A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome back to another fic :) I wanted to write a coffeeshop au, and what better way to do it than with a cozy Pansmione? :3

This one is for Round 6 of The Houses Competition, where I'm in Ravenclaw House and writing for Potions. This competition, we have to write a drabble (500-1000 words) as well as a standard (1000-3000 words). This fic is the Drabble of the two. Prompts are listed below.

Thank you kindly to BeaWrites for the beta!

Word Count: 999

Disclaimers/Warnings:

Summary: Pansmione Coffee Shop MeetCute; MuggleAU

Prompts:

The Houses Competition Y10 R6

[Word] Coffee

QLFC Prompt Bingo

I3: Pansy/Hermione

"The Garden Café"

Pansy had worked as a barista for The Garden Café in downtown London for at least three years. This place was like home, her coworkers like family, and she enjoyed seeing the new faces every now and then as they checked out the little café stuck in the back of an alley between two looming buildings of flats. Many people had come and gone, the seasons changing slowly year to year, and the small garden in front with the stepping stone path that led to the street–where The Garden Café got its name–only bloomed with bigger and brighter blooms every year.

Pansy knew her regulars: Lavender got a large mocha mint chip espresso with extra whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, spoon, no straw; James always picked up a to-go order of a small blonde vanilla latte and a medium cinnamon caramel cold brew–during the autumn, the cold brew would change to a large pumpkin spice latte; Rita, at half past eight every single morning, would get the smallest frozen lemonade that they had before dashing out, as if she were late for the next greatest scoop, her reporter's notepad tucked into the pocket of her ill-fitted suit jacket.

And then a new regular started visiting the shop.

Hermione.

The brunette had to spell it for her, since 'Hermione' was such an uncommon name. The second time she came in, Pansy's coworker had taken the order, but Pansy had made her drink.

"Medium Caramel Macchiato with two pumps of vanilla!"

Pansy made the drink quickly, setting it out on the counter and calling out her name.

"Hermione!"

The woman was already there, her massive brown hair held back by a striped headband.

"Thank you," she replied as Pansy handed her the drink. Their hands touched, and Pansy felt her cheeks light up in a heated blush. Hermione seemed unaffected, but unlike the previous week, this time she sat down at a corner table at the back of the café, pulled out her laptop, and started typing.

Pansy tried to surreptitiously watch her as Hermione typed away, taking the occasional sip of her drink. Her coworkers noticed, but thankfully, Hermione did not. It took Hermione exactly ninety minutes to finish her drink, at which point she closed her laptop, threw away her cup, and left the shop.

Her coworkers were convinced that Pansy was in love.

Pansy hated that they might be right.

After those first two weeks, Hermione began to visit the café every single day. Pansy kept up light conversation with her like she did with everyone, but couldn't help but pine from afar.

"Just go for it!" her coworker Blaise insisted after Hermione had left. "You've been dancing around her for the past three weeks. Just do something!"

Pansy shook her head.

"No, she doesn't need a barista hitting on her," came her reply.

"That woman smiles at you warmly every time you hand over her coffee. Don't pretend that I don't notice that you hand her drink to her for that reason alone instead of setting it on the counter like everyone else," he accused her. Pansy snorted.

"Do not," she replied.

"Tomorrow, pay attention. You totally do," he challenged.

"Fine, but when you lose, you have to buy me lunch," she replied. Blaise smirked.

"And if I'm right, you're buying."

Pansy was all scowls the next day when Blaise nudged her, after she had absently handed over Hermione's drink with a smile. Pansy made sure to call her favorite lunch place so it felt like she had won something, even as Blaise hung off her arm, making sure she got his order right.

All too soon, the leaves began to fall, and Hermione walked in with a tiny golden tiara nestled in her curls and a spring in her step.

"Happy September 19th to you! The usual?" Pansy asked, grabbing their medium sized cup with her marker in hand.

"I think I want to spice it up today. It is my birthday after all," came Hermione's reply.

Pansy grinned back at her. "Happy birthday! If you're looking for something new, I would suggest trying our Cinnamon Roll Latte. It's sweet with just enough spice to make your taste buds dance." Hermione contemplated it for a moment before nodding.

"Let's do it. I trust you," came her reply, and Pansy's grin widened.

"I won't let you down, I promise!"

With the flick of her wrist, Pansy got to work making the best coffee she could for Hermione. This one was easy to make, one of the few recipes that Pansy had come up with herself.

A sprinkle of cinnamon on top finished the drink off, and Pansy put a lid on it. Hesitating for only half a second, she then grabbed her marker and wrote her phone number on the cup with a 'call me!' She slipped the sleeve over the cup and handed it over.

"One Cinnamon Roll Latte for Hermione!" Pansy called out, grinning. Their hands touched in the exchange, and Pansy fought to keep a blush off of her face.

Watching Hermione take her first sip and light up was a balm on her soul that Pansy didn't realize she'd needed. With another effusive thanks, Hermione then headed to her corner with her laptop bag in hand.

Pansy went about her business, getting into the flow of things at work. It was a surprise to her when her phone in her back pocket started to vibrate. Pansy jumped before pulling it out to see a random number calling. She chanced a look in Hermione's direction to see her on the phone, her eyes glued to her laptop screen.

Pansy answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hi cutie! Thanks again for the drink recommendation," came Hermione's voice on the other line. A beatific grin spread across Pansy's face.

"Anything for you, Princess," she flirted back. Pansy leaned on the counter and stared out over at Hermione, who lifted her eyes to meet her gaze. "So…come here often?"