Precious Stones: Chapter 6- Tiffany
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Author's Note: Ok I'm so sorry this took so long! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially those who've reviewed just recently, I might never have gotten around to this if it hadn't have been for you. After reading Order fan fiction writing seemed impossible
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Ron came stomping into the Mess Hall at the Auror Headquarters for breakfast. His bad mood was mostly due to a lack of sleep and the noise the trainee Auror's were making. Or so he told himself
He slumped down into a chair nest to Harry who was talking to Kathryn Marsden. As soon as he did a bowl of lumpy porridge appeared before him: the standard breakfast for a Field Auror.
Ron scowled at it: he was fed-up of porridge! He was willing to bet that Hermione got to have whatever she wanted for breakfast. Investigative Auror's had it easy didn't they the same salary as his but with perks. Like not being in the line of fire, like not having to risk their necks everyday, time off, and whatever they wanted for breakfast! Merlin they annoyed him!
How could Hermione have become one of them? She had so much potential- had
been so brave! Instead she'd turned into a frosty, calculating, inhuman hag!
Thinking these bitter angry thoughts he picked up his spoon and began savagely attacking the lumpy porridge. Beside him Harry chuckled.
It's not the porridge's fault you know. Harry said, amused.
What isn't? Ron growled.
Harry raised a sceptical eyebrow, A certain curly haired witch?
Don't know any. Ron snapped. For some reason this sent Harry and Kathryn into fits of laughter.
So I take it things haven't been going well? Kathryn asked, giggling. Ron didn't think that his boss should be giggling like she was- Kathryn was usually all professional. Giggling indeed! What had gotten into her!
Glowering at them Ron stood up, abandoning his attempt to eat the hateful breakfast and stalked off.
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At the same time, Hermione's morning wasn't going any better. Furious with herself for her childish and unprofessional behaviour the previous evening she had distractedly burnt her porridge and spilt coffee down her robes.
Not only had she failed to ask Ron if he and Harry had discovered anything she'd been over an hour late to the Weasley's and had to put up with their anxious enquiries about her health!
She only ate porridge because it was quick to make on a morning: what she wouldn't give for the chance to eat a bacon sandwich or something! She was willing to bet that Harry and Ron got a good selection of tasty, filling foods made for them by house elves on a morning!
Abandoning the idea of a decent breakfast she hurriedly threw on another set of robes. As al of her standard grey work robes where in the wash she was forced to put on a pair of casual ones that where off a deep red colour. As she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, she scowled at her reflection: casual robes indeed!
She discovered after putting on her purple Investigative Auror's cloak that her wand was missing. She remembered using it to do an ironing spell on her jeans the previous evening when she'd been in a hurry to get to the Burrow.
The wand seemed had developed legs and wandered of on its own accord: well that was the only explanation Hermione could come up with when she couldn't find it anywhere.
She was bending down to look under her sofa when a voice said:
Startled Hermione shot up banging her head on the way.
She exclaimed.
Hermione are you alright?
Massaging her now aching head Hermione turned to find Ginny Weasley's head in the fireplace.
Yes, I just banged my head that's all.
Oh right, Ginny said trying not to laugh, What's with the casual robes.
I've just spilt coffee down my work robes! The rest are all dirty too!
Ginny laughed, And here's me thinking there was a man you wanted to impress at work.
Hermione tried to laugh back, remembering bitterly that it had actually been three months since she had split up with her last boyfriend and now she had the pain of having to work with Ron. What would Ginny say if she knew?
Ginny was saying, I just called about this afternoon. Is it still alright for me to come in about the Stones case?
Hermione remembered sickeningly that she had arranged for Ginny to come in once a week as the press representative for the Stones case.
Oh yes of course, She replied faintly. What if she saw Harry and Ron?
Ginny replied brightly.
Right yes. I don't think I'm going to be in the labs or the office today. I'm working with someone from another case this morning. Just ask for me at desk- I don't know where I'll be. Hermione said quickly.
Ok, see you then. Bye!
When Ginny had gone Hermione resumed her search for the missing wand. She was despairing when there was along meowing at her feet and when she looked down Crookshanks was there- her wand in his mouth.
Oh Crookshanks what would I do without you? She said taking her wand and tickling the large ginger cat behind his ears.
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Ron was surprised when he and Harry arrived at the IA headquarters to find that Hermione had not yet arrived. The snooty receptionist (a Miss Blake) told them to wait in the entrance hall. Apparently she didn't trust them to go up to the office.
It was ten minutes before Hermione arrived. As she pushed the door open to allow herself entry he caught a blast of the furious snowstorm that was building up outside. Looking at her he was startled to see that she was rather dishevelled. Snow had made her damp and it was already teasing its way out of the neat bun she normally wore it in. her cloak was soaked through and her cheeks were flushed with the cold.
Come on. She said in way of a greeting.
They followed her up to her office. She motioned for them to sit down in the chairs in front of her desk and after lighting a fire in the grate with her wand she took of her cloak and hung it up. The dark red robes she wore where different from the work robes she usually wore. He wasn't given time to wonder about this however as she said,
Well? What did you find out?
Beside him Harry sighed, Not much I'm afraid. The port-key authorities where reluctant to look at the records and there weren't many port-keys actually operating yesterday, the weather was too bad.
Oh dear, Hermione said shaking her head, I'm sorry I should have remembered. You need proper clearance to look at the records! You get it automatically with an IA badge. I should have arranged it for you!
Never mind. Harry said, We can always go back.
Yet Ron felt a surge of anger towards Hermione- she'd led them on a wild goose chase!
Well you can go this afternoon I have someone coming in to talk to me about another case then anyway.
Harry replied.
We're not going to waste the morning though are we? Ron found himself saying coldly.
