Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter series nor it's containing characters. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. I only own the plot, and any other characters you do not recognize.
Who Am I Again?
Aoi Megami
The One with the Plan
"I feel like a complete pervert," Blaise groaned from his spot to the right of Draco Malfoy.
"Don't be ridiculous," Draco retorted back.
"This is kind of fun," Theo said enthusiastically from his seat on Draco's left side. "I feel like one of those Private Investigators from those Muggle movies," he said.
"What's the plan anyways?" Blaise said, ignoring Theo's comment. "Are we just going to sit here the whole day watching her?" he asked his friend. The three had arrived at exactly eight o'clock in the morning in the Muggle world and had situated themselves in the veranda at a small bakery, located right across the Planning Agency.
"I'm thinking," Draco said.
"We've been sitting here for almost an hour Drake," Blaise said in exasperation. "Get those gears turning," he almost snapped. "I don't think I can eat any more of those donuts," he groaned as he clutched his full, rounding belly.
"I like them," Theo said with a huge grin. "And the service here is not so bad," he added as he took a bite out of another jelly donut. Draco rolled his eyes.
"That's because they like us, idiot," Blaise snapped at Theo.
"I think the sweets are making Blaise cranky," Theo snapped back.
"Will you two stop," Draco snapped at the two.
"Anyways," Blaise said as he looked at his friend. "What did the real private investigator said?" he asked.
"I can tell you about that," Theo said happily as he retrieved a folder form his shoulder bag. "Hermione Jean Granger, ever since she disappeared from the Wizarding world after your," he paused as he looked warily at Draco. "Not so official break-up," he continued after seeing no response from the Slytherin Prince. "All records have been reported missing or sealed."
"Missing or sealed?" Blaise repeated. "So everything from her past had been sealed?"
"Yup," Theo nodded. "Everything. Anyways, after her disappearing act, the only record that shows is when she rented that commercial space with Cameron Jude, for a Planning Agency. Basically they plan most events; birthday, anniversaries, holiday events, weddings, etcetera," he paused and read the words from the very thin folder. "Actually, the private investigator couldn't even find any record of her car accident," he added.
"Maybe she had that wiped too?" Blaise asked.
"Impossible," Theo shook his head. "If Granger lost her memories since birth, doesn't that mean she doesn't know that she's a witch?" he asked the two. Blaise and Draco gave him an incredulous look.
"He has a point," Draco looked to Blaise.
"So if Hermione was trying to escape our world, that means, in order to erase her past, she must have knowledge of it," Blaise started.
"So everything after that should be recorded," Draco rubbed his chin in thought.
"So what happened to the car accident?" Theo asked.
"Ah," Blaise scratched his head in annoyance. "Your private detective is worthless," Blaise stated.
"Hey, I asked for the best and he is the best," Theo stated back angrily.
"Well, what good is he if he can't even dig up medical records?" Blaised snapped.
"We should've used a muggle detective instead," Draco said, ignoring the other two's banter. He sighed, and then felt his senses kick in and he turned to look at the other side of the street. "Hermione," he gasped, his eyes bulging wide. Blaise and Theo stopped their glaring contest to stare at the walking brunette across the street. Draco's insides warmed while watching her. She had an innocent smile pasted on her face as she strutted happily down the street towards the agency. She stopped in front of the glass doors and took out her key from inside her red, brand-named muggle bag. She entered the agency and turned all the lights on.
"She's alone Drake," Blaise stated. "We should go now," he said.
"I don't want to scare her," Draco said. "The two of you stay here and keep watch," he said.
"Why?" Theo whined in protest.
"Just stay here and warn me if the man-lady shows up," he said as he darted off towards the other side of the street.
"How do we warn you?" Blaise called after him.
"Magic," he shouted back, earning a few stares from the nearly crowded street.
Hermione hummed happily as she walked towards her and Cameron's Planning Agency. It's been a week since she ran into Draco, and he hasn't shown his face since. Maybe Cam was right, that Draco had the decency to be mature and just move on. She entered the agency, turning on all the lights and seated herself behind the front desk. She sighed. She and Cameron really need to hire a front desk person soon. She turned on the computer and printed out theWanted sign for hiring a front desk person. She stood from her seat and posted the sign up their window. After putting the sign up, she went to their make-shift kitchen and started brewing her coffee. She was startled when she heard the bell, signaling that somebody had come in. she frowned, no one really enters the agency this early in the morning. She exited the small kitchen area and almost yelled in surprise at the sight of the Malfoy heir.
