'The Boggarts Accomplice' - Meal For Two

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Corinne Kolpeck

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12 1/4" Bloodwood/ Cocobolo wood mix with hair of unicorn core
Corinne had sent the name and location of the restaurant that they would be dining in on to Nicolas. The plan was now for them to meet there instead, the hospital was busier than usual and with spring in the air the amount of babies she had to deliver seemed to rise. Glad that at least in Warsaw it was November, bleak and cold and proper weather for that month. She had yet to fully acclimatize herself to New Zealand weather and seasons but she was getting there. It was not raining which was a blessing but it was extremely overcast when she apparated to the street lamp just outside The Boggarts Accomplice. It was the name of the restaurant that she had arranged to meet him at and glancing at her small time piece she discovered that in her anxiety about tonight she had arrived early.

It could not be helped now of course and she would rather be early than arrive late. She had always been punctual, never condoning tardiness in any of her staff though she did tend to be a bit more lenient when it came to Morrigan. Though that girl herself could teach plenty adults about the necessity of punctuality. Entering the very old building she smiled at the hostess that greeted her. She gave her name indicating that a table had been reserved for two under her name. Clara Kaminiski showed her to a nice table not too secluded as to give the impression that they were here on some lovers tryst, or overly crowded by other tables so they could not at least have a pleasant conversation. The two chairs were place opposite one another across the round ornate oak table, there was no need for trappings like table cloths of course though beautifully laundered white napkins in pale blue bone china holders sat atop the place mats and cutlery. The small well lit candle that stood at the center piece did look pathetic as if at any moment it would burn out quickly but after coming here so often Corinne knew the candles to be charmed with a slow burning flame. This small stub would last the night out.

As she sat down in her seat she felt most of the anxiety about the night ahead leave her and was grateful for it at least. She had taken care to dress, hoping that he preferred that she had stayed with magical garb instead of opting for muggle wear. It was so hard to know what was right and wrong in their line of clothing and she truly did not like it at all. The dress she wore was of the finest green jacquard with a beautiful hood-less gold velvet robe that tied loosely across the bodice of the dress. The shoes were comfortable and a similar tone to the robe. Her make up light yet with a subtle difference in her day time makeup. Her lipstick was simply a shade darker and enhanced the peach complexion perfectly. As she sat with hands folded in her lap, the hostess inquired if she wanted a drink. Corinne decided to wait another few moments until Nicolas arrived to do so and took the menus that she was offered with a smile. Placing one near his settings, she opened her own to peruse it thinking it best to appear as if she were doing something at least when he arrived.
 
The night after Nicolas King had taken the life of Scott Anderson's murderer was also the night which he was to meet Corinne for dinner. He received an owl in his office, changing the arrangements so they would simply meet at the office. This suited him well enough and, after changing quickly in to a more formal set of robes than he wore to work, Nicolas threw floo powder in a fireplace and stated the location that Corinne had set to meet him.

Nicolas stepped out of the fireplace grate in Poland and coughed slightly, brushing soot from his robes before giving up and simply magicking it off. He looked about the room before him, had he reached the right place? He had decided floo would be wise as the floo network knew where to take him, and having never been here, transcontinental apparition would have been a risk he was not quite ready to take. He glance about himself, still unsure if this was the right place, until he spotted Corinne alone at a table for two, menu in hand.

Nicolas smiled to himself and stood up straighter, approaching the table and wondering if he had been late. Floo didn't take very long, and he'd left with plenty of time to spare. Perhaps, then, Corinne was just earlier than he was. As he drew near to the table Nicolas place one hand on his seat and enquired if he could join the lady. Sure, they had arrangements to meet here, but proper social procedure seemed to trump their plans - at least in his mind.

Having received the expected okay to sit down, Nicolas thanked Corinne and took his seat. "You look quite dazzling, this evening." Nicolas offered with a warm smile as he picked up his menu to glance over it. He closed his eyes behind the menu for a moment, trying to clear his mind of the worries of the day, of Thorine's death, or his murder of her, and all other things that would certain take away from this meeting. He was unsuccessful, of course, but he did make the effort. Taking somebody else's life was something that stuck to one's mind longer than a day, it seemed.

Reopening his eyes after only a moment of quiet he took another glance at his own menu, failing to recognize the character set on the menu, Nicolas set it back down quick enough, with a slight smirk. "It appears," he began lightheartedly, "that I will simply have to trust you to order for me."
 
She knew she was early, her nerves at meeting the man again had made her so. The memory of her crashing back into his office and fumbling with such a crude request for dinner haunted her still. Her father the irrepressible director of St. Mungo's had been convulsed for some time when she relaid the story to him. After wiping his tears away and seeing her rather wounded appearance, he had of course apologized but it had simply been so unlike anything she had ever done. The man had taken her breath away, how often between that day and this had she fallen asleep simply conjuring his image in her mind. His smile had been her undoing of course and matters of hospital business though taking her mind from him for the waking hours of daylight, could not prevent the images that her dreamworld projected for her.

The menu she perused was filled with delights she had not tasted in what felt like a decade though it really hadn't been that long at all. Often she had come here while in attendance at Durmstrang, often she had returned when training as a midwife. She loved this country and it's people and had often thought she would eventually settle here. A familiar voice caused her to turn and smile and she politely allowed him to sit with her. The formalities of etiquette not lost to either of them, obviously his upbringing had been as austere as her own.

