Authors Note:

I do not own harry potter.

True to my promise – an update. I hope you enjoy.

Hermione

Gentle rays of sunlight cascaded through the cream curtains hanging above the large window opposite the rather uncomfortable bed. A small sigh escaped me as I hoisted myself up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Game plan Hermione, what's my game plan? I rubbed my eyes as I thought out a strategy to catch this guy. The sad thing is she didn't even contemplate who it was. She didn't really care. She took a quick shower and packed light.

I took an almost purposeful stride out of the building and headed to the nearest news stand on the main street. I picked up a muggle paper and covertly cast a translation spell. The title read 'Unrest in Budapest- historic buildings ablaze'. After scanning the paper, the main damaged building was Magyar Nemzeti Galéria in Old Buda, across the river. In fact, most of the damage seemed to be across in Old Buda. After paying in HUF I set off west on foot with my note pad and camera for the report later on.

After walking for an hour, passing extraordinary buildings, there wasn't any sign of damage anywhere. The streets felt almost empty, most of the shops were closed with signs hanging in the windows due to recent events. Could it be that bad? I reached the bridge Széchenyi Lánchíd and then it became obvious. Embers still burned on the Magyar Nemzeti Galéria. Large parts of the rooves were damaged, along with a lot of the old city. I felt my teeth grinding to how careless this was. I hurried my pace across the bridge and strode up the million amount of stairs up to the museum and cast an illusion charm to hide the damage as I set out repairing it, breathing heavily from the flights climbed. The burning in my legs had to wait as I had much to repair. The dishevelled part of the city was looking up as I was slowly fixing the adversity.

I headed north in Old Buda and the damage was worsening. The castle district was almost burnt to nothing. I continued to photograph and scribble in my notepad about the events that had taken place. I strolled and wrote up the Tarnok Utca. A grand building stood before me, the Mátyás Templom. There seemed to be no damage to it, it stood on top of the hill I'd climbed. It stood before many damaged buildings. My brows furrowed together as I tried to consider why this building hadn't been damaged. I pulled my rucksack around my body and unzipped it. I began to shove the camera and note pad in before a sudden yank ripped it off of my back. I stood there perplexed as to what just happened. My backpack seemed to float right in front of me, it scuttled away and drifted into the Church. I snapped my jaw shut and headed for the building as quickly as my clumsy feet could carry me. The large wooden door slammed in front of me. I yanked the handle and banged on the door- nothing. I glanced around as I withdrew my wand.

"Alohomora" the whisper of my voice could've barely been heard by me. I quickly shoved my wand back into my pocket and the locks clunked open inside of the heavy wooden door. I opened it just enough to slip through and shut it as quietly as I could, the grandness of the church almost took my breath away but I had to focus on the task at hand. I pressed my back against the cold stone wall of the church and peered around the corner. I watched as my backpack floated down the middle isle in-between the pews. I followed with my eyes to where it finally stopped. A very large cloaked figure sat towards the front. My heart started to quicken as I stepped out into the open and hid behind a fairly large potted tree, the backpack floated right into his grasp. I felt my brows knit together in confusion. I took each step steady and quietly as I walked into the center of the isle and pointed my wand directly at the cloaked figure. Next to the man something emerged, something grey. It became clearer and clearer. I felt my eyes squint trying to make out this thing. I subconsciously lowered my wand. Eyes. Big yellow eyes turned my way. I felt my own eyes grow in sync with it. It was a Demiguise. Of course, how did I not think of it before.

"Expelliarmus!" a low male voice roared as my wand ripped from my hand. I felt my breathing stop as my heart raced, my feet ran backwards away from him. His face was covered by an oversized leather hood. I ran faster and faster backwards as my eyes never left the hooded figure. I felt my feet come from under me and I was soon crawling as quickly as I could backwards. Think Hermione think. A strange knot formed in my chest, the panic rose up in my body almost drowning me as my heart not sprinted in my chest. The figure didn't move, the Demiguise never took his eyes off of me as his long arm stretched out and clung onto the man's leg. "Leave here, it's dangerous. Don't come looking for me again. Or else you'll leave me no choice." His dark slow drawl sent a ripple of fear down my spine. The familiar pop hit my ear drums as they apparated away.

An instantaneous sigh of relief escaped my lips as I placed a hand over my racing heart. The clinking of wood hit the floor. My wand. I leapt to my feet and hurried to it and I too apparated away, back to my apartment. Why would he leave me my wand? That was stupid Hermione. I need to be more careful. I'm just out of practice. I collapsed on my bed with my arms stretched out above my head. My mind buzzed with thoughts and emotion as I tried to figure out my next move. All I knew right now is that I'm not giving up. No matter even if he did threaten me.

The familiar tap on the large window alerted me as I launched my torso up. Just an owl. My mind was on edge. It held a rolled letter in its claw. I hurried over to let in the impatient bird. I flew around the apartment dropping the letter onto my bed and soared straight back out the way it came in.

'Stay away.'

I screwed it up and tutted as I threw it into the fireplace.

"Incendio!" I raised my voice with a slight temper and started to pace up and down the small apartment. My fingers raked through my silk tame hair as my eyes shifted all over the shabby old apartment. I can't believe I let that opportunity slip through my fingers. I was so afraid and stupid. A coward. I just ran away. I didn't recognize their voice. It was too dark and low, unfamiliar. No one I met at Hogwarts. Yet, he was huge, maybe Hagrid's height. I couldn't make out his face but he sure didn't have his accent. I plonked myself in a big worn out leather arm chair and sat by the steady fire. It was a rather cold Septembers day. I pulled large knitted pink socks over my icy feet and drummed my fingers on the arm of the chair. I needed a plan.

By 11 pm I had no plan. It wasn't going well to say the least; in fact, I fell asleep with a tartan blanket pulled over me. A sudden and urgent tapping on the window awoke me from my half slumber. My head jerked up, the fire had now died out and there was a large bird from the ministry patiently waiting for me to open the window. I staggered up to the window and hoisted it up. It carefully placed the letter down sealed in red wax stamped with the ministries mark. My stiff shoulders pulled the window back down after the owl flew away and I plodded back to the chair.

'Hermione,

This has become a high priority mission. 5 auroras have been sent to Budapest and are stationed around the old parts of Budapest. Thanks for your tip off. A lot worse than we thought but I believe you can hold your own- if you impress the ministry there's a promotion when you get back. Be safe.

Head of the Department of the regulation and control of magical creatures.

P.S. where on this Earth did you manage to find a Hoo-Hoo to deliver your backpack?'

What? My backpack? What stuff did he send? Why would he send my backpack back with all the information to capture him? What game was he playing? I need to inform the ministry as soon as possible. I conjured paper, quill and ink before scribbling down what happened explaining it could all be falsified information. I informed them of exactly what I saw. I summoned the ministries owl back and sent it on its way.

I sat nervously for hours before eventually falling asleep in the same chair in the late hours of the morning, now positioned directly looking at the window. It was early evening before I received another letter from the ministry now delivered by a smaller brown and rather exhausted owl. I quickly fed it pellets of owl food and it flew on its way. I eagerly tore open the letter.

'This is rather alarming news, yet, it seems your information wasn't tampered with, there was no added information to what you stated in your letter and all correlated with the photographs and notes in your journal. I don't know what game he is playing or why, but you need to make sure he is still in the area this could've caused him to run. Watch your back.

Head of the Department of the regulation and control of magical creatures.'

A certain sigh of relief escaped my body as I folded the letter away and placed it in the top draw of my bedside table. That's it. I'm going to find this guy. I grabbed my shoulder bag with yet another journal, I'd have to make do without a camera for now. So many things didn't add up. It was 8pm by the time id got ready and walked to old Buda to track him. I started at the church where I first saw him. The dim light from the setting sun turned the magnificent white stone an almost pink colour. I quietly entered the building and peered around the corner to the pews. A few people were sitting there praying, probably for all of this havoc to subside. I traced my eyes over the few people that were in there. I was about to turn and leave when I saw it. That familiar white blonde hair. I felt my heart slam to a halt and my breathing stop. My eyes fixated on him. I didn't even think. My mind went completely blank. I couldn't control myself I put one foot in front of the other. Slowly at first, but then accelerated to an almost jog. By this point my heart went from 0-100 as it was banging on my rib cage, almost jumping out of my mouth. My blood pumped violently around my body as my fists clenched together and my stomach flipped over and over again. I was but 10 ft away from him, he sat patiently and unmoving in the booth with his head bowed slightly. I felt my feet stop, should I be doing this? Could this really be him?

