Harry pressed the button for her floor then leaned against the back wall of the lift as Hermione stepped into the small space after him. After holding his gaze for a moment, Hermione spun around and faced the door. She fidgeted uncomfortably knowing his eyes were still on her but didn't want to turn again like a nitwit. Hermione concentrated on the slowly increasing numbers, resisting looking at Harry even though he was sucking up all the air in the lift. "You don't have to come to my floor."

"You don't want me to?" Harry asked from behind her, the timbre of his voice making her body react in ways she was trying to ignore.

"No, I mean— you know. You don't have to."

"I know. I want to though. Unless it would bother you?"

She was not admitting anything. "Of course, it wouldn't bother me. If you want to— I suppose that's fine then." Hermione pulled her shirt down a bit, straightening it. As soon as the lift doors opened enough she stepped out quickly taking a deep breath.

Harry's hands were in his pocket as he followed her, not quite behind her, but not by her side. Hermione imagined he was good at occupying that space considering he probably escorted criminals frequently. A peculiar fantasy drifted through her mind of tripping him and dashing to her flat like a loon. Not that it would be that different from most of her behavior with him. Harry's proximity had an inverse relationship with her ability to think logically, especially when the only thing she had to focus on was his presence. A movement from Harry drew her eyes and she saw him take his hands from his pockets as if preparing for something and she stopped a few feet from her door.

"Are you a legilimens?"

"No."

"Why did you take your hands from your pockets then?"

Harry gave her a confused look. "Because we are almost to your flat?"

That made more sense than he was getting ready to chase her down after peeking in at her strange thoughts. Still, to be sure, Hermione raised her hand holding out her pinky. "Pinky swear you aren't a legilimens."

"Pinky swear?" Harry looked at her hooked pinky doubtfully.

"It's what friends do when they promise."

"Oh." He hooked his pinky in hers tight, stepping closer. "Like this?"

Their hands were trapped between them, and Hermione sucked in a deep breath, trying to get air so she could speak. The gleam was back in those green eyes, and he appeared larger than normal, his presence expanding and crowding hers.

His head tilted downward to her, not breaking her stare. "You know since you've seen my flat already, maybe you should invite me in and show me yours."

"You came into my flat last week and I only really saw your bedroom," Hermione answered then felt her face turn red.

Harry's lips curved up in a slow smile. "I haven't seen yours."

Argh. Why did he have to be so — so — Hermione pulled away and stomped toward her door. "No." As soon as she opened it Crookshanks darted out like he had been waiting and twined around Harry's legs with an impatient yowl.

Harry leaned down and scratched her cat firmly under the chin making a pspspsps sound. Crookshanks gave her a gloating side eye as he got petted.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione hissed at her traitorous cat.

Crookshanks gave her his little kitty smirk before twining around Harry's legs once more in figure eight before sauntering back inside. Harry straightened and approached her where she still stood near the door. "I had a good time today, spending time with you."

"I did too," Hermione admitted. Talking to Harry was easy. Maybe it was because he was in law enforcement, but there was this sense about him of confidence and control. Dark wizards? Harry would handle it. Screeching Hagathas? Just let him cast some noise dampeners and he was on it. Multiple orgasms? Just wait. Harry Potter has a tongue trick for that too.

"Maybe we can have dinner at my place, we can talk about the case away from work. It might help to change our environment from the same conference room day after day." Harry inquired, his face carefully friendly.

Hermione edged closer to inside her flat. Considering she had just been considering his ability to provide orgasmic bliss going to his flat again was probably not wise. "I don't know…"

"I can give you some of the background profiles for the people I'm planning on questioning this week and then you could accompany me. Who knows what other information might get relayed during the questioning, maybe something that would help you with your own priorities?"

Hermione paused, that was intriguing. She was only tangentially part of the overall investigation. Her area involved concentrating on providing answers regarding the ritual space and hopefully, if she could determine how the unicorn blood was being used. "You aren't asking me this just because you want to sleep with me are you?"

