Disclaimer: Never were mine.

"Bella?" Apparently, Seth had followed her into the flat. Great. Just what I need. More introductions. She sighed. Seth will understand. He is a wizard, after all.

Draco raised one of his eyebrows. "Bella?" He repeated, mockingly.

"Seth, may I present Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is Seth Goodman, the drummer for my band." I'll just act as if I'm used to wizards apparating into my house without permission.

Seth nodded at Draco politely, but he immediately tensed up. Apparently he's heard lots about Draco as well. Not unlikely, considering the house his cousin was in. She smiled to herself, and touched Seth on the arm. When he tore his gaze away from Draco to look at her, she said, "It's okay, we're friends – of a sort – now."

Draco snorted. "Because that's what friends do – run away from each other without saying goodbye." He turned to look at Seth. "Do you know how long it took me to find this girl?"

"Did you ever consider that I might not want you to find me?" She said, angrily. The nerve of him. We had only been friends for a month, and it was because of him that Ron and I had that argument. But I should be the one apologizing. Not bloody likely.

"Did you even stop to consider that I was worried about you?" He snapped back, his eyes flashing dangerously. Did they do that while we were in school together? She wondered.

Seth cleared his throat. "I'd imagine it took a while. Especially since 'Mione just saw you again for the first time today."

A startled look crossed Draco's face, but Hermione had no idea why that would be. But he recovered quickly, and said smugly, "Ah, yes. But I saw her a long time before that. In fact, I saw a stunning performance the other night. A duet with another… former friend."

Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. He had been there when Ron showed up at the bar. I guess my façade wasn't as good as I believed it to be. But then why didn't Ron… She shook her head, trying desperately not to cry.

Seth noticed this, and said in a firm manner, "I think you should leave now."

Draco glanced back and forth between the two of them. "So, that's how it is." He said.

"What do you mean by that?" Seth demanded.

"Oh, please. You don't need to lie to me. After all, I'm only Draco Malfoy. But I don't want to intrude on you two. So I'll just gather my things and leave, if that's okay with you, 'Mione." Her name was said with such spite.

"What are you talking about, Draco? Why are you mad at me now?" She asked. Before at least he was civil. What did I do now?

"I should have known better. When you didn't return and didn't return, I should have known you had taken up with someone. But I would have thought you'd write to tell me – us – that you were happy, at least. It's obvious – "

She broke in, "You think Seth and I are a couple?" This was said incredulously.

"Well, aren't you?"

She looked at Seth, who said, "Not bloody likely. I already have one girlfriend, thank you very much. I don't need two." Hermione was startled. Seth has a girlfriend?

Draco looked startled also. It's the new look for him. "But, he … he called you 'Mione."

She laughed bitterly. "Someone had to be told, Draco. I fell apart after singing with Ron. Seth was there to comfort me." She grabbed Seth's hand and squeezed it. Did I ever thank him for being there for me?

"Does he know everything?" Draco's eye's bore into her own.

"Draco, he already knew most of it. After all, he is a wizard, with a cousin in our class at Hogwarts." She smiled at Draco's astonishment.

"Maybe I should leave." Seth mumbled. "I just wanted to make sure you got home safely." He turned to leave.

"No. Stay – at least until you find out how Draco found me. You have the right to know, after the fit I threw at you today."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You threw a fit? Did you hit anybody this time?"

"No need. I was scary enough without striking someone." She shot back at him.

"I can imagine."

Seth looked back and forth between the two, a small smile on his face. "Are you guys sure you haven't been friends for forever?"

Draco's eyes dropped to the floor. "Things… changed for me after my father died."

There was a small pause; then Seth nodded. I'll stay, but only for the story about how you found her." He sat down in one of the arm chairs across from where Draco sat on the couch.

Hermione turned to Draco. "Well?"

Draco sighed. "It wasn't easy, Hermione. I searched for months anywhere I could think of – and always seemed to be a step behind you. Finally, I tracked you back to England, and there the trail went cold. I couldn't find a single lead. Then one night I stopped into a local bar – named Aria's." Hermione gasped.

"That night happened to be one where Aria dragged regulars up to sing with the band, and one girl – name of René Mighero – stole the thunder from everyone else. However, all I could focus on was her voice. It was nice, of course, or everyone wouldn't be so amazed by her. However, there was something bugging me about it – something I couldn't quite place. That night I went home, but couldn't sleep. The girl was still bugging me. Why couldn't I place her? Finally, around eight am, a song came on the radio – a song you used to sing under your breath all the time while preoccupied."

Hermione knew instantly which song he was talking about. "Smile." She breathed. Draco nodded in reply. At Seth's confused face, she said, "I sing it a cappella on the few occasions that I sing it at Aria's, Seth."

"Sing a little, to refresh my memory?" Seth asked. "It sounds familiar."

She nodded.

"Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile."

Seth nodded. "I remember it now." He turned to Draco. "Please continue."

Draco picked up where he left off. "The voice seemed to be the same to me. Of course, I had only heard Hermione sing quietly, when she thought I wasn't around, and it had been several years. So to make sure, I went back a few days later and requested 'Smile.' " He smiled at the memory, as did Hermione. Not a dry eye in the house that night either. "That clinched it – the girl known as René Mighero was Hermione Granger. I had found her."

"So why didn't you approach her then?" Seth asked.

"I thought she'd run again. Instead, I went to Ron." Did he just call him Ron? She wondered, before concentrating again on his story. He snorted. "Boy, was that a mistake. But finally I got through to him that I had found Hermione. He doubted me, so I told him to go to Aria's." At Hermione's gasp, he looked pleadingly into her eyes, and grabbed her hand. "Hermione – 'Mione. I was positive he'd recognize you. After all, I had, and I wasn't as close to you as he was. How could I know that he'd be the biggest fool in the world and not recognize his own best friend?"

She took a deep breath. "And when he didn't?"

"I followed you home to make sure you got home safe – although you were already in the capable hands of Mr. Goodman, I had to see for myself. Then I apparated home, only to be sent a scathing howler from Ron. It basically told me that he should have known I was up to my old tricks, and that he never wanted to hear from me again."

Seth shook his head in amazement, but didn't speak. After a moment, Draco continued.

"I continued to visit Aria's every night, gathering up my courage to speak to Hermione. And you both know when that happened."

Seth stood slowly. "If someone had told me before tonight that I might like Draco Malfoy, I'd have been amazed. However, slight misunderstanding set aside, I'm rather impressed. I think I'll leave you two alone to catch up, but I'm sure I'll see you again."

Draco stood up as well. "No hard feelings, then?"

Seth shook his head. "None at all." He turned to leave, but Draco stopped him.

"Stay.  After all, you already know everything about 'Mione.  You can hear this also."  Seth nodded slowly, sitting hesitantly on the chair again.  Hermione, on the other hand, was in shock. Why would he do all that for me? As she looked up at Draco, she felt she was about to get her answer.

"Draco," she ventured, "Why did you hunt for me? Why did you go try to convince Ron to see me?" She left unsaid the question that she wanted to ask the most – What's so important about me?

Draco looked up at the ceiling for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "'Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.'" He muttered.

"I beg your pardon?" She asked. What does that mean?

A/N: Yes, it's been a while, I know. I'm trying to upload, but my computer is being silly. Add to that the fact that I'm in Italy, well, it's a little harder here that one would assume. I've got another four chapters written, so just bear with me as I try to upload them.

Thanks to all of you reading this. It really means a lot to me.