A/N: Thanks you so much to everyone who thought my story was tempting enough to follow, favourite and review.
Be warned! We are entering the real plot now and it's going to be hell lot of a fun.
Disclaimer: The copyright to Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling. Any other characters are purely work of fiction and any resemblance is co-incidental.
Chapter 4: Of Old Scars and New Missions
"Oh Jean! What are you doing here?" A voice cried and Hermione Granger looked up at it's direction. She was deeply immersed in an old book about Poisoning Curses and had hardly noticed that someone has already entered her dungeon office. Looking up, it took her some time to focus her vision at the friendly smiling face of a blond and blue-eyed witch.
"Claudia! When did you come?" She asked, surprised. Claudia Beauchene was one of the Junior Curse Breakers at Gringotts and worked under Hermione as an intern. She was fresh out of Beauxbatons and like Hermione was determined to prove herself in the testosterone rich profession.
"You look awful, Jean." Claudia said noticing Hermione. "Are you alright?" She asked instead.
Hermione cringed at her question. Of course she was not alright. How could she be? But certainly she was not going to admit it to Claudia, who surely would make a horrible fuss about it among her colleagues.
"I am fine, Claudia, thank you." Hermione replied firmly.
Claudia shook her head in irritation. "No, you are not fine, Jean." she responded firmly too. She grabbed Hermione's arm, who gasped, and pulled her out of her chair then lead her to her bathroom mirror. "Look at you, Jean. Is this what you call alright?" Claudia pointed at her image in the mirror. "Eyes sunken and red, face puffy and pale, messy hair – Is that what you call fine?" she demanded.
Hermione did not know what to answer. The truth was evident in her feature - she was not alright, in fact far from it. But admitting it to Claudia meant having to answer another twenty questions about the reason behind it. So she chose a safe path.
"I am just tired, Claudia dear, don't worry about me. Actually I think I need a vacation badly." she said looking at her. In reality Hermione had been giving the idea a good thought lately. Adrian was also insisting the same.
"Excellent idea!" Claudia exclaimed, her worry forgotten, "Where do you plan to go?" She inquired her.
Hermione made her way back to her table with Claudia on tow, "I still have no idea." she admitted.
"How about Belgium?" Claudia offered. She was positively beaming now but Hermione cut her thought.
"Claudia, dear, no more gossiping during work hour." She said her sternly and Claudia pouted her lips.
"Okay" she shrugged, "Do you want to go to Lunch or not?" She asked.
It was only then that Hermione realized why Claudia had come. The two ladies preferred to take their lunch in the Staff Room where cooked food was served for humans while goblins took their raw lunch in their dungeon dining hall. She shook her head.
"I am sorry Claudia, but I have no time for lunch." Hermione replied. "I must finish this vault before Saturday and there still is plenty to do. I must go now." She left her seat clutching the book about Poisoning Curse.
Claudia grimaced, "That's not fair, Jean. You know I don't like eating alone." She complained as she followed Hermione.
Hermione reached her door and opened it, "I promise to make it up, Claudia." She consoled her. "Au revoir." she said and left her office, locking it firmly.
"Au revoir" Claudia said, waving her hand and looking sullen.
In truth Hermione was hungry and wanted to have her lunch badly. But going in that particular Vault on full stomach would make her sick. Instead she called a service Goblin and asked him to take her to the vault she was working on currently.
•••••
Five days ago:
Hermione was examining a curious looking casket in her laboratory and contemplating how to make up with her son who seemed particularly cross that morning when she received a note from her boss requesting her presence at his office at eleven o clock. Making a mental note to take Adrian out for dinner that night she had left her office and after a short walk through carefully concealed passages, reached her boss's office.
She had knocked before entering and found her boss with another unknown and pompous looking Goblin.
"Bonjour, Geccemp." she addressed her boss.
"Bonjour, Curse Breaker Jean." her boss, an elderly but cheery looking goblin by the name of Geccemp, replied brightly and motioned her to sit.
"Is there any way I can help you?: She asked him as she settled down.
"Yes, Mademoiselle Jean." he replied in accented English and Hermione was surprised, "I would like you to meet Goblin Gobtok from Gringotts Britain." he motioned her at the pompous Goblin, "Gobtok, please meet, Chief Curse Breaker Jean. She is the best in the field." he motioned the Goblin at Hermione.
Hermione gave a small smile and a tiny nod of acknowledgement. Gobtok on the other hand gave her a curious look. "A woman Curse Breaker." he asked, positively shocked.
Had this encounter been four years ago, when Hermione had just started her job at Gringotts, she would have frowned at such sexist comment. But now-a-days Hermione enjoyed the look of surprise on her client's face when they found out that a woman Curse Breaker was doing better job than their male counterparts.
