The Phoenix Syndrome
a/n – First, the obligatory disclaimers. Everything recognizable in the Harry Potter universe is the property of JK Rowling and her various and sundry corporate partners. No infringement of anyone's rights under copyright has occurred or is intended.
As several people pointed out in their reviews, the method that Cara used to flush out the leaks was used by Tom Clancy in his works. It's also a long used method of counter-intelligence and has been used for centuries in the real world, dating back to the Chinese.
Secondly, I would like to thank everyone for their reception of this story. I'm glad people are reading it and taking the time to leave comments. This is the first harmony story that I've posted that's epilogue compliant, usually I'm a member of EWE (Epilogue? What Epilogue?), but this story and one other just wouldn't leave me alone until I worked on them.
And now, back to our story. When last we met, Hermione was in her office on a Sunday and her longtime assistant has just informed her that Harry's wife is cheating on him …
Chapter Two – When You Think It Can't Get Any Worse
"This is going to kill him. How in the name of Merlin's garters am I going to explain to Harry that Ginny is cheating on him?"
"We tried to keep an eye on him. After the four of you parted ways at Platform 9¾, we were able to stay with him as far as the Leaky Cauldron. He spoke to Hannah Longbottom for a second, went towards the Diagon Alley entrance and just vanished."
"I'll deal with finding Harry in a bit. I've never asked him where he goes after the train leaves for Hogwarts, but he's spent the day by himself, somewhere, ever since we graduated. Ginny's stopped asking him, I think, but every year he goes somewhere. I've always respected that, but I'm going to have to track him down this time." Looking a bit distressed, she sat forward and cradled her face in her hands.
"I just hope he can forgive me."
Looking up at Cara, Hermione nodded. "I'd like to put taking Krum and Firebolt down off until I've found Harry. Do you think that's a possibility?"
"According to what we've been able to find out, Firebolt isn't expected back at the house until late this evening. Apparently, she's taking advantage of Seeker's well known habit of being gone all day and putting the time to use."
Sitting up and looking at her assistant, Hermione's eyes narrowed. As she watched her long-time friend, Hermione could see that she was getting more apprehensive, which would be peculiar if she had already given her the worst of the news. Therefore ….
"How long ago did Firebolt forgo her protective detail?"
"Almost five years ago, almost three years before we can place her with Krum."
"I know the protective details are sworn to secrecy about the comings and goings of their principals, but the reason she got rid of her detail wasn't because it was 'interfering with her work as a quidditch correspondent', was it?"
"No, according to the notes from her details, she'd been carrying on for some time with that seeker from Portree that was eventually banned for substance abuse. And before that, with others. When she realized that a member of her detail was a close housemate of your godson's, she lost faith in the discretion of the detail and convinced Seeker and Coronet that she really didn't need a detail after all these years." Not attempting to hide the scorn in her voice, Cara mimicked Ginny's voice while she batted her eyes in an over the top manner.
"I'm just a quidditch reporter and working mother, no one would be interested in me after all these years."
Shaking her head at Cara's impression which was spot on even down to the annoying quaver Ginny slipped into when she was trying to wheedle something out of a wizard, Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment and then jerked her head in Cara's direction.
"That was a year after my husband dismissed his detail, wasn't it?"
Swallowing, Cara looked Hermione in the eye and nodded slowly.
"Yes, Keeper declined his detail about a year before, six months after he was retired from the aurors on medical grounds."
Not taking her eyes from Cara's, Hermione watched her friend closely.
"Cara, who do you have babysitting the wife? Who is waiting to tell her that her husband is cheating on her?"
"That would be me, Hermione. I insisted that since she had to be told, and both Seeker and Nargle weren't available, I would be the one to do it." Tears forming in both witches' eyes, they blinked, almost in unison.
"I'm so sorry; there isn't anything I wouldn't give to make this not be true."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione's mind raced as she processed what she had just heard. Things had been very strained between her and her husband for the past ten years, and they had only gotten worse the last six, ever since he'd left the aurors and started working with his brother.