"Thank you" she smiled again at his compliment grateful that she had indeed gone to such an effort, those simple words had made it all worth while and suddenly she felt no longer shy and awkward but the well educated healer and midwife she was known to be. Poised and relaxed she watched as he glanced at the menu wondering if he could understand it at all.
"Do you have a preference for meat? poultry..." she paused, they could be here all night long just debating the menu if she continued like this for it was indeed an extensive selection of all the best the restaurant and effectually the country had to offer.
"I know exactly what we will have" she smiled back, glancing across to the waiter and inclining her head to let him know they were ready to order, "Do you drink Mr. King?"
 
Nicolas chuckled as Corinne prepared to read off the selection of meats on the menu. Here he had been prepared to trust her with their meal choice, and she wanted to just translate for him. When she paused and determined that she knew what they would have Nicolas nodded, "Thank you kindly." When Corinne poised her question of drink to Nicolas he smirked in preparation for his response, "Certainly not when I'm in company that addresses me as Mr. King." He teased jovially, inviting Corinne once more to address him as Nicolas. "Now, should I be addressed as Nicolas, then a drink wouldn't do much harm, would it?"
 
She was justly abashed when reminded to call him by his first name. As the waiter approached their table she could not help the soft delightful chuckle that escaped her.
"Mo¿e mamy dwa Rosó³ z kurczaka, po... " after ordering two of the delicious golden chicken noodel consumme she ran a well manicured finger along the main courses, "Ozór wo³owy i butelkê czerwonego domu proszê."

The waiter moved away after collecting the menu's from them and noting the soft steamed beef tongues for their main course as well as a bottle of the house red. Heading behind the counter to open the bottle, he was soon back and pouring it first in her glass and then into Nicolas'.

She sipped but did not really have to taste it, she knew from experience that it was a good dry red. Nodding her head she allowed him to leave, dispensing the bottle on their table before he did so. Turning back to Nicolas she smiled.
"You used the floo network then? Apparating to a strange place is always a mind field at first but I am positive you will enjoy the meal. I can tell you what I ordered but I'd rather it be a surprise."
Again she smiled at him.
The time passed cordially, as if they had known each other for a long time indeed. The topic of work was briefly touched upon but both preferred other topics, Corinne of the firm mind that she was having a rare night out and work was not to be part of it. The wine was indeed pleasant but as was her way she barely sipped from her glass, always preferring just a small glass that lasted her the night. She was not a heavy drinker by any means. The starter was brought to the table and she smiled delighted when the consomme was a roaring success. Again the camarderie that developed between them was a delight to witness, the lightness of the conversation and the easy laughter that ensued from the banter between them.

Corinne knew she would be telling her father that as mad cap as her idea had been to ask him out and as atrocious as the moment of doing so was; the night itself was worth it. She found in him an avid listener and a wonderful orator, finding it hard sometimes to stop staring at him long after he had ceased to speak. It was unfortunate that just after the soft steamed beef tongues had been laid before them that the silvery mist accumulating into the hazy form of a leopard should appear. It was the patronus of one of the other healers with an urgent message requiring her immediate assistance back at the hospital. Corinne inhaled deeply and lowered her fork and knive, her meal as yet untouched.
"I must bid you adieu Nicolas" she smiled standing up and marvelling once again at his chivalry as he stood as well. Extending her hand to him, she watched his fit against hers. Making a mental note of the pristine finger nails, it was a silly thing perhaps but as a healer she noted the small things.

"Please call me I would like for us to continue this again some time. I had a lovely evening so far but please do stay and finish your meal" another moment and she was moving to the door, a final wave before leaving the building and once outside apparating with extreme exasperation that on the one night she would and did deserve a break, she simply could not get one. Arriving at St. Mungo's to uproar she wondered if Nicolas had indeed stayed behind or had left not long after she.
 
Exhausted and for now dispondent that her best friend would never be found, Sakura Gemini came in from the cold. She had arrived in Poland earlier that day, her only day off in a fortnight and she had spent every minute of it apparating back and forth across the globe following possible leads and sightings of Isabella. Now for some strange reason she was in Poland, never once remembering her best friend laying claim to knowing any one there but if she was trying to stay out of touch or reach of Izaak then it was certainly a good place to go.

With a warm robe about her she pushed open the door of a restaurant that still appeared to be open. It seemed buzy enough when she walked in and removing her hat she glanced about her. How could she possibly ask anyone here if they had seen Isabella? She hadn't a single word of Polish and even if she did, she seriously didn't hold much hope in finding her still around these parts. Exasperated even more so she was about to turn and leave when a familiar person caught her eye.

For a while now the face of Nicolas King was becoming more and more significant in her working life. True he was the head of their department but he was always helpful and always patient with her. The few times he had arrived on an assignment she had been working on, she had found herself hanging on his every word. It would be fair to say that the once budding relationship she had with Nicolae Kobari had fizzled out before it had any chance in starting, all because Sakura had thrown her heart and soul into being an auror intent on impressing the famous Nicolas King. Walking over to his table in time to see a waiter remove another plate and set of cutlery she wondered briefly if he had an important work related dinner meeting that had not gone to plan, because the mere idea of any female standing him up or walking out on him did not once dawn on her.

"Hello sir" she smiled, pleasant and amiable as always. She would be the first to admit she suffered from an incurable dose of hero worship where her boss was concerned, "May I join you?"
She didn't mean to be rude and would normally have waited for a reply but it was either his suave goodlooks or the fact that she was still shaking from her lack of enterprize regarding Isabella's discovery that rendered her behavior out of the norm now as she removed her robe and took the chair opposite him.


