A/N: Hey everyone! Well I am back for another chapter. I am relaxed, no assignments due… only my Maths one in a few short weeks. But for now it can wait. Anyway… onto the chapter I say!
DISCLAIMER: If you don't know go back to the start and I tell you who I own and I don't own.
Chapter Ten: Investigation Begins
"Fancy Terri Peterson being murdered," sighed Tonks looking at Blaise, Ron and Harry, "Didn't she come to you three about some stalker or something along those lines?"
"Not a stalker. Someone broke into her house and she was scared that whoever it was, was still around," replied Blaise handing Tonks the report, "It was Dean Thomas who looked into it. That's his report."
"I see. Did he capture the person responsible?"
"No. Whoever it was just vanished. The house was a mess but nothing was missing."
Tonks nodded, "I'll speak with Dean in a moment. Now I want you three to get to the scene, ask the neighbours questions, don't worry she lived in a street full of magical people. I will come as soon as I get word on the new doctor from St Mungo's."
The three men nodded and Tonks left in a flurry of swishing robes, leaving Harry, Ron and Blaise to themselves.
"They'll bring Hermione into this," whispered Harry, "You do realize that don't you?"
"Yeah I did," agreed Ron, "Her and Terri both detested each other because of Draco. But Hermione wouldn't do this."
Harry suddenly looked doubtful and sighed.
"Come on Harry! This is Hermione we are talking about," said Blaise annoyed, "She has a heart of gold."
"I know that, Blaise. But think of her dark side. I know she got control of it before the coma, but she has only been awake for just over week and a bit. Who knows what her powers are like? I'm not accusing her of anything I am just saying that possibly Terri got her angry and she lost control but doesn't remember."
"What time was Terri killed?" asked Ron changing the subject to stop Blaise from loosing his temper.
Blaise grabbed a form from the table and looked at the approximate time to find none, "They don't know. Her manager showed up to find her on the ground burnt to death."
"Than we need to get a move on and solve this murder before the press gets on our case – meaning Rita Skeeter."
Blaise nodded and glared at Harry before disappearing, followed by Ron, than Harry.
!Z!
Hermione entered Amy's office to find Amy and another three doctors looking at a letter on Amy's clean desk. Hermione inhaled and exhaled a nervous breath and plastered a polite smile on her face before walking over to the four doctors.
"I was told by Roxie you wished to see me, Amy?" said Hermione in a serious tone, even though she was nervous as hell.
"Actually we all wished to see you," replied Amy talking to Hermione like any other employee on her floor, "We have received a letter from the Aurour section of the Ministry in need of a Doctor to help solve a murder. Myself and these three doctors believe you are in need of a promotion."
"A promotion? But I only just woke from a long term coma."
"We realize that Miss Granger, "spoke up Miranda, "But over the time of your waking and returning to work you have moved into things and proven yourself to have skills higher than needed here. This promotion will mean a pay rise from 650 galleons a fortnight too 950 galleons a fortnight. You will work at the Ministry solving cases with Aurours. This a challenging job and we believe you can do it."
"But doesn't the Ministry have enough of those sort of Doctors?" asked Hermione frowning.
"No. Tonks wrote to us a few minutes ago asking us. We need your decision now Hermione," said Amy looking at her seriously, not at all like a sister-in-law.
Hermione sighed. This job could open all sort of job opportunities. Hermione knew to never let an opportunity get by her.
"I'll take it," smiled Hermione.
The four Doctor's smiled happily.
"Okay, Miss Granger, we will floo you to Tonks office, where she will meet you and take you too your first murder scene. Good luck and enjoy your new job," smiled Miranda.
!Z!
Ron let out a low whistle at the sight of Terri's burnt corpse. The body was still lying on the cold white tiles, her body black and naked. The skin was shrivelled and her hair gone. Ron knelt down to get a closer look.
"Whoever did it must have used one hell of an Incendio charm," commented Blaise taking in the sight behind him.
"Well we will find out more when the new Doctor arrives," replied Harry, "But lets go look around for anything else. Than we should move onto the questioning the neighbours like Tonks said to do."
Blaise and Ron nodded and pulled out specially made dragon hide gloves that could be used over and over again for taking evidence for prints and blood, etc.
!Z!
Lynette walked out of the bookshop, smiling as she looked at her new book she had just brought only to collide into someone.
