He had to admire her intellect and initiative when it came to her education. It was something he often lacked when he was going to Hogwarts and it made Charles wonder – if but for a moment – if he had put the effort into his schooling that she clearly was, if things would have turned out different.

“It’s good that you’re taking the initiative though. It’s clear your schooling is important to you,” He smiled as his eyes wandered up and down her; taking in her stature. She was absolutely and unequivocally adorable. It was beyond apprehension; she was, for lack of a better word, cute. And so, in his slightly intoxicated state, Charles felt the need to express that.

“You know, you look very cute when you sit like that.”

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Emmeline nodded slightly to show she agreed with his assessment of her education. It was the one thing, in her opinion, that no one could take away from her. She worked hard to get to where she was and it was all her that had done it. Of course, she'd had phenomenal teachers to help but she'd been the one to put the hard work into it. But before she could say anything more, he was calling her cute and he had her blushing all over again.

"And I think you just say thing like that so you can see me blush," she responded with a dimpled smile. He made it really hard to not think things she shouldn't.

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#LovelyLadySet

“I wouldn’t say I’ll deny that,” He said with jest in his tone, “Though that doesn’t mean I don’t think you cute.”

Charles then paused for a moment and allowed his eyes to focus on hers; his eyes drifting to her cheeks and then her lips and jawline before moving back to meet her pupils, “In fact, I think you are quite beautiful.” He said with a smirk.

He was slightly tipsy and they’d done far worse things than call one another beautiful. He felt she needed the compliment.

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Emmeline hadn't suspected him of lying, not at all. But it didn't stop her from blushing. And then the intensity of his gaze as he said she was beautiful had her taking in a deep breath and looking away. She couldn't hold his gaze with such a thing even if she did believe it. It was just..intense. Her smile never faltered though, nor did the blush on her cheeks. But after what felt like an eternity even if it was only a few seconds she looked back to him to meet his gaze.

"And I think you are quite handsome," she responded in a sincere voice.

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#LovelyLadySet

“Then,” Charles said softly and leaned toward her, “I suppose we’re a good match.”

With that he planted a soft kiss on her cheek and then pulled back; his eyes admiring her every pore.

“And you ought stop blushing so much. It’s making me fall for you more.”

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Emmeline nodded in agreement. They were a pretty good match. Even if they had to wait a year to actually do anything about it. She just hoped he didn't forget her in the meantime. He didn't seem like he would but she was afraid to be fully optimistic.

"I will as soon as you stop saying such things," she responded. Though the idea of him falling for her only seemed to warm her to the very core all while sending a shock through her and causing the hairs on her arms to stand on end.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles shrugged at her words and simply smiled toward her; he had no real intention of stopping his compliments: - not really. He enjoyed seeing her get bashful over what he was saying. It made him feel good knowing that he had that impact on someone.

“Who says I want to stop?” He said, biting his lip and reclining into his chair a little. If truth were to be told, he would say he wanted her to blush more. It bought out the beauty in her in some strange though not all unwelcome way.

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Emmeline stared at him, not entirely sure how to even respond to that. She certainly hadn't gotten any better with blushing since she'd met him and he seemed to know exactly what to say to get her blushing. She honestly didn't think she'd ever manage to get a reign on it. But..if he liked it, she guessed it really didn't matter if she did blush.

"Well.." she started but really didn't know where else to do with it, "Then don't. I guess." It was really a rather lame statement but it was all she really had. Charlie and rendered her speechless.

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#LovelyLadySet

Charles smirked at her few words. Had he made her speechless once again? It seemed as though he had and the red tint that flushed her cheeks had incapacitated the Hit Wizard.

He didn't really know what to do or say though he found himself just watching her with a soft smile. He knew he could have done this for hours without getting bored (even if no words were spoken) and that knowledge was enough for him to be happy in that moment.

Charles shuffled closer to her in his chair and moved to run his forefinger down and across her jawline before resting it in her lips - his eyes following suite.

"I won't," He said dreamily as his eyes moved back to meet with hers, finger moving across her jawline once again before moving to rest on the table with his other hand, "Though I will repeat myself by calling you beautiful, Ems. I feel as if I may tell you that a lot in our future."

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The silence wasn't bad. It was.. comfortable even if Emmeline's cheeks were still flushed red. But she was ok. He was ok. It didn't seem like the silence faced either of them. Even as he ran a finger along her jaw, she remained silent, a faint smile on her lips while the butterflies in the pit of her stomach went on a rampage and the hairs on her arm stood on end. It was a crazy feeling to feel, truly, but she was starting to get used to it. She had a feeling it was going to be like that a lot with him.

And then he was calling her beautiful and she answered with a simple, but grateful, smile. His last two words, however, were what made her breath catch in her throat. It was the first he'd admitted to there being something in the future that she recalled. The future was what she'd been most fearful of. Not because of what it could mean in the end but what it might not end up meaning if he forgot her. The fear was still their lurking in her subconscious no matter what had been said.

"Our future?" she questioned, echoing his words. She continued to smile though, liking the sound of it as it left her own lips, "I supposed I'll just have to keep tell you I find you handsome then in return."

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Charles smiled at her words. It was clear they had taken her off guard and he wasn't about to upset her again.

Her teasing about calling him handsome was expected though he arched an eyebrow at her question. They'd discussed it a few times, really - and Charles had come to realise that though he knew he could not court her yet and nothing would come of these meetings of theirs at present, there was a future between them. He figured it made no sense in denying it and acting as if there was nothing there when there was clearly something. And so yes, their future.

"I suppose I can deal with that," He replied, "And yes - our future. There's no point in pretending we don't have one. Even if we have to wait a year." Charles tried to sound casual as he spoke though his tone betrayed him a little.

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"You'll have to," Emmeline answered simply, sticking her tongue out at him in a childish but playful manner. She didn't know why she felt the need to do it but she'd done it regardless.

The rest of his words, however, surprised her. Even if they shouldn't. She just..it was hard to believe. But she knew better than to say that out loud to him and she really didn't want to get into another fight with him about it. No matter how many times he said it, she still had her own insecurities that clearly weren't going to go away in one night. Maybe.. over time and continued communication they would. She hoped.

"If we survive the fog," she said with a smirk. It could very well put anything to an end.

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#LovelyLadySet

Every time she stuck out her tongue, Charles found himself grinning a little. It was a childish thing she seemed to enjoy doing though it was one of those things that he found particularly endearing; it was the same with the way she had a tendency of sitting on the chair hugging her legs as she curled up.

Her words about the fog made him laugh a little though and in response he simply shrugged and took a hold of her hand, tracing the veins across her hand, "I'm sure we will. Wizards are quite hardy. Especially in this village." He said nonchalantly as his finger circled her palm, "And if we were to die... then I'm glad it would be in your company."

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Emmeline giggled lighted at his own laughter. She had been trying to make a joke, however lame it may have been. But he was at least humoring her some all while making her blush all over again.

"When will I see you again?" she asked, watching his hand as he drew circles on her palm.

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#LovelyLadySet

Taking a hold of her hand, Charles looked at Emmeline and shrugged a little. He wasn't too sure though he had hoped it wouldn't be too long before they saw one another again.

"Soon, I hope. When would you like to see me again?" He asked in response, keeping his grip on her hand.

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Emmeline shrugged. She didn't really know how to answer that. Tomorrow seemed a bit too presumptuous or soon. But she didn't want to say any later and put him off either. Why did it have to be so hard and complicated?

"Whenever you have the time," she ended up saying. It seemed like a safe enough answer. He did have a job after all.

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#LovelyLadySet