Chapter 4
A/N: Here it is :D Chapter 4
Hermione, Ron, Draco and Harry apparated right infront of the coffee shop next to Flourish and Blotts. Chances were Elliot was still on duty. Hermione spotted him taking Proffesor McGonagall's order. Draco quickly signalled him to meet them when he was done. Elliot nodded in understanding.
They were not here to arrest Elliot, they didn't have enough evidence, they did however need to question him.
Finally Elliot came over.
"Elliot we have some questions for you,"Hermione said. "We are investigating Maia Bones' murder-"
" What do you mean her murder? Nobody told me anything about this! Why wasn't I told? "
Elliot looked furious. "I'm going to kill him!" he vowed.
"Elliot, I need you to calm down and explain to us what was your relationship with Maia," Hermione said in a controlled voice.
"What relationship ?" he asked his voice going high. " Ofcourse all the papers have been modified since I was adopted," he realised bitterly.
"Maia is my sister ! I was supposed to protect her! "
"She's my sister," he repeated sorrowfully, answering his own question.
Hermione stared at him. Maia and Elliot had not much family resemblance between them. Except the nose, they had the exact same slightly curved nose. Maia had blonde hair, Elliot brown, but how could this family secret be hidden so long? Somebody must have knew... This is why Kingsley had told them to speak to Susan. Some skeletons in the closet or a brother sized one, Hermione mused.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Hermione said quietly. "Why were you at her house?" she asked curious.
" Her boyfriend kept mistreating her. I told her to leave him! She deserved better than him. He was always jealous and she had this bruise on her arm one day, it was purple," he shuddered remembering. "I was so afraid of what he would do to her, but I never met him. She wouldn't let anyone know who he was."
They were back to square one, with a mysterious boyfriend who was abusive and no way to find him.
Hermione was getting frustrated. "Do you know where he works? Anything about this man?" Hermione asked.
Elliot was beginning to sob loudly. Hermione didnt want to be insensitive but they had to catch this killer.
"Hey, hey there, Elliot, take the day off, meet the rest of your family , make arrangements," she said softly. "If you have any other information here's our card," she said handing one to him.
She squeezed his shoulder before leaving with the other three who were suspiciously quiet this whole time.
"Phew! Lucky we have Hermione to deal with that part of the investigation,"Ron said as they walked out of the coffee shop.
"I wouldn't know what to say to the poor bloke!"
"Ron," Hermione chastised him, "he just lost his sister!"
"That family is weird Granger, how could they not tell him?" Draco asked perplexed.
"To be honest I dont think half of that family knows or cares," she replied walking into Flourish and Blotts.
"What are we doing in here?" Ron asked.
"She's probably going to stress read," Harry supplied, smiling at her.
"Stress read?" Draco asked confused. "You read when you are having problems solving a case?" he asked taken aback.
"Yes, Malfoy it helps calm me," she said browsing through the shelves.
"When did you start this?" he asked quizzically. She hadn't done this when they worked together previously.
"About a year ago," Harry said, knowing what Draco was thinking.
"Okay, here read this," he put a book into her hands.
" The mind of a sociopath," she read aloud. "Malfoy, I already know how your mind works,"she said grinning.
She went to the front and spoke to a girl named Barbara.
"Hey Barbs, you have the books I ordered?" Hermione asked the brunette. Barbara had electric blue eyes hidden beneath her thick glasses that covered her pretty face. She became friends with Hermione, the lady who came in every so often and they both bonded over their mutual love for books. Barbara had perfect skin and long brown tresses which she kept in a messy bun today.
" Done yet Granger?" Draco came sauntering over. He looked up at Barbara for a second and then introduced himself.
"Draco Malfoy," he said formally.
"Barbara Longbottom," she said looking at his outstretched hand with disdain. "I know who you are Mr Malfoy."
" Yikes! Neville related to you?" He asked. This is not going well he thought.
Hermione watched amused. Barbara Longbottom would not succumb to the charm of Draco Malfoy. Not that he had any charm, she added to herself quickly.
Barbara rolled her eyes,"How many Longbottom's do you think there are? I'm his cousin."
Draco raised his eyebrows. This girl was a spitfire.
Potter and Weasley decided to leave their quidditch books aside and follow them to the front.
"Hey Barbara!" Ron said in a friendly manner.
"Ron!" she exclaimed. She looked happy to see him and Harry.
"Hey Harry," she added shyly.
Harry smiled politely in return. His hand brushed Hermione's slightly when he took out his wallet to pay for his quidditch book.
"Harry dont you own enough quidditch books?" Hermione asked ,her eyes twinkling.
"A man never has enough quidditch material," Ron answered for him indignantly.
"Anything for you Ron?" Barbara asked, smiling.
"No, no not today," he said hastily, knocking over a few books.
"Alright then, Hermione your books should be in tomorow, I can owl you?" Barbara asked expectantly.
"Sure that will be fine," Hermione smiled.
"While we're here in Diagon Alley I really should visit Gringotts," Harry said, realising he had spent most of his money on that book.
" I have to go too," Draco admitted begrudgingly. His mother was urging him to go dress shopping this weekend with her and he didnt want to make another trip to the bank.
