Disclaimer: I do not own Queen JK's characters, only the plot of this story and Laurie.
I opened the door and made my way into the back kitchen, the repugnant smell of a month old food waste assaulting my nose as I realize that despite me cleaning the place out the very next day, there was some leftover food that I had missed. I accio'd the cause, a bowl of rotten strawberries and a stale slice of cake. The latter coming from the refrigerator, which means that I'll have to clean that out sometime soon.
I let out a sigh as I realize the amount of work that I will now have to face. Even if I could clean the café and wash the refrigerator with magic, I would still have to manually scrub the place to achieve the level of cleanliness I used to maintain. And then I would have to prepare the different types of flour, the different types of cream, the jelly, at least four flavors of ice cream, and that is just barely cracking the surface. With a light chuckle and a shake of my head I set out to work.
I flipped on the speakers and played a CD of some pop hits collection that Hermione lent to me for the day. Even though I preferred to listen to rock music from The Beatles era, I agreed to at least try out the collection. So far, it was pretty decent.
She also told me she would close the bookstore early and come over to the café to help me out. Laurie also wanted to join but I persuaded her out of it. She has a project submission coming up and I didn't want her grades to fall even lower. She already missed so many classes in the past month.
A jingle broke out of my trance as I noticed Harry Potter standing in the doorway.
"Wow, that is a sight you don't see every day. Draco Malfoy, mopping the floor of a café."
"Times have changed, Potter." I continued with my mopping.
"Yeah, they have, haven't they." He walked over to me and stood against the counter.
"Is there any particular reason you're here? Do you have any news?"
"Nothing much really. Dolohov didn't give us much to go on if I'm being honest. We did manage to capture one of the younger Death Eaters. A nineteen-year-old by the name of Shirley, who actually managed to get us some leads on the whereabouts of some others. She wasn't privy to much information about their plans though. She also went crazy with rage when she saw anyone who was against them in the war, or anyone who switched sides. We had to subdue her with a few potions and then had to use legimency."
"Shirley Lancaster?"
"Yes, do you know her?"
"Yeah, was a Slytherin back at Hogwarts. I remember Pansy mentioning her a few times. Apparently got extremely homesick a bunch of times and her friends had to comfort her a bunch of times. She loved her family a little too much."
"After seeing her like in the rage she was in, I think little would be an understatement." Harry let out a chuckle.
I set the mop aside as I had finished cleaning the main room. I walked over to one of the bags I got from the store.
"Want something to drink? A Beer?"
"I have to return to duty soon, so I can't have anything alcoholic. Any soft drink is fine if you have it."
I took out a can of coke and a beer. Though the beers were for Hermione, I don't think she would mind if I took one. Hopefully.
I handed him the coke and we both opened our respective drinks. "Potter, I have to ask, why do you keep doin-…" I trailed off as I saw the knowing smile on his face. "You get asked that a lot, huh."
"You wouldn't believe the number if I told you."
"Humor me just this once then."
Both of us stared at each other for a second, before he smiled. "I don't know. I guess it just makes me feel nee-"
"Don't bullshit around, Potter. That might work on Hermione, Weaselbee or maybe even Red if you wanted it enough, but not on me. I spent most of my life bullshitting around and I know when it's staring me right in the face."
He let out a sigh. "I… I feel responsible. And I know, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, everyone has told me many times that I'm not, it's Voldy who did this, not me. But… He was the one responsible for causing their death and I was the one responsible for saving them… and… all of the people I could not save… I feel responsible for not saving them. And I think the best way to make up for that is dedicating my work to the Auror department." He continuously stared at his can of coke, as if the answer to his problems lie there.
"I'm sorry… Potter… I think… one of those times… during one of our famous Quidditch matches… I think… one of us hit the bludger too hard to your head. It seems to have messed up something in there. Are you fucking with me with that logic? No honestly… I can't believe I spent all this time thinking I was fucking losing to you in life when you go around thinking up stuff like this. Both you and Weaselbee seriously cannot do anything without Hermione can you?"
I calmed myself down a little. "Listen to me, Potter. You've been told by all of your friends that your way of thinking is wrong, but now let me, your arch-nemesis from Hogwarts tell you once again what I've always been telling you. You're a fucking idiot for thinking like that. Now quit your job and do what you've always wanted to do. Now get out of my shop. I've got better things to do with my time."
