Chapter 1

A loud crash made me yelp as well as draw my wand unconsciously. I didn't sense anyone in my apartment, but I didn't lower it anyway. Quietly stalking into the bedroom I found the culprit: a mirror I had precariously hung on the wall the night before.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I examined the damage. The frame was intact, and none of the glass had fallen out, but a web of fractures spread across the cool surface. A million angles and pieces of my face looked back at me. Entirely too much curly hair was reflected in the outer portions, giving me something to chuckle about.

I could've fixed the mirror with a simple spell, but something stopped me. This break felt like a miracle, and I felt like it deserved to be appreciated.

Remembering my tasks for the day, I carefully put the mirror in my closet, making a mental note to buy a new one later. I got out of the apartment in remarkable time considering that roughly seventy percent of my possessions were still in boxes.

I apparated to an alleyway near the entry to the Ministry for Magic, gearing myself up for the day. It was a day of beginnings, which usually also meant that it would be a day of stress. I did my best to quell my nerves before brushing off my robes and flushing myself to work.

The Ministry was bustling, seemingly more so than usual. That may have been due to my anxiety though. My legs carried me to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for my temporary placement. Apparently I was needed for a special assignment that they would fill me in on today. It sounded serious, and they were short-staffed because Ronald was on holiday for- well, he was on holiday.

Harry looked up from his paperwork when I entered. "Hermione. You look great in auror robes. How are you doing?"

I embraced him back, doing my best to smile serenely. "I'm fine, Harry."

Behind his glasses, Harry peered at me with his piercing green eyes. "If you ever need to talk `Mione just let me know."

I nodded. "I know where to find you. Now what is this secret mission that I was supposedly hand-picked for?"

Clearing his throat, Harry handed me a file. "We've done our best to round up all of the Death Eaters and assorted Voldemort supporters, but as time goes on it seems like there are more and more extremists we didn't know were affiliated with them. They've started targeting people who changed sides in the war, double agents, you know the like."

Flipping through the file I found Harry's information confirmed, as well as the statistics on several injuries and deaths that hadn't been escapable.

I shivered a bit when I glanced at the photographs, gruesome scenes all around. Snapping the file shut, I met Harry's eyes. "And where do I come in?"

Harry pushed up his glasses. "We think we know who their next target is, and we need someone to help them disappear into the Muggle world until we can neutralize the threat." He scowled a moment, reminding me that he had been opposed to my involvement from the beginning. I gave him credit for keeping his concerns to himself though.

"After hearing Auror Potter's account of how you kept the three most wanted criminals of the time hidden for so long we knew you were the perfect person for the job," a deep voice said. It belonged to the new head of Magical Law Enforcement, a serious man named G. Thaxton. No one could get him to reveal what the G. stood for. When we were still on speaking terms, Ronald theorized that it was short for Gertrude.

Thaxton was an older man who had come out of retirement for this job once Kingsley Shacklebolt was elected Minister for Magic. Even the wrinkles generally called smile lines oozed serious professionalism on Thaxton.

"Miss Granger, G. Thaxton," he said as an introduction, sticking out his hand. He firmly grasped my hand and pumped it up and down. "That was originally the plan, but it must be changed. Word just came in that the target has gone missing."

"Missing?" Harry and I chorused.

"A tragedy, but as he is probably dead there is nothing to be done. Miss Granger, we appreciate-"

"You don't know if this person is dead?" I interrupted. "You need to find him!"

"Miss Granger, we can't weaken our forces for a single man. Not even Draco Malfoy can justify abandoning the safety of the people," Thaxton said flatly.

I deliberated a moment. Draco Malfoy. I had been expecting to help a stranger during this assignment. Now I had not only a name to associate with a potential victim, but I could easily picture a face. I knew his mother, his girlfriend. I worked closely with his best friend. I personally knew people who would give their lives for his. This didn't mean that I liked Malfoy, but I would want someone to look for me.

Meeting Thaxton's eyes, I said, "So don't weaken your forces. I've already been given leave for this assignment. Let me find Malfoy." I didn't need to look back to see that Harry was already nodding in agreement.

Thaxton narrowed his eyes at me. "And what makes you think you'll be able to find Draco Malfoy?"

I smiled coldly. "I have my methods."

We stared at each other, tension palpable until Thaxton sniffed. "Fine, Miss Granger. I expect updates on your 'progress.'" With that he swept out of the room.

The second that the door clicked shut, Harry burst out laughing. "I've never seen Thaxton so unsettled."

"Did you know that Malfoy was the target?" I asked.

"They wouldn't tell me. I think they were afraid that we would refuse to help if we knew," Harry said.

"They they don't know either of us very well," I said with a small smile.

He nodded in agreement. "I'll help you however I can. Just let me know what you need."

"With the best auror on my side I'll find Malfoy in no time. But other than Ronald, how many aurors are out right now?" I asked curiously.

"Graves and Delaney are out with Dragon Pox. The Department is betting on whether or not they gave it to each other while snogging, Mahoney went back to Ireland to see her dying aunt, and the Walters are our only married pair, and they just had a daughter."

I whistled. "You are missing quite a few. Are we sure they're not all trying to escape Thaxton?"

Harry snickered while I flipped through the file once more. Still reading, I asked, "How are things going with Ginny?"

His face predictably turned red. "F-fine. Fine."

Rolling my eyes, I fixed them on Harry.

Blushing even more, he said, "I've been looking at rings."

I beamed genuinely for the first time in what felt like months. "That's excellent Harry, really excellent."

"Just don't tell anyone," he begged. "If any of her brothers find out before I talk to her and her parents she'll kill me."

"Yeah," I nodded. "Ginny would gut you."

Silence stretched between the two of us until I asked, "Surely they'll give me what information they have on his disappearance, right?"

Harry nodded, his seriousness returning. "You're essentially a temporary Auror, so you'll get all the tools and information we have on the case."

"Perfect."