A/N 1: This was a tricky one to do as I didn't want Hermione coming off as evil and unjust. However, I needed to show that she had been involved in bad situations in the past. I hope I have managed to pull it off and show that she has made some serious mistakes, but ones which were never meant to hurt innocent people. She has done things which she felt were right at the time, but now sees that they were wrong and is trying to correct them by helping Ron. Hopefully, as the story progresses, you will see some of the reasons why she did certain things with the Vipers and how it has affected her.

o0o

Chapter Fourteen: Everything

Ron, there's been an attack in Knockturn Alley,' Harry puffed, running into the office and getting his cloak. 'We've been called in; get your stuff!'

'Do we know anything specific?' Ron asked, grabbing his wand and cloak.

'Just that there has been a serious attack and we're needed as soon as possible,' Harry replied, shaking his head. 'We can't have a single day without some fucker doing something stupid.'

'Can I go with you?' Hermione asked, sitting on Ron's desk and looking up at him expectantly.

'No you bloody well can't,' Ron said, rolling his eyes at her. 'Get off my desk.'

'But I'm more than capable of helping you,' Hermione argued; ignoring his command and staying put. 'I've handled plenty of tricky situations during my time as a Viper!'

'Being a Viper and being an Auror are two very different things,' Ron countered. 'You're not a trained Auror and you're not authorised to come out with us.'

'So what do you expect me to do whilst you're out?' Hermione asked, folding her arms. 'I can't hang around here on my own. I'm supposed to be with you, Potter or Longbottom at all times; remember?'

'Don't pull that one on me,' Ron muttered, shaking his head. 'You've been itching to wander around here on your own; now's your chance.'

'Hang on,' Harry said, looking between Hermione and Ron with a frown. 'I don't think she should be left here. She should go back to your apartment; out of harm's way.'

'I don't want to go back,' Hermione said in her usual bossy tone; before sneezing quietly.

'Do we really have time to take her back to my place?' Ron asked, ignoring Hermione. 'She'll be fine here.'

Harry looked at his watch and hesitated. Ron could see that a war was waging in his head as to what to do with the young Witch. She either stayed by herself at the Ministry or came with them to Knockturn Alley. They really didn't have time to take her back to the flat, so that wasn't an option.

'I can't believe I'm saying this,' Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes, 'but I think we should take her with us. I'd feel far less anxious if I can keep an eye on her, and I know that keeping her here isn't an option. If anyone says anything, we'll just say it is part of her work experience. She's disguised anyway. '

'Well, I have proven to be so dangerous,' Hermione muttered with a raised eyebrow, as she pulled a tissue from her pocket.

'I think she's better off here,' Ron replied, worried for Hermione's safety.

Harry shook his head, 'I'm sorry mate; I don't feel comfortable having her here all by herself. I know she's been fine with us so far, but we have to be careful. If she comes with us, at least we can still keep an eye on her.'

'And what if she gets injured?' Ron asked, as Hermione finally jumped off his desk and threw her tissue in the bin with a smile.

'I won't,' she laughed. 'You need to give me some credit; I'm more trained than any Auror here.'

'Which is exactly why you're not staying here by yourself,' Harry noted carefully. 'You can come with us and stay out of any trouble; which means you're not to get involved with anyone or anything. You stick to us like glue and don't question a single order. I'll personally arrest you, if you get in our way.'

Hermione nodded with a smirk, 'I get it; me bad, you good.'

Ron groaned slightly as Harry and Hermione moved towards the fireplace. 'I really don't like the sound of this,' he muttered as Harry gave them the location co-ordinates and passed around the Floo powder.

'It'll be fine, Neville is already there and I doubt it'll take us long to sweep the place.'

'That's not my worry,' Ron replied as Harry took a step into the green flames, and Hermione smiled in excitement.

o0o

When they arrived in an old warehouse, in Knockturn Alley, they could tell that the attack had been vicious. Blood was splattered up one wall and trailed along the floor. Boxes and parts of the building had been blown to pieces. A small group of grubby looking workers sat huddled in a corner, talking to Neville and a small team of Aurors, as Medi-Wizards were tending to a large man in his thirty's.

