The next few days moved slowly. Despite various stakeouts and more research on the state of Vampire affairs in the United States, England, and Italy, they still had very little on Gerteso. He hadn't been spotted at all entering MACUSA. It was starting to feel more and more like a wild goose chase than anything because they weren't making any progress.
Hermione had taken to spending her free time reading Amy's Harry Potter books. Amy had been kind enough to go back to her apartment and get the rest so that Hermione could see what Rita had written. Ron and Harry had no interest in reading them, so Hermione would just share how accurate they were, which was incredible. Hermione had become convinced that Rita had other unregistered Animagi working for her, and their sole job was to spy on Harry and gather as much possible information as they could.
"You read faster than me," Amy had commented when Hermione had finished the first three books in two days. "Would now be a good time to tell you that there are also movies?" she asked hesitantly.
Hermione had just taken Goblet of Fire off of the table. She looked at Amy. "What? Please tell me you're joking."
"Um...no. Should I not have said that? I thought you might want to watch them, too." Hermione's jaw dropped as Amy went on quickly. "They're really not as good compared to the books! The screenwriters...they really changed a lot with the char- I mean, with you all. We don't have to watch them if you don't want-"
"Oh, we're watching them. As soon as the guys get back from their stakeout today."
"What'd I miss?" Rosa asked as she came in the door. She'd been at the station in a briefing with Captain Holt and Kingsley.
"Just making plans for the evening. Any news?" Hermione directed the conversation back to the case.
"Still nothing. Jake and Charles haven't seen anything. Not sure what the other two are up to. Shouldn't you be researching the case and not what some bitch wrote about your lives?" Rosa raised her eyebrow in question at Hermione.
"I've researched everything I possibly can. Until we get a trace on Gerteso, I won't know any more than I already do." It was true.
They knew Gerteso's motive, they'd learned everything they could about how the vampires worked, even down to known hangouts and possible headquarters. But there'd been no movement to suggest anything was happening. So, Hermione had taken solace in the books.
Hermione continued to ponder Rosa's words as she set the children's book down, her mind wandering back to the case. Harry and Ron were staking out different vampire hangouts in an attempt to get more information on the Cryptic, while Jake and Charles manned the entrance to MACUSA. Could there be an angle they hadn't yet taken in the attempts of making a breakthrough?
Her thoughts were interrupted as Jake and Charles walked through the door with Chinese takeout in hand for the evening. "Anything new?" Amy asked them hopefully.
"Nada," Charles said as Jake shook his head.
"Whoever this guy is, he must relish in taking his time." Jake said in frustration.
"Well, if he's taking his time, there has to be some reason for it," Rosa added.
"But what is it? That's what we can't figure out," Hermione thought out loud.
Continuously stumped over it, she shook her head and checked her watch. Harry and Ron should be back soon. As if on cue, her husband and best friend walked in the door with a simple shake of their heads. Once again, no luck.
Everyone sighed as they began tucking into the food. They were all tired and losing motivation. Something needed to give, and fast. In an effort to make conversation, Amy said, "So, Hermione and I are going to watch the Sorcerer's Stone tonight. Maybe even Chamber of Secrets if it's not too late."
Harry and Ron both looked up. "What's she mean 'watch Sorcerer's Stone?' Hermione?" Ron was looking back and forth between Amy and his wife.
Hermione let out a deep sigh as Boyle said, "You didn't know there are movies, too?"
"You've got to be kidding me," Harry said.
"Bloody buggering hell," Ron muttered.
"If you don't want to watch it, I'm sure I could download the second Die Hard. There's more than one TV here…" Jake suggested.
Harry and Ron thought about it. "We should probably watch it. At least we're not watching ourselves...just watching people act like us."
Amy looked excited, but also nervous. "I feel like I should warn you, as an avid fan, the books are MUCH better than the movies."
"What d'you mean by that?" Ron asked.
"Well, the first few movies are a fairly good adaptation of the books, but as they go on, stuff gets left out or changed."
