The next day arrived far too quickly for Hermione, who had barely managed any rest. Her mind had refused to quiet, with the events of the previous day replaying over and over.
After explaining the situation, Theo and Draco had rushed Blaise to St. Mungo's to administer the antidote for Amortentia. It had been a tense night, and though Hermione hadn't gone with them, Draco had sent her an owl reassuring her that Blaise was doing much better.
As she now walked through the familiar corridors of the department, the usual hum of bustling Aurors preparing for the day's cases surrounded her, but her mind was elsewhere. The early morning light filtered through the high windows, casting long shadows on the polished stone floor. Despite her exhaustion, she knew she had no time to slow down. There was too much to unravel, and too many questions were still unanswered.
Lost in her thoughts, Hermione didn't notice the familiar figure rounding the corner until it was too late. She crashed straight into Harry, nearly knocking them both off balance.
"Whoa! Steady there," Harry said, gripping her shoulders to stop her from stumbling back.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped, startled as she quickly regained her footing. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
"It's okay, I was just looking for you anyway," he said, falling into step beside her. "I've just spoken with Margaux about the Amortentia situation."
Hermione's expression softened with sympathy. "Is she alright?"
"She had no idea," Harry admitted, his brow furrowing. "I told her to take the day off and clear her head a bit, but she refused. So I was wondering if you could keep an eye on her."
"Yes, of course!" Hermione replied, her tone sincere.
"Great," Harry said, giving her a small nod. "I'll be in my office if you need me." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Hermione to her thoughts as she continued down the corridor.
As she neared her own office, she spotted Draco approaching from the opposite direction. He looked different—tense, almost nervous.
"You alright?" Hermione asked as they reached the door, Draco holding it open for her to step inside.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah, just didn't sleep well," he answered, his voice a little flat.
"I can imagine," she said sympathetically as she shrugged off her jacket and made her way to her desk. "How's Blaise doing?"
Draco leaned against his desk, his arms folded. "He's no longer under the influence of Amortentia, but... the memory loss is worse than we thought. The Healer said it's from being under the potion for so long. They expect his memories will start to come back over the next week, but right now, it's pretty severe."
"So he doesn't know when he ingested the potion?" Hermione asked.
"No," Draco said with a shake of his head. "He doesn't even know who could've done it. Harry spoke to Margaux this morning. She seemed pretty shaken up about the whole thing."
Hermione studied him for a moment, taking in his slightly dishevelled appearance. His usual cool composure seemed to have slipped away, replaced by an uncharacteristic tension. "Are you ready to go over your memories in the Pensieve?" she asked gently, sensing the unease in him.
Draco hesitated, his expression shifting. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah… about that," he started, his voice lower. "I've been thinking, and I'd prefer if it was just Harry who goes into the Pensieve with me."
Hermione blinked, slightly surprised. "Oh, um, yeah, of course," she responded, her eyebrows creasing with curiosity.
Draco sighed and looked up at the ceiling as if silently berating himself. "It's not that I don't trust you or anything," he said, his words almost rushed, "I just… there are things I'd rather keep to myself."
"You don't have to justify anything, Draco," Hermione replied. "I get it. Harry can go through them with you. There's no need for me to be there."
Draco met her eyes, visibly relieved by her response. "It's not easy, you know? Having someone else sift through your memories."
Hermione gave him a small nod. "I understand. It's personal."
There was a brief moment of silence between them before Draco cleared his throat and straightened. "I'd better get this over with," he said, sounding a little less nervous.
"Good luck," Hermione said, offering him a small, reassuring smile. As Draco turned to leave, she couldn't help but wonder what exactly he didn't want her to know. It was clear that whatever it was, it mattered deeply to him.
She watched him disappear down the hallway, her mind racing with questions she knew better than to ask. It wasn't like Draco to shy away from a challenge, but something about the Pensieve, about those specific memories, had him on edge.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, Hermione tried to focus on the task at hand. She spent the next two hours pouring over the case file, meticulously going through every detail. There were too many loose ends—the string of murders that now seemed disturbingly connected, the Nullis Elixir found at the scene, and, of course, the possible involvement of Astoria Greengrass.
Hermione frowned as she scanned through the victim profiles again. Each case had felt isolated at first, but now they were coming together in an unnerving pattern. The victims, the timing, the strange coincidences surrounding Draco's interactions with some of them, all of it was starting to make sense. They just needed to build up their case.
After what felt like hours of going in circles, the ticking of the clock on the wall started to grate on Hermione's nerves. With each second that passed, she felt no closer to solving anything, and the frustration was beginning to mount. She pushed back her chair with a sigh, deciding that a break, and more importantly, some coffee, might help clear her head.
As she made her way down the hallways approaching the coffee machine, the freshly brewed aroma hit her, instantly soothing some of her tension. She placed a cup under the spout and waited, the rhythmic sound of the machine filling the silence.
Glancing around, Hermione spotted Margaux seated at her trainee desk, clearly concentrating on what looked like a mound of paperwork. She looked exhausted. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Hermione decided to make an extra cup of coffee and walked over to Margaux, gently placing it on her desk.
