A/N: It's been a while since I've written anything but I seem to have been bitten by the inspiration bug. Hopefully I can keep the juices flowing long enough to finish this piece.
As usual I have only borrowed from the Great and Powerful JKR, nothing is mine and unfortunately no money will be made from writing this!
It is unbetaed so I apologize for any errors. Enjoy :)
Prologue:
It was a few months after the Battle of Hogwarts that Hermione Granger, war heroine, third member of the Golden Trio disappeared. Theories swirled. Rita Skeeter in particular had a field day. Search parties were put together, the Order spearheading the charge. Spells were used, Harry even brought in muggle detectives and private investigators, going so far as to file a missing persons report- but, seeing as her parents had been obliviated, there seemed to be no record of a Hermione Jean Granger at all and the muggles were unable to help.
WAR HEROINE VANISHES WITHOUT A TRACE
ORDER SUSPECTS HOMICIDAL DEATH EATERS IN MISSING GRANGER CASE
SPELLS NO USE IN MISSING WAR HEROINE SEARCH
WILL THE MYSTERY OF GRANGER'S DISAPPEARANCE EVER BE SOLVED?
MUGGLES HIRED IN HOPES OF FINDING WARE HEROINE
2 YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE OF HOGWARTS AND GRANGER IS FINALLY DECLARED MIA
Five years after the Battle of Hogwarts:
It was a dark and gloomy English morning, as Draco cut through the muggles crowding the sidewalk. He wove in between them artfully, steering his umbrella clear of heads whilst managing to keep himself dry. He was in search of a decent tea shop in this quaint, Northern English town, and no muggle was going to get in the way of that.
Draco's shoes were beginning to dampen from the rain and he muttered a quick drying spell under his breath before spotting what looked like a decent café across the street. He dodged the pedestrian traffic and checked to make sure no muggle death contraptions were heading his way before crossing the street.
He pulled the door open with a chime from the bell above and shook out his umbrella before stepping inside- the warmth from the shop and the scent of fresh tea making him breathe a little easier.
Draco stepped into the que and began perusing the chalkboard menu above the counter. Deciding on a classic earl grey with a scone, he began taking in the people in the café, as the line slowly moved forward. Clearly he wasn't the only person in this town who decided they needed a good cuppa before heading in to work.
Draco was just stepping up to order when he saw her- right there in this café, smack dab in the middle of nowhere England. His breath caught and his grey eyes widened. It couldn't really be-
"What can I get you?" the petite barista asked cheerfully.
His eyes snapped to the woman in front of him, confusion radiating from them. What did she want from him?
"Sir?" She asked slightly losing the cheerful tone.
"Sorry," Draco managed to reply, " I'll take an earl grey and one of those scones." His eyes drifting periodically back to the brunette woman down the counter, making the drinks, as the barista took his order.
The barista- Peggie her nametag read- caught his stare. "Ah, sure." she nodded, ringing up his order and putting a cup out for Hermione's doppelganger to fill. "Three pound sixty please."
Draco mechanically pulled out his muggle money card and tapped it on the contraption in front of the till.
"Would you like your receipt?" Peggie asked.
"No. Thanks though," Draco replied, eyes drifting back to the other woman behind the counter.
Peggie leaned forward, over the counter and lowered her voice before saying, "Her name's Jeanette. She doesn't usually talk to customers much- or anyone for that matter- but she's super sweet and she might if you tried."
"What?" Draco responded, slightly confused before realizing what she was implying. "Oh, no, sorry she just looks like somebody I used to know."
"Oh. Sorry. Your tea should be ready in a moment, just head down to the end there." Peggie said, gesturing in Jeanette's direction.
"Thanks," Draco mumbled before heading to the other end of the counter.
He stood there, just watching this Jeanette person making his tea and the other drinks, becoming more and more certain that this was The Hermione Granger. The Hermione Granger that was declared missing in action by the order nearly 3 years ago after already having been missing for 2.
What could she possibly be doing here, in a muggle café in the middle of West Yorkshire of all places? Had she been kidnapped? Drugged? Obliviated?
Had she just left and not thought to tell Potter or Weasel? And if she had, then why?
Of all the theories, he had assumed that murdered by an aggrieved Death Eater had been the most likely. She had never been the type to shy away from a challenge and if she had been attacked she would have taken charge without sending for backup- it was a true Gryffindor trait after all abd so it had made the most sense to him.
Sure, he had joined the Order's search party, showing his new helpful, keep-me-out-of-Azkaban side, but he had never really thought that they would find her. Dead or alive.
Yet here he was, staring at this woman, absolutely sure of the fact that this was she.
"Here's your earl grey sir. Would you like some butter for your scone?" Hermione- Jeanette asked chocolate brown eyes looking up at him through long lashes. She was smiling but there was no recognition in her eyes.
"Erm. No thanks." Draco replied and feeling uneasy. Perhaps he had been wrong. Maybe this woman was just a doppelganger, some sort of scientific anomaly, perhaps even a distant relative? He continued to stare at her, lost in his musings.
She cleared her throat, clearly becoming uncomfortable. "Well, enjoy then." Jeanette said, turning back to the cups she would be filling next.
Draco shook his head slightly. "Thanks," he replied to her retreating form. He picked up his cup and scone and headed to a table with a clear view of this barista.
He sipped his tea slowly, savouring the warmth on such a bitter day. As he sipped, he continued to watch the brunette, analysing details, like how she grabbed a spoon when making the beverage. Was that how Hermione held her wand? Eyeing her mouth to see if she used any incantations. It didn't appear that she used any, just that she enjoyed mouthing along to some of the songs, slightly swaying and bobbing her head to the beat. She had nice lips, he decided, before moving on to analyse the way should stood.
Draco continued to observe, making notes in his head and trying to decide if they matched any of his observations of her when they were in school. He kept making mental notes until his tea had run dry and there was nothing but crumbs left from his scone.
He glanced at his muggle watch. He was going to be late to his appointment. Draco rose quickly, grabbing his things and heading for the door, glancing back once more to see her before leaving.
Draco still had a few days of work in this little town so he would return and observe her some more tomorrow. There was still a hotline where you could floo or send patronuses with information on a possible Granger sighting, but Potter had just settled in with baby number 3 and Draco didn't want to get his hopes up again- that only led to Potter being depressed and moody and Weasley getting into brawls at the pub. Plus Ginny wouldn't like if he had to jinx her brother again.
Draco would come back tomorrow to make sure it was her before telling anyone.