Hi everyone.

I am very excited to post the second Chapter. I would welcome a review very much so that I can improve my story further. And if anyone reads this who is interested in being my Beta…just contact me.

That's it. I hope you'll have fun reading this.

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine. They belong to Rowling.

Chapter 2:

"A child at Hogwarts was killed."

"What?!" That was Ron. He stepped off the table and turned to Lavender.

"A child. Dead. At Hogwarts." Lavender's eyes were red and she had black circles under them from the smudged make up. She had obviously cried just recently.

Hermione was shocked. She blended out everything around her and looked down resignedly. Everything had been going well. The last year was as close to perfect as a year after one of the greatest wizarding wars ever could be. Of course, that wasn't much but it was something. And then, out of nowhere, something like this happened.

It wasn't the alleged death of a nameless student that scared her the most. Of course, she thought it to be horrible. But for that to be the really shocking news, she had been through too much. For that she had too much trauma. For that, horrible things were too normal for her.

What really scared her was the fact that this wasn't the time in which something like this was supposed to happen. She was angry. Everyone was supposed to live their happily ever after now.

When what happened to this student was only a tragic individual case, it wouldn't matter that much. Everything could be alright. Not for the student's family and friends. But the rest could continue to live in peace.

Naturally, Hermione would grieve. The chances that she had known the student were huge. She saw them all daily. But she wouldn't have to fight.

Strangely enough, something made her think that this wasn't just a coincidence. She was in shock. She knew that there was something that really concerned her. She just couldn't grasp it right now.

When she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and heard a voice that quietly called her name, she came out of the trance. And then it hit her.

What concerned her, above all, was the word "killed" which Lavender had used.

"Hermione!? Hermione, are you alright?"

No, she wasn't. But she just nodded and looked up to where Lavender was holding Ron's hand and talked wildly to him. She quickly pulled herself together again. The shock was over. She was ok. She would ask Lavender what was going on and she would handle the situation the best way possible. When she had indeed heard Lavender correctly it still didn't mean that there was going to be a huge war. Or more deaths.

"I am fine, Ginny. I was just a little bit shocked. That's all. I'm sorry."

"No, no. It is totally normal to be shocked. I am as well." Everything Ginny said sounded muffled. Hermione turned her head and focused on Ginny. Her pupils were dilated and she was obviously still fighting the realization Hermione had already had.

Hermione opened her arms for Ginny to rest in them. Ginny wasn't stupid. In fact, she was extremely intelligent but she was damaged from the war as well. She would make the same connections Hermione had made. Even if they were totally unnecessary. That was what war did to people.

Hermione looked over Ginny's head into nothingness and murmured thinks like "It's ok Ginny." or "Everything is going to be fine" to calm her down.

It was so weird how they all reacted to the death of a stranger.

Finally, she loosened her grip around Ginny a little and turned toward Lavender.

"What happened exactly. Tell us."

Ginny struggled out of the embrace and rightened herself as well.

Ron and Lavender sat themselves on the coffee table arm in arm.

"You know that I work at 'CPL', right?"

Hermione nodded. Yes, she knew that. A company named 'CPL' had offered Lavender a job as 'assistant in the department of invention of beauty charms and potions' last year and she had accepted. Hermione was very happy for Lavender because she had found a job at a company that did exactly what she liked the most. Also, Hermione really liked the slogan of the company: "Charms and Potions instead of Lotions". It was simple but quiet catching.

Lavender continued. "Right. My boss is Mrs. Erfald. I was just adjusting something on my hand movement for this one charm we are working on and then I saw that the fire in Mrs. Erfald's office going green. I checked if my boss was anywhere near but she wasn't and so I went into her office to receive the guest. Mrs. Erfald gave me the permission to do that in case she wasn't available. In the office there was standing Professor McGonnagal and she looked really horrible. She said it was an emergency and that she had to talk to Mrs. Erfald immediately. I hurried down the floors and found her talking to her wife. After I told them that McGonnagall was waiting for them they hurried to the office immediately. I was supposed to wait outside so I went out of the room. But the door wasn't closed fully so I could hear everything. McGonnagall told them that their daughter was found dead. She said more but I couldn't really hear anything anymore because of the cries of the two women." There, lavender paused and straightened herself up again. Hermione asked herself who the child was. She didn't know a student that was named Miss Erfald.

