AN: This is going to have a bit of an... alternate history? Basically, im making it up as I go, but, essentially Harry is still famous for defeating Voldemort, and there was no return, Fleur wasn't there for the Triwizard Tournament or someone else was picked entirely, thats how Hermione has no knowledge of veelas/doesnt know her, Bill dated a different veela (who will be introduced in this chapter- not sure how big her role will be but we'll get there when we get there) also, this might be more current time (2010s vs 1990s) but with them all in their 20s or something (because i will admit, as a child reading this, i somehow managed to miss it was a "past" event and placed them in the contemporary, maybe only 5 or 6 years later than book time) and im not sure how much interplay between the worlds there will be. (Seriously, do they just forget that things like pens, TV, the internet or electricity exist? or what about cell phones? i get methods of travel but really, it cant be more convenient to carry parchment, an inkwell and quills around instead of pens and notebooks or a tablet. mini-rant over.)

Hermione sat patiently at the streetside cafe they had agreed to met at, a coffee sat in front of her, steaming, its delicious aroma enticing, book in hand, propped against the table as she sat back, her arms resting on the aluminum armrests of the chair. An empty chair across from her, taunting in its presence, asking for someone to take seat. She glanced at her watch, quickly, its time reading 10:47. Bill would be here soon. They'd agreed to meet at 11, but she'd arrived early and decided to catch up on some reading. Her legs were crossed at the knee, her leather satchel resting against the leg of the chair. She was comfortable, content to be in her element. The novel in her hands was a muggle classic, Brave New World. She found she quite enjoyed reading the classics in her spare time, an activity hearkening back to her muggle roots. Something that she had shied away from since graduating from Hogwarts, rarely seeing her family anymore. The Wizarding World was so much simpler, and she had become easily accustomed to it after receiving her education.

Without having received a muggle education she was unable to work in the muggle sector and thus had been forced to remain in the Wizarding World. But she couldn't help but long for the simplicity of a world without magic at times. She heard footsteps approach and looked up from her book, seeing the grinning face of Bill Weasley standing in front of her. He reached down and pulled out the shiny metal chair, a grating against the cobblestone sidewalk they were on. "Hullo. Ron said you needed help with something?" He questioned, falling back into the chair rather ungracefully, his lanky frame sprawled out, slouching in the chair. A boyish smile across his handsome features, Hermione could barely understand how he was the eldest of the Weasley children when he acted like a teenager still.

Hermione nodded, "How much did he tell you?"

"Barely anything more than that, so prolly easiest to start at the beginning."

"Well, condensed version, I'm trying to solve a case, and I think the criminal may be a Veela, but there's not much information out there and, this might be awkward, but Ron had said he thought you'd been romantically involved with a Veela and could maybe help?" Hermione had said without breathing, the words spewing out of her mouth in a constant stream of word vomit.

Bill chuckled, "Yes, I was romantically involved with a Veela as you so delicately put it. But tell me, why do you think it was one to begin with? They're quite rare in society, keeping to themselves and limiting interactions as much as possible."

Hermione blushed and looked away, "Just... reasons."

Bill slapped the table letting out a hearty laugh and drawing the attention of the surrounding tables, "So, what you're saying is she got you with her thrall?"

"Her what?"

"Her charms you might say. Don't worry if she did Hermione, it's perfectly natural and doesn't have to mean anything unless you want it to. Veelas are naturally very sexual beings. I'm not sure of the full story, but what I picked up from my time with Ashleigh was that- you're familiar with the concept of evolution, yes?"

Hermione nodded her head, and looked at Bill expectantly, waiting for him to continue on.

"Right so, this is a bit of a legend at first, Eros- the son of Aphrodite- had been angered by the gods sleeping with everything that moved, creating these impure deities, or demi-gods, making a mockery of love. He then created sirens and mermaids, designed to lure men to their death in a bad imitation of what the other gods were doing with women. I'm not sure of how factual it was, but the sirens had a bird-like appearance. Eventually, they were able to take on a more human-like state and refine their abilities. The siren's song became what we now refer to as a 'thrall' or an ability to draw an intended target, or victim, towards them. It can be used as a defensive mechanism in times of danger or, on the offensive to draw in victims without a fight. It creates a sense of euphoria within the intended target and disarms them, they approach as though drawn in by magnets and can only focus on the Veela who is luring them. The longer they spend in their company, or stronger the thrall unleashed, the more focused their thoughts become, it creates a feeling of lust or possibly love within the victim who will willingly give themselves over with little thought. It can affect anyone regardless of their sexuality."

"So, in theory, they could use it to rob someone without being caught?"

Bill nodded, "You're trying to catch Aphrodite, right? I always thought the name they gave her might have an ironic connection."

"Yeah, it's beginning to seem that way. Is there anything else you know about them?"

"Nope, if there's something specific though, I can always try to get that information for you, Ashleigh and I ended on pretty good terms so she might be willing to help, but they are rather secretive and limit their information so, no guarantees on that."

Hermione pulled her notebook out of her satchel and began scribbling furiously away, adding these new details to the list she'd created earlier, that now had a crossed out "Siren?" and read "Veela." She added a bullet point below that with "Thrall". A note below that read "Symptoms- see above" She drew an arrow to the items she wrote out, her feelings from seeing Fleur. She was pretty sure she was a Veela and had used her Thrall at this point, but she just needed to figure out if that was a real name or if she had used an alias. And then she needed to figure out how to find her again. Bill meanwhile, was sitting there in silence, watching her scribble away.

"You said there aren't many of them, do they know the others in this area? Like would she know if I gave her a name if it belonged to a real person?"

"Maybe," Bill shrugged, "Can always find out. What's the name so I can run it by her?"

"Fleur Delacour," Hermione said seriously, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bill ran his tongue over his teeth, playing with the sounds of the name in his mind, "Sounds French."

"She did have a bit of an accent, I don't know if she has one or if she was playing it up a bit. But it's a possibility that she's French."

Bill stood to leave, "I'll let you know what I find out," were his last words as he turned and walked away, leaving as quickly as he arrived. Hermione, however, was finally feeling as though she was making progress on this case, she just hoped it wasn't for naught.