I do not claim to own Harry Potter or any recognizable characters. I do, however own any unrecognizable characters, ideas etc. Please refrain from using any of my plot without my permission. It is the polite thing to do as I have worked hard on my creation of this story.
Legacy
Chapter 11
"We have a serious problem." Harry said his face grim as he swept his gaze around the gathered council members.
Hermione and Ron who had already been briefed stood silent and pale at the back of the room. They had no desire to be in the thick of things and volunteered for damage control. This alone caused murmurs of confusion amongst the Eredita council members. They were not used to seeing two of their three leaders abandon their spots from the head of the table.
Severus, Lucius, Draco and Blaise flanked Harry as he addressed the room.
"We have a traitor from the Order of the Phoenix who has sided with Voldemort."
Gasps were heard around the table. Harry smiled coldly.
"Thanks to Hermione's brilliance in developing the contracts, the traitor was unable to identify any of the Order's spies to Voldemort...at least not yet."
"Who is the spy?" Neville asked warily.
"Fleur Delacour." Draco said smoothly.
"What?!" Ginny exclaimed incensed. "Bill's wife?"
"Indeed." Severus replied.
The youngest Weasley sat back, her blue eyes burning in anger. Hermione and Ron exchanged wry glances. Why Ginny's past hatred of Hermione was forced, the spirited redhead had never warmed to the French woman who was her sister-in-law.
Harry cleared his throat. "That is only part of our problem. Voldemort is determined to break through the enchantment that Fleur is bound too. It is only a matter of time before he does. He also has developed a new capability with using the Dark Mark. He can call any and all of his Death Eaters to his side at his will."
Hermione stiffened her eyes trained on Harry. Her movement went unnoticed except for one icy gaze. Ron placed a hand on her shoulder gently.
"So, we have run out of time it seems." Remus said heavily.
"That is not all of the news." Harry said grimly, his emerald eyes fixed on his mentor and friend. The werewolf returned his gaze steadily.
"Tonks was taken by Death Eater's."
Harry closed his eyes briefly at Draco's announcement as the room exploded with noise. Remus sat stunned unable to tear his eyes away from Harry, looking for any sign that would prove the younger Malfoy's statement false.
"No." He whispered, seeing the truth in the Boy-Who-Lived's green eyes. Numb, he did not notice when Hermione and Ron moved to stand behind him.
"NO!" He roared leaping to his feet, effectively silencing the room. His gaze was wild as he fought his inner wolf for control. His eyes began to glow amber as he gripped his head as if in pain.
"Remus. We will get her back. You have to calm down." Hermione said attempting to soothe him as she stepped forward.
Remus threw his head back and let out a blood-curdling roar before jumping backwards and knocking Ron to the ground in the process. His eyes were fully wolfen as he sniffed the air. Hermione cautiously stepped in front of him.
"Remus, stop! We'll get her back." She said forcefully.
The werewolf turned his burning gaze at her and snarled fiercely. She swallowed nervously, as she eyed movement to her right as other members approached them. The distraction cost her as Remus swung out, catching her face with his blow sending her a good ten feet backwards and through the door.
She distantly heard a voice call her name as she fought the dancing black spots in front of her eyes. She heard voices raised and felt a blur run past her to the window at the end of the hall. She was gently lifted up into strong arms as she registered the sound of breaking glass.
A cool hand softly touched her throbbing cheek. She shook her head, slowly clearing her vision. Her eyes flew up and met the golden gaze of Nikolai as he cradled her.
"Hermione!"
Ron and Harry rushed to her side pulling her into their laps.
"I'm fine." She muttered flushing at the attention she was receiving. She looked over to Nikolai and smiled wanly.
"Thank you for your assistance."
He nodded abruptly and stepped back under the heavy glares of several of the gathered males allowing her friends to come to her aid. Irritated, she struggled against her best friend's hold and struggled to her feet.
"I'm fine!" She said shortly. She looked down the hallway to the broken glass and the shattered window.
"We have bigger problems." She muttered before staggering back into the council room.
"Much bigger problems."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Of all of the stupid, idiotic plans…." Hermione raged as she paced the floor of the training room that was adjacent to the gym.