I plucked up my buried Gryffindor courage and took the last few steps towards him. I locked my eyes onto the front of the church until I finally stood next to him. I closed my eyes and took a long deep breath. My clenched hands shaking ever so slightly with nerves. I twisted my head to gaze down at him.

"Draco?" I felt my shoulders drop, my stomach turned. I felt sick.

"Sajnalom?" the boy praying in church whispered in Maygar. His confused stricken face broke my heart. It wasn't the face I wanted to see. I felt a single tear roll down my face as I politely smiled at the boy and turned to head out.

How could I be so unfocused. Why did I hope to see him? It's been close to 5 years since I'd seen him. I'm with Reggie now, I'm happy, I can't be thinking about that Jarvey again. Get a grip Hermione. I took a deep breath of the fresh air and decided to head back to the museum to hopefully find out what started the fire.

It took over half an hour to climb the million flights of stairs leading up to the magnificent building. My breath was harsh and rapid and my legs burned but I focused on the task ahead of me, heading straight to the former most damaged parts of the grand building. As my breathing steadied and the night grew darker I drew my wand out.

"lumo-" in my clumsiness I fell crashing to the floor smacking the side of my head straight onto the concrete path. Ouch. I huffed in pain and sat up right and grabbed my wand that only fell a foot or so in front. "Episkey" I drawled in pain as the cuts and sure to be bruises erased themselves from my skin. The pain started to ease. "Lumos" the light shot from my wand and lit up a small area around me. "ferula" bandages instantly started wrapping around the more severe cuts on my hands as I glanced around. A glinting of rather large black stone type objects lay on the floor. My eyebrows knitted together as a sharp 'V' formed between them. I reached my free hand down. It was a hard object, almost a tear drop shape, a dark black that glistened in the bright lumos light. It was light, not like a stone but appeared like a polished black one. I swung my shoulder bag around and shoved it in as an ear splitting screech echoed throughout the sky. Immediately dropping my wand and covering my ears. A large black shadow even in the night sky flew low over me, a powerful wind knocked me forward back onto my knees and palms of my hand as I winced in pain. The screech once again boomed in the night's sky. I scurried on all fours to my wand. "Nox" I almost shouted as the continuing screeching filled my ears, I rose to my feet quickly. The dark night was suddenly ablaze as a fire erupted on the main part of the museum, the giant beast landed with a great thud on its damage roof. My eyes widened in fear, I felt myself backing up, about to run away. No, Hermione. No more running away. This is what you're here to do. Protect the people.

"Petrificus Totalus" the beast screeched once more as it struggled against the magic binds, "silenco!" the screeching failed to halt. Damn it. I ran quickly towards it as it crashed down to the back of the museum. You can do this Hermione. My heart beat powerfully against my ribs; my body wasn't filled with fear. It was adrenalin. The rush of strength and courage swirled in my blood and around my body. I clutched my wand tightly as the creature squirmed. Its hammer of a tail along with its powerful head crashed into the magnificent and huge building. Its wail of frustration was sure to bring pain to my ears. The anger in its yellow cat like eyes was obvious. "Obscuro" I flicked my wand towards the creature. The magical field blinding him caused him to calm down. Just as I thought, the skin is too tough for any spell to penetrate. Binding spells did the trick. The cries halted as its deep breaths huffed blowing my hair back over my shoulders. It was huge. It must've been 50ft at least. Its dark black skin and giant horns must make it a Hungarian horntail. My hands started to shake as the adrenaline subsided and nerves set in. This was definitely a category 5 beast. In fact in this moment I'm inventing a category 6 XXXXXX for this Horntail. I gulped as I surveyed what to do next. The familiar pop of apparition filled my muffled ears as I spun on my heels.

"Reggie?" my eyes grew in surprise. "Lumos" As the light filled the space between us a grin tore on his face as I ran up to him. He wrapped his comforting arms around me. "Reggie. I'm so glad you're here what're you doing here?! It's dangerous." He tightened his arms round me and then looked at my face.

"As soon as you sent that letter I knew it would be too dangerous for you just to come on your own. I headed straight to the Ministry and volunteered, luckily we received your information you collected. We were all arriving by port key about ten minutes ago across the river. We saw this beast immediately, the screams filled the air. I knew you'd be at the center of danger. I raced here as fast as I could and apparated up the stairs." He placed his hand on my cheek and caressed it with his thumb and set a light tender kiss on my lips.