'Looks nasty,' Harry noted, as they walked towards Neville.

'Looks like a warning to me,' Hermione replied, looking around the warehouse with interest.

'What makes you say that?' Harry asked, glancing at the transfigured blonde with interest.

'The attacker left marks everywhere,' Hermione said, waving her hand at the blood and debris. 'It's way too messy to be murderer or a random fight. Someone wanted to show they're violent and powerful.'

'Very good,' Ron laughed, eyeing Hermione appreciatively. 'It screams a warning message.'

Hermione grinned, causing Harry to pull a face. 'That was a lucky guess,' he muttered, as they reached Neville.

'The injured wizard is Willen Welsted,' Neville said, when he saw them. 'He owns the warehouse, but doesn't have any known enemies or ill wishers. He says he didn't see who attacked him.'

'Excellent,' Ron said, glancing at the bloodied man, 'another easy case to sort out. What is the extent of his injuries?'

'Broken ribs on left side, a blow to the head and a stab wound at the back of his left leg,' Neville replied, reading from his case notes. 'He said that he heard a bang so came to investigate. As he walked out of his office, he was attacked from behind.'

'Any witnesses?' Harry asked, as Ron surveyed the gloomy looking warehouse.

'Nope, all the workers were on the ground level.'

Hermione jerked her head up as the three Aurors discussed the basic details. Ron paused in his reply to Neville to watch her. She stood completely still, as if listening for something that wasn't there. In a flash, she pulled her wand out and muttered something illegible to Ron's ears.

'What's up?' He asked, looking up and seeing nothing in the gaps of the roof rafters.

'They're still here,' she mumbled, causing Harry and Neville to also look at her.

'We've covered the entire warehouse,' Neville said with a frown. 'We found nothing and no one.'

'There are definitely people up there now,' Hermione replied, not taking her eyes off the left corner of the exposed roof beams. 'They're hiding from you.'

The three Aurors pulled out their wands instantaneously.

'Are you sure?' Harry asked, not taking his eyes off the roof.

'Positive,' Hermione replied at once, searching for a way to get up and into the roof.

'Better go and have a look then,' Neville said, walking towards a small set of metal stairs to the left of them.

'Stay here,' Ron muttered, walking past Hermione and following Neville. He didn't wait for her to refuse and quickly climbed the steps; treading as lightly as possible. He could sense Harry following him and felt a sudden shot of adrenaline as they reached the roof rafters; which criss-crossed over the entire building, with large gaps covering the incomplete floor.

'Take it easy up here,' Harry whispered, as they each took a different route along the beams.

They silently made their way across the joists, gazing around the attic for signs of movement. Ron could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise as the sensation of being watched overtook him. Hermione was right; someone was definitely up here.

Ron held his wand in a defensive stance and gazed around him. He could just make out Neville and Harry, as they weaved between the large wooden beams of the shabby roof. Shadows covered the room and a small amount of light filtered in from a gap in the roof tiles. Sensing an easy escape, Ron moved towards the hole. He tried to creep quietly, but the old wooden joints creaked under his weight.

Glancing down, Ron could see the group of huddled workers and two Medi-Wizards checking for injuries. They looked a bloody long way down. Looking back up and shaking his head to clear the slight vertigo he'd just experienced, Ron took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. He felt sure he was moving in the right direction and continued his careful path towards the back of the old loft.

As Ron climbed over a corner joist, he heard yells and two sharp bangs to his right. Turning to move towards the noise, Ron was stopped by a punching jinx. He kneeled over as the wind was blown out of him and gasped as he tried to get his breath back. Throwing a stunner towards the direction the spell came from; Ron tried to right himself and dived behind the corner joist for cover. Another jinx sailed past him, missing by a few centimetres. Ron gritted his teeth and quickly fired another stunner and his own punching jinx. A loud thud issued around the loft, followed by screaming as something fell to floor below. Ron looked down to see an ugly looking Wizard sprawled on the floor of the warehouse. The Medi-Wizards crowded round him, and Ron couldn't help feeling conflicted. His aim had been true, but he'd managed to seriously injure someone.

