Chapter 18: SKETCH

Hermione kept her promise not to pry even though with the fact that she was directly involved naturally made her more curious. They were adult, no longer in school, with their own career. Really, she didn't want to know all the details or even to meddle on something that wasn't her job to begin with. Or at least that's how she kept reminding herself.

Still, knowing what had actually happened surely wouldn't hurt. From what she had observed from the way Harry interacted with Draco, she gathered that someone who's not Ministry employee had broken in and had taken something. Yes, it must be theft, not murder. A discovery of dead body would surely bring bigger ruckus or at least there would be some whispered noise.

On the other hand, more than not knowing the answer of a question, not knowing whether her answer was right or wrong had always ticked her. But to ask Harry if her supposition was true certainly could be categorised as prying which she'd promised him she'd not do. She was even half hoping that Harry would reach her, asked her for some help like what he did with the Fountain.

She tried to use the sketch she thought belong to Hansen to fish some information but was dismissed after they couldn't find any magical trace on it. Since she couldn't prove that she'd gotten it during the collision and it looked more like some sketch from a children story book, Harry suspected it was Ronan's whose desk was next to her and who indeed had kids. And even though later on Ronan denied that it was his, Harry still thought that it meant nothing important for them.

Sadly, other than the one at the Balcony three weeks ago, he hadn't approached her for anything, not even to summon her for another witness account. Furthermore, she hadn't seen him for the last two weeks as he was away for a mission somewhere. Although that was not the reason of Ginny's bad mood.

It was Saturday and Hermione woke up with massive headache from another late night overtime. Of course she could continue sleep in as long as she wanted, but it was already past noon and she's hungry so she dragged her body to the kitchen. The rain that soaked her drench last night had already stopped, leaving a comfortable chilly breeze on its wake. She remembered she still had a can of soup and a warm soup sounded like a good idea.

She was on her second spoon of soup when Ginny stormed in and without ceremony, grabbed her tea and finished it in one gulp.

"You won't believe what just happened," she bristled, slamming the cup onto the table.

Hermione didn't comment, only observed and waited for Ginny to continue her upcoming rant. Ginny always stopped by at her childhood home after her Saturday training session for a relaxing flight and mostly to raid her mother's food. So whatever that made her this work up must had happened at the Burrow, the lack of food container on her hand corroborate her conjecture.

"Fleur is pregnant."

"It's good news, right?" she said tentatively.

Ginny sighed loudly, slumming on the chair on her left. "But she's not the only one."

That statement stunned her, her eyes widened as she connected the dots and her lips trembling as she squeaked, "Y-you-your mum ...,"

"No!" Ginny yelped, flabbergasted. "That's not even funny, Hermione! I'm twenty one and I have more than enough siblings. I will castrate Dad myself if that ever happen," she stated vehemently. "It's Angelina."

Hermione let out a breath she didn't realise she'd been holding, though she couldn't be blamed for jumping to the wrong conclusion. As her flatmate, she would know if Ginny's pregnant and putting her aside, the only woman in Weasley family left was the matriarch.

"Is the baby ...," she trailed off, unsure how to articulate it.

"George's? Yes. And Mum was furious because they don't plan to marry," Ginny said straight to the problem on hand. "But that's not all. For some reason, he thinks it's a good idea to tell Mum that she'll move into the flat above the joke shop. As in living together and raising their child out of wedlock in the middle of Diagon Alley.

"I don't know when he lost his sense that he'd ever think that Mum will let it slide, even Dad was upset. This is my Dad – the pacific Arthur Weasley – we're talking about here. Mum's tirade is legendary, but never in million years I've ever thought that Dad's cold voice would be scarier. If only this was a prank, it would be George's greatest achievement to date."

She was panting when she finished as if she said all of that sentences in one breath. Carefully, Hermione reached a glass, filled it with water, and pushed it to her friend.

"But if she asked Angelina to live with him, it show that he takes responsibility, right?" she opined. "It's normal in Muggle to live together like that and I also know there are several children with unmarried parent at Hogwarts so it's not really uncommon, right?"

Ginny stared at her in disbelief. "Have you met my mother? And this is my parents we're talking about, Hermione. Family is everything for them, so is marriage. It may sound old fashion, but that's their value."

