A/N: As promised, I've updated this pretty early compared to my other chapters. I love all my followers, reviewers and the ones who favorited me and this story! ^^

Anyway, hope you like this one, keep reviewing and let me know about the progress. The next chapter will be put up shortly :) (Like within this week or so. I promise.)

"Harry, it's been almost four months and we have not got any other suspects other than those four!" Ron groaned over Harry's table, watching his friend puffing a cigarette as he skimmed through the case files. "I mean, it's your birthday and here we are sitting in your dingy office solving a mystery which is going nowhere!"

"I guess you're right," Harry said from the corner of his mouth. "I'm twenty seven today and we are supposed to celebrate." He then shut the files and threw his head back in frustration. "And here I am in my office-"

"Dingy office-"

"Solving a four month old murder mystery." Harry finished, ignoring Ron's interruption. "Lord help me!"

Then there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Harry lazily called out, when Hermione walked in with her sunglasses resting on the bridge of her nose, her head covered with a lavender colored scarf. It seemed to the boys that she was about to say something before she stopped dead in her tracks and took off her sunglasses.

"Harry, when did you start smoking?" She asked Harry, more like demanded as Harry crushed the cigarette into the ashtray.

"Um, a while ago." Harry murmured guiltily, knowing Hermione wouldn't like this habit of his like Elena.

"It's my cue to go." Ron announced, before gathering up his files and leaving Harry's office, closing the door behind.

The two remaining in the room merely stared at each other, when Harry sighed and got on his feet.

"I'm sorry Hermione," he said walking over to her. "I know it's unhealthy-"

"Then why are you doing it?" She asked simply.

"Because, it's become a habit-"

"A bad habit." She corrected him. "It could affect your lungs-" she sighed. "If you know then why?"

Harry sighed and looked at her chocolate orbs questioning him. He didn't want to lie about this habit of his, so he said-

"It was because of depression. After we parted, my dad died, then my mum, I was so depressed." His voice started to quiver. "I wanted to let go of it. So I started to drink, smoke. Then Elena, my sister she said that I had to be focused. She knew that I could be a better person. That's why I stopped drinking. But smoking-"

"Then please stop this for me." Hermione quietly pleaded. "Harry you're a successful, respected and an honored man. You don't need to punish yourself for something you haven't done."

"I'm not punishing-"

"Yes you are! It's simple human psychology!" She interjected. "Please stop this, for me."

Harry chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Softly nuzzling his nose with hers, he said "You know how to blackmail me, don't you?"

Hermione merely shot him a smirk and replied "I'm an actress, I can blackmail anyone. Can't complain about that." She chuckled. "I have to look convincing."

Harry laughed and leaned in to kiss her when he felt her finger touching his lips.

"I don't kiss a man whose mouth tastes like ash." She said playfully, yet firmly. "Go do something about it and then you'll get your kiss."

"You're lucky that I keep mints in my pocket at all times," Harry said with a smirk and withdrew a small box of mint from it. Popping one into his mouth, he continued "Now do I get my kiss Miss Granger?"

Hermione shook her head and smiled as he took her in his arms again. "I unfortunately have to because its your birthday." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Harry laughed slightly before lowering his lips to hers. Their relationship had escalated in the last two and a half months after the reminiscing date Harry had taken Hermione to their secret place. They had been spending more time with each other whilst juggling their celebrity lives. Even the media had gone all curious for knowing why Sir Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were spotted holding hands in Hyde Park or were found whispering and laughing at each other's words at Miss Granger's latest movie premiere.

However public attention didn't matter to the two anymore; they got enough before, during the trials held for the Prime Minister's murder. The media was however astonished when they found Harry and Hermione spending time together and blamed Hermione for 'trapping Sir Potter into her mischievous charm'.

Hermione laughed against his lips and broke the kiss. Looking into Harry's endearing emerald eyes, she whispered "Happy Birthday Harry."

Harry kissed her forehead, before resting his against hers. "Thank you." He said quietly. "I have been imagining this moment for the past decade."

