Precious Stones
By Hermione Starise
Chapter 9: Tiffany's Story
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AN- Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!!!!! This has taken me ages to get together I had it written ages ago but I lost the disk it was on! Therefore lost my enthusiasm which is no excuse really anyway here's the next chapter that is if you haven't forgotten all about it I would have lol blabbing the evil monster sitting next to me is prodding me and telling me to write.
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When Hermione woke up the next morning, after only three hours of sleep her head was pounding and she felt as though all her energy had been sapped away. She decided that working through the night had been a bad idea- even if it was nessercery.
She wouldn't let it stop her though; she showered and dressed at top speed, anxious to be in work as soon as possible. When she dried her hair in the flash of an eye using a simple spell she knew and caught her reflection in the mirror she let out a slight gasp of horror.
Merlin I look awful! She muttered to herself.
There were deep bags underneath her eyes and her skin was pale. Thinking quickly she sorted though the few beauty spells she knew, and came up with one for looking healthier. The spell worked well, hiding the bags underneath her eyes and putting some colour back into her cheeks.
That ones been useful in the past. She thought bitterly.
She quickly chased away any shadows from the past and concentrated on getting herself out to work, highly conscious of the fact that she was running unreasonably late. What would Harry and Ron think?
She grabbed her cloak and apparated to the headquarters, completely disregarding her need for breakfast. It was snowing when she arrived on the great driveway in front of the Headquarters, and she almost swore out load when she realised she hadn't put on her scarf, hat or gloves and the cold began to seep in.
Shaking her head at her own, unusual forgetfulness and beginning to shiver she ploughed her way up to the headquarters, head bowed against the blizzard that was gaining strength.
Once inside the warmth seeped in, making her sigh with relief, and she even smiled, that is, before she saw the state of the foyer. The grand staircase was all cordoned off and there was a bunch of curious employees milling around the area, gossiping in low voices.
Several heads turned as she entered and used her ID to get past the cordon. She kept her head down and didn't meet anyone's eyes, even though several of the lookers on where her friends.
The forensics team where still working busily, though some of the members who had worked though the night had gone. The body had been taken away, probably to Jarrod's laboratory for more testing. Hermione often couldn't believe how lucky they were in their pathologist. Jarrod worked awfully hard
Harry asked, and she looked up to see him, realising she'd been day dreaming.
Oh Hi She said a little vaguely.
Are you all right? He asked her.
Yeah, I'm er sorry I'm late bad morning. She said.
He replied quietly and she could see that he was concerned.
What's new? She asked.
not much, Harry replied shaking his head, Ron's looking in on Tiffany.
Hermione asked surprised, But he
Harry chuckled, Yeah you wouldn't imagine he'd have good people skills would you?
Hermione replied frankly, finding it hard to envision the clumsy, awkward young man that she had known handling the case of a distressed witness very well.
He's had the training, Harry said simply, I opted for the muggle fighting skills course but he already seemed to know some of that something to do with avoiding Fred and George's hexes once they left school so he opted for a Victim Support course.
I did that. Hermione said quietly, realising that he had done exactly what she'd done when offered the choice. It sent a weird jolt of emotion through her.
Someone said, and she swung round to see the last person she wanted to see, striding towards her with an arrogance she'd half forgotten was Nigel Smitherson; a scheming Ministry Employee with whom she'd had a brief romance. Seeing his plump, boyish, features before her, she couldn't quite remember why.
Darling it's been too long! He gushed.
She said sheepishly, ignoring Harry's questing glance.
Isn't it just terrible, you must be worked off your feet and without me to look after you and stop you from over-working yourself! He continued, quite unaware that he was standing near a legend. Harry just stared with amused disbelief.
Yes well, Hermione said in icy tones that matched the ones she had learnt to use with Ron, Do you have a reason for being here?
Yes I do! Nigel replied his chest swelling up, I am here to take you on holiday?
Hermione couldn't believe it, here was a man with whom she'd spent a few evenings with on dates she couldn't even remember very clearly turning up and trying to drag her away from what could be life saving work! Luckily for her, Harry came to her rescue.
Excuse me Inspector is there a problem here? He asked, with an authority Hermione hadn't known he possessed.
Nigel started and Hermione watched as his watery blue eyes grew in astonishment, and predictably flicked upwards towards the scar.