Everything had fallen into place as Cara spoke, and she realized that she wasn't actually surprised, other than being a bit shocked she had been able to keep this from herself for this long. Releasing the breath she had been holding, Hermione held out her hand to Cara.
"Parchments?"
Blinking in surprise, Cara stared at Hermione's hand for a second.
"Beg pardon?"
Shuddering for a second, Hermione motioned towards Cara with her open hand.
"You said you needed my signature before we could move forward with this. So hand me the bloody parchments so we can get down to business."
In shock, Cara looked down at her hand and then handed the requested parchments to her boss without looking up. As she heard the quill scratching stop the second time, she looked up and saw, with amazement, that Hermione had stood up and was coming around the desk to her.
Standing, Cara watched in amazement as Hermione put the authorizations on the desk and stepped forward. She was engulfed in one of Hermione's hugs. As she felt the arms encircle her, Cara slumped forward and hugged her friend in return. Hermione whispered in her ear, "I'm so sorry you had to do this, I'll be fine, and we'll get through this."
Nodding, Cara held on for several seconds before stepping back. Knuckling the tears from her eyes, she picked up the documents and looked at them. Both sets were signed 'Hermione Jane Granger, Director DMLE, OMFC'. Looking up, she smiled sadly.
"I think these will suffice."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione silently summoned her wand from its resting place on her desk into her hand.
"How good are the wards around the suite at the Savoy?"
"As good as we can make them. Parvati's the loaner from the Unspeakables for this end. She's a bit senior for a field assignment like this, but apparently she apparated into their ready room in Spook Hall this morning and insisted she was going. Her boss gives her a good deal of latitude as you well know, and she put her on the London assignment without a question."
Hermione smiled a watery smile. "Then the only problem will be getting Ginny out of there with all of her body parts attached. But we'll burn that particular bridge when we get back."
"Back?"
Smiling grimly, Hermione gestured towards the door.
"Yes, I said 'back'. And before you ask, I also said 'we'. We're going to Scotland and arrest those two up there. Then I'm going to go find Harry. If I can't find him in an hour, we'll move at the Savoy."
"Hermione, you shouldn't be directly involved in either of these operations. Finding Harry is good, but the other..."
Cutting off at the glare from her friend and boss, Cara involuntarily took a step back at the look in her longtime friend's eyes."
"Cara, I'm not taking operational control of either mission, I'm simply exercising my privilege as Director to be there when two agents working to undermine everything I've spent my adult life working for are arrested. The fact that I happen to know all of the principals involved is a coincidence that I won't allow to interfere with the execution of my sworn duties."
"Coronet isn't going to appreciate it if this muddies up the proceedings before the Wizengamot." Looking troubled, Cara tried to imagine all of the ways the presence of her boss at either location could add to things going pear-shaped.
"Kingsley will just have to understand. I won't be prosecuting these cases. Make a note to floo Carrenton to see if he'll come out of retirement to take lead on any proceedings that come out of today's activities. I don't want any of my staff to have to make a decision about where their loyalties lie in this."
"All of the advocates are with you, you needn't worry about that."
Putting her hand, gently, on Cara's forearm, Hermione stopped her for a second. She gave a self-conscious smile to the younger witch.
"They need to be loyal to the law, not me. That's what I'm trying to avoid, someone becoming overly zealous trying to resolve this for me. Aloysius is a friend, but he reveres the Law more than he does friendship."
Striding through the door, Hermione waited at the lift doors for Cara to catch up. As the lift opened, they stepped inside. As the doors closed, Hermione looked over at the other witch.
"Where are they staging from for the raid in Scotland?"
"They've got the reading room at that bookstore across the way. The manager is a retired auror so she understands discretion. We'll be able to floo to the room and then you can talk to the team leader."
"This keeps getting better and better. I've spent quite some time in that shop. I suppose I'll just have to get used to it." As they waited for the Atrium stop to come, she looked over at Cara and noted that her assistant was barely holding together.
"Cara, I need you to do something for me, if you would."
"Anything Hermione, just name it."