She quickly composed herself before he found her gaping and wide-eyed in shock. He looked at her and her breath caught in her throat. He always did take her breath away just by looking at her. He mentally shook the thought away and reminded herself that this was the cold bastard who left her and didn't even had the decency to properly end their one-year, three months, and five days relationship!
"It's you," she forcefully said through gritted teeth. "How can I help you?" she asked with fake sweetness.
"Um," Draco averted his gaze to his shuffling feet. Merlin's balls! Malfoy's do not shuffle. He looked more confidently at her awaiting gaze. "I don't think I've properly introduced myself," Draco took a brave step towards her, and offering a hand. "My name's Draco Malfoy, you may not remember me, but we used to go to school together," he said. Hermione looked at his hand unsurely. She sighed, and took it lightly.
"Hermione Granger," she managed to mumble, and quickly withdrew her hand. Draco couldn't help the pain that plunged his chest at her sudden withdrawal.
"Um, what ha—"
"I hear Cam told you the basics of it, I don't like divulging further into details," she stopped his emerging question.
"Of course," Draco nodded his agreement. For the love of—what in Merlin's name was wrong with him? Since when did he ever run out of anything to say? Well, it's not really that he ran out of anything to say, it's just that he's so bloody nervous that he has no idea what to say. He sighed.
"Look," Hermione snapped him out of his wandering thoughts. "Its business hours and I like to keep it professional around here," she dismissed.
"I'm sorry, but," he paused. He felt naked in front of her. "Is it possible for us to talk privately, and personally, I mean," he stuttered.
"I'm really busy," she said.
"What about during your lunch break?" Draco pushed. Hermione groaned inwardly. This man truly doesn't take no for an answer.
"We're short staffed so Cam and I don't really take breaks right now," she shrugged of another dismissal.
"Then what about after work?"
"It's nine fifteen," she stated. "I get off at five," Hermione answered cautiously.
"At five then," Draco nodded vigorously.
"So you'll come back later?" Hermione asked. Truthfully, Cam closes at five today since she opened; she actually gets off at three for today. She could just sneak out while he's gone and Cam can come up of a good excuse for her.
"Um, I think I'll stick around," Draco said. "Since I don't want to get in your way, I'll sit right out," he pointed to the bench just in front of their glass window.
"You'll wait for me till five?" Hermione asked guardedly.
Draco shrugged. "Of course," he stated simply and made his way out of the agency. She watches him close the glass door behind him, sending her a warm smile while he was at it. She continued to watch him when he called his friends over. She saw the shock look on their faces and they gave him half-hearted smiles and left their prince seating on the bench alone.
Draco closed the door and was slightly happy to see that Hermione was watching him. He sent her a smile, hoping to convey the message that he was fine with waiting. He turned to look across the street and saw his friends, patiently waiting for him. He waved them over as he sat down on the bench, just in front of the agency.
"What happened?" Theo asked as he and Blaise reached him.
"I'm staying here till she gets out of work," Draco said nonchalantly. "You guys can go ahead," he said.
"What time is she getting off?" Blaise asked.
"Yeah, maybe we can stay with you till then," Theo added.
"I don't think you'll be willing to wait with me till five," Draco smirked, awaiting the shock responses.
"Five?" Theo's jaw dropped. "You're seriously going to wait for her till five?" his jaw dropped even lower—if possible—at Draco's nod of the positive.
"Wha-whe-why?" Blaise stuttered.
"It's the least I can do, after what I did to her," Draco answered.
"Drake," Blaise shook his head. "I can't believe you're growing up," Blaise chided, making Draco shoot him a warning look, also making Theo laugh out loud.
"You know, you can just come back later at five," Theo said, as if it was the most obvious answer.
"I don't want to," Draco shook his head. "I feel uneasy if I leave her now," Draco added.
"Eh?" Theo and Blaise exclaimed simultaneously, making Draco sigh in annoyance.
"I just feel that the moment that I take my eyes off of her, she'll disappear on me again," Draco mumbled.
"Hey, she learned it from you," Theo joked, earning a hard nudge on the ribs from Blaise. Blaise and Theo turned to look at their friend, expecting an angry glare and a witty comeback but all they saw was the Slytherin Prince's apologetic face.
"Wow," Blaise exclaimed. "You're whipped," he said, making Theo laugh.
"Honestly," Theo shook his head. "We're going to head back to Diagon Alley then," Theo said after a fit of giggles.
"We'll see you later Drake," Blaise added as he and Theo left their Prince, sitting all alone.
"Hermione," Cam entered the agency, exactly eleven o'clock, carrying his personal belongings in one hand and two take-out plastic bags on the other. "What is that doing out there?" Cam jerked his head towards the lone man sitting outside.
