A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. Here are a few I would like to thank.
Jfur: Yes, Harry is a little naughty, he shouldn't be so urgent. But hey, the heart wants what it wants. Yes we do get to the bottom of Hermione's need for the Aurors, though it should be obvious already. I'm still deciding if Harry will ever find out, but most likely he does…. And why would Hermione wear robes? She may be a witch, but she doesn't wear robes 24/7…Normal clothes, hello!!!!
Bitterrosemary: Thanks for your compliments
Anna-Nanna: Of course this story is sad; it's dealing with a pretty touchy subject. But thanks for your compliments.
Maria Maxwell: Well it's good to know that my hard work made you react like that. When I read your review, a big smile spread across my face. That's probably the biggest compliment I can probably ever want to hear. You rock!!
katie101: I aim to please Kate. I want to keep this as realistic as possible. None of this automatic love crap, lets explore their deepest emotions, because not everything is about love.
ADepressedSpooty: Thank you for that compliment. I don't consider myself a great writer though; I'm not even close to it. You're the first reviewer who has wondered about those murders, THANK GOD SOMEONE DID!! I put them in for a reason ( Hint, Hint ) And also a certain phrase that keeps on coming up hold some significance too…..You rock for wondering about those murders!!! You rock to the max!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Faelyn Leaf: Thank you for your compliments. Thank you thank you thank you!!! And as for my canon mistake with the timing, I was a little sidetracked. I tried to change it, but my computers gay… But thank you, you're my favorite reviewer ever, as well as depressed spooty.
This chapter dedicated to ADepressedSpooty and Faelyn Leaf and to all the others who reviewed…..
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She had gone to bed after that, quietly muttering 'goodnight' and treading softly to the bedroom. Harry put his head in his hands, sighing a little. Damn alcohol!!
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At 7:00 on Thursday morning, they both rose from bed groggily. She ate breakfast first, while he showered. They hadn't spoken much since the incident; just small talk, something to fill the awkward silence.
She dressed in black robes, as did he. She did her hair nicely, while he just left it the same as it always was, messy and scraggly. She wore nice but sensible business shoes; while he just wore tattered brown leather ones. They looked so different. Her being the epitome of sophistication, while he looked like something cat dragged in. She put on some nice perfume, while he put on his cologne.
Harry chanced a look at her while she put on her make up. She had a strange way of putting on make up the muggleway. Her face was contorted, her jaw open wide, and her head tilted back. He tried to suppress a laugh when she poked her eye with the mascara brush, causing the filmy substance to splatter on her cheek.
"Why don't you just do it mag---"
"I can't even trust myself with a mascara brush Harry, let alone a long pointy wand pointing right at my face. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not that coordinated when it comes to domestic abilities, my cooking skills for example." She said as she wiped the mascara ink off of her cheek.
"You know you don't need that stuff." He said softly as he stood behind her. She blushed slightly before turning around suddenly.
"Off we go Harry." She said brightly.
Activity in headquarters was normal for that time of day. The departments were separated by different hallways and stairwells. Harry greeted Mrs. Henderson cheerfully. He led Hermione to their department, where she was to meet her department deputy, Colleen Schulman. Colleen was a middle aged woman with blond hair and blue eyes. She wore black robes, as was requirement of the job.
"Hello Ms. Granger. It's a pleasure to finally meet." The woman said kindly.
"Nice to meet you too."
"Now I understand that you graduated with Harry, but you decided that being an authority wasn't your occupation. Am I correct?"
"Yea, in a nutshell. I wanted to teach, but decided not to suddenly… I don't know, I can't make a decision." Hermione added lightly, laughter mixing.
"Well I advise you, Ms. Granger that you make this your final decision. Indecisiveness is a major fault in this field." Colleen added icily before she turned and walked away. " Oh, and Ms. Granger, I understand that you are going to work with Mr. Potter? " as if suddenly remembering something, she turned back.
"Yes, I want to with this case, as I think I could be of great help."
"Alright then, but after that case is finished, I'm assigning you to someone else. Okay? Have a nice day" Colleen said cheerily before she walked away for the second time.
"Well who's bipolar…" Hermione whispered to Harry as they turned. Harry laughed and nodded in agreement to her comment.
They turned down the hallway and down the stairs.
People stared, recognizing her as 'Potters friend' Some gave her a look of great appreciation for all of the efforts she offered during the war, as she was a great asset. Buts some, mainly men, looked her up and down, checking her out quietly. Hermione did not notice, but Harry did, glaring at them silently.
Harry waved to a couple co-workers, introducing them to the new member. Finally, they reached Harry's office, where Don was waiting patiently.
