She had been watching him for weeks now.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Like clockwork, he came. Those were his days, and she always made sure to have stocked up on her Espresso Beans and coffee-flavoured pastries when he was expected to make an appearance. She really couldn't help it.

He was so intriguing.

Tall, dark, handsome and dangerous.

… and those curly sideburns …

Merlin, Hyacinth had to blush just thinking of them.

He was the kind of man she never thought she would find attractive only to be completely blind-sided by just how strongly and how expressively her traitorous body and mind found him appealing – and that sexy smirk he always wore did really absolutely nothing to dissuade her quickly-developed crush. She was honestly resigned to her insuperable fate of flushing in the most awkward shades of pink whenever he so much as smirked in her direction.

Which was every time he was there.

And today, just like every other Wednesday, he wore a perfectly fitting black suit with a golden-orange silk dress shirt beneath and a small elegant black tie to round up that handsome picture. His black Italian leather shoes gleamed as he stepped into her small café.

Mister Dark-and-Dangerous was the first man she had ever had any kind of sexual urge for, and she just knew that if he proved to have the mind and heart to go with that gorgeous body and as such capture her interest completely, than she would be a goner, head over heels for a man she had until today not even exchanged more than a greeting, his coffee orders and banal pleasantries with – a status quo that a shyness she didn't even knew she had before meeting him begged to continue with! There was not a snowballs chance in hell that she could get the courage necessary to actually ask him out, Gryffindor parents and her own ill-chosen Sorting not-withstanding for now. She really was not that kind of brave.

Biting her lips before giving her attractive customer a coy smile, she felt a slight dusting of pink rise to her pale cheeks as she noticed that he let his eyes wander her form appraisingly.

Hyacinth knew theoretically that even in this body which was slightly altered by her Metamorphmagi-abilities, she was a quite pretty young woman. The dress she most certainly did not deliberately wore was a low-necked vintage model with a high waistline and a skirt part that flared out to just above her knees and was supported by two layers of black petticoats beneath. The white chiffon was imprinted with stylised black-stemmed red roses and she had matching red strap high heels on. Her short black hair swung with an inwardly curled wave around her face and its darkness accented her pale skin, green eyes and deep-red lips.

Still, compared to a man like that – she was a beggar standing next to a prince, so far out of her league it wasn't even funny. And yes, she was well aware that should Draco, Blaise or Neville ever get the barest hint of those thoughts spooking around in her mind, they wouldn't hesitate to physically disapprove them … after castrating whoever caught her fancy.

Overprotective gits.

… thinking about that, it just occurred to her that she absolutely had to forbid Teddy from ever growing up. The little terror would be worse than all his uncles put together.

At least in Luna she had an ally, despite the aggravating fact that her only female friend took way too much enjoyment out of Hyacinths embarrassment.

Oh Merlin, have mercy!

Smouldering black eyes stared at her.

" Chaos, Signorina."

His voice was a dark rich purr.

Hyacinth blinked as she had to inconspicuously grip the counter to keep standing, that voice shooting right down to her lower regions and setting them aflame in want.

Every time he did that she had the same reaction – it was kind of pathetic.

" Is that a traditional Italian greeting – or just something you do?", she asked this time without thinking, biting her lower lip nervously as soon as the damned question had left her mouth.

She had no idea how he could get to her like this! Not even when she had that damn crush on Cedric did she flounder around like a graceless baby doe.

And she hadn't even wanted to engage him in a talk! Looking at the eye candy that was Mister Sexy was more than enough for her!

" That's just me", he answered bemused.

At least he was taking her foray into social disgrace with humour.

" … I like it", she muttered quietly, pale hands already busy as they grabbed a Maxi-sized Coffee-to-go-Cup.

His thin sensual lips curled up in a self-satisfied smirk.

" Who wouldn't", he sighed amused, before leaning on her counter and ordering. " The usual, please."

… wow. As if he hadn't seen that she had already started on it.

Redundant much?

He accepted the small chocolate-chip cookie she handed him to kill the time while she set to make his extra-strong Espresso, licking his lips seductively after the first bite, causing more heat to flush on Hyacinth's pale cheeks.

It should be outlawed to be so sexy … but somehow, she got the impression that instead of discouraging, a law against his sexiness would only encourage him.

He just seemed like the type of man who was his own law.

" Mhm, Signorina, are you flirting with me?", he purred, his dark eyes capturing her emerald-eyed gaze as she stole another shy look at his delicious lips.

