A/N: I do not own Harry Potter. Here is the next instalment. I do apologise for any mistakes I have made or missed.

Chapter 7: Let the Machinations Begin Part 2

Department of Magical Artefacts and Curse Breaking, British Ministry of Magic, London

Hermione Granger's Office

14th November 2013

My trusty beaded bag comes in handy once more. The extensive library that I took on the run when we were hunting horcruxes, currently still existed within my bag. There were some Dark Arts books in there that I have kept hidden and I was certain they weren't catalogued in the Ministry's archives.

I think I held the only copy of "Secrets of the Darkest Art". The reason I was pulling this out now was because of the tablet. Well, to be more specific I wanted to reference the vague section on Horcruxes and to see if anything else was referenced in the vile book on soul magic. I don't think that the tablet was a horcrux in the traditional sense, but It is eerily similar in some ways. Magick Most Evile, was really no help, clearly Owle Bullock was for lack of a better term a nutcase. At least Secrets of the Darkest Arts while contained utterly horrible content at least presented the information in an academic way. I don't personally agree with any of it but from the perspective of a knowledge hungry person I can appreciate it.

Rereading the passages on horcruxes plus my own notes I made years ago and haven't read since, was helpful. I needed a refresh. I decided to rewrite down the information that was relevant or what I thought was relevant for the tablet situation. All this information will go into a folder that I have complied with the ministry notes and any research reports from the cursed objects and dark arts teams. This was solely for me, the last thing we needed was any information about creating horcruxes getting out. Not that I can imagine many people wanting to do this. I mean only two people have created one, at least that were recorded as doing so. Who is to say that there isn't a person out there with a horcrux living a quiet life by the sea somewhere remote? It's not something we can check.

Notes on Horcruxes

-An object that hides part of the soul for the sole purpose of gaining immortality

-Protective enchantments on the inanimate object- difficult to destroy (sword of Gryffindor or a basilisk fang)

-Created after committing murder. Murder is supposed to damage the soul, unsure if self-defence counts? Maybe intent factors in?

-When splitting the soul, the piece that becomes the horcrux remains tied to the physical plane of existence. Therefore, even if the body is destroyed like Voldemort's was, the person never 'truly' dies. He remained non-corporeal before using dark magic to 'create' a body.

-A horcrux is dependent on the container- destroy container destroy soul.

-Makes the soul of the person being split unstable

-Falls subject to the first of the fundamental laws of magic. Where by tampering with the essence of one self you should therefore be prepared to face the consequences of doing so.

-Can possess people, play mind tricks, can produce hallucinations or visions.

Notes on the tablet:

-Found in Babylon wizarding ruins

-Uses a type of imperious curse or some form of mind control? Influence? Does it read intent? Breaking down occlumency walls.

-Changes the feel of its magic. Someone becoming under the influence of the tablet will experience a euphoric feeling and like Harry and I it will feel slimy.

-Calls to the weaker mind, "vocantum"

-Glows when activated

-Causes the soul and magic to be 'sucked' out of the person's body. We know it is the soul because those who were killed did not pass through the veil. Whereas for the magic we could visually see it being drained. These factors caused bleeding from the ears, eyes and nose and the body to waste away.

-Interesting cuneiform symbols over the tablet indicates that it is very old. Will take time to decipher, simple translating spells do not seem to be effective. May have to look at muggle research to translate and then create a spell. Will have a better idea of what it is once the cuneiform is translated. Currently working theory is that it is a form of a horcrux or what we know as a horcrux. Some sort of early attempt?

-At a glance seems the tablet chooses randomly for its 'victims'. Do not know how it chooses. Type of magical signature? - like blood typing. Or is it just the weakest minds it can break into calling them to their deaths?

-As a protection mechanism where by it absorbs the harmful spells or spells that will cause harm and not bothered by the other spells. Does it have a magical limit? What happens to the magic and souls of the deceased when it absorbs them? Will it explode with power like a bomb? Is it infinite?

I was hoping this review would be more enlightening, instead all it did was highlight the fact I have absolutely nothing. Ok no not nothing, but certainly more questions than answers. I decided to update Kingsley and Silas with another quick memo.

