Ch. 9 – Speak now or Forever

A/N: My thanks to all of the reviewers, the followers, and the favorites. It's most appreciated. Also, still not Jo, or has her own Hagrid sized party hut. - DG

"Wait," he begged, "we need to talk."

"It's about the case, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is." Ron stepped into their small kitchen and sat down at the two seat table. "Look, I know this whole thing is fucked up, but I'm trying every sodding thing I can, by the book, so you won't take my bollocks once this case is finished." Ron ran his hands through his hair while fumbling the words that wouldn't cooperate. "And I know you value elves, and it's illegal for what we've done, but it's Mum, alright? You're asking me to choose and, legal or illegal, it's no bloody choice, Hermione. I'm trying to do everything I can to keep you from leaving me, all because some asshole with a vendetta has it in for Dad."

Hermione stepped away from the stove and pulled her chair from the table so she could sit down in front of her husband. His hands were so large in comparison, and they held so much responsibility and difficult burdens for such a young age. She took them in her own anyway. While was in his work robes, she was still dressed in her sleep togs – an old Weasley jumper along with fleece sleep trousers.

"I'm not trying to be a harpy about this case. But I fought like hell to get that law passed and then this happens and the other Aurors have no problem with your suggestion of using an Elf to do their job, even if meant risking his life and not theirs." She squeezed his hands to get him to listen.

"But you're choosing an elf, a free elf at that, over Mum's life. How is that right?"

"It's not, but there's more at stake here than Mum's life."

"What's more important that Mum's life, one stodgy elf who can barely lift a tea cup?"

"Yes, if you think about it differently."

"You're full of shite, Hermione!" Ron roared in anger and threw the plate of toast against the wall. "Mum's life is worth mine ten times over and a hundred elves. How can you say such rubbish?"

"You'd have been a better Death Eater, Ron, with that kind of attitude."

"Oh that's fucking low, even from you." Venom dripped from his lips. "You've gone mad." Ron pushed his chair further back, trying to distance himself from her.

"Have I? Think about it. Death Eaters had no qualms violating the law, or writing new ones, to suit their whims. They had no problems breaking previously written and passed law, to get what they wanted, or to gain power over others. They used the law like a bludgeon to force the populace to cower in abject fear. They used fiat regulations, not approved by the Wizengamot, to control the Purebloods who didn't comply with their agenda.

"Look at Umbridge. She wrote new laws almost immediately following the death of Scrimgeour. Some, she'd written before his demise, which is how the Wizengamot knew she was part of the conspiracy! She embraced the laws that she wrote to get Muggles and those with undocumented heritage arrested, charged, and incarcerated, all because they weren't confirmed. She directed the registration commission with moral justification that sent innocent people to Azkaban, just because they weren't certified Purebloods! She made that regulation immediately legal! She celebrated when Muggles perished in there, without following the laws of the land much less impartial justice. How's that any different from other genocides?"

"You're still full of shite."

"Am I? When is the need so great, so demanding, that breaking a law is morally correct? When a law is written, when is it necessary to break it? What makes breaking a law justified?"

"When it's my bloody Mother's life is at stake, alright?" Ron yelled.

"And what about other mothers, huh? What about Fathers? Shouldn't they be protected too? Children? Children of Death Eaters? The Pansy Parkinsons of the world? Shouldn't they have protection under the law as well? What about those who haven't been convicted of a crime, yet are ostracized from society for something they can't control? What about those who were born different? Shouldn't they have protection under the Law as well? Werewolves and squibs are viewed as second class citizens under Wizarding law. What about them?" Hermione yelled back. "This isn't the old regime, where you could break the law at a whim for any reason at all!"

"I'm not talking about them. We're talking about my bloody Mother and her life at stake."

Hermione moved her chair closer, getting her face in line with his. "I know, but if you break the law for one person, then the next time you feel justified, it'll happen and there will not be someone to fight against you. How easy would it be, in a couple of years, to realize how corrupted you are, when it started for the most noble of reasons?"

"It won't get that way." Ron stood resolute against his wife's interrogations.

