A/N: As promised, an update in three days! Hope you enjoy this one!
The room welcomed the first August morning with bright rays and twittering birds, giving Derek Hallway a morning call. The young man sighed and pulled the body next to him close; drawing soft patterns over the clothing it wore.
"Ellie." He murmured when the body never made any signs of moving. "Ellie darling?"
Derek opened his eyes to find himself hugging his wife's pillow. He stupidly smiled at himself before rolling on his back. He and Elena had been married for nearly a month and a half. Derek could still picture his beautiful bride entering the chapel as she clutched her brother's arm for life. The moment she looked at him with her dimpled smile, he knew that Elena Lily Hallway had replaced work from his top priority list. He had never been so happy in his life since he got a detective's job under her brother, Harry Potter's wing.
Derek's eyes diverted towards the bathroom door which then opened, revealing Elena in a blue silk dressing robe, tying her fiery red mane into a messy bun. The moment her warm chocolate eyes caught him staring at her, she gave him a refreshing smile.
"It's rude to stare at a lady." Elena joked, walking towards the bed.
"It's not rude to stare at your wife if she's extremely attractive and beautiful." Derek said cheekily, pulling her on top of him as she gave out a squeal. "As innocent you look now, I must remind you that you were a wild vixen last night."
Elena blushed gracefully and swatted his chest. "Please don't mention that." She said shyly, bringing her husband to chuckle.
"But you're beautiful," Derek said, cupping her cheek and placing a soft kiss on her skin. "And I love you." He then kissed her fully on the lips.
Elena responded equally with all her love she had for Derek, thinking about the first time she met him. Two and a half years ago, her brother had been christened with the 'Sir' title and he had thrown a dinner party at his place. Elena was then a Psychology graduate from the Oxford University (unlike her brother who had mastered Criminology), who too decided to join her brother's moment of pride. Amidst of main course and desserts, she found herself attracted to a twenty two year old, handsome, angelic looking Derek Hallway, who happened to be a new member of Harry's department. After this very night, the two kept meeting 'accidentally' in parks and cafés when finally the young man got the courage to ask Elena's brother her hand in courting.
"Oh Derek," Elena gave out a moan as her husband rolled her underneath him and unknotted her bun. "I love you too."
Her husband dearly looked at her and kissed her again, demandingly this time, as his fingers unknotted her robe. Elena kept enjoying the feel of his fingers skimming her bare stomach when the doorbell rang.
Elena laughed against Derek's lips and pushed him slightly. "Derek get off!" She said.
"To hell with whoever it is." Derek joked and started to attack her neck when the doorbell rang again. "It's a Sunday, bloody seven in the morning and I have all the rights to spend some time with my wife in bed-"
"Derek, it must be Harry." Elena breathed out. "He said he'd be dropping by in the morning."
That stopped Derek from his ministrations as he questioningly looked at his wife. The only answer he got was a nod. At an instant he got on his feet in his naked glory and donned his pyjamas which was laying on the floor.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Derek asked Elena who too got on her feet and tightly tied the robe around herself.
"You distracted me." Elena said accusingly, tying her hair into a bun. "How do you expect me to remember?"
Derek could sense mischievousness in her wife's tone which made him kiss her briefly when the doorbell rang again.
"Alright, alright." Elena said breaking the kiss and running towards the door. "Coming!"
Finally the door opened to reveal an annoyed Harry Potter standing with a suitcase in his hands. He looked at his sister for an explanation, who meekly stood in front of him.
"I'm sorry. We couldn't open the door," Elena started, allowing her brother to enter the house. "Derek and I had a tiring night and we-"
"Ellie, as much as I love you I don't want details." Harry said awkwardly. "I can't imagine the two of you-"
"Oh Harry you have a vague imagination." Elena chuckled, hugging her brother tightly.
"I know." Harry said cheekily kissing her head. "Anyway, where is Derek?"
"Here I am chief!" Derek appeared behind his wife with a huge smile. "Actually I was unaware that you were coming, Ellie forgot to mention it to me."