"Miss Granger, it's a pleasure to finally meet you…" He put out his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine sir." Hermione said politely.
"Oh posh! Have a seat…" He waved her off.
Hermione sat down in Harry's chair, as he went and leaned against the wall.
Don sat at his desk, flipping through his papers quickly.
"So, Hermione, Harry tells me that you have some leads on this murder case is that right?" He asked, his demeanor turning from friendly, to cool and collected.
"Yes sir."
"And…"
"Well, it has come to my belief that the murderers were actually studying a pagan form of witchcraft; as you can see by the marks on their foreheads." Hermione said as she handed Don the enhanced photo of one particular mark. "There is also a saying there, I think its either ancient Sumerian or in some Sanskrit language. I have yet to translate it."
Don sat there, looking at her with fondness "Honestly miss Granger, this is truly remarkable. This little snippet of information is the most we have gotten after having this case for almost 2 weeks. I am truly excited to have you working with us."
"Thank you sir…"
"You say 'murderers' hmm?" Don looked at the picture closely.
"Yes. I believe that it had to be a group of people, seeing there are so many victims. One psychopath can't hold down four men and a woman and child. Therefore there had to be a group…"
" They could have used a binding curse…" Harry added.
" Yes they could have, but, I think we should look at it at another angle." Hermione said quickly. " Which leads me to my other conclusion that it could have been a satanic cult…"
"Posh!" Don said loudly, waving his hand at her suggestion.
"Well it adds up doesn't it? A strange mark, which we all know is like a branding code or something. And since this isn't the dark mark, I think that maybe---"
"Another evil organization has roused within the community." Don answered
"Close. But no, this does not bear any resemblance to Voldermort or any of that sort. No this is more mystical, something with a little more history behind it. And I'm sure the mark is brandishing some sort of demonic figure or something to that extent."
"Miss Granger…"
"Sir, I would like to ask for permission to examine at least one of the bodies."
" I'm sorry Miss Granger, but the funeral services for all the victims families ended last Tuesday. I'm afraid they are all either buried or cremated."
"Then I would like to exhume one that is buried sir."
"I'm afraid I cannot grant that permission Mr. Granger"
"But I'm sure I have something on this, if I could just examine one for a day, and then return it. "
"I cannot…"
"This could help us catch a psychopathic murdering clan earlier than expected…Please sir, I beg to grant me permission to exhume one body…."
"I will talk to department head Colleen Schulman about this matter." He wontletme……cutsceneiguess
"Hermione, you were amazing." Harry said excitedly as he held the door open for her into their favorite restaurant. "I've never seen him so impressed with anyone before, and mind you, he's an old fart when it comes to us younger generation."
They were seated at table as Hermione grinned widely.
"Yea, but I just hope that man opens up his gob to Colleen Schulman about exhuming the body…"
"You were so persistent with that too. I mean I knew you were tough, but man you held your whip with a velvet glove. So calm, cool and collected." Harry sat down at a table.
"Yes… I am quite proud of myself. Never know I had it in me." She added with a smile.
"Hello, my name is Cheryl, what can I get for you this evening?" A cheery woman in her late twenties interrupted.
"Yes, I would like a glass of red wine…" Harry said, gesturing to Hermione.
"A shot of bourbon." Hermione answered, receiving a look from Harry and the woman.
"That all? Or do you still have to decide for your dinner orders…" The woman asked.
"Give us a moment." The woman nodded and walked away.
Their chatting stopped while they looked over the menu. "Harry, the Cajun chicken and shrimp sounds pretty interesting. Says the shrimp comes all the way from New Orleans…"
"Yuck…"
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The dinner went along quite well, Hermione ordering her Cajun shrimp and chicken and Harry a nice steak. The spoke of their day, and what lie ahead of them with this new case. Their dinner was loudly interrupted however.
"Harry old boy how are you?" a tall blond man walked over to the couple and gave a good natured slap on the back.
"Hello Rupert." Harry said crisply.
"I haven't seen you for a long while. Remember that case where we went to that bar and met up with those girls. They were ravishing weren't they?" The man joked, until he noticed Hermione sitting there looking very uncomfortable.
"Why who is this beautiful creature and why have you not introduced her to me yet Harry?"
"Rupert this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Rupert Corey." Hermione offered her hand politely, while Rupert took it in his large one and brought it to his lips.
"A pleasure it is to meet such a beauty…" He said charmingly, throwing her his best smile. Hermione just smiled awkwardly as she tried to pull her hand away from his grasp. Harry merely just threw the man one of his deadliest glares.