Hermione laughed and placed a kiss on his cheekbone and then his nose. The moment his face crinkled, she giggled and placed a firm kiss on his lips.

"Who knew behind that hideous face of a chief detective was this adorable boyish side of yours." She said.

"Hey, I'm at work." Harry said in a playfully stern voice. "I don't want my reputation to-"

"I know, I know." Hermione smiled. "I just came over to wish and give you and Ron some passes for my show tonight. But, you got me distracted-"

"Oh look who's talking, the one who kissed me first-"

"And I found you smoking-"

Hermione's words were cut as Harry's lips fell on hers and kissed her deeply. She responded back vigorously, threading her hand into his hair deepening the kiss. His tongue circled her mouth for permission-

The door opened with a burst, causing the two lovers to jump apart and finding a flushed Derek, holding a couple of files in his arms, ready to leave his chief's office to give the couple some privacy.

"Oh I'm sorry chief, I-" Derek stuttered, motioning at the door. "I guess I'll leave-"

"It's alright Derek, I was just leaving." Hermione said with a smile. "I'm sure Harry wants to murder you but he won't because you're his sister's husband." She gave out a nervous chuckle while Derek smiled sheepishly.

"You're so wrong Hermione." Harry muttered under his breath.

The brunette merely placed a kiss on Harry's cheek and said "I'll hand the passes to Ron. You better carry on with work. I have rehearsals anyway." She then placed a quick kiss on his lips. "See you tonight."

Harry stood dumbfounded at his position as his lover smiled at Derek and left the office. The two men uncomfortably looked at each other for moments when Derek decided to speak.

"I'm sure it would've gone somewhere else if I wouldn't have interrupted." He said cheekily with a wink.

"And if you weren't my sister's husband, I would've fired you at an instant." Harry said gruffly with a glare, motioning Derek to sit on the chair opposite to his on the table. "Anyway, what brings you here Hallway?" He asked.

Derek cleared his throat and opened the files he had brought. "It's about the Walsh case chief. My team and I investigated the crime scene again and found some footprints, other than those of the suspects we found." He said, handing his boss some sheets. "These were probably from the time of murder, 1915 hours to be exact. And it happened to be of a woman's."

Harry's heart raced as he investigated the footprints. The sheet showed a pair of kitten heels, parts of it covered with mud. He knew it had rained that day but, the shoe prints look awfully familiar.

"Wait a minute, it's possible that they are Hermione's." Harry blurted out. "But she's proved innocent-"

"Do you know what her shoe size is?" Derek asked him.

"She's a size six and a half." Harry said, looking at Derek for a reply.

"This shoe is a size seven or seven and a half. So it's not her." Derek said with a smile as his boss drew out a breath of relief.

"So it's obvious that-" Harry paused and thought for a moment. "Someone else had murdered Greg and had tried to frame Hermione into it."

"But why Miss Granger?" His junior asked. "Why not Miss Wanton?"

"What was Sheila's shoe size again?"

"A size eight."

The chief reclined back into his chair and said "Then I'm sure someone close to Gregory had tried to frame Hermione into their plan."

Derek questioningly looked at his chief, knowing he had something in his mind. "It looks like you have someone in your mind." He said.

All Harry did was to smirk and say "I've known Hermione and Gregory for more than you have. I'm sure I'll get a clue tonight; from Hermione herself."

Everyone was settled. Men puffed their cigars while women immersed themselves in gossip. The curtains were yet to raise when two men entered the hall, distracting the audience from their own personal space.

"And we get the attention again." Ron muttered into Harry's ear as his friend waved at the audience, trying his best to ignore the reporters walking over to them.

"Just ignore and walk away Ron," Harry muttered back. "Follow me."

"How on earth do you handle this?" Ron asked him as they were ushered into the VIP seating row. "It's scary!"

"Ron, calm down!" Harry exclaimed with a chuckle. "I thought you were getting used to it. Besides, this is Hermione Granger's first onstage performance after the trial. It's obvious that people would come over to watch her."