Kingsley and Silas,

The tablet is an interesting piece of magic even though it is clearly dark in nature. My current theory is that it is a type of horcrux, this is based solely on gut instinct. I cannot definitively say that it is one having only encountered Lord Voldemort's horcruxes. There are similarities between the tablet and Voldemort's horcruxes, such as the feel of the magic surrounding it and the attack on the weaker minds. However, while I say these are similarities, I realise there are other types of dark objects that do the same. Without the guidance of an expert in soul magic or even mind magic that has a sub discipline in the dark arts, I feel that this will remain a mystery. The cuneiform on the tablet could reveal something and set us on the right path of action. However, until that happens it is recommended, we secure the tablet until further notice.

I will continue to search the general archives and request I be granted access to the Dark Archives for further research. I will keep you both posted on any developments I make.

Hermione Granger

Procurement Officer

Department of Magical Artefacts and Curse Breaking

I really wanted to say don't hold your breath, I feel like this is getting know where fast. I send the memo magically to both Kingsley and Silas. Hopefully I'll get approval later today so I can go to the Dark Archives this afternoon. Not that I want to mind you, that place gives me the creeps. It's spine tingling, like something out of a horror movie. I need a couple of hours to mentally prepare myself. I don't want to get enthralled by anything down there, so I need to make sure my occlumency walls are strong and tight.

I quickly check the time on my wrist watch it was nearly lunch time, and I really need a cup of tea. I was meeting Harry for lunch in the cafeteria at one, so I could pop down there a little early and quietly enjoy my tea. I hope Ron wasn't joining him, ever since I got back from Iraq, he has been sending me letters every day, some begging me to reconsider and some just telling him how his day was. He was being stubborn like a mule. I was trying to be patient I really am but, heaven help me if I don't snap by the end of next week.

I made my way down to the cafeteria and started making a cup of tea from the drinks station. I reflected on my relationship with Ron, it was more about convenience from my side at least now that I've had these months away from him. It makes me feel a little guilty and a little ashamed. When it was good, I was happy, I realise that I could have been even happier away from him. I love Ron as a friend and it really wasn't anything more. The weight of other people's expectations kept me from leaving earlier. I frowned at that. Did they really think that Ron and I were a good match? Or was it just everyone expected us to be together that no one questioned our relationship?

I felt a tap on my shoulder and spun around quickly, sloshing my tea and burning my fingers in the process.

"Ouch! Merlin's beard that hurt", I flicked my wand to clean up the mess I had just made and to dry my shirt that I had managed to splash tea on.

"You alright Hermione?", Harry's concerned voice startled me again. I was too engrossed with cleaning that I hadn't even taken any notice of whom it was that had tapped my shoulder.

"Oh Harry, it's just you", I said smiling and pressing my wand hand over my rapidly beating heart.

"Yes, it is just me, not so excited to see me?", he said giving me a sly smile.

"Of course, I'm happy to see you, you dolt" I said whacking him playfully on the arm. "I was just worried you would be Ron or Cormac 'Sleazy' McLaggan".

"Is he bothering you again?", Harry said frowning slightly looking serious.

"Harry I can handle that twat, he only wants me because I'm a challenge not because he actually wants me", I said shooing him out of the way, so we could go find somewhere to sit. I strode all the way to the back which was the furthest you could get from the door and the buffet selection. But you could hear yourself think, the lunchroom tends to get a bit rowdy when the food comes out. I cast a muffliato, as I wanted to have a private conversation with Harry and not have, what we said plastered all over the Daily Prophet tomorrow morning.

"How is Ron?", I tentatively asked. I thought it was the right thing to do, just get the elephant in the room out if the way first. Harry produced a club sandwich out of his pocket, it had the makings of Molly Weasley all over it.

"He's good I guess, he really misses you Hermione. I wish you could work things out between the two of you, all he does when he gets home is mope about". I felt a stab of guilt, but then it started to turn in to a roiling pit of anger settling in the bottom on my stomach. Why did they always and only care what Ron was feeling? Did my own feelings not matter? I glared at Harry he must have realised he had said something to upset me and shrank back slightly.

"Harry James Potter. Do my own feelings on this matter mean anything to anyone or am I just invisible as you all make my life choices for me?", he looked agape at my short tone.

"I...yes...ahh they do matter. I thought you wanted to work things out...or have I got my lines crossed again?", at least he looked repentant.