"You say that now, promising that while your integrity still holds intact. How much will the job change you, in a year, or even three? Would you relent and look the other way when another Auror blackmails you for breaking the law on this case, or begs you to ignore the situation when it's his brother who is under indictment? How will you stand up to scrutiny in the department when everyone else knows you bend the law when it's necessary, or convenient, or even potentially prudent? How many criminals will go free because you broke procedures, bent laws for your benefit? How many will stay free because you can be coerced into doing their bidding?"

"That won't happen."

"But it's already starting, isn't it, when the best reason occurs. Getting Mum back is a noble reason, but you had to break a law to do it."

"Kreacher's a free elf, damn it! I didn't force him to do it."

"But he's still an elf and under the law, unable to consent."

"And you're treating him like he's still a bloody house elf, Hermione. He's a free fucking elf, and can make his own choices. He chose to help us, willingly, and that's not fucking illegal."

"That's for the Wizengamot to decide, not you or Director Robards. He's an elf and a civilian, not an Auror, and it's illegal for him to help on the case. You endangered him."

"And you'd rather I die in tainted wards than use what means we could to rescue Mum!" Ron knocked over his chair and stalked into the living room. "Then they should have been fucking present so they could decide, not us. Quit making me out like the criminal here, Hermione. I'm fighting like hell to get Mum back from a kidnapper and murderer, yet you're squeezing my bollocks worse than anyone else."

"I don't care about anyone else, except you, Ron Weasley. I married you and I want you to do everything by the book. I want Mum back too, but not at the risk of him being freed by the court because the Aurors screwed up the case by taking short cuts."

"I don't give a shite about him, just getting Mum back." Ron ran his hands through his unkempt hair. "I've been hunting this bastard for years. If he's released, I'll go right back after him."

"So you're planning on killing him." She stated clearly.

"I'm not planning on it but if it happens, in self-defense, so be it."

"Then you shouldn't be an Auror, if you can't follow the laws that the Wizengamot have passed. It's as simple as that."

"This whole fucking case isn't simple."

"I never said it was," Hermione stepped away, back towards the hallway to their bedroom and shower. "Kingsley's right. Bad cases make worse case law and even more constraining laws following it. But you have to decide whether following all the law is important, or if one person's life is more important."

"It's Mum, damn it. There is no choice."

"I know, but I'm just saying there will be consequences if you break the law willingly." Hermione turned to go to the shower. "Even the kidnapper thinks they are justified in their actions."

"I'm nothing like that fucker, Hermione."

"Aren't you? You're breaking the law for the most noble of purposes. You've wanted to kill because someone dropped a wall on Fred. You killed a werewolf who was trying to kill you. So what makes his choices wrong and yours right?"

"And didn't you try to kill Bellatrix?"

"Of course I did. That was in the heat of battle."

"So quit being a sodding hypocrite. I'm not letting Mum die, not when I will do anything I can to get her out of there alive."

"So own up to it. Admit you are breaking a law you don't agree with, and pay the price for it."

"I already am, aren't I? You're twisting my bits over this sodding law you got passed when it's a fucking free elf helping us. I'm already dealing with shite in the department and now I have to deal with you crucifying me too. You'd rather I die in tainted blood wards than break the law." Ron sat down on the chair and thrust his head into his hands. "You'd have me on a fucking slab like my uncles, along with Mum, Dad, and George too, than break the precious law you had passed.

"Your work isn't more important than the entire family who loves you dearly."

"That's not true and you know it. Everyone is rushing decisions and judgement without taking time for due diligence on this case. Merlin, Ron, you've lost focus because the case is personal, because it involves family. I don't want you dead but you're making terrible decisions because it's Mum.

"They should have pulled you and Harry from the case since you're personally involved."

Ron looked up from his hands and saw the worry on Hermione's face. "And where can we pull Aurors from their cases to work this one, huh? We're still half staffed, three years after the damn war. Between mandatory standards, set by the Wizengamot, attrition from injuries and death, and retirements, how the hell can we have enough people to shift the entire department to keep us off this case, huh? It's not like we can hire another 10 bureaucrats to do our job. We're Aurors, not secretaries!"

"They could have – "

"No. You're trying to manage the whole situation and it's out of control. You'd spend the entire time searching a damn book when the solutions aren't in there. You're barmy because your precious quest for knowledge is coming up empty! You'd kill half the department trying out your theories when we went the safest route, as illegal as it was, and got results. You're upset because your precious law was broken by a free elf that made a choice you didn't appreciate, and it got results."

