Harvest Moon
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Lucius/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
77
Views:
46,596
Reviews:
414
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Lucius/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
77
Views:
46,596
Reviews:
414
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter that is J.K. Rowling's honor. Making no money, just enjoying writing.
Suspicions Moon
HM37
The next morning Arabella and Hermione sat across from Harry\'s desk. Mr. Potter himself was looking positively livid at them withholding information for so long.
“You do realize this could be considered as withholding information or interfering in a murder investigation,” he said, glaring at first Arabella then Hermione. “You were officially removed from this case, Hermione. Any information should have come to me first, not you.”
It was Arabella who answered the accusation. “I am fully well aware of that, Mr. Potter. However, it essentially boiled down to whom I trusted implicitly after almost being killed,” she said coolly. “I\'ll endeavor to recall who\'s heading the investigation next time.”
In Hermione\'s opinion, it was a good impression of Lucius at his muggle hating best.
“Be that as it may, Ms. Smythe. The investigation of these murders is in my hands now. Any change in status in something connected to the cases should have been brought to me immediately.”
Hermione sighed and barely managed to avoid rolling her eyes. “Really, Harry, that\'s why I said we should bring the information to you this morning,” she said, standing and walking out of the room.
Harry watched her go before turning back to Arabella. The older woman was studying him thoughtfully.
“You know, Mr. Potter, she always said you\'d been a good friend to her until her break up with Mr. Weasley. I don\'t believe that is true. I believe you needed her. Needed her intelligence and support as a counterbalance for your recklessness. When that toned down over the years, I think you used her ending the relationship with Mr. Weasley as a convenient excuse to sever ties,” she said, standing and starting to walk away.
“Don\'t presume to know everything about mine and Hermione\'s relationship when you only know her side of things.”
“Other than saying you were an excellent investigator and a previously good friend, she\'s said nothing of you, Mr. Potter. It\'s my job to see past all the bluster and nonsense to who a person is inside. I wouldn\'t be as good as I am without that ability. Now. If anything else happens, I\'ll be sure to inform you of it.” With that, she breezed out of the office, leaving Harry to gape after her.
Arabella caught up to Hermione in her office, still shaking her head.
“You were friends with that man since the dawn of forever because . . .”
Hermione sighed. “He was much better as the boy who lived than the man who defeated Voldemort,” Hermione said thoughtfully.
Arabella shrugged. “People change. Life shapes a person in so many different ways. Sometimes for the better, sometimes to the worse side of things.”
“Are you certain you\'re okay, Ara?”
“Random subject change but yes. I\'m as well as can be expected. As Lucius said, I\'m excellent in a crisis but tend to fall apart afterward.”
Hermione nodded. “I see nothing wrong with that. Are you planning on coming to the party at the Gilded Lily? Everyone will understand if you have no desire to attend.”
“I\'ll be there. Not like me to miss a party,” Ara said, smiling faintly.
Hermione\'s brow furrowed in worry. She didn\'t like the thought of Ara putting herself in harm\'s way so soon after being kidnapped.
“I know what you\'re thinking, Hermione. I\'d much rather be doing something than sitting somewhere in bubble wrap. Gods know if Lucius had his way I\'d be doing exactly that.”
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. Lucius had been doing his level best to talk her out of going to the party as well.
“Did either you or Draco find anything in the area I said I was brought to?” Arabella asked.
Hermione shook her head. “We found nothing out of the ordinary. We used a tracker to trace your energy signature so we\'d know exactly where you\'d been and the path taken through the woods. We found nothing there. No body, no blood, not even the portkey used to transport you there.”
“Then he\'s alive and cleaned up everything well,” Arabella said, ignoring the shiver of fear that slid down her spine.
“Or he has an accomplice,” Hermione said. “I don\'t think it\'s possible to be as injured as he was and still have the forethought to make sure to leave behind no evidence.”
“Who in their right mind would help a serial killer? Aside from Lucius in his darker days but that was slightly different than this is.”
“True. I have my suspicions but no proof as of yet. Not even anything to indicate involvement at the moment so I may be on the wrong track. I certainly hope I\'m on the wrong track.”
“I hope you are too. For Draco\'s sake.”
***
“Just fix it!” was angrily snarled through broken teeth.
“Y . . . yes, Master. Columbia is fixing it right now,” the house elf whimpered. “It\'s going to take more than one try, it is.”
The glare through swollen and bruised eyes was enough to nearly send the little house elf to the floor in fear. Long fingers hovered just over the surface of the battered skin and she ignored the sickening grind and crack as the bones rearranged themselves into their original order.
The next morning Arabella and Hermione sat across from Harry\'s desk. Mr. Potter himself was looking positively livid at them withholding information for so long.
“You do realize this could be considered as withholding information or interfering in a murder investigation,” he said, glaring at first Arabella then Hermione. “You were officially removed from this case, Hermione. Any information should have come to me first, not you.”
It was Arabella who answered the accusation. “I am fully well aware of that, Mr. Potter. However, it essentially boiled down to whom I trusted implicitly after almost being killed,” she said coolly. “I\'ll endeavor to recall who\'s heading the investigation next time.”
In Hermione\'s opinion, it was a good impression of Lucius at his muggle hating best.
“Be that as it may, Ms. Smythe. The investigation of these murders is in my hands now. Any change in status in something connected to the cases should have been brought to me immediately.”
Hermione sighed and barely managed to avoid rolling her eyes. “Really, Harry, that\'s why I said we should bring the information to you this morning,” she said, standing and walking out of the room.
Harry watched her go before turning back to Arabella. The older woman was studying him thoughtfully.
“You know, Mr. Potter, she always said you\'d been a good friend to her until her break up with Mr. Weasley. I don\'t believe that is true. I believe you needed her. Needed her intelligence and support as a counterbalance for your recklessness. When that toned down over the years, I think you used her ending the relationship with Mr. Weasley as a convenient excuse to sever ties,” she said, standing and starting to walk away.
“Don\'t presume to know everything about mine and Hermione\'s relationship when you only know her side of things.”
“Other than saying you were an excellent investigator and a previously good friend, she\'s said nothing of you, Mr. Potter. It\'s my job to see past all the bluster and nonsense to who a person is inside. I wouldn\'t be as good as I am without that ability. Now. If anything else happens, I\'ll be sure to inform you of it.” With that, she breezed out of the office, leaving Harry to gape after her.
Arabella caught up to Hermione in her office, still shaking her head.
“You were friends with that man since the dawn of forever because . . .”
Hermione sighed. “He was much better as the boy who lived than the man who defeated Voldemort,” Hermione said thoughtfully.
Arabella shrugged. “People change. Life shapes a person in so many different ways. Sometimes for the better, sometimes to the worse side of things.”
“Are you certain you\'re okay, Ara?”
“Random subject change but yes. I\'m as well as can be expected. As Lucius said, I\'m excellent in a crisis but tend to fall apart afterward.”
Hermione nodded. “I see nothing wrong with that. Are you planning on coming to the party at the Gilded Lily? Everyone will understand if you have no desire to attend.”
“I\'ll be there. Not like me to miss a party,” Ara said, smiling faintly.
Hermione\'s brow furrowed in worry. She didn\'t like the thought of Ara putting herself in harm\'s way so soon after being kidnapped.
“I know what you\'re thinking, Hermione. I\'d much rather be doing something than sitting somewhere in bubble wrap. Gods know if Lucius had his way I\'d be doing exactly that.”
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. Lucius had been doing his level best to talk her out of going to the party as well.
“Did either you or Draco find anything in the area I said I was brought to?” Arabella asked.
Hermione shook her head. “We found nothing out of the ordinary. We used a tracker to trace your energy signature so we\'d know exactly where you\'d been and the path taken through the woods. We found nothing there. No body, no blood, not even the portkey used to transport you there.”
“Then he\'s alive and cleaned up everything well,” Arabella said, ignoring the shiver of fear that slid down her spine.
“Or he has an accomplice,” Hermione said. “I don\'t think it\'s possible to be as injured as he was and still have the forethought to make sure to leave behind no evidence.”
“Who in their right mind would help a serial killer? Aside from Lucius in his darker days but that was slightly different than this is.”
“True. I have my suspicions but no proof as of yet. Not even anything to indicate involvement at the moment so I may be on the wrong track. I certainly hope I\'m on the wrong track.”
“I hope you are too. For Draco\'s sake.”
***
“Just fix it!” was angrily snarled through broken teeth.
“Y . . . yes, Master. Columbia is fixing it right now,” the house elf whimpered. “It\'s going to take more than one try, it is.”
The glare through swollen and bruised eyes was enough to nearly send the little house elf to the floor in fear. Long fingers hovered just over the surface of the battered skin and she ignored the sickening grind and crack as the bones rearranged themselves into their original order.