"Wait, so it's bad enough the story of my life is in a children's series, then it was made into movies, and those movies don't even do the books justice?" Harry said in dismay. "Can this get any worse?"
"Well, not really for you, no," Boyle said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked.
"You'll see," Charles immediately went back to his food. Ron looked at Amy for further clarification.
"The screenwriters changed some of the characters. But we may not even get to the later movies, so I wouldn't worry about it," Amy said quickly.
"Great," Harry said.
They all finished their meal and cleaned up before settling in the living area for the movie. Harry and Ron gladly took a beer from Jake who was offering them up. Maybe alcohol would make the experience easier. They settled into the movie, and by the time they reached the end, Hermione had to admit that, all things considered, it wasn't terrible. She didn't speak at first, though. Instead, she waited for Harry and Ron's reaction.
"Of all the stink people gave about my eyes growing up, they chose an actor who didn't even have green eyes?" Harry finally said. Everyone burst into laughter at that, and the tension seemed to be released from the air.
"I suppose it was fairly close, all things considered," Hermione acknowledged.
"Ron, were you really that much of a badass on the chess board?" Jake asked.
"I- yeah, I guess. They downplayed the injury, though," Ron said as his ears turned pink.
"Well, it is a kid's movie," Rosa commented.
"How close was the depiction of Voldemort?" Amy asked eagerly.
"Er, pretty close. Quirrell really was the perfect host," Harry told her. "And the turban was the perfect disguise to cover him up."
"I always did wonder how well Voldemort breathed in that thing," Ron said, as everyone chuckled and agreed.
The conversation had continued on about the various characters and how closely the characters did or didn't match their real life counterpart. But Hermione had stopped listening. She was stuck on something that Harry had said. The word disguise kept playing over and over in her mind.
Suddenly, Hermione looked up at the rest of the group around the room. "That's it!"
"What? Hermione, we might need to have a talk if Alan Rickman as Snape gets you off…" Ron joked.
"I- What?" Hermione looked at him. She didn't let the confusion of his words bother her for very long, though. "Nevermind that. What if Gerteso is using a disguise to get in and out of MACUSA?"
"What makes you say that?" Jake asked.
"Well, you've been staking out the entrance every day. After the altercation in the alley, he's bound to remember you! He's been so secretive and getting away with things for so long. Of course he's not moving around in the open, especially now that he knows we're onto him! He must be disguising himself!"
Realization began to dawn on everyone. "You know, Hermione, you might just be onto something!" Harry said.
"And we've been spending all this time in underground vampire bars, when we should be watching MACUSA!" Ron said. "Hermione, you really are a genius!"
Hermione blushed at his words. Even after years of marriage, his praise always meant the world to her. Instead of thanking him though, she said, "Always the tone of surprise," as she smiled at him.
It was always their 'thing' that they said to each other, though perhaps the whole world also knew, too. She'd have to make a note to check for that when she got to the seventh book. If Rita did have such close tabs on them, even during the hunt, she had to give her credit for not selling them out to Voldemort…
"...Earth to Hermione," she heard Jake say, "So what do you suggest tomorrow's plan be, then?"
"Oh..right, sorry. Well, Harry and Ron should probably go investigate in the wand records office tomorrow."
"But we don't know what we're investigating," Harry said. "It's not like we know The Cryptic's actual name."
Hermione furrowed her brow as she thought about what Harry had said. He was right, but before she could work it out herself, Amy chimed in. "What if you don't need to know his name? Is there a visitor log you can track?"
"Yes! There's a general sign in at the lobby, and another more detailed one in the wand records office. They don't typically let anyone in that office." Hermione answered.
"So if Gerteso's been there, we'll have a way to see what he was looking for," Boyle said.
"Or what he found!" Jake added.
"And if he hasn't been yet, he's still working out a plan to get what he's looking for successfully," said Rosa. "If that's the case, we'll be more prepared to catch him."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Hermione's mind was in overdrive, formulating details for tomorrow. "Now, we plan."