A/N: I wanted to upload this fic so badly, I just had to write it NOW. So if you see any grammatical errors down there, my apologies, young and avid reader. It's the start of our break and I'm ready to go stir up a new chapter, plus a new fic here and there. So there…I almost forgot the whole plot of this story, I was so busy creating the angst mood for "Not Yet Forgotten" and still, even in my very hectic schedule, upload a Christmas fic ("What's Snow Like?") for you all. However, I'm taking my time today and will be adding another chapter for this story. I hope you enjoy this, watch out for the acknowledgements and recent updates below! See you at the bottom!

Before I forget…

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to reiterate? Harry and everyone, everything, everywhere related to him will not be mine! I just borrow them and play around, and the result? Why, a very lovely piece of fanfiction, if I do say so myself.

CHAPTER 6: Was it You?

            By Prowess

Beep..beep..beep

Stephen lazily slumped his clenched hand on the alarm clock. It was six o'clock in the morning, exactly one week, four days, ten hours, thirteen minutes twenty seconds, and counting, since he was found and had a life. Well, at least one that he remembered. He groggily sat up and gave out a big yawn, arms stretched, eyes tightly shut, then went down for breakfast.

"Morning, bro," Brian mumbled as chewed his bacon and eggs. Stephen smiled, a little bit  more awake.

"Good morning, Stephen. How are you feeling?" Miranda asked.

"I'm fine, aunt Myr. I'm just a little nervous, since I start work today." Stephen sat down as he was handed a plate.

"But, of course, how can we forget? Just be sure you have a great time okay?" the woman warmly encouraged.

"Okay." Stephen, replied before taking a big spoonful of his food.

"Good Morning Hayes!" Lizette beamed out loud. Evette had given her the honor of giving the entrance yell, a Hayes greeting to all the early birds in the café. It was warm and bustling inside, as Lizette wore her apron and took her spot in the counter.

"Let's start working!" Evette excitedly mused.

"Eve," Lizette started. "Is that a new café?"

Evette squinted. "Yep. I read that on the newspaper today. I think it opens this morning."

"It sure looks like that. Look at the crowd."

"Don't worry about it. Hayes will always be number one around here. People are just curious."

"I don't know. I've got a big feeling someone close to me is there. Someone, I know…"

"Good Morning, Mr. Piper," a raven-haired young man entered the blue decorated office.

"Ah, young Stephen. Come in. Today's your first day of work isn't it so?" Stephen nodded.

"Well, I'll assign you to do the 'waitering', and take care of orders. Good thing you came. There isn't much people interested in working in this café since it's new and across the famous Hayes. Well, we might just break that stereotype. I'm sure needing your help."

"Thanks Mr. Piper." Stephen answered the almost bald, stout man. "I'll get set."

Stephen wore a yellow orange apron, one of the main colors of the café, the other being blue. He took a sniff of the cocoa beans, and the hot coffee it turns into. Looking at the cakes and pastries, he felt contented. He produced a smile as customers came rushing in. Before getting distracted with customers, Stephen got a quick glance at the other café, Hayes.

"Alright, here is you scrumptious blueberry pie and chocolate milkshake, little girl." Lizette excitedly handed over a small kiddie tray. It was nearly lunchtime and since today, Lizette would be taking her night shift, she would have an early break.

"It's breaktime for you." Kirstin reminded handing over a plate to Evette. "Eve, It's from Ms. Scheim."

"Ms. Mary Rose, your steak needs more worstershire sauce!" Evette yelled, knowing just what to say.

"Well, gotta go somewhere for my break. And I know just the place." She beamed.

"I bet you are going to that new Piper's café."

"I'm just going to be buzzing around. You know, spy a bit." She mischievously commented, her hand behind her back. "See you guys later." She waved back as the two girls said goodbye to her.

Lizette cupped her hands as she crossed the street, her eyes set on the dark chocolate brown door of Piper's café. She held the big horizontal bar and pushed it, then going inside. A wave of hot chocolate aroma tickled her senses as she walked to the seats in the counter. Lizette looked around and knew that it was just like Hayes, busy, and bursting with great foods. It was just as noisy as well. The difference was just that Pipers' specialty was hot chocolate and brownies, as opposed to Hayes coffee and pastries. Of course the best test of all was the taste test. Since, it just opened, a lot of customers were in line, and she was a lucky enough to have a seat by the waiters. She didn't have to squeeze in.

"Welcome to Pipers. May I help you?" came a voice a little far away from Lizette. "Hey! Stephen! Take care of those customers in the other side!" the voice echoed. A guy, whom Lizette assumed to be Stephen, replied and went to her side.

"Hi. Good Morning Ma'am. Welcome to Pipers. May I ask what you need?" Lizette turned to the man's direction.