"Thought you could use this," Hermione said with a small smile.
Margaux looked up, startled for a moment before her expression softened in gratitude. "Oh, thank you, Hermione. I didn't even realise how much I needed this." She wrapped her hands around the cup.
"How are you holding up?" Hermione asked softly.
Margaux sighed, glancing down at the stack of papers in front of her. "I'm alright... I think. Still trying to process everything from last night, to be honest." She gave a small, tired laugh. "It's all just a bit overwhelming."
"I can imagine." Hermione nodded, sitting down on the edge of the desk. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Margaux nodded gratefully. "I appreciate that."
"Anyways, I should get back to my office. Good luck with the paperwork," Hermione said, offering Margaux a final encouraging smile before turning to leave.
"Thanks, I'll need it," Margaux replied with a weary chuckle, lifting the cup of coffee in a silent toast.
Almost as soon as Hermione made it back to her office, Draco stormed in behind her, his face tense and eyes flashing with frustration.
"Draco?" Hermione asked, startled by his sudden entrance. "What happened?"
He slammed the door shut, pacing for a moment before finally stopping to face her. "It's Astoria," he said, his voice tight. "We went through the Pensieve, and she was there—following me, lurking just out of sight at Mildred's furniture shop. I didn't see her at the time, but now it's clear as day."
"Well, that links her to the scene, but we still don't know if she'd actually kill anyone," Hermione said, her tone cautious.
Draco's expression darkened, his eyes heavy with the weight of the truth. "Theo's magical trace investigation came back," he said quietly. "It's a match. Her underage magical trace—it's a match to the one in our criminal system."
Hermione froze, the revelation hitting her like a crashing wave. "So she's the murderer," she whispered, her disbelief evident despite the mounting evidence.
Draco nodded, his voice low and tense. "She is."
Hermione paused, her mind racing as she absorbed the gravity of Draco's revelation. "So," she began, her voice laced with disbelief, "you're saying Astoria Greengrass's motive for these murders is her obsession with you?"
Draco sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It seems that way," he admitted, his voice thick with guilt. "I never thought it would go this far."
Hermione shook her head, trying to make sense of the irrationality of it all. "I've seen people act out of jealousy," she said, thinking of Cormac, "But this is… dangerous. Unhinged."
Draco's gaze was intense, almost desperate. "I never wanted any of this," he said, his voice filled with anguish. "None of you—Mildred, Mrs. Birbeck, you—should never have been dragged into this."
"We still can't be entirely sure she was targeting me specifically," she said gently, trying to calm the situation.
Draco's eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that left no room for doubt. "I am," he said firmly.
Hermione met his gaze, her pulse quickening even as she fought to keep her composure. "Draco," she said cautiously, trying to defuse the charged atmosphere, "we can't jump to conclusions. Yes, we have some evidence, but we need more than just theories to conclusively prove she was targeting me."
Draco's frustration was clear as he clenched his jaw and shook his head. "You don't understand, Hermione. I know Astoria. This is exactly the kind of twisted, obsessive thing she would do." He moved closer, leaning over her desk to close the distance between them. "And right now, she's out there—fixated on you."
Her heart skipped a beat at the implications of his words. The intensity in Draco's eyes, combined with the protective edge in his voice, suggested something more than just concern.
"I'm a big girl, Draco. I can handle myself," she said, her tone firm as she held his gaze.
Draco took a step back from her desk, his expression softening. "I'm not saying you're not," he replied, his voice carrying a mix of frustration. "It's just… I don't want to see anyone else hurt."
The silence in the office was interrupted as two memos fluttered through the air, landing softly on their respective desks. Draco sighed deeply and reached for the note that had landed in front of him. Hermione followed suit, unfolding her own memo.
Draco read aloud from his memo, "Harry's got an arrest warrant for Astoria, and a search warrant for her house."
Hermione nodded. "We should head to his office. He's likely organising a team to execute the search and arrest."
Draco stood up, ready to act. "The sooner we get there, the better."
Hermione grabbed her things and followed Draco out of the office, their footsteps echoing in the corridor as they made their way to Harry's office. The urgency of the situation propelled them forward, navigating them through the busy workspaces until they reached Harry's door. Just as they were about to knock, Harry swung it open and ushered them inside.
Inside the room, Theo was seated at one of the chairs, turning to them with a tight smile.
"Thanks for coming," Harry said, nodding to both Hermione and Draco. "We're about to finalise the team for the raid. I want to make sure everyone is on the same page before we head out."
"Go ahead," Draco said, gesturing for Harry to begin detailing the plan.
Harry nodded appreciatively and started laying out the strategy. "Here's the situation: we have an arrest warrant for Astoria Greengrass and a search warrant for her residence. The raid is scheduled to start in an hour. We need to move quickly but cautiously."
He paused to ensure everyone was following. "Theo and I will lead the raid team. Hermione, you'll be working alongside us. Draco, I need you to coordinate with the magical forensics team. We'll need their expertise to analyse any evidence we might find."