"I don't know what Ron has been filling your heads with, but our relationship is well and truly over. I need someone who has a little more respect for me, I deserve that piece of dignity. He wants a family now, like not sometime in the future and to settle down, you know be more like his parents. (sigh) Which is fine for some people, but I'm not ready for all of that just yet. After the war I just want to explore and learn new things. We're only 23 years old, we still our whole lives ahead of us. Is it too much to ask to just relax?", I picked at the label attached to the teabag as I spoke.

"I understand 'Mione. I must admit I feel the same. Ginny is ready to settle down too, but I have managed to convince her to wait until she has played a few more years in the Quidditch league because she'll regret it later. I think they forget sometimes that we grew up in the Muggle world, so some of our values or cultural things I guess are a little different. Most muggle children aren't getting married and having children so young. As for Ron he has it in his head that it will all work out and you just needed sometime apart to realise it", he shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "what else is there to say?".

I groaned in frustration, this is not what I wanted to hear.

"I don't want to hurt his feelings by yelling at him, but he needs to understand it is over. We aren't good together and it took me a while to see that. I mean we can barely have a conversation with it somehow circling back to Quidditch. His eyes glaze over when I talk about what I am passionate about, I want someone that I can have an intellectual conversation with. Sitting on the couch in front of the fire, with a glass of wine and discussing the latest research papers from The Journal of Ancient Ruins and Historical Significance".

"Seems like you have thought a lot about this", he said tentatively, then took a bite out of his sandwich.

"Yes, I have Harry, this wasn't a sudden realisation or heat of the moment break up. It was a long time coming, but I didn't want to rock the boat so I hung on hoping my feelings would change. But they didn't and it was making me miserable. I didn't want to just settle with Ron, because It would make everybody else happy except me. I think I deserve to be happy. Is that what everybody else thinks? That I will just go back to Ron and everything will be fine? Do they really think we are good together?", I asked hoping he would be honest. I waited while he finished chewing, I could see in this expression that he was turning over responses in his mind.

"I... honestly didn't think that you were good together, but I thought that is what you wanted so I stayed out of it. I think that the only people who believe you two will get back together is Molly and Ron. So, I wouldn't worry, you'll still be part of the family even if you don't get back together with Ron and you want to bring your new beau around", he said winking. I laughed and blushed furiously, partially choking on the sip of tea I just took.

"I don't think that will happen for a while Harry, I don't want to seem like a slag for moving on so quickly"

"No one could think you were a slag, if you moved on to someone else sooner than expected it would be because the person was right for you or you saw something in them, not because you were desperate, like Lavender Brown. She is still sniffing around Ron after all these years, she's even worse than Cormac", he shuddered. I smiled it was nice having someone understand where I was coming from, I felt reassured.

"Alright, Harry I need to get back to work. Hopefully Kingsley has approved my pass to the Dark Archives. This damn tablet has become the bane of my existence. I need to start researching the cuneiform, none of the translation spells that I can find can translate it. I may have to create my own spell, I think the reason the spells aren't working is because it is not strictly words, they are symbols representing words. The translation spells aren't refined enough to make that distinction. So, I would like to scour both sets of archives to see if there are any notes relating to cuneiform. Other than that, I'll have to read over the muggle notes and see if I can translate it that way". I sat back in my chair and thought about how much I was going to have to do, but at the end of the day this will be worth it. I stood up and said good bye to Harry.

Back in my office I noticed a note on my desk, and it was Kingsley replying to my memo and he has approved my pass. I looked at the time and I wouldn't have time to go down there before my team meeting in the conference room. I'll just go down afterwards as I had no other appointments this afternoon.

We have weekly team meetings on Thursdays to review what reports we are finishing up and just touch base with each other. The first meeting without Sylvester was hard. I don't think we got anything done that meeting except sat around crying.

I walked around to the conference room on the other side of our floor. It wasn't a very big room it could only maybe fit 20 people if that in the room. It had a large oval table in the centre surrounded by chairs. A large board at one end and a small buffet at the other which had two pitchers of water and some empty glasses on top. Next to it in the corner was a rather sad looking plant, you would think being witches and wizards the person responsible for looking after all the indoor plants of the Ministry that they would perhaps do a better job. Really it wasn't a difficult job. Yet another ministry failure albeit a small one, but an annoying one. Elijah and Tilly were already here waiting for me, I still expected Sylvester to walk through the door at any moment and distract us with a silly joke.

