Disclaimer – I do not own anything but the plot. J.K.R does.
Chapter two
Kindness To A Stranger
The following morning Hermione awoke the same time as she always did. After taking her shower, she put some meat and vegetables into a stewing pot and put it into the oven on a low heat, knowing that by the time she finished work it would be done. Just as she was about to sit down with her book, she remembered that the floor in the shop would need mopping after the downpour yesterday. "Mucky footprints, lovely," she muttered, thinking how nice it would be to, just once in a while, be able to use her magic.
Taking her book with her Hermione went downstairs in search of a mop. It wasn't as bad as she thought and it only took 10 minutes before the floor was shining again. She opened her book and began to read until she opened up at 9 o'clock. Sometimes, on slow days, Hermione wondered why she bothered to open up at all. Lunchtime came and went, and still there were no customers.
By 5 o'clock she had finished her book and was busying herself by re- arranging the items on the shelves. Looking at her watch she sighed and went over to lock the door and turn the sign. She pulled herself up the stairs and dropped her book onto the coffee table, thinking she would put it away later.
Hermione walked to the kitchen and opened the oven door. Immediately the room was filled with the aroma of stewing meat and vegetables. It made her mouth water. She ran her arm across her forehead where the steam had made it slightly damp, and closed the oven door. It's ready when I am, she thought happily.
A few minutes later, she felt rather than saw the room get darker, as large rain clouds loomed overhead. She didn't know what made her think of it, but she wondered if the man was still sat outside. She hadn't thought about him all day, and wondered why he had suddenly popped into her mind. She ran to the window and looked down but she couldn't see him. Maybe he's gone to sit under the steps? She thought. Or maybe he's just gone? She had to know.
"Hello?" she asked timidly as she crept down the stairs. There was no answer. "Hello?" she asked again a bit louder. Starting to feel a little foolish she turned to make her way back up, but stopped when she heard a sound coming from beneath the stairs. She continued down and stopped when she got to the bottom. What am I doing? She thought. What am I going to say? It was too late to turn back now.
"Hello" she said, walking round to face him. "My name is Hermione." The man just looked at her. Hermione looked around but there was no trace of the sandwich from yesterday. Without thinking she said, "Are you hungry?" He looked down at his feet and nodded slightly. "Erm, I've made some beef stew if you would like some? There's plenty." The man raised his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He nodded a little more quickly and mumbled a thank you.
Hermione held out her hand to him. "Come on" she said softly, "It looks like it's going to rain again." The man looked at her outstretched hand for a moment before taking it in his own, allowing her to help him to his feet.
As the man stood, she looked into his eyes, once again getting the strange feeling of familiarity as she stared into the sadness. Fat droplets of rain brought her out of her trance and she dropped his hand. "Follow me" she said, and led the way up the stairs to the flat above.
The minute Hermione opened the door the man was greeted with the most wonderful smell, and he felt his stomach growl. God he was hungry. "You go and sit down and I'll be with you in just a moment" Hermione said. The man did as he was told and sank down into a chair, sighing deeply and closing his eyes.
Hermione, he thought. I knew it was you. I just hope to god you don't remember the things I've done. Please give me the sense to get out of here before you realise who I am.
He didn't know how long he had been sat there when he heard Hermiones gentle voice. He opened his eyes to see a bowl of stew, steaming happily on the table. He warily got to his feet and made his way over. "Be careful" Hermione said, "It's still quite hot. I'll be back in a minute." He sat down and picked up the spoon. Taking a large scoop he blew on it to cool it down before tasting it. It was delicious. He took another scoop, then another, and before he knew it the bowl was empty. Placing a hand on his stomach he leaned back, a tiny smile of contentment playing on his lips.
"That was quick" Hermione said as she came back into the room. "You must have been hungry". "I was" said the man, "thank you." "Glad you enjoyed it" she smiled. She has a beautiful smile, he thought, kind and genuine. I wonder if she will still smile at me that way when she realises who I am. The wonderful feeling that surrounded him began to disappear and he looked down at his hands.
"Would you like to get cleaned up at all, a shower maybe?" He looked up at her once more. "That would be nice" he said. "Okay" said Hermione, "come with me, I'll show you where everything is.
The man followed Hermione into the bathroom and stood there while she told him how to use the shower and where the towels were. "Oh" she said as an after thought, "wait here", and she hurried off. Moments later she returned with a pile of clothes. "These are mine," she said. "I know they are mens clothes but I find them really comfortable to lounge around in". A small blush crept to Hermiones cheeks. "They're clean and they look as if they might fit you. Leave your clothes outside the door and I will wash them for you, you can wear these in the mean time." "Thank you" said the man again. Hermione smiled, "I'll leave you to it then, use anything you want". And she walked out of the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
The man just stood there for a moment, gazing around. He then walked over to the sink and placed his hands on either side of it. Raising his head slowly he caught sight of his face in the large mirror. The first thing that caught his attention were his eyes. Eyes that once sparkled with vitality and mischief, now looked dead and hollow. His face that was once youthful and handsome now looked old and haggard. He had a beard. "When did I get that?" he asked himself, running his hand over it. It felt rough and grubby.
