5:33 PM
Believe it or not, I stayed there for two hours, even after Lina and Selina left. I would have stayed longer, but I got kicked out by the manager for hogging the ball cage. I realized after I left the store that I had never asked those girls their names. Had that been intentional? Were they God's messengers? They were the most hyper children, and I didn't think I will ever forget them, especially when I met them today. I wish I had gotten a photo of them.
So for the next two hours, I walked around my neighborhood some more. That feeling of excitement had left me, and I felt that wave of loneliness sweeping in, telling me to go to Draco's flat early. But no, how would that look? I would seem so desperate to him, and the last thing I wanted was a ruined image. So I strolled the streets, as if I was a tourist, and stopped at certain clothing stores to simply browse the new fashion on display. Those kinds of things had always been a turn on for me, as for example, what kind of look was in, regarding makeup, clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. I guess you could say I was very well informed in that area. That afternoon, I finally believed the phrase 'shopping is never-ending' because by the time I was done looking in the sixth store, it was time for dinner.
7:23 PM
I knocked politely on Draco's door this time, and it took him a minute or so to open it. Before he did, I straightened out my outfit, a simple nylon black dress coming to my knees. It had short sleeves and a low v-neckline. My hair, as always, was curly at the bottom, spread widely on my back.
When he opened the door, he took one look at me and said, "Wow. Nice dress."
"Thanks. You look good in Muggle clothes as well." He wore a light green dress shirt and black pants, reminding me of those business executives with coats and ties. His wet hair was slicked back, appearing brown rather than blonde.
He closed the door behind him and we were off, going together in the elevator and leaving his flat.
"So where are we going?" He asked.
"This cute little restaurant outside of Diagon Alley I saw this morning."
"This morning? Wow, you've been all over the place today?"
"Pardon me?"
"Crabbe called. He told me you were there this morning."
"That's right."
"So you went all the way to the Ministry just to see him?" He questioned with a suspicious look on his face.
"No. I had some other things to take care of." We crossed another street. I didn't know why we were walking when we could have Apparated, but since he didn't bring it up, I didn't either.
"Which were?"
"My own business." I said, rather rudely, and immediately apologized, "Sorry."
"Eh, I was the one being nosy. So, is this the place? It's tacky, but cute."
Several tables were set up in a circular patter, with a large garden patch in the middle, consisting of all kinds of colored roses on the rim of the circle. A few couples were dancing slowly to the music that was playing by an orchestra positioned in front of the circle. The place where they prepared the food was open on the outside but closed on the inside. A bright banner was spread across the top that said EL AMOR.
Draco took note of the name and said, "What's a Mexican restaurant doing in the middle of London?"
"I don't know, but it's gorgeous."
"Is this a formal restaurant?" He asked, and I guess he was wondering how much money he would have to spend.
"Oh, no. It's simple and cheap. That's why it's outside."
He nodded, not looking fully convinced, but led her to a seat for two across from the orchestra. We both sat down and glanced at each other for a second, before I said, "Awww, look at the roses. Aren't they beautiful?"
Draco's face said that he had seen an alien, and when I asked him what was wrong, he replied, "You have changed so much."
"How so?"
"Becoming a doctor, wearing sexy dresses, thinking the 'roses are beautiful'. What happened to Pansy?"
"She grew up. You're right, I have changed."
"Yeah. You used to be so…"
"Bitchy?"
He snorted, "That wouldn't be the term I would use, but yes. How did you do it?"
"Oh, I guess when I got a place of my own and became independent; I started to realize the important things in life."
"And what's that?"
The waiter came over, took our orders, and dropped off a couple of glasses of water.
"As I was saying," Draco resumed, "What are these important things?"
"You know what I told you earlier today. Finding a career, doing something worthwhile, getting married."
Draco almost started choking on his water from laughing.
"That marriage garbage again? There's no meaning to that. It's for oldies."
I raised my eyes. Was he this coldhearted, to say that marriage wasn't worth anything?
"It is! I could never uphold a marriage. I need…flavor in my life. You know what I mean?"
"No…Draco, I don't." He very well knew I was still a virgin, and I thought it was rude that he would ask me something like that.
"Oh yeah, sorry. So what has held you back from it? Surely you want to experience-it, don't you?"