"Am I, or am I trying to have the department do things by the book, all legal, so this man is kept in Azkaban forever instead of getting released." She shrugged her shoulders once, in resignation. "They might blame you for this, if it goes sideways. You know that they will protect themselves over protecting you."

"Sod'em if they do. Mum's worth the price. I'll pay it if I have to."

"And to me?"

Ron stood up from the couch and stepped up to Hermione. "I'm already paying it, aren't I? You know there's no choice there either. You're my wife but she's Mum. Don't make me choose between you and Mum again." He gave her one very intense look. "I chose you but she's my Mum."

"I know. But I wanted to make sure you know that, in your head and heart, before everything goes to hell."

Ron stepped into Hermione's personal space, backing her into the wall of their flat. "I know it's going to go to hell. My life is forfeit if Mum dies. But I'll be arsed if I don't try to do something about it. I'm not losing 4 more people in my family because the law constrains me when a criminal has free reign."

"You're not losing me." Hermione put her hands on his chest. "But I will stand up for what's right, and legal."

"I love you, and I choose you. That's why you're going to help me catch this bastard and bring him to justice." Fierce pride showed on Ron's face. "Please, help me."

Sunlight stole in through the curtains of the miniscule second bedroom of Ron and Hermione's flat. It crept across the room to eventually settle on Harry's face. He woke with a start once it hit his myopic eyes. "Bugger," he groaned before shoving his glasses onto his face. The wind-up clock on the side table said almost 11am.

Sneaking into his sanctuary of a room was easy enough at a little before 4am. Hermione wasn't awake and he didn't trip coming into their flat. A hasty bowl of lamb stew sufficed for dinner before he slipped into the spare bedroom and collapsed into the bed. Before sleep overtook him, he worked his wand, silencing the door, walls, floor, and ceiling, to keep the row that was coming from waking him up.

He expected them to go their separate ways for the day – Ron to bed and Hermione to work.

His stomach disagreed. He woke at half six, hungry while craving biscuits and pumpkin juice from his nap. Dinner, as large as it was, hadn't been enough supper. Instead, he stepped out of the room and immediately stopped. His half-asleep eyes registered what he saw in the den – Ron and Hermione on the couch. He'd seen it all before, plenty of times actually when they all lived at Grimmauld Place. But seeing them again, that way in their den, didn't satisfy his craving.

Instead, he slipped back into his room and fell asleep.

Harry cracked open the door and the only sound was Ron's snoring, coming from the den.

"Maybe Hermione left us lunch," he muttered as he padded down the quiet hallway. An obnoxious snore greeted Harry as he stepped into the kitchen. He looked across the counter and saw Ron sleeping on the oversized couch Hermione found for them at a charity shop. His clothes were disheveled and from the way the handwoven blanket tossed over him, Ron's slept there this morning rather than his own bedroom. "Figures," Harry said to himself before looking in the cooling cabinet.

Harry stepped into their galley kitchen and found a pot of stew and a warm loaf of bread waiting for them. "It's nice of her to leave it under warming charms. I hope it hasn't burned since earlier this morning," as he ladled out a heaping serving. "Not like I'd complain about her cooking. At least she's helping in some ways."

"Cooking meals right doesn't mean she's still not barmy about all this."

Harry looked up to see Ron standing in the doorway to the kitchen. His hair was a mess and his clothes were rumpled from being slept in. "Thought you'd have slept in your bedroom."

"Nah. All the other shite on this mission has fucked up my sleep. I couldn't get comfortable so I slept out here."

"I thought that Hermione knocking you out this morning would have helped."

"It did," Ron's cheeks and ears turned red. "Once we finished rowing. She's still in a strop. I still can't change her mind on this whole bloody issue about House elves. She's dead set against us since we've asked Kreacher to help us. But at least I know she's not planning on divorcing me."

"She wouldn't divorce you," Harry mumbled. "She loves you too much." Harry looked at Ron and saw him still half-asleep. "Does she understand that the wards will kill any wizard or witch who tries to go through them? I dunno about you but once was enough."

