A/N: THIS IS THE EDITED VERSION… read it first before proceeding to ch3

Before I continue, I have to say that I usually favour logical fictions as well… and I promise that the whole issue of magic will be solved at one point or another. No loopholes, and no unsolved problems. Just keep reading.

Hermione Granger stared at the airport electronic display and groaned. Her plane wasn't arriving for another hour and a half. Hermione's aunt had told her that the plane would be departing at least forty minutes earlier. True, the relative did have terrible eyesight. She had probably mistaken West Jet for Air Canada. Hermione shrugged and eyed a Second Cup restaurant nearby. She thanked her stars for her recent discovery of caffeine and immediately gathered her purse and boarding pass. A double-double with whipped cream to the top… it was rather fortunate she had traveled to America.

A patch of vivid blonde hair suddenly caught her attention and she squinted for a better look. The fair straightened locks looked rather familiar. But no, it was impossible… it couldn't be. Seeing this particular man inside anything remotely Muggle was simply a paradox of the laws of life. Her jaw dropping slightly, Hermione remembered when she had seen this man last.

He had been at an inquest, a trial three months ago. The man had been charged of rape, several counts of murder, Death Eater fellowship and most surprisingly, three assists in murder: one of Albus Dumbledore, one of Lucius Malfoy and one of Lord Voldemort himself. Harry had killed both Lucius and Riddle, but Draco had given him the relevant information: Voldemort's location, his weaknesses, his closest circle, and even down to Lucius's usual hangouts. Draco Lucius Malfoy had been pardoned, and no one had seen him since.

But Hermione had not been fooled. Draco was not a follower. He was a brat, an obnoxious git whose pleasure rose from teasing and bullying. His level of immaturity was astounding. When Hermione had attempted to create some sort of truce between them, he had behaved as if her open hand was a Flobberworm. And he had spit on her, called her a Mudblood and left. Draco Malfoy had not lost his sense of prejudice and Hermione was certainly not happy to see him. Malfoy himself was attempting to fit into the bustling crowd, eying his boarding pass skeptically and walking towards her. He had obviously not seen her; his eyes were still fixed on his ticket.

It was almost as if he was hiding something. She hastily admonished herself for her recurring suspicious thoughts. Hermione quickly assessed the situation and then decided what she should do. There was nothing to lose, and nothing to gain – except for seeing the almighty Draco Malfoy flustered. She couldn't resist. She smiled wickedly and walked right up to him.

"Hello Malfoy." Her voice was calm and confident, yet her face was rather blank.

Draco's eyes widened comically. She had obviously shocked him, and he had the look of a mouse caught by a cat.

"Mu-… er- Granger."

"What on earth are you doing here?" She could tell that he was fighting the direct impulse to scream that it was none of her business.

"Actually, I'm—"

…

"Stop! Freeze!" The crowds parted rapidly, and Hermione and Draco stood still. A policeman grabbed Draco's hands roughly and forced them behind his back.

"Are you Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes – yes I am. What's going on here?"

"Draco Malfoy, you have been charged with obstruction of justice, theft and illegal entry into the United States of America. You have the right to remain silent…" Hermione stared at the struggling boy with a disapproving sort of look. He had only been in America for a month at the most, and he was in trouble again.

"Ma'am, do you know this man"

"Err…" For once, she was speechless. If she said yes, they would name her as an accomplice. If she said no, they would question the meeting between the two archenemies, and she would be forced to reveal that they met at Hogwarts. They would look up the school, and naturally find no Muggle records of –

"I'm going to have to take you in for questioning ma'am."

"Officer Carlton!"

The police-man turned around.

"How pleasant to see you here. Oh… do you know Hermione?" She stared at the new man, who was now grinning at her. She was quite certain she had never seen him in her life. He was very charming and handsome. Hermione quickly stored that information at the back of her mind and remained alert.

"Uhh…"

"Hermione is a friend of a friend Carly… don't you remember Harry Potter?" Hermione glanced at him sharply. This man knew Harry? Was he even a Muggle?

"Yes, as a matter of fact."

"Well Hermione here is involved in a new case of mine… you weren't about to take her in for questioning were you? Carly, Carly, Carly… does she even look harmful at all?"

"I'd have you know that –" Draco had finally started talking, and she was sure that he was going to talk about Hermione's sole use of the Imperius curse against Severus Snape.

"-- she played pranks on you in school?" Something had happened. The man's eyes which had primarily given off a charming and easy-going tone had suddenly turn cold. Hermione was glad that she wasn't on this man's bad side, and was even more happy that he was defending her.

In a flash, he was charming again. "Must we continue? I'm sure we all have appointments to consider… this is an airport after all." Officer Carlton lead Draco away, and Hermione's archenemy sent her a hateful look.

"Thank you"

"Not at all… just saw that one of Harry's old friends were here. How is he? I haven't seen him for nearly four years."

"You knew Harry?"

"Yeah… he was only ever on Privet Drive in the summer though."

"Ahh.. well, he's around."

"I see. He talked about you, you know."

"Really?"

"Yes. He said that you and Ron Weasley were his best friends… and that he wouldn't have made it through life without you two. Well, he said it to anyone who wanted to listen." Hermione had grown a bit sad, and the man changed the topic.

"Well anyways, it was nice meeting you Hermione…"

"You too… Wait, I never got your name!"

"Oh sorry about that…. Jackson Rippner."

"I see… well thanks for everything…I'd better check in then. Only a couple of hours until my flight… flying's horrible nowadays."

"Yeah it's true, the security is pretty bad… especially with that bomb plot a few months ago."

"Were you in London then?"

"No… I didn't come until a week and a half later."

"I see… I was in London, but luckily not at the airport… it's certainly mad the way things have been happening lately"

Hermione smiled after this comment and squinted at the flight schedule.

"Hey my flight…"

Her flight number was not listed on the schedule.

"What's wrong?"

"Flight 18A… it's not on the electronic flight board!"

"That's strange…" Jackson looked genuinely worried. "Maybe-"

"Oh it's back again. Why is it flashing?"

"I'm not sure… Sir? Sir!"

"Yes M'am"

"Do you work here?"

"Yes I do."

"Do you know why that flight is flashing"

The man's eyes widened…

"I have no idea… as far as I could tell, it's only coloured red when it's delayed."

Jackson chuckled. "Like magic isn't it?" Hermione looked at him sharply, but then relaxed… he didn't seem to hint anything by that particular comment.

"I'm on the same flight actually"

"Really? Business or pleasure"

Jackson smiled. "Both."

A/N: Jackson never lies. If you look at his dialogue carefully, you'll find out that he does admit he knows Harry… but he says he knows him from around the "neighbourhood"… not necessarily Privet Drive. Also, Jackson knows that Harry used to talk about Ron and Hermione all the time, but he never admits that Harry talked about them to Jackson himself.