Author's Note: Inspired and betaed by Liza. :)

Written for...

OTP Prompt List Challenge. Prompt: tortuous

Dueling Club Challenge. Prompt: barista!AU

Love in a Cup

500 words

"I'll have a tall iced coconut milk mocha macchiato."

"Can I get a venti peppermint frappe with soy milk, two shots of espresso, and a pump of caramel?"

"I want a grande single shot, four pumps, sugar free vanilla nonfat, extra hot, no foam."

Severus ground his teeth, expertly making each ridiculously overcomplicated drink every customer could come up with and putting up with their rude comments when they determined he had somehow messed up their orders.

"I need a vacation," he muttered under his breath on particularly bad days, wondering why he'd gotten such a tortuous job with so few perks.

Evan was one, he supposed. Evan was the only other normal barista in the cafe. The others were all as bad as the customers, sitting around drinking their expensive concoctions and gossiping about Severus behind his back.

"Hang in there, mate," Evan said, nudging his side. "Your girl is here."

Severus' head shot up, ignoring the comment. The pretty university student who came in each morning for her breakfast was certainly not 'his girl,' though he wouldn't be opposed to such an arrangement. At least she shared his fondness for uncomplicated coffee. She was definitely another perk of the job.

She joined the line for his register even though the other lines were shorter, and Severus waited impatiently as she slowly made her way closer to him. He would occasionally catch her eye and look away, inexplicably nervous about speaking with her.

"I'd like a tall-"

"Black coffee, and a blueberry scone," Severus finished for her, smiling. He grabbed an empty cup and pen. "Your name?"

"H," she replied, rolling her eyes at him. "You know my order off by heart but not my name?"

Severus scoffed, passing the cup off on Evan to fill so he could continue talking with the young woman. "H isn't a name, it's a letter." He tapped his name tag. "I'm Severus."

"I know," she sighed.

Evan handed over the cup and bag a moment later and Severus knew his window of opportunity was running out.

"Please?" he tried. He could hear the next customer in line tapping his foot impatiently and Severus glared at him.

"Everyone spells my name wrong," she explained, paying for her breakfast.

"I would never." He didn't mention how often he purposely misspelled the names of difficult customers.

The woman blushed, fiddling with the strap of her bookbag as she considered giving in.

"Hermione," she said quietly, avoiding his gaze.

Severus tried not to show his enthusiasm as he snatched her drink off the counter. "Shakespearean," he muttered, scribbling quickly.

He handed cup over, turning it slightly so Hermione could inspect the spelling of her name. She stared in awe at it for a moment.

"I think you're the first to get it right."

Severus grinned proudly. "I'm honored. See you tomorrow, Hermione."

"Yes. Thank you, Severus."

Evan wandered over when she had gone. "I slipped your phone number in the bag like you asked."

"Good man."