Chapter Text
It takes far too long for Lily to get into work this morning. The little bell above the cafe jingles as she pushes through the door. The lights flicker on and a deep exhale leaves her lips as she walks to the back room to throw her bags down.
Her hands shiver from the cold as she strips off her pink ear muffs, and matching winter coat with embroidered flowers dancing up the fabric.
The janky old clock in the staff room tells her she's 10 minutes late.
Of course just what she needed to start today. Arthur is bound to pull her up on that later. She grabs her apron of the peg and walks out tying it around her waist.
The coffee machines whir to life as a yawn falls from her mouth. It doesn't take long for her to get everything set up and ready to begin the day. As she's heading back around the counter and towards the cafe door to flip the sigh to open!.
The door swings open. A tall figure makes their way inside the bell above the door singing its happy tune. “Jesus Lils, it's freezing in here. You haven't got the heating on?” comes the familiar voice of Remus Lupin. hes shivering around his scarf and long coat. His one hand frozen and gripping his cane. The other stuffed inside his pocket to keep warm. He's got a tired smile on his face and eye bags that match the unimpressed woman in front of him.
“And morning to you too.” She glances at the clock behind the counter. Luckily this one is up to speed. “ You're late.” She folds her arms over her chest.
He rolls his eyes ” and by the clock in the staff room so are you.”
She tries to hold back a scoff. “You can't keep using that as your excuse.”
“No… but for now it's working“ he waves a dismissive hand as he walks past her to the staff room. “It's like you don't know me or something”
Lilly rolls her eyes at Remus' intention of a joke.
“I'm surprised you even get out of bed most days. Considering you only decided when you want to show up for work.” she retorts following him.
“What? You think I show up late for the fun of it.” he gestures to the cane he momentarily puts against the wall while he takes his outer layers off.
She actually scoffs this time. “ not the point i was trying to make.”
He turns to her with a smile. Throwing on his apron and trying it behind his back. “You're never going to win that argument, you know this.”
She rolls her eyes and promptly turns on her heel to head back towards the door. Once she gets there she grabs the withered old sign and flips it. The hollow is officially open for business.
—
Nearly half an hour later the cafe is off and running
Impatient businessmen tapping their feet against the hardwood while they wait for their black coffee.
Tired mums getting their extra espresso shots before tackling their stressful day.
The ladies walking group captured the booth in the far end of the cafe. All of them gossiping with their health juices, in their work out sets.
A few of the elderly members of the community sitting themselves down quietly at tables with the same paper.
Some do the crossword puzzles, others just read, some papers sit folded on the table while they talk to their husbands and wives or entertain the grandkids.
It's too early for the older kids to be coming in yet. But as sure as the sun rises, when the clock strikes eight they'll all be banging about.
Lilly and Remus on the other hand are running around like headless chickens. Taking orders, making drinks and throwing toasties into the oven, then serving them. All with an aching smile on their faces.
Remus leans against the counter for a moment to breathe. His cane quietly tucked out of the way.
A small figure then approaches him. Remus feels little fingers tap his hand. He turns and looks down to see a little blond haired boy.
Lucas Jackson. A sweet yet troublesome boy who comes in every morning with his mum before she drops him off at his grandmother's.
“Hiya.” Remus says, turning his attention to him. Ignoring Lilly who's trying to make ten different drinks.
“What would you like?”
Lucas thinks for a long moment. Making a little humming noise. Then his pupils widened. “Can I have hot chocolate please?”
Remus laughs. “Course you can.”
“With extra marshmellows?” He asks sliding remus a 20p as payment.
Remus's expression goes deadly serious as he takes the 20p and puts it into his pocket. He winks at him. “Sure thing.”
The boy giggles as his mother walks over. “LUCAS!” she calls as she stands next to him. “I am so sorry.” She says to Remus as she takes hold of Lucas's hand.
“I told you not to walk off. “
“but i wanted a hot chocolate.”
“I told you to wait.”
Lucas continues to argue back in his admittedly adorable five year old way. All the while Remus is putting all his attention into making sure this is the best hot chocolate he's ever made.
“Are you going to help?” Lilly calls out as she stacks five drinks onto her tray to go pass around.
“Im busy.”
“Could you be more busy? I'm drowning over here.”
“I can only do one thing at a time. I'm not a good multitasker lily.”
A satisfied smile appears over Remus' face when Lily starts mumbling under her breath in annoyance.
By the time Mrs Jackson sighs realising she isn't winning this battle. Remus sets the warm drink onto the counter and gently slides it to the boy.
“Did you pay for that?” She asks him. A skeptical look on her face.
“Yeah.” He whines.
She looks to Remus for reassurance her son hasn't just stolen a drink. Remus nods his head with a smile. Lucas doesn't care to busy devouring the whip cream on his drink.
