Disclaimer: The Harry Potter franchise and the songs included in this fic (Close to You by the Carpenters and Moon River) are not mine. This story was written for fun and no money was obtained from it.
AN: I'm listening to a Moon River cover when I wrote the latter part of this chapter. This site doesn't allow links so you could search Renee Dominique's cover to Moon River.
Tea Time
Chapter 2
by Sapphire Snowflake
o0o
"But you're already in love with her, are you not?"
"Mother, I – "
"Despite all your father's flaws, I loved him deeply. He was not affectionate; however, it was the small things that made me fall in love with him. The way he did everything for what he thought would be best for our family… You know, whenever he was busy, he would ask me to drink my tea in his study so that I wouldn't feel neglected. We didn't converse during those moments; but despite the silence, his presence was enough for me. And now that he's… now that he's gone… Sometimes I wish I had been more daring, more forward in displaying my affections. Life is short after all."
He squeezed her hand.
"We don't get to choose who we fall in love with Draco. We can only live in the present. Whatever it is you decide, make sure it's something you won't regret."
o0o
He stirred his cup of tea absent-mindedly, his mother's words playing in his head repeatedly.
How do you measure worth anyway? By the amount of happiness it brings? Your needs? The length of time? If the last one holds true, Hermione Granger certainly isn't worth it.
"Gods Draco. You wouldn't believe what I saw!" Hermione broke his reverie as she slid into the empty seat right next to him in the cafeteria, all hand gestures and raised voice.
And why is she so damn beautiful anyway?
"And you know what she said? That I should move my Unspeakable arse out of her department. The nerve of that woman!" Her tirade continued as he nodded his head at appropriate times, so he could pretend he's listening.
"Anyway, are you done eating? I need your help with something at the archives," she asked, looking expectantly at him. He eyed his long-forgotten sandwich before downing his earl grey and standing up. "Let's go."
"Great." She beamed.
His warring thoughts continued even as they reached the doors of the archives. Why does it matter if he would get hurt in the end? Isn't love about giving and not receiving? Shouldn't love be selfless? Maybe he's not really in love with her. "Am I?" Draco wondered.
"I'm having trouble with taking apart the protective enchantment of the chest from yesterday. Do you know where I could find the record for that?" He heard her say as the sounds of their footsteps tap-tap-tapping across the tiles echoed throughout the archives. She was walking so close to him that he could probably count the freckles littered across her nose. He could feel how warm her skin was despite the coldness of the room. She smelled like bergamot tea on a rainy morning. He tried to absorb everything about her. What is it about her that drew him in?
This goes back to his biggest question: Is it worth it to start something he knows wouldn't last? If he did forge on, what would he do once she's gone? Pretend it never happened? Try to pick up whatever broken pieces of him she's left in her wake? How long is something even supposed to last to be worth it? Forever? What does forever even mean?
He felt her touch his arm. "Hey. I haven't really thanked you yet for the surprise. Things have been… pretty awkward lately so. Uhm… Yeah. I- I really appreciate it. I'll never forget it." She smiled at him, her eyes full of warmth and happiness.
(Waking up next to her every morning. Slipping his fingers between hers and finding out that it fits perfectly. Seeing her smile with happiness and contentment. Knowing you're the reason behind it.)
"Hermione."
"Yes?"
"Go out with me."
Her footsteps faltered. "Draco Malfoy!" She raised her voice at him, "It's been more than a month since I told you my circumstance. Aren't you going to give up? I thought you'd given up."
"Just say yes, Granger. Be my girlfriend. Unless you detest me so much. That reason I could accept."
"You don't realize what you're getting into." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"What? Everyone dies. For all I know, I'd die tomorrow from a stray Avada some idiot threw in Knockturn Alley. Or I could blow myself up in one of the experiments we do down here. The only difference between everyone and you is that you kind of know when and how you're going to die and we don't."
"Draco –"
"Please, Hermione. Just let me like you for as long as I can." He reached out for her hand and looked straight into her eyes.
She stared long and hard at his begging eyes. Sighing, she muttered, "Okay. Fine. It's your funeral."
"Okay?"
"If you're sure."
"Really?"
"I'm about to change my mind."
He suddenly grabbed her by her waist and spun her around in glee. "Thank you! You won't regret it, I promise. I'll make you happy."
"I won't. I hope you won't either."
o0o
Draco decided to start small so as not to overwhelm Hermione and drive her away. At the same time, he also wanted to impress her and make her see how much he'd changed.
The week before their first date, Draco ventured to Muggle London in search for a video rental store. He had overheard someone in the Ministry hallways a few months ago about something called a see-dee you can rent to watch Muggle movies. Further research revealed that there was a wide range of genres and movies to select from. He hoped that Hermione would like the films he chose.
"So where are we going again?"
"My flat."
She raised her eyebrow. "Draco, I only agreed for a date. Don't get ahead of yourself. You're not that lucky."
"What? No! Get your head out of the gutter Granger."
"Then what?"
"Just side-along okay?"
