Chapter Four
Draco awoke to rain pouring and internally groaned. He had planned to spend the day outside fixing up the jungle that had overgrown over the years. He could barely see the house amongst the weeds and vines. But this may have been fate. The house was for privacy; for hiding. He decided to leave it as is for the time being. Focusing on the inside first to allow some time for his father to settle down. Or at least he hoped he would settle down.
He could imagine the tension back at the Manor. His father would be pacing his office. Making visits and calls to his contacts to find his son that abandoned his duty. His mother would be trying to console him but it wouldn't be enough.
Thankfully his father had never been a good legilimens He was more thankful his mother was fantastic at occlumency.
As much as his mother loved his father she loved her son more. Throughout the war she had only wanted to protect him. Making the unbreakable vow with Snape was the first time he had considered his mother as more than his fathers puppet. He later found out his father never found out about the vow. And he never would.
If it was up to him, his father would have let Draco die to please Voldemort. His mother would have died in place of him. And that's how Draco knew who had his best interests at heart.
Draco got out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold floor yet it wasn't as cold as the manor he grew up in.
The kitchen didn't have much but he found some tea and that was past its expiration date but it would have to do for now. He would work out how muggles got their supplies later in the day. He recalled Granger talking about a shop called Tesco.
He would have to find out if that's where he could purchase food.
He Shaw his cleaning charms had paid off. The home was almost spotless. Empty but clean. He could fix empty.
He began conjuring chairs and a table, a small wooden table and four chairs would do. It was definitely less grand than the dining room he had grown up in but it would do. Not like he would be having any death eater meetings here. Or much company.
He moved into the living area, his only frame of reference was the home he grew up in. Everything was dark, some sort of antique or very uncomfortable to sit in. He remembered seeing a glimpse of the Weasley home once. It was light filled, although their furniture was old and outdated it still looked comfortable and homey. That was what he wanted. Comfort outside the realm of wealth.
True comfort where he could read and enjoy a glass of whisky in the privacy of his own home without his fathers gaze looming on him.
He conjured a small couch, a white couch that would comfortably seat a couple of people. Enough room for him to stretch out on. But the room was still too empty for his liking. He always thought when he inherited the manor he would make one of the living rooms into his personal hideout. Filled with books, drawing pads, and anything else he wanted but at this moment he didn't know what he wanted.
He didn't know how long he would be here. Or what his future held.
He decided on simplicity. A book shelf. A small bar cabinet. A desk facing the window.
To him, it was perfect. Never had he thought he would enjoy such a simple home. But he couldn't help but smile as he looked around.
Draco lounged around for a while, before readying himself and heading out into the cold. He regretted leaving the comfort of his home as soon as the first raindrop hit him. But he would have to make do. He needed food. And it seemed his stomach was agreeing with him. He hadn't eaten much yesterday. Skipping all of his meals, replacing them with some apples and a pie from the pub.
He hadn't even considered how he was going to prepare his food. He didn't know how to cook. His mother had managed to scrape together. He would figure it out.
If elves could do it. He could figure it out.
He walked down the street, using his jacket over head head to provide some protection from the heavy rain that was hitting him.
"Ever heard of an umbrella?"
Draco heard a voice call out to him. A voice he had dreamt about all night.
Clara.
He turned around and saw her walking towards him, a dark red umbrella shielding her from the rain. He smiled as she approached him, a smile he had reserved for only for her.
"If you haven't noticed, I've moved here very unprepared" He said to her as she tried to cover him under her umbrella. He took in her appearance, her hair was tied back in a bun, again wearing all black and carrying a large bag.
"I've noticed, it would be rude of me to point that out through" She responded, allowing him to take the umbrella out of her hands to cover them both.
"I can't imagine you being rude to anyone" Draco said, noticing a pair of pink shoes peaking out of her very full bag.
"I can definitely be rude, when a person is deserving. Where are you headed today? Need more directions?" Clara said with a slight smirk forming.
As the words came out of her mouth, Draco tried to imagine her telling him to piss off when he asked for directions yesterday and decided he would have to see it to believe it.
"As your luck would have it, I do. We both know I'm very unprepared, and my house has nothing in it apart from tea that expired 5 years ago." He said confidently.
"My luck? Why my good luck? Wouldn't it be your bad luck since you have no clue where your going" She frowned at his words.
"Well, its my bad luck I have nothing to eat, and as you put it no clue where I'm going, but since you get to see me, its your good luck" He said teasingly.
Blush crept up on Clara's face, she looked down so he wouldn't notice but Draco noticed.
