A/N: You know that awkard moment when you're like "I'm gonna update right now, the chapter's finished!" and then "Where the heck is that chapter?" Yes? Well, that's what happened to me recently. A few months ago, so I had to rewrite it, meanwhile my final exams had to be written and fanfiction had to take a backseat. This one was just me, though Batmarcus did help with the one I'd lost. The cool thing: I am now officialy done with school.
Thanks to jen008, hi.1.1.1, Darth Kobra, Nitrogirl, Guest, Batmarcus, AnimationNut, OoOXylionOoO, Annabelle4.0 and Addictive Label. Sisi! Where are you? *Goes to cry in a corner*
Chapter 11: Infiltration
Zia was the first to wake. She squirmed in Harry's hold, attempting to get out of it, as it was a bit hot. Comfortable – more than she cared to admit – it was just inconceivably hot, and it wasn't just because of his looks. Harry shifted, making Zia jump and pull her wand on him.
He stared at her through groggy eyes.
"Bloody hell, Zia, point that thing elsewhere, last time I did that someone's eyebrows caught fire." He said, shoving her hand away from him. She put it down slowly, not taking her eyes off him.
She had to admit to herself that Harry Potter was very easy on the eyes. His body wasn't incredibly muscled, but it was all right from what she guessed was training to be a bodyguard, and Quidditch in his younger days. Yes, Zia Stine knew a lot about him, but only because Ernie'd never shut up about him.
"Zia, you're staring." Harry said lazily, though she saw a blush creep up his cheeks. She grinned at him, launching herself off the bed in one very acrobatic move. Harry looked impressed and tried to mimic her move, but failed as he slipped off the bed, knocking his head on the base.
"Smooth, Potter," She sneered at him. He grinned back at her.
"I know how to work a gun flawlessly, Miss Stine," He pulled her foot from under her, making sure to cushion her fall with his body. His hands automatically curled around her waist. She rested her hands on his chest.
"I have many other things I can work flawlessly." She wiggled her eyebrows, causing him to burst out in guffaws. She got off him, Harry reluctantly letting her go. "Come on, Potter, we have a mission."
He heaved himself from the floor, his long limbs struggling against gravity. He rushed to his bag, extracting a pair of jeans and his large coat, which contained the majority of his firearms.
After a quick shower, he found Malfoy and Eugene already dressed and waiting. It was early, the Weasleys hadn't risen from their various slumbers yet.
Eugene whistled a few minutes later. Harry glanced up, finding Zia on the stairs. She wore a pair of tight black jeans, and a sinfully tight T-shirt, her ebony hair tied into a taut ponytail. The clothes fit snugly and emphasized her best assets, making Harry's eyes unable to look elsewhere.
Malfoy noticed, because he gave Harry a sharp jab in the ribs with his elbow. Harry looked away quickly.
Zia grinned at them, twirling her wand lazily in one hand, a black gun in the other.
The four of them set off, Eugene flanking Zia, who was next to Harry, and Draco next to him. This was a formation they sort of always formed, Eugene wanting to protect his cousin, same as Harry did.
Harry took Zia's hand; and the pair of them apparated to the headquarters of her father's dealings, Eugene and Draco following suit. They stood in the shadows for a while, thinking of a plan. The front door was protected by a large, burly guard who looked as though he could smash open their heads without any effort t all.
"What do I bet you guys I can get inside with that big, scary guard letting me in?" She asked the three men thoughtfully, sizing the man up. Eugene immediately was in for the bet, Zia could do it, but the other two seemed to think she couldn't.
"You're on." Harry said, "I say you can't do it."
"Unbelievably, I agree with Potter. No way, Zia, now how." Draco said, frowning heavily. She stepped up to Harry with a smirk, slid her hand inside his coat and pulled out another gun. She made sure it was loaded before putting it in her jeans, but they couldn't see it at all.
"How much?" Eugene asked, "I say you can do it, Zia, how much are we betting, though?"
"Ten galleons." She said instantly.
"Zia, you don't have ten galleons." Harry pointed out; knowing full well they'd left her home without any money. What was more, she knew the wizarding currency, it impressed him.
"I'll have twenty soon." She shrugged, leaping from the shade and nearing the guard. He looked up at her when she reached him, a dazzling smile in place.
From afar Eugene could see that she was using her womanly charm, using her assets. She swayed her hips ever-so-slightly, drawing big and burly's attention to it. He wasn't paying attention to anything she said, just nodding to whatever she said.
Then Harry and Draco lost a bet, and Eugene smirked as the guard opened the door for her, and she gave him a grateful smile and hurried inside, his eyes lingering on the security door.
"She did it." Harry couldn't believe it. "She actually did it – but how?"
