Author's Note. Hello all! Here is another chapter. Things are about to really get started now! We had a small time jump but just barely. I'll make it more clear though: The first victim was discovered January 16th 2004, this chapter takes place February 12th 2004. Please read and review, I'd love to know what you guys think of the story thus far an where you think/would like for it to go. Also know that I actually have changed the plot around a little. I took into account that many people said the story was moving along slowly (although no one seemed annoyed by the pace) I decided to edit down some of my subplots and get straight to a few bigger details.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This idea came to me after watching Bones, which I also do not own.
"Typical." Hermione sighed.
"Mione we're just worried. You can't be mad about that." Ron said before shoving his food in his mouth.
"Your concern is ridiculous. We fought in a war as children and yet you show concern over my work partner. You can't claim that that is plain concern for my well being. Malfoy has no affect on my personal state."
Hermione was baffled by their concerns for her personal life. She had been nothing but happy and healthy since the years after the war yet every time she gathered with the boys they acted as if she was dying. They didn't seem to believe she was capable of living without their constant presence. Since she had withdrawn into her work so deeply they seemed unable of trusting her judgment.
Harry set his cup of coffee on the café table. He knew Hermione wouldn't take his and Ron's worries well. She had never listened to them quite the same since the war had ended. He had watched her drive herself into a hole of facts and logic that she seemed incapable of pulling out of.
"Hermione, we're sorry. We didn't mean to question your ability to take care of yourself. It's just, it's Malfoy. He puts us on edge."
Hermione took a small bite of her salad while she looked at the two boys sitting across from her. Their lunch had barely begun before they had started the interrogation. She knew they didn't trust Malfoy, although she thought it was ridiculous since they hadn't seen the man since his trial after the war.
"You see the ferret more than you see us."
Ron had a valid point, Hermione had fallen behind on her lunches with her friends. Work was the first priority on her mind and Malfoy happened to be a part of that work.
"How are the kids, Harry?" Hermione asked ignoring Ron all together.
Harry stumbled upon his words, looking at Ron as if waiting for permission to speak. "The boys are good. James finally seems to be in the terrible two's phase."
"A little late for that, isn't it?" Hermione joked.
"Well he was bound to get there. I'm more worried that at four this is just going to be his personality. Albus is doing well though, Ginny is expecting you for his birthday party."
"I'll do my best to be there. It's not every day my godson turns two. But Harry, if something comes up at the hospital…"
"We know." Ron huffed.
Hermione stabbed her fork into her salad bowl causing a hard clink as the metal hit the bowl. Ron had always been the difficult one but she was frustrated to see he had done very little growing up n the last few years. She had hoped that the war ending would make him grow up.
"Well Ronald, how is Andy?" Hermione asked not looking at him.
"She's fine last I saw. Her mother has her for the next two weeks. You know I hate that nickname, you make my daughter sound like a boy."
"Well you called me Herms for two years. Which is worse?"
They all fell silent as they continued eating and drinking what they had ordered. Hermione knew they would patch things up, she even knew she would be the one to reach out during the lunch. If for no other reason than the simple fact that she didn't have time to fight with them. Starting a fight would mean months of letters and missed floo calls that she couldn't afford any time to.
Harry glanced up from his plate looking quickly between Hermione and Ron. Things had been rough between the two of them since their break up. Neither of them even seemed fully capable of realizing how awkward they were around each other but Harry was able to fully appreciate how at each other's necks they were. Ginny had told him once it was sexual tension that they needed to release, Harry had joked with his wife that the last thing the Healer and red head needed was to get any closer.
"Would you like to hear what I've been working on?" Hermione offered as a peace statement.
"Course Mione." Ron smiled as if nothing had transpired a moment before.
"Well of course a great deal of the details are sealed because of Ministry codes but Malfoy and I have been working on this one case since last month. It's very odd, no magic works we're doing things entirely the muggle way. Although by we I mean me. Malfoy hasn't really been around much for my side of things. Muggle science is very interesting. Your father would appreciate it, Ronald."
"Aren't your Ministry cases normally just a few hours?" Harry asked.
"Well yes, but that's when I can use magic. Even as intelligent as I am doing things the muggle way takes time. Especially because the Ministry doesn't keep records the same way muggles do so the findings are nearly useless."
Hermione smiled going back to her salad as Harry frowned thinking of the bodies Hermione worked with. Her job talk normally had a way of ruining his appetite. Though he was thankful the details were sealed with the Ministry, he heard too many St. Mungos horror stories while eating.
It didn't shock anyone in the café when a small Ministry barn owl flew overhead. It did seem to surprise the table when it stopped above Hermione. Harry urged her to take the letter quickly, knowing firsthand how impatient Ministry owls could be.
"What is it, Mione?" Ron asked before she had the chance to open the envelope.
"If you'll let me read it first I might be able to tell you Ron." Hermione joked as she broke the seal.
Granger –
We need you now. Another body has been found, same conditions as the last. We may have the makings of a serial killer on our hands. Body was found on the outskirts of Barnton, you need to see this.
Malfoy.
"Well damn." Hermione muttered as she stood and started searching through her bag.
"What is it?" Harry asked looking concerned.
"Ministry business, I have to go. I'll pay and be off, we'll see each other again soon."
"I've got it Mione, see you at Albus' birthday."
