Happy Birthday

A smile hinted on his lips as he watched Evie fasten his jacket around her. It was too big and exaggerated her petite frame, but Luke found it oddly endearing. Perhaps it was her size which ignited his protective nature, when compared to tall and strong men. Not that Luke was sexist, but he knew what people were capable of and the thought of anyone hurting Evie made his skin crawl.

He nodded as she spoke, not at all shocked that it had been Veronica that had upset her. The blonde seemed like the type of woman who was used to getting what she wanted, including any man she chose. A part of him was desperate to ask her what exactly had been said, curious as to what topic could have infuriated Evie so quickly. She had been a picture of calm when he'd left, and yet her temper had spiked after only minutes. However, he knew that if she had wanted to tell him then she would have, and forced himself to stop.

Evie didn't seem completely comfortable, and as she spoke again Luke shook his head slightly, finding her quite amusing. Was her attention always fixed on others? Luke had a suspicion that she could be trampled by a Hippogriff and still check to ensure the creature wasn't injured. "I am as far from feeling obligated as a person can be. Besides, there's always next year," he said and smiled a little at the pretty witch. Luke glanced behind him, despite being in the chilly air, he wasn't in the least bit tempted by the glowing pub. The moment he'd spotted Evie leaving his mind had been made up, without her the night would have turned sour fast. "Unless you want me to leave?" He asked, although he wasn't sure what he would do if she said yes. It was dark, and the street was half cast in shadow with barely a soul around. Luke didn't think he would be able to let her walk home alone. "Where is it you're going?"

Evie's hand shot out and grabbed onto his wrist, sending an unexpected jolt through him. Luke's eyes darted to meet hers, questioning the action with more intensity than was needed. She released him and looked away, clearly embarrassed by the spontaneous action. Luke had to focus on his breathing and inhale deeply to relax his quivering lungs. Damn it, this was ridiculous. It had only been his shirt, but it may as well have been her fingers tracing his bare skin based upon his body's reaction.

Once again, Evie attempted to give him the option to leave, ignoring his previous words. "Company it is," he agreed for a final time, hoping it would settle her worries for good. She was smiling so surely Evie was happy? Her smile was contagious, even for someone like him who gave his away reluctantly, and it made him want to.

Luke had not been expecting Evie's next words and froze, only his pupils flicking across every aspect of her face. Slowly, his mouth stretched into a smile and his cheeks tightened from the unfamiliar motion. He swallowed and nodded a few times, "I'm not going to argue with that," he said to her. Luke forced his smile back into the corner of his mind, although the happiness he felt from her words remained. "Do you want to go for a walk?" He asked, although regretted it instantly. Evie barely knew him, and Luke was asking her to walk with him, in the dark, alone. He was supposed to be intelligent. Luke shut his eyes briefly, but couldn't take the words back.

They walked together, although he wasn't sure where she was leading them, but then he didn't care. Luke could have walked through Knockturn Alley with her and would have been perfectly happy, he doubted he'd even notice. It was a clear night, and only small swirls of cloud were dotted about the sky. There could be a swarm of shooting stars above them and Luke wouldn't even glance up for a second. They were close but not enough to be touching, he kept the pace steady and slow, not wanting to rush.

Her guess wasn't far off, and he shrugged his shoulders slightly, "Close enough, twenty six, so not quite as old as I apparently look." Luke chuckled, although it was more of a sharp exhale of breath than a genuine laugh. He spotted her smirk and returned it, the alcohol burning in his veins making him much more open than normal. Luke looked down at the floor as his foot scuffed a loose stone, causing it to skip down the road in front of them. "How about you?" He frowned as he remembered something his Mother always used to say. You never ask a woman her age, and she never gives you the truth. Luke instantly regretted it, and cleared his throat, "Sorry, never mind." Why did he need to know anyway? Evie must be about the same age as him but he couldn't understand why they'd never met. "I was only asking as I don't think I saw you at Hogwarts, and I'm sure I'd remember you." Evie had demanded his attention from the second he'd seen her. If she'd been at Hogwarts, he must have been blind in his youth to have missed her. Luke flicked his eyes back up, hoping he hadn't sounded like a fool. He felt like one around her, and it bothered him.

Twenty two, Luke had been right, Evie was younger than him. It wasn't a large gap, not that it would have mattered if it had been, it wasn't as if they were together. Although, he couldn't help but consider the choice words his Mother would of had to say on the matter if Evie had been eighteen. He'd been in the middle of wondering how he'd managed to miss her at Hogwarts when Evie continued.

Beauxbatons?" He repeated, surprised by her admission. He'd met the occasional individual who had attended the school, but that had been on his travels. They were a type, French, self-absorbed, and overly emotional at times, nothing like the young witch by his side. The only factor they had in common was that there was a strong veela trend amongst the girls of the school, and Luke could have easily believed this of Evie, who was the most captivating woman he'd ever seen. As further questions weighed down his mental list, Luke listened to Evie's own inquiry.

"Hogwarts was good for me, and I was happy enough learning and being away from my family," not that space from them had been difficult. He glanced at her and pursed his lips a little, knowing how his next statement would sound. "I was sorted into Slytherin, although it took a long time for the hat to decide. Sometimes I wonder if I'd have thrived more elsewhere but...it wasn't as awful as I'd imagined." He watched her reaction carefully, knowing the popular opinion of Slytherins. He doubted Evie was the sort to judge people based upon their house at school, but she'd already surprised him several times, and it was a possibility.