Granger's café
Pairing: Draco/Harry.
Disclaimer: Hermione decides that the drama in the wizarding world is growing too much. She decides to open up a café in the muggle world, so as to enjoy simplicity during the day. Little does she know that one of the applicants for a job there, will cause a whole new circle of drama for her. And how exactly will her little café benefit Harry and Draco's lives, and how will it banish the drama from both worlds they live in? You know what they say, about Granger's café; her food is like magic, that's what they say, because it keeps all your problems and troubles at bay.
Chapter four: A Place To Sleep
Harry bundled Lily up in his arms, his jacket snugly drawn about her neck, the large hood pulled high over her head. She had fallen asleep soon after they had passed Kings Cross station, her teddy bear clutched tightly to her chest. The tepid September air was being sliced with a brusque, chilling wind that caused Lily's flesh to break out in goosebumps. He rubbed small circles into her back just to keep the blood flowing before he locked the car and walked up to the building where Sirius and Remus lived. He pressed the button and waited for one of them to answer on the intercom so that he could quickly get Lily upstairs and wrap her up warm. "Hello?" came the metallic voice from the muggle intercom.
Harry leant closer to the intercom, "hi Remus, it's Harry. Is there any chance that I can stay for a few weeks with Lily?"
"Of course. Come on up. I'll have Sirius make up the spare room" the intercom switched off just as a faint argument riled up in the background, mainly from Sirius' protests. Harry smiled and shifted the weight of the duffel bag on his free shoulder; Lily curled up over the other. A dull buzz wheezed from the intercom. Harry reached forward and yanked the automated door open and stepped into the lobby of the tall building. He climbed the few stairs up to the lifts, where he pushed the button and waited to step into the little metal chamber and dragged up through the metal pillar to Remus' floor. The lift was made of a dull, chrome coloured metal, as it moved up the shaft the electric wires rattled overhead causing Lily to stir beneath Harry's jacket.
Remus' apartment was large and cosy, made up of warm cream, beige and brown colours. The main bedroom had a splash of dark red upon the bedclothes, rug and curtains, where as the spare room had some neutral white and pale greens. Harry liked staying in the spare room. The double bed had a plush duvet with a soft white cover, with lime and dark greens stripes criss-crossing along the edges and at the corners. The thick white curtains had a similar pattern along the edges. There was a fuzzy lime green rug that was placed between the door of the bedroom and the bed. It was cosy and airy and perfect for when Harry and Lily stayed with them, which had become fairly frequently over the past year and a half. The furniture was a soft sandy colour. Harry knocked on the front door and had barely counted to ten by the time Remus opened the door and smiled. Harry returned with his own weak smile, and was fully grateful when Remus moved to one side to allow them to walk in. "How bad are things this time, cub?" Remus asked as he closed the front door and turned to face Harry.
Harry sighed, "I've left her. I can't stand her anymore. She is becoming abusive to Lily let alone me. I can't let Lily be around her anymore" Lily stirred against Harry's shoulder.
Remus smiled and reached forward for Lily. "Come on give her to me. I'll run her a bath and then put her to bed" Harry gave Lily over to his godfather and smiled, as he felt relieved as he watched Remus gently bounce his daughter awake.
"Good evening Lily-pie" Remus kissed her forehead as she rubbed her eyes and cuddled into his chest, "come on would you like to have a nice warm bath and then a little cup of hot chocolate?" Lily nodded and smiled warmly as she was carried down the hall to the bathroom.
Sirius walked into the kitchen as Harry collapsed gratefully onto the plush cream sofa. "Good evening pup, how are things with the fire-breathing whore?"
"I take it Hermione told you about what Ginny's been up to?" Harry asked in a monotone as he wrung his fingers and stared into the blank television screen.
