Hermione sat behind the counter of the bookstore, tapping her fingers idly as time ticked by. Work was slow—absurdly so. They had a few customers after opening, but nothing since. When the shop bell rang after hours of silence, Hermione perked up, ready to greet the newcomer.
She was even more pleased to find Lyra in the doorway.
Hermione stepped around the counter and spoke in her most formal voice. "Good afternoon, Miss Malfoy. How can I help you today?"
Lyra giggled. "I'm not Miss Malfoy! I'm just Lyra!"
"Ah, my apologies." Hermione winked and smiled at the girl. "What brings you in here?"
"Daddy said I could come over and say hi, so long as you're not busy."
Hermione looked around her shop. "Hm, well, it looks like you're in luck. We're not busy at all. Are you helping your dad next door?"
"Uh huh," she said with a nod. "I was helping put stuff on the shelves."
Hermione tapped her chin in thought. "You know, I think we just got a new shipment of books that haven't been set out yet. Perhaps you'd like a job to do?"
Lyra nodded vigorously, her eyes wide and hopeful. "Can I? Really really?"
"Really really. Come on." She held out a hand. "I'll have Miss Rachel show you what to do."
Ten minutes later, Lyra was happily chatting away with Rachel as she helped shelve books.
A vibration in her pocket had Hermione checking her phone messages.
She's not being bothersome, is she? If so, you can send her back.
She's never a bother. Besides, I put her to work.
You know there are laws against child labor, right Granger? Wouldn't want you getting tossed in Azkaban.
Funny, she told me you had her stocking shelves as well. Looks like we'll be cell-mates.
That doesn't count since I'm her father and it's a family business. Plus, I'm paying her five whole dollars.
I plan on paying her handsomely as well. I seem to recall her favorite chocolate is Reese's Cups, right?
That it is. Her father prefers Snickers and is not above bribery to avoid being reported.
Looks like we won't be cell mates after all.
Pity.
Hermione smiled as she pocketed her phone, ignoring the smirk Rachel sent her way.
An hour passed before the other Malfoy came into the bookshop.
"And what can I do for you, good sir?" Hermione asked pleasantly.
"I'm here to collect my daughter," Draco said half-seriously. "I hope she hasn't been working so much that she doesn't have the energy to go get a Happy Meal with me."
From a few aisles over, the two adults heard a voice squeal "A Happy Meal!?"
Hermione smiled at Draco. "I think that answers that."
Lyra came hustling around the corner.
"Walk, please," the two adults said at the same time.
The girl slowed her pace and grabbed Hermione's hand. "Miss Rachel said you should go to lunch with me and Daddy."
Hermione rolled her eyes and chuckled. "That's very kind of her to suggest that, but I already brought my lunch from home," she said, her voice rising slightly so that Rachel could hear her from where she was shelving books.
"Doesn't mean you can't go," Rachel responded in a sing-song voice.
Hermione sighed and glanced at Draco, who was watching her with amusement then shrugged. "It's up to you."
Hermione contemplated going, but ultimately shook her head. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. Rain check?" she asked, lifting a brow.
"Sure. Come on, Princess." He held out his hand for Lyra. "We have some burgers to eat."
As he opened the door, Lyra turned and waved. "Bye, Miss Hermione!"
Hermione smiled and waved at the two. When she turned, she found Rachel leaning against the counter, arms crossed over her chest.
"What?" Hermione asked defensively.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous. Why didn't you go with them?"
"I already said why—I have lunch here and there's no reason to waste it."
"Oh, I can definitely think of at least one reason."
Hermione planted her fists on her hips and looked at her expectantly. "Which is?"
"A sexy, blond-haired man with stormy gray eyes—" Hermione groaned and started to walk away, but Rachel followed "—which, I may add, are always on you."
"I think your eyes are playing tricks on you," Hermione said over her shoulder.
"No, I just see things you don't."
Hermione stopped and sighed before turning back around and looking at her friend. "And what do you see?"
"Just that he can't keep his eyes off of you," Rachel said with a knowing smirk.
"Well, it is proper etiquette to look at the person you're talking to. The same could be said to a handful of people we see here."
"Yes, but he looks at you even when you're not looking at him. Like when you're helping someone else or your back is turned." Rachel lowered her voice as she leaned in closer. "I'm telling you, Hermione, he likes you."
Hermione opened her mouth to argue but Rachel cut her off. "And don't deny you don't like him either. I see the way you smile and how your face lights up whenever you get a text from him."
Hermione shook her head. "We're just friends, Rachel, nothing more. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take my lunch break."
Rachel sighed again as Hermione turned and walked away but let it drop.