"You're one of the smartest and most interesting people that I've met. I'd be very curious to hear your feedback on the other interrogations—" Harry paused giving her a rueful smile. "As long as you let me handle the questioning."

"I can't help it if English wizards are a bit sensitive." Hermione could feel her lips curling in response.

Harry laughed. "Please don't think we're all the same. Some of us are made of sterner stuff." Harry brought up his hand curling down his fingers and leaving his pinky up. "So will my new friend and partner help me out?"

Hermione hooked her pinky in his again, smiling at his silliness. "Okay. Remember you asked when I annoy you with my bossiness."

Harry kept his smile as he stepped back from the door. She was worried about her bossiness? "We'll plan it out later okay?"

"Mhmm. Goodbye, Harry." Hermione closed the door.

Harry stood there for a long moment staring at her closed door.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close, her hips thrusting against him, trying to meet his thrusts, the slap of their skin loud. She felt so good against his hot skin, her hard nipples moving against his chest each time he thrust hard inside her. "More, Harry." She demanded.

Really she could boss him around anytime she wanted. Not that he would tell her that.

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Hermione stared at the strange contingent squeezed into her office in exasperation. Her coworker Vivian sat next to Elias Burke from evidence, and on the other side of him was Astoria Greengrass from the administration department. Hermione stared for a second at Elias' shirt, reading silently to herself, Achievement Unlocked: Cinnamon Roll. She met his eyes and quirked an eyebrow inquisitively and Elias grinned at her.

Hermione tamped down the impulse to smile back at him and instead told them all firmly. "I'm too busy to participate in team-building activities. Besides I work alone."

Elias continued to smile cheerfully. "But you're Harry's partner, aren't you? It makes it even more perfect for you to participate then."

Vivian glanced at Elias, before turning to Hermione. "Look Croaker is going to have a fit if we lose to the Aurors. All you really have to do is stay on your broom and out of the way. Our enforcement division has the Muller twins back from assignment and they are bloody good beaters."

"Merlin. I didn't know Alex was back!" Astoria dug into her purse muttering before pulling out her mobile to shoot off a quick text. "How dare he not message me immediately." She looked up to see them staring at her and waved her hand, "Sorry. Er yes, don't twins just make the best beaters?" She asked somewhat dreamily.

Vivian cleared her throat. "Plus one of our other researchers, Cho Chang, actually played with Harry back in Hogwarts so she's familiar with his flying style. So even with the rest of us being middling, if the twins keep Harry busy and we don't fumble too badly we could still win!"

"Isn't there anyone else who can play? Quidditch really isn't my thing, chasing after balls seems very canine-ish." Hermione was not all interested in the quidditch skills of her coworkers. They were Unspeakables for Merlinsake, not ball chasers.

Astoria leaned forward and looked at the two next to her. "How has she survived this long in Britain with that attitude?"

"I'm very good at warding." Hermione snapped while Vivian shrugged.

Elias' smile drooped a little bit. "Fair enough. I suppose Harry will be a bit disappointed but—"

"What? Why?" Hermione looked down and away from the three of them as she asked so she missed the smirk Astoria shot Elias.

"Oh well, I was there when they told the Aurors and Harry looked very happy to have the chance to play with you. He loves quidditch."

"I could come to the game, I suppose," Hermione said tentatively looking toward Vivian who shook her head.

"No we don't have enough players to field a team right now because we have people on assignments, our division is smaller than the Auror division. If you decide not to play we forfeit to the Aurors."

Hermione frowned. "I really have never played this game. I mean I've watched some games but that's it."

"I could help you." Elias offered cheerfully. "Harry too if you tell him, he's wicked fast on a broom."

Hermione chewed her lip for a second before she shook her head. "No, I know someone I can ask for a little tutoring."

"Who?" Vivian asked nosily and the three of them leaned toward Hermione for the answer.

"Well, I'll see if he has time to help me first," Hermione said vaguely. "But in the meantime, I really must get back to work." She stood up to literally shoo them out of her office. Unicorn blood was unfortunately used rather widely in certain rituals, and almost all of them were extremely dark. She wanted to narrow down the list to talk with Harry about before they had dinner.

