Lightning War

Part 2: And the Waiter is? (Hello, where is that darn waiter? I see you don't run from me! Wait, where are you going?)

Present time (again!)

Draco kept darting evil looks at Hermione, so she decided to speak up. "Boy am I starving! I hope they hurry up and bring my food. I do not see a big tip in my waiter's immediate future." She'd hoped her slight joke about Professor Trelawney's silly, meaningless predictions would lighten up the mood. She knew they both detested the woman. Apparently not. Draco just glared at her. So focused was he on his target that he did not even bother to reply. She studied him more carefully. Could it be that he had actually gotten paler? She deduced the effect to being a trick with the light--if Draco could get any lighter than his school days he'd be little more than blue and red veins.

Suddenly, Hermione sensed a power level outside the restaurant. It stopped in front of the door, then walked inside. The person was tall with short, black hair and a long coat just like hers, except he was wearing his (hers remained on the side of the chair). She knew him immediately: he was Methos (aka Adam Pearson), a sometime friend of Duncan's. He is the oldest known Immortal and is in hiding. He hadn't taken any heads that was known off by the council that kept a close eye on Immortals. He could easy cover his tracks if everybody thought he is an Immortal.

Methos saw Hermione and smiled warmly at her as he proceeded to sit down at her table. "Hermione, do you know where Duncan has gone?" Methos loved to talk to Duncan--sometimes for hours. Hermione did not care to hear him speak. Being polite just happened to be part of her charector, so she just listened most of the time.

She looked at him in wonder. Duncan, it seems, now had two guests to contend with: Amanda and Methos. "He just went home. I decided to get something to eat." She wanted Methos to leave. Why should she have to listen to him, if this is her last meal? Death by boredom.

Methos eyed the young man who did not take his eyes off Hermione. "Do you mind if I join you?" Hermione hoped that Draco would say something. However, the young man did not take his eye's of her. She could easily smell the food from the kitchen. It taunted her as she tried the concentrate on Methos.

Hermione looked at Draco warily, but ultimately decided that Methos would not let up until he got his way. "Sure, sit down." Methos sat in the empty chair next to Hermione.

Draco did not look at Methos. Methos felt inclined to speak up. "It seems that our latest ingenue has a very, shall I say intense? (pause for effect) Friend. Hermione, would care to introduce us?" Hermione looked as if Draco is going to kill her, why not know? Draco had to have some sort of weapon on him. The waiter would be a their table in close to never, so why not?

She looked into Draco's eyes and saw only hate. Non-plussed, she turned to Methos. "Adam, meet Draco Malfoy, a peer of mine in boarding school. Malfoy, meet my friend, Adam." She did not refer to him by his real name, Methos. She figured Draco didn't need to know that and did not care, anyway.

Methos noticed that Draco did not acknowledge his presence. Draco seemed to look so angry he could kill the object of his gaze, Hermione, at any moment. "Young man, your stare seems awfully intense, and your complete lack of manners is rather annoying, to say the least. I assume you do not intend to hurt Miss Granger?" Methos smiled lightly as he waited for a polite answer.

Draco slowly turned his head to study the man who spoke to him. "What's it to you?" Hermione did not expect kindness from Draco, however he could have just kept his mouth shut. She knew that Methos could talk for hours if he wanted.

Methos gave Hermione a very strange glance, who gave back a questioning look. "Well, I think that answers my question. Far be it from me to stop you. Go right ahead." He leaned back in his chair.

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Draco. "Adam would you like to flag down the waiter and order something?" Like that was going to work, she had been setting at the same table forever with any food.

Methos rolled his eyes back at her. "No, I want to see a dirty fight, no holds barred. Go on. What are you both waiting for?" If only Methos was not so powerful, she could just fed-ex his butt somewhere. It would not have to way on her continues to much. He is an immortal after all.

