January let herself laugh again at his little wink. Would she regret it? Probably not. Oliver seemed like a nice guy. "We'll see about that," she said right back with her own little wink. Winks were contagious. Or something.

Ravishing? Ravishing? January couldn't help but laugh at that too. She covered her mouth in an attempt to contain herself. Ravishing, enlightening, entertaining and compelling. "Wow," she said nodding, feeling her cheeks grow warm as they were probably turning a light shade of red. "All my years, I don't believe anyone has called me 'ravishing' before." Props to him. If this was him flirting... well, he had successfully made her blush.

"I think compelling may be a first timer, too," she added with a curious expression. Compelling? She wondered in what sense he meant by that.

He knew there was a reason that he had found January so likeable. She was a bit like himself. What with the flirting and the winking. "That sounds like a bit of a challenge Miss January." He was enjoying this banter with her. And he was quite happy to give her the full effects of his flirting. He had the impression though, that she could give as good as she got.

The blush on her cheeks was the perfect shade of pink and he couldn't help but grin, it looked very nice on her. "Obviously you have been hanging around with the wrong people." How could she not be called anything else?

Oliver chuckled at the look on her face and he held up his hands. "That is my fancy way of saying I think you're beautiful, smart and funny. But they are such common words to use." He took a sip of his drink and wished they had gotten something to eat before they had sat down. "I am trying to impress you here."

He glanced towards the dance floor once again but he could not see William amongst the crowd and he heaved a sigh. His friend was an idiot! Oliver turned his attention back to January. "Do you have family here in Britain?

If January was honest with herself, she knew she hadn't always been this... fun? Fun was a good word for it. She had been tired of being a stiff old square, and you know what? This flirting business was fun. She didn't even know if she was doing it right, but she was having fun and she supposed that was all that mattered. "Maybe it is, Sir Oliver."

Perhaps she had been hanging out with the wrong people. Another good reason why she left Italy. "Well, I suspect that's about to change." If Oliver here wanted to keep spending time with her after this little orientation. And she planned on making some good friends here at her new job, too.

Still pink and smiling, January shook her head. Beautiful, smart and funny. She wasn't used to such an onslaught of compliments. Oh, he was trying to impress her? It was working. "Well, I think you've been successful. I'm quite flattered, thank you." Also, possibly slightly embarrassed by her warm cheeks.

She followed his gaze briefly to the dance floor but could not see William and Alysson from this direction, but she assumed they were having a good time together. "I have my father," she replied, turning her attention back to Oliver. "He's up near Luton. Then I have a sister and her daughter up in Aberdeen." She nodded with a smile. She had a good little family. "What about you?"

It was lucky that Oliver was not in the middle of having a drink or eating something because he probably would have choked on it. Sir Oliver? He think he just fell in love with this woman. Joking. He was joking. "Well then I am definitely looking forward to taking you upon this challenge." He flashed her a smile. "Am I allowed to call you Fair Maiden?" Hehe.

Yes, she was correct in thinking that things were going to change. While he was sure that they would see each other around the workplace, after spending this little amount of time with her, Oliver knew that he would like to see her outside of the workplace as well. And he figured this was a good a time as any to ask her. "Would you like to have lunch with me sometime? Maybe next week?" He would have preferred to ask her to dinner but it was best to work up to these things.

He really did like that look on her. The smile and the faint pink flush to her cheeks. And Oliver being Oliver could not resist in complimenting her further. "I think I forgot to mention enticing." Oh yes very much so! "And really you don't need to thank me." She was beautiful and should be told so. "I should be thanking you." He got to sit here and talk to her.

Oliver noticed that she didn't mention a mother and he was smart enough not to ask her. That was something January should bring up on her own. "Well both my parents are still in Hampshire and my brother finally got the travel bug. Last I heard he was in Africa. Knowing Fred, he's probably been eaten by a lion or trampled by an elephant." His brother wasn't particularly smart.

"So how did you meet William?" He couldn't remember if either of them had said.

