Day 35 (8th August)
Nott A Clue
Lead Auror reports 'No New Leads' in the Hunt for Missing Famous Wizard Nott.
The Auror office has finally responded to the Prophet's requests for new information in the case of missing Theodore Nott. Adrian Pucey, the Lead Auror on the case, stated: "At this time the Auror Department have no new leads and no new updates for you. We are working tirelessly on the information we have and appreciate the media's discretion. A man's life may be at stake here."
Nott went missing in July, and the Aurors announced early on that the matter was being treated as suspicious. Crime scene analysis stated that blood, found in Nott's house, had been confirmed as his.
Kidnap for financial extortion seemed most likely but no demands for money, or indeed any kind of ransom, have been received. With no real leads, it has proved difficult for the Aurors to make progress. Nott does not appear to have gained any personal enemies, apart from a few key members of hate groups protesting his relationship with a Muggleborn. Nott has no close family remaining, his mother having died when he was younger, his father during the War.
Nott rose to fame a few years ago when he made an initial breakthrough in restoring people's health from the adverse effects from the Cruciatus Curse. He was honoured at last year's Ministry awards ceremony for Outstanding Achievements. The youngest to receive such an honour, he attended the event alongside an array of famous witches and wizards, soon becoming one in his own right. He has remained a firm favourite with our sister magazine, Witch Weekly, and its female fan base. His popularity soared after he was convinced to take part in their Charity Photo Shoot, which featured the readers' favourite wizards in all their glory.
Nott was regularly seen on the party circuit with his best friend and two years running Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelor, Draco Malfoy. Both men were often seen surrounded by pretty witches, though there were rumours about the two men's relationship behind closed doors, all hotly denied. It had looked as if Theodore would fight Malfoy for this year's Eligible Bachelor title, rumours notwithstanding, until he fell for War Heroine Hermione Granger.
The famous couple began dating over a year ago and have hardly been seen without each other since. Scandal hit early on in their relationship when Nott attacked a photographer at a Quidditch match, breaking the man's camera. There have been many rumours over the last few months of the couple's intention to tie the knot and settle down. When they would deign to comment, both denied the rumours, Nott stating on more than one occasion that they were not rushing things, and that they had all the time in the world.
How ironic those words have turned out to be!
Granger has been seen only a handful of times since Nott's disappearance. It has been reported that she is tirelessly working with the Auror Office, almost hand in hand with Lead Auror, Pucey. Some have made note of the closeness between the two.
We can only hope that Theodore Nott is found alive soon! As ever The Daily Prophet will be the first to bring you all the news.
Hermione heard herself growling under her breath. He had told her, 'don't talk to the press', the last time they had spoken! Unless he was able to explain himself pretty quickly, it wouldn't be a photographer that got punched this time! She allowed the paper to drop to the floor as she fought back the tears that threatened to fall; she was scared that if she let them, they'd never stop.
She looked around her lounge. The pictures that used to stare out at her, at them, were laid down flat or had been removed from the wall. It hurt too much to look at them. The only one that remained upright was the one on her bed. The one that she fell asleep with every night, the only place where she would allow herself to break down, the place where the tears would only stop when exhaustion took over her.
Another glance at the newspaper was enough to fight the tears and bring her anger at Adrian back to the surface, pushing away the hurt and fear that always simmered under the surface.
How dare he speak to the press without discussing it with her first. These sorts of articles rarely helped. Usually, they caused more trouble than good, and the Auror office would be overwhelmed with more false sightings and people who were sure they were helping. The Aurors had to investigate each report, even if the details didn't fully line up with the facts.
She grit her teeth as she realised that the media would be back to following her again. The last couple of weeks had been a relief as the media interest started to dim due to lack of new information. Thanks to Pucey, they were going to be all over her again!
At least he hadn't blurted out that she was pregnant! Ginny had been hurt that Hermione had not told her sooner-or even at all, as it had been Pucey's gaffe that had brought the secret out-and the atmosphere had been a little strained for a couple of days.
She stood up and headed for her room. It was time to go and pay a visit to an idiotic Auror! Sometimes she felt like she would be better off if she tried to find Theo by herself!
Half an hour later she arrived at the Ministry, her demeanour cool, calm and collected, replacing her tired and emotionally strained look. She walked through the corridors, oblivious to the hundreds of faces she passed as if wearing blinkers. She focused on her anger, not wanting to be distracted. She needed this.
