Chapter One
Hermione Granger was a simple, plain, no-nonsense sort of witch. She gave little thought to whether or not she was stylish or alluring when it came to her job as an Auror, nor did she learn much on the dream of being married with children running around as the rest of her friends had at this point in their lives. Harry and Ginny, for example, were happily married with a few sprogs of their own scurrying about. Even Ron, after spending the better part of his early twenties buried between a plethora of woman's legs,-including her own, managed to settle down. He plunged into marital bliss last fall with Pansy Parkison of all witches; absolutely no one saw that coming. Yes, the last ten years flew by far quicker than Hermione had anticipated, and while she sometimes queried if she would change her mind someday and perhaps want to start a family of her own; she was content in her simple, plain, no-nonsense sort of life.
Hermione smoothed out the small wrinkles that were barely visible on her dark Aurors uniform and roughly brushed her thick frizzy hair into a tight and polished French twist. She then slipped on the navy work boots that were sitting against the wall next to her bedroom door, lacing the bulky shoes up tightly and proceeded towards the kitchen. Harry would be flooing by shortly and most likely scarf down any food she had laying around. She would find herself with an angry stomach growling loudly during an important meeting, again, if she didn't hurry and get a bagel in her. Crookshanks loud yowling brought her attention to the cranky feline perched on the counter. The tremendous orange beast was pacing the length of the marbled bar, apparently perturbed she was running a few minutes behind schedule, and his impatience was quite comical.
"Me first you spoiled thing, otherwise it will be dinner time before I manage to snag something to eat." Hermione tutted at the cat, who gave her a look that definitely said: "I don't think so human, wheres my food?" She rolled her eyes and sighed, reaching for her wand and setting about to having magic settle the issue. A few simple spells and the grouchy cat was fed proper, though he could use skipping a meal or two if Hermione were to be honest. She was grabbing for the bagels when the sound of the floo activating alerted her to Harry's impending arrival.
"Damn," Hermione muttered, quickly finding the jam and smothering the pastry with it before she promptly shoved the whole thing in her mouth.
"Merlin Mione, you're worse than Ron sometimes." Harry snickered whilst dusting off his robes, a lopsided grin on his face as he watched Hermione devour the bagel.
"Well, if you've been stealing his food like you do mine, then I completely understand the attitude he has towards eating when you're near." She snorted, uncaring of the smear of jam stuck to the corner of her lips or the crumbs spewing from her mouth.
"Hey now, I don't always..."Harry started, before realizing she was right and decided on addressing the particulars of the case they were working on instead.
"So the Miss Witch Pageant is definitely the next target. Unspeakables Chang and Thomas put together a solid profile from the evidence gathered during the last few attacks and of course with the help of you deciphering the last letter. They are talking about sending someone in undercover, " Harry plopped on the couch and let out an uneasy sigh, "though, with the brutality of the previous assaults, I'm not confident we have anyone fully capable of handling anything that may crop up during the investigation." Hermione considered his words carefully, taking in his tired demeanor she concluded he hadn't slept the night before, neither had she. This case had taken a lot out of the whole department; they were all running on fumes and swallowing down pepper up potions like they were candy.
Everything had started with a mysterious letter sent to the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, two years ago informing him that if the Ministry didn't pay a grand sum of ten million galleons, -an attack on somewhere of great import, would occur. They were given a timeframe of two months and a key to the Gringotts vault in which they were to deposit the funds. Every curse-breaker, unspeakable, Auror and anyone else deemed of great intelligence was brought in; not one person could discern the origin of the letter nor did the vault yield any clues. The goblins, unfortunately, were under an ancient magically bound contract that required their silence on information pertaining to any of the vaults within the crumbling walls of the old bank. The Ministry even resorted to using veriterserum as a means around the contract on one of the Goblin Managers; it proved fruitless, severing the relationship between Gringotts and the Auror department in the process. That foolhardy tactic had cost them everything, Harry's celebrity no longer held the same clout as before and even he was banished from the grounds, meaning no one would be able to stake out the vault when the deadline came. Therefore the entire Wizengamot was called forth, and a vote presented; the results read aloud to a silent Ministry: All those in favor of paying the ransom-26, All those against-30.
On the eve of the deadline, August 18th, 2006, the entire wizarding community held its breath as the hours of the day ticked down until midnight. At precisely twelve am, their peaceful world exploded once again, in the form of a potionized bombarda hurtled through the windows of the east wing on the fourth floor of St. Mungo's. It was the curse malady wing, Neville's parents died that night, along with so many others loved ones.
That was only the first of many devastating attacks and the culprits never requested a ransom again. Instead, the criminals opted for terrorizing them with clues and chances to avert the next strike. So far Hermione had been the only one to figure a few of them out, though always a little too late. After the last explosion took out 25% of Diagon Alley three months ago, they decided drastic measures were to be taken and enlisted the help of a few unsavory inhabitants of Azkaban to track down any leads in exchange for lighter sentences. While unconventional yes, it proved incredibly informative and they were able to chase down a few leads on members of the group the papers dubbed "The Obsidian Initiative." Leads that let them know they were near the end of the terror, but the finale was going to be undeniably a major catastrophe, and this was to be their last shot at taking the Initiative down.