Was Sir Oliver overkill? January was trying not to laugh, especially when he asked to call her Fair Maiden, but she couldn't help it. Things had turned extremely corny in less than fifteen seconds. "If you really want to, I suppose I can't stop you." It would definitely make her laugh more.

He was offering lunch already? January smiled. He seemed like a good man and he was friends with William, so... that was good. Despite their argument. They were just doing what friends do. "I would like that," she replied. "Next week works perfectly." All she had was work, but she definitely had time for lunch.

Enticing, too? "Merlin's beard, you're going to embarrass me." January looked away from Oliver with a flustered expression for a moment before smiling back at him. Resting her elbow on the table, January rested her chin on her hand and shook her head. "You are too charming for your own good." And that is all she had to say about that. For now.

Ah, Hampshire. Nice place to live. She'd like to move south someday, maybe near the water. Wide, open spaces and lots of room to breathe... Anyway, "Wow, Africa." And getting eaten by a lion. "Thrilling," she added with a laugh. "Does he work, or is that just for fun?" If she had the means, she would probably travel around, too.

And back to William. January smiled again. "Oh, we bumped into each other a few weeks ago. We actually went to school together, but... we didn't talk." Probably because her nose was stuck in books all the time and William was... Well, he was different than the friends January used to have. He was probably popular and she was definitely not. "Did you go to Hogwarts as well?" she asked, not remembering if it had been brought up when they first met.

"Well you could, but I don't think you're the violent type." That would be one sure way of getting him to stop calling her names. She could also just ask him not to and he would but she didn't so..."I think you secretly want me to call you Fair Maiden. He chuckled softly, if that's what she wanted then he would be more than happy to oblige. He was good like that.

And thank Merlin, she was agreeing to his invitation. He had actually been holding his breath waiting for her answer. For a second there he had been worried that maybe it was too soon to ask her out. Oliver grinned again. Goodness, he was certainly doing a lot of grinning around this woman. "Great! Is there anything in particular you like? Or anything you really dislike?" He would hate to pick a place to eat and she hated the food or was allergic to it or something. That had happened to him before and it had certainly put a downer on the date.

Well he didn't want to embarrass her. Oh maybe just a little, just enough to see that pretty blush on her cheeks again. "Okay, okay I'll stop." For now anyway. January's comment caused him to laugh. "I did warn you. Charming is my middle name." He laughed again and tossed her a wink to let her know that he was kidding around. "I think I get it from my father."

She wouldn't think it was very thrilling if she ever met his brother. She would see that he was just plain dumb. "No he's not working at the moment. He actually used to run the joke shop in Diagon Alley a few years ago, but then he decided he wanted to be a Chef." And that hadn't lasted long either seeing how good ole Fred could not even boil water. "So he's in Africa for fun but Merlin only knows what he will come back as." If he comes back that is.

Oh that's right. William had most certainly rattled him with his previous yelling. Oliver had forgotten that his friend had in fact told him that earlier. "Yes I did. That's where I met Will. We've been friends ever since." He hoped that they were still friends after tonight. "You must have been a year or two below us?" Or maybe three or four. She did look a few years younger than him.

"So Hogwarts huh?" He paused for a moment while he considered something. "Ravenclaw I bet."

Not the violent type? Maybe she wasn't, but a rather mischievous look came across her face. "You still have a thing or two to learn about me, Oliver." Such as her strong will and martial arts training when she was sixteen. You could thank her mother for both of those. January laughed again. "Or maybe you're the one who wants to call me that." Fair Maiden? A bit too fairytale.

January only had to ponder that question for a moment. "I'm not a picky eater. We can go wherever you like." She hadn't been around London too long, so she didn't know what all there was around here, so it might be safest to let Oliver pick.

Charming was his middle name, of course. January liked his sense of humor; it was very fun and he was easy to laugh with. "Well, it's a good trait to have run in the family," she replied. If his father was anything like him... well, wouldn't that be fun?

