Sam had only been back in London for a day, now his second day back in the UK he was already relaxing back into it. Yesterday had been getting a cheap flat on very short notice, he probably was getting ripped off badly by the landlord, everything smelt faintly of old and damp, it was small and dingy, but he could afford it and it was his, which was a great thing for him. Then it had been trying to get food shopping done on minimum amount, was it a healthy diet? No, would it be edible? Dubious, but he has food, at the very least there was tea, milk and bread and as such he had something to survive on.

But he had managed to sort out his money, he had little but he'd survived on less and managed to do alot, he was somewhat able to balance his money and as such, he figured he could afford a coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate, or one of the million types of drinks available. Obscuro Mochaccino was sounding good, ooh and he likely had enough to buy a cake or baked good! He had enough to get both!

Although he was worried about going out, he figured to himself it was unlikely he was to meet anyone he knew, for a start it was a work day and he didn't have a job yet, and as such it was unlikely right? And there's thousands of people in london, even with Diagon being a small part of London and most magical kind being around, there are still a thousand easily so being spotted or running into one of the few would be unlikely, besides who would remember him?

But as he walked into the cafe he forgot about that as he took in the smells and sight of the place, the mixture of the coffee beans, the heat, different types of milks, the chairs, everything blended together and was just like he last remembered, it was hard to forget for him, mostly because it felt safe and cozy for him to be in. Did it smell faintly of horse? The sight of everything, it had only been a year of him leaving, but it felt like nothing had changed, atleast to him. It was relaxing to have something he knew after having so long of nothing being set.

Unfortunately he found himself getting too engrossed with the sights and...horsey smell, along with memories that he was not looking at where he was going...in the slightest. After several steps of not watching he came to an abrupt stop and THUMP as he bumped into somoene, he desperately attempted to keep himself up but ultimately, he ended up on his backside as he couldn't keep his balance.

February 16th. Only a few days after Valentine's Day, which meant that Abby could still order the most obnoxious special on the menu. She loved the holidays! Her mocha of choice was mostly desert, with a cocoa heart atop the cream, and a white chocolate cookie floating in the middle, and a chocolate biscotti shaped like an arrow resting on the plate that was, of course, also shaped like a heart.

The staff didn't need to call her name. They smiled at her and set the drink down on the counter. Abby carefully picked up the plate and mug, and turned to find a seat. Maybe she could get her phone to work well enough to snap a photo. Maybe she'd send a selfie to Sasha, accompanied by dozens of heart emojis. Abby had worn some variation of pink and red all week, and today was no exception.

She and Sasha deserved some lightheartedness after the chocolates fiasco on Tuesday[1], which was all kinds of messed up, and had affected a few of Abby's closest friends. When the full moon had come and gone without much incident, she'd thought that February might be a happy month. A good month. A month free of beetles scuttling out of chocolates.

Apparently not, but there was still time to turn it around.

She was about to reach an empty table when - THUMP

Someone walked right into her.

Abby fumbled with the coffee and the plate, which fell right out of her hands.

CRASH.

The plate and mug shattered on the floor, seeping coffee onto the tiles. Her arrow-shaped biscotti rolled. A few droplets splashed onto her, and Abby hastily stepped back in an attempt to save her shoes.

The shop fell silent for a few moments. No! There went her coffee.

She glanced down at the blue-haired wix on the floor. Had she really made someone fall over?

"Wow! Break hearts, not dishes," she tried a dorky joke to relieve the awkwardness.

"You alright?"

She knelt a little. Abby couldn't exactly wave a wand to immediately clean up the coffee mess, so she checked on the fallen person instead.

1.	Never trust chocolates

Sam was reeling from falling down, but it came to him quickly! He had fallen, hit into someone that he then made spill their drink! Wait no! They had dropped it! And it smashed! Oh no this wasn't good, this wasn't good at all! He broke their drink, he didn't mean to! He just got distracted, and accidentally hit into them, but why wasn't she sing magic to clean it up and was instead going down to him? They could easily sort it, admittedly not exactly drink it but atleast they can repair it right? So why didn't she whip out her wand and wave it all about the place?