"They both had a total breakdown. Then McGonnagall saw me and went to me, out of the office, to give them both some space. She asked me if I had heard everything and I negated but told her that I had heard that someone had died. She looked pretty sad when she told me that yes, someone had died, but not from an accident but by murder. And here I am. Mcgonnagall told me to fetch you immediately."

She looked directly into Hermione's eyes.

"What have I got to do with it?" she asked concerned. Surely Minerva didn't think that she had killed the girl, did she?

"I don't know. Best you just floo directly to McGonnagall's office at Hogwarts. Surely, she will be there in no time."

Hermione stood up and went straight to the fireplace.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Ginny asked, still sitting on the couch.

"No, it's alright. You really don't have to."

"I would like to stay here as well if you don't mind?"

"No problem. I'll be back in a few hours probably. If I don't find the time, I'll just owl y'all tomorrow." She already turned to the fireplace and took some floo pulver out of the small pot when she turned around once more.

"Thank you for the party and the wonderful presents. I'll fetch them later. I don't want them to suffer while flooing."

With that she turned around, stepped into the fire place, said "Hogwarts, Minerva's office." and vanished.

When she stumbled out of Minerva's fire place, no one was in the office.

Hermione went to the chair in front of Minerva's desk and sat down. When she looked up to look at Dumbledore's portrait and maybe even talk to him, he wasn't there. In fact, no former Headmaster was in their portrait. She told herself to ask the Headmistress later.

She looked around in the office. She felt safe here. That was part of why she had come back to Hogwarts to repeat her last school year and graduate officially. Of course, there had been the part in her that just wanted to educate herself further and that didn't want to spend her life doing a job she got offered because she was a war hero. She had always wanted to achieve everything herself. Including her career. But if Hermione was being honest with herself there had also been that small advantage that she could have a break. Finally, a break. Because that's what Hermione could have called this year spent at Hogwarts as well. She hadn't had a problem with most of the stuff she had to know for her NEWTs. She had tried to learn everything she normally would have learned at school while she was on the run with Harry and Ron. The run had been horribly exhausting but sometimes learning for something as mundane as school had relaxed her. And so, when they had finally defeated Voldemort, there hadn't been much for her to catch up. And she was very thankful for that. Because the time at school hadn't just been for the NEWTs. She had needed that time desperately.

No one could survive a war without damaging themselves. And neither could Hermione. There weren't just the obvious things like the scars from Bellatrix and Dolohov. Much more terrible have been the nightmares. The thoughts. Her psyche. She had been through so much cruel things and before she could even imagine to start a real life, she had to get herself sorted. She thought that she hadn't been totally unsuccessful. There were still the occasional nightmares and her fear of ever not being watchful. She still felt on edge sometimes. Or cried after a nightmare. Or jumped because a cat sprang out of a bush by her side. But all in all, she was better. Much better. Ready to live and face everything to come. When she had good days, and that wasn't very unusual now, she was the strong and independent woman she had always wanted to be. That made her happy and proud of herself. She really hoped that it would stay this way and that what had happened today wouldn't result in something awful. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Minerva stumble out of the fire behind her. She turned her head to Minerva, whose hair was chaotic and they both acknowledged the presence of the other one with a simple nod. The relationship between Hermione and Minerva was really good. Minerva was kind and patient with Hermione and respected her as an intellectual equal. Hermione respected Minerva very much as well and was very thankful for everything Minerva did for her and the lovely manner with which Minerva interacted with her, even tho she could be very stern and demanding sometimes.

"Hello Hermione. I am sorry to disrupt your birthday but I really need you right now. I am glad you could make it so fast."

"Of course. That's no problem at all."

There was a silence between them until Hermione spoke again.

"Lavender told us someone was killed?" Even Hermione heard that her voice couldn't hide the fact, that she desperately hoped for that to be negated by Minerva. But her hope was crushed the next moment, when she saw Minerva lowering her head in affirmation.

