Chapter Text
The alarm clock buzzed loudly, and Hermione started awake. The luminescent numbers told her it was five o’clock already. Ugh this is too early to be awake. She had finished work last night at nine and managed to get to bed by eleven o’clock. Before she had left her local Starbucks her manager - Casey - had rung and kindly asked her to start early and open the shop in the morning. Being the crippling people pleaser that she is, Hermione agreed to start work at 6 o’clock that morning. She threw the blankets off her and stumbled to the bathroom tripping over crookshanks on the way. The bathroom light was glaringly bright, and it took her eyes at least a minute to adjust. Her reflection looked like a luke-warm corpse and she just sighed. Crooks entered the bathroom and wound his way around her legs. Hermione looked down at him and smiled.
“Today is going to be a long day, isn’t it Crooks?”
He simply mewed in response.
“Do I have time for a quick shower?” Another glance in the mirror told her the answer. “I can’t scare off all the customers with my zombie looking face, can I? Shower it is.”
Hermione turned the shower on to an almost scalding temperature. Whilst waiting for the water to heat up she shooed Crooks out of the bathroom and closed the door. By the time she’d shed her clothes and dumped them into the laundry basket the water was nice and hot. There wasn’t much time for a long luxurious shower and Hermione couldn’t really afford the water bill for that anyway.
She stepped out of the steamy waterfall feeling much more awake and refreshed than before. With the towel wrapped tight around her chest Hermione set about hiding the dark bags under her eyes. It was too early in the morning to dig around in her make up bag, so she reached for her trusty wand instead. She waved her wand in well-practised movements forming light glamour charms to hide the under-eye circles. Although she was a very accomplished witch Hermione didn’t use glamours at work. Using magic at all in the muggle café always felt a bit sketchy. When she applied to work at the coffee shop, she’d been deliberately vague about Hogwarts, using the muggle alibi of it being a boarding school for advanced students. Her manager had no problem believing that Hermione had gone to a school for smart kids judging by the amount of time she spent studying.
With her appearance a bit more inviting Hermione donned her uniform and name badge. She threw the store keys, purse, and phone into her handbag. She had one foot out the door when Crookshanks mewled loudly.
“Oh sorry buddy, did I forget to fill your food bowl?”
She turned back into the dimly lit apartment and snatched a bag of cat biscuits from the kitchen cupboard. Hermione unceremoniously dumped half of the bag back into the bowl. After throwing the bag on the kitchen counter, she turned around and strode for the door again.
“I’ll see you this afternoon Crooks.”
The door closed with a solid thunk. Hermione locked the door and double check it was actually locked before she spun on her heel and rushed for the bus stop. Luckily the bus stop was only a few streets over from the apartment.
She slowed to a stop as she approached the little green bus shelter. Hermione checked her watch and thanked Merlin that she hadn’t missed the bus. It was due to trundle around the corner in three minutes.
Hermione slumped down on the bench. She grabbed her phone and scrolled through one of the many social media apps but she kept an ear out for the bus.
It seemed her luck for the morning had run out because the bus turned out to be fifteen minutes late. When it eventually pulled up to the stop she dashed through the doors and paid the fare. Despite the early hour most seats were taken so she shuffled down the aisle to one of the only free seats.
Hermione glanced at her watch. “Shit,” she mumbled under her breath. “Casey is going to kill me for opening the café late.”
When the bus stop closest to the coffee shop was next and Hermione practically punched the button. The bus screeched to a halt and Hermione sped off.
She rounded the corner and swore again. There was a woman standing by the door of the café with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She had long blonde hair which she flicked over her shoulder and dangerously tall high heels which she was tapping impatiently.
Hermione dug out the store keys out of her handbag and strode to the door. She mumbled an apology as she pushed past the lady. She fumbled with the keys but eventually got the heavy door unlocked. She left the women to let herself in and Hermione grabbed her apron and slid behind the counter. After tying her apron in a tight bow turned to the till and the good morning died on her lips.
How had she not noticed? The snobbish stance and expensive shoes made sense as she surveyed Narcissa Malfoy standing on the other side of the counter.
“What can I get…” Her smile faltered as she looked up into piercing blue eyes, “get started for you?”
“Where’s Casey this morning?”
“She didn’t say. I just got a message last night asking if I could work an opening shift tomorrow.”
“I hope she’s okay.”
Hermione noted it was weird seeing concern and was that… compassion in Mrs Malfoys eyes?
“I’m sure she’ll be back tomorrow. I’m not sure my body can handle another day starting work this early. So, what can I get for you this morning?”
“Are you up for the challenge Miss Granger?” Mrs Malfoy said with a hint of sarcasm to her voice.
“You name it and I’ll make it.”
“You’re paid to say that.”
“Try me.” Hermione’s voice was braver than she felt. “I haven’t had an order I haven’t been able to make yet and I’ve been working here for almost a year.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” Narcissa smirked mischievously and started reciting her coffee order, “I’ll have a mocha caramel latte-chino made with skim milk, no whipped cream. Please put that in a grande cup but use the same amount of coffee that you put into a tall. That way there’s about an inch of extra room on top to stir in my own nutmeg without spilling any coffee at all.”
Hermione took a second to process the almost never-ending order before she flashed a smile at the enigma of a women across the counter. “Coming right up Mrs Malfoy.”
“Actually, its Black now. Surely, you’ve heard about my divorce.”
With her back to the counter Hermione replied, “I’m sorry I had seen it in the daily prophet, but it slipped my mind.”
“No harm done Ms Granger. Old habits die hard. I should know that.”
“It seems you’ve gone a long way to changing those old habits. I mean you’re having a pleasant conversation with me. That would never have happened five years ago.”
“Well, we might have had a conversation, but it definitely wouldn’t have been civil.”
“No most certainly wouldn’t have been.” Hermione started
Neither of them spoke over the loud whirring of the milk steamer. This was definitely the most convoluted order Hermione had ever had in the café although other customers had definitely given her a run for her money.
She grabbed a large cup from the stack and wrote Ms Black neatly across it in black marker. Despite the complexity of the order Hermione found her rhythm and made it with ease. The smell of the caramel was delicious and it made her stomach grumble. It was only then that Hermione realised she hadn’t had breakfast. Hopefully it would be quiet enough later that she’d be able to make something to eat.
Making sure not to fill the grande cup all the way up Hermione added a lid. She met Ms Blacks stare as she plonked the coffee cup on the counter. The wealthy blonde took a sip of her drink and sighed contentedly.
“Well done Ms Granger, it seems you’re even a know it all when it comes to coffee.” She smiled and the comment had no bite to it.
“That will be £5.90 please.”
Ms Black dug in her handbag and pulled out a gorgeous designer wallet. It surprised Hermione when she plucked a plastic bank card out of the wallet and tapped it on the machine. What happened to all the pure blood supremacy?
The payment went through, and Hermione offered a smile as she said, “Have a good day Ms Black.”
Coffee in hand she turned to the door. “You too Ms Granger. I’ll see you around,” she said over her shoulder and disappeared into the now bustling street.