Sirius came over and sat next to him, handing his godson a drink of warm tea. "Yes she did. And I would say I'm sorry but, truth be told, I'm not. I'm grateful this has happened" at Harry's questionable face he took a deep breath, "you were never happy with Ginny. You didn't love her. It was teenage hormones. You married for lust not love, and even that was not enough. However now that Albus and James are off at Hogwarts I am not totally surprised that she's showing her colours more than she was before"
"What do you mean by that?"
"She had a hard birth with Lily and I guess she just did not connect with her. More than likely she just resented Lily after the birth. And the fact that you loved Lily so much must have made Ginny jealous"
Harry thought this through carefully but did not say anything. Sirius squeezed his shoulder as the sounds of Remus giving Lily a bubble bath drifted down the hall to greet their ears. A small smile graced Sirius' lips. "Oh Harry, forget that harlot. You have two handsome young sons and a beautiful little girl who need you now more than ever"
Harry knew his godfather was right. He sighed and wiped his already dry mouth. "I guess I had better start thinking about what to do"
"Well you always wanted to become a writer. Why not enrol in a part-time course at one of your local Universities?"
Harry licked his parched lips, "that's not actually a bad idea. But w-where would Lily and I stay?"
He knew the answer before Sirius even moved his lips. "You will stay here, pup, there is plenty of room" Harry smiled and leant into his godfather's embrace just as the bathroom door opened and Remus waddled down the hallway cuddling a small, pink Lily in his arms, smothered in his white, fluffy dressing gown. Harry smiled. Lily was wide-awake now and looked happier than she had been in ages. It made his heart feel lighter. He yawned slightly and rubbed his eyes from behind his spectacles. Lily was placed beside Harry. She was dressed in a shrunken pair of Remus' pyjamas. He cuddled her close.
"Did you enjoy your bath Lily?"
"Yes, daddy" she paused for a minute, her features downcast. Harry frowned and tilted her face upwards so that they were looking at each other.
"Lily- what's wrong?"
She paused again, "Daddy, I don't want to go back to mummy. She is mean to me. She doesn't bathe me like you or Remus, she is rough and scrubs my skin until it's sore to sleep on"
Harry could not believe his ears. He knew Ginny disliked her own daughter, but her behaviour was just ghastly. He looked up at Remus, to Sirius and back again. It was clear they could not return to live with Ginny. He drew Lily into his chest and stroked her dark auburn hair. "It's all right, love, we won't be going back" He felt Lily breathe a sigh of relief as she relaxed into his stomach. He kissed the top of her head. "Come on Madame, time for bed"
"I'm not sleepy" Lily whined as she rubbed her bright green eyes.
"Lillian Inez Potter you are beyond tired. Now come on. Bed-time" Harry swooped his daughter up into his arms and, bidding his guardians goodnight, Harry walked down the hallway to the spare bedroom where they were to live for the time being. He closed the bedroom door and, cradling Lily with one arm, he drew back the bedclothes and carefully laid Lily against the soft mattress. She looked really tired. Her eyes were closed and her body was limp. He pulled the covers up to her chin and pressed a tender kiss to her smooth, warm forehead. That calming bath had down her good. He could even see the tiniest of smiles on her lips and she started to dream. He smiled and went to the large desk in the corner. He sat down and pulled out some parchment and an expensive looking quill from the top desk drawer along with an ink well. He decided it was best to write to his sons' and tell them about what happened before Ginny could at least.
~0000~
The rain began to run down in thin silvery curtains. It swept down against the windowpane as they drove through the streets. Draco watched the clouds shakes and cry from the back of the ambulance as he was taken to a muggle hospital. He was nervous as he had never been to a muggle hospital before and he was very uneasy to be taken there. He decided it could not be worse than what he had already been through. A 'police officer' was seated beside him and had been talking to him since he had sat down, but he had not been paying attention.