Outfit Sakura is wearing
 
Nicolas simply watched Corinne order their meals, entirely oblivious to what had jus been ordered on his behalf and feeling a little bit helpless in a situation where he couldn't just speak for himself. Corinne, however, was evidently a woman of many and varied talents. It should be interesting, he figured, to discover what other hidden talents she had within her and see how their evening out for supper played out. She had been an interesting person from the beginning, and she certainly hadn't let him know everything about her in their first encounter - that was quite evident.

Nicolas thanked the waiter in English as he poured them each a glass of wine. Wine was something Nicolas found himself having very seldom. He pondered the age and the maker of the wine. He decided this train of thought not worth the pursuit, however, and hid the question away in the back of his mind.

As Corinne dismissed their server, having confirmed the wine to be satisfactory, Nicolas turned his attention from their exchange back to the woman opposite. "Yes, floo. I figured you would much prefer that I ensure my whole self gets here, as opposed to my left arm making it here on time and the rest of my body being a mile away." Nicolas confirmed as Corinne continued to explain that she wanted their meal to be a surprise for him. He feigned a convincing chuckle with this , but inwardly was force to consider how little he appreciated surprises as of late. He'd had a fair few surprises in the past two weeks, and many more just may have caused him to burst from sheer surprise. He decided to trust, however, that this could be a nice surprise for a change. Yes, and a nice change it would be.

As the evening progressed, Nicolas found himself enjoying Corinne's company considerably. She was different than most other people he came in to contact with regularly, and that was refreshing in many ways. It gave him something to think about other than Thorine's death, and when the topic of work was approached they both glossed it over quite nicely before pressing on. Having enjoyed the starter, Nicolas complimented Corinne on her choice of food and drink. He, too, drank very seldom - though he did enjoy a glass of fire whiskey to himself whenever he could find the time to enjoy one. That was always it, however - just one.

As Corinne received the message from St. Mungo's, Nicolas frowned. That was the life of a public servant, he knew full well, but it was quite unfortunate in its timing. As Corinne rose, Nicolas did as well. "Of course," he began, nodding in understanding of her duty and situation. He took her hand softly in his own and thanked her for the evening.

"It certainly seems like we haven't quite finished what we'd agreed to, doesn't it? I suppose that means further arrangements must be in order." Nicolas commented as Corinne moved from his site to the familiar world of her work. He exhaled slightly, and seated himself once more. He still had a bill to pay somehow - though how he was going to coax the price in English out of these people he was still trying to determine.
Nicolas decided it was worth it to stay to finish his meal, he could sort out how he figure out how much he owed while he ate. 'Chewing it Over' The muggles call it, he thought to himself with a chuckle at how very literal muggles could be in their choice of words. A waiter came and cleared Corinne's side of their table. Nicolas, again, thanked them - still not entirely sure that they understood even his simple 'Thanks.'

Moments later, Sakura, one of the Aurors in Nicolas' department, appeared by his table. She looked quite distraught, and the look on his face changed from one of thought to one of perplexity and concern. Sakura asked to join him, which Nicolas was about to permit, as Sakura allowed herself the seat and Nicolas simple chuckled to himself and shook his head. This was certainly a change of pace in the course of events he evening had presented. Noting that Sakura was shake Nicolas' concern grew, he froze and looked over the young Auror opposite him once more. His first inclination was to enquire if she was alright but he knew full well she was not. "May I ask what's wrong? Can I help you, somehow?" Nicolas resolved to enquire.
 
Removing her gloves and then unbuttoning her fur lined cloak slowly it appeared as if she were settling herself in for a while. Sakura was never one known for her calm approach to situations but she was doing her best to learn, she was always one to the act first and think later. As many Gryffindors could attest this was not strange in those who were from that famous house. Placing her hat on gloves to the side of the table her inspection of the room faltered as Nicolas spoke to her. The waiter returned offering to take her robe and standing once again shimmied out of it easily. Sitting down once again she said in rather slow English and slightly louder as if the individual was deaf and not simply Polish, she asked if they made 'cider snap'. The waiter appeared non too impressed and reverting to perfect English spoke just as slowly and precisely and at the same volume as she had, that they most certainly did. Abashed she nodded her head indicating that was what she would have before looking four shades of embarressment back to Nicolas.

He was being kind again, she never knew him not too. Her heart sank and she shook her head slowly.
"It's my best friend" it amazed her that neither seemed preoccupied with why the other was so far from their own country of New Zealand, taking it in their stride completely as if having a chat like this after work was common place for them both. She found herself indulging in a twenty second fantasy that this type of meeting between them was common place, when the waiter brought her drink down to her and she cupped her cold hands around the steaming hot mug.

She waited for the man to leave again before glancing up at Nicolas.
"She received an anonymous letter over two weeks ago now, going into detail about how the man she loves has been cheating on her relentlessly. She left and has not returned. I gave her a day or two to calm down but then I started looking every where and I mean everywhere for her" her eyes looked at him steadily, this was no time for her to be thinking along any other lines but those of how to find her friend. Yet, every time she gazed up at him she could feel her stomach knot. Perhaps sitting down at his table had not been the best move in the world after all.
"It's like she's fallen off the face of the planet, I can't find her".
 
It was certainly strange, to Nicolas, that a woman in such a state would take the time to remove gloves and her hat and make herself comfortable. It seemed to him, that when people were so upset that it caused them to shake, that comfort and/or proper manners were the last thing on their minds. This had been evidenced in Sakura taking the seat opposite him before waiting for a response, and her present action contradicted it so well that Nicolas had to wonder just what was going on with her.