"Hey, I was looking for you." The group of them turned to see a tall blonde woman with perfect hair striding down the corridor toward them.

Astoria Greengrass smiled at her sister. "Sorry, I was just visiting Hermione. Have you two met?"

Daphne's relaxed expression stiffened and her face turned a bit cold as she looked at Hermione. "I've heard of you. New to England, aren't you?"

"I was born here actually." Hermione corrected and held out her hand to shake.

The air was tense as everyone realized Daphne wasn't going to take Hermione's hand. Astoria cleared her throat, pretending not to see Hermione's hand stepping awkwardly to the side between her sister and Hermione. "Well. Um. Where's Ron? He's always attached at the hip when you stop by here."

"Aurors aren't allowed on this floor… anymore." Daphne's eyes hadn't wavered from staring down Hermione.

Hermione thought it was a bit of a strange reaction for the other witch, she half wanted to snap her fingers in front of the blonde to see if she would blink. After all, it was the scientific method.

Hypothesis: Aggressive blonde with teeny marble eyes was incapable of blinking.

Experiment: Snap fingers loudly right in front of those teeny marble eyes.

Then analyze the results (with satisfaction).

Hermione shifted a bit intending to follow through with her experiment.

Elias grabbed Vivian's hand. "Maybe Vivian and I should go talk to Hagatha and see if she will relent and let Aurors back on this floor. Then Harry and Ron could come to visit when they wanted!"

"Hagatha would never," Vivian said trying to pull her hand free lest Elias try to drag her closer to Medusa's den.

Knowing he now had all four witches' attention Elias leaned forward secretively. "She puts up with me."

Astoria and Vivian gasped. Hermione slowly tried to back away from the weird spectacle of coworkers and the mean blonde. Daphne meanwhile really didn't seem to understand quite what was going on.

"Liar." Astoria accused. "Hagatha hates everyone."

Elias crossed his heart solemnly.

"I've got work to do," Hermione muttered turning back into her office shutting the door, and warding it for her peace of mind.

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In her office, Hermione pulled out her mobile to text her long-time friend:

Viktor

Hermione: Viktor?

Viktor: Yes?

Hermione: You know how I switched jobs?

Viktor: I heard. ?

Hermione: I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner things have been a bit hectic.

Viktor: I know. You were WORKING.

Hermione: Yes. Well. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?

Viktor: What favor?

Hermione: They want to have a quidditch match for the employees and I'm suppose to play. Could you help me a bit so I'm not totally useless.

Viktor: Of course. It's off season so I'm mainly practicing myself. Training you will give me much challenge to keep me sharp.

Hermione: -_-

Viktor: :D

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Harry stood next to Hermione, his shield charm in front of both of them as they faced the still exploding wreck of Gerald Greengrass' vacation home in Cornwall. The shield charm was just a precautionary measure as they were far enough away from the conflagration for safety, but he didn't want to take any chances. Wizards and witches ran about under various protection spells trying to contain the fiendfyre dragon that still raged through the building.

"Do we know if anyone was hurt?" Hermione asked looking at Harry, who was watching the containment team closely, his muscles tense as if he was restraining himself from stepping in.

"We don't know anything yet."

The fire dragon roared again, and a thunderous crash as a wall collapsed made the ground under their feet shake. The fire seemed to reflect strangely in Harry's eyes and Hermione reached out, her fingertips touching his hand to make him look her instead. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. This was just so stupid. And dangerous. We're really fucking lucky the fiendfyre didn't just decide to go raging down the lawn."

Hermione glanced again at the fire dragon, which had been trapped on the far side of the gutted structure by the containment team. It roared again and flames spiraled high into the air. She thought about the evidence, the runes, the ritual design, the unknown potion.

"What are you thinking?"

Hermione shook her head, there was something there, but it was more of a gut impression than anything backed by evidence right now. "Nothing."

