Broomsticks and Alibis

Chapter 7

To say that it was a good morning for Hermione would be an understatement. It was the best morning! They awoke, made love again and then got dressed and joined Matilda and Ernest for breakfast. After breakfast they apparrated to Hogsmeade. Hermione wanted to take a look at the second crime scene. Of course, the room at the Three Broomsticks had been cleaned up, the crime scene all but gone, but Hermione wanted to do a little sleuthing, to see if she could uncover some obscure clue that might set them on the right path. She and Draco were about to enter the Three Broomsticks when a snowy owl suddenly appeared flapping its majestic wings above their heads. Knowing it was Hedwig Hermione plucked the letter from her talons and gave her a quick pat on the head. As she flew away Hermione and Draco both looked eagerly at the letter, curious to know just what Harry Potter had to say for himself.

Hermione,

I regret that things turned so horribly wrong yesterday. If I could take back all of it I would. Your friendship is one that I have cherished for many years and I hope to patch things up between us. Meet me and Ginny in the Great Hall when you arrive at the University. I have a few things to tell you that may interest you. Ron will be there. We are working on this case together.

Best,

Harry

Hermione was quiet after that. The fact that Harry seemed to be thinking more properly was a good sign. The fact that Ron was going to be there was not a good sign. She couldn’t forgive Ron for his ugly comments about her being scum, nor was she ready to forgive Harry for sending Draco to Azkaban, but she knew they had to work together towards the common goal, that being find the murderer before he strikes again. At least the Great Hall would be empty when they had their meeting. The students would long be in classes, and it would give them all a chance to sit down face to face and hash it all out in a calm and collected manner.

They padded down the hall and then with a deep breath entered the room where the murder had occurred. Nothing really looked amiss. A normal bed with a handmade quilt on it, a tattered old rug, a full-length mirror, a dresser and a window with a view of the Hogwarts and the sleep little village of Hogsmeade. Draco was walking around the room with his hands in his trouser pockets while Hermione flipped through the pictures once again, comparing her pictures to the room.

“Well I can’t see anything. Maybe if we had gotten here earlier before they cleaned everything up. Anything, Draco?”

Draco was running his fingers over the wall just under the windowsill where the paint had chipped away, as if he was onto something.

“No. I thought for a minute I might have…No. Nothing here except a bed,” Draco said with a perverse expression.

“Eww! No. Doesn’t it bother you that a girl died here, right here on this very floor?”

“Not really. I just see a nicely made bed that isn’t being used.”

“Draco?” Hermione cringed at him. How could he be thinking about sex in this place where a girl lost her life? “As if sensing what she was thinking Draco opened his mouth to defend himself.

“Hermione, I’ve seen a lot of people die. I was a Death Eater. Not willingly, but even so I saw many horrible things happen to a lot of good and bad people. This stuff doesn’t phase me much I guess. I mean I feel dreadful for the girl and her family but I’m not going to be traumatized by it. Azkaban on the other hand…”

“I guess that makes sense. You saw a lot with Voldemort. I guess we all did.”

“Granger?”

“Are we back to Granger again? What happened to Sweet Pea, Dragon Love?”

“Well Sweet Pea served my purpose of infuriating you. I will do better in the future and think up an equally frustrating name to call you. Until then, I kind of still like Granger,” Draco said giving her a pretend punch to the jaw.

“Let’s get out of here and go meet Harry and the others. This place creeps me out. While it may not bother you to shag in this room it does bother me.”

“Just because I said it didn’t bother me doesn’t mean I….you know…killed the girl.”

“I know that silly. I told you I don’t think you did it already. Stop reading things into my comments.”

“It’s just I know the whole fucking school thinks I did it. My mood is likely to go straight to hell once we get there.”

“Well, we will just have to give you a pick me up,” Hermione kissed him lightly on the lips and then grabbed his hand as they shut the door to the room. Hermione checked the register to see if anyone had rented the room on the night in question. The room was being renovated so that would have been impossible, as nobody was staying in any of the rooms for the entire month they were renovating.