That was such a personal question, and if it had been anybody but him, I wouldn't have answered. "Of course I do, but I want to wait until I love the guy."
Draco shook his head as if he was ashamed of me, "You are a strange one."
"So I've heard," I said, thinking of Lina from the afternoon.
"Anyways," Draco took another sip of water, "what did you do today?"
I told him about my day, starting with going to breakfast, of course, and told him about my run in with Hermione and Harry. He wasn't pleased to hear that I had sat on the some table with them, but I silenced him before he got a chance to comment on it. I went on to share the story about Vincent and the Ministry, and then after going to his place, eating something and heading home. He was surprised when I told him about the arcade and how I had played with the little girls in that age.
"So, let me get this straight. You played ball with a bunch of babies?"
"Two of them were five, and the other was one."
"That doesn't change anything. It seems really childish."
"Oh, it was, but I had never gotten the chance to do something like that, and the girls forced to play with them."
"Hmm…I see."
"It felt good…to be young again, you know?"
"No, actually, I don't."
I rolled my eyes. I adored him, but Draco could be so insensitive sometimes.
"I was young once, and I had enough of it."
"You're so closed up, Draco. You really need to open up to me. We used to be best friends remember? I'm not one of your one night flings. Well, at least I hope I'm not."
He grinned, "No, you're not. You're worth a lot more than that, I promise you."
The color rose to my face, and I quickly took a gulp to shield my cheeks.
"Thank you. I'm happy to hear that."
That was her finishing cue as dinner came. For the next few minutes, we ate in silence, and I went wandering back in time to the day we had first met. It had been in our first Charms class, and he had possessed the same furtive eye that he had used on me this afternoon. He would watch me everywhere, in classrooms, the common room, and the Great Hall. One day, in our common room, he approached me, asking for some help on his homework, and I completely fell into a trance. I could still remember the way his eyes shined by the low dim light in the room and the way his white hair waved back and forth graciously.
"Earth to Pansy." Draco called and snapped me back to reality. We finished our dinner, and out came desert. I decided to break the silence and say something.
"So, tell me what you do in the day."
"I already did. I sell things, do you recall?"
"Yeah, but I hardly believe it. Come on, tell me what you do for-"
"Shh!"
"-You-Know-Who."
"You really want to know?" He put his bite of cake and fork back and the plate and eyed me gravely.
"Yes."
"Well," he said, in a low voice, "I do sell things, and either they are illegal, or they poison people-"
I made sure not to make eye contact. My heart flipped. Had he supplied my father with the poison that was going to kill me?
"So they are willing to join him."
"Did-did my Dad come to you for some poisons?"
He looked up, thinking hard, "No…I don't think so. Why?"
"No reason."
"Okay…"
"There's more, but it's on occasion. Selling things is an everyday job. A lousy low-pay job, I might add."
"Then quit it."
"I can't just quit. I would be killed."
"You could also be killed in a duel. I think it would be better if you got out of all those evil affairs. Life's not worth wasting your time in things that won't benefit you."
"It does benefit me," Draco contradicted, "I get power, glory-"
"No. You don't get anything. You-Know-Who does. If you did, then you wouldn't be living in that dump."
Draco reasoned her comment for a bit, stirring his cocktail with a straw, "Maybe, but it's not like I can just quit. He will kill me, do you get that?"
"Not if you go far away from here. Leave this place. Go to France, Belgium, Germany, anywhere-"
"Why do you care so much?" He asked in such a sweet voice that I wanted to get closer and closer to him.
"Because I really care about you and I want to see to it that you're safe before I-" I cut off, astonished at what I was about to leak.
"Before you what?"
Before I…hurt you myself for not getting out of all that crap."
"Haha. You would never hurt me. You love me."
More than you know, I thought. Those words had come so easy to him, but they didn't to me.
"You wish. But seriously, think about it."
"Hmm…okay. I'll do it, but there's one condition."
"What's that?"
"You have to come with me." He smirked evilly.
"WHAT? Very funny, and no way."
"Then I don't do it."
"It's for your own good."
"Hmm…maybe." He glanced to his right and saw couples dancing, "If you won't come with me, can I at least get a dance?"
I couldn't believe he was asking.