Well, I know I've got another one going, but this idea kinda popped into my head today. So, I had to at least get it started. This is the first uh bit, and I'll probably have more later, but I'm off to type an update for my other work. This is probably going to be a bit more of a slow burn (and while it may not seem it at first, maybe a bit more of a comedy... or true crime gone wrong?) I'm not set on the title so, idk that may change yet (also, if theres any ideas that anyone has for other stories, send 'em theres a definite shortage of Fleurmione seeing as how I've read most every story and am working on rereading some- I like weird and twisted, not these overdone rewrites of 4th year or Shell Cottage. Not to say I won't if it is something I can play with... change the roles and the likes.)
Without further ado, here it is (oh and I make no money, just playing with not my characters), Chapter 1 of Bait and Switch.
Hermione walked into work that morning, already bracing herself to hear her boss screeching her name. She'd seen the story gracing the front page of the Daily Prophet, her latest failed attempt to catch the criminal known only as Aphrodite, a name gained from their real lack of description of the thief. The victims could really only agree on one thing, they were robbed by a goddess, an angelic form had entered their house and otherwise, they couldn't even describe what they looked like, their memory going foggy and their eyes glazing over.
Hermione was an investigator in this case, but she had stalled out with having no real leads. And so, with a bracing breath, her hand firm upon the cool wooden door, she pushed it open and entered the large bull-pen like room, dodging flying memos shaped like planes, trying to sneak her way to her desk, a hope that her boss would not have noticed her entry.
A hope that she should have known was futile, the room was near deserted and so her presence would not go unnoticed. "Granger! My office! Now!" A high pitched shriek rang out. Her boss, Amelia Bones, was a severe looking woman, her dirty blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, increasing the gaunt appearance of her face, her brown eyes cold and calculating, watching every slight movement, it was no wonder that she was the head of the department. She did not like to be disappointed and held her subordinates to a high standard, making the exceptionalism Hermione had shown in her years at Hogwarts appear rather average. She was still among one of the youngest in the department, but that only added to the pressure, feeling the need to excel even more, an attempt at proving herself and therefore her worth in the department.
She quickly dipped into her boss's office, trying to take up as small a presence as possible, feeling as though she had been called to the headmaster's office, a feeling she had always dreaded having to experience. Bones's eyes were cold, watching her with a sharp look, she threw down a copy of the morning's Prophet, the headline reading "Aphrodite strikes again, has she caught the eye of the Ministry as well?" A hand drawn picture of a goddess was shown while the Minister was making heart eyes in an overly cartoonish manner.
Hermione muttered a curse under her breath. "Got a plan Granger? We needed this solved yesterday."
"One, albeit, not the best one, but I think, the only thing we can do is set up a trap. Stage a ruse and hope it draws her in and catch her in the act."
"And what makes you think that would work this time? She got away when Zabini tried it."
"Well, I have a theory, that since all of her victims are male, her abilities only affect men, so, if we would use a female, they may be able to catch her. Maybe she can't do... whatever it is she does to rob them."
"So I assume you'll be volunteering for that?"
This caught Hermione off-guard, she hadn't been expecting to be given such a prominent role, even if it was her plan. She was still too fresh from training and had landed a role in this case solely by luck as each time Aphrodite struck, more resources had been devoted. By this point, she'd struck so many times that at least half the department was focused solely on catching her.
"Uh, y-yeah, of course, I'd be glad to."
"Great," Bones said, leaning forward over her desk, "use whoever you need, I want results Granger, and soon."
Hermione nodded her acquiescence and stood there nervously, her right hand twitching at her side, a nervous tick she hadn't been able to shake. Bones sat down behind her desk, focused on her paperwork, and noticing no movement from Granger looked up at her, "Dismissed," was all she said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Hermione disappeared from the room as quickly as she entered, hoping not to disturb anything. She quickly made her way down the hall to the other room that held the rest of the aurors, when she became a detective she was moved to another division while Harry and Ron had had to stay behind. However, since she had been given approval, she was going to formulate the rest of the plan with their assistance, she couldn't trust anyone else's judgement, not with something as important as this, if she was able to solve it, it would make her career and solidify her place with the rest of the detectives.
This other room was just as big as hers, but there were more desks packed into it since the department was larger, but these aurors spent much less time at their desks, instead patrolling the streets the majority of the day, following up on petty crimes and instances of muggles wandering into magical areas or discovering magical items.
To an extent she missed this, it was a simpler time, but it definitely did not provide her with much of a challenge, though she was surrounded by more of her friends here. She had been able to achieve more and stand out among this crowd, maintaining her school image.
She found Harry and Ron sitting at their desks, facing each other, Ron leaning back in his chair, feet propped up on a pile of paperwork on his desk, straightening out the bent tip on the paper airplane in his hands, talking cheerily with Harry who was bent over his desk, fingers stained with ink, filling out a last minute report.
Hermione was able to make it over to them without being noticed, something she observed with a bit of enjoyment, she cleared her throat behind Ron, who out of fear of being caught (once again) slacking by his boss, sat up straight with a start, his feet slipping off his desk sending the pile of papers flying. Harry looked up from his work and let out a chuckle seeing none other than Hermione standing there. "Mate, relax, it's just Hermione."
She couldn't help but feign offense to that, letting out a scoff and placing her hand over her heart, "Just Hermione?"
"No offense, but you have nothing on Mad Eye," Ron added on quickly, "That guy is nightmare fuel."
"Don't remind me, I haven't been out of here that long."
"Yeah, well, I think he's worse now that you're gone."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's statement, "No, he's only worse now that I'm not doing your reports."
Harry finally sat his quill down, finishing up the last of his report, he sat back in his chair and regarded Hermione with a warm smile, "What brings you down here anyways Hermione? Anything we can do for you?" He'd always been like a brother to her, looking out for her like she looked out for him, Ron just kind of always felt like he was along for the ride, not that she disliked him, he just liked the easy way out of work.
"Yeah, there is actually, I was hoping you could help me with catching Aphrodite."
Ron couldn't help the look of surprise that came across his features, "Wow, 'Mione, that's your case? The Prophet's been butchering our detectives on it."
"Don't remind me, look, I just got tasked with it, and I've got a plan but I'll need your help."