Nicolas closed his eyes and almost grimaced as she spoke to their waiter. He knew stories of Americans (wizardfolk and muggles alike) speaking in such ways to anybody who didn't speak their language. It was ironic, because technically both parties were in the same boat with only speaking one tongue, and technically they were in Poland and the waiter was in his element. If anything, it was Sakura and Nicolas that should have been treated like they were deaf and dumb. He opened his eyes, however, and breathed a sigh of relief, when the waiter retorted to Sakura in just the same way that she had spoke, and in English.

Nicolas listened to the tale Sakura had to share of her best friend's disappearance. There wasn't much Nicolas could even think of doing. Surely Sakura's friend was of age and the trace was no longer a use on her. "You said you gave her a day or two?" Nicolas began, trying to sort some sense of this out for himself and ideally calm Sakura down in the process. "So is she known to just disappear for short times when things happen?"
 
She sipped her drink and exhaled lightly, she felt like a swan that looks all calm and collected on the outside when underneath it struggled to keep itself a float. Placing her mug down on the table again she kept her hands about it relishing the warmth it offered her. Nodding her head at his question she wondered what he must think of her for allowing Isabella a two day head start.

"She's never done anything like this before, we stayed up all that night waiting to see if she returned but to honest we thought she had gone to speak to Izaak about it all. I went to work the next morning and when I returned late that evening there had still been no news at all. It was too late by then to try to head out and find her so I sent owls around to her family and friends that I did know and by morning they had all returned saying they had not seen her. I had to leave for work again but when she wasn't home that day, I started looking every evening after that and still am." she looked up at him with weary eyes, not from exhaustion but from her futile search.

"I know she was upset but surely ... surely she would get in touch just to let us know she's alright?" a warmed hand lifted to rub a frown line from her brow as any tension she had tried to conceal became apparent for a brief moment.
"Why do they do it?" she asked him suddenly, her hazel eyes probing him for the answer not caring at first how vague her question was.

 
It seemed to be quite the predicament that Sakura found herself in. Having asked for clarification who Izaak was, and Sakura pausing to explain, Nicolas nodded and listened to the rest of her tale. There wasn't much she could do at all, but it did strike him how tired she must be from juggling both work and her search for her friend, and it appeared that he could help only one of those situations.

"Is there a way that you're sure she's not dead? Some sort of track on her?" Nicolas enquired, it was a brutal question, but needed asking. "Sometimes people just need to work through things on their own, and contact even to write a letter assuring their health, is a bad thing for them." Nicolas began to explain, ready to move on to what he hoped Sakura would do instead of exhausting herself in the while hunt she was now engaged in as Sakura's next question came.

"I'm sorry?" Nicolas began in enquiry, not fully knowing what Sakura meant, as there could be two questions being asked at present. "Why does who do what?"
 
She listened to his calming voice, heavy with authority and was grateful for his presence. Her mind seemed to be able to focus a lot easier with just a few words from the man who was essentially her boss. Nodding her head vigorously at his question, she shot him an apprehensive look.
"There is, I hadn't known about it at first because it's in the staff room of the Leaky Cauldron" she sighed remembering how on the second day she had actually thrown a plate against the wall of the kitchen in her frustration at not knowing whether Bella was alive or dead, when Yema had taken her by the hand and directed her to the staff room. The house elf had apologized of course for not telling her about it sooner but there on the wall was a clock with the names of the staff members and the owner or as it stood today, the ex-owner of the tavern indicating where each one was. Boris had been in the pub, Yema in the staff room and Isabella simply indicated as late for work, not on dead and not on in danger. She had breathed a sigh of relief and had begun to laugh like some crazy person with the sheer weightlessness that the news brought her.

"The staff clock says she's late... just late for work" she lifted the mug to her lips again as Nicolas apologized but she wasn't sure at first what for but it soon clarified itself for the one who hadn't been clear was she.

"Love" she said it so simply as she looked directly at him, "why do people say they love someone and then hurt them so badly, cheat on them without any hesitation? I mean your a man.. of course your a man."
she inwardly commented at the sudden gallop of her heart 'and what a man!' then hastily blinked the sliver of a thought from reaching gargantuan proportions by hastily continuing, "so can you tell me... are men capable of loving just one woman? Of being faithful to just one person? because ... I believe that's how it should be. That there is one person out there for everyone, it's just a matter of finding them. Even if it means going the most of your life without ever knowing love at least when you do find it, it should be simple enough to stay true to it. Why tell someone you love them if you don't mean it?"
she could have gone on and on but the subject was not her greatest because she had never been there. Had a crush and dated in her third year of magic school and for a brief moment dated when she first became an auror but it had never been love, not as she saw love.
 
Nicolas was glad to hear that Sakura was sure her friend was not dead. That was certainly a load off of her back, he was sure, but he understood the trouble of Isabella's apparent disappearance was still a concern to Sakura and that she had this information all evening but was regardless in the state she was in.

As Sakura explained her analysis of love, and her many questions on the topic, Nicolas couldn't help but find the humour in the fact that she was asking him. He had had very little luck with love in his years, spoiling many opportunities at it, leaving situations altogether, those he courted dying or moving on, and now he was expected to give a dissertation on it, it appeared. If that was not the universe's way of poking fun at him, he didn't know what was. As Sakura left off Nicolas nodded his understanding of her question now. He then paused a moment before attempting an answer.