They shared a look before Ginny stood up and started rummaging the fridge for something to eat while muttering that not only her morning was suck, but she also hadn't even gotten any food from her mother.

"How's Angelina?" Hermione broke the silence.

"From what George told us, it seems she wants the baby too but she's not thinking of marriage yet. You know, it won't be too far off if Mum will beg her to marry George at some point."

She took a slice of bread and started making sandwich.

"When I told you about that 'friends with benefit' stuff, I didn't mean that they're intimate. I know they're close, but they're definitely not shagging," she confessed. "Apparently Angelina lost her job sometime after New Year then she had big row with her mother. On the other hand, you know how George when it's close to his birthday. So both of them were comforting each other, one drunken night and it continued from there."

Hermione poured tea to her empty cup and sipped it thoughtfully. Of all the things that Ginny said, she still couldn't grasp what had made her agitated. For one, according to the Weasley sibling's code of conduct, they respected each other life and wouldn't interfere unless it was very necessary. And especially in this circumstance, she knew that Ginny didn't have any problem with all things between George and Angelina. It confused her and she voiced it to her red-haired friend.

"Your assessment is right. They're adult, they can decide what they want in their life," she concurred. "What bothers me is how it affects me. I should have known that there's something wrong when I saw Ron and Percy there, and then leave before it's too late. Because what we always have is Sunday brunch, not Saturday brunch!

"When it's Dad's turn to lecture George, Mum moved to us. By us I mean me, Ron, and Percy – my, you should see his face! We're over twenty and we got 'the bird and the bee' talk from our Mum, how horrifying is that! She even grilled us whether we're still virgin or not. I'm so glad that Harry wasn't there, imagine Mum telling him about honouring my virtue or something. The only reason Charlie was not summoned is because the only thing Mum needs to worry about him is for him impregnating a dragon which is close to impossible."

At the last second Hermione stopped herself from laughing on the image of Charlie and his baby dragon, she switched to the other topic instead. "Is it possible for your mum to know whether you're virgin or not?"

Ginny snorted deprecatingly. "Oh, it's possible and she did. You're Muggle-born so it's understandable if you never heard about it. You know that Unicorn prefer virgin, right? How do you think it can distinguish between one or not. It's in our magic, Hermione. Back in old days, virgin was valued highly for marriage prospect and it's very common to check it before they reach an understanding. Some parents even put some sort of chastity spell around their child since they're young."

"Seriously?!"

"Well, if it makes you feel better, unlike in Muggle world where that standard only applied to woman, it was enforced to both witch and wizard." She returned to her chair with a plate of sandwich. "Even Muggle said that sex is magical, right? Because literally it is, or at least that what's most parents told their kids.

"Some couple did magical bonding for their marriage but essentially the bonding happens during consummation, not during the wedding ceremony," she continued. "So to put it bluntly, basically what you need is to have sex and you'd be considered bonded by your magic, the ceremony is just for formality. And it's important because it's said to affect the family magic. When both are virgins, their magic is whole and untainted, so their family magic will be stronger and intact. It's sealed when an heir is born, that's why if there's any affair it will be after it. Sleeping around means you break one bond after another and more or less it will affect your own magic.

"But pregnancy prevention in wizarding world is not without problem. Yes, there's the spell, but remember Lockhart's fiasco? Sure, we can re-grow bones, but I never heard anyone re-growing womb. Even if he's trained Healer, I would never let anyone to point his wand to my womb especially in his addled lust-muddled brain state. Hell, I won't even trust myself to cast any spell properly. The least that could happen will be I accidentally make myself barren, the worst I'll end up in pieces.

"The safer option is potion, but mind you, it's very potent. Magic makes us more resilient from illness than Muggle, it also applies to fetus. So logically our potion should be more potent than Muggle one, but it is known that certain dose can cause infertility. In conclusion, since I still want to have kids in the future, I choose the route of celibacy." She closed her speech by plopping the last bite of the sandwich into her mouth.

Hermione raised her brows. This topic did attract her interest and she wanted to have further discussion, but for now there's other thing that made her more curious.

"You sure are very knowledgeable about this, aren't you," she remarked teasingly.

