CSI England

Hermione relaxed in her desk, having just finished her last report. It was done and sent off, and she was basking in the glow of finally being caught up on reports. “Granger, I’ve got something for you.” She rolled her eyes. Her colleagues words brought her out of her too-soon-to-be-celebrated glory.

“Alright, what is it?” She stood and reached for her wand, small notebook and charmed quill. It was the standard group of items she brought with her on a case.

“I’ll take it Claire.” Harry Potter walked in her office and took the parchments out of her stunned hands.

Claire looked to Hermione then left with raised eyebrows. “You want to tell me why you just ripped a case out from under me Harry?” She put her cloak on, still intending to take the responsibility.

“You shouldn’t be working this one. Conflict of interest.” He said, calmly.

“Why?” She placed her hands on her hips and waited for Harry to explain.

“It’s a rape case.” He told her.

“I’ve never been raped Harry, how does that pose a conflict of interest?” She was confused and held out a hand for the parchments.

“The accused is Professor Snape.” He said quietly.

Her eyes shot up to his as if waiting for him to laugh, then she grabbed the parchments and looked, shifting through several items. She gave Harry one last look and then left her office.

Harry didn’t follow, it would have been pointless.

Severus Snape was still waiting in an interview room when Hermione entered. He was sitting with Draco Malfoy, his legal council. “Hermione.” He rose and they hugged, she faced Draco and hugged him as well.

“Well, Auror Granger, what are we dealing with?” Draco asked.

“The girl, Miss Vesna Izzanitch, says you raped her behind The Crab Claw.” She said, reading the parchments.

“I did have sex with her, but it wasn’t rape. It was consensual.” Severus told her.

“How did you end up behind the restaurant?” Hermione asked.

“I was there to deliver a letter of recommendation to Mr. Crabbe. His younger brother is in his last year at Hogwarts and has ambitions for an apprenticeship. He owns the restaurant so I took it there. The girl works there.” He explained. “She was winking at me while I was talking to Vincent, and when I left she came out from an alley and asked if I wanted a shag.”

“Just like that, you took her up on it, no questions asked?” Hermione asked.

“I’m a man, we don’t refuse a lot. Besides, it had been some time.” He said, giving her a look. She returned it for a brief moment.

“She’s at St. Mungo’s now undergoing an exam. Is there going to be anything questionable?” She asked.

“Define questionable.” Draco threw out. She smiled at the blondes grin.

“Ever the legal mind Draco?” He lifted an eyebrow in answer. “What I mean, is things like bruises, or cuts and scratches.”

“You think he forced her?” Draco asked.

“No, I think that with being outside and the number of positions possible might make for some unusual evidence. Is she going to have dirt in her hair for example?” She asked.

“No, it was up against the wall. She may be scratched from the building or from the bricks.” He said.

“Do you know if she used a potion?” Hermione asked.

“It didn’t matter, I did.” He said.

“The report says she is muggleborn, did she ask you to use a muggle prophylactic at all?” She asked.

“No, she didn’t mention anything at all.” Severus told her, unconcerned. He took the initiative to prevent birth so it didn’t matter if his partner took anything.

“Alright, I’m going to go to St. Mungo’s and see this girl.” She stood and looked up at Severus. “I can find you at Malfoy Manor I assume.” He nodded. “That’s a good idea, stick with your legal until this ends.” She gave both men a hug then left.

She found Healer Neville Longbottom easily. He was always the one the Ministry used to exam rape cases. His mild manor and patience was non-threatening to assault victims and he tended to gather more evidence then anyone else. Also like Hermione he watched body language and read between the lines with his patients.

“Hermione,” he said hugging her tightly, “I just finished with the girl.” He moved behind his desk and opened a file. “She has some scratches on her back, and some minor bruising on her vaginal opening so I did a swab. There was semen so I’m doing a match.”

“Do you need a sample from the Professor?” She asked. “He doesn’t deny he was with her.”

“I don’t need one.” Neville said. “The school gets blood samples every start of term from it’s teachers to test for muggle drugs or addictive potions. It’s public record.”

“Neville, you sound confused about the results.” She said, watching him.

Neville dropped the file on his desk and faced Hermione. “I have seen several rape cases and this one is a little unusual. Here, look at this.” He moved to the wall and leaned against it. “She says she was against the wall, and she has scratches on her back centralized in the center, lower back and hips. If she had been holding her partner around the shoulders like this,” he lifted his arms in a circle around an invisible partner, “then that would be consistent with what I found.” Hermione looked at how his back was positioned.

“But she is claiming she was pinned?” Hermione asked.

“If she was pinned in any way, from her wrists to her shoulders, there would be scratches on her upper back and shoulders from the struggling, which she claimed she was doing.” He said. “Take my wrists, and watch what happens when I try and get away.” It was a veiled half attempt, but she understood him. He moved against the wall this way and that trying to remove her hands. She held his biceps then his shoulders. It produced the same effect.

