Chapter Six: The Plea

"Alright, everybody, I hope this meal was to your liking," Phoebe smiled as she got up from her seat and looked at the members of her Team, who had just finished having lunch, "even though it was House-Elf made," she added, casting a fleeting glance at Hermione.

The food had been truly marvellous and thoroughly enjoyable, even though most of the Team members were feeling quite anxious. Tonks and Phoebe were about to give them the information on the mission. Until that moment, they had no idea of what they were up against. No clue at all.

"Well, I am fully aware of your fruitless attempts to find out what this is all about," Phoebe started. "Miss Meadows here has been going through every single one of my papers for the past two weeks, and Mr. Circe has tried to use Legilimency on Nymphadora and me," she allowed herself to chuckle, the whole thing obviously humoured her a great deal. "I'm glad to see you're eager to put your hands to the task, but I'd appreciate it if you used less childish methods to steal information next time," she grinned.

Viridiana looked at Harry with a sheepish smile and shrugged, "I could not find out a single thing about the mission, you know, but she's been secretly meeting with Percy Weasley for ages," she whispered discreetly in his ear. Harry chuckled, feeling as if he were back at Hogwarts. His heart gave a delightful soar as his mind replayed memories of his school years.

Hermione cleared her throat as she glowered at Viridiana. They were on a mission of vital importance, and her behaviour was that of a thirteen-year-old. It was pitiable.

"Well, it is time for all of you to know what it is you're going to fight," Tonks took over. "However, there are certain things we don't know that we need to find out. That's one of the reasons why we're here," she heaved a sigh, and then looked at Phoebe, as if asking her to continue, but Phoebe just smiled reassuringly at her and said nothing. Tonks inhaled deeply, and continued talking in a steadier voice, "A number of Bulgaria's most gifted witches and wizards are known for having been conspiring against the local Ministry of Magic for about a year now. The problem is, these people are well connected, and have a large amount of spies inside the Ministry. They're not working openly, and they don't actually use dark magic, even though their goal is almost the same as that of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named: to rid the wizarding world of Muggle-borns, in the long run, of course."

Hermione raised her hand, and Phoebe nodded, "Yes, Miss Granger?"

"If they're not employing dark magic, what is it they're doing? Is it a simple plot? Why have Aurors been called then?"

"The fact that they're not using dark magic doesn't necessarily mean they won't. And they're not just 'plotting', it is a highly dangerous situation, because of what they've… created—"

" 'Created' ?" Hermione furrowed her brow. "What do you mean by that?"

"That's where we were heading," Phoebe replied in quite a rude manner. "I assume you have heard about Half-Breeds? Well, these people are creating new species."

Hermione and Viridiana gasped, and Harry and Ron couldn't help feeling surprised. "Half-Breeds?" Hermione asked in a high-pitched voice. "They are illegal"

"Yes, by the Ban on Experimental Breeding. But that's not the main problem, though," Tonks answered. "The real issue is that they are extremely dangerous and almost invincible."

"What kind of Half-Breeds are we talking about?" Harry asked.

"We still don't know," Phoebe answered, "but we are working on it."

"You are working on it?" Ron frowned.

"Yes," Tonks nodded. "We are. Along with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Then why are we here if you still don't know what we have to do?"

"Oh, but we do know," Phoebe smiled. "What you have to do is gather as much information as you can on these wizards and witches and their Half-Breeds. You have no idea how dangerous these creatures are."

"We reckon they still haven't managed to gather a big army, but they are really working on it," Tonks continued. "It is vital for us to collect the necessary amount of information to find them and stop them as soon as possible. We will be working with people from the local Ministry. They should be arriving in a few hours."

"So… that's all there is to it? That's all you know?" Viridiana asked, half annoyed, half exasperated.

Phoebe put her cold eyes on her, "No offence Miss Meadows, but you're starting to get on my nerves with that little attitude problem of yours," she smiled. "That's your job, that's why you're here, Nymphadora and I, along with the other Team Leaders, are making investigations as well," Phoebe stated with a nod. "So, you'll be working with the Bulgarian, and we will be working on our… thing."

