Hermione leaned forward, gave the cab the correct money, then scrambled out, carrying three folders, a few loose papers, an unopened letter and a shouldered bag.

She hopped onto the curb, and dug into her bag, searching for her apartment keys. She felt the jagged teeth and cold metal, then pulled them out, rushing forward to a six story apartment block, made of white stone.

Hermione slid the key into the heavy door, and opened it, almost dropping her folders.

"Good afternoon Miss. Granger!" Mrs. Coleman said, slowly making her way from the elevator towards her. Her grey hair was thin, and was only getting thinner, her eyes were wide and welcoming, and her smile was warm and bubbly.

"Good afternoon." Hermione smiled sweetly at her.

"Busy day?" Mrs. Coleman asked, eyeing her folders and flushed expression.

"The only kind I have I'm afraid." Hermione nodded, bid her goodbye, and rushed to the elevator, pressing the button.

She heard a clang, then the metal doors opened, and Hermione scrambled in. Here, she took a breath as she hit level 6 on the silver button pad.

Hermione was dressed as a business woman should be dressed- hip hugging brown pants, matching jacket, and a white button up shirt. Her hair bounced around happily on her shoulders when she walked. Oh yes, Hermione Granger held her head high when she walked- she worked at St. Mungo's, on level four- spell damage. Well, actually, Hermione worked all over the place, but level four had most of the worst cases, and almost the most interesting.

I mean, after a while, little kids coming in, how ever cute, with their pet owl attached to their fingers did get a little annoying after a while.

But tomorrow, Hermione wouldn't be going back St. Mungo's. Instead, Hermione would be visiting Harry and Ron at the Ministry of Magic, in their Auror offices.

She was so proud of them- both of them had graduated a year ago, but they didn't go into the office often- most of the time, they were working with the Order against the ever present threat of Lord Voldermort.

The elevator clanged again, and the doors opened revealing a small cream corridor with polished brown doors.

Hermione walked down the corridor, stopping at the end, and opening her door. Inside, she felt comfortable, and the view from the small balcony was great. Hermione dumped her things down on her bed, and ran into the bathroom, having a quick shower.

Tonight, Ginny had invited Hermione to go clubbing with her and some of her friends. Hermione had hesitated, but Ginny had managed to convince her to go.

Hermione quickly shampooed her hair, turned the water off, and grabbed a towel. When she was dry, Hermione threw on a pair of jeans, a loose pink sparkling top, and a light white jacket.

She ran a brush through her hair, put some lip gloss on and was ready to go- perfect timing.

Ginny buzzed the intercom.

Hermione said she'd be down there in a minute, grabbed her bag, and ran out, locking the door behind her. She walked calmly back down the corridor to the elevator, then emerged in the foyer minutes later.

Ginny was wearing a knee high light peach skirt, and a white sleeveless top. Her bright red hair was flowing nicely over her shoulders.

"Alright missy, let's go!" Ginny laughed, grabbed Hermione's arm and led her outside, to where she had already flagged down a cab.

Some of her friends were sitting in it, and greeted Hermione like an old friend, even though she had never, ever met them. But their nice faces and bubbly nature made her relax.



The cab dropped them off at the end of one long, long line to one of the most popular clubs in London.

They jumped on the end, but before they settled down to the fact that they would be waiting a long time, Hermione caught a glimpse of the bouncer at the front.

"Hey, I know him!" Hermione said.

"Really? Go and say hello then!" Ginny said, then forced Hermione up the line, stopping before the bouncer. Ginny's friends were close behind.

"Why, if it isn't Bouncer Max." Hermione said, grinning at the bold man before her.

"My god, Doctor Granger! I never would pick you as the type to club!"

Hermione shrugged.

"Good, well, come on in!" the bouncer stepped aside.

There were immediate protests, but the bouncer glared at them. "Hey, she saved my life, so shut it!"

They entered the club, all cheering.

"How did you save his life?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Someone jinxed him pretty bad one night." Hermione said softly.



Hermione entered the club and tried to find a table in the crowd. Many people were dancing, drinking and talking, but Hermione wanted to sit down and watch.