Wait and she was speaking to him now! Well, he expected her to, but he expected more shouting and anger that he broke their drink and spilt it all over the ground, especially if it was a special, by the looks of the stuff on the ground...they ordered multiple things...oh no this isn't good at all! He may of ruined their day! What has he done...

Break hearts not dishes? No that wasn't his thing, if anything he had his broken, and then mocked for it. It wasn't his thing, he wouldn't want to do that to someone! Why would he want to hurt someone that way? It was horrible, he became reclusive afterwards, well, more reclusive then before, it wasn't as if he was a beacon of friendship was it? Just trying to avoid everyone.

"U-uh...yes..I am alright." He said softly, nervously, his hands moving to get himself up off the ground and away from the spilled drink, he didn't want to get wet from it really either, although his shoes can manage with getting wet unlike hers, but he didn't quite want the skirt getting wet, it was awkward enough wearing it in public as it was let alone if it was to get damp!

Quickly flattening it so nothing got exposed at all, or atleast he hoped his fall was graceful. "I-i am so sorry! I really am! W-what did you order? I can get you another one! Please, anything I'm so sorry!" He didn't want his new start to be bad, he didn't mean to hit her, he had to offer a way to repay her!

"It's fine! No harm done," Abby stood when he did, repressing a giggle. What a nervous sort!

She glanced around, not as embarrassed for herself as she was for him. His flustered reaction probably drew more attention than he realized.

Abby looked to the counter, holding up her hands and wiggling her fingers with an apologetic shrug. To anyone else, it might look absolutely bonkers, but to the staff who had never seen her with a wand before, at least one of them got it.

A barista came over and started cleaning up the broken dishes and spilled coffee. Abby watched her levitate the ceramic pieces and dry the floor with a few flicks of her wand. Abby thanked her and glanced back at the stranger.

"Seriously, it's no trouble. If you'd really like to make it up to me, how about just a regular mocha? I was overly ambitious with my order."

The barista snorted a laugh. Abby would like every day to be Valentine's Day.

She draped her cloak over the back of a chair and sat down at the empty table. No one had claimed the chair across from her yet. Abby had escaped the office in the mid-afternoon, when it was less busy.

Abby glanced at the stranger curiously, having noticed his skirt and longer blue hair. He must have zounds of confidence underneath that nervous exterior.

"I'm Abby. I'll save a seat for you, sound good?"

He looked lost! She couldn't help but adopt lost boys. They made the best of friends.

She didn't seem angry! That was a positive for him, but it also just made him nervous about it, what if she wanted to lead him on and then humiliate him? She didn't seem that type but he's been wrong before about people and they've turned out worse or nicer, there's been some weird people who turned out nice! So it was very likely she would be nice! Even if she didn't use her wand to clean up the mess, may of just been to give them something to do or she didn't know how to clean it up? He would be confused about what to do with it also, he was confused about what to do also!

He shakily took himself up to the counter, he made sure to ask for an exact of what she had! And hoped that what he was given was it, even if she said she wanted a different drink, if it was another drink anyway, he broke that drink and she obviously wanted that one or she wouldn't of ordered it! No one would ask for stuff they know they wouldn't want, it just seemed wasteful and counter intuitive. She seemed to be offering a seat also so he asked for his order also, his budget could support it! Hopefully, probably, not, he doesn't need food every day right?

He carefully, VERY CAREFULLY! Carried both of their things back over to the table, he didn't want to spill both of their things! Or break hers again! It would be extremely bad if he did that, he may not even be able to afford bread if that happened. Getting a job quickly would be a fix to the issue but if he kept breaking things who would want to hire him? Probably someone who needs things broken, like for making the base of a cheesecake or bannofee pie, but would he be able to reliably break biscuits is another tedious and serious issue entirely.

