CHAPTER 1

The dust arose once again into the calm air as Hermione turned another page on the ancient book she was reading. A small window high up on the wall, let in a gleam of sunshine, where the dust particles sparkled in the air for a few seconds, before settling on the table and surrounding objects once more.

"Dariconas, dariconas. Where on earth are you?" Hermione mumbled to herself as her eyes scanned the page, her square spectacles resting at the end of her nose. Her bushy, unkempt hair was held loosely in place by an elastic, a few strands of hair escaping and trailing down her face, the rest trying desperately to break loose from the elastic. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes squinted as she concentrated on the page, her index finger of her right hand following her eyes.

"Dariconas, dariconas, dariconas. Ah there you are!" Hermione mumbled happily as her index finger rested on a particular word in the middle of the page.

"Muttering to yourself again I see!" a girl replied. She was standing in the doorframe, her hand resting on her hip as her straight and sleek auburn hair lay resting near her waist. She had a smile on her face that spread to her eyes, which were the darkest green Hermione had ever seen.

"Oh Emily its you. I didn't hear you come in", Hermione replied surprised as she turned around in her chair to face her work-friend. "Don't tell me Mr Hodgkins is wanting the report of the Carsey case already. I just finished on the research and I still have to edit the last of the report".

"Don't worry, for once Mr Hodgkins doesn't want to report early. I think he loves stressing you out. No its not Mr Hodgkins that wants you, they have a new case they want you to do some research for and have a look into, see if your expert knowledge couldn't help them out", Emily added with a large grin on her face.

"By they I'm guessing Aurors and it could only be Harry. Seriously after fourteen years he still needs my help on research", Hermione exclaimed astounded, though a grin spread on her face.

"I think he does that only to annoy you!" Emily exclaimed laughing heartily. "Come on it's a really interesting case and I can't start until you're there too", Emily said dragging Hermione out of her chair and out of the door, Hermione holding tightly onto her specs. Emily dragged Hermione through the underground corridors of the Ministry of Magic, the corridors she, Harry and many others had walked through so many years ago. Now she knew these corridors off by heart, as she stepped out onto the circular room, pointed her wand at the nearest door and the doors revolved once more, until the right door stopped right in front of her. She quickly walked through, Emily by her side as they clambered into the golden elevator and ascended to the other areas of the Ministry.

"Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamont Administration Services", the cool female voice called out. The grilles slid apart and Hermione and Emily hurried to the Auror Headquarters, stopping only when they found Harry's desk, where a large number of people had crowded around the table.

"Harry's been trying to open this book and he can't, neither can I so here is where your expertise in charms comes in", Emily said.

"Ok let me have a look", Hermione said placing her specs on the bridge of her nose and barging through the crowd to stop beside Harry, who was sitting at his desk.

"Hello Harry, now where did you get this from?" Hermione asked curiously as she looked at the leather bound old book on his table. It was tied together with red twine that looked easy enough to break; yet when she ran a finger over the cord, she felt a surge of energy. "Odd!"

"Hello Hermione, how are the books down there doing?" Harry replied grinning at her.

"Very fine, you should have a look through them once in a while, might be able to find something in them so you can stop asking me", she replied cheekily, her eyes glinting.

"Now what would be the fun in that? So what's so odd?"

"This book is bound by a most curious charm. Mind if I sit down?" Hermione asked, as Harry got up and she sat down on his seat. "This is a very unusual book. Where did you get it from?"

"Warehouse, south London. It was on a raid while trying to catch some Dark Wizards of an unknown group. This was left behind, though I don't think they left it behind on purpose", Harry replied glancing at the book in front of Hermione.

Hermione placed her hands an inch above the book, and gently pressed them down on the book. At first it hurt, as Harry saw from the look on Hermione's face, yet she kept her hands on the cover of the book and relaxed. Her face relaxed as she sighed a deep sigh and moved her hands away.

"Just as I thought. Such a simple charm. All it needs is for someone to be able to overcome pain and the book will open", Hermione said happily a grin forming on her face. She opened the book as the red twine faded and she flicked through the first few pages. Her eyes widened as she read passages here and there from the book.

"Harry tell me everything you know about this case, where you found the book and what the Dark wizards were after", Hermione added as her face grew serious and placed one of her piercing gazes upon Harry.

"Why what is it?" Harry asked bewildered.

"This book is entitled The Greatest Thing There Is. The book is one of the most powerful books ever made. This means serious trouble if Dark wizards had this in their possession".