Roses, lillies and... fur?

[Lilly Avery]

DATESTAMP: 3rd of february

Lilly had left home before she had taken the time to look at the Daily Prophet. It was something she usually did later in the day, when she felt like she was bored, but today she probably should have read it before walking out. Her chaperone had followed with her as always onto the High street of Hogsmeade, making everything a perfect picture of an upper-class female just out for a walk.

As usual when Lilly was out walking for the day she wanted a cup of tea and entered Rosa Lee Teabag, her chaperone following closely. Lilly quickly found a table where they could sit and keep an eye on people, Lilly was still suffering slightly from the rumors that had been made while she had lost her memory. They ordered two cups of tea, both wanting to have something warm to drink, the early February day was still cold and the burning tea would make sure both of them quickly got warm so they could stand the cold they would get out into again.

Lilly quickly began sipping of her own cup when it appeared, not sensing the smell of lilies and roses that was playing softly underneath the warm tone of hay and Gra·ni's fur. She took a look around, surprised by the smell that greeted her when she drew her lips from the cup after having a sip. How could it be so close to what made her relax more than anything? She kept looking around, having a loose conversation with her chaperone who also sipped from the tea but got hit by the amortentia earlier than Lilly and the chaperone kept staring at some unknown to both of them male that was sitting by himself. Lilly did not think of this as something she should be worried about and took another careful sip of her tea.

Table by Lola

[Guest]

He'd noticed them as they had walked in - the lady and her chaperone. It was difficult not to notice her given that the young woman was like a priceless gem, adding a classy ambiance to the tea room. Already having ordered his meal, he'd finished his light luncheon with the intention of bringing a meal for Ev before he went back to work in his office at the Ministry. The wait staff told him it would be a while longer and if he'd like a cuppa for the wait. Acquiescing since he still had the time, he was delighted to sneak peeks at the young lady while waiting for his tea to cool.

He'd left it without sugar, squeezing a slice of lemon to add his preferred tartness. When he raised the dainty bone china cup to his lips, he was surprised when his nose was assaulted by spirals of steam scented as warm apples with a touch of clove and cinnamon followed by, as if it were another scent just downwind when the breeze changed directions, freshly folded laundry. The scent made him think of his mother, a sad collection of fond memories that would've brought down his mood if he weren't so determined not to think about her. Gently pushing her from his mind, he glanced over at the two again. They also had tea and the chaperone was staring at him oddly. He forced his eyes away lest the chaperone judge him for looking on them too much. And she's likely a pureblood highborn. It'd be a crime to be looked upon by the lowly likes of me, he thought somewhat acerbically.

Another whiff of the tea and he finally brought it up to his lips and sipped. It was light and flavorful. Whatever complimentary cup they'd offered him was well worth their money. Maybe he'd make mention of it when he next saw a waitress. As he settled into the cup, noticing the color as mother-of-pearl sheen like there was something sitting on top of the tea water, he felt his pulse begin to race, the blood leaving his head in an odd manner that made him lightheaded.

He stood up abruptly, shocked by the sudden change in his constitution. As he did so, he had found his eyes drawn to the lady once more. Suddenly, the sickly feeling left him and he felt almost drawn to her. She was extraordinary, a one-of-a-kind. He couldn't tear his eyes from her as he gave her a courteous, but thorough, look-over. The way the candlelight lit up her face made his heart stop. He stumbled over, still holding the cup of tea he had and, regardless of social protocol or need, started towards her with the clear intention of making conversation.

Edmund didn't, couldn't take his eyes off of her, offering her a shy, but sincere smile as he spoke to her chaperone. Not all was lost, "I beg for an introduction, please. I am Edmund Grimm, the Edmund Grimm from the Falcons, I work at the Department of Magical Games and Sports now." Closer to them now, his mouth had gone dry as he could see the details of her face more clearly. The lushness of her lips, the polished luster of her hair. The dryness in his throat nearly choked him and he took another sip of his tea to help him continue, "Please, your name Miss...."

