A/N

Hello and welcome to a story that started as a plot bunny for love options but now is my magnum opus of Dramione solving a serial killer murder mystery against the clock as they fight feelings for each other. (Because which Dramione is complete without some angst, pining and idiocy)
This story is partially up on AO3 as well but now that am definitely planning on taking this to the finish line since my manuscript is 25 chapters long, I thought it's only fair that FF get this too. My first-ever fanfic (Dramione) did get so much love here, after all.
I hope you enjoy the ride!

XOXO
-MM

Chapter 1: Rambo

What had happened with Project Rambo wasn't her fault. Yes, Rambo as in the Sylvester Stallone movie. One very enthusiastic American sponsor for her research had insisted on naming the project after his favourite muggle movie. Considering his sizeable donation to the cause, the name had become official. It was an apt name though, considering it had to do with understanding how adrenaline and other hormones helped magic in a fight or flight situation.
Everything had been going well until they had to conduct their first social experiment to monitor wizards. The trials with the witches had gone well and Hermione had been thorough enough to include squibs into the mix to check for control.

However, the trial with the wizards was a whole different situation. They had outsourced the part where they find subjects to sign up despite Hermione's protests. She wanted to supervise the effort but her superiors had told her to focus on the research part and not these frivolous bits.
While the agency had done a tremendous job at ensuring all the volunteers were strangers, Wizarding Britain is a very small community at the end of the day. Just about enough people to fill up London. Hermione could hardly blame them for not knowing about a two-decade-old feud between two of the subjects. The adrenaline experiment had turned into a testosterone-fueled dick-measuring match when two of the respondents figured out that they knew each other because of a woman. The said woman was one's wife and the other's mistress in the past. It ended with fists flying and curses being hurled by two middle-aged men rolling on the floor and trying to tackle each other. It would have been a hilarious situation had it not derailed Hermione's entire two weeks of efforts to plan the experiment and shortlist the best possible candidates. She had stood there gaping, a horrified expression on her face as she stared at them in utter disbelief. She had promised to try to meet the Potters and Ron for drinks tonight but wasn't sure if she would actually make it. Now she was sure she needed the drinks more than anyone else.

The Butterbeer Barrel felt like it would burst at the seams if it was a tent rather than the hip new magical brewery in London. It was not only the latest place to hang out for all the recent Hogwarts graduates but also preferred by the older generation because of the fantastic new brews that it offered. Dean & Seamus had decided to use muggle brewing techniques to create new magical beers that nobody had ever tasted before. It was a raging success, would be an understatement. Think of it like Bertie Bott's Beans but in a beer and without any vomit-flavoured surprises.

Hermione had initially wanted to go home and get out of her clothes before she considered joining her friends for a few drinks. After the day she had had, she was the first to reach the pub and was two beers down when Harry walked in with Ginny on his side. "Well damn woman, you have had an interesting day, it seems?" Ginny asked as she eyed the empty beer mugs on the table. "Don't even ask." Hermione retorted while hugging Harry and making way for both of them to scooch in next to her.

Within the hour the table was one of the loudest with everyone meeting after a very long time. The other patrons couldn't really complain after all because the table was occupied by none other than The Chosen One and other war heroes including the bar's owners, Dean & Seamus.
A few more friends of friends had joined in today; many new faces had popped up. Usually, knee-deep in research Hermione wasn't feeling like the hermit she usually does, emboldened by the liquid courage running in her blood. She was easygoing, carefree and definitely a lot less scrutinising tonight. While chatting away with Brenda from the Department of Transportation somebody bumped into her and she spilled her beer all over the table. She had been standing next to it as the booth had gotten way too crowded to be sitting inside. The man bent down to retrieve the glass and apologised profusely. Just as he offered her another drink, she caught a whiff of something. Something familiar tugged at her olfactory nerve. Where had she smelled this before? In her drunken stupor, she scanned her memory to remember where she had smelled this before. And what was it? Hermione was lost in thought and didn't even realise when she nodded in agreement for a fresh glass of beer. The man returned with a new mug of beer for her and gave her a sweet apologetic smile. Hermione was beyond drunk at this point. While she wasn't the kind to make rash decisions even if drunk, she could feel how time felt like it had slowed down. It took her a few seconds to focus on the handsome man in front of her and to take in his features. He had dirty blonde hair and kind blue eyes. She murmured "You shouldn't have," as he handed her the drink. "It's only fair since I knocked over your drink. It was no trouble at all. I am Rowan, by the way, Rowan Greenwillow." She shook his hand. Her drunk brain was trying to remind her of something she was supposed to do, something to figure out, but she left it for the next day.

As it turns out, Rowan was a wizard raised in the Americas. His family was distantly related to the Greengrasses and had relocated over a century ago. He was the perfect gentleman and made sure that Hermione was safe with her friends before he left for the night. The nagging feeling still remained that something familiar had brushed passed her, but she couldn't pinpoint what.