Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. This fanfiction is not written to make money. No profit is being generated and no copyright infringement is intended. All events in this story are based on the Harry Potter series.
A/N: This story is set about 3 years after Harry/Hermione & Co. graduated from Hogwarts. Both Harry and Hermione are employed as Aurors, and Ron is captain of the Chudley Cannons. This is my very first fic, so please be kind when you review. Chapters 4 onwards are coming up.
Chapter One
"Harry?"
Harry jumped at the sound of Hermione's voice. He had been tiptoeing across the flat so as not to wake her or Ron. Harry squinted in the dark and saw her form silhouetted against her bedroom door by the light coming from her table lamp.
"Yeah, it's me," he said, and he made his way to her. "Why are you still up?"
"I was waiting for you. Kingsley's got us a new assignment and he wants us to work on it immediately," she said, and beckoned him inside her bedroom, turning on the light as he entered.
"I'm sorry I didn't come home sooner," Harry apologized, and he felt a twinge of guilt for keeping her waiting while he was enjoying a date with his (current) girlfriend.
"But why didn't you just contact me with the Summoner?" he asked.
Hermione laughed and handed him a sheaf of parchment.
"Oh come on, Harry. I don't want to ruin your night."
"Yeah, but you ruined yours," he said, poring over the parchment. "You could've waited until tomorrow morning."
"No, I couldn't. Kingsley says it's really important that we act on it immediately. We'll get to work on it starting tomorrow."
Harry scanned the several pages of information about their new assignment. It was about the serial killer he'd heard about on a Muggle television earlier that day. The reports stated that the killer's method of killing was mysterious, leaving his victims unmarked and unblemished. It was a mystery to the Muggle police, but to the wizarding world, it was a perfectly ordinary way of killing people. Unforgivable, yes (who says killing is forgivable?), but ordinary.
"So he really is a wizard, then?" Harry said, handing the sheaf of parchment back to Hermione, who took it and put it on top of her bedside table. "Wonder what's he got against the Muggles?"
"Well, that's a question we will be answering soon, won't we?"
"Yeah," Harry agreed, and sat down on Hermione's bed. "Do we have any clues on him?"
"Apart from the fact that he is a wizard -which of course we deduced from his killing method- we also found out that all of his victims were all Muggle doctors."
"Doctors? But aren't your parents-?"
"Dentists, yeah. But there are no dentists who were killed yet. All were surgeons and general practitioners."
Harry thought for a while. If this mad murderer was killing surgeons, then that would mean that he's exacting revenge. It will be possible that he lost a loved one who was being treated by a surgeon and a general practitioner. But if he's a wizard, why would his loved one go to a doctor for treatment? Maybe he's a half-blood, or a-
"Muggle-born," Hermione said, echoing his thoughts. Harry rolled his eyes. Hermione always seemed to read his mind. Then he reminded himself that she was an accomplished Legilimens. But then, he was also a superb Occlumens, wasn't he? What with those lessons with Snape, and later with Dumbledore, he was able to learn how to close his mind to those trying to delve into it. But with Hermione, it seems that he'd never be able to lie or hide his thoughts from her.
"And his whereabouts?" he asked her.
"We have no clue. It seems that he'd made himself Unplottable, and none of the usual methods of tracking worked. I guess we'll have to exert all efforts to nail down this murderer. It'll be a tough job."
"But certainly not tougher than facing Voldemort or hunting down Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, is it?" Harry said, smirking at her.
Hermione scowled at him.
"Don't underestimate this man, Harry."
"Well, nothing's impossible for the best Auror team, is there?" Harry said in mock pompousness.
Hermione's scowl was even more pronounced now.
"Harry Potter, you are honestly the most boastful jerk who'd ever walked this earth!"
Harry laughed at her expression.
"Yeah, and I'm the luckiest Auror who had ever existed, aren't I?" Harry said, determined to tease her further.
"And why's that?" Hermione said defiantly.
"Because my partner is the most intelligent witch in the world."
Hermione glowered at him, but Harry was sure she almost smiled.
"Well, are you also planning to sleep in my bedroom?" she said, crossing her arms.
"Well, if you don't mind my doing so, I'll be delighted to," Harry said, grinning at her.
Hermione seized one of her pillows and made to throw it at Harry but he quickly crossed the room to the door and poked his head from behind it.
"Oh, and by the way, my partner also happens to be the prettiest witch I ever laid eyes on," he said, winking at her, and closed the door just in time to prevent her pillow from hitting his face. He didn't see Hermione smile to herself as she lay down to sleep.