"It's quite alright." Harry said, inviting himself into the kitchen and settling himself onto the island.
"I'll get tea." Elena excused herself, knowing that the two men had 'work issues' to handle.
"So anyways, what wrong?" Derek asked Harry as his boss opened his suitcase and handed him a file. The young detective questioningly looked at him, waiting for Harry to answer.
"Rebecca Richardson was the fourth person who had gone to meet Gregory Walsh the evening he was murdered." Harry said as Derek studied the file. "And it was around half an hour before he was killed."
"So you're saying that, she killed Mister Walsh?" Derek asked.
"I'm not saying, it's just an assumption." Harry answered.
"And what about her shoe size-"
"It's a seven- seven and a half."
"How do you know about it?"
Harry sighed and looked at his sister who was bringing them tea. "Hermione told me." He answered his brother in law. "Apparently, Rebecca happens to be Gregory's ex wife."
"Alright." Derek nodded as Elena placed a cup of tea in front of Harry and then him. "Thanks sweetheart." He further said, placing a kiss on the cheek.
Elena smiled at him and sat next to her husband, joining the conversation. "So Harry, Rebecca Richardson is your new suspect?" She asked her brother.
Harry nodded when she continued. "You know you might need a witness for this-"
"I'll go to the hotel and investigate again." Derek said.
"It's your wish Derek." Elena simply said. "But I just wanted to say that I saw her outside the hotel that night."
The two men who sat grew their eyes at the girl.
"Don't look at me like that!" Elena said with a shrug. "It was around seven and I was returning home in a taxi, when I saw her enter the hotel."
"Did she come out after a while?" Harry asked curiously.
"How will I know, I was in the taxi wasn't I?" Elena exclaimed. "I had to return to a certain brother of mine-"
"So this might get Miss Richardson into a deep trouble." Derek said thoughtfully.
"Derek, you and I will go back to the hotel." Harry said. "We'll investigate further. And then, we'll pay Miss Richardson a surprise visit."
Rebecca Richardson was a spiteful woman.
The day she had discovered that her son fancied a movie star and had intended to marry her, she went ecstatic.
She knew that she was going to spoil her daughter in law even more; exactly like she spoiled her son. Hermione Granger would be lucky enough to have a mother in law like her.
Rebecca loved her family.
But then, her husband started to have an affair with a coffee waitress.
Gregory Walsh; as strong as his name was, nothing could compensate for the weak stench he reeked off when he was with women. Being the Prime Minister had its perks, he got everything he wanted. Even young girls would die to satisfy his needs. If anyone got to know about how disrespectful he was in real life, people would turn their heads from all the fame and attention he was getting.
Rebecca wanted his love which she never got. She was a loving wife and she loved her son. However her husband never loved her back.
The day her son married in secrecy was the day she divorced her husband- in secrecy.
Gregory had many secrets which no one knew of. And that day, Rebecca had promised to herself that she would teach him a lesson; show him what he was missing. Until the day he died.
And now, she sat in her office aimlessly turning her files. Being a lawyer was a petty job, and after Gregory's death, Rebecca had barely kept contact with her son and Hermione. She was worried about her children when she learned that they had been taken under custody for the murder, but now was thankful that both of them had been proved innocent. Secretly, Rebecca wished that wanton of a lady Sheila was proved to be guilty by Sir Potter.
Only if Harry Potter knew the truth ...
The door knocked and opened within seconds, revealing her secretary smiling at her.
"What is it Lorien?" Rebecca drawled, flipping the pages and placing her signature at its very end.
"Ma'am, Sir Potter is here to see you, with company." Her secretary meekly answered. "Should I let them in?"
Rebecca's eyebrows rose in question. Ah, finally he was here.
"Sure, let them in." She simply asked her secretary to do so. Within moments, a very young and handsome man entered her office, followed by the young Mister Potter her ex daughter in law fancied as a teenager. Yes, Hermione had confided everything about her teenage life to Rebecca and had sworn her to secrecy that she wouldn't reveal to anyone. Rebecca could now see what Hermione had seen in this young detective.
