Chapter 2 - It's just so easy

"How was your date with Miss White?" Avery asks carefully. The other aurors, including Potter, look up from their work for a moment before they return.
Draco considers telling him to piss off, but he's fond of his old mentor. The man also made the connection, so he had a right to know.
"Exhilarating." The high praise seemed to regain all those watchful eyes.
"Is that so? My niece was so sure you'd turn tail and run."
"I've fallen further playing Quidditch. Miss White knows how to have fun and is good company."
"Are you two going out again then?"
"Friday."
Leo whistles.
"I've never heard of the White's…" Potter was saying. Draco only glares at him. He couldn't say anything.

It was another show that had him squeezing his wand in fear that she wouldn't land right. He was alone in the stand this time, but it was fine because it was too loud for him to speak anyway.

When the show's over he waits by the staff gate. He didn't mind if she took a while. He still had to calm down from the rush that was racing and stunts.
"You can't go now!"
Draco turns to see a man following after Nova while she walks with her bike toward the gate. "You've got shit to sign and Mr. Thorton is here!"
"No, I told you I'm busy tonight. You should have planned for that."

"Nova I don't like your attitude lately. You're letting this small town fame go to your head when there's so much more. You just have to listen to me."
"I'll listen to you tomorrow. Tonight I've got a date."
"Nova-baby-" The man reaches for her but she bats his hand away.
"Please refrain from touching me." She's gotten close enough to notice Draco watching through the gate. "Good evening Draco." Her smile is infectious.
"Good evening Nova. Do I owe you a 'Bravo' or 'Congradulations'?" he teases as she opens and closes the gate, pulling her motorcycle through.
"How about a kiss instead?" she purrs, turning the full intensity of her emerald eyes upon him.
Nova had missed him. Even after a single date she found her mind straying to him whenever it was idle. Even though she had a strict policy about questions she asked her unusual friends, she couldn't help herself this past week. Whenever Mo was around she'd pester her to get another tidbit about the man. She learned that his family was cold, that he lived in a Manor that was large and empty but for him.

