[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

Ginny had just sat down to lunch opposite Percy that Monday when he smiled at her knowingly. "Do I know him?" he asked.

Ginny blinked blankly. "Sorry, what?"

"You're dating, Kim."

She didn't even bother to deny it. "how do you know?"

"Because I've started dating too, and you look and feel exactly like me." Percy politely draped his napkin over his lap and began eating his lunch. "By the way, her name is Patricia Simpson, and she works for the Department of Magical Transport."

Ginny quickly matched the name with the face. It was a girl with long dark brown hair and a heart-shaped face. She was at the same level as George at Hogwarts. "That's great, Percy," she said sincerely. "Does she know what mom wants everyone to have four grandchildren for her?"

Percy just took a sip of pumpkin juice and couldn't help but squirt it onto the table with a smile.Ginny snorted with a smile, and cleaned up with a wave of her wand. "You weren't there when Hermione said that two was enough for her," he said hoarsely. "No, Patricia doesn't know the conditions. She's very ambitious and ambitious. I don't think she wants kids."

Ginny smiled triumphantly, "You know, I've figured out the timing for you to drink."

"Well, I guess so too."

They ate in silence for a while. "I've said everything," said Percy. "Tricia and I went out to dinner Saturday night and made more plans for the weekend. How about you?"

"Uh..." Damn, what is she going to tell him? "Not someone you know," she said, without looking him in the eye. "We ran into each other at the park a few days ago and hit it off right away... that's all I have to say."

"Yeah." Percy narrowed his eyes at her. "So your irritability and restlessness have nothing to do with anything."

"Percy, please," she hissed, her tone sharper than she'd expected.She counted to five, took a deep breath, and continued. "Look, Mum is still berating me for breaking up with Harry - thinking we were made for each other - and she still believes I'm going to wake up one morning and realize I was wrong about him, and then Beg him to get back with me! Harry believes I will, too! If they find out I'm dating someone else—"

"And found out you really liked him," Percy added. "She might disown you."

She sighed. "Yes. You see what I mean?"

"I know, Mom is...difficult sometimes," he said, leaning forward. "I know it's gotten worse since Fred..."—his voice trembled at the mention of the name—"George got withdrawn. You'll just have to wait, Kim. Mom usually knows what's right." We're the best, but at the end of the day, no one knows yourself better than you. If you told me you and Harry shouldn't be together, I'd believe you, not her."

Tears welled up in Ginny's eyes as Percy extemporized.When he had finished, Ginny took his freckled, long-fingered hands and kissed them. "Where have you been all this time, Percy?" she said softly.

Percy blushed embarrassedly. "Probably in my room to report on the bottom of the cauldron," he said, and they both couldn't help giggling.

As soon as they calmed down, Percy became serious again. "I have one more question and I won't bring it up again. Is this just a summer affair, or are you serious about this guy?"

Ginny recalled sitting at that little table with Draco, talking about everything, their heads almost touching, oblivious to the world around them. "I think it's serious," she said softly, looking down at her lunch tray. "very serious."

Percy nodded. "Then I'll do my brother's duty and tell you to have fun, but be careful."

"You're not threatening to send me to a convent?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "I think that's something Ron would do."

"Yes."

Draco had promised to call to confirm their plans for Tuesday, but unfortunately, while her phone was always on, magic was all around her, interfering with his texts.Still, she could tell that ten o'clock was too late for her to meet him in an upscale five-star hotel near Leicester Square.He said she could have a light dinner at a regular time, but not too much.

When Ginny Apparated back to her flat on Tuesday night, she went through the wardrobe, but ended up shopping in Oxford Street. At 09:30, she was ready and still paced the apartment for a few minutes – though she told herself it was just to get used to the new heels she was wearing with the dress.Her curly hair fell over her shoulders, and she wore light makeup.Finally, unable to wait any longer, she grabbed her wand and bag and Apparated away.

When she arrived, the restaurant looked as if it was closing.As the diners left, a waiter went to each table and extinguished the small candles above.A restaurant boy clattered away the plates from the tables and emptied them into a gray trash can, and removed the wilted flowers from each table so they could be replaced with new ones tomorrow.

"You must have come to see Ben?"

Ginny turned from the window to the restaurant door, where the well-dressed proprietress smiled at her. "Yes," said Ginny, "he told me—"

"He asked me to wait for you, and I'll take you to meet him." The proprietress opened the door for her, and Ginny walked in, admiring the magnificent interior, nodding her thanks.It's easy to see why it's been awarded five stars.

The proprietress led her through the empty dining area, past the wine cellar and bathroom, and came to the kitchen.The kitchen staff have just given it a clean slate and all the china and cutlery are back in their respective cupboards.

"Ben's coming right away," said the landlady. "I've got to lock the front door and count the money tonight."