Hyacinth blushed deeply.

" How – why would you think that?", she nearly stammered, flustered at having been caught.

Mister Tall-and-Handsome leaned slightly over the counter, making her press both hands against her face to hide the flaming cheeks his close proximity had summoned as she avoided his sinful gaze.

" Perfect Espresso … wonderful delectable coffee pastries … a beautiful and sweet hostess … how could I think anything else?", he asked lowly.

Oh, this was so mortifying!

" … I-I am really sorry, really! I didn't want to embarrass you. Please forgive me", she pleaded, bowing her head slightly with her hands gripping the skirt of her dress tightly so she wouldn't try to do anything even more awkward with them.

" There's nothing to forgive. I'm not embarrassed, in truth I'm actually flattered."

Thank Merlin!

Hyacinth nearly cried in relief, a deep sigh of gratitude escaping her lips as she nearly sagged against the counter, never mind her customer's interested gaze staying on her the whole time.

" But Signorina, you really shouldn't tempt your luck."

She blinked.

So … did she anger him or not?

" Oh?"

He simply nodded.

" I'm not a good man."

Wow, didn't see that coming. Oh, wait, she did.

Hyacinth really tried hard not to roll her eyes. She honestly doubted that he knew just how ridiculous he sounded.

Talk about stating the obvious.

Besides, if she could be tempted with nice and sweet or orderly and respectable, she would have chosen a more than willing sheep from Britain who wanted to make her return to the light and not started crushing on Mister Dark-and-Dangerous here.

And she really did like the dark, dangerous and tall part …

" I'm certainly not the type of man who makes a habit of saving every damsel in distress he meets."

Wow, that, she actually didn't see coming.

O-kay … what a frigging arrogant bastard.

He had no idea who she was, he had no idea what she really wanted and had done – but he dared to call her a damsel? Her? The burning urge to paint his perfectly chiselled face a little semi-permanently red, preferably by way of a good old slap spiced with five long deep scratches from her long red-painted finger nails, reared its tempting head and she had to hold on tightly to her Occlumency shields least that man actually did become acquainted with the temperament her red-headed mother and Black-blooded paternal grandmother had so generously passed on.

… really, the fact that he was fucking handsome and she actually found his mystery more intriguing than annoying was the only reason her wand was still in its holster and not covertly out casting a very painful boil hex in a very delicate place.

Oh, but the urge to do just that …

No matter. The fact stood, she was most certainly not a freaking damsel in distress, thank you very much!

Hyacinth gave a poisonous little smile as she took a still steaming cappuccino-flavoured muffin and pressed the fluffy pastry into his again opening mouth.

Perplexed, he quirked an eyebrow.

Her index finger pointed behind him.

" There's the door – please do let it hit you on the way out."

Her darling Knights would have whimpered at the frost in her voice.

Something different entered the stranger's eyes, a gleam that could only spell trouble.

For her.

She pursed her red-painted lips as he provocatively took a bite of the muffin before freeing his mouth and actually had the audacity to lick his delicious lips, giving her a lecherous grin as he started moving out, pastry and coffee in hand, and the money due already placed on her counter.

She had no idea why he looked at her like that – and it really made her uncomfortable!

He looked like a frigging predator reconsidering what he knew of his prey.

And liking it even more. Damn.

" I will see you, love", he purred teasingly, dipping the sexy fedora on his head to shadow his heated gaze.

She bristled as he smirked and walked out, her voice carrying behind him as she called after him, fury touchable in every word.

" Don't bet on it, bastard!"

His laughter only stained her cheeks a deeper shade of pink as the door fell shut.

Delusional idiotic man! And to think that she had actually fancied him … okay, and she still did fancy him. But no one ever implied that Hyacinth had either good or even reasonable acceptable taste when it came to men – and he certainly fell in the category foolishly ridiculous crushes.

Snorting inelegantly, and more than happy that her little café was still empty so early in the morning, she returned to her cake preparations and ground the Arabian coffee Beans with just a little bit more … ah, single-minded vigour than strictly necessary.

… and she didn't even get his name.

What a rude idiot!

Two days later, a ticket for Andrew Llyod Webber's The Wizard of Oz arrived in the post.

She immediately knew who send it.

What a presumptuous git.

And still she went.

… she loved the Wizard of Oz. That's the only reason why.

Really!

Besides, it was next to taking custody of Teddy and escaping Britain …

… the best decision of her life.

~ The End Pt. C. To be continued in Pt. D ~