Ginny's friend, Alex, took a mental order of their drinks then pushed his way over to the full bar.

Hermione spotted a piece of brown table and headed for it, grabbing the seats and holding them while Ginny and her friends caught up.

Ten minutes later, they were all sitting down around the table, talking, and taking their drinks from Alex, who was balancing two trays across the dance floor.

Ginny lent over to Hermione, and whispered in her ear. "Hermione, that guy has been staring at you all night."

Hermione raised a curious eye brow and followed Ginny's finger. Ginny was pointing towards the bar which was absolutely crowded with people. Near the end of the bar, close to the toilets, Hermione could see a man standing in the shadows, and he was watching her. She could feel it on the back of her neck.

"He looks cute." Ginny said softly, glancing at him.

"Gin, you can't even see him." Hermione muttered, though her eyes were glued to his form.

"Well, go say hello." Ginny whispered.

"Say hello to whom?" A man called Calvin asked. He was gay, absolutely and utterly gay, which was a shame for Hermione, because she thought he looked cute, with his light brown fluffed hair, and bright blue eyes.

"The guy over by the bar." Ginny answered, looking at Hermione intently. "Go on!"

"Well hello mystery man!" Calvin said, his eyes lighting up as he looked over at the bar.

Hermione hid a small smile, then she looked at Ginny. "He could be a psychopath- suicidal, a murder, a rapist, …a…a"

"A nice guy." Ginny said, smiling sweetly. "Besides, no one's perfect."

Hermione glared at her. "But I,"

"Look, Calvin here will go with you if you're going to be a baby." Ginny said, hitting Calvin on the arm and getting his attention.

"Sure will," Calvin said, smiling at her. "And if you're not interested, mind if I take a go?"

Hermione was about to say "Be my guest," when Ginny chimed in "I think he only has eyes for Hermione."

Calvin sighed. "Ahh well. Come on lovely." He said, standing up. He helped Hermione to her reluctant feet then looked at everyone else on the table. "Another round, comrades?"

They received nods all around. Hermione just had time to shoot Ginny a deathly glare before Calvin grabbed her hand and led her across the dance floor, towards the bar.

Calvin stopped at the bar and waited for the waiter who was talking to a pretty looking girl in a mini skirt. "Oi!" Calvin shouted. "Come here!"

The barman looked up, saw he had customers then glanced at the mini skirt girl. He smirked then slinked over to Calvin and quickly took their order.

"I'm going to powder my nose." Hermione said absently.

Calvin looked at her and winked. "Right…okay. I'll stay here- shout if he's a psychopath."

Hermione sneered playfully at him, then made her way along the bar, towards the toilets. The man hadn't moved a muscle. He was still standing in exactly the same position as he was ten minutes ago, and he was fixated on Hermione as she came closer.

She had half a mind to just keep on walking to the toilets, but her curiosity got the better of her. Hermione stopped walking in front of the man and looked at the blackness where his face would be.

"Hi." She said, a little nervous.

The man didn't say anything- he just tilted his head.

"Do you talk?" Hermione asked, a little irritated- she was quite happy sitting down at the table, with her friends. This wasn't something she should be doing.

Another tilt of the head.

"What is your name?" Hermione asked carefully. She waited a moment, but the man didn't say anything, so Hermione started to think he might be a bit 'slow' in the head. "My name is Hermione." She said politely.

She thought he was going to tilt his head again, but the man remained still.

Hermione stood there awkwardly for a moment, then glanced over her shoulder and saw Calvin was watching her intently. He nodded encouragingly.

Hermione turned back to the man. "Well, I guess I'll see you later." Hermione said then continued walking towards the bathroom. She had just made such an idiot of herself!

The man just watched her walk towards the red door with a 'women' sign painted on it. His eyes flicked up the bar and saw the brown headed man she had come across the dance floor with staring at him, while the barman loaded up drinks onto a tray.

The man looked back at the bathroom door and saw that his 'assignment' had just disappeared into it. He sighed. All right, time to begin this game. He made sure that the brown headed man at the bar had headed back across the dance floor before he walked out of the shadows and walked casually over to the bathroom door.