She could not believe the stupidity of the plan Harry and Ron put forth. Sure, let's go track down the enraged werewolf through his Eredita mark. Brilliant plan. What would happen then? Legacy members would charge in, wands drawn, not even knowing what they were walking blindly into?
Oh, she knew that desperation tinged their plan. Desperation for the little time left before their spies were found out, for Tonks condition and concern over Remus's flight out of the window. But, really, how stupid could they be?
"Hermione?"
The petite witch turned to face Ginny. "I don't care what you have to say in their defense. I am not going along with their stupid plan." She snapped.
"I'm not here for them. I agree with your opinion."
Hermione stopped her pacing and raised a brow at the younger woman.
The red-head seeing that she had Hermione's attention continued. "I do not agree with the rashness of their plan, but something needs to be done. Remus is my partner after all and Tonks is my friend."
The brunette cocked her head, waiting for Ginny to continue.
"I have an idea. A dangerous one that may get us captured or killed."
Hermione nodded urging the youngest Weasley to continue.
"You know the club in Underground London, The Dark Maiden? I think you and I should go pay it a visit. After all, what better place to gain information than to go to a Death Eater hangout?"
Hermione's mind whirled, already jumping ahead. The Dark Maiden was a gothic club of ill repute. Many things happened within those walls as the alcohol and drugs flowed freely. It was a favorite hangout of their generation, particularly those from the dark side of the war. It was the one club that witches and wizards went and willingly mixed with muggles. The dregs of society.
A small smirk played around her sensual lips. "I see where you are going with this Gin. Good plan."
Ginny beamed at the older witch's praise. "We'll have to look the part."
"Not a problem. We are two very powerful witches after all." The curly haired witch said with a wave of her hand.
"Three."
Hermione and Ginny spun around to face the new voice.
"Seren." The brunette witch greeted shortly.
The raven haired witch straightened proudly. "I want to help. Harry and Ron have admitted me within the ranks of Legacy and I see this as my chance to do something."
Hermione eyed the Greek wizarding princess shrewdly. "And help a certain wizard I assume?"
Seren blushed at the innuendo of the beautiful witch. "It is not only Draco I want to help. I owe you, and this can be considered partial repayment."
Ginny raised a brow at her earnest tone. "You do know what we are planning, don't you?"
"To go in disguise to the most ill-reputed club in the London Underground and hopefully uncover information regarding Voldemort."
Hermione smiled genuinely at Seren's annoyed tone. "I suppose that if you aren't included, you will tell the other's what we are up to."
"Call it blackmail if you wish." The raven haired witch quipped.
It was on the tip of Ginny's tongue to mention Obliviate, but she also knew that both she and Hermione would not sink that low.
"What about your brother?"
"What Nikolai doesn't know, won't hurt him." Seren scoffed at the redhead's question.
"Alright then. Let's go. We need to get ourselves appropriately attired and we have little time for our plan to work before the men will execute theirs tomorrow night. " Hermione ordered before striding out of the room.
Seren and Ginny glanced at each other in the wake of the petite witch's departure. A silent agreement was formed.
They would all watch each other's back. There was too much at stake to allow anything to go wrong.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The electronic trance music pulsed around the three witches as they roughly shoved their way through the mass of writhing bodies. Hermione was in the lead as they made their way to the bar. She elbowed other patrons to make room for the three witches.
'Watch it!" A green-haired man snarled as his drink was jostled.
"Bite me." She replied coolly before leaning over the bar and placing their drink orders. Her jade corset pushed her breasts up enticingly and she ignored the leer of the bar tender that strangely had sunglasses on.
"Three Jack and Cokes."
"You got it sexy."
Hermione turned to Ginny, her brow raised. Sexy? She mouthed to her now purple-haired friend. Ginny grinned, her contact covered eyes appeared silver in the black lights. Seren watched with a small smile playing around her lips. Her raven hair was now the color of black cherries and her eyes were covered with dark brown contacts.
"Here you go." The bartender said with a wink as he set their drinks down in front of Hermione.
"What do I owe you?"
"Nuthin luv. It's on the house."
