Disclaimer- Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling and Warner Brothers, not
me!
*
Precious Stones By Hermione Starise
* Chapter One: Investigative Auror * AN- Ok. Turning my hand to a mystery, well not exactly mystery more adventure but starts out like a mystery. Hmmm. Well here goes. * She had seen many murder scenes. Everyone hit her like the last- the sense of loss, the overwhelming sense of evil. How was it that a human could take a life of another? Willingly?
Perhaps it was past experiences that lead Hermione to think this way. Her hands were by no means free from the lasting stain of human blood but those people's lives she had taken, had left her no choice. They had worked for Voldemort. They would have killed her and many others like her: not to mention the countless harmless, defenceless muggles!
Murder scenes: she hated it and yet solving their mysteries where what she was best at. Investigative Auror: that's the title they gave her. She didn't just deal with the dark wizards, track them down. She solved the mysteries. She had the brain for it, of that there was no doubt and usually the mysteries were solved and the bad guys locked up. Yet even she did not know anything and the murder scene before her made no sense.
She stood in an unused shop in Diagon Alley. It was bare and dusty, the old shop counter looking as if it hadn't been used for years. A magical red line of light indicated where the body had been found.
The victim had been a young girl. Sixteen but obviously not attending Hogwarts. From the magical image of her that forensics had been able to draw up she had been very beautiful. With the loveliest long flaxen hair that Hermione had ever seen, a perfect creamy complexion, perfect cheekbones and stunningly bright sapphire eyes.
The loss! Dealing with such a young victim was rare for Hermione. Most kids where at Hogwarts, this girl should have been there: safe! Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes but wiped them away furiously. She was a professional and had to think professionally: no personal ties.
So who was this girl? She had worn a silver locket around her neck. A more beautiful trinket Hermione had never seen: it had been engraved with complex Celtic patterns at the centre was an encrusted a dazzling sapphire. On the back, the word- Sapphire. So, reasonably- with the stone in the locket and the girls stunning eyes: Hermione deduced that the girl's name was Sapphire. Unfortunately there had been no photos in the locket, now forensics where examining for trace of enchantment: however so for they had found nothing.
Indeed they had found nothing, anywhere. And post mortem hadn't been much help either. They couldn't tell her what curse had killed Sapphire or what poison. The body was unmarked, both physically and magically so what had caused an apparently healthy girl just to drop down dead?
Forensics had told her that there was a weird magical trace in the air. A faint one but they were good enough to be able to trace its source and what it was but in Sapphire's case they couldn't.
Worst of all was that no-one knew Sapphire. Her story had covered the pages of the Daily Prophet; an international appeal had been started for information on her. Yet no-one had stepped forward, she must have had relatives, friends, someone must have known who she was! Surely!
Hermione stepped out of the dusty old shop in frustration. The dazzling sunshine hit her immediately and she squinted her eyes against it. Unable to concentrate: she was tired but determined. She felt that Sapphire must not remain a mystery despite a desperate lack of clues.
Wearily she apparated back to headquarters and collapsed onto a chair in her office.
The auror league was split into three sections: Field Auror Department, Patrol Auror Department and Investigative Auror Department.
Field Aurors where considered to have the most dangerous jobs. They spent their time tracking down dark wizards. They were always off on some adventure. A hectic life, no time for nothing but their missions.
Hermione hated their ideals. Mostly because she had lost her best friends to them. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had long ago cast themselves into the endless adventures that the Field Auror's embarked on. She had seen nor heard anything of them for five years, not since the end of the summer after they had graduated from Hogwarts. When they had gone to train to be field aurors, and her to be an investigative auror.
Maybe it was her bitterness at being abandoned by them, after all they had been through in the defeat of Voldemort or maybe it was because she believed that people should have at least some personal life, but she absolutely despised the idea of Field Aurors.
The patrol officers where very much like muggle police men, withholding the laws of the magical community. Hermione liked their simple attitude to it, get the bad guy then go home. She often worked closely with them, in tracking down criminals, arrests and the sort.
Her thoughts of poor Sapphire merged with thoughts of one-time friends and she was almost in too deep a reverie to hear the knock on the door.
"Come in!" She called, becoming alert.