As she caught a glimpse of his emerald green eyes, Lizette squinted and watched the man closely. He was doing the same. They stared at each other for a few seconds, trying to decipher the feeling they felt upon laying eyes on a stranger. It seemed as if they had known each other for eons. What was this happening to them?

"Do I know you?" Lizette finally broke the silence, her innocent eyes staring at his. Stephen, was still gazing, but then looked away, shocked.

"No. I suppose we've never met before." He answered, stuttering.

"Really," Lizette answered back. "Anyway, I would like a nice mug of hot chocolate and a pack of cherry brownies. For take out." Lizette tried to smile, but a huge wave of curiosity was splashing in her head, she couldn't help but think of a place where she met this man. Where did I meet…Stephen???

Stephen was thinking of the same thing. He felt scared, since when he laid his eyes upon her, this weird name got stuck in his head. What's even scarier is that the name starts with an H, the letter on the necklace he had in his possession. Could it be that this was a link to his identity? And how weird is the name…

Hermione?

Lizette was tapping the counter when her bag of brownies and her hot chocolate were handed to her. She gave the money as she was about to leave when….

"Wait, Hermione!" someone shouted. It was Stephen.

Lizette's heart pounded as she turned around. Though there were still a lot of customers, Lizette managed to push her way through back to her original seat, which she sat on a split second before someone else did. She grabbed Stephen's sleeve.

"What did you call me?" she asked in a half irritated, half curious tone.

"What?" Stephen asked in reply.

"What do you mean what?!? You have completely forgotten what you said, when I, of all the hustle around here, distinctly heard it?"  Lizette answered back.

"I don't remember lady, I'm really sor-"

"Listen, Stephen, whoever you are,"  Lizette started, pulling Stephen's sleeve tighter, "I don't know what is happening to me when I look at you. But just last week, I experienced a tragedy that I still can't bring myself to look back at. I don't know why, I am, for any reason, attracted to you. However, if you are just messing around with me and my identity and calling me names, I suggest that you just lay off and leave me alone! I don't need a joker around here, not in this stage of my life! If you only knew.." she reprimanded the young man who just stared at her. Before he was able to speak, the woman stood up and hurriedly walked out the door.

"If I only knew what?" he asked himself, just before an old lady nagged him for her order.

Lizette slammed the door as she entered Hayes once more. She still had a few minutes off, but she decided to go back to Hayes and share her food before the chocolate becomes cold.

"Hey, girls. Here's a little hot chocolate and some brownies from Pipers." Evette and Kirstin rushed to her, excited to taste Piper's products.

"Wow, this cherry brownies are really good," Evette commented, taking a few more bites.

"Eh! But their hot chocolate is too sweet." Lizette added, as she took a glass of water.

"Go back there and get some more samples. Let's show some to daddy." Kirstin mused, wiping a counter.

"Are you kidding? I'm never going back there again!"Lizette replied, throwing the Piper's paper bag.

"Why, not? You were excited to go there a few moments ago," Evette remarked. "You said you felt your memory might somehow be connected to it," she added, imitating that weird faraway look that Lizette showed.

"I am not going back there because of a guy who made fun of me. He called me names and forgot them, immediately. Why would someone call me this weird name and forget it in an instant?"

"What did he call you anyway?"

"Some weird, medieval name, I think. Hermione? Hermaione? Something like that…It freaked me out."

"Too bad. Well, get back working. You better get that off your head. Have a cherry pastry." Kirstin patted Lizette's back, as she placed her green apron once again and took her place in the counter.

"Professor Dumbledore!" a young man shouted, panting. "I've tried looking for them around the wizard world. They are nowhere to be found!"

"They wouldn't be here young Ron. Not in the wizarding world. They are probably in some muggle town, lost and in need of us." Dumbledore's glasses glimmered.

"I am so sorry, headmaster. I shouldn't have recited that spell."

"Of course not. Had you not recited it, they both would have been permanently separated from us. There is nothing you did wrong. However, your mission is still not finished."

"Headmaster, I am willing to find my closest friends for the rest of my sixth year, if you will allow me to."

"Are you sure you are willing to do this? There are many things you would miss in school." Dumbledore reminded that young Gryffindor.

"I am positive, professor. I feel that it is my duty to find my friends."

"Very well, then, you may start the day after tomorrow, Ron. You are truly worthy of being Harry's friend and companion. May Godric watch over you."

"Lord, he has escaped. He is nowhere in sight. I assigned many followers to find him and the woman. They are still searching." Draco Malfoy had entered Voldemort's room.

"Do not worry, Malfoy." Voldemort's voice echoed. "Tell those who seek him to stop. Tomorrow your mission starts." He let out an evil smile. " I have found him."

A/N: Whew! Hope you liked this chap! See you next time!

Acknowledgements:

Recent Updates: