CHAPTER TWELVE
Hermione Granger's Flat
Camden, London, England
November 15, 2003 – Saturday Afternoon
I didn't receive a ticket by owl for tonight's Carnival of Naughty Fun – "Invidia," also known as "Envy" – nor any notes or roses delivered to my work or home. If there was anything that could have convinced me that it really was over between Draco and me then that was it. That was why I'd agreed to meet Daniel for dinner tonight at one of the most posh restaurants about: Le Gavroche. I decided to go for the interest before me (who had flown in on Thursday night for Friday business, and wouldn't be leaving until Monday morning), rather than pine away for the one behind.
I begged and pleaded with Ginny to take me back to her relative's Carlos Miele Salon, and we found a beautiful blue, flowing silk dress for the occasion (which fit with some magical adjustments), as well as a flashy pair of gold and bronze Jimmy Choo sandals with a small heel. The cut of the dress had a Greecian flair to it, so Gin magicked my curls into an elegant smooth free-flow (no frizz), pulling the bangs straight across from right to left and tucking them behind my ear, making me look like some ancient goddess from out of memory. My makeup was tastefully done, with a tiny artistic elegance – sultry blue, with a hint of bronze at the top, lips and cheeks painted lightly with a pinky-bronze. We went with minimal jewelry so as not to detract from the dress – gold and bronze hoops in my ears, no necklace, and a gold and bronze bangle on one wrist. Not bad for a last minute effort, I had to admit.
With my trusty beaded bag in hand (magicked to match the outfit, of course), and the same Pashmina scarf to cover up my shoulders, I Apparated a safe distance from the restaurant at the appointed time.
X~~~X
Le Gavroche Restaurant
London, England
November 15, 2003 – Saturday Night
Daniel was inside waiting for me, as we'd agreed. We were seated in a table for two near the back of restaurant, and ours was the only table with lit candles, I noted. Apparently, my date had gone all out for me and requested the special service in advance. My belly warmed at such consideration.
We enjoyed amicable conversation over a meal fit for Kings and Queens: langoustines glazed in a light hollandaise sauce, butter lettuce with Mimolette cheese and walnuts, roasted fillets of John Dory in a broth with fennel, mussels and a garlic crouton, white poached duck in a light consommé, hot passion fruit soufflé with white chocolate ice cream, and roasted pineapple with vanilla and rum served on a flattened plank of vanilla bean ice cream. It was an amazing dinner, and he was a fantastic man – engaging, well-mannered, and his work was genuinely interesting.
It was a perfect night, and when I invited him back to my flat, which was literally less than four miles from the restaurant, he readily agreed, a telling heat flaring in his eyes.
X~~~X
Hermione Granger's Flat
Camden, London, England
November 15, 2003 – Saturday Night (approximately twenty minutes later)
We took a taxi, Daniel paid as we got out in front of my building at Mornington Terrace, and before we even hit the door and the car had roared away, he was kissing me – right there on the walk out front of my home! His hot, lusty mouth and roaming hands spoke tomes about how much he loved my outfit and what he planned to do to me in a few minutes.
Right as I reached into my bag to get my key, I heard it: the crack of Disapparition. Instantly, everything in me froze up and I pulled out of Daniel's embrace to strain all of my senses in the direction I'd heard the spell performed. It had come from behind my building, up the drive. Nothing stirred from that direction, however.
Somehow, I just knew it had been him. Malfoy had found out where I lived and been waiting for me to get home. Call it intuition, but I suddenly understood that he hadn't sent me a ticket for tonight's Festival because he'd planned to come to me in person instead. But he'd most likely seen me kissing Daniel and beat a hasty retreat.
My mouth was suddenly very dry. I swallowed and tasted only bitter regret on my tongue. Why had he come? There were so many possibilities: because he'd somehow heard Daniel was in town and he'd wanted to interfere, or because his other women weren't available and he was bored, or because he'd missed me, or because, because, because…
"Hey, you okay?" Daniel asked, his voice a gentle reminder in my ear that I was thinking of another man while I had one right here willing and able to service me quite well.
But suddenly, I wasn't sure I wanted that anymore.
No, I would not let my ex-lover ruin this for me. He'd had his chance, and he'd chosen Astoria Greengrass and gods knew who else over me. And I'd promised myself I wouldn't keep nursing this broken heart. I was going to take Daniel to my bed tonight, and we would date in whatever capacity we both decided upon, and I would forget all about Draco Malfoy.
I told myself that lie all night – even as my handsome American lover stripped me and had me in a variety of positions in my bed. I didn't come once, but I faked it rather well.
X~~~X
Hermione Granger's Flat
Camden, London, England
November 16, 2003 – Sunday Morning
I'd sent Daniel back to his hotel the next morning with the lie that I was obligated to visit my family on Sundays for church services. He'd admitted during our Australian whirlwind tour that he was a dyed-in-the-wool Atheist, so I knew the excuse would send him packing. I gave him a half-hearted kiss goodbye out on the front walk and watched as he drove away.
We both understood, even as the taxi took him and he looked back at me through the rear-view window with a sad smile and a small wave, that this was the end of our fling. Some things didn't need to be spoken to be understood, especially between two people who'd shared dessert.
TO BE CONTINUED…
AUTHOR'S EXTENDED NOTES:
Le Gavroche Restaurant in London really exists and is described exactly how it looks. The food sample is directly from their menu as well.