Morning, the time when everything is new again. It's the time when opportunities are birthed, and thoughts are refreshed. It's the time of day when you get to start over and try again. How you spend your morning will often depict how the rest of the day will go.

And there really are only two scenarios, be it either bad or good. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can, and the opposite is true too. Just when you think it can't get any better, it can. But one thing remains, no matter what kind of day you have, you can only get to the morning by passing through the shadows.

As the new day dawned on the wizarding world, Hermione did not sleep. Her brain simply wouldn't allow it. She's not called the Brightest Witch of Her Age for nothing, and that brain of hers decided to wander and wonder. What good is having a big brain if she can't use it to help the love of her life? So she began thinking about why The Alchemist would want to harm Marcus. What possible purpose would this person have?

That line of thinking took her down roads and rabbit trails she didn't intend to travel. It led her to one conclusion. To better understand, she needs to see the prepared files and statements pertaining to The Alchemist from the Auror department. With Marcus's mother sitting vigil at the bedside, Hermione went home. The witch quickly cleaned herself up and flooed to the Ministry of Magic. From there, she made it to the Auror division and pushed her way into Harry's office. She did not care a bit about the Auror secretary's demand for an appointment. No, Hermione had one objective. She made her way to her treasured friend.

Pushing open the door, a surprised Harry lept out of his chair and hugged her. Then he had her sit on an uncomfortable-looking chair in front of his desk. Once the two had sat, Harry noted, "Hermione, this is a surprise! I didn't expect to see you, especially with Marcus unconscious."

The weary witch explained, "I've been thinking all night about this situation. I can't sit by and do nothing when a wicked wizard has harmed my fiance'. I have to help him, and the only way I can do so is if you let me see the files about The Alchemist. There has to be something that's been overlooked. So, please, Harry, let me help before I lose my mind. Think of it as you restraining me from going crazy."

The pain and raw emotion in her voice grounded the Auror. It reminded him of the time Sirius died. He also knew that once Hermione latches onto something, she doesn't let it go, if not at all. It's like a dog with a bone. Plus, it would most likely be her if anyone could solve this case.

With a flick of his wand, a stack of files appeared on the already crowded desk. Harry told her, "Here. These are all the files you're asking for, especially recent ones. Many on the force have combed through them, myself included. I'm not sure what you may find, but you're welcome to have a look."

She nodded her curly head and began pouring over the contents, case by case. As the witch reviewed and examined each one, a few questions came to mind. Raising her eyes, Hermione inquired, "Harry, which death eaters haven't been apprehended yet?"

He likewise glanced up from a document he had been writing. After rubbing his fingers together, the Auror replied, "Well, let's see. Rodolphus Lestrange, Mucliber, Selwyn, and Jugson, I believe. I know that a report says Dolohov was killed by Flitwick, but I'm not one hundred percent confident of that information. For one thing, his body had disappeared, and for another, there's been talk of a powerful Russian wizard teaching at Ilvermorny. They say the guy resembles Dolohov in appearance. I haven't had time to look into that yet."

Hermione shivered thinking about the mad magician. Her scar itched. Pursing her lips together, she ran something by her friend, "So if we take Dolohov out of the equation, that leaves the other four open for dark business. I'd like to see their case files."

Harry sent for them, and another stack of files sat on top of the messy desk. Hermione began pouring over them the same way she did the others. First was Rodolphus Lestrange. His passion lies in the dark arts and only the dark arts. He doesn't branch out into any other division or subject. Instantly, the witch set his file aside. Then she looked at Mucliber. Despite having a twisted and sadistic sense of humor, the guy was a gifted duellist. So his file joined the one on Lestrange as there was nothing to it.

That left two death eaters to study. Opening the folder on Selwyn, Hermione's loathing rose up within her chest. She had forgotten that this death eater threatened and assaulted Luna's father. "Wretched man," she muttered. But like the others, the account noted he was skilled in dark arts and dueling. That was utterly unsurprising because every death eater must be competent in those areas. She figured it was some kind of mandate given by His Evilness like a job description: must be skilled in dark magic. The only thing different was Selwyn's expertise in flying.