Ginny scoffed smugly. "I play in all women Quidditch team, Hermione. Pregnancy will literally end our career so it's important to know our options and this knowledge is generously shared between sisters."

"But this whole stuff about magical bond, is it true or it's just a myth to prevent teenage kids from sleeping around?" This was an honest question.

She contemplated it for a moment. "I don't know, but that's all what Mum told me before I went to Hogwarts. You're the one who love researching so maybe you want to put it on your reading list. Not many really believe it nowadays anyway but honestly, I kind of like the concept. I'm not talking about marrying a virgin or saving yourself for your husband but to merge your magic with one person and to treasure that bond for your whole life, to be with your one and only. And I'm a selfish person so I want to be his only too."

"Is that how you feel about Harry?"

"Does it sound creepy if I tell you that he's the one in my mind when Mum gave me that talk?" She smiled reminiscently. Turning her gaze to Hermione, she said, "Please don't start your lecture about projecting my fantasy, just like you told me years ago I did try to date other. Michael was partly curiosity but I did like Dean, or as serious as it could be for a 15 years old teenager. Yet I still end up with Harry so I say it's a sign that we're really meant to be."

Hermione observed how her expression turned softer, grinning dreamily and eyes on her tea but not really seeing it. She couldn't help not to mirror her smile.

"Yes, I think you are," she whispered.

Ginny looked up at her and suddenly Hermione could feel dread in her stomach, something bad was coming as her smile turned into glee.

She rubbed her palm, calculating. "And we need to find a good man for you too. You're coming tonight, right?"

The last sentence sounded eerily like a threat but she still tried to get away. "I'm not feeling well, Gin. Maybe I'm catching a cold because of rain last night." And just to make it more convincing, she coughed.

Without a word, Ginny went to her room and returned with a maroon vial on her hand, thrusting it to her. "Drink this and you'll be fine," she ordered her.

Hermione groaned, of course Ginny had her own stock. Even if she could come out with another excuse, she would just shove the potion down her throat if she declined. Lately Ginny had been pestering her to start dating, all her arguments on how dating was not in her priority or that she didn't even have time for it only fell on deaf ears.

"Oh come on, you'll make Amy happy. You've never been in our girls night, Hermione!" she whined.

"Stop using Amy to blackmail me. I know you just want to shove me to any man you can find."

"Hermione, that's the point of girls night, to ogle men freely," she reasoned. "Besides, Hannah and Luna cancelled, we need the fourth person so nobody will feel left in conversation because Louisa will join us."

"Louisa? Who?"

"Gabriele's friend. Ron didn't tell you about her?"

"I thought Gabriele has returned to France already."

"But her friend stays, she's looking for a job in London now. I don't know what the deal between Fleur and Ron, but he becomes some sort of her escort." Hermione mumbled 'apple pie' under her breath but made dismissive gesture with her hand when Ginny eyed her questioningly. "Anyway, Ron drags me and Amy into whatever it is so now you will help us to make her feel welcome."

The fact that Ron could force Ginny to do anything was unfathomable and as for Amy, it's more likely that she would offer before Ron even thought of asking her help. Nevertheless, Hermione reckoned that dissuading Ginny was a futile attempt, she might as well give in to minimise the potential damage. And that's how she ended up sitting with the three girls in their usual secluded corner at Leaky Cauldron.

Amy was already there when Hermione and Ginny arrived at Leaky, she was chatting amicably with a blonde-haired girl she'd never seen before. When she saw them coming, the former Hufflepuff played host and did the introduction. The girl was Louisa Ginny had mentioned before.

Louisa was one year above Gabriele at Beauxbaton but they knew each other since they were toddler as their mothers were best friend. Her father was British – which explained the lack of accent in her English, she spoke two languages at home – who left to France during Voldemort first rising. He planned to move back to Britain and her mission was to see its feasibility.

"Your parents are Muggles right, Hermione?" she queried chirpy. In fact, this is the first time that kind of question was directed to her with no wonder or malice, so the puzzlement still lingered when she nodded in response. "Can you accompany me to Muggle London? Especially your queen's palace, I always want to go there, we don't have it anymore in France."

"Sure," Hermione told her, still hesitant with her enthusiasm. "When?"

"What about tomorrow? Are you free?"

