Nicola had made sure to shed her uniform before going down to Hogsmeade after her last class of the day. It was just after noon, which meant she had still the reenactment to get back to school. Nicola wasn’t in the reenactment nor did she have to be back to see it but she thought going to support Kyle would be nice. She was not particularly bothered about any of the other events today, but she supposed she should go to the Welcoming Ceremony even if she would rather not. Nicola over all was not exactly into the whole Remembering Week festivities, as the whole week did not have as strong as a meaning to her as perhaps the people who had actually experienced it. To Nicola the whole festivities were being lost on the younger generations, many of them she was sure were just happy to have time off. Sadly Nicola was one of those people, just happy to be out of class early giving her time to roam on her own accord.

Her roaming took her to the location of a family friend, Finn. It wasn’t hard to figure out where he would be what with a large crowd no doubt roaming around Hogsmeade with all the big events. There was a big Memorial Ceremony tomorrow, which no doubt many were going to stop by for, plus there was the Welcoming Ceremony this evening and the reenactment. Finn was probably going to get plenty of business, and he was probably looking to set up for the coming party. Nicola had little hope that he would have time for her, but it was that pessimistic nature coming out.

Walking into Signature she stood with her hands in her back pockets and looked around, she hoped to find Finn with ease. She walked around with her shoulders a little hunched and probably not the most lady like walk. “Finn?” She called out not trying to disturb any patrons he had. Made her way to the restaurant level where she finally asked someone where Finn was. They said they would go find him for her, so she just sat down at a table waiting.

Outfit

Finn had been downstairs sorting out some lighting problems in the theatre, when one of his restaurant staff came to find him. "Mister Grosvenor?" The girl was young - only around twenty-four - and shy. Finn was atop a set of ladders, with another gentleman below wearing a pair of scruffy dungarees. Finn looked down at the girl who blushed immediately. "Hello Lydia." he replied with a smile, one hand holding up a light fitting and another holding a pencil that he had been using to mark the ceiling with. "How can I help you?"

The girl stood looking a little fidgety. "Well...I erm, I'm sorry to bother you, but Miss Nicola Hames is upstairs in the restaurant." Lydia gulped and blinked a couple of times. "She's here to see you." Lydia had a habit of pointing out the obvious of most situations. Finn couldn't help but just smile at her. "That's great. I'll be up in a minute. George, I've marked off where I think the light should be, but I trust your judgement in the matter. Work your wonders." He said as he made his way carefully down from the ladders, and handed the light fitting to the man as he stepped off the bottom rung. George nodded, took the light fitting and made his own way up the very same set of ladders.

Finn dusted himself off as best he could, his grey suit being the ideal colour for going up ladders, as the dirt didn't seem to show up. He made his way up to the restaurant, only a few paces behind Lydia, who kept casting dubious glances at him over her shoulder. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. She really needed to learn to trust people more.

Once up in the restaurant, Finn spotted Nicola straight away, at one of his own personal favourite tables next to the window, looking out over Hogsmeade village. "You suit green." He stated with a grin, referring to her checkered shirt, as he made his way over to her table.

Nicola waited for the girl to go find Finn as she stared out the window at Hogsmeade. It really was a nice village, very rustic and old timey. It was one of the few remaining completely wizard villages, but with it so close to the magical school it wasn’t surprising. Nicola was staring out the window completely lost in it not really thinking and not really taking in the sights either. It was only Finn’s voice that snapped her from her thoughtless stares.

“Thank you,” Nicola said a little confused. “I guess I am in the right house then for uniform purposes then.” Nicola was always uncomfortable when a compliment was sent her way, it wasn’t something she was exactly used too. “I was just stopping by to say hello since I have no more classes for the day.” Nicola hadn’t seen much of Finn lately only a quick hello at the last Hogsmeade visit. Old family friends for as long as Nicola could remember and Nicola was going to need that connection after school since she needed to know people in the real world.

“Are you busy I could come back later?” Nicola had been worried that she was dragging him from important duties and the last thing he wanted to do was hang out with her.

"There is only one house worth being in." he winked at her as he pulled out a chair and took a seat, letting his body lounge across the white-cushioned black wood. He ran his fingers through his hair which, at the minute didn't quite know what it was doing.

“Are you busy I could come back later?”

Finn immediately sat up straight. "Don't even think about it!" He warned. "I already feel as though I never see any of my friends - it would be even worse if one turned up then left without actually talking to me." he looked around the room with a look of distaste on his face. "Much as though I love this place, sometimes I can't help but feel like a prisoner..." he grimaced slightly, but his expression quickly changed to a smile when he caught sight of Nicola. He relaxed once more, not wanting to lay his problems on anyone else's shoulders.

"Drink?" Finn asked Nicola, as he waved a waiter over. "I'll have a mallowsweet with one sugar and a dash of lemon, please Charles." he turned to Nicola. "It's too early to be drinking anything stronger." he rolled his eyes as though the whole idea of drinnking alcohol before one in the afternoon was absurd. "What would you like? Since school is over for a while, I guess there is no reason why you can't have something alcoholic...since you're over age and all."