Remus Lupin, head of the Investigative Auror Department entered, looking tired and weary.
"Dear me, Hermione, you really have hit a nasty case this time haven't you?" He asked.
"Yes," She sighed, "It doesn't work. Any way that I look at it, it just doesn't make sense."
Remus, although getting older, was a handsome man. His distinguished features making him stand out. His werewolf affliction was perhaps the only thing that stood in between him and women.
He looked at his watch and tutted at her, "You should have been home hours ago!" He said.
"I know, I know." She replied wearily, "I just know there's something. There has to be something, some small clue. I feel like its staring me in the face and I just can't see it!"
"Maybe that's so," Remus said, "But you won't solve anything by working yourself to death. Go home get some sleep!"
"It's only noon!" She said protested.
"Yes and you've been working all night! Now, go home, rest then how about meeting me, Sirius and Bella in the Three Broomsticks tonight?"
"Sounds great but I'm going to the Weasley's." She said apologetically.
"Great! Just as long as you're not at work!" He said chuckling.
She laughed.
"Go on then!" He said, forcing her onto her feet and handing her cloak.
She took the violet garment, with the Investigative Auror crest emblazoned on it. The crest was a particularly nice one, a golden question mark to symbolize mystery with a wand lying diagonally across it; both symbols were encircled in a complex, beautiful Celtic pattern. Hermione was oddly fond of it.
*
Hours later, Hermione arrived at the Weasley's. As always Molly Weasley made a fuss over her on the doorstep.
"Overworked! Too thin, really Hermione you need to look after yourself!" Molly said, after giving the girl a fierce hug.
"Mum!" Ginny Weasley protested, "Hermione comes here for peace and quiet! Not to be squeezed to death by you!"
"So stop nagging Mum and let the girl in." Fred Weasley said with an impish grin.
"Oh yes, of course how silly of me!" Molly said, "Do come in dear, dinners nearly ready!"
Arthur Weasley looked up from his paper when she came in. He smiled, sadly, "Hermione my dear," He said, "Come and tell an old man what is going on in the world."
Hermione laughed, "You're not old by any means," she said.
"No? But I feel it! War veteran and all." He said.
Hermione knew this routine. He went through it all the time, Arthur Weasley was a strong man but the war had taken it out of him. He was happiest with his family, and although he still worked, he was more suited to a quiet life now. The adventurous Arthur Weasley had long gone.
As always she went to sit on the foot stool next to his chair, and began to tell him about her weeks work, the people she knew and the things she'd done.
"And what about this Sapphire girl?" He asked her, indicating to the large picture of the dead girl on the front of his Daily Prophet.
"Nothing, no clues nothing," She said, answering the question she had dreaded as simply as possible.
Arthur obviously saw her reluctance to say anything on her face and questioned her no more.
"Dinner!" Ginny said coming in from the kitchen.
Hermione soon relaxed as she slipped into the easy atmosphere of Dinner at the Burrow. The special thing about the Burrow was that here she was accepted, treated as an equal. Unlike at work where many thought her inadequate for being so young, and some even fro being female.
She felt happy as she listened to the general chit-chat and listened with great interest as they filled her in on Tanith, Charlie's wife in Romania who was expecting a baby.
"Anytime now!" Mrs Weasley was saying excitedly.
"Molly and I are going over there on the day after tomorrow, she's so excited! The first grandchild and all." Arthur said, his eyes twinkling proudly.
Hermione smiled. Indeed their first grandchild.
She looked at them, family in all but name and smiled. She'd moved on from that. That time of her life was forgotten. Molly and Arthur, smiling and happy. Fred and George contented and successful with their joke shop in Diagon Alley. Percy and his new wife Penny both blissful. She was so unlike them all. They didn't seem to cling to the past as she did.
Ginny, perhaps was the only one who she could relate with in this way. Ginny who still missed Harry, who, whilst trying to get on with her life would never quite forget how he had hurt her. As a brilliant reporter fro the Daily Prophet Ginny was happy enough, with a string of boyfriends but no real commitment and friends that she could rely on. Some people would say that was what a woman as young and beautiful as she was should be like. Unattached.