Before Ron could reply, the lights in the hall went dim. Harry wondered why his heart started to thump madly against his rib cage as the curtains started to raise. Was it because he was about to watch his Hermione perform live in front of this huge crowd, or was it because he was dying to see her beautiful face after the event in his office.

We had just snogged though, that's something not great, Harry thought to himself as he saw three rows of girls, wearing black hooded robes, Hermione not being visible to his sight. It was when a young woman, probably in her late twenties, walked in waving at the audience, flashing them her smile as her blonde banged bounced happily against her shoulder.

"She looks beautiful doesn't she?" Ron whispered cheekily into Harry's ear.

"She does." Harry said momentarily. "But not as beautiful as Hermione."

"Obviously, you're eyes are only on her mate," Ron said with a smirk. "I wish I could have a chance with this one though-"

"Ron, you're married."

The ginger sighed. "I know. And I love my wife deeply. She amazing you know; Luna." Ron said with a smile.

"And now ladies and gentlemen, it's time to bring our beautiful performer for this evening on the stage!" The host announced. "May we now present you, after almost five months, the one and only Hermione Granger!"

Harry nearly jumped out if excitement when her name was called while the hall echoed with a stream of applauses. Then he saw her walking into the stage, wearing a black hooded robe like her other singers. She gave the audience a huge smile and waved with all her energy. Harry's heart warmed a little as she caught his eye and smiled shyly at him.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen." Hermione greeted her audience, earning another round of applause. "I'm glad that all of you could make it and I will make sure that you don't get bored tonight. It's a promise."

There was another round of cheering and applause, when a jazzy music started to play on the background. Harry and Ron exchanged a look and then looked at Hermione, who had a sultry look on her face as she started to sway her hips.

"Never knew that Hermione can go for a different genre." Ron commented.

"For your information, she was working on this song with Marilyn Monroe." Harry informed. "It's Marilyn's words and Hermione's voice. This song was supposed to be released in April but then she was arrested for Greg's murder."

"You know far too much mate." Ron said with a smirk.

His friend merely rolled his eyes and replied, "Before being with Minnie, I was and always remain a huge fan of her songs and movies."

"If you say so-" Ron stopped dead in his tracks when all the girls on the stage let their hooded robes fall on the stage gracefully. "Bloody hell." He further murmured.

Harry's eyes widened in excitement as Hermione too looked seductively towards him and let her robe fall on the stage. All the singers, were wearing a mid thigh length black corset, their hair done in a French up-do. Their long legs bore matching netted thongs and black kitten heels, which took away the breaths of many men who sat in the hall.

Hermione too wore a corset of red and black combination. Harry had a hard time looking at her while she sang and danced wantonly, if that was the correct word he could describe her performance with. Her deep red netted thongs and gloves were adorned with silver rhinestones and her face bore bold make up, which brought our dear Sir Potter to sweat at the sight he was seeing.

"She's doing something out of her comfort zone for the very first time." Harry managed to say when he thought that Hermione threw him a wink.

"You can say that." Was all Ron could reply as he enjoyed his friend's voice echoing the hall. "But her voice is beautiful. I must say that this one is her best single till now."

"It always was beautiful." Harry said, completely stunned as Hermione finished her number. He clapped with all his will as his beautiful lover bowed to the audience with her several other singers and looked at him. Sending her a secretive flying kiss, he brought tinged of crimson on her cheeks as she proceeded with her show.

Hermione sat in front of her vanity table as she took her make up off. After a tiring show after months, she had decided to retire into her green room, expecting the presence of a certain green-eyed lover of hers, waiting to kiss her senseless. Hermione knew that she had been successful to seduce Harry in front of her audience, however she wanted to do it personally, without any interruptions or distractions. The way he looked at her as she performed was very similar to that of a hungry lion eyeing at his prey.

There was a knock on the door when Hermione got up and tightened the silk robe around her thin frame before greeting her visitor. To her excitement, Harry quietly tiptoed into the room as she locked it again. The next thing she knew was being wrapped into her lover's strong arms and being spun by him.

