding as each customer went in or out, catching snippets of conversations and of Jim giving people advice on which product to buy.

"Trisha?"

"What?" Pat called back, laying her book down on her chest and listening intently for the response.

"Someone wants to see you!"

Pat furrowed her brow in thought as she dog-eared her book and laid it down on her bed before heading toward the stairs. Who would want to see her? All her friends were still at Hogwarts. She doubted that her father or brother would want to see her, or, if they did, would bother to take the time to come all the way to London. At the bottom of the stairs, she met Anne.

"What? Who is it? Who wants to see me?"

"Well, the exact description was 'the quiet, dark-haired girl who works here'," said Anne, raising an eyebrow, "I don't know where he got the idea that you're quiet, but I can only assume he meant you."

"Who?"

"Tybalt Abernethy," said Anne, looking disapproving as she brushed a bit of soot off the sleeve of her frock, "What's this all about?"

"Damned if I know," said Pat, looking equally confused, "I hope I didn't sell him the wrong paint or something."

"Well, he's at the counter," said Anne briskly, "Mind you don't stand around chatting though; it's not good for business."

Pat rolled her eyes and wandered out into the shop front; she immediately spotted Ty, who was fiddling absently with a bright red revealer from the counter display. "Hi," she said, somewhat more quietly than she intended as she approached him. He gave a start and dropped the revealer, which bounced all the way down the hardware aisle.

"Sorry," he mumbled, chasing after it, and bringing it back to the counter, "I didn't hear you behind me!"

"Er, sorry," said Pat awkwardly. After a moment, she continued, "Sooo...My sister said you wanted to see me?"

"Anne's your sister?" he said, raising an eyebrow, "I'd forgotten. You two don't look anything alike."

"Yea, I know," said Pat, looking at the floor, "She looks more like my mum's side."

There was an another awkward silence.

"Right," said Ty finally, "so I don't think we really got off on the right foot."

Pat secretly felt that she couldn't agree more; falling backward off your seat was hardly the way to make a good first impression.

"...so I was wondering if you wanted to go for a coffee or something? If you're not working right now, that is."

"No, I shift the morning got - I mean I got the morning shift" said Pat, going very red, "I mean...Well, no, I'm not working right now."

"So is that a yes?" said Ty, raising an eyebrow and looking quizzically at her.

Pat nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

"Excellent," he said, going over to the front door and holding it open, "After you!"

Pat grinned and walked out through the door and into Diagon Alley. She blinked as the sunlight hit her for the first time after being indoors for so long.

"You have any preferences on where we go?" asked Ty as he stepped out behind her.

"Not really," said Pat, looking around, "As long as it's far enough away that Anne can't spy on us - not that she would, but I'd rather not have that possibility all the same," she added quickly.

"Right," said Ty, grinning, "This is going to sound stupid, but I still don't think I know your name."

"It's Patricia," said Pat, "But almost everyone calls me Pat. Not the most exciting name, but my dad decided to name me after his aunt. I guess after the other three they were running out of decent names."

"I think it's cute," said Ty, considering, "You look like a Pat."

"Oh gosh, thanks," laughed Pat, rolling her eyes, "And you're Ty, right?"

"Yep," said Ty, as he led the way down the street, "Tybalt Channing Abernethy. Gross, isn't it? That's why I go by 'Ty'; I always thought 'Tybalt' sounded like a name for kind of all-purpose stain remover or something."

"Now that you mention it - just joking!" she laughed, as he elbowed her playfully in the arm, "Fine, then I promise I won't call you 'Tybalt'."

"Ha, you better not! So, how long you been out of Hogwarts?" he asked, as they turned a corner.

"Er, I'm not exactly out yet," said Pat awkwardly, slipping her hands into the pockets of her jeans, "I'm taking my seventh year over next year. Some stuff happened a few months ago, so I can't really finish it this year."