"Thing? What thing?" Viridiana asked, not being able to restrain herself.

"Ask us no questions, and we'll tell you no lies," Phoebe grinned. "Sorry, that's not to be concerning you for a while. We'll let you know in due curse."

Viridiana nodded, knowing that it was best not to argue if she wanted to remain on the Team. But something inside of her told her this was worth investigating as well, and she was ready to bet her right arm that whatever the Team Leaders were up to, had something to do with that locked door, that door they should, by no means, trespass.

The Bulgarian Ministry employees arrived the next day, and the Team started working immediately. Their job consisted mainly in tailing the suspects, trying to get all the information they could from them. It was very difficult, because even though their true identities were undercover, they had to gain their trust.

"When I became an Auror, I thought I'd be fighting dark wizards 24-7," Ron huffed, vanishing his dark, walrus-like moustache and long dreadlocks with a wave of his wand as he sat down heavily on his bed. "I've had it, mate, I hate Bulgaria and all those bloody dark wizard wannabes."

Harry opened his mouth to answer him, but… 'crack', someone Apparated beside him, making him jump in surprise.

"Sorry about that," Viridiana smiled apologetically. Then she turned to Ron, "Your brother's here," she said anxiously.

"What?" Ron furrowed his brow.

"Yes, Charlie is here. He arrived with a couple of wizards a moment ago…" she told him.

"Really? What is he doing here?" Ron turned to Harry.

Harry just shrugged, "No idea, really… ask him."

"And you know what?" Viridiana asked eagerly. "He went through the Forbidden Door with Tonks and Phoebe."

"Oh… okay," Ron said, giving Harry a little puzzled glance.

"You don't get it, do you?"

"Mmmno, what should I be getting?"

"He's been called to investigate, along with the Team Leaders, whatever it is behind that door!" she exclaimed, a little exasperated.

"Charlie works with dragons," Harry said. "Do you think that these Half-Breeds that have been created are part dragon or something like that?"

"It is possible," Viridiana nodded, "but that's not what concerns me, really…" she looked from Harry to Ron, and then back to Harry. "I think that what's behind that door is what we really should be concerned about."

Downstairs, Hermione was reading a book on Half-Breeds she had borrowed from one of the Bulgarian workers. When Charlie Weasley arrived, she saw him talking in a hushed voice with Phoebe and Tonks. She tried not to look too obvious as she glanced at them and for once, she wished she had Extendable Ears with her.

When they walked upstairs, she had a fight with herself over whether she should follow them or not. After a while had passed, she decided to go upstairs and see if she could gather some information useful to her research.

As she walked along the first floor corridor, she noticed the men's bedroom door was open and could hear the last bit of the conversation between Viridiana, Ron and Harry. She couldn't help feeling furious. Hermione totally agreed with Phoebe about her attitude and it was getting on her nerves as well. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door a bit further and entered the room.

Ron, Harry and Viridiana instantly looked at her, all three of them obviously surprised by her interruption, and a little flustered in Viridiana's case.

"Sorry to interrupt," Hermione said quite pointedly.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" Viridiana asked, lifting her eyebrow.

Hermione looked at her and nodded. "I couldn't help listening to your conversation as I was walking along the corridor. I really think you should stop being so concerned about that room and get to what's our part of the job. That is, gathering all the information we can."

Hermione knew she sounded too bossy and that she was being meaner than she intended, but there was nothing she could do about it. That woman was able to bring the worst out of her and she had no will to fight it.

"Excuse me?" Viridiana crossed her arms and glared at her. "You have been listening to a private conversation and you have the nerve to come here and boss us around?"

"You act as if this were some kind of game," Hermione said, matter-of-factly, "there are lives at stake, and with your lack of… interest in your task, you're risking the mission."

