Only You (Hiatus)

Six

The next morning, Hermione made her way down to Malone’s Café to meet Síofra. She had already decided to accept the job. She had nothing else lined up, and something about Tír na nÓg felt right. It was a peaceful place.
Walking into Malone’s, Hermione was met with the familiar scent of pastries. She smiled when she noticed a sign reading Fresh this morning from O’Neill’s and glanced out the window at the bakery across the street, smiling again when she saw the name matched.

“Hermione,” came Síofra’s delighted voice. She was sitting in the corner, smiling brightly.
“Morning, Síofra,” Hermione greeted as she joined her.
“I ordered a coffee, but I wasn’t sure what you might want, so I didn’t order on your behalf,” Síofra explained quickly as the barista approached with a coffee and a cinnamon roll.
“Oh, that’s perfect. I wasn’t sure what I wanted either,” Hermione admitted as she settled into her seat.
As the man set down Síofra’s order, he asked politely, “Can I get you anything, miss?”
“Could I get a croissant and a tea, please?” Hermione requested softly, earning a nod as he went to fetch her order.

Once they were settled, Síofra pulled out the contract she had prepared and passed it to Hermione.
“Take a look and tell me what you think,” she said gently. “Take your time. I don’t want to rush you.”
Hermione nodded and began reading.

Everything looked reasonable. A minimum of twenty hours a week at €13 an hour. She wouldn’t be paid for more than three sick days, but there was no limit on sick leave itself. If she was sick, she was sick. She was also entitled to twenty-five days of holiday per year, to be taken between January 1st and December 31st.

She finished reading and smiled. “Síofra, this is a very reasonable contract. I really appreciate it.”
“Oh, stop. It’s nothing special,” Síofra chuckled. “So, what do you think?”
Hermione smiled. “Do you have a pen?”
Síofra laughed and handed one over. Hermione signed the contract and passed it back.
“Well then, welcome to the Tír na nÓg team,” Síofra said warmly as she signed her own name. “I’ll photocopy this and give you your copy when you start. I want to give you time to settle into town, so how about you come in on Monday at ten? We can go over the basics of the job.”
Hermione nodded. “Sounds good.”

They had settled into casual conversation when the café door opened, and Síofra suddenly beamed.
“Oh, I just had an idea. What if we go to Kelly’s tonight? It’s the local pub.”
Hermione nodded, her mouth full of croissant.
“Awesome,” Síofra said before waving at someone behind Hermione. “Hey, Drake, are you playing Kelly’s tonight?”
Hermione tensed at the name but covered it quickly, silently hoping Draco wouldn’t come over.
“Yeah, as usual,” he called back, his tone friendly in a way that surprised her.
“Great! Come here. I want you to meet my newest employee,” Síofra said excitedly.
Hermione swallowed a sigh as she turned, and once again, silver met gold.
“Morning, Granger,” Draco greeted, his face and tone neutral.
“Morning, Malfoy,” she replied just as neutrally.
Síofra looked between them. “You know each other?”
“We went to the same school,” Draco answered as he paid for his coffee.
“That’s fantastic!” Síofra exclaimed, startling them both. “Hermione could be your roommate!”

Hermione choked on her croissant, and Draco nearly dropped his coffee, while Síofra beamed as if she had solved the town’s biggest problem.

“It would be perfect. Hermione is looking for a place, and Drake is looking for a roommate to split bills.”
“No, no,” Hermione managed as she recovered. “I’m seeing somewhere today. I’ll be fine.”
Draco composed himself quickly. “I have to go,” he said before walking out.
Síofra waved after him. “Think about it, Drake!”

Once he was gone, Síofra turned back to Hermione with a smirk. “So why isn’t it the best idea? You already know each other.”
Hermione shifted uncomfortably. “We… didn’t exactly get along.”
She wouldn’t say anything that might tarnish Draco’s new life here. He seemed different, but she couldn’t avoid admitting at least part of the truth.
“How could you not get along?” Síofra scoffed with a laugh. “You’re both so smart and so kind. There’s no way you two were at odds.”
Hermione blinked, staring at her in shock.
Draco. Kind?
“Was it a rivalry over grades?” Síofra continued thoughtfully. “Drake did say he had trouble keeping up with a girl who always had top marks.”
Hermione blushed and nodded. “You could say that.”
Síofra chuckled. “Well, that rivalry is over. You’re not in school anymore, competing for grades. You have different skills and different lives now. You can learn to get along.”
Hermione shifted again and shook her head. “I don’t know, Síofra. I can just check out the place later. I don’t need to room with Malfoy.”
Síofra raised an eyebrow. “You two use last names, huh? Well, in time, I think you’ll both see that I’m right. You’d make a good pair.”

Hermione gulped the rest of her drink and glanced down at the contract she had just signed.
Síofra didn’t seem like the type to let this go.
Which meant that, as much as she hated the idea, Hermione would have to speak to Draco at Kelly’s that night.
Hopefully without being seen.