Hermione wasn't so sure that this was best for Ginny. Or for herself for that matter.
"So what are they thinking of calling the baby?" Penny asked.
"Well," Molly answered, "Daniel for a boy, or so I'm told after my father, and Rhiannon for a girl after Tanith's grandmother."
Hermione lapsed in the atmosphere enjoying being able to just watch for a change. Not to have to investigate or solve puzzles. It was quite simple, Daniel for a boy, Rhiannon for a girl. Not much to take in.
The family was strong but so many awful things had happened to them.
Bill Weasley has died in a fight against Voldemort himself, trying to hold him back. Trying to stop him from getting at Harry. Hermione remembered being in the hiding place with Harry and Ron, when Bill's agonised scream told them that he was dead and Voldemort was coming.
Then Ron and Harry deepened the wound by taking up the profession of Field Aurors, one which rarely allowed them to come home and made it dangerous for them to do so. Ron and Harry should have been here and Hermione was certain that each person around the table felt betrayed at their absence.
"Hermione would you pass me the gravy?" Ginny said braking Hermione's silent reverie.
"Oh yes, here you go."
*
The next morning Hermione arrived in work with a clear head, ready to tackle the mystery of Sapphire. No puzzle could stop her!
As soon as she apparated outside the IAH building (Investigative Auror's Headquarters) however, she was struck down by a young Coli Creevy racing towards her.
"Hermione!" He shouted.
"Look, an owl brought this to your desk this morning!" The forensic scientist told her.
He was wearing white gloves, and held a tatty piece of parchment, he held it out so that she could read it.
In minute writing, more muggle style than anything else, it said:
Dear Inspector Granger, Or should I say Miss 'Mione. I don't know, how familiar would you like me to be? I see you've found the nice little mystery I set you with the Sapphire girl. Beautiful wasn't she? Oh dear, look at the time. Must dash, the boys get the next one. It has begun. Yours sincerely Diamond.
Hermione looked at it in shock, what on earth did it all mean?
OOC- Ok. A bit random I know. But it will all come clear eventually. Please review, I crave feedback and as this piece is a little different to what I normally do I could really do with come reviews telling me your thought. Please!
Precious Stones By Hermione Starise
* Chapter One: Investigative Auror * AN- Ok. Turning my hand to a mystery, well not exactly mystery more adventure but starts out like a mystery. Hmmm. Well here goes. * She had seen many murder scenes. Everyone hit her like the last- the sense of loss, the overwhelming sense of evil. How was it that a human could take a life of another? Willingly?
Perhaps it was past experiences that lead Hermione to think this way. Her hands were by no means free from the lasting stain of human blood but those people's lives she had taken, had left her no choice. They had worked for Voldemort. They would have killed her and many others like her: not to mention the countless harmless, defenceless muggles!
Murder scenes: she hated it and yet solving their mysteries where what she was best at. Investigative Auror: that's the title they gave her. She didn't just deal with the dark wizards, track them down. She solved the mysteries. She had the brain for it, of that there was no doubt and usually the mysteries were solved and the bad guys locked up. Yet even she did not know anything and the murder scene before her made no sense.
She stood in an unused shop in Diagon Alley. It was bare and dusty, the old shop counter looking as if it hadn't been used for years. A magical red line of light indicated where the body had been found.
The victim had been a young girl. Sixteen but obviously not attending Hogwarts. From the magical image of her that forensics had been able to draw up she had been very beautiful. With the loveliest long flaxen hair that Hermione had ever seen, a perfect creamy complexion, perfect cheekbones and stunningly bright sapphire eyes.
The loss! Dealing with such a young victim was rare for Hermione. Most kids where at Hogwarts, this girl should have been there: safe! Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes but wiped them away furiously. She was a professional and had to think professionally: no personal ties.
So who was this girl? She had worn a silver locket around her neck. A more beautiful trinket Hermione had never seen: it had been engraved with complex Celtic patterns at the centre was an encrusted a dazzling sapphire. On the back, the word- Sapphire. So, reasonably- with the stone in the locket and the girls stunning eyes: Hermione deduced that the girl's name was Sapphire. Unfortunately there had been no photos in the locket, now forensics where examining for trace of enchantment: however so for they had found nothing.