Ginny wasn't confused for long, because Draco came in through the revolving kitchen door shortly after the sound in front died away, carrying several bags of ingredients in his hand. "Ah, here you are," he said, setting things down on the table in the center of the room, and turning to look at her. "Oh hell - did you actually ride the subway in those clothes?"

"Uh—there aren't many people," she lied.

Draco's words made her heart beat wildly. "You look... wonderful, Ginny."

She blushed and thanked him softly before noticing what he was wearing: white double-breasted top, white half apron, baggy green checked trousers, bright orange flip-flops. "You work here." She understood.

"Yes, I'm the sous chef," he said, and began to remove the food from the bag. "I wanted to do it in my flat, but then I found out that John's parents were coming over from Blackburn this week, so I asked the lady who owned the landlady to do me a favor and let me use the kitchen here." After the table, he propped the table with both hands and smiled at her chicly. "I want to cook for you."

"Wow," she exclaimed, laughing. "No one has ever cooked for me."

"Then you will be blessed," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "I noticed you ordered chowder at O'Neill's Bar, so I hope you'll enjoy salmon with maple and mustard."

Ginny sighed. "Sounds delicious."

Draco started right away, opening two salmon fillets first.He talked to her as he walked freely around the kitchen. "How did you become a sous chef?" she asked.

"By my own efforts," he said, cutting a garlic clove into small pieces. "I've known since I was maybe 20 that I like to cook—I just like to add things together and get something else. I know that's an easy way to put it, but…" He shrugged.

Ginny just shook her head in surprise - because at Hogwarts, Draco's best subject was Potions. "Have you been to culinary school?"

"Can't afford it. Someone close to me suggested I get out and get some hands-on experience, so I went to Italy and France, learned about food and specialties, and worked with some of the best chefs in Paris and Florence..."

That's why someone saw him there.He hadn't done anything bad, and he wasn't running from the Ministry of Magic - he was learning to cook.

"When I first came back to London, I was an assembly line cook," Draco continued. “Then I impressed the head chef with my foie gras and he made me sous chef. I was second only to the head chef. I came up with daily specials and went to the market to buy fresh meat And fish, increase the speed of serving food." He stopped and motioned her with his head, and Ginny walked towards him from the table in the middle of the room. "Try this," he said, offering her the sauce he made with the salmon. "Is it tasty?"

Ginny tasted the golden sauce carefully in a spoon. "Great," she said. "Where did this recipe come from?"

"Paris. I like it because it's relatively easy to make, but it tastes like something you'd get in a restaurant for thirty quid. John told me he could live off of it," added Draco, laughing .

When the sauce was ready and the salmon had been simmering in the pot for a few minutes, Draco transferred the fillets to a plate and poured the rest of the sauce over them.

Draco poured them both wine, then raised his glass. "cheers?"

"For what?" Ginny also raised her glass.

"For us — if that doesn't sound too cheesy," he added with a laugh.

Ginny laughed too. "Not tacky at all," she said, clinking glasses with him.

They were silent for a while, and Ginny couldn't believe how good the salmon was. “I hope to open my own restaurant one day,” he confided to her. "I have to wait a while, save money, and find someone I trust to work with."

"Instead of someone whose talent you respect?"

Draco grimaced and drank what was left in his glass. "I have trouble trusting people," he whispered. "I'm self-reliant and I like it."

Merlin, Ginny thought, the Slytherin traits in him are showing. "Ah." She said softly. "Only Child Syndrome?"

He showed a troubled expression and put down his glass. "Then..." He forced a smile at her. "I didn't mean to turn you away, but—that's not what a second date should be about."

Ginny changed her mind immediately, her hands shaking as she wondered what the hell he was hiding. "Sorry, I--"

"No, it's okay, you don't know." He ate the last piece of salmon. "But I'd like to tell you. Someday it will."

"I'll be your loyal listener then," Ginny promised.Impulsively, she took his hand across the table.He gripped her fingers tightly, as if to make sure she wouldn't withdraw her hand.

They quietly washed the dishes and put them back where they belonged, not knowing how to continue their banter.Draco gathered the ingredients, placed them on the middle table, and walked Ginny to the front of the restaurant.As night fell in London, patrons of pubs, cinemas and theaters headed home.In a moment of silence, Ginny heard the bell tower chiming the time in the distance.

"Dinner... I've run out of adjectives," she laughs.

"I'm glad you like it," he said softly. "I love cooking for you."

"I like it when you cook for me." This time, Ginny took the initiative, gently tugging at the collar of his chef's coat, making him bend down so she could kiss him.He kissed her lips lightly, wrapping his fingers around her hair, without urging her, Ginny opened her mouth on her own initiative, acquiescing to him to deepen the kiss.

When they parted again, Draco looked her in the eyes, and she felt almost out of breath. "Call me when you get back to the apartment," he said softly. "I want to make sure you get home safely."

Ginny nodded. "Good night," she whispered, smiling at him.He kissed the back of her hand and sent her off home.