Harry tried not to gasp when he saw the murdered girl's parents. Cho Chang and Matthew Corner were sitting in the living room when they arrived. Luna started shivering slightly as they looked around.

Cho stared blankly at the wall: Harry saw two young kids drawing on the floor near an enormous staircase.

"Good afternoon," Michael said as he lifted he head slowly to look at them.

"Michael," Harry said as they shook hands.

"A long time, eh?" Michael said in a sad tone.

"Yeah," Harry said awkwardly. "Michael, Cho, we came here to talk about your daughter's death."

Cho started sobbing, reminding Harry strongly of fifth year. "Well… sit down." Michael pointed at the couch in front of him.

Harry and Luna sat, but Raven went to sit on the floor with the two kids, talking with them.

"Well, er… Marissa was our oldest daughter, she was seven," Michael sniffed. "She disappeared three days ago and yesterday she was found…"

Cho sobbed louder and Michael embraced her. "Any idea of who…?" Harry started.

"DITTY! THAT WRETCHED HOUSE-ELF!" Cho wailed as she stood up and ran upstairs.

"Forgive her," Michael sighed.

"Ditty?" Luna asked.

"Our former house elf," Michael explained. "He was old and confused. He disappeared a week before Marissa did. Cho blames the elf."

"I cannot believe that a house elf is capable of murder," Luna said.

Raven stood up and walked over to the fireplace. "Will you… Find out who did it?" Michael asked hoarsely.

"Of course," Harry said. "When we know who did it… I'll let you know."

Michael nodded and stood up. Harry and Luna walked over to Raven, who threw floo powder into the fire. "Head Auror office," Raven said lazily as she stepped into the fire, Luna and Harry following her.

Raven paced around the office nervously as Harry and Luna searched old files.

Suddenly Hermione Granger entered the office, an exhausted look on her face.

"They told me at the library that you had taken an old file that I need," Hermione said dryly.

"Help yourself," Harry said. "How's Ron?"

"Okay, I guess," Hermione said as she searched through the files on Harry's desk.

"So… You two tying the knot, huh?" Harry said. Hermione looked at him, her eyes meeting his. Harry felt his stomach lurch unpleasantly.

"Yes." Hermione had been distant with him since she had started dating Ron. He couldn't blame her, when had started dating Ginny again he didn't spend time with his friends at all.

"Granger, what do you know about ishels?" Raven's voice echoed through the office.

"Ishels?" Hermione stared at Raven and then burst out laughing. "Are your really asking me that?"

"Do you see me laughing?" Raven snapped. "I'm damn serious, Granger."

"Ishels are a myth," Hermione said scathingly. "Ishels do not exist."

"They do." Luna was staring at Hermione with an odd look on her face.

"You think so?" Raven asked Luna, her voice strangely warm.

"This is ridiculous," Hermione snapped as she grasped an old file from Harry's desk. "Are you actually taking Luna's word for this?"

"You feel them, don't you," Raven stated, ignoring Hermione.

"Excuse me, but what the hell are you talking about?" Harry interrupted.

"Ishels. Tear-shaped rocks with a unusual power," Hermione recited. "They have the power of increasing your magical strengths, but are really difficult to find, blah, blah , blah."

"I knew you could feel them," Raven said to Luna. "Everything makes sense."

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to look at Harry. "Listen. When you are finished hearing all this nonsense, would you mind coming over to my apartment?"

"I don't mind," Harry grinned. "I shall be there."

Hermione left, glaring at Raven, who returned the glare. The door closed and Raven took something out of her pocket. It was a childish drawing of a tear.

"An ishel," Luna gasped. "That was what the kid was drawing!"

"Very few people can sense ishels," Raven explained to Harry. "Sometimes centuries can pass without an ishel sensor. It's unusual that two people can sense them at the same time."

"So… You think that Cho's daughter sensed ishels?" Harry asked.

"Her brother told me that Marissa always returned with her pockets full of ishels," Raven said darkly. "They probably kidnapped her for her gift… but something must have gone wrong."

"Ishels really exist?" Harry asked.

"Remember when I told you that my mom had died because of an spell that backfired?" Luna said sadly. "It was because I was in the room, with so many ishels in my pockets that there was just too much power and…"

Harry nodded: he now believed the ishel theory.

"I say that we have to go examine the body," Raven said. "I know the graveyard chap very well."

