DISCLAIMER: In no way do I own any of the characters in JK Rowling's Wizarding World. I am but a fan who has run away with her imagination.

Chapter 19

Monday. It was back to regular and scheduled programming for everybody. Everybody, including a reluctant, slightly distracted and lightly tanned Draco Malfoy. He was seated at his desk going through papers upon papers of reports but his mind was elsewhere. The scowl on his face said it all. He'd rather be on the island with a certain brunette witch instead of going back to work.

He reached for the muggle device by his ledger for what felt like the 100th time this morning. Dara had convinced him to use it more often as a way of communicating with each other. He had to admit, he did like the way the messaging was instant. There was something about the way he could still talk to her even though they were miles away, he found oddly satisfying and gratifying. He scrolled up and down the messages they had been exchanging since this morning, a smile forming in his lips. If his calculations were correct Dara would have been in London by now, meeting with an art dealer for a possible show. He had half a mind to leave work and seek her out but the growing pile of papers he needed to sign were hard to ignore.

His stomach protested and immediately his thoughts went back to that busy market in the mainland. He remembered Dara expertly weaving through the growing crowd while Draco tagged along. He followed her with his eyes, always watching her face, catching the slightest change in her expression when she found something amusing. She'd approach a stall displaying an assortment of sausages and cheese and she'd smile back at him asking if he'd want to try it. There were times he could only smile back for he was too taken with her. He was amused, watching her fawn over the things she fancied.

There was a moment where she was a few stalls away and he got caught with a persistent local vendor offering him something he didn't need. He looked for her a few paces away and already she was looking back at him, checking if he was okay. When she saw that there was nothing to worry about she grinned and went back to checking out the piece of jewelry she had in her hand. How can that smile make him feel 10 different emotions all at the same time? How was it possible that one look from her effectively silenced him?

"Take care of her Draco. She only has you and me left." Mama Rosa's words echoed in his ears. He was glad he had that talk with her. It offered him a different perspective to their situation, an option he knew could be possible. But was he ready to make that commitment? Take that option and basically leave everything he knew behind? He sensed that Dara was in no rush, and so was he. All he could do now was milk their time together for all it's worth, while impending doom loomed over his head.

He bid the seller goodbye and followed Dara deeper into the market. He kept his distance a few paces away which allowed him more time to watch her interact with the locals. Her face lit up as she animatedly conversed with a stall owner selling fresh fruit. He knew the moment he saw her, she would change his life. He just never knew she would change it the way she did. He felt lighter, free and happy. He wasn't sure if he was using the right words to describe what he was feeling but whatever it was, he liked it.

The crowd was thicker in this part of the market and when he felt she was too far away, he rushed to her and in the most uncharacteristically Draco way, he took her hand in his and kissed those soft knuckles, content that she was finally physically close to him. Her bright eyes shining up at him, surprised. Now he wanted to be back there with her enjoying heaps upon heaps of good local food.

"So is this the new look you're going for mate? Tanned, slight gawky goofy look on your face, smile plastered like a teenage gumball?" Blaise had snapped Draco out of his reverie. "And since when has Draco Malfoy liked using the muggle invention called a cellular phone?"

"Shut it Zabini." he immediately let go of the phone in his hands and willed his brain to focus on the financial report he was reviewing. Blaise flopped down on the dark leather chair in front of his desk, giggling.

"Good weekend?" He looked at Draco knowingly. "Your rosy cheeks spell fun and excitement."

"Blaise." Draco warned not looking up. He knew Blaise was making fun of him.

"Oh so testy mate. Relax."

"How can I when I'm physically here but mentally back on the beach where I don't know, Dara's cooking a delicious lunch. Or she's lying inches from me, baking under the sun. Or we're actually enjoying the lapping cool water against our skin. But no. Instead, Im back in this brown box trying to restrain myself from leaving and saying fuck it." He was panting, his grey eyes wild and alert.

"Did you just whine like a toddler?" Blaise asked, his brows furrowed in confusion. Draco cleared his throat and regained his composure.

"No. Of course not." He fixed his tie and went back to reading the last paragraph summarizing the whole report.

"So you did have a good weekend?" Blaise asked again, back to his casual self. Draco only nodded affixing his elegant signature on the bottom of the document.

"It was perfect actually." He mumbled.

"Then what seems to be the problem?" Draco didn't answer at first. He was contemplating whether to tell Blaise the events that lead to this morning's altercation with his mother and how he slightly felt threatened. Sighing heavily back into his chair, he started with…

"I told Dara I love her."

Blaise listened carefully and intently as Draco narrated the highs and lows of his weekend with Dara which eventually transitioned into his mother questioning where he had spent the weekend.