As she approached the Auror office, she took a deep breath. Her fists clenched before she released them, pushed open the door and walked through. Her eyes immediately searched out the offending Auror, and she saw him stood next to Malfoy.
Typical.
She grimaced and marched over to them before she could change her mind.
Adrian smiled when he saw her. "Hey, Hermio..."
"What the hell are you playing at Pucey?!" she all but yelled. "'Don't talk to the press, Hermione, they will only cause problems!' That's what you said to me two days ago!" She caught sight of a copy of the offending paper out of the corner of her eye; it sat underneath a large book on the desk next to Malfoy's. Her fingers found the corner of the book, picking it and the paper up. Her furious gaze hadn't left Adrian's face.
His face paled considerably. "You're not going to hit me with a book are you, Hermione?" he asked, his eyes darting between her face and the book in her hand.
"No, I respect books far too much to hit you with one, Pucey. This, however, is far more appropriate for you!"
Before Adrian could move, she dropped the book onto the desk and whacked him round the face with the paper. Her satisfaction didn't last long though; as she struck him again, the paper flew out of her grip and landed in front of Draco, splashing his soup all over him. Her anger was replaced with a mixture of dread and amusement, as she looked into the pale, fury filled eyes.
"Granger, you really are pathetic, you know that?" he yelled, standing up and storming away. Before he pushed through the door, he stopped, turned and snarled, "Theo's better off where he is than here with you!"
A deathly silence was left after the door slammed behind the angry man. Hermione let the words sink in; they were horrid and hurtful, and deep down she knew-hoped-Draco didn't mean them. They cut as he had intended them to though. She took a shaky breath, feeling Adrian's comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, let's go to my office and we can talk."
She nodded mutely, not trusting herself to speak right now, and allowed him to lead her towards the office at the back of Auror Headquarters. Muted chatter broke out as soon as they started to move. She was thankful for the silence being broken, even if they were talking about her. She sat down in the chair she was becoming increasingly familiar with, she had lost count of the amount of times she had now visited this office to discuss the case.
"I'm sorry about Malfoy, Hermione, and I'm also sorry you had to deal with the newspaper this morning. Bloody reporters accosted me at the morgue, over at St Mungo's, and I wasn't in a great frame of mind. Nothing to do with Theo!" he reassured her as he noticed her look of horror.
She drew in some deep gasps of air. Those few words had brought back that awful day, a couple of weeks back. She still wasn't sure what had freaked her out more; the thought that Theo had been dead or looking upon the mutilated body of some poor soul and realising that it could have been Theo. That could still be her Theo's fate... She hadn't slept for a week after staring upon that horror.
"They just caught me off guard and unfortunately got what they wanted." Adrian's voice interrupted her morbid thoughts.
Hermione watched him as rubbed his face; she had to admit he looked tired.
"I'm sorry for hitting you, Adrian. I just got myself so wound up this morning, I wasn't ready to be surprised by his face on the front page, and my first thoughts were... Well, you can probably guess."
"It's okay, Mina, I understand. On the plus side, watching Malfoy getting covered in soup was well worth the sting on the cheek."
Hermione couldn't help the smirk that graced her features as she watched Adrian break out in laughter; she decided she would let the use of Theo's nickname for her slide, this time. No one else called her that, except him, and she had no intention of letting anyone else do it now. She figured that, since he seemed to have forgiven her newspaper slapping, now wasn't the time to start on him about something else.
"Well, it certainly wasn't my intention, but I'm not going to lie, it has made my day that little bit better." She giggled.
"I'm beginning to wonder about him though; I have to be honest. He's been acting so strange about this whole case. I can't decide if it's because it's his best friend, or something more sinister. His behaviour around you is somewhat alarming as well. I'm seriously debating whether to take him off the case."
"His behaviour towards me, Adrian, is nothing new. I wouldn't let that cloud your judgement. Draco and I have never been close, not even before all this mess happened. It was always a point of contention with Theo, but I had thought Draco might have looked past our differences, under the circumstances. It would be nice to have an ally in him. He's the only other person who knew Theo as well as I did."
She gave a sudden gulping sob, and before she could help herself, the tears started to fall.
"Hermione? What's wrong?" Adrian was quickly out of his chair and by her side, taking her into his arms as she sobbed.
"Do you not see, Adrian?" Her words were muffled in his chest, but he could hear her well enough. "I just talked about him in the… the past tense, like he… he's dead!"