"Don't ask," Hermione groaned. "What did you get me?" she asked instead, trying to change the topic.
"Your favorite, Ravioli," he handed her one of the two plastic bags.
"Thank you very much," Hermione took it graciously. It was their routine; whoever opens the agency gets treated for lunch by the one who's closing that day.
"But seriously honey, what is he doing out there?" Cam diverted the topic back at hand.
"He insists on talking to me privately and personally after work at five o'clock," Hermione answered, all the while, taking out her lunch from the plastic bag.
"But you get off at three," Cam pointed.
"He doesn't know that," Hermione shrugged.
"You're evil," Cam scolded. "So you're going to make him wait out there till five?" Cam asked, earning a nod of yes from Hermione. "Exactly how are you planning on escaping when he's out there guarding?" he asked in a 'matter-of-fact' tone.
"I'll sneak out the back," Hermione shrugged, as if it was the most obvious answer, and then taking a bite from her plate.
"You know you have to talk to him, sooner or later," Cam said.
"I don't think that talking is a part of his vocabulary, since he never did it to me," Hermione said sarcastically, making Cam sigh in defeat.
"I can't believe he hasn't bulged from that spot yet," Cam murmured. He and Hermione had been distracted completely away from work by the Malfoy heir. "And did you see how many times he's been approached by the ladies?" he laughed with interest.
"Its two forty-five and he hasn't even eaten lunch yet," Hermione replied, ignoring her friend's last report.
"Why are you concerned about that?" Cam asked devilishly.
"I am not," Hermione quickly retorted. Cam rolled his eyes and stood from his position next to Hermione behind the front desk. "Where are you going?" Hermione asked in panic as she watched her friend head towards out the front door.
"Smoke," Cam replied before shutting the door behind him. He went to seat at the opposite end of the bench away from the platinum blonde. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man glance warily at him. Cam took out a stick of cigarette from his pack, placed it on his lips and lit it on. "You haven't eaten lunch yet," Cam stated, startling Draco. He didn't expect the man-lady to start talking to him.
"I had a big breakfast," was Draco's simple answer, followed by a low growl from his stomach. Cam noticed Draco blushed furiously, making him shake his head in disbelief. The conversation stopped from there, and they spent the next slow minutes in agonizing silence.
When Cam finally finished his cigarette, he turned to look inside the agency and saw Hermione signaling to him that it was three o'clock. His eyes widened and he slowly got up from his seat, trying not to get the other man's attention as he watch his friend try to escape by heading towards the back room. He entered just before she disappeared out back.
"Granger," Cam growled lowly. "You owe me big for this," he sighed and turned to look at the man waiting outside.
The next day…
Cam was seated behind the front desk, working on their agency's next two projects, while patiently waiting for his friend. His head snapped up, away from the computer when he heard the bell, signaling that somebody had come in. He watched his friend strut in with her work bag in one hand the two take-out plastic bags on the other. She met his gaze and he sent her a hard glare, making her stop mid-step, while cautiously looking at him.
"What?" she asked nervously.
"I cannot believe you ditched him like that yesterday, and that you left me to explain everything to him," he whined, making Hermione roll her eyes.
"What did you tell him?" she asked, as she approached the front desk, dropping the take-out bags on top of it.
"That you had to leave early because you had to deal with a work problem," he said, grabbing his take-out bag.
"Well you have nothing to worry about anymore," Hermione said as she sat down on her seat next to him.
"Why is that?" Cam asked. His mouth filled with food.
"Because, I hate to admit it, but Draco's smart," she started, as she took out her own lunch. "He probably realized that I did that on purpose and now his pride is affected, and he's probably so mad at me right now to the point that he wouldn't want to see me anymore," she told him.
"You spoke too soon," Cam smiled evilly, while staring at the front door.
"Wha—" Hermione turned to look at where he was looking. Her eyes widened and her jaw literally dropped at the sight of the Malfoy heir, crossing the street from the bakery and heading towards them. The bell rang, signaling that somebody had entered the agency, this shook Hermione out of her shock and she managed to compose herself quickly. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. But luckily for her, Draco spoke first.
"Is everything okay?" Draco asked with full concern evident in his pale face.
"What?" Hermione asked, not entirely processing what he had said.
"Is everything alright?" he asked again, and then continued after seeing the confused look on her face. "Yesterday, you had to leave early because of work," he stated. "Did you manage to fix it?" he asked.
"Oh," Hermione said. "That," she said and then cleared her drying throat. "Yes, I did, actually," she forced a smile. "What are you, what are you doing here?" she stuttered.
"Well," he gave her a sincere smile. "Since we didn't get to talk yesterday, I was hoping we could do it today," he said.