"Oh sorry!" cried Lynette, "Carla!"
Carla stood up dusting her robe off and smiled at Lynette, "Lynette. How have you been?"
"Very well thanks. Here on your own I see?"
"Oh no. Molly is buying some ingredients for tonight's dinner. Ginny and Blaise are coming around to celebrate the pregnancy."
"Pregnancy?" asked Lynette frowning.
"Didn't you know? Ginny is having twins. Everybody is over the moon about it."
"Oh. Harry didn't tell me."
Carla nodded, "Men always forget. Hey, I have just the most wonderful idea! Why not join us tonight? You can come with Harry, I'm sure Molly won't mind."
"Mind what dear?" asked Mrs Weasley joining the two young women, "Oh hello Lynette dear. How have you been?"
"Great thanks. Yourself?"
"Wonderful. Now what won't I mind Carla?"
"If Lynette and Harry join us tonight at dinner," explained Carla smiling at her mother in law.
"Oh not at all! The more the merrier! We will see you and Harry at 6 then?" asked Mrs Weasley smiling at Lynette warmly.
"Sure. I'd better go. I have to see a patient in an hour. I have to go prepare."
"Alright then," smiled Carla, "See you later."
Lynette said bye and hurried off into the crowd.
!Z!
Hermione stepped out of the fireplace coughing a few times. She dusted her skirt and shirt off and fixed her hair. She looked around the office and took a seat, just as Tonks entered her office humming.
"Hermione!" she cried as Hermione stood up allowing Tonks to hug her, "So you have joined the Aurour team as our new Doctor?"
"Yes I have," smiled Hermione, "Is that okay? You know, seeing as I haven't been awake long."
"That's fine. Now, this murder isn't the murder of any ordinary everyday witch. Have you heard of Terri Peterson?"
Hermione paled, "Terri Peterson did you say?"
Tonks nodded frowning, "You know her?"
Hermione nodded, "She err… dated Draco remember?"
"Oh yes. Well that won't disturb you will it?"
Hermione shook her head, "Should we get going?"
"Wait. I have a field kit here for you. It has everything you will need. And here id your badge."
Hermione took the badge which had her name written on it in silver lettering along with her occupation. She took the black box from Tonks.
"This portkey will get you to the destination," said Tonks holding out a black pen.
Hermione took the key and felt the hard pull at her navel. She swirled around in circles until coming to an earth-shattering stop inside the hall of a posh looking apartment. Tonks appeared behind her and led her through the house and into the kitchen where people were taking photos and writing notes.
"Everyone listening up!" shouted Tonks causing everyone to look at her, "This is Hermione Granger. She is the Doctor involved in helping solve this murder. Along with her, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Blaise Zabini, they will be in charge of this case, under me. Do as they say or loose your job. This case is serious and we need to solve it before Rita Skeeter comes snooping for news."
Everyone nodded and went back to there jobs. Tonks turned to Hermione who was looking at the corpse.
"Well… there you go," sighed Tonks, "Someone had a grudge against her and we are finding out slowly. I'll leave you to it then."
"Okay," nodded Hermione placing the kit on the ground and kneeling down beside it and Terri to open it, "This should be fun."
"Don't worry. Harry and the other two are about somewhere. Call them if you need any assistance. I'll have some people come and have the body moved to your Lab back at the ministry shortly. The sooner this is solved the better."
Hermione nodded and pulled on her dragon hide gloves. She turned to the burnt body and grabbed a magnifying glass to have a better look at the burnt skin. Hermione frowned when she noticed redness under the burnt skin. She grabbed special scissors and tweezers and cut the skin on her arm, only to realize are strong toxic smell. Hermione coughed and turned away covering her mouth, just like everyone else was in the room.
"That's not right," cried Hermione grabbing a patch and placing it over the fresh cut blocking the putrid smell. She grabbed some special clear tape and stuck the patch over the cut.
There was nothing she could do here; everything lied beneath the skin at this point.
Hermione placed things back in her kit and closed it and stood up. All she could do was wait until the people arrived to move the body to her own, personal lab.
!Z!
Harry knocked on the door twice and stepped back beside Ron. A few seconds later the door opened it a mid forty looking witch.
"Yes?" she asked noticing their badges.
"Hello my name is Ron Weasley and these are my work partners Harry Potter and Blaise Zabini," said Ron, "We are from the Ministry of Magic, the Aurour section and are investigating the murder of a witch. Could we please come inside and ask you are few questions?"