I slapped my file down on the table, the sudden noise made Elijah and Tilly jump noticeably from it.

"Sorry to startle you, I just wanted to get started. Tilly are you going to do the minutes, or would you like me to?", I hated that we had to conduct minutes for this meeting personally I didn't see the point. For the full department meetings yes, but small team meetings it was kind of pointless.

"Ah no Hermione I am ok to do it", Tilly answered as she dug through her handbag for parchment and a quill.

"Ok before we start, I would like to say something that I don't want added to the minutes, because as you know the minutes while confidential, some information does get leaked and I want this to remain private. I have been assigned by Kingsley and Silas to investigate the tablet as no one else has as much experience with this type of thing than I. I am loathed to admit that even I don't know much about this artefact. I got access this afternoon to go down into the dark archives, I'm hoping that some of my research will bring something to fruition. I just thought that I'd let you guys know what I was doing and that I wasn't letting his death slide. I need to know what happened and I'm not giving up until I do"

"Hermione we wouldn't for one second have blamed you if you didn't want to even look at that tablet again. I have nightmares about it, and I wasn't even in there for his death. But I'm glad that it is you investigating this and not someone who didn't even know Sylvester", I could see Tilly's eyes shimmering with unshed tears. I knew she felt somewhat guilty for not being there, but it was misplaced.

"Thank you for saying that, it means a lot I just hope I don't let you down. Now down to business, Elijah can you give me a brief rundown of your reports for this week". The meeting went on like this for another twenty minutes and Tilly completed the minutes to give to Lewis and Silas. Little did the three of them know that a rather nosey secretary by the name of Divinia Redburn had her ear pressed to the door and was listening the entire time.

Later That Evening

I found myself white knuckling the clipboard I had in my hands as I took the elevator down to the Dark Archives which was on the western side of the Department of Mysteries. Most people didn't venture down here, the air was thick with magic and not nice magic either. It made most people uncomfortable, of which I could understand, but I was here for a reason and I wasn't letting some annoying magic stop me from doing what I needed to do, I wouldn't be a Gryffindor if I did. The hallways were lit with only a few torches, it was all very gothic. Like something I would imagine Dracula would have lived in, well the Bram Stoker version at least. At the end of the hallway there was a black sign with silver lettering in a curvy script that said, "Dark Archives", there was no security down here as the door was spelled to only allow people in who had access.

I pushed on the door and it opened slowly and a loud creaky noise erupted from the hinges. It was such an obnoxious noise that I snorted, and it broke the apprehensive feeling I was having about being here. I felt silly.

It was quiet like a library, but eerily so. I had only been down here once, so I was unsure how big the archives were. It looked just like the general archives rows of shelving that seemingly went on forever and with little signs telling you what category you were looking at. I began walking down a row just to see where I would end up, I was hoping to see a directory somewhere otherwise I could be here for hours.

I'm not sure how long I walked for before I could faintly hear voices. I was intrigued to know who else would be down here. I walked for some time trying to follow the sounds of the voices. Eventually I got closer and I cast a disillusionment spell over the top of me. I snuck up on the other side of the bookcase, next to where they were standing. To my surprise is was Pascale and Silas along with a mystery third person I did not know. I could barely make out what they were saying so I took the risk and crept closer. I was now about 10 feet away from them I prayed in that moment that the disillusionment spell a) didn't fail like it did on occasion and b) It didn't still cast the persons shadow, for the life of me I just couldn't remember that piece of information in the moment.

"Pascale, I don't think this is a good idea. Maybe we should just end this arrangement if it is going to be more trouble than it's worth. With Hermione investigating the tablet it is only a matter of time before she becomes suspicious or notices things aren't quite right", Silas responded with an angry whisper to whatever Pascale had said.

"She would only become suspicious if one of you had loose gums and accidently told her. She cannot find out about our little side business and besides Silas how are you going to afford you ex-wife's alimony plus pay off your gambling debts without my help?", he sounded a little too smug for my liking, I wish I could take him down a peg.

"I don't know but I could figure something out if I had too", he sounded unsure of himself, which made me think that he didn't want to be doing whatever it was they were doing but he felt he had no choice. He must be deep in debt considering what Silas' salary was. He earns close to 30,000 galleons which was no shabby amount. I only earnt roughly half that.

