Extracurriculars

Hermione savored the rare stillness of her cottage, nestled just outside London’s bustling edge. It was her first day off in weeks, and she had promised herself she’d spend it resting, maybe even catching up on some light reading—anything to take her mind off the cases piling up at St. Mungo’s. But even as she sipped her tea, her mind kept drifting back to the mysterious illness, the way its symptoms seemed to defy every diagnostic spell she and her team could conjure.

Crookshanks purred beside her on the couch, his warm fur pressing into her leg as he dozed in a shaft of early morning sunlight. Hermione reached down to scratch his head absentmindedly, feeling the familiar comfort of his steady presence. It was rare for her to spend a full morning like this, without the rush of schedules and responsibilities.

Her reverie was abruptly interrupted by a flash of silvery light. She looked up, startled, as a Patronus, Harry’s distinct majestic stag, came bounding into her living room, its soft glow casting dancing shadows on the walls.

“Hermione,” Harry’s voice came from the otter’s open mouth, calm but intense. “I need you at the Ministry as soon as possible. We’ve got a lead on the magical signature from your research.”

Hermione’s heart leapt, a surge of determination dispelling any lingering relaxation. A lead? Hermione didn’t even pause long enough to change into typical wizarding robes, simply grabbing her lined cloak and throwing in over the Cambridge jumper and muggle jeans she’d been wearing.

With a quick wave of her wand, she extinguished the lights and stepped into the Floo. The familiar pull of magic gripped her, and seconds later, she emerged at the Ministry, brushing soot from her jeans as she strode toward the Auror Department, thoughts racing.

Inside, the Auror Office was abuzz with activity. Harry and a team of Aurors—including Tonks—were gathered around a large table scattered with maps and documents. Tonks was already issuing instructions to her team, her sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered Aurors with practiced intensity.

Harry caught sight of Hermione and waved her over, his expression a mix of relief and urgency. “Mione, thanks for coming so quickly.”

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice eager.

Harry gestured toward a map of the Scottish Highlands, marked with several red ‘X’s, clustered near Glencoe. Faint magical trails shimmered across the map, forming a complicated pattern. Tonks caught Harry’s eye and gestured to one of the Aurors to mark a new spot on the map.

“Glad you’re here,” Tonks said with a nod. “We’ve managed to isolate residual traces of the magical signature you identified in the blood samples. It leads to this area near Glencoe,” she continued, pointing to a cluster of markings. “This may be either a source of the infection or, at the very least, a site with strong clues.”

Hermione felt her heart quicken as she studied the map. If they could trace this disease to its origin, she might be able to piece together the missing details and finally make progress toward a cure. But she knew she needed to be there herself, to see the traces firsthand.

“I want to go with you,” Hermione said, meeting both Harry’s and Tonks’s gazes with an intensity she hoped conveyed her resolve.

Tonks immediately shook her head, folding her arms as she cast a glance at Harry. “Hermione, that isn’t necessary. We’ll handle this. Your work at St. Mungo’s is critical, and they need you there.”

Hermione took a step closer, her voice firm. “Tonks, this isn’t a normal case. I’ve spent weeks examining the illness, studying its magical structure. I know the traces better than anyone, and if I’m on-site, I might recognize things your team wouldn’t know to look for.”

Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his voice gentle but resolute. “I get that, Hermione. But this mission could be dangerous. Glencoe is remote, and we don’t know what we’re walking into. We can’t risk putting you in harm’s way.”

She met his gaze without flinching, her tone steady. “Harry, if you were in my position, you’d want to be there. This could be our only chance to find real answers.”

Tonks cast a skeptical look at Harry, clearly torn. Hermione noticed Malfoy standing at the edge of the group, his arms folded, listening intently. His expression was unreadable, though she caught a flicker of something—curiosity? Agreement?—in his gaze. She hadn’t even realized he’d been on this case- it had simple never come up during their trainings.

Tonks sighed, her tone reluctant. “Even if we allow it, you’d need to be with an Auror at all times, Hermione. No exceptions.”

Hermione nodded firmly. “Of course. I’ll do whatever’s necessary to make this happen.”

Tonks looked around the room and settled her gaze on someone nearby. “McLaggen,” she called, her voice firm. “You’ll be assigned to Healer Granger’s protection detail for this mission.”

Hermione’s heart sank as Cormac McLaggen stepped forward, a smug grin spreading across his face. He gave her a wink, clearly thrilled by his new assignment, and she felt a pang of frustration.

“Pleasure to be of service, Granger,” he said, his tone laced with self-satisfaction. “Don’t worry—I’ll make sure you’re well looked after.”

She glanced at Harry, whispering quietly, “Really, Harry? There’s no one else?”

Harry’s expression softened sympathetically. “Sorry, ‘Mione. Ron’s in Iceland, and I’ll need to lead the team myself. McLaggen’s available, and he’ll be focused on your safety.”

Tonks gave her a level look. “It’s McLaggen or you’re not coming Hermione. This is the only way. Kingsley’ll have my head if something goes wrong.”

Hermione clenched her jaw, then forced herself to nod. “Fine,” she said, her voice carefully neutral. “Thank you, McLaggen.”

McLaggen grinned, but Hermione ignored him, turning her focus back to Harry and Tonks, determined to keep her frustration at bay. She couldn’t afford to let a difficult escort distract her from the mission.

Tonks addressed the team with a nod. “We leave tomorrow at first light. Harry will lead and McLaggen will ensure Healer Granger remains with the group at all times.”

Harry took over, his tone brisk. “The Highlands are known for unpredictable magical landscapes, especially around Glencoe. Everyone needs to be prepared for disturbances in the magical trail.”

One of the Aurors raised a hand. “And what’s our response if we encounter dark magic?”

Harry’s gaze sharpened. “Our first priority is safety. If we detect any hostile magic, we’ll pull back and reassess.”

Hermione felt her heart race as she absorbed the mission details, the anticipation building as she prepared herself for what lay ahead. She was grateful for the opportunity to join them, even if it meant putting up with McLaggen. This was the first real step toward uncovering the truth, and she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.

With a final nod, Tonks concluded the briefing. “We’ll see you all at 6am!”