~Memories~
It was until 8:30pm that Draco felt he could completely unwind.
After spending what seemed like hours cleaning the kitchen to its Malfoy standard state, He went upstairs to dig deep into the piles of recipes he had created to find the ones he wanted to cook for the Christmas meal. The blonde, recklessly spoiling neat piles of alphabetised books, wondered if being so worked up over something that should be pleasurable and heart-warming was worth it. Yes, he had worked hard over the last five years to get his restaurant just the way he liked it, and gain some respect from the locals who are passionate about their food. But, surely Christmas should be relaxing?
The other Christmas's were, especially with Jean. The one who would stay overtime just to talk to Mrs Reiner's, the little old lady who would sit at her table in the corner next to the white roses, which always seemed to spark conversation. The one who'd ran out of the restaurant when the Santa Clause that he booked couldn't make it because of the snow, just so he could burrow one and entertain the children. The one who would sing in French in the kitchens when he thought nobody was listening.
After his mind was completely over filled with teaspoon measurements, he grabbed the nearest cream satin dressing gown and stumbled downstairs, inhaling the mellow scent of orange, cinnamon and cloves, which was odd, seeing as he didn't remember using those ingredients...
"Mulled Wine?" Draco's heart stopped so suddenly he felt that he was going to collapse there and then on the stairs.
"Molly! I-I didn't realise you were still here" Draco suddenly closed his opened dressing gown to cover what was left of his dignity, and the amount of space left on Molly's face that hadn't turn a pale shade of pink.
"Well I wasn't going to let you go hungry?" She chimed, chuckling to herself whilst placing steaming bowls of vegetable soup on the table, with a few bread rolls and butter.
His rosy lips turned into a gentle smile, and loved how she forgets that he isn't the 18 year old that she rescued, but in fact is a perfectly capable 25 year old man.
"Now, seeing as I'm now a chef, what's on the menu?" She smiled, patting down her ginger curls with her fingertips.
" Oh, urm" The blonde started, wanting nothing more but to forget cooking for just one evening, "When the guests arrive they will be served with mulled wine and mincemeat stuffed filo pastries, Entrée is turkey soup with dried cranberry bread with chestnut butter, starter is a Prawn Cocktail, the meat course is Pork with a mustard and honey glaze with daughinois potatoes, the fish course is cured Scottish salmon with a ginger and nutmeg relish, Pudding is a selection of orange cheesecake, sticky toffee pudding or Christmas Log and the final course is the cheeseboard with dried cranberries and frozen grapes. I know what you're thinking, having a fish starter and a fish course is a little too much, but-"
"No, no, it sounds absolutely perfect" Molly smiled, "You're very talented"
Draco, not fully accepting the compliment, covered his face with the goblet of mulled wine, and made an appreciative noise as the spiced wine warmed his throat. Mrs Weasley, always with a smile on her face, sat opposite the table and began to drink her soup. By the look on her face, you could tell she needed to say something, but was holding back for some reason.
"So, I see you are Jean are getting friendly?" Molly spilled, breaking off pieces of her roll and dunking it into her soup, smiling sweetly at the stunned blonde.
Draco took a deep breath, and had to search deep in fogged head to think of an appropriate answer. The truth was, they were close. Almost best friends, you could say. He was there when he needed to go house hunting, and was the one to find the old but charismatic cottage, with a wonky gate and a neglected garden. Yes, the cottage didn't look any less broken then the time he bought it, but he simply didn't have the time to decorate it to Draco's imagination. He envisioned bushes of white roses at the front, with the well in the middle, fully fixed and ready to use. But to think of him as anything more was...strange.
"Yes, we're friends" Draco stated as plainly as he good, "But that's it. Nothing more"
"Oh I see" Molly refilled his goblet with more steaming mulled wine," Is there anyone else in your life then?"
Calm down, she's only curious he reminded himself, pushing pieces of carrots around in his bowl, "Nope, no one. And that's the way I like it"
Molly chuckled, gaining the raised eyebrow from a confused Draco, "What's the laugh for Mols?"
She rested his head on her hands, "Well, I was just wondering if there was anyone else since-"
"There's nobody" Draco snapped, regrettably, as Molly seemed to be shocked by his reaction.
"I see" She collected the bowls from the table, "I won't bring it up again"
Brilliant Draco you sod He thought, biting his lip.
"I- I'm sorry, I'm just- tired, I haven't had a decent sleep since-"
"It's okay love, I understand" She smiled once again," I best be off now, Arthur's leg isn't going to bandage itself!"
He walked her to his fireplace, said their goodbyes and a kiss on the cheek from Molly, and disappeared in a flash of green light.
Draco felt horrid that the conversation ended so abruptly, but he couldn't think of such a selfish thing as a relationship right now, when there's employee's to pay and when he needs to deliver the perfect Dinner in a couple of days on Christmas Eve, or else the five years of hard work was for nothing.
The disgustingly hufflepuff kissing, cuddling and other pointless acts of soppyness. The late night letters saying how much he missed him, the suprise gifts or even the sweet pecks on the cheek. It was all over-rated and frankly took over reality.
Even if he did miss him.
