Harvest Moon

Lex: Of course it’s a subconscious seeking of the older Malfoy in the nude. Who can blame her really.



Margaritama: Glad you liked the one liners. I was trying for a bit of levity since the fic is predominantly dark.

Sailor Sol: I try to correct certain misconceptions about the BDSM community if it’s something prevalent in a story I’m working on and to present submissives as something other than weak willed. My personal sub is a military officer and former leader of a special forces unit. You don’t get more strong willed than that.



Madietta: I’m very pleased that you’re enjoying this. It’s my first foray into a true murder mystery in any fandom.

Heidi191976: I’m glad you’re still along for the ride. It looks to be a pretty long one.



Bluezauza: Sorry, you won’t know what Bubble has seen for quite a few more chapters. Can’t give everything away, now can I? Thank you for the recommendation of the fic. I really do appreciate it.



Taz: You know I find it entertaining to interrupt Lucius’ sexual forays.



Lady Serpentina: I tried to keep their personalities true while having them grow as well. No one stays exactly the same because life and experiences change them along the way but the core of who they are doesn’t really alter that much. I do tend to write very strong women as a general rule so you will probably never see a woman be afraid of a man in anything I write.



General: I was asked privately what the Forensic Anthropology Facility at the University of Tennessee was. If you’ve ever read any crime dramas that involve forensics you’ll recognize it by it’s other name which is the Body Farm.



***

Another nightmare about to come true

Will manifest tomorrow

Another love that I\'ve taken from you

Lost in time, on the edge of suffering

Another taste of the evil I breed

Will level you completely

Bring to life everything that you fear



The scrying mirror faded back to black as suddenly as it had flared to life, leaving only the smooth and glossy surface. “Tsk, tsk, tsk, Lucius, how the mighty one has fallen. First the little mudblood whores and now a muggle proper. You really have lost your good taste. Magenta! Columbia!”



Two completely terrified looking house elves came skulking from the shadows.



“Ye . . . yes, yes, Master,” one of them said, shivering almost uncontrollably.



“Go to the store room in the dungeons and bring me the black box with gold lettering on it. You’ll find it on the second shelf of the storage unit down there. It will take both of you to carry it as it’s quite heavy.”



“Yes, Master, we is getting it for you right away,” the other house elf said.



The house elves left and a long, thin finger traced over the surface of the scrying mirror. “I’m going to make you suffer, Lucius. More than you could have ever dreamed possible. I will take everything and everyone away from you that you care for. Your son is already mostly gone, no challenge there. Your wife you sent her away yourself, uninterested. Plus, that would be bothersome if the Ministry got wind of it too soon and they would considering her status. But your little playmates, they are completely expendable. When I take enough of them apart no one will want to come anywhere near you and the rest of the wizarding world will follow suit once the story is out. And just when you think your misery couldn’t possibly get worse, I’ll find and finish the one you want most of all in front of you.”



Laughter bubbled forth and echoed along the corridors again. The house elves, who were making their way back lugging the heavy box, quaked in terror.



“The Master’s mind is gone it is,” one of them said.



The other just nodded.



***



“Of all the insufferable, arrogant, ill mannered . . .”



Hermione’s list went on and on and Draco sat in the chair at his desk looking at her as though she had lost every last shred of reason. The rant had started nearly ten minutes prior to that with the arrival of a tightly rolled scroll inside of an ornate silver box. He had no idea what the scroll had said because Hermione still had it clutched tightly in her hand, occasionally glancing at it when she calmed down and caught her breath. When she looked at it she’d turn red, then start pacing and growling again.



Draco had finally had enough of her pacing and barked, “Granger!”



This stopped her in mid stride and she pivoted on her heel to look at him. “What?”



“Kindly tell me what in the name of all the long forgotten gods has gotten into you.”



She fumed and turned red again before answering. “Your father is a complete and utterly insufferable ass!”



Draco laughed. “You’ve just now figured that out?”



She wadded up the scroll and threw it at him, missing by nearly a foot.



“Not nice to throw things at your partner, Granger. Why is my father an ass this time?” he asked, picking up the parchment from where it had landed near his desk.



“That is why,” Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest and tapping one foot as she waited for him to read the scroll.



“An invitation to the Samhain party at the mansion.” Draco looked confused. “I’m at a loss. Why does this make him an ass again?”



“That is not an invitation, Malfoy. That is an edict by the supreme high king of the pain in the asses.”



Draco was once again staring at her, as far as he could tell it was the standard invitation his father sent out for the Samhain party every year. He was beginning to wonder if she’d popped the cap on her loony lid when she waved her hand impatiently.



“Turn it over,” she said.



He flipped it over and recognized his father’s sharp, precise handwriting instantly.



Dearest Hermione,

If you’d like certain questions you have answered you will attend this social gathering.

Dress is formal. If you’ve nothing suitable please tell Draco that you have my permission to put something on my tab at whichever establishment you’re inclined to shop.

Yours,

Lucius



Draco’s eyebrows quirked up and he barely suppressed a laugh. He had to admit his father was ruthless in getting what he wanted and apparently that happened to be his partner. He had to know that if there was one thing Hermione couldn’t resist it was a challenge. A challenge had most definitely been issued in the note. Of course she would want any questions she had answered. That went without saying. Watching this unfold should be hysterical. Because even though the elder Malfoy thought he knew one Hermione Granger fairly well he really had no clue that he was in for the fight of his life with her.



“Tell me, when did I become his Dearest Hermione? As far as I can tell he’s still an obnoxious prat I want nothing whatsoever to do with. I swear to the gods if I find a real shred of evidence linking him to Dawn Morris’ murder I’ll gleefully hang him with his own entrails.”



“Okay, okay, calm down, Granger. I can see your point. What questions did you want answered anyway?”



“I have several and he keeps being evasive,” Hermione said, rubbing her temples. “If I go you’ll go with me, right?”



Draco shrugged. “Sorry. Can’t. I already have a date.”



“Oh? Who might that be? The same woman you were out with the other night?”



“Erm, well, no.”



“Now who’s being evasive? If it isn’t anyone important to you then you can just cancel,” Hermione said.



“It isn’t that simple. She is important. She’s the one who asked me. Sort of asked me. At least I think she asked me.”



“For goddess’ sake, who is it?”



“Luna.”



“Luna?!”



“Yes?” came a voice from the doorway.



“Luna, didn’t see you there,” Hermione said, looking at Draco from the corner of her eye.



“Obviously. I ran the names of the two other victims who fit the profile by the head of MMID. She came back to me with something I think you two need to know.”



“Which is?”



“Both women once upon a time worked at the Gilded Lily.”