Okay so the deal with this story is that is minorly a songfic. As in, each chapter has a song that goes with it. Now this first song really encompasses the entir story, not just this one chapter. So to start things off the song is Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap. To get teh full affect of the story I suggest you listen to this song. The title of the story comes from this song.

Chapter One: Hide and Seek

There he was, sitting at a table across the tavern, alone. My tavern. He didn't belong here. He wasn't ever one of us. What makes him think that people have forgotten what he did? Who he allied himself with.

He made his way over to the bar and sat down, presumably for another drink. But he said nothing. He just sat there, staring at the wood of the counter in front of him. It looked like he hadn't had a shower or a decent meal in weeks.

"What'd'you want, Malfoy?" a grizzled wizard a few stools down asked with his hand in his pocket. "Come to preach the Dark Ways to the nonbelievers?"

Malfoy didn't even look up; he just took one last swig of his drink and set it on the counter like he hadn't heard the man.

"I asked you a question, Malfoy," the man said as he stood and stumbled over to him. His friends were following him. This didn't look like it would end well for Malfoy.

Malfoy finally looked up. His face was gaunt and paler than it used to be, gray almost, his eyes were horribly bloodshot and the circles under them looked as if they'd been drawn on, they were so dark. "Just let me enjoy my drink then I'll leave," he said as he tilted his glass to indicate that he wanted more.

"And what if we don't?" the grizzled man asked. "What if I don't like that you're here, what if that bothers me, huh?" He had pulled his wand out of the pocket of his cloak.

"Put it away, Eron," I said as I took Malfoy's glass and washed it out in the sink then refilled it with fresh mead.

"Nah, he deserves worse than what I can do to him. He deserves Azkaban, he does," Eron continued as he raised his wand at Malfoy.

"I said to put it away, Eron. You put it away or I'll take it away," I warned as I reached under the counter for my own wand.

"Furnunc--"

"Expeliarmus!" I yelled and Eron's wand flew across the room. "Accio wand." It flew to my hand and I put it under the counter. "Now get out."

"You're making me go, but letting that filth stay?" Eron slurred angrily.

"That filth didn't attack anyone in my tavern, now get out, Eron," I said as I shook my head and picked up Malfoy's glass again and put it in front of him. Eron snorted and stumbled out the door, his friends following close behind.

"Thanks," Malfoy rasped as he looked over the counter at me.

"Nothing personal, I don't like you, but I won't allow brawls in my tavern," I replied without making eye contact.

"Fair enough," Malfoy said with a small smirk as he took a swig of his drink.

"I didn't even know you were still around," I said as I looked him over out of the corner of my eye.

"I've tried to keep under the radar. I'm not big on attracting attention these days," he replied with a quiet snort. "But I figured I'd have to make an appearance sometime."

"I was personally content believing you no longer existed," I muttered with a small smile as I filled some glasses with butterbeer.

"That hurts my feelings, you know?" Malfoy said sarcastically.

"I know. I just don't care," I replied as I picked up the glasses full of butterbeer and took them out to one of the tables, leaving Malfoy with a confused and slightly hurt look on his face. He had been kidding, I hadn't.

"You're letting him stay?" a wrinkled witch asked as I passed her table.

"Yes, Matilda, I am. The court ruled that he was intimidated and threatened into assisting Voldemort --" Matilda hissed "- so as far as I'm concerned he's to be treated just like any other paying customer," I said and then moved back toward the table that'd ordered the butterbeer.

"Really, Isabel? You aren't going to send him away?"

"No, he's got as much right to be here as anyone else; he's a free man," I replied pointedly.

By the time I had fended off all the questions, taken a new round of orders and gotten back to the bar, he was gone. There was money on the counter next to his empty glass but he was nowhere to be seen. I sighed and shook my head as I stuck the money into the pocket of my apron as I cleaned out his glass.

So, let me know what you think so far! Thanks for reading! Everyone who reviews will get the song for the next chapter! Thanks again! Thank the nice people, Draco!

Draco: No.

OKAY! On with reviewing!