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Seth caught Hermione as she tried to sneak out the back door. "Hey you. We need to talk, remember?"
She sighed. I hoped he'd forgotten about that. "Can't we talk another time, Seth?" She turned away from, intent on her escape. She was surprised when he grabbed her.
"I know the correct lyrics to "Come What May," René." He said in a low voice.
She stiffened instantly. "He, he, he asked me to do his lyrics." Don't look him in the eye, Hermione. Act like everything's fine.
*Oh yes, because stuttering sounds like everything's fine. *
"Which you memorized so fast that you didn't need to look even once at the words? Knock it off, Bella. I saw the pain in your eyes. Why can't you just talk to me?"
She sighed. Am I that bad at hiding my feelings? Or is he that good at reading me? A single tear fell from her eye as she looked up at the raven-haired man in front of her. "Fine, Seth. You win. Happy?" Her voice wavered as she said the last words.
"Why don't we go somewhere else to talk, Bella?" His eyes shone with sympathy.
"How about my flat?"
"Works for me."
They turned and walked out the door. They were so lost in their own thoughts that they didn't notice the pair of eyes watching them from the alleyway. Nor did they notice the person who tailed them to the flat. And they certainly didn't hear the mysterious person mutter, "Soon," as they headed into the house, before apperating away.
Inside the flat, Hermione sank into a chair. "Do you want something to drink?"
"I just want you to talk to me, Bella."
She took a deep breath. "You probably should call me by my real name." She extended her hand, waiting for him to take it before continuing. "Hello, I'm Hermione Granger."
He blinked. "Pardon me?"
"Up until about a year ago, my name was Hermione Granger."
"But Hermione Granger graduated top of her class from Hogwarts School of…" He stopped, confused.
"…Witchcraft and Wizardry, earning a record of 21 NEWTs, after her stunning display of 20 OWLs. She was also best friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and the disdain of one Draco Malfoy. Crucial in the final defeat of Voldemort…" Seth winced at the name, but she continued on, "…and one of the "Two Who Won" – a very silly title, if you ask me – She also caused a ruckus at the Ball of Celebration last year after aforementioned Ron Weasley showed her exactly how much he didn't trust her judgment. She escaped – excuse me, disappeared from her flat in Camden only a month after the previously mentioned ball." She took a breath. Lord, it reads like a biography printed in Hogwarts, A History. Then a thought struck her. "How did you…"
"Know about Hogwarts? I would think it obvious. I'm a wizard." He grinned. "My cousin is Seamus Finnagan, a former housemate of yours, I understand. He and I were accepted the same year. I attended Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That's where Marc, Krissy and I met. We used to pretend we were Ron, Hermione and Harry. Sometimes our lives paralleled theirs so much it was scary." He smiled slightly at the memories. Then his eyes hardened. "But how do I know you're telling the truth? Prove yourself to be Hermione Granger."
"Do you have your wand?" When he looked bashful, she teased him gently. "Didn't you listen to your teachers? Rule number one: take your wand everywhere."
"It's in my drumstick kit." She looked at him. Why would you keep it there? "Where better to keep a wand? People just assume it was one of my first drumsticks and leave it alone."
She laughed at that. She handed him her wand. "My current looks are a result – mostly at least – of spells."
He nodded. "Finite Incandium." Instantly, Hermione looked more like herself – her brown hair was back, and her eyes were brown again. "You certainly look more like her." She sighed impatiently.
"One minute. Accio photo album. Accio Hogwarts, A History copyright 2001." Instantly, the two items came into the room. She handed them to him.
"You – you did that without your wand." His eyes widened, probably in shock.
"Simple, really. Needed to learn it for Voldemort's defeat." She noticed him wince again. Before he could tell her not to use that name, she said, "A name is just a name, Seth. The word Voldemort shouldn't scare you anymore than the Boogie Man or Jack the Ripper."
"Both of which scared the living daylights out of someone at one time. The Boogie Man haunts young children's nightmares and Jack the Ripper installed fear into the hearts of Londoners during the turn of the century." He smiled at her; then turned to the items in front of him.
Hermione had summoned these two things for a very good reason. The photo album was full of pictures. There were pictures of the three of them at Hogwarts – after Quidditch matches, in the common room, snowball fighting and more. It also held candid photos from The Burrow including pictures of Ginny and her laughing, Ron and Harry sleeping, and George and Fred experimenting with different candies for their store. Then it had snapshots taken by her muggle parents – her and Harry in swing outfits, her reading in the backyard, or in a tree, or lounging in a chair, family portraits, etc. Finally, it held a photo taken at a studio. In it, Hermione was wearing the necklace Harry had given her – the same necklace she constantly wore even now.