She couldn't help herself then; the tears fell freely. As embarrassed as she knew she would feel when she stopped, she welcomed the comfort that Adrian was offering. Harry was away on Auror business again and Ron… Well, Ron was highly contagious with chickenpox, of all things! It still amazed Hermione to this day that the wizarding world had not managed to cure this simple muggle illness. As such the whole Weasley/Zabini family were avoiding her, and each other, so as not to catch it and give it to any of the babies. She had felt even more lost without them around. It was only now, after Draco had once again displayed no signs of comfort that she realised how lonely she had been feeling.
She wasn't sure how long she allowed Adrian to hold her, but once she had composed herself, he let her go. He moved so he was kneeling in front of her.
"We will do whatever we can to find him, Hermione, but it doesn't hurt to prepare yourself for the worst either. You know we've been here before. I know it's not what you want to hear," he continued over her attempted interruption, "but it's been over a month, Hermione. I need you to understand that even if we find him, it may not be in the way that we want."
"He's alive Adrian; I need to believe that. I certainly cannot believe he could be like that... that poor man we saw the other week I just can't!"
"I know you need to believe that, sweetheart, and I hope to Merlin that he is alive, but I need you to be ready for any eventuality, okay? For you, and the baby."
She nodded at him if only to make him feel better. Theo could not be dead. She wasn't sure she could cope without him... She knew she positively could not deal with identifying his mutilated body if that's what it came down to. Before she could focus anymore on that possible horror, Adrian's door flew open and there stood a cleaned up Draco Malfoy.
"Wow, Granger, you move on quick, huh?" He sneered at her.
She pulled herself away from Adrian: it had been an innocent moment between them, but she could now see how it might appear to others, seeing them so close.
"Grow up, Malfoy. I honestly thought you were a better person than this. The way Theo talks about you, I expected more."
"You know nothing, Granger, and do not speak about Theo as if you know him like I do. I'm pretty sure when we find him, he won't be hanging around you for much longer. Although maybe you won't care if Adrian's your latest fancy. Hey, good for you, you've found a new baby daddy already!"
Draco didn't know what hit him. She flew across the room in a rage and slapped him. "How dare you! You haven't changed, have you? Still a vile little ferret!"
Before she could hit him again, a strong pair of arms were wrapped around her pulling her away from Malfoy, a red mark rapidly appearing on his alabaster skin.
"Malfoy, this is unacceptable! What the hell are you playing at?" Adrian shouted, fighting to hold Hermione still.
"What the hell are you playing at, Pucey? Can't even wait for a man to be found dead before you jump in on his life?" Draco turned as if to leave the room.
"Wait right there, Malfoy. You seem to be privy to information I'm not if you know Theo to be dead!"
Draco turned from the door, an incredulous look on his face.
"Hermione, I'm sorry," Adrian said, "I need you to leave. This investigation might have taken a turn."
"Oh, don't be so fucking ridiculous, Pucey! Are you actually saying what I think you are?"
Adrian brushed past Malfoy and threw open his door. "I need Miss Granger escorted from the premises, and taken home immediately. I also want twenty-four-hour security set up around her property for the time being."
Hermione started to protest, but Adrian silenced her with a look. An Auror Hermione hadn't met before walked up. "You will head home now with Mister Perkins here. I will update you as soon as I can. Trust me, Hermione, this is for your own protection."
Hermione couldn't argue, even if she wanted to. She looked at Draco's face which if possible seemed to have paled even further than usual. As the door was closing behind her, she heard Adrian's words to Draco.
"I think it's time you and I had a chat about what secrets you've been keeping from us, don't you, Malfoy?"
Day 44 (17th August)
As expected the Aurors had over a hundred new 'leads', but so far none of them had led anywhere. This was the depressing news Adrian was delivering to Hermione. She was sat in his office, called in initially to discuss the situation with Malfoy, but she wanted to talk to him about Perkins. The Auror had been following her around like a lost puppy.
"Malfoy is being questioned, daily. To be honest, until I'm satisfied he definitely isn't involved, he won't be back on this! Maybe without him potentially leading us down the wrong routes, we might be able to get somewhere. It's a shame that Justin's alibi proved truthful. I agree with you, Theo definitely should have reported his threats. Petty though they may have seemed, he's messed up over Theo's fame."
Hermione glanced around the office, through the window where the other Aurors were working away. Never had her hopes depended on people she barely knew in quite the same way. "Adrian, I still don't think that Draco did it. Seriously. He's a bit of a dick, yes, but he's lost his best friend. If anyone can understand his pain and what that can do to someone, it's me right now."
