Chapter 4: The Unsociable Stranger

It had been two days since Hermione had moved in, and Boots was still missing. She'd dropped in to the Leaky Cauldron reluctantly (Thankfully no one recognized her), and asked Tom if he'd seen an orange cat sulking around the muggle London entrance, but he hadn't. Her apartment was now arranged in a way she liked, and she even went out and bought a new cat scratch post for Boots, as if it would entice him to come home.

She made a 'missing cat' poster with a particularly adorable picture of Boots on it, where his fur was actually brushed, and placed her muggle landline and cell number on it. She was just hanging it up in the lobby area at the entrance to the complex when something blond caught her eye. Turning slightly to get a better view, her fears were confirmed as she saw Malfoy walking out of the elevator next to a cute brunette wearing a low cut dress. She turned her face away quickly, hoping he wouldn't see her.

When she looked again, he had walked through the glass doors. She breathed a sigh of relief, and continued to tape several posters up. 'The more the better!' Someone was bound to know something about him. She touched her phone absentmindedly, as if she was already expecting a phone call about it.

"That's quite a few posters there," A familiar voice said, right next to her. She jumped about a half foot into the air.

Clearing her voice she said, "Yes, well, he's a very important cat." She still didn't face him, hoping he'd continue on his way before he recognized who exactly it was standing here next to him.

So this is Mr. Cat's owner, thought Draco.

If she'd been watching before, she would have seen him bid goodbye to the cute brunette outside of the glass doors and make his way back inside. The many orange cat posters had caught his attention on the way down.

She still wasn't facing him, and hadn't spoken again. She was obviously finished with hanging up her posters, so he wondered why she was still standing there, awkwardly. He wasn't sure why he was actually making an effort to be friendly. Ever since the cat had been staying with him though, he'd been in an unnaturally good mood. And well, he was curious about the cat's owner.

"How long has he been missing?" Although he already knew the answer to that...

"About two days, since I moved in...Today will be the third." Draco's heart momentarily clenched at that. This was probably the girl he'd almost knocked over the other day after his interview. And she'd lost her cat the day she moved in. Poor girl He thought. She turned slightly, and he got a better look at her face as she said, "Well, I should be off. Gotta keep putting up posters."

"Wait!" He shouted. Her face... It was oddly familiar. As he shouted, she turned in surprise and to face him. "Do I know you?"

"Uh...I don't think so." She turned again quickly and started walking again, obviously in a hurry to get away. Her voice is somehow familiar too... He watched her until she disappeared around the corner.

Something was definitely off about that interaction, and Draco was resolved to find out what. He grabbed a poster and walked out.

Later on that day, Draco was tidying up his apartment. He'd had another unsuccessful day scouting for jobs, and had decided to at least do something productive, like clean, upon returning. He picked up that day's copy of the Prophet, opened it to a random center page and nearly dropped it in surprise. It was Her! The girl he'd spoken with in the lobby! 'Hermione Granger on the Move' was the title of the article. No. No. There is no way that's her, he told himself. But he looked again, and knew it was, undeniably. How had he not realized before? It was a more stylish and grown up Granger (Alright, attractive, I admit it), but it was definitely her.

He always ignored the silly gossip columns that followed the golden trio, otherwise he could have avoided making a fool of himself. She had obviously recognized him. It was Draco Malfoy. He knew no one else looked like him, and her reaction gave her away.

What could he do with this information? She was a connection to the wizarding world, one he was beginning to be desperate for. But it was Hermione Granger, best friend of his least favorite hero, and the poster girl for muggle borns everywhere.

Muggle born! She knew he was a wizard, and she knew about the muggle world in a way he never could. She was his best chance to prove to Joseph Thompkins that he loved all things muggle (except for the fact that he didn't...).

But would she even consider helping him?

Hermione was thanking her lucky stars all day. He still hadn't recognized her! She was in shock. She'd even looked him square in the face when he'd shouted.

She'd chopped off her hair after her breakup with Ron, but surely he'd seen the dozens of photos in the Prophet? They'd even had a special issue dedicated to the 'Changing styles of Hermione Granger'. It behaved much better now, falling in curls at her shoulders. Whatever the reason was that he didn't recognize her, she was grateful.

Along with her narrow escape from Draco Malfoy, she'd successfully placed her posters all over her side of town, in coffee shops and in the local parks. Her legs were a little sore from all the walking, but it felt good to be making some progress. She had even submitted an application to a local bookstore while she was out and about. When she got back to her apartment, she collapsed on a chair, wishing Boots would pop up and jump on her lap. Hunger got the better of her and she made her way to the kitchen, pressing a button on her answering machine, she listened to her messages while she heated up some leftover casserole.

"Hermione? Hello? Uh, this is Ginny! I hope I'm using this thing right! I just wanted to make sure you were moved in alright! Can I come visit you soon? Call me back on my celly thingy! Miss you!"

"Beeeep!"

"...So, the girl with the cat posters is...Granger. (Hermione froze as she was removing her meal from the microwave) I know I'm probably the last person you want to hear from, but, I'm pretty desperate. I have a favor to ask. Feel free to refuse, but please, just hear me out first. I'm in apartment 909. Stop by tomorrow between 3 and 6 if you're willing."