"As soon as I floo to Edinburgh, I want you to go to Peregrine House. If any of the children call the house looking for their father, or me, tell them you're waiting for me to come home and you'll give me the message as soon as I get back. Seal my study and my library until a forensic team can get there." Blushing a bit, Hermione continued.
"Seal the master bedroom off, also. As soon as I find Harry, we'll do the same things at Grimmauld Place and Potter Hall."
"Are you certain? I can do this."
Nodding, Hermione smiled sadly as the doors opened.
"I need someone I trust to secure my home, and I know you'll be there for the kids if they were to call somehow if this lasts longer than the ride to school. And you've been put through the wringer already; go take care of things for me. You have the access codes at the house, you can work from there."
As they walked across the Atrium, Hermione was painfully aware of the few Ministry workers that were in the public area. Dialing up a smile, she nodded as Cara carried on about the upcoming term at Hogwarts and how their children were looking forward to it. As they approached the floo connections and public apparition points, she stopped.
"I'm going to floo to The Tower Library to see if they have that new arithmancy tome by Gundersen. You head on to the house and I'll join you as soon as I pick up a few things."
"I'll put on a pot and wait for you in the kitchen. We'll get these financials squared away in no time. Since both of us are terrible cooks, why don't you pick up some takeout at the Cauldron on the way?"
Nodding appreciatively, Hermione chuckled. "My cooking isn't that bad, but I'll get a couple of orders to go." Reaching into the pot of floo powder sitting by the reserved floo, she touched her wand lightly to the mantle to authorize her use and said in a clear ringing voice. "The Tower Library Reading Room."
As the flames turned green she stepped into the fireplace. As she tumbled past innumerable grates, she tried to compose herself. The flashing sights of people going about their lives, acting as if the normalcy of daily life was a given, she bit her lip as she tumbled into a large open room.
Standing and brushing a few bits of ash from her robes, she looked around the room. The comfortable furniture of The Tower Library bookstore's reading room was still there, but it was covered with equipment and lounging wizards and witches, none of which were reading anything as mundane as the new tell-all about life behind scenes with the Weird Sisters.
Two witches were hunched over a scrying bowl, making notes on whatever they were observing. Five aurors were sprawled in the overstuffed chairs and chesterfields, trying to relax before they were called to action. One young wizard, dressed in the black fatigues that the special operations aurors had adopted for missions instead of the traditional robes was staring at her in horror and disbelief.
Smiling, Hermione walked over towards him. "Team Leader?"
Blushing, acutely aware that every eye in the room was focused upon the upcoming interaction, Teddy Lupin stepped towards his godmother.
"Director. I'm a bit surprised to see you here."
Nodding brusquely, Hermione forced a smile.
"Team Leader Lupin, I personally authorized Operation Canary. One thing that you should have realized by now is that there are times in life when the easy thing would be to allow others to carry on when things become…difficult. The right thing to do is to soldier on and make certain that everything is taken care of." Seeing the look on his face, she softened her expression.
"I'm certain that there will come a time in the next few days when I'll have to stop and evaluate everything, but for right now, I'm here to see that the right thing is done." Resisting the urge to retreat to being his mother, she smiled at the look of understanding in his eyes.
"Director, would you like me to brief you in on the operation?"
Sighing, Hermione closed her eyes for a second before she nodded in return.
"If you would."
Taking her elbow, he guided her over to the table where the two witches were making notes on what they were observing in the scrying bowl. Looking down, Hermione could see the elongated view of a hotel hallway that she vaguely remembered.
"We've got extensible eyes in the hallway and extendable ears under the door of the suite, so we're fairly certain that they're in the suite and…" Blushing, Teddy stopped what he was saying and looked at the witch to his right who was pointedly looking at the scrying bowl for assistance.
Smiling sadly, Hermione prompted, "I believe 'occupied' is the word you were looking for, Team Leader?"
Blushing again, Teddy smiled self-consciously. "Yes, they're fairly well occupied." Seeing a wand movement to his left, Teddy threw a glare at the witch on the left, and shook his head.
"No need to pipe the audio into the room, Millicent, just let us know if it sounds as if they're getting ready to move somewhere else."
