"Blaise Zabini was killed sixteen years ago, during the battle. We found his body. He had fallen from a tower, his face smashed. Draco had identified him by the heirloom ring he used to wear. He was surely dead. Draco and his other Slytherin friends even gave him a funeral."
Hermione had told him the story on their way home from the hospital. Sherlock did not have much to say in this. If he could fake his death without using magic, he was pretty sure this Zabini person could fake his death much better. He had seen the capacities of what magic can do in the five days he had known her. He wondered what else was there.
It is the ninth of September. She gets officially divorced in three days. She was still, in every legal terms Mrs. Hermione Granger Weasley. It is a rainy Tuesday. Rose is sprawled on the floor, doing her Muggle school homework. Hermione is curled up on the sofa, rereading Sense and Sensibility for the hundredth time. Sherlock is out there, doing who knows what.
Suddenly, when it was nearing twilight, the door bell rings. Hermione sits up straight. Who could it be? She prays it's not the DI or John Watson. She pushes aside the curtain and curses under her breathe. It is Ron. There is no mistaking the red hair. She notices he has brought Hugo along. She sees as Mrs. Hudson lets him in. she can hear their footsteps approaching. She leaves the window side and opens the door. She picks up her book again and tries being her best nonchalant self.
Ron makes his way upstairs with his son, who is only too excited to see his mother and sister after two weeks. He pushes open the ajar door and spots Hermione curled with a book in hand. Rose looks up and squeals, "Daddy!" and runs up to his outstretched hands. Hermione rises up from her seat and smiles as Hugo launches himself in her arms. She smiles at Ron too. Ron smiles back. He runs his fingers through his hair and says, "You did not tell me, I had to learn it from Ginny."
"I am sorry. In between moving here and looking for a place to live, I had completely forgotten." Oh and someone tried to kill me and Draco; and Pansy's dead, Hermione adds in her head.
"Okay. All right. How are you?"
"I am fine. Rose is fine too."
Rose quips, "Yep I am fine!"
The next thing that happened was the thing Hermione feared the most. Sherlock Holmes saunters in talking aloud, "The robbery and murder were dead simple. I mean Lestrade can be so-" He stops as he sees the two new people in his flat. It takes him less than a second to deduce that this was the ex-husband and that was their son (red hair, brown eyes again).
Ron stands there perplexed, "What? Who is this?"
Sherlock does his whole fake smile routine again, "I am Sherlock Holmes. Consulting detective. Your ex-wife and your daughter are staying with me till they find new accommodation. And your girlfriend wears too much lipstick."
Hermione does a double take, "Lipstick? Girlfriend?"
"Yes. On the inside of his collar I see a red smudge. Now Mr. Weasley isn't wearing any lipstick," he turns towards Hermione, "and neither are you."
Ron starts turning a mean shade of red. He growls, "Huh. Really I am the one to blame." And with that he throws a recent issue of the Daily Prophet at Hermione. She catches it and the first page picture make her want to laugh and cry at the same time.
It is a picture of that day when Sherlock had held her hand and they had walked to the café. The caption read 'BRAIN OF GOLDEN TRIO MOVES ON WITH THIS MUGGLE HUNK?' The writer if this article is no surprise. Rita Skeeter
Hermione sits back on the sofa, massaging her temples. "Ron. You know how Skeeter is. Would you still try to believe her?"
Sherlock reaches over and snatches the paper from her hand. Even though he cannot see the moving pictures, he can read the captions. Something akin to hatred towards this ginger gentleman rises in his stomach. He says in a low voice, "He is not here to check your well-being. He is here to see if this," he stabs the paper, "is true. He had his girlfriend for awhile. He just wanted to check if you had moved on like he has because he was feeling guilty? No no, not that. He was planning to tell the world he has a girlfriend before you found yourself a nice man. After all, I had read somewhere, the best revenge is moving on."
Two things happen at once. One, Hermione rises up, ready to set birds at Ron's head again and two, Ron gets very pissed off at Sherlock's correct deductions, so he punches him.