Hermione thought for a moment for her answer. "I don't think it's a good time for outdoor trip, the forecast states downpour for the next two days. Next Saturday, the weather should be better by then."

"Super!" Louisa said in affirmation.

"Can I join you?" Amy spoke up, looking at the two of them with hopeful eyes. "I never go to Muggle world, Daddy never let me. But if I'm with you Hermione, I'm sure Daddy will agree."

"Okay, it settled then. The four of us will go for a Muggle trip next Saturday. We'll meet here at 9 am and pass to Muggle side from here." Without asking first, Ginny butted in and made decision for them. But this was Ginny and even Louisa didn't seemed to mind.

Louisa sipped her Butterbeer slowly. "I've heard a lot about the segregation between Muggle and wizardkinds also about blood status in Britain, but I never expect it to be this bad until I went flat-hunting with Ronald. You British are very ... funny, you know."

"What you mean?" Ginny scowled, her eyes narrowed. Hermione straighten her back, ready to defend her homeland.

"Considering that what makes Britain has the largest magical population in Europe was because during the Dark Age of Witch Hunt, many fled to Britain since British Muggle was more tolerant than in the continent. And look how it goes now," she started her argument. "Although we also adhere to the same Statue of Secrecy in France, but nobody has any problem to mingle or venture into Muggle community. Relationship between witch or wizard with Muggle is not odd. But look at what you guys doing here, making a big deal about magical parentage.

"And I've heard about what British paper wrote about our Headmistress. So what if one of her parent was Giant? Students at Beauxbaton know but never we make a fuss about it. She's a very capable and extraordinary witch, that's what important."

At that point, Hermione decided that she liked this witch. But Louisa hadn't finished yet.

"Isn't it ironic how they running to the most tolerant Muggle community only to end up taking completely different turn to be the most prejudice magical community in Europe? I wonder what had happened in between, whether there's any missing link or magical British merely doesn't get history lesson," she concluded.

"Of course we have," Hermione replied, quicker than Ginny, "but we learnt about Goblin Wars instead. Perhaps that's why our Muggle Studies still stuck in 14th century culture." She sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

Ginny shut her mouth, shifting her gaze to her plate and fiddling with her chips instead. Conversely, Amy had paid full attention to Hermione and Louisa, looking curious and clearly interested with their conversation.

"You're serious?" she asked in disbelief and got a wry snort in answer. "No wonder that some thought that Muggle is inferior. Considering that they don't have magic in them, they are more advance than us. Lucky me I wasn't sent to Hogwarts then. It had always been my parents biggest argument, you know, Hogwarts and Beauxbaton. Thankfully Maman won."

Hermione hummed. "And what did they teach about History in Beauxbaton?"

After that their conversation went swimmingly, varying from the difference lifestyle between the two countries – Hermione had visited France before but Muggle side not the wizarding side – to exchanging notes about their school curriculum. From what she heard so far, it's no wonder Fleur had looked down on Hogwarts (and British magical community) before. British wizarding world might be more advance in some aspects, but in term of equality progression they were still lacking compare to their fellows in the continent.

"Je suis désolée, Hermione. That was just … oh what's the correct word in English again, outrageous!"

"I know, right? You make me wish that I had attended Beauxbaton instead."

They shared light-hearted giggle while Ginny watched them in background, nursing her drink. It was not often for Ginny to be the one being left out of a conversation and with Amy leaving for the loo, she was relegated into observer. However, Hermione was too happy to meet someone who shared similar view about discrimination within magical world to notice her surroundings. She was quite startled when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Hermione?"

She whirled around and gasped, "Viktor!" Surprised to see her Bulgarian friend standing behind her. "You're still in London."

Louisa looked unperturbed with the Quidditch star's entrance, but not Ginny. Her shock was short lived though and quickly overcame with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Can you help me get more chips, Louisa? I don't think I can carry it alone."

Which was bullshite as years living through the Weasley big feast, Ginny was an expert in carrying foods proficiency. Louisa seemed about to remind her that she could use magic, but Ginny had swiftly grabbed her elbow and hauled her away from their table.

Hermione cursed under her breath at her blatant machination, but there's nothing she could do with Viktor already took the vacant seat in front of her.