She had summoned Hogwarts, A History for one reason – the inscription inside. In Ron's scrawl were the words – 'Mione. You've read your copy often enough that it's falling to pieces. This should excite you – now you can exclaim over the "new and exciting" information they've added to the book you already have memorized. Hope you spend many more hours pouring your love into this book. Love Always, Ron.
After he examined these two items, Seth looked up. "Okay, explain. Why did you go into hiding?"
She smiled slightly. "Got time to start from the beginning?" She asked; her eyebrow raised. Yeah right. Like he's going to want to sit here and listen to my entire – well, almost entire – life story. Unfortunately – or was it fortunately? – Seth seemed to want to sit and listen to her ramble on. "Well, it all started with a troll. Before that, Harry and Ron hated my guts…" With that she was off and running, explaining the last eight years of her life to someone who had heard about it through a third party. All the years at school and their troubles, the preparation for the battle with Voldemort, the actual final battle, the five years at the apartment, meeting Draco again and becoming his friend, her final fight with Ron at the flat, and her escape – and the reasoning for it. He's taking this remarkably well. He hasn't fainted or asked for my autograph yet.
Seth seemed to absorb everything she told him. At the end, the silence reigned for about a minute. Then he began to speak. "This all came to a head tonight… why?" As she opened her mouth to explain, he shook his head at her. "Let me figure this out, Hermione. Can I call you Hermione? Miss Granger just seems too tacky after all I just heard, and after all, I technically have known you for almost a year now." He looked puzzled for a minute.
She laughed. "You can call me 'Mione, Seth. After all, you are one of my closest friends at this point in my life. Or you can continue to call me Bella. That'd probably be best. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up my 'secret identity' just yet." Honestly, I'm not sure I ever want to give up my secret identity.
"Okay, Bella it is. Right, back to the problem." He thought for another minute. "The song you sang tonight – I noticed you didn't need the paper to sing the 'correct' lyrics. Is it the one you made up 6th year?" She nodded. He continued, "That guy who sang with you tonight – what was his name again?"
She lowered her eyes. "Ron Weasley."
"Of course! Why didn't I remember that?" His eyes lit up. "Ron Weasley? But – then – it was you he was singing to. I remember thinking to myself, 'Boy, that guy seems to be in the doghouse with someone.' It was you he was in the argument with, wasn't it? But then, why were you crying after that number?" They sat in silence for a few more minutes, Seth staring intently at the floor, obviously thinking hard. Suddenly, his head snapped up, and his eyes met Hermione's. "He didn't recognize you, did he?" The truth was etched into her eyes; she knew she didn't need to say a word. He jumped up, enraged. "The bastard didn't recognize the girl he wanted to apologize to was standing right next to him. How could he not recognize you?
She had been asking herself that all night. Does he expect me to have an answer? "The spells, I suppose…" she muttered, more to convince herself than of any real feeling.
"Hermione, I knew you were someone I had to protect and feel respect for even with the spells. Are you telling me he wouldn't recognize your voice, if not your appearance? And even if he didn't remember your singing voice, there are ways, 'Mione. I mean, I can feel you in a room, even if I don't hear or see you enter it. Your personality takes control of the room. Have you changed so much that your best friend wouldn't recognize your personality?" He seemed amazed that Ron didn't recognize the girl sitting in front of him at that very moment.
Tears filled her eyes. Damn you Seth. "Thanks ever so much for pointing that out to me, Seth. It just makes my heart soar so much." The tone of her voice was as biting – if not more biting – than the harshest tone Draco Malfoy had ever used to call her a mudblood.
He stopped, and looked at her. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I just don't understand."
"You and the rest of the world."
They sat there in silence for a while. When Hermione glanced at Seth a while later, she found he had fallen asleep. Not wishing to wake him, she covered him with a blanket, and headed up to her own bed.
A/N: I must admit that I'm surprised that no one has tried to guess who's watching Hermione secretly. shrug anyways, onto the thank yous:
Caroline: Like I've told several other people, Draco will be back in the picture soon. Never fear, I haven't forgotten about him. smile
Waterdragon: Don't worry, Ron will realize his mistake soon enough. wink
Give Me Stitches: Your cameo will be coming soon. Thanks for sending me the info so fast. grin
WM: All will become clear in time, I promise.
Totally_2bular_girl: I'm glad you love it. Sorry about making you cry.
Keep Going: Well, here's the next chapter. Hope you like this one too. smile
Kudos goes to my beta-reader, enoimreH. Go check out her fan-fics.
PLEASE REVIEW!