~Disclaimer *I do not own any Characters, spells, or magical places that exist in the Harry Potter Universe* see end for Chapter Notes~
Beneath The Shadows
Chapter One
Hermione Jean Granger was tired.
Not of life; she loved her life and every single one of her friends. It was a comfortable existence, and she found living alone and focusing solely on her happiness quite liberating versus the lives of her friends. Like Harry, who awoke each day to the chaos of three children and a worn-out wife. He enjoyed it though, and that's what mattered most. Then there was Ron, who awoke each morning in a different bed, stumbling around as quietly as possible to escape the claws of whatever bar vixen managed to lure him to their lair for the evening. That was a complication Hermione was all too happy never to have endured.
No, it wasn't her life that had her reaching into the cupboard every morning for the comfort of pepper-up potion and sometimes a hangover elixir. It was the blasted assignment she'd been tasked to cover over the last two years for the Daily Prophet. You see, she never intended on being a journalist; it just sort of happened. Presently, however, Hermione desperately wished she could travel back in time eight years and tell her past self not to help Luna try and keep the Quibbler afloat during their eighth year. One highly sought-after war heroines version of events during the war, and bam, a shiny new career fell into her lap. Her researching skills were an undeniable asset to the printed word, and every primary news source crawled out of the woodworks begging for her employment. What followed was a whirlwind of worldly travel, grand adventures, and taking on dangerous undercover assignments. Even the Auror department came calling when they had exhausted all their resources and hired her as a freelance Auror; she was that good. Not that she was one to brag, Hermione just understood her worth.
Now she was regretting it for the first time in her life.
Hermione reached blindly for a towel to wipe her face after splashing some much-needed fresh water on it. Harry's floo call from this morning weighed heavily on her mind, and she had to rush to the loo and throw up after they finished talking. As Head Auror, he had the privilege of divulging information to her that typically wouldn't be whispered about to even the noisest of reporters. She'd hoped it was merely a social call, but her optimism was dashed ten seconds into the conversation. They recovered another victim of the Golden Ripper yesterday. This time though, it was someone Hermione and Harry had known rather well, one Lavander Wood Nee Brown. The body was located yesterday morning by a pair of children playing near the edge of a murky pond just outside a small wizarding province near London. She was discovered face down, naked, and buried haphazardly in a shallow muddy grave. Lavender deserved better; after surviving Greybacks attack, Lavender merited so much more than to be another pawn in some serial killer's twisted game.
Hermione had an appointment with Harry and Minister Weasley this evening to go over what was allowed into her article on the matter. She wasn't looking forward to it. If she had it her way, the whole world would know every little detail about what was going on, but mass hysteria could ensue. Therefore her lips had been magically sealed upon pain of death. Though at this point, death seemed like an attractive choice. Hermione hated lying and covering up the details. She was known for her true grit honesty in the pieces she wrote, and her Gryffindor fearlessness allowed her to shoulder every death threat she'd obtained over the years. This case was different, though, and after two years and twelve bodies, the routine was the same. No one could ever know there was a connection, and anyone who made the initial discovery of the victim was oblivated. Tomorrow she would most likely have to pen a story on how Lavender Brown met with an unfortunate accident at her workplace.
Just like all the others.
The Ministry refused to give the culprit the satisfaction of notoriety. Harry and Hermione both agreed that train of thought was foolish and detrimental to the welfare of the wizarding community, but they were outvoted and outnumbered by a fearful Wizengamot.
Hermione slipped on her favorite pair of ballet flats and ran a brush quickly through her thick hair, managing to tame enough of the chaotic tresses into an almost acceptable topknot. She contemplated showing up in the faded jeans and ripped Ramones shirt she was already wearing; after all, it was only Harry and Arthur, and it was so hot outside that the standard Ministry robes she usually donned would be entirely too stifling. Fuck it. She was going to be comfortable while they forced her to shovel whatever heaping pile of shit they concocted to the masses.
"Hermione? I need to talk to you. Hermione?" A familiar voice sounded from the Floo, though muffled from being a few rooms away; Hermoine recognized Ginny's delicate tone immediately and rushed to answer.
"Ginny, what's wrong? Is it Luna?" She asked worriedly. Luna was married to Charlie and recently moved in with Harry and Ginny whilst Charlie was away taking care of a rogue dragon who escaped from one of the reserves he ran. She was heavily pregnant with twins and due within the month.
"No, nothing like that. Can I come through?" She sounded sad, and Hermione wanted to stun herself for the stupidity. Of course, Ginny would know about Lavender already. Harry was a sorry secret keeper giving his job description. Hermione told Ginny to come through and was nearly toppled over by the distraught witch as she came flying out with her arms wide to capture Hermione in a crippling hug.