"I hope I don't shoo your friend, Hermione."

"Just don't mind her," she mumbled grudgingly. "I thought you already left."

He smiled awkwardly. "I was busy, I'm sorry I haven't owl-ed you, Hermione. So ... is the offer still valid or maybe I can invite you to dinner, as my apology perhaps," he asked uncertainly, uncomfortable under her intriguing gaze.

"Sure," she said warmly. Remembering her plan with the girls, she had better idea. "Or maybe I can show you around London then you can buy me meal after. Sunday next week, what do you think?" At his stunned look, she recoiled. "Ah sorry, you mentioned that you're busy."

Viktor chuckled, shaking his head amusedly. "It's done. Well, actually you will read it in papers soon, Hermione. I'm resigning from the team and right now I'm hiding from Europe press in England."

She was dumbfounded by his announcement that made her speechless for a moment. She was still trying to find the appropriate response when Amy returned.

"Where are Ginny and Louisa? Oh I'm sorry, you're meeting a friend," she added hastily as she noticed the man sitting opposite her and gasped, covering her mouth with her palm. "Yo-you're Viktor Krum?" she sputtered.

"Yes, I am. Are you Hermione's friend?" he queried good-naturedly. Amy nodded absentmindedly as if she was hypnotized. "Nice to meet you." He turned to Hermione again. "I guess I must not interrupt your night with your friend any longer, Hermione. See you again."

He took his retreat with a poise of Quidditch player he was. Once he's far from hearing distance, Hermione had to jump from her chair to suppress Amy's loud delighted squeal.

.***.

Martin's condition turned out to be not as simple as the usual Dragon Pox was. It wasn't life threatening but more contagious than it normally did and his condition became more complicated when the treatment he'd received to prevent the spread of the disease ended up affecting his magic. Almost one month passed and he hadn't shown up in the Ministry.

With no reason to go to DMLE and the Balcony was no longer her secret place, the only place Hermione spent her day other than her desk was the library and she was so very bored! Nothing she could do on her magical signature project, Kingsley hadn't given any feedback of her Werewolf recommendation, and no new case assigned to her in main job.

Her days were full of repeated and basically same paperwork. It seemed Fieldwake find a way to influence Hickman because she never got any new assignment. Perhaps she finally realised that pushing her to boredom would drive her mad and effectively force her to quit – which unfortunately not far from the truth.

Hermione Granger was not a person who would feel happy and satisfy with doing nothing. It's exasperating! She wished for something – anything – to happen, even a mouse stealing her quill would do.

Luckily, she got to do something more interesting than finding a missing quill.

She was on the verge of hunting Kingsley and demanded his opinion on her Werewolf proposal so she could plan some follow up. Even her frustrated mind recognised how silly it was, the Minister of Magic would not appreciate it, he had more important things to do than catering a junior staff's lack of work. Right at that moment Harry came to her desk, like a saviour he'd been called this whole time.

He didn't even offer her a greeting and promptly said, "Can you come with me, Hermione? Now?"

His tone was light but by his stiff posture and cool gaze, she realised that this was not for an engagement between friends, so she didn't utter any word and just followed him.

Her first thought was that there was another break-in she'd been unintentionally involved again. The other possibility was there's new development on the last break-in and he needed her witness statement for confirmation. Except he didn't move when the lift reached Level 2 so her assumptions were wrong, so was very surprised when he hopped off the lift at Level 9 instead.

Had they captured the perpetrator already and she had to give her testimony at the trial? But shouldn't she get formal summons if that was the case?

Harry led her through windowless corridor, the light from the torches couldn't chase the eerily air off since the wall was black-tiled. And instead of getting the answer, she became more confuse as they didn't head to the small flight of steps to Level 10, but went straight to the plain black door at the end of the corridor.

Once she stepped into the empty familiar circular hall of dark marble floor, she recognised where she was. It had been 7 years since the last time she's here but it was not something which she could forget easily. The hall was still lit by the same candles emitting a cool blue light, several doors leading to various chambers that still appeared in her dream sometimes, definitely not much had changes if her memory served her right.

"Hermione!"

She blinked. Two more times for her eyes to restore its focus. Harry's call had managed to shake her from her daze but it was his warm touch on her arm that brought her perception back.

