apples and scented candles • h.potter ✓

• twenty seven •

The fight with Harry had been chasing him around for the last two days, and Corben found himself wondering frequently if he had been acting stubborn and if he should sincerely apologise to him. This was his first serious relationship, and needless to say he was quite clueless about how to act in such a situation. He knew the fight wasn't his fault, but neither was he blaming Harry. He understood where Harry had come from, and he wondered if he had crossed the line by saying that he was afraid that Corben would ruin his reputation.

The thoughts consumed his mind, even as he walked through Diagon Alley, and he would have crashed right into a clump of bushes by the cobblestoned street had Theo not grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him to pull him out of his reverie. Corben blinked, realising where he was, and thanked Theo half-heartedly.

"Will you stop thinking of Harry for a minute and help me out?"

"I wasn't thinking of Harry," he muttered without conviction, and knew that Theo wasn't convinced. He huffed, then began to pull him away from the bushes.

"Sure you weren't. Come on, let's go to Fortescue's."

Corben obeyed. He forced the thoughts of Harry to the back of his mind and willed himself to pay attention to his surroundings. He has only ever been to Diagon Alley at the beginning of each school year, during which time the place would be wriggling with a hundred people, the shops overflowing and the streets so crowded that you wouldn't see where you were putting your foot. Now, Diagon Alley was considerably less crowded; it almost felt like there was a strict curfew.

He followed Theo into the ice cream parlour.

Theo had decided to find a job at Diagon Alley. He had even written a letter to apply for a job, but had been too nervous to send it. He kept saying how he hated going behind Blaise to do something like this, more so because he was sure Blaise wouldn't like it when he eventually found out. In the end, Corben suggested that they visit Diagon Alley and roam around the shops for a day; perhaps doing this might help him realise that working at Diagon Alley wouldn't be so bad, perhaps it could be worth lying to his boyfriend.

Theo had agreed half-heartedly, and thus there they were, walking through the door of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

They went up to the counter and ordered their ice cream, before they chose a table and sat down. Corben looked at Theo, regarding him carefully. "What did you tell Blaise? About coming here?"

"I told him the truth," he said with a shrug. As Corben raised his eyebrow, he explained, "Well, half the truth. I told him you are feeling under the weather so I am taking you outside for some fresh air."

"And he didn't want to come with you?"

"He was reading, and I just ran away before he could ask me where we were going."

Corben looked around the shop. There was one person at the counter taking orders from the customers. Several small tables were scattered around the shop, haphazardly, but the mess seemed to add to the beauty of the place rather than diminish it. He wondered if it was done purposefully.

"This seems like a good place for a job," he said to Theo, who was looking around as well. "What do you think?"

"Yeah, not bad." He didn't sound very interested.

Corben reached out to touch his hand, which was on the table. "You need to stop worrying about Blaise. I'm sure he'll understand."

"I doubt that."

"Look, just forget about him, okay? For now, please. Let's enjoy our ice cream."

Surprisingly, Theo laughed. "Bit strange coming from you, considering you have been thinking about Harry all day long."