"And I couldn't answer her Blaise. I couldn't tell her the truth." He said almost sounding sorry for himself. He shook his head and shut his eyes trying to contain the disappointment he was feeling. "Despite it all I couldn't tell her that I had spent my weekend with an amazing witch who reduces me to a pot of goo each and every time."

"Don't be too hard on yourself mate. We both know why and there's nothing wrong with that."

"Mother's going to start being suspicious. I just know it."

"We both know you're treading on dangerous waters. I'm surprised you're bringing her to Narcissa's birthday weekend. But if you're one hundred percent sure about Dara like you say you are then you best be ready for the shit that's going to be thrown at you. You know what Dara was saying is real and is actually a possibility right?" Draco nodded.

"Well mate, for all it's worth I think you're doing the right thing."

"I am?"

"Yeah. You're doing what you want to do for once. You're taking a chance and if it works out you'll definitely change history. Plus, I've said this before and I'll say it again, you're happy mate. Very few are lucky to find that early on."

"So you think I should keep the plan?" Blaise nodded.

"It'll be good for you and Dara. You just need some Gryffindor bravery." He teased.

"Yeah whatever." Draco snickered. He was about to offer his best mate lunch when a commotion was starting to build outside his office. It sounded like an argument and he was irritated that he could hear it from where he was seated. It grew stronger and louder and even Blaise was looking at the door with a concerned expression on his face.

"What in Merlin's name is going on out there?" Draco stood from his chair and marched his way to the door. Swinging it open, about to raise hell, he did not expect to see Dara, being held down by two burly men. They had her down on the ground, restricting her hands behind her and she looked furious.

"Get the fuck off her you trolls! What the fuck!" Draco rushed to the guards and shoved them hard away from Dara. "Let go of her you fucking idiots!" He helped a flustered and irritated Dara up to her feet.

"Mr Malfoy this woman is trespassing. She was specifically told she was not allowed to enter. She says she knows you but her identification cards look fake." Draco was half listening to his staff and half worried that Dara had been hurt. He ran his eyes and hands over her, checking if anything had been damaged. She was looking up at him, brows furrowed and that irresistible pout in her lower lip- like a child who was wronged. She was here. He couldn't believe it.

"My IDs? Fake? What? Just because they're in a different language immediately makes them fake?!" she reasoned with the guard pointing an angry finger at them. Draco though she looked quite amusing, her nose scrunched up in irritation, her scowl slightly turning into a pout. "You idiot! You don't understand anything! And you weren't listening at all! I already told you I know Mr. Malfoy. If you had only called his office and asked then none of this would have happened!"

"I told them I knew you but they didn't believe me." She said looking up at him, her eyes pleading. The guard was about to answer back but Draco lifted a finger to silence him.

"This is Ms. Adara Burling, my…" he paused and took a deep breath. "My girlfriend." he kept his eyes on her face a while longer before finally looking at the guards.

"She is welcome to visit any time and will be let in without any problems or hassle. If you give her a hard time, I will personally hex you into next year without a hesitation. Am I making myself clear?" Looking like they sobered up, they nodded and apologized.

"Thanks." Dara whispered looking down when the crowd had cleared.

"Why didn't you just tell me you were visiting, pet?" he pushed her chin up with his long fingers, her multi colored eyes immediately dilating at the word 'pet'.

"I wanted to surprise you." it was almost a whisper.

"Hey Adara." Blaise said leaning against the doorframe and effectively breaking the intensity between the two.

"Blaise! I knew it! Good thing I bought an extra order of soup for you." she walked away from Draco and picked up the bags of food she had left a little way back. "You boys hungry?" smiling, they went back in Draco's office.

"How'd you find the building?" Draco asked curious as he sat back down on his chair. He let Dara fuss around with the food like she usually did.

"Oh it was just my luck that I ran into Tori in the deli! She told me where to find you." she handed each of the wizards a cup of chowder before opening one for herself. "I also got us a big sandwich to share." she unwrapped what looked like a footlong pastrami sandwich that was sliced into three and placed it in the middle of Draco's desk. Perching herself on the edge of the desk next to Draco, she looked satisfied and content with her surprise.

"You are amazing Dara." Blaise was already devouring his sandwich with very little care.

"I was just about to ask Blaise out to lunch when you showed up. You were right on time." He smiled up at her and placed his free hand on her exposed knee.

"Then I'm happy." She smiled back and leaned in slowly towards him just as he was leaning in too. All at once he could smell coconuts, sweet coconuts that always reminded him of her. He still wasn't over the fact that she had found her way to him and had brought lunch. Not to mention he had also just declared to his staff that she was his. Although he had to admit the latter part gave him a sense of pride he was enjoying. They were almost within each other's breathing space when Blaise cleared his throat snapping them out of yet another bubble they seemed to have formed oh so quickly. Draco gave a snickering Blaise an irritated glance before going back to his soup and sandwich.

