Chapter 4:
A couple of hours passed by between the two. No talking, just working on filling the house and making it appear like a home. When it started to get darker, Hermione grabbed her bag and proceed upstairs. There was nothing upstairs, three bedrooms with no furniture at all.
Hermione: Ron!
Ron: What happened now?"
Hermione: Where are all the furniture? Where's the bed?
Ron: Harry said they won't be delivered until tomorrow! Something about the budget cut.
Hermione: (Runs back to the living room) Where are supposed to sleep?
Ron: (He tapped the couch he was sitting on.) The coach is always welcome for you.
Hermione: Where are you going to go to sleep? The bloody couch ain't goin' to fit the two of us. This is not 3rd grade.
Ron: This is high school all over again. I bet you there is quite a bit of an improvement in how soft and comfortable the carpet is. I'd be willing to share my spot if you want me to.
Hermione: Quite thoughtful of you but I'm taking the couch.
Hermione pushed Ron out of the couch.
Ron: Tired, are you?
He stood up and fetch the pillows from the box at the farthest part of the room.
Hermione: Exhausted. When would Harry be here?
Ron: (He gave her the pillow and sat on the floor beside the couch.) Dead of the night. Can't have the neighbor spot him. You should sleep. I assure you once this gets started you won't get much sleep.
Hermione: I never sleep during this time of day. I always say there is plenty of things you can still accomplish before you can resign to your bed.
Ron: Like reading.
Hermione smacked him on the head.
Hermione: But I'd take the offer.
Ron: Sleep well, Love.
Hermione: Goodnight, Ron.
Hermione's sleep was disturbed by the hushed tones of two men talking, the weird sensation of someone staring at her, and a boulder in her chest preventing her from breathing properly.
She opened her eyes only to stare at a blue and orange eye. She screamed and immediately stood up. Ron and Harry run to her as fast as they could.
The scene flashed before the boys were Hermione with her hands on her heart and taking deep breaths and a cat lying on the sofa beside her.
Ron: Are you trying to wake up all the neighbors?
Hermione: I'm sorry. I was just surprised. Where did the cat come from anyway?
Ron: That's Riker. Has a collar and all, found it walking around the garden. Scared the shit out of Harry. He must be from the neighbors, he'll go back eventually, just leave him be.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at him.
Harry: I don't know what he's talking about.
Hermione: It's nice that you're here. Got any new information?
Harry: Victim list.
Hermione: They found a victim list?
Ron: Supposedly. Come, Harry and I have made a board.
The trio has gone through the basement. Hermione was surprised at the fact that the hallway through it was clean and not dusty at all. When they opened the door to the basement, Hermione was more surprised about the interior.
If the rooms upstairs lack furniture, this one is full of it. From the most recent techno computers, guns, and even bunked beds at the farthest side.
Ron: This is the reason why there is a budget cut and we still don't have a bed upstairs. I could have let you sleep here but Harry has the key.
She nodded and turned to the murder board.
Harry: Those people are the only ones that were reported to visit the town. Family, friends, and relatives say they've gone to Deathly Hallows but the people in town state that these people never appeared here or they've been here but left.
Hermione: Does your boss, Snape, still think that the whole town is the suspect?
Ron: All of them state the same when interviewed and coincidently it looks like they are using each other as an alibi. And there's no body, no evidence, just nothing. Just like they evaporated.
Hermione: (She saw a picture of a girl on the board.) Erica Shane. Seven years old.
Ron: Has a friend who lives here but that friend says she never shows up.
Hermione: This is... Insane. How come none of it ever came up in the news?
Ron tapped the picture on the top right of the board.
Harry: Devon Powers. He was going to write an article about the mystery of the town. Never showed up.
Hermione jumped up when the doorbell rang.
Harry: You'd get used to it, that's why we are here, to figure out what is going on.
The bell rang again and again, it signaled the thinning patience of the person at the door.
Harry: It must be them. I better go before they tear down the door.
A few seconds later, a bundle of energy comes splashing inside the room toward Ron.
Lavender: Won Won.
Ron: (Right before she can get to him, he puts his hand in front of her to stop her.) Hey, Lav. Lovely to see you again.
She puckered her lips as if expecting a kiss from him.
Ron: Nope. Not happening.
Neville: Hay mate, can a have a glass of water? My throat has been feeling no good.
Ron was going to answer Neville but Hermione beat her into it.
