A/N: This is a shorter chapter, but it's necessary and it has a good stopping point.
The residents of Tatum Putus had made sure that they would protect themselves against surprise raids by the Ministry and that they would keep out Muggle-born riff-raff in general by erecting strong anti-Muggle protections, and limiting Apparitions in only so that only Purebloods could come directly in. Everyone else had to Apparate to the roadside a quarter mile away and trek through a poorly marked path the woods to come to the overgrown stone path that linked all the houses to each other. Hermione had dressed Spencer up again, and he was half-jogging to keep up with the Aurors' anxious pace. They passed some of the largest, darkest houses he had ever seen set on, each one set on rich, deep green lawns that were expertly manicured and designed to display the wealth of those who resided there. The group passed four houses before Hermione stopped outside a large, wrought-iron gate with a crest displaying a Hippogriff and a large letter 'E' designed from wands.
"Enfluant family crest," she said a split second before a loud crack sounded, and a House-Elf appeared on the other side of the gate.
"Bobsy's been sent to sees what the strange witch and wizards are wanting," the Elf said, bowing low.
"Tell your Masters we are from the Ministry of Magic, and need to speak to them right away. If they do not allow us on the property, we'll force our way on, and make some arrests for our trouble," Hermione replied sharply. The Elf disappeared, and moments later the gates slid open. They hurried across the lawn and up the stairs to the front door, where they were greeted by a snobbish-looking middle age witch wearing expensive robes and trying to look accommodating.
"We always welcome the Ministry into our home, there is no need for hostilities here," the witch said. "I am Isabelle Enfluant. Tomas will be down shortly. He will be so pleased to see you here, Ms. Granger."
"I hope so," Hermione replied, though she sounded like she doubted it.
"Come in, come in, please sit. Bobsy, tea, if you would." She led the way towards a large sitting room decked out in blue and silver. Above the mantle was a large painting of the family, the beautiful witch mother, a handsome wizard that looked to be about twenty years her senior standing behind her, four witches ranging in age from mid-teens to mid-twenties who resembled their mother more than their father gathered around them. No sign of another wizard. Hermione looked over at Spencer, who had noticed the absence in the painting as well. Bobsy returned with tea, which Hermione politely took and, with a nod of her head, non-verbally instructed Spencer to take as well. The other two Aurors stood behind the couch, refusing tea and doing their job of looking as though the group meant business.
"This is a beautiful home you have here," Hermione said in as friendly a tone as she could muster.
"Thank you," Isabelle smiled. "That means a lot coming from you, Ms Granger."
"Sure it does," Spencer muttered under his breath.
"I heard we have visitors!" his booming voice preceded Tomas' entrance into the room. He paused when he got a look at Hermione. "Not just visitors, but a celebrity as well. How delightful. May I introduce my two eldest daughters, Marlisa and Antonia? My younger daughters are at school." He sat next to his wife, and, as if it were a choreographed dance the two daughters moved in unison to stand behind their parents.
"And your son?" Hermione asked.
"Do you see this vase, Ms. Granger?" Tomas ignored her question, motioning to an intricately painted vase nestled between a silver mask and a scorched wood box on the mantle. The paintings depicted a group of wizards taking down a group of Muggles armed with pitchforks and torches. "It's been in our family since the eighteenth century, and depicts our ancestors fighting to protect our magical community from the Muggle invaders who wished to destroy it and all the residents."
Spencer opened his mouth to ask if the Muggles had any chance, but Hermione placed a hand on his knee and discretely shook her head once.
"We take pride in our family's heritage, Ms. Granger. Marlisa graduated in the top ten of her class. She's now working with Masters Borgin and Burke to open up a branch of their shop in our nearby Muggle community. She has a mind for business, if not a bit of a procrastinator," he smiled, and the standing behind him winced at his words.
"Antonia was number two in her class," he continued. "I have appointed her head of my business affairs, making sure that my contributions are dispersed as I have directed, and keeping an eye on the businesses that use those contributions to make sure they were not mishandled. She also helps run the Quidditch team I co-own, and lobbies legislation for me at the Ministry of Magic. She is such a source of pride to us.
"Our younger daughters are stars at the school. One has just received seven OWLs, and is studying to go into politics when she is out. The other has already received praise and admiration from her teachers on several occasions. Our daughters have done well to promote our name and the prestige we have come to expect with that."
"Seven OWLs is quite impressive," Hermione smiled, but her voice sounded strained.
"I heard you got an impressive amount yourself."
"Eleven."
"That's something for our youngest to strive for, then."
"Tell her good luck. But you still are avoiding my questions. Where is Vespasian?"
The eldest girl looked pained for a second, and turned away, causing Spencer to raise an eyebrow and watch her carefully.
"Let me make it very clear, Ms. Granger," Tomas said, accommodating smile fading from his face. "I have told you about my family, all the members of my family. There is no Vespasian here, nor will there ever be again. That is a dark chapter we have cut out of our lives, and we will make sure his type never darkens our doorstep again. He is not welcome as is your kind, Ms. Granger. Nor the Muggle sitting next to you."
Spencer and Hermione stood at the same time, and Hermione moved herself protectively in front of Spencer. "Your tone is out of line," Hermione cautioned.
"Your heritage is well known," Tomas stood with a snarl. "Do you think that we cannot smell the Muggle stink coming off that man? You may dress up your little doll in robes and give him a wand he cannot use, but we know Muggle scum when we see it. And we want both of you out of our house post haste."