"Hermione, I respect you very much, but I need you to trust me on this one. If Draco is found to innocent, he will be released and pardoned, but I need to follow a process otherwise we won't get anywhere."
Hermione didn't like it. Theo would love that she was standing up for Draco and siding with him even after everything he had done to her over the years and more recently. She knew that Adrian wasn't going to change his mind from the tone in his voice. It was moments like this that she wished Harry was here. Her best friend, whilst stubborn, appreciated her gut instinct. He always had. It had got them through many tough days on the run and had even saved their lives on more than one occasion.
Adrian was a nice guy, a good Auror but he wouldn't always listen. She wondered if there was even any purpose in bringing up her next point of contention.
"Adrian, I'm not comfortable with Perkins stationed outside my door anymore. It's been over a week. If, as you say Draco is who you suspect, then I'm surely safe with him under house arrest? Blaise and Ginny have even offered for me to stay at theirs. Just to clarify, I don't intend to, but I'm sure Perkins' time can be better spent elsewhere."
"Hermione, I don't intend to leave you in danger."
She huffed in annoyance. "Adrian, do you forget who you are speaking to? My wards are legendary! I have spent many a year refining them from our war days. I'm sure I can safeguard my apartment without someone stood outside."
"How about we compromise a bit? I'll come by, check out the wards, satisfy myself they're secure, but continue to visit you after work each day? How does that sound?"
"Every day? You only need to visit me if there's news, Adrian, as much as I appreciate the personal touch."
"Okay, every other day, or when I have important news?" He smiled at her frown. "Give me a break here! You know as well as I do that Potter will break my balls if I let anything happen to you!"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh, and moments later they were both laughing, and any tension she had been feeling had eased. "Oh, I needed that laugh."
"Me too. I promise to try and make you laugh more often. It makes the day a little better after all. So do we have a deal?" He held out his hand.
"I'll take the compromise, Adrian," she said, shaking his hand briefly, "but don't think I won't challenge you on it again!" She stood up with a sigh. "I'll make a move and get my wards in order. I guess I'll see you later then."
"You sure will," he replied as she walked out of his office.
Day 52 (25th August)
Since it was a nice day, Hermione had felt the need to get out and about, and Ron had been free to accompany her. Together they had done some shopping down Diagon Alley, picking up bits for Freda, some presents for the other babies, and perusing Flourish and Blotts for anything that could help Hermione in her research; even though she was happy to let the Aurors take the lead, there was no need for her to be completely idle!
Early on in the case, she had told Quincy to go to Theo. The owl had returned two days later, bedraggled and dejected, but with no sign that he had found anything. Having finally exhausted her books, and all the ones on the subject at Theo's house too, Hermione wanted to do some more in-depth research into the method owls used to find their owners. She spent an hour chatting animatedly with Róisín, the manager of Eeylops Owl Emporium, but could only really come to the unsatisfactory conclusion that magic was stopping Quincy locate him. Her glare had stopped Róisín in her tracks when she had started to suggest that something more permanent had been at play.
Seeing that she was feeling a little melancholy, Ron declared he was going to treat her to lunch and a couple of chilled cocktails. The inside of the Leaky Cauldron was cool and quiet, and Tom quickly took their lunch order, before leaving the pair to their conversation.
"How is Demelza doing?" Hermione asked as she took a sip of her drink.
"Yea, she's really good! It's been an adjustment…" He scoffed then. "Who am I bloody kidding? It's been life changing!" he chuckled. "I got a wife and a baby, almost at the same time! I'm surprised I haven't gone mad!"
Hermione laughed at that. "Well, you certainly went all out, didn't you? It's suiting you though, Ron! I've never seen you so happy and content."
"Thanks, Mione. Soon, it'll be just Harry we need to settle down and have a sprog!" he laughed loudly at his own joke.
"Thank you, Ron," she said with a smile.
"What for?" he asked, confused.
"For not talking about Theo in the past tense, or worse, pretending he doesn't exist."
Ron reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Well, I have faith. Being one of the lucky few to have loved you means Theo and I have something in common. I for one don't believe any of the bullshit the papers are spouting about him running away or faking his own death! Theo Nott was helplessly in love with you, and anyone who cared to look could see that. He's out there, I know it! You need to focus on growing that little baby of yours so that your family is complete once Theo comes back. Okay?"
