Hermione didn't dwell on Snape for much longer as the stakes of the crime were higher than the pang inside her chest. Devil or no devil, she had everything she needed: a flat of her own, friends, a job that she needed to get back and a case she needed to solve. And she had done well for herself all of these years. Sure Snape's advice was poignant and very useful. He offered her a perspective she was to keen to overlook. Sure he was rash and judgmental, but he had been a good partner. But to lie was no way to start and she was tired of deception. And she had to admit that she had been right about his ill intentions all along. But it still hurt her to admit she lost him.
Scheduling time to think of it later in the day, perhaps before bed but after her nightly shower, she enters the Casino with Draco and Harry close behind. Draco, despite being against the being on set, agreed to come. Maybe it was the promise of the Casino that he hadn't visited in years, maybe his conscience suddenly took a a turn to the leaves. Likely the former.
The Hippodrome had a certain gaiety about it. In the afternoon, the glasses in the bar glistened with anticipation of the soon to arrive guests. Serving staff bustled about, their wands charming wine stains and other unaffordable liquids off the exquisite carpets. Hermione let her shoes sink into the rich fibers. It was wonderful to be part of something bigger than herself- she could almost imagine an alternate self waltzing in with hundreds of galleons to her name and winning the jackpot. The image alone put a tad of pep into her step.
Where to look first? She dove for the counter, the books had to have the names of the guests here. And Curt had been visiting the Casino on the night of the murder, so he had to be written there. Or perhaps, she should approach like Snape, ask the waiting staff first. When the casino doors opened in two hours, there would be no time for questioning.
She approached Mr. Lively. Introduce herself as an Auror? No. Snape would never have started that way.
" Excuse me sir. I had lost my purse in the lobby on April 15th."
"Certainly MSev . You can come with me to the Lost Items department and have a look."
"I have already inquired."
"Then you can fill out a notice and we will return the call as soon as something turns up."
She leans in close. "Mr. Lively. The matter is very personal. You see, my husband, if he was to find out I lost the purse, would be devastated. The purse holds an anniversary presends- an expensive one."
"Certainly. We understand and the Hippodrome extends it's greatest sincere apologies MSev ."
"Please Mr. Lively. My husband is not a gentle man. If he found out – oh he would be devastated."
After some deliberation, Mr. Lively could not longer bear to look at the tearful expression of the woman before him. He led her to the side, scratching a name and number on a paper.
"Inquire here from Mr. Johnathon Lively at the Hippodrome. He was here that night, I am sure. He always works Thursday evenings. If not, this other address could be worth an owl."
Success! She could not wait to uncover the mystery and tell Robards Jr. how proud she was. He would see it. The brilliant Hermione Granger. And promote her straight away to work with Harry . And she would no longer have a to share an office with Draco in the basement. And all of Snape's techniques applied without him even being presends.