He didn't have time to think about the Wizard, as more spells sailed towards him. Ron had to use all of his agility to duck and dive out of the way. Clearly there was more than one Wizard lurking around the warehouse attic. More banging and shouting issued from the other side of the room, followed by a sneeze close to Ron's left. Spinning around, he quickly used the Expelliarmus spell but was blocked.

'It's me, you idiot!' Hermione's voice whispered harshly, as she kept herself hidden from view.

'I told you to stay downstairs,' Ron hissed back, using a shield charm to block three jinxes as they soared towards him.

'And why would I do that?' Hermione asked, coming into view with a grin on her face. 'The action is up here.'

'It's not safe up here,' Ron snapped, as Hermione threw another spell towards their attackers. 'You should have stayed downstairs, out of the way.'

'Stop moaning, I'm helping you!' Hermione laughed. 'Although you're pretty good; that stunning and punching jinx combination was excellent!'

Ron rolled his eyes and pulled Hermione towards him. 'Stop talking and stay close to me, we need to get back to Harry and Neville. For all we know, we could be firing at each other.'

Hermione shook her head, 'you're not. Potter and Longbottom are doing the rounds with four wizards, and there are three on us. We should take our three out and then move towards the others.'

'How do you know that?' Ron asked shocked.

Hermione rolled her eyes this time. 'Tracing charm Weasley; which I would have thought Aurors would actually use. It can tell you how many people or creatures are in a building, their age, sex and species. It's a very handy spell.'

'That's an illegal spell,' Ron said, raising his eyebrow.

'Only because your Ministry decided it was too revealing,' Hermione argued, 'yet they haven't banned everything else that hinders on people's privacy. They just don't like the spell because it's simple, effective and good at stopping those Wizards who like doing shady things; which is most of the Ministry if the past is anything to go by. Aurors should be allowed to use it, at least.'

'Well, we're not,' Ron replied, 'so refrain from using it whilst you're with us. I wouldn't want to have to arrest you and protect you at the same time.'

'You wouldn't get the chance to arrest me,' Hermione grinned, before turning to walk along the beams and towards the men attacking them. Ron stared at the back of her head, contemplating her arrogance, and shaking his head. With a sigh, Ron quickly followed her.

'I wish you would take this seriously,' he muttered, as more jinxes came their way.

'I am,' Hermione said; shielding them both as Ron used the disarming spell, 'which is why I'm here helping you, instead of hurting you.'

A wand zoomed towards them and Ron caught it with satisfaction. 'You act as if I'm completely defenceless.'

'Against the Vipers, you are.'

Ron sent another powerful stunner, which hit its target again and sent another Wizard flying to the floor below. He glanced at Hermione with a slightly smug expression. 'I beg to differ.'

'Lowly criminals or trained agents?' Hermione replied, sending a stunner of her own which perfectly curved around a beam and hit the final Wizard; sending him to join his companion on the floor below.

Ron shrugged and urged them to continue walking. 'Let's just get to Harry and Neville.'

They raced across the floor beams, keeping a look out for any potential threats. The sounds of fighting could be heard echoing around the loft, and the odd misplaced spell would often zoom past them and light up the walls.

As they climbed over a huge roof joint, they came face to face with the duelling wizards. Harry and Neville had taken one of the men out, and were now fighting two more. Ron and Hermione joined the fray and were able to quickly disarm and restrain them, with their combined skill. The four of them stood in silence, regaining their breath.

'What are you doing up here?' Harry asked when he clocked Hermione stood next to Ron.

'Helping you,' Hermione said in an obvious sort of way.

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but was cut short by a large, shiny object falling from the roof. It fell through the beams, ripping them apart and sending wood and dust everywhere. Harry and Neville both lost their footing and fell through the unfinished ceiling. Ron acted instinctively and sent a cushioning charm to the floor below them; praying it would be strong enough to stop any serious injuries.