"She is very attractive in black," Draco noted, "And her hips had a sort of hypnotic sway about them, not to mention that scandalously tight shirt!"
Eugene and Harry both clobbed him over the head. He grinned guiltily.
"Hey, I'm a man, not a rock, even if we are against a mountain." He shrugged, coming out from under the shade himself. Harry and Eugene followed him. The three men just flashed their corporation ID's, not waiting for Big-and-burly to open the door, it opened automatically. Zia held out her hand, clearly expecting her money. Draco dropped the golden coins into her hand, while Harry promised he'd give her the gold when they got home.
"Right, let's split up. I'm taking Harry." Zia whispered, grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him one way. Eugene and Draco shrugged, taking the other way, guns at the ready.
"So, Zia, what exactly is your plan?" Harry asked as he covered Zia's back, both of them had their guns loaded and ready to shoot at a second's notice.
"To destroy as much as I possibly can, but not kill David, his moment will come." She said, "and I want to make my coming back to life a shock."
Harry wanted to pat her on the shoulder. She really was a sadistic creature at times, and when she threatened him with a gun, her hot breath playing across his lips as her body pressed against his in a threat… it was exhilarating. It made his pants uncomfortable, though, and he forced himself to calm down.
They walked in silence, their eyes and senses alert to everything and anything. She stopped at a certain room, it had a shiny plate on it, and the word "Admin" printed in gold on it.
"I bet it would all be very confusing if these files were to be destroyed, randomly, by a magical fire, won't you say?" She asked teasingly, opening the door softly.
She wondered where the lock was, and the guards, but her question was answered when she was inside. It was one massive safe, it held all the documents of his clients, the people he bribed, the money he'd stolen, the people he'd had exterminated, his employees…
Two guards were playing a game of cards when she opened the door. The door needed to be oiled, because it squeaked as she entered. The two guards looked up, but she already had her weapon trained on them.
"Shut up or I'll shoot." She warned, making Harry wait outside. The guards stopped in their actions of reaching for their own weapons. "Batons?" She guessed. Upon closer inspection, she saw they had actual weapons. She stepped up to one guards, slid the gun out of its holster, and trained a gun on each guard, keeping the third one hidden.
Harry entered; a pair of sunglasses in place – he was still an employee, after all, he couldn't be seen threatening his supposed co-workers.
He pulled out two of his own firearms, aiming them at his two captives. Zia tossed one of the guns to him, he caught it smoothly and it was hidden underneath his cloak, not once wavering his aim. He took the two guards outside, doing who knows what with them.
Zia slid her wand out, pointed it at the safe, muttered 'Alohamora' and was surprised when it opened. She leered evilly when she saw the millions of papers. It would damage David's rep, wouldn't it? It was absolutely perfect! She was positively giddy at the prospect.
She cast another charm, and the entire safe was on fire, or rather the papers were. She turned towards the surveillance camera and blew it a kiss, before striding to back to the outside, Harry on her tail.
"That it?"
"No, I want to meet my father first, and demand answers," She held strong, her defined jaw set tightly. Harry gave in and followed her again, subtly pointing the way to her father's study.
She didn't knock; she strode past the PA and ripped the door open, nearly ripping it off its hinges. Harry waited outside; this had nothing to do with him, at the same time he admired her strenght. The PA didn't seem phased by the happenings at all.
His office was in a panic, all over people were scurrying and running. David himself was seated at his desk, wondering why he didn't have a computerized system.
"Morning, David." She said, loud enough to be heard over the hustle of his office. His eyes caught hers, and a look of pure shock and terror crossed his face. The running people stopped to stare.
"Zia? You're alive?" David sounded scared, terrified, and she enjoyed it. She nodded, bored, slapping the butt of the gun to the palm of her hand.
"Quite obviously, daddy," She rolled her eyes, the employees' eyes widened. Of course they didn't know their boss had had an illegitimate child, it would ruin his image, as both a bank manager and as the boss of the English mafia.
"I'm so happy you're alive!" Were his next words. Zia ignored it, training the gun on him. Instantly a dozen barrels were staring back at her (she thought that was a horrible example of personification), ready to fire, but she didn't flinch, her eyes fixed on him.
"He won't kill me," She said confidently, "nor will he let me be killed." She glared the firearms pointed at her down.
"Lower your weapons, boys," Stine ordered his men, who slowly lowered their hands. He glanced back at his daughter coolly, "You too, Mazia."
She readied her finger at the trigger. "We both know I'll do it."
"No, you won't," He said, though she noticed his eyes flitting back and forth between her face and the gun, "you need me."
She snorted, awfully unlady-like, Vicky would've skinned her for it.
"Why would I need you?" She sneered, an ugly scowl on her face.
"Money, safety, medical scheme, regularity..."
She lowered the gun, but pulled her wand out.
