Adjustment

Every day was different. Every day had something new to offer.

And none of them had been worthy of Tanner's attention for a very long time.

The new owner of Flourish & Blotts, Tanner Higgs had spent the majority of his time after graduating Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry trying to make certain his sister made it out after him. He had moved as close to the castle as possible, had purchased several owls, and kept a special journal to ensure that whatever her classes may be, she would graduate because he had proofed her homework. The thought had never occurred to her that one day--he might not be there to help her anymore.

But after having taken such desperate measures to ensure that she made it out alive, there was nothing left for him to do once she had. His time spent with his books was lonely. And while his thoughts lingered once or twice on a suitable wife his parents had requested many times in their letters, he spent very little of his efforts on pleasing them.

Most of his time, in fact, was spent thinking after his friends and where they had gone. What they had become. Who they had created. Where they would end up.

Notably, his greatest friendship had hit a rough patch during school and had never really regained momentum.

At a societal function, Tanner was seated next to a lovely blonde who inquired nonstop about his life, his money, his family, his friends. It blurred into four hours of chatter in which he spoke very little. Instead, he competed inside his head with how to charm his latest set of books. Once he'd been done with helping JJ, he moved on to charming his books--which people bought from his home on many occasions.

Until his parents bought Flourish & Blotts as a present--providing he took a wife.

That was why he was seated at a table listening to the chatter. He felt no passion for the woman next to him. He never would. Every once in a while, however, he would catch sight of a brunette who would look just like her and his breath would catch. And his heart would stop. And his head would swim.

But then she was gone and it wasn't her at all. And life went on.

The announcement of Corbin's wedding to Dexter Hawley had been no surprise. But his friend had been there to help with the books as often as possible, stocking the shelves expertly because he knew exactly where the books belonged and how to treat them. By his sixth year of school, Corbin had been included in the loyalty charms. The books knew that if their master wasn't around, they had an ally in Corbin Finch-Fletchley.

Everything had been quiet that day. The bell rang, tinkling gently as the door knocked into it, letting Tanner know he had a customer. It was, as always, Corbin, who mused silently over the new selections--smarter than most as he kept his hands to himself. He never touched the books without permission or a reason. "These look interesting," he mused to his friend, lifting his face to look at the bookshop owner with a little bit of pity and sadness and regret.

"Yes. I just received them from Beijing," the other man explained, his arms hung loosely at his sides.

"Anything I might like?"

Tanner slide from behind the counter and wandered along the shelves, eventually reaching for a top shelf item, which he slid from its place and settled into his friend's waiting hands. The cover read 'The Man's Guide to the Woman's World of Weddings and What Comes After' in worn letters. Corbin laughed, something that was rare to hear for anyone but Tanner, who had been there for probably every time he ever had.

"How very fitting."

"I thought you might require something of this genre. Considering."

Corbin nodded, running his fingers over the leather. "Yes. Considering. I came here to ask you to be the best man in my wedding. Dexter insists there be people at this thing, so I would expect no one else to stand there beside me while I go through this for her." For us, he meant to say. But it was somewhat true. The wedding was for Dexter. The marriage was for the both of them. He didn't really care about vows or cake or people.

"Oh."

Tanner had expected something along those lines, but he knew that he had no opportunity of saying no. After many years of friendship, despite the hardest ones as of late, it would be rude to say no. He nodded his head, trying to offer a small smile. "It would be my pleasure," he managed to reply, though he knew, if he was ever expected to give some kind of a toast, his tone would need an adjustment.