Disclaimer: See Prologue
Natalie Skywalker- I'm glad you like it, really. HGSS pairings are some of my favorites, too.
Alenor- Lol. I don't think that Mione is quite ready to come back yet...remember, she was terribly hurt. Even if she was overreacting due to the pregnancy.
DarkLady4- Cliffhangers ARE evil, aren't they. Oh well. I like leaving people hanging...it makes me laugh. Besides, that gives them the chance to anticipate what's next.
Kerrie-A- Yes, Beg! Bow! Kiss my feet! Lol. Okay, you don't have to beg. Here's your update.
Futbolchick- I guess you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?
twylla- It's MEANT to follow the movie. That was the whole purpose of writing this.
Sesshomaru-is-my-master- I'm glad I have you hooked. Keep reading and reviewing and I'll be a happy author!
Fichtel- Well, I guess you'll have to find out. And yep, Sev turned up. He'll be here a lot more from here on out.
RipleyRowenBlackheart- Glad you like it!
Anarane Anwamane- I intend to. When I finish this, I may even post a sequel about Cody.
USTMistress- Glad you enjoy it. Keep reading!
hiyahpfan- Here's your update. Muah!
WiccaWitch- It was a sitter. As in babysitter. Not a sister. o.O
Thanks for your Reviews!
Allison
Chapter 4
Cody was the one who broke the ice, scrambling to his mom and demanding to be picked up. Blaise and Ginny's eyes were drawn to the toddler and they blinked, mentally comparing this mothering, loving woman to the cold, unemotional ice queen that they'd gotten to know in Hogwarts. Shrugging the whole situation off as coincidence, they followed Draco over.
Crystal was holding Cody on her right hip, and when she reached out, it was with her left hand. "Hi. I'm Crystal Rogers."
"Ginny Weasley." Ginny said, taking her hand before sliding into the booth.
"Blaise Zambini." Blaise mimicked Ginny. Draco slid into the booth, giving Crystal the outside so that she was close to Cody...who she settled into the High Chair. Lunch went quickly and all too soon for Crystal's taste she was watching the three of them walk down the street. As soon as they were out of sight, she turned and walked back towards the apartment complex.
"So? What do you think?" Draco asked.
"It's a long shot...but I recall hearing Hermione say one time that her mother's maiden name was Rogers." Ginny said. "She and her mother weren't all that close to that side of the family...but they kept in touch from time to time...so maybe this Crystal will know where to find Hermione."
"So we tell Dumbledore, then." Blaise said. It was more of a question than a statement.
"So we tell Dumbledore." Ginny agreed...apparating. The other two looked at each other for a moment before following suit.
That night, Crystal went to work cheerful, despite all that was happening. She got into the swing of things smoothly, and though she didn't dance with the other girls, she was just as loved as the shy one. At least, that's the way most of the people thought of her. She smiled and flirted with a few of them, no more. She laughed softly as she watched Michelle, cursing, throw some ice over a few men's heads for grabbing at her legs. She was having a blast...then disaster struck. The place was unusually crowded and the police had been called. Three of them came in, and Tiff jumped from the bar to help Ty herd them back out. Michelle and Amy were still dancing, but Michelle hopped back behind the bar and began serving. A group of men seized Amy's legs and pulled her off of the bar, screaming.
Michelle spotted this and vaulted over the bar, balling up her fists and beginning to punch. Ty had long since left Tiff's side to break up the fights that were breaking out everywhere in the place, and he began fighting his way over to the two Coyotes as well. Crys jumped up onto the bar with the ice bucket and threw it over the men's heads...trying to get them to let go of Amy to no avail. She looked around, searching for a way to calm down the bar.
"TY!" Tiff shouted from the doorway. "WHERE ARE MICHELLE AND AMY!"
"I DON'T KNOW!" He yelled back, still trying to break up the fights.
Crystal's eyes were drawn to the microphone that they kept in the bar. A Gretchen Wilson song that she'd just been singing along with earlier that day to Cody to make him laugh was playing on the jukebox. She picked up the mic, slowly, and took a deep breath. This was no coffee-house competition. This was straight up crowd singing...the kind that she'd froze during when she'd been pregnant.
She took a deep breath and began to sing.
"Well I'm an Eight ball shootin double fisted
Drinkin son of a gun!
I wear my jeans a little tight
Just to watch the little boys come undone.
I'm here for the beer and the ball bustin band
Gonna get a little crazy just because I can!
You know I'm here for the party!"
She began to dance, swinging her hips and moving around with the beat...letting the beat rule her...something she hadn't done since she'd left the band.
"And I ain't leaving till they throw me out
Gonna have a little fun gonna get me some
You know I'm here,I'm here for the party
I may not be a ten but the boys say I clean up good!"
The fights stopped, slowly, as the men began to stare at her. Michelle had made it to Amy and the two of them watched as well.
"And if I gave'em half a chance
For some rowdy romance you know they would!
I've been waiting all week just to have a good time
So bring on them cowboys and their pick up lines!