He used his finger to gently bring her face up to meet his eyes, and they stayed like that for a while. Ignoring the rain which had now become heavier. As thunder struck, Clara jumped up breaking their trance.
"Food. Yes. There's a Tesco further up. Walk me home and keep the umbrella. You'll need it" Clara said boldly. Deciding that his previous statements about her luck was some sort of flirting. Not that she had much experience with flirting but she thought that was what he was doing. She hoped for his girlfriends sake that she didn't mind her boyfriend casually flirting.
Draco nodded, excited at the thought of spending more time with her. He continued to hold the umbrella as Clara led the way.
"Isn't this the opposite way from your house?" He asked, noticing they had continued straight forward rather then going towards the home they had stopped at the night before.
"My mum lives over there with Ollie, my apartment is over this way" She explained adjusting the bag she held from her left shoulder to her right.
Draco held his hand out, taking the bag from her and swinging it over his own shoulder. Damn, this thing was heavy he thought.
"Ballet?" He questioned, Clara nodded her head excitedly. Like he had bought up her favourite subject.
"I've been dancing since I was 3. I've just gotten a place in the Royal Ballet. My friend Harlow was more excited than I was, we had neighbours come to check on us after all the screaming we did when I opened the letter" Clara explained, excitement never leaving her eyes.
They walked and conversation flowed, Draco learnt so much about the girl that had captured his attention.
He she was raised by a single mum. Her dad was never in the picture. She taught little kids ballet on Saturday mornings. She was in classes twice a day, three times leading up to a performance. Her best friends name was Harlow. They had been friends since they were 6 and inseparable ever since.
In return, he told her about his life, leaving out the wizard part. He simply explained he was raised by both parents, although his father was distant but demanding at the same time. He had spent his school years in boarding school. Never had pets or hobbies.
Clara knew Draco was hiding something when he spoke of his parents, and his boarding school. At the mention of his father his eyes went dark and Clara decided to leave it.
This was only her second time meeting him. She couldn't push him to tell her all of his deepest secrets. But she did notice him not mentioning a girlfriend. It was eating at her not having his confirmation but she didn't want to look like an idiot and ask.
Draco was also thinking about Clara's relationship status. She mentioned her friend and her mum, surely this girl had someone.
He had met her last night and she had been on his mind and in his dreams already.
In another sense he was glad she didn't mention a boyfriend.
She didn't know it yet, but she was his. And he was hers.
His mother had always told him that when she saw his father, he had consumed her thoughts. Haunted her dreams. She would wake up in the morning and think about how she could start a conversation with him.
Now here he was, in a similar situation. With a muggle.
As they came closer to her apartment building, Clara was disappointed. She hadn't expected to see him again, but when she saw him being pelted by rain, her heart quickened. She had to stop herself from running towards him.
It felt like she was being pulled in his direction.
It was like something was fating them to meet.
"Do you have a list of everything you'll need? I can't keep saving the day" Clara said teasingly after a comfortable silence.
"I do have a mental list of what I need, but I do like you saving the day" He said honestly, watching her face began blushing again. She didn't try and hide it this time, she instead rolled her eyes at him.
"Don't think your girlfriend would appreciate you saying that" She said, biting the bullet and asking directly. She knew it would consume her even more then it was now if she didn't find out. She didn't want to be flirting with him, or over stepping.
"Don't think she would mind since she doesn't exist" Draco said simply. A large smile forming on both their faces.
"It is my lucky day then" Clara said under her breath. Draco questioned what she said, but she refused to tell him. Saying it was nothing.
But he heard it the first time.
He just wanted to hear it again. Without saying as much, Clara confirmed she was single.
It was music to his ears.
Clara announced they were at her apartment building, and the pair stood and looked at each other for a moment. Both unsure of what to do next.
If it was up to Draco, he'd kiss her right now. But he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He wanted her to come to him. He was hers. He'd let her lead how this would progress.
If it was up to Clara, she'd kiss him. But she didn't know if he was interested in her in that way. Sure he was flirty but it might not mean anything to him.
"I'll see you around?" Clara said, with some hesitation in her voice.
"You will. I'll return this umbrella tomorrow." He said, knowing it was the perfect excuse to see her again.
"Sure, I'll be home from 11 onwards. Maybe we could get coffee or something." She said tentatively.
"Coffee with you sounds great. I'll see you tomorrow" He said, handing over her bag allowing their fingers to brush together.
"Great it's a date. Or it doesn't have to be, you know thats more of a saying it's not really-"
Clara was cut off mid sentence by Draco laughing.
"It's a date then" He responded, watching her walk into the building. His smile growing bigger as he saw Clara look back at him before stepping into the building.