What If...

Chapter 1

Draco Malfoy stretched out his long legs and shifted uncomfortably on the wooden bench he was sitting on. He had not been excited about taking this assignment. Some lowlife thug was supposedly selling Death Eater memorabilia, some of which was potentially dangerous, from his basement apartment. Draco was stuck with the morning shift of the stakeout. The suspect lived in a crowded Muggle neighborhood. Restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores all bustling with activity as well as several apartment buildings. Draco had staked out a spot in the park across the street from the target's home. It was close to eight in the morning and the coffee shop next to the apartment building was doing an active business.

As much as he hadn't wanted to take this assignment, he knew that it was the right step in his career as an Auror. He was heading up the team. He had handpicked the other Aurors working with him and if the case was concluded successfully, he was looking at a big promotion. Not bad for someone who had only been out of the academy for two years. Not even twenty-five and the opportunity to be a unit leader had presented itself. Much to his surprise, he had really taken to his chosen career. His time as an Order spy had given him more experience than most Aurors had and Draco had used it to his advantage. He shifted once more on the bench, peering down the street but not standing. He had cast a charm which would make him temporarily invisible to others which was good since he had taken to watching someone else besides his target.

He had first noticed her two days ago. She wasn't very tall, maybe just average height for a woman but she had a spectacular head of curly brown hair. Draco had always been a sucker for curls, probably because he had been forced to wear his own hair slicked back to perfection his entire life. Every morning she entered the coffee shop at the same time and stayed for approximately twenty minutes. He could see her order her drink and what looked to be a scone and then sit at the counter against the front window, affording him a front row seat of her eating her breakfast. She never just sat there, she always had something in front of her to read whether it was a book or a newspaper or a stack of papers she would withdraw from the large leather bag she carried. Then, just like clockwork, she would get up and leave, heading in the direction she had come from. Today, however, was different.

Draco had looked down at his watch and realized that she was late. Almost as if he had wished her to appear, she came rushing down the block, curls flying behind her. She was wearing a skirt today and Draco smiled as it kicked up a little bit in the back with her fierce movement. She actually looked quite lovely. It was a beautiful spring morning, the weatherman promising a warm day ahead. Draco loved the spring, not only for its warmth and promise of summer to come but because it meant a change in the wardrobes of all the lovely young ladies in the city. Scratchy sweaters and thick woolen pants were put away to be replaced with thin cotton t-shirts and skirts that showed just the right amount of leg.

He wondered why she was late. He started speculating on all the different scenarios: her alarm clock didn't go off or her boyfriend had been in a randy mood and wanted a quick shag. For some reason he was bothered by the thought that she could have a boyfriend. He dismissed the feeling and watched through the window as she hurriedly bought her coffee and rushed back through the door, almost colliding with another customer. Some of her coffee splashed out of the cup and onto the white blouse she was wearing. Even from his distance, Ron could make out the choice swear words that had escaped her lips. She walked away from the front of the shop, backing up until she was in the small alleyway between buildings. That's when he saw it: a wand.

Draco almost jumped up as he watched her use the wand to siphon off the coffee, probably saying a quick charm to rid her blouse of the stain as well. As she did it, her eyes kept searching around her, making sure that no one had seen her. The Muggles on the street, however, were too intent on making their way to work. She smoothed down her shirt, a satisfied smile on her face, before stepping out of the alleyway and onto the street, continuing towards her destination.