Sherlock falls. Rose gasps. Hermione becomes immobile. Hugo starts crying. Pandemonium much?
"Ron!" Hermione shouts
"Dad!" The two children shout.
Sherlock is still on the ground, his nose bleeding and his vision slightly hazy. Damn, Ron Weasley packs a mean punch. A bunch of unruly curls falls on his face, and a pair of warm, scared brown eyes look down on him as his vision clears little by little. He feels her fingers cradling his face and his name being called out by her, "Sherlock? Sherlock? Can you hear me?"
When he moves to sit up straight, she holds him up by throwing an arm around his shoulder. He hears her speak, "Go away Ron. How dare you do that? Sherlock gave us shelter when we needed it the most. And you made Hugo cry."
Ron turns around and sees Hugo's tear stained face. He feels really ashamed now. He speaks slowly, "I am sorry."
Sherlock says, "It is okay. I have been punched a lot."
Hugo runs over to his mother and buries his head in her neck, "I wanna stay with mummy tonight."
Ron feels his heart breaking. Hermione says, "It is alright. I will call Ginny to come pick him up tomorrow. See you on Friday."
Ron nods. Rose goes and hugs her father.
After Ron leaves, Hermione tells her daughter to take Hugo upstairs and keep him engaged. She helps Sherlock get on his feet. He slumps down on the sofa. Hermione sits beside him and says, "This might hurt."
"Wha-" before he can finish, Hermione takes out her wand and says, "Episkey." Then he feels the cartilage in his nose snap back to place with a crunching noise. To say it did not hurt, would be lie of the year. His eyes sting. She senses his discomfort and conjures a tissue.
She says, "I am so sorry for that."
He says, "You don't have to be. I really have been punched a lot."
She laughs, "I really should start looking for a new place. Or else this speculations will never stop."
He realized—no okay, that tiny part in him realized—he did not want her to go yet, so he says, "You can talk with Mrs. Hudson about that."
"Mrs. Hudson?"
"Yes. I heard 221C is still unoccupied."
"What?" Hermione asks. What is he talking about?
"There's another flat no one wants to take because it has a damp problem."
Hermione wipes the blood off his chin and realizes, "So you knew a flat, right here, was empty and yet you don't tell me. Why?"
Sherlock wants to say he let her stay because she finds her interesting. Instead Hermione answers her own question, "You let me stay here so you could study me?"
Sherlock expects another punch because prior experiences have taught him, people did not like being treated as subjects of study. He sees her forehead crinkle. But she does not punch him. She understands his curiosity; she was just like that once upon a time. A sudden wave of empathy and adoration washes over her. Hermione smiles brightly, which baffles him and kisses him on the cheek. A brief brush on his sharp cheekbones.
Sherlock loses his ability to talk. The soft touch of her lips leaves him utterly speechless. She sits back and smiles at him, all awkward and embarrassed. She stands up and mumbles, "Uh, I rather warm some milk for Hugo."
Hermione disappears into the kitchen. Sherlock is still on the sofa, his hands over the spot where she had kissed him. He tries to ignore the tingle on his skin and the lingering smell of strawberries. He is Sherlock Holmes and nothing shakes him. And yet the witch's affectionate kiss on his cheek shakes him deep inside. He does not understand why his heart is beating too fast. Stupid muscular organ, he breaks off his stupor and donning his coat, leaves.
Hermione comes out of the kitchen. She fervently hope he is not there, because well she is embarrassed by her impulsive action and still wishes he is there because she wants to see his reaction. She does not know whether to exhale in relief or gasp in regret when she sees the sofa empty. Oh well.
After the children fall asleep, Hermione decides to talk to Mrs. Hudson. She felt too exposed all of a sudden. Then she hears him playing the violin. She did not understand classical music, but the melody is beautiful. She lets the music lull her to sleep.