The witch nodded and let the three in, leading them over to her coffee table in the kitchen. The four sat down and Harry pulled out a notebook and quill.
"Who was murdered?" asked the witch her face frowned with worry.
"Terri Peterson, next door," replied Blaise, "Did you hear any noises sometime this morning?"
"Yes. My husband and I were drinking our coffee before he had to go and work."
"What time was this?" asked Ron.
"It must have been at around 7:30 this morning… yes because the paper arrived at the same time."
"What noises did you happen to hear?" asked Harry.
"Well it startled be greatly! I heard a blood-curdling scream. It sounded like the person was in great pain."
"And you didn't contact any Aurours about it?"
"Well no. That girl was always screaming about something or other."
Harry nodded, "Thankyou for your time Mrs… err?"
"Louise Cotter."
"Thankyou Mrs Cotter," said Blaise as they all stood and Mrs Cotter led them to the front door, closing it softly behind them.
"Well," said Ron, "At least we have the estimated time. Between 7:20am and 7:40am at least."
"Now we need to just find out who held a grudge against Terri," said Blaise, "And Hermione isn't one of them."
Harry sighed, "Let's get back to the office and try and piece this puzzle together."
!Z!
Hermione entered her lab and noticed the body had arrived already. After waiting ten minutes Tonks had arrived back with four men in protective gear. Now, Hermione walked over to the bench and pulled off her robe and replaced it with a dragon hide jacket and pulled on her gloves, along with a blue mask covering her nose and mouth. She pulled the patch off the skin she had cut earlier and could slightly smell the putrid smell, but was glad it wasn't as strong thanks to the mask.
She cut a square piece of the skin away and stuck it in a bag, sealing it. Hermione looked at the square area and frowned to see the blood, clear liquid and pink muscle hidden under then burnt skin. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. Hermione grabbed a Wizarding bud and dabbed at the liquid and walked over to a microscope and stuck it under the microscope. Hermione lowered her eyes to it and strengthened the size so she could see it clearly.
Hermione gasped at what she saw. She pulled back and wrote down on a form she'd been given at what she saw, just as her three work colleagues walked in swearing at the horrible smell.
"Grab a mask each by the entrance," said Hermione standing up.
"So you're the new Doctor in town," said Ron tying his mask on.
"Sure am," sighed Hermione, "And there is more to this murder than the eye can see."
"Hang on," said Harry, "You can be classed as a suspect in this Hermione."
"I didn't do this Harry. I was with my family and Draco most of the night and this morning I was at work from 6am."
"See, Harry," cried Blaise, "Mrs Cotter said she heard Terri screaming in pain at 7:30am."
"Have you worked out a approximate death time, yet Hermione?" asked Ron walking over to the body with Hermione.
"Well no. But the flash under the burnt skin hasn't changed a lot. He isn't bloating, which she won't do."
"Why not?"
"The water in her body isn't plain water anymore. There is gas, natural gas in her fluids. Along with traces of nitrogen. If being burnt didn't kill her… that would've done," sighed Hermione, "But what I am confused about is why only her skin is burnt. Than again I haven't really found much yet. So if you come back to me in an hour of so I will have more."
"Right," said Blaise, "We will get some lunch and try and put together what we have… which isn't much either."
Hermione nodded and the three guys left leaving Hermione to cut open Terri. She may not of liked the women, but she would never of wished death upon the girl.
!Z!
"Draco," smiled Amy, "What brings you here?"
Draco smiled at Amy, "Looking for Hermione."
"She isn't here. In fact she doesn't work here anymore."
Draco frowned, "Did she get fired or something?"
Amy laughed, "No! Of course not. Calm yourself Draco. She got promoted."
"Too what?"
"She works at the Ministry of Magic as person who cuts up dead bodies to find out how they died in order to helping find out who killed them."
Draco just nodded once, "Right. So… she got promoted… I didn't need to know the gruesome work she now does."
Amy chuckled, "Sorry. So how is living together going?"
"It's only been one day but everything is going great so far."
Amy nodded, "It was odd not having her up and about singing some song. But we will get used to it."
"Yeah… she commented on how strange it was not too see you exiting your room all morning like. You know, the messy hair, dressing gown done up crooked."
