Chapter 4
She was lying on her bed. The twins was already asleep in their room and it was just her who was awake at that time. She can't sleep because of what Draco said to her last week in their date just before he brought her back to her flat. His parting words kept repeating in her mind for the whole week. She wanted him to explain the next day but when she tried to contact him, it was only his secretary who answered her that Draco was in Germany for a business trip. How long? She doesn't know. Draco strictly said to his secretary that he can't tell anyone the duration of his trip much to her disappointment. So here she was, sleep deprived for the whole week.
'Believe it or not—'
No. She doesn't believe him, partly, maybe. But no. She needs explanation.
'—I don't hate you—'
She remembered their days at Hogwarts. All of her memories of them together were full of name callings and hate, except maybe that night, but most of it were completely contradicting his words.
'—in fact you made me feel things.'
Really? What's with him and these he called 'things'? He told her that her restaurant or rather the dishes in her restaurant made him feel things. What was that means? He also said she made him felt these 'things'. Damn those things.
Hermione woke up at six. She was not aware that she fell asleep, but at least she still woke up in time even she slept extremely late. She did her daily womanly rituals and went to wake her kids up at exactly seven. She made them took their bath while she cook them breakfast. As the kids positioned themselves at their seats they began eating.
"Mum?" Rose called her attention.
"Yes, Rosie?"
"When will Mr. Draco visits again?"
Hermione choked on her toast. She immediately drank her coffee and looked back at Rose. Usually, she was asking in this time in the morning if when will their father be back even Ron was just here to visit the last day, but she asked for Draco. He really did left a good impression to the kids.
"Yes, Mum. Mr. Draco says he likes Tornados. I want to play with him." Hugo said.
"Me too!"
"Uhm... when I see him, I will tell him you want to play, okay?"
"Yey!" The kids shouted in glee and ate again.
She didn't want to make them hope for nothing so she really hoped to see him as soon as possible.
She arrived at her restaurant at ten after she dropped the kids at the Burrow. She opened the door and as she took her first step in her restaurant, she felt something was wrong. It's usual that her staffs came here earlier than she because of her motherly things but there's something that was making her felt jittery.
"Good Morning, Chef!" Her always hyper waiter, Jeff greeted her. She smiled back. Other more staffs greeted her until she arrived at the kitchen. There, her world stopped for a second or two.
"Draco?!"
Draco was standing there at the very middle of her kitchen, complete with a waiter attire. He was also holding a single stemmed red rose. He came to her and kissed her cheek and gave her the red rose that she accepted.
"Surprise?"
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Visiting you, I've missed you." He said with a smile.
"Okay? And why are you wearing a waiter's uniform? Where did you get it?"
"I wanted to spend the day with you. Jeff lend it. Give him a bonus, nice bloke." He chuckled.
"Jeff's really nice." She agreed. "You do get it that I am a chef and you are a waiter, right?"
"Yeah, I get your point. But I am better to be this—" he gestured at his attire. "—than being a chef. I don't know how to cook. And I can still see you. Do you find it romantic?"
She laughed. "Yeah, but it's hard to believe that Draco Malfoy can be romantic."
"And a waiter." He supplied.
"And a waiter." She repeated with a laugh.
So that was why she felt something was wrong. Well, not really wrong, just surprising. The whole business hours were a little bit exciting for Draco was here. Her staff visibly saw that their boss was happy so they were. Draco was doing a good job being a waiter and an acquaintance to Hermione's coworkers.
They temporarily closed the restaurant at three to have a three hour break for the transition of day and night. Hermione's employees took it as a chance to apparate to their homes and spend their break there. Usually, Hermione do just the same, she apparates to the Burrow and play with the kids or just bond with the Weasleys but this afternoon was different. Draco asked her to come with him at the park to do some picnic.
"That was tiring." Draco said as he lied down, his head on Hermione's thigh, after they ate from the restaurant.
"I love the food."
"Thanks." Hermione smiled. "But no one asked you to do that." She retorted, trying not to feel awkward at the contact.
"You're right, but I want to do it."
"You do? Like really? I found it hilarious because Draco Malfoy, the one who liked to be served were now serving people. Quite a scene."
"Is it really unbelievable?"
"Yeah, you aren't aware?"
"I thought so, too." He sighed. "But I told myself that I should try those things."
Hermione was taken aback by his statement. "Why? You'll get everything you want with just a snap or just showing your Galleons at people, so why do it?"
"I realised my wrongdoings. I treated everyone poorly back in my younger years—"
"You're not wrong there."
He chuckled. "I know, after the Wizengamot granted my family of freedom, and every single business of my family fell on my shoulders, I went to one of the business we owned and saw how the superiors were treating their subordinates poorly. So I implied that we, the bosses try to interact with them, to be them and to experience the shits they do. A lot disagree saying how dare I order them, I'm just the son of the owner—"
"Then you broke the news."
"Yeah. I told them I am indeed the boss of bosses in that building so they don't get any choice. I did that too. And I saw how hard it was for the lower ranks, they saw it too. Though some of them were like me who thought what their past actions were terribly wrong, most of them were just threatened by me after I told them 'be nice or I'll buy their stocks and make sure none of them will be in the Top 50 Richest Wizards and Witches."
"That's hard but I'll admit that's a good strategy for a better leadership." She smiled at him. "But why became my waiter?"