Carefully! Or as carefully as he could, both sets of orders were placed down onto the table, with him taking the seat opposite as offered, if it was something bad going to happen, then why run, he'd broken her drink, and besides wasn't like he had anything better to do today. She had said her name, Abby, like a church? Is her name really church? Were there people called Church?

"i'm..." There must be names he can come up with to tell her, something that may help a little but she was being friend. "Sam." He settled to tell the actual name to her. "And again, I am so sorry. I sort of got stuck in...and then everything was feeling...and then I bumped and...I'm so sorry!" He attempted to apologize again.

Her eyebrows hitched up as the stranger returned, carrying the drinks as if they were stink bombs about to go off.

"Hi Sam," Abby said cheerfully, glad that he decided to join her. She enjoyed people-watching, but people-talking was much better.

"Really, it's no big deal. It was just an accident. Thanks for the new drink."

Aw, he'd replaced what she'd originally ordered. That was sweet of him.

"I'm just here on break from work," Abby explained, fishing the floating cookie out of the mug with the end of her biscotti-arrow. She plopped it on her plate.

"Level Two is always busy, but my boss is out right now, so I am as well," she smiled. That was the spirit! Taking breaks when her boss took breaks.

"Are you on break?"

Considering his outfit, she doubted he worked at the Ministry, but he could be stopping in from one of the shops in town.

Being on break, it made sense that she would be, she seemed like someone who would have a job, well, most people seemed like they would. Sam was the exception here by not having a job, especially since its still term time and this isn't Hogsmeade or the weekend so no students would be around. So yes he would be the exception. What she said though did make alot of sense, if the person she's working for isn't around, why should she?

But that meant he almost ruined her break! And that made him feel even more guilty, even if she was seeming fine with it, if it had gone slightly differently her entire break could be ruined and that could lead to a bad day!

And then she asked about him, he didn't think many places would really let people work in a hoodie, it was fairly unprofessional wear but maybe somewhere allowed it, or if he was on break he could of put it on for warmth, he probably could of chosen better clothes if he wanted warmth though. But if working indoors it may of made sense?

"I...am sort of on break?" Technically true, on break from work, in that he hasn't had a full time job, just odd jobs while travelling to ensure he didn't starve, but he was on a break from jobs. "I am on a break from jobs right now." He said somewhat more confidentially but still in a soft tone, it sounded better then unemployed at the very least didn't it?

Abby raised her eyebrows and nodded, taking a sip of her drink. Being unemployed was no fun, unless it was by choice. He looked and dressed like he'd just graduated from Hogwarts or another school last year, so maybe he was still searching for the right career or was taking a break from the one he had.

"The coffee shop is a good place for a break," she bit into the chocolate cookie.

She hadn't seen him around Alohomocha before, or for that matter, around Diagon Alley. He seemed like the painfully earnest, honest type. A Hufflepuff type. The type who might accept help and cheerful chit-chat.

"I'm basically a Diagon Alley expert," Abby smiled. "It's my second, unofficial job. So if there's anything you want to know, or anything you're looking to do, feel free to ask. I'm not sure how new you are to the area," she ventured curiously.

Or if he was new at all! Could be a shut-in.

"How is your coffee? Mine is delicious."

Abby sipped at her mocha and glanced around the cafe, where conversation had started at the tables again, and everyone had seemingly forgotten about the broken dish from earlier.

Sam blew over his drink a little just to cool it down a bit then had a sip, with a satisfied nod a small smile formed. It was good! It wasn't a coffee but it was still very good! Did they add potions to the drinks to make them more appealing? He believed in some weird stuff, he had to being in the magical world, he believed in Veela, Nifflers, Grindylows, even mermaids were sort of real. And he swore he saw a giant squid in the lake at hogwarts! But how good drinks at Alohomocha were was something he struggled to believe.

"Uh, I'm new to Diagon sort of. I've been here a few times, but only for school supplies." He wrapped his fingers around the mug, fingers interlinking with eachother, this wasn't a great idea as his hands started to get slightly too hot, he hoped it cooled before it burnt his palms, why he decided to do this was partly unknown to himself, it just seemed like it may look good but he wasn't sure if it did.

She was offering help with Diagon! He knew the stores...and that was about it, if she was offering it would be good to take up the expert on the information, maybe it could help him find a job! Or just ways to make money, he could do with a boost to money even if he got a job, money in the future is good but he also needed money now. He wondered what he could do to get quick money, and then an idea came to him!

"Do you know if anywhere would be offering jobs? And..." His voice lowered a bit, he didn't know about laws but he knew about distrust and hatred and so would rather not ask too loudly. "Would any vampires or groups be willing to pay to drink from people?" He didn't mind the idea, he figured there are worse ways to make money, and if he's willing why wouldn't it be allowed?

Abby stared at Sam. Vampires? She'd misjudged him. He must be a painfully earnest, honest, and completely mad type!

She laughed, glancing down at her drink as if she'd find the answers in the cream. What a jokester.

"Can't tell you. I stay away from all that - I just hear about the times it goes wrong," she shrugged. Working on Level Two, she heard about everything that went wrong.

Vampires aside, he needed a job desperately, from the sound of it. Had he graduated from Hogwarts? She couldn't tell, considering that he'd only been to Diagon a few times to shop for supplies.

"Start with the shops," she figured she'd start with the obvious. "You look like you're enjoying your coffee. You could become a barista - which is better than becoming bait for vampires. You could check with the staff here, or if you want someplace quieter, there's a smaller hole-in-the-wall cafe just around the corner."[1]

Abby took another sip of her coffee. "For fashion, I'd try Malkin's over Twilfit and Tattings. If you live for adventure, check out Pandora's - it's a thrift shop, and it sells a bunch of old, probably cursed things," she grinned.

Half-joking!

"A friend of a friend of mine just got a job at the menagerie. You know the one? But if you'd rather look after night owls, pubs are usually hiring."

Abby stopped there, in case anything sounded particularly interesting to him.

1.	Just a shop I made up

Vampire bait? Was it not ok to feed for vampires? There are blood donations aren't there? Whats wrong with from the source? Or was she just a bit against vampires, in a sense he can understand why people would not be trusting of them, but he had no reason to be against them. Especially if they offered pay for his blood or other benefits, he'd read books where they did that! Kept them well and in turn they got to feed off the person. Of course he won't rely on it, there has to be better ways to get quick money but it seemed easy, like in muggle world where you donate blood and get a biscuit.

Speaking of which, he did get himself a brownie, his hands relaxed and put down his hot chocolate so he could take a bite, something sugary was something he needed and it was so great! This place didn't seem like the place for him, it was too good, everything was so nice and sweet! He already broke a drink, they aren't likely to hire him! Although the others did give him some ideas.

The menagerie could work well! Lots of animals, he did study animals! Maybe he can spend half the day petting cats, that would be a very nice job, but likely its cleaning messes that is the worst part of the CoMC classes. So that could work but may not be his preference, pubs and bars worked! As much as cursed pawn shop objects sounded interesting, he didn't want to be cursed, he's met some people with horrible curses on them and some weird ones. He didn't want to visit St Mungo's that frequently... But he could manage standing behind a bar and pouring drinks! Would have to be around drunks but he can get tips and maybe meet a cute guy!

"I'll ask around at bars I think, I could manage pouring drinks...I won't break them!" He added on quickly, he wouldn't spill or break them! Well he may spill one or two. Doing odd jobs now and then while travelling he learned how to pull a pint, you start tilting it as you get closer to the top so that you can get rid of the head...and once its full you clear the top with a straw or knife or something. Well anyway thats muggle way, magical may obviously be different, using magic to lift out the perfect amount of liquid and plop it into a mug? That would be really cool!

"But uh...just to be safe...do you know about any vampires who may...?" He tried to give a small twinge at the end as if it was both a question and a joke, although at this point he was aware it was looking like he was likely to do it. But its only to make sure he had his options there, even if he applied to every store and pub in London, its not guaranteed he will get a job at all.

Abby borrowed a habit from her Auror friends and just looked at Sam directly and said, "No idea."