They landed in the sitting room of his flat where a cozy love seat was situated in front of the biggest telly Hermione had ever seen. There was a table right between them where a box of pizza, various snacks and chips and some drinks sat. It was rather homey and intimate in Hermione's opinion, and not what she had expected her date with Draco would be.
To break the uncomfortable silence, Draco asked, "So, do you want anything to drink?"
"Uhm… Do you have butterbeer?"
"Yes. Sit wherever you like." Hermione eyed the lone love seat in the room.
When they're both sitting – not too closely – Draco showed her the movies he picked. "So uh… this is actually my first time watching a Muggle movie. Help me pick?"
"Looper, Predestination and About Time?" She looked at the synopsis at the back. "These are all time-travel movies."
"Huh. I didn't realize. You're right. I guess I was curious about how Muggles view magic and things like that. And the other movies about magic seemed stupid."
"You also picked a romance movie," she teased. Her eyes glittered, and her lips quirked in amusement.
"Well, I wanted to pick movies that would make you think, or you'd be bored. And I thought I'd pick one romantic movie because who knows? You're probably a closet ball of cheese," he teased.
"I'd like you to know that I'm very open to trying anything… within reason of course."
"So, which one?" He hoped it wasn't the romance flick.
"Let's watch About Time," she smirked knowingly.
"I knew you were a closet romantic. Or maybe you secretly want to snuggle and be all lovey-dovey with me."
"Or maybe I want to see you squirm with all the sap." She rolled her eyes. "Maybe I'll get to see you cry as you gush how sweet it was!" Hermione sing-songed.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "You're on, Granger."
Almost two hours later and Draco was thanking his lucky stars that he was a Slytherin and thus, was trained to hide his emotions. Hermione sat beside him, a wistful expression on her face. "That was sweet."
"Look who's gushing now."
"I'm not gushing. I didn't even cry, see?" She turned to him and smiled. "I'm just stating a fact. It was a good movie. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, it was," he said after a beat and excused himself to get some more butterbeer. As he poured their drinks, he heard her say, "I'm sorry for your loss, Draco. I didn't get to say that back when your father died."
"Thanks." His throat felt tight. Leave it to Granger to be so perceptive. He decided not to say anything more on the subject. "So, do you want to watch one more?"
She smiled.
o0o
A fortnight after that, Hermione found herself setting up tents with Ginny in a camping site. Draco had invited Hermione along with Ginny and Harry for camping in one of the woods near Wiltshire.
"Someone needs to cook me dinner and set up our tent. Oww! I was only joking, Granger." She smiled at the memory when she asked him if it was a double date. She knew that he wanted to make her comfortable by asking someone to join them on the trip in the middle of the woods.
"Potter and I finished collecting firewood," a voice said behind her and as arms encircled her waist. He's been getting more touchy lately, but it was limited to hugs and hand holding.
Ginny looked at them slightly amused. "We're done with this one too. Where's Harry?"
"By the campfire." Draco released Hermione from his embrace but took hold of her hand. When Ginny left, he asked Hermione, "Walk with me?"
"Okay."
They walked for several minutes until they came to a clearing. Hermione gasped when she looked up after Draco gestured towards the sky. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
She remembered when he asked her a week ago about the trip. At first, she wanted to refuse, saying that she's done a lot of camping during the War and was already tired of it. He argued that during those times, she didn't really take the time to enjoy the scenery and stare at the vast sky full of stars. Now, she was glad she went on this trip with them.
"You're right. I never really stopped to look – really look at them."
"Of course, I'm right."
"Don't be a git."
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"It's been wonderful."
"I'm glad." He squeezed her hand. "I love you." He could feel her startle beside him, but before she could say anything, he said, "Stop. Just… I don't need anything else. I just want you to know."
She squeezed his hand in reply instead. Together, they admired the stars above them.
"Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you say yes?"
"Yes, to what?"
"To this. To me."
She peered at him from underneath her lashes and then looked back at the stars above. "Because I was selfish. Because… because I wondered how it would feel like waking up next to you."
He felt his heart soar. It was the same words he told himself back in the archives.
(She admits something later on, under the cloak of darkness and in the comforts of their shared tent. "I'll tell you a secret. I wanted to say yes the first time you asked."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because I'm in love with you too.")
o0o
"Hermione."
"What?" She replied, irritated at the interruption to her research.
"Let's go to this Muggle museum this weekend. I heard there's loads of artwork." He was flipping through several pamphlets showcasing the museum he was talking about.
She did not even look up at him before she said, "No."
"Why not?"
"I'm busy, Draco."
"And that can't wait? Is that more important than me?" His voice sounded arrogant and vulnerable at the same time.
She heaved a sigh and spoke slowly as if she was talking to a child, "We just went to Venice last weekend. The week before that, you swept me to that ancient town where we spent a week! I have to – No, we have to work at some point."
"Why do you even need to work? You're just wasting your time – time that should be spent with people you love," he argued, but right at the moment when she heard him say that her work is a waste of time, she had had enough.