"She's not listening, Harry. She won't consider what Bill told her, and he's an expert. Merlin knows I've tried to convince her, repeatedly. But she's upset because we asked Kreacher, even if he is a free elf. It doesn't matter that he chose to help, No, she's barmy, thinking we have control over him. She says that since he's an elf, he can't consent."

"That's barking!" Harry handed over his plate to Ron and spooned out a second one.

They tucked in, deep in thoughts, while eating the first meal of the day. "Better eat up since we might be on duty a while," Ron said through bites of his lamb stew.

"We're going to clock plenty of hours today, because Kreacher will return while we're on duty."

"Shite."

"Yeah."

Ron took another bite of his meal. "This bugger hurts Mum, I might have a problem."

"That's why the plan is for me to go in first, not you. You just have to save my ass."

"But –"

"I'm going in first. That's the plan and we're sticking with it. We can't have you losing your shite and mucking up everything that we're doing to save Mum."

"I know. But Mum shouldn't be involved. I'd see if you or I got kidnapped, that's one thing. But mum? It's fucked up."

"I know but we're gonna get her back. The plan is a good one. Really is."

"I hope so. I don't want to have to tell Dad any bad news."

"How'd it go this morning? You did talk to him, didn't you?"

"Yeah, we did, 'til Bill and Fleur walked in."

"Bill gonna help?"

"Only once we get some of the bugger's blood. He said it's pointless for him to keep trying to breach the wards unless we have it. He can't breach the magic unless we have it, because the blood is the cementing component. Without it, we're just beating our hands against a brick wall. So he'll be back out there when we start the rescue, not 'til then."

"And Charlie?"

"I'm running by to ask him before going on the clock. We'll firecall him when we're ready for him to come to the department for the debriefing before we go in."

Harry looked at his watch. "It's after 11. You've got time to run by and see him for a tick is you got your shower now."

"What about you? It's not like I'm sharing my shower with you," Ron cheeked. "You're not bushy haired and you don't snog worth a damn. You look like a damn squid, snogging my sister."

Harry threw a bread crust at Ron. "I'll wait 'til you've left to get my shower and head to the Ministry. I don't need to see the beast again."

"You sure?" Ron smirked. "Then again, the Beast isn't your type either."

"Sod off, wanker. I'm good. I'm getting another bowl of lunch."

Ron put the dishes in the sink and set them to scrub. "When did you send him off, 4pm? I could use an hour to get my paperwork caught up." Ron watched the dishes rinse in the sink. "All this waiting is doing my head in. Mum needs to be home with Dad."

"We will. We'll get her out of there, alive and in one piece."

"Harry,"

"Yeah?"

"If he hurt Mum, don't tell me. I'll lose my shite fast that way."

"I won't. But I will tell you once the sod's in a cell."

"Fair enough. I'm sure Charlie will agree. His part in the plan makes sense."

"Good. Now get going."

Ron left Harry sitting at their small table, looking at his spoon.

Ron walked into the department and saw his wife and Minister coming out of Director Robard's office. "Hermione, what are you doing here?"

"Director Robards and I just finished our meeting. I wanted to discuss with him why it's ethically wrong to use a house elf on an Auror mission."

"Director, Minister, can you excuse us? I need a few words with my wife, in private."

"I've nothing to hide, Ron. Anything you say can be said here, in front of everyone."

"I said in private and I mean it." Ron turned back towards the double doors of the department.

"Don't you turn your back on me, Ron Weasley."

Ron kept walking until he reached them. "Either row with me in private, or not at all."

Ron shoved the doors open and left. Hermione picked up her stack of papers and books and ran out after him.

Ron took long strides towards the lifts. He heard Hermione's heel clicks following him while pointedly ignoring her yelling for him. He punched the button to summon the lift.

"Ron, stop right now."

He turned and she took a step forward. "What has gotten into you?"

"Oh, I dunno, maybe that I thought our row this morning would have been enough to put you off trying to ramrod the whole bloody procedure manual back up the department's collective cocked up ass. But I see that you're still trying to sabotage the fucking process while I'm busting my bollocks to get her back. I know; I shouldn't be barmy about the whole fucking mess."

The metal grating doors opened and he stepped inside. Hermione followed and hit another button, locking down the lift. "And you couldn't bother to wait a few hours to let me finish, could you?"