Merlin, did everyone around here run the joke shop once? January remembered William telling her he worked there one summer. It seemed like a fun, albeit hectic place to run. Joke shop owner, then a chef, and now he was in Africa... January nodded slowly, trying to imagine why. "Interesting," was all she said. Some people were just interesting.

Aww, best friends since Hogwarts. The thought made her smile. "Actually, I think I was in the same year... Class of 2065?" Did she look younger than she was? She was perfectly okay with that. January was not surprised that he was able to guess her Hogwarts house that easily. She laughed. "That obvious?" She like of... emanated that nerdy Ravenclaw vibe. At least, that's what she had been told before. "And what about you?" January gave him a curious look as she wondered what house he was in. "I'm going to say Slytherin, just like dear William, hm?" Was she right?

Oh he liked that look on her face too. It was almost as good as the blush. He also liked what she had to say because it implied that he was going to get the opportunity to learn more about her. He leaned forward slightly in his chair and gave her another eyebrow waggle. "I'm really looking forward to you teaching me." And while he may have been teasing her about calling her 'Fair Maiden.' Oliver didn't really believe that January was the Princess type. "Nah, it doesn't really fit your personality. Give me time, I'll come up with something better."

Ah good. Nothing worse than taking a woman out for dinner and she was fussy about what she ate. He hoped that January wasn't the salad eating type either. He had dated a couple of models in his time and that's all they had eaten in the whole time they had been together. It was like dating a rabbit. "I know the perfect place." It was casual with a great atmosphere. The perfect place for lunch.

Oliver laughed. Well at least she thought it was a good trait. "I think it skipped Fred and went straight to me though. Although my brother can be charming when he wants to I guess. When he's not trying to find himself." He had never known anyone to take so long to figure out what they wanted to do with their life.

"Really?" Oliver was stunned not only did she look younger than himself but she had been in the same year as him and William and he could not remember her, which made him feel bad. Now he could kinda understand why Cece had been so annoyed with him. "And yeah 2065. I can't believe we didn't run into each other...at some point." Maybe that was because she had been in Ravenclaw and well he tended not to hang out with any of the Eagles. They usually had their head in a book.

He grinned at her because yes it had been a little obvious that she used to be a Ravenclaw. "Just a tad." He admitted but it wasn't a bad thing, not a bad thing at all. The suggestion of him being in Slytherin made Oliver laugh. "I don't know whether to be offended by that or not, but no, I wasn't in Slytherin. I was in fact in Gryffindor." That would no doubt be made obvious sooner or later. Hehe.

"So you said before that you like the outdoors. Have you ever tried surfing?"

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Originally Posted by Mell

Oh he liked that look on her face too. It was almost as good as the blush. He also liked what she had to say because it implied that he was going to get the opportunity to learn more about her. He leaned forward slightly in his chair and gave her another eyebrow waggle. "I'm really looking forward to you teaching me." And while he may have been teasing her about calling her 'Fair Maiden.' Oliver didn't really believe that January was the Princess type. "Nah, it doesn't really fit your personality. Give me time, I'll come up with something better."

Ah good. Nothing worse than taking a woman out for dinner and she was fussy about what she ate. He hoped that January wasn't the salad eating type either. He had dated a couple of models in his time and that's all they had eaten in the whole time they had been together. It was like dating a rabbit. "I know the perfect place." It was casual with a great atmosphere. The perfect place for lunch.

Oliver laughed. Well at least she thought it was a good trait. "I think it skipped Fred and went straight to me though. Although my brother can be charming when he wants to I guess. When he's not trying to find himself." He had never known anyone to take so long to figure out what they wanted to do with their life.

"Really?" Oliver was stunned not only did she look younger than himself but she had been in the same year as him and William and he could not remember her, which made him feel bad. Now he could kinda understand why Cece had been so annoyed with him. "And yeah 2065. I can't believe we didn't run into each other...at some point." Maybe that was because she had been in Ravenclaw and well he tended not to hang out with any of the Eagles. They usually had their head in a book.

