like music on a roller-piano... - dramione

Chapter 2

I remember arriving home after work, the first time I saw Draco at Tea Leaves. I remember not being able to read any poems because I was so distracted, I remember smiling like an idiot thinking about his eyes. I still smile when I think about his eyes. The next morning I arrived at Tea Leaves spot on 8am, the same time as before and frankly the same time as always. When I went to the counter to order my drink I could hear someone arrive behind me, I knew who it was and so again I stepped to the side allowing him to order. This time I didn’t stare ahead though, I turned to smile at him. He smiled briefly at him then turned to the cashier, “Hi, Cappuccino please and we,” he paused gesturing at me, “will be sitting together.”

After we both had our change and number (this time number 43) we walked to the same, small table as before. “Hi Hermione, how are you?” he asked kindly.

I paused unsure of how open to be, in truth I was trying to organise a way for the ministry to provide safe employment for werewolves and some wealthy bigots were becoming a large problem. However I didn’t want to be annoying and so I just said, “I’m okay Draco, just some trouble at work nothing major, how are you?”

“What kind of trouble?” he asked ignoring my question.

“Have you heard about werewolf employment? I’ve been trying to find a way to provide safe employment but it’s been hard,” I said carefully, not disclosing why it was difficult.

I saw his eyes flash with something strong before he replied. “I have actually heard all about that one of my business partners mentioned it at a lunch a couple days ago, I like what you are trying to do.”

I involuntarily smiled, “Thankyou Draco, what did your partner say?”

“Oh he seemed under the impression that werewolves were vicious all the time and couldn’t work, I reminded him that a werewolf worked to take down Voldemort and his son is my cousin.”

I was rendered speechless by his statement said so casually. He really had moved past his prejudice. “Why are you shocked every time I agree with you or say something normal?” he asked, he looked wounded.

I was hit with how wrong I was about him, and how I was being in my own way prejudiced towards him. “I’m sorry Draco, I won’t let our past get in the way.”

“Oh it’s okay, you mustn’t disregard everything I’m still Slytherin, ambitious, cunning and if I don’t say so myself, smart,” he said with a smirk but I could see relief in his eyes.

The rest of our time in Tea Leaves was spent talking about my efforts at work. Draco told me he backed me completely and would join me if I wanted at meetings and such as his name and reputation was influential. I didn’t let it shock me.

Three days later on Friday we met at Tea Leaves again, it was becoming habit and I looked forward to talking with someone who seemed interested in what I thought and who also had interesting ideas. This time he asked about my ideas outside of work with protests and such. “Have you been to one of the protests for centaur representation?” he asked.

I was so used to his compassion and ideas that I didn’t even think it was strange. “I haven’t yet, I want to but none of my friends are really into that kind of thing and it’s not safe to protest alone. Isn’t there one being held in the ministry on the ground floor next Friday?”

“There is and I was thinking of going, do you want to join me?” he asked with a flare in his voice.

And that is how I found myself a week later standing next to Draco outside the ministry. He put a tracking charm on both of us so if we got pulled apart we could find each other. I had small signs packed in my bag which I could enlarge once we were ready. The protest lasted 10 hours and was hard work emotionally and physically. We had people sneering at us and some flat out insulting our cause but it was a success, the media immediately jumped on me and Draco protesting. A department member protesting against her own department and other departments with someone as influential as Draco really helped shape the public opinion. We spent the night at the Manor (in separate bedrooms), both exhausted.

That weekend and the week after we both received many requests to have interviews (sometimes together) and radio shows. Within a month policy had changed to allow centaurs to properly represent themselves how they wished. When I arrived at the ministry on a Monday morning straight from seeing Draco word came out about the success and I immediately apparated to his office. I walked into the building and his assistant (a kind woman with straight red hair) walked me to his office without questioning my unexpected arrival, maybe she saw my determined and excited expression. “Draco, you have someone here to see you.”

“Okay, thanks Cindy let them in,” came his voice from the other side of the door.

As I walked in I looked around the room. I had expected a large and lavish office but instead I saw a small office, well-furnished but not anything spectacular. “Hermione, nice to see you again,” he said walked out from behind his desk towards me.

“Draco, I know I only just saw you but guess what I just found out!” I exclaimed unable to keep my emotions contained.

“What is it?” he asked a small smile on his face.

“They are changing the policy for the centaur representation! We did it Draco, we helped change it!” I smiled with proud tears in my eyes.

What happened next changed us. He took another two steps towards me until he was right in front of me. “You are so beautiful when you are passionate,” he said softly with a huge smile on his face.

We both looked into each other’s eyes mine slightly wide and his grey and deep, then I kissed him. I kissed him because I was so proud of us, but I also kissed him because of how he looked when I told him the news and how he looked every time he was passionate about something. My eyes fluttered shut as he kissed me back. We pulled apart quickly but his arms were around my back and my hands were on his shoulders. His eyes held so much emotion, the passion that was usually directed at my ideas, or his ideas or poetry was now directed at me.

“You’re beautiful to Draco, really more than you know.”

“Oh I know Hermione, but thank you,” he joked with a smirk, but as usual his eyes told me he was surprised by what I said.

I pressed my lips softly against his cheek once before saying a blushing goodbye and leaving his office feeling like an excited school girl. That was the start of something, I didn’t know it then but it was the start of my feelings for Draco which would sustain our relationship against years’ seepage, rains intolerance.

important authors note: okay so this chapter included protests and i just want to make it very clear that i am not trying to romanticise injustice or protests or violence. The protest is not there to make a scene for them to fall in love or any of that shite. It is there so more about Draco's character can be learnt, we can see from him participating that he is truly changed and an activist. We can see from him bringing it up also that he is involved not because of Hermione's influence but just because that's who he is. I have tried to make it clear that I'm not trying to romanticise it by having them sleep in seperate rooms and the end of the chapter being about their passion and how they are interested in the same things (and each other). I hope you can understand and if you think there is any way to make it clearer I would appreciate it. Thank-you so much for reading xxx