"Ahh," said Ty, nodding, "I had to drop out after my fifth year. My dad had a pretty bad accident, and I had to go take care of him. By the time he died, it was already halfway through sixth year, and there was no point in going back. Wouldn't have made a difference; I only got five OWLs anyway. But ah, I'm doing alright for myself."

Pat nodded silently, trying not to think of her conversation with Anne.

"Anyway...Here we are," said Ty, stopping outside a little redbrick coffee shop set between Flourish and Blott's and a dusty-looking shop with a 'FOR LEASE' sign in the front window; the sign hanging above the front door read 'Stir Crazy - Coffee, Baked Goods, Firecrackers'.

"Bit of an unusual combination," said Pat, as she walked through the door Ty was holding open for her.

"I know," said Ty, grinning, "You should see the place at Halloween; nobody gets more business! One of my best mates runs the place, but he's off in China right now - research, you know."

"I see," said Pat, smiling somewhat uncertainly, as she sat down at one of the many mahogany tables. Over in a corner, two witches were playing a game of dominoes, and at the counter, a barista was swatting at a stray Catherine Wheel that was threatening to overturn a large canister of hazelnut syrup.

"Anything specific you want?" asked Ty, absently brushing a loose strand of hair from his face.

"Just a tea is great; chai if they make it," said Pat, putting her elbows on the tabletop and resting her chin in her upturned hands.

"Sure thing," said Ty, nodding and heading toward the counter, where the barista, a tall 20-something wizard with horn-rimmed glasses and a labrette, was wiping up a spill.

A slight smile played at Pat's lips as she sneaked a look at Ty while his back was turned. Not bad, not bad at all...And he certainly seems nice enough...Wonder why Anne is all uptight about him.

She was in the midst of gazing dreamily at the back of Ty's head, when he turned around; she hastily averted her gaze to the window, and did her best to pretend that she was fascinated by a lamp post on the opposite side of the street. He approached the table, grinning somewhat smugly, and set an oversized white mug in front of her.

"Ginger and cardamom," he said, sitting opposite her and taking a sip of his coffee, "Hope you like it. If it's rubbish, let me know and I'll go rough up Rory for you." He jabbed a thumb in the direction of the barista. Rory gave a somewhat nervous-looking wave.

"I'm sure it'll be great," said Pat, wrapping her hands around the mug to warm them up, "How much do I owe you?"

"Owe me?" said Ty, laughing, "That wouldn't make me look too good; asking you to grab a coffee with me, and then making you pay? Ha, I don't think so, Pat."

Pat shrugged. "There's no need to try to be a gentleman or anything, I can pay for myself."

"Oh come off it," laughed Ty, "I'm certainly not doing this to be a 'gentleman'. I just think fair is fair, and since this was my idea, I'm footing the bill. Capish?"

"Suit yourself," said Pat jokingly, "If I'd known, I would've gotten something more expensive!"

"Hey, I'm not Gringotts here!" said Ty, pretending to be offended, "I'm just a bloody fruit and veg man! Have mercy!"

"Never!" said Pat, grinning and kicking him playfully under the table.

"Easy on the shins, woman! I won't be able to do a decent kick-off with banged up legs, thank you!"

"You fly?" said Pat, taking a sip of her chai and tilting her head lazily to one side.

"Not so much anymore," said Ty, "Don't really have the time. But once in a while the boys and I have a bit of a gamble on who can make it from the Leaky Cauldron to the end of the alley and back in the best time, loser buys pints. I haven't been beaten in months!"

"Ha, I bet I could cream you with my hands tied behind my back!" exclaimed Pat, her eyes lighting up in the way made possible only by talk of broom racing, "What're you riding?"

"Cleansweep 7," he said, "You're a racer? I would've thought you'd be too tall for a girl."

"Oh you're no dwarf yourself!" said Pat sarcastically, but looking excited all the same, "And for your information I was the 1994 Bath Headlong half-KM champion! On a Comet 290! Mixed division too, so it doesn't make a ruddy difference how tall I am!"

