Lavender Brown's Requiem

A HariPo fanfic

by mew-tsubaki

Note: This is very loosely based on the movie Brown's Requiem with Michael Rooker and Tobin Bell and I didn't watch the whole thing, so I don't wish for too much grief. Oh, and of course the Harry Potter charries belong to J.K. Rowling. Other than that, READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!


Chapter 7: Would You Like That?

June Fifth, Summer

It was refreshing, this ambition. I don't remember the last time I broke the rules. I don't even remember the last time there were rules to break.

I slept in late and woke up refreshed. I took my time in the shower and getting dressed. I even made a fuss of my hair.

I also don't remember the last time I made such a fuss over myself. Hmm.

When I left my place in the afternoon, everything seemed brighter, the sun more vibrant, the sky bluer. I never realized how much my surroundings depended on my perception of them. I suppose Emerson was right when he said that Nature wears the colors of the spirit.

The nearby bookstore was a pleasant retreat from my normal routine, but unfortunately they didn't have any new Shana Abé. I ended up buying an anthology and then left to Apparate to Brighton.

It wasn't even instinct –or maybe it was –but either way my feet took me to Lumière's on their own. When I sat down, I glanced at my watch and cursed. "I can't believe I forgot to have breakfast again…"

"Then you won't mind if I invite you to join me for lunch?"

My lips curved up as Draco sat across from me in the booth. "When put that way, it sounds like lunch is on you."

"Aw. How can you do that to the birthday boy?"

"Happy birthday," I said after my smiled wavered.

Draco chuckled. "Thank you. And don't worry, lunch is on me. I would never ask for a lady to pay or go halfsies, unemployed or not."

I nodded, not bothering to correct. Hey, all the better if he thinks I'm unemployed right now, right? And not just for the free food.

The server brought my gratin and Draco's escargot (um, eeeeeewwww!) and we enjoyed a polite conversation –up to a point.

"Draco…," I began. I pushed my food around on my plate with my fork, and he lowered his fork hand to the table. "I wanted to apologize. For bringing up what I did yesterday."

He quieted for so long that I wondered if he was going to leave. "… Thank you," he said after another moment of silence.

In an effort to lighten the mood, I grinned and offered up a joke. "After all, you're about as evil as the snails on your plate."

Again, there was that inscrutable something in his eyes. "Everyone's evil, Lavender, some just more than others."

I frowned at him while he returned his attention to his plate. Why did he keep saying stuff like that? Stuff that was cryptic and foreboding? Stuff… Stuff that I couldn't decide if it intrigued me or warned me.

Stuff that only confused me more about him.

"So I don't get a birthday gift?" he asked, changing the subject.

"I thought you didn't ask anything of unemployed women."

"Unless it's an evening of their time." Draco looked at me, clearly enjoying the incredulous face I made. "Would you like to eat with me Saturday night? There's an Italian place called Che Graziano-"

"Yes," I interrupted. Whoa. Had I really just agreed to a date with Draco Malfoy?

He laughed. "That's nice. Like I was saying, though, Lavender, Che Graziano is a couple of blocks away from here. I'll meet you there, seven-thirty?"

"Yes," I repeated with a laugh. "I'll see you there."

We finished our meals soon after and he left for work. It was a different feeling, parting with someone and knowing I'd see them again. For me, it was just as weird to want to see him again. But I kinda liked it.