Author's Note: New chapter up! :) I'm sorry it took me a little bit to get this one shaped up, things have been chaos in real life. Anyway, enjoy! Leave some review after, pretty please :)

ABD

Someone snorted and quickly stifled a giggle.

The first set of giggles turned infectious and the laughter took over one person after another. All while Hermione tried to maintain a serious visage. The corners of her lips twitched upwards and her eyes gleamed, both tells giving away her amusement to everyone at the table who knew her so very well.

"I don't think I'd have pinned you for the dramatic type, kitten," Sirius grinned. With that the tension that had settled over the group dissipated. Each person slowly relaxed back into their chair and eventually the fit of giggles was calmed.

"In all seriousness, though" Hermione began, eyes narrowed at the dark haired marauder daring him to insert himself into the comment. "I want these people stopped. It's unlikely that I'm the only one they are targeting. The others might not have been given the warning that I was given. We cannot allow these people, who ever they are, to prey on us. Not again. Not sure ever. "

"I was actually approached yesterday," Luna said airily, as though such a thing was commonplace.

Hermione felt a hot flash of anger that was not entirely her own. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin, "What was your offer? Who approached you?"

"Oh you remember Zacharias Smith?" Luna asked, voice as casual as ever. "He seemed quite fascinated about the many creatures I've spoken about for so long. The Department of Mysteries is quite interested in their capabilities and why most witches and wizards are unable to see them."

"What was he offering?" Neville asked, frowning in concern.

"Oh the Department wanted to sponsor research into the beings and wanted me on the project. Like with Hermione, though, there was much more said than words spoken." Luna grinned cheekily, "I told him that the bumlingers advised me to wait until after the new moon to approach new ventures to have the highest rate of success. It's all nonsense of course. Everyone ought to know that bumlingers bring mischief not successful advice."

"Are you a bumlinger, Sirius?" Hermione asked with feint innocence.

"Only if you ask nicely, love" the wizard teased.

Hermione smirked before shifting her attention back to the little blonde witch, "What was the offer?"

"Similar to yours. Though Zacharias said he could attempt to get a preemptive copy of the contract. He didn't seem pleased with the idea however."

"Has anyone else been approached? Even maybe in a roundabout way?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know if it's related but I'm beginning to think that it might be," Neville shifted in his seat. At Hermione's expectant look he sighed, "About a month ago one of the researchers made some comments that seemed normal, and without the current context of these contract proposals, it probably would still seem pretty harmless. He said that a new program was about to gain funding that might help with healing my parents. He has spent the last decade or so digging into my parents' conditions and looking for some sort of cure so it didn't seem out of the ordinary for him to update me on that sort of information. But listening to you two...I'm not so sure."

"But who has the ability and the power to pull the strings to force Kingsley's hand?" Sirius ask, brows furrowed in frustration. "Who's trying to play puppeteer? The Department of Mysteries has power on itself but not outside the boundaries of the department. A researcher from Saint Mungo's, no matter how well known or how brilliant, wouldn't have that sort of power either. In fact he's likely to have even less than an unspeakable in the grand scheme of things."

"Perhaps we're not looking at this from the proper angle," Remus interjected thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked curiously, admittedly eager to hear the situation from the werewolf's perspective.

"Why would someone bother?" He asked bluntly. "What is the point behind it. If it were an attempt to discredit you, they're doing a piss poor job at it, aren't they? They'd have not allowed anyone to approach Luna or Neville were that the case. They would certainly not give the Longbottom's potentially false hope on a recovery for Frank and Alice. At very least not with the amount of money the Longbottoms have funneled in on the hospital's improvements."

"So they're not trying to discredit me," she tilted her head in thought. "Which makes sense, I suppose. They've never been the least bit subtle in those attempts previously. But it wouldn't make any sort of sense to drag Neville into it. Not to mention there's little point in effectively silencing me in attempts to discredit."

"Exactly," Remus confirmed. "I don't believe that's our angle. This whole thing smells like it stems from fear, if I'm honest."