Hermione smiled and shook her head. "I'm not waiting for anything but my food. What are you waiting for? For me to lose and die? Sorry, Adam, it's too late to vote on the date of my death. Draco here has already decided I'm to die after enjoying a most scrumptious Chinese meal--assuming it ever gets here." She waved at her waiter, who pretended not to see her. Instead, the waiter just went back the kitchen.

Methos smiled and attempted to correct her. "Nonsense. I've even placed a bet in the office pool. If you were to die today, I'd lose a bit of money. But I'd enjoy a good show so it would more than make up for the bet." Of course, he would have a bet on her. All the watchers could be betting for their favorites in some way or another. She just hoped that she would not be hunted down to claim one of those bets.

Hermione just smiled. "The dividends of that bet will be long time coming." She was thinking more of the food then what could be happening with the watcher's counsel.

Methos grinned. "Don't be so sure, my dear." Before Hermione could come back with a retort, he got up and headed out of the restaurant.

Draco did not care at all or even note the banter. He simply watched in silence as the man left and the waiter, with much fear and trepidation in his face, finally brought her meal to her. "Sorry so late." He rushed out. She did not even guess what was going on in the kitchen, as long as she received her food, they could be doing anything.

Hermione watched Methos' retreating figure. She smirked at the fact that he was not only an Immortal but also a Watcher. It would seem strange to see an Immortal in the company of a Watcher, but not so much in Hermione's case. The watchers, for one thing, preferred to hang out in libraries, just like Hermione. Watchers are basically a society of Mortals who, well, like to keep track of the Immortals by logging their movements, actions, and number of heads taken. Methos was hiding out with the Watchers, unbeknownst to them. They had a rule never to interfere in the Immortals' lives, but they didn't know Methos was an Immortal. Pulling the ultimate fast one, he'd covered his tracks so well they'd stopped continuing logs on Methos, and Methos got himself assigned to his own logs! He could often be found doing research in libraries. Hence, he could talk to Hermione basically whenever he wanted without suppresion. Her own log was filled with visits to research one thing or another. Her own watcher even let down his guard enough to help her find rare books occasionally. Of course, Hermione did not realize he was her Watcher, she just thought he was being nice. She did not see him as following her, but rather as being a research buff much like herself.

Not surprisingly, her Watcher happened to walk into that very restaurant at that very moment. He tried t be as inconspicuous as possible, but Hermione saw him immediately. "Hey, Jacob. Why not sit down?" Jacob hesitated, but finally gave in and sat where Methos had. "So, how have you been?" Hermione was determined to lighten the mood as she sprinkled soy sauce on her rice.

Jacob smiled and flipped through a menu. "Oh, I'm okay. I'm researching some new material on a person. Very obscure, this person is." Hermione took another bite of her meal and thought about how much he sounded like Yoda from Star Wars.

Hermione's eyes lit up. "Looks like you'll be taking up residence at the library!" She would know it was more of a first home to her as well. Not a soul could pull her from the library. If hers was ever taken she hoped that the new owner would not care about being forced to go to the library more then most.

Jacob shrugged at Hermione, then turned toward her friend. "I was not aware you were dating someone. Am I not good enough for you?" He studied Draco for a second or two.

Hermione's mouth dropped at his candor. "You never asked me out! And I am not dating that." Her eyes briefly met Draco's. Than her eye's passed from her plate to Jacob. She did not even notice that Draco eyed her plate as well.

Jacob sighed with relief, knowing he was not behind on his research after all. "But he's here, meaning he's competition. I guess this means I must give you roses every time I see you." He gave a flirty smile that she did not respond to at all.

Hermione set down her fork. "Okay, Jacob, out with it. I know what this sort of flattery tends to mean. What do you want?" Since Jacob had shown no interest in her in the past, she knew he was up to something.

Jacob grinned. "Well, I am having trouble with my research..." She tried to listen to his conversation but she could not think about anything but the mouthwatering smell of her food.