"Well, same but with a twist, I guess. We don't own restaurants, so I don't know. I'm planning to build some or something. And here's the twist, I'm dating the owner of that restaurant, that'll be kinda awkward for me as your boyfriend not knowing what the hell happening behind the scenes. All I know is that chefs cook and waiters serve. That's pretty much it. I don't even know you took breaks, I thought that your services are continuous."
"Of course we take breaks, if not then we'll die of exhaustion. And really? Boyfriend?" She asked, smirking.
"Yeah. I'm serious with all of this. With us."
They came back to the Dragon's Nest earlier than everyone. Draco helped Hermione prepare ingredients that will be most needed. Then her employees came pouring in, looking refreshed and all smiling. So was she, her mind kept repeating their moment at the park, how she discovered a sympathetic Draco Malfoy, which was odd to be honest. When you're looking at him, all you can see was his oozing pride, commanding aura and a tough personality, too far from his romantic, sympathetic and care free self.
The night customers came and they became busier than earlier, a lot of orders came and they were all giving their best not to disappoint. Their restaurant belongs to those who opens at night but due to popular demand and an extra income for all they decided to open from quarter to eleven to three at the afternoon.
Hermione felt the time kept on going and just stopped when she and Draco locked eyes and exchanged smiles. He looked so tired but all smiling, those who may recognise him will be shocked. His usually impassive personality broke, he became more approachable and welcoming human.
The night shift ended at midnight and Draco found himself watching Hermione fixed some few messes the other chefs made while cooking. She really was stunning when doing all those work. He can see the passion she had for cooking, aside from reading because that was already given. This was the only time he saw her do the actual work, he kind of did back in Sixth Year but he was too dedicated on something to give it attention.
"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting." She said and he joined her on her way out.
"That's fine. I like watching you."
She looked at him and gave him an awkward. "That's creepy."
His eyes widened. "No, that's not what I meant."
She laughed. "I know. But really, you don't need to go with me."
"I insist."
"But—"
"Whatever that but is, leave it." He held her on both shoulders. "I want to. Now let's go to your home so you can sleep and fetch the kids tomorrow." Then he apparated them to her flat. She turned to him.
"Speaking of kids, the twins liked you."
He chuckled. "Of course."
"They want to see you again."
His eyebrows rose. "Oh."
"And it's really okay if you don't, I'll just explain it to them!" She said rushing every words out.
"No, I want too. How about tomorrow?"
"Don't you have work?"
"I don't." He said. He lied. He has a meeting, but he'll just Floo his secretary to cancel his plans. "We can fetch them together?" He offered.
"What? Are you sure? I mean, we're going to the Weasleys. You don't like Weasleys."
"Your twins are Weasleys, and I like them."
"You do?"
That's one of the problems being a divorcee or single mother, once the man meet the kids, they'll back out. It's not that she can't live without a lover, the kids for her were enough, she also have her friends and the Weasleys, all of them were more than enough. She's a strong, independent woman but having a man who will love her despite everything will be really good. But this was Malfoy, here we go again. He's her childhood tormentor, but he changed. He said he was serious with her, but she can't believe all of it, maybe a bit? But not enough.
"Yeah, I do."
"Uhm... sorry."
"For what?"
"I am really doubting this whole thing. I mean you're Malfoy—" she pointed at him.
"Yeah?"
"—and I am Hermione Granger. You now see what's wrong? What's worth the doubt? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the date we had and this help you did—"
"You don't consider the picnic part of this day a date? It was a date."
"It was?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, so back to my point. I enjoy the date before, the help, the opening up and the picnic date. I really had fun but the whole thing, if you look at it with the people who knew our history's perspective, this thing was wrong."
"It's wrong and my intentions might look doubtful for them, I understand that. But it's yours and my perspective we're talking about. We are the one involve, not them. Why look at it when you have your own. And I knew you are the type of person who won't seek approval of many, you know what's best for you. I don't find any wrongs in there. Do I make you happy?"
"So far, yes."
"Do you think we shall continue this?"
"Yes? I mean it's too early to judge."
"Indeed."
"But the kids? It's them and my situation I am worrying about more. What if you realised that you don't want a woman who has kids already? Your one of the bachelors that ladies wanted for themselves and I am already divorced, with kids!"
"Your point?"
She exhaled loudly. "You really serious about this." She whispered.
"Yes, I am. You know, I understand. You don't want me. I'll le—"
"No. I might be feeling something for you, too. It's just the anxiety and doubts, and ques—"
He held her chin and brought her head up so she will be able to look him at his eyes. Her breathe hitched when she noticed how close their faces were.
"You said you felt something."
"Yeah, I believed I said that."
"Then let go of the doubts, and I will prove you that your doubts, fears and everything else that falls in those categories are all wrong. Give us a chance and if I screw up, you can unleash the Weasleys to punish me then I'll punish myself more like a House Elf."
"That's barbaric."
"I know and I deserve it if I ever did try to hurt you."
"And unfair, you won't let me have my revenge?" She joked.
"I didn't mention it because I knew that you'd be the first one to do the revenge. Weasleys and Potters will be dealing with the scraps." He replied with a chuckle.
He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "You should rest, the tension's just building up on you. I'll come here at nine, will that be fine?"
"Okay." She nodded and with one last smile for the night, he apparated. She stayed rooted at her place and kept staring at his place, now empty. She smiled to herself, maybe they deserve a chance.