They enjoyed the walk through the snow to the castle. It gave Hermione a chance to gather her thoughts before their meal with Harry and the others. She had decided to be open minded. Of course, it all blew up in her face but she had good intentions going in.

“Hermione and Draco! Good to see you,” Ginny was here. Things were starting out well.

“Hello Ginny,Potty,Weasel.” Draco said smiling as he took a seat, laying his hand, palm up, on the seat, so when Hermione sat down he got a handful of her arse as he squeezed. Hermione jumped and glared at Draco, a slight giggle escaping her mouth. Ron grumbled.

“Ferret,” both Harry and Ron said at the same time and then looked at each other.

“Isn’t this nice that we can all sit down like friends and break bread?” Draco said smiling as he dug into his cold chicken,soup and bread. Hermione and Ginny agreed while Harry and Ron took a bite without a word. I wanted to thank you Potter for sending me to Azkaban. It was heartwarming really. Until I shagged Hermione last night I hadn’t been kissed in a long time. The dementor’s kiss was just what I needed. Of course it can’t compare to my darling bride. Right, Darling?” Draco said slurping a large spoonful of soup down.

“You think you’re funny Malfoy? You think it doesn’t make us all sick to hear about you shagging Hermione?” Ron spat. Hermione stared at Draco and he winked at her.

“Yes well about that Malfoy. It wasn’t my idea to send you to Azkaban, although I’m not going to apologize until I’ve been proven wrong.”

“Maybe it would be good to say you’re sorry Harry. I mean you all have to work together and really I don’t think Malfoy did it and if you search your soul I think you will see that too,” Ginny said.

“Thank you Ginny. Hermione has a good choice of girl friends. Your name goes right at the top of the guest list when my sweet wife and I decide to plan our reception.”

“Don’t talk to my girlfriend Malfoy,” Harry spouted.

“Excuse me Harry but I can talk to whomever I choose. You can talk to me Malfoy,” Ginny smiled.

“Don’t people usually have their reception after their wedding?” Ron said snidely.

“Yes, but we didn’t want to miss Christmas at your house Won. Hermione was just thrilled to be called a scum by you. Oh, and I shouldn’t forget how grateful I was for the Azkaban accommodations,” Draco said stuffing another piece of bread in his mouth.

“Yeah, well I hear they have an entire wing set aside for your family Malfoy. I bet it was like coming home for the holidays.” Ginny slapped Ron and shot him a dirty look.

“What? He asked for it,” Ron said pleased with himself.

“Look Ron you can take your comments from yesterday and shove them right up your…” Hermione started to say when she was cut off.

“Herminoninny!!” came a shout across the Great Hall.

“What!? Viktor?!” Hermione looked up to see Viktor Krum making his way towards her with his quidditch broom in one hand and a flower in the other. Hermione got up from the bench and walked briskly towards him.

“Hahahaha classic! That was Hermione’s boyfriend Malfoy. Professional Quidditch Player, right Harry?” Ron nudged Harry. Draco ignored them though as his eyes were narrowed on the Bulgarian seeker.

“I missed you so much Herminoniny. I hoped I would see you. This is for you.” Viktor handed her a red rose. “I looked for you when someone during quidditch said Herminonny was coming back to University.”

“Viktor it is delightful to see you again. I didn’t know you were attending University here.”

“Yes I wanted to come to find perfect wife. Lonely being quidditch only.”

“He’s a bloody idiot! Listen how he talks. She dated him?” Draco said.

“Pot calling the kettle black isn’t it Ferret? Pansy Parkinson?” Harry said with a smile.

“You can both go wank each other off, fucking wankers. Excuse me Ginny.” Draco made his way across the hall where Hermione was smiling and flirting by the looks of it. Draco sauntered up behind her and pinched her arse hard. Hermione let out a shrill squeal and then politely introduced him.

“Viktor did you ever know Draco Malfoy?”

“Her husband.” Draco added.

“Is this true Herminoninny? This is your husband?”

“It is.” Hermione held out her hand to show him the ring. To this Malfoy smirked.

