A Perfect Day to Elope

CHAPTER TWO

September 19, 2003

"Now really Kyle, if I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE GRILL ON! IT'S DANGEROUS! WE COULD ALL DIE!" Ginny Weasley was not in a good mood, made even worse by the white-blonde man who had chosen that exact moment to enter her innocent little deli.

Draco Malfoy was followed by Hermione, who was holding his hand as she made her way to the back of the restaurant and, ugh, towards Ginny.

Ginny briefly registered that Hermione was wearing the sweater she'd made her, before sinking into her chair like she always did when she saw Hermione's hand entwined in his. Ginny didn't like seeing Hermione much anyway- it made her think of Ron, which made her think of Ron and Hermione, which always made Ron sad, and so thus made Ginny herself a bit edgy.

For some reason they were smiling. Well, he wasn't smiling, he really never did, honestly; but she was smiling, she was smiling and dragging him towards the blinking sign that read "Order Here."

"Hey, Gin!" Hermione said waving her free hand.

"'Lo, Hermione." Ginny forced a smile and pulled herself up on the bar stool she had positioned herself on beneath the menu that kept shouting recommendations at the customers that were waiting for their orders to be filled.

"You're doing well." Hermione nodded at the packed tables.

"We do alright, how's the store?"

"Its... good," she lied.

Draco snorted.

"That's nice," Ginny sighed, "So what'll it be?" She balanced her Calcul-o-matic Quick Quill on its tip and it began vibrating excitedly.

"Oh, I don't know...("Try the tater tots!" the menu shouted) what do you want, Draco?" Ginny flinched involuntarily, ew, she was calling him by his first name.

"I don't like sandwiches but... er..." He let his eyes rove over the menu. "How's the beef?"

"Divine! Like the nectar of the gods!" the menu shouted.

"She wouldn't be a very good business woman if she said it was bad, now would she?" Hermione poked him playfully between his shoulder blades.

"Fine then, I'll have the beef, no tomato, and one espresso, no foam," he drawled, leaning back so he could see into the kitchen, which- Ginny was pleased to see- was spotless.

"And you 'Mione?" Ginny turned to Hermione, who was eye-balling the menu.

"How about a salad? Yes, I'll have the Mediterranean salad, light on the dressing with extra noodles," she announced, talking more to the menu than to Ginny.

"And to drink?"

"Nothing, I'll have some of his coffee," Hermione replied, entwining her thin fingers tighter into his. Ginny waited until their backs were turned to roll her eyes-

"Hey Kyle! One vampire special, no blood, a midnight mass, sans moon glow, and an East End salad, light on the slime, extra crunch," she shouted to the kitchen, where she could hear the grill simmering again.

"Restaurant code." She smirked at the confused look on his face.

"So, Gin, how's the family?"

"They're okay. Fred and George just opened another store- but of course you'd know they're successful."

"Yeah."

"Mum is only too pleased with 'em now, though- but you know what she was like when they dropped out."

"Yes."

"Ron's doing fine, he's got that job with the Cannons now."

"I heard, how's he like it there?"

"He likes it alright. But of course, he'd rather be playing."

"Of course."

"But he makes a good manager anyway. Being so stingy and all."

"Yeah, he would." Hermione laughed.

"He misses school, I think- now with Harry so far away, and you..." Her eyes flicked automatically to Hermione's hand, which was still intertwined in his. "He misses... things, I think,".

"Don't we all miss... things," he interrupted, sarcasm dripping from his pale lips.

"Oh shut up, we all know you've never missed anyone, you heartless git!" Hermione teased, it all made Ginny feel a bit, ill...

"Oh, but what a charming git," he replied, and Ginny ran into the kitchen, she didn't think she could maintain her well practiced cool if they started snogging.

"Kyle," she whined, "are those sandwiches nearly done? The dynamic duo is being especially dynamic."

"That bad, huh?" Kyle was a lanky man with a boyish face and curly blonde hair that did nothing to take away from the boyish look.

"Yes, ohmygod, you'd think after practically abandoning my BROTHER at the altar she'd be, I don't know, more DISCREET about dating someone else, and I mean a MALFOY, honestly."

"She didn't really leave him at the altar, though..."

"Well, no, do you think I'd be even ATTEMPTING to be civil if she HAD?"

"No, of course not."

"No, but still, don't you think that when you're ENGAGED to someone you should maybe, I don't know, TELL THEM you're not so keen on them anymore... don't go run away with their rival. I mean GOD, that TART. No, no, that's not fair of me, I know. But really Kyle, don't you think, I mean..."