"When it's my Mum on the line, and her life is at stake, you bloody well know I will do everything I can to rescue her. Same goes for you." He looked at her and saw the exhaustion etched into her face. "Why don't you trust Bill, when he's said repeatedly that your ideas won't work? Have you even talked with him since that shouting match in the Director's office?"

"We've been too busy – "

"I did," Ron roared. "this morning! You need blood, Hermione. Blood that is behind those damn wards. Wards that would kill any witch or wizard that tried to go through them!"

"That's not true! I just haven't figured it out yet."

"Quit letting your pride dictate this case, Hermione. Sod it, and Sod the laws you love so much! We needed him to get inside."

"But it's illegal, and highly unethical to use a house elf to do your job. It's wrong and you know it."

"What would you have me do?" Ron yelled in the confined lift. "You'd have me sit on my arse and let the bastard kill Mum? You think I could wait for hours while you read and tried to find information in that sodding book in your hands, hoping and praying that the spell you found could possibly help Bill? Bill said it himself – we need the kidnapper's blood. And how righteous would you be when you got him and Mum killed? Could you look in the mirror, knowing that people died because you messed up? You're not a curse breaker! You're an Elf advocate!"

"That's not the point and you know it."

"Oh yeah? Then what is?"

"You're using people who have no business doing Auror work instead of doing the job yourself."

"And you're full of shite. You're the one who's been beastly since this whole damn thing started. I was asking questions and doing my own research and you're holding my bollocks for ransom. How the fuck can I do my job if you're standing there, breathing down my neck every second, questioning my judgment on this? I know the laws and rules as well as you do, Hermione."

"Then you should have not bothered to consider using a bloody house elf in this. You and Harry should have gone in and done the job yourself."

"So that's it, huh? You'd rather us sacrifice our lives, along with killing Bill, than hurt one precious free elf. I get it now, entirely." Ron punched the button on the lift. "Since that's how you value me and the dangerous job I do, you can march your arse back to your desk and stay the fuck away from mine."

"I'm not going to sit at my desk while you break rules and laws, even if it is Mum at stake. I'm an officer of the court too, and it's my duty to complain when the laws are broken inside this Ministry!"

"You're just pissed that Kreacher chose to do this. But Kreacher's not Dobby, and you can't blame us for trying every single thing we can to save Mum's life."

"But you didn't wait for me to figure that out, did you?"

"You're not listening! You can't break those wards. They're corrupted! We don't have the time for you to read the whole fuckin' library in the Department of Mysteries to come to the same damn conclusion!"

"Yes you can! I need time!"

"You'd trust Narcissa Malfoy over Bill? Now I know you're barking!"

"But she said – "

"She's a fucking Malfoy, Hermione! We can't trust her. She lied to Voldemort's face! Do you honestly think she gives a shite about Mum? You'd have us sitting on our asses, waiting 'til time was up and then have dad notify the sod, 'Sorry, but we need another day to mount a heroic rescue of Mrs. Weasley. My wife is reading a book on how to break the cocked-up wards on your property. Please wait until we notify you.' This isn't one of Ginny's books, Hermione. This is real and it's shite and nothing is working out according to plan."

"You're gonna get him killed."

"And you're going to get her killed. Kreacher isn't Dobby, Hermione. He chooses to work for Harry. We made him take every precaution we could think of, to protect himself from harm. He was to do nothing heroic. He's there to look, check on Mum, and then get back to us."

"And you asked him to go in there, where you have no clue what's going on, and get hurt. That's irresponsible!"

"So you'd rather me and Harry die, going through corrupted wards, in a form that isn't meant for human transformation, to get the intel ourselves? How many Auror lives are worth that suicide mission, Hermione? Five? Ten? Fifty? We had a solution, as bloody barmy as it was, and we took it, and didn't bloody wait on you. It was a calculated risk and we took it, just like we do on other missions I go out on."

"And how many laws will you break on this case? What will you do when the kidnapper walks free because the Auror department broke every single rule enacted on this one case? I know it's Mum but there is a greater responsibility, to the law, that you are bound?"

"The law isn't always right. You know that 'cause you said it yourself! Umbridge murdered people within the law while she was running that blasted commission." Ron turned towards the opposite wall, refusing to look at Hermione. "The only one who is responsible for this cocked up mess is that bastard who kidnapped Mum. He touched her and I will make him pay for hurting her." Ron took a shuddering breath.

