AN: Just wanted to thank MsAwsome2u, Pauli Jean Malfoy, Satanmistressxoxo for following and favouriting it. It really means the world to me :)

I'm aware that someone left a review warning me about writing a Dramione fic for my first-ever fanfic. I appreciate the sentiment and am sorry if it comes across as amateurish, but I'm quite passionate about this story. It's also a tad bit late to change it. Sorry /


Hermione was late—something that rarely ever happened. The events of the previous night with Cormac had left her shaken, and she'd stayed up into the early hours of the morning reinforcing her wards. As she hurried into her office, the familiar scent of coffee greeted her.

"I'm here," she announced, slightly out of breath.

"You're late," Draco observed, his eyes briefly scanning her dishevelled appearance. "Did you run here?"

"Maybe," she muttered, still catching her breath.

"Well, I got you coffee," he added, nodding toward the steaming cup on her desk.

"Thanks," she replied, tossing her bags aside and sifting through the memos piled on her desk.

She focused on the urgent memos first, her hair falling into her face as she tried to prioritise them. One in particular caught her eye—Harry was requesting a meeting about another case. As she reached for her coffee, her hand brushed against a stack of papers, sending them cascading off the desk.

Draco looked up, his brows furrowed in concern. "Everything okay, Granger?" he asked.

She sighed, brushing the stray strands of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, just… a lot on my mind," she replied, bending over to pick up the papers manually.

He hesitated for a moment, his. "Anything I can help with?" he asked as he flicked his wand, sending the papers flying neatly to her desk from where they had fallen.

She let out a sarcastic laugh as she stood back up, annoyed at herself for not thinking about using magic. "Unless you've got a spell to blast unwanted people off the face of the earth, then no."

Draco's expression shifted slightly. "Hope you're not talking about me."

She couldn't help but let out a real chuckle this time. "You wish, Malfoy."

Finally settling into her desk, Hermione and Draco found their rhythm. They methodically worked through the evidence and bounced ideas off each other, trying to decipher a motive for Mildred Duncan's murder. The quiet concentration was only ever broken by the occasional murmur as they debated possible leads.

After about an hour of focused work, a knock at the door disrupted their work.

"Come in," they both said in unison.

The door opened to reveal Margaux Blanchet, the new trainee, with a bright smile. "Sorry, I don't mean to intrude," she said with a French accent, hesitating slightly at the threshold.

"No, please, continue," Hermione urged.

Margaux stepped further into the room. "Two things. First, whenever you're ready Hermione, Harry is waiting for you in his office. And secondly, some of the team wanted to know if there were any updates on the case."

Hermione glanced at Draco, who rolled his eyes, "Thanks, Margaux. Tell the team we're still piecing things together, but we'll update them as soon as we have something solid."

Margaux lingered awkwardly in the doorway, seemingly waiting for more, not realising that Hermione's words were meant to signal the end of their conversation. The silence stretched, and in an effort to break it, Hermione spoke up again, "You did a great job yesterday, Margaux. Very thorough case review at the scene. Right, Malfoy?" She nudged him to join in, hoping to ease the tension.

Draco looked up from his work, caught off guard. "Oh, um, yeah. Not bad for a trainee, I guess," he muttered, clearly distracted by the case notes in front of him.

Margaux's cheeks flushed with a pleased blush as she straightened her posture. "Well, I've had more experience than you'd think, Draco," she replied.

Hermione's eyes flicked between them, her confusion growing. Was Margaux flirting with Draco Malfoy?

Draco also seemed to catch on, his demeanour shifting from indifferent to mildly annoyed. "Do you need anything else? We are quite busy," he asked impatiently.

Margaux's confidence faltered, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Um, no," she stammered before quickly turning on her heel and rushing out of the room, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

As the door clicked shut behind Margaux, Hermione shot a sharp look at Draco. "You could have been a bit nicer," she said.

Draco shrugged dismissively. "I'm not interested in her," he replied with a nonchalant air as if the matter were already forgotten.

Just then, a faint squeak and hurried footsteps could be heard retreating down the corridor. Margaux had likely overheard their exchange.

