"Fine!" They both yelled with disgust.

With a pop the top aurors apparated infront of Harry Potter's house.

Unbeknownst to them, the killer was already planning his next conquest…

Watch out little Hector. If you know what's best for you, you wouldn't go around sneaking out of your house so late at night alone.

Chapter 2: H is for Harry Potter.

With a pop, Hermione and Draco apparated into Harry Potter's front door. He chose to stay in his late godfather's house, 12 Grimauld Place.

Before the two entered, an old owl swooped in front of them and dropped a letter. Draco caught it. Draco and Hermione cringed as they read the envelope. It said:

Mr. & Mrs. Draco Malfoy

Front Door

12 Grimauld Place

"Is this what I think it is?" Draco said in pure aghast. Hermione, who was still wincing, shut her eyes and muttered her response, "Just read it and let's get this over with."

"I must say, I'm quite frightened to open this – You do it!" He handed the letter to Hermione who backed away immediately. "Not a chance. Come on, just do it already.

Draco sighed then quickly opened the lid and unfolded the parchment and grabbed the smaller and more elegant parchment that fell out. He scanned the letter quickly, then glanced at the smaller paper then back at the letter. He astonishingly repeated that action three times.

"What does it say?" Hermione asked though she had an idea of what it was based on Draco's reaction. Oh please don't let it be what I think it is. She thought.

Draco snapped up, frowned deeply and muttered softly, "Its official. My bachelor days are over."

"What?" Hermione almost shrieked, "You don't mean we're –"

He nodded glumly then shoved the parchments in Hermione's hands and she read and reread everything, looking at the paper in disbelief like Draco.

"He didn't!, He wouldn't!" she gasped.

"He did. Face it."

The letter read:

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Malfoy,

This was my plan from the start. I knew that you wouldn't agree all too easily so the moment you agreed to pose as newlyweds, was the moment my plan took place. Because of your bickering you didn't notice that Kingsley snuck inside just in time to bear witness to your secret wedding. Now I know you'll hate me for this but I gave you a choice, believe it or not. Enclosed in this letter is your marriage certificate. It's all official. Do not worry, once everything is in order, I will mollify the wedding should you wish it.

You as aurors should understand that I, as minister need to take every precaution necessary and seeing your… reluctance to play the parts I dictated, I believe you'll be working even more quickly to resolve this case as soon as possible.

Good luck in your mission.

Sincerely,

Porthos Gray

Minister of Magic

"Great. Just great. The two top aurors got hoodwinked by an old bat. Cherry on top of my evening." Hermione said acerbically.

Draco looked at Hermione in shock. Did she just insult an official? No. Did GRANGER just insult an official?

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Draco's puzzled face. He recovered quickly and sighed. "Guess we're stuck. He's right though, the faster we close this case, the faster we can get… unmarried."

"Ugh. Though I think that this is harder on you than on me, Malfoy." Hermione spat.

Draco flared up, "Just where are you getting at, Granger?"

She rolled her eyes, "Like you don't know." She muttered.

He folded his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes, "Listen, if you're thinking that I still hold my former… prejudices against you, you guessed wrong. I've changed."

Hermione sniffed, unconvinced. Annoyance quickly filled Draco. "Why do you hate my guts then?"

It was his turn to roll his eyes then he sighed in frustration, "Listen, it's nothing personal but we never really got along in Hogwarts and the habit kind of stuck."

She buffed her nails as she cocked another brow. Lame. She thought.

"Okay, okay. That was lame. To be honest, Granger, I was starting to have some respect for you over the years."

She looked at him with pure shock, it was insulting. He sighed again and continued.

"It's just that before, I had a name to uphold. My father's. All I knew was how to be evil and dark. That's how I was built up into but you see it's not what I wanted. It's only recently that I have started coming…wait a minute! Why am I explaining to you? You're the one who loathe me with gusto. Why not do the explaining?"

Hermione poised to talk balk all the furious things she was feeling but found nothing. Why do I hate him? She thought. Her angry face turned that into complete puzzlement.

He tapped his foot, "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" he said impatiently. Damn Granger. Always thinks highly of herself. She's probably rehearsing all the things she hates about me again and again.

She blinked at him and frowned, "You know what? I don't really know why."

He mentally slapped his head, "All that hate for nothing?"

She shrugged. "School was school. You didn't matter anyway. I had other things to think about at that time than loathe you."

