Hello everyone, as I said before I will be re uploading chapters as my amazing Beta Aliyah_Faith who has been so patient with my work, she rocks. So here is chapter 2, please make sure you guys review and follow it's always great to see feedback on work. Here it goes.
I've always loved going to the club on a busy night. I remember how chaotic it was in the beginning, but I've come to embrace the chaos and if it ever gets too crazy I find comfort in the solace of my coffeehouse. It was where I went when I wanted silence, peace, and to be soothed by the scent of fresh brewed coffees and teas all mixed together. But now's not a time to be there. So here I am in black skinny jeans and heeled booties paired with a red crop top and a black leather jacket. I can't help but tug at the damn top though, I get it these things are supposed to make you look hot, but really a little more fabric wouldn't kill anyone. I felt like if I sneezed I would fall over. I made my way over to the bar to greet our lovely bartender, Hannah, who was busy getting people in a good mood before the show.
"Hey lady, how's the night going? Can I get a water bottle, love?" I asked, leaning against the counter. She turned to face me.
"Oooo Hermione you're looking hot! I've told you not to dress up for me." She teased playfully, a smile on her face that I gladly returned. She handed me a bottle. "Here you go. We're going to get a lot of business tonight I can tell." She spoke, eyes skimming the growing crowd. "Oh before I forget, Luna wanted to talk to you, she's in the back...she looks kinda stressed." She finished. I nodded my head.
"Eeek, stressed? Luna? That doesn't sound like her normal self. All right, well you keep doing what you're doing and I'll go see what's up." I walked past buzzing grounds of people all hyped for a good show and made my way towards the back of the stage, pushing the curtains back. Blaise blocks my path.
"Hey Hermione. Damn girl, looking good." He complimented me and I graciously smiled and looked around for Luna as he spoke again. "No need to worry, I've already told her I can fix this...any minute now" he said as he looked to the opening behind me and back to me a few times in a row.
"Already Blaise, what's going on? Where's Luna?" I quizzed.
"Don't worry I already talked to-" He started but was interrupted.
"I'll tell you what's up, we just lost Death Cab last minute that's what's up!" Luna appeared behind him, eyes wide and looking distraught. She never lost her cool, maybe once had I seen her freak out before but it was a few years ago. It took a lot to really rile her up. She was rather like me, actually. It took a lot to set me off. I mean, after facing the death eaters and Voldemort, what can really shake you, right? So I was able to keep calm as I racked my brain thinking of what to do. Luna just crossed her arms and paced back and forth. I slid around Blaise and walked to her.
"Luna calm down, we've got this, ok? Tell me what happened to Death Cab?" I asked. Luna opened her mouth to speak but Blaise jumped in.
"Alright so their manager called and apparently lead singers going through a messy divorce, and wound up in the muggle hospital with a panic attack, so they're out, but our solution should be here any second." He said, only causing my eyebrow to lift up, curious about what his solution was.
"Alright Blaise will you stop being so cryptic and tell me who or what is this salvation you speak of?" I snapped, starting to get frustrated.
"That would be me, love" A slow but familiar voice came from behind me, causing me to swirl in place, my hair whipping as the man behind me stepped closer.
"Draco, thanks for coming man, so were you able to get them?" Blaise spoke from behind me. I let my eyes trail down the body in front of me. He got a bit taller, more built. His hair was a bit longer but it looked better on him now. And his eyes were the same shade of gray/blue, swimming with mischief.
"Blaise come on who do you think you're talking to their getting their stuff out back, Luna you might want to go tell 'em where to set up and give them some information on what you want going on." He spoke. His voice was the same I remembered it, maybe a bit more rugged. Luna just shook her head and stopped by side, looking back at Draco
"Who..what..who?" She quizzed, voicing my thoughts.
"Oh sorry my fault, love, Luna, Hermione. Draco here is good buds with the lead singer of a Wizard band who's made it mainstream in the muggle world, The Neighborhood, when Death cab fell through I called Draco up and he got the guys together." Luna practically screamed as she jumped up and kissed Draco on the cheek.