He and Hermione were now standing within two feet of each other, each intent on staring each other down. Spencer grabbed Hermione's wand arm, trying to tug her away from Tomas. "I'll do you a kindness you do not deserve," Hermione said dangerously. "Until our situation is resolved you and your family will be under close watch by the Ministry. I would be very careful with your words and movements for a while."
"You do not have the power to do that," Tomas hissed.
"Watch me," Hermione smirked. She turned and walked out the front door, and waited until they were halfway across the lawn before speaking. "That mask was a Death Eater mask, which is a Class-A non-tradable object. Either Mr. Enfluant was a Death Eater, or he bought that mask illegally. Either way, he can expect a raid in the next couple days."
Spencer looked nervous. "A little vindictive, are we?"
"I'm just following the law," she replied innocently as they walked through the gate and started back down the lane.
"Ms. Granger?" a voice called as they passed a small grove of trees.
They stopped and turned, seeing Marlisa walking nervously towards them, playing with a folded piece of paper in her hands.
"I'm sorry," Marlisa muttered. "My father is always like that."
"An overbearing prat. I know the type," Hermione nodded. "If you have any care for your mental well-being you should get out of that house."
"I know," she said, squeezing the paper tightly. "The deal with Borgin and Burke fell through a couple months ago. I've been working at a bookshop ever since, trying to save up money to get out on my own. Vespasian left without any money, and he's been struggling financially ever since."
"You've got contact with Vespasian?" Spencer asked in surprise.
"Yes," she nodded. "I haven't told my parents, they'd kick me out, but he and his girlfriend..."
"Is that Meghan Lentz?"
"Yes. They bolted as soon as they graduated. They've been hiding out, living as Muggles ever since. He couldn't bring himself to go through with his arranged marriage."
"So there was one," Hermione muttered.
"Yes. And I've got one as well, when I hit twenty-seven. They wanted me to wait a few years so it doesn't look arranged. I'm trying to leave before then."
"About Vespasian," Spencer cut in.
"Spencer," Hermione hissed in warning, not wanting to call him outright on his insensitivity. "If you go to the Ministry in the UK and ask for Draco Malfoy I'll send word for him to look up ways to get you out of there. He's a pureblood, he'll understand your ties to your family," she said gently.
"Thank you," Marlisa nodded. "I wanted you to have this," she said, handing her the piece of paper. "It's where you'll be able to find Vespasian and Meghan."
"Thank you," Hermione smiled.
"I need to go before they notice I'm gone."
"I'll make sure Draco gets the message," Hermione nodded. Marlisa disappeared with a pop. "She was going to give us the paper no matter what," she said to Spencer. "She just needed reassurances that there's people out there who will get the message. And she'll think that a Pureblood will understand her better than a Muggle-born, since those are two different worlds. Her father obviously has strong ties to the American Ministry, so I need to make sure she doesn't seek help with them, or it'll get back to him. She's scared for herself and her brother and reaching out, and I offered the best helping hand I could for the moment."
Spencer bit his lip. Empathy had never been his strong suit, and he wasn't the best one to ask about the difficulties living as a Pureblood witch. "Where's the address?"
Hermione opened the paper, and her jaw fell open. "They live in Chicago," she said, holding out the paper to him.
"That explains why the killings are happening there. It's easiest to get a message when it's placed on your front step."
"You two," Hermione pointed to the other two Aurors. "I want you to go over the Apparation and Portkey records. I want to see if anyone who has a name close to Enfluant has been coming and going from the area. And I want it within three hours."
"Yes, ma'am," the Aurors said in unison before Apparating away.
Hermione and Spencer traveled back to Chicago branch of the Ministry. It was late, and there was no one there. Hermione sent a quick message to Draco, as she had promised, and filled out a form ordering a raid on Enfluant Manor. Spencer changed back into his street clothes, and they climbed into her car to drive him back to the hotel.
"What are you thinking about the new information?" he asked.
"I'm thinking that we can pretty much cross them off the list of suspects. If they're living as Muggles they've made a major change, and they wouldn't risk exposing themselves by killing a bunch of Muggles in their own neighborhood."
"So, who would benefit from sending them a message?"
"His family, obviously. We can cut out her family, since they're Muggles," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"What about the family they had an arranged marriage with? They're probably pretty upset that he would rather run away with the bottom rung of your society than their daughter," he offered.
"That just opens up a whole new can of worms now, doesn't it?"
"It does make things more complicated."
"Okay, now the million Galleon question is who do we go interview first?"
"I think it would be best to talk to Vespasian and Meghan first. They're the center of all this, perhaps they can give us insight into this other family."
"Do you think we should go visit them tonight, or do you think we need to wait until tomorrow?" she asked.
"It's late," he muttered. "Perhaps first thing in the morning?"
"Okay," she nodded as they pulled up to his hotel. He climbed out, and she exited after him. "You want me to pick you up at seven-thirty?"
"You do like bright and early, don't you?"
"I'll bring coffee," she smiled. They stood, close to each other, neither one sure of how to bid the other goodnight. She studied his face, eyes running slowly over each feature. He was aware that she was moving closer to him, eyes never leaving his face, but suddenly becoming focused on his lips. She took a small step forward so her body was lightly pressing against his. He started to lean down towards her, but at the last second wrapped his arms around her in a hug rather than press his lips to hers. They held each other for a couple seconds before she pulled away.
"I'll see you in the morning," she muttered with a confused smile, then she started to walk quickly across the lobby. He watched her go, then went up to his room and changed into his pajamas. He was sitting in the chair with a book when there was a sharp knock on the door. He went to his peephole, and to his shock he saw Hermione standing in the hall, looking agitated.
"What's going...?" he started as he opened the door.
"Get dressed. They found another body. We can't wait until morning," she said quickly.