"Hermione Granger. THE Hermione Granger? Oh gods, I remember reading about you in the paper and saying to myself ' my what an intellectual minx that woman is…' never thought I would be meeting you." Rupert ran his large hand through his silky blond hair, which was styled in the utmost recent fashion. Spiked was the new doo.
"Hermione, Rupert works with me at times. He aids with cases dealing with unusual occurrences." Harry sighed as he saw Rupert throw Hermione another one of his 'dazzling' smiled "In fact he will be working with us on this case…"
"You're an Auror?" Rupert asked as he pulled up a chair next to Hermione. "I thought you were going to be a teacher at Hogwarts or something."
"Yea well I guess I changed my mind." Hermione sipped her drink "I just started today actually."
"You've met Don haven't you?" He grinned, Hermione nodded a yes. "He's a right prat isn't he?"
"Actually I kind of liked him…"
"You know Rupert, Don was very impressed with Hermione today…" Harry added quickly, enjoying the sight of Rupert Corey's smug grin turning into a very prominent frown. Harry knew this would get a reaction from the man, seeing as no one really was that impressed with Rupert when he started. His status grew with his success.
Rupert Corey was the most sought out man in the department, with his statuesque presence and blonde hair and blue eyes. He vaguely reminded Hermione of Draco Malfoy, who was, though she hated to admit it, a very VERY good looking man. Rupert was also a very 'busy' man on his off time. He was one of the most successful young Auror, besides Harry (who had defeated the dark lord, you can't beat that) in the whole department. He had everything, the dazzling smile, the charm, and he was good at what he did. He was the golden boy. But now, Harry lamented, it was all about to change. Hermione was going to knock everyone's socks off.
And Ruppey was going to be left in the dust.
"Really, what did he say?" He asked
"Oh that Hermione was remarkable and her finds were astonishing and that he was truly excited about working with her. I believe those were his exact words…"
"Well what 'finds' did you make?" He asked Hermione with false cheer.
"Oh, its nothing, just some rot about the occult and what not…" Harry answered for his friend.
" Interesting…"
"Yes, very..." Harry said smugly.
"Well Miss Granger, it has been a pleasure speaking with you, but I must be on my way home. I look forward to working with you…" He took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth, where he kissed it very softly. He gave Harry a quick nod, and a smile, where Harry sent a steely glare in his direction.
As soon as the beautiful man was out of listening range "My god Harry…" Hermione said huskily.
Harry tried to ignore the shivers that went down his spine at her voice. "What?"
"That man, he is the prattiest prat I've ever met in my entire life. I've never met someone so smug and stuck up." She said before taking a sip of her bourbon.
" Yes I know, he's always been like that." Harry said with a smile on his face, relieved that Hermione had fallen for the tossers charms.
"But, I have to say, he is a very nice looking prat…" Hermione said as an afterthought. "You know who he reminded me of?"
"Who?" Harry asked, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice.
"Draco…"
"Personality or looks? It better be personality. They both have their heads so far up their asses."
" Oh please Harry, you and I both know that Draco is an honorable man, worthy of you respect. He helped during the---"
"Yes I know, I know… But he still is a stuck up prat."
"Have you heard about him lately?" She asked
"Nah, the last I heard was that he had gone to Honduras for some reason or another."
"Hope he's well…" She added
"Yea..."
Silence fell upon the table, and they took their last mouthfuls of food.
"You have to admit though Harry, Draco and Rupert are dead sexy…" She said with a smirk on her face. Harry tried to resist the urge to roll his eyes.
He paid the restaurant and held the door open for the woman who had stolen his heart. He offered her his arm and she hesitantly took it. He smiled inwardly at the warmth he felt with her close proximity. He also cheered inwardly that for once, he had gotten the girl.
Instead of Rupert Corey.
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How did you all like this Chapter?
I'm so proud of myself. I updated Quintessence and this story all within a week of eachother. Woott!!!
How do you all like Rupert as a character? I'm thinking of making him a possible love interest for Hermione, though at her huge reluctance. Believe me, he'll be more into her than she will be into him.
I'm actually proud that I didn't focus everything on the rape in this chapter. In fact I barely mentioned it. I wanted to portray the characters trying to move along with their lives, because sooner or later, in real life, we all do.
And I want, NO, I NEED to bring Malfoy into this story.. I just love him too much to leave him out.. and he's too much fun to write ( see my story, DRACO HATES PEOPLE ) should I bring malfoy into this story or not? He could take Ruperts place in becoming the pursuer of Hermione…
Give me your opinions about the whole Malfoy or Rupert thing..
REVIEW..!!