Winnie - D.M

Chapter 3 - Just the two of us

The next morning, I woke up early, the memory of yesterday's meeting with Pansy still swirling in my mind. The idea of Draco being back in town was unsettling, and the thought of him possibly showing up at the cafe made me uneasy. I needed to distract myself—and what better way to do that than by diving into work?

After dropping Winnie off at school, I headed straight to the cafe, determined to pour all my energy into making Amorentia even better. I wanted every corner to look perfect, every table arranged just right, every display brimming with inviting treats. I couldn't control my past, but I could make sure my present looked flawless.

"Maya, can you help me redo the front display?" I asked as I walked in. Maya looked at me with a hint of concern.

"Of course, Serena. But are you okay? You seem a bit... intense today."

I forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just want to make sure everything is perfect, you know?"

As we rearranged the pastries and decorated the shelves with fresh flowers, I decided to take some pictures. Maybe a little extra buzz on social media would help keep my mind off things. I pulled out my phone, snapping a few shots of our colorful pastry display and the cozy seating by the window.

"New day, new treats! Stop by for a little escape and some of the best coffee in town," I typed, posting the photos to the cafe's Instagram. The response was immediate—likes and comments trickling in as regulars and locals noticed. Encouraged, I kept going, posting shots of our freshly brewed lattes, our signature floral tableware, even a quick video of Maya and Thomas working behind the counter.

After an hour of capturing every angle of the cafe, I decided to post a personal note. Just a small one, something a little more heartfelt.

"Thank you to everyone who supports Amorentia—it's been a labor of love, and I'm so grateful to each of you who make it a part of your day. Can't wait to share more with you all soon! #SmallBusinessLove #LocalCafe"

I hit "post" before I could second-guess myself. A few seconds later, the likes and comments began to flow in again. Encouraging messages, hearts, tags from people sharing memories here—it felt good, really good. For a moment, it even made the heaviness in my chest feel lighter. This cafe was my home, my sanctuary, the life I'd built for Winnie and me, and right now, that was enough.

The door chimed, and I looked up to see Hermione and Winnie walking in. Winnie's face lit up when she saw me, and I immediately crossed the cafe to scoop her up.

"Hi, Mama!" she giggled, throwing her little arms around my neck.

"Hello, my love," I whispered, kissing her cheek. I gave Hermione a grateful smile as we all moved to a cozy corner of the cafe, away from the lunchtime crowd.

"Thought we'd stop by for a treat," Hermione said, glancing at me with that knowing look she wore when she sensed something was off. "And maybe for a chat?"

I sighed, sitting down as Winnie climbed onto my lap, already nibbling on a cookie Hermione had brought over from the counter.

"I'm fine, Hermione," I said, giving her a small smile. "Just... busy, you know? The cafe, all this excitement with the band coming to town. Trying to keep things running smoothly."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "And all these posts about the cafe, sharing every detail... Serena, are you sure you're not spiraling a little?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide the small laugh. "Maybe a little," I admitted. "It's just... seeing Pansy was one thing. But knowing Draco's back too—it feels like the past is right here again. And I don't know if I'm ready for him to see... well, for him to know about Winnie."