They ate in peace. Blaise quickly finished his serving of lunch while Draco languidly enjoyed it, trying his best to keep his hands to himself as Dara told them about her day so far. When Blaise was done he excused himself to the loo which gave Dara the opportunity to share with Draco the good news.

"So how was your big meeting?" he waved a hand over his desk effectively getting rid of the discarded containers and utensils.

"Oh Draco, I got it!" Dara spun around and beamed excitedly up at him. "Henry was so supportive and so fond of my work! It was surreal!" she laced her fingers behind his neck as he closed the gap between them. Finally, Draco thought.

"He's giving me another month to come up with a few more pieces to complete the required number and as soon as that's done I'll have my very first show!" her eyes were alight with excitement and happiness and he enjoyed watching her like this. "You'll come and see it right?"

"Of course! We shouldn't even be talking about that." he smiled down at her. "Congratulations, love."

"So now it's 'love'? A while ago it was 'pet'?" she smiled shyly as Draco pinned her against his desk. .

"I am allowed some form of endearment aren't I?" he bowed his head to her ear. "'Pet' and 'love' seemed to fit perfectly." he pecked at her lobe eliciting a low purr from her lips. His hands had found her thighs below the hem of her dress and he had started his slow ascent up the sides of it.

"Do you not like them, pet?" he whispered lower into her neck. How could it be that he wanted her right here in this office? She was just so intoxicating. "Tell me, love. What endearments am I allowed?" with a jolt, he grabbed her behind and hoisted her up on his desk, Dara landing with a loud thud on dark hardwood. He didn't wait for her to answer. Immediately he hungrily claimed her hands continued their way up past her bum, splaying across her lower back and slowly rounding her waist and abdomen. She was so soft, Draco thought. So supple.

"Answer me witch." he ordered pulling her close to his groin. She uttered a little yelp as she tried to steady her nerves. His hands continued their way up her torso. Already she was mewling and melting against him, enjoying his kisses and his warm touches. He palmed the side of her taut abdomen and inserted his thumb under the wiring of her brassier. Just when his thumb was about to meet her supple breasts Blaise barged into the room.

"Hey Draco, I ran into… Oh dear. Shit. Uuummm.." Dara immediately hopped off the table and scrambled to cover herself. Draco threw his body in Blaise's line of sight to shield her and give her privacy. When she had successfully brought order to her disheveled skirt, she slowly faced Draco.

"And that's my cue to leave."

"No don't! You guys, I'm sorry. I should have knocked." Blaise reasoned.

"Yes you should have, git." Draco growled into Dara's shoulder when he had pulled her back closer to him. He wanted to tell her to stay but he knew he would have been extremely unproductive the rest of the day.

"No. It's okay. I need to get going anyway. Mama Rosa wants me to go over the books with the new accountant." She smiled despite the blush that had bloomed all over her face.

"Let me walk you out." Draco said taking her hand in his

"Bye Blaise. I'll see you soon." Dara smiled at the now embarrassed wizard before completely leaving Draco's office. The minute they stepped onto Draco's floor, his staff was buzzing with excitement. They were obviously intrigued with this new woman who seemed to have gotten on the good side of their boss, so much so that they were apparently walking hand in hand like a couple.

"Again, I'm sorry for the fiasco earlier. Trust that it won't happen again." He said after pressing the down button on the lift. "ANd thank you for bringing lunch. But next time, let me know, yes?" Dara rolled her eyes at him, amused.

"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise." he was about to answer back but she continued. "Alright. Alright. I'll let you know Mr. Malfoy." she smiled.

"I'll see you later?" he asked unsure if he was allowed to see her at the beach hut tonight.

"Of course." she touched his cheek affectionately. "I'll have dinner waiting for you then." Before Dara got on the lift Draco bent his head forward and gave her the sweetest softest kiss he could manage.

"Have a good afternoon Mr. Malfoy." And with that Dara was off. Draco strode back to his office content with his lunch break despite Blaise's interruption. And when he got back to his chair, despite Blaise's chatter about how sorry he was, his phone buzzing clouded his hearing. Smiling he read the text from Dara:

"Your endearments flatter me so Mr. Malfoy. You can call me 'pet' and 'love' anytime as long as you'll let me call you mi amor, mi vida, mi alma, mi amado. Looking forward to tonight. Kisses Mr. Malfoy."

Like an idiot, he was smiling. Cheeky little witch, he thought, before he was summoned by his father for another meeting. Joy.

Author's Note: Might as well start picking up the pace now that we are all under lockdown because of the Corona Virus. Secretly wishing I was by the beach when all of this happened. Sigh. Oh, let me acknowledge new follower BAELORFAN. Your presence brings me joy. Thank you so much. Peace be to all. Stay safe and stay home!