"Half-K..." scoffed Ty, waving his hand dismissively, "Sprints are for fairweather fliers...Distance is a whole different deal."

"Diagon Alley hardly qualifies as distance!" cried Pat, feeling slightly offended, "I'll take you on tonight, Ty Abernethy, and then we'll see who can't be beat!"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" said Ty, putting up his hands, "I had no idea you were such a fanatic!"

"Not a fanatic," said Pat, now feeling slightly embarrassed, "I just..take racing seriously is all."

"That," said Ty, grinning, "is evident. Tell you what, you are officially invited to the next race, OK?"

"Deal," said Pat, sipping her chai, her cheeks still slightly flushed.

"Just remember, loser buys drinks, no exceptions!"

"You better bring your gold then!" said Pat, grinning.

Ty shook his head and smirked, before sipping his coffee. Pat absently traced her finger around the rim of her own mug, smiling with some satisfaction.

"So," said Ty finally, "Before you left Hogwarts, what were you planning on doing with yourself? You know, career wise?"

"I haven't left, I'm just taking a break," Pat corrected him firmly, unpleasantly reminded of Anne, "But anyway, I'm studying to become an assistant healer, hopefully at St. Mungo's."

"Assistant? Not going for the whole she-bang?"

"Nah," said Pat, as she drained the last bit of tea out of her mug, and peered casually into it, examining the tea leaves, "I dunno, it never really interested me. I'd rather do all the behind-the-scenes helpful stuff. Just helping people get better without the prestige."

"OK, it's official, you're a weird one," laughed Ty.

"Am not!" said Pat, sticking her tongue out, then added, "Well, I don't exactly have the marks for a full-fledged healer anyway. My Charms and Potions were never really quite there."

"Potions was my best subject, only thing I was half-decent at," said Ty, leaning back and putting his hands behind his head, "It also helped that I was on Snape's good side. Couldn't go too far wrong."

"I wasn't aware that Snape had a good side," laughed Pat, "He doesn't even like my sister-in-law, and she's absolutely brilliant at Potions. The only people he likes are Slytherins..."

"Mm-hmm," murmured Ty, a sly smile splitting his face.

"Wait...You're not...Are you?"

"A Slytherin? Son of the serpent? A supporter of the green-and-silver?" said Ty, grinning, "That I am. Or was. Or am...I don't know."

"Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin," said Pat, somewhat morosely, "I never would've guessed."

"Yea, contrary to popular belief, we're not all sniveling, drippy, little dorkwads," laughed Ty, "And you're clearly a Gryffindor."

"Smart one, you are," said Pat, somewhat relieved that he wasn't going all house-rivalry on her, "I don't have the brains of a Ravenclaw, and I'm not nearly enough of a straight-arrow to be a Hufflepuff, so I don't suppose there was much've a selection after that."

"That, and I've never known a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff to be so brash about kicking people in the shins as you are," said Ty, laughing, and then wincing slightly as he was assaulted by Pat's feet again, "That wasn't an invitation!"

"Oh I couldn't resist. I only do it to people I know can take it."

"I won't be able to, if you keep it up!" said Ty, reaching down and massaging his left leg, "You know, if you weren't so cute I'd be tempted to get mad!"

Pat stuck her tongue out, secretly feeling extremely pleased.

"Let's see," said Ty, taking her empty cup and peering into it, "Wonder if my divination's up to scratch..."

"Ha, you're going to read my future from a bunch of tea leaves I've probably gobbed all over?" laughed Pat, "Get real. I don't believe in that junk."

"Oooh, interesting," murmured Ty, peering more closely at the bottom of Pat's mug, "Now this is very unusual..."

"What?" said Pat, leaning forward to look.

Ty pulled the mug towards him, shielding it from Pat's view. "I thought you didn't believe in this 'junk'."

"Oh come on, you can't say 'Oooooh, so interesting!' and then not let me know what's so interesting!"

