Home for the summer ¦ Alfie

[alfie edward o'callaghan]

"That's fine and I completely understand. Thank you for sharing with me. I know that wasn't easy to do." he told her, knowing it wasn't easy to be vulnerable. Alfie offered  her a soft smile as he raised the glass to his lips to take a deep drink. The alcohol was flowing through his system now. He could feel her eyes on him as his shoulders loosened.

Alora asked if he came to the UK in search for change of scenery. Hell, he wished that was the reason. But it wasn't. In the beginning, his position at the school was supposed to be more short term. If he was told he would be living above a shop in Hogsmeade 3 years later, he would have thought that was a joke. Not to mention, he’d be disappointed in himself to see that he was still painfully single, all the way across the pond.

Alfie thought about how he wanted to answer her question. ”Honestly? Not quite. It was a major change but one I didn't realize I needed at the time." he shared, dwelling deep down how quickly time went by. Merlin, he felt older each day, Alfie took a sip, realizing that he finished another glass. He'd need to slow down if he didn't want to get too sloppy. He didn’t want to make a bad first impression so soon. Alfie swallowed unsure if he should give the short version of the story. ”The explosions at Ilvermorny occurred on what was supposed to be my 4th year teaching there. When I came here it was meant to be a temporary position but they asked me to stay." he shared, feeling himself drone on. He couldn’t believe he got suckered into a full time position at Hogwarts for two years. "i think it ended up being the change I needed at the time because I enjoy living here much more than I ever thought I would.”

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

As soon as it had been out of her mouth, despite the need to draw a line of sorts, Alora felt bad for being so curt with him. She didn't mean to cut him off so horribly; she just hadn't been entirely sure how to say it and then it had come out all wrong. Her smile was tight, but apologetic as she reached a hand forward and placed it gently on his. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude, I just don't like to think about it too much or else...it just becomes a lot...so I don't..." Which was true, the less she thought about the grey cloud, the less it floated around her head and weighed her down. As she met Alfie's eye and gave him another attempt at a warmer smile, she realised where her hand had wandered too almost of it's own accord, and her cheeks flushed a pinker shade again as she pulled her hand back and reached for her wine again.

Instead she focused now on listening to his sorry tale. It wasn't that bad, even as she remembered the Ilvermorny explosions with a pained grimace. The small nod showed understanding, but she had nothing to say to interrupt his story, or to make him feel any better about it.

"Ok well that's good. The enjoying being here I mean. I guess it's your new home." Shrugging slightly, her copper hair fell back from her shoulders "Maybe you needed it. As my grandfather used to say; What's for you won't pass you and all that.." as she trailed off, her gaze moved to trail over the street. The comfort from the wine taking over again as she sat back in her chair, in a quiet solace. It had gotten darker now, the sun was down and it was a nice evening. She couldn't quite believe the day had gone that quick, but she supposed she had been enjoying herself in Alfie's company.

After a moment, she realised she had finished yet another glass of wine, and raised an eyebrow, almost shocked at herself. Oh on reflection she decided it probably would be best to slow down. But instead she heard herself blurt out;

"I don't know why I've drank so much of this to be honest. I mean it's ok, but-" cutting herself off with a surprisingly giddy giggle, she eyed him, almost mischievously. The line between professional and pleasure was definitely lone gone now as she watched him carefully, the glitter in her eyes sparkling. "I have a couple of bottles of Sauvignon back in my flat. If you wanted to come back and have a drink.." her tone was innocent, and yet, something in her decided she didn't quite care how Alfie decided to take it. But she rather hoped he could come back. She'd been enjoying hanging out with him. At first she'd been nervous of meeting him, then pleasantly surprised, but now she felt his company easy. The comfortably fuzzy wine brain probably helped, but she was rather enjoying herself and found she didn't want it to come to and end. 

alfie edward o'callaghan

[alfie edward o'callaghan]

Alfie shifted in his seat slightly, eyes flickering down to where Alora’s hand rest on his to tell him that she was sorry for being rude. He easily dismissed it, offering her a soft smile. No words were needed, their eye contact conveyed enough. As she slowly pulled her hand away to replace it with her wine glass, he followed suit, finishing the contents of his glass. Alfie was sporting a good buzz, his inebriated senses were pleased with the presence of the copper haired woman.

Nodding at her grandfathers bit of wisdom, ”A wise man.” he commented, ”Love a good ol’ Irish Proverb…that one is similar to: ’Your feet will bring you where your heart is.” Alfie recited. They fell into a comfortable silence, eyes trailing off to the bustling street.

Alora commented on her wine intake, Alfie to offered a nonjudgemental shrug in response, ”Looks like you have the special ability to make wine disappear.” he joked lightly, waggling his eyebrows in . She continued by inviting him back to her flat which came off as a bit of a surprise but he feigned nonchalance somewhere deep in his core.

As much as Alfie wanted to remain professional, he was a man who couldn’t refuse an opportunity to spend time with a beautiful woman. Though there was something deep down that told him he probably shouldn’t play with fire so soon. If things got messy, he’d lose the school as one of his biggest clients..that was money on the table he’d be missing out on. But there was something about her broken smile. Alfie had the feeling like Alora needed a friend - and probably an excellent shag - to get over her recent breakup.