Hermione yelled, causing Ron to turn round. The final Wizard had managed to get her wand. She ducked out of the way as spells were sent to harm her. Ron tried stunning the hooded figure but missed.

'Ron, that thing was some kind of bomb,' Hermione yelled, 'we need to get down there and stop it!'

Ron shielded the young Witch and tried to make his way towards her. Debris covered his path, but he quickly jumped, kicked and pushed his way across the loft. The hooded figure focused on him, sending the unmistakable green light of the killing curse. Ron managed to slide out of its path and dropped to Hermione's hiding place. Breathing heavily, he grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her towards him.

'How do we detonate it?' Ron shouted, as more explosions filled the air.

'Simple detonation charm, but we need to be close to it,' Hermione said, glancing at Ron with worried blue eyes instead of her usual brown.

'We better get rid of this bastard then,' Ron replied, holding her close and lifting his wand. 'Ready to make a run for it?'

Hermione nodded, and they both took a deep breath. With one final glance at each other they ran out. Ron sent a jelly-leg jinx as Hermione weaved quickly away from him. Without hesitation, Ron fired spell after spell. He didn't give the other Wizard a chance and managed to hit him with a leg locker. Out of nowhere, Hermione ran at the Wizard and tackled him. She grabbed her wand as they both fell through the gap in the beams. Ron managed to run and take hold of hold of her hand just in time. The hooded Wizard fell to the ground, as Ron gripped Hermione and tried to pull her back up.

'What the fuck are you playing at?' Ron groaned, as he pulled her back on the beam. She leaned into him and gave a shaky laugh.

'I wasn't going to give him my wand!'

Ron tutted and helped her to stand up. 'Next time let me summon it.'

They didn't have time to rest; the bomb was ticking away. Without another word they ran for the stairs and tumbled down them. Scanning the room, Ron could see Neville being checked by Medi-Wizards as Harry took a closer look at the bomb.

'Get back!' Ron shouted, pushing everyone out of the way. 'Get back now!'

Hermione aimed her wand at the bomb and took a breath to ready herself.

'Laedo Ledo Adficio Rectus!'

A bright, white light filled the room, making it hard for Ron to see anything. He placed his hands out in front of him and wrapped his hands around Hermione's arm. A trembling surrounded them and Ron felt as if he was being pulled towards the bomb. He struggled to stay upright, but made sure Hermione was safely beside him. Within seconds the light cleared and the bomb exploded inwards, causing everyone to fall to the floor.

Ron blinked as the dusted settled and people started to get back on their feet. He stared down at Hermione, noting that she had a nose bleed.

'You alright?' He whispered, helping her to sit up.

Hermione nodded, wiping the blood on her sleeve.

'How did you know what to do?' Ron asked, getting back on his feet and staring at the detonated bomb. It looked like a small collection of pebbles with a few glass fragments poking out from underneath.

'I used to make them,' Hermione admitted quietly, as she stood up and watched Harry walk towards them. 'It was one of my first jobs as a fully trained Viper; make and detonate the new types of magical bombs. That was a very cheap razor bomb. If it had gone off, it would have sent thousands of glass blades into the air and killed anyone within ten metres.'

Ron stared at her in shock, 'are you serious?'

Hermione nodded, looking extremely guilty. 'I told you I've done some bad things.'

'Did your bombs kill?' He asked, feeling his throat constrict at the thought of her doing something so terrible.

'Mine weren't used to kill. They were needed to get rid of certain artefacts and buildings,' Hermione whispered, 'but I hated it from the minute I started and I only lasted a couple of months. Even back then I knew on some level that what I was doing was completely wrong. They transferred me to research and I never touched one again.'

'What was completely wrong?' Harry asked, clapping Ron lightly on the back.

Ron stared down at Hermione, contemplating his next words. She gazed up at him pitifully, making his heart ache with the knowledge that she had been part of something so horrible.

'This situation,' Ron muttered, moving his eyes away from the transfigured Witch and onto Harry. 'I can't believe we've just had to do this. What the fuck is going on?'