"Well, look what I have," She twirled the thin stick between her delicate fingers, "this gives me safety, seeing as my tutor taught me everything I need to know. What's to stop me from killing you where you stand?" He paled, she grimaced, "Money? I have enough money."
"Liar." He shot back at her.
"No, David, you're the liar." She walked up to him, sticking her wand to his chest. "Tell me who my mother is." Her voice held not only acid, but an element of animal. Fear seized David, and not just at the mention of Zia's mother.
"Your mother is dead." He said automatically. She laughed cynically.
"I know she's alive, David, and I know she's a witch. You, sir, are a lying fiend." She tapped his chest with her wand. "Tell me who she is and I'll let you live."
"Empty threat." He bluffed. She rose an eyebrow, the gun back in her hand. Jumping a foot away, her wand between her teeth. She fired the gun to his arm. The bullet ripped through his flesh, she was standing too close.
"Trelawney." Stine coughed out, shock written on his face, he couldn't believe the girl he'd kept from the world was so skilled. So violent... He could use her in his corps.
Zia nodded happily, her wand back in her hand. She turned heel, ignoring the barrels of a dozen guns pointed at her.
"Oh, and by the way, I may or may have not set fire to your documents in the Admin room."
Stine paled again. She giggled and was gone, just like that. Harry had seized her hand and had apparated from his position outside.
. . .
On the other side, Eugene and Draco had been causing chaos as far as they went. First Eugene shot at a few security cameras, causing alarms to go off on that side of the building. Harry and Zia couldn't hear it, but that was why there had been chaos in David's office, they'd lost the visual security.
Draco pulled out his wand, shooting silly hexes to the unsuspecting muggles. They were randomly dancing around, their teeth or ears larger than earlier, or they started singing in high-pitched voices.
Eugene and Draco slapped a high five, before Draco slashed his wand, causing a hard wind to blow through the hallway, and papers were everywhere!
"Legend, Draco, truly." Eugene laughed. He didn't care of he lost his job, he was secure in that area wherever he went.
They spun around the corner and saw Harry and Zia apparate. Draco grabbed onto Eugene, who took a deep breath and was pulled through the uncomfortable tube that is apparating.
Later, when they'd shared tales, the four sat laughing, unable to believe what they'd done, having lunch in a small restaurant.
"But you shot him!" Eugene was saying, trying to rebuke his cousin, but the idea gave him chuckles, no one had ever done it.
"So? He's a lying rat." Zia shrugged.
"He's your father." He pointed out.
"He's still dirty vermin." Zia held on stubbornly. Harry gave Eugene a 'let it go'-look, and the latter held his hands in the air in surrender. Harry Potter was a dangerous man to piss off.
"What's next?" Draco asked, serious.
"We'll be called in," Harry said, "He'll ask us about it."
"And all we know is that we left her at the morgue?" Draco guessed.
"With me," Eugene piped up, "so he'll think I'm in it too."
"And I drugged myself to get out of his prision." Zia finished, setting her glass of coke down, "Seems like something I'd do."
A few men entered the bistro they were in, all dressed in the same way. Some had tattoos on their arms, they showed their arms by wearing what Zia called 'help-me-look-strong'-shirts, because it showed off some of their admittedly muscled arms.
"It does, but where would you get said drugs? Weren't you locked up for the majority of your life?" Harry asked, enjoying the current game.
"Weren't you listening? I was her accomplice! You two were mere pawns in our plan." Eugene drawled, putting his head on his joined hands.
He appeared to be tired - he'd wrestled everyone that tried to stop them to the ground, and it would tire anyone out. But Eugene wasn't just anyone, he was unbelievably strong and he could endure even the harshest of situations. He had learned when he was younger to fend for himself.
In reality he was watching the new arrivals, who seemed somewhat familiar to him. He knew he'd seen them before, but he couldn't recall where.
"Now I've been reduced to a pawn... I thought I was a knight!" Harry exclaimed, exagerating. Draco chortled.
"Please, Potter, you gave that status up a long time ago." He retorted, "As for me, I thought myself to be the antagonist's sidekick."
"And now you're a pawn." Zia cooed, pouting her lips as if she was pitying him.
The next moment Eugene jumped over the table, pushing both Zia and Harry down as a bullet whizzed past them. Harry's heart hammered in his ears.
Eugene stood up, his eyes dark. Zia knew what that meant: stay out of his way or he'll rip your throat out. She got that message loud and clear, and backed away until she was hidden under the table. From there she cooked up a new plan.
Everyone, safe for Zia, were on their feet, threatening stances galore.
Harry frowned at her, before whipping out two of his own weapons, Draco mirroring him. Harry was furious, and terrified. Furious that someone had already and found them and had tried to kill her, terrified because the man almost succeeded.