  

[Lilly Avery]

Lilly was once again dreaming of her future and what it could look like if she got married. If being the central word in this situation. She had already brought shame upon herself, the night between the fifth and sixth December 1882 would always be remembered in her head. How could she have allowed Charles Bones to get that close to her and use her like that? She doubted she would ever be able to trust another male person after that night. But then there was that sweet and good looking black smith. her heart interrupted her logic thinking.

She took a few sips of her tea and kept her eyes down on the table, trying to go through the drastic change her life had taken since that evening. She had not once gone out without a chaperone since, nor had she felt like drawing more than necessary attention towards herself. It was slowly helping, the rumors had been changed, but she still needed to be careful. It was all slowly killing her, not being able to truly be herself and be free, but she had decided not to fight it anymore, just accept where she was and live with what was sent her way.

She closed her eyes and slowly opened them again and for the first time she looked closely at the male her chaperone had been looking at. She dropped her jaw slightly and just looked at him, unable to tear her eyes away from him. She tried to connect his face with a name, but she could not think logically enough to remember him. Even if she had never been a huge fan of quidditch, then she had not avoided it completely. It was more or less impossible to completely avoid quidditch.

When he began walking towards them, Lilly got anxious about her appearance and placed the cup down and quickly made sure that she looked the best she could while still keeping her eyes locked on him. Her chaperone listened to him when he asked for an introduction. She was a bit sad that it was not her that he had come over to talk with. She pushed the remaining of her tea from her, not wanting to get anymore. "Miss Sands, this is Mr. Grimm. Mr. Grimm, this is Miss Lilly Sands." She said politely.

Lilly just smiled a bit shy to him, finally recognizing the name from her earlier school years. She had once had a small crush on him, thinking he was among the best quidditch players, even if she never truly cared about the sport. Not that she could ever say that out loud, no one knew it and no one was supposed to ever find out about it.

Table by Lola

[Guest]

He thought her attempts to prune and fix her appearance were endearing; little did she know that he thought she was already perfect the way she was. Every misplaced strand of hair was like a Cupid's arrow piercing his body with desperate need. Her flustered actions had settled by the time her chaperone afforded him an introduction. "Miss Lilly Sands," he veritably sighed. The name was the most poetic he'd heard. No other string of letters could or would have pleased him more. "Your name is like the rosy pink and orange hues of the painted glowing sun setting over a beach of fine, white sand - beautiful and soft, radiant and glorious."

He lowered his voice, having bowed deeply, with his cup still in hand, "Breathing taking." He did feel as though her beauty had taken his breath away. His throat felt like it was blocked by his heart beating rapidly in it. The world tunneled scarily with only her at the end - his only lifeline and connection to this reality. He urgently needed her. "I would like to make your acquaintance further," he straightened his back, standing tall to emphasize the broadness of his shoulders and the height. It was a primitive action, one of which he didn't have to think about as he unconsciously flexed his softening muscles which were still built despite lack of heavy use. His injury prevented him from returning to the quidditch pitch, but he would always endeavor to take care of his body and mind with exercise.

"It would be - I would be honored," he stumbled over his words, wanting to get all of his thoughts out, but lost his ability to organize them. Clearing his dry throat again, he blushed slightly, "Would you honor me by taking a turn about town with me?" All other thoughts fled his mind. They were niggling creatures, reminders of the conscience he once had. He'd yet to pay for his food and tea, likely Lady Sands and her chaperone hadn't either. His brother was expecting him. He was due back at work this afternoon. But all of this paled in light of remaining in this young, beautiful, graceful woman's presence. She veritably eclipsed everything that might have had meaning and importance. She was his life and he needed to know more about her.

"I confess - I want to know more about you. For instance, what your middle name is and favorite dish. If you are a morning person or the nocturnal type. If you have a favorite quidditch position." As he spoke, his words spilled out faster with each question, showcasing his desire to know more to grant him immediate satisfaction. Why hadn't he seen or heard of this woman before? Surely this lady, the pinnacle of today's beauty, would have poems, stories, ballads written about her. Songs ought to be sung on the streets of Hogsmeade and London and as far as the Americas.

