Disclaimer: JKR owns everything but the plot.

Chapter 6: Revelations, Part 2

Monday morning found Hermione and Angelo awake at 8AM. Hermione had awoken at 7 to prepare everything, seeing as how she wanted Angelo to rest a bit more. After dropping of Angelo at school, Hermione apparated to the Ministry's entrance and traveled under.

She greeted Sophie before walking into her office with strict instructions that no one interrupt her unless urgent. As much as she hated to admit it, she had not made much headway pertaining to the Lestrange case. As she was sorting through her mail, she spotted an unexpected note, dated September 4th, exactly a week ago. From who? Draco Malfoy, of all people! Apparently, he had visited the office. For what reason, she didn't know, though she supposed she'd find out.

Nervously and excitedy, Hermione unfolded the note.

"Hello Miss. Granger,

I came here seeking legal aid in personal matters. However, seeing as how you were not here, it is now being looked over by Mr. Jameson. I was wondering if you would be willing to transfer it under your supervision, as I am confident you would do the best. I'm afraid I cannot tell you on paper, as it would be most unwise for me to do so. If you would be so kind as to assist me, or at least hear what I have to ask, please send me an owl back so we may schedule a time to meet to discuss this matter.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Draco Malfoy"

Hermione was surprised, to say the least. Who would have ever imagined the day Draco Malfoy would be asking for aid from her, much less admitting she was the best? Granted, he himself was not included, but still! She scribbled back a reply.

"Draco—

I'm flattered that you think I am most capable of handling your case. I'm curious as to what your case constitutes. I'm available during work hours Monday-Friday, though I arrive typically around 8:30, and leave about 3. If you are not available during those hours, I understand, and another time may be schedules; however, work days are still best for me.

Thank you.

Cordially,

Hermione Granger"

She sent it out with her owl, Wulfric, whom she acquired after Crookshanks passed away 3 years ago. After that, she sorted through a few bills she filed away for later, and set down to work on the case diligently.

Lunchtime came, and Sophie dropped off a sandwich and iced tea for Hermione to eat while she worked. She paused in mid-examination of some records as she remembered something! She hastily closed the file and grabbed her tea before exiting to a slightly confused Sophie.

Her heels clacked loudly down the empty hallway. She walked to Mr. Cromwell's office, and as luck would have it, he was in! Hermione tentatively knocked on the door. Mr. Cromwell was known for being rather bipolar—some times, he was a stingy man; at others, he was as amiable as Mr. Weasley! She hoped he was in one of his better moods.

"Come in," he said. Hermione pushed open the door with a half-smile on her face. Mr. Cromwell smiled back. It seemed he was in one of his better moods.

"Hello sir," she began. "I was wondering, if any missing persons' reports have come in during the past month? Just wondering…"

"Hmm…well, there's been some news of a few Muggle disappearances, which I'm sure you've heard of. For instance, the two muggle disappearances in Austria; and of course, the young wizarding couples' disappearance in Switzerland while climbing the Alps. The Swiss Ministry insists it was merely natural causes, but I'm not so sure, seeing as how they were of magical blood. But here, no, there have not." He paused. "Why?"

"Well…the reason I've been out is because…," Hermione's voice drifted off. "I found a young boy very recently and I've been taking care of him." She finished in a rush.

"Alright, then, I supposed you ought to fill out a missing person's form. Here." Mr. Cromwell pushed a form towards Hermione, surprisingly calm. "Fill it out and return it to me once you're done. Well I'm glad you're back." A letter flew through door, narrowly missing Hermione's head. Mr. Cromwell broke the seal and scanned the letter, a look of disgust apparent on his face. "Wizengamot needs to get a new Chief Warlock! All the indecision about the cases—it's insane! Get back to work, Miss Granger!"

'Oh dear, another bipolar fit," Hermione thought. She turned back cautiously as she was heading out. "Sir, I was wondering…may I look at those records of missing persons' in Europe? I've an idea pertaining to the Lestrange case," she explained.

"Sure. But get it back to me as soon as you can!" Mr. Cromwell demanded. "Now shoo! I've another case to attend to." He rolled his eyes.

"Of course." She grabbed the 12-inch-thick stack of manila folders and marched back to her office. "Sophie? Could you get two of those maps of Europe and a box of pins?"