Draco almost collapsed from outrage. This is insulting! "I didn't matter?" he fumed. He started stringing out profanities under his breath.

"I guess, now that everything's almost in order, there really is no reason to hate you." She mused.

He was about to retort when the door opened and a pair of surprised green eyes stared at them.

"What's going on? I didn't know you were dropping by 'Mione…oh and what are you doing here Malfoy." Came from a very appalled Harry Potter.

The two looked at him with shock and quickly changed disposition. Clearly fighting in front of the doorstep wasn't very newlywed like.

"Um. Hi Harry, we were just…ah." Hermione stumbled with words for once. Good thing Draco was faster.

"Greetings, Potter. We were in the neighborhood and we thought we'd drop by." Draco said coolly. Harry looked at him suspiciously after hearing the 'we' part.

Draco ignored him, "Isn't that right, dearest?" The look on Potter's face is priceless at least. Hey, anything to make the most of the situation. He thought.

Harry was taken aback. Dearest? What the hell?!

Hermione looked shocked as well but because of Draco's side dagger looks she instantly played along. "Yes, dear. Oh Harry, I'm sorry to drop by without warning." She said apologetically.

Harry still shocked, moved aside so the visitors could come in. "It's… okay… come in, come in." he said in a confused voice.

The visitors nodded then proceeded to enter Harry's house. Harry led them into his living room.

"Hermione Granger –," Harry started.

"Malfoy." Draco corrected with a smirk. Ha! Potter must really hate me more now.

Harry rolled his eyes and continued, "Hermione Malfoy you have some serious explaining to do. First of all marrying him? No offense Malfoy." He glanced at Draco and he waved him off.

"None taken." Draco said, very amused.

"And secondly, not inviting me to the wedding? I mean, what did he do, threaten you or something?"

Hermione looked uneasy then sighed. She wanted to tell the truth but she knows it's not possible at the moment and they were wasting precious time here.

"Harry, Draco and I have been aurors for quite some time, you know that. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you this but well, we worked on some cases together and well…" she looked at Draco for help.

"We realized that we made a great team. Seeing our success, we got involved together in more cases and eventually we were getting involved with each other." Draco continued matter-of-factly. Eat that up, Potter.

"You seriously want me to believe that you guys fell in love with each other?" Harry barked.

"I thought at this time and age that we were past all the grievances, Potter. What's so hard to believe? Hermione is an intelligent, skilled, witty and successful witch, not to mention, a very hot witch." Well it is true. Granger was hot in her own way and being an auror made her doubly hot. I'll give her that.

"Who wouldn't fall in love with that?" he tried to add as convincingly as he could. The sooner we're done here, the faster we can get back on the case.

Hermione looked at Draco's wistful look with a mixed expression of shock and awe. Harry only looked even more appalled.

Draco threw a smirk at Harry and glanced back at Hermione, reached out and touched her cheek 'to add more icing to the cake Potter's going to have to swallow'.

"Isn't that right, dearest?" Draco purred.

Hermione only blushed in response. Draco looked at Harry and frowned, "What, don't you think so too, Potter?"

Harry glowered, "Of course I do. Hermione's a brilliant witch and she's too good for you."

Draco chuckled, "That might be true, but still, we got hitched so she must like me at some level."

"Fine." Harry sighed, "So when were you married and why wasn't I invited?"

Hermione looked at Harry apologetically, "I'm sorry Harry. We just kind of…erhm… eloped."

Again, Harry's eyes bulged, "You what?!"

"It was a spur of the moment thing – it was actually romantic." Hermione sighed. Please take the bait already, we really do need to leave now.

"Yes. It was very romantic. I love her, she loves me. The opportunity presented itself, why wait a moment more?" Draco added.

"Okay, okay. Fine, I believe you!" Harry sighed in defeat. The two grinned in success.

"Oh but Harry, do you mind not telling anyone for now?" Hermione requested.

"Why?"

"Well, we were planning on having another wedding in the near future… so I don't think we need to shock anyone else until then."

"Am I invited?"

"Sure, sure Potter." Draco answered for her.

"That'll do I guess. Okay, I won't tell. But this is really hard to believe but I guess a lot has changed."

"You have no idea." Hermione muttered.

Harry changed the topic, "Hey, being aurors I'm sure you've heard about how seventeen year old wizards have been dropping like flies lately. Any news on the matter?"