Hermione put her purse on the counter and stared at herself in the large white mirror.

You idiot! Her mind screamed. That was extremely embarrassing. Hermione took a steady breath then reached down and turned the tap on. She splashed some water on her neck then grabbed her purse and headed towards the door.

Hermione opened the door and immediately walked into something solid standing there. She was dazed for a moment before she looked up and saw she was staring into a very handsome face.

The man had short, slightly spiky black hair, dazzling diamond colored eyes, and a muscled body. He looked down at Hermione, and smiled, showing perfect white teeth. "You okay ma'am?"

"Um…" in her embarrassment, Hermione looked down and saw the man was wearing slightly baggy black jeans, white button up shirt and a worn black leather jacket. "Yes…"

The man helped Hermione to steady herself, then held out a hand. "I'm Andy Histon." You just gave her your real name! His mind suddenly shouted. Whoops.

"Hermione Granger." She said, shaking his hand.

"Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?" Andy asked, smiling his beautiful smile.

"Um…no…oh, sorry about that." Hermione said, stumbling over her words.

Andy laughed. "Here, let me buy you a drink."

"Oh, really, that's not necessary." Hermione said quickly. She just wanted to get back to her table and strangle Ginny for letting Hermione go and make a fool of herself.

Andy raised an eye brow. "Already have one?"

"Yes." Hermione said without thinking. "It's back at my table…"

"Well let's go and get it." Andy said swiftly, then grabbed her arm gently and walked over to Ginny and the others.

In the back of Hermione's mind, she realized that he had just very smoothly made sure that their conversation would continue.

Calvin returned to the table and handed out the drinks. Ginny looked for Hermione. She looked at Calvin, who shook his head.

"I think the man was a deaf mute."

"Oh." Ginny said sadly. "She'll come back empty handed…"

"Oh, I don't know weather I'd say that." Calvin suddenly said, sounding excited.

"What?" Ginny looked over and saw Hermione had a very cute man attached to her arm and Hermione was leading him over to them.

"This is Andy." Hermione said to the table.

Andy smiled at everyone, and immediately melted the girl's hearts. While he was making eye contact and making himself look and sound friendly, Hermione looked back over to the bar where the man in the shadows was supposed to be standing, but he wasn't there.

Hermione wriggled smoothly out of his light grip and sat down next to Ginny and grabbed her drink.

Ginny lent over. "He is soo cute- who cares about shadow man?"

Hermione shot her a dirty look. Ginny backed down. "Sorry." Ginny said, sounding sincere. "But on the bright side, you never would have found him." Ginny pointed to Andy who was sitting down next to Calvin and a bubbly girl with blond hair.

"So Andy, what do you do?" Calvin asked curiously.

Hermione sculled her drink. She looked over and just saw a quick look of darkness or worry, pass over Andy's features, but it happened so quickly she wasn't sure what she had seen.

"I do the odd jobs." Andy said carefully.

"And what does 'odd' entail?" the Blondie asked, sipping her drink flirtatiously.

Andy smiled at her. "I just do different things for a rich man."

It became very clear to Hermione that Andy wanted to close the case, but the Blondie didn't get the message.

For the next ten minutes, she tried to guess what 'odd' meant. "Take out his garbage? Dry clean his suits? Baby-sit his children? Drive his expensive car around?"

A look of amusement passed over Andy's face, but he was starting to get a little irritated. The Blondie wasn't his assignment- his assignment was Hermione, and she was currently on the opposite side of the table, drinking from a small glass, then refilling it.

He nearly laughed at the Blondie's last guess- "Cook his meals?"

Andy sighed. "No. Excuse me." Andy stood, made his way over to Hermione, and caught the shot glass as it was on it's way to her mouth, refilled for the sixth shot.

"Would you care to dance?" he asked her politely.

Hermione looked at him for a moment. She then cursed her inability to become drunk- a few years ago, she had, and Hermione never wanted to repeat the experience so she had cast a complex and irreversible charm on herself. "Sure."