"This would be so much easier when Gringotts starts using cards," Draco mumbled to himself.
"Okay well you two can go to Gringotts, Ron and I will have ice cream or something," Hermione said.
"Sounds good to me !" Ron said happily. He really wanted rocky road ice cream.
"Okay, meet us there when you're done?" Hermione asked.
"Yes boss," Draco winked.
"Come on Potter, my mother walks faster than you," Draco growled in frustration at Harry's slow pace.
Harry was about to say something rude but stopped himself as they had arrived at the doors of Gringotts.
They walked up to the nearest goblin to ask for assistance.
"Hello, I would like to make a withdrawal," Harry said politely.
"I do as well," Draco said from behind Harry.
"Keys?" the goblin, Ragnor asked.
Harry and Draco pulled out their keys for him to see.
"Right this way," he said in acceptance.
They passed a couple counters on the way and Harry noticed a few wizards who were working there.
Remembering William's words about an ex boyfriend of Maia's working here Harry quickly filled Draco in.
"Potter, we don't even know his name how are we supposed to find him?" Draco hissed.
"Like this," Harry said before jumping aside.
"All the wizard employees could you please follow me?" Harry asked in a loud authorised voice.
He showed them his auror status and amongst many murmurs ,they slowly shuffled and followed him into a side room.
"Hermione is going to flip when she finds out what you're doing Potter," Draco said shaking his head.
"This takes some guts."
Harry ignored him and addressed the small room of 10 people.
"My name is Harry Potter-" he started.
-"We know who you are," a man with dirty blonde hair cut in.
"What's your name?" Harry asked. "Since you all know me, I would like to know you."
"I'm Adrian Greengrass," the dirty blonde haired man responded.
"Sarah Jordan," said a black haired woman a few years older than them, who looked very much like the female version of Lee Jordan from school. "Are you related to Lee Jordan?" Harry asked.
"He's my younger brother," she replied with a smile.
Miranda Bagshot, Adam Avery, Luke Dirdle, Simon Smith, Holly Winchester, Samantha Diggle, Jason Cross and Reagan Black all introduced themselves.
"Is there anyone else who works with you but isn't here today?" Draco asked, looking at each one of them
"Yeah, Dan Wright helps out sometimes here," Miranda answered.
"He also works as a purger," Luke added.
"Brown hair blue eyes?" Draco questioned, his eyes narrowing.
"yup that's him," Luke said.
"Do any of you know if Dan was in a relationship with Maia Bones?" Draco asked, his mind trying to connect the dots.
"Maia Bones? No, Dan is engaged. To Hannah Abbott. " Miranda said looking confused.
"This doesn't make sense!" Draco yelled frustrated.
"We need to find Dan now," Harry said to Draco.
"There's no need. Here he comes now," Samantha spoke for the first time.
As soon as Dan took one look at the aurors, he turned and fled.
Draco whipped out his wand and ran after Dan with Potter close behind. "Granger, Dan the purger, he's on the run. Outside Gringotts, go now!" Draco called into his phone.
"We're on our way," Hermione got out before apparating right outside Gringotts. Nobody could apparate in or out of Gringotts, much like Hogwarts.
Ron apparated 2 seconds later. "What the bloody hell is going on?" he asked, annoyed at having to leave his rocky road ice cream midway.
"Dan is running," she answered.
"the purger?" he asked incredulously.
Hermione was spared answering by the hurried footsteps of their suspect.
"Dan Wright you need to come with us," Hermione said in a grave voice, pointing her wand at him.
"You have nothing on me," Dan said, his eyes wide and crazy.
"An innocent man doesn't run from aurors for no reason," Hermione said coldly. "And if we look at the last spells your wand has produced I'm sure we will find what we are looking for."
" No please, Hannah and I are going to be so happy," he said trying to believe his own words.
"Let's go," Hermione motioned to Harry and Draco who came panting from their run.
"So that's our first case done," Harry said grimly as they watched Dan get taken away.
"Why did the crazy bloke even do it?" Ron questioned, shaking his head.
"He was dating Maia and Hannah at the same time. Maia threatened to tell Hannah about them after she found out about the engagement and Dan needed to do something." Hermione explained.
"He killed her over that? Bleeding tool he is!" Ron said indignantly.
"His fingerprints match the ones on the mug at Maia's place and her wards allowed him in," Draco came in giving them the news.
"And his wand showed us he did perform the killing curse. Cherry on top was his confession."
"Funny part is Hannah was the one to set William and Maia on that date! She had no idea Dan was dating her too," Draco finished, folding his arms across his chest.
"Well that's that, case closed," Kingsley said coming in.
"I just came to congratulate you on a job well done, I knew you could work together," he said with wide smile.
Harry's stomach growled. "We should go get something to eat," Hermione said chuckling.
"I'm starving! I didn't even get to finish my rocky road ice cream," Ron complained as three of them left.
"Coming Draco?" Hermione asked, her eyes softening.
"Maybe next time Granger," Draco answered, leaving.
"Maybe next time," she repeated softly, watching his retreating figure before going after her friends.
A/N: And that's case 1 done and dusted!