Hermione sneaked a glance at Draco and he touched Hermione's hand, gave it a squeeze to give the impression to stay calm.

"Yes. We have heard of it. But right now, looking at the cause of deaths, they seem accidental, don't you think?" Draco said casually.

Harry thought for a minute, "Yes. I 'spose. Do you reckon that they're really just accidents? The timing is too suspicious…"

"Very perceptive, Potter. But until we know for sure, we're still not ruling out accidental deaths."

"Are you two on the case?" Harry asked suspicious again.

Hermione shook her head, "Well, we're on our… honeymoon… so we're on leave at the moment."

"Oh! How thick of me, 'course you are. Sorry, things have been too quiet here."

"Don't worry, school is starting soon." Hermione consoled.

"That's right, still on the teaching squad, Potter?" Draco asked.

"You bet."

"Oh Harry, I've been meaning to ask this for a long time. Do you still have your copy of Gashlycrumb Tinies? My niece has recently discovered that goth was her thing and that book seems perfect." Hermione asked.

Draco looked at her praising. Nice, we can get the friggin' out of here.

"Sure. You can have it." Harry raised his wand, "Accio Gashlycrumb!" and a battered book flew to his hand. He handed it to Hermione.

Yes. "Thanks Harry. Oh, how's Ginny by the way?" she was referring to Harry's fiancée.

"She's with her parents for the weekend." Harry beamed proudly.

"I see."

Draco coughed then looked at Hermione, "Dear, we're running a little late…"

Hermione blinked, "Oh! Oh right, sorry Harry, Draco and I need to go now."

"It's okay. Do drop by soon."

"That was…" Hermione started,

"Excruciating." Draco finished. She cringed, "Tell me about it."

"But amusing, nonetheless." Draco said thoughtful.

"You were very convincing back there…" Hermione said ruefully.

"Don't flatter yourself, if that's where you're getting at." He snapped at her.

"I wasn't going to." Hermione smirked then muttered, "bloody prick."

"I heard that."

"So where to?"

"How about going back to my place and we'll take a look at that book?" Draco offered.

Hermione looked hesitant, "Is your mum there?"

Draco smirked again, "Not that it's your business, but my mother's in Russia on vacation."

She nodded, "Good enough. Let's go then."

"We're going to have to side-apparate."

"Not a problem."

Draco sighed then grabbed Hermione's shoulder and with a pop, they were inside the infamous Malfoy Manor.

"I must say, you have a lovely place." Hermione admitted.

"Of course we do now come with me."

Draco led Hermione to his very large room decorated in all shades of green. They sat down near a black coffee table in the middle of the room.

Draco flipped through the book, "Ghastly. Very ghastly. We need to move fast or we'll be seeing more blood out there."

"I know what you mean. Look at Kate! Poor Kate…"

"She's the one who got run down with an axe?"

She nodded grimly and Draco shuddered.

"So Granger, if you were working alone on this case, what would be your plan of action?"

Hermione looked up and thought for a while and said slowly, "Hmmm… well, I'd go back to all the scenes of the crime… search for clues… then do some research…"

He nodded at her thoughtfully, "I would have done the same but I'll probably add a few dark spells here and there… added precaution…"

"I see. So where should we go first? Start with Amy or George?"

"Definitely the most recent."

"George then."

Hermione's forehead wrinkled and she let out a deep breath.

Draco eyed her, "What's on your mind?"

Hermione looked at him and frowned, "Its just… it's hard to think things through when you know that someone named Hector is probably going along business unusual not knowing he's been condemned to die soon."

Draco patted her shoulder, "I know what you mean. But we'll get the bastard whose doing this – I swear it."

So they got up and apparated from the room completely oblivious to the lurking danger that stalked the dark alleyway not far from Malfoy Manor.

This is going to be more exciting. Thought the shadow that watched as his next victim was quietly reading a book as the two aurors sent to kill him passed by him.

Licking his lips from uncontrollable glee, he sneered.

"Prepare yourself Hector. You're next."


AN: Oh, I've finally updated! Yes! I'm sorry for those who've read this before but I was too caught up with my other stories (All Twilight) that I forgot that I still had to put this up somehow. I was happy that I found this chapter typed up almost finished months ago so I decided to finish it and post it.

So there you have it. Please do review and I'll update when I have time. Thank you!

Margaux