Hermione: I'd fetch it. I want to be familiar with the house.
She was in a trance the minute the girl walked in. She expected Lavender, the IT girl, to be someone with frizzy hair, big glasses, and old fashion clothes. She wasn't supposed to be a girl that is bubbly and vivid with perfect long and curly hair. How did she even manage that as Hermione was already struggling with a mid-length?
Harry goes to follow Hermione when Neville started coughing. He tapped her on the shoulders, and for the nth time today, Hermione jumped, surprised.
Harry: I think Neville needs that water and I don't it would be found in this hallway.
She was lost in thought, he smiled knowingly at her. She rolled her at him and then continued walking to the kitchen.
Hermione: I was thinking about the girl.
Harry: Lavender?
Hermione: Elena
Harry: Elena?
Hermione: Elean Shane.
Realization hit him.
Harry: Erica Shane. You have never once possessed the ability to lie. She'll never your problem. And, Ron has had the key to the basement the whole time.
The plan was to attend the welcome party hosted by Dolores, seized and analyze everyone. Simple, but due to rules Hermione and Ron have to be equipped and tied with electronics to monitor and record their data.
Lavender was briefing Hermione with the electronics while sitting around them doing each of their business.
Lavender: (raised the earings) This is a listening device, it's quite sensitive to sound so don't let your hair block it. Don't worry this would just be a backup.
(She tapped the necklace around Hermione's neck.) This is the primary listening device, it also has a small cam recorder so careful not to block it.
(She gave the purse to Hermione.) This is your lifeline in case something bad would happen. Once the purse's handle has been damaged it would trigger a warming alarm around our system and to the headquarters if we do not respond within 30 seconds everyone would be wherever you are to come to save you.
(She then gave Hermione a ring.) This is your wedding ring, don't remove it as it would track your location all the time even after the dinner.
Hermione: What about Ron?
Lavender: It's not his first time. He can handle himself. Just be careful about the gun tucked away, I reckon he knows how to hide it well but don't be surprised if you felt one. And I am not talking about the one between his legs. Those are big and dangerous but they would make you happy.
She winked at Hermione and then walk towards Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes at her just as Harry approached her.
Harry: I haven't said anything.
Hermione: That's not for you. I was aiming it on Lavender.
Harry: Why? She's a lovely girl.
Hermione: Did she and Ron ever date?
Harry: Not that I know of.
Hermione glared at him.
Harry: No, they didn't.
Hermione slapped his arm.
Harry: What do you want me to say?
Hermione: You're lying. If they weren't lovers then how can Lavender make sex jokes about him?
Harry: I don't know.
Hermione: What?
Harry: I don't know. You can ask Ron.
Ron: Ask me what?
Harry: Hermione wants to know if you've dated Lavender.
Hermione: Harry!
She slapped him in the stomach and Harry moaned in pain.
Hermione: You don't have to answer that.
She was leaving but Ron pulled her arms to stop her.
Ron: We didn't.
The two stared at each other for a minute before Harry cleared his throat. Hermione pulled her arm back.
Hermione: That's unfortunate you'd make a lovely couple.
Dolores' house has this strange vibe, creepy and somewhat for Hermione and Ron. It was decorated with different self-portraits of Dolores' family. The different couples introduce themselves in which Hermione noted the reputation and ego attached to their names.
During the dinner, the neighbors started asking about Ron and Hermione.
Charlotte: How long have you been married? The two of you?
Hermione: It's a recent affair, about a month ago. We also bought the house right after we came back from our honeymoon.
Killian (Congressman): What exactly do you do?
Ron: I own a toy shop just 30 mins away from here. I work mostly at home as toys don't necessarily need all of my attention, but my wife does.
He said as he reached for Hermione's hand and placed a kiss on the backside of her palm.
Dolores: Newlyweds. What about you dear?
Hermione: I also work mostly at home. I am a financial analyst. I do most of my work on my laptop.
Elisa: You both don't appear to have a lot in common. You don't suit each other at all.
Charlotte: Elisa. (She said as warming.)
Elisa: What? Belle has this good girl going on with her while West is sort of like a mischievous guy. You wouldn't think they'd matched.
Elisa roared with laughter and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
Charlotte: How did the two of you meet?
Hermione thought that the question was not part of what they rehearsed or what she was briefed on. She panicked and was about to tell a made-up story when Ron spoke.