"It's certainly possible. I've seen it happen, and I'd like to think I should experience it one day." He began, thinking to his own parents as his example of what love should look like. "I think you need to keep in mind, however," he continued on, thinking now of his many failed relationships over the past several years. These, of course, were his examples of what love was not, or situations that didn't foster it well, or situations which seemed to be entirely opposed to the idea of a genuine relationship. "There are many different kinds of love, and it isn't necessarily always a lie if a person is told that they're loved, then the situation doesn't work out. I fear it's one of the many human flaws, that we are inept at identifying what kind of love it is we are experiencing and accurately communicating that love to others." Nicolas thought on this himself a moment, then, deeming it to be as precise as he could make it, finished off, "I think that the truest and purest love, however, comes but once."
 
As Nicolas spoke on love and what it's connotations had held for him she found herself propping her hand under her chin as she looked at it, hanging on his every word. She had seen love as well, her parents were smothered in it and so had her grandparents before her gran had passed away. Even now she knew Amos missed her terribly and though she ached for the kind of love they had shared, she did not think she was in any way strong enough to live a life without the one she loved, especially not after spending years building a life together. She could still recall her grandfather shaking his head as he looked at her picture telling himself over and over that he was glad she had gone first, that he had been the stronger of the two.

"There are? I mean... yeah, I guess there are. I'm not exactly an expert on the subject" she shrugged her shoulders glancing about the restaurant before looking back at him once more. Her drink had cooled considerably and the heat from the mug had chilled as well. She no longer had to keep her hands around it and removed her hand from beneath her chin when she realized she had rudely been leaning her elbow on the table.

"So it's not true what all those romance books would lead a girl to believe?" she smiled at him, "there are no fireworks, the earth doesn't move..." her gaze seemed entranced by his brown eyes, "music doesn't begin to play, no butterflies in the stomach... all those supposed tell tale signs don't happen then?"
She would certainly like to believe in a true love, the till death us do part time of deal but had found herself wondering often enough of late whenever she had seen Bella so deliriously happy if it would ever happen for her.
 
Nicolas watched Sakura's response to his words. She was a horse of a different colour, that was to be sure. As she asked her further questions on the topic of love, Nicolas was forced to wonder why it was he that she was asking, and why she would ask this much now when she obviously had other things on her mind. Sure, the distraction might be good for her for a while, but there were certainly people other than her employer who could be asked such things.

"I wouldn't know." Nicolas admitted the to girl, "Though I can't imagine things being quite that easy..." Nicolas trailed off with these words. Could he imagine things being that simple? Maybe he had at one time, but what about now? With the events of the past month still filed away in his mind for thought and analysis, he wasn't sure anything was that simple, and if anything was - it certainly wasn't something as important as love.

Deciding it wise to rear the conversation back on course, even if it meant reawakening Sakura to the reality immediately surrounding her, Nicolas spoke once more, "I'm giving you the next several days off of work." He began, a kindly smile offered on his face to reassure her that this seemingly sudden outburst of his was indeed positive. "You can look for Isabella, or wait for her to return, during that time. I'm sure she'll be back soon enough." He continued on this train of thought for a moment in his mind before continuing. "As for tonight, you've reached a dead end in Poland and you should likely go back home. Rest a while. Let Isabella come to terms with things herself and stop trying to chase her about."
 
Sakura's mind had always had a habit of going off on different tangents but it never fully distracted her from her goal. Always her mind seemed to be plotting where next her search would take her. She glanced at him when he spoke and her eyes began to widen as if in that moment realizing the boundary she had crossed, the breach of etiquette she had blundered over.No doubt she would pay for her strange and personal questions at work by getting landed with the most bizarre of jobs but it served her right.

She was even more shocked when he announced she was to have some time off, he was dismissing her and she felt mortified by it. Sakura felt as if she had been talked down to like a superior to his insubordinate inferior and she grew even more embarressed. Why had she walked over to his table and sat with him, started talking about why she was here and then of all things to discuss 'love' with the man? Hastily she removed a small coin purse and took out enough to pay for her hot beverage. Noting as she did so that he had barely eaten anything, she had obviously prevented him from doing so.

Grabbing her gloves and hat she signalled to the waiter, who returned to the table with her robe. This time she thanked him easily and as he walked away once more, she began to put it on.
"I'm sorry Nicolas, I mean sir. I have interupted your meal and spoke out of turn with you. I won't need any time off of work though, thank you for suggesting it but I'd only drive myself crazy if I didn't have that to occupy my mind."
tying the buttons of her robe, she then began to slip her hands into her gloves.
"I.. didn't mean... that is, I shouldn't have ..." closing her eyes for a split second listing all the things in her mind that she should have not done tonight, when she looked at him again she felt so childish and foolish. Yet she couldn't simply just go back home, to pace the floor again and again. Sakura knew she would rather paced the cold frigid streets of Poland than to go back there.

"Goodnight Sir" reaching for her hat this time she offered him a small smile before turning to leave.
 
Within a moment everything seemed to change about the meeting with Sakura. She seemed quite upset by his words, or the situation, and Nicolas' smile quickly faded. He had hoped to make it clear to her that he wanted to help her. Evidently he had failed in this pursuit.

Nicolas rose as Sakura went to put on her cloak once more. Surely there was something he could say to apologize for whatever he had done to upset her? "'Nicolas' is fine." He began in assertion as Sakura started to stumble over her words in a hasty apology in her attempt to leave quickly. Nicolas did think Sakura needed time off of something - it seemed that hunting down her friend and being an Auror was taking up more time than she had, and he certainly couldn't order her to stop looking for a friend. He did recognize, however, that arguing with her about what was best for her would likely not be wise, and therefore yielded to her on that point.