She raised a brow at that and tossed her black hair over her shoulder.
"Thanks." She said.
"Any time sexy."
Hermione narrowed her green colored eyes and turned her back on the bartender allowing her gaze to travel around the club. Seren and Ginny mimicked her as they casually leaned their backs against the bar.
The three girls were attracting a lot of attention being new to the scene and they were approached several times with offers to dance. Per their agreement with each other, they mingled with other patrons and danced trying to discreetly pry for information. One of them kept their place at the bar at all times keeping watch.
Hermione was taking her turn as lookout discouraged at the lack of information she had gained. She let her green eyes roam around looking for her companions. She saw a flash of silver from Ginny's Hot Pants and saw her dancing with a group of people. She smiled grimly as she saw a guy her friend had danced with a few times earlier cut in and haul Ginny off. She knew the youngest Weasley could take care of herself so she continued to search the room for Seren. She frowned upon her second time searching the club not seeing the Greek princess's metallic red shirt in the crowd.
"Something wrong sexy?"
Hermione stiffened at the hot breath against her neck.
"No." She said shortly.
"Where are your pretty friends?"
"Dancing." She replied without turning to face him.
"Are you sure?"
Hermione's heart froze at the inflection in the bartender's deep voice. She whirled around. "What do you mean?"
He smiled coldly. "Don't tell me that a smart witch like you hasn't figured it out yet."
She narrowed her eyes at the man, angry that she could not see his eyes behind the dark glasses he had on.
Wait. Dark glasses. Sunglasses in a club. A club populated by wizards and muggles.
Fuck.
Seeing realization cross her pretty face, the bar tender leaned over and grasped her wrists. "Ahhh, So the lovely Ms. Granger has figured it out."
Irate at her own stupidity for not paying close enough attention to him she attempted to free herself from his grasp.
"Vision of Truth glasses. Very clever. Now who the hell are you and what have you done with my friends?" She snarled.
He smirked. "Don't worry about your friends sexy. You'll be joining them soon enough."
"I don't think so." She countered.
His smile widened as his gaze settled behind her.
"Guess again."
Hermione barely had enough time to turn her head before a cloth was placed over her nose and mouth rendering her unconscious. She fell back heavily into the waiting arms of her attacker.
"Nice work Johnson. I'll take it from here."
The bartender shrugged in response. "Not a problem Dolohov. I expect my payment delivered as usual."
The Death Eater swung Hermione's limp body up into his arms easily. "I would think that the Dark Lord will reward you for the capture of this one here."
The bartender smiled. "I don't suppose I could play with her a bit before she is killed?"
Antonin chuckled darkly. "No. This one is special. A valuable commodity. I do not know what is planned for her."
"You know Dolohov, you should really see her through these." The bartender said holding out his dark glasses. "Of course, you won't be able to see her glorious amber eyes."
Antonin hesitated a moment before accepting Johnson's glasses. He looked over the unconscious witch in his arms.
Most impressive. He mused as he took in her fine boned features and glorious silky mass of caramel colored curls. Her petite form was perfectly toned and curved enough to make a man to think of certain erotic pleasures.
He handed the dark glasses back to the bartender and turned to leave. "Good work tonight Johnson."
Dolohov disappeared through the crowd and made his way towards the exit in the back of the club used exclusively for his kind. Upon reaching outside, he breathed in a lungful of cold air, slapping at his neck in irritation. Damn bugs! He glanced at the slight form in his arms before he apparated away not noticing the figure on the rooftop across the alley watching his every move.
"Hawk to Alpha. Come in Alpha."
"Go ahead."
"Sir, we got her. I repeat we got her."
"Are you sure it is her?"
"Affirmative. The program that the whiz kid came up with works. I was able to see right through her disguise."
"And the wizard?"
"He disappeared with her but not before I was able to hit him with the tracing device."
"Excellent work Hawk. Return to base. Alpha out."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The feeling of cold, damp earth was the first thing Ginny felt as she slowly roused herself. Her head was pounding and as she tried to sit up a dizzy spell engulfed her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply riding out her dizziness. She blinked slowly as her vision came into focus. She saw the prone forms of Seren and Hermione next to her. She shakily crawled over to them unable to use her arms as they were tied behind her back.