"I'm sorry?" she breathed, still in process to gather her composure.

Her friend looked concern. "You okay?"

She forced a reassuring smile and nodded. This was not big deal, she was just thrown back to a near forgotten memory, not having panic attack nor one of her daydream episode. No need to make him worry.

"I had similar reaction," he remarked soothingly. "You sure you can handle it?"

"Why don't you just tell me why you brought me here," she replied evenly.

Harry made sure that nobody was around before he spoke. "We need your magical signature expertise. Robards doesn't want to include too many people in so with Martin still indisposed, our second option is you."

She wouldn't say that she was surprised that the last break-in had something to do with Department of Mystery (again), considering the secrecy around it she should have deduce it from the start.

"Lead the way," was her answer.

He told her to wait instead, disappearing behind a mahogany door and returned around ten minutes later with a stern-faced middle-age man who was likely an Unspeakable. This didn't surprise her either. It was well known that they were the only division in the Ministry who didn't answer to anyone – in some case even to the Minister himself – so there's no way they would let anyone from DMLE snooping around without supervision, no matter the situation.

A bit anticlimax for her initial anxiety, the room they were in didn't have anything interesting inside. No brain in a tank, no Time Turner, no shining orbs. It was basically just a spacious room with a small strange round table at its centre. However that's not where they went, the Unspeakable directed them to what looked like to be, surprisingly, three sets of normal work table in the corner.

Without being told what to do, Hermione knew that this was where she should start to work so without wasting any more time she wielded her wand, careful not to touch anything but it didn't mean that her eyes couldn't spot a name written on several parchments scattered on one of the table that made her heart stop for a second in alarm. This was not the right place to share her finding with Harry though. They were only given limited time to be here anyway.

Either it's because Unspeakables didn't like outsiders in their working space or because it was because what happened seven years ago but they weren't allowed to be there for 20 minutes only, not enough time to investigate so the best option was to gather as much data as possible. It didn't take long for her to map out all magical residues she could detect and copied the patterns into an enchanted parchment for further examination later.

Once their twenty minutes was up, they were ushered out from the room and directed to the entrance. Even though she wanted to leave as fast as she could, but Hermione was able maintaining her steps to remain unhurried and steady for along her short walk to the door, she could feel the reproachful glare directed at her back. She wasn't an Occlumens, but surely she would sense something if someone performed Legilimency on her, right?

"... but I need to reiterate that you have to keep this a secret."

Hermione was snapped from her musing and quickly regained her composure, only realised now that they were already inside the lift.

"Ah, of course. I know that, Harry," she assured him. "By the way, are you free after this? Let's grab a drink, I haven't seen you in awhile. There's something I want to show you." The last sentence was said like an afterthought, but they'd known each other for half their lifetime so he understood her hidden message.

The door opened and entered a witch Hermione recognised to be a secretary in Department of Magical Accident and two wizards who didn't stop their conversation about Gobstones as they joined them inside the lift.

"Sure. Let's meet in Atrium at five." They didn't talk anything else until the lift stopped at his floor and he left her with another new occupant.

Although it was unusual for Hermione to leave early but her co-workers knew about her 'feud' with Fieldwake so none uttered a single word when they saw her packing twelve minutes to five or that she was the first among them to leave their office that evening. And if they saw that she was leaving together with Harry, it was not a strange occurrence as well.

"Is Ginny preparing a surprise for me?" Harry noted in a jest as they strolled the pavement leading to her flat. They were lucky that the rain had stopped.

She sniffled lightly. "If she is, then I don't know nor will I ever betray her. Girl's code."

But no more jokes between them after that. Hermione had no reason to slowing her walk anymore, she needed to check her suspicion immediately.

When they arrived at her flat, she went straight to her bedroom, leaving Harry to let himself in. He was no stranger to this place so he had no problem to make himself at home. In fact, he was comfortably lounging on the sofa when Hermione returned, hugging a book in her arm.

She sat next to Harry and questioned him without preamble. "Do you know that table belong to Ollivander?"

"I can't answer it, Hermione," he replied shortly. "You're not authorised and you promised that you're not going to be privy."