"-So, sir, that is why we need all of your detail"
Draco turned his head to face the officer. "I am afraid I cannot give you that information, officer? ... for you see ... I am no one"
The officer pursed his lips. "Sir, we need this information for your records. If we do not get it you would be in very serious trouble with the law"
Draco shrugged heavily against the thin blankets and restrained strapping him to the bed. "So what?"
The officer sighed. "Fine. We won't press any form of charges on you and we will leave you alone after the doctor's have examined you. Now will you please tell me your name at least?"
"You want to know about me. Fine. I'll tell you. My name is Draconius Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. I am thirty seven years old. I have a son called Scorpius and a wife called Astoria. My dad and wife sexually abused me and threw me out. My mum sent me to King's cross where I collapsed and then the damned guard got you lot involved" he turned to face the officer, "do you believe me?"
The officer snorted, "why would I believe something as far fetched as that?"
Draco turned back to face the ceiling of the ambulance, "just as I thought" he muttered darkly. The ambulance drove onwards. The rain pelted down into a heavy torrent that gave Draco something to listen other than the voice's that haunted his memory. The ambulance stopped. The doors burst open and the bed rolled out of the ambulance and into the rain, clattering down on the concrete driveway. The rain felt like iced needled penetrating the skin of his haggard face as he was rushed into the main building. All he could remember was the blur of brilliant white lights overhead, the rolling of wheels, and loud voices that melted into one another like static on a radio when you couldn't find the right station.
When he came to, he saw Clifford the security guard sitting beside his bed. A heavy weight was on his chest and he could barely draw in enough breath to wheeze, "what are you- cough- doing here?"
"I told you I was going to find you a place to stay, and I have kept to my word. I feel responsible for you in some way since I was the one that found you" Draco nodded allowing the guard to continue, "I ... ahem ... well I found you a homeless shelter. It requires you to pay rent for staying there so I assume you will have to get a job" Draco sighed and rubbed his temples with his leaden hands. More work for him to learn to do? In the muggle world? He had gone from Hell and stumbled straight back into limbo.
"Anything else you would like to say before you go?" Draco rasped dryly.
Clifford nodded, "er ... I have offered to pay the first months rent just so that you won't have to worry too much, it also gives you a descent amount of time to find a job"
Draco turned and narrowed his eyes at his supposed 'saviour' "why the hell would you want to help me? What have I ever done for you to make you piss your money away like this?"
Clifford looked sheepish, "to be honest I was going to spend it down at the dogs, but if my wife found out she'd kill me. So if I told her I 'donated' it to a homeless shelter she'd think highly of me. So in a way, I'm saving my own arse as much as yours"
Draco nodded. He could understand that. He grimaced. He was a charity case. It made him feel so lowly. He grunted. "Fine. Let's get this over with. Get a damned doctor or whatever the hell they're called in here and get them to let me go!"
Clifford obeyed his orders for which Draco was truly thankful. It was awkward getting dressed out of the starched hospital gown and into the grubby clothes he wore a few, days? Weeks ago? He didn't know, nor did he care any more. He just wished he had some clean clothes since he had just been bathed and his skin was relieved of his father's semen and his own blood. Once clothed Clifford lead him out of the ward and, ignoring any doctors and nurses on their way to the doors, Draco stumbling behind him, they made it out into the rain soaked parking lot. Draco followed the beefy man to a small, rusty looking blue car. He did not know the make of it and did not care as the passenger door creaked open and he clambered in and sat on the frozen leather seat. He shivered and drew his battered coat tighter around him. The engine ignited and the car rumbled to life. Draco looked out of the window at the passing buildings and moving vehicles as they pulled out of the driving lot and moved along one of the blackened roads.
The rain continued to come down in silvery curtains. Draco wanted to reach out and part those curtains and see what life was like on the other side? Would it be sunny? Would he be happy? He had no idea, and this frightened him beyond anything else.