Looking down at the sink he saw a bar of soap. He picked it up and gave it a sniff. He closed his eyes trying to remember what the smell was. "Vanilla" he said triumphantly and opened his eyes. The next thing he saw was a new packet of disposable razors and a can of shaving foam. "Use anything you want", Hermiones voice came back to him. Did she get these just for me? He thought. Why? I don't deserve such treatment.
Never the less he found himself turning on the hot tap and holding his hands under the running water. He then splashed it onto his face. It felt good. He turned on the shower and stepped out of his clothes. He hadn't realised just how dirty they were until now, and he felt ashamed as he left them outside the bathroom door.
Taking the soap with him he stepped into the hot shower. Feeling the water pound on his head and run down his neck made him feel more alive than he had in years. He looked down at his naked body. How had it come to this? He shook his head, trying to rid it of those thoughts. He didn't want to think, he just wanted to enjoy the moment while it lasted.
Realising that he still held the soap in his hand he began to wash himself. His hands sliding over his weak and fragile body. He couldn't believe the change in himself. 3 and a half years ago he was so strong and confident, ready to take on the world and win, but now? The scent of vanilla was threatening to overwhelm his senses, making him feel sleepy and light-headed.
He reached down for the shampoo and began to wash his hair, trying to rid himself of the feeling of hopelessness and despair. Feeling a little more invigorated he rinsed it, realising that it came to below his shoulders. Another surprise, he thought.
Finally clean and pink, he emerged from the shower and tied a towel around his thin waist. He walked back over to the sink and opened the cabinet looking for a small pair of scissors. Finding what he was after, he trimmed his beard back as far as it would go, a razor on its own wouldn't have worked. He then picked up the can of shaving foam and squirted a small amount into the palm of his hand. Once the lower half of his face was covered, he reached for the packet of razors and took one out. He hesitated, looking at himself in the mirror. If he did this Hermione would surely recognise him. What if she recognised him anyway? He had trimmed the beard down, he might as well do the rest.
Starting at his right cheek he made his way across his face, only pausing to rinse the razor. Finishing, he slowly put it on the side of the sink, splashed his face with clean water, and patted it dry. Lowering the towel he stared into the face of a man he hadn't seen for 3 and a half years.
The face of Draco Malfoy.
To be continued.................
Chapter two
Kindness To A Stranger
The following morning Hermione awoke the same time as she always did. After taking her shower, she put some meat and vegetables into a stewing pot and put it into the oven on a low heat, knowing that by the time she finished work it would be done. Just as she was about to sit down with her book, she remembered that the floor in the shop would need mopping after the downpour yesterday. "Mucky footprints, lovely," she muttered, thinking how nice it would be to, just once in a while, be able to use her magic.
Taking her book with her Hermione went downstairs in search of a mop. It wasn't as bad as she thought and it only took 10 minutes before the floor was shining again. She opened her book and began to read until she opened up at 9 o'clock. Sometimes, on slow days, Hermione wondered why she bothered to open up at all. Lunchtime came and went, and still there were no customers.
By 5 o'clock she had finished her book and was busying herself by re- arranging the items on the shelves. Looking at her watch she sighed and went over to lock the door and turn the sign. She pulled herself up the stairs and dropped her book onto the coffee table, thinking she would put it away later.
Hermione walked to the kitchen and opened the oven door. Immediately the room was filled with the aroma of stewing meat and vegetables. It made her mouth water. She ran her arm across her forehead where the steam had made it slightly damp, and closed the oven door. It's ready when I am, she thought happily.
A few minutes later, she felt rather than saw the room get darker, as large rain clouds loomed overhead. She didn't know what made her think of it, but she wondered if the man was still sat outside. She hadn't thought about him all day, and wondered why he had suddenly popped into her mind. She ran to the window and looked down but she couldn't see him. Maybe he's gone to sit under the steps? She thought. Or maybe he's just gone? She had to know.
"Hello?" she asked timidly as she crept down the stairs. There was no answer. "Hello?" she asked again a bit louder. Starting to feel a little foolish she turned to make her way back up, but stopped when she heard a sound coming from beneath the stairs. She continued down and stopped when she got to the bottom. What am I doing? She thought. What am I going to say? It was too late to turn back now.
"Hello" she said, walking round to face him. "My name is Hermione." The man just looked at her. Hermione looked around but there was no trace of the sandwich from yesterday. Without thinking she said, "Are you hungry?" He looked down at his feet and nodded slightly. "Erm, I've made some beef stew if you would like some? There's plenty." The man raised his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He nodded a little more quickly and mumbled a thank you.
Hermione held out her hand to him. "Come on" she said softly, "It looks like it's going to rain again." The man looked at her outstretched hand for a moment before taking it in his own, allowing her to help him to his feet.