"Let's go tomorrow," Harry said. "It's very late."

"Sure," Raven shrugged. "Just be here at six o'clock."

Harry knocked softly on a heavy oak door. Hermione opened the door, and Harry saw that she looked very tired.

"Gee, Harry is already eleven o'clock," Hermione said, but smiled at him.

"Sorry," Harry grinned. "We had a lot to do." Harry stepped in and Hermione busied herself in the kitchen.

"Here," she said, handing Harry a mug of coffee. "Sit down."

Harry took the mug and sat on Hermione's couch. "It's a long time since we have… you know, been alone," Harry said.

"Yeah, I know," Hermione sighed. "Harry… I'm not sure of what I'm doing."

Harry sipped his coffee and said nothing. "About getting married?"

"Yeah," Hermione said sadly. "In fact… Oh, Harry I don't know! I'm not sure that I want to marry him."

"Well, it's very common that one has doubts before…" Harry started as he put his mug down, but suddenly Hermione hugged him like she had done a lot of times when they were teenagers.

Harry felt his breath run short as Hermione sobbed into his shoulder, embracing him so tightly that Harry thought she was never going to let him go.

"I have missed you so much, Harry," Hermione breathed.

"Me too, Hermione, me too."

Harry opened his eyes and blinked. The clock in the wall marked five am and he yawned. He looked next to him and saw Hermione asleep, leaning in his shoulder.

Harry gulped as he remembered that he had promised to go early to the office, and he found himself wishing that he didn't have to go.

"Hermione," he said softly.

Hermione opened her eyes and smiled at him. "We fell asleep?"

"It seems so," Harry grinned. "I had never actually slept with someone, if you know what I mean."

"Ew, Potter," Hermione mocked. "Um, do want to get a bath?"

"With you?" Harry asked daringly.

"Very funny," Hermione snorted as she stood up. "C'mon."

Harry followed her and she handed him a towel. Harry entered the bathroom and suddenly heard Hermione knock.

"Give me your clothes and I'll wash them on a jiffy," Hermione called.

"Er, I don't know," Harry said, glad that Hermione didn't see him blushing.

"Aw, Harry, give me a break."

"Okay." Harry opened the door just a bit and handed her his clothes. He closed the door and heard Hermione sigh loudly.

"Your underwear," she snapped.

"Hermione…"

"Don't 'Hermione' me," Hermione said. "I'm used to Ron's underwear all the time."

"Damn, Hermione," Harry groaned. "I'm trying hard not to picture a situation where you had to see Ron's underwear."

"Don't picture it then," Hermione said as Harry handed her his boxers.

Harry got into the shower and as he bathed he heard a male voice outside the bathroom. He finished and opened the door slowly. "Hermione! I really need my clothes."

Suddenly, a red-haired head appeared in the doorway. "Ew Potter, are you actually naked?"

"Ew, Weasley, is you nose actually broken?" Harry mocked. "I think that Eloise Midgen would be very interested in you right now."

"I assure you that what you are hiding behind that door is way funnier than my broken nose," Ron chuckled and Harry smirked.

"Honestly!" Hermione said as he handed Harry his clothes with her eyes closed.

Harry dressed up quickly and went to the kitchen, where Hermione had made more coffee and Ron was eating toast.

"Why do you come at your girlfriend's apartment at this obscene hour?" Harry asked as Hermione passed him some coffee.

"How come you are at my girlfriend's apartment at this hour?" Ron snapped playfully.

"I needed some passion," Hermione said blankly and Harry chuckled.

"Ha, at least I have a good excuse," Ron said. " I just arrived from Morocco. We won the Europe Quidditch Cup."

"And what's the prize? A nose job?" Hermione asked and they burst out laughing.

"Being Keeper for the Tornados is no easy task, my love," Ron said as he walked over to Hermione and kissed her.

"Get a room," Harry muttered.

"Talking about rooms," Ron said. "How are things between you and Ginny?"

"Well… okay," Harry lied.

"Ah," Ron said knowingly. "Got the drift."

"Anyway, I have to go," Harry said. "Got something important."

"Not the stupid ishels!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Maybe," Harry said as he kissed Hermione's cheek.

"I'll see you at the party," Ron winked.

"Yeah, sure," Harry said as he grabbed his broom. "See you."