Back in the dimly lit office, Hermione leaned against her desk. Draco's jacket was draped around her shoulders, the scent of his expensive cologne still clinging to the fabric. She remembered the way he'd shrugged it off, a silent offer as they navigated the deserted Ministry corridors, his hand brushing hers for a fleeting second.
Across the room, Draco sat perched on his own desk, a silhouette against the sliver of moonlight from the window. His shoulders were hunched, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He hadn't spoken since they'd left the hall.
"Hermione," he began, his voice low, "I'm so sorry for putting you in that situation tonight."
A small puff of air escaped her. Pushing herself off from the desk, Hermione stood tall as she stared at him. "Draco, I'm going to say this once, and you are going to listen to me."
He lifted his gaze, meeting hers, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. There was something almost desperate in his gaze, and she couldn't look away.
"You didn't put me in this position," she continued, her voice firm. "I made my own choices. There's no point apologizing for something you had no control over."
Her words hung in the air between them, a finality to them. Draco's eyes narrowed as if trying to decipher the meaning behind her words. He turned away, a flicker of something akin to hurt crossed his features as his mind seemed to travel elsewhere.
"The way he looked at you," Draco said quietly, his eyebrows creasing slightly. "Like you were something he owned. It made me..." He stopped, his jaw clenched, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air. "I've never been closer to hexing someone in broad daylight."
Hermione blinked, caught off guard by the raw honesty in his tone. His level of concern wasn't just professional—it felt personal.
She tried to dismiss the thoughts but the office space suddenly felt smaller. She couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in Draco's appearance—his tie loosened, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing a glimpse of pale skin. He looked so different from his usual, impeccably composed self. As if sensing her gaze, he ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips, the movement only further disheveling his appearance.
"I, um—I'm going to get changed," Hermione said, her voice slightly breathless. "Can you pass me the bag in the corner?" she asked, her gaze fixed on anything but Draco.
He remained silent, standing up to retrieve it. The tension in his shoulders hadn't quite eased. When he handed her the bag, he held onto it just a fraction longer, causing her to look up. Their eyes met, his holding hers captive. They were only inches apart.
"What?" she asked, her voice tight, gripping the bag between them as if it were a lifeline.
A soft, almost shy smile played on his lips—so different from his usual arrogant smirk. "I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier, but… you look wonderful tonight," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. He paused, his eyes searching hers for a reaction.
Hermione was speechless. Her pulse quickened, her heart hammering against her ribs as she stared back at him. For a moment, she didn't know how to breathe, her cheeks betraying her as a light blush spread across her face.
Draco's smile widened into a familiar smirk, his tone shifting back to his usual playful banter. "I mean, you were the best-looking person after me, of course. But coming second to me is still impressive," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
She rolled her eyes, yanking the bag from his grip with a touch more force than necessary. "Always so humble," she teased, a genuine smile finally gracing her lips. She had missed him.
Just then, the office door creaked open, and Theo walked in, his casual greeting abruptly cut off as he took in the scene before him. Surprised at his sudden appearance, both of them took a couple of casual steps apart to put some space between them.
Draco recovered first. "What's up?" he asked, trying to sound casual, though his voice betrayed him.
Theo raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "What's up?" he echoed.
"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued by the charged atmosphere and the unspoken communication between Draco and Theo.
Theo's expression shifted to something more serious, his tone urgent. "Harry's in his office. He wants a briefing about the operation. There are a few people from the team there as well."
"You two go ahead. I need to change." Hermione nodded towards the door. "I'll be there shortly."
Draco and Theo exchanged a brief nod before heading toward the door. As Draco walked past Hermione, she noticed him casting a subtle glance back at her, his eyes lingering on her red dress. Her cheeks warmed once more, and she quickly turned away from the door, hoping he hadn't caught the flush of color spreading across her cheeks.
After changing into more comfortable Muggle clothes, Hermione now stood at the back of Harry's office, which was bustling with the low hum of conversation. It seemed that nearly everyone from the ball had been summoned here.
Harry stepped to the front of the room and cleared his throat, instantly commanding the attention of everyone present. The chatter died down, and the room fell into an expectant silence.