"What happened?" Hermione asked then.

"Miss Crastel was killed this morning. Her friend, Miss Galwer, found her after she didn't return in time for the Quidditch try outs."

Now it made sense why Hermione didn't know a Miss Erfald. She remembered just recently talking to Miss Crastel who had told her proudly about her lesbian parents who both didn't want to change their surnames and therefore had both kept their owns. Miss Crastel had also told her about how she had her 'Mommy's' surname and her little brother, who didn't attend Hogwarts yet, had her 'Momma's' surname.

"The reason why I asked you to come here is that she was found in front of your office."

That was another shock. When her brain caught on she immediately said: "You don't mean to imply that I-"

Hermione couldn't say anything more before Minerva interrupted.

"Of course not Hermione. I know that you were at Grimmauldplace today. I trust you unconditionally."

Hermione sighed reliefed. At least she didn't have to worry herself with that.

"Still, I am required by the Ministry to use Prior Incantate on your wand."

It wasn't as if Hermione liked it but she knew that she hadn't used anything resembling an unforgivable in a long time. Therefore, she gave her wand to Minerva, who cast the spell. As expected, there wasn't anything incriminating. In fact, the last spell she had used was Nox.

"Since we have that out of the way, we can continue with more pressing issues. Am I right to assume that you have a Foe-Glass in your office?"

Of course, she was. It was just one of the things that were normal for Hermione nowadays. Back then, in fourth grade, she thought Moody to be paranoid because he had used one. But the moment it came out, that that hadn't been the actual Moody, she had changed her opinion on that matter.

"Yes" was her only answer.

"We have to take a look at it. I know that Filius for example knows a spell to recreate what the Foe-Glass showed in the last hours."

Hermione hadn't known that a spell like this existed. But she really hoped that this could help. There was still that part in her that hoped, that all would work out just fine. That they would find the murderer now and would bring him to the Ministry where he would be sentenced to a life in Azkaban.

"Let's go now." Said Hermione eagerly.

"I would propose that we wait for the Aurors. I already contacted the Ministry so they should be here in no time and I think it is easier for all of us to just check the Foe-Glass all together."

Hermione nodded. She wondered how everything had changed so fast. It was barely an hour ago that she had sat on the couch at Grimmauldplace and opened her birthday presents. And now she sat here.

"When did you get the message that Miss Crastel is dead?"

"I think maybe half an hour ago? I heard someone shouting at the Gargoyle, so I went down there and found Miss Galwer. She had shouted at me to come and that her best friend was dead. I thought that she had maybe just fainted or something but still I went with her to Miss Crastel. I immediately saw that she was dead. The hollow eyes. The pale skin. There were no wounds. Nothing. I sent my Patronus to Poppy and she confirmed what I threaded; that Miss Crastel was killed by the Avada Kedavra. I told Poppy to take both, Miss Crastel and Miss Galwer to the hospital wing and went back to my office. Here, I contacted the Ministry and then flooed to the company. Now I am here."

"Why aren't the Aurors here yet? That's unbelievable!"

"Incompetence. Laziness."

Hermione just nodded. The Ministry got better with Kingsley as Minister, but they still had a lot to work on.

They both waited in silence for a few minutes. Minerva propped her elbows on the desk and her head in her hands. She looked tired. Then Hermione remembered something and she had to ask even tho she didn't want to take these few moments of silence from Minerva.

"Where are the portraits?"

Minerva didn't look up when she answered.

"I sent them away to check if they found anyone who doesn't have the permission to be here."

That was logical. Hermione chided herself for not coming up with that explanation herself.

They both went silent once again. Finally, the wards around Hogwarts got activated. That meant that the Aurors were there. Minerva and Hermione both stood up immediately and went down the moving staircases.

Both didn't talk while walking down the floors to the main gate where a bunch of three Aurors already waited. They were two men and a woman and Hermione thought that they were all older than her. 'No trainees', she summarized.

"Where do we have to go?" A short, young man was obviously the leader of the group. He stood in front of the other two and seemed confident.

