Well here's chapter 13. Thank you all for the reviews! lol I put chapter 13 up on Halloween, how funny! lets hope it doesn't bring bad luck!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer- I own nothing
Chapter 13
Lucius woke up with a large headache and no Hermione. After searching the house his anger had increased immensely. He locked himself up in his study and glared at the flickering fire. Mitzy popped in beside him with a glass of firewhiskey. He took with without a word. Mitzy gave a small little cough. Lucius glared at her.
"What is it?" Mitzy seemed to roll her eyes slightly.
"Master wonts to know where Missus 'Ermes is?" He have a confused nod and drained the glass of amber liquid. "Missus ran out of your room, cryin' and such. She was wiping' at 'er eyes and she fell down the stairs. She got back up and was bleedin' a lot. Cryin' aboot how 'er bein' 'ere was puttin' the people she loved in danger. So she Flooed to the Ministry. That's where Master should look for 'er." Lucius got to his feet with a large smile he picked up the elf and swung her around before setting her down.
"Mitzy you are pure genius!" The elf blushed a lavender colour and Lucius looked at the fire with determination. Hermione Granger needed to go to work. And Merlin help him he was going to go too.
Monday morning
Hermione stepped out of the Floo Monday morning and into the Minister's office. Kingsley nodded at her. She had spent the weekend settling into her new body and the new house.
"Vhere am I to be vorking?" Hermione gave a little cough at her accent. She still wasn't used to it but she knew she would form a habit from it soon. Kingsley smiled.
"Hermione. Come with me please." He led her out of the office and down a crowded hallway. Lots of people stopped and stared at the apparent newcomer. "Albana Cominovtic. How glad I am that your trip was a success. I pray the Network was okay with your trade off at Holland?" Hermione gave a quick nod.
"Yes, Shacklebolt. Everything vas in order for my arrival. I 'ave settled in nicely at the 'ouse you so kindly provided for me." Her thick accent seemed to caress the words. Guys winked at her and the women glared. Hermione smirked and held her head high. Kingsley opened a door and let her step through. She did so, gracefully. She caught sight of familiar silver colored eyes. They glared at her. She stiffened her posture.
"I thought you said I vould be vorking alone, Shacklebolt. Vas I mistaken?" Kingsley noticed the small, fleeting smile on her face. He pretended to look nervous.
"No, I sent word to Romania about your work partner. I had hoped, Albana, that it would have reached you before you left." She sniffed slightly.
"Obviously not." She turned to Lucius who had stood up. Even with her new height she was still a good four inches shorter than he was. "Albana Cominovtic. I am 'ere to replace a Ms. 'Ermione Granger." She looked at Lucius with a raised eyebrow as he scowled at her.
"For the time being anyvay." She looked at him stonily, while she was practically screaming on the inside, she wanted to hide in his arms and forget everything. "No need to introduce yourself… Lucius Malfoy." He looked slightly impressed but the look was quickly gone. Kingsley pointed a several Dark Artifacts.
"You will be breaking these today, Albana." He looked between the to people. "Play nice." Hermione chuckled.
"Vith pleasure, Shacklebolt. "Vith… pleasure." She took off her cloak as Kingsley shut the door and pulled the nearest object towards her carefully. It was a small jewelry box. She spun it slowly with her wand without touching it.
"Simple repelling jinx. Underneath zat…. Oh naughty, naughty. A very violent Bombarda curse." She smirked and waved her wand to remove both wards. She slowly passed her wand over the box. It glowed a faint green. "Better not open zat one. Cursed jewelry, no?" She looked at Lucius who gave a mere nod of his head. She rolled her eyes and slowly placed up some wards.
"What are you doing?" His tone seemed somewhat annoyed. She glared at him.
"I am varding myself because I 'ave a job to do. I must open zis box." Lucius stretched his hands.
"I advise against it." She scowled but reinforced the wards and silently casting some at Lucius. She slowly opened the lid and a little explosion sent spears of light at her and Lucius. He jumped slightly reaching for his wand but the spears dissolved around him and hit the wall behind them.
"What the fuck?!" He cursed some more but Hermione smirked at him.
"I vill not lose my job because a lunatic refused to vard himself." Lucius looked ready to hex her. "I know you do not like me Lucius Malfoy. I don't blame you. I don't like myself sometimes eizer. So ve are on ze same page, no?" Lucius gave a slightly amused nod.