"As you all know by now, our operation tonight has yielded some significant new information," Harry began, his tone both firm and appreciative. "First, I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone for executing everything flawlessly. I'd also like to give a special acknowledgement to Auror Granger for her hard work this past week."
The room of Aurors nodded in agreement, many of them glancing quietly in Hermione's direction.
"I'll provide further updates on how we'll handle the situation later in the week," Harry continued. "Thank you everyone for your time. You're all free to go back to the gala and enjoy yourselves."
With a collective sigh of relief, people began to file out, the conversations picking up again as they excitedly returned to the celebrations in the Ministry's atrium, no longer on shift.
As the crowd began to thin, Harry called out, "Auror Granger, Malfoy, Nott, and Zabini, could you all stay for a moment longer?"
Blaise raised a hand apologetically, his eyes scanning the room as he tried to maneuver past people with evident urgency. "I'll be back. Just give me a minute," he said, clearly in a rush to reach someone.
Harry raised an eyebrow at Blaise's behavior but chose to ignore it and let him go as he waited for the rest to leave. Once the room was empty, he closed the door with a soft click and turned to the remaining group. "Have a seat," he instructed, his tone serious and commanding.
Theo, Hermione and Draco all took their seats, and Harry took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Considering this is your case," he said, addressing the group, "I think it's important that we have a more in-depth discussion while everything is still fresh in our minds. You can fill Blaise in later"
Theo took the lead, beginning the conversation. "Cormac mentioned that Astoria Greengrass knew Hermione's rough address," he began, his eyes shifting to Hermione. "Can you think of any reason why she might want to cause you harm?"
Hermione thought about his question hard, her mind racing as she considered it. "I really can't think of anything," she replied.
Draco, who had been quiet until now, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His gaze was focused on the floor as he spoke up, his tone almost uncertain. "I might have an idea," he said quietly. "But I'm not entirely sure."
Harry leaned forward, urging Draco to continue. "What is it?" he asked.
Draco took a deep breath. "I, um… I used to be in an arranged marriage with Astoria when we were still at school." He paused, wincing as if the memory was painful. "But after my father was imprisoned, my mother dissolved the pact."
Theo's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to Draco. "I didn't know about this, Draco."
Draco's jaw clenched, his eyes hardening as he recalled the past. "I never wanted it," he said, his voice laced with a subtle sadness. "So I wasn't exactly keen on discussing it during school. We were children."
Hermione remained silent for a moment, allowing the information to sink in. "How did she handle the dissolution of the marriage pact?" she asked softly.
Draco met her gaze, his expression grim. "Badly," he admitted, his voice rough. "Very badly."
"What do you mean?" Harry pressed gently.
Draco's eyes darkened as he continued. "After she lost the Malfoy fortune, she completely lost her grip on reality. She started lashing out, insisting that we were meant to be together, that we were destined for each other." He sighed, the weight of his words evident. "Her obsession didn't stop there. She kept interfering in my life, one way or another. In fact, she was one of the reasons a past relationship of mine fell apart. She just kept inserting herself, one way or another."
The room fell silent as the gravity of Draco's revelation sank in.
"But that doesn't explain why she would target Hermione or any of the other victims," Theo interjected, his voice sharp with logic.
Draco's eyes seemed to glaze over as he pondered Theo's question, then snapped back into focus, widening in realization. He leaned forward, his voice had a rough edge to it. "I had spent the afternoon with Mildred Duncan at her furniture shop just days before she was murdered."
Harry sat back into his chair, his curiosity piqued.
"We were discussing furniture for the Manor," Draco continued, his voice steady, the significance of this seemingly insignificant detail slowly dawning on him. "At the end of our meeting, I asked if she'd like to meet up for a drink as a thank-you gesture."
The casual way Draco had mentioned meeting Mildred for drinks... it hadn't occurred to her. He'd never mentioned it before, not even when they were first assigned to the case. Now, his initial reaction to the news of Mildred's death made sense.
"Did you ever end up going?" she found herself asking.
Draco met her gaze directly. "No," he replied swiftly and without hesitation.
Hermione blinked, her eyes widening slightly. His answer was so immediate, so definitive.