"To the third floor. Please follow Miss Granger here. She will show you where to go."

Hermione looked at Minerva questioningly and raised an eyebrow.

"I'll go and retrieve Filius now. You can manage them, right?" Minerva whispered.

Just after Hermione assured her that she could handle them, Minerva left.

"Ok, this way." Hermione took lead and let them to the third floor and in front of her office.

Before she moved on to open the door, she turned around to the Aurors.

"This is the place where Miss Crastel was found dead by Miss Galwer. I don't think there is much to detect here. Madame Pomfrey already confirmed that she was killed by a killing curse."

"So, what are you doing here?" the small Auror asked.

"There are two options for you. I think you should talk with Miss Galwer. She was the one who had found Miss Crastel. Minerva is currently fetching Professor Flitwick. The other option is waiting here for Professor Flitwick and standing by while he analyses my Foe-Glass."

"Why would anyone want to analyze your Foe-Glass?" asked the other, older man in a way that clearly indicated that he had absolutely no respect for her. Nevertheless, he looked her up and down with an appraising look that showed that all he saw in her was a sex object. The lacking respect and obvious misogynism railed Hermione up and she wanted to put him in his place.

"You would know if you had paid any attention to your Auror training."

She told herself to stay calm and be the wiser one in this situation.

"In case you missed the day that they told you the use of a Foe-Glass; it can show you if someone with a bad intention comes near you." She explained patiently and knew how much it must annoy him that she mocked his intelligence the way she did. But to be fair; she doubted that there was much intelligence to be mocked anyway.

"I know this." The Auror answered with a smug expression.

"But as you know it is only useful in the actual moment." Hermione already wanted to correct him when another voice interrupted them.

"Actually, it isn't."

The heads of the three Aurors snapped around to where Minerva and Flitwick came down the corridor.

When they were arrived beneath Hermione and the Aurors, there was silence.

Minerva broke it. "Do we want to start now?" Her tone was clipped and no one dared to question anything she said.

It was completely silent while Hermione opened the door to her office. Everyone followed her inside. Hermione looked around in her room. Everything seemed to be normal. Her desk still stood on the opposite of the door. The chair in front of the desk looked exactly the same and the two couches on both far ends of the office looked still untouched, just like the various instruments that stood on the table next to her desk. Even the papers on her desk looked just like when she had left them this morning. And to top it off, the wards that should signal her if anyone broke into her office didn't alarm her at any time this day. She didn't think that anyone broke into her office. Technically, it wasn't even possible. Her office and private rooms were warded heavily and one could only come in if they knew the password or if they were bid in explicitly. So, if a anyone wanted something from her, they had to knock and wait until she bid them in. And the only person who knew the password was the Headmistress herself.

Hermione turned around to the group that waited for her to say something.

"You three can sit down on the couch there if you want." She gestured to the couch that was nearest to the table with the Foe-Glass.

The three Aurors shrugged and sat down while Minerva, Filius and Hermione positioned themselves around the table with the Instruments. Filius already started casting Wingardium Leviosa, so that the table with the Instruments would stand in the middle of the room when the annoying man interrupted him.

"Would you mind examining the Foe-Glass somewhere where we can see anything as well?"

Hermione had to gather all her goodwill to not say something really offending to the Auror but she didn't even have to play nice because apparently Minerva didn't like the bloke as well and, other than Hermione, didn't have any problems with not being nice.

"Either you chose to leave the room immediately and risk me telling the Minister that you are incompetent, or you shut up and let someone competent handle the situation."

Despite everything that had happened this morning, Hermione had to grin as she saw the chastised look on the Auror's face.

Meanwhile, Filius had floated the table to the middle of the room. Without saying a word, he started making complicated movements with his wand and murmured inaudible things. She couldn't recognize a thing in the Foe-Glass and thought that maybe this was one of those spells where only the caster could see the result. Typically, those were the hardest.

After a few minutes he stopped all his muttering and the movements.

"And?" the young, male Auror asked.

Filius turned around and everyone in the room looked at him expectantly.

Then, he answered in his much to high voice and every hope for an easy way out was shattered once again.

"Nothing."