“Words of a true Slytherin,” Nicola said as he sat down in the seat across from her. Smirked at his hair which was sort of a mess but it honestly didn’t look half bad on Finn.

"Don't even think about it!"…"I already feel as though I never see any of my friends - it would be even worse if one turned up then left without actually talking to me."

All right well apparently she was going nowhere and she was quite okay with that. “Well I guess I am staying then.” Nicola laughed weakly, she had no problems with staying since she had come all this way to see Finn. “I will stay rooted to the seat until you tell me otherwise.”

Drink, what in the world did she want to drink. “I think I will just have some tea, two sugars and some milk.” Nicola smiled at the waiter and then back to Finn. “It is a little early for something alcoholic.” Truth was Nicola had yet to even partake in the alcoholic drinks even if she was old enough.

“So Finn what is new in your life? Or have you just been working?” She paused and smirked a little. “I am sure you are not too busy for the ladies though.” Nicola joked.

Finn noticed Nicola look dubiously at his hair and smirk a little. "That's right! Don't bother to even hide your amusement!" He groaned, running his hand over his hair - not that it made much of a difference. Things had been really busy from the word 'go' today, what with lights breaking and the such. Finn's hair decided to flop at some point between ensuring the guests from last night were enjoying their breakfast and personally going to fetch a drink for a regular guest, a deaf [but very rich] old woman who insisted on calling him 'Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinleh' in a weird accent. Most of the time Finn couldn't even fathom what she was saying, but he tended to end their conversations with "I'll go and get you a drink, Mrs Lakeland." And off he would toddle, get her a drink, give her it and then make a swift exit before she had a chance to ask him for a kiss...he had learned that technique the hard way. Finn shuddered at the mere thought of it.

“I will stay rooted to the seat until you tell me otherwise.”

Finn motioned to a waiter to come over whenever he was free. He was not one of these managers who expected his staff to drop everything for him - afterall, they had a job to do, and that was to uphold the reputation of the club. "It's been a busy morning. I'm glad you came to break up to monotony." he said in earnest. The waiter arrived with a smile. "One English Breakfast with two sugars and milk, and an Earl Gray - one sugar and a drop of milk. Thanks Arnie." The waiter nodded and made a beeline for the bar to fetch the drinks.

“I am sure you are not too busy for the ladies though.”

The smirk on Nicola's face told Finn that she knew him far too well. "Actually, I'll have you know that recently, none have caught my eye." he paused. "Oh god, I think I'm losing my touch!" he tutted. "In all seriousness," he stated matter-of-factly as their teas arrived, "I really haven't had time. I don't just spend my time carousing women, you know Nic!" At this, Arnie the waiter paused for a second while pouring out the teas from the pots. He looked at his manager. "What's the matter Arnie?" Arnie shook his head quickly and carried on pouring out the teas. Finn couldn't help but laugh. Even his staff thought he was a notorious womaniser. He turned back to Nicola. "This place doesn't run itself." He almost added 'unfortunately', but decided against it - afterall, he was grateful for what he had, and what he had achieved.

"What about you? Is there one boy or many?" He winked and took a little sip of his tea. It was a womanly sip, and Finn could have kicked himself for saying the word 'boy' when referring to relationships, winking and sipping like a girl in the space of ten seconds.

“Trust me Finn, it doesn’t look half bad in my opinion,” she smirked not sure if that counted for anything being that she was just Nicola Hames, the kid that Finn knew as he grew up. Nicola really didn’t mind the mess of his hair but she was pretty sure Finn could look good anyway he was. “I am sure the girls wouldn’t complain at least,” Nicola shrugged.

Breaking up Finn’s monotony was doing not only him a favour but herself. Nicola just needed to get away from Hogwarts for a bit and see a face who wasn’t so involved in the drama that was her life as of right now. Sure there was Atticus or Ava to talk to but she felt like she needed someone outside of Hogwarts, someone older. “I needed a break from Hogwarts, I wasn’t so sure I would be ready to leave after this year but I think I might be.” Unfortunately it would mean leaving Gavin for a year while he finished school, but that was if they made it through the summer together.

“None caught you eye? I find that hard to believe.” Sure it could happen and sure he could be busy but still how could not one woman catch his eyes. “With all the beautiful woman who come in this place you are telling me not one has caught you attention?” Nicola rolled her eyes as she looked down at her cup of tea was it was poured. She leaned closer and lifted the cup and took a sip once Arnie had left.

One boy or many? Nicola nearly chocked on her tea as she put the cup back down. “Many boys? Are you serious?” Nicola laughed awkwardly, “More like I am dating Gavin Snark, my best friend apparently loves me or something, and majority of the school think I have well….you know… with Devlin.” Nicola felt like she couldn’t live down that stupid incident in the closet with Devlin. “By the way I didn’t with Devlin we just got caught in a closet where we got stuck, he was giving me an essay cause I suck a potions.” Nicola shrugged her shoulders as she took another sip of her tea. “I really like Gavin though.” She felt a flush of colour over her cheeks. “But enough about that.”