"Rosmerta, c'mon! I have snuck out so many tim-"
"Yes, but I am sure you know it's not safe to be here alone at night while there is a murderer outside"
"I am not going to anywhere else, I'll stay here, under your eyes"
"I am not a babysitt-"
"Exactly! Please don't tell dad or Minnie, I just got back to Hogwarts, and I have had already million detentions"
She pursed her lips and sighed.
"You will stay here, only few drinks and you'll be gone"
"Thank you" I smiled "I'd get one whiskey please"
She smiled a little and poured me a glass of whiskey.
When she had served other customers, we talked about life. We talked about my stay in the hospital, and we talked about how she is doing.
It seemed like she was enjoying her life and wouldn't want it any other way.
After quite a few drinks I was drunk. Not that drunk, but drunk.
"Tell me, is there someone you like?" Rosmerta asked.
"I don't know" I said truthfully "I find that man attractive b-"
"Man?"
"Uhm yeah, he is older than me"
"I think you've always liked guys who are older than you"
I chuckled
"Anyway, I find him attractive, but y'know- he is dating with another woman and yeah- there even can't be anything between us. He won't ever look at me as a girlfriend material"
"You are good with man, good at flirting- what's stopping you?"
"Can't tell you" I said sadly "it's very complicated"
"Is he a muggle? I am sure it won't be a problem"
"Yes, he is muggle" I lied, scared she would find out I found my professor attractive.
"Give it a go love, he will soon forget about the other woman"
"But if I mess up then-, I can't risk it"
I drowned my drink and let her pour me another one.
"Maybe a glass of water?"
"No"
"A though one, aren't you?" I looked to my right where a man took a seat. I simply looked him up and down and turned back to Rosmerta.
"Ignoring? You don't get far with this behavior love"
"Don't call me that" I said to him
"Love? It rather suits you"
"I don't care what suits me, you won't call me that"
He chuckled. Gosh, he looked horrible. He looked so ragged, his teeth were yellow, and he didn't look really healthy. He seemed like he was in his 50s.
"Can I order you something?" He asked
"No"
"What's your name?"
"Won't tell you that" Rosmerta was too busy with other clients, but she was checking at me very often.
"A lady full of secrets, aren't you?"
I ignored him and took a sip of my whiskey.
"Tell me something about yourself"
"You know what? I'd like you to fuck off"
"You won't talk with me like that" he slapped my face. People around me let out a shocked gasp. From the corner of my eye, I saw a man standing up.
I let out a small chuckle and before he knew it, I punched him in the jaw. I regretted it immediately. Not because I hit him, but because my knuckles were bruised again.
The man fell down from his chair. The man who had gotten up earlier took him by his collar and pulled him out of the bar.
I licked my teeth and gulped down my drink again. This time, Rosmerta filled it without questions.
"Hey, is- how are you feeling?" I looked once again to my right to see that helpful man standing next to me.
"Have been better" we chuckled "thank you for helping"
"No problem. Rose, get me first aid kit"
"You know Rosmerta?" I asked, a smile on my face.
"I do, we are old friends. Can I sit here?" He motioned on the chair next to me.
"Yes, of course" Rosmerta gave him the first aid kit and a wet cloth.
"Can I-" I gave him my hand. I couldn't help but think that Lupin did the same.
"I am Theodore"
"Venus"
"Beautiful name"
"Thanks" I chuckled
"It may hurt-"
"I know"
"Not the first time then?" He laughed
"Definitely not"
I looked at him like I looked at Lupin. Theodore didn't have any scars, but he looked handsome. He had dark hair, dark eyes, strong jaw. He wore casual yet elegant clothes.
"Can I ask how old you are?"
"Eighteen"
"Oh"
"How old are you?"
"Thirty-eight"
"Twenty years" I mumbled. He looked up and smiled slightly
"A big age gap, isn't it?" He turned back to clean the wounds.
"There are bigger ones"
"That's true"
"How can I repay you?" I asked
"No need for that-"
"Let me. You were the only one who came to help me"
"Maybe a drink then?"
And I paied for his drink. It wasn't long before we were both way more drunk than before. We had talked about everything already.
I learnt that he was single, living near this town, he had two kids who were living with their mother. He has a cat. He isn't working but he is rich.
All in all, he seemed like a very sweet person.
"Do you smoke?" I asked
"Sometimes"
"Come with me" I took his hand and walked us out of the bar. "Fuck, I forgot it's almost winter"
He chuckled and wrapped his scarf around me.
"Thank you" we looked into each other's eyes. Even if it was dark, I saw that his eyes were beautiful.
I broke the eye contact and gave him a cigarette and took myself another. I lit his and then mine.
"Still cold?" He asked quietly
"A little"
"If it's okay, I can hold you" he whispered. I smiled and stepped closer to him. He opened his arms and pulled me tightly against his chest.
"Better?"
"Yes" I felt that he placed a kiss on top of my head. It was so peaceful, so quiet. Both of us were smoking our cigarettes, looking at the stars.
"You know what?" He whispered and I looked up to him
"No"
"I'd really like to kiss you if that would be okay with you"
"I'm okay with it" he took my cigarette out of my hand, threw them on the ground and cupped my cheeks.
"You are so beautiful" he whispered before placing his lips on mine. He moved us so I was against the wall.
The kiss got more and more heated. He let my hair fall out of the messy bun. We both ran our fingers through each other's hair.
He pulled apart slightly and started to kiss my jaw and neck.
"Not visible hickeys please" I moaned when he kissed the sweet spot on my neck.
"We must go to a more private place to give hickeys on your private area" he smirked, looking at me.
"Let's go then"