"You did send a note to Hermione didn't you?" Ron whispered glancing up towards the dais were the head of the Auror department was giving his speech.

"Of course I did." Harry urgently whispered back before trying to subtly turn his head to look out over the crowd who had come to watch the ceremony. His eyes scanned quickly, taking in the proud faces of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, the latter of which had proud tears shining in her eyes. Ginny, of course, beaming brightly. He could see Neville, and Luna the pair of which holding a soft smile of their own though Luna seemed to be more interested in the lights above the room. McGonagall as well had come, sitting in the last row, her face calm and collected, though if one looked hard enough there was easily a proud shine to her eyes.

Family members of the other inductees were present as well but despite Harry's greatest attempts, he could not spot the one person he really needed to see there. It had been Hermione who had helped him study, practice, and prepare for this. It had been Hermione who had taught him all the spells that would now protect his life and the lives of others. If it hadn't been for her help, surely, he wouldn't have been there at all. With a soft resigned sigh, he turned back towards the front, the pride in his frame swirling out, like water down a drain.

oOo

Hermione panted heavily as she all but fully sprinted down the hallway. Her hand fumbled a bit as she pulled the chain attached to her belt loop to pull her watch free, her dress robe tangling as she tried to shrug it up onto her shoulder.

She'd all but fled Snape's home when she'd realized the time she'd lost, though she did make a point of resetting her own wards over the home, it had taken her more time than she'd care to admit which left her fumbling now. Though honestly, her mind was everywhere other than where she was meant to be. Her heart still ached from what she'd seen. So many questions, so many thoughts, paths filling her usually keen mind into a deepening spiral.

Hermione skidded as she nearly collided with the man standing in front of the door leading to the announcement hall. A muttered apology tumbled past her lips as she tried to right herself into something somewhat presentable. A quick flick of her wand straightened her hair and attempted to wipe the tears and darkness from around her eyes, though it was cast with such distraction it hardly helped at all.

"It hasn't finished has it?" She asked quickly, straining her ears to try and hear anything at all.

"No, though it is almost over if you want to sneak in there's a door over there that should help." The man smiled at her, of course, he knew exactly who she was; who didn't know the brains of the famous 'golden trio'?

"Thank you, thank you so much." Hermione quickly pushed her hands down her robes trying to get her muggle clothing beneath the layers. She hurriedly snapped the fasteners in place as she made to move to the side door. With a deep breath and a charm to help her go unnoticed, she hesitantly opened the door, slipping in just as silently.

Hermione did her best to blend into the darkness of the room, the corner in which she found herself giving her a perfect vantage over the crowd. For a moment her mind wavered on whether she should try and find an open seat when a name took all her attention to the front.

"Harry Potter, it is with great honor and pride that we give unto you this badge." The man on the stage leaned forward, pinning the oval-shaped pendant onto Harry's dress uniform, "May you carry it with great responsibility."

The crowd politely clapped, though Neville did let out a small whistle as the pair turned, hands clasped as a picture was taken. When Harry's eyes lifted from the photographer his heart beat just a little faster. His stance just a bit straighter as his eyes landed on Hermione, who stood hidden along the back wall. He offered a weak smile before he started to make his way back down to his seat beside Ron.

Once seated, he whispered hastily and both he and Ron turned to offer the brightest of smiles. Though returned in kind, Harry couldn't help but notice the haunted look on Hermione's face. The puffiness of her eyes, or the seemingly disheveled appearance of her hair. Had she been crying?

As soon as Harry and Ron turned back, Hermione's gaze turned to the floor. Her lips pursed as she let her arms cross over her waist. Her mind returned to Snape, his home, his life. How sterile everything in his home had been. How everything inside just didn't feel as though it were left behind without purpose. Surely, he of all people, would have seen the end coming? Surely, he would have seen the writing on the wall as soon as he agreed to Dumbledore's plan. So why did something feel off? Why did she even care at all? It wasn't part of her job to sift through the remains of the lives behind the wards. Her only job was to give access so that the cleaners and curse-breakers could do their work. Why did such a thought, of turning over the contents, feel like a deep betrayal on a man who did nothing but make her life a nightmare?

So deep in her thoughts, she didn't even realize when the ceremony had ended until a great rush of wind ruffled her robes as her friends came bounding towards her.

"Cutting it a little close -ey?" Harry teased as he reached out to wrap her up in a hug, to which was readily accepted. Though the odd smell in her hair made his nose crinkle just a bit, "Where were you anyway?"

"Sorry Harry," She gave him a fractured smile, "I got caught up in my work, it took longer than I had expected it to. Had I known, I would have waited until tomorrow."

"That's alright." Ron interjected with a goofy grin, "You made it that's what counts. Besides, who wants to listen to all the stuffy stuff anyway. We did it!" He chuckled as Hermione shook her head.