“Hmm… okay then.” She takes a hold of her son's hand again and turns him around pointing to their table and sending him back.
She then turns back to face Remus. “Im so sorry about that here you go." She rummages through her purse and pulls out a crumpled five and passes it to him.
Remus shakes his head. “No no keep it. “
She starts to argue back but Remus just shakes his head. “It's okay Mrs Jackson. He paid."
She hesitates for a moment then reluctantly puts the money back in her purse. “Only if you're sure.”
“Im sure. “
She smiles. “Thank you.” She says in a whisper.
“No problem.”
She smiles and thanks him once again before heading back to her table. Where Lucas is very happily drinking his hot chocolate.
—
Lilly weaves in and out of tables passing drinks and food around like a race car diver.
“Good to see you mrs oconall. How are you? "She asks to place a sweet tea onto the table in front of an older lady.
Mrs O'Connell smiles. “Yes, yes , very good. Mine and Bobby's anniversary's coming up. We're going to Spain for a week.”
Lilly's grin widens. “Ohhh lucky you!” She says in a congratulatory tone.
Lilly then moves onto a rowdy table of teenagers. The same group of teens who have come in every day since year seven. They all smile at her as she approaches.
“Here we go” she sets the tray down and within a second all the drinks and food are being devoured.
“Slow down, Christ, you'd think you wouldn't get fed.”
One girl with short black hair grins “ this is better than the food at school.” a boy with a slightly grown out mullet nods in agreement. “They serve us cat food, I swear.”
Lilly rolls her eyes with a fond smile. “I'm sure.” as she turns around she notices the time 8:35. She swirls back around to eyes burning into them. “Why are you still in my cafe? You are going to be late.”
The group groan, though they don't have time to grovel as lily is ushering them out. “Go on out you go!”
“WERE GOING!” the group calls back as they head up the hill. Turning for the park not the school but Lily's just a bit too tired to care this time.
Lilly sighs and steps back into the cafe. She slumps herself back behind the counter and finds her post note stash. She pulls out the pen from her apron and scribbles down.
‘Mr and Mrs O'Connell anniversary. Get a card. chocolate?'
She rips it off the pile and sticks it on the wall next to her other neon notes.
Remus hands a bag with the hollow’s navy blue and gold sticker to another boring business man.
“Have a good day.”
The man just mumbles a thanks and leaves. Remus slumps as well, turning to Lily in a small moment of quiet.
“You good.”
She nods silently. Running a hand down her face. “Just tired.”
Remus hums. “You say that every time you're feeling a little burnt out.”
“I'm not a little burnt out, I just need sleep.”
“What you need is a break.” Remus says pointedly. Giving Lilly a stern look.
Lilly doesn't reply. Just nod. Dismissing his worry. Remus doesn't react. He's used to this reaction. Doesn't stop annoying the hell out of him though.
Just as a lull was falling over the cafe. The door bursts open and in walks the ray of sunshine. The two were waiting for all morning.
“Good morning everyone!” Aruther calls out as he walks in.
“MORING ARTHUR.” the cafe calls back. Making a huge grin appear on the man's face.
“Lilly my dear. Remus my boy how are you”
“Fine.” Remus replies. An aged look on his face.
“Couldn't be better.” Lilly replies.
Aruther clasps his hands together. “Amazing! Well I just need to grab some paper work today. So I won't be sticking around long.”
Lilly raises an eyebrow. “How come.”
“It's nothing to worry about. Just some legal halla ballo.” He says in a cheery tone. One that slightly unsettles Lily rather than soothes.
“... okay.”
He smiles and pats her on the shoulder. And heads down to the office.
How odd? Lilly thinks. Yes she was kinda hoping for this situation but it's not like Arthur to just … pop by. He never just ‘pops by.’ Something about the whole thing makes a little shiver run through her.
Remus leans over to her and whispers. “Kiss ass.”
She turns to him with an offended look on her face. She grabs a tea towel off the side and hits him with it. “Shut up! I am not.”
Remus laughs, whacking away the cloth weapon. “Please. You were really getting in there.”
“I was not.” She huffs.
Remus laughs behind her, getting pulled into taking an order.
Aurther appears back out of the office holding a pile of letters and folders like rare diamonds.
He glances at Lilly and flashes her a smile. “See you soon”
She barely has time to wave to him let alone reply before he's out the door. The bell jingled behind him.
Remus finishes with his customer. Now standing next to Lilly. He raises an eyebrow at Arthur's speedy escape.
“What was that about?”
Lilly shakes her head. “No clue.”
After a long semi silent moment Remus shrugs his shoulders. “You know Arthur. He's always up to something.”