Edmund felt a strong push to explain himself - it was his manners which had ingrained into his very character - and they sorely noted his lack of social etiquette just now. "I know I'm being forward, but there is not enough time on this world to dally any longer. Please forgive me." And then, abruptly, he was quiet, wishing to hear the magnificent song of her voice rather than his own words. He hoped that she would accept his offer and that they should spend the rest of their short lives getting to know each other. It would still be too short.

  

[Lilly Avery]

Lilly had rarely felt more aware of her appearance, there was no way that she could be a beautiful to him as he was to her. It was simply impossible that she could look so breathtaking. She only wished to breathe the air that surrounded him in the hope that his personal fragrance would fill her and she could live on that for the rest of her life. A small part of her wished to get away from her chaperone and just stay with Edmund alone, but she doubted that she would be able to pull it off. She had managed before the rape, not caring that she might be alone, but after everything that had happened she had grown more worried about men that she did not knew. Except Mr. Grimm, of course. She knew that he would never hurt her, he was without a doubt the most wonderful male in the world. Not even her father, a person she looked up to, came close to him.

She blushed when he kept complimenting her name, she did not thought it was something special; a flower, a gemstone and a constant reminder that she would be the last in her family line. It worried her a little, but she had grown up with that knowledge and now she was twenty. Of course she had her new cousin, but he was not really a Sands, even if he carried the last name of her lost uncle. As far as she knew her uncle had never married her cousin's mother but that did not mean that she would not accept them as her family. Her parents may deny meeting them, but Lilly was stubborn and believed that you should take care of your own and family would always have a special place in her heart, right next to Edmund.

She looked at him as he stood at his full height, she wished that she was able to look at more of his body. What she could see was a perfect male body, ready to protect her from the many dangers she had learned was out in the world. She would not fight against being held in his arms, she knew that she would be safe there and she could definitely get used to seeing into his eyes. She looked at him with a smile when he asked if she would honor him with a walk in the town. "I think it would be you that would do me the honor. I mean, you are the û" she said, but managed to stop herself from saying anything that would be embarrassing.

"Could we stay here a little, I am still trying to get the warmth after walking out in the snow?" she asked but gestured towards the chair opposite her. "I want to know more about you as well. But I guess that I might as well start. My full name is Lilly Ruby Sands, I don't have a particular favorite dish, anything with apple and cinnamon just tastes wonderful. I like both morning and night, the beauty of the night sky with stars and the silence of the morning, right before anyone wakes up. Favorite quidditch position is harder, all positions are important, but I must admit a chaser will be my choice. They have to work together in a very unique way and I really like it when people work together." she said while she kept her eyes down at her teacup. She was feeling too embarrassed to look him in the eyes, even if she really wanted to, she had managed to catch a single look, his dark eyes made her melt on the inside.

"What about yourself Mr. Grimm. There is nothing to forgive." She offered with a small smile. She was not worthy of being close to him, but she would not trade it for anything right now.

Table by Lola

[Guest]

She accepted his compliments with all of the grace of a lady and her blush was the sun and moon to him. Completely infatuated, he took another sip of his tea, trying not to preen at her words. She felt as honored by his presence as he did by hers! He would honor her with whatever her heart desired and if it was his presence, then she asked for nearly nothing at all. His heart was so elated that she felt the same about being near him that he felt like he was floating on air or that a spell had been cast on his chest to make him float. For a moment, when she abruptly cut herself off, Edmund was going to beg her to please continue, but other matters suddenly took priority.

She is cold? Setting down his teacup, he immediately began shrugging off his outer most layer - a suit jacket tailored to his body and, without any fuss, held it up, "Please, Lady Sands, I insist. " Before taking the seat she elegantly gestured at, he draped his coat gently over her shoulders, taking care not to touch her though his fingers ached to sweep her hair from underneath the heavy collar of his jacket. The gentle sheen of her skin beckoned at him, promising him the finest, softest texture he'd ever felt that even the silk lining of his jackets was rough in comparison. Being in such close proximity to her, as he stood behind her chair, his fingers could feel the heat of her body radiate from her in coaxing waves. The tantalizing perfume of her body wafted and if he weren't so quick to catch himself with reflexes, his knees might have buckled right then. His mouth went dry. His heart stopped. He felt the blood in his body rush out of his head. His eyes drank in her visage. And then the spell was broken as her bird-song voice began answering his questions.

