This Monday was supposed to be easier. She was just supposed to go over the results, but with the botched-up experiment, there was nothing to keep her mind at ease. Harry, Ron, Draco and several other Aurors had been now gone two full days. While it wasn't unusual for Harry to be gone for an undetermined period, the secrecy around this mission had Ginny and her scared witless.
She had been walking around her office and reading and re-reading her files, a sense of dread and unease gradually washing over her. Hermione's office was in the middle of magical London for easy access and was a muggle studio apartment that she had converted into a lab cum office space. It was modern, clean, and functional and had towering bookshelves filled to the brim on every topic fathomable. She liked to think of it as her personal library and was rather proud of the exquisite collection she had now amassed.
She subconsciously moved towards the shelf that stocked her old textbooks. Reading them and looking at them made her feel safe and sure of herself. She decided to take a break and pull open her beloved copy of Hogwarts: A History and settled into her plush reading chair. Even though she could recite it word for word, she couldn't get herself to focus on it today. There was this restlessness in her bones as if something bad was going to happen. The kind that creeps on you and settles in your chest as heavy as lead. Even the plants that she loved surrounding herself with and the pixie lights could do nothing to ease her senses. She looked outside the window for a while before finally giving up and deciding to get back to work again.

Just as Hermione was about to wrap up the first folder of new candidates, there was a tap on her office's window. She looked up to find a scrawny-looking owl holding a Ministry missive. She took the letter and sent her on her way with a treat. The missive was sealed by the Minister of Magic himself. She felt the dread settle deeper in the pit of her stomach, making its home in the depths of her consciousness. If Shacklebolt had summoned her personally, it had to be something urgent and classified. She tore it open carefully.

Dearest Hermione,
I would like to have a word with you at the earliest. As you might have already guessed, the matter is of utmost importance and time is of the essence. You must keep this between us for now. Let me know when & where can we speak in confidentiality. If you can drop by the Ministry, ask Lola to send you in as you have to discuss the Minority Reports with me.
Regards,
Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic

United Kingdom

Hermione put the missive in the fireplace and felt a headache incoming. She made herself some tea to calm her nerves before she apparated to the Ministry.

Within an hour Hermione was waiting outside the Minister's doors as he wrapped up another meeting. Lola, his new secretary, was a young redhead who loved to guess your zodiac sign as a pastime. It grated on Hermione's nerves but she played along to not be rude. To Lola's credit, she did guess her star sign to be Virgo in one shot. Chitchatting with Lola had eased her nerves somewhat so she could be grateful for that at least. Maybe she did need to step out and meet people more often, her friends were right. Just then the door swung open and two podgy middle-aged men walked out of the Minister's office.