Her eyes were filled with tears, and she smiled a watery smile at him. "Sometimes, Ronald Weasley, you say the perfect thing at the perfect time."
He squeezed her hand before letting it go, sitting back and smiling at her. "It's been known to happen. Usually once every ten years or so. Demelza is yet to witness it, and yet somehow she's stayed with me!"
They laughed then, their food turning up shortly after. They thanked Tom and Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes. Ones of laughter this time.
"Well, on the topic of Harry, I think he's found the other half!"
"Who? Not Pansy?" Ron almost choked on his steak.
"Yes! Really, Ron, who else has he been mooning over for months?"
"Well, true, but really? Pansy Parkinson? Harry's told me it's only a fling!"
"Ron, be real! Surely you've seen more of them than I have! Does that look like a 'fling' to you?"
Ron shovelled some more food into his mouth, talking around his mouthful. "True, but seriously, Pansy Parkinson? Bloody hell. Has she had a personality transplant?"
"It would appear not," she replied dryly. "This pasta is great; the food has improved here lately."
"Don't try and change the subject! Merlin, this is like you dating Malfoy? What is it with you two and Slytherins?" Ron joked.
"Hey!" She swotted him.
He laughed. "At least Theo is a nice guy."
She put her fork down. "He is. I'm so annoyed at the Auror office at the moment though. The mess up with the news story a couple of weeks ago and the mass of false leads coming in. There's just no news, nothing! It seems to be one wrong turn after another. I don't think they even have a suspect now that they've finally stopped pointing the finger at Malfoy and half their own team!"
"It is odd," Ron agreed, "and frustrating! I still don't understand why Harry didn't stay on it, but hey I'm not an Auror anymore. I know the department politics have changed a lot. They started taking people who are too close to victims or suspects off the case. Said it wasn't professional. They're trying too hard to copy the Americans, I think. Why change something that works for us? It's not like we have as big a talent pool as MACUSA. I mean, Merlin, half of our Aurors were turned or killed during the war, and that's a lot of experience lost right there!"
"Harry has been spending a lot of time in America lately. I miss him, of course, but if Harry were here I would also feel more at ease, more listened too, you know? Adrian is great, but he's no Harry."
The noise level picked up around them, and they finished their food in silence for a few moments. She glanced up and saw Ron looking pained.
"Ron? What is it?" She was worried.
"Look, you didn't hear it from me... although of course, he'll know you did…
"Hear what? Ron, what is it? You know what I say about failure to communicate..."
"Oh, don't do the impression, Mione, please. You know your American accent is terrible…"
"It is not, and don't change the subject!"
"Harry is back…
"WHAT?" she yelled, her fork clattering against the now nearly empty plate.
"...but only for a flying visit! He hasn't told anyone, but he told me yesterday he was flying in. He's literally in the office for a day and then back to America this evening. Before you ask, I don't know anything about the case. He just told me he was under-resourced in America and needed to come back to address a few things... Hey, where are you going?"
Hermione was now rushing to collect her things, throwing some money on the table before heading over to the Floo.
"I need answers, Ron. I need to see Harry!"
She exited the Floo directly into Harry's office and came face to face with her exhausted looking friend.
"Hermione! Hi… I..."
Before she could say anything, the Floo activated once more, Ron stumbling out.
"I see you did a good job of not saying anything to anyone, Ron," Harry greeted him wryly.
"Harry James Potter, I am so pleased to see you!" Hermione breathed as she hurried over to hug him. "But I want answers too," she added sternly as they broke apart.
"Yeah, I thought as much. It's good to see you guys too. Pull up a seat." With a flick of his wand, he slanted the blinds so no one could see in and sat down again. He looked over at Ron, with a mock glare. "Any chance you told Pansy too?"
Sheepishly, Ron shook his head. "Sorry, mate. Mione only found out because she badgered it out of me!"
She gasped and slapped his arm, his grin infectious. "I did not! I tell you, Harry, it's a good job he's not undercover or anything. He almost looked in pain, trying to keep it quiet!"
Harry laughed at Ron's red face. "Thank goodness Pansy doesn't know. If she finds out I'll be in even worse trouble!" he said, knocking a pen off his desk as he went to grab something.
Hermione took this moment to look at Ron pointedly as Harry bent down to pick the pen up. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head in disbelief. "Bloody hell…" he mumbled.