She pretended to hiccup then got to her feet, and followed Andy out onto the dance floor.

"So, tell me about yourself." Andy said, holding her hand and twirling her.

"What do you want to know?" Hermione asked, stumbling a little.

Andy spun her around gently again. "Anything you wish to tell me."

"Hmm." Hermione cursed silently as a slow song came on. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around Andy's neck, but kept her face well away from him.

"Where do you work?"

"At a hospital." Hermione answered. She was sure he wasn't magical so she decided to play it safe.

"Which means you're smart." Andy said, staring down at her.

Hermione caught a waft of expensive and spicy cologne. She didn't say anything.

"Okay, so is it interesting?" Andy asked, pulling her sharply to the side as a woman, who had had far to much to drink stumbled near them and fell, throwing up.

"Umm…" Hermione looked down, sickly at the woman, then looked up. "Yeah, it has its interesting days." She didn't want to admit it, but she was actually having a little fun.

"Ever had one of those?" Andy said, tilting his head at the drunken woman.

"Yes." Hermione said. She wasn't lying- a few weeks ago, someone came in so intoxicated that they had screwed up their insides- of course they were magical, but it was a tricky situation.

"So what was your most interesting case?" Andy asked, making sure they stayed clear of the drunken woman.

"Hmm." Hermione wracked her brain, found a situation then tried to figure out the story so it didn't sound magical. "A little girl came in, all fingers broken, and had glued her fingers to her toes." Well, the proper version of that was that yes, the girl's fingers were broken, and she had been given a spell kit for Christmas, and one of the small spells were long fingernails…Hermione had no idea why, but anyway that wasn't the point. The girl had made a mistake, and her fingernails grew extremely long- but so did her toe nails. The two connected, and actually stuck to each other, so the girl was practically joined to her feet by her fingernails. That had been a very interesting day.

Andy laughed. "Children and their crafty tools."

Hermione nodded in agreement.

Andy suddenly gasped, and let Hermione go.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, perplexed as Andy reached for his wrist.

"Oh, nothing. I…I have to go- I'll call you."

"Don't you need my number to do that?" Hermione asked curiously as Andy stood tall and regained his composer.

"Yes, sorry."

Hermione pulled out a piece of paper and quickly jotted her number down.

Andy took it, kissed her on the cheek and hurried off the dance floor, heading for the exit.

Hermione slumped back down in her chair at the table and looked at Ginny.

"Where's Andy?" she asked.

"Left."

"Already?" Ginny looked at her watch and saw it was 10:00.

"I'm going to go." Hermione said, twenty minutes later.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked.

Hermione nodded. "I have work tomorrow." Hermione smiled, said goodbye to Ginny and Calvin then headed to the club's door.



Hermione caught the first taxi she saw, and went home. Her head was pounding when she arrived at her apartment block, and stumbled inside, looking for the elevator. She wasn't drunk, no, not at all, but her head was making her loose her balance and sense of awareness.

She tripped over her feet as she walked down the corridor, and fiddled with her keys.

Hermione went inside, bolted the door shut, and took her jacket off. Immediately, she pulled out her wand, pointed it at her head, and felt her headache drain out.

Sitting on her bed, Hermione reached for the letter, and opened it. She scrolled to the bottom and looked at who it was from- Harry.

Dear Hermione-

I know Ron and I are supposed to go into the office tomorrow, but we have got caught up and cant possibly make it…I'm sorry! We both really want to see you and catch up, but this is unavoidable.

I cant say where we are, or exactly why we cant make it.

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

We'll try and catch up soon.

Love, Harry.

P.S, burn this once you read it- just in case.

Hermione felt her stomach knot. They weren't coming? They got tied up somewhere else and cant make it?

She miserably got to her feet, and lit a candle with her wand, before holding the letter over the small flame, and watched it burn. She didn't understand why she had to burn it anyway- there wasn't any valuable information in it.

Afterwards, Hermione opened a window to let the smoke out, and got changed into her Pjs.



She woke up at 6:30, and quickly ate a bowl of cereal. She was keen to get to work, to take her mind off Harry and Ron, and she jumped into the shower to wake herself up.

