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Challenges at the bottom.

Word Count - 424

Kiss A Lot Of Frogs (To Find A Prince)

Lavender tightened the shawl around her shoulders, trying to protect her fair skin against the cold evening air. Another date over, and she was so tired of trying to find the perfect person for her when all she seemed to attract were idiots.

Deciding that she wasn't ready to go home and sit and mope around in her flat, she made her way to the Leaky Cauldron, grateful that her date had been at the restaurant just a little ways into Diagon Alley.

The pub was bustling with the typical Saturday evening business, and she perched herself on the end barstool, smiling at Hannah when she came to take her order.

She was served quickly, and though Hannah seemed to want to stay and chat for a moment, the other customers were immediately calling for her attention, so Lavender was left to her own company.

Not for long though.

"Lavender?"

She turned, opening her arms immediately to accept the hug bestowed on her.

"Seamus!" she exclaimed. "It's been ages!"

"It has," he replied, his words rumbling in her ear as he held her close. He was super warm, and the feeling was about as close to heaven as Lavender could imagine. She shivered involuntarily when he pulled back, leaning against the bar beside her.

"What are you doing here all alone?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Bad date," she replied with a shrug. "Thought a pick me up might make me feel a bit better."

"Did he hurt you?" Seamus asked, frowning. "Because I'm not averse to beating the punk up if he hurt you."

Lavender laughed. "No, he was just sinfully boring. Anyway, how are you?"

They passed over an hour catching up, and Lavender realised she'd forgotten how heady Seamus' full attention could be.

"Let me see you home?" he asked, as the two left as Hannah called last orders.

"I'm apparating, Shay, I only had two drinks."

"So let me side along you."

She shook her head and his face fell.

"You can pick me up one night next week when you take me for dinner though?" she offered, smiling shyly at him.

"That's… yeah. I can do that," Seamus agreed readily, leaning over to press his lips to her cheek. "I'll owl you?"

She returned the kiss, lingering for a second longer than she should have. "I'm looking forward to it."

She apparated away, twirling on her doorstep before she let herself into her flat. After all the bad dates, she thought that perhaps this time, she'd found her prince.

...

Written for;

Book Club - Aunt Sticky Feet: (action) hugging someone, (object) shawl, (word) heaven