November 25, 1894 — Ivy Leaf Bakery
Dorian Fisk

Of all days, England had decided it had enough of sunshine and decided to bring forth a torrential downpour to London. Mabel was able to use her wand as an umbrella as she ran through Diagon Alley, kit in her free hand as she fought not to slip on the cobblestones. She’d been felled by them more than once in the past and wasn’t about to let them get the better of her. “I can’t believe I slept through the alarm.” She muttered to herself. One glance at her watch told her she had just enough time to stop in for a pastry at the Ivy Leaf before heading along to St. Mungo’s. “I’ll have to take the visitor’s entrance today.”

She was so focused on making it to the bakery’s storefront that she didn’t realize someone was about to turn into the pathway at the same time as her until she had basically run into him; or perhaps he ran into her. “Oof!” The cobblestones won today; she ended up slipping and flailed to catch herself. Her kit went flying out of her hands, crashing open on the wet ground as its contents spilled everywhere.

---

  

---

The rain always brought about the worst of his aches. There was something in the dampness that forced his muscles to cramp and seize in a way he hadn't known possible before. His discomfort saw him sleep fitfully throughout the night and by the time dawn came he'd given up sleeping altogether, choosing instead to head into work and sort through the neverending mountain of paperwork on his desk.

Or so had been his plan before the first call of the morning had come through. Thankfully, it was an easily rectified burst of magic from a terrified youngster, but it had still left Dory drained and in desperate need of something — anything — to perk him up.

Which was how he wound up on the cobblestones in front of the Ivy Leaf, still sorely lacking tea and now cursing under his breath. Nothing made him despise his injury more than falling. Slowly — too slowly — he managed to sit up and look at the now soaking wet woman on the ground. Maple.

"I think I preferred the squid." Dory confessed as he set about beginning to collect the fallen items closest to him. "Are you alright?"

---

  

---

beautiful set by lady

She had to have run into him while currently looking like a half-drowned kneazle. And while her backside, her arms and her pride were all sorely aching. At his reference to the petrified squid she’d sent him (more as a ‘who are you to tell me what to do?!’ message than anything), Mabel was proud of herself for not feeling sheepish. Dory could contemplate the meaning of that message for as long as he wanted. She thought it’d been pretty clear.

But one look at him immediately helping her gather her things again made her heart lurch, and she quickly scrambled to grab her wand. Any of the gauze and bandages would need to be replaced. She cast reparo on some of the more fragile glass instruments that had been damaged. “I’m alright.” She muttered, scrambling to put her tools back in her bag. “I’m sorry about that. Are you alright?” She winced, knowing this had to be uncomfortable for him.

---

  

---

"I'm alright," he bit out through the pain in his leg. Despite wanting to help her collect her fallen case, most of the items were beyond his reach and Dorian wasn't keen on embarrassing himself more than he already had. He focused instead on pushing up to stand — or worse: falling back onto his ass once more — and was, rather miraculously successful. From there, Dory quickly drew his wand and first casted shield above them both to act as an umbrella. Then, he used another charm to dry them both.

When he finished, he waited for her to finish collecting her items and then asked, "I was about to get some tea. Would you like to join me?"

---

  

---

beautiful set by lady

‘You most certainly are not alright,’ she wanted to fuss, but stopped herself short and instead focused on gathering her supplies and trying to fit them back into her healer’s kit. Vanishing the gauze and bandages, Mabel then continued brushing herself off to stall herself from talking to him. She wanted to say something, but was at a loss for words. So when he created an umbrella out of his wand and then dried not only himself but her, she paused in brushing off her robes to look cautiously at him.

And he asked her if she wanted to join him for tea. “Oh,” That was not what she’d expected. It was, however what she’d been planning anyways, if only for a brief moment. “I’m — I’m just about to start a shift, but I could get a quick cuppa.” She could even be a bit late; McKinnon had told her they had a slow morning ahead of them.

---

  

---

Her surprise left him feeling somewhat disjointed. Had their relationship truly devolved to the point where even having a cup of tea together was an unexpected event? Dorian knew she detested his behaviors and moods, and they most certainly had never been the same after that summer, but polite courtesy still existed. Or, he hoped that it still existed.

She had agreed though, and rather than focus on his disappointment over her reaction, Dory offered a short, familiar smile and began hobbling towards the cafe. "I'm due back to the office soon too. The drudgery never ends. A quick cuppa it is."

---

The following 1 user Likes Dorian Fisk's post:1 user Likes Dorian Fisk's post
   Mabel Brighton

---

beautiful set by lady

Even after all that time apart, Mabel still felt her heart flutter as he smiled at her and headed towards the Ivy Leaf. She hurried after him, making sure to not stumble on the slippery cobblestones so they wouldn’t have to repeat that entire ordeal all over again. The immediate warmth of the Ivy Leaf perked her up instantly, though she still cast a warming charm on her shoes to try and defrost the numbness in her toes. And after a chirped a greeting from Miss Edgecombe, they were led to a table just by the window so they might still see out onto high street. Having ordered their drinks (and a few biscuits, since Mabel suddenly felt hungry), Mabel felt suddenly awkward sitting across from Dory. Taking her napkin, she placed it in her lap, though twisted it in her hands as she searched for something to say.