Seeing the look on Hermione's face, Teddy shrugged.
"We planted a coin in Un... ah the wizard's trouser pocket. They seem to be in close proximity to where the trousers are currently, so we can make a coin entry and catch them…"
Seeing her godson trying to spare her feelings, she prompted him again.
"Catch them in the act is what you were going to say, correct?"
Nodding nervously, Teddy agreed. "Yes, we can catch them unawares."
Holding out her hand, Hermione quirked an eyebrow until Teddy handed her a bronze coin. Looking around to see that everyone was watching her, she smiled.
"If everyone would gather around, I'd like to say something and provide a small demonstration."
Waiting until the aurors gathered around her, Hermione nodded encouragingly to her godson. Clearing her throat, she smiled at the assembled group.
"In case anyone here is unaware, I'm DMLE Director Granger." Seeing the knowing looks on the faces around her and not a few raised eyebrows at the unhyphenated surname, she shrugged. "I'm also Team Leader Lupin's godmother, so this isn't a good day for either of us. However, neither of those facts should in any way interfere with how you're going to go about your duties today."
Waiting for a bit of murmuring to settle down, Hermione continued.
"The one thing you might not be aware of is that I was the one who created the portkey coins that make your lives easier from time to time." Seeing the speculative looks on their faces, she blushed. Holding up the bronze coin in her hand Hermione smiled.
"I'm going to tell you a little trick that isn't in the training manual for these Ravenclaw coins. While the standard practice is to allow you to apparate to the area of the target coin silently, you don't have to."
Seeing the confused look on their faces, she smiled.
"Standard Operating Procedure for an operation like this is for the team to apparate into the area, silently. One of you will try to accio the wands from the bad guys while the rest of you stun them and control the scene, am I correct?" Nodding thoughtfully, Teddy smiled.
"Correct Director Granger. That would be the SOP for this. Not that you've ever done anything remotely like this, of course." Trying to keep from smiling, Teddy was rolling his eyes as some of the stories his father had told him about their exploits, both before and after leaving Hogwarts, came to mind. Teddy was always amazed at the number of people who continually underestimated the capabilities of his godmother, much to their dismay.
"Of course not, Team Leader. Merlin forbid a bushy haired bookworm get her hands dirty with real life." Smiling wryly, Hermione produced her wand and made a peculiar motion over the coin while she spoke the word 'audiblus'.
"That changes the default setting to normal apparition volume. All of you are fairly quiet when you apparate, or you wouldn't be on Team Twelve, but since you're using the coin, it will set the volume. The SOP calls for a silent insertion." Repeating the motion, this time she intoned 'audiblus maximus'.
"That setting, on the other hand, will cause a reentry apparition sound that would be heard over the snoring of former Team Leader Weasley."
From the shocked looks on their faces, Hermione could see that, while most of the aurors in the room had been assigned to Team Twelve since her soon to be ex-husband had left the service; they were all familiar with the legendary snoring of retired auror Ronald Weasley.
Shaking her head, the witch Teddy had earlier identified as Millicent looked deep in thought while Teddy was grinning from ear to ear.
"With all due respect, Director, why would we want to do that?"
Hermione chuckled evilly as she considered the witch's question. Quirking an eyebrow, she could see that Teddy had already sussed out her intention, but she wanted to explain it herself, so she shook him off with a sly smile.
"Well, I wouldn't dream of interfering, but there is a variation of this plan that calls for one disillusioned auror to enter the area silently if they are absolutely certain that everyone in the target zone is preoccupied and accio the wands. Two seconds later, the rest of the team comes in with a clap of thunder that should scare the pants off your targets, if they were wearing any. Gives one a psychological edge in the questioning that is certain to follow."
Staring at her for several seconds, the young witch finally gave the Director a cheeky grin.
"With all due respect, Ma'am, but you're even scarier than they say you are." Laughing, she looked over at her team leader. "This one changed your nappies?" Blushing, Teddy nodded.
"You have no idea." Looking at his godmother, he shook his head. "You're still not going in with the first wave, Director."
