'A yawn is a silent scream for coffee'.

It was customary, he supposed, to look over everytime the bell dinged, letting him know someone had entered the coffee shop, but it was rare that the person was afforded a second or third look, for he usually let his staff handle them. But not her. She got a third, fourth and fifth look. Okay, he might have stared a bit, for varying reasons.

It was only half an hour away from closing. It had been a quiet night, being so cold. He'd probably send his only waitress home soon, after the counters had been wiped down. And then she'd come in.

She stood in the entry way, looking around. He liked what he'd done to the shop, the colours he'd chosen, the booths and tables he'd picked for optimum seating. All in all, it was soothing yet inviting. He wondered if that was what drew her in now.

She stamped her feet, causing some snow to puddle near her boots. He was glad Helen had yet to wash the floors, although if he sent her home early, he'd end up doing it himself.

She unwound her scarf and removed her knitted hat. Her long glorious coppery red hair spilled out and around her shoulders. The end of her nose was red from the cold, and her brown eyes took in absolutely everything. Their eyes met for a split second, before he looked away.

"Hi. We're closing soon, coffee machines are down already," warned Helen, a student at the nearby university.

"Tea?" she enquired, and Helen nodded. "English breakfast, please," she requested, sinking into a booth for four.

"Be right back," smiled Helen, but he already had the kettle boiling and the tea bag out and in a cup. He was happy to leave her in Helen's capable hands, so he kept his head down.

Helen proceeded to wipe down the counter near him where the customers could also sit and chat, and then she moved to the tables and booths near her. "Do you mind if I keep cleaning?" she asked her.

"No, please do. I'm sorry if I'm holding you up. I just moved to the area, and was looking for a nice little café. I liked the name and I like what you've done in here. Very inviting," she said.

He smiled at that as he filled her cup with boiling water. Déja Brew. Hardly original, but fun.

"Where do you live? I'm up that way, two blocks over. I go to the nearby uni," said Helen. She looked up when her boss coughed to get her attention, nodding that the tea was ready. She left then returned, placing it in front of her.

She cupped her hands around the cup, more for the warmth than anything. "I live the other way, up the hill and on the left. I'm Ginny, by the way."

"Helen," said Helen, unnecessarily, for she wore her name tag. "So, you're going to be a regular?"

"Hope so. You are the closest to me. Depends on how good the coffee is, doesn't it?" She grinned cheekily as she sipped her tea.

"Oh, our coffee's good. EJ there," – she pointed at him – "is a great barista," she said.

She toasted him with her cup of tea. "EJ." He nodded to her but continued cleaning the preparation area. He dare not say anything.

"Strong, silent type, huh," she asked Helen, who chuckled.

"She's got you pegged already, EJ," called the waitress.

He continued cleaning down the sink, then checked the fridge for quantities of the different milks he used and noting which ones he'd need to order more of. The two women continued to chat, and he tried to listen without being obvious.

"- living by myself for the first time ever. I have a large family and then I went to a boarding school. I can tell you I'm really enjoying the freedom of my own space."

"What do you do for work? You're not looking for work, are you? We could do with another waitress, especially at this time of year. Tips are good too," said Helen.

She chuckled. "No, I'm not looking for work. I'm an athlete, on my Christmas break," she explained.

Helen started stacking the chairs on the table. Ginny quickly finished her tea. "Here, I'll go, get out of your hair and let you close."

He checked the time, knowing if he let Helen go now, she would definitely make the last bus that ran past both the café and her flat, otherwise she'd end up walking forty minutes to get home."You can go," he told her, when she brought Ginny's cup to the back kitchen area to wash up.

"But the floor," she protested, gesturing to the mop and bucket.

"It won't take me long. Go, you'll make the bus if you leave now," he urged her. If Ginny was going to confront him, or question him, they needed to be alone.

"Are you sure?" she asked, longing to go.

"I'm sure," he told her.

She was already untying her apron. "You're the best. See you Friday," she told him. He nodded.