He grinned at her because yes it had been a little obvious that she used to be a Ravenclaw. "Just a tad." He admitted but it wasn't a bad thing, not a bad thing at all. The suggestion of him being in Slytherin made Oliver laugh. "I don't know whether to be offended by that or not, but no, I wasn't in Slytherin. I was in fact in Gryffindor." That would no doubt be made obvious sooner or later. Hehe.

"So you said before that you like the outdoors. Have you ever tried surfing?"

Oh, he was looking forward to her teaching him? What, just how violent she could be? Heh. Nah, he was probably referring to all the things he didn't know about her yet. "All in good time," she said with a smile. Starting with that lunch date. Maybe then he'd have come up with a better nickname than Fair Maiden. "I'll hold you to that."

She was looking forward to that lunch date, too. Was it a date? It hadn't been established specifically, but... she assumed it was. Either way, she was looking forward to it.

January just smiled when he spoke of his brother. "Perhaps 'finding himself' is who he really is. Always exploring and having adventures." January shrugged lightly. She was no expert, but it was just a thought. Some people just couldn't settle for staying put in one place.

"Oh, I'm sure we did," January said with a wave of her hand. "It's hard not to run into classmates your own age, but you can't expect to remember everyone you went to school with." She had been a bit of an introvert in her Hogwarts days anyway, so it wasn't all that surprising. But she kept that bit of information to herself. Oh, he had been in Gryffindor. For some reason, she got those two mixing into each other occasionally. January laughed lightly. "No reason to be offended. Some Slytherins are decent," she teased lightly. He was more than decent, though. She quite liked him.

Surfing? Yikes. "No, I haven't, although I do love to be in water." Surfing was something that she wasn't sure she'd ever try. "Do you surf?"

All in good time.* Now that's what he liked to hear.* Oliver had no idea what William had been so worried about.* He and January were getting on famously and he was behaving himself which he did anyway.* he didn't know where his friend got his ideas about him from.* Just because there had been the occasional misbehaving on his part.* He was pretty sure that January wouldn't put up with that anyway.* He was rather looking forward to their lunch date.
*
"Maybe." But Oliver didn't believe it.* Then again*January wasn't part of the family*so being an outsider she*would probably have a better perspective on*Fred*than he could.* "Good luck to him I guess.* Although I*think it's better to travel when you're younger."*You have more fun.* That was probably the Gryffindor in him thinking that way.* "Have you done much travelling in your time?"
*
Well that was true of course, he was sure that there were a lot of people he had forgotten about and plenty that he wished he could forget about.* "Well I guess I shouldn't feel too bad.* You didn't remember me*either." He*teased.* Once upon a time he would probably have been offended by that but these days he wasn't too fussed about it. Maybe he getting mature in his old age.* Yeah William had been in Slytherin and he was decent.**Or he was.
*
"I most certainly do." When he got the chance which wasn't a lot these days.* "I used to surf professionally.* With the muggles.* I did that for about four or five years I think." They were the good old days when he got to chase the summers, spending practically all his time at the beach and being surrounded by women in bikini's.* He sometimes missed that.**"I'd be happy to teach you if you ever wanted to try it." And yes he was already imagining*her in a bikini. Some habits were hard to break.
*
Once again his gaze went to the dance floor for a second before returning to January.**He really wanted to ask her to dance but William was out there with Alysson and he figured it was best to stay away from his BFF for a while.* "I'm not stopping you from mingling and getting to know*other people am I?" She was new to the Ministry after all.* She probably wanted to get to know the people that worked there.* He could probably do with some mingling himself seeing how he*had worked at the Ministry for the past year or so and he barely knew anyone.* But eh...he*could do that anytime if he felt so inclined to.* He would much prefer to talk to January all night.*

Calista walked up to an empty table that had curtains around it and could see couples dancing. She longed for a romantic attatchment but didn't want to seem desperate so she sat down at the table hoping Sky was right behind her. She saw other couples talking to each other and was glad she had come to such a happy place, she was after all a happy person.