Hermione's brow furrowed. "Do you think she—"

"Obviously, Granger," Draco interrupted, rubbing his temples in frustration. He leaned back in his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. "Before you say anything," he began, his tone more resigned than defensive, "I will apologise to her."

"Good," Hermione responded with a note of relief. The last thing she wanted was for this awkward encounter to disrupt the team's dynamic.

Noting Draco's evident frustration, Hermione decided it might be best to give him some space. "I'm off to see Harry," she paused, "Send me a memo if you have any breakthroughs."

With that, she gathered her things and made her way to Harry's office, closing the door gently behind her. As she navigated the bustling department corridors, she exchanged greetings with familiar faces and offered warm smiles to those who recognised her.

Finally reaching Harry's office, she knocked gently on the door. A muffled voice responded from the other side, "Come in."

Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.

"Hi, Harry, how are you?" Hermione asked as she made her way to the empty chair across from him, settling in with a small smile.

"I'm great. You?" Harry responded, his eyes flicking up from the parchment he was reviewing.

Hermione hesitated, the encounter with McLaggen flashing through her mind. She considered telling him but decided against it, not wanting to stir up any unnecessary concern at work. Perhaps over dinner, they could have a more private conversation about it another time. But for now, she forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired," she finally said, brushing it off.

"Yeah, it's hard work at first," Harry said, trying to offer some comfort.

"So, what did you want to discuss with me?" Hermione asked, trying to shift the focus.

Harry's eyes widened as if suddenly remembering why he'd called her in. "Right, yes," he began, "I need you to conduct an interrogation for me. It's for Blaise and Theo's case, but they're out on a field mission. The person in question might be more receptive to you than Draco."

Hermione nodded, momentarily caught off guard by how easily Harry referred to Blaise, Theo, and Draco using their first names. It was a stark reminder of how much had changed and how much time had passed since she'd been in Australia. The world had moved on without her, and sometimes, it felt like she was still catching up.

"Can you give me a breakdown of the case?" Hermione asked, leaning forward, focused.

Harry nodded, his expression serious. "There are rumors circulating about a new potion that's been making its way through the black markets. They're calling itNullis Elixir. The potion has the ability to suppress magic in witches and wizards, rendering them powerless. The duration of its effects varies depending on the dosage, but even a small amount can be dangerous."

He slid a thick file across the desk toward her. "Everything we have on it so far is in here."

Hermione leaned back in her chair, her mind racing as she tried to comprehend the implications of what she had just heard. "Are there any known long-term side effects?"

Harry's expression grew sombre. "Based on what we've gathered so far, it seems that a large enough dosage could lead to permanent magic loss. But... that's still theoretical. We don't know for certain yet."

A heavy silence filled the room as Hermione processed the gravity of the situation. The idea that someone could lose their magic forever was almost too much to bear. "If this falls into the wrong hands," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "it could devastate not just individuals but entire wizarding communities."

Harry nodded solemnly. "Exactly. That's why we can't afford to wait for Theo and Blaise to return to handle the interrogation. We need to act now."

"Can I ask where they've gone?" Hermione inquired.

"They're tracking down ingredient suppliers, trying to find out who's been buying the components for this potion. Most of the sellers don't even realise what their products are being used for," Harry explained, his tone laced with urgency. "We need to cut off the supply chain before this potion spreads any further."

"So, who do you want me to interrogate?" she asked.

"Marcus Belby," Harry replied.

Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "As in the nephew of Damocles Belby? The wizard who invented Wolfsbane?"

"That's the one," Harry confirmed. "He was in the year above us at Hogwarts."

"Yeah, I remember him from Slug Club. Hard to believe he might be involved in something like this."

Harry's expression was severe. "That's what makes this situation so tricky. We're not sure how deep his involvement runs, but if there's a chance he knows something about this potion, we need to find out."

"Is he already here?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "He's waiting at the front desk. You can use room G01 whenever you're ready; it's the one near the coffee machine."

"Right," she said, standing up swiftly. "I'm going to look over his file, and then I'll get to it."

"Good luck, Hermione," Harry called after her as she headed for the door.