"And who is responsible for you, when you retaliate against him, for starting all this, huh? Who will step in and save you when you break the law for killing him?"

"Oh that's a dirty blow, Hermione. You were there when I took my oath, to the Ministry and this job. So don't tell me that I'm breaking the law on this case, because I'm not the one making these decisions. I wasn't even suggesting it until you pulled a face and got into a strop over the last resort methods we were talking about. Christ, I made a suggestion and you acted like I slapped you."

"You had other methods, other things you could have used, to the same solution. You didn't have to ask a defenseless elf to help us on this!" She huffed and tried to wipe her eyes but kept breathing hard. "You could have gone under Polyjuice, breached the wards, and gone inside yourself!"

"Quit grasping at trick wands, Hermione. Elf magic is completely different from Wizarding magic and he's far from defenseless. You know that better than anyone. Kreacher can do things I'd never consider or dream of. He can do things with his magic I'd never think of doing. Besides, I'd have to find a way to have a bottle with me and drink up every hour. He doesn't have those limitations!"

"But you used an elf! It's ethically wrong to put him in that position in the first place."

"I know," Ron stopped short. He took a deep breath and turned back to her. "You can't protect all of them, and you can't save them all. We asked, with witnesses, and he's a free elf, able to make his own choices. He made his own decision and he did – he's helping us. Don't get bent at me because he's acting like Dobby, helping wandholders in their quest for justice."

"There were other options, other choices. You didn't have to pick the one non-human I've been fighting for, for years now less, to help you."

"I didn't start this mess. He did. You're bitching we're breaking the law. Sometimes, the law is wrong. Sometimes, what is right isn't what is legal. Saving Mum is right. Asking Kreacher to help isn't legal but it's right. So quit twisting my bits about it!"

"You're planning on killing him, aren't you? That's why you're not angry at the methods you're employing, isn't it? He's going to have an accident, where no one else is watching, and you're hands are clean of this mess. Please tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that you're not going to be Wizengamot, Mugwump, and Dementor in this whole sordid affair?"

"Why would I hurt Kreacher? He's brilliant!"

"I'm talking about the kidnapper, Ron!"

Ron stood there stoic. He shook his head vehemently. "No," Ron growled out.

"Tell me, are you planning on killing him?"

"No. I'm an officer of the court, just like you. My oath is to arrest first, not kill on sight. I'm not a hit wizard." Ron slid down the side of the lift they were in. "I won't kill him, not if I can help it. That's what started this mess. Hell, all of us have, in self-defense, 'cept you. I don't regret killing Greyback, not in the least. But I promise you this," he wiped his own face of sweat and salt.

Hermione knelt down to her husband and cradled his face. She let the emotions roll over her own features, with concern and fear showing the most.

"Harry made me promise to keep my wand to myself, over what the sod's done to Mum. But if he raises a wand against me, or the team, I won't hesitate to kill him, in self-defense. I won't hesitate in the least."

"You can't be the hand of vengeance. That's what the Wizengamot is for, to decide innocence or guilt. They are the final arbiters of justice, not you."

"I'm an Auror, Hermione, and I've seen my share of shite already. I've killed in the line of duty, as a last bloody resort. I hate it, this part of it, but I won't hesitate if he's threatening me or the team." Ron's face grew stoic. Hermione leaned back in fright at the callousness turning into a mask. "If he raises his wand at me for an unforgiveable, I won't hold back. This isn't Defense class. This is field work. Hesitation will get me killed."

"What about Mum? She'd not want you to be a murderer. I don't either."

Ron lifted a hand from his face and kissed her palm.

"Then he better to pray to whomever that he didn't lay another finger on Mum." Ron reached behind his head and started the lift. He stood up and dusted his bum off. "I have to get back to planning the rescue."

"Ron?"

"What?" He refused to look at Hermione.

"I'm sorry I humiliated you in front of the Director. I was out of place."

"I know and we'll talk about that once the mission is finished." He turned to look at Hermione. "Now, are you going to help us or not? We have an elf returning and he'll need your help."

"If the case is going to hell, I might as well come along," she said under her voice.

"I'm glad you're finally realizing that," Ron bit out before the doors opened.