Harry's shoulder bumped hers lightly. "I thought friends were honest."

"It's more of a feeling than anything else."

"Tell me then."

The containment team kept chanting the suppression charm, having trapped the fiendfyre dragon as it bellowed again. "It's just... taking the step to destroy a medical research facility that offers hope to some of the most damaging magical blood maladies. The unicorn blood. The likely nature that whatever the blood was used for was quite dark. The unknown potions. Now this."

Hermione ruffled her hair, aware that she sounded disjointed but like she said it was only a feeling. "Fiendfyres are just as likely to burn the caster as to destroy something or attack the caster's opponent. This is why they are not used often unless someone is stupid… or desperate. I've read theories about fiendfyres in academic circles regarding the sentience of the fire after the spell is cast. While all academics agree that the fire will pursue nearby lifeforms and anything else it could destroy, there is the idea that its behavior or shape may in some way be influenced by the caster."

Hermione met Harry's eyes, as the fire dragon let out its last roar. "Doesn't all of it feel desperate? Like the actions of someone who has no other recourse?"

The shield charm combined with the safe distance they stood from the conflagration meant they were quite far from anyone. Harry folded his arms behind his back so he wouldn't give into temptation and reach for her. All of Hermione was such an interesting puzzle, he wouldn't have expected the thread of compassion in her analysis. He looked away from her before he did something he shouldn't. "Someone who does this thinking there is no other way isn't thinking clearly or is lying to themselves."

Hermione sighed, looking at the now smoking ruins, the fire now gone. "Yes, it's just…" When Harry waited quietly she made herself continue. "The law doesn't always work for everyone."

"That I know." Harry agreed. "Still though, they are going to Azkaban when we find them."

"Yes." Hermione acknowledged quietly.

"It's going to take them a while to cool everything down properly for any evidence collection. I know I haven't had a chance yet to talk to you about Neville, but I need to speed things up and due to circumstances he's meeting with me sooner. Would you still like to come? We'll be speaking to him and his wife."

"He's the minister's son isn't he?"

"Yes."

Hermione nodded, and they walked a bit away. Harry held out his hand to apparate her, and she grasped his hand firmly. He apparated them to a midsized home in the middle of a large field. Several greenhouses as large as the house were in the back of the house.

Neville and Pansy met them at the door, Pansy's hand grasped tightly to the bend of her husband's elbow. Neville smiled at them easily but his eyes were cautious. "Hey, mate. And this must be Cin–"

Harry coughed loudly cutting him off. "Hermione. This is Hermione Granger my partner for this investigation. Hermione this is Neville Longbottom and his wife Pansy. We all went to school together."

"Nice to meet you," Hermione told the couple politely, not missing their tension.

Pansy glanced at her husband and he seemed to take the hint stepping back and gesturing them inside. "Come in, come in. We have some tea and biscuits set up so we can all be comfortable."

"Thanks, mate." Harry and Hermione followed them to a large living room that had potted plants in every corner.

Hermione looked at the pretty greenery a bit enviously. She managed to kill all her plants, even the ones advertised to be charmed to stay alive.

Harry took out the same box he had with Greengrass although Neville and Pansy seemed to expect it and didn't get offended as Greengrass had. "Alright. This should be fairly quick. You're supplying the Greengrasses medical research facilities?"

"Yes. It supplements our income from teaching, and gives me some work during breaks." He glanced at his wife with a warm smile. "Or I might drive Pansy a bit mental."

"What are you supplying?"

"Malabrica."

Harry felt Hermione's attention sharpen. "I've heard that's a difficult plant to grow outside India."

"I've had some success with it, I'm using imported soil and a strict regimen of Sun charms."

"When did this start?"

Neville glanced at Pansy and she answered the question. "About a year and a half ago. I—I recommended him to the Greengrasses."

"Why? How did that recommendation come about?"

"I was talking to Daphne and she was upset about getting some supplies, you know a lot of their work is focused on blood curses because of her mother. She mentioned some difficulties with Indian ingredient imports and I told her Neville was really skilled and could probably produce a steady supply."