The man smiled, matching her inebriated gaze, ”Well, you don’t gotta twist my arm to keep the party goin’..” he laughed, knowing damn well he opened with that line earlier but it felt right. ”Lead the way” Alfie agreed easily, pulling out hid chair. ”Or let me know if you need me to roll you outta here.” he said with playful jest, smiling down with a drunken chuckle. Alfie wasn’t sure what he was agreeing to yet but it seemed like a great opportunity to get to know Alora and he figured the least he could do was make sure she got home safely.

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

Her nod was a polite one, her Grandfather wasn't Irish but the saying may have been, she just didn't know. Maybe he had had a friend there or something. She couldn't remember much about him in that way regardless. "That's a nice one too" with a more quiet giggle her head grew in increasing fuzziness. She didn't hate it, but it was definitely impairing her judgement just a slight bit. "Yes that's me. Even if I can't remember the charm for that" Leaning back with another quiet rumble of a laugh, she subconsciously found one hand snaking out to rest on his thigh that was closest to her, and the other raised in the direction of the wait staff to signal for the bill to be charged to her account.

The red painted lips parted into a more mischievous smile "Oh well that's good. I was worried for a minute there, but we're going back the same way. And what is it the ministry says, don't drink and apparate? Don't drink and apparate alone??" with a slight frown, she mixed up her sayings, but brushed it off with a shake of her head. "Maybe that's only for girls. I don't know. But anyway, we can floo back to the Three Broomsticks and then it's only up the road" For a moment, she paused to smooth over her skirt, withdrawing her hand from his leg again, and pushing herself to stand. As he mirrored her movement, she watched him feeling split. There was an excitement bubbling up inside her, but waiting and watching caused her to feel somewhat awkward. For a moment she looked away, giving him a moment to gather himself. "Come on then we can go inside and use their fireplace.."

It was only when she turned back in his direction she realised how close she was to him. For a moment, as her eyes raked up to meet his, her smile was hazy, almost dreamlike as she took him in. The drink probably helped in her boldness, but it was then she did one of the most daring things she'd ever done in her life, and made the first move.

Leaning into him, she stretched up to close the distance between them and planted a rather suggestive kiss on his lips, while one arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him in some more. This wasn't how she had planned this evening to go, no. But was she disappointed? Not in the least.


alfie edward o'callaghan

[alfie edward o'callaghan]

”Ah, yes. Don’t wanna endure a drunken splinch. Floo is much easier in these instances.” he agreed with a laugh, an easy smile spreading across Alfie’s face as she got the sayings mixed up. The face she made caused him to bite his lip. He noticed the hand on his thigh and tried not to allow naughty thoughts to flood his thoughts.

Alfie stood up from his seat after Alora mentioned using the fireplace inside the pub. The alcohol rushed to his head as he gained his balance. Now he was feeling those beers. As he started for the door, Alora turned to face him, sending him a hazy smile before stretching forward and smashing her lips against his. It was bold and unexpected but he didn’t dislike it. Quite the opposite, actually. He froze for a split second, unsure if his drunkenness was deceiving him.

Swallowing, his body went hot as his inner wolf awakened. His breath hitched in his throat, hands dropping to her sides because he wasn’t trying to push her away. Was he supposed to push her away? His body surely didn’t want to. Hell, he was suddenly willing to jeopardize being “professional” for a drunken booty call although he had a feeling she was looking for a rebound. He wasn't one to deny anyone from rebound action. "Fuck-I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting that.” he said quickly. Without wasting any more time, he pulled her back in as his lips pressed against hers as they exchanged a rather suggestive kiss outside of The Three Broomsticks. With his lowered inhibitions from drinking he didn't care about indulging in a PDA. It was glorious.

Alora Veda Astor

[Alora Veda Astor]

It hard for her not to feel him freeze up with the realisation that Alora had set herself on him. As warm and gushy as she was with the intoxication, it cut through her like a bolt of ice. Maybe she had totally misread the situation and would indeed be flooing home alone, tail between her legs and red faced. It caused her a split seconds pause, her arm slackening just slightly on his neck, but still hers was craned up in his direction stretched to try meet his height. Still though, she didn't pull her lips from his; it was nicer to cling to the hope if it all.

When he did pull his lips away to speak, she half frowned. Her body protesting and the ice setting in her bones some more to quell the heat that had been rising in her. This whole thing had been an utterly fucked up mistake on her part. No wonder he was pushing her away now. Fuck for all she knew he could be already seeing someone or anything like that.

Except then tone of what he half mumbled, led her to think otherwise. She had caught him by surprise sure, but he wasn't protesting it at all. She had never been one for public displays of affection. Even when she was happily settled in a relationship for years with Sam, she had always been more on the prudish side, shy and uptight in a way. But this, this was excellent. "Oh" As he pulled her back in for some more she felt the fire reignite in her and that made her very very happy. Smiling into the kiss she gave it another few seconds before she stepped away with a giggle and reached for his hand to pull him in the direction of the nearest fireplace. Whatever would be the quickest way to get them back to her flat.

Fin.