He shook off the spell, and took his seat as she was in the middle of giving him her full name, believing that he'd found a living angel for what else could she be? "You're perfect," he sighed, barely audible, after she'd responded to the rapid firing of his questions. The way her eyes were downcast, she was the picture of a demure lady. He felt a savage need to protect her from all unfairness in the world and to provide for her as no other man or woman alive could. His eyes darkened with pleasure as she glanced up at him. Her beauty was a potent drug that hit him at full strength. Thankfully his vest hid it, but he felt a fine sweat break out along his back as he flexed into a posture more suited to a gentleman.

Wetting his lips, he pulled his teacup and saucer towards him, drawing attention to the length of his long fingers and his arm where the long sleeved shirt pulled taut against his muscular forearm. "I hardly know where to start, Lady Sands, but I am grateful that you have respect for the chaser position in quidditch. I'm widely recognized for my role as chaser for the Falmouth Falcons until I retired due injury. I, too, enjoy the privacy of morning, listening to the birds chirp as dawn beckons. I always practiced best in the cool early mornings and often enjoy a cup of tea as I relax and consider my day and to-do list just after I roll out of bed, but before I limber up and go through the paces of my fitness routine." He mouth widened as he smiled, thinking how those thirty minutes every morning set him at ease. It was better than falling out of routine and having late mornings which many men of his ilk tended to.

"It's perhaps the most relaxing part of my day as it sets the tone and leaves me feeling unrushed. I work, now, for the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Magical Games and Sports, nothing of any import, really. I have a brother in the area, and m- well, no other family really to speak of," his stutter was because he nearly let slip about his mother being in a nearby asylum, but he doubted this would impress her. Not to mention he usually kept his dirty laundry and all skeletons firmly locked away in his proverbial closet. "What of your family? Also, regarding your taste for apples and cinnamon, I beg you please accept my invitation to dessert some time at one of the local shoppes." He only had eyes for her, her chaperone long since forgotten, it was as if she didn't exist.

  

[Lilly Avery]

She could not help but blush even more when he took of his jacket. She tried to stop him, but she could not help but want to have it close. She did not doubt that it held his fragrance and she did not have enough time to come up with a good way of insisting not being in need of it, before she could feel the warm and heavy fabric placed on her shoulders. She took a deep breath, it was absolutely perfect, the personal fragrance from him along with the odor of home from the tea made it all perfect. She was happy that she was sitting down, she doubted her knees would have been able to hold her standing, but she did not doubt that he would catch her before she made contact with the floor. She quickly lifted her hands and pushed her hair out from underneath the collar.

Okay focus Lilly. Please do not do anything stupid now. He is just so perfect, where did all my manners go? she thought to herself, feeling herself worried about being good enough for him. How could she ever be? She was half-blood, former rebel, a rape victim. She had two things in her life that seemed to work, being upper-class and an only child, meaning her husband would inherit her father, it was definitely not enough to compete with anyone. Still, she would do her best, hoping that one day she might find someone who could take care of her, someone like Mr. Grimm, someone who could accept her the way she was, victim and impure as she was. Not that anyone knew, the secret was still hers and only hers. She was truly grateful that no one had found it, it could have destroyed her life for a long time, completely ruining her chances of getting married.

She listened to him, truly interested in his life and could not help but notice his muscles and the light flex under his shirt. She carefully bit her lip, doing her best to control herself, things were already out of her hand but she wanted things to be perfect, though everything seemed perfect right now. Family, what was there to say about family? "My family is easily finished, there is only me and my parents, and then a cousin, whom my father refuses to recognize. Some old brother fight I think." She said quickly, she was nervous beyond her own imagination. Not even her coming out had made her this nervous, Lilly would do anything to stand in the stable and just hold Grßuni close right now. The horse always made her calm, she could just be herself around him, he never judged her and Lilly was truly grateful for him. When he begged for her to accept an invitation she felt honored, he wanted to see her again, how could she ever say no? "I would be honored to meet you another time for dessert." She said and blushed deeply again, how come everything was so perfect right now?

Table by Lola