This is an interlude chapter. It introduces an important plot direction for this story, but also introduces briefly two characters for a companion piece to this story, Gabrielle Delacour and Dennis Creevey. I have sequels planned for this story but Dennis and Gabriella will likely have their own seperate and distinct storline only briefly intersecting with this one.

Enjoy.

Chapter 10

Extracurricular office activities notwithstanding, Hermione's first week on the job was not an easy one. The case load was overwhelming the entire department. There were increasing attacks on muggleborn and half borns. Nothing on the level of those during the war, but enough to worry the new Head of Magical Law Enforcement.

There was a lot of blame being placed squarely on the shoulders of escaped death eaters and their sympathizers, but so far no one had stepped up to take the credit, and their leads were slim.

All of the victims had been attacked while alone, memories wiped or altered and all they could remember was being attacked by individuals wearing what appeared to be death eater masks. Five attacks so far, all increasing in brutality, although no deaths so far, thank Merlin, and the pressure was on her department to get it solved.

The press wanted to know why aurors were not being called in to handle the new death eater threat, and no matter how many times they were told there was absolutely no proof any death eaters escaped or otherwise had actually been involved, and that the auror department was not called in to handle every case of battery no matter what costume the perpetrator wore, it was becoming a PR nightmare very quickly. Those who had been attacked were prominent and wealthy members of society and seemed to have been chosen to make a statement.

Except no statement was forthcoming. Hermione was stymied. She had just finished a morning meeting with her team going over what they already knew, whicj wasn't much, and strategizing for the coming week when her assistant Randy let her know she had a visitor. She liked Randy, he had moved up with her from her raw recruit to her go to assistant when he was injured on the job and could no longer do field work. Now she was certain her entire office would fall apart without him. The young man he ushered in, with a slightly wicked grin at the young man's hind quarters, Randy was an equal opportunity admirer of the human form, was familiar to Hermione and it took her just a few moments to recognize him. When she did she came from around her desk to hug him

"Dennis! It has been too long!" She had always had a soft spot for the youngest member of Dumbledore's Army. She knew Harry had never quite got over the death of Dennis' brother Colin. It was one of those that haunted him to this day. She motioned for him to sit down. "What brings you in today? I will warn you, if you are looking for an inside scoop, I would be far more likely to give you one than anyone else, but there is literally nothing else to tell."

Dennis sat down and laughed "Your problem has always been that you are too honest for your own good Hermione, try to hold something back so the press feels like they wheedled something out of you." She let out something between a laugh and a sigh and poured them both a mug of tea "Yeah, yeah, you and Draco. I have heard that lecture before."

"So you and Draco Malfoy, huh? Care to give an old friend an inside scoop on that relationship?" Dennis flashed her the award winning smile that had women, men and most higher forms of plant and animal life swooning. "As an old friend? Absolutely? As a sneaky member of the press? Not on your life." Dennis laughed again, "I will take what I can get, but maybe over lunch. I actually came here for a reason. Beyond your brilliant mind and scintillating conversation of course."

"Flatterer, you are not going to bat your eyes and sweep me off to your bed where I will spill all of my secrets to you Creevey." He pretended mock offense "Hey I have other techniques I will have you know!" she raised an eyebrow "OK, so I also go with what works."

She rolled her eyes. Dennis Creevey had gone from being the most adorable, if slightly overly enthusiastic, younger brother of one of Harry's greatest admirers to a battle front reporter known for reporting on the most dangerous topics and situations all over the globe. Whenever he was in town he, Hermione, Ron and Harry usually managed to get together and catch up. He was also known for some unorthodox methods of getting information from his female targets usually in very private intimate settings. Also usually resulting in not a few scandals in his career.

"OK, OK but still, I have an actual reason for coming to see you. You remember Gabrielle?"

"Fluer's sister? Yes, I remember her, of course I do, she is, or rather was my sister in law. Sort of. Why?"

Given his reputation Hermione was a bit suspicious of his intentions. Not that Gabrielle needed it, she had followed her brothers in law examples and became a full fledged auror who happened to enjoy dragon taming expeditions with Charlie as a hobby. A HOBBY. Hermione shuddered inwardly. No, Gabrielle did not need Hermione's protection.

'There are rumors of trouble brewing with the goblins in France. There are further rumors that they may be employing veela to distract humans from their activities."

"What activities?"

"That is what I want to find out, but Gabriella has been resistant to my charms…"

"And by resistant you mean…?"

"She hates me."

"Oh Dennis, I am sure she doesn't… hate is a strong word, why would you think she hates you?" Gabrielle was such a kind woman, incredibly compassionate, Hermione could not imagine her hating anyone.

"She told me so. In those exact words 'I hate you Dennis Creevey' and then she punched me in the jaw. I assure you, hate may be a strong word, but I dare say she would not find it strong enough for her depth of disgust for me."

Hermione sighed "Why did she punch you Dennis?"

"She may believe I broke up her friend's marriage.

"Why would she believe that?"

"I may have been caught in bed with her friend's wife."

"May have been or were caught in bed with her friend's wife?"

"OK, I was caught in bed with her, but it was completely innocent … mostly innocent" he clarified seeing the look of irritation on Hermione's face "We were not having sex, we had not just had sex and we were not preparing to have sex."

"Then what WERE you doing?"

"The problem is I can't explain that to you or her or anyone."

"OK, what do you want me to do Dennis?"

"Get her to agree to let me go on the assignment with them. Please Hermione, it is really important. My whole career could be made on this one story."

"Your career is already made, Dennis, you are one of the most easily recognizable reporters in the world."

"OK, fair enough, still it is really important to me. And I don't come hat in hand; I have some information for you about the current investigation you are conducting into the muggleborn attacks. I got a few contacts to look in to things for you. I have names of targets this group intends to hit."

This got Hermione's attention. "How did they get this? How reliable is it? Who are these contacts?"

"I don't know, pretty reliable if vague, and I won't answer that last one and you know it."

He slid an envelope across to her. "Fine Dennis, I will ask her. No promises, but I will be MY most convincing. Now, let's go grab lunch while you tell me all about this ambassador's wife you have scandalized."

A quick update to this chapter for my reviewers. First thank you so much. You have taken the time out of your day to add commentary and I appreciate it!

Now to answer some specific comments: To my Guest Reviewer. I really should have combined chapters 1 and 2 into a prologue and if I ever decide to do a rewrite I will do just that. I love the character of Astoria in theory more than in practice. I did not want to ignore her entirely but for many, Hermione having a relationship outside of Ron feels wrong and I tried to keep that in mind with the character of Astoria here. If I fully fledged that character into someone we were all rooting for and then to kill her off and make it feel like Hermione is replacing her in addition to the Ron Hermione divorce drama it would have been a little over the top for my tastes. So I kept her part short and, hopefully, respectful. I appreciate that your biggest criticism is that you wanted MORE that is always great to hear!

Lollylocked, I agree, some of the writing where Ron is completely demonized bothers me. Not just because it is OOC but because it is so overly done and just plain sloppy. Drama drawn from real life requires a more delicate touch and more thought but I feel like it pays off better in the end

Ren, thank you! I was rather like Hermione in my youth, annoying know it all attitude at times included, lol. And having been through a divorce due to an affair I did feel like I came through it a badass at the end.

Roon0 you are the bomb! Glad you are loving the story.