"Fear?" Sirius repeated archly. "Someone's afraid of her mental skills?"

Remus cocked his head to the side and considered the idea briefly before shrugging, "It is a possibility, of course. It's human nature, after all, to fear what we cannot understand. A muggleborn capable of mental strength that even our wisest in the Wizarding world struggle to maintain is a feat that would concern many. The same is true with Luna's creatures. Despite her experiences in life as well as in the war, her mind has come through intact. It is plausible that her creatures are responsible for that. Now, my theory is that we're not necessarily looking for an individual or group that covets that wholeness for themselves but, likely, for someone they are close to who's mind was damaged in the war."

"So who do we know who's had family mentally incapacitated, who would go to the lengths of what's essentially legal kidnapping, and also has the ability to put this into action," Harry asked, tabbing off fingers as each of the criteria were listed.

"Who has access to all three avenues, as well," Tonks added thoughtfully.

"It's likely someone from an old family then," Sirius said thoughtfully. "Despite the war there aren't many half or muggleborn's that have accumulated that sort of power yet. Let alone the financial assets to keep the pawns from turning back against them."

"Most of the old families are dead or in Azkaban though," Hermione argued. "Unless you're trying to kidnap me?"

Sirius grinned, "You wish, love. But not all are. Just most. What about Lucius Malfoy?"

"He's lost a lot of clout over the last several years, though, hasn't he?" Remus countered.

"He has," Sirius confirmed. "But the name and money is old. Loss of popularity doesn't aways lead to diminished power. He's a right bastard but family's everything. Did something happen to Draco or Narcissa?"

"No one's heard or seen from Narcissa Malfoy since she was released after her trial," Harry interjected. "Draco is supposedly in the beginning stages of Healer training with Saint Mungo's. Doing well, by all reports."

"Could Narcissa be our supposedly damaged person, then?" Hermione asked.

"It is possible and I believe it is something to look into, if we can manage it discretely however I feel it would be unwise for us to focus solely on one possibility," Remus hedged. "It...there's too much at risk."

"Speaking of risk," Harry interjected. "Hermione, Luna, you're going into hiding as of tonight."

"Why am I going into hiding?" Luna blinked.

"You and Hermione have both been approached by someone associated with all of this and nothing good is likely to come of it. At least until thing's settle, you're in hiding so we can figure this out without you disappearing on us."

Hermione wrinkled her nose in discontent.

It would be wise, for the moment. It would give us time to put together an actual plan as to how we're going to end this.

She sighed to herself but didn't argue. She didn't agree either, however.

"Until this is figured out we need to create a new set of the DA coins," Harry stated firmly, unofficially taking up the role of acting leader. "We need to have secure and reliable communication. Can you accomplish that tonight before everyone goes, Hermione?"

"Of course," she nodded in confirmation.

"Great," he smiled warmly. "Now, I think Grimmauld Place is the most practical location for you two to stick out until this eases up. All of the wards make it unplottable. We can recast a Fidelius if it comes apparent that we need it."

"I don't intend on hiding long enough for that to be necessary, Harry," Hermione said crisply. "I'm not going to sit and twiddle my thumbs why you lot figure this mess out. I'm involved in the problem and I will be involved in the solution."

"Of course you will," Remus confirmed. "We'll return to having regular orders at the kitchen table of Grimmauld. Are we going to involve the Weasley's?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. "In time, yes. But not at the moment. They're still attempting to heal from losing Fred. I worry this would bring up things that might still be too fresh."

The table fell into silence and considered the conversations of the evening. Hermione shook her head and stood from the table, fetching more drink for the table's occupants.

"Do you still have that clever little bag of yours, Hermione?" Sirius asked.

"Of course," she snorted, as if she'd ever allow herself to be without that lifesaving accessory.

"Great, double the expansion on it," the wizard stated.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because your entire flat is going to have to fit into it at least long enough to move it all out of here," He replied. "Anything you leave here will wind up destroyed."

She wrinkled her nose in distaste again but at once everyone rose and began to slowly pack away all of her possessions. Within an hour, every last piece of her life was contained in her tiny beaded bag.