Theo chimed in, "We've also arranged for backup in case things go sideways. Margaux is going to be on standby to provide support if needed. I know she's been through a lot, but her knowledge of the case will be crucial."
Harry continued, "Our primary goal is to apprehend Astoria and gather any evidence that links her to the crimes. We're especially looking for any traces of magical residue or items related to the murders."
Hermione glanced at Draco, who nodded slightly, before turning back to Harry. "Do we have any specific intelligence about her whereabouts?"
Harry shook his head. "Not yet. We'll be entering the premises as quietly as possible, but be prepared for anything. Astoria is desperate and dangerous."
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the plan.
"Any questions before we head out?" Harry asked, scanning the room.
Hermione looked around at her colleagues, each of them ready to play their part. "None from me," she said, her voice steady.
"Same here," Draco added.
"Alright," Harry said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get to it. We meet the team for a briefing in five minutes."
Hermione was crouched low, nestled within the thick undergrowth just outside Astoria's house. The countryside setting was eerily quiet, the stillness of the scenery disturbed only by the rustling of leaves. She checked her watch—one minute until Theo would bring down the wards, and the team could apparate in.
Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing the tension that gripped her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her wand was clutched tightly in her hand, ready for whatever might come next.
The seconds ticked by slowly. Hermione's breath was visible in the cool morning air, each exhale a reminder of the weight of their mission. She cast one last glance at the house, her mind racing through the plan once more.
Suddenly, a soft pop echoed through the air—Theo had brought down the wards. Hermione's nerves were on edge, but she forced herself to remain calm.
Harry's voice came through her earpiece, firm and authoritative. "Wards are down. Team, on my mark."
Hermione tightened her grip on her wand, her pulse quickening.
"Three... two... one... now!"
With a swift motion, Hermione apparated in with the rest of the team. She arrived at the edge of the living room, as planned, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. The team dispersed quickly, moving into position with practised efficiency. Theo and Harry led the charge upstairs, while Draco and Hermione focussed downstairs, aiming to cover all possible exits and entry points.
Hermione surveyed the room. The space that should have been filled with personal belongings was eerily empty. Furniture was absent, and only a few scattered items remained. The living room, which would have typically been adorned with decorative pieces and personal touches, was now stark and bare.
The emptiness extended throughout the entire downstairs area. Every room they checked had been stripped.
"Clear," Draco's voice finally confirmed from the hallway, but Hermione could sense the frustration in his tone. He moved to inspect a large bookcase that was leaning precariously against the wall but found it empty.
Hermione stepped further into the room, her eyes darting to every corner. Astoria had clearly left in a rush.
"Clear," she heard Theo say from upstairs.
"Harry," Hermione said into her earpiece. "The downstairs is clear, but it looks like she might have vacated the place. It's completely empty."
"We're seeing the same thing up here," Harry responded. "We need to find out where she went. Keep searching for any clues."
Hermione nodded and turned to Draco, who was inspecting a drawer that had been left slightly ajar. "We need to find something—anything that could tell us where she might have gone," she said, her voice tinged with urgency.
Draco was already on it, flipping through a stack of papers that had been left behind on a desk. "There's nothing here but old correspondence," he said.
As they continued their search, Hermione's eyes fell on a small, open drawer tucked away in a corner. She moved over to it, her fingers skimming over the contents. Among the scattered papers and a few old photographs, she spotted something—a small metal box partially hidden under a stack of letters.
Hermione carefully retrieved the box and opened it, revealing several items neatly sealed in Department of Magical Law Enforcement evidence bags. Among the contents were various vials of potions and other highly illegal magical objects. One particular vial caught her attention—it was labelled Nullis Elixir. She frowned, bewildered by the presence of such official evidence in Astoria's possession.
Hurrying to share her findings, Hermione turned to Draco, only to find him staring in shock at a photograph he was holding. His face had drained of colour.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, her voice laced with concern.
Draco slowly turned the photograph towards her, and Hermione's breath caught. It was a moving image of Draco gently pulling her into his arms on Diagon Alley after she had shared her past relationship with Cormac McLaggen. Beneath the image, however, was scrawled a single, venomous word: "Bitch."
"Well, I guess you were right about her," Hermione said quietly, her voice tinged with a mix of shock.
Hermione held up the box of sealed evidence to show Draco. "She's been handling official Department evidence," she said, her voice tight with concern. "That means she's had access to our department's resources."
"Where did you find this?" Draco asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he examined the box.
Hermione pointed to the drawer where she had discovered it. Draco walked over to inspect the contents more closely. "Nullis Elixir," he muttered, his face growing more serious. "Do you think it was planted at Mrs Kirsty Birbeck's crime scene?"
"That could certainly explain the confusion," Hermione agreed. "If Astoria had access to our department's resources and was able to plant evidence, it would complicate the case significantly."
Draco's expression hardened as he processed this new information. "We need to get this evidence back to the department and make sure it's properly secured. If she's been able to tamper with our investigations, there's no telling what other damage she might have done."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "We need to lockdown the department immediately."
Draco agreed, his expression grim. "I'll let Harry know."