Hermione and I have an er agreement, He said somewhat nervously.
You do? Ron asked, and Hermione turned to find him standing behind her. She hadn't realised that he'd arrived. She was surprised by the look on his face, the old jealous one he'd worn whenever Victor Krum was around.
Excuse us, Hermione said quickly and led Nigel away by the arm.
Once outside the cordon again, she faced him angrily.
Who do you think you are? She demanded.
Now I really don't think there's a need for you is angry dear, I just read about this awful case in the paper and thought that it wasn't right for you to be involved He said, with the pompous air of someone who was always right. Somewhat like Percy Weasley really
Yes well I don't need your help thank you very much, Hermione said bluntly, I'm very busy so I suggest you leave!
With that she turned on her heels and stomped furiously away, cursing him for putting her under yet another strain and giving yet something else to think about. What had she ever seen in him anyway?
Good news, Ron told her as she arrived back, Tiffany is feeling better.
Why do I feel as though there's a but involved in this?
She still seems unable to talk. He said.
Hermione sighed tiredly, Ok, I'll spend the day in the library researching a cure I think there might have been something that I cam across when I was into spew and all of that.
Did you just say spew? Ron said, and Hermione could hear the amusement in his voice, she turned to smile at him, not realising that they were slipping back into a once familiar way of behaving.
Yes, I think I did, She said lightly, Anyway I've got you proper clearance this time so you two could spend the day at the port-key centre?
Yeah ok, Harry said, and even Hermione couldn't help but notice the amused twinkle in his eyes.
*
After an un-rewarding day spent trawling through records and then interviewing possible suspects Harry and Ron, were again no further forward.
I wonder how Hermione's got on. Harry remarked gloomily.
Ron didn't reply as they stepped outside and into the snow ridden Diagon Alley. It looked like something from a muggle postcard: all picturesque and cheerful, the pointed roofs of the various building all iced with a thick layer of snow and the shoppers all with hoods drawn up around their heads.
Far from filling him with festive cheer, the scene made him suddenly very sad. Christmas was never special for him anymore sure they had their celebrations at Headquarters but it was at Christmas that he always felt most lonely. It was at Christmas that he always missed his family most and it was at Christmas that he missed her the most. His Hermione.
She wasn't his anymore. She could hardly be less his Even that pompous idiot that showed up earlier stands more of a chance than I do He thought miserably. Yet, she'd smiled at him almost in the way that she used to smile at himalmost.
What's up? Harry asked cutting into his thoughts.
Ron muttered.
We better go back and make our report Harry said resignedly.
Huh? What report? Ron asked sullenly.
Harry replied.
You just want to go shopping in Diagon Alley and get ice creams at Fortescues like we used to? Ron asked wistfully.
Nice dream Ron, Harry said but his tone matched Ron and his face was clouded over when he said, Besides Hermione would kill us. What's the bet she's still slaving away when we get back?
Ron's face hardened, He muttered.
What do you make of that Nigel fellow? Harry ventured cautiously. It was a bold move.
Me? Why should what I make of him matter? Ron asked defensively.
Harry shrugged, but he was satisfied with the reaction he had provoked, Ron's ears had gone bright red. A sure sign, if ever there was one, that Ron cared more about the matter than he was letting on.
Typical Hermione, Harry mused boldly, To get herself attached to someone like that
It's not like her at all! Ron snapped back, turning round to face Harry, his fists clenched.
Harry couldn't help himself, he grinned, and this made Ron's defiance even worse.
Ron said sternly.
I just thought Harry began.
I know what you just thought, but you can leave well away from that! Ron said.
Something about Ron's tone told Harry that he was deadly serious; his words were not angry or frustrated but had been thought about long and hard. Ron had been expecting Harry's teasing over Hermione and had prepared himself to meet it.
But Ron Was all Harry could say.
But nothing Harry, I'm not starting down that path again. It's all in the past, let it stay there. Ron spoke quietly, resignedly and Harry realised that he had given up any hope of ever meaning anything to Hermione ever again. However Ron's words also made him realise how deeply he still felt for her.
Sobered by this Harry turned away from his friend and they made their way back towards the Investigative Auror's headquarters in silence.
*
I'll go and check on the witness again, Ron said when they got inside. He didn't feel like facing Hermione and wanted to put it off for as long as possible.