"You've been spending too much time with Harry Potter, you're talking all... capslocky."

"Who cares... Capslocky, Kyle?"

"Nevermind. Don't look at me like that, I get it... oh, sandwiches are done..."

"Right..." Ginny took the brown paper bag from Kyle and trudged back into the deli, where Hermione and him were leaning against the counter, far closer than Ginny would've liked them to be.

She thrust the bag between them. "Bon Appetit!" She smiled in what she hoped was a friendly way, but which she knew was more of a grimace.

"That'll be, twelve sickles and a knut." She watched as he counted out the change and then lead Hermione out of the store with his hand on the small of her back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Agh! I ask for no tomato and they still give me tomato...you know, it looks like they gave me extra tomato." Draco stared in disgust at his sandwich, which was, in fact, dripping with suspiciously tomato-looking juices.

They had made their way through the busy streets of Diagon Alley into a nearly-deserted park that was filled with wilting gardens and a weak set of weather worn instruments that were attempting to play as a quartet. Hermione had settled herself on a warped wooden bench and Draco had reluctantly settled himself beside her- looking longingly over at a little café that skirted the drying green lawn.

"Here." She offered, taking the sandwich and scooping the tomatoes off the top, "I'll take these..." She dropped them onto her salad. "...and you will give me your espresso."

"No. And here I thought you were being nice," he hooted. "You can have my espresso..." He waved the Styrofoam cup under her nose. "...if I can have your salad."

"Mmm... no." She shook her head.

"You can have this nasty disgusting sandwich." He made a grab for her salad but she pulled it back.

"Nope." She laughed.

"Oh come on Granger, a lovely, appetizing, highly inedible sandwich and a cup of superb coffee for your mealy salad." He took a sip from the cup. "Mmm..." He coughed "Delightful."

"No."

"But I have-"

"No."

"But you-"

"No."

"But I'm just so charming!" He pouted, bringing his face much too close to hers than could possibly be allowed in public parks- however empty they may be.

"Nope." She laughed, lifting her fork and dramatically downing a mouthful of salad and noodles. "Yum..."

"That was highly insensitive."

"Was it now?" she took another large scoop of her Mediterranean salad.

"Yes, actually, and now, if you don't mind..." She made to block her salad, but rather than making another swipe at it he pressed his lips to hers.

"Mmm... good salad..." he murmured against her lips, his tongue darting out and tasting the tangy dressing mixed with her own intoxicating flavor.

"Fine, seeing as you've given such a convincing argument." She pulled away and with a wave of her wand produced a second fork in the air above his shoulder. "We'll share."

"If you insist." He sighed dramatically and accepted the fork.

All and all the proposal was less romantic than maybe she, or even he, would have liked it.

They were just finishing the salad in a manner that involved a lot of arm bending and finger intertwining.

"That is a good salad" she whispered, picking the last bit of lettuce from the bottom of the bowl and bringing it close to his lips, then raising her eyebrows and popping it into her own mouth. He snaked one irresistibly smooth arm around her neck and pulled her to him; so close they could be snogging; close enough so that she could feel his breath on her face and smell that intoxicatingly overwhelming balm that she associated with spontaneous midnight bonfires by the ocean, symphony orchestra halls, deserted Hogwarts classrooms, and him.

"Tease..." he murmured against her lips, letting his hands wrap around her thick brown hair as she pulled him into a deeper kiss.

"Hell Draco, you taste good," she whispered as he nibbled on her bottom lip, sending another wave of fresh sensations up and down her spine.

"Marry me..." he murmured against her lips.

"What was that?" She placed her hands on his forearms as he drew away ever so slightly and let his hands fall to her shoulders.

"Marry me?" He was looking deep into her eyes, deep brown as they were and wide with surprise.

"Really?" she whispered, her voice was hoarse and she didn't think it'd hold out much longer.

"Yes really you dunce." He laughed nervously, the moment having passed.

"Well, I... er... I... that's... wow! I mean...I don't know what to say to that..." she stammered, tangling and untangling her fingers with his, she knew she ought to say yes but the words just wouldn't form on her lips.

"Say yes then..." he whispered, his lips inches away from a kiss, if only she'd say yes...

"I... well then... of-" but Hermione did not finish her incoherent answer because at that moment there was a loud, echoing pop, and she screamed and fell backwards off the bench.

He was up quicker than lightning, his wand at ready-

"Oh, look! I look so stupid! Put down your wand you sexy beast!" said a man's voice in the darkness, followed by a bossy female one.

"Oh bloody hell, it is us isn't it? Dammit Draco! Do you have any idea how many laws we're breaking right now?"