Chapter Two: The Show

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting all this time." Hermione called out from behind the screen in her dressing room. "I'll be just a minute!"

Harry was sitting near the dressing table taking in his new surroundings. Hermione's dressing room was more like a large walk-in closet with many colorful and interesting outfits hanging everywhere. A large Victorian patterned screen took up the most room.

After a few moments, Hermione popped out from behind the screen wearing a traditional Scottish outfit complete with a short pleated skirt. She gave Harry a hearty salute.

"Well? How do you like me? Or don't you?" Hermione asked him playfully.

Harry gave her a small nod. Hermione smiled and sat down at the chair opposite from him.

"Good! Now talk to me. Why did you give them the slip up at the hospital? You don't like the place?" Hermione tilted her head, waiting for him to speak, "Well surely you ought not to be there. Well answer me! Cat got your tongue?" Hermione teased. She looked at him attentively and urged with a face of concern, "Come on," she pleaded, "make an effort."

"I'm alright really- my speech. Its just..nerves." Smith managed to utter.

"Well there now, you see? You're doing splendidly" Hermione encouraged.

"Yes, I wasn't so bad then, was I?" He relaxed a bit.

"I should say not"

"You don't know what a job I had trying," Harry told her, slightly grinning.

"Oh I could guess. I heard you back at the shop. Why that old witch could scare anybody," Hermioen laughed.

"There's another thing. I-I-I've lost my memory. I don't even know who I am."

"Well I know who you are, you're someone awfully nice." Hermione replied, "What did they call you at that place?"

"Smith," he answered, "But that's not my real name. What's yours?"

"Hermione. Hermione Granger. But that's not my real name either" she joked. "Wished it wasn't anyways. Although, I've always liked the name Paula," she pondered for a minute before focusing back on Harry, "Look here Smithy, you don't mind if I called you Smithy?"

He shook his head. Something about her made him feel comfortable and safe.

"Can't be good for you up there among all those poor souls. You can't be happy. And how are ever going to get better if you're not happy?"

"Perhaps I shouldn't be very happy anywhere just now," said Harry glumly.

"But Smithy! The war's over! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Hermione realized and frowned "Oh, I'm just silly, don't take any notice. The day, so splendid for most of us, and so sad for some. Why does it have to be all foggy and wet, when it should be full of sunshine!" She rambled on, "Oh never mind Smithy. We've met anyway haven't we? Have you no friends? No parents you can trace? Well have you tried?"

"Some people came to see me at the hospital, but I wasn't their son." Smith recalled sadly.

"I bet they were disappointed"

"Yes, I think so. I was too." Smith remembered, "I would have liked to belong to them."

"Oh Smithy" Hermione cried as she stood up from her seat. "You're ruining my make up." She spun around and wiped her face in the mirror. "My how you do chatter"

"Yes. I seem to have rather talked a lot," Harry noticed, surprised at himself.

"Oh that's me, I always bring people out." Hermione told him, "Much too fast sometimes."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Granger!" Someone shouted from the other side.

"Alright, thank you!" Hermione yelled back. She pushed her chair out. "Well I have to go perform now." She opened the door. "Smithy look, I'll put your chair outside. Come along." She dragged the chair out to the balcony and sat him down. "Now you can see the front of the stage from here. Nobody would bother you here. I'll be back in a couple of shakes. Are you alright?"

"Fine" said Harry, settling in his chair.

Hermione was hesitant to leave his side. She ran towards the stairs still facing him. At the last moment, she came back and asked "Sure?" She felt his forehead. "Seems kind of hot," she observed.

The music was getting louder. "Mione!" Ernie shouted from backstage.

Hermione quickly ran down to the stage.

Meanwhile, Harry sat still. His eyes never left Hermione. As she performed her act, he noticed a certain glow about her and he was intrigued. The cheering of crowd full of locals and Aurors in the audience only confirmed the fact.

Suddenly, a cold chill succumb him. As the show went on, Harry was unable to ignore the dizzy feeling that came over him. In a matter of minutes, Harry collapsed on the floor.