Hermione also hated to admit it, but her mind continually wondered to Andy Histon.

That day, Hermione dressed in black pants and a light blue blouse with a white jacket. Hermione ran a brush through her hair, grabbed her bag and folders, then apparated in the safety of her apartment.



She landed in her smallish office, with polished desk, high chair, bookshelf full of folders and books, and two chairs sitting in front of the desk. Hermione put her things down on her desk, when someone walked through the door, holding a cup of coffee.

"Ahh, I thought it was you popping." The woman said, putting the coffee down on her desk. "You're needed straight away I'm afraid Hermione. Someone's just come in, twitching, and bleeding from the nose and eyes…"

Hermione sighed. Good. Something to keep her busy. "Alright Amy, I'll be there in a minute."

Amy nodded. "Alright, it's in room 6."

Amy left the room. Hermione took her jacket off, and changed into her Lime-green Healers robes. When she was done, Hermione grabbed the coffee and left her office, walking down the corridor towards room 6.

When she arrived, the room was in complete chaos.

Healers in training were buzzing around, trying to mop up the blood with spells, while someone screamed for help, photographers, a little girl crying in the corner and the body on the bed just laid there, twitching and bleeding.

Hermione handed her coffee to a healer, and pulled out her wand, sending a loud BANG into the air. "Alright, much better!" she said when the room instantly went quite. "Now, there are too many people in this room. You, why are you here?" she asked the photographers.

"We're from the Daily Prophet." One said.

"You have no story here. Get out." Hermione snapped, then moved further into the room as they left, grumbling. "Right, now, you ma'am, are you related to the patient?"

The woman who was screaming for help nodded and sobbed. "He is my husband."

Hermione nodded. "And is that your daughter?" the woman nodded. "Alright, the two of you, please go and wait in the corridor and wait for me. Mathen here will get you some coffee, and a lollipop for the girl." One of the healers ran from the room, as the wife grabbed her daughter, and carried her out. "Now, Mark, Alice, clean up this blood calmly, while I have a look at Mr.…"

"Vicked." Alice said, handing Hermione a chart.

"Right, thank you." Hermione walked forward, and peered at the man lying on the bed. "Let's see if we can fix you Mr. Vicked." She said softly, cleaning his face, then opening one of his eyes. It was creamy, and discolored. "Help me for a minute Mark- we have to sit him up or he will choke on his own blood…" Hermione fluffed the pillows, and Mark rushed forward to help her pull the man into a sitting position. The blood stopped coming out of his eyes, but it was flowing like a lake from his nose. Hermione waved her wand to briefly stop it, and told Alice to get her a special tablet.

When Alice returned, Hermione forced the tablet down the man's throat. "We have to thicken his blood slightly to stop it from coming out so fast." She explained.

Hermione spent the next ten minutes with a blood free patient, performing tests. When she was sure she knew what the man had, she ordered the medication, and went outside to speak to the frantic wife.

"Has your daughter recently got a fake wand?" she asked.

The wife paused then nodded.

Hermione smiled. "Well, miss, you should know that electrocuting your father isn't a good idea." Hermione bent down to smile at the girl. "Try not to do it again."

The wife sighed. "Is that all?"

"Yes, just a nice little shock." Hermione stood up straight. "There will be no damage once we stop the amount of electric current, and help him,"

the wife smiled. "Thank you so much."

"Your wel-"

"Healer, I need a Healer!" someone screamed from the middle of the corridor.

Hermione spun around, and ran towards someone on the ground, rolling around, screaming in inhuman voices, and pointed into the room near him.

Hermione ran into the room, and saw one of her younger patients, a teenage girl with her wand held out, waving it around, cursing everything.

"That will be enough of that." Hermione said, whipping out her wand and knocking the girl out.

The curtains were on fire, as was the girl's bed. Hermione put the fires out, and went back out into the corridor.

The man who was screaming on the ground had stopped, and was slowly sitting up. It was another healer in training, and obviously, he had just gotten the shock of his life.