After reviewing Marcus Belby's files, Hermione couldn't help but notice how thin the evidence was. Clearly, the department was desperate to crack the case involving the Nullis Elixir. The entire connection to Belby seemed to hinge on little more than rumours—informants from the black market claimed they'd seen him frequenting Knockturn Alley more often than usual, and these sightings coincided with the surge in sales of the dangerous potion. Yet, there was no concrete proof, no solid link that directly tied him to the brewing or distribution of the elixir. It was all circumstantial, making the case feel like trying to catch smoke with bare hands.

Hermione decided she needed a moment to gather herself before diving into the interrogation. She made her way to the water fountain, where she noticed Margaux standing nearby, sipping from a cup.

"Hi, Margaux. I realised I never asked, but how was your first day yesterday?" Hermione inquired, hoping to ease the tension after their earlier interaction.

Margaux sighed. "Oh, Hermione, it was so stressful. And now I'm really worried about things with Draco. I mean, he did apologise, but I don't know how to make things normal again between us."

"First days are always tough, but you handled yourself well. As for Draco, don't worry too much. He can be… well, a bit difficult, but he's not one to hold grudges. The fact that he apologised shows he doesn't want things to be awkward either," Hermione said with a reassuring smile, trying to ease her concerns. Still, Margaux appeared to be preoccupied thinking about Malfoy and how he felt about her.

Margaux sighed. "I guess you're right. I just don't want to mess things up with him, you know?"

"I understand," Hermione said kindly. "But trust me, these things happen. We're all still figuring out how to work together."

Margaux nodded, her expression softening. "Thanks, Hermione. I appreciate it."

"Anytime," Hermione replied warmly. "But I've got to get back to it. It's time to interrogate an old schoolmate. It was nice talking to you, though."

Margaux's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Someone from Hogwarts?" she asked. "I've only ever seen pictures, but it looked like such a beautiful school. I always wished I could've gone there instead of Beauxbatons."

Hermione smiled, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "It was. They've managed to restore most of it now."

"I heard you had such frizzy hair when you were there, like a bird's nest," Margaux said with an air of innocence.

Hermione was mildly taken aback by the odd comment. She assumed it was just part of the bluntness the French were known for, but it still made her uneasy. "Um, I did," she replied, trying to brush it off. "But thankfully, I've learned to manage it." She paused, unsure of how to steer the conversation. "So, which house were you in at Beauxbatons?"

"House?" Margaux looked genuinely puzzled.

"You know, the three houses you're divided into," Hermione clarified, suddenly wondering if she had misunderstood something. She was pretty sure she and Fleur had talked about it before.

"Ah, um, they didn't really do that," Margaux responded.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Hermione said, feeling slightly awkward. "Anyway, I should go. I need to get Mr. Belby. Wish me luck."

"You won't need it," Margaux replied with a small smile as Hermione walked away.

She reached the front desk in a matter of minutes, her eyes scanning the area until they landed on Marcus Belby. He was now plumper, wearing expensive yet unflattering clothes, and looking far older than his years. Time had not been kind to him.

As she approached, recognition flickered in his eyes. "Hermione Granger," he said, attempting to start the encounter with a familiar tone.

"It's Auror Granger at the moment, Mr. Belby," she replied firmly, making sure not to come across as unkind. "But it's nice to see you again."

"You are looking well," he said, looking her up and down.

She chose to ignore him and offered him a forced polite smile, "I just have a few questions for you. The sooner we get through them, the sooner you can be on your way."

"Right, well, lead the way then," he said, rising from his seat and gesturing for her to walk ahead.

Not willing to give him the satisfaction of feeling in control, Hermione remained where she was and pointed to the door of room G01. "Before we go any further, I'll need your wand for security reasons," she stated firmly, holding out her hand.

He lazily pulled his wand from his pocket and handed it to her, his fingers brushing against hers for a moment longer than necessary. "Right, Mr. Belby," she said, her voice clipped, "you can settle in there. I'll be in shortly."

As she watched Marcus Belby enter the room, Hermione handed his wand into reception, her mind racing with the task ahead. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she entered the room.

