Author's Note: This is an AU. Characters are a little out of character due to the plot. I probably will not be describing what happened to each, but show them through dialogue instead. I also like pizza, and popcorn.

Okay, okay. Sorry for not updating too fast. To be honest, I have the chapters written up until the 9th, but I just postpone publishing it due to my tendency of changing little more details. Yes, yes! Well, let's just continue the rant later at the PS, try to enjoy the story for now!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

"Some secrets need to be kept
Some stories should never be told
Some reasons shouldn't be understood
They just might turn your blood cold" — Dangerous to Know

There was a whine ripping from her throat.

"Something had gone right for once?" dressed in Azure coloured robes, Pansy Parkinson drawled in the same air of superiority she had been using back in their Hogwarts days. She was sitting cross legged, a two-foot length of parchment on her lap supported by her left hand, sweets on her right hand. She didn't look up even when Hermione had stripped off her red jumper, revealing a white sleeveless shirt, and tore the blood-drenched bandage on her left arm.

"What do you mean 'good'? I don't even know what that word means." She answered sarcastically, still hyped up from her meeting with the Malfoy heir.

"What is this, Hermione admitting that she doesn't know something!? Wouldn't hell freeze—"

"Ha ha Blaise. Ha ha."

The room they were currently in resembled a normal sitting room with two circle-top windows parallel to each other, draped with dark floral patterned lace and charmed to display the weather outside the establishment. The walls were ecru themed, both sides covered with ceiling-height book cases, full and with some papers peeking out. Flesh coloured lanterns hung from the ceiling in a heap, lighting up the two camel back settee with several dark brown floral throw pillow lined against the windows. In the middle was dark-brown cherrywood coffee table littered with parchments of different size. Beneath the two windows were light green-cream vertical stripe recliner chairs, and the fireplace in between.

It was Pansy who designed the whole place, just two months after she had accepted the job and joined their nameless team. Hermione was rather content to leave the meeting room bleak and dry, but in order to avoid a Slytherin-themed one; she was forced to agree with this.

Blaise Zabini grinned cheekily, "Wait, why didn't you let Mrs. Malfoy fix it?"

She hopped down the three-step-stairs and sat at the nearest settee, along with St. Mungo supplied bandages, "You know busy she can be, I can't call her every time the wound opens. Besides, I'm quite confident I'll be able to discover the cure to increase recovery time for wounds caused by Dark Curses."

"You know, it wouldn't exactly open if there wasn't force." Pansy said, finally looking up and tossing her a roll of St. Mungo bandages Narcissa Malfoy had supplied. She smirked suddenly in realization, "Ran across Draco, haven't you now?"

She groaned, "I really don't want to remember that bloody Ferret. I had to vanish Mason's notes on the Memory Charm cure; it would've been pretty useful."

"If you ask me, I would say all it could've contained was dragon dung."

"Reminds me." Blaise began, "Haven't exactly talked to Draco for a while, but Theo has been in a foul mood recently about not being able to piece up the information. Why was Mason given a Living Death potion instead of getting murdered like those on the second floor of his house? It's bloody difficult to maintain a straight face when you want to burst out laughing. Seriously, using a real human to bait the Sypltis Brothers? I didn't know you could be so risk taking."

"Take the Red and Gold out, that girl can be a decent Slytherin." Pansy commented.

"Such a wonderful comment coming from the Queen herself." Hermione did a mock bow, mirroring the Slytherins' smiles but then she paused. "Aren't you...crossing some kind of sugar limits for today?" she pouted, using her lips in pointing at the still-ample pile of sweets with her lips while dressing her wound with the use of her wand.

"Oh?" Pansy raised a brow for a moment, before she understood. "Oh!" then she laughed, "No of course these are not all mine! I made them for you, since I saw the prophet this morning and found out Weasel— sorry I mean Weasley—"

"Pans, wait—"

"Is getting married to Accirngton. Seriously that man has no taste. But then again, anyone who would pine for him has also probably no taste so they would still be perfect for each other."

There was a pause.

"Way to drop the bomb, Pans." Blaise shook his head and plopped down on the sofa opposite to Hermione who rolled her eyes.

"I already saw it. And I don't need the chocolate. Merlin knows you've spiked it up with what—"

Pansy gasped audibly, "Granger! How could I!" but a stern stare later and she smiled innocently, "Weeeeell… maybe a dose of Love Potion First Sight,"

Unsurprised, Blaise prodded. "And?"