Geccemp chose to completely ignore Gobtok's comment. "Now, Jean. Gobtok was sent by Gringotts Britain to us with an important job. One of their very old and respected clients is reopening their family vault in Gringotts France after almost eighty years and he has brought us their key." Geccemp announced proudly. "I would like you to handle the matters of curse breaking of that particular vault personally." he said her.
Hermione was pleased and felt grateful to her boss. She had found that Geccemp, unlike other members of Goblin community, was friendly towards Humans and never missed an opportunity to complement their good works as his Curse Breakers.
"It will be my honour, Sir, Geccemp." she replied smiling. She never addressed any other Goblin as 'Sir', a title she preferred to reserve only for those she truly respected and Geccemp definitely was one of the very few on her list.
"See, Gobtok. There is nothing to worry about." Geccemp said to Gobtok cheerfully, "Leave the keys and rest assured that they have been laid in the most capable of hands."
If Gobtok was indeed assured he showed no outward signs. He simply reached inside his rich robes and took out an elegant looking box which he placed on the table before Hermione.
Hermione eyed the box cautiously not touching it. It was a rectangular silver box about the size of a small book with an ornate 'M' engraved upon lid encrusted with small emeralds.
"What is the name of the family, may I ask?" Hermione enquired slightly frowning at the box.
Gobtok cleared his throat, "They are one of the very old and prestigious Pureblood Wizarding families in Britain." his voice was deep and cold, "They are called the Malfoys." he replied in a proud voice.
Hermione froze on her seat. "The Malfoys?" she repeated slowly not believing her ears.
Gobtok chuckled, "Yes, Curse Breaker Jean, the Malfoys." Gobtok affirmed. "I hope your legendary skills will meet enough challenges when you explore their reopened vault." he raised an ugly eyebrow.
Hermione did not know which one to respond: the news that the Malfoys are reopening their vaults in France or the carefully honeyed tone of Gobtok challenging her skills. She considered the problem at hand and looked up at Gobtok, her chin lifted defiantly.
"I never boast about my abilities, Goblin Gobtok." she said eyeing him carefully, "But I find it highly amusing when someone with so little knowledge about me, such as yourself, makes a fool of himself by commenting on my work before actually seeing it." she replied with an air of confidence.
Gobtok took her blow silently and pursed his lips. "Very well." he said after a moment and stood up to leave. "Chief Goblin Geccemp." he bowed at Geccemp, "Curse Breaker Jean." he looked at Hermione, "I ask your permission to leave. My job here is done." he said with an air of self importance.
Hermione nodded coolly and watched as Geccemp accompanied Gobtok to his office door and when the latter left, closed it with a snap.
"Never mind hiz words, Jean. He's a bit snobbish." he said as he settled down again behind his desk.
"Not at all, sir." Hermione said though not very honestly. In reality Gobtok has wounded her pride and she wanted nothing more than to prove him wrong. She shifted in her seat and faced her boss confidently.
"Sir, I have always considered you above the ordinary goblins and their prejudices with us" Hermione said honestly, "I respect you and therefore would like to ask a favour."
Geccemp's cheerful features softened considerably. "I am pleased and honoured to hear that Jean. Ask away, dear, ask away." he said as his beady eyes gleamed at her.
Hermione took a deep breath, "Sir, I will work on the Malfoy vault only under one condition: you will not disclose my name, identity or any other information regarding me to them. I don't wish them to know that I work here." she said determinedly.
Geccemp's features immediately hardened, "Do you know the Malfoys?" he asked, worried and surprised simultaneously.
Hermione closed her eyes and opened them, remaining silent. That simple gesture was enough for Geccemp to understand what her answer might be. He eyed Hermione's tense form gravely for a moment and said, "Very well Jean, they vill know nothing about you, I give you my word. But can I ask the reason behind such secrecy?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, sir. I am afraid I can't tell you that. Just be content with the knowledge that we had a past encounter with disastrous outcome and therefore I wish no more." she replied her eyes now fixed at the box before her. "Sorry sir but I have a cursed casket in my laboratory that needs immediate attention. Can I be excused?" she stood up from her seat.
Geccemp nodded, "Yes, Of course." he replied, "But Jean, before you leave I should inform you that the Malfoys are expected to visit their vault on next Saturday which gives you roughly a week. You should get started on that vault as soon as possible." he advised her.
Hermione nodded, "Yes sir. I'll start working on it from tomorrow morning. And… also I think it'll be better if you, yourself keep the keys to their vault since I don't wish to touch them unless it's absolutely necessary." She motioned him to the silver ornate box. "Good day, sir." she turned to leave.
She reached the door when she heard Geccemp calling her, "Jean?"
Hermione turned and saw her boss giving her a curious look, "Yes, sir?" she asked.
"Thank you." he said simply, "Thank you for saving my face in front of Gobtok. I'll keep that in mind." Geccemp gave her a genuine smile.
Hermione gave a small smile and left the office.