“Drudgery, you say?” She commented, referencing his previous bit about paperwork. “Anything super pressing, you think?”

---

  

---

The few minutes of ordering were a much needed distraction from the awkward air that had settled between them. It was easier to focus on his tea selection and scone (an impromptu addition after hearing her biscuit order) than what subjects they might discuss. Anything recent involving him would almost always concern his leg in some way or another, and anything involving her felt taboo after the way she left and the boundaries she'd enforce. However, discussing the weather with her after all they'd shared left him feeling tense and uncomfortable. She wasn't one of the random debutantes he'd flirted with this summer, she was Mabel Brighton - Maple. His little wolf.

By the time they were seated, Dory was ready to abandon all notions of tea and scones together and flee. However, before he could feign some forgotten meeting or urgent letter, Maple spoke once more and Dory felt compelled to stay. "Nothing as of yet. The summer is usually a bit busier once the incoming first years get their wands but nothing we can't handle. Are you expecting a busy shift today?"

---

The following 1 user Likes Dorian Fisk's post:1 user Likes Dorian Fisk's post
   Mabel Brighton

---

beautiful set by lady

Small talk. What they were doing was idle small talk and Mabel hated it. But she’d started it. She could have asked something more personal, but several topics that came to mind all seemed to lead back to things they might not be alright to talk about. Though, the image of first years and their wands before they got to Hogwarts sent a small huff of a laugh as she reached to sip her tea. “Not too busy. McKinnon’s said it should be a slow morning and we’ve got the coverage.” Then, referring to the first years: “I usually get some of those cases too.” She said. “Remember the one where she got a teapot stuck on her brother’s head?”

Admittedly, the child was in distress at the thought of having to have a brother with a teapot for a head; so while tending to the child (and while Dory tended to the actual teapot and Muggles who had witnessed it) it had been hard for them to keep straight faces.

---

  

---

He genuinely chuckled at the mention of the teapot. It hadn't been too difficult to free the boy of the small pot, but his head had remained equally as small for a long while afterwards. "His poor nose is still shaped a bit like the spout, the end tips up." Dory didn't mean to laugh at the boy's expense, but sometimes with his job it was impossible not to. Then, to explain how he knew this, he added, "I had to go back there a few weeks ago for an accident involving his younger brother. Thankfully there were no teapots this time."

---

  

---

beautiful set by lady

The sight of a genuine laugh on Dory’s face sent warmth spreading throughout Mabel; better than any cheering charm or warming charm could do, and she couldn’t help but mirror it. His story of how he knew the poor boy’s fate only served to make her laugh even more, and she clapped a hand over her mouth to keep her volume down. Oh, that poor boy’s parents, having to deal with not one boy but two going through their first signs of magic. “What happened to his younger brother?” God forbid something even more traumatizing happened to that pair.

---

  

---

"Nothing catastrophic thankfully." Dory replied still chuckling. "He transfigured the housekeeper into a mop. She's mostly fine, her hair is still a bit unkempt last I heard. I have someone from the squad checking in on them every so often until the kids go to school." The last thing he needed was for the entire family to become teacups and it all be missed. The amount of paperwork associated with missing people was astronomical.

---

  

---

beautiful set by lady

Oh it was even better than she thought it’d be. The poor child; but Mabel had long since learned that it was too costly for anyone’s mental health to worry over what happened during first acts of magic. They were rarely fatal, or caused a tremendous amount of trauma. So when she raised the napkin to wipe her mouth, she left it there to muffle the sound of her larger laugh. The housekeeper had already been in possession of rather messy hair, so Mabel could only imagine what she looked like now. “Oh dear,” She said, still giggling.

But just then the clock on the wall chimed, and Mabel looked up at the hands. “Oh Merlin I’m going to be really late,” She exclaimed, standing up at once to gather her things. “Dory I’m so sorry I must run but -” She paused to genuinely smile. “This was lovely, thank you.”

---

  

---

Despite his earlier hesitations, Dory could have sat there all day listening to her laugh. After all that transpired between them, it was amazing she was willing to laugh with him at all. However, before he could respond with something — anything — to continue on the lightness, she was racing to leave.

He nodded graciously despite wanting to frown. "Of course, yeah. I'm sorry to have kept you. Let me know if you run into any trouble with McKinnon, I can always fabricate some sort of accident that required your help. Another teapot incident." He had half a mind to do so without her permission, but Dory had long since learned that Maple would sooner bite his hand off than accept help when she didn't ask for it. "I'll - uh - I'll see you around."

---

  

---

beautiful set by lady