"Ah, Miss Granger, come in!" said Shacklebolt, "Settle down, I'll just ask Nymphandora to join us". At the mention of Tonks, Hermione was more concerned than confused. Why would he need to ask the Head Auror to join them unless something was terribly wrong? The all-knowing Minister looked up through his glasses and said, "They are all fine, don't worry". The action felt very Dumbledore-like but his words soothed her anxiety. Within minutes Tonks was stepping through the Floo and hugging Hermione.
"Would you two like a cup of tea?" Kingsley asked as he whipped out classified files from thin air and laid them before Hermione. She recognised the handwriting on the covers and the names of the assigned junior Aurors- Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Nyssa Thorne & Hermione Granger.
"Is it what I think it is?" Hermione's dread came a full circle. "The Carver is back," Tonks responded next to her. "Harry, Ron and every other senior auror is on the case. That's why we had to call Malfoy back from his deep undercover mission. It's not safe for any of you to be out alone with this insane creature on the loose."
"Then why are they out there and am safe and cushy in this office?" Hermione knew how incredulous she sounded. "Because they are under strict orders to investigate and only investigate as a group and separate under no circumstances. I placed a charm on them if they separate for long distances or time durations. I know the hero complex they all share with Harry." Tonks retorted.
"How can I help Minister?" Hermione sighed and looked between the two with a determined look. She knew that this was probably just to keep her informed and assign a protection detail (which she would never agree to), so she had to help however she could.
Kingsley put both his hands on the table and looked away for a second before he responded. "Neither of us was under any illusion that you wouldn't offer help. We knew you would fight us on this but we need to keep you protected given the nature of the case. We also know we need the help so I have a deal for you."
He continued, "The Aurors are out there looking at every possible lead that there is, but we need someone to follow them up. With all hands on deck, there's no one to put the pieces together and help us out with any research—nobody with your level of skill or knowledge. Hermione, what am proposing is, if you would be willing to work as an Investigative Researcher for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. You'll have free access to every resource that the Ministry has to offer under my orders and Tonks will ensure you have everything in order with our full cooperation and transparency. In return, all we ask is, that you set up a space to work within the Ministry and allow us to at least send a team to ward your house against any malintent. Also, an auror will be assigned to shadow you at all times."
"You know my answers already. It's a definitive yes to helping with the investigation but I cannot be cooped up in a room all day. I will need access to the actual crime scenes, potential leads and so much more! Now I don't want to be unreasonable completely so you can send in a team to check on my home. Although I can assure you my wards are solid. As for a protection detail, absolutely not. I have been followed around enough to last me a lifetime. If someone catches wind of it it will be a media circus again."
"Okay hear me out," Tonks interjected, "Give me two days to figure this out. You lot are a nightmare when it comes to being sensible about your safety. Move in with Ginny while we figure this out? Grimmauld Place is going to be safer than any ward with its Fiddelus Charm. Plus she could use the company, there are only so many Floo calls that I can take from her about Harry. Do we have a deal?"
Judging by her tone it seemed like Tonks was at the end of her patience and probably had had the same chat with Harry, Ron, and possibly even Draco. He was even worse when it came to self-preservation. Hermione agreed as they filled her in on the latest findings so far.
The Carver was one of the last cases that Hermione had undertaken as a Junior Auror and something about it was so sinister that it made her skin crawl. This was coming from a woman who had fought against Voldemort when she was a mere teen girl. It was partially the reason why she quit being an Auror. It had made her realise that fighting evil is an endless battle for which she didn't have the mental capacity anymore. She would rather work on doing some good rather than face monsters of every kind day after day.
Three victims had been found years ago, within a span of three to four months. Young brunettes with bright futures ahead of them had been brutally murdered. They were found dead in their homes. Smiles were carved into their faces with some sort of a cursed knife. The killing itself was the death curse but it was the act of carving the smiles which gave it the sinister twist. The killer had always meticulously placed the witches in a manner that seemed like they were doing mundane activities. One sat watching Telly on the sofa, another reading a book in bed and the third was placed to look like she was ready to eat her dinner at the table. It was eerie and very evidently the work of a serial killer. The Wizarding World had had plenty of megalomaniacs so far with Grindelwald & Voldemort but serial killers were still few and far between. It had taken the media by storm. With most older Aurors dead or retired or permanently injured after the War, the case was assigned to their team under Tonk's supervision. They mostly worked in pairs- Harry-Ron, Hermione-Nyssa and Malfoy was by himself, the best company for him. They got plenty of call-ins from the public about suspicious behaviour but almost all turned out to be by nosy neighbours.
They had almost given up until one day when they got a solid lead. Somebody had recently heard of the sale of a cursed knife on the black market. The lead took all week but while they did manage to trace the original seller back to Romania, there was no sign of who purchased it. Neither was there any proof that the blade used was the same. When Hermione had returned to put away some files for the night, she walked by Nyssa, her partner sleeping on her desk at the MLE. It was an unusual sight but she thought nothing much of it. When she crossed her again on the way home, she decided to wake up the witch before her neck began hurting.
Just as she had put her hand on Nyssa's shoulder, she knew something was very very wrong. She was ice cold. It was sweltering weather in May and Nyssa was wearing a thin cotton shirt. How could she be ice cold?!
Hermione carefully used her wand to try and levitate her head as she asked her to wake up in a shaky voice. She knew that Nyssa wouldn't wake up, but she had to try. What she didn't expect even in her worst nightmare was the familiar ominous smile greeting her as she lifted her head. She had screamed her lungs out and then her memory had gone blank. Her partner was dead, the killer had been in the Ministry and even managed to stage Nyssa at her desk. Just the thought that she possibly might have crossed the killer made a shiver go down her spine. That was eight years ago. She still could see Nyssa's face as clear as day. What she couldn't see anymore was her face without the smile carved into it, the way she looked when she smiled.