You know I'm here for the party
And I ain't leaving till they throw me out!"
She slid a hand up into her silky hair...revealing her bare, perfectly tanned shoulders and stomach, swinging her hips around. She was in a pair of tight fitting boot-cut jeans that hung over her high heeled black leather boots easily. It had been hot, so she'd taken her jean jacket off earlier and was in a tank top that was little more than a bra.
"Gonna have a little fun gonna get me some
You know I'm here,I'm here for the party
Don't want no purple hooter shooter just some
Jack on the rocks
Don't mind me if I start that trashy talk!
You know I'm here for the party
And I ain't leaving till they throw me out
Gonna have a little fun gonna get me some
You know I'm here,I'm here for the party
You know I'm here for the party
And I ain't leaving till they throw me out
Gonna have a little fun gonna get me some
You know I'm here,I'm here for the party! "
She froze in space and the entire place cheered.
"Start shuttin it down, Tiff!" One of the cops said, sternly. Tiff was smiling and clapping along with everyone else.
"You got it!" She called.
That night, after the place closed down, Crystal was leaning against the bar on a stool. Amy was stretched out on the bar and Tiff was leaning against a pole. Michelle was sitting on the bar as well, leaning against the wall at the end of it. "Did you see the way they watched you?" Amy asked, smiling. "They wanted you, honey." She stretched. "They wanted you bad."
"I can already see the grammies now..." Tiff said.
"She sang along with a jukebox." Michelle said.
Tiff laughed. "Come on, Michelle. Admit it. She saved you out there."
"She just saved me from beating up a few punks, that's all." Michelle said.
"Oh come on, guys...it was a one time thing." Crystal said, smiling. They turned to look at her. "That I have to repeat like, every night!" The others laughed.
Crystal laughed as well and stood up, beginning to clean up. "What's wrong with you?" Tiff asked.
"Nothing...I just feel like moving." Crys said, grinning as she began tossing beer bottles into the trash. Tiff laughed and stood up on the bar, swinging around it.
"Everybody say hello to London! The singing Coyote!" She called. Crys laughed.
"I'm a coyote?" She asked.
"You deserve it." Tiff said, smiling. Crys grinned and continued her work.
Life soon settled into a routine...especially once Anne arrived in New York. Crys would sleep until about noon before she'd wake up and do whatever chores needed done around the house. She'd then take Cody out to the park or somewhere to give Anne a break and the three of them would eat dinner together before Crystal went to the bar. She was making more money than she had since she'd left the band, and soon she was able to set aside some for not only a retirement fund for herself but for a school fund for Cody as well. True to her word, she danced and sang every night with the other girls...her shyness seemingly demolished completely by that one performance.
"It's official." Severus told Albus, miserably. "Anne Granger has disappeared."
"Are you sure, Severus?" Albus asked.
"What do you mean 'Am I sure'!" Severus began pacing. "She and I have tea every other Thursday. It's happened like clockwork since Hermione disappeared!" He raked a hand through his hair in anguish. "Until two weeks ago! I shrugged it off at first, but when the second Thursday came around and there was still no word, I called her! Albus, the bleeding line was disconnected!"
"Would you like me to send Draco to look into it?" Albus asked, calmly.
"I already did, Albus." Severus bowed his head. "All of her things are gone. The house is practically empty!"
"Then we can only assume that Anne has joined Hermione wherever she went." Albus said. "I'm sorry, Severus."
"But Albus!"
"There is nothing we can do, Severus!" Albus said. Frustrated, Severus stormed out. Albus sighed deeply and looked over at the shadows. "Draco, I think it is time to approach Ms. Rogers about her family."
"Alright..." Draco said. "But if it blows my cover..."
"It very well might." Albus said. "But there is little else that we can do. Severus is driving himself crazy."
"I suppose you're right. I'll do it..." Draco said, sighing and following his old Head of House's path, turning away from the dungeons and going to the Teacher's Lounge to floo back to his flat.
Once there, he called Crystal. A warm, older voice came over the line...a very familiar voice. "Hello?"
"Um...Hello. Is Crystal there?" Draco asked.
"Hold on, Dearie..." The phone was set down and Draco heard. "Crystal! Phone!"
"Coming!" A few moments later, the breathless voice of Crystal answered. "Hello?"
"Hi, Crystal? It's Draco Malfoy."
"Oh, Hi Draco!" Crystal said, eyes widening in surprise. She waved away her mother's suspicious look. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I was going to be in town tomorrow night and I was wondering if we could get dinner or something."
"Well...I have to work tomorrow..."
"Lunch then!" He said, "Please?"
"Alright...I'll meet you at Billy's Diner at noon." She relented, sighing.
"Thank you. I'll see you then."
"Right, yeah. Bye." She hung up and turned to her mom. "What?"
"You didn't say you'd kept in touch with Draco, Hermione." Anne took a deep breath to begin a lecture before Crystal cut her off.