"What's happening, Harry?" Hermione burst out. "I honestly don't feel like we've got any further than when you left!" As much as she wanted to just catch up with her dearest friends, all together for the first time in months, she couldn't wait any longer.
Harry sighed. "Look, it shouldn't be me telling you this, as I'm not case lead, but…" He took a deep breath then continued, almost in a rush. "I'm being made to bring some Aurors off the case."
"What?!" she cried out angrily. "Harry!"
"Something is happening in America, and we are supporting it. The Minister has instructed us to... swap priorities. It's been two months since Theo disappeared…"
"Fifty-two days," she said through her teeth.
"...and as such we are being pressured to be more resourceful with our teams."
Hermione lifted a hand to her mouth, trying to stop it from trembling.
"Bloody hell, mate. Way to drop the bad news," Ron grunted at Harry, holding onto Hermione's other hand and rubbing her back.
Harry had the decency to blush. "Look, Adrian is still the lead on this. He'll still be working on it daily, just with a slightly smaller team, that's all. I'm really sorry, Hermione."
"Harry, this worries me. The longer he isn't found…." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"You don't have to tell me, Hermione. Look I'm here for about four more hours, and in that time I'll catch up with Pucey, see if I can offer any more help."
"Okay, Harry. Thank you."
"I'm sorry I can't do more, but these stupid rules don't allow me to be any more involved than I already am."
"It's not your fault, Harry, I just really want him back."
"I know." He stood up then and came round the desk, gave Ron a slap on the back and, as Hermione stood, he enveloped her in a big hug.
"I promise, I'll be back soon, and err… if anyone does happen to see Pansy? Can we pretend this visit didn't happen?"
The three friends laughed then, and for a moment it was like old times.
The following morning, the fifty-third since Theo had vanished, three headlines flashed across the wizarding world. Depending on the paper the slant was different, but none were positive.
Theodore Nott runs away to escape war heroine girlfriend.
Did Theodore Nott fake his own death to escape Hermione Granger?
Theodore Nott suspected dead.
Day 60 (2nd September)
"Hermione, dear," Jean said, holding her hand, "you can't keep doing this to yourself! You're pregnant…"
"Thank you, I hadn't forgotten," she snapped, pulling her hand back, ignoring the sad look on her mother's face. "There's no one else that cares enough to find him anymore, so I'm doing it myself."
"Don't snap at your mother," Robert said sharply. "I know you're hurting, and you want answers; you never did like leaving a mystery unsolved. This is not good for the baby though, all this extra stress, the late nights… You need to rest!"
"This isn't just some random mystery to be solved, dad. This could be Theo's life we're talking about. It's been two months, and there's been no word!"
"And we're as worried about him as you are, but you will do you and the baby no good by running around all hours of the day and night."
"I…"
"Or reading until you fall asleep!" he said, knowing exactly what Hermione had been about to say. "All you're doing is going over the same ground those whatchamacallits… Aurors... have already gone over. You're not likely to find anything they haven't already considered, I'm sure. They seem pretty competent if a little understaffed. That Adrian fellow promised to keep you up to date on any developments."
Hermione huffed and slumped back on the sofa. "I just want to find him. I want to help if I can."
"You are an extremely bright and logical woman, and I'm sure if they have questions they will come to you." Jean sat next to her, reaching for her hand again and pulling her into her a hug. "But you are not an Auror, Hermione. You're an expectant mother and should be looking after yourself. Too much stress could cause… well, I'd rather not think about it."
Hermione's hand went automatically to her belly. She wasn't showing yet, was only a couple of months pregnant, but she still imagined she could feel the tiny life growing within her. She didn't know what she would do if anything happened. As the weeks went by, the baby was starting to feel like her last link to Theo.
She couldn't let it go, however. Despite assuring her parents that she would slow down, take better care of herself, she still stayed up late, reading true-life crime books about kidnappings, poring over old Auror case files she had smuggled out of their office, reading about tracking spells, breaking concealment charms. She needed to know, and that need kept her awake long into the night.
A few days later a midnight stroll through Diagon Alley, her mind muddled, and thoughts scrambled, led her off the main route. A wizened hag offered her something to help her bring a horrible curse on those that had upset her. Looking around, suddenly horribly aware of her location, she tried to smile politely at the hag before backing away.
Then she stopped, her mind sharpened, focused to a point. If the books she had couldn't help...
She turned back to the hag, who had begun to retreat back into her little store on Knockturn Alley. "I don't need a curse… but, I wonder, could you help me with something else?"