With a sigh, the petite brunette cast the folder aside with the others. That was when Hermione began to think looking at the uncaptured death eaters was a waste of time. She almost didn't open the file on Jugson. But like a moth drawn to a flame, something stopped her and compelled her to take a look. Honestly, it wasn't anything remarkable, and it also showed how skilled a duellist the guy happens to be. Seriously, it seemed that all the death eaters were one trick wonders... duellists and dark arts.

Ready to truly give up, this still, small voice urged her to keep going. Inspecting all of the information brought about the discovery of a footnote. A tiny, minimalized footnote that someone had shrunk to near imperceptibility. Apparently, whoever put this report together thought this to be inconsequential. However, Hermione learned that was not the case at all. She told Harry, pulling the paper away from her eyes, "I need a magnifying lens. There's something here that I can't make out, but I feel it may be significant."

And it was an essential piece of information that had yet to be considered, probably due to its small size. After receiving the magnifying glass, the focused witch discovered the footnote. It said: Jugson is likely to be talented in potion making. Voldemort used him often to brew dark and dangerous tonics, something Severus Snape loathed. There's one elixir the man created that turns the subject into stone. He called it the Tin Man Tonic. Jugson has been known to experiment outside the limitations of magic. He's talented at polyjuice.

Taking the lens away, Hermione sat staring at the page. She could not believe what she had read and put the lens back on the paper to reread the footnote a second time. Then her mouth gaped open in disbelief. Harry, who had stopped writing, noticed this and asked his friend, "What? What, Hermione? Did you find something?"

Her nose scrunched up, and she slammed the file down. Handing Harry the magnifying glass, she motioned for him to read. Once he had read it and wore the same expression as her own, Hermione wondered, "Has no one else cared enough to look at that note? It literally changes everything."

Harry ran a hand through his messy hair and mentioned, "I don't know, but I admit that note got past me. I didn't even realize it was there. It's so tiny. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. It may turn out to be nothing."

Hermione disagrees with her dear friend. She took the file on The Alchemist and placed it by the one on Jugson. "No, no, no. If you look at the report on The Alchemist, it says highly talented in potion making. Used by Voldemort to clean up messes that needed cleaning. Tortured many muggles and magicals in the name of experimentation. Often gets out of sticky situations that seem impossible. The last known whereabouts are Riddle Manor in Little Hangleton."

She pointed her finger at the description and then the one of Jugson and said, "You mean to tell me that you can't see the similarities between the two? Both are potioners, skilled in experimentation, created dastardly brews, and can get out of any situation. That's the thing, Harry- that's the thing that makes it all the more relevant. It's the polyjuice aspect making my skin crawl. The report intentionally states that Jugson is talented in polyjuice. How can The Alchemist escape without a trace?"

Harry answered, "Polyjuice." He leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head, deep in thought. Before Hermione could say anything else, he wondered, "Do you think more than one uncaptured death eater could be working together?"

That's something the witch hasn't considered, and yet... Taking the folder on Selwyn again, she reread the contents. Glancing up, Hermione stated, "I don't know, but it's a huge possibility. The part about Selwyn being an accomplished flier won't let go of my mind."

Harry reviewed Jugson's file while saying, "I could see how The Alchemist could use someone like Selwyn. This is purely speculation, but if Jugson is The Alchemist, then he's the brains. The brain always needs someone who's the muscle. Knowing that Marcus is trying to hunt the head of Magnum Flint and locate all the other dark potions, I could see how the brain would use the muscle to take him out of position. That makes me wonder, what exactly did Flint see at the castle in the French Alps?"

Those words made Hermione pause. The Alchemist has never specifically targeted Marcus until then. He brought home the crown of thorns plant and has now been attacked. She thought about her parents and the mind charm that was placed on them. Then compared their altered actions to those of her fiance'. It was as if a light had turned on inside her mind. And oh, how she felt stupid.