"Harry!" Se squealed and then her giggle followed. "Put me down!"

"I somehow managed to get here alone, without the media following us, just to spend some time alone with you and all you have to say is put me down?" Harry joked as he put her back on feet and kissed her soundlessly.

"You were amazing!" Harry further said, placing kisses all over her face, loving the sound of her giggles. "Extremely seductive." He added huskily, nibbling on her ear. "All I wanted was to snog you all night after that."

"Oh Harry!" Hermione moaned out as Harry started to place kisses along her neck and traveled back to kiss her firmly on the lips.

Harry broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers. They looked into each other's eyes, breathing heavily. Hermione smiled and caressed his cheek with his thumb and said "I'm sorry I couldn't spend the whole day with you."

"It's alright." Harry said, nuzzling her nose. "We have the whole night for ourselves." He then kissed her jaw. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Kiss me already!" Hermione giggled and her lover kissed her at an instant.

There was a spark of electricity which travelled their veins, giving their hands some energy to travel the length of their sizzling bodies. Moans were emitted from their mouths as their lips ferociously battled one another, their tongues likening fought for dominance.

Harry left her mouth and then attacked her neck with his lips, wrapping her legs around his waist. He sat them on the couch and kissed her again, his hands running along the length of her thighs, revealed to him as her robe hiked up.

"Ha-Harry!" Hermione moaned out breathlessly as Harry untied her robe, finding her in the same corset she had performed in. "Harry!"

Harry broke the kiss and looked questioningly at her gaze. "What's wrong love?" He murmured between his heavy breathing.

"Oh it's just-" Hermione stuttered. Blushing, she motioned at Harry's pants which had noticeably grown tighter as he active member prodded against his trousers.

"I'm so sorry Hermione." Harry apologized as his ears went red in embarrassment. "I shouldn't have taken it that far."

"You're such a gentleman." Hermione said a laugh and kissed him softly. "It's okay though. We both were caught in the heat of the moment. As much as its your fault, it's mine as well."

"Well if you wear a corset like this and seduce me, it is meant to happen." Harry teased. " Anyway, would you like to lie down?"

"On this couch?"

"Why not?"

The brunette giggled and kissed his cheek. "Okay."

Harry slowly lay them down on the couch, with Hermione's petite form on top of him. He brought her head to lay comfortably on his chest and gave it a kiss.

"You weren't ready for it, were you?" He asked quietly.

Hermione sighed and answered "No."

"It's alright. You've just come out of a marriage. And I don't want us to jump onto the next step. I have loads to make up for before we do." Harry said with a smile, which earned him a kiss on his chest.

They lay in comfortable silence enjoying the feeling of their heart hammering against each other. Hermione snuggled deeper into his embrace and decided to start a conversation.

"So, how's the murder case going?" She asked casually.

Harry merely sighed and started to comb her short curls with his fingers. "Till today it was going on rubbish. Until we found another clue."

He then felt Hermione stiffen as she looked up at him. "What clue?" She asked carefully.

"It were footprints of kitten heels." Harry said and noted the worry in her chocolate eyes. "Don't worry. I'm sure they are not yours." He added with a smile. "You're a still a size six and a half right?"

Hermione smiled and nodded her head.

"The ones we found were around seven to seven and a half." Harry continued. "Hermione, do you know anyone other than you, Jeremy and Sheila visiting Greg that night, a woman in particular?"

Hermione rested her head back on his chest in a deep thought when something struck her.

"Um- other than us three, Greg had a small meeting with Rebecca Richardson at six forty five in the evening." Hermione answered. "I remember writing it in his reminder list."

"The lawyer?" Harry asked, feeling Hermione nod against his chest. He was too close to all his answers. "Why- how are they related? He never told me anything about her."

"Harry," Hermione sighed and looked at him. "My ex father in law kept many secrets from you. From me marrying his son to-" she paused dramatically. "Rebecca Richardson being his jealous ex wife."