Ron: I don't know if she remembers how we meet. It was a summer camp, with no parents and we traveled by train, imagine a train full of kids, disastrous.
The table erupts with waves of laughter.
Ron: I knew I'm going to be meeting my best friend when I sat on the train but I wasn't informed that the girl asking about a toad would be the girl I love the most. Though we did not get on a nice start. She rolled her eyes at me and such. I reckon she insulted my magic trick.
It was their story, Hermione thought.
Hermione: It was a stupid magic trick.
Hermione was surprised when Ron leaned down, kissed her forehead, and goes back like what he did was just normal. The action was so out of the blue and he did it without much of a thought but Hermione felt a sudden pulse and a warm fuzzy feeling in her chest.
The dinner passed like a blur. For Ron and Hermione, there was nothing out of place and the people are just normal people, in fact too normal. It all turned around when a familiar face to Hermione walked in.
Dolores: Nice of you to show up. This is Javier, my son. These are our new neighbors West and Belle.
Javier: Belle, it means beautiful. The name suits you.
Hermione: Pleasure.
The next morning was confusing for Ron. As early as the morning yet no Hermione is fussing about breakfast or reading a book in the kitchen. He came down to the basement for the morning update from Harry.
Harry: (Harry saw Ron come down to the basement alone.) Hermione's not upstairs?
Lavender: She left just a moment ago, and said she has something to get from her house.
Harry: Neville can you check her location?
Neville: I'm confused, she said she was going to her house but according to this she's at Ron's and Harry's apartment.
Lavender: She lives with you?
Ron: She's our best friend. Been together for years. Our parents even joked that we see each other more than them. Though I could say, we're sick and tired of each other.
Hermione: Really? I'll take note of that. Harry's bound to leave the apartment once he and Ginny got married. I should do the same.
Ron: That's not what I said.
Hermione was going to say she doesn't care, but Neville stopped her with a question.
Neville: What are you doing here?
Hermione: Pardon?
Neville pointed to the screen where Hermione's location is shown and she is still at their apartment.
Hermione: That's impossible. I am still wearing my ring.
She raised her hand to show the ring.
Ron: There must be something wrong.
Lavender and Neville panicked. As the two talked about some IT gibberish, the screen suddenly changed and Hermione is now inside the house.
Neville: She's back.
Lavender: What happened?
Harry: There must be some glitch.
Hermione: Is that okay?
Ron: Of course, it's Neville. I remember when we first started working together. He always missed us when we move.
Neville: You knew how many times you got almost killed because of that.
Ron walked towards Neville who still looks disturbed.
Ron: Don't ponder, mate.
Hermione: Anyway, I have a bit of a concern.
Hermione dropped a book on the meeting table set in the center of the basement.
Ron: Hermione, I don't think you were informed, this is not your book club.
Hermione ignored Ron but rolled her eyes at him first. She continues to open the book and browse for the page she's looking for. The stickers pasted at the front of the book and some pages are familiar to Ron.
Ron: Hey! This is my yearbook.
She slapped his hand when it attempted to steal it from her.
Hermione: I can't find mine, so I grabbed yours.
Ron: It's in my room.
Hermione: What's your point? You know, it about time to clean your room.
Ron: You could have grabbed Harry's.
Hermione: His room is on the other side of the apartment, why waste my time when your room is right next to mine? Think, Ronald!
Harry intercepted before Ron and Hermione fall into a full-blown argument.
Harry: What is this for?
Hermione: I didn't write it in my report yesterday, but we met a familiar guy. I wasn't sure as Ron did not react to it.
She found was she was looking for, she turned the book towards the others and then pointed to a picture of a guy beside Hermione in a science fair.
Hermione: Do you guys remember Dean Thomas?
Ron and Harry looked at each other and then shook their heads, they did not remember the guy one bit. Hermione sighed, of course, they would never remember him.
Hermione: I was partnered with him on our 10th-grade science fair. After we won, we were about to present our project for a regional contest when he disappeared.
Hermione's explanation was a huge clue for the two as they remember Dean Thomas.
Ron: The guy who disappeared and never come back.
Harry: The police said he's dead but they haven't found a body.
Hermione: Precisely. Until yesterday.
Ron: Javier.
Hermione: Exactly.
Ron: Neville, can you get us information about Javier-
Neville: Vintron. That is Dolores's surname.
Ron: Javier Vintron and all the info you could dig about the disappearance of Dean Thomas.
Lavender: I'll take that!