Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters they are property of JK Rowling.
A/N: This should be the second last chapter, but maybe I could add one more. However, I want to thank all of you who had followed my story so far, hoping to have given you a good time reading. Thanks to Cheryl, my great wonderful beta, who helped me a lot!
Chapter Eleven
"The Two Chefs"
That evening the "Garage" was at capacity. By now, all of Britain was speaking about the restaurant, and almost everyone in London had been there at least one time.
The now famous restaurant had attracted the attention of both foreign and domestic tourist becoming a "must eat" stop for most visitors to the London area.
Hermione had been working non-stop, cooking fish, pastas, salads, vegetables in the variety of ways Mediterranean cuisine offered. She was knackered, but tonight differed from other evenings; she had a happy thought keeping her going. She was meeting Harry just after closing time.
Ginny and Lavender were very tired too, as were the boys, but seeing Hermione finally emanating happiness gave them the energy to go on. They knew how hard she had had to work to reach the fame she was achieving, and now, if she could add happiness in her love life too, they would be very happy for their friend.
Finally, half past midnight arrived. The last client paid his bill and then Fred locked the restaurant's main door. They could relax now. They were chatting happily, drinking together, when a knock was heard.
Hermione smiled and went to open the door herself. Ginny and Lavender quickly led the others into the kitchen, leaving the two lovebirds alone.
When Hermione finished unlocking the heavy door, and opened it, the biggest bouquet of red roses she had ever seen greeted her.
"Harry! You didn't have to do that!" she said, welcoming him. Actually, she was very happy seeing that he had had that thought for her.
"I know, but I wanted to, sweetheart," he replied. Hermione led Harry to the same table they had occupied earlier. Hermione placed the flowers in a vase. When she turned to face Harry she rewarded his lips on hers. She eagerly kissed him back and then after some minutes they parted breathless. The pair regained their breath admiring each other lovingly. Harry took one of Hermione's hands in his. After some moments she started the conversation.
"So, you were telling something about the `Garden' earlier," she said to break the silence. She didn't know why but she was slightly nervous.
"Yes... but it's late. You must be tired." he replied not sure if he really wanted to discuss that now. He noticed she looked quite worn out.
"Well, actually I am, but I'll listen. I promise I won't fall asleep on the table," she joked. That did the trick. The slight awkwardness flew away with their laughter.
"Okay, just don't say I didn't warn you." he replied now more confident. "Let's start from the moment I broke up with Cho. You remember the first time we made love?" he asked. She nodded.
"Well, few days later she was pressuring me to help her start planning the wedding. I told her clearly that I was in love with another woman…with you. Well, I didn't tell her your name." he explained.
"Few days later when you and I went out for a walk and then I kissed you. Well, Cho saw us. Draco, my manager, told me she saw us and that she now accepted that what I told her was the truth. He told me that she had decided to give up on me and return to Switzerland," he continued.
Hermione was listening intently. This news had somewhat revived her. Actually her tiredness had slipped away the moment she saw him on the threshold.
"Her father, my financial partner, didn't take the break-up very well. Plus, your restaurant had boomed while the "Garden" was losing customers. I was very frustrated. One night an elderly couple dining at the restaurant asked if they could take my picture. I was happy to oblige until the woman made a comment about tuna. I lost it, I blew up and insulted them." Harry trailed off. Hermione desperately tried to restrain the laughter flashing back to the night she wrote tuna on his buttocks. Harry couldn't help but laugh with her.
"You can laugh now, but I was really angry in that moment. Then there was our huge fight. I was a mess and wanted to prove to you that only a man can be a really great Chef. I ordered Draco to help me destroy you…I wanted to break you professionally starting with buying up all the best supplies regardless of price. My intention was to leave you with only sub-standard choices. Chang overheard and put a stop to that notion."
Hermione smiled again not because of the story but for the fact he was there with her.
"You think this is funny, don't you? Well, wait until you hear the rest then." he said smiling too. Harry didn't really care about the fate of the "Garden" anymore and it was all because of the amazing young woman sitting before him now back in life.
"Then there was the award ceremony. Chang was furious about the fact you, a woman, had beaten me thus ruining my image. He was concerned about his product sales diminishing. I told him I didn't care about his bloody frozen food and that I cared only about the restaurant. Chang was very put out."
"I can imagine," Hermione said giggling.
"Chang decided to cut our food supply budget. When he was finally finished with his cut-backs we were forced to re-use the previous day's ingredients which severely effected the quality of our dishes." Harry continued.
