For the Can You Make It To the End Challenge (Round Two: your OTP in Madam Puddifoot's)
You smirk when he enters. "Lost, Crouch?" you call. "You don't exactly strike me as the coffee type."
He blushes, wringing his hands together. He looks around as though he's only just realized where he is. You watch him, curious.
"Just needed a place to…"
He trails off, glancing nervously over his shoulder. You try not to laugh. A place to hide, you assume. And what better place than Madam Puddifoot's? No student in their right mind would ever visit the shop. You only do because they have the best coffee you can get in Hogsmeade, and you need the occasional boost of caffeine.
"The Ministry brat still struggles to make friends," you muse.
He scowls, sitting across from you, uninvited.
"Careful. They might think we're on a date," you say.
Barty shrugs. You smirk. Really, you wouldn't mind. Barty might be a pain in the ass, but he's cute and makes good enough company.
"Well, if you're my date, you're paying," you tell him.
He reaches into his pocket, tossing gold onto the table. "I hope you're not an expensive date," he says before calling for a hot cocoa. "And you should know that I don't kiss on the first date."
With a laugh, you set your coffee down, studying him curiously. He's always so serious, so uptight. It's interesting to see him relax and joke. "I'm sure I could change your mind."
"You're cute, but you aren't that cute, Black."
"Keep telling yourself that, Crouch."