"Oh my god Draco! You're a lifesaver, Blaise I love love love you alright let me go get this show on the road" She spoke, skipping out of the room.
"Alright I'll go with you, thanks again mate, Hermione here can show you the whole set up of the place she knows it better than anyone else, Hermione why don't you and Draco take a walk show him the place and I'll see you at the show." And with a smug little grin, Blaise was off, that prat. I glared at the empty area he once stood until Draco spoke.
"So, Granger you've got a nice place here...You look good what's it been -?" He trailed off, letting his eyes slide down my body. I ignored it, letting him be a guy and looking. It honestly made me feel pretty good.
"About 5 years...Draco thank you really you saved our arses." I spoke, clearly thankful. He just smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets, lifting his shoulders into a shrug.
"No worries Granger, glad I could help." He replied. Both of us were just standing there, and out of the corner of my eye I could see that Draco was just playing with his hands.
"So let me show you the place, it's really a simple set up, Luna's idea of Feng Shui" I spoke, breaking the silence.
"Feng what?" He quizzed, eyebrows crinkling together.
"It's a type of simplistic setup and creates a more focused, clear headed environment" I recited what she had recited to me. He kinda chuckled.
"If you say so, Granger. What have you been up to besides setting up a great club?" He inquired, I let a smile drift to my face at the compliment.
"Thanks...Luna and I set up this place with a lot of help from Blaise, we've also got a coffeehouse just next door, my personal baby, I love going in when it's too crazy in here." I spoke softly, but passionately. This is what I loved doing.
"I'd love to see it sometime." He commented. I nodded and the rest of the conversation went quickly.
"Yeah of course just say when."
"How about Saturday night?"
"Yeah Saturday's great"
"It's a date then"
What? Oh my god...did I just agree to a date with Draco? Suddenly my mind was stuttering through the thought process. I tried convincing myself he was just being friendly and didn't like me or maybe he did. Draco waved his hand over my face smiling and laughing a little under his breath.
"Granger, are you ok?" He asked, looking at me.
"What?- Oh ha yeah just kind of zoned out there, oh I think I hear the band playing, let's go out and listen to a couple songs I mean you brought them over it would be shame not hear them, I love these guys." I rushed the words out, without even thinking about it, Draco grabs my hand,
"Come on then they're playing A Little Death I love this song, Jesse Rutherford is a great guy. I met him at Uni when they were just getting together, they're all great guys. We walked out onto the side of the stage and watched the band play. The lyrics really stuck with me.
Vacancy was lit, the guests were checking in
The concierge was cold,
The water pipes had mold all over them
The room was fit for two,
The bed was left in ruins
The neighbor was knocking, yeah
But no one would let him in
Touch me, yeah
I want you to touch me there
Make me feel like I am breathing
Feel like I am human
Dancing through the night
A vodka and a sprite
A glimpse of the silhouettes
A night that they never forget
Touch me, yeah
I want you to touch me there
Make me feel like I am breathing
Feel like I am human
Touch me, yeah
I want you to touch me there
Make me feel like I am breathing
Feel like I am human
She sought death on a queen-sized bed
And he had said, "Darling, your looks can kill,
So now you're dead."
Touch me, yeah
I want you to touch me there
Make me feel like I am breathing
Feel like I am human
Touch me, yeah
I want you to touch me there
Make me feel like I am breathing
Feel like I am human, again
Slowly I start rocking back and forth, before I even realized it I was leaning into Draco my back on his chest. He rested his chin on my shoulder and I just stayed there comfortably. It wasn't until I felt the palm of his hand lay on my hand and it all kind of clicked together and a slight panic filled me as I pulled back suddenly.
"Draco..I'm-I'm sorry I don't know what came over me, that was completely inappropriate of me" I have to get out of here oh my goodness I can feel my face grow redder by the minute. I start looking around like a nutcase, where the fuck is the door? This is my place how the hell don't I know where the fucking door is? I started for the door panic and embarrassment radiating from every pore of my being. I made it as far as the hallway when I felt a hand on my shoulder pulling me back.
"What? Granger no it's completely fine really, Come on we were having a great time." I started to pull back against his slight grip and in flash I was turned around and he held me at arms length.