Pascale snorted in amusement, I cannot wait to wipe that smirk off his face. I'm going to need more than this memory for a conviction and for him to permanently lose his job and possibly be deported back to France. I'm going to need to look for the paperwork.

"You need this money, I don't have to let you in on this, but I do. You need me but I certainly don't need you. It is much easier with you on board, however. Do you get what I am saying Silas? One word from your mouth about our business selling off the dark objects and you'll find yourself in a very grave position." I couldn't believe what they were saying, selling dark objects? How did anyone not notice what they were doing?

"Are you threatening me Pascale?" Silas sounded incredulous rather than afraid. Pascale was a slippery fellow, he was all bark and no bite in my book. He would however get somebody else to do his dirty work.

"No Silas just stating a fact. Now you, have you drawn up all the accounts and moved the money like I told you too? I don't want anyone noticing that something is amiss", he spoke sternly to the third person who looked like a recent graduate of Hogwarts, no wonder he was so easily manipulated. He reminded me of the old Neville, who was scared and stuttered a lot.

"N-no Mr Rousseau, everything is where it should be, I have made sure the traces on the objects and magical alerts were disrupted", Ahh so that's how they got around those, I forgot about the magical alerts and traces because I'm generally not in the business of stealing objects from the Ministry. These alerts were to stop people from doing this, and that young boy must be the person to monitor those. Probably thought it would be an easy job, as not much seems to happen, but he must be smart enough to circumvent them.

I decided that I had heard enough and slowly crept backwards careful not to touch anything or accidently trip over because that was the last thing that I needed. I didn't think about anything on the walk back to my office, I kept my head down and walked. Once in my office I closed the door and put a silencio up and screamed out all my frustration. I can't believe this, Pascale was supposed to remove dark objects from the world not do whatever he is doing. I see another note on my desk, it better not be from Ron otherwise I will scream again. It was from Kingsley.

Hermione,

I have read over your notes again on the tablet and I agree with your findings that it is probably too dangerous to keep out. Tomorrow you are welcome to come and take photos for your future reference after that I have approved a duplicate to be made, so the muggle museum can display the harmless one for their Middle East collection. The real tablet will be sealed in a chamber that will be guarded round the clock, not even the guards will know how to enter the chamber. The Muggle Prime Minister had heard of our discovery and asked if it was possible. I thought for continued cooperation I would agree to this request.

Regards

Kingsley

I sighed and slumped in my chair. I understand Kingsley's position he was most likely put on the spot by the Prime Minister, it was good for Muggle relations. Fine I'll be here tomorrow to take photographs, not like I have a life or anything.

The Next Day, Westminster- Near the Ministry of Magic 15th November 2013

A figure appeared loitering around the exit of the Ministry of Magic, listening to the chatter of the employees exiting the building. He was hoping to follow some to the local pub where they will be unguarded in their thoughts and with loose tongues after being plied with copious amounts of alcohol.

"Oh, I have some gossip to tell you ladies when we get to the Grumpy Unicorn, about our dear golden girl Hermione Granger and a certain special assignment"

"Ah Divinia you always have the juiciest gossip; however, do you find these things out?"

"That's for me to know Magda it's my little secret", she laughed.

Maybe this night is not going to be a waste after all.

The Grumpy Unicorn Pub 2 hours later

"So Divinia, what is this gossip about Hermione Granger, that you teased us with before?"

"Well she was in one of her staff meetings and she forgot to put a silencio on the room so naturally I could hear everything that was going on. I knew something was happening around the office, it has been oddly quiet since they got back from Iraq. Anyway, apparently she has been put on the investigation to this tablet and has been granted access to the Dark archives".

"A tablet? What tablet? And Iraq?" one of the other ladies asked.

"Some artefact but it has been hush hush, I can't find anything out about it. They all seem a little worried about it, but no one seems to be talking"

"Let me guess she is going to more insufferable than she already is? I mean have you seen her running around the office like a mad woman. No respectable pure blood would be caught doing something so unbecoming. She broke up with that Ron Weasley fellow a few months ago, she's going to be a spinster and she already has the cat", another lady snorted completely unlady like.

"All she does is work and then she takes all her work home with her and then works from home, she has no life".

The group of ladies did not notice the dark-haired gentleman listening intently to their conversation. His mind spinning with ideas. Returning to England was certainly going to be interesting.