First Time
"I'm supposed to be on vacation," Hermione mumbled to herself for the hundredth time as she walked down the dusty, cobweb-filled, creaky hall.
The number might have been an exaggeration, but the sentiment was very real. She was on vacation, and creeping about this mad mansion was not a part of those plans. New Mexico had been delightful until she heard about the strange happenings in a high school with students claiming to see visions of maggots and decapitated hands, powerful screams and the occasional ghost.
It could have been mass hysteria, but each student was the only one to see it each time. Plus, Harry did ask if she could check it out while she was there.
Luckily she had brought her Muggle-glamour badge which got her past the school officials to interview the students. She had been lucky they allowed it at all, saying this was the third time the FBI came by and where was her partner?
Out of the eight students, only two came forth with additional information about their shared history. Each was sure it was the ghost of Jenny Graves who recently died at a house party. Not that, they were quick to say with fearful eyes and sharp breaths, it was their fault. She fell wrong off the diving board and bashed her head on the cement while drinking.
Afterward her mother had been at the school every day for a week, demanding any student at the party be arrested for manslaughter.
Not bad for a lead. Bad for a vacation though. Hermione couldn't help but feel alarmed given how very scared the students were. It was easy to brush off a haunting or frightening illusions, but these were clearly escalating. One male, a popular boy, was pushed down the stairs and ended up in the hospital while she was in town.
When she arrived to the remains of poor Jennifer Graves, it looked as if they had been torched. Harry hadn't said he was sending anyone else, so she thought it must have been the American Ministry.
Why was she still here? The visions continued and the boy in the hospital died from a 'suicide' attempt that had the feel of Dark Arts around it. That was the first time she met Agent Rodgers and Kirke who were also FBI, unfortunately.
"Paul and Simon?" she said when they introduced themselves, thinking they wouldn't understand the reference.
The shorter man, with freckles and light green eyes, quirked a grin before looking serious again. "Dean and Sam, actually, but you can call us Agent. We heard you asking the nurse questions, why?"
Never one to bat an eye at a bluff, she held out her Auror's badge. "MI6, actually."
He eyed the badge while cocking his head. He wore an expression of consideration with one eyebrow raised. "What, like James Bond?"
The taller one nudged Dean or Sam, giving him quite the look before smiling at her. "What my partner here is trying to say is that we can both investigate. Do you have any information you'd like to share?"
"I'll have a copy sent over to you by my partner. Where are you staying?" She held the eye of the taller one, he seemed to be the partner that likely kept things on track. Hermione knew the feeling well.
"We'll be at the Super 8, just out of town. Here's our number." He handed her a small blank card with a number scrawled on the back.
"Thank you. I'll be in touch." She tossed the card in a bin as soon as she left them, intent on scheduling additional interviews as soon as possible. They went well. She found out that Jenny had snuck out several times with friends to a huge empty house in San Ignacio, a nearby town.
She discovered one umentioned fact; it was a bloody ghost town. Not all the buildings were intact, but the largest whole house within the general vicinity certainly was, as well as creepy.
Hermione had already discovered fresh marks of blood smeared in ritual markings on the bottom floor. Wishing she had the extra amenities on hand that came with being in full Auror regalia, such as Dust Repellent and an extra holster for her second wand, she crept quietly through the house. She cast the charm to repel dust, but it wasn't nearly so effective as the spell weaved into the making of the robe.
A loud sneeze alerted her to a third presence; the woman chanting on the bedroom she was heading towards certainly didn't make the muffled masculine sound. Hermione immediately stepped inside a different open room and stopped breathing as the chanting halted.
Flattening against the wall, she pressed her cheek against the rough wood door as purposeful footsteps moved past her spot.
Before she could turn around the door to follow, she heard a thump and a crack followed by "Sammy!" and she darted down the hall with wand in hand.
The woman looked almost ordinary, having the same blonde hair and sallow skin as the school picture of Jenny Graves, but at least twenty years older. Cheryl Graves, long-time widow and mother to Jenny. And apparent witch, the made-not-born sort.
Cheryl looked crazed as she shook her head side to side and thrust out one hand again toward the only Agent standing.
It was simple work to Stun her from behind and silently send magical ropes to bind her.
The taller Agent was on the ground unconscious but breathing, and the other, Dean she surmised, was crouched low and staring at her with wide eyes and his mouth still open as if frozen in pre-shout.
Poor Muggles, too good at their job.
Hermione hated to do it, but she had no choice. Lifting her wand, she simply said "Obliviate."
Author's Notes:
So it's not a one-shot, but it's no epic either! There will be five Meets, short and sweet and pithy.
I was pretty down this week so I wrote it one sad night! Cause we all know pets don't stay in our lives forever, but sometimes it is cut very short and tragically. T.T Anywho, hope you all enjoy this though, as writing rather helped me through a hard night. Will post each a day :)
HMJ