They both returned to the front of the café. "She's gone," said Helen, looking for Ginny. She walked to the table where she had been sitting. "Five pounds?" She handed it to her boss. "You must give good tea."

He chuckled. "Not what a barista wants to hear." He followed Helen to the door and shut and locked it behind her, changing the sign on the door from 'Open' to 'Closed'. He watched Helen walk to the bus stop and safely get on the bus, something he did whenever she worked the late shift.

He walked back to the kitchen, putting the five pounds in Helen's tip jar. He washed the floor, flicked the lights off and then made his way up the stairs to the flat above the café.

Only then did he let himself think about the ramifications of Ginny Weasley being in his coffee shop. Then followed a restless night sleep.

She returned a week later, before nine in the morning. "Hi. Can I get an Espresso, please?"

"Got a lot going on? That will give you a boost," noted Nancy. She was on a gap year, earning money to travel. She favoured the retro sixties look, with beehive hairdo, heavy makeup and tattoos. He had an interesting mix of waitresses, and a relief barista on staff.

Ginny nodded. "Christmas shopping in London. I'm meeting my sisters-in-law and my brother's fianceé. We have a lot to get through today so I figured an Espresso would give me a kick."

""Oh yeah, that'll do it. You want it to go?" asked Nancy, writing up her order and adding it to the order rack.

He was already half way through a Cappucino, and hers was next.

"Nah, I'll have it here," she said, sitting at the counter where he worked. He was glad his back was to her, but when he turned around to hand over the cappucino, she was right there, watching. He was sure she hadn't seen through his glamours. He now cast them without thought every morning but was still surprised at the blonde haired, brown eyed stranger that looked back at him in the mirror every morning.

She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but smile back. "This won't take long," he told her.

"Just what a girl wants to hear," she quipped, and Nancy laughed as he blushed and turned around to start her damn Espresso.

The orders started coming in, as more and more people stopped off on their way to work or Christmas shopping, just like her. Helen was due in soon, to help Nancy through the mid morning and lunch rush. He knew he'd barely move from the coffe machine today and contemplated calling Ben, his back up barista, in to help.

He turned and handed it to her. Despite the mounting orders, he took the time to watch her take her first sip. Her eyes opened wider. "Woah!" she said, her eyes meeting his. "Strong," she gasped. "That got my blood pumping."

He winked and grinned. "Just what a bloke likes to hear," and turned back to start on his next order.

"Touché," she chuckled, and skolled the rest. She checked her watch. "Merlin, I have to go." She fumbled in her purse for the money, and left it near the till.

"Have fun shopping," he told her, although he couldn't imagine anything worse.

"Ha, I really couldn't imagine anything worse," she said, echoing his thoughts. She stood and re-wrapped her red and gold scarf around her neck, "except when it's Christmas."

He grunted as he handed off the two hot chocolates to the waitress. "Bah, humbug," he muttered, deftly dunking a couple of tea bags while also pouring the soy milk into the frother.

Her laughter lingered in his mind long after she left.

He hadn't thought he'd see her again that day. They were slammed and thankfully Nancy stayed an extra hour to see them through the worst of it. Ben came in at twelve but could only stay till five. Nancy left at two, and Stacey came in at three. Helen would stay till four, then Stacey would stay till closing at seven. Stacey was a single mum of two, looking to add to her government pension. He paid her in cash.

Ginny came in at four, at thankfully a quieter time. She greeted Helen, who was just finishing. Helen introduced her to Stacey and Ben, then waved goodbye to everyone.

"So, Christmas shopping in London?" said Stacey. "You must be exhausted. What can I get you?"

Ginny nodded. "It was horrible. I've never been so pushed and prodded. Do you know, I literally had some woman rip a toy out of my hands. Hot chocolate, please, with a marshmallow." She sat at a table for two.

"You got it, hun," said Stacey, smiling sympathetically. She went and placed the order, then cleared a couple of tables before coming back to Ginny with her drink.