Draco was taken by surprise by the request, turning his light banter to full fledged flirting, but he wasn't unhappy with the transition. He leans in and gently rubs his lips to hers before suddenly pulling away.
"I better not until you tell me where we're going. In case I need to negotiate."
Nova pouts at the teasing. "I've had enough excitement for the evening. After shows I like to unwind and relax. So, since it's my turn to pick." She makes sure to look him in the eye, daring him to disagree that 'cliff diving' was not his turn. "I thought we'd go see a movie and maybe to a cafe afterwards."
"A movie?" That sounded familiar. Yes! He knew that one.
"Mo had the same expression when I took her to the cinema." Nova straddles her motorcycle. "Come on."
"On that?" His brows pull together. It was interesting from afar and Nova looked good atop of it but touching it was another story.
"What? Are you scared?" His answer is instantaneous. "No."
"Then sit behind me with an arm around my waist and put your feet behind mine. Theatre is only ten minute away."
It's not like anyone would see him. No one that mattered. Unlike cliff diving he had his wand so they'd be plenty safe. He was also very intrigued at the contraption.
Nova smiles to herself as Draco listens, fitting snugly against her back.
It wasn't so bad. It was like standing between train cars the entire ride. It was loud but Nova's hair was soft where it flew to brush his cheek. It wasn't too different from a broom and it felt natural to lean with her.
Nova was on cloud nine. Draco seemed comfortable with her physically, which she knew was a rare thing from Mo's stories. He clung to her at first but after they were off the highway, it was like riding with another experienced biker.
She adored having his hands on her, but they arrived. Night had just settled and the lot was almost empty. She carefully locks up her motorcycle near the front.
Draco looks at the brightly lit posters outside the dark stone building. Happy smiling family, shark eating a woman, a drawing of a bear, and a noose. Choice, choices.
"What are you in the mood for?" he finds himself asking, meaning how she wanted to feel based on the varying moods displayed on the posters, but the words sounded right. It was painless to be casual with Nova.
She shrugs. "This place is dead, I doubt anyone's here."
A couple emerges from the door looking wide eyed and holding each other close. They scream when they look up and Nova and Draco are watching them.
"S-Sorry," the man apologies. "We just watched Doll Eyes. It's okay dove, we'll go home right now and turn on all the lights and watch cartoons." His girl nods but says nothing as they maneuver carefully around the other couple.
Nova's grin speaks volumes. "Want to see…"
"Yes." He's already entering. She squeals happily and chases him, meeting him at the register when he turns to her. "We have different currencies."
If he'd not had money on him with another wizard he would have never lived it down. He'd gone to currency exchange only to discover not paying attention in muggle studies made him look like a complete ass to the account's manager when he'd only slapped down a handful of galleons and glared until he was handed a thick stack of bills bound with a rubber band.
"Well that's okay, I don't mind paying~" That was something he couldn't allow. It would be like not jumping on their first date.
"No." Draco stops her from reaching into her pocket by holding up the banded wad. "I will, but I'm not familiar-"
"Oh!" Nova eyes the stack of notes. By the unsure look on the typical proud man's brow he had no idea how much he was holding. She holds out her hand and he hands it over without question. It's even thicker in her palm. He could buy a nice car with this much money.
She takes a single bill and helps the cashier break it. Draco didn't seem to care in the slightest.
The lights in the theatre were already down and previews were ending before they sat down. Nova hugs her large popcorn. It was a risky loud food but a necessary one. They weren't alone as she hoped. There were several other couples.
"So how's work?" she inquired.
"Rather boring actually."
"I can say the same. I spent mine on the road. That damn RV sucks. At least Mo is travelling with us this year. I may quit without her."
"Quit?" That was a surprise to Draco. "But you seem to enjoy what you do."
"I do, but I don't need the audience to keep it up. They really only supply the scene."
"Good. You should never give up on something that makes you that happy. I've never seen someone fight so hard to fly."
Those words struck her strangely. It was flattering. Compliment to her strength and ambition. He said fly but it was more than that. "Thank you."
The movie begins with an eerie scene. When a doll's head falls off a rocking chair, the couple in the front row is done. "One down." Nova's voice is so soft he barely catches the comment.
"So how'd you like the ride over? It felt like you knew what you were doing."
"I have experience with something similar but also quite different. It actually made me miss it a little…" When was the last time he took out his broom just because? The wind soaring past was all too reminiscent.
"Perhaps you should take your own advice and not give up on things you enjoy."
"Right you are. Perhaps I will this upcoming week."
A shrill scream in the movie parts the couple snogging in the back. They bounce nervously in their seats before they decide to leave too. "Another one bites the dust."
"I'd like a way to contact you. It's going to be difficult for us to continue if we don't have a more direct way."
"That sounds practical. That could prevent misunderstandings." Draco liked that about Nova. She was wild but when she spoke she was silken and reasonable. She spoke her mind but it never felt like an attack. "What are our options?" He crunches down on a handful of popcorn.
The girl in the movie's eyes changes color and she starts softly singing. Another couple leaves.
"The best bet is getting you a phone. Mo got one right when she started touring with us and she finds it very useful. When she goes away sometimes she can still take calls… wherever she is."
He nods. "Alright, it's worth a try. How shall we proceed?"
"I can buy one for you and give it to you when I see you next or Mo could give it to you. Whatever you prefer."
"I'll give you the money for it."
"That's fine." She couldn't really afford to just up and buy a new phone anyway but he didn't need to know that.
Nova winces when the woman on the screen's body contorts. She looks away.
"Are you alright Nova?" he asks.
"Fine." Crack. The woman's spine pops and Nova takes in a shuddering gasp, "but can I hold your hand?"
Draco had kissed her and held her against him but somehow that sounded different. It was a request for emotional intimacy, not physical. He froze. He had become a new person since the war. He kept to himself and tried to understand where others were coming from. Yet, there was still this nagging feeling that there was somehow something wrong with this simple thing.
He can't make himself verbally agree but he takes her hand just the same. Soon they were the last ones, but Nova was squeezing his hand so tightly, her eyes glued ahead.
It appeared the muggle girl could be afraid. He hadn't really been paying attention to the moving pictures but he can't imagine what would scare her, the woman who took leaps of faith for a living.
They were only a little over an hour in but neither was invested in the plot so Draco squeezed her hand. "Want to get out of here?" he offers.
"Not because we're scared-" she clarifies.
"Of course not. What could scare us? I just have a craving for tea."
They stay out long past midnight at a twenty four hour cat cafe. They each have multiple cups of the house tea and the cats get more active the later it gets.

She told him about her family in which her grandparents had driven them into massive debt. Her mother and father had started their business of inns to dig them out and were quite successful, though they now preferred to live modestly. She scratched a tabby's belly as she told him she understood their beliefs but they took it a little too far sometimes.