Next day, Hermione calls Ginny and with her help, moves into 221C. A tearful farewell to her son later, she starts with the anti-damp protection charms. She sees a lot of potential in this flat. She bets she and Rose can make this flat their home.
Sherlock nods and helps, but inside he feels a little bit sad. And he does not want to analyze why he feels like that. He knew she was the reason they had milk in the fridge. He knew she did some kind of magic around him when he was in his mind palace and Rose would talk and talk. He knew the last few days were not that bad.
A day later when they move into the flat and Hermione arranges the rent with Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock receives a message tied on an owl. This was a different owl. He unties it and takes it downstairs to Hermione.
Hermione takes it and reads it. Sherlock notices the changes in her expression from surprise to disbelief to excitement. Before he could even ask, Hermione says, "This is from Millicent Bulstrode. A schoolmate. She says she can give us information about Pansy." She looks confused. Sherlock asks, "What is the problem?"
"I never wrote to her." Hermione shakes her head, "Never mind, she asked me to meet her at The Leaky Cauldron on the thirteenth. Do you wanna go?"
Leaky Cauldron? He has never heard of that place. And he knew his map of London. As if reading her thoughts, Hermione grins, "It is a magical bar. Witches and wizards there galore. Muggles aren't aware of its existence"
Sherlock smiles like a child being promised to be taken to the candy store. Hermione laughs at his expression and takes it as a positive response.
Today is the court date. Sherlock had seen her leaving from his window all dressed in her best formal outfit. Hermione displayed none of the nervousness and melancholy she was feeling inside but Sherlock could somehow sense it from that distance. He picks up his violin.
The session was brief. Thank goodness for that, Hermione prays. She is married no more. She is Miss Hermione Granger again officially. After some lunch at the Potter household, Hermione finally arrives at Baker Street. Sherlock is playing the same melody from that night. As she stands at the foot of the stairs, Mrs. Hudson comes out and says, "Been playing since you left. God knows what he is up to now."
He hears her footsteps on the stairs. He does not stop playing. This is his composition. He has not named it yet. He hears the door creaking open.
Hermione stands at the door, completely breathless at the beauty of the music and the beauty of the man playing the instrument. He looked so different with his eyes closed and immersed in the music. Much softer, more human and a little ethereal. Hermione would hate to interrupt him. She turns to go downstairs when he speaks up, "You had your court date today."
She says, "Yeah. No more Mrs. Weasley."
"Hermione Weasley does sound awful."
Hermione laughs. She says, "Do you want some tea?"
Sherlock smiles slightly. He really likes it when she laughs.
It is the thirteenth today. The day to meet Millicent. Hermione wraps a scarf as she wonders. She locks the door behind her. Rose is at the Burrow. She joins Sherlock on the street who tries hailing a cab down. She puts a hand on his shoulder and says, "I think we can apparate."
Sherlock is excited. He had wondered what this 'apparate' thing was. He would finally know today! Hermione slips her hand in his and drags him into the nearest alley. She places both her hands around his waist. He wonders why is she embracing him when he feels a tug behind his navel and the sensation of being pushed through a very tight tube overwhelms him.
It does not last for long. He opens his eyes slowly and notices they are in another alley. He suddenly becomes too aware that somehow his arms had found their way around her tiny waist and her face is near his neck, her breath tickling his neck. Not an unpleasant feeling entirely.
Hermione likes this. His strong arms around her. She looks up at him and asks, "What do you think?"
"It was quite…something," he says, his breath fanning her face. All the blood in her body rushes to her face. Sherlock notices her blush creeping up her face. He removes his hands and says, "We could do it again. Right?"
Hermione laughs. She says as points to the right, "The Leaky Cauldron first."
Sherlock follows Hermione through a non-descript door in to a gloomy little place where the chairs were moving on their own and trays laden with food in mid-air were floating . He could have sworn he was imagining things if someone had not knocked into him.
Hermione spots Millicent and winds her way to her. Sherlock follows and spots the stout woman in her mid-thirties.
Hermione slips into the seat opposite and says, "Hello Millicent."
"Hello Granger," Millicent says in a tone that Sherlock has heard before as he slips in the seat beside Hermione. This I-have-a-bitter-pill-in-my-mouth tone. He frowns and files this away, to be investigated later.
Millicent notices him, "Who is this bloke?"
"Antoine Durand," Hermione lies as she looks at Sherlock with her silent plea, "He is looking for Pansy too. He is from the French Ministry. He doesn't speak English very well but he understands it."
Sherlock decides to don his best authoritarian face. Millicent seems to buy that explanation. She asks, "What do you wanna know?"
"Everything," Hermione says, "Like what happened to Pansy after she left Hogwarts."
Millicent leans forward and begins her story,
"Pansy and the rest of the Parkinsons fled England after the defeat of Voldemort. You know, to escape prosecution. I heard they had gone to Paris where the Zabinis welcomed them. Blaise had his funeral by then. She changed her name to Dahlia Raffin. The entire Parkinson clan changed to their name to Raffin.
"There she has an herb shop which doubled up as a shop for buying ingredients for potions. Then ten years ago she met a half-born wizard named Jacques Delacour. I don't know if she really fell in love with him or not, but he was wealthy. He died later, I heard. No surprise there."
Millicent allowed herself some humour to herself. Hermione and Sherlock exchanged a look that meant "She definitely killed him" because Hermione had read the file Lestrade had given to Sherlock. Hermione asks, "Okay. How do you know all this? Why are you telling me all this? And who told you to contact me?"
"Well, Pansy kept in contact with me. I am doing this because last month she came to me. That bitch owes me money. And Parvati told Lavender who told me. Lavender is a customer at my bakery."
Hermione arches an eyebrow. The old Hogwarts gossip networks were alive and kicking and thank Merlin for that. Sherlock touches her knee with hers and not even the material of her jeans and his trousers could kill the tingling she felt. She looks at him. He leans close and puts his lips to her ears, "Ask her why she took money from her."
Hermione feels her skin burning where his lips had lightly brushed her ear. She gulps and asks, "Why did Pansy take money from you?"
"She was living here in Leaky Cauldron and well I guess she ran out of money. If you do find her, please tell her about me." Millicent rises to leave. Just at the last moment, Hermione remembers something and asks, "Do you know anyone named Sebastian?"
Millicent frowns, "Yeah that was her new squeeze." And she leaves after Hermione murmurs a "Thank you".
Sherlock rises and saunters over to the reception where Tom, the hunched barman is scrubbing the counter. He asks, "Can I see your ledger?"
Tom looks up suspiciously. Sherlock smiles as harmlessly as possible. Tom decides to trust him. He takes out this month's ledger and rasps, "What you looking for?"
"Last month a woman named Dahlia Delacour came here. I want to know the exact day she arrived."
Tom ruffles pages and Hermione comes and stands beside Sherlock, her shoulder bumping into his'. Tom slams the book back on the counter and says, "Here, D. Delacour, July 30, 2014."
They both exit the inn. They do not notice the shadow emerging from the back. Sherlock feels his presence. He turns around and his hit by a red light that burns his skin, squeezes his muscles and tries stopping his heart with a iron grip. He falls to the ground, writhing in pain.
Hermione turns around as she sees Sherlock falling to the ground. She sees a man in a hooded cloak wielding a wand and inflicting the Cruciatus curse on Sherlock. She takes out her wand and tries to disarm the man. He directs his wand at her instead and disarms her. She hears him chuckling. The hood falls from his head. She is rendered speechless as she sees Blaise Zabini in flesh, laughing down at her.
Sherlock tries moving. Blaise does not miss that. He cries, "Crucio!" Sherlock is hit again and tries desperately to breathe. Blaise chuckles some more as she kneels down beside Sherlock and cries "Stop it!" Sherlock sees Hermione reaching out for her wand but then he gets hit by some other spell and everything turns black.