Chapter Text
Have you found peace with your mistakes?
Breathing on the glass as it breaks
Have you found the words to save her
And keep your heart out of danger?~ Scream It Out, Ellie Goulding
Draco was awake all night. Isodora noticed the bags under his eyes immediately as he almost barrelled into a dumpy wicth on his way in. With thinly veiled haste he swung himself up into a barstool and gestured to get her attention.
"What's up with you?" she asked over her shoulder, moving her wand in front of her to make up her customer's order. "You look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards."
He pursed his lips and ran a hand over his un-gelled hair. In his haste to get to the shop as soon as it opened he had forgotten to do it - he miscalculated the opening times of the Pumpkin Spice and had arrived an hour later than it opened, which further tightened the knot of anxiety in his stomach.
"I'm fine," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. "I wanted to ask you- would you like to go out to lunch today?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Today? I'm working-"
"The world won't end if you close for lunch," Draco pointed out quickly. "You don't ever stop."
"...I guess," she conceded. "I haven't been out in a while." She gave the customer their coffee.
"You'll shut the shop while we're gone, right?" he asked. He worked to keep his voice level as his eyes strayed to the little boy with his father who had just entered. He didn't imagine many people would survive a meeting with a Death-Eater.
She nodded absentmindedly and turned to give the boy a colour-changing lollypop, to the boy's delight and the father's resignment. She shot a smile at the man and took his order of a to-go espresso.
While Isodora was busy with a flurry of customers just before lunch, Draco crept his hand to his wand, carefully analysing each patron as they entered. Would X use polyjuice or a glamour charm, or not bother?
He was so nervy that he almost drew his wand on an old woman as she put a hand on his shoulder. He turned to find Mrs Ormco giving him a stern look.
"You take care of that girl, you hear?" Mrs Ormco said firmly, gripping his shoulder with more force than would be expected of a woman of her age. "She's too good for the likes of you, but if she insists... If you hurt her, there'll be hell to pay."
Draco blinked at her in surprise before nodding. "Don't worry, Mrs Ormco. I'll be brain-dead before I let anyone harm her, including myself."
That seemed to satisfy her. With a final squeeze she let him go. "Good good. Have fun on your lunch date, young man." She turned to leave, then glanced back at him with a wry smile. "Next time, take her out for dinner!"
Draco stared incredulously at her retreating back. There was no time for confusion, though - it was twelve o'clock, and he needed to get everyone out of the shop.
He jumped out of his seat and flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED, then got Isodora's attention. He helped her to serve the last few customers with to-go orders and apologies, then herded everyone to the door.
"You're in a rush," she commented as she undid her apron.
He lifted it from her head and practically threw it on the counter. "We've only got an hour for lunch. Come on!"
Isodora looked askance at him as he almost pulled her down the street. Not that she was complaining; his hand was warm in hers, and she kind of felt flattered that he wanted to spend more time with her.
The December air was crisp around them as they hurried down the street. Draco kept glancing around furtively, and she gave his hand a little squeeze and did the same, realising suddenly that he must be looking out for reporters. It wouldn't do for the paparazzi to find them, so it was understandable why he might be shifty. Right?
He finally found the muggle cafe that he had scoped out earlier - two exits, and no windows so they could be spotted through the glass. He muttered a glamour charm other then as they entered, and Isodora looked around in wonder.
"This is so cute!" She commented, approaching the counter. "Hi! I'll have a hot chocolate, and... um..." she looked at the menu blankly.
"Two cheese toasties," Draco cut in. "Make that two hot chocolates."
Isodora met his eyes and he shrugged. "I've got to limit my caffeine intake," he said. "I'm not sleeping."
They sat down right at the back of the cafe, strategically by the back door and away from the windows.
Isodora warmed her hands on her mug when the drinks came, inhaling the chocolaty aroma.
"They're not as good as yours," Draco started, "but their cheese toasties are incredible."
"You flatter me," she replied with a smile.
They were silent for a few more moments.
"I can't believe it's almost Christmas." Isodora crossed her ankles and leaned forwards. "Are you seeing Teddy during the holidays?"
He nodded. "I hope so. Not on Christmas Day, but I need to find a time to give him his present."
"Are you getting him a crup?"
"I was considering it." He smiled, taking a sip of his drink then making a face as it scalded him. She stifled a laugh.
"I can always come with you if you want one from my father," she offered, trying to keep her tone casual.
He nodded, eyes flirting to the door as the bell chimed: just an old man.
She followed his gaze, but refrained from asking about his fidgeting when the waiter delivered their food.
"You were right about the toasties being good," she said wonderingly, after a few bites. He watched her with amusement as she studied the sandwich intensely, turning it this way and that and peeling apart the bread to look at the melted cheese inside. "I wonder if I could adjust the recipe for the cafe?"
Lunch passed without any sign of any Death-Eaters. Draco was particularly wary as they walked back and opened up the shop - there was no fire in the kitchen, no bomb about to go off (and no one standing in wait in the corners; a quick revelio reassured him of that).
Draco was confused. He stayed there for the rest of the day, just to make sure, and even - to Isodora's bemusement - side-apparated her home, just to be on the safe side. He cast a caterwauling charm to alert everyone if anyone with a dark mark ever crossed her doorway, and made a mental note to disable it if he was ever invited inside. Hopefully, she'd never even know the charm was there.
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