The room was small, with two chairs facing each other across a small table. Marcus Belby had seated himself comfortably on one side, his posture relaxed yet his expression cold and unyielding. As Hermione took her seat opposite him, she could sense that he was preparing for a confrontation, the warmth and courtesy he had shown in the lobby now replaced by a steely resolve.

"Right, let's get started," Hermione said, her tone firm as she regarded him. Belby's posture remained rigid, his expression unreadable.

"There have been reports of you frequenting Nocturn Alley. I need to know what you were doing there," she continued, her gaze unwavering.

Belby's lips curled into a menacing smirk. "Didn't realise that being seen in Nocturn Alley was a crime, love," he replied, his voice dripping with a condescending edge.

"It's not," Hermione said calmly, maintaining her composure despite his provocations. "So I'll ask again. What were you doing there?"

Belby's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his nonchalant demeanour. "I'm a man of many interests, Granger. Sometimes, I like to explore different parts of the city. No harm in that, is there?"

Hermione leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Exploring different parts of the city is one thing. Frequenting a known black market area is another. Especially when a new potion on the black market has been linked to it. Now, if you have nothing to hide, you won't mind sharing the details of your visits."

Belby's eyes flickered with a mix of irritation and unease, but he kept his voice steady. "I assure you, if I had anything to hide, I wouldn't be here talking to you."

Hermione pulled out a magical photograph from her case file. The image showed Belby glancing around cautiously in Nocturn Alley, ensuring he wasn't being watched, before slipping into a known entrance to the black market. She slid the photo across the table towards him, her gaze unwavering.

"What were you doing in this photo?" she asked firmly.

He picked up the photograph, scrutinised it briefly, then tossed it back onto the table with a dismissive flick. Hermione's eyes remained fixed on him, unblinking.

"Whatever," he spat, his voice laced with irritation. "Don't look at me like that, you—bitch."

Hermione stood up and walked around the table, just inches from Marcus. Leaning in, she used her presence to close the distance between them, clearly intimidating him. She watched as he visibly recoiled, sinking further into his seat.

"Mr. Belby," Hermione said firmly, her voice steady, "we already have probable cause to search your property. This is your opportunity to come forward and potentially lessen your sentence. Cooperate now, and it might make a difference in the outcome."

"Come off it, love," Belby sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "This picture means nothing. You've got nothing on me, and you know it."

Hermione let out a small laugh. "We have pictures, eyewitness testimonies, and as of"—she glanced at her watch with feigned nonchalance—"five minutes ago, we found a sample of Nullis Elixir in your house." She watched him closely, hoping her bluff would rattle him.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his facade cracking. "Listen, Hermione, I—"

"It's Auror Granger to you," she cut in sharply.

"Ooooh, Auror Granger has a nasty streak," he taunted, swinging back in his chair and taunting her with a smirk. "I know all your little Auror tricks. I'm not going to confess."

Hermione's expression remained stern. "Why are you being so defensive, Belby? You're only making this harder for yourself."

"The only thing that's making this harder for me," he paused, leering at her with a smirk, "is seeing you get flustered and worked up when you get angr—"

Without giving him a chance to finish, Hermione kicked the bottom of the chair he was leaning on, sending him crashing to the floor.

"Weren't expecting that, were you?" she said, her voice icy. "Men like you make me sick."

"You bitch," he spat, struggling to regain his footing.

Hermione's expression remained steely as she pointed her wand at him. "You are being detained for obstructing an Auror investigation and for probable cause that you are in possession of a highly illegal substance." She flicked her wand and with a soft, magical click, conjured handcuffs around his wrists.

Belby, now back on his feet but with a furious scowl, glared at her. "I'll make sure you pay for this," he seethed. "I should have listened to Cormac when he warned me about you."

Hermione froze, her mind racing. How did Belby know about her and Cormac? She tried to suppress her unease, but the thought of Cormac's influence seeping into her professional life sent shivers down her spine.

"Did I hit a nerve?" Belby called after her, his voice dripping with satisfaction.

She ignored Belby's threat, her face expressionless. "You will be held for the next 24 hours while the investigation continues," she said firmly, her voice devoid of any hint of emotion. She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Hope you get comfortable."