The Witch and The Hunters

CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

Page count: 11

"So, where are we heading?" Hermione asked from the passenger seat, working through a sandwich while Dean drove and Sam read one of her books in the back.

They hadn't left the motel until early afternoon. Hermione spent half the morning trying every spell under the sun to get the bloodstain out of the carpet. When nothing worked, she slapped an Illusion Charm over it and altered the remaining blood so it could never match Sam. By the time the charm wore off, they'd be states away.

Bobby had woken them with a phone call full of colourful insults aimed at Hermione's "stupid, reckless behaviour." After getting it out of his system, he'd finally given them the location of their next case — but no details. He wanted them to confirm something first.

It was now evening. They'd been on the road seven hours, stopping once for dinner and twice because Hermione insisted she was "starving to death." The brothers wisely did not argue.

"Portland, Oregon," Dean said around a mouthful of jerky.

"I've never been," Hermione hummed.

"It's about a day and a half if the roads behave," Dean said. "We'll push through the night. Bobby wants us at the morgue as soon as we get in. Did he say what he wants you to check?"

"Yes. He wants to know if the victim was a virgin, for reasons he hasn't bothered sharing."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "And that's... something you can detect?"

"Yes, Dean," she sighed. "There's an old medical spell for it. It used to be common with Pureblood families back when they arranged marriages. They'd check girls before a betrothal contract was finalised and again before the wedding."

Dean made a face. "That's creepy... And nightmare fuel."

"Tell me about it. Draco's parents had him betrothed to Astoria Greengrass from the day she was born. He broke the contract after he took over Malfoy Industries. He fell in love with Luna, wanted to marry her. He's already getting marriage petitions for Scorpius."

"Wait," Sam said, frowning over his book. "Scorpius is barely three months old, and people are already petitioning to marry him off?"

"Twenty-two families so far," Hermione sighed, taking a bite of her sandwich. "All Pureblood. Draco won't even look at them. He wants Scorpius to choose who he loves — witch or wizard. And if he ever tries to force the issue..." She shuddered. "Luna will end him. And I'll help."

Dean snorted. "Blondie finally grew a spine."

"Love makes people brave," Hermione said, shrugging. "Or stupid. Usually both."

"So, what does Bobby think we're dealing with?" Sam asked.

"No clue," Dean said. "All we know is we've got a body and several missing women."

"And whatever he wants Hermione to confirm," Sam added.

Hermione wiped her fingers on a napkin. "He hasn't said anything more. Just that he wants me to do the spell first."

Dean rolled his shoulders, eyes on the road. "Well, whatever it is, we'll figure it out. We always do."

~000~000~000~

"This building has appalling security," Hermione muttered as she, Dean, and Sam slipped into the morgue and headed for the freezer drawers.

"That's because you broke in with magic," Sam said, deadpan, leaning against the wall and keeping watch down the corridor.