Last time we met back up with Harry, Ron and Hermione after they finished Auror training. Their first job as Aurors, help solve a serial murder mystery before another victim is claimed. On with the show!

Chapter 2: Evidence

Further into the Auror Office, Harry, Ron and Hermione met up with a witch in her mid thirties, with short orange hair, brown eyes and wearing green and blue robes. Jessica Yeager was another Auror who supported Dumbledore, and also went underground during the dark year when Voldemort held sway over the country. "We're all very excited to have you working with us, Harry Potter," said Yeager as she shook Harry's hand, "You, Granger and Weasley here. We have a real mess on our hands and we can use all the help that can be given."

"So we've heard," said Ron, "Five gruesome murders in seven weeks. Whoever is doing the killing must be one sick, twisted bastard."

"Well, that's the paradox, Weasley," said Yeager, "According to the evidence collected at each murder site, the killer or killers haven't really killed anyone. What he, she or they do is come up with ways of making the victims kill themselves. You'll understand when you go over the case files."

She then handed our heroes five thick folders full of parchment and photographs. "We're counting on you three to help break this case open," said Yeager, "We don't expect immediate results, but it would be nice if you could help catch the killer or killers before he, she or they strike again."

"You can count on us, Madam," said Hermione eagerly, "The killer or killers are good as caught. Come on, boys, we've got work to do." She headed back to their office with one of the folders, leaving Harry and Ron to carry the rest between them.

"It's her first day," said Ron to Yeager, "She's just eager."

Back in their office Harry, Ron and Hermione had begun their study of the five murders. "Best place to start at is the beginning," said Harry, "Okay: Seven weeks ago the remains of a wizard was found in an abandoned warehouse in downtown London. Initial reports said that the victim had been dead for three days before the body was discovered. The victim had a metallic collar around what was left of his neck. His head was nowhere to be seen, yet blood spatters, tissue splatters and bone fragments were found around the body. The cause of death was determined to be decapitation by explosive force."

"The metal collar around the victim's neck," said Hermione, "had remains of several small glass containers secured to it. Trace amounts of a highly volatile potion were found in the containers. A detonation charm was detected on the collar. Here's the twist; apparently whoever put the device on the victim wanted him to get the collar off, or at least try."

"What kind of killer wants his victims to live?" asked Ron.

"I guess the insane type," said Harry.

"Moving on," said Hermione, "The detonation charm was timed for one hour. The collar had a lock on it, and the matching key was found deep in a large pit filled with razor blades. The victim was in the process of searching the pit for the key when time ran out and he died."

Harry was looking at one of the crime scene photos. This one was a close-up of the victim's hands; they were severely cut. "There's more," said Hermione, "A small blue crystal was found near the body, a crystal that is used for recording sound. It's like any crystal found in any number of magic supply store in the world."

"What was on the crystal?" asked Harry.

"The voice on the crystal was distorted," said Hermione, "The sex of the voice was undetermined. The message was rather disturbing. It accused the victim of committing suicide on a number of occasions, saying that he was only after attention. The killer then said that in order for the victim to live he needed to cut himself again and again. Apparently whoever is doing this thinks it's all a game."

"Victim number two," said Harry as he opened the next case file, "this time a witch, was found five weeks ago in a condemned apartment building. Cause of death was determined to be a broken neck due to hanging. The rope around her neck was charmed so cutting or tearing couldn't break it. The rope ran through a pulley system to a winding device on the floor that had a combination lock securing the rope. Originally the rope had plenty of slack to the victim could move around the room. Random numbers were painted along the walls."

"Another recording crystal was found near the victim," said Hermione, "The killer accused the victim of also attempting suicide just for attention. She had one hour to figure out which series of numbers on the walls would unlock the rope and set her free. Yet every wrong number tightened the rope a little. Eventually time ran out and she was hanged."

By then Ron was looking rather pale. He stood up, "I'll be right back," he said as he headed for the door.

"Are you going to throw up?" accused Hermione, "Because if you are, then the past three years were a waste of time."

"I just need some air," said Ron, "That is, if it's okay with you." He left the room, the door banging loudly after him.

"What's with you two this time?" asked Harry.

"I'm just pissed off that he hasn't asked for my hand in marriage yet," said Hermione, "I know he wants to ask me, I just wish he'd do it already."

Harry sighed, hoping that he wouldn't have to play best friend to two people who were fighting again. "Speaking of marriage," said Hermione, "When are you asking Ginny?"

