Hermione pushed through the crowd of muggles clogging the shopping center as she sought out her favorite shop. She'd been in America for two years now, learning and searching. She'd almost given up hope, but she was determined to never admit defeat. Everyone had thought she was crazy to go looking for her old enemy after he'd disappeared… maybe she was. She couldn't let the injustice of it all go, though. He had been cleared, and then he'd been punished anyway.
The height of the weekend rush in New York City meant she was being constantly buffeted as she made her way, and she was often almost bowled over in her distracted state. When the glimmer of magic caught her eye, she turned her head toward a magical bookshop concealed between a Bath and Body Works and some hipster shop named Spencer's that always brought Sirius to mind. Her distraction was rudely ended when she slammed into a solid chest, entirely not paying attention to her steps.
“Hey! What's the big deal?” The voice that came from above her was distinctly American, and yet strangely familiar. She caught the scent of cedar and bergamot as she regained her balance and looked up at the man she’d run right into. When she met silvery gray eyes, she gasped audibly. The man's face crinkled in concern, one hand grasping her elbow as the other raked through untidy blonde hair.
“You good, miss?” He asked her, pulling her out of the flow of traffic to stand in front of the bookshop. Hermione gaped for a long moment, slowly reconciling that by some twist of fate she'd actually found him. Entirely by accident.
“I… yes, I'm sorry. I'm quite alright. Uh…” her mind raced to come up with a good segue; she didn't want to lose him now she'd just found him. “I'm Mia. What's your name?” He looked down at her, his silvery eyes inscrutable as he examined her face closely.
“Mia… huh. I feel like you're super familiar. Weird. I'm Drake.” He released her elbow to extend his hand to shake, and Hermione had to bite back an amused grin as she took his hand and shook firmly. He was so… American.
“Well, Drake… pleased to make your acquaintance. I don't suppose you'd have a moment to show a lonely tourist where she could find the best coffee nearby?” Drake grinned down at her before slinging his arm around her shoulder and guiding her down through the mall to his favorite local haunt. Hermione hoped that she could take this chance to figure out what had happened to him, but she wouldn't say no to getting his number as well. Now that she found him, she wasn't going to lose track of him again until she found out the reason why he disappeared, and why he'd forgotten her.