"Yes, right away, ma'am." She scurried off. Hermione sat at the table and began scanning the files. After she looked at 1 of the 48 files, Sophie returned. Hermione magicked the maps onto a wall and began writing the dates, times, and locations of each of the disappearances and deaths on sticky notes. She then pinned the muggle disappearances on one map with white pins and the wizarding ones on the other map with blue pins. She had gotten through 4 of the files by the time it was 3 o'clock. So far, there seemed to be no pattern to the attacks, though they all moved in a generally eastward pattern. She had no idea what that indicated though. However, she decided she would need to inform Blaise, her partner in the Lestrange case, about this new development. After placing a few Sticking Charms on the map, she took it off the wall, rolled it up, and Reducio'ed it so it fit into her purse. Then, she took the 12 of the files, and called it a day.

"Thanks, Sophie. I'm going to leave now," announced Hermione.

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Miss Granger." Hermione exited her office and locked her door before heading into the Atrium and exiting the Ministry. While the majority of Ministry officials left around 6, Hermione and quite a number of other workers had to leave earlier—unbeknownst to most, Hermione now had a little boy to take care of!

Hermione apparated back to the apartment and dropped off her work stuff before flooing to the wizarding school to pick up Angelo. As she stepped out into the Traveling Room, Angelo bounded in to meet her.

"Miss Mione! Miss Mione! Can I have a sleepover with Emmett? Can I? Can I?" Angelo pleaded, his eyes wide with excitement. Just then, Gina was dragged in by an equally excited Emmett.

"What is this I hear of a sleepover?" Gina asked.

"Mummy, can Angelo come over today?" begged Emmett. Gina looked up at Hermione.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"Well, I don't particularly mind," replied Hermione. "I've things to do. So if it's alright with you, then it's alright with me."

"I don't mind taking the kids for a night," said Gina. "Why don't you go home with Miss Mione, Angelo, and get your stuff? Then Hermione'll bring you over."

"OK," agreed Angelo. "Come on, Miss Mione! Let's go home!" said Angelo, tugging her hand impatiently.

"Alright, alright!" Hermione grabbed ahold of his hand and disappeared in a flash of green flames, followed by Gina and Emmett.

After packing a duffel bag for Angelo, Hermione led the way to Gina's apartment, Angelo bouncing excitedly beside her. Hermione lifted her finger to press the doorbell, but before she had even touched it, the door was flung open by an equally excited Emmett. Angelo jumped out from behind Hermione and followed Emmett into Gina's apartment.

Gina arrived at the door. "Hey, Mione! I'll just take that from you," she said, indicating Angelo's duffel. Hermione passed it over.

"Where will they be sleeping?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, in Emmett and Anthony's room." Emmett and Anthony shared a room, and had a bunk bed. "There's a trolley under Anthony's bed," replied Gina.

"Alright. Well, I'll leave then in your capable hands! I'll come pick up Angelo at 8:30, shall I?"

"Oh, no need! Just bring over his school stuff, and I'll just drop him off at school. Emmett and Angelo have soo much fun with him, anyways!" Gina paused again. "Any news about his parents?"

"No, I asked both Harry and my head, Mr. Cromwell. Both inquiries turned up with nothing."

"Well, that could be good… Isn't it like after…what is it? Two weeks? You can apply for custody?"

"A month. Plus I feel a bit…I dunno…bad about it because he deserves to be with his parents. Though, you'd think my now, they would've filed a report. They mustn't have been very good parents if he ran away. Anyways, I ought to go now; I've work to do."

"OK. See you later!" Gina gave Hermione a hug before closing the door. Hermione walked back to her apartment and gathered her work things once more before flooing to the Zabini Villa. She needed to have a talk with Blaise.

"Hello, Maria," greeted Hermione. "Do you know where Blaise is?"

"Oh! Hello Hermione! Blaise is in his office. Have you got new information for the case?"

"Hopefully. I'm not certain about the connection, but it seems rather significant."

"That's great!" Maria turned and shouted up the stairs, "Hurry up Antonia! You'll be late to your visit with your abuela! And you know how much she doesn't like it!" Hermione waved goodbye before turning and walking down the hallway that led to Blaise's office. 'Antonia…where have I heard that name before?' she thought. Then she remembered with a jolt! 'Angelo! He mentioned that his best friend was Antonia! Perhaps I'll get a better clue now as to whom his parents are…'

Hermione raised her hand, about to knock on the door, when she heard a voice issuing from inside the room. It sounded familiar.

"Blaise, have you heard any news about Scorpius?" The voice seemed really worried. Hermione paused, and couldn't help but listen in.

"No, I'm sorry Draco, but no one's filled out a report yet. I'll check again later, but…" Hermione almost gasped in surprise! It was Draco Malfoy and he had a missing person! Was Angelo really Scorpius? What a terrible name! she thought, then giggled silently to herself. She missed a bit of the conversation as she thought to herself, and when she tuned back in, she realized Draco and Blaise had turned to more mundane topics. After making a bit of noise to signal her approachment, Hermione finally knocked on the door.

