2031 ~ A Night in the Muggle Cinema

Come one, come all to the Muggle Cinema.

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Nicolas pushed the great glass doors open for Ana.

"Welcome to the Muggle Cinema!" He whispered so only she could hear.

Ana stared around in bemusement. Certainly a far cry from the magical world. No robed figures, no spells or levitating objects, or things wandering around of their own accord, simply a vast amount of popcorn, filling the air with its scent.

She blinked at the cardboard cut-outs, life-size, of various film characters, none of which she'd heard of. The magical world was more prone to ghost-like impersonations of characters.

"It's...different." She smiled, glancing at the other muggles, with no idea of magic at all, going about their lives.

"I just love the smell of burnt popcorn and the feel of sticky floors." Nicolas joked. "So, ever seen a film before?"

Ana chuckled quietly. "Who couldn't?"

She glanced around at the large signs declaring numbers of screens. "Well, not in a muggle context really. And not in a cinema. I'm guessing you have?" A statement that sounded like a question.

"Yep," Nicolas said proudly. "Diana's - " He decided mentioning her would be counterproductive. "One of my aunt's was a Muggle-born, she took me a couple of times."

"It's great! I'm sure you'll love it." Nicolas said. "And if not, just throw popcorn on the large screen in the middle."

"I'm sure I will." Ana agreed, her mind puzzling over this entire scenario. Was this a...date? Technically, they were married, but- why was it all so complicated? She felt so childlike again, on some muggle idea of a first date as a teenager.

She chuckled. "I'm sure that'll work."

"So which film would you like to see? We've got horror, romance, action, adventure...?" Nicolas said reading the synopsis of some of the movies on display.

"Uh...I don't mind." Ana shrugged. "You're the expert." She grinned briefly at Nick.

Of course, she wasn't going to say romance. Of course not. Never. That was just a ridiculous idea.

"This one seems interesting." Nicolas said refering to a poster with a giant explosion on it. "It involves zombies."

Ana smirked. "Sure, why not?"

Although she had no idea where these screens were.

"Alright, I'll go buy the tickets. Just give me a second."

Several minutes later, as there was a bit of a confusion with the Muggle money, Nicolas came back with tickets.

"Shall we?" Nicolas offered his arm.

Ana raised an eyebrow, partly amused and some small part of her oddly flattered, which was simply not right. Was it?

"Let's." She replied, a slight smirk on her face as she accepted his arm.

Why, she did not have even the vaguest inclination.

"Do you like some popcorn?" Nicolas said. "You know for throwing later on." He said the last bit in more of an undertone.

Ana chuckled quietly. "Well, by that argument how can I disagree?"

If she was honest, she wasn't entirely sure what 'popcorn' was, but she was not going to admit that.

"Alright I'll be back." Nicolas hurried off to the consession stand bought a bucket of popcorn and came back.

"Right, this way then." Again an offered arm.

This time, Ana's internal debate simply chose to shut up as she again took the arm.

Ah-ha. That was popcorn.

Whatever it was.

...It smelt good. And even if it wasn't, she could lob it.

"Which way?" She felt incredibly stupid, staring around at a seemingly endless row of numbers and having no clue which way to go.

"This one." Nicolas said taking the lead.

Ana gratefully followed his lead, glad that one of them seemed to have some idea of where to go.

Entering the screen, she blinked at the giant screen and levels of chairs. It was like a Quidditch match, but indoors and with odder seating.

"Where do you want to sit?"

"Personally, I like sitting in the middle." Nicolas said gravitating towards the middle of the middle row.

"Well, I must follow your more experienced lead." Ana smirked, following him along the rows and pulling the seat down. How odd.

She glanced at the screen, trying to work out where the picture would form. Camera at the back perhaps? Muggles were strange.

"So...what do we do now?" She muttered across to Nick, to avoid any muggles hearing.

"Just sit down and wait." Nicolas said smiling. "Popcorn?" He plopped down in the next chair.

Ana cautiously reached into the bag, examining the small curls of popcorn carefully. "...Thanks."

Hm...wasn't half bad, she mused. Probably wasted throwing at the screen really.

"So, what do you do for fun anyway?" Nicolas asked. The movie wasn't starting yet.

The question stumped Ana for a moment, as the answer didn't instantly spring to mind.

"I...I read, or go flying or just-wander around, I guess. I- practice spells or just...I don't know." She shrugged. "It's surprising how much free time looking after children can take up."

"Not that that's a bad thing." She hastily added. "And what do you do for fun?"

It was odd, living in the same house and yet not really knowing much about what Nick was doing. Strange, but the way it was.

"Same thing as you I suppose. Though I like keeping pets." Nicolas said.