'Welsted has admitted that he owes some money,' Harry said with a sigh, 'apparently he has a serious gambling problem.'

'He must owe some serious Galleons,' Ron said, shaking his head. 'Why would they attack him and then wait around to plant a bomb?'

'It was meant for you,' Hermione sighed, holding her nose to stop the bleeding. 'No one would send a bomb over a few gambling debts. They cost too much money and involve too much magic to make. Whoever they are, they just used Welsted as a trap. Check their history.'

'Four of them were trialled as Death Eaters after the war,' Neville said, coming to stand beside them and looking a little worse for wear. 'We've checked all of them on the Ministry register.'

'Still doesn't explain why they would do this,' Harry said, rubbing the back of his head. 'We need to get back to the Ministry and interview them in the cells.'

'Are you sure you don't want to go to St. Mungo's and get checked out?' Ron asked, concerned for his best friend. 'You and Neville did fall through the bloody roof.'

'All checked out and only a few cuts and bruises,' Neville grinned, 'thanks to your little cushioning charm.'

Ron nodded as Hermione sneezed again. She moaned as more blood issued from her small nose.

'Do you need a trip to St. Mungo's?' Harry asked, eyeing her carefully.

'No, I feel fine,' Hermione muttered, dabbing her nose. 'It's just a nose bleed, and the sneezing has been happening all day. It's a little cold, that's all.'

'You did well,' Harry admitted, 'considering you weren't meant to get involved. You could easily pass as an Auror with the knowledge you have and that quick wand work.'

'So you're not going to arrest me?' Hermione asked hopefully.

'I suppose not,' Harry said, frowning slightly, 'but I don't want this happening again. You may be skilful, but you're not one of us. I don't even want to know how you were able to detonate that bomb; the thought worries me even more.'

'Well trained,' Ron muttered, making Hermione glance at the floor.

'We would never have got rid of that bomb without her,' Neville said grimly. 'Bombs are a rarity in our department. I actually can't remember ever having to deal with it.'

'Wizards don't generally use bombs,' Harry replied, 'it's a relatively new branch of magic. They're far more dangerous than the muggle ones; and those are bloody awful without the magic. The magical ones haven't really been bothered with, because we have our wands to cause explosions.'

'But magical bombs are useful if you don't want to be anywhere near the explosions,' Hermione muttered, 'you can place a timer on them, plant them and leave without anyone being able to trace the resulting blast. It's a muggle technique, but when you add the magical element they become so much more powerful.'

'And useful,' Neville said grimly.

'Let's get back to the Ministry and sort this mess out,' Ron sighed, not wanting to hear anything else about magical bombs. The more they talked about them, the worse he felt.

The others nodded and quickly set about sorting out the mess in the warehouse and gathering everyone together. Ron arrived back at the Ministry with Hermione first and quickly took her into the office and locked the door.

'Look, I don't think you should mention to anyone else about the bomb making,' Ron sighed, leaning against the desk. 'With everything going on, it's the last thing we need people knowing.'

Hermione nodded miserably, 'I knew you would react this way.'

'It's a lot to fucking take in,' Ron replied, rubbing his eyes. 'You have to understand that I see you as this sweet, mislead young girl, who has accidently got involved with a group of people she shouldn't. But then you tell me this and it makes everything more confusing. Were you misled or are you just feeding me a false persona?'

'I've always tried to be truthful with you,' Hermione cried, 'Of course there are things you don't know, but in time I'll tell you everything. I have done things I'm not proud of and nothing I do will change that. I was swept into the lifestyle of the Vipers at an age when I had nothing and knew nothing about the magical world. I knew I was meant to be part of it and took the opportunities offered to me by the agency. I wish I had taken Dumbledore's offer of Hogwarts, but I didn't.'

'I don't want to get to the end of this and find out you're someone else,' Ron said softly.

'The person you see every day in your apartment is me,' Hermione replied, moving to stand in front of him. 'You will find out more and you probably won't like it, but the person I really am is the one you see each day. Hermione Granger, unemployed, uneducated and someone desperately in need of your help.'