She huffed. "Fine. I'll just tell you my deduction then." She put the book on the table, rearranged her sitting position so she's facing him. "Someone broke into the Ministry using Polyjuice and he took something from Department of Mystery, something that was on the table I've been examined. This break-in was planned and Auror Office knew about this, that's why the security was increased with the Fountain. I know I'm right Harry, don't waste your breath to deny it. You also kept reminding me of the secrecy last summer when ..." New recollection flash in her mind and she gasped in horror.

"Oh my God, it's Death Eater! You approached me to work on the Fountain not long after Lucius Malfoy's death and now another break-in in Department of Mystery again. This is too much for a coincidence. It means we have bigger problem than you think, Harry."

"I appreciate your concern, Hermione," he cut her rambling and stood up, ready to go. "But you are not authorised and I can't let you involving yourself in the case."

Hermione grabbed his elbow hastily. "No-no-no, you don't understand, Harry." She pulled him down to sit again and shoved the sketch of the stone gate to him. "I can't prove it, but I think this sketch belongs to Ollivander and was among the things that was stolen. One thing for sure, this sketch is from this book."

She opened the book to a page that had similar illustration. One trait she had that she'd always proud off was that she never forgot anything she'd ever seen, this was why the sketch looked familiar, she'd seen it in this book before.

"On 15th century, there's still a dispute over the precise time, a German wizard named Heinz Rendtorff travelled around the world in a quest to find the origin of magic. Throughout his journey, he met many magical being and community which he wrote it down on his journal. The journal itself is believed no longer exist, either lost or destroyed, but when he arrived in British Isles he took Eustace Hordwill as a pupil who later translated part of the journal in English as some sort of magical lore.

"This is called 'the Gate'," she continued, pointing on the sketch. "There's no explanation of what it was exactly, but this was mentioned when he stumbled upon a Woodland-Elf colony, Seelie, somewhere in British Isles. They told him about ley line and magic of the land. It's also mentioned in other tales, about how a lot of magical being believed that magic comes from Earth.

"So Harry, what if there's some truth in this lore as well," she said in conspiratorial tone. "If story of the Deathly Hallow in the Tales of Beedle the Bard is real, what if this is also an allusion of some magical artefact buried somewhere, its magic is very strong to the point that it leaks and creates ley line. We don't know who is this Ollivander or what he had worked in the Department of Mystery, but we know that Ollivander is an old family renowned of their wandlore expertise, they study magic. It's not a coincidence that he had this," she finished with a victorious smile adorning her face.

His face darkened, but it quickly dissolved into a chuckle. "That's a very good deduction, Hermione. Do you read Sherlock Holmes often or you prefer Agatha Christie?"

Maybe he's tired of using the same reason to refuse her or he knew if he flaunted his Auror badge over her, she would take it as a challenge. Hence he chose the third option, diversion. No matter, it wouldn't work on her.

"So, when will we meet this Mr Ollivander?" she asked him instead.

"What do you mean 'we'?"

His tone was light and patronising, so she returned it with a warm lopsided smile and chirp tone when she said, "Oh, you're welcome, Harry. You're lucky I'm in generous mood today so I'll offer my help before you even ask."

"Hermione ...," he warned her.

"No, Harry. I promise you I won't pry about the break-in and I'll keep my word. I'm researching about origin of magic here, you know, since Kingsley assigned me to work on magical signature."

His reply sounded more like pleading than warning. "I'm sorry Hermione, but I can't let you."

"Oh, really? What make you think I will need your permission to meet him?" she snapped. "In this situation, I think you need me more than I need you. With the secrecy around Unspeakables and the fact that Kingsley is away until next week, I'm very confident that I can find him sooner than you do since between the two of us, I'm the one who have access to Ministry Archive."

She felt bad for venting her frustration on him like that. It seemed like she bullied him just so she had something to do to break her boredom, she was throwing tantrum like a brat. However her hurried make up excuse had some valid point, technically she didn't break her promise, so she held her ground.

Harry groaned in defeat. "Why don't you just apply for transfer to DMLE? We won't have this argument then," he lamented. "If you don't want to be an Auror, you can join Investigator team. I'm sure Kingsley and Osbert will have no problem with that."

Hermione curled the corner of her lips in a smirk.