Classes let out and suddenly the halls were filled with students again. Hermione welcomed Viktor and said she would be seeing him. Draco had no idea what that meant. He certainly wasn’t going to accept his wife spending time alone with an International Quidditch star. As Draco was standing there watching as Hermione talked to her “friend” he noticed something on the handle of Viktor Krum’s broom. Krum used a Firebolt, just as Draco did and just as Harry did. Many used this particular broom. He went back to the table where Harry and Ron were chatting quietly and grabbed the pictures that Hermione had laid next to her plate. It matched! Draco remembered what he had seen back at the Three Broomsticks on the wall by the window. He took off like a bat out of hell. Harry and Ron jumped from their seats as well and gave chase after Malfoy.

Half way down the hill from the castle Draco called his Firebolt to him.

“Accio Firebolt!” His broom arrived and he hopped on. Hermione and Ginny were now following Harry and Ron who were following Draco to Hogsmeade. Draco landed his broom and ran inside the Three Broomsticks. He threw the door open and ran to the windowsill. He took the end of his Firebolt and pressed it into the paint chipped groove just below the windowsill. It fit perfectly. Harry and Ron threw the door open and watched as Malfoy held the Firebolt to the small hole in the wall that had the letter F chipped away on the paint. He turned to Harry and Ron, and now Hermione and Ginny and said.

“Your murderer is probably a quidditch player who uses a Firebolt.” Draco smiled looking satisfied with himself.

“Let me see your broom Malfoy,” Harry said grabbing Draco’s broom from him. He fit the Firebolt into the groove left in the wall. When he pulled it out he ran his fingers over the paint chipped letter in the wall that was clearly a defined F the same size as the F on the end of Harry’s own Firebolt. He had seen it many times. Most quidditch players rubbed their thumbs over the F while waiting for a game to start. It was a personal thing on a quidditch player’s broom. Anyone who owned a Firebolt knew about the F.

“So…the killer…committed the murder and then opened the window to escape…” Harry said figuring it out.

“And tried to fly out the window to get away. But..missed and rammed into the wall,” Draco said looking at Harry.

“That’s why Madame Rosmerta never saw anybody leave,” Hermione said.

“How did you figure that out Malfoy?” Harry said with accusatory air in his tone.

“I saw the paint chipped away earlier when Hermione and I came here looking for clues. Something struck me about it but I couldn’t put my finger on it until I saw that twit, Krum with his Firebolt. That’s when it dawned on me what it was. So I called my Firebolt, so I could compare the hole size to the end of my broom.

“I see. And you have a Firebolt.”

“So do you Harry,” Hermione said nervously, seeing where Harry was going with this.

“Yeah but it couldn’t be mine.” Draco said coolly.

“Why the hell not Malfoy? Ron said.

“Look at the tip of mine,” Draco smiled.

“You have got to be kidding me?” Harry said.

“What? What is it? Let me see it!” Hermione said.

Hermione grabbed the broom from Harry and looked at Draco’s broom. Carved with a knife were the scratched out letters D+H. Hermione smiled widely.

“I know its stupid but after our broom ride that day during Flying 101 I was feeling sentimental and slightly bored. So I carved it.”

“I love you so much Draco! That is so sweet! I can’t believe you did that,” Hermione dropped a kiss on Draco and Ron turned around mumbling.

“Bloody hell…Give us a break already!”

“Good job Malfoy,” Harry reached out to shake Draco’s hand. “Maybe I do owe you an apology.”

Review!?

Hey all! Hope you are enjoying. To the reviewer (at another site other then this one) who mentioned the “Heir” being Riddle…Yeah I knew that. I thought of it too but I still liked the Daily Prophet heading Slytherin Heir. Heir really meaning RICH..Not meaning Slytherin Heir Riddle Gaunt etc..I thought someone would say something but a RAG paper being a RAG MAG will usually put shocking headlines in order to sell papers and we all know Rita Skeeter lies anyways so..I felt it was alright to leave that in the way it was.
Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing!