To talk to Jared McCall from time to time was one thing, but to actually see him right in front of her was completely different. They had been friends since school, a Ravenclaw and a Slytherin that paired just fine during hours in the library, and he was what Claire wouldn’t think before describing as an enjoyable company. Claire missed seeing him with the same frequency they used to a decade before, but it was good that they hadn’t lost all touch - at least letters and an occasionally chat helped not to make things weird between the two of them.
But now that it was holidays and she had gone to the Hogsmead simply to relax (here meaning: reading something light before going back to Scarlet’s disappearance investigation + work + duties), she wasn’t expecting to see him sitting at a normal table in a dinner’s balcony.
Ok, not only sitting, but also seeming extremely focused in a paper - probably work.
That’s why Claire smiled to herself and decided to act a little more mischievous than the usual. No, she wasn’t one to think like that, after all she should act as an example for society and did it without complaining, but that was an old friend, right? So she could approach him without using a formal tone, even in a casual space like that one. Well, she knew the surprise would be a good one.
And with that, one and a half minute later she had made her mind and sat in the same table, trying not to make a sound or call his attention - she simply sat there and besides resting both hands on it, Claire also rested her head above her hands, looking up and waiting for him to notice.
After much consideration, Jared had come to the conclusion that he needed a change of scenery from his usual ‘stay at astrid’s with a cup of tea’ setup he’d come to get used to since he’d been back in town. He’d been directed to a corner table at the diner closest to Astrid’s just as the place was being cleared out from the large lunch crowd, and found himself getting comfortable as he drank his tea and took occasional bites of his sandwich as he took pen to paper and marked certain places.
He’d been there for a good thirty minutes, switching papers when he was done with one, moving a regular pace until, as he was about to pull another paper out from his pile and slip the one he had back in, he saw something --or rather, someone-- in his peripheral. His gaze turned suddenly, but instead of a frown his lips turned upwards as he recognized the woman. “Claire, hi. When did you get here?”