At that moment, Harry admitted it to himself that he'd fallen for her. It might have been a short while, but he'd fallen for the seventeen-year-old girl hiding under the table. And why was she hiding? She wasn't one to run away.
"We know she's here." One of them said, "We heard that a ruckus went down at Stine's place. And she got out."
"Well, look who's a bright spark," Eugene growled, "but she's mine, Dalt, and mine alone."
"We have a job to do." Dalt replied easily, aiming his firearm underneath the table. "You won't always be able to protect her."
But Harry would, he'd protect her with his life if he had to.
But Zia wasn't there.
Eugene wanted to scream in frustration, but a grin spread across his face. This was the moment Zia'd been waiting for, all of her training had led her to this. He folded his arms over his chest.
"Who says she needs me to protect her?" He wagered, wondering where she was hiding.
"Hello, boys," She whispered to Dalt, her hand pulling his hair backwards, a gun shoved against his spine, "He's quite right, you know, I can look after myself." She loaded the gun, smiling when she heard him gulp, "Tell your boss my father doesn't give a flying f-"
"Zia, language." Eugene chided her. She glared at him before finishing her sentence.
"- a flying tack about me."
"Much better." Eugene approved with a nod. He saw one of the others neared Zia, a knife drawn. He tightened his grip on his gun, but he expected Zia to see it coming. He'd been the one to teach her everything she knew.
Harry saw it too, and he slowly raised his arm. He caught Eugene's eye, who was slightly shaking his head. Harry wanted to shoot Eugene at that moment, that man was sneaking up on her!
But he was sated when he saw Zia's eyes briefly flit to the side; she'd seen him.
When the man was right behind Zia, she spun around, holding a gun to his forehead, while she still had one pointed at Dalt.
"Think again." She laughed, "I'm not stupid, kids, I was trained by Eugene, and with the back-up of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, I think we can take you."
A pin could've dropped, and you'd be able to hear it. Before they could say the word "knife", everyone were gone, safe for the four that had originally been there and the two currently at gunpoint.
"Very good, Zia,' Eugene was glowing with pride, "What's next?"
She smiled again, before whispering in Dalt's ear: "Tell your boss I'm not a meek little girl like you thought I was. Tell him, I'll kill him." She spun him around to the door, kicking his back, helping him out. "As for you," She said to the one who still had his knife poised, "why shouldn't I just pull the trigger?"
He whimpered.
"Dalt's your brother, isn't he? Well, walk out, and quickly."
He turned and sped away. She shot him in the leg just before he exited the coffee shop.
"Were we alone when we entered?" She asked, looking around.
. . .
Back at The Burrow, everyone was awake and in a panic, searching for the four guests. Mrs Weasley nearly attacked Harry in a hug.
"We thought you'd gone again!" She admitted tearfully. Harry laughed.
"Not yet, ma'am, we had some business to attend to." He explained, meeting Zia's eyes. She looked away, blushing, and Harry grinned. "Speaking of, Zia and I plan on going out tonight, so don't wait for us to start dinner."
"Blimey, Harry, we thought you'd at least warn us before you took off again." Ron clapped him on his back.
"Nah, I won't, you should know that I won't. The four of us would probably just disappear one day, and you'll never see us again." Harry said earnestly. Ron laughed, not realising the joke, but Hermione eyed him apprehensively.
Harry reached for Zia's hand, leading her to the swings. His heart was in his throat. He'd been terrified for her life earlier despite knowing she could handle herself.
She sat down on the piece of wood, he crouched in front of her.
"You okay?"
She nodded, confused. "Why?"
"You were almost killed back there."
"So? It's not something that hasn't happened before." She shrugged, then her eyes widened, "Mr Potter... Are you saying you were scared for me?" She was baiting him. He didn't answer, he stared ahead of him, which just so happened to be her waist. "You do! Don't tell me you've fallen in love with me!"
All of a sudden her expression turned into one of terror. "Please tell me I'm right."
"What?" He looked at her shaply, unsure what this meant. Maybe she shared the interest, maybe she liked him... Harry wondered where his emotional armour had gone to.
"I hate to be wrong. Please tell me I'm nor wrong." She nearly begged, and Harry's heart sank a little. Maybe he was wrong.
"You're not wrong." He said, unwilling to believe he'd truly fallen for someone, and someone so utterly mad at that. He put his heart on his sleeve again, like a true Gryffindor.
"Why'd the men flee when I mentioned your names?" She asked softly. Harry started to panic, but a lie could save him. And why didn't she elaborate on the previous subject? He needed to know if she felt something, anything, for him.
"We're known in the underground, Zia, and not because we're snappy dressers." He said honestly. "We're ruthless."
"Guards?" She asked.
He didn't bother to answer.
. . .
A/N: Please review!
