All work and no play [open!]

[nessalaurentius]

Nessa was oblivious to Amos admonishing himself. She was just glad to be asked, really, and (to be honest) she especially liked the fact that she'd been asked by Amos. She'd come to like him over the few hours they'd actually gotten to known each other.
She mimicked the boy's grin, for a moment wondering if he ever doubted her answer, as he asked "You would? Oh, well that's great!" Nessa nodded, her copped hair bouncing off her shoulders a little. She didn't think Amos looked too eager at all, he looked happy, and she wasn't sure why but it was making her smile as well. She nodded mentally a little, as though telling herself 'yes, well, you obviously like him, then'. As forward as Nessa had been the whole time they'd been together, so honest was she to herself about finding out she rather liked this boy. It was only the first time they'd gone out for a drink, so it would be no use jumping to conclusions, but it didn't mean she couldn't enjoy this. Maybe it wouldn't end the way she half-hoped, or the way he hoped, but at least she could just happily enjoy herself both now and at the ball.

"Hey! Maybe that's what my new robes from today could be for!" Nessa grinned and chewed her lip pensively. "Yes, that's fine by me - I'll have finished them by then." She nodded and grinned slightly wider. "I'll make myself something to match you."
She was also excited at the prospect of the Ball. She liked the dances at Hogwarts and had always attended them happily, but now that she had an actual date, she had to admit it was suddenly a lot more fun, instantly. Funny, how a date could make all the difference. She spotted a smile on Amos' features too. "Looking forward to it?" she asked, though guessing (hoping) that would be a retorical question.

[Amos Patroclus Diggory]

Nessa's acceptance had put Amos in a very, very good mood. Much better than when he had wandered into the little village to buy robes beforehand, and he had been pretty relaxed and content to begin with. He smiled at her over his bottle as she nodded, her hair bouncing. Nessa was actually very pretty in a way that was different to the girls Amos usually took interest in. He usually went for tan, blonde types that wore a lot of make-up and preferably not a lot of clothes. That didn't fit Nessa, but she was still pretty, if not more pretty for it. Her red-hair, by the light of the fire, and possibly warmed more by his butterbeer than the light, looked beautiful, Amos thought. In fact he had a sudden and surprising urge to kiss her, motivated by her acceptance and also by how pretty and happy she looked. But Amos resisted. He wasn't that much of an idiot that he thought it would be acceptable to kiss a girl on a first-not-even-a-date. But the Masquerade Ball might be acceptable? And she'd agreed to go with him. Yes, Amos decided, that would be his goal for the Valentines Day Ball - to kiss Nessa. The prospect made him look forward to the event even more.

"Oh, yeah, definitely" Amos grinned as Nessa asked whether he was looking forward to it. Perhaps she was reading his mind, Amos mused. "Well, I am now. And are you?" He raised an eyebrow flirtatiously at Nessa. Now that she had accepted his offer, and been so nice to him, Amos was finding his footing again, and he felt less nervous and more himself. Perhaps not 100% 'Pompous Amos Diggory' but at least mostly, and maybe it wasn't all bad if he wasn't so pompous. He didn't think Nessa would like him that much if he acted big-headed. "Great" He chuckled at her robes comment. "Robes sorted, date sorted, you're a lifesaver Nessa Laurentius!" He grinned at her, finishing the last of his beer and checking his watch.

It was getting late, and he had promised the Hufflepuff Chasers he would have a small practice before it got fully dark. Amos didn't particularly want to leave Nessa, even though he would probably see her in the common room later that evening, but he couldn't ditch Quidditch. He doubted she'd have ditched work for - oh wait, actually he knew she wouldn't have ditched work for him. But he didn't mind. Dedication was an attractive qualityto him, and something he had in common with Nessa, be it to her designing and making clothes, or sports. He frowned dramatically across the table at her. "I'm gonna have to head back to the castle, I promised, er - Quidditch thing" He shrugged sheepishly and got to his feet, taking his jacket and suddenly unsure as to how to say goodbye to Nessa. Kiss on the cheek? Hug? Handshake? Shit. "Walk you back?" Amos added quickly, trying to dispel the anxiety over how to leave her. He knew that Nessa didn't particularly like the chivalrous act, but he didn't like the idea of her walking back to the castle alone. The Shrieking Shack was creepy, it even weirded him out. Although there was the possibility that Nessa was braver than him, Amos reluctantly thought.

[nessalaurentius]

Comments: sorry it's short >.> You can reply again or we can just leave it at this and continue at the ball.

The day only seemed to become brighter, indeed! Nessa had come to Hogsmeade to work, and now she was sitting here with a boy she was beginning to like more and more and he'd even asked her to a dance. Nessa had the feeling her good mood would last for ages.
She warmly smiled back at her companion, taking another sip of her butterbeer, and thinking how very glad she was with how all this had turned out.

"Oh, yeah, definitely! Well, I am now. And are you?" Nessa couldn't help but feel flattered that he was apparently looking forward to the whole thing now that he'd asked her. She nodded without having to think about it. "Never had a proper date before," she admitted, "so: yes, I am." Maybe she sounded less enthusiastic than Amos, but she was at least as looking forward to it as he was and laughed softly at his eyebrow raise, grinning back slightly coyly. "Don't see any reason why I shouldn't look forward to it."
"Robes sorted, date sorted, you're a lifesaver Nessa Laurentius!" She blushed slightly, but was less uncomfortable with the compliment than she'd been before. "My pleasure," she replied, still grinning, and added a wink just because she felt like it.

She noticed Amos checking his watch and checked her own briefly. It was getting late and she had a bit of stray homework to solve."I'm gonna have to head back to the castle, I promised, er - Quidditch thing." Nessa smiled and nodded, getting up as well. "Sure, wouldn't want to steal you away from your team mates," she commented with a playful smile.
"Walk you back?" Nessa appreciated that, actually. She didn't mind boys with manners, as long as they had their feet on the ground and their heads had a normal size. "I'd like that," she said, smiling gently.