"How were the supplies delivered? Did either of you go into the building directly?"

Pansy stiffened but Neville patted her hand comfortingly. "I went to do the drop-offs. And yes I went into the building."

"Were you ever on the lowest floor?"

"I never entered any of the sublevels."

"When you were there did you ever observe any other suppliers?"

Neville paused thinking. "Yes, a few."

Harry pulled out his wand, conjuring an inked quill and parchment. "Please list all that you remember."

They sat quietly listening to quill scratches and after a minute Neville handed the list to Harry who cast a quick drying charm on the ink before tucking the parchment into his pockets. Harry looked over at Hermione, who was staring intently at the couple, obviously trying to fit pieces of information together. "I appreciate the tea and biscuits mate, even though we didn't have time to enjoy them. We really need to go run down a bit more information before the day is over, so we're going to have to pop off."

Harry didn't miss the subtle relaxation of the couple. Being questioned by law enforcement was never a comfortable experience, even when it was a long-time friend. He swiped the box from the table, dismissed the recording charm, and stood up.

As he was about to walk out towards the front door a thought occurred to Harry and he paused, glancing at Neville. "Nev, are you supplying anyone else?"

"Well I supply the school—"

"No, the Malabrica. Is there anyone else you're supplying it to?"

"Oh yes. Draco. He apparently heard I had success with it from —" Neville looked at Pansy.

"Well Tori told Nott who told Draco, so he came to ask about it. You know how they are with potions, Harry." Pansy answered.

Fuck, Harry thought suppressing a sigh and keeping his face neutral. "And when did you start supplying the Malfoys?"

"Hmm." Neville squinted his eyes thinking. "It was almost the same time, maybe a few months after. A year and some maybe?"

"Okay. Thanks again, mate."

Knowing Harry's preference, Hermione was quiet as they made their way back to the conference room. "Who are you questioning next?"

"I've got Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, and —" Harry pulled out the list Neville had made. "And an Alfie Davis."

"Why him?"

"Because he wasn't on the official list of suppliers that Elias provided from the Greengrasses yet Neville said he saw him there supplying the Greengrasses."

Hermione's brow wrinkled. "But why would they leave him off?"

"That's an interesting question isn't it?" Harry moved towards one of the chairs, pulling the stack of paperwork provided by the Greengrasses to go over it again. Absently he rubbed his tense shoulder. The increasing probability that extended members of his family were likely involved in this up to their ears was getting impossible to deny even though he had at first dismissed the allegation as petty vindictiveness on Greengrasses part.

There is an argument in academic circles as far as a fiendfyre's sentience. While all academics agree that the fire will pursue nearby lifeforms and anything else it could destroy, there is the idea that it may in some way be influenced by the caster.

Harry remembered his fifth year of Hogwarts when his father had taught both him and Draco the patronus charm. Draco's own father couldn't manage the charm, which is why Harry's dad had been teaching them. Draco had been insufferably cocky when he had finally managed it and it had been a Hungarian Horntail, quite similar to Harry's own patronus. Affinity with Dragons ran strongly through the Black family line. All this made the fact that the fiendfyre at the Greengrass estate remained a dragon until the end when fiendfyres normally changed shape as they burned extremely suspicious.

What was that fucking idiot up to?

Soft hands slid over his shoulders and and squeezed the tense muscles causing his thoughts to scatter. "You should take a break and eat."

That was tempting but he had to — her hands squeezed again, putting pressure on exactly the right spot and he gave a low groan. Oh, that felt bloody nice.

"Lunch time." Hermione leaned forward, and he could feel her breath on the back of his neck and his cock was fucking hard. "Yes?" She asked demandingly.

Harder, Harry.

Fuck. Harry stood up abruptly, dislodging her hands. He needed to exit the conference room before he ruined all his slow friendship seduction plans and tried to screw her on the table. "Yes, yes, let's go eat. Right now."

Hermione laughed as he dragged her to the lift.