Eight years in the Wizarding World and it was still slightly surreal at times.

"Come on, Kitten," Sirius said, hand gently on her shoulder. "We'll get you set up while the rest accompany Luna to clear out her's as well."

"Hold on," she said and ushered everyone else, save Sirius, through the Floo. Once everyone was gone she turned around and flicked her wand in a series of intricate motions. She flashed Sirius an impish grin and, without another word, Floo'd out of the flat and into Grimmauld Place.

It was hours later before she finally got the animagus to stop pestering her about it. She'd only left a friendly 'Hello' for anyone who came calling, after all. He didn't believe her.

Harry and Luna didn't either.

The next morning, Hermione penned a brief letter to Kingsley. It briefly assured him of her safety by way of a letter turning down a job offer in order to take some time to travel the world. It was both detailed and vague enough to be utterly harmless while sending someone who was looking for her to Cairo, Rome, Copenhagen and Washington DC, among others, if they were set on searching for her. She had, of course, suggested that the major libraries of the world were on her list of Wonders to see on her trip.

A trip she would truly take one day. Just not that particular day. Maybe whenever she finally chose to retire.

Or visit one each time we fell that we need a break. Marax suggested. She liked that suggestion much better than her own.

She had been up for an hour and on her third cup of tea when Luna sleepily wandered into the kitchen, still wearing her sheep printed pajamas.

"Morning, 'Mione," the blonde murmured. She sunk into a seat next to Hermione and took a deep drink of the fresh cup of tea that Hermione had just fixed herself. Luna just smiled serenely in the face of the other witch's scowl. Completely unaffected.

"What's the plan for today?" Luna asked, slowly settling into the land of awakening.

Hermione's response was interrupted by an elegant looking owl tapping at the kitchen window. "I would like to plan more. Hopefully, with any luck, that's Kingsley and some sort of interesting information."

Ms. Hermione Granger

The Wizengamot requires your presence at the Ministry of Magic, courtroom five tomorrow at 8:00 for a personnel review regarding your failure to appear at your formally assigned contact signing. Failure to appear for your designated review will result in a warrant for your arrest being issued by the Wizengamot with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Office.

Legal representation will be provided for you, if needed.

Regards,

Matilda Hitchcock

Wizengamot Secretary

"Well, it's definitely not Kingsley," Hermione stared blankly at the formally written letter. Luna plucked the parchment from her hands and read the contents.

"It's a good thing we aren't as naive as they think we are" Luna frowned. The two witches settled back into their respective seats. There was silence for a time, interrupted only by a second and third owl flying through the window and perching in front of Hermione.

The first was the Daily Prophet. That was the easiest to handle. Relieving the little owl of its burden, she paid her due and shooed it back out of the window. Reluctantly, she turned her attention to the final owl. With a weary glance toward Luna, she carefully untied the letter, noting absently that the owl was clearly instructed to wait for a reply. She unfolded the parchment and hazel eyes examined the letters' contents.

Hermione,

I hope your travels are safe. It has been suggested that you return sooner than you had originally planned. Perhaps take up the job offer that we had previously discussed. The job will wait for you. I would appreciate a few moments time in Order to speak with you about some unfortunately grim information that has been brought to my attention. It can wait until you've returned safely. Perhaps over dinner? I'll see you then.

Yours,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Hermione snorted a laugh and shook her head at the obviousness of it all. At Luna's questioning glance, she shrugged and handed the letter over to her friend, "Apparently Kingsley is coming for dinner tonight. He has news."

"How much does he know already?"

"Hmm, probably not much, honestly. Yesterday during lunch he'd indicated that he was already bound by the contents of that contract or one similar. My letter this morning was as misleading and vague as his is." Hermione replied thoughtfully. With a shrug, she opened the Prophet and scanned the front page. After a second and third take she gave a disbelieving laugh. "Well, I know why he's coming for dinner tonight."

Golden Girl Missing and Wanted for Questioning

Former Associations Investigated in Connection With the Disappearance