No, not at all. She said with a snap of irritation in her brown eyes.
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Hermione suddenly felt with panic that she hadn't actually planned anything and that she didn't have a clue where to go next with the case. For the first time in her career Hermione Granger was at a complete and utter loss as to what she needed to do.
Luckily just as she realised this Remus' head appeared in the fireplace looking alarmed.
he asked.
You better come down to my office. There's been another development.
He disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. With a glance at Harry and Ron she stood up and brushed past them, heading down to Remus' office. They followed her swiftly casting anxious looks at each other.
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Hermione had always liked Remus' office; it was warm, bright and welcoming. Today however as she reached the door it did not seem at all welcoming. There where loud, high pitched screams only interrupted by the single repeated word shouted with immense hatred:
Frightened as to what she might find Hermione tapped her wand on the door and muttered the password. It was as the handsome wooden door opened that Hermione got her first glimpse of Topaz.
There was a girl writhing, screaming, kicking and shouting: being held down by two patrol aurors in Remus' chair.
She'll only speak to you Hermione. Remus said looking grim.
Hermione nodded biting her lip and taking in the girls appearance. She was tall but malnourished and the torn blue robes that she wore were far too large for her. She had long; matted black hair that obscured most of her face- what Hermione could see of her face was smeared with mud.
She came here asking for Inspector Granger, One of the patrol officers said, I think she must have seen the articles in the paper.
At the sound of Hermione's name the girl seemed to have quietened. She was now staring quite still at Hermione. It was unnerving, the girl's eyes where covered by a long fringe but Hermione could tell they were boring right into her.
I'll speak only to her.
Hermione nodded slowly, not sure if she wanted to be left alone with this girl, nevertheless she glanced at Remus who said:
We'll leave you to it then.
She could see that Harry and Ron were bewildered, but they followed Remus and the Patrol Auror's out of the office.
Hermione said softly when the door had closed and the girl had gained control of herself, You have some information for me?
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Outside Ron was shouting at Remus:
This is mad! He said, You can' just leave her alone with that girl! You don't know what she might do.
Remus just shrugged and turned to the Patrol Officers, Stand by at the door, go in if I tell you to.
Yes Sir.
Ron continued to shout at Remus as he led them into a room just a few doors down from his office.
What he saw inside the room though quickly made him shut up. They where standing in a room the exact double of the office. There where two misty shapes- one sitting in the arm chair and the other on a small stool next to the fire.
It was Hermione and the girl.
An Imitation room, Remus said, As long as you have a receptive device in the other room you can see and hear everything that's going on.
Ron said, overwhelmed. This was Wizarding technology at its best
You have some information for me? Hermione's voice- soft and kind- cut into his thoughts and he dragged his attention back to the matter at hand.
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What can you tell me? Hermione pressed softly.
The girl pushed her fringe back and Hermione saw that her eyes where a strange golden yellow colour, the colour of Topaz.
Hermione breathed- she might have known.
The girl looked at her in frightened surprise, Yes- how did you know?
I just guessed, Hermione replied, You're called Topaz then?
The girl shook her head, She said shakily,Diamond just calls me that because it's my power stone. My precious stone.
Hermione said unsurely, So what is your name?
Tiffany Griffiths. She replied carefully looking around as if scared that someone had overheard.
Tiffany then, Hermione said, Tell me more about the Precious Stones.
I was never very sure until I met Diamond he told me they made me powerful made me special
How so?
I can do things with my mind. She replied as if the words where choking
Hermione gasped, it was impossible wasn't it?
How so?
I can levitatewithout a wand
That was all Tiffany could get out for the moment she did, the girl went limp.
She's fainted Remus. Hermione said after checking the girl's pulse.
Withdraw for now then. We'll get her to a healer. Remus' voice said, and although it seemed as though it was coming from nowhere Hermione knew that it was because he was in the Imitation room.
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Half an hour later they sat in Hermione's office with sandwiches and coffee.
What do you make of it? Harry asked.
It's hard to say, Hermione replied, There has been cases of wandless magic- I mean you're an example of that- but the Stones? I don't know.
We'll just have to wait- once she's recovered we'll get more out of her. Remus said.
Hermione nodded her agreement.
And Diamond? Ron asked, Is this person controlling her- I mean it was like someone was stopping her talking.
Hermione looked at Ron in surprise, he was right.
Like Dobby Harry said thoughtfully.
When she was talking about the stones, it was like she was choking. Hermione said, I'll look into that.
Yes good idea I w Harry said but he was cut off by a banging on the door.
Collin Creevy said coming in,
He stopped as if just seeing Harry and Ron and corrected himself quickly, Your press representative is coming along the corridor right now!
But I told her to ask for me at the reception
Harry and Ron were looking at her quizzically but she just grabbed her cloak and said,
See you later.
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From the opposite end of the long corridor, Ginny saw Collin lunge into Hermione's office after looking at Ginny as if something was about to go terribly wrong. Hermione practically ran into Ginny as she made her way along the corridor.
Ginny said, Have I just seen Collin going into your office?
Er yeah- the team's just in there having their lunch Hermione said.
Ginny said feeling that Hermione was hiding something, I can interview them too, and the more angles the better.
Not right now, Ginny, it's their break! Hermione said hurriedly.
Don't be silly- Collin's my friend you know! I'd love to see him She said pushing past Hermione and going to open the door but someone had beaten her too it.
Collin I was just here to Ginny said expecting to see her old school friend, the words became stuck in her throat however as she realised she wasn't looking at Collin, but at a face she'd rather forget.
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AN- Lol CLIFFHANGER! Well you'll just have to review to find out what happens next. I'm on holiday now so I should be updating more frequently.