As the man stood, she looked into his eyes, once again getting the strange feeling of familiarity as she stared into the sadness. Fat droplets of rain brought her out of her trance and she dropped his hand. "Follow me" she said, and led the way up the stairs to the flat above.
The minute Hermione opened the door the man was greeted with the most wonderful smell, and he felt his stomach growl. God he was hungry. "You go and sit down and I'll be with you in just a moment" Hermione said. The man did as he was told and sank down into a chair, sighing deeply and closing his eyes.
Hermione, he thought. I knew it was you. I just hope to god you don't remember the things I've done. Please give me the sense to get out of here before you realise who I am.
He didn't know how long he had been sat there when he heard Hermiones gentle voice. He opened his eyes to see a bowl of stew, steaming happily on the table. He warily got to his feet and made his way over. "Be careful" Hermione said, "It's still quite hot. I'll be back in a minute." He sat down and picked up the spoon. Taking a large scoop he blew on it to cool it down before tasting it. It was delicious. He took another scoop, then another, and before he knew it the bowl was empty. Placing a hand on his stomach he leaned back, a tiny smile of contentment playing on his lips.
"That was quick" Hermione said as she came back into the room. "You must have been hungry". "I was" said the man, "thank you." "Glad you enjoyed it" she smiled. She has a beautiful smile, he thought, kind and genuine. I wonder if she will still smile at me that way when she realises who I am. The wonderful feeling that surrounded him began to disappear and he looked down at his hands.
"Would you like to get cleaned up at all, a shower maybe?" He looked up at her once more. "That would be nice" he said. "Okay" said Hermione, "come with me, I'll show you where everything is.
The man followed Hermione into the bathroom and stood there while she told him how to use the shower and where the towels were. "Oh" she said as an after thought, "wait here", and she hurried off. Moments later she returned with a pile of clothes. "These are mine," she said. "I know they are mens clothes but I find them really comfortable to lounge around in". A small blush crept to Hermiones cheeks. "They're clean and they look as if they might fit you. Leave your clothes outside the door and I will wash them for you, you can wear these in the mean time." "Thank you" said the man again. Hermione smiled, "I'll leave you to it then, use anything you want". And she walked out of the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
The man just stood there for a moment, gazing around. He then walked over to the sink and placed his hands on either side of it. Raising his head slowly he caught sight of his face in the large mirror. The first thing that caught his attention were his eyes. Eyes that once sparkled with vitality and mischief, now looked dead and hollow. His face that was once youthful and handsome now looked old and haggard. He had a beard. "When did I get that?" he asked himself, running his hand over it. It felt rough and grubby.
Looking down at the sink he saw a bar of soap. He picked it up and gave it a sniff. He closed his eyes trying to remember what the smell was. "Vanilla" he said triumphantly and opened his eyes. The next thing he saw was a new packet of disposable razors and a can of shaving foam. "Use anything you want", Hermiones voice came back to him. Did she get these just for me? He thought. Why? I don't deserve such treatment.
Never the less he found himself turning on the hot tap and holding his hands under the running water. He then splashed it onto his face. It felt good. He turned on the shower and stepped out of his clothes. He hadn't realised just how dirty they were until now, and he felt ashamed as he left them outside the bathroom door.
Taking the soap with him he stepped into the hot shower. Feeling the water pound on his head and run down his neck made him feel more alive than he had in years. He looked down at his naked body. How had it come to this? He shook his head, trying to rid it of those thoughts. He didn't want to think, he just wanted to enjoy the moment while it lasted.
Realising that he still held the soap in his hand he began to wash himself. His hands sliding over his weak and fragile body. He couldn't believe the change in himself. 3 and a half years ago he was so strong and confident, ready to take on the world and win, but now? The scent of vanilla was threatening to overwhelm his senses, making him feel sleepy and light-headed.
He reached down for the shampoo and began to wash his hair, trying to rid himself of the feeling of hopelessness and despair. Feeling a little more invigorated he rinsed it, realising that it came to below his shoulders. Another surprise, he thought.
Finally clean and pink, he emerged from the shower and tied a towel around his thin waist. He walked back over to the sink and opened the cabinet looking for a small pair of scissors. Finding what he was after, he trimmed his beard back as far as it would go, a razor on its own wouldn't have worked. He then picked up the can of shaving foam and squirted a small amount into the palm of his hand. Once the lower half of his face was covered, he reached for the packet of razors and took one out. He hesitated, looking at himself in the mirror. If he did this Hermione would surely recognise him. What if she recognised him anyway? He had trimmed the beard down, he might as well do the rest.
Starting at his right cheek he made his way across his face, only pausing to rinse the razor. Finishing, he slowly put it on the side of the sink, splashed his face with clean water, and patted it dry. Lowering the towel he stared into the face of a man he hadn't seen for 3 and a half years.
The face of Draco Malfoy.
To be continued.................