Harry said, See you upstairs?
Ron grunted noncommittally.
He walked along the cold corridors until he reached the little hospital ward. It was dimly lit and most of the beds were empty and those that weren't occupied by Auror's injured at work. Tiffany was in a little side room, tucked away from inquisitive stares.
Ron was about to knock when he realised that she wasn't alone. He recognized Hermione's soft, reasonable voice, he couldn't make out what she was saying but when he went to the side of the room were there was a window looking in he could just make out her form through the half-drawn blinds.
Tiffany he could see more clearly and although her face seemed damp from tears and her eyes red rimmed she seemed more relaxed and was even smiling. It was something he recognized, a victim who had managed at last to tell her story.
Deciding not to intrude he waited outside until the nurse went in and Hermione came out, looking tired but satisfied. When she saw him, she smiled a relieved sort of smile.
I think we have him. She said.
*
Back in her office, Hermione conjured three mugs of steaming coffee,
How did you get her to speak? Harry wanted to know.
Well you know the magic that holds house elves? There was a spell very similar to the ancient enchantment that binds all house elves to their masters. It's Cromatia Vertigus, the binding spell, Hermione paused, Stopping someone under it from revealing secrets.
Harry and Ron both nodded. Hermione sipped her coffee and allowed herself a moment to catch her breath, things had happened so quickly that afternoon... After discovering the counter curse Hermione had been forced to wait for what seemed like hours to have it passed through a safety check. This done she'd had to get clearance for performing the spell on the witness and get Tiffany's permission.
Tiffany hadn't needed much persuasion and once the counter-curse had been performed it had just all spilt out. Tiffany had been able to calmly tell Hermione everything she knew.
I used a counter curse that I had researched in my S.P.E.W days, Hermione said, It took a while to get the cleared through safety mind.
It would do, Ron said gruffly.
Hermione ignored his brusque tone and continued, It just all poured out of Tiffany when she was free of Cromatia Vertigus
Well what did she tell you? Harry pressed.
She was brought up in a small school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She doesn't have any memories of a home before this school, and she can't remember her parents or any other family.
It was the same for all the others too. Hermione said, Tiffany gave me names for all of the other victims.
Hermione pushed the sheet of paper that had the names written down across the table for Ron to read.
Sapphire- Silvia Martin, He read, Emerald- Edward Hugh, Garnet- Gregory Lambton, Amethyst- Anna Leighton, Ruby- Rebecca Preston, and Azurite- Alexander Finch.
Hermione felt her eyes fill up with tears, once the victim had a name- everything seemed so much more real, and the tragedy struck her hard. To have six names, and six lives destroyed seemed unbearable.
They were all friends of Tiffany. The last, Azurite- Alexander Finch in particular was close to Tiffany. Her boyfriend I think anyway this explains why his murder was different. He'd been looking for Tiffany
Hermione noticed that Harry, who had been taking notes, looked up now a pained expression on his face.
Did it fall to you to tell her he was dead then? Harry asked.
Hermione said biting her lip.
How did she take it?
I don't know, Hermione said shaking her head, It was like she expected it.
She sipped her coffee again which had began to go cold.
Tell us more about the school? Ron prompted.
Reading between the lines, Hermione said, It was more of an orphanage. Tiffany said that she ran away because she realised something was wrong and when she left there were only five pupils left, now that would only be four because Alexander Finch followed her and was killed.
She paused for breath trying to get the girl's information sorted into order in her own head something didn't fit!
The school is for children gifted in the art of wandless magic and is called Moonstone Heights. It's a highly un-researched area but apparently you need to be connected to a particular precious stone to have the magical ability to perform wandless magic.
Why didn't it show up on the Ministry Data Base then? Ron asked.
Hermione said softly, That would be because it was set up by Voldemort.
Hermione let the bomb drop calmly, and watched the horrified expressions on her friends' faces.
This can't all be connected to him though surely! Ron's tone said that he was certain but Hermione caught the briefest moment of doubt flare up in his eyes.
She said, Voldemort developed the spells that has been killing the students, but he didn't perform them. No, Tiffany accuses the headmaster of being guilty of this.
The headmaster? Harry asked.
Yes, a Master Diamond.
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AN- It can't be as easy as all of that. Surely? Lol you better review if you want to find out!
Once again, sorry for the wait!