She reached Seren first and scanned her body for any signs of injury or abuse. Finding nothing she attempted to nudge her new friend awake with her knee.
"Seren." She hissed. "Seren, wake up!"
The Greek princess stirred and opened her eyes with a groan. She tried to sit up and yelped as she fell sideways onto Hermione causing to other witch to come to.
Seren rolled off of the petite witch and struggled to her knees. She tried to loosen the rope that bound her hands behind her back to no avail.
"Sonofabitch." Hermione muttered as she managed to sit up. She shook her head clearing it and saw her two companions on their knees next to her. She jerked at her bonds roughly only managing to have them bite into her flesh painfully. She moved to a kneeling position as well.
"Where the hell are we?" She croaked out, looking at the unfamiliar terrain around them.
"I don't know." Ginny said biting her lip. "I don't see anyone around and there doesn't seem to be any houses for miles."
'What's that?" Seren asked pointing at a shimmering pool on the ground visible in the pre-dawn light.
The three women looked at each other uneasily before struggling to their feet. It took several tries, but finally they were all standing. Wincing at the stiffness of their muscles, they made their was over to a rock formation where the shimmering pool was.
They peered in and reared back in shock. The grinning face of Voldemort greeted them. They could see several of his Death Eaters around him as the looked through the portal at the three girls.
"I see you have found the portal. I expected it sooner though. After all, the mudblood is supposed to be the 'smartest witch of her age'." The Dark Lord's voice boomed out at them causing them to step back.
"What do you want?" Hermione snapped in anger.
"It is nice to see you back to your normal filthy self mudblood. All of you actually."
Hermione looked over at Seren and Ginny noting that while their eye and hair color was back to normal all of them still had on their club clothes from the night before, albeit a bit dirty and wrinkled.
"Spare us your false flattery and get to the point. We are not afraid of you."
Voldemort narrowed his eyes. "Brave words mudblood. Soon you'll be begging me for mercy."
"Mione, let it go." Ginny warned quietly sensing the older witch's anger.
Hermione sighed in frustration knowing that the redheaded witch was right. Voldemort's smile widened.
"Now we are going to play a game. As you can see you are not anywhere that is familiar, and I guarantee that none of your friends can help you. They won't know where to even begin since the 'brain' behind their operation is missing."
Hermione was listening to Voldemort and trying to figure out if any of the Death Eaters surrounding him were their allies.
"I have sent you to a time and a place that is unreachable by any other means than the one I have so carefully created. You see, my loyal followers have grown tired of the same old hunt so I have devised a new one."
"Bullshit!" Ginny snarled. "We are not prey!"
"You are now. Or if you want, I can kill you all right now. Your choice. You will have thirteen hours before I send in some of my faithful to track you down and you are going to need all of the time allotted. You are not in a friendly place or time I'm afraid."
"I suppose that this portal goes only one way and that is not out." Hermione said dully the realization of their situation was weighing heavily upon her.
"Correct. There is another portal that you can return to our time through, but it is very far away and in all likely hood you'll be dead before you have any chance of reaching it."
The three women glanced at each other defeat in their gaze.
"We'll play your game." Hermione said heavily.
"I knew you would. You really don't have much of a choice after all. And since you three are so generous in accepting, I have a gift for you." The Dark Lord waved his hand and a sack appeared next to the trio of women.
"Remember thirteen hours, and then the game begins."
The portal winked out of existence with his final statement. Hermione stared grimly at the horizon.
"Let's see what he has do generously gifted us with. Then we had better get moving. I have a feeling that our time is even shorter than he said."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: I am so sorry for the delay in posting but I re-wrote this chapter three times and I STILL am not happy with it. But, I figured I had better post something soon before I lost any of my readers.
Speaking of, Thank You for all of you who have reviewed. It makes me feel good and eager to continue on. I have had OVER 2300 HITS FOR MY STORY AND ONLY 24 REVIEWS!!!!!!!
Come on people, hook up a poor aspiring writer here! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
Thanks for reading and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it).
F.L.