"Do you think Astoria would be capable of murdering someone over something so minor?" Harry interjected, his tone laden with skepticism.
Draco nodded solemnly, his expression grave. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. "There's something seriously wrong with her," he admitted. "I just never imagined she would take it this far."
Theo shifted the focus. "What about Mrs. Kirsty Birbeck?" he asked, seeking clarification. "How does Astoria's obsession with you explain her murder?"
Draco leaned back, his fingers tracing patterns on the armrest of his chair. "If we stick with our earlier theory that Mrs. Birbeck wasn't the intended target but rather an unfortunate witness, then Astoria remains a viable suspect."
Theo ran a hand through his hair, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "Who would the intended target be then?" he asked, confused.
Draco glanced quietly in Hermione's direction, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Hermione, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, subtly shifted in her seat.
"What about the Nullis Elixir found at the scene?" Harry asked, adding to the pile of questions. "Any connections there?"
Draco shrugged his shoulders, a frown creasing his brow. "That's the only part that doesn't add up to me," he muttered, tapping his fingers.
"But then why would Astoria be targeting me?" Hermione said, confusion clouding her features.
Draco's gaze grew distant, as if searching for the right words. "Any woman she sees interacting with me," he said, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper, "could be perceived as a threat."
Hermione's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place."She would have seen us at our work drinks at the Leaky Cauldron," she said, connecting the dots. "That's when Cormac mentioned she asked for my address." She paused, her brow furrowed, a chilling realization dawning on her. "But I didn't see her there."
"I didn't see her either," Theo confirmed, his eyes widening. "Which means she was observing us from a distance, watching our every move."
"I never saw her at Mildred's furniture shop either," Draco added, his posture tense.
Harry leaned forward, his gaze sharp, taking command of the situation. "Alright," he said decisively, "we have two courses of action to verify this." He turned to Draco, his voice firm. "First, would you consent to placing your memories into a Pensieve? We need to review what happened both at the furniture shop and at the pub."
Draco nodded slowly, a flicker of unease crossing his features.
"Second, Theo," Harry said, his voice urgent, "I need you and Blaise revisit the underage trace records from before Astoria came of age? The two systems aren't linked up but now that we have narrowed down the suspect list we might find a match to the one on our criminal magical trace database."
"I'll get on it right away. I'm going to look for Blaise now," Theo said, rising from his seat. He glanced at Harry. "Am I excused?"
"Yes, go find him," Harry replied before turning his attention back to Hermione and Draco. "The Pensieve won't be available until tomorrow morning, so you two might as well head home for the evening."
Hermione and Draco stood up, ready to leave. Just as they were about to head out, Harry called them back. "Hey," he said, his tone softer. "Without the two of you, we wouldn't have made any progress in this investigation. I know it's not easy for either of you, but keep an eye on each other, okay? We need you both at your best."
Draco met Harry's gaze, a silent promise passing between them. "We will," he assured him, and with a final nod, Draco and Hermione left the Head Auror office.
The two of them walked in silence once again, the weight of the evening's revelations pressing down on them like a physical weight. As they reached their shared space, each moved with practiced ease as they gathered their belongings, their exhaustion evident in their slow movement. As they put on their jackets, the silence between them was disturbed by the soft rustle of fabric and the muted clicks of zippers which filled the space where words might have been.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and Blaise burst into the room, his face flushed and breathless as though he had been running in a frenzy. "Have you seen Margaux?" he demanded with urgency.
Draco and Hermione exchanged concerned glances, then both shook their heads in unison. "No, sorry, Blaise," Hermione responded.
Blaise's eyes darted around the room, his agitation growing. "I need to find her," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "It's important."
Draco's gaze hardened, a note of suspicion in his voice. "Why do you need her?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied Blaise's disheveled appearance.
"I need to tell her I love her," Blaise blurted out, panting.
Draco and Hermione exchanged a glance, their shared look filled with unease. Blaise's erratic behavior didn't sit right. There was a desperation in his eyes that felt out of place.
"Blaise," Hermione began gently, "are you sure you're feeling alright?"
"I feel perfectly fine! Why wouldn't I?" Blaise insisted, a wild gleam in his eyes. "I'm about to tell the woman of my dreams that I love her."