Indeed they had found nothing, anywhere. And post mortem hadn't been much help either. They couldn't tell her what curse had killed Sapphire or what poison. The body was unmarked, both physically and magically so what had caused an apparently healthy girl just to drop down dead?
Forensics had told her that there was a weird magical trace in the air. A faint one but they were good enough to be able to trace its source and what it was but in Sapphire's case they couldn't.
Worst of all was that no-one knew Sapphire. Her story had covered the pages of the Daily Prophet; an international appeal had been started for information on her. Yet no-one had stepped forward, she must have had relatives, friends, someone must have known who she was! Surely!
Hermione stepped out of the dusty old shop in frustration. The dazzling sunshine hit her immediately and she squinted her eyes against it. Unable to concentrate: she was tired but determined. She felt that Sapphire must not remain a mystery despite a desperate lack of clues.
Wearily she apparated back to headquarters and collapsed onto a chair in her office.
The auror league was split into three sections: Field Auror Department, Patrol Auror Department and Investigative Auror Department.
Field Aurors where considered to have the most dangerous jobs. They spent their time tracking down dark wizards. They were always off on some adventure. A hectic life, no time for nothing but their missions.
Hermione hated their ideals. Mostly because she had lost her best friends to them. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had long ago cast themselves into the endless adventures that the Field Auror's embarked on. She had seen nor heard anything of them for five years, not since the end of the summer after they had graduated from Hogwarts. When they had gone to train to be field aurors, and her to be an investigative auror.
Maybe it was her bitterness at being abandoned by them, after all they had been through in the defeat of Voldemort or maybe it was because she believed that people should have at least some personal life, but she absolutely despised the idea of Field Aurors.
The patrol officers where very much like muggle police men, withholding the laws of the magical community. Hermione liked their simple attitude to it, get the bad guy then go home. She often worked closely with them, in tracking down criminals, arrests and the sort.
Her thoughts of poor Sapphire merged with thoughts of one-time friends and she was almost in too deep a reverie to hear the knock on the door.
"Come in!" She called, becoming alert.
Remus Lupin, head of the Investigative Auror Department entered, looking tired and weary.
"Dear me, Hermione, you really have hit a nasty case this time haven't you?" He asked.
"Yes," She sighed, "It doesn't work. Any way that I look at it, it just doesn't make sense."
Remus, although getting older, was a handsome man. His distinguished features making him stand out. His werewolf affliction was perhaps the only thing that stood in between him and women.
He looked at his watch and tutted at her, "You should have been home hours ago!" He said.
"I know, I know." She replied wearily, "I just know there's something. There has to be something, some small clue. I feel like its staring me in the face and I just can't see it!"
"Maybe that's so," Remus said, "But you won't solve anything by working yourself to death. Go home get some sleep!"
"It's only noon!" She said protested.
"Yes and you've been working all night! Now, go home, rest then how about meeting me, Sirius and Bella in the Three Broomsticks tonight?"
"Sounds great but I'm going to the Weasley's." She said apologetically.
"Great! Just as long as you're not at work!" He said chuckling.
She laughed.
"Go on then!" He said, forcing her onto her feet and handing her cloak.
She took the violet garment, with the Investigative Auror crest emblazoned on it. The crest was a particularly nice one, a golden question mark to symbolize mystery with a wand lying diagonally across it; both symbols were encircled in a complex, beautiful Celtic pattern. Hermione was oddly fond of it.
*
Hours later, Hermione arrived at the Weasley's. As always Molly Weasley made a fuss over her on the doorstep.
"Overworked! Too thin, really Hermione you need to look after yourself!" Molly said, after giving the girl a fierce hug.
"Mum!" Ginny Weasley protested, "Hermione comes here for peace and quiet! Not to be squeezed to death by you!"
"So stop nagging Mum and let the girl in." Fred Weasley said with an impish grin.
"Oh yes, of course how silly of me!" Molly said, "Do come in dear, dinners nearly ready!"
Arthur Weasley looked up from his paper when she came in. He smiled, sadly, "Hermione my dear," He said, "Come and tell an old man what is going on in the world."
Hermione laughed, "You're not old by any means," she said.