"So what are you two going to do now?" Hermione absently wiped at a few dried tears along her cheekbone.

"Well," Harry sing-songed rolling his eyes to Ron, "We were hoping you would come with all of us for a drink."

"You know I don't drink." Hermione shook her head, "But I'd be happy to accompany the lot of you, can't have the pair of new Aurors' getting into trouble now can we?"

"Excellent," Harry pumped his fist and turned back to the small crowd still talking in the aisle way, "She said yes! Let's go!"

Taken into the moderately sized troupe, Hermione tried to push all her thoughts to the back of her mind. Her eyes and lips curled up as the raucous group made their way from the hall. The feeling of all her friend's around her easing her wary soul. Though there was a moment where she tried to imagine her life without them, it fled just as quickly as it had come.

Not too long after the entire group descended on the poor pub did Hermione find herself staring out the window, her fingers lightly tracing obscure patterns into the condensation on her ginger ale while her eyes tracked the path of raindrops that had finally come in. The streetlights causing the most interesting refraction along the surface.

"Sickle for your thoughts?"

"Hm?" Hermione turned to the soft features of Luna who had come to sit beside her. Her own drink of beer half-finished in her hand as she settled beside her, "Oh...it's nothing..."

"Well, it certainly has captured your attention." Her voice was light and almost floaty as she took another sip of her drink.

Hermione's brows twitched as the silence between them stretched on, a slow breath leaving her nose when she turned her eyes away to look at the blond properly, "Luna...what do you do when you come across something in the department that really piques your interest?"

Luna's brows rose and for a moment she turned to look out the window as well, "I suppose, I research it. I mean, there are so many wonderful oddities down there. Almost everything catches my interest." She giggled softly before resting her chin on her knuckles in thought, "Though I suppose if I'm really interested I take my time with it. Try to figure out all its secrets, all its uses."

"And they just let you do that?" Hermione took a small drink, feeling her throat going a bit dry.

"Of course, the ministry is about discovery, about knowledge." Luna smiled just a bit more, "They want to know more about everything."

"Is it ever dangerous?"

"Of course, but I'm always very careful." She took another drink, "I've only had one accident but I'd hardly call it anything serious." She chuckled just a bit more, "Though my supervisor's face when I came stumbling in with a babbling infant for a head was very priceless."

Hermione's brows rose a bit before she shook her head with a rye smile, "Time room?"

"Time room." Luna chuckled softly, "I slipped on some papers I was trying to carry, it was a pure accident. Though I did learn a lot about time." She scratched behind one of her ears, "How fickle it all really is." Her tone turned more serious as she sipped once more, "How it's constantly shifting, changing."

Hermione nodded, her eyes glazing once more in deep thought. Luna remained by her side for the duration watching the rain fill the streets, "Have you ever seen..." She paused trying to find the right words to describe what she'd found, "A book...journal really, That acted like a pensive?"

Luna turned her head slowly away from the window, "No...But I know just where to look for the information." She shifted giving her more attention, "It wouldn't be impossible to turn a book into a pensive....with the right circumstances, are you thinking of inventing something?"

"Something like that." Hermione pursed her lips, her eyes looking down into her drink, she was about to elaborate when a heavy weight thumped against her back startling her and causing her to nearly spill her drink, "Ron!"

Ron, red-faced and obviously way over his limit mumbled something resembling an apology before he tried to take her hand, a deep laugh lifting his face, "Dance with me! Come on! This is supposed to be a party!"

"Oh, Crisse Ron you're plastered!" Hermione laughed as she stumbled with him as he pulled her from her stool, "Are you sure you can even stand?"

Ron just laughed more pulling her towards the dance floor, his eyes glassed over as he tried to pull her closer. Hermione shook her head as she tried to steady him on his feet before letting out a laugh as he fell back onto his arse.

"I don't think I've seen that move." Hermione teased as the boy let his head fall back onto the tile, her body leaning over to make sure he wasn't seriously injured.

Harry came by next, laughing as he tried to help Ron back to his feet, "I think we've all had a bit too much mate."

Hermione shook her head as she moved to help the pair of them back on their feet, feeling more like a mother than a friend, "Alright you two, I think this party is over."

"But we just got started!" Ron slurred as he held onto Harry to keep himself up his body sagging oddly as the world around him tilted.

"Uh-huh." Hermione shook her head wrapping her arm around Ron's waist helping Harry to keep him on his feet, she looked at the bartender for a moment who was clearly pulling up the tab, "Can I pay you tomorrow?" She called over the noise.

The man gave her a thumbs up with a chuckle as he waved them off. Hermione turned her heavy charge along with Harry who stumbled just a bit and made towards the door. Luna waved them off and she gave her a soft smile as she pushed them through the pub door.