He told her stories from school, finding it easier to talk about social interaction and sports vaguely than his purely magical work. Sharing this way was cathartic. She was an outsider and had no reference to correct him or judge him so he kept going.
She mentions her brother, an artist, and they converse about music. They both have a natural draw to classical piano pieces and they both can play though neither specifies how well.
They leave when they're struggling to stay awake. With a sleepy hug they part ways saying Mo would bring him a phone soon. They both slept well that night.

Nova had dragged Mo along to the electronics store. They're in a small town today, a pit stop on the way to their next destination.
"So when are you meeting him again?" Mo asks, more interested in phone cases than finding the simplest phone. Nova was determined to give him something he'd be able to use unimpededly. She wanted to make sure he'd enjoy the contact with her.
"We'll decide that after you give him this." Nova decides on a silver phone with the most straightforward interface.
"You're really going to make me teach Malfoy to use it?"
"Only texting. I can show him the rest. It'll only take a few minutes." Mo doesn't look convinced, so Nova adds, "I really like him."
Mo sighs. "Fine. I'll count it as service to the community. He's a prat but the way you talk about him… he's different with you."
Nova feels powerful when she slaps down the large bills Draco had given her. The cashier doesn't look as impressed.
"His job can get kind of dicey. Should we get him one of those cases you can run over?"
Nova laughs. "If you think it'd be necessary."
She considers it a moment for adding it to the haul. "Let's give him no excuse to not talk to you."
Nova agrees. "Is his job dangerous?" she asks as they walk out, heading five minutes away to where their RVs are parked.
"Mmm… okay, I can share a little. He works at the Ministry… which is like- our government. His work is likely a mixture of desk work and field work. Recently it's less dangerous but I can imagine that it can still- well-"
Nova links their arms. "That's enough, thanks for sharing."
"Oi!" It's Mike, his beer belly falling out of his black t-shirt. He drops his coffin nail and crushes it under a heavy boot. "Nova-baby. I just met with Mr. Thornton and he just got back from the States and he had an idea-"
Nova sighs. She had a bad feeling about this, but she joins Mike on some cruddy fold out chairs.
"Thorton? Isn't he more into the escort business than racing?"
Mo makes herself scarce, likely going to make something in that big stone pot of hers.
"He's willing to pay double to have you perform in the cage globe before one of his shows."
Nova winces. She hadn't done that in years. It wasn't very stimulating anymore.
"That's a bit steep for such a small trick."
"Well there's a catch. You won't have to do anything but he wants you topless."
Nova was out of the seat in a flash. "Absolutely not." Sure, half of Nova's fans were men, but the other half were children. She may have walked away from a noble life but she was still a lady.
"Calm down. Sit, I'm sure we can negotiate something."
Nova shakes her head. "No, tell him thank you but I don't do that sort of work."
"This attitude of yours is going to get you in trouble. Working with Thorton could open up a lot of doors. He could get you to open for Nascar! You want to perform on the main circuit, right?" Mike was standing now, seemingly ready to stop her if she tried to flee the conversation.
"I do, but I can find a different path there."
"Is your modesty really worth putting down this opportunity?"
"No, I won't do it Mike." She's backing away. She needed to get away. To huddle under some blankets and think.
"It's only once, Nova. I'll even buy you a new bike just for the occasion. You wanted that Spitfire? We'll get you a red one, or green, you've liked that lately, right?" His hand stops her from pulling away. His grip on her arm is firm.
He was offering twice the pay and a new motorcycle. It would sound generous if only he wasn't asking her to… she's already said 'no' how could she be more clear? She finds herself just shaking her head.
The blow is a shock.