No idea about vampires! Even if she did have an idea, she wasn't about to tell him and feel responsible for whatever nonsense he got himself into. He was greener than the greenest trainee she knew, softer than the softest Hufflepuff.

She tapped her fingers against her cup of coffee and glanced out the window for a moment. Talkative Abby hardly ever had a problem making conversation, but even so, despite the number of questions that popped into her head, she wasn't sure which would be welcome. He hadn't asked her anything about herself, so it was tough to know if he was interested in talking, or just incredibly shy, or just felt bad about the spilled coffee.

"It's been a while since you've been to Diagon," Abby repeated what he'd mentioned earlier, tilting her head to glance at him.

"Are you looking to catch up with anyone, from school or wherever? Anyone I know?" She said hopefully, than waved her hand and grinned. "I know everyone."

No, she didn't - but she knew a great deal of people, and enjoyed collecting new friends.

Sam slowly nodded along, it had been awhile, even before going around the world he had barely visited so its not like he knew the place well.

She was offering to help find people, that was rather good, she struck him as the type of person who a social butterfly, it was a weird term, but she seemed the type of person who could know almost everyone and get along with them all. So the fact she was offering really helped, but it begged the question of who to actually try to find. It wasn't like Sam knew many people in the first place, he knew a few from Hufflepuff maybe, so he guessed he can rattle off a few people perhaps, if it helped at all.

"Uh, well...I didn't really talk to alot of people...I was in hufflepuff?" He worded it almost like a question, mostly as he wasn't sure if she would know many Hufflepuffs, but they always seemed to get themselves well known, they were kind and helpful people.

"So I guess Hufflepuff's would be good...to find?" He looked down at the skirt he was wearing, he must of looked terrible, he knew it, after this he really needed to go home and get changed, if he was even going to go out again, the fear of potentially knocking someone elses coffee though terrified him.

Abby's eyes lit up.

"I know Hufflepuffs."

She stated as if she knew all Hufflepuffs in existence, not just Hufflepuffs in their age group. They were loyal and hardworking, of course, but many were also quirky, and some were incredibly social, and some preferred animals or things to people, and some hid in their hoodies.

 Sam fit that last type to a tee.

"I'm good friends with Moira McBoid!"

Incredibly hard worker. Obsessed with animals.

"On Level Two, I'm friends with Fauna Blake, and I have a pretend-to-be-lazy-but-actually-accomplish-a-lot contest going on with Gris Hericho. I'd like to think that I'm friends with Auror Warrington, who was a Hufflepuff."

Everyone loved Omari!

Abby smiled cheekily, "I know Figaro Sellaphix, I know of Tess Fenneken, and everyone knows Penny Pickler."

Did he know any of them? Did he like any of them? Abby took another sip of coffee, and gestured helpfully to herself, "I am not a Hufflepuff. Nor did I even go to Hogwarts. But trust me, I can re-introduce you to whoever."

She knew Hufflepuffs! That was good!

Although he wasn't completely confident with the names that were given to him. He knew some obviously, well maybe not personally know them, but he had heard of some of them. So that was even better!

He nervously shifted on the seat, before taking a sip of his drink. Fauna he believed he'd heard about quite often from Hogwarts, it was hard as a Hufflepuff to avoid hearing about SAWS and the troubles it brought up, not that he had a problem with them, but it was hard to ignore certainly.

The rest he may have a harder time remembering, he'd never heard of Omari, it wasn't unlikely he hadn't heard of anyone as he wasn't the most outgoing person, but still.

"Um..any you would recommend at all? I think that I now Fauna. Or...or well...maybe? Was she in SAWS?" He thought on the other names, he wasn't too sure with them, Gris was an odd name, wasn't it French for Grey? Why would someone be named that? Even among the Wix names he has heard. However that mixed with Tess struck some kind of bell, were they Quidditch players or something? It hadn't even been two years and he was struggling to recall Hogwarts people.

"O-oh how is your drink?" He asked in some concern if it was alright after he had broken the initial one.