"Stop! Just stop. You're being selfish. My life doesn't revolve around you. I will do whatever the hell I want," she hissed angrily.
The door smacked across its hinges loudly.
o0o
She found him deep inside the archives of the Department of Mysteries, writing furiously on a piece of parchment. Softly, she approached and placed a cup of tea in front of him.
"Have you ever heard of Banksy?" She mentioned idly as she sat at the corner of the table and stirred her cup of tea. "He's a well-known Muggle British street artist, which is ironic seeing as no one knows his true identity."
"I'm busy, Hermione. Just get on with it."
She didn't get perturbed by his rudeness. "He said, a person dies twice. The first is when he physically dies…" she trailed off and looked at Draco to see if she got his attention.
"And the second?"
"It's when somebody says his name for the last time," she murmured. "You have to understand, Draco. Our work is important to me. I don't just want to be Harry Potter's best friend, war heroine. I want to be known for my own accomplishments. For something that I started and finished myself. I want to be able to help a lot of people and make a huge contribution to the wizarding society before..." She broke eye contact, reached out for his hand and smoothed her fingers over his knuckles. "I know it sounds selfish, but…" She exhaled, her lips forming a thin line.
"Hermione," he called out. "Look at me." He ran his thumb over the edge of her jaw. "I won't forget," he murmured.
She felt her eyes gloss over as she gave him a pained smile. "You should. You have to move on at some point."
o0o
After weeks of working relentlessly, she agreed to spend her Christmas Eve alone with him. They first ate at a French restaurant in Muggle London before Draco saw the newly constructed Ferris Wheel by the river. "What's that big round wheel?"
"Oh, that's the Ferris Wheel. It's a muggle amusement ride. There are seats along its perimeter where people get to see the scenery from an elevated position."
"I want to go there."
"Sure."
They entered a Ferris wheel pod two hours later, with Draco sitting right beside Hermione and making a show of rocking the metal pod. She was berating Draco due to his childish antics and laughing at the same time.
"I can see the restaurant where we ate from here!" She gushed as she pressed her hands on the glass window and looked down.
"I see your eyesight is as good as your brains," he teased but looked at the place nonetheless.
Her expression turned wistful. "The lights down below are so beautiful. I've ridden a Ferris Wheel before with my parents. It was at night too. But I didn't appreciate the view back then. Rather, I was bored out of my mind during the ride."
"Well, it's always the most mundane things that we take for granted."
She nodded and continued staring at the city below them. "We're almost at the top now!" She excitedly added.
"Want to kiss when we get to the top? Just like in the movies."
She laughed. "You're ridiculous." Despite saying that, she kissed the tip of his nose. "Thanks for taking me here, Draco."
He pouted. "You've never bestowed me a kiss. On the lips I mean. Not once. Oh well." He gave a very dramatic sigh that made Hermione giggle again. He flicked her nose. "These are the moments that I wish time would stop."
"That's –" Hermione wasn't able to finish her sentence because all the lights from the Ferris Wheel turned off and it stopped moving.
"Would you look at that, it stopped!" Draco playfully said that earned him a smack from Hermione which rocked the pod and made her tumble towards his arms. "Easy with the wobbling," he teased.
"What did you do? There are Muggles here!" She asked, aghast. Despite the darkness, Draco was sure that she's glowering at him.
"I didn't use magic!" The lights abruptly went on as he said this, and Hermione saw Draco's grinning face. At the same time, a song that Hermione know all too well played around the Ferris Wheel: Moon River. Images of Christmas spent with her parents – putting up the tree and decorating it, opening presents as they drank a warm cup of cocoa or eggnog, and singing Christmas carols – flooded her with nostalgia. She looked around them and down at the grounds where the Ferris wheel operator and a few other people were waving different colored light sticks at them and shouting a Happy Christmas. "You planned this," she murmured, touched at the gesture.
She turned her attention back to Draco when he reached out for her hands and kissed knuckles. "Happy Christmas, Granger. I love you."
(I love you. I love you. I love you.)
o0o
After the Ferris Wheel ride, they apparated to Diagon Alley and walked for a bit until they reached the Christmas tree in the middle. It was decorated with various colors of fairy lights with blooming flowers scattered all over it. Draco's eyes were following a fluttering silver butterfly when he felt Hermione lean on him, their hands still intertwined.
He tucked a stray curl behind her ear and leaned to kiss the top of her head. "I love you. Have I ever told you that?" He murmured.
"A thousand times or so," she joked.
"I guess this is the one thousand first time then. I love you."
She blushed profusely and squeezed his hand. "Thank you."
"For? And aren't you supposed to reply, I love you too?" He teased.
"For making this short life of mine feel like a thousand and one lifetimes."
"Stop. Don't say such things," he admonished, feeling nervous all of a sudden.
She ignored him. "And yes, I love you too." She tiptoed and kissed him full on the lips.
That night, they made love for the first time.
o0o
AN: Tell me what you think. Happy Christmas guys.