"Hello Miss Richardson." Harry greeted the woman, offering his hand which she accepted and shook it firmly. "I'm Harry Potter and this is my junior, Derek Hallway," he introduced himself and Derek.
"Oh it's nice to meet you Mister Potter." Rebecca said sweetly as all of them settled. "It's nice to meet two young men on this nice, sunny day-"
"Actually ma'am, we are here for questioning," Harry cut her off. "Regarding Gregory Walsh's murder."
That smile was wiped off from her face at the mention of her deceased ex husband.
Oh she hated Gregory so much.
"What about it?" Rebecca asked.
"Ma'am, we just wanted to know where you were the day he was murdered." Derek said. "From what we have learned, he had a meeting with you at Hotel Marbella that day."
Rebecca simply looked at Derek and nodded. "You're quite right mister Hallway. I had gone to meet Gregory that night; it was regarding my son's divorce with Miss Granger."
Harry's fist clenched, which didn't go unnoticed to Rebecca when she further said, "Hermione and Jeremy had only confided into me, before they could tell it to Greg."
Harry nodded and further questioned. "What time did you leave the hotel ma'am?"
"Maybe it was close to seven- seven ten in the evening." Rebecca answered. "Why?"
"Ma'am my I know what your shoe size is?" Derek asked simply.
"My dear boy," she chuckled. "that's sort of personal-"
"Answer him please!"
At Harry's demand, Rebecca's eyes darted at him fearfully. "I'm a size seven and a half." She answered. "Now may I know why-"
"Miss Richardson, have you murdered Gregory Walsh?"
Rebecca look startled as she scandalously started at Harry and Derek. "Excuse me?" She nervously chuckled. "Why on earth would I murder my ex husband-"
"We found your footprints in the crime scene ma'am." Derek clearly stated. "And from the witnesses, we learned that you hadn't exited the hotel before seven thirty."
"But, I'm sure I've been framed-"
"You've been framing Hermione Granger till now-"
"Nonsense!" Rebecca hollered. "Why on earth would I frame that girl who is no less than a daughter to me?"
"That, you'll be answering us in the interrogation hall ma'am." Harry said. "You're under arrest-"
"You can't do that Mister Potter! You cannot!" She desperately looked from Harry to Derek . "I will say no more. I need my lawyer!"
"For that, you need to come with us Miss Richardson!"
The older woman huffed and glared at the two men in anger. "Fine." She sneered. "However Mister Potter, there are many things which were kept secrets from you." At this, Harry's eyes stared stonily at her. "From Gregory, and from your dear darling Hermione."
Derek knew that the lady had gone too far. Hermione was already like his sister and he couldn't bear insults being thrown at her. The moment he was about to speak, Harry blasted at Rebecca.
"How dare you?!" He said angrily. "I trust Hermione with my life. I know all of her secrets-"
"Then did she ever tell you about her relationship with Draco Malfoy?" Rebecca continued snidely. "Did she?"
Harry had no words to say while Derek glared at the woman. "Ma'am you've exceeded your limit, you need to come with us-"
"Hermione and Draco are just friends." Harry said in his possibly calm voice.
Rebecca smirked and merely said, "Keep convincing yourself."
Harry's thoughts went over to the girl he loved and trusted his life with. Had she-
No she wouldn't, he tried to convince himself. This lady is just trying to blackmail me and get on my nerves.
Yes, that probably was it. Rebecca was just trying to play with his feelings.
All Harry knew was to get some things out of his lover's mouth.
And he was expecting that it wasn't what the strangers let him to believe.
A/N: The next chapter will be uploaded within this week (most probably) depends on how amazing my beta Fiction Recipe is feeling. Keep reviewing and surprising me. A big shout out for all those who do … for any story :)
P.S: Who was following 'Murder in the First'? Wasn't the season finale predictable, except for its end?