Sakura once more stumbled over words, failing now to complete the sentence before closing her eyes contemplatively a moment, offering Nicolas a smile, then turning to go. Nicolas, as Sakura turned to leave spoke with a start, "Surely you can stay a while longer here? It's warm inside and your friend shows no signs of being in Poland, or you would not have stopped to speak with me. Then, when we're finished, I can perhaps look in to some things with you before bringing you home." The latter part was Nicolas' main concern, that Sakura got home and didn't wander about the world in pursuit of a friend who didn't desire finding. To add to this, Nicolas was also aware that two women walking out on him in haste in the same evening, before he had touched his supper, would surely look bad.
 
Sakura glanced at Nicolas as he rose from his own seat, her heart did an unaccostumed flip and she looked wide eyed at him for a moment. He was asking her to call him Nicolas but she wondered did that apply at work as well. Smiling at him she had every intention of leaving when he bid her to stay. Had he not a moment earlier been the one to tell her she should go? Saks sighed gently, she knew full well she had gone into employee mode, taking an order literally when it was obviously not intended that way.

On introspection she could come up with hundreds of reasons why she had walked over to his table and every single one of them would have begun with 'I have always wondered what it would be like to speak with you as an equal' and every one of them ridiculously ended with her in his arms. Noting this fact she colored slightly and exhaled deeply, nodding her head and sitting down while still leaving her cloak on. Her thoughts thankfully could not and would not betray her, he couldn't very well just pop in and see what she was thinking of at that very moment or even the dreams of him that had made her blush crimson time and again. So perhaps her hero worshipping of him had crossed a very fine line but it would never be acted upon. As far as she was aware himself and Martine were still an item, this sobering thought helped her to focus once more as her fingers fumbled over the buttons to her cloak. Of course she could not help the warmth that spread through her at the thought of his taking her home but instantly squashed it, this was her boss after all and he would no more look at her in that light than a hippogriff.

"Thanks... Nic.. Nicolas" she loved saying his name and actually wanted to repeat it but wanted to just as much kick herself for being so damn girly and stupid here, "I won't stay too long and seriously you don't have to bring me home."
Again her wayward thoughts had envisioned him walking her up the stairs and to her room. Reaching hastily for her cold mug she all but gagged on the disgustingly cold remnants of cider snap that was left inside. Placing it down she tried to look anywhere but at him, she'd have to excuse herself soon just to go the ladies room and splash herself with some water. That for now seemed the perfect idea and standing up once more, briefly excused herself and headed in that direction. Shedding her cloak to the coat stands as she passed by.
 
Nicolas observed as Sakura stared at him, seemingly in wide-eyed confusion, as he requested her to stay longer. Had he seemed so very dismissive earlier? He certainly hoped not, but figured it to be possible. Nicolas returned her puzzled glance as her face coloured slightly, and he was forced to wonder what it was, exactly, that had caused her to blush so. He was glad as she obliged him and took her seat once more, taking his own in turn.

Sakura sat in silence moments longer, seemingly still in thought, with her cloak still on her. Nicolas feared, during these moments, that she would suddenly get up and run off - then he would have been abandoned by two women in one evening in a strange country, and that would be less than helpful for his ego. He watched her another few moments, as she fumbled with the buttons on her cloak and he figured she was going to stay a while after all. With the short silence, the back of Nicolas' mind continued to think on what it could be that Sakura was pondering so deeply, and that could have caused her such great embarrassment - even though none but her knew her thought. He could have, of course, tried to see her thoughts at any one point but this was something Nicolas was always weary of, he knew he wouldn't want strange people poking about in his mind (which was why he trained in occlumens), so he figured others were like minded. King took a sip of his wine, which was still largely untouched, and was about to speak (daring to interrupt her thoughts) when Sakura broke the moment's pause that seemed, to Nicolas, to span minutes, if not hours.

With Sakura's words, Nicolas insisted that he found himself honour-bound to ensure the safety of lady's whose company he kept during the evening, and that he would be quite uneasy leaving her anywhere but her home. This was all in spite of her being an Auror. He knew full well she could handle herself, but Nicolas was old fashioned in many respects and this was one which even the most modern of witches could not force him to budge on.

As Sakura rose, Nicolas' eyes followed her across the room, admiring the young woman for a moment before returning his thoughts to the evening and the table as he waited. He called the waiter whom he knew spoke English, and request he brought Ms. Gemini a new cup of cider snap. He then requested his, still largely untouched, plate be taken away. The food was now cold, and the events of the evening thus far had robbed him of any appetite he might have. He would finish his glass of wine, then pay the bill and leave with Sakura, as he had said he would.
 
Sakura made her way into the ladies rest room and sighed heavily as she leaned back against the door. Walking to the sinks she gazed at herself in the mirror overhead and began making faces at herself before sighing again. Why would he be interested in her? Why would he want her over any other woman? She knew herself that he could never find her interesting for him, Martine was beautiful and feminine and everyone liked her at the department. Probably even in the ministry. Whereas Sakura had never seen herself as attractive at all and had always accounted her lack of boyfriends to this. She never thought for a second that she had unnerved many possible suitors, that her confidence and bravado far surpassing their own had left them reeling and feeling mediocre compared to her. Sporty and aggressive without being violent of course, a typical tomboy she had been growing up and another reason she was convinced that the likes of Nicolas King would never see her as a woman. She didn't wear dresses or skirts the way many other women did, she preferred her trouser suits and she also preferred watching a good game of quidditch instead of sitting around chatting about makeup and clothing.

