CHAPTER I - Lost memories

The sound of the bell on the door indicating that someone was entering the store, called Hermione' s attention towards the balcony to see if her partner was there to greet the customer . Her attention quickly returned to what she was doing as soon as she confirmed that her colleague was indeed there.

she continued organizing the books but couldn't help listening to the customer that as soon recognized to be a woman with a voice as soft as silk. the woman was asking for a book that could help her find her way around the city, opposite from her , her colleague didn't seem at all curious as Hermione herself was dying to know why – was she from another town ? another country? - after wondering for a couple of minutes she heard her partner answering that the section that she was looking for was actually in the back of the store, she would listen to the footsteps furthering from the balcony .

Hermione couldn't resist but try to take a look at the customer as she knew would be going to the back of her store. Cautiously looking back to see what her partner was doing -glad to see that she was giving her full attention to her computer screen – Hermione then stood up , having finished putting the books in the correct place , and slowly walked towards the back of the store . Of course the store wasn't that big but Hermione was quite proud of what she could achieve on her own ,true she had had help from her parents, but it was all her that chose the place, organized, got the books and everything else . the store was her second home , actually her apartment was on the second floor but even being a store it felt as much of a home as her apartment. everything in wood and with a combination of red and yellow that she had always been fond of. she could easily go anywhere she wanted within the walls of the store with her eyes closed. so soon she found herself one shelf away from the row that had the New York books . she didn't know why she was hiding between shelves to take a glimpse of the customer whose voice had captured the brunette's attention.

she didn't have a clear view of the woman but she could see blond hair shinning as much as the sun , she could also see that the bland was a bit taller than her or so it seemed . suddenly the woman turned almost as if she had felt the store's owner looking at her . Hermione couldn't move, she felt her heart almost leaving her chest, she had now our idea of what a kid that had been doing something wrong felt when caught red handed. She felt so ashamed she did the only thing she thought possible, she hid. She let her body fall all the way to the floor with her back to the shelf as if trying to find something to prevent her from actually falling, finding harder and harder to breath, she felt her blood freeze as she realized that the woman she had been observing just 2 minutes ago was now at the end of the same now as she was looking at her with an expression that shock wouldn't begin to cover.

The blond woman, that Hermione now had a full vision, was extremely beautiful, model beautiful even. Hermione found herself analyzing the other woman's features. Blue eyes that were now wide open, her mouth half opened in a way that the brunette would dare say it was surprise although she had a hard time understanding why the model like women would be surprised to see her. Probably it was the fact that she was stalking her, that's it! She thought to herself, she felt violated, it had to be. Both women lost track of time staring at each other. The blond frozen in shock looking at the shorter brunette sitting on the floor, leaning back on the shelves looking at the first woman as if she was analyzing a piece of abstract art, though beautiful also hard to understand. The two continued thatway until the bell on the door rang again calling them back to reality.

Hermione quickly got up and started apologizing

"I'm sorry, I was .., hum "

" Hermione?!" the blond managed to speak, but the expression of shocked wouldn't leave her face. In the other end of the staring the owner of the store was taken aback by the fact the the other knew her name and furthermore, said as if she knew her. Hermione's mind quickly started seeing through her memories trying to find at least one second of memory that had the blond in it, but found nothing, she was sure she had never seen the woman before. she would remember of such a person wouldn't she?

'I'm sorry, but how do you know my name?" she managed to ask still trying to remember at the same time.

"you have no idea who I am?" The woman asked in a French accent but still surprised by the fact that she didn't remember the French woman her tone was almost of offended by it but sad at the same time. She got closer to the store owner trying to believe that she was indeed seeing the girl there in flesh and bones. As she drew closer to the brunette but stopped when heard the woman that had talked to her before.

"Jane! Come here please'' The French woman hesitated and she didn't recognize the name

"One second" Hermione answered Without breaking the eye contact

"I've got to go see what that's about'' she said measuring her words "But I'd like to talk to you, that is if You don't have anywhere to be." But turned away before the French woman could answer but hoped she would stay Even though she called her by her first name and nobody actually did that, in fact most people didn't even Knew her first name. she went on thinking about on her way to the counter.

After helping a costumer, Hermione quickly returned to the place she was before only to find a note on a book that was on the floor at the exact spot the elegant woman was before.

I'm truly sorry I couldn't wait for you

to come back. But I too, would like to continue our talk.

Meet me at 8a.m. tomorrow at the coffee shop

in front of central Park.

F. D.

Hermione read the beautiful handwriting paying attention to the signature.. F. D.

What did then stand For, who was this woman, how did she know my name so many questions running through her mind, it was 6. Pm. The store would soon be closed.

''Alicia, it's ok, I'll close for today. You can go home" she said waving her colleague goodbye.

With that, Alicia, that had been working with Hermione for the past year said her goodbyes and left Hermione all by herself wondering about the blond woman.

Hermione did everything she needed, closed the store and went upstairs but something deep inside her mind was telling her that sleeping tonight would probably be not so easy, if possible at all.