As they sat down Arik glared at Theo before asking, "What the hell was that all about?"
Theo glanced around the building, watching, wondering, and thinking about how to say what he needed to say. Clearing his throat, he looked at Arik, wincing slightly at the glare he saw. Finally, taking a deep breath he started, "I wanted to say I'm sorry, I know that the way I acted was horrible, but I was just so angry at my parents."
As Theo watched Arik's reaction to this he thought to himself, "I was such an ass, I hope she understands why. Oh, who am I kidding, I've screwed this up beyond all belief."
Suddenly the woman across the table burst out, "Are you bi-polar? Or are you planning something?"
Arik hadn't meant for it to come out as rude, but she just couldn't believe the change of attitude. She knew that Slytherin's were known for their sneaky actions and devious thoughts, so she just couldn't help asking.
Theo laughed as Arik blushed, "No, I'm not planning anything, and I don't think I'm bi-polar. I... I was just so pissed at my parents that they were making me go through with this, and that I had to pretend that I was ok with it. I just needed someone to take it out on. I'm sorry it was you..." He looked down at the table and waited for her response.
Arik listened intently as Theo rambled on and thought about how to respond. "Theodore, I was mad at my parents too, but you have to think about why they did this to us. They didn't do it out of cruelty, or to make us suffer, they obviously had reasons to do it. While we might not know the reasons, we have to trust our parents."
Theo winced at the use of his full name, the only time he was really called that was when his parents needed something, which wasn't that often. "I know we need to trust them, but just the fact that they pushed all of this on us..." He let the sentence trail off as he looked up at his fiancee.
Arik looked at Theo and sighed. "It's just the cards we've been dealt, all we can do is learn to live with it."
Theo thought about what the red-head in front of him said, "I suppose you're right, but how do we do it?"
"We start over. We barely know each other so it shouldn't be too hard." Arik stated reaching her hand across the table. "I'm Arik Williams."
Looking confused Theo took her hand and gave it a shake. "I'm Theodore Nott, but please, call me Theo."
Grinning at him Arik released his hand and waived the bartender over. "Anything you want Theo?"
Theo nodded and turned to the bartender, "I'll have a glass of butterbeer-"
"And I'll have a shot of firewhisky."Arik said cutting him off, The bartender nodded and headed back to the bar to get the drinks.
"Firewhisky? That doesn't sound too ladylike."Theo said smiling.
'Who said I had to act like a lady when I'm around a friend?" Arik replied smiling devilishly.
The bartender returned with their drinks and departed to wait on other customers. Raising her shot glass Arik said "To painful explanations and brand new beginnings."
Theo nodded and clinked his mug with her tiny glass and watched as she downed the shot and wined at the burn in her throat. Taking a sip, he watched as she ordered a butterbeer. "What do you think they'll have for us to do this year at Hogwarts?"
"Probably something really stupid," Arik sighed, "I bet it'll be horrible, but I've been wrong before."
As they both finished their drinks Theo called over the bartender and paid for their tab. "Arik? I was wondering if you would like to go on a walk with me?"
Looking up from her butterbeer she smiled, "I would, but I don't go on walks with guys who have foam mustaches." Giggling, she reached over the table and wiped the foam from around Theo's mouth, "As much as I would love to go on a walk, I have to find Mother before she buys everything in her path."
"Well how about I hep you find her?" He asked. "A true gentleman wouldn't let a young woman such as yourself go wandering around alone."
Arik giggled again, "Well what a gentleman you ar Theo. I suppose we could go find her together, though if we can't find her, I'll be blaming you." She said with a smile.
"It's a deal then." Theo said standing up and offering her a hand.
Taking his hand, Arik got up and the two headed out the door.
"Oh, yes! That dress is simply amazing, she'll look radiant in it!" Mrs. Williams gushed. Ever since her daughter had gone off with the youngst Nott, she had gone and finished shopping for the new school year and started shopping for the upcoming wedding. Once The dress was wrapped she sent it home with one of her elves, "Make sure no one finds it." she had ordered and like that the dress was gone. As Mrs. Williams stepped out of the shop, she almost ran into a pair of teenagers that seemed to be looking for someone.
"Mom!" Arik said, surprised to have found her mother so soon.
"Arik, what are you and young Mr. Nott doing over here?"
"We came to find you, to make sure you didn't buy everything in sight." Arik laughed seeing her mother with surprisingly no bags to prove she had bought anything.
"Oh, no dear, I haven't bought everything, just what was needed." Looking at Theo she noticed her daughter's arm around his. Smiling to herself she asked, "And how have the two of you been since I last saw you?"
"Very well ma'am, we just stopped into the pub to get a drink then came to find you."Arik elbowed him when he said they went to the pub, she didn't enjoy her mother knowing that she drank.
"The pub? Well, I hope you two had a splendid time!" Mrs. Williams said in an almosttoo happy voice. "Well Mr. Nott I hope you don't mind, but Arik and I are needing to be home, its almost supper time."
Theo nodded, "That's quite alright, I need to be headed home as well. Arik it was lovely seeing you today."
Arik blushed as he bent down and kissed her hand, "It was lovely seeing you as well Theo. I'll see you on the express."