coffee and punishment [noah]

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

Late April 2026

It was not uncommon to find Felix Teller alone. It was even less uncommon to find him mulling over a crystal glass filled with fine whisky. A creature of habit, Felix quite enjoyed his comforts. Therefore, to find Felix ensconced within a tea shop, with a coffee and with someone who made him look rather uncomfortable... well, that was truly uncommon.

Felix must have been a glutton for punishment for agreeing to meet the astronomy professor of Hogwarts at Madam Puddifoot's one blustery Saturday in late April. They had been rather pushy, even as Felix pushed back that he couldn't share much of his research at all. While he was well known in various circles for his immense interest in the universe, he couldn't indulge the professor in most of his recent findings. They had met at the tea shop - which, Felix recalled from his school days - was quite the haunt for loved up couples. Having just become widowed himself, Felix was disgruntled with the number of young lovebirds that surrounded them as the professor had a go at him for keeping his research private. "You're useless! Good day to you," said the professor, stomping out of the tea shop in a huff at the end of a 10 minute argument.

Sighing, Felix leaned back in his chair. He ran a hand through his normally neat hair, ruffled now from his run in with the irate professor. Scrubbing his face, he rose, and turned towards the counter. He wasn't due back at the ministry for another few hours - he might as well take the time alloted for the meeting and use it to his taste. Perhaps he would stop by for a drink in the Three Broomsticks after this, or pick up some sweets for Fee and Heleen. Yes, that would be rather nice, wouldn't it? His mind strayed momentarily to another young woman who had been haunting his thoughts as of late. Felix was sure he wouldn't see Hanna again by happenstance, even if he wanted to. "Er, can I have a coffee please? Black? Or... perhaps decaf. Otherwise you'll have a maniac on your hands, I'm afraid I can't handle too much caffeine after noon," said Felix to the chap behind the counter. "Sorry about that... by the way."

@noah

[Deleted]

Late April 2026
FELIX CICERO TELLER

If there was any sort of drama in Hogsmeade, it was very likely to be at Madam Puddifoot's. Noah had seen countless awkward first dates, break ups, flirting attempts, and it just never ended well. Most the drama came from students though, as there seemed to be a belief at Hogwarts that the cafe was the best place for couples. It wasn't often he got to see drama between adults though.

Noah had been trying to mind his own business behind the counter, stocking the freshly baked pastries in the display. He couldn't help but slightly overhear that there was at least some sort of disturbance between the man and woman, though he couldn't make it out exactly. He'd just straightened from his stocking and closed the glass of the display case, when he heard the woman's much louder remark as she stormed. WEll then. Did the man just get dumped? He wondered what the fight might have been about. That was when the man had ironically stepped up to the counter. As if by instinct he moved as well, realizing the man was about to order something. Noah put on a small, professional smile as the man tried to decide what to drink. First settling on black, then deciding decaf, blaming the caffeine. Noah was a bit of a coffee addict, so the caffeine didn't bother him much. Some people though could get wound up by just one drink though. He nodded. "What size do you want?" he asked, motioning to the cup display, so he could see the different sizes. though, to his surprise the man also apologized. Noah's customer friendly smile gave way to a more natural smile. "I think I should be the one sorry for you. You're the one that got yelled at," he started to answer, pausing momentarily. "You alright?" At least the woman hadn't dumped a drink on the man. The argument could have been much worse.

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

The Astronomy professor had been relentless in their nagging, and yet Felix refused to share the secrets he had uncovered, few though they were. They stormed out of the cafe, and Felix watched them leave, feeling no remorse whatsoever. He glanced around the shop, noting that every single face seemed to be turned to him. Feigning nonchalance, while really quite embarrassed, Felix approached the counter and asked for a coffee. The man behind the counter asked what size, and it took Felix a moment to realise he meant coffee size. ”Er, small, I suppose,” said Felix at last, rummaging in his pockets for some change. He apologised for the scene caused by his colleague, and the barista shrugged it off.

”Part of the job description for being an irritable git,” said Felix with a wry smile. The man asked after his composure, and Felix arched a brow. It was very rare for anyone to actually care about any outcome involving him. He was reminded again of his encounter with Hanna, and that she had been the only other person to ask how he was. He tried to imagine what she would say if he told her he’d been widowed - then remember it was highly unlikely he’d ever see her again.