"I haven't heard Phoebe or Tonks complaining about the way I do my job, and I don't see why you should… do you trust their judgement, then?"

"Of course I do, that's why I can't agree more with Phoebe about your attitude. Really, going through her private papers, chatting in the middle of the meetings…that's not very professional if you ask me."

"Well, I don't really care much about what you think of me. I want to know what's behind that door, and I'm going to find out, whether you like it or not," Viridiana stated.

Harry and Ron looked at each other, completely thunderstruck. 'How can this be happening?' both of them thought and they wondered if they should say something. Harry looked at his friend, trying to encourage him to stop the fight, but Ron just gaped and shook his head, unable to utter a word. Harry looked at Hermione, who had crossed her arms as well, ready to reply.

"It doesn't matter whether I like it or not," Hermione stated. "I am sure the Team Leaders will not like it and I really hope you like paperwork, because that's what you will be doing if you stick your nose where you shouldn't."

Viridiana nodded at Hermione's words. "Okay, thank you for your concern, really. It is much appreciated," she rolled her eyes. "Anything else you wish to say?"

"Yes," Hermione snapped. "I would like to talk to my friends in private, if you don't mind."

"Alright," Viridiana said, and after glancing apologetically at Ron and Harry, she left the room. She didn't want to argue with anybody: much less with Hermione Granger.

Harry sighed and looked at Hermione. "What was that about, Hermione?"

"That?" she asked, faking innocence. "What do you mean?"

"Please, you know what I mean," Harry said gently. "We were just talking, she was not plotting anything, really."

"I just want to make sure you won't allow that... person to fill your heads with dangerous ideas, that's all," she replied, relaxing her arms as she did so.

"Dangerous ideas?" Harry squinted. "Now, Hermione, it was nothing… she was just wondering what could be behind that door, and come to think of it, I'd like to know as well…" he said hesitatingly.

"I bet Charlie would tell me if I asked him," said Ron with a little smile. Viridiana's words had awoken hungry curiosity inside of him.

"Of course he won't," Hermione replied, thinking that what Ron had just said was highly far-fetched.

"Why are you so sure about it?" Ron furrowed his brow and glared at her. "You think he wouldn't bother to tell me? Or, that he would think it useless that I knew?"

"Hold your hippogriffs, Ronald," she replied. "He won't tell you because he's not allowed to."

Ron was biting his tongue. He really didn't want to fight with her. It was as if a sharp object was nailed in his heart every time she retorted angrily at him. "Yeh, you're right," he muttered.

"I agree with Di, y'know? I think they shouldn't conceal information from us," Harry said contemplatively. After all, he had killed the most evil and powerful dark wizard of all time. Did they think he'd not be able to cope with a few magical creatures?

Hermione sighed and looked really worried and like old Hermione to them for the first time since they had met again. She sat between them on Ron's bed and put a hand on Harry's shoulder first and then on Ron's. It took a lot of courage to do this last thing, but she just had to.

"Please," she started, "for the friendship we three once had, don't go around doing dangerous things; stick to the rules just for once. I know you are totally qualified Ministry Aurors and that you have been through a lot more than anyone else on this mission, but please, please, don't do anything stupid. This is not a game; this is not about a bunch of silly creatures and crazy harmless wizards and witches either. I want both of you to promise me you won't do anything unauthorized and that would risk your safety."

Ron and Harry exchanged looks. It was really touching to see Hermione being her old self again. Ron was the first to speak, "Alright, Hermione, you can count on that," he said in a sort of diminished voice.

Hermione smiled thankfully at Ron and for a moment felt the strong urge to crush him in a rib-cracking hug. "I'm glad to see one of you coming to his senses," she said, squeezing his shoulder softly.

Then she turned to Harry, "And what about you, Harry? Do I have your word?"

Harry nodded, and Hermione grinned this time. He just smiled weakly back at her, thanking God that she was not able to perform Legilimency at all.

A/N: Hope you liked this one! Thanks again to everybody who reviewed!