The newest clue arrived two weeks ago. Hermione spent countless hours pouring over the cryptic note and was able to determine that the next target would be the Miss Witch pageant, which was to take place next month. An endless parade of vapid women seeking a pretty sash and tiara declaring them the fairest in the land was the ideal breeding ground for inflicting the most damage. The pureblood darlings and their stuck up families would all be in attendance; the pageant was the last place in the world they could show off their bigoted children. Sure, a lot of families had reformed after the war; such as the Malfoys. However many still clung to their archaic beliefs, and the pageant was the perfect place to showcase their"good breeding".
"What about Cho? She trained with us in the academy, so shes adept and..."Harry shook his head no as she was speaking and held his hand up to stop her.
"Cho is pregnant. She just put in her notice."
"What part of the pageant are they trying to infiltrate? Catering? PR? The Judges? That would help narrow down who is available? Surely Malfoy could go under with polyjuice like he normally does?"Hermione rattled off, not understanding the dilemma of finding someone capable of handling themselves under pressure.
"Well with such short notice, we are left with one opening for implanting someone. Polyjuice is prohibited, so no, Draco can't help here. Though that would've been hilarious to see." Harry chuckled to himself, Hermione was tapping her foot impatiently awaiting Harry to finish his report. Failing to see what was so humorous.
"What are you so chuffed about?"
"Well, someone has to go under as a contestant...so, Draco prancing around in a shiny dress and trying to be a beauty queen, painted a hilarious picture." Harry suddenly had an image of a non-polyjuiced Draco in a bikini with his balls hanging out of a flashy silver thonged bottom, and his laughter immediately ceased.
"Oh Merlin no, bad, bad, baddddd mental image there." He shook his head furiously, attempting to rid himself of the imagery.
"You're welcome," Hermione smirked.
"Oy, I hate when you do that!"
"Well if you were being professional and relaid the information without being a child, I wouldn't have to project such awful thoughts into your head."
"Says the witch using her unnatural skills in Legilimency to fuck with her friend's heads."Harry muttered under his breath.
Hermione suddenly realized what Harry said about needing a contestant and shuddered, she knew where this was going and began glaring at him. Harry shrank down into the couch and smiled up sheepishly at her; there was a reason he came over this morning instead of waiting to talk to her at the meeting later on today.
"It was not my idea, just so you know," Harry threw his hands up in defense as the intense scrutiny of her gaze was making his skin crawl, "Draco is the one who ran a simulation spell on all the files of available and capable witches at the Ministry. You, my most beautiful and brilliant friend...was at the top of the very thin stack of possibilities."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up incredulously. The brunette witches breath hitched in her throat, and the look she leveled at him was vicious enough to make Harry's blood run cold. His heart began pounding in his chest so loud the erratic thumping was echoing in the silent home; Tom Riddle had nothing on a pissed off Hermione Jean Granger.
"Well," Hermione seethed, walking towards the fireplace and grabbing a handful of powder from the silver canister on top,"Let's go have a talk with Auror Malfoy about this little discrepancy."
"Auror Department, Level 5." Hermione practically growled, before disappearing into the dark flames.
"Salazar save Draco."Harry gulped, following behind Hermione and stepping out into the busy Lobby of the Ministry's Auror department.
The entire crowd of various Aurors and Ministry employees noticed the way she was stomping towards them and practically dived to get out of the angry witches way. Hermione was wearing her "I'm going to kill someone in a slow and tortured manner" look, and no one wanted to be in that line of fire.
Harry was hurrying behind her and trying his best to somehow get a message to the man with whom her current quarrel was with. He thought he finally snuck a Patronus charm past her, but the blue stag didn't go unnoticed, and Hermione merely quickened her pace in response.
Draco stepped calmly out of his office after the shimmering stag had informed him of Grangers impending arrival, a smug grin on his face and awaited with glee the onslaught of witty insults and death threats. He and Granger had danced this dance plenty of times before, and this time he had already gotten his way. He slid a folder from beneath his arm and triumphantly presented it to the red-faced Hermione when she finally reached him. "Read," He demanded before she had a chance to berate him in front of the growing crowd around them. Hermione ripped the folder from his hands and stared down in horror,"You arrogant nob headed son of a Hippogriff, you already got this approved!?" She screeched, baffled that the uppity git had received Shacklebolt's seal of approval and official orders that she enter and compete in the Miss Witch Pageant.
"I am absolutely not going to do this!" She shoved a finger hard into Draco's firm chest, and he winced a bit at the petty assault.
"Well, if you want to skirt on your sworn duty to protect the citizens of Wizarding London, and that Gryffindor bravado will allow you to not put forth 100 % then by all means, make my day Granger and run away like a little Hufflepuff." Draco loved pushing her buttons, the fire in her eyes when she was thrown over the edge of reason by his words were what he lived for every day, an unhealthy obsession if you will.
"I've never hated someone as much as I hate you, right now."
"I'm touched, truly."
Hermione moved to turn around and take her grievance to the Minister himself when Draco caught her firmly by the arm and stopped her. "If you don't want to lose that hand, I suggest you remove it post haste." She demanded, and the ballsy Slytherin only tightened his grip. "You are heading to cause a scene in the Minister's office, and he is meeting with the families of the victims from the last attack right now. They don't need to deal with your self-righteous speech about not wanting to wear a tight dress and skipping around the stage as if you have talent right now."
"Don't touch me you cretin."Hermione gritted out, managing to wiggle her arm from his grip and continued stomping towards the Minister's office. She wasn't heartless. She would simply wait till after the families left to lay into the pinhead who thought it wise to assign her something before a consultation.