"And a bit of Muggle aphrodisiac?"

"God Pansy! Do you want me to just get it on with some stranger—"

Playing offended, the Slytherin Witch declared, "I was just trying to be a good… uhh.. co-worker with you and if my guess is correct, you aren't even experienced in the art of love making!"

"Wait," Hermione halted, raising her palm. "If those chocolates are spiked with love potions and drugs, then why are you…"

Realization dawned on them all. Pansy gaped, and Blaise burst out laughing.

"Fuck."

Two days later.

Potter stood at the other end of the conference table, his circle glasses removed and his fingers massaging the bride of his nose. That was how he held himself after tossing half-an inch thick folder with various attachments related to their current case.

"Something's up." Weasley was the one who spoke instead; standing by the window and drinking firewhiskey. He raised the parchment to read the article summarizing the whole quest. "Case Code FPRD283 Mordechai Mason. Mason was found in the ground floor of his house to have consumed the Draught of Living Death. On the second floor were two brutally murdered, wands taken or destroyed. There was no one within the Village who could think of a person with grudge to do such a thing, nor have they seen any suspicious person lurking. He was heard to have been studying the cure for Obliviate but shortly after his recovery, he was discovered to have lost his memories."

"Yes, we already know that, Weasley." Theo sneered impatiently, "Why did you call us here?"

"There's a break-through." Finally Potter spoke, sighing.

There were several occupants within the Conference room of the Department of Magical Laws and Enforcement that moment. Harry Potter, Auror, the one who usually receives the alerts and requests from their Head Auror. Ronald Weasley, Auror, the current Team Leader. Theodore Nott, Auror, known for perfecting the Concealment and Disguise course. Justin Finch-Fletchey, Investigator, one who is usually assigned to talk to people due to his patient and respectful nature. Azalea Denholm, Magical Law Enforcement Patrol, the one generally assigned to clear the scene off of civilians and/or Muggles. Cormac McLaggen, Hit Wizard, trained field-wizard. Draco Malfoy, Magical Law Enforcement Officer, one who qualifies for more than a Sub-Department yet currently assigned to the Investigation Department.

The seven of them form the MLE's Elites.

"Err… What exactly happened, Harry?" Finch-Fletchey asked, leaning closer. He was sitting diagonally to Potter, with Denholm next to him. McLaggen was opposite to them, foot propped on the table and smoking, nursing an uninterested looks on his face. Theo was sitting at the settee against the wall, holding a flash of liquor with his left hand.

Saint Potter and Weaselbee both shrugged. This caused Draco to groan, "Will you just cut the chase and tell them?"

"About—?"

"The Case was classified closed as of this morning." Potter said.

"What?" Denholm muttered. "But how—"

"The men were identified. It turned out to be the Sypltis Brothers, wanted for using Unforgivable on Muggles and Wizards, abusing them, and leaving them to die. They were up on the Mission Board as Class-S for two months now, but High Aurors and Hit Wizards weren't exactly fond of catching criminals that were expert in hiding themselves."

"Are you saying that it just happened that they broke into Mason's house, gave him the Draught and killed themselves?" McLaggen's eyes narrowed skeptically.

"Oh Merlin." Draco groaned, crossed at the three Gryffindors. "What Potter is trying to say is that the case is assumed close, with Mason magically catching the two criminals, and drinking the Draught due to lack of other explanations."

"That's exactly what had Harry just said." Ron rolled his eyes.

"It takes more than one explanation for you lot." He shot back, "And even I couldn't take the result. We could be working against a rogue who's feeding on information. The work is certainly far from mediocre."

Finch Fletcey turned to him, "Based on what?"

"It could be that we have a culprit whose goal is to steal Mason's cure, and the brothers just happened to be in the way." He paused, "Or the brothers and the culprit are working together but upon retrieving the files, the culprit killed the two."

Take that Granger.

"A professional?" Theo groaned, head thudding against the wall.

"So it's impossible that Mason could've killed the two?" Denholm asked.

"Yes, that was just implied."

"Now that you've brought that up, we haven't also found Mason's wand, by the way." Finch Fletchey told Weasley, head craned back.

There was a short moment of silence, and it was Potter who said, "I can't shake off the feeling that this event is some kind of calm-before the storm."

"Yeah.", "Calm before the what?"

One last sigh, "It's a Muggle idiom."

Charaaaan! I have now revealed the two ends of a stick... or are they really against each other?! Dun-dun-dun! Find out on the next update! xD