The sun's rising rays filtered into the room, illuminating the suspended particles of dust that billowed up into the air with each step she took into the room. Furniture covered with large drop cloths was spread around the room, with an exposed wooden table or chair sitting dusty here and there. The large space looked like it hadn't been used for decades, but the exhausted Hermione Granger could sense the metallic tingle of magical presence in the air. However, it was early in the morning, and she couldn't decide if she was just hallucinating.

Why did I have to say yes to doing this?

It was standard for Aurors to make the before dawn Ministry runs every month or so to look for people who had gone missing in the War and Death Eaters that were still on the loose. However, Harry Potter, Head Auror, hero of the Wizarding World, and the Boy Who Lived, had fallen sick with a cold and had needed someone to fill in for him as the patrol head. He would usually ask a lower ranking Auror to fill his spot, but this specific location was the best lead on a Dark wizard the Ministry had received in months. The location had been known to them for months, but there had been no recent activity reported, so there had been no reason to move on it. The tip had come in two days ago, and they could not afford to wait. It was extremely unfortunate that Harry was sick, but he knew exactly who would be most capable to fill his spot. He wanted only the best for the job, and that's why he asked his best friend, Hermione Granger, who had fought bravely at his side for years, to take over the raid.

She had come over to bring him some homemade soup that her mother had used to make whenever she was sick and they mused over the strange tip together. He had then asked if she would take the job, and she accepted, as she would do anything for her best friend.

Hermione hadn't had a great sleep the night before, as she was thinking about the tip and how it had been a while since she had practiced any defensive magic. She was an official at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but she just sat in her office all day; she wasn't a hands-on Dark wizard catcher like an Auror was. However, she finally fell into a restless sleep knowing that she'd be fine, as nothing could possibly be worse than what she, Harry, and Ron had faced in the War.

She'd arrived at the Ministry early that morning, and none of her fellow raid members looked surprised to see her in Harry's stead. In fact, she was something of a celebrity in the Wizarding World, so two of the younger, newer Aurors were looking at her with awe. She gave them a faint smile and after preparing her team, they Portkeyed to their location, an abandoned Muggle warehouse that had once housed weapons in some Muggle war. She split the group up once they had arrived, sending pairs to check around the premises. Once it was cleared, they could head inside, as this was protocol, but Hermione didn't feel the need to straggle and headed inside as the others waited for the perimeter signal.

The warehouse was comprised of an enormous area completely covered with row after row of wooden racks. There were only windows down at the ends, so the low light caused the shadows of the racks to bend eerily.

Hermione shuddered.

Reminds me of the Department of Ministries.

That doesn't matter, there's nothing here, she rationalized. Leaving the aisles for the others to check, she walked down the main aisle towards the back to see if there were any small rooms or offices. There were a few, and she ducked into one, wand at the ready. Nothing. She did the same with the others and sensed nothing until the last room.

She couldn't be hallucinating. Something was here. She just had to find it. She wanted to find something because the thrill of being on her edge once again after years was a familiar and almost pleasant sensation. She was not afraid, even if somehow Voldemort jumped out from behind the furniture.

Normally, the patrols never found anything, or anyone, but as Hermione walked around the perimeter of the room, casting Disillusionment and Revealing charms, she knew that there was someone here. Quite a strong concealment spell had been cast upon a small section of wall between two windows. A table had conveniently been covered right in front of it. Most wizards wouldn't have been able to detect the magic, but Hermione was powerful, and quite capable. Muttering some more spells, she could see that the dust had been moved right around the concealed spot. Finally, the concealment charm was broken, but the wall still didn't look any different. Hermione had an idea. She pushed the table aside, laid her hand on the wall, and gave it a slight push. Her hand went completely through, but the wall was still there.

It's like Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station!

After a quick, whispered Lumos, her now lit wand at the ready, she stepped through the wall. From what she could see, it was a hall that ran parallel to the rooms she had just checked. Walking cautiously along and muffling the sound of her footsteps, she reached the end of the hall only to see a set of stairs. Somehow, the warehouse had a concealed second floor that was not visible or detectable from the outside. This was very powerful magic. As Hermione climbed up the steps, she noticed a dark stain under the banister.

Blood.

And it was reasonably fresh, too. Now she knew something was definitely off. Once she had reached the landing, she was faced with another dark passageway instead of a whole floor, but this time she could sense many magical protections on it. Disarming the many wards and charms as she went, Hermione reached the end of the muggy, dusty hallway and unlocked the final door.

It was shock that hit her, she would later realize, when she saw Draco Malfoy, wanted Death Eater, unconscious and bleeding on the floor.