"I overheard Harry and what he told you! I can't believe she's gone!"Ginny wailed into Hermoine's chest, her tears and snot smearing across her Ramones shirt; it looked like she was changing after all. She was also secretly happy that Harry hadn't blabbed; Ginny shouldn't be privy to everything when the situation was delicate. Hermione let Ginny cry in her arms for a while, offering gentle words of sympathy and comfort. She'd foolishly forgotten just how close Ginny and Lavender grew after they gave birth to their first child on the same day.
"Her poor children, to have their mum stolen away like that. I hope Harry catches this bastard and feeds him to the dementors." Ginny's words held a harsh tone, and Hermione was reminded of what a fierce and loyal Gryffindor Ginny could be, even after all these years.
"Don't worry; he will. He grows closer and closer each day to solving this case, and I know Lavander wouldn't want you to let that kind of hate fester. Remember how lovely of a person she was and honor her memory that way." Hermione wasn't entirely confident they were nearing the end of this cat and mouse game, but she held out hope.
"Would you like something to drink?" Hermione asked after Ginny's sobbing finally subsided. Ginny nodded her head yes into her chest, and Hermione slowly removed the woman's arms from around her and headed towards the kitchen.
"Water, Tea, or something stronger?"Hermione asked.
"Stronger," Ginny answered.
"Good choice." Hemione reached for the firewhisky bottle she kept hidden under the cabinet for emergencies; she was more of a vodka girl, but Ginny preferred the Wizarding alcoholic options to that of muggle ones. After pouring them each a generous portion, Hermione headed back to Ginny and handed her the glass.
"Thanks," Ginny sighed, "We had a lunch date today, you know?"
Hermoine shook her head and took a sip from her drink, grimacing a bit at the taste; it had been a while. Ginny gulped the entire glass down in one go and set the empty glass on the floor at her feet.
"We were supposed to be planning her husband's birthday party. She went out of town the night before yesterday to pick up a special broom she got for Oliver and asked me to go with her, but Lily was running a bit of a fever, and I didn't want to leave a cranky baby with Luna in her condition." Ginny sniffled, and Hermione could sense the tears about to fall, "Maybe if I had gone with her..., I was always better at dueling. I know I could've protected her."
"No, Ginny, don't do that. Do not blame yourself. If you went, you could've very well ended up dead too. No matter how strong and brave you are, this killer...is terribly dangerous, ruthlessly clever, and kills with no rhyme or reason." Hermione placed a reassuring hand on Ginny's back and began rubbing small circles, just like her mum used to do when Hermione was frightened as a child.
"You don't know that, though."Ginny tried to reason, "I'm not some weak housewitch who let her skills fade away the minute she had a child."
"I know that Ginny, this is so much more than that, though." Hermoine leaned her head on Ginny's shoulder and moved a hand to the other shoulder, and gave a gentle squeeze, "I know you understand there was nothing you could do."
Ginny sighed heavily, "I do. I just wish..." She hung her heavy head and let the words trail off. Unable to voice the words.
"Me too." Hermione agreed.
Harry was nervous for the first time since the start of his
Auror's career; he finally had to face the family of a victim he really knew. For Merlin's sake Lavender, her husband, and their two kids were having dinner with them last week, and now he was sitting outside the Wood family home, scared to knock on the bloody door. His mouth was dry, throat tight, palms slick with sweat, and the knot in his stomach was twisting more and more with each second that ticked by.
"You can do this." He breathed deeply, reassuring himself. He hated that they were covering up what truly happened to Lavender. He hated the level of secrecy levied against him and wished nothing more than to break the dam wide open and let the brutal waters of honesty wash over the whole case. However, that would mean breaking the vow he made when he took his job. Harry had to trust what the Ministry was deciding, even if he didn't like it.
Another few deep, slow, breaths and he felt as ready as he ever was going to be, bringing a nervous fist to rap weakly against the door. An eternity seemed to pass before Harry finally heard approaching footsteps inside the home. The anxious knot in his stomach felt substantial enough to pull him through the very ground he was standing on.
When the door opened, Harry managed to swallow the heaviness down and plaster on his bad news face. "Hello Oliver, can I come in for a moment?"
*Chapter Notes: Hello, it has been quite a while since I've published anything. Two years to be exact. Life tends to happen, and with the state of the world, I found myself sinking even further into writer's block, and all the stories I had previously been working on officially died. So here I am with a whole new one, hoping that I finally have found a good balance in my life to allow me to finish this one out! I am looking to update every 2-3 weeks. I do not have a beta, and I would hope that my grammar isn't too bad as to chase you lovely readers away. If you would like to send me a message and tell me what's not correct, I would be eternally grateful! As always, Reviews are the source of life. Please leave me one if you are enjoying the story, or even if you don't.