"No? But I feel it! War veteran and all." He said.
Hermione knew this routine. He went through it all the time, Arthur Weasley was a strong man but the war had taken it out of him. He was happiest with his family, and although he still worked, he was more suited to a quiet life now. The adventurous Arthur Weasley had long gone.
As always she went to sit on the foot stool next to his chair, and began to tell him about her weeks work, the people she knew and the things she'd done.
"And what about this Sapphire girl?" He asked her, indicating to the large picture of the dead girl on the front of his Daily Prophet.
"Nothing, no clues nothing," She said, answering the question she had dreaded as simply as possible.
Arthur obviously saw her reluctance to say anything on her face and questioned her no more.
"Dinner!" Ginny said coming in from the kitchen.
Hermione soon relaxed as she slipped into the easy atmosphere of Dinner at the Burrow. The special thing about the Burrow was that here she was accepted, treated as an equal. Unlike at work where many thought her inadequate for being so young, and some even fro being female.
She felt happy as she listened to the general chit-chat and listened with great interest as they filled her in on Tanith, Charlie's wife in Romania who was expecting a baby.
"Anytime now!" Mrs Weasley was saying excitedly.
"Molly and I are going over there on the day after tomorrow, she's so excited! The first grandchild and all." Arthur said, his eyes twinkling proudly.
Hermione smiled. Indeed their first grandchild.
She looked at them, family in all but name and smiled. She'd moved on from that. That time of her life was forgotten. Molly and Arthur, smiling and happy. Fred and George contented and successful with their joke shop in Diagon Alley. Percy and his new wife Penny both blissful. She was so unlike them all. They didn't seem to cling to the past as she did.
Ginny, perhaps was the only one who she could relate with in this way. Ginny who still missed Harry, who, whilst trying to get on with her life would never quite forget how he had hurt her. As a brilliant reporter fro the Daily Prophet Ginny was happy enough, with a string of boyfriends but no real commitment and friends that she could rely on. Some people would say that was what a woman as young and beautiful as she was should be like. Unattached.
Hermione wasn't so sure that this was best for Ginny. Or for herself for that matter.
"So what are they thinking of calling the baby?" Penny asked.
"Well," Molly answered, "Daniel for a boy, or so I'm told after my father, and Rhiannon for a girl after Tanith's grandmother."
Hermione lapsed in the atmosphere enjoying being able to just watch for a change. Not to have to investigate or solve puzzles. It was quite simple, Daniel for a boy, Rhiannon for a girl. Not much to take in.
The family was strong but so many awful things had happened to them.
Bill Weasley has died in a fight against Voldemort himself, trying to hold him back. Trying to stop him from getting at Harry. Hermione remembered being in the hiding place with Harry and Ron, when Bill's agonised scream told them that he was dead and Voldemort was coming.
Then Ron and Harry deepened the wound by taking up the profession of Field Aurors, one which rarely allowed them to come home and made it dangerous for them to do so. Ron and Harry should have been here and Hermione was certain that each person around the table felt betrayed at their absence.
"Hermione would you pass me the gravy?" Ginny said braking Hermione's silent reverie.
"Oh yes, here you go."
*
The next morning Hermione arrived in work with a clear head, ready to tackle the mystery of Sapphire. No puzzle could stop her!
As soon as she apparated outside the IAH building (Investigative Auror's Headquarters) however, she was struck down by a young Coli Creevy racing towards her.
"Hermione!" He shouted.
"Look, an owl brought this to your desk this morning!" The forensic scientist told her.
He was wearing white gloves, and held a tatty piece of parchment, he held it out so that she could read it.
In minute writing, more muggle style than anything else, it said:
Dear Inspector Granger, Or should I say Miss 'Mione. I don't know, how familiar would you like me to be? I see you've found the nice little mystery I set you with the Sapphire girl. Beautiful wasn't she? Oh dear, look at the time. Must dash, the boys get the next one. It has begun. Yours sincerely Diamond.
Hermione looked at it in shock, what on earth did it all mean?
OOC- Ok. A bit random I know. But it will all come clear eventually. Please review, I crave feedback and as this piece is a little different to what I normally do I could really do with come reviews telling me your thought. Please!