The walk home was filled with plenty of stumbles and idiotic ramblings. Though by the time the three of them had come up the steps of Grimmauld place Ron had sobered enough to make it up the walk if only barely. Hermione gently pushed open the door and helped Ron to the sitting room. Harry followed suit after locking the door though he hadn't a mind for wards before he followed.

"Alright, the pair of you are going to be the death of me." Hermione grunt as she pushed hard on Ron making him fall back onto the couch, "I'm going to shower, the pair of you are on your own from here."

"Thanks Mione." Harry mumbled falling onto the couch across from Ron, out in seconds.

Hermione shook her head as deep snores echoed up the stairs as she made her ascent. She supposed Ginny would be home later that night, having only briefly caught her eye as they'd left. The woman was too entranced by the music to really pay attention to her boyfriend being led away.

Hermione sighed heavily as she kicked her bedroom door closed. Her hands ran through her hair as she released the half ponytail she'd hastily used to make herself look somewhat decent. Exhaustion filled her entire body as she kicked off her shoes and despite the lack of alcohol in her system found herself face down over her own covers, her eyes closing within moments of the soft sheets pressing into her cool skin.

oOOo

"Long night?" Antony grinned as he watched Granger take another long sip of her coffee. Normally a tea drinker he couldn't help but raise a curious brow to her drink of choice this morning.

"Something like that." She sighed heavily letting herself fall back into her chair, a hand running through her curls as she let her eyes come back into focus, "Something you need?"

"Actually, I just wanted to check in with you on why you left yesterday." He shifted a little on his feet holding a file in his hand, "Did you manage to do what you needed to do?"

Hermione felt her senses kick into high gear at the question. Her entire night had been filled with horrible dreams, not really nightmares no but certainly unpleasant, "Not...not exactly..." She muttered softly looking down at her desk which was still securely locked before her eyes turned to the file in his hand.

"Well, hopefully, this will help, it's the file you asked for this morning, I was able to secure it from the records office." He offered it out to her with a critical eye, "Are you sure there's nothing I can help you with?"

"No, and thank you, Antony, truly." She accepted the file with a soft smile pulling it to lay flat on her desk.

"Well, if you do, I'm only a desk away." He chuckled good-naturedly leaving her side to go back to his own desk.

Hermione gave him another appreciative smile before taking a slow breath. Given what she'd seen yesterday she had become immensely curious about the manor she'd seen. Wondering, many things really, but finding it to be the most logical place to start.

"Prince Manor..." She mumbled to herself flipping through the deeds and other legal nonsense held on file at the ministry, her eyes scanning the pages quickly as she went, "Last known heir...Elsa Prince...." She turned the papers once more only to find a certificate of death, "Oh..." Hermione's eyes ran down the page looking for a date, "10th of June 1979...Cause of death..." She flipped to the next page her eyes widening just a bit when a picture of a stoic, stone-faced woman appeared, unmoving, attached to a paper of which looked to be an autopsy report, "Exsanguination due to curses along the throat..."

Her fingers slowly flipped to the next page, another autopsy report, "Mathias Prince II..." She read the name as the man's face entered her mind, "10th of June...1979...Cause of death...cardiac arrest from a full-body bind..."

Her brows furrowed deeper as she flipped another page, another death certificate though this one was without an autopsy report, rather it was just the simple certificate, " Mathais Prince I...1st of September, 1964...Natural causes..."

She couldn't help the small shiver that ran down her frame as his voice echoed through her inner thoughts. The pure terror she had felt not just for herself but from Eileen as well. With trepidation, she turned to the last page of the file, another death certificate, "Elena Prince, 1st of September 1981...natural causes..."

Hermione let the file fall back down to the desk, her fingers slipping from its pages. Her brow twitched in thought as she took in all the information before her. The entire pure-blood line had been wiped out, her eyes went unfocused for a moment before something dawned on her. These were only the files regarding the estate, there was no mention anywhere about Eileen, nothing about Snape either. As though they'd been completely wiped from the records.

"Miss Granger?" Antony jumped slightly when she returned to his desk with the file.

"Were there any other files pertaining to this estate?" Her eyes were sharp and focused almost making the young man want to cower back just a touch.

"Uh, not that I'm aware of...the estate has been under the ministries ownership since like forever, so if there were any more records they'd probably be the vaults...Listed under the new owners, if anyone bought it that is."

"Can you find out who the new owners are?" Hermione couldn't help the rushed tone in her voice.

"I can make an inquiry...might take a few days to get anything back." He took the file gingerly from her fingers, looking to the reference number, "I can do it right now if you'd want."

"Please do." With nothing more she turned back towards her desk, pulling her coat from the hook behind it, "I'm going out. Please send word if you find anything to my parchment." She picked up the small two-way book before slipping it into her pocket.

"Of course..." Antony watched her leave with that same hurried distraction as yesterday, his brows raised as he looked back at the file. Was it something he said?