Smiling, Hermione nodded. "Wouldn't dream of it, Team Leader. But you will send a patronus the moment that the suite is secured."
"Director, may I speak with you for a second?" Pointing towards an alcove off the main room, Teddy quirked an eyebrow.
Hermione smiled as she saw the members of his team adjusting their bronze coins. Walking quickly over to the alcove, she stepped out of the line of sight as Teddy joined her and cast a quick muffliato between them and the rest of his team.
"Mum, are you alright? Where's Dad?" Concern and anguish was written on his face as he scanned hers, looking for some sign as to how she was coping with this fiasco.
"Teddy, honestly I'm a bit in shock over this. But we'll do what we need to do." Looking away for a second, she shrugged. "They haven't located Harry yet. I'm going to go look for him as soon as things are wrapped up here. I'd like to tell him what's happening before they pickup Firebolt."
"I've been sick about this for months. I wanted to tell you and Dad, but I couldn't."
Smiling sadly, Hermione put her arms around her godson. Giving him a hug, she reached up and ruffled his hair.
"I know cub. And this explains why you took off from us in Diagon like you did."
"I just couldn't stand there and watch Uncle Ron act as if everything was fine." A sheepish grin on his face, Teddy blushed.
"When I found myself contemplating the most painful variant of the Bat Bogey to use on him, I knew I had to get out of there. Once this is finished, maybe I can get Vic to stop giving me the cold shoulder over that. She's still upset with me for rushing off."
"Bring her by Peregrine House tonight after you get this wrapped up.
Ready to do this?"
Teddy closed his eyes for a second and morphed into the likeness of his godfather. Hermione's stomach fluttered as Harry's familiar voice asked.
"Think this will brighten up Uncle Ron's day?"
"I have a better idea. You can do a partial transformation can't you?"
Seeing his nod, Hermione smiled wickedly, "Just think about Molly's vocal chords. I can imagine hearing her voice asking him what he was doing at the top of her lungs might just give him a muggle heart attack and save the Ministry the cost of a trial."
Shaking his head, Teddy reversed the transformation and chuckled.
"That's just scary."
Walking back out into the room, as he finished morphing back into his usual form, Teddy nodded to his team.
"All right, you lot. It's showtime. Cavendish, you've got the point. Get yourself disillusioned and we'll jump this off."
A young witch nodded and faded from view. Seeing that the others were all watching him, he nodded to Hermione one last time before turning back to his squad.
"All right, everyone's got your coin set?" Looking around the room, Teddy waited for confirming nods from all before he smiled.
"I'll set the count. Cav you're on three, the rest of us are on five."
The team shuffled into an arc with Cavendish behind them. Looking to see everyone was in position, Teddy put up his hand.
"On my mark."
"One" Wands were drawn.
"Two" Half the team crouched in anticipation.
"Three" Cavendish disappeared without a sound.
"Four" Hermione whispered "Godspeed"
"Five" The count was almost drowned out by the thunderous cracks of five simultaneous apparitions.
"Six" Hermione said as she activated the coin she'd never returned and disappeared.
Staring at the empty spot on the floor where the Director of DMLE had been standing, Claire Wood, the young Unspeakable left monitoring the scrying bowl shook her head, having seen what was going to happen. Not through the Sight, but by the reputation of Hermione Granger.
She had been raised on stories of the 'Golden Trio', told to her by her father Oliver. Not the garbage that 'everyone knows' or the drivel that had been printed in The Daily Prophet, but stories of the things he had observed himself and been told by people he trusted who actually knew them. Members of his old Gryffindor quidditch squad had kept a careful eye on them and formed their own opinions about things. And it was from these tales that she knew that the only person who could have kept her from doing what she did would have been Harry Potter.
Chuckling, she drew her wand and called forth her patronus. Smiling at the eagle owl that was patiently there waiting for her to speak, she nodded. "Go find my boss. Tell her Dr. Gayle has gone rogue on us, again."
Spreading its massive wings, the patronus launched itself at the floo and disappeared. Smiling wryly, Claire turned back to her scrying bowl and waited for the show to start, wondering why she hadn't brought any popcorn with her.
