Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Harvest Moon ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

WARNING: This is VERY graphic and represents a true crime scene as closely as I can manage without giving away techniques used by law enforcement any more than what can be found on various television programs. Nor have I gone into everything that occurs on a site because it usually takes several hours if not days to process a scene. If the thought of that makes you queasy then do NOT read this. You have been warned.

 

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Thankfully, Hermione landed on her feet along side Draco and Kingsley. She really didn't like portkey travel but she liked flying even less so it was the better of two evils. They had landed in a small copse of woods and Kingsley began to lead them along a path to where magical wards had been set to preserve the crime scene. Two other aurors had been stationed to keep anyone else out and they were both looking rather green around the gills. The body was cast in shadow but Kingsley flicked his wand and a cube of light flared to life around the still form on the ground. Her eyes tracked to where the body lay and she knew instantly why the other two aurors were looking sick.

 

“Sweet merciful goddess,” Draco said, covering his mouth with one hand and looking as though he was seriously considering turning just as green as the other two aurors. “I've never seen one this bad. Granger?”

 

She nodded mutely, walking closer to the body and taking out a digital camera. She found them to be better than wizarding cameras because the movement even if it was just the grass blowing in the breeze next to a body was distracting and might cause her to miss something important. The body had obviously been posed and in a lewd, grotesque fashion no less. Her skirt had been shoved up to her waist and her hands positioned behind the thighs, spread eagled and open as though on display. Unfortunately, what was being displayed was entirely too horrible for Hermione to think about for more than a few seconds without surrendering to the need to projectile vomit. One could tell both breasts were missing because her shirt had been unbuttoned and left open. Someone had taken their time with this one; the cuts were clean and precise, probably done with a wand instead of a sharp instrument. Hermione took several deep breaths to keep her composure and finish the initial examination of the body so it could be moved to a more appropriate and respectful position.

 

Draco had gotten hold of himself and had come to help her with the examination. “Induco,” he said, casting the charm that would keep his hands from contaminating any evidence. “This has to be a body dump. There isn't any blood so it can't be the primary crime scene.”

 

“I agree,” she said, frowning deeply as her eyes went to the woman's face. The eyes were missing and the throat was cut in such an odd way that it made her wonder about it. Her lips had also been destroyed, a myriad of small cuts formed a latticework across them. As Hermione leaned closer to the body she noticed the indentations were not cuts, someone had sewn her lips shut with some sort of invisible thread.

 

“Are you finished photographing?” he asked.

 

She shook her head and took several photographs of the woman's face from various angles, trying to get a complete set. She finished and nodded to Draco who gently pulled the woman's skirt down and moved her hands from behind her legs.

 

“She's been dead at least two days. Possibly more. She's pliable so the rigor has run its course in the body already,” he said, conjuring a body bag. “Whoever did this took their sweet time about it.”

 

“We need to get her to the MME and see if she can find out anything more from the body,” Hermione said, using her wand to levitate the body and place it into the bag before zipping it up and tagging it. She turned to the other two aurors and motioned them to her. They came forward reluctantly and each took an end of the bag to move the body and prepare for transport. “Make sure she gets to the Magickal Medical Examiner's office immediately.”

 

When the other two aurors had disapparated she leaned heavily against a tree for support, fighting the queasiness that suddenly threatened to overwhelm her. She ran her hand over her face and took several deep breaths again.

 

“You okay?” Draco asked, looking at her worriedly through his fringe of blond hair.

 

“As well as I can be, all things considered. You'd think I would be used to these things by now.”

 

“No one ever really gets used to it, Granger. When we do it's time to retire because we stop being able to connect to the victim as a human being and start seeing them as an object to be examined.”

 

“That's true. Did you notice her eyes were missing?”

 

“I did. I'm betting that the way her throat was cut her tongue and vocal chords are probably gone as well.”

 

Hermione nodded. “Then you're probably thinking what I am.”

 

“That it's highly likely whoever did this has knowledge of how we do things. They took the eyes so we couldn't cast “Final Sight” to see what her last visions were and the tongue and vocal chords to prevent Vox Mortis. What I don't understand is why her lips were sewn shut. It seemed like it was an unnecessary measure since everything else had been removed. We won't know for sure about any of our speculations on the vocal chords and tongue until we get the MME's report on . . .”

 

“Draco?” a very familiar voice called from somewhere in the trees.

 

“Father?” Draco said, turning toward the voice in time to see his father emerge from the trees along the path. “What are you doing here?”

 

“I came to see what was happening when one of the house elves said there was some sort of commotion going on down here.”

 

“Why would that matter to you, Father?” Draco asked curiously.

 

“I bought this property three weeks ago from one of the muggle farmers in the area. He has no use for it considering it isn't farmland. Why are you here? You're usually with the annoying little know it all mu . . . Miss Granger?” Lucius said, seeing her standing slightly behind Draco. “How interesting to see you.” Lucius said, letting his eyes flick over her very serviceable, very muggle attire. The khaki slacks with a simple pull over and muggle tennis shoes made him raise one eyebrow as did the fact she had her hair bound back into a simple pony tail set low at the back of her neck.

 

“I suppose I don't pass muster with you, Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione said, noticing he looked as though some nasty smell was directly under his nose.

 

One side of his mouth quirked up. “I hardly think that would concern you, Miss Granger. Considering your usual disdain for the opinions of your betters.”

 

“No, I listen to the opinions of my betters. You, however, are not any better than I am,” she said, deliberately digging into his ego.

 

Draco rolled his eyes and physically stepped between his father and his partner before wands could be drawn. “All right, enough of you two baiting one another. Father, if you would, please send copies of the purchase deed to this property to my office. Granger, we need to get to the MME's office.” He nodded to Lucius. “I'll see you on Friday for dinner, Father.”

 

“Of course,” Lucius said, before turning to stride off.

 

“Don't leave the country, Mr. Malfoy. We may want to question you later,” Hermione called after him.

 

He turned slightly, letting his gaze travel over her again, pausing far longer than was comfortable at the curve of her hips and breasts. “Certainly, Miss Granger. I shall endeavor to make myself available to you for . . . whatever business you might have with me,” he said before continuing to walk off.

 

Hermione's hands tightened into fists. How dare that pompous, obnoxious, gorgeous, wait, had she just thought that? About Lucius Malfoy no less. She obviously needed sleep. Or a visit to St. Mungo's mental ward if she was entertaining thoughts like that about the elder Malfoy.

 

She turned to Draco. “How in the name of all the long forgotten gods did that man ever produce you?”

 

“My mother helped,” Draco drawled. “Come on, Granger. We have work to get to.”