Capítulo 24: Tick Tock
Hermione's voice disappeared as the meaning of the words reached her mind and she actually, fully, comprehended them.
After what felt like an absolute eternity, her voice rematerialized (as if it hadn't just disappeared on her) and she hoped desperately it came out even when she responded with a surprisingly out-of-breath, "Yes, sure. When?"
Draco's heartbeat resumed and he relaxed a little. He thought. "I'll knock on your office door and I'll take you there."
Hermione smiled. "Alright."
The silence that ensued was awkward and shy, but Hermione got an email from Alexis calling for a quick discussion about one of the company's latest potential clients and Draco dismissed himself, a bit more abashedly than he had done in the past.
Hermione let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. Had he meant to do it, just for the sake of increasing and solidifying more of an amicable professional relationship?
But she was doubtful about that. Incredibly doubtful, once she thought about it. The strangely intimate moment they had shared just seconds before that spoke of something else hidden beneath the surface. Not to mention everything else they had done together that really wasn't normal in a working relationship. The fact that he had saved her not once, but twice? When they had been in her room, talking about their past and her forgiving him? Back then she had believed that he was only talking about the fact that she had agreed to work for him; now she had a different idea. Those factors only helped to confirm what she was already thinking- that this invitation for lunch wasn't just a friendly one.
Not like she minded; this pretty much solved the problem of her having to decide her next move. She smiled dreamily. Maybe she had truly broken out of that seal that her experience with Ron had created and encircled around her.
***
Draco's breath finally evened out by the time he sat down in his office chair. He was still having trouble processing what happened. Curse the loss of his silver tongue around that girl!
Well, it had happened; not exactly the way he had planned but it had still happened and considering it was already nine o'clock he seriously needed to make plans.
He grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and scratched out a letter to Theo, who had returned from India after learning about their cuisine for a month. The young, dark- haired, blue-eyed boy was already a sous-chef in one of the most affluent wizarding restaurants in London, having found the passion for cooking after the war as a coping mechanism.
Theo wiped his hands on his messy, stained apron, yelling out an affirmative reply as one of the waitresses outside called him out for an owl. Tucking his wand into the narrow front pocket, he made his way out of the crowded kitchen and took the letter awaiting him on the counter. He opened it up.
Theo's face split into a huge grin as he scanned the rest of the letter. Grabbing a spare piece of parchment sitting nearby, he scrawled out a reply.
The owl waited patiently as he tied the letter to the bony leg and it hooted as it flew off. He grinned. Now to go talk to his boss about keeping the best and most romantic table in the restaurant..
***
Draco sighed in relief as the owl returned, a familiar speck on the horizon. Tearing open the seal, he smiled as he scanned the response, rolling his eyes at the bet. Not that he was surprised; he knew Blaise bet on nearly everything.
Checking his wristwatch, he saw that he still had the morning to be productive before the reservation Theo had made for him.
However, try as he might, he just couldn't get the work in front of him done, his mind wandering off instead to what would happen during their lunch. He sighed.
***
The morning passed agonizingly slowly and Hermione groaned in frustration as she saw only fifteen minutes had gone by. It was almost physical pain; it was certainly mental torture, watching the of the clock go around ever so slowly and not being able to focus on her work to distract her.
Finally, she heard a sharp knocking at her office door; Hermione estimated she's finished barely a fraction of the work she had hoped to accomplish but at this point she didn't care. She shot a quick glance at the mirror on the console table behind her and opened the door. Hermione smiled as Draco offered her his arm; she grabbed a small bag from inside of her work purse that held her important things- wand and phone- before accepting and she shut her eyes as the familiar sensation of all her insides being liquified overwhelmed her before she opened her eyes, revealing... darkness. One of Draco's hands covered her eyes, not letting her see where they were just yet. She smiled, feeling like a teenage girl going on a first date. A proper first date. Ron had taken her on a bloody broomstick- knowing her deathly fear of heights and flying- over the freaking Black Lake. She had absolutely despised it.
The other hand slipped around her waist, as she felt the strong arm guide her up a series of steps- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, she counted- before the quiet of air as a heavy door was pulled open. She felt the muscular arm, now settled firmly on the small of her back, guide her around several items; if she were to guess, she'd say tables and chairs as he navigated her through the restaurant. She heard the rustle of curtains and felt two hands on her waist sitting her down on a chair, covered in a soft, velvety material, and she opened her eyes slowly, the light from the dim, overhead lights disorientating her for a moment.
By the time she had blinked the spots out of her eyes, Draco was already speaking in low tones to the waiter (who shot her a flirtatious wink while leaving. She, in turn, had given him a smile dipped in saccharine sugar with steel in her eyes).
Hermione glanced around the room, taking note of the heavy velvet curtains, the dim lighting making for a beautifully romantic atmosphere, and the silence of their private room. "Where are we?"
"We are...' Draco paused for dramatic effect, like the Slytherin that he is, 'at Merzano's."
Hermione's jaw dropped. "Merzano's."
He chuckled at her genuinely shocked expression. "Yes, Merzano's."
She smiled, eyes shining, and placed her hand on top of his, sending shocks through his fingertips. "You didn't have to. I know this place is- it's stupid expensive."
"Yeah, but I wanted to do something special." He flushes a little at the last word.
Hermione smiled. Who would've known that Draco Malfoy was such a romantic at heart?
"So this is something more." Hermione's whisper is barely audible to herself, but Draco still catches it.
"Something more?" His voice has a bit of a questioning edge to it. "Salazar, Hermione, it's always been something more..." He trails off as the look on Hermione's face sharpens.
"Always? You only hired me because of..."
Draco hurries to stop the development of her assumption.
"No, no. You were legitimately the only candidate I had even been considering for an interview."
Hermione's voice is soft and gentle as ever as she asks, "Then what do you mean?"
***
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