The Truth Hurts

"Good morning, Mrs. Hoyt," said a man, who was in his late-twenties and had a slight American accent.

The elderly woman smiled. "Hello, Ayden. How are you?"

The brunette shrugged his shoulders. He was the owner of a striving bookshop...what more could he say? "I just got a new shipment in the other day. The eight edition of 'Hogwarts: A History' just came in, too." He turned and grabbed a book. Then the phone rang. "Hold on a minute," he said to Mrs. Hoyt. "Thanks for calling Dragon Book Stop. How may I help you?" he answered the phone, only to hear silence. "Hello?"

A small, female voice answered. "Sorry...your voice sounded really familiar."

Ayden smiled. "I seem to be getting that a lot. What can I do for you, on this fine day?"

The woman on the other line said, "I was wondering....is the new edition of 'Hogwarts: A History' in stock?"

"Yes, it is. Just came in the other day."

The woman squealed. "Yay! I've been waiting so long for it!"

Ayden laughed. "You remind me of an old...friend. She loved it, too."

"Can you hold a copy for me? I can pick it up tomorrow."

Ayden grabbed a form. Pen ready, he said, "Sure...I just need your name."

The woman laughed. "It would be nice if I knew yours, too."

Ayden leaned on the counter and put a hand over the mouthpiece. "I think Maria is available, Mrs. Hoyt. I'm taking an order." He smiled, as the elderly woman moved on. "Okay...my name is Ayden... Ayden L'clair. And you are...?"

"Hermione...Hermione Granger."

Ayden dropped the phone. "Whoa...umm...my hand cramped up," he said, to an associate who gave him a strange look. He bent down, noticing that his hands were shaking, and picked up the phone. He cleared his throat. "Sorry about that...the phone slipped out of my hand."

"Oh...no problem," she said. "I guess I'll be in tomorrow."

Ayden pulled on the collar of his shirt. "Okay...I'll have it waiting for you." He hung up the phone and sat down on the floor. "What am I going to do?!" he asked no one in particular.

Maria leaned over the counter. "You okay, boss? You look a little pale...umm...paler than usual, that is"

Ayden gave her a look and then put his head in his hands. "I'm fine, except for the fact that the fates are against me."

"Okay...?" Maria turned away, to help another customer.

Ayden stood up and walked through the backroom, into the bathroom. After turning on the sink, he splashed some water on his face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Shit!" he exclaimed. He took a vial out of his pocket and downed the contents. He looked back at the mirror. "There...that's better." He turned and walked out. The situation had shaken him up a bit. 'I can't let that happen again, especially tomorrow. Hermione thinks I'm dead.' He thought back to what he had seen; a reflection long since forgotten...the face of Draco Malfoy.