Ron went first, with Hermione following, heel clicks and quick strides, up the hallways and in through the double doors. Harry saw them first, looking like they were disheveled but not that they'd shagged in a supply closet. "Alright there Hermione?"

She nodded and so did Ron. "Yeah, I reckon we had a meeting of the minds just now." He looked around the department. "Do we have any information from Kreacher yet?"

"He's not shown up yet. He should be back shortly."

Harry watched Hermione take her seat at her work desk, opening the tome she brought in with you. She pulled parchment and a quill from her bag and started writing. Harry watched Hermione twist hair between her fingertips and the shake of the quill in her hand. She was upset and trying to hide it from both of them.

"You know you can call him, right?" Ron interrupted.

"Yeah, I know, but I was waiting on him to return when he's finished. No need to blow his cover without good reason."

"When he returns, I want to talk with him first. I need to make sure he's not been harmed or hurt inside those wards." Hermione spoke up without stopping her reading.

"Fair enough, but you can't keep him long. We have to have his information so we can finalize the rescue plans." Harry added.

"And figure a way to capture him without blowing the whole island up or alerting the Muggle authorities." Ron interjected.

"Yeah, the less obliviators brought in, the better." Hermione said mindlessly.

"Anything I need to do while we wait?" Ron added.

"Are all of your reports finished?" Harry retorted.

"I've still got the one from Portsmouth yesterday along with the progress report from last night."

"I'd write it up for you if you want," Hermione added.

"No, it's fine. I can write up the following: 'Went to Portsmouth. Watched Elf infiltrator pass corrupted blood wards. Watched him come out. Watched him go back in. Reported back to the Ministry.'"

"When you put it like that, it was a rather boring trip." Hermione added.

"Honestly, it was." Ron sat down at his desk and pulled quill, ink well, and parchment from his desk drawer. He set in to write up his report from Portsmouth the day before. Ron ignored the others while writing up his report.

Harry went over to Hermione's desk and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"You and Ron ok?"

"We talked." She didn't look up from her book.

"I know how your talking is." Harry pulled up a chair to sit next to Hermione. "I've heard your talking."

"Alright, so we rowed, earlier and just now."

"Like this morning?"

Hermione turned, aghast. "You didn't hear us, did you?"

"No. I silenced my room. I didn't hear you rowing. But," Harry turned his face away trying to keep from betraying what he did see.

Hermione turned a bright shade of red. "You didn't, did you?"

He nodded but refused to look at his best friend. "I came out of my room at half six to get some biscuits and pumpkin juice and saw you and Ron in the den. I didn't get a snack because the two of you – "

"were rather busy on the couch and I would have seen you in the kitchen." Hermione finished with a blush.

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Look, Harry,"

"No, it's fine. I had seconds of breakfast while Ron got ready and stopped by to talk with Charlie. Before he came home, he went to talk with Dad, too."

"How are they doing?"

"I dunno, honestly. I've not talked with them. I've been busy here when I'm not crashing at your flat."

"I didn't know you were asleep in the spare room. I saw the door closed and didn't think anything of it."

"Because?"

"Ron and I were rowing within minutes of him stepping out of the Floo. I was awake when he came home this morning."

"Good thing, those Auror grade silencing spells. I didn't hear a thing. I didn't see a thing until I came out of my room."

"I'm sorry you saw that. It's not like that kept us from rowing just now."

"It's fine. I got a glass of water from the loo."

"I know I've been a swot during all this," Hermione started, "but I want this guy as bad as you. But choosing to break the laws that have been passed is the road to corruption."

"I know. Unfortunately the book can't help right now, at least on this case."

"Ron said you made him promise to do his job."

"And I'm holding him to it. But he's not point on this mission- I am."

"You are? Damn." Hermione shuddered. "Does Ginny know?"

"I've not talked with her. I've not had time to send anyone to South America to tell her."

"She's going to be mad."

"I know but I'm busy on this case. She'll just have to be mad."

"It seems like a theme going around here," Hermione said under her breath.

A loud crack erupted in the department. All heads turned towards the noise. Wands were whipped out and pointed at the noise. Everyone who looked saw a wizened elf standing in the middle of the spacious offices.

"Master Harry, Kreacher has returned and has information."