The car pulled up outside a tall, thin building that looked years out of date with several windows illuminated with dull yellow light. Draco grimaced. He was to live here? Was this man serious? He sighed. It could not be worse than living on the streets. Especially in this weather. He stepped out of the car and waited for Clifford to get out and lead him inside. They ascended a narrow stone staircase to the front door. It opened with a groan and emitted them into a stuffy lobby where a desk was set up behind a large white wall. A series of class panels was lined at the top allowing people to link into the office. A woman was sat behind the desk. When she heard the door open she looked up. "Ah good evening sir we have been expecting you" Draco merely nodded. "Now we need a few details to allow you to stay here" Draco stared at her with wide eyes. She nibbled on her bottom lip. "I could fill them out for you if you don't want to do it yourself?"
"Er ... yeah ... sounds good ... thanks"
"Okay then. Name?"
"D-Daniel Mizen" his voice shook as he spoke. He watched her write it down without hesitating.
"Age?"
"T-thirty-seven"
"Hm. Occupation?"
"None"
"Family, relatives or any person we can contact in an emergency?"
Draco swallowed thickly. This emergency contact thing again. "No one. There's no one"
The woman nodded and smiled brightly at him. "Now if we can just have the first month's rent paid up front I will show you to your room" Clifford shuffled around behind him and leant over Draco to pay the woman the one hundred and ten pound rent. She took it, still smiling, and filed it away. She looked up at Draco, "now for your future months' rent. You can either pay it in bits or all at once, it's completely up to you. There is no set way of paying; one month you can pay all at once and another you can pay piece by piece" Draco nodded. "As for job hunting, I have some spare applications to some local places that you can look at. Don't brush off any jobs that you don't like, because money is money, and right now, you're not in the position to be picky" Draco bristled but accepted the small load of papers with a tight smile.
"Thank you this is ... very kind of you"
The woman waved her hand, "it's fine, honestly. Now let me show you to your room" she got out from behind her desk and reappeared from a side door that Draco had not seen before. He waved a stiff goodbye to Clifford who nodded and retreated out of the front door. Draco turned back to the woman. "This way Mr. Mizen"
Draco followed her along the thin grey carpeted floor. He ascended five staircases until they stopped on the top floor. She led him down two hallways until she stopped in front of a door with the number 526 on the front in swinging black letters. "Thank you miss ...?"
"Lisa. Lisa Drew"
"Thank you Lisa" he gave a small smile. She flushed when he said her name, she thrust a small discoloured key into his palm and quickly fled back down the staircases. He rolled his eyes and shook his head before looking down at the key in his palm. He picked it up between his forefinger and thumb and inserted it into the lock. He turned it and pushed the stiff door open. The room was virtually bare. The same thin grey carpet as the rest of the building. Bare, grubby walls that could either me an off-white or a sickly pale yellow colour. He wrinkled his nose up and turned his attention to the furniture; stiff shabby wardrobe, with peeling white paint, rickety desk with a matching chair tucked underneath it, the bed was the wooden version or a metal bed frame with a hard, lumpy mattress slung on top of it. The only pleasant features of the room was the small knobbly device below the window, and the pillow and bedclothes were not too bad. At least he would be warm if not comfortable.
He touched the knobbly device. It was Luke warm. He frowned. He had no idea how to maximise the heating. Perhaps it was just warming up? Yes, he liked that idea. He looked around him and, deciding there was nothing better to do he toed off his wrecked shoes and kicked them under the bed. He flung the small stack of papers onto his desk, deciding to read them later. Feeling his eyelids grow heavy he decided to get an early night. He threw back the bedclothes and sat down on the mattress. It sunk beneath his weight. Sighing he rubbed his temples and clawed himself out of his filthy clothes. He swung his legs up and straightened himself out on the mattress before pulling the covers over himself and curling up into a tight, naked ball. He prayed the heating would heighten during the night. He closed his eyes tightly and listened to the drizzle that dribbled down the window pane until he fell asleep once again.
A/N: Hoped you liked that chapter. Reviews are welcome ^.^