Standing up, the witch explained, "I need to get to St. Mungos. I think there's a possibility Marcus had a memory spell on his mind. He may have seen more than he was supposed to see that day."

Harry stood up and grabbed his jacket. He noted, "Well, I'm going with you. Whatever happens, you're not going through this alone. Now tell me, what makes you think he's had a memory spell?"

Hermione explained everything as the two began to walk to the lift and down to the floo. She commented on how Marcus seemed a bit dazed and how whenever she'd ask him something specific about the castle, he could never give a direct answer. That made her stop mid-step and confess, "I'm such an idiot, Harry! Of all the people, why didn't I catch that? I know what to look for in memory spells, and I didn't recognize it in my own fiance'! If I hadn't been so negligent, he might not be unconscious."

A few tears came to her eyes. But Harry insisted, "Cut yourself some slack, Hermione. You've had a lot going on, especially with the wedding planning and your NEWTS. Which makes me thankful Ginny has said she wants a small wedding."

Before taking floo powder, Hermione asked, "Did you propose and not tell me?"

With a chuckle, Harry remarked, "No. But we have discussed it and our future. She's taking NEWTS with you. Then Ginny wants to play for the Harpies for a while before starting a family. I figure at some point within the next year, I'll propose. Until that time, I'll leave all of the wedding craziness in your capable hands."

The pair threw the powder and flooed to the hospital, where they rushed to see Marcus. Sadly, he still was not awake, which concerned both his fiance' and his mother. When Healer Tomlinson entered the room, Hermione mentioned, "Healer, I have reason to believe a memory charm was used on him not too long ago. Could you specifically check for that?"

The doctor tapped his wand in his hand and asked, "Why didn't you tell me this before? That could be the reason he's not awake yet. A memory charm on top of the brain swelling is a potent combination."

That triggered Harry's Auror instincts. He stared at the healer and inquired, "How potent a combination, if you don't me asking?"

Healer Tomlinson told the investigator, "Dire and deadly. The charm has already placed a strain on the brain, which only compounds the injury. If the spell is never detected, it could result in permanent brain damage or memory loss. If the memory spell is strong enough, it could speed up the effects of the swelling, and eventually, Mr. Flint could die. In other words, it would work similarly to a heinous crucio."

Both Cora and Hermione gasped. They started weeping and hugging each other, which would have been unimagined prior to this event. In truth, it felt strange but fitting to embrace. As the ladies consoled each other, Healer Tomlinson did a memory charm scan. His wand swiped over Marcus's brain, and a red light appeared. He then called for his team, who came straight away. The group began pulling up a 3-D image of the brain and the place where the red light had shown.

Instantly they could see where the memory charm had hit and was lodged. So, a different healer was called for and waddled into the room. A man who sorely resembles a penguin introduced himself as "Healer Puffin at your service. Memory charms, obliviation, and the like are my specialty."

Healer Puffin examined the patient and reviewed the brain scans. He hmmed quite a bit until he finally declared, "This should not be that difficult. The spell is less nasty than some of the others I've seen in the past. Once the reversal charm is cast, it should take about ten minutes for the full effect to be achieved. As soon as the max potentia of the spell has been reached, Healer Tomlinson will give the patient a brain swelling potion. It will ease inflation and aid the brain in returning to its normal relaxed state. If all goes well, which it shall, Mr. Flint should be awake within the hour."

That's excellent news to the ears of Hermione and Cora. Healer Puffin went to work casting the reversal charm. When the small, stocky man finished, a ten-minute timer was set. The healer team left the room, only to return once the timer went off. During that time, Hermione held Marcus's hand and kissed it while Cora asked Harry, "What will you do once he wakes up?"

In a chair on the other side of the bed with his arms crossed, Harry stated, "Take his testimony and, if he will allow it retrieve his memories to view in a pensieve."