It's Wednesday when Monet just shows up in Draco's office. He's deep into a report on an incident he'd made right. It was messy. She was with her uncle as an escort.
When she holds up a device, he sets the parchment aside. Avery walks away but only after raising a curious brow. Monet sits with him and tolerates his sneering and bitter questions.
"She'll probably want to hear from you right away, but she may not be able to go out for a while."
"What? Why not?" Had he done something? When he'd left the cafe last Friday she was tired but content. He thought it had gone very well.
"She has a black eye."
"What?!" His voice projected a little too far. Monet flinches and takes a step back, her hand going to her hazel wand. "What happened?"
"You're not going to like it, so I may not tell you." Monet was shying away. He'd scared her, but he needed information from her.
"My apologies." He looks down, turning on that old Slytherin charm. "I'm only worried."
Monet smiles sympathetically at him. Before the war, he'd despised that look, but now he saw it so often he couldn't care. "I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to take it out on me."
He nods. "Alright."
"Her manager Mike asked her to open a show. Something beneath her skills but the pay would be really good. She um- didn't like the condition the director set, so she refused and he punched her."
His anger flared up, an inferno ready to scorch anyone in his path, but as promised he did not get angry with Miss Avery.
"Is everything well in here?" Leo asks, popping his head in.
"Quite," Draco bites out. "Thank you Miss Avery for teaching me about this muggle technology. You took the floo here, yes? Why don't I escort you back?"
"You know how to apparate? T-That would be helpful. Are you sure you'll be alright?"
He certainly was not alright but he nods, not trusting his voice to sound anything less than furious. "Be back in an hour."

***

The tightness around her left eye made it difficult to keep it open, making practice difficult. Mike wanted her to refamiliarize herself with the globe cage despite her refusal and she just didn't have it in her to argue about it.
Her helmet was tinted so she wasn't worried about the racers asking her about her shiner, but she had taken a few falls due to her vision being impaired.
"Nova!" Mike snaps. "What the hell are you doing?!"
She picks herself up off the ground. Unbeknownst to the teams and Nova this is when Draco arrives with Monet.
"You haven't struggled with this in four years! Get your shit together!"

Bam! She's picking up her bike when she hears the impact. Some of the racers waiting around make sounds of ironic sympathy, some snickering. Nova turns to see her boss on the ground holding his eye and Draco over him with pure anger on his face.
"Don't ever touch my girlfriend again," he growls. Her face heats up underneath her helmet. She had to be as red as her hair. He'd said girlfriend. He'd come to defend her. Fight for her. No one had ever done that before.
"Who the hell are you?" Mike asks, crawling back away from the hostile blond man in the sinister black cloak.
"This is Draco Malfoy," Monet supplies. "He's been seeing Nova."
"Nova!" Mike shouts as though her attention isn't already on them. "You're fired!" The man hobbles up. A few drops of blood drip onto the ground.
"Fired?!" she counters. "Where are you going to find someone else who can clear three hundred feet?"
"I don't need to. There's a lot of pretty girls out there who can ride a motorcycle in a damn spherical cage, which you seem to be unable to do now!"
Nova whips off her helmet and tosses it to the dirt. "Because I can't see you ass!"
Draco hisses in a breath. Seeing Nova's bright green eye bloodshot and surrounded by dark purple was too much.
"Just get out," Mike orders. "If you're not gone by tonight I'll have you removed!"
One painful glare and Nova stomps away. She tosses her RV door open and falls onto her bed.
"Nova." It's Draco, sounding apologetic. "I'm sorry I got you fired but he can't just hit a woman without consequence."
She sits up. Draco's in a long black robe, a silver tie peeking out underneath. He must have come from work… odd. Mo is behind him looking worried.
"It's really not your fault. By the sound of it, he was looking to replace me anyway."
Draco couldn't stand looking at her with that bruise.
"Nova," he says softly. "Close your eyes and cover your ears."
She gives him a single questioning look before doing as he instructed. Draco takes out his wand and points it at her eye. "Episkey."
Nova feels warmth taking over the soreness. Then it vanishes in a refreshing coolness. The tight itching feeling- gone. He sets a hand on her hair to let her know she could open her eyes. Her hands lower.
"Are you going to get in trouble for that?" Monet inquires while Nova stands to look in a mirror in amazement. The bruise is gone. Completely. They can do that? Holy shit!
"As long as she doesn't know how it's done we'll be just fine."
Draco watches Nova touch the spot where his Hawthorn wand had completely healed the injury. The skin isn't even tender anymore against her fingertips.
"So what are we going to do now, Nova?"
"We?" Nova turns to face her friend.
"Of course. I can't work here without you. I'm only here because of you."
"Mo." She smiles fondly, but then her expression becomes wicked. "Special Qualifying admissions are still open? Can we get a crew and a car in two weeks?"
"You're going to race?!"
"Let's see how Mike feels about me going up against his boys."
Monet laughs wholeheartedly. "He's going to be pissed."
"I have to get back to work," Draco suddenly informs them.
"Oh, okay. Thank you so much for standing up for me. Text me, alright?"
"I will. Take care of yourself Nova."