“Alright, but what if he had her held by the shoulders and she was trying to curl inward?” She asked. She took his shoulders and he curled inward as she indicated watching how the positions played out.

“It’s possible, but there would have been more intense bruising on her cervix if her body was trying to assume the fetal position in any way. The professor would have had to thrust hard to penetrate and her thighs would have been bruised harder then they are.” He said. “As it is, the type of bruising now is consistent with rough sex, not forced sex.”

“Neville, in your opinion, do you think she was raped?” She asked.

“It’s possible she was under the influence of something. I can give you more answers when I get my test results back. The vaginal swab I took will give me a better idea of how badly damaged she was. I’m still waiting for the blood sample I took from her to give me any answers.” He said, gesturing to another parchment.

“Like alcohol or muggle drugs? She was a muggle born after all.” Hermione theorized.

“Or potions.” Hermione looked in his eyes. “Hermione, he’s a potions master, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t think of everything. It is possible that he gave her something.” He leaned in closer. “I’m trying to eliminate questions Hermione, not find something against him.

“I know, I know.” She said, letting out a sigh. “Off the record, Neville, what do you think?”

“Off the record, I think this girl is full of shit,” he said, “but I can’t prove anything aside from the physical.”

“That’s my job.” She said. “How long before your test results come back?”

“I’ll need some time,” he said, “but hopefully by the end of the day.”

“I’d like to talk to her.” Hermione said, and followed him to an exam room. Before she entered, she peered in and looked at the girl.

She was young, maybe a year or two younger then Hermione. She was filing her nails. Normally a rape victim didn’t care about things like nails. She was sitting with her legs folded under her, so she was either given a pain potion or she didn’t need it.

“Vesna Izzanitch?” Hermione asked walking in. “Something wrong with your nails?” She asked.

“They scraped under my nails and cut one of them.” She said dropping the file in her purse. “Why bother with my nails, that healer scraped enough from inside me?”

“If you scratched him at all, we can use that against him.” She said sitting. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“I was almost done with my shift, when he came in and started talking to Mr. Crabbe. During his visit he would sneak looks at me and give me creepy grins and smiles. When I was off for the night, I left through the back entrance hoping to avoid him, but he came around the back and cornered me. I told him to leave me alone but he grabbed me and pushed me against the wall.” She stopped for a moment and looked aside.

“Go on.” Hermione urged. “What happened next?”

“I tried to run, but he lifted me and thrust a knee between my legs. As I pushed he reached under my skirt and tore my knickers off. I tried to get off but he was too strong.” She avoided Hermione’s eyes as she talked. “When it was done, I came here. I’ve been here ever since.”

Hermione shuffled through the file Neville had left with her. “Did Healer Longbottom give you a potion to take? It prevents pregnancy from assault.”

“I guess I want thinking.” She said. “Can I take it now?” To Hermione she seemed unconcerned with the possibility of a pregnancy.

“Sure. I get Healer Longbottom to give it to you.” She said. “You can go as soon as he releases you, I’ll find you at home if I need anything.”

She nodded and left the room. She left a message with Neville to owl her as soon as his results were ready, then went to Vincent Crabbe’s restaurant.

“Hermione, I’m glad your working this one.” Vincent said, giving her a hug.

“Why is that Crabbe?” She asked smiling.

“Because you will find the truth. You know as well as I that the professor is no rapist.” He said. “Some Aurors just take the woman’s word for it without investigating anything.”

“What about your employee, does she seem the honest type?” Hermione asked leaning on the bar.

“She’s only been here a few months, but so far no problems.” He said.

“Who told you about the case?” She asked.

“Draco, he was asking questions about her a few hours ago.” Vincent looked concerned. “If I knew anything about Vesna I would tell you, but I am her boss not her friend. I don’t want them thinking that they can get away with anything.”

“I understand. I want to see where that girl goes during breaks and before and after shifts.” She said.

“In the back. All the workers have an eating area and lounge to relax in.” She went back and looked around. Crabbe let his workers decorate their area and Hermione looked at a mirage of photos on the wall. The girl accusing him was sure fun loving. She was in almost every group shot and always smiling.

“Who are you?” Hermione spun around and looked at a young girl. Younger then Vesna.

“I’m Hermione Granger. I’m with the Auror department. I’m having a look around. Do you work with Vesna Izzanitch?” She asked.

“We’re as close as sisters.” She said sitting with her plate and having her meal.

“Does she often date older men?” Hermione asked.

“Vesna?” The girl laughed. “Never, not Vesna, she likes them young. The club jumper style. Anyone older then her by five years or more is too old.” Hermione sighed to herself and she continued looking at the walls. That didn’t look good for Severus. He claimed she was flirting with him, yet according to her friend it would have gone against character.

She believed Severus was telling the truth, but why would a girl who obviously disliked older men, have an alleyway tryst with someone over twice her age? It as something Hermione had to figure out before Severus was accused of a horrible crime.

A/N: I got this from an episode of CSI, so if there are any fans of the show, you will most likley figure out how it ends up. r&r