"Nope Nope Nope Granger come on talk to me, you know what let's go to this coffeehouse of yours away from the noise and we'll talk, you know we haven't seen each other in years and all of a sudden when we do….Boom! Instant chemistry so come on let's talk. I know you feel It too" He reasoned. I did. Next thing I know we're walking over cobblestone and I'm opening the door to the coffeehouse.
"Hold on a second, let me just…Lumos" I spoke, holding out my wand and letting the light pour out from the top. Draco stopped next to me and let his eyes skim the place.
"Wow Granger this place is great." I looked around and saw the large towers of enchanted books, the plush arm chairs and enchanted the high ceilings depicting the night sky, large black and white photographs with splashes of red. All elements of Hogwarts that I fell in love with and photographs of the travels that Luna and I made.
"Thank you….this place is my baby, my sanctuary" I spoke fondly of it. A slight chuckle slipping out.
"I can see why, it's everything I loved about Hogwarts, well except for the Quidditch part." He remarked.
"Actually, look at this" I walked over to the counter, "Alight call over the cinnamon" He lifted an eyebrow at me. "No really just do it."
"Alright Granger whatever you say...Accio Cinnamon?" And with that a golden snitch whizzed across the room. Draco caught it with the reflexes of a well trained seeker. "Are you for real Granger? This is incredible."
"Yeah I thought so myself, so I'll get some coffee's and we can have this "talk" that I'm soo looking forward to." I spoke, sliding behind the counter. A couple moments later we were both relaxing coffees in hand.
"Alright so I know that you and Lovegood became inseparable since Hogwarts, can I just say that I always saw you and red becoming besties, but that one turned into quite the slag after Potter. Lovegood changed a lot as well, I guess we all did how couldn't we after everything we went through." His voice got quieter towards the end.
"I know about you defecting, I'm sorry that you're mum went through so much public scrutiny. She was very brave considering her position, people change the war changed people for the better and worse I mean Blaise is someone I never would have thought would be as important in my life as he is now. I guess we've all changed so much, I mean, here I am having coffee with Draco Malfoy" I spoke, a smile drifting to my face as a giggle slipped out.
"Yeah. Who would've thought? Big question is what happened to Potter and Weasley? I mean the golden trio who would ever think of you three not attached to the hip, I guess with that happened between Red and Potter that could cause a rift between you and Weasley, not that I'm complaining seeing as how I'm now having a great time with you." He finished.
"What happened with me and Ronald had nothing to do with Harry and Ginerva and more to do with the fact that he refused to move past the war, I lost my parents to Dolohov, but somehow I got past. I lived my life day to day, but he couldn't he refused to do the same with Fred. Not for me, Harry or even his family. But that was a long time ago, I'm a different person and I'm just really happy to be here with you."
Draco smirked as he stretched his hand across the table and placed it casually over my hand as my pulse quickened slightly.
"Did you enjoy the band?" He asked, sounding relaxed.
"Yes, very much, It was so incredible what you did, you really saved our arses" I replied, honestly. He nodded his head.
"I have always been interested in music and these guys are just the best mates anyone could ask for, Blaise is one of my best friends as good as a brother so any chance I could get is a must, plus I got something good out of it tonight." he smirked, watching the flush creep up my neck, which made me flush more.
"Oh and what pray tell are you are getting out of this good sir?" I asked, suddenly not sure of myself or where that came from.
"Come on Granger please don't pretend that there isn't a mutual attraction here. What I can't tell is why you're fighting anything, you're not attached I know that for a fact because Luna and Blaise were very clear about it. You're single and I am. So what's up?"
I couldn't think of a word to say, my heart was racing so hard. Draco flourished his wand and suddenly music starts engulfing the room,
I wait for you to say the words I want to be true
But you don't say anything do you
Let it all come out. Restless heart, lazy mouth.
But you don't say anything do you
"Oh wow I love this song" I remarked. He smiled softly as he rose from his seat and pulled me tight against him, intertwining his fingers in mine as he led our movements to the music. I think my heart stood still.