"Nuh-uh," said Ty, refusing to let her see the mug, "I don't waste my time of non-believers."

"OK, fine, I believe," said Pat, rolling her eyes, "Now what's so interesting? Please?"

"Well," relented Ty, tipping the mug forward so she could see its contents, and pointing with one finger, "In this corner, we've got a daisy. The daisy is positioned a bit below and to the right of this shape up here by the handle, which I interpret to be a teapot. The positioning means progression from one to the next, teapot to daisy."

"Um, what the hell are you talking about?" said Pat, squinting, "I can see the shapes, and that sort of cat-looking thingy in between them...but what do they mean?"

"I guess you should've paid more attention in Divination class," Ty teased.

"Oh come on, that's not fair! I took Runes instead!" protested Pat.

"Well OK," sighed Ty, "The teapot is a symbol for friendship or a meeting of friends."

"Why, does the spirit realm or whatever expect you to have your friends for tea or something?" said Pat, raising an eyebrow, "Although I suppose that's kind of what we're doing right now." Ty nodded. "So the teapot means friendship. What about the flower?"

"The daisy is a symbol for a new love," said Ty, examining the tea cup intently, not looking at Pat.

"Oh..." she said very quietly, her cheeks flushing, "I see. So...What about that thing over there? It kind of looks like a necklace, but it's all...blotchy and broken up."

"No idea," said Ty, shrugging, "I think I remember hearing that a broken necklace means something I just don't know what."

"Well fat lot of good that does!"

"I don't see you doing any better, Miss I-Took-Runes!" said Ty, mocking offense.

"Oh whatever. So what does it all mean together?" asked Pat tentatively.

"Well, you'll meet a friend, and in a short time you will have a new love." said Ty seriously.

"Hmm," said Pat, her cheeks burning again, "What about the cat-looking thing?"

"I don't think that's a cat, just a clump of remnants," said Ty, glancing at the cup, "Don't think it's anything specific. Unless you plan on meeting someone resembling a brown bush, that is."

"Ha-ha, very funny."

"What time is it?" asked Ty suddenly, "Sorry, I must've left my watch in my apron pocket."

Pat rolled up her left sleeve and squinted at the underside of her wrist. "Quarter to three, looks like," she said, watching the various shapes of her tattoo wriggle into formation.

"Ooh. Hate to do this," said Ty apologetically, "But I've gotta go. I'm on my lunch break, and I really should've been back about five minutes ago. Hope you don't think I'm being a total ass to leave you like this."

"Not a problem," said Pat, though she privately felt a little disappointed that he had to go so soon, "I know how it is to be on a schedule. It was great doing this, though, thanks for asking me out - I mean, asking me to coffee - I mean, well, thanks."

"My pleasure," grinned Ty, "Maybe we could do it again some time."

"That sounds great," said Pat, somewhat more quietly than was normal, then in a more joking tone, "And next time I'll remember to order something more expensive."

"Don't even think about it!" laughed Ty, "I'll see you around, Pat."

And with that, he vanished with a loud crack.

Pat did not get up to leave right away. She continued to sit at the little table, turning her mug around in her hands, staring into nothingness, thinking. There were some things about him that made her sure that Ann would not approve of her spending time with him: his disregard for education and satisfaction with his current position, his confident attitude that bordered almost on arrogance, the fact that he was a Slytherin...But what business was it of hers?

I'm eighteen, for God's sake, thought Pat fiercely, And even though she's helping me out, it's still my life. I got away from dad so I didn't have to deal with this, so I'm sure as hell not going to take it from her.

Pat shook her head, and looked absently looking into her mug; the shapes Ty had been studying earlier had now merged into one big soggy mess, tiny flecks of cardamom clinging desperately to the porcelain sides. She wondered what all those symbols had meant, whether or not Ty had just been pulling her leg. Smiling to herself, she decided that whatever happened, a bunch of old tea leaves had nothing to do with it. Sighing, she leaned back in her seat and disapparated with an instantaneous crack.