Hermione smiled at Harry mouthing a thank you to him as she disappeared with a small pop leaving her two best friends alone again without a proper goodbye.
"Took you long enough, Granger." Malfoy spat out in anger.
"Well maybe if you had sent a patronus rather than an owl I could have been here quicker."
Malfoy seemed to mutter something under his breath. Hermione tried to catch it but his words were too soft. She would have sworn she heard the words 'I can't.' Hermione followed Malfoy up a small grassy hill to where the body had been found.
Barton was known for being a fairly peaceful wizarding town. Hermione had never heard of any serious disturbances occurring within the town limit. Though she knew statistically very small towns often kept their problems hidden.
As they came to the top of the hill Hermione could see many Ministry workers crowded in a small circle. It was nearly impossible for her to see into the circle where the remains were laying. Draco stopped as they came across the Ministry men. Hermione was sure Draco was higher up than anyone who was assigned to guard a dead body, but still he showed them a clearance pass. The moment he flashed the paper at them the guards moved out of the way.
Hermione's eyes immediately went to the ground.
"Why am I here, Malfoy?"
"You're a healer aren't you? You're my partner aren't you?"
"I deal with bones when it comes to Ministry cases. This is more than I like to work with, Malfoy." Hermione rolled her eyes in his direction, he didn't need to look at her to know she was annoyed.
"Granger listen, you are on this case whether you like it or not. Identifying markers are all gone or hidden and we can't use magic on the body. You are the best and we need the best."
"Healer Blanche is the best, but she did train me. I am widely acknowledged as the most talented Healer in England."
"And always modest. What can you tell us?"
Hermione bent down, careful not to touch the remains with her bare hands. The muscle and a large deal of the flesh was still intact on the victim. Her eyes travelled up and down the body for several minutes just taking in all that could be seen at the top of the hill. Mental pictures were taken over and over again in her mind.
Malfoy was almost annoyed by her lack of communication. There was clearly a sick bastard on the loose and Hermione seemed to be taking her own sweet time. He had made the Ministry wait to move the body just for Hermione. Only two days before Hermione had called him to her lab while she observed the other victim and yelled at him because of compromised evidence due to how the Ministry handled the body at the scene of the crime.
"Where's the head?" her voice broke him out of his thoughts.
"Down the hill, there are guards watching over it."
It seemed too casual of a conversation to be having. Hello, how are you, his head is down there… Sometimes his job made him a little queasy. Draco followed as Hermione broke out of the circle and moved to the opposite side of the hill where another circle of guard men stood. He flashed their clearance and watched as she got on her knees to be closer to the head she was observing.
"Malfoy, am I detached?"
Draco had to cough at the randomness of the question. Though he had never worked with Granger for as long as they had been in the last month he thought he knew her well. He had her pegged for a straight work type of girl, it was one of the reasons he hadn't complained when he had been assigned her as a healer.
"Granger, aren't you looking at the head right now?" he asked trying to get her back into her work.
"Of course I am. Can you not see? Perhaps you should have your eyesight checked." Her suggestion was so sincere Draco had to physically stop himself from laughing, "It's just that Harry and Ron seem to think I am far too detached to be living a normal life."
"You're looking at a human head I'd have to agree this isn't normal."
Hermione looked up from the head at Draco with a confused look. She seemed to be thinking something over very thoroughly. He thought about asking but thought the better of it when she lowered her head to once again look at the victim.
"They seem to think I need to find more human contact in life. Which seems ridiculous to me because I am required to interact with people every day. I don't understand where they are coming from in suggesting I don't have contact with other human beings. Harry seems to think I need to find someone who will hold my hand and lead me through life and death, he wants me to have someone to lean on. But that is a ridiculous notion."
"Why, Granger?" Draco asked, a hint of laughter behind his voice.
"The idea that someone else would lead me through my own life suggests that I am incapable of living alone. Which if the last few years have shown is simply not the case. Also someone leading me through death would require me to believe in a form of after life, and I simply don't. I have no desire to hold someone's hand or lean on them."
Draco rolled his eyes as he watched Granger push herself up off the ground. He felt uncomfortable from their talk. It was unusual for them to have that much conversation. He enjoyed stopping by the hospital, he even enjoyed pushing her buttons, but her attempts at normal conversation often left him feeling unintelligent.
"This is a female, which is different from our last victim. I'll need the remains brought back to my lab. I'll be there first thing in the morning, if you would like to join that's fine."
Hermione started to walk away but Draco followed her back to where she had first appeared. She looked at him almost awkwardly as if waiting for what he wanting to say before leaving.
"Um… I'll be there, Granger. You know, tomorrow." She started to turn at the end of his words but was stopped as he pushed one of his hands out towards her, "And, um, Granger, I don't think you need anyone to lean on. You do just fine on your own. You know, for a big haired bookworm."
Hermione only nodded slightly as she turned to go home. Draco watched as she disappeared shaking his own head. He had stuttered and stumbled like an idiot for no reason. Giving his work partner a compliment shouldn't have made him an idiot. Although Granger's superior attitude made everyone she worked with feel like an imbecile. Draco didn't want to chalk it up to anything more than that.
A.N. So there it is another chapter. Who are these victims, who committed the crime, do they even have anything in common? Keep reading to find out the mystery! ~MarieGirl