Hermione, sensing that something was seriously wrong, kept her tone calm and soothing. "Why don't you sit down and tell us what you like about her?" she suggested, hoping to keep him in the room long enough to figure out what was going on.
Blaise didn't hesitate. He stormed over to Draco's desk and plopped down with an almost childlike eagerness, completely uncharacteristic of his usual charming demeanor. There was something unsettling about the way he moved, the exaggerated emotions he displayed. His infatuation felt wrong—too sudden, too intense. Hermione's mind raced as she considered whether something, or someone, had influenced him.
Draco, who had moved to stand next to her, clearly had the same suspicions.
"So, what's so special about Margaux?" Draco asked, placing a hand on Blaise's shoulder to steer his attention, trying to get him to focus.
"Oh, she's so pretty," Blaise said dreamily, his eyes glazing over. "And French, and smart…" He paused, a dopey smile spreading across his face. "Did I mention she's pretty?"
Draco's eyebrows furrowed in concern. Something was definitely off. "But what is it about her," he pressed, "that makes you think you're in love with her?"
Blaise blinked quickly, as though the question hadn't even crossed his mind before. "I—well, I just know! She's perfect, and I just need to be with her!" His voice pitched higher, desperate and unconvincing, as if he were clinging to the idea rather than a real emotion.
Hermione watched closely, her unease growing. It wasn't love Blaise was describing; it was a hollow infatuation. Draco exchanged another concerned glance with Hermione before nodding slightly toward the corner of the room. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod in return.
"Blaise, why don't you relax for a minute?" Draco said, his voice calm. "We'll figure out how to help you talk to Margaux."
Blaise, still lost in his dream-like state, nodded absentmindedly and slouched back in Draco's chair, muttering something about Margaux's perfect smile.
Draco subtly motioned for Hermione to follow him, and they stepped quietly into the far corner of the office, lowering their voices to a whisper.
"This isn't right," Draco said, his face set with concern.
Hermione's expression was grim as she glanced back at Blaise, whose goofy smile hadn't faded. "I'm thinking the same thing. It's almost textbook. The way he's acting, how fixated he is… I think he's under the influence of Amortentia. It would explain why he just up and left Harry's office earlier"
Draco sighed, his expression grim. "I agree. The potion must have been affecting him for some time for the effects to be this intense. We need to keep him here and away from Margaux.
As Hermione's mind worked quickly to formulate a plan, Blaise's muttering grew louder. "Margaux... I need to see her... I have to tell her..."
"Blaise, mate," Draco said carefully, stepping toward him. "Why don't we just take a minute and—"
"No!" Blaise suddenly snapped, leaping to his feet with surprising intensity. His eyes, once dreamy, now burned with a frantic energy. "I can't wait! I need to find her now !"
Hermione instinctively stepped back, her wand slipping into her hand. "Blaise, listen to us," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You're not thinking clearly—this isn't real."
But Blaise's expression twisted, and his hands balled into fists at his sides. "Not real? How dare you say that! You don't understand!" He stepped toward them, his voice rising in anger. "You're trying to stop me from being with her! You're jealous! You both are!"
"Blaise, you don't have to do this," Hermione said, her voice steady as she tried to calm him.
Blaise's eyes were glazed, and his speech slurred, a dangerous edge to his tone. "You're always so mean to her, Draco," he spat. "You never appreciate her."
"What are you talking about, Blaise?" Draco asked cautiously, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him.
Blaise's delusions were clearly becoming more pronounced. "Maybe I just need to get rid of you." He reached for his wand, a menacing glint in his eye, and pointed it at Draco's chest.
Without hesitation, Hermione shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" Blaise stiffened and collapsed to the ground, immobilized.
Draco and Hermione stood there, their breaths coming fast as they looked down at him, their shock palpable. "What just happened?" Hermione muttered, her voice barely a whisper.
The door creaked open behind them, causing both Draco and Hermione to spin around abruptly. They found themselves face-to-face with Theo, who stood frozen in the doorway.
Before Theo could utter a word, Draco quickly interjected, holding up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "It's not what it looks like."