As Dowager Lady Flint nodded, Marcus's fingers began to twitch. It was the first time that had happened since the accident. Hermione squeezed his hand and started saying, "Marcus! I know you're in there. Please wake up! I need you to wake up!"

Cora leaned in closer and wanted to know what had happened. The alarm went off, and the healers returned, with doctor Tomlinson and Puffin leading the way. Healer Puffin scanned the brain a final time and remarked, "Everything looks as it should. Healer Tomlinson, you may administer the swelling potion now."

The doctor did as requested and then stood back to wait. All eyes were on the Flint heir, which Hermione found humorous. If he had known everyone was staring at him, he would have hated it because he detested being the center of attention. She began stroking his hair and whispering in his ear, urging him to wake up. The group waited and waited with no response from Marcus. Just as Healer Tomlinson and Puffin began wondering about a more severe complication, the unconscious athlete's hand gripped Hermione's tightly.

She gasped and gripped it back the same way. Moving to sit on the bed, a few tears of relief sprung up like a weed in a garden. Still holding her fiance's hand, she continued to card her fingers through his thick hair. Slowly Marcus's eyes fluttered open, looking like a cyclops caught at the end of a wand. Seeing the young man's eyes open, the healers surrounded him pushing Hermione out of the way to run diagnostics. It was really quite rude, but she took her place beside Cora.

The healers scanned, tested, poked, and prodded. After administering a round of medicinal potions, the group finally exited the room. That was when the athlete took notice of who was sharing his space. His dark eyes trailed over his fiance', his mother, and "Potter?! What are you doing here?"

As a confused expression appeared on Marcus's face, Harry grinned. He reiterated what the healers had said regarding what happened: "It's because of that I need to have access to your memory. I have reason to suspect The Alchemist targeted you."

Hermione took her guy's hand, tenderly caressed it, and garnered his attention. "Marcus, you had a memory charm placed on your mind. I think while you were at the French castle, you saw something that you weren't supposed to. Now that the spell is reversed, do you remember anything about your time there? If it's too much pressure, then you don't have to think about it now. We can talk about it another day. But it is important Harry has your memory of that time," she explained to him.

Marcus felt sore and achy from head to toe, which he supposed was normal for a situation like his. But the thing that made it worse was this feeling of fear- gripping, blinding fear and anxiety. That's the thing about fear. No matter how hard a person tries to fight it, it's always there, trying to crush the life out of you. It's as if a great shadow were passing over him. Now unlocked, his mind returned to that day in the castle. And he could clearly see the picture of what had been missing.

The butterflies in his stomach, all the warm fuzzy feelings surrounding Hermione, and his love of flying were replaced with bees. And those bees swarmed higher and higher until tears fell from his eyes. Hermione, Cora, and Harry saw this reaction. They knew something was not right because tough-as-nails Marcus Flint never cries. Hermione immediately perched on the bed and held her love, trying to give comfort.

Marcus embraced her tightly, not wanting to let go lest she disappear. As they hugged, she whispered soothing words in his ears and placed comforting strokes on his back. His breathing started to return to normal.

There are a lot of things in life that Marcus believes. For instance, he knows everyone has a birthday, the sky is blue, dragons are beautiful creatures, ice cream is cold, and candy can rot the teeth (according to Dr. Granger). Then there are deeper things that he knows like magic didn't start with the birth of Merlin, house elves are more than servants, happiness doesn't depend on people, and love does conquer all.

But one profound thing Marcus believes is there's one indisputable moment of transformation in everyone's life, a set of events that suddenly changes everything. The picture in his mind is that moment for him. Holding Hermione close, the wizard closed his eyes to gather his thoughts. When he opened them, he stared at Potter and shared, "I saw someone talking to the head of Magnum Flint. I didn't believe it at first, and that's what made me lose momentum. When I think of it, I still can't believe it. It's crazy."

Cora reached out and patted her son's arm while Harry leaned forward and asked, "Who?"

The bees returned in his stomach as Marcus uttered, "Rick Mulvaney."