"Well, um," Hermione started. "I leave at five, I'm closing today, so," she started, trying to look for plausible excuses. "So I might get off later than five, we are short staffed you know," she said.
"Yeah, I saw the 'wanted' sign outside," he nodded in understanding. "It's no problem, I can wait," he assured her.
"Sure," she smiled with gritted teeth.
"I'll be outside," he told her and exited the agency. Once he was gone, Hermione and Cam were silent. Cam was trying to hold back a big laugh.
"He's too prideful," Cam mimicked sarcastically. "He's probably so mad at me that he won't bother to show his face around here anymore," he continued.
"Oh, shut up," Hermione groaned, burying her face dejectedly on her hands.
At two-thirty that very afternoon…
"Why?" Hermione asked no one in particular. Cam and she were seated behind the front desk, currently working on their next projects. "Why, why, why, why, why?" she growled in annoyance.
"Well," Cam sighed as he looked away from their work and he turned to look at his friend. "If you ask me," he started in a serious tone. "He does think that you really did lose your memory and therefore, he wouldn't think that you were purposely avoiding him yesterday, everything is a clean slate for him, so to speak," he reminded her.
"But he's impatient," Hermione argued. "It doesn't matter if it was the old me or the new me who doesn't know him, he should still impatient!"
"Are you actually jealous of yourself?" Cam held back a laugh.
"What?"
"You're actually mad that he's treating the new you differently than he did the old you," he laugh.
"I am not," Hermione scoffed.
"Well, he probably feels bad about what he did to you in the past," Cam stated.
"And he's taking complete advantage of the fact that I supposedly don't remember what he did to me, just so he could get into my pants?" Hermione shrieked in rage.
"You don't know that, maybe he's just trying to become your friend, to make it up to you," Cam defended.
"Why are you taking his side?" Hermione asked in aghast.
"I am not," Cam defended again. "I just think that for someone I know who's supposed to be courageous and smart, you're acting scared and childish," he stated. When he received no reply from his friend, he sighed in defeat. "Look," he started. "I just think that you should talk to him properly," he suggested.
"Fine," Hermione grumbled after a few moments of silence. She got up from her seat and walked out of the agency.
Cam watched his friend take a seat at the opposite side of the bench the platinum haired model was seating on. He watched them exchanged a few words until the young man stood, and gave his friend a wave of goodbye. Confused, Cam continued to watch his friend walk back, who adorned a settled look on her face.
"What happened?" he asked, completely confused and curious. He saw the hesitation on her face before she answered him.
"I told him I have to meet a client after work, so I can't talk to him," she stated before darting out to the backroom. It took a few seconds for Cameron's head to process what she had just said.
"Granger!" he growled in annoyance as he bolted up from his seat to follow his friend, to give her a full lecture.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Miles asked when he caught sight of the Malfoy heir. "You're aware that you're in the wrong building?" he asked amusedly. "Yours is a few blocks down," he stated with a slight snicker.
"Hermione sent me home," he grumbled in annoyance.
"Another client in need?" Miles asked.
"Yeah," Draco said as he followed his friend to his private office. "At this rate, I will never be able to talk to her properly," he grumbled.
"It's only been two days," Miles stated.
"That's long for me," Draco retorted, making Miles sigh in defeat.
"Well, forgive her that she takes her work seriously," Miles said sarcastically as he plopped down behind his desk, Draco took the seat across from him. "Why don't you try working with her instead, that way, you'll get the chance to talk to her," he suggested. He saw Draco's eyes widened at the idea.
"That's brilliant," Draco said in excitement. "They're actually hiring right now," he said as he stood from his seat and prepared himself to leave the vicinity.
"What?" Miles asked in confusion and panic. "Hiring? What are you talking about?" he asked, to stop his friend from leaving.
"Their agency is actually hiring an assistant right now," Draco stated. "I know they already hired one," Draco stated. "But they need another one to assist with all the events they have to attend," Draco said.
"I didn't mean get a job at their agency," Miles mumbled, but it was of no use, because Draco had started pacing his office, voicing out his plans. "What I meant was hire the agency to do a fake event for your enterprise," Miles continued. But Draco kept pacing and ranting out his plans. "You know, like a surprise appreciation party for your employees," Miles tried to continue. "Draco, are you listening to me?" Miles asked.
"Thanks a lot Miles," Draco stated. "I'm going to go look for Theo now, I might need help with filling out the application and all the required paper works," he said before leaving the office. Miles sighed when the door to his office shut behind the departing Malfoy heir. Is that what others meant when people do crazy things when they're in love?