"Here you go, love, drink up," said Stacey, placing it in front of her.

She stared at it thoughtfully for several seconds. Then she plopped one marshmallow in her drink and picked up the extra one on the side of her cup. "Thanks for the extra one." She put that one in her mouth.

"Thank EJ for that. Said you probably need the sugar boost," grinned Stacey. She looked over at him, and he quickly ducked his head.

"He's not wrong," scoffed Ginny. "What happened to the season of goodwill to mankind? People were so mean today. They were yelling at shop assistants, making a mess of the stores. I swear to you, next year I am starting my shopping in July."

"That's what I do," said Stacey, nodding. "I pick up little things for my kids throughout the year."

"How old are they? My niece is only nineteen months old, cute as a button," smiled Ginny, "and I have a godson who's nearly three."

"My boy Ryan is four and my daughter Becca is one and a half," said Stacey proudly.

"I bet they can't wait for Christmas," said Ginny.

Stacey nodded. "I just wish I could give them more, you know."

Ginny shrugged. "We never had much money growing up, and most of mine and my brother's presents were home made. My mum still knits us all a Christmas jumper, and there's thirteen of us," she said.

"Thirteen?" gasped Stacey.

"I have si-five brothers, and two are married, one just this year. One is getting married next year, so his fiancée will get one too," said Ginny. "The jumpers are a tradition now."

"Sounds fun – oh, I have to get that table," she said, and left.

"So, where are you spending Christmas day?" Stacey asked her when she returned.

"I'm heading near Devon day afer tomorrow, Christmas Eve, and I'll stay for a couple of days. I like to help my mum with the cooking and decorating," she said. "My brother will be home from Romania, and my best friend will be home from, well, I'm not actually sure where she's been. She travels a lot," said Ginny.

"She should talk to Nancy," said Stacey, wiping down tables. "You want another?" She gestured to her cup.

Ginny smiled. "No, I should be heading home. Presents to wrap, feet to soak. I'm sure you can understand."

"I hear you," smiled Stacey, "but at this time of year, the tips are good, so it kind of makes it worthwhile."

"What about the others? EJ here, what's he doing for Christmas?" asked Ginny, gesturing with her head.

"If it's anything like last year, he'll spend it alone in his flat," she said, pointing up.

"What? Doesn't he have a family or friends he can go to?" asked Ginny.

Stacey shrugged. "We all invite him to ours for the day, but he says he prefers to be alone. I don't think his family treated him very well when he was growing up," she said.

Ginny had a funny look on her face as she stood up. "I have to go," she said, smiling too brightly at Stacey. The other woman nodded and removed her cup and saucer, taking them to the back kitchen where Ben was washing the last few dishes before he left.

Ginny hesitated, then walked over to the till. He could sense her behind him. "Hey," she said, and he had to turn.

"Here," she said, handing over a twenty pound note. "Keep the change."

He raised an eyebrow in question. "For Stacey and the others. It's Christmas."

He nodded and put the money in the till. He'd split it later amongst his staff..

"Are you really going to be alone for Christmas?" she asked him.

He cursed Stacey for her loose tongue, then shrugged. "Not sure what I'm doing?" It wasn't a lie.

"I'll be gone for a couple of days. Back before New Year's Eve," she told him.

He nodded. "Happy Christmas then."

"Happy Christmas, EJ," she said, then cocked her head. "What does the letters stand for? E-J?"

"He won't tell," said Stacey, walking past. "None of us know."

"Ah, a mystery," said Ginny, "interesting."

He shrugged. "Not really. I'm probably the least interesting person in all of London. All of England, even."

"Oh, I doubt that. Keep your secrets for now, EJ. My brothers will tell you, I can be relentless," she grinned. "Happy Christmas."

He watched her walk out, calling out a farewell to Stacey. She walked past his window, and damned if she didn't look in at him and wink.

He had known, the instant she walked into his café, that she was going to be trouble.