With the final goodbyes dealt with and Harry's heart feeling lighter he entered the Ministry with Draco, who had both become fast friends once the problem of Voldermort had been dealt with.
Harry was in a reflective mood today and as he thought back on how the impossible became possible a small smile graced his wiser and stronger face. It had begun after the war, when everyone was just trying to pick back up their lives from the destruction left in Voldermort's wake. Harry, Ron and Hermione had at the time discussed their options for the future and decided that the best course of action would be to return to Hogwarts. They returned to properly finish their schooling and to their surprise so had Draco Malfoy, who had even publically apologised for the side that he and his family had taken during the war and that the Malfoy family was at the beck and call to the House of Potter. This was effectively a sign of allegiance and Harry and Draco had tentatively tried to form a friendship over the top of their rocky past. Ron hadn't been happy at the time, as had the others so they normally only acted civilly towards each other in public but when Harry, Ron and Draco had started Auror training they became more open about their friendship.
Speaking of Ron, Harry heard him coming up behind them talking to Hermione who had only recently joined the DMLE (Department of Magical Law Enforcement). Both Harry and Draco stopped to let them catch up, throwing each other looks of amusement as the married couple where once again bickering.
"Thanks for waiting guys!" Hermione said still sounding slightly miffed about whatever they had been arguing about.
"No problems Granger." Draco said in a civil manner, both of them had issues with each other, not because of Draco's old thoughts on blood superiority (those had been virtually wiped from the face of the earth throughout Auror training) but because Draco found Hermione's know-it-all attitude grating and Hermione found Draco to still be untrustworthy.
As they continued on their way, all chatting amicably about their children going away to Hogwarts Harry felt a chill go up his spine; it's fingers of ice tap-dancing on his skin. "Ahh guys, I don't think today is going to be very fun." Harry broke into the conversation, making it go suddenly silent as they all new buy know that Harry's premonitions were more than likely right.
"Can you get anything from it mate?" Ron queried, breaking the silence that was accompanied with the rattling of the lift taking them to work.
"Just that when this door opens we will be very busy." Harry's face had taken on a frown as he analysed the feeling being broadcast at him. "Be prepared to be very tired, extremely soon." Harry warned as the lift doors pinged open revealing a chaos that was the Auror department.
Ron groaned in frustration, banging his head onto the table as he and Hermione took their mandatory overtime coffee break. "Why did this have to happen? Everything seemed so perfect but then a group of nutters go and ruin our peace!"
Hermione looked around the room and cast a couple of her own detection charms, making the room with basic tables and food appliances glow for a second as any possible bugs where removed. "I know Ron, but the peace will never hold and we just have to be thankful that we aren't the ones studying a crime site, poor Harry and even Draco, I shudder to think about what the ritual circles look like."
"But what caused this Hermione?! All we know is that a group of people dressed in red robes with shadowed faces are snatching the occasional muggle or wizard, the only evidence is the bodies left over inside a ritual circle."
"I know this Ron!" Hermione snapped, the last ten hours had been taxing on all of them and annoyingly Ron's way to cope with pressure is to whine and be very vocal about it.
Ron looked insulted for a moment before his manner softened and he drew Hermione into his arms "Don't worry pet; this is stressful on all of use, especially after we had gotten used to the peace."
They sat there contemplating the facts and trying to work out the answer to the mystery of a cult appearing up overnight with no rumours of it from anyone's sources. The ear-splitting alarm broke the peace and quiet, signalling that another Ritual Circle had been found, the 3rd one in the last 12 hours.
With a groan Ron and Hermione left to see if any definable pattern had occurred and if any evidence was found at the new crime scene.
"Ron! Hermione!" A magically amplified voice shouted above the buzz of a fully staffed Auror's office. "I need you in my office immediately!" As they made their way to the door snippets of conversation floated about them.
"Can you believe that he..."
"The first and second crime scene was a mess, I feel sorry for anyone that has to deal with it."
"Where is it Marlly! I need my last sock incase I..."
As they entered the door the wards swiftly cut out all sound. "Hello Sir, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger reporting." Ron said in a mock formal tone.
Auror Captain Riley Briggs just grinned tiredly at Ron's antics. "Hello Hermione, Hello Ron. I'm sorry to keep you working past the safe time limit but I need you two to do something, then you can call it a night. There is talk among Knockturn Alley that some of their dark artefacts are doing weird things, you will go to Borgin and Burkes and check out this rumour. Do you need any other information?" He queried watching Hermione and Ron standing in the middle of his neatly ordered office.
"Sir, what type of issues are the Artefacts experiencing?" Hermione's eyes gleaming with the challenge of a new problem.
"There are many different rumours but the main one's are that they are either extremely erratic or suddenly overpowered. Saint Mungo's has already reported 6 different incidence's that have ties to malfunctioning items."
After sending Hermione a questioning look Ron ended the debriefing "Thank you sir we will have a report on your desk as soon as possible."