"You alright James?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, thank you." He said, rubbing his head.

Hermione nodded at him, then looked around. "Who did I give my coffee to?" she asked. A Healer ran forward. "Thank you." Hermione started making her way up the corridor, towards her office.

She drank more of her coffee, then put it down on her table, and left when Amy handed her a clipboard.

"Time for rounds I'm afraid." She said.

Hermione rolled her eyes, then started going to all of her paitents-26 of them, and doing tests, asking how they were feeling, and discharging them if need be.



It was mid-afternoon when Amy walked into a room, looking pale, and like the walking dead.

"Well, if there is anything more I can do- Amy?" Hermione turned from her patient to the pale Healer.

"There…there…you should come and see this."

Hermione raised an eye brow, apologized to her patient, then followed Amy from the room.

"Amy, what-"

Amy shook her head, and pointed down the corridor, where a group of stunned patients, Healers, and visitors stood, around something in the middle.

"What now?" Hermione mumbled, pushing her way through the crowd and drawing her wand.

Her mouth dropped open at the site before her.

Four men, in grey robes stood in a line, their wands pointed at a figure that was up against the wall, holding its stomach. But it was what the figure was wearing that shocked Hermione- black robes, a skull musk, and tall hat. Death Eater.

The four men raised their wands, ready to strike when Hermione's mind clicked. "Excuse me gentlemen, but what the hell are you doing?" she glared at them. "I have patients trying to rest!"

They looked at her. "Stay out of this Healer. We'll kill him then be out of your way."

Then Hermione realized that these men were Aurors.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Hermione said, stepping forward, and blocking them.

"Are you insane lady?" one of them shouted. "Do you even know what he is?"

Hermione nodded, and stood her ground. "Yes, I know what he is, but he is injured, thanks to you no doubt, and he is here under my watch, therefore, I cannot allow you to harm him." She saw their faces flicker with anger. "He is now my patient."

"He is a Death Eater- a killer!"

"We would be helping you if we just put him out of his misery!"

Hermione shook her head. "No! You will not touch him while he is my patient. Put your wands away gentlemen." Her own wand was still drawn, but it had been hanging lazily by her side, but now, she casually raised it.

"We don't want to attack you Healer, step aside."

"No." Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Put your wands away gentlemen or I will interpret it as a hostile act, and attack. You are no longer pointing them at my patient but at me." Hermione warned, her eyes blazing. "Withdraw them or I will attack you in defense."

"He is a Death Eater lady!" one of them shouted.

"Yes, we've established this." Hermione said, remaining calm. "Once I have healed him, and released him, then you can return and arrest him."

The four Aurors looked at each other, then regretfully lowered their wands.

Hermione nodded. "Good. Now leave,"

The four men glared at her, then apparated after telling her one more time that he was a death eater, and vowing to return.

Hermione rolled her eyes then noticed the panicked looks around her. "Alice, Mark, Mathen, go and clear a spare room out, and prepare it." Hermione said, then turned, and levitated the Death Eater. "And you," she said softly in his ear. "You just behave yourself."

The Death Eater didn't say anything, but continued to moan and groan, holding his stomach as he floated along the corridor, with Hermione close behind him.

Eventually, they put him in room 12, which was close to Hermione's office. She put the Death Eater slowly down on the bed, and had his arms and legs magically bound. She wasn't stupid.

Then she told Alice, Mark and Mathen to leave while she took his mask off- she wanted to be the only one to see his face. They protested, but once she gave them a firm order, with an icy glare, they left and waited just outside the door.

Hermione turned to face the Death Eater, and slowly took his hat off, sitting it down beside the bed.

"Don't…don't…don't take it…off!" the man grunted.

"Sorry, but I have to." Hermione said calmly. She took a deep breath, and then reached for his mask, carefully taking it off. Her mouth dropped open and the mask fell to the floor with a clatter. "Andy?"

Aww, Hermione's club buddie wasn't that nice after all…what happens next is different, and I warn you all that this isn't a normal story- they become fugitives for a while (not Hermione and Andy.)

Please R&R and tell me what you think.

AJ