Amy laughed, "I'm famous for that. Oh well. I'd better go anyway. I have to see too Hermione's old patients and tell them there Doctor has been promoted. So I shall see you later."
Draco nodded and headed for the elevator taking in the information that Hermione had been promoted.
!Z!
Hermione carefully cut the melted skin, sealing Terri's eyelids closed. Her stomach slightly lurched at the sound of the skin as she cut. After doing so, she put the scissors down and slowly pulled the eyelids apart only too be welcomed to a hole-leading straight of the brain.
Hermione stepped back letting out a long breath, "No eyes."
She wrote the information down and opened the mouth. Tongue in place, teeth slightly burnt but all accounted for. Throat not at all affected by what happened. Now Hermione has to cut her open at the chest. She walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a surgical knife. Magic could be used, but the muggle way was safer. Hermione grabbed some cloths and checked that her mask was in place correctly. With a deep breath she walked back to the body and placed her hand firmly in place before cutting her in a clean straight line from the top of her chest too just below her ribs. Hermione nearly chocked on the disgusting smell but just imagined she was breathing in something more pleasant – mind over matter. She sliced the skin down the side and peeled the burnt skin back.
"Hermione?" came Tonks voice entering as she pulled a mask on.
"Her lungs and heart have been burnt to nothing," replied Hermione, "Nothing is there Tonks."
Tonks walked over has Hermione chipped some bone off her ribs and placed in on a slide of look at under the microscope.
"Yet her bones aren't affected, of her blood veins or muscle in her arms, legs, back. Her sarcophagus is perfectly okay too. Whoever did this-"
Hermione stopped. She knew one person clever with fire. Terri knew all about her, so did Clarissa, Terri died from being burnt, and Clarissa was part Satan. It all fit… Hermione knew who did it.
"Hermione?" said Tonks stopping her train of thought, "You were saying?"
"Oh umm. Whoever did this was clever with fire," said Hermione filling out the form, "I'll give this to the guys and sew her back together. Have you told her family?"
"Yes. I just got back. They are naturally devastated. But I have a counsellor going around to see them this evening."
Hermione nodded as she removed her gloves and jacket. Both her and Tonks headed to the door and waited for it too shut before removing there masks.
"I'll go see Harry, Ron and Blaise now," said Hermione yarning a little, "What time is it?"
"2:30pm."
Hermione nodded and said bye to Tonks before going off to Harry, Ron and Blaise's office. Once arriving she knocked on the door and heard Ron tell her to come in.
"Hi. Okay I have the full report and I doubt its anything you've seen before," said Hermione handing it to Blaise.
"No heart or lungs?" cried Blaise, eyebrows raised.
"None at all. No heart, lungs or eyes. She was dead the instant her heart was touched by the flame. Somehow whoever did this to her burnt her heart and lungs without affecting her rib bones, stomach, intestines, liver and all those other parts."
Blaise handed the report to Harry who read it over, "So we are looking for someone powerful then," said Blaise, "Who?"
Hermione passed Ron a knowing look without Harry or Blaise seeing. Ron slightly nodded in agreement.
"Well," said Hermione, "I'd better go and sew her up and leave you three to deal with finding the culprit."
Hermione left quickly and hurried down the corridor, not hearing Harry's words after she left.
"Why did Hermione give you that knowing look for, Ron?"
Ron looked up from his paper work, "What look?"
"Hermione looked at you and you nodded back in agreeing with whatever the look meant."
"It was nothing Harry."
"Then I'll go ask Hermione myself," snapped Harry standing up and storming out of the office.
A/N: Well I hope you all enjoyed that chapter. I enjoyed writing it because it was different… more investigative... lol.
Thanks too these reviewers: American Deer Hunter 73, Lady Cantara, VBspikergirl9, torn to pieces, RoleModelGirlie, NicksterPotter, 6TEEN fan for life, Emma-Lizzy-Black, xputteckx, Trinity Cloud and GoldenGirl313.
Sorry I couldn't thank you all personally. I'm just really tired from being stressed out with school… but I have a thingy for you all to do.
This is a poll for me to see who is the favorites of this story. You can pick three characters to vote for. The characters are: HERMIONE, DRACO, GAVIN, AMY, HARRY, GINNY, BLAISE, TONKS, LORRAINE, NARCISSA, DUMBLEDORE, CLARISSA, PERCY, CARLA or LYNETTE.
So vote and let me know!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Cozza!