"Eww! That is horrible!" Hermione commented wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"I agree. So I gave him an ultimatum. He could restore our budget or he could find himself another chef. I was silently hoping he would do what he did."
"And what was that?" Hermione asked.
"He laughed at me. Then he asked me `what would you do?' So, I took the promos contracts and tore them up then walked away from my job." Harry finished smiling. Hermione was speechless.
"So, are you without a restaurant now?" she asked after some moments when an idea popped into her mind that she liked a lot.
"Yes, I am. As all the important restaurants in Europe already have competent chefs, I expect I'll be unemployed for a while. Don't worry I have money saved I can survive without a restaurant." he replied. "Only I can't live without you, Hermione." he concluded softly brushing his lips on hers. After few moments Hermione spoke again.
"Harry…would you like to work here with me?" she asked tentatively her eyes full of hope.
"I can't. This is your restaurant; you built this place to where it is now. I won't take that away from you, I can't, my arrival might over shadow all your hard work." Harry sighed. Hermione and her partners deserved all the praise and accolades they received and he wouldn't risk his presence tainting that success.
"Okay, but I really do need a skilled sous-chef. I need help I just can't handle the volume on my own." she replied with a slight smirk and a pleading tone. Perhaps Harry could change his opinion of women chefs.
Harry gazed into those cinnamon eyes and melted. He took her hand in his. "Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded confidently.
"Sous-chef?" Harry smiled he was definitely going to have to change his way of thinking then responded, "Okay, if you're positive. I'll do it…for you I'd do just about anything." Hermione threw herself into Harry's arms at his response and soon their lips met in a joyful caress.
In that moment, Ginny and Ron arrived with some candles and two plates filled with food. "Sorry to interrupt, but your dinner is ready." Ron said, smiling at the snogging couple.
"Ron, did you not listen to Chef Dumbledore? People don't like to be interrupted." Ginny scolded playfully hitting him on the arm. Ron scowled at his young sister while she giggled. She was so happy for the couple.
"Guys, you didn't have to cook for us! You were all knackered!" Hermione said.
"We know, but we wanted to. A celebration was in order." Lavender said as she approached the table carrying one of their best bottles of wine from the cellar. Soon, Harry and Hermione were left on their own to enjoy their romantic candle lit dinner.
When they finished eating Harry's mobile rang. "I wonder who would be calling at this hour?" he queried clearly agitated by the interruption. On the other end of the line was Draco.
"Draco, mate, sorry for having drag you down in this mess with me." Harry apologised.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure this worked out well for both of us. Listen, I have something to tell you. Will you meet me at the airport, International departures wing?"
"Can I bring Hermione too?" Harry asked regarding the woman who stole his heart.
"Of course. Can you be there in an hour, mate?" Draco said.
"I'll be there. See you then, Draco" Harry replied as he closed his phone.
"Hermione, will you go to the airport with me, now? Draco seems to have something big to tell me," he asked hoping she would agree.
"Okay, let's go." she replied as she headed to the kitchen to retrieve her purse.
One hour later Harry and Hermione found themselves standing in the International Departures Wing of Heathrow Airport. They were searching for Draco. Finally, Harry spotted him. Draco wasn't alone. Someone was with him…a woman. She looked familiar…it was Cho.
When Hermione and Harry reached them Harry shouted out, "Draco! Cho, what are you doing here?" as he hugged both of them.
"We are leaving for Geneva." Cho replied taking Draco's hand.
"Together?" Harry asked amused.
"Yes, Harry. This is the big thing I wanted to tell you. Cho and I are together." Draco said gazing at Cho lovingly.
"We wanted to tell you personally before we left. I reckon this is the woman you told me about?" said Cho smiling politely at Hermione as she extended her hand in a friendly gesture.
"Yes, yes she is…Hermione Granger this is Cho Chang," Harry introduced as Hermione took Cho's offered hand. Harry continued turning to Draco, "I'm really glad you two found each other, by the way Hermione and I are back together too. She has invited me to work with her at the `Garage.'" taking Hermione by the hand to kiss the back of it.
Draco dragged Harry away leaving Cho and Hermione to chat. "She really is beautiful, mate. I hope you've finally found happiness with her," he whispered.
"I have Draco. I wish the same for you and Cho. You know we were never right for each other, but with you…I've never seen her look happier." replied Harry as they shook hands. Soon the flight to Geneva was called for boarding. With a wave to Harry and Hermione the couple made their way to the gate to start their new life together.