Splashing water on her face she took a deep breath. He had no idea that she liked him, was plum near crazy about him though for some bizarre reason most others at the department knew or suspected. Never once had she thought her infatuation for him had been that obvious but then again, she could not see how she hung on his every word during a meeting or volunteered willingly and extremely enthusiastically as soon as he needed a job doing. Even if it was some boring filing, she never cared, never minded at all and yet now the sniggers from her work colleagues was extremely evident. She would simply have to watch her every move around him, act like she didn't care at all but for someone who always wore her heart on her sleeve, was forthright and a tad outspoken that was going to be extremely difficult.

Clara Kaminiski smiled as her waiter returned to the kitchen with the man's barely touched food and she became deeply troubled by it. First Corinne a long time regular had to leave but she partly guessed after seeing the patronus that it was work related and then a young woman appears disrupting all attempts by the man to eat his dinner. Clara had a knack for reading peoples body language, she didn't have to be an excellent witch to notice how the young woman blushed at times looking at the man. It was evident that she liked him... alot. With a smile on her face she halted her waiter and indicated for him to go to their violinist who played awful melancholy tunes most of the time until someone specifically asked for something much more romantic and then he came alive, as did his music. The waiter did as he was asked and informed the musician that as soon as the young lady returned to her seat, he was to go to their table and play for them. It was a shame the table itself was not situated in the dimly lit area but she figured Corinne had obviously not intended this meeting to be of a romantic nature, whereas the young woman seemed to need every help that Merlin could give her.

Sakura left the restroom just as the waiter brought her fresh drink to the table. She noted how he was no longer eating anything, not that he was before. Wanting to apologize when she sat down she was interupted by the waiter placing a single large bowl in the center of the table.

"It is a pineapple crumb cake" he smiled, "with compliments" and with that he walked away. Sakura looked at the one serving with two spoons laid across the rim of the plate. Glancing up at Nicolas she attempted to say something but the very words were snatched from her as at that very moment as a strange looking man began to play the violin beside their table. Again she glanced, this time open mouthed to Nicolas wondering if he had orchestrated this or if the man simply had the wrong idea of their being there. To make it all more surreal the lighting about them seemed to dim and the waiter as if on silent feet placed a candle near the dessert before hastily departing. Her mouth opened and closed randomly and as she looked up once more she could not help it, as laughter simply bubbled up and erupted from her. Always being able to see the funny side in any given situation, the irony of all of these romantic gestures were not lost on her. She picked up her spoon and indicating the cake could only smile at him.
"Well no matter what they think ... this is, at least we get free dessert".
 
Nicolas thanked the waiter for Sakura's drink just as he noticed the young witch's form approaching the table once more. He smiled warmly toward her, watching her as she took her seat opposite him once again. Before he had the opportunity to speak, however, the waiter returned with dessert which he set between them with two spoons. This was an odd gesture, to be sure, but Nicolas accepted it graciously with a smile.

Once more before Nicolas was able to speak the violinist approached their table and changed his manner of playing from the traditional sombre song he had played most of the evening (it seemed like the same song, at least, one could never tell with such music) to something much more romantic in nature. He chuckled lightly at this, and the fact that every time he moved to speak something else happened to interrupt him. He determined it wise not to try to speak again quite yet as the waiter once more approached their table, this time with a candle which he placed by the desert, and the lights around them dimmed. He had known there would be something else. He shook his head and smiled warmly as Sakura, too, found humour in the moment. "I had no hand in all of this," Nicolas began, wondering for the briefest moment if Sakura would wish he had - if somebody of the restaurant staff had seen something he hadn't. "Though I whole-heartedly agree. Free dessert is free dessert."
 
It wasn't like they were here on a date and it certainly wasn't as if they had arranged this meeting before hand, yet providence seemed to dictate that she stay in his compay a while longer and if it were to the romantic overtures of a violinist with the muted tones of candle light, then so be it. Of course she would have much preferred it if he hadn't so freely announced that he had no part in organizing it all. 'Figures' she had mused to herself though the words she spoke surprised even her.
"A girl can still dream" she looked fixedly at the pie before them knowing she was not in the slightest bit hungry though she hadn't eaten a thing since breakfast, "I'm sorry I interrupted your dinner."

Sakura glanced up at him as she scooped up a small piece of the pie and ate it, a sliver of pineapple wedgin itself unnoticed at the right corner of her lip. As the violinist finally came to the end of his piece, she held a hand up and smiled.

"Thank you that was lovely but we won't be requiring your services further" she told him and then as if in a playful mood, said in a half whisper in conspiratorial tones "I don't think it's working on him."
Sakura was smiling as she spoke unable to tear her eyes from the man who was her boss and who had for all of two classes during the triwizard tournament some years back before her family so rudely extricated her from New Zealand, been her professor. The candle light cast a soft glow on her features, her hazel eyes glimmering brightly.

The violinist stopped momentarily and held his violin tight to his chest just across his heart and looked indulgently and endearingly at them both.
"Ahhh... yes.. yes" his english was not on par with his musical ability, "love, yes... you most luck of men.. vary beutiful" he said the last piece glancing at Sakura before placing the violin beneath his chin once more and beginning another tune of equal romantic stature.