She slowly flicked her wand and the jewelry rose into the air.
"Do you vant to take a guess on vat curses they are?" Lucius shook his head with a glare. "Fine. I vill." She slowly removed or cancelled out the curses on the jewelry. She could feel a slight pounding in her head. She slowly reached up to grasp the ruby pendant. It was cool in her hand and she dropped it in the box. She replaced the rest and pushed the box to the side. She rubbed her temples gently. The pounding seemed to grow worse. She slowly stood up.
"It seems I am sick. Please, tell Shacklebolt that I vent 'ome." Lucius gave a non-committal nod. She glared at him and walked out the door slowly. The pounding increased into a migraine. She squinted and reached Shacklebolt's door she nod lightly. He opened the door with a surprised look.
"Done so soon?" She shook her head.
"'Eadache. I must see Severus. Must be a side effect from ze potion." He gave a concerned nod and led her to the fireplace. She took a small pinch of floo powder. "Owl Severus and tell 'im to meet me at my 'ouse." Shacklebolt gave her one more nod before she disappeared in a flash of green light.
Hermione stumbled out of the fireplace and lay down on her couch. She waved her wand and closed the curtains. Tramper popped out in front of her, the crack seemed to split her head open.. She waved him close.
"If Severus apperates… let 'im in please. 'E might 'ave an idea about vat is vrong." The elf gave another nod but instead of disappearing he walked out the door. She gave a small smile and fell asleep. She was awoke several minutes later by large hands giving her a slight shake. She opened her eyes and winced. Snape looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Playing hooky, are we?" Hermione shook her head.
"No just major 'eadache." Snape frowned.
"Probably a side effect from the potion." He pulled out a green vial. "Drink this and you should feel better." She did as directed and was pleasantly surprised at its minty taste. It took a few moments for the potion to take effect. The relief was immense, she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Vell… I can get back to vork then." Severus shook his head and gave her a stern frown.
"No. You must relax. Tomorrow you may go to work but today take it easy." She shrugged.
"You are ze boss." Severus shook his head and pulled out several more green vials.
"This should last the week. It will give me more time to make some more. Take one a day." Hermione nodded and pocketed the vials. "And take it easy."
"I vill. Now it iz time for you to get back to vork." Severus paused and then nodded.
"I suppose it is." She smiled.
"Thanks for ze potions." Severus gave a distant smile and apperated. Hermione stood up and stretched. If she wasn't going to go to work she might as well clean up the house.
"Tramper." The small elf popped in.
"Yes Mistress Albana?" Hermione smiled.
"Ve need to clean this 'ouse top to bottom. I know it isn't very big but I vant it spotless." The elf smiled.
"Yes, Mistress Albana." Hermione frowned.
"Call me, 'Ermes." The elf beamed.
"Yes Mistress Hermes." With that she and Tramper started cleaning.
Lucius knocked loudly on Shacklebolt's door.
"Come in." Lucius opened the door and sat down in one of the chairs with a frown.
"I was to be working with Hermione, not some exotic looking Romanian with a slight French accent. Where is she?" Shacklebolt shrugged.
"She told me that she needed a little time off to straighten things out. As for where she is I have no idea. And as for Ms. Cominovtic. Her mother was half French, and her father was Romanian. She is a diligent worker. It is a shame she had a headache. Must be from all the Apperating she did on the way here." Lucius rolled his eyes.
"I don't care about Ms. Cominovtic. I want to know about Hermione." Shacklebolt shrugged again.
"I'm sorry I can't help you. But she did leave me a forwarding address. She told me that all her mail has been re-routed to my office and I am to forward it along." Lucius stood up.
"You can forward her mail but you can't tell me where she is?" Shacklebolt raised his hands.
"I'm sorry. That is classified information. I can't tell anyone." Lucius paused.
"She has a Secret Keeper. Who is it?" Shacklebolt looked thoughtful.
"If I knew. I certainly wouldn't tell anyone." Lucius glared at the man.
"You assigned me to protect her and you won't tell me where she is! How the fuck can I do my job, if I don't know where she is, Shacklebolt?!" Kingsley shrugged.
