Something new! Let me know what you think. Also, I still own nothing.

Chapter 1

"We've had reports of illegal uses of magic in front of muggles," Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic, announced.

Hermione Granger, quill in hand, quickly jotted down the information the Minister gave. Following a brief stint in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, she transferred to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. It often fell to her to investigate improper uses of magic in the muggle world. With rapt attention, she listened as Kingsley gave the little details he had - Soho, occurrences happening only late at night, exact location unknown.

When the briefing ended, Shacklebolt asked Hermione to stay behind. They had been quite close over the years, having fought with the Order of the Phoenix in the Battle of Hogwarts. Kingsley Shacklebolt, despite the intimidating figure he cut, was a jovial, good-natured man who cared for his employees. "You look tired," he commented.

He was right, of course. Just a week prior, her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Ron Weasley, had ended, and her lack of interest in having children was the final nail in the coffin. Ron wanted a family, and he wanted one right away. It was an amicable split, but they had yet to reach the point where they could be friends again. The break up was still too new, too raw, and Hermione was uncomfortable around Ron.

Not that she would tell the Minister of Magic any of that.

"I'm fine," she replied. "It's just been busy."

Kingsley nodded, knowing there was more to it than that. "If you don't want to take this case, you don't have to," he told her. "We both know you're the right person for the task, but I don't want you to feel pressured to take it."

Shaking her head, Hermione smiled. "No, I'll do it," she agreed. Anything to take her mind off Ron. "Besides, I always jump at the chance to spend some time in the muggle world."

Handing over a thin folder that contained the little information they had on the case, he bid her goodbye. Sitting down at the conference table, she opened it and began to read. It was minutes later when she realized she wasn't alone, but that Harry Potter, the Head Auror, had joined her.

"Kings assigned me to your new case," he announced, taking a seat beside her. "I hear we're going to Soho. Bring money, because after the week I've had, I intend to drink."

Brown eyes narrowed reproachfully on him. "You'll be working," she reminded him.

Harry shrugged and removed his round, wireframe glasses. "That doesn't mean we have to work all night," he pointed out. "As good as we are, we'll have the case solved and the wizard in a holding cell before nine o'clock."

She couldn't disagree with that. Since her reassignment, Harry and Hermione had the best case record among active employees. They had always worked well together, and Kingsley knew that the best chance for success rested on their shoulders. And the Granger/Potter team delivered time after time.

"Fine, one drink," she relented. "But only after we've wrapped this case up. Please don't overdo it."

Agreeing, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Will there ever come a day you stop looking out for me?" he wondered.

Smiling up at him, Hermione shook her head. "No," she replied. "Even when I'm dead, I intend to haunt you to make sure you're eating right and taking your vitamins."

Getting to his feet, Harry laughed. "Come on, I'll buy you dinner," he suggested. "Two single folk sometimes need a little company. Then we'll go catch ourselves a bad guy."

Not long before Ron and Hermione's relationship ended, Harry broke up with Ron's sister, Ginny. Their relationship had been on and off for years, but now it seemed they were officially over. Anger was a quick emotion in the Weasley household, and upon learning of the break ups, Harry and Hermione were no longer asked to attend family gatherings as they had before.

"Sounds good," she agreed.

After dinner, the pair made their way to Soho to begin the investigation. The streets were crowded as patrons waited in line for clubs and bars to open. There was no sense of magic in the air, and after an hour, they felt like giving up. "Maybe we're in the wrong area," Harry suggested. "Want to call it quits?"

Hermione shook her head. She had read and reread the case file, and they were in the right location. "You go," she decided. "I think I'll stay around a little while longer. It beats going home, anyhow."

He didn't want to leave her, but Hermione insisted. Not wanting to fight, Harry made her promise to call before he wished her a good night and went home. Now alone, Hermione wandered the streets of Soho, careful to avoid the intoxicated as the night went on. The darker the night grew, the brighter the lights became. It was then she spotted the bright neon lights of a club not far away. It was called The Pink Panther, and something about the crowd drew her in. The line wasn't long, so Hermione waited her turn, paid the cover charge, and went inside. Taking a seat near the back, she ordered a soda, and waited for something...anything to happen.

A dark stage was set up at the front, and as she sipped her drink, she wondered what the night's performance would be. The lights slowly rose on the platform, and in the center stood a tall man with his back to the crowd. The music began, a deep bass that throbbed loudly, making Hermione's heart pound. The louder the music grew, the more noise the mostly female crowd made until they drowned out all other sound. It seemed to be the man's cue, and he turned, smiling at the crowd, and began to dance.

Hermione watched in awe. The dancer was tall with broad shoulders and pale skin. Dark brown locks were gelled back to keep them out of his eyes, the color of which Hermione couldn't determine from such a distance. As the song continued, she realized his shirt and trousers, a western cowboy theme, were gone. Looking away, she blushed as it finally occurred to her that The Pink Panther was a strip club.

The air tingled then, and she glanced up just in time to see the dancer disappear. Sparks and smoke accompanied the trick, but Hermione knew they were just a disguise for magic. She had found her suspect. Now, she just needed to apprehend the dancer, which would be no easy task.

"Miss?"

Glancing up, Hermione was met by a large, muscular man in a t-shirt that looked to be three size too small for his bulging arms.

"Come with me please," he said as she stared at him with wide eyes. "Xander wants to meet you."