Sakura's face nearly fell with the shock at what the man had said, she looked up to see what Nicolas' reaction would be to it all and attempting to ignore the man and everything else romantic about the situation and plant her feet firmly on the ground she spoke up.
"How would you like to head back home?" she blushed, "I mean apparation is really the only way. The floo network to the Leaky is charmed to shut down at a certain time so that no one can get in after hours. Of course.. you were insisting on bringing me home, so that would mean..." again she looked at him placing her spoon down, "side along appartion".

She seriously thought her legs would give out beneath her and was never so grateful for a chair before. Side along meant they had to stand really close to one another, they would have to hold on to one another. Gulping slowly she cast a furtive glance at the violinist, wondering what in Merlin's name was the world up to this evening to be throwing her out of her comfort zone constantly.
 
Nicolas was taken with some surprise as Sakura's comment came forth. "A girl can still dream" he thought over in his mind before looking back at Sakura. She was quite a good looking young witch, and it was now evident that he had missed something earlier - something that some person in the restaurant had not, and that person had gone to great lengths to ensure that Sakura had a chance at a romantic evening. Why not oblige to her dream and the situation? He had no real reason not to. She was significantly his younger, but an adult now and romance was blind to years and many other things. He smiled kindly with her next comment. "You've no need to apologize. I should likely thank you. If you hadn't come along, I would have had a very uneventful night in a strange country."

As Sakura took up her spoon, Nicolas did likewise and took a small piece of cake at the same time as the woman opposite him. Enjoying its taste a moment before looking back up, Nicolas held in a chuckle. "You've got a bit..." He trailed off and picked up his serviette, then beginning to reach across the table, "Here," he finished, brushing the pineapple away from Sakura's lips before folding the serviette over and placing it aside.

"I see no reason why we shouldn't enjoy this piece, as opposed to the dreary song he played previously." Nicolas replied to Sakura, in the same hushed tone that she had offered him, returning her smile and admiring her features in the candle light. "Yes, she's quite beautiful." Nicolas agreed with the violinist, as his broken English interrupted their conversation momentarily. "Any man would be quite lucky to be with her, I agree." Nicolas nodded as the man started to play his tune once more and he returned his soft gaze to Sakura before she spoke once more.

"Are you that eager to leave?" Nicolas enquired with a chuckle, "Yes, apparition will do fine, if you're comfortable with that."
 
How could she not feel anything but a happiness well inside her at the thought that she had improved upon his evening any. The evening had not been theirs by intent but it was certainly shaping up to be something altogether enjoyable, she would later use other adjectives as she drifted off to sleep but so far, wonderful, slightly embarressing and charming came to mind. Other adjectives she would use to describe him as she would recall his gaze, the movement of his hand as it had reached for her face.

In that moment alone her heart had nearly frozen, time had halted and she had been afraid to breath. It had not been his fingers that had brushed aside the crumb of dessert but his serviette, but that wasn't what mattered. What had mattered was the chivalrous moment in which he had thought to do it.

She had imagined many scenario's in her dreams of him and though the odd one had him declaring her beautiful, to actually hear him say the words caused her to flush and to glance at him with renewed apprehension. It was much too obvious that she held her heart on her sleeve where he was concerned but as thrilling as it was to hear him speak so of her, she felt as if he were playing with her. A toy while Martine was not in the picture or simply allowing himself the luxury of enjoying the delights of an orchestrated candlelit evening with a young woman not his own. Shaking her head slightly at his comment she lowered her gaze to her cup. Her heart would literally leap out of her chest if he continued to look at her with those brown eyes of his.

"Now I think you're making fun of me" her voice had dropped and lifting her gaze to look at him once more she was convinced the sound of her heart could be heard above the violinist but the words were no sooner out of her mouth than she regretted them. He was being complimentary of her and she should have thanked him for it. The Nicolas King she knew or had come to know was always in her opinion an honest and forthright man. He would not sit with any woman passing compliments in an almost flirtatious manner unless he was available to do so. She blinked and looked at him curiously, did he really find her attractive then? Did he genuinely see himself as lucky to be here with her? He was an honorable man in her opinion, she would count her life on it and with this thought she smiled slowly at him.

"I think I am the lucky one" in that moment a shy smile graced her mouth and gently she shook her head, "I am not eager at all to leave, I was just.. making sure we were in agreement as to the mode of how we left."
She half expected a muggle neon sign to flash above her head then announcing 'Sakura mad about Nicolas King' or something flashing in bright pink. At last the tune finished and with a smile the man walked away slowly. It wasn't that they were all alone, there was still a restuarant full of people around them but in that instant simply sitting there looking at him, she felt as if they were the only two in the entire place.
 
It had been some time since Nicolas had made any woman react to him quite as Sakura did, and he was enjoying the sensation of knowing that he still had something in him worth admiring - despite recent occurrences and the additional tear to the fibre of his being, his soul, which he had endured with the murder of Thorine. Sakura made him feel quite young again, all her blushing, and avoiding his gaze, and every other little quirk just made him feel another year younger and another ounce more joyful for the evening.

Nicolas looked down to the dessert still between them and took another bite of it himself as Sakura made her comment with regard to making fun. His compliment was sincere as ever, and she surely knew this as well as he. So instead of a reply he only offered him a jovial shake of his head before taking a sip of his wine.

"I see no reason why we both can't be considered lucky." Nicolas offered with a smile, "Though your presence clearly makes myself the luckier of the two of us. I do hope this doesn't come as a terrible blow to you, but you're much more beautiful than I am." Nicolas jested a moment before grinning slightly and tyring to hide it quickly thereafter. "Well, I'm glad you have no intentions of running out on me quite yet, then."
 
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