It was just before 2:00 in the afternoon. The sun was still shining brightly, warming the pedestrians as they wandered around. A fairly steady stream of people had been going into the large house. Some left shortly with paper-wrapped packages of food. Others seemed ready to stay for long hours. Through the large windows at the front, the gauzy curtains only slightly concealed the couple, their empty plates indicating they had been there already for a length of time. He was sure they had been there for at least three hours, though he had not been waiting on the sidewalk all that time. He had first called at her apartment close to eleven, letting himself in with the spare key she insisted he use if ever he was to stop by. After looking through the books on her shelves for about half an hour, he became impatient and went in search of her. First, he stopped at the park where she often practiced. When he did not find her there, he walked into the town, stopping at the various places she frequently haunted. It took him nearly two hours, but he found her--with someone. His eyes narrowed as he wondered who this... person she was talking to could be. They had finished eating, but were making no motions to leave. Well, I am not going to stand here staring in the window, waiting all day. He decided to return to her apartment and leave a note asking her to get in contact with him. He walked back down the sidewalk, turning onto an empty street. The tall, blonde man looked both ways, double-checking to make sure no one was there, before disappearing in a swirl of glitter and feathers. Moments later, a man pushing an ice-cream cart came around the corner. Had he chanced to look up, he would have seen an owl soaring away in the sky.

Katrin pushed her plate toward the centre of the table. "The problem with coming here is I always end up too full to leave, even if I only intended to drop in for coffee!"

"Oh, I believe it." Bill replied, spearing the last tomato on his plate. "The only time I usually get to eat like this is when I go back home in England to visit the family."

Katrin leaned forward eagerly. "Tell me about England?"

"Well, it's part of this group of islands often referred to as the United Kingdom..." Bill's grin echoed Katrin's from earlier. She threw her napkin at him in response.

"Oh, you. That isn't what I meant!"

"No?"

At his innocent look, she picked up her soupspoon and threatened him with it. "Don't make me use this on you."

"Now, now, peanuts. No fighting with the flatware," came the rebuke from across the room. They looked over at the counter where Nell was adding whipped cream to a mug of something-or-other.

"I still haven't figured out how she manages to see what goes on across the room when her back is turned." Katrin muttered.

"Reminds me of one of my teachers at the school I went to."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Professor McGonagall. She could spot trouble a mile away. You learned quickly never to start anything when she was in the room."

Katrin giggled. She was about to ask him to tell more about his school and growing up when a large gonging sound echoed from a grandfather clock somewhere upstairs. "It's already two?" She wondered aloud. "I should probably go. I have some things I need to do this afternoon." Like finding out what my father was doing peeking at me through the window. He probably thought he was being sneaky or something. What in the world is going on?

Bill noticed that she seemed to drift off, as though thinking about something else. He coughed gently. "Well, I had a good time today. I'd like to see you again... sometime..." Oh, that was smooth, Weasley. What happened to not starting something because you're going back to England in a week? Not to forget what it is that you'll be going back to... what a mess that will be...

Katrin snapped out of her reverie. "Yes. I mean, me too. I mean, I would like that as well. Where are you staying? I could call you there?" So forward? Mother would fall over.

Bill wondered why he felt queasy all of a sudden. "Actually, I'm sort of camping out so I don't have access to a, er, telephone." Great. Now what?

"Oh... Well, can you get into town on a regular basis while you're here?"

"Sure."

"Great! The library a few blocks down has free access to the Internet. We can email each other. It isn't the same thing as actual talking, but we can figure out times and things that way, I guess. What's your email address?" Email each other? How corny can you get...

Bill had a blank look on his face. "Uh... I don't have one." What in the world is email?

"Oh," Katrin blushed. After a moment of slightly uncomfortable silence, she reached out and grabbed a packet of artificial sweetener from the container at the centre of the table. Pulling a pen out of her bag, she scribbled something down on it and handed the packet to Bill. "That's my email address, and the website where you can get a free one as well. We can keep in contact that way, and I'll see you next weekend at the faire?" She hoped she wasn't sounding too eager, but knew that eager is exactly what she felt.

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Bill replied, looking at the packet. He wasn't sure what email was or how it worked, but he was determined to find out. Especially since he couldn't very well ask her to send him an owl. He put the packet in his pouch and grinned at her. She beamed back. They stood at the same time.

Katrin slung her bag over her shoulder. "So... I'll hear from you soon?"

"I'll head to the library right now."

"Great," she smiled at him. "Well... bye then." Suddenly feeling a bit shy and embarrassed, she gave another smile and a wave and scooted out the door. She stopped on the sidewalk in front of the window and turned back, waving once more. Bill grinned back at her and waved as well.

As the food was paid for when ordered, Bill gathered his things and headed out the door. He paused in front of the counter where Nell was standing. "Thanks again. Everything was wonderful."

"Not a problem. It was nice to meet you, Bill," she replied. "I do hope you come back."

"I think I will," he grinned. "Can't get food like this over a campfire."

She laughed. "No, indeed. Now get along with you." He waved and went out the door. Nell wandered over to the table and started clearing it off. She gazed out the window at the retreating figure of the young man. Hmm... these are strange tidings. Katrin comes in and introduces a young man, but fairly runs out without saying goodbye to me as she usually does. They did seem to enjoy each other's company, and he was so polite, but something seemed to be troubling them at the very end. It did not appear to be each other, though. Simply previous burdens which had been temporarily forgotten. And the man in the window earlier reminded me of her father. I thought he doesn't come looking for Katrin around here as a general rule. He usually leaves her to the privacy she finds here. The tinkling bell of the door opening caught her attention and she returned to the counter to greet the next customers. Very strange, indeed...