He sighed and got up, shook his head and walked over to the door. Just before he left, he turned around. "Thank you… Draco."
"No need Potter, I've got enough of those to repay already." He walked out and disapparated from the alley.
Around four in the evening, Hermione burst in through the doors as I was mixing the flour for the cakes. Mixing the flour was a pretty messy process and I knew I had some on my face. I looked up from the huge bowl of cake flour to find her crouched over, holding her stomach as she desperately tried not to laugh out loud. Our eyes met for a second and then she couldn't hold herself back as she burst out laughing, the hand that earlier on her mouth, now pointing at me. I scowled at her, but not for long. I couldn't do that she looked very adorable like that, her face red from all the laughter.
"Draco… you… you look…" The rest was lost in her laughter.
Before she could continue, I quickly walked over and smeared my flour covered hands all over her face. She tried to resist but it was futile. Within a few short minutes, both of us were laughing and covered in flour.
"Now you do as well."
"You asshole, you got some of it in my hair. Do you know hard it is to get that out? I don't have hair as smooth as silk where it can just slip out easily." Her words might have been harsh but she said this with a smile on her face.
"Hermione, I didn't know you felt my hair while I'm sleeping." I was only joking but the way she blushed left me wondering whether she actually did that. The blush was visible only for a few moments before it disappeared.
"It… I… wasn't talking about your hair in particular. And I never touched your hair… Yeah, I never touched it. Anyway, I came here to help." She swiftly walked by me and stood by the kitchen counter. "So, what am I supposed to do first?"
Deciding to leave it at that, I pointed at the sink. "First, wash your hands. And don't forget to use lots of soap and wash it all out afterwards. Also, tie up your hair so that it doesn't fall in the food."
Hermione walked over to the sink as I cleaned up the mess from our little tussle with a swish of my wand. "Never pegged you as a neat freak."
"Only when it comes to my kitchen and my broomstick."
After she cleaned up, we got to work. We didn't talk much while we were working. I usually like to concentrate when I'm making food or when I'm working with potions, and Hermione was a natural at losing herself in her work. She worked with the eggs and then worked the mixer, while I added them all together and made the batter to be stored in the refrigerator.
Two hours later, we both took a short break. We both sat down on a table we set up earlier.
"When do you plan to open up the café."
"I'm thinking Monday. Today is Saturday, that means it'll give me tomorrow to leisurely test the new flavor of cheesecakes I wanted to try out, and I can also cook some extra of the regular stuff. As you know, Laurie said she has to submit her project by Monday afternoon. I also have to search for another part-timer. Laurie said she will bring over one of her friends to manage the reception with for a week or so but I need someone to help out in the kitchen. And I obviously need time to search for that. I think this first week will be quite slow, that's why I will have to bake less, like I did when I first set up shop."
"I can-" Before she could continue, we were cut off by the familiar jingle of my door. Both of us turned our heads to find an old woman in her fifties standing by the doorway with a smile on her face.
"Ah, Draco. You're back. How are you feeling, dear? When do you plan to open the shop again?"
I stood up from my seat and smiled at the familiar face. "Mrs. Robinson, I'm alright. And I will be opening up on Monday. Please do visit us again." I turned to my flatmate. "Hermione, this Mrs. Robinson, she lives a few streets over and she's a regular here."
"Mrs. Robinson, this is-"
"No need to explain, Draco." She turned to Hermione. "You look very pretty, dear. He is lucky to have as his girlfriend." Shit. You senile old fool. Hermione, please don't freak out over this. Obviously I wouldn't object to having you as my girlfriend, but I'm sure you would be uncomfortable.
"No Mrs. Robinson, you're mistaken. She's not yet my girlfriend."
Wait a second… Did I just say not yet? I hoped I didn't but the look on Hermione's said it all. Fuck.
HAH! There, I delivered on my promise. See, I'm not completely useless.
Anyways, that's besides the point. How do you all like this development?
Please leave a review letting me know how you felt about this.
And I promise, I will update a little while after April Fools this time. I have a ton of projects that my professors want me to submit by the first week of April so I can't write before that.