"CRYSTAL, Mother. And I didn't. He 'met' me at the competition that I won in order to get the money to fly you down here." Crystal said, grabbing a doughnut for breakfast. "God, what time is it?"
"It's eight."
Crystal groaned. "I'm going to be sooo dead tonight. I'm going back to bed. Night..."
Anne watched her in amusement.
The next day, Crystal walked with Cody into Billy's Diner. Anne was going to lunch with a few ladies her own age that she'd met and made quick friends with. Crys suspected that there was a handsome middle-aged man in the bargain, too, but if so, her mother wasn't telling. Smiling to herself, Crystal took her son back to their corner booth and put him in a high chair, stretching and turning to converse with Tom. Bill had been sick that morning, she learned, so Tom was managing the store himself that day. Crystal wished him luck and smiled as she saw Draco come in. Sitting down beside Cody, who was scribbling with crayons on a coloring book that Anne had insisted on getting him, she watched the young man. He seemed...haunted.
"Crystal..." He said, sitting and taking her hand. "I do not want to have to ask this...but circumstances have made it to where I can no longer avoid it." His intense eyes met hers. "Are you related to the Grangers of London? I know your accent is English, but..."
Whatever else he said was lost on Crystal. She took a long drink of her soda to gain her time to think of her reply. "I might have heard of some long lost relatives in London with a last name like that...why?" She asked, slowly.
"My best friend from school was a girl named Hermione Granger. She once told our friend Ginny- yes, the same one that you met- that her maiden name was Rogers. Since your last name was Rogers, I thought..."
Crystal arched one eyebrow. "Maybe you'd better tell me the entire story." She said.
"I made some stupid mistakes. Hermione and I were enemies until our Sixth year, and then she and her friend Ginny became great friends with Blaise and I. Ginny and Blaise were best friends, and Hermione and I were best friends. We started a band...and we were really good...got a few hits...etc etc." He smiled sadly. "And then she got pregnant. And froze up on stage. We blew five concerts because of it, and so I kicked her out. Even though she was the one to organize, name, and start the band...even though she was the one who wrote all of our songs...she left. I had another girl from school sing with us. By the end of the first rehearsal, we kicked her off. We took it for granted that Hermione would be back the next day to rub our noses in it...but when she still hadn't appeared three days later, I went looking for her to apologize."
He sighed and looked blankly into the soda that he'd been brought. "There was no sign of her. I haven't seen her since. I never got to tell her how much I loved her...how badly I wished I could take back those words." Shaking his head, he continued. "That was three years ago...now her mother, Annelise, has disappeared. I would let her go without a fight...but my friend Severus was in love with Hermione. He didn't even know he was going to be a father until after she disappeared. It tore him apart that he would never be able to see her again." He laughed, though it was more of a sob. Crystal suspected, knowing Draco as she did, that he'd never talked about it until now. "He and Anne had tea every Thursday. Three weeks ago was the last time she made their date. He got worried, of course, and checked on her...and it was Hermione all over again...she was gone without a trace. You're our only clue, Crystal."
"Nana!" Cody cooed, watching Anne glance into Billy's, see Draco, and hurry across the street and into the Apartment Complex.
Crystal and Draco both looked to the toddler, and Crystal nodded. "Good idea, Cody." She looked up at Draco. "I'll ask my mom about it. She'll know, even if I don't..." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, Draco." She smiled and then turned to Tom to order lunch for her son and herself. Draco ordered as well, and soon they were going their separate ways once more.
"You'll call me when you know something?" He looked so worried that she smiled.
"Yes, Draco, I'll call you when I know one way or the other."
"I never asked you this...but how old is Cody?" He asked, looking down at the boy that he'd grown rather fond of.
"Oh, he's three." She said, softly, handing her son a sippy cup full of juice. Leaning over as she did, she missed Draco's look of shock and slight suspicion before she stood back up. "Anyway, I'll see you later, Draco." She took off across the street as Draco disappeared around a corner, disapparating with a pop.
"WHAT!" Severus roared.
"Nothing is certain, Severus. She could very well just be a cousin of Hermione." Albus cautioned. Severus had been there when Draco had burst through the doorway, screaming something about Crystal Rogers being Hermione Granger, a son being three, and how she'd been in New York the entire time.
"Anything is something, Albus. I have to go." Severus said, desperately. "Draco, what club did you say she was working at?"
Draco shifted nervously. This didn't seem like the greatest idea in the world, now... "Coyote Ugly."
"Severus, it may not be her, and if you scare her, you'll lose your last link to Hermione!" Albus tried again.
"It's her...I know it." Severus said, stubbornly. "It's gotta be her!" He ran out in a billow of robes.
Albus turned dark, angry eyes to Draco, who sighed and shook his head. "Heaven have mercy on him if he pisses Crys off..." He whispered. He'd stayed in New York for a month...long enough to very nearly confirm his suspicions, and long enough to have seen Crystal get angry. It would not be pretty, if she and Severus were to clash.
"I am so dead..." Draco groaned.