"I'm sorry. I can't help you. I told you enough as it is. I would love to tell you where she is but I can't." Lucius stood there breathing heavily. He held up a hand.
"Fine. I'm going to find her Secret Keeper." Shacklebolt sighed.
"You won't be the only one looking."
Ron frowned at the group of people gathered before him. LeStrange manor was a tad drafty for his liking but it served his purpose.
"I call you here to get at least something and you give me nothing? Cissy, my love. Is this acceptable?" Narcissa shook her head frantically. A large bruise covered her cheek and her eye was swollen shut. Ron grabbed her jaw tightly and showed her face to the group.
"This is what happens to someone who displeases me. Now I use my fist to some extent. But for major displeasure." He waved his wand and Narcissa floated into the air and her clothes dissolved. She started sobbing trying to cover herself. He grinned coldly as he made her body twist around. Her back was bloody and torn up. Lash marks could be seen across her back. "I will whip the person who causes my displeasure." He dropped Narcissa to the floor. Several of the people winced and gasped.
"Stop your blubbering this once, woman!?" Narcissa flinched at his tone and tossed Narcissa a rag to cover herself in. "And get off the carpet! You're staining it." Narcissa stood on wobbly legs and nodded to Ron.
"Y-yes. My lord." She ran from the room and Ronald laughed.
"You see. I believe that, your previous Dark Lord, was to soft. I believe that as a punishment you should be able to see the marks. To carry them until they turn into scars. To show the whole world that you displeased me. Understand?" There were murmured ayes from the crowd. Ron sat down on his makeshift throne.
"Now. Tell me something I want to hear." A cloaked figure walked forward and kissed Ron's boots.
"I have heard from a source in the Ministry that Hermione Granger has gained a Secret Keeper. I was not told who, for the source did not know. It is highly classified information. Also there is a woman taking over Hermione's job at the ministry till she comes back." Ron seemed to ponder this.
"Why do I care about this woman? I liked your other information better." The figure bowed deeply.
"She is a pureblood from Romania. Her mother is half-French. She is regal and incredibly beautiful. She might make the perfect Dark Queen for you." Ron smirked.
"Yes, she sounds wonderful. And if Narcissa doesn't give me the information I want then she will have to be disposed of. And I will be in need of a new Queen. Thank you, Avery." The man bowed.
"You are most welcome, My Lord." Another figure approached and kissed Ron's boots.
"I heard that Hermione has obtained two Secret Keepers. This might make it much easier to find her." Ron nodded.
"Thank you, Nott. I am pleased with this news." He looked at the rest.
"I want you to find me the information of her Secret Keepers. You will not rest until I kill her. She is mine to destroy. And I will not stop until I kill Hermione Granger. Do you understand what I am telling you?" All the figures shouted their agreement.
"And I will not stop until her filth is washed from this country. From the world! And we will do it, one mudblood at a time."
Narcissa ran until she reached a hidden fireplace. She sobbed as she grabbed the handful of Floo powder she had hidden in her skirts. She crawled inside and dropped the powder.
"M-ministry of Magic." She disappeared in a flash of green flames. She landed in the lobby of the now empty building. She grabbed her wand and started running towards the Minister's office. She ran through the reception room and banged on the door.
"Please let me in! Please! I need to talk to some one!? Merlin please let me in!" Kingsley opened to door and Narcissa pushed past him wiping at her eyes furiously.
"What has happened Narcissa?" Narcissa stared at him.
"What has happened? Ronald Weasley happened! I thought he loved me! And I come back to tell him that the little mudblood has moved out of the manor and he does this to me?" Kingsley reached out to her.
"Its okay. We can fix this." Narcissa started laughing.
"We can fix this alright! I will tear him apart! The whip he used was enchanted not to let the person heal the lashes! They have to live with the scars! I will kill him." Kingsley grasped her shoulders.
"Calm down. We will get him later. Just calm down." Narcissa took a few deep breaths.
"I'm calm. But I am also serious. No man gets away with scarring Narcissa Black, and lives! I will tell you everything but I want to be there when he dies."
Okay don't scar Narcissa Black. She gets really angry. Well tell me what you think. This was mainly a filler chapter. But the rest should be good cause Ron and lucius are on a race to find Hermione and there will be a big fight adn then lovey-dovey stuff! Horray! lol tell me what you think though.