'I like Hermione Granger,' Ron muttered, pulling gently at her transfigured straight blonde hair, 'but I'm worried she's not a real person. She could just be another Rose Wendell; a complete sham.'

'She's real,' Hermione sighed, as Ron moved his hand to cup her face, 'and has put all her trust into you.'

'If I find out that Hermione Granger is a fake,' Ron said softly, 'I'll have to stop you.'

'I know,' Hermione said truthfully, gazing at him with a look of adoration. 'It would have to be you. It could only be you.'

Ron felt himself lean in, as a drugged sensation took over his body. She was utterly spellbinding and he couldn't help feeling mesmerised by her words. It felt like Hermione was singling him out as her equal. It was as if they had made some sort of invisible pact and Ron could think of only one way to swear to it.

Their eyes closed as his lips met hers softly. Applying gentle pressure, Ron wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. Hermione hesitantly placed her arms around his neck, bringing her body closer to his. Ron moaned as her breasts pushed against his chest and he showed his appreciation by sliding his tongue into her mouth. She whimpered slightly, causing a strange animalistic feeling in Ron. He lavished her tongue with his own; unable to think straight as his emotions overtook his brain. She felt perfect and he knew that this was what he wanted; every minute of his fucking life.

'Ron,' she mumbled against his lips, causing him to abruptly stop and open his eyes. Transfigured Hermione stared back at him with heavy lidded eyes. Ron dropped his hands and she took a step away in a daze.

'I'm sorry,' he said, clearing his throat. 'I dunno what came over me.'

Hermione nodded, biting her swollen bottom lip and staring at the ground bashfully. 'I'm sorry too.'

Ron felt his heart constrict and smiled sadly at her. 'I never thought my life could change so dramatically when I agreed to help you, but I wouldn't change anything. Even with the knowledge of your bomb making, I feel a strange connection to you.'

'I would never have done it if I had thought people were being hurt,' Hermione repeated, 'and I helped detonate plenty; which saved countless lives. I'm not an evil person or a murderer. Everything I did was to try and help others. I'm not proud of the fact that I made such dangerous weapons and I had to stop after a while because I couldn't handle it. But I don't want you thinking I'm some evil Witch who masterminded attacks. It wasn't like that. We used them to hide our secrets and destroy our bases when they were found out.'

Ron said nothing, but continued to stare at her. Someone banged on the door, making them both jump. He got up and moved to open it. As his hands gripped the door handle and his wand, Ron turned to stare at the enigmatic woman stood in the middle of his office.

'I do trust you,' Ron whispered truthfully. 'I don't believe you could hurt an innocent person for the sake of personal gain. You're too good and pure to be that kind of Witch. I truly believe that you were led astray by the magic offered to you with the Vipers. I don't think making those sorts of weapons is acceptable in any way. In fact, if I found out that you had intentionally used them to hurt people, I would have to see that you were rightly placed before the Ministry and put on trial.'

'I didn't,' Hermione replied, 'I'll give you the dates, locations and times of each one if you really want. You would see that they were used as a way to hide things and not to kill people.'

Ron nodded, feeling satisfied with her answer. 'I'm gonna need to know everything eventually Hermione. I'll protect and defend you with my life, but you'll need to share everything with me.'

'You can have everything,' Hermione replied softly. Something in her expression told Ron that she meant it. She would give him everything eventually.

o0o

A/N 2: If you were wondering what the spell Hermione used to detonate the bomb meant, I've placed the rough translation here:

Laedo Ledo - strike, hit, hurt, damage, offend, annoy, violate.

Adficio - to affect, afflict, weaken, sap, exhaust, drain.

Rectus - right, correct, proper, upright, natural, plain.

I found this on a Latin website, so if it's wrong I'm sorry!

As always, I'm forever thankful for your reviews, messages and adds to the favourite lists. They making writing so much more worthwhile and keep me going on days when I'm feeling less than motivated. I also appreciate the allowances you are making for me not updating regularly. I'm saving like mad to get a new computer and am currently relying heavily on friends and family to use theirs!