Felix had gotten so lost in his thoughts, he’d forgotten to reply to the barista. ”Oh, er, yeah. Just someone wanting something I can’t give them,” said Felix with a shrug. ”I’m Felix, by the way,” he added as an afterthought. He couldn’t see a name badge on the barista, and Felix was not entirely sure why he had decided to proffer his name. Maybe with the loss of his wife, Felix was afraid of losing more of those he kept near and finally sealing his fate as the loneliest man alive.

@noah

[Deleted]

Late April 2026
FELIX CICERO TELLER

It took the man a moment to decide on the size. When he did Noah nodded his head and entered the information into the register. "That'd be one sickle," he answered. He moved to start fixing the drink. He'd done it a number of times and didn't even have to think as the motions came naturally to him. To him, making coffee was almost soothing. It was natural to him, something he didn't have to think about or worry he'd get it wrong. Muscle memory kicked in and he knew it by heart. So it made conversing with the customers easier while working to fill their orders. It was why, despite being on the shy side, his boss liked him working the register. He was could talk and fix drinks at the same time.

Noah smiled as the man declared himself to be 'an irritable git'. He glanced at him out of the corner of his eye as he worked. He didn't comment on it though, as he felt trying to deny it might be too much for some people. He didn't know this man, after all. Some people didn't like you deciding things about their character without knowing them. Though as the man went on to mention someone wanting something he couldn't give his paused. That could mean a number of things, but considering the location? Had the woman wanted to date him and he denied her? It was a hot date spot, after all. "Then why'd you agree to go out with her?" he asked curiously. He hoped it was generic enough to not insinuate going out being a "Date", just more physically going somewhere with the woman. Just in case the man got irritated at the idea of dating the woman. Noah paused again as the man offered his name. Well, that was new. Sure, Noah got names for orders when it was busy, but he hadn't felt the need to ask since there wasn't anyone else in line. He almost wondered for a moment if the man was giving him his name for his cup but after glancing at the man, Felix, he realized it was actually a greeting. "Noah," he offered in return, smiling just a little, before glancing back down at his work.

(just made up a price. butterbeer is two, so I figured a small coffee would be less haha)

[FELIX CICERO TELLER]

Felix passed over the appropriate money, making idle remarks as to his composure. He wasn't regarded as a highly pleasant person to be around, so it was rather a surprise that the barista - Noah, he soon discovered - asked after him. Perhaps he was just friendlier than most other people he'd met. Felix wasn't certain why he was engaging in a longer conversation with this barista, but he supposed it was the loneliness taking its toll.

For Felix had been immeasurably lonely the past weeks. Even though he had been on his own for so long, pushing people away as a standard, Felix had grown to enjoy Melody's company. He pursed his lips as he thought about Noah's question - why had he agreed to meet the astronomy professor? "Well, I'd rather hoped it would shut her up, but it seems like she's just got more intense. I work in the department of mysteries, and I'm not meant to share what I do. Yet she seems to think that she's an exception to that rule." Felix shrugged. "You must hear loads of rubbish like as a barista. Or are you also got some secret job that you can't tell anyone the details of," said Felix wryly. "Like an undercover agent, giving someone loads of gossip."

@noah

[Deleted]

Late April 2026
FELIX CICERO TELLER

Noah was a skilled barista, in most part because he loved coffee so much himself. He'd learned to make everything just for his own enjoyment, but be paid to do something he liked? Sure! Why not? It made fixing drinks second nature. Hell, he was even the sort that would take the time to do a fun little pouring trick to make it "pretty". Though now that he was thinking about it.. "For here or to go?" If he was to stay, Noah could take those few extra moments to make the drink have a nice touch. To go though? No one would see it so he wouldn't bother.

As Felix responded, Noah paused momentarily. That wasn't the answer he'd been expecting. So he'd been wrong. It hadn't been a date, but rather... business of some sort. That was rare. "You picked an unusual spot for business," Noah commented with a small smile as he went back to finishing the drink. This was a date spot after all. Not a lot of suits came in here to meet clients. It was particularly a teenage date spot, so it still would have been a bit unusual for Felix to be on a date here... Not that he was thinking Felix was old. Just older then the normal clientele of students. Especially after mentioning he worked in the department of mysteries.

Noah's smile almost faltered at the next words though. It'd started out normal, about him hearing all sorts, which was true. But then something that hit uncomfortably close to home. A secret job he can't tell anyone about. Holy shit. Noah swallowed hard, forcing the emotions that Felix had stirred up. "Nah, I'm not that interesting." he forced himself to answer, only managing to keep the smile and steady tone of voice from years of hiding his identity. He wouldn't give it away so easily.