Once she made her way into her small office and closed the door, Hermione bit her lip in worry. She could admit to herself that she was starting to like Draco more than a friend, but she would never act on it—she didn't want to ruin their newly-formed friendship, especially since it would affect Lyra too.
Hermione sat at her desk and pulled out her lunch. After taking a bite of her ham sandwich, she regretted her decision to not join the Malfoys.
The rest of the day went by without incident and Hermione was glad when closing time came. She grabbed her coat and handbag then stopped in front of Draco's shop on the way to her car. The sign on the window read "Closed" but the lights were still on and Hermione could see the owner walking around inside. She rapped lightly on the door, while trying to ignore the small fluttering feeling in her stomach when Draco looked up and smiled as he spotted her. He unlocked the door and invited her in.
"Granger. Come on in. I'm just reorganizing a few things before heading home."
"I won't keep you," Hermione said, following him inside. "I just came to see Lyra."
"Ah… She's back at home with a sitter. I knew she'd get bored by lunchtime so I arranged for Natalie to pick her up after we ate." Draco looked over his shoulder and pretended to glare at her accusingly. "Why? Have you come to take my child to squeeze some more child labor out of her?"
Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "No, actually. I came to give her these." She rummaged around inside her bag and pulled out two packs of Reese's Cups. "Payment, for her hard work today, as promised."
"That's all well and good, but I do believe you are still short of the finder's fee." He stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned against the counter.
Hermione laughed. "I thought you were joking!"
He merely cocked his head to the side and raised a brow, waiting expectantly.
With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, Hermione reached into her bag once more and pulled out a Snickers Bar.
"Better?"
Draco walked over and plucked the bar from her hand, followed by the two Reese's. He gave her a wide smile as he unwrapped the top of his candy bar and took a bite. "Payment in full. Thank you for your business."
Hermione couldn't help but shake her head in amusement. "You're ridiculous." She glanced around the shop curiously. "Mind if I look around? I don't think I've looked properly at all your items and I still have to buy a few Christmas gifts."
Draco gestured around the shop with one hand while he continued to eat his candy bar. "By all means, take a look." He grabbed a handbasket from the stack by the front and handed it to her.
"Thanks," she said.
"If you don't mind me asking, who are you buying for?" Draco asked as she inspected one of the candles on display. "It may help me give you some ideas."
"Oh, just the usual—Mister and Missus Weasley, Ginny, Percy and his wife Audrey, Angelina Johnson, now also a Weasley, Fleur…. Basically all the Weasleys…oh, and Luna." She placed two candles of different scents into her handbasket. "Harry and Ginny have talked me into going to London for Christmas, which means we'll be going to the Burrow—"
"I'm sorry, but what's 'the Burrow'?" Draco interrupted.
"It's the Weasleys' family home. And if you snicker or laugh at the name, I will hex you," she warned, poking a finger into his chest. Even though she wasn't dating Ron anymore she still felt fiercely loyal to the family that took her in almost every summer.
Draco held up his hands in surrender. "Wouldn't dream of it. After all, my father had pet albino peacocks, so, really, I have no room to mock."
Hermione nodded before returning her attention to the wares on the shelves and placing a few other items in her basket. "As I was saying, I can't spend Christmas at the Burrow and show up empty-handed, so I figured I'd support some of the local shops and get my gifts around town."
Draco nodded as he reached above her and took down a few things, placing them in her basket as well. "Well, as a local business owner myself, I thank you for thinking of us during the holidays."
Hermione chuckled. "What about you? Do you have any plans for Christmas?"
Draco inspected a box of tea before he added it to the pile. "If by plans, you mean my mother coming to visit for a few days while she spoils Lyra with toys and sweets, then yes."
"That sounds like fun."
"It's been the tradition since we moved here, though she has been hinting about wanting us to go to France for the holidays one of these years."
"Why don't you?"
Draco shrugged. "It was just easier having her come here when Lyra was younger. Now that she's older, though, I think we might start traveling more, with France being the first stop."
"I think your mum would really like that."
"I hope so." He peered into her basket. "I think you've got one of everything in there."
Hermione looked in the basket as well. "Seems so. I suppose I ought to purchase these things and let you get home to Lyra."
Draco walked to the register and began to ring her up.
"So, any chance you might want to come over for pizza and a movie tonight?"
Hermione grinned. "That sounds absolutely lovely."
"And who knows," he added as he handed over a bag filled with her purchases. "If we're lucky, maybe Lyra will even share her chocolate with us."
A/N: Sorry for the late posting, but here's a shiny new chapter for you al!
I'm loving all the comments, praise, and theories everyone has been posting! Thank you so much!
Also, next weekend I will be out of town, but I'm still hoping to get the chapter out, but if I can't, it will probably have to wait until Tuesday (3/14).