"Tomorrow night," said Harry, "I'm taking her out to dinner, and if all goes well, Ginny and I will be properly engaged by evenings end."

"Glad that your relation is working out," said Hermione. Just then Ron came back into the office.

"Okay then," said Ron, "Let's crack this case! So, the first two victims were people who had attempted suicide at least once. Maybe the killer has something against people who try to kill themselves, just to get some attention."

"That's what was believed at first," said Hermione, "Until the third victim was found three weeks ago. Another wizard, he was found in an office building that was under renovation. The body was discovered in a room that was charmed to be airtight. The air in the room had trace amounts of vaporized potion that was highly toxic and volatile; one spark is enough to ignite this gas. The room was locked from the inside, with the key inside a metal brainteaser puzzle. All the victim had to do was solve the puzzle before the air got too toxic to breathe."

"Sounds simple to me," said Ron, "How did he die?"

"The puzzle was coated with a lubricant that made it difficult to hold on to," said Hermione, "What most likely happened was the victim was trying to solve the puzzle when it slipped out of his hands. It landed on the metal floor, produced a spark, and he burned to death."

"Let me guess," said Harry, "There was another recording crystal near the body."

"Yes," said Hermione, "This time the killer accused the victim of wasting his life solving puzzles, when there was so much of the world to be seen. The killer told the victim that if he loved puzzles so much, now was his chance to spend the rest of his life solving one."

"I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here," said Harry, "What about victim number four?"

"The fourth victim," said Hermione, "A witch this time, was found in another abandoned apartment building. Her body was discovered lying on the floor, locked in an antique torture device from the late 1400's, and Iron Maiden."

"I think I actually know what that is," said Ron, "It was a popular method of torture. They'd put the 'heretic' in a metal casket shaped like a woman. Sharp spikes adorned the inside of the casket. If the victim didn't 'confess,' the casket would close and he or she would be impaled on the spikes. Usually the victim would bleed to death from so many cuts."

"Well with this Iron Maiden," said Hermione, "The spikes were retractable, while the Iron Maiden was locked from the inside. The victim had a small, recently healed cut on her right hand. A scalpel was tied to her left wrist. Apparently the killer cut her hand open, inserted the key to the Iron Maiden and healed the wound. She had one hour to cut her hand open and get the key out before the spikes extended. Time ran out and she was impaled."

"I'll guess that the recording crystal was in the Iron Maiden with the victim," said Harry, "So what did the killer accuse her of?"

"The victim was accused of wasting an artistic talent," said Hermione, "She was a brilliant sculptor, yet all the work she did the past several years were erotic pieces. She sculpted nude figures. The killer accused her of wasting her 'gift' on producing smut."

"And victim number five," said Harry, "A wizard, was found in a old air-raid shelter from World War 2. The door to the shelter was locked from the inside. The victim was discovered in a large vat full of a mildly corrosive potion. Apparently the killer put a timer charm on the door, if the victim didn't open the door within one hour, the door would permanently lock from the inside."

"How did the victim die?" asked Ron.

"The key to the door was in the potion vat," said Harry, "The potion wouldn't harm metal, yet it dissolves flesh at a slow, painful rate. The victim had to reach into the potion to get the key. It is assumed that the pain from having his hand slowly dissolve was so great he lost balance and fell into the vat. He must have swallowed some of the potion by accident, for part of his digestive system was eaten away, including areas of his stomach and small intestine. He passed out from the pain, the potion got into his lungs and he drowned just as the potion started to eat away at his respiratory system."

"Bloody hell," said Ron, "What kind of sick bastard would do such things to people?"

"Apparently someone who doesn't like people who waste what life has to offer," said Harry, "For on the expected recording crystal, the killer accused the victim of being a chronic alcoholic."

"So how do we stop this lunatic?" asked Ron, "Because that's what we're here to do, isn't it?"

"It is," said Hermione, "We need to go over the evidence collected from each murder and try to find some way of figuring out who the killer is. We also need to look into the lives of each victim and try to discover what exactly made the killer choose them."

"I have a feeling," said Ron," that our fist day on the job is going to be a long one."

"You got that right, mate," said Harry.

The end of chapter 2.Next chapter our heroes search for a clue as to the identity of the killer. Later on, Harry takes Ginny out for dinner, intending to propose to her. See you next time!