"I hate to disturb you, Blaise, but-oh! Hello Draco!" Hermione greeted, feigning surprise. "I got your note, how does Wednesday at noon sound to you?"

"I'm afraid I'm unavailable at that time. What about after work that day?" Draco suggested. Hermione paused, looking unsure of herself. Blaise found it very odd—Hermione had never hesitated to do anything for work before.

"What time?" she asked hesitantly.

"Perhaps 5:30?" Draco suggested.

"I have an idea. Why don't we just go out before work tomorrow and grab a coffee? We can talk then." Hermione suggested instead.

"I think that'll do. What time?"

"Whenever you're available," said Hermione.

"It may take a while," warned Draco. "How about 7:30?"

"Sure. No problem. Alright, well, would you mind leaving me to talk with Blaise? You're welcome to stay, of course; the information has to do with missing persons' cases. I feel like it may tie in with some rogue ex-Death Eaters, yourself excluded, of course," she jokingly explained.

"Nah…I know when I'm unwanted. Talk to you later, Blaise?"

"Sure." Blaise turned towards Hermione and prompted her to sit as soon as Draco had disappeared in a burst of green flames through the Floo, headed home, presumably. She pulled out both maps, enlarged them, and proceeded to explain her suspicions to Blaise.

"OK. So the blue pins are where members of the wizarding community have either gone missing or killed. Light blue is missing, dark blue is killed. The muggle community is white/black pins; black is death, of course, and white is missing. Attached are sticky notes with the date, place, number of people missing/ killed, and a reference to the file number for more info. Care to help?" Hermione explained

"Of course I'll help, though I was assuming our case work would be pertaining to the Lestranges'case…?"

"Yes. See, I have a hunch that all these missing/killed people may have a sort of pattern. But, the files aren't organized. So once we do this, we might get a better idea about the pattern. I've only gotten through a few of the files, but if you look, they all move in a sort of north-eastern or eastern direction. I want to see where that leads to. And perhaps, that location will be the next location of the attackers. If you read through the files, you notice that many of the deaths have similar autopsies. By the Ministries of Magic and Muggle officials, both."

"Alright. Do you have some of the files?"

"Yea, there are a total of 48 files, all about a ¼ inch thick."

"Ughh…" Blaise interrupted. Hermione glared at him.

"Anyways, I've gotten through 4 already. We can split them up. I have 12 with me, so you should take 6 and I'll take 6."She paused. "Actually, do you want Muggle or Wizarding?"

"Which has less?" Hermione glared at him. "Joking! I'll take Wizarding."

"Alright. So, take this map and these pins…oh and these sticky notes! And these files, of course." Tell me once you're done. It's a pain. I'll just take these 5 files back and work on them back home."

"Sure. No prob. Talk to you later?"

"Of course. Bye Blaise." With that, Hermione flooed back to her spacious apartment and ordered Chinese take-out before working on the case. She went to bed with many thoughts floating around in her head, but the most prominent being 'I've pretty much ascertained that Angelo is Scorpius… but how do I break it to Draco? And do I really want to?'

Draco fell asleep thinking of Hermione, just as she was of him. But his thoughts had floated elsewhere. 'Is that gorgeous woman really Granger? The buck-toothed, frizzy-haired, teacher's pet from school?' He felt a sort of undeniable attraction towards the petite brunette, though she was neither buck-toothed nor frizzy-haired anymore. And according to Blaise, Hermione still was one of the best in the Ministry—she always had to be on top, besting him in every course. Except Defense Against the Dark Arts, where Potter had bested him—that was even worse! Yet, still, Hermione was a girl no longer. And Draco couldn't deny that either. All thoughts of his worrisome search for Scorpius had all but dissipated; instead, they focused on Hermione. He wished that she would agree to take the case, as Mr. Jameson was being a pain, and unprofessional. His last thought before he fell into an uncomfortable slumber: Does Granger feel the same? I supposed I'll find out tomorrow…

A/N 1: Sorry for the long wait! I hope the long(ish) chapter makes up for it! It was unnaturally difficult to write. Ick. Hopefully I can get another one out by next week.

A/N 2: Did anyone watch the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2? Didn't Emma look STUNNING in her dress? As did Clémence Poésy (Fleur Delacour) and JKR! Tom looked really yummy during the press conference ^-^ 3 5 more days until the international release! 1 more day until the NYC premiere!