"Yes well I can handle myself." I grinned back at his cheerful face.

"I can see that." He gave a wink and parted us as more aruras began to apparate here. "alright aruras get word out to the ministry that they have a category 5 beast that needs to be contained properly and transported to a sanctuary." He waited for approximately 10 seconds. "Now." He commanded in an authoritative way, auras began apparating away immediately. His stern expression softened as he turned back to me. "Has there been any sign of the wizard releasing these beasts?"

"I saw him yesterday, he apparated away, I've only seen two of his creatures, this Horntail and a Demiguise. The Demiguise was almost harmful, the dragon surprisingly didn't put up a fight against me. It was either luck or Harry exaggerated all these years." Reggie chuckled and covered his mouth with his hand and I smirked at my achievement as I glanced back over to the horntail. "It's a male, so not as aggressive or as large as a female thankfully."

"Not unlike our magical folke then" reggie sneered as my eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped.

"Reginald Sutcliffe! Take that back right now!" I demanded as he snickered and backed away from me, a smile started growing on my lips.

"Anyway babe, I should be reporting back, there are 4 more aruras and they've all set a mood charm on you so when you feel fearful, scared or any overly heightened emotion they'll be able to locate you as soon as." He gave a quick hug good-bye as I nodded. "Stay out of mischief you" his cockney twang bringing a smirk to my face.

"Never," I beamed as he apparated away. I turned on my heels towards a nearby bench, "lumos maxima" I placed my bright wand beside me as the calmed dragon breathed habitually and almost methodically. I felt my heavy eyes struggle to stay open. My head often falling forward and snapping back up.

"Hermione? Love?" that's when I heard it. It was him. His voice almost sang my name as it melted off of his tongue. "You need to leave my love, it's not safe here. He's back." It almost felt like he right in front of me, his hands rested on my shoulders gently shaking them back and forth, I couldn't clearly make out his face. But his bright hair and pale skin almost gave it away, but then there were his eyes. His deep smoldering grey, full of emotion. I felt myself falling into him. "Hermione wake up! He's here! Go!" the sudden shouting of his raised voice shocked me awake as my eyelids flew open. My head painful snapped up. The light from my wand still emitting a powerful light half blinding me as I glanced into it to pick up my wand. I leapt to my feet and spun my head around glancing everywhere around me. I felt fear in my heart now, it was beating quickly. I gripped my wand as I faced the dragon. My eyes grew wider as the cloaked figure stood beside the now unbound dragon. I staggered backwards as he took a step towards me, the dragon almost took a protective stance over him. I couldn't defeat both of them, the aruras aren't arriving, they should be arriving. I couldn't stay, I tried apparating. But it wasn't working. My heart beat faster and faster as I had no other option than to fight. A dark chuckle boomed from beneath the hood. That's it. I took a powerful stance as I advanced towards him.

"I warned him mudblood, told him to stay away" Both his arms extended outwards beside him. I hadn't been called that since the days of the war, it hurt more than I remembered. I felt my heart clench but he would never know it affected me.

"who are you? What game are you playing?" I demanded my stern face showing nothing but anger and frustration.

"Oh little Hermione Granger, you're supposed to be intelligent I heard. I guess rumors aren't always true." He sneered. "You're the bait" he whispered as his eyes twitched with madness. He lowered one of his hands, he held no wand yet he extended the other hand out towards me. We were about 20ft away. Confusion hit my face as I strongly held my wand in his direction tightening the grip. No movement nor sound was made yet my wand ripped out from my hand and smacked into the concrete in front of the hooded figure. My eyes once again grew with fear and sweat dripped from my brow, I faltered backwards. He didn't use a wand nor a spell, who is this? Only the most powerful wizards in history could do it. I felt my whole body quiver with fear. I was trapped here.

The figure flipped his hand upwards and I was launched into the dark night sky, but as soon as I found myself flying upwards, just as quickly I flew back down harshly into the black concrete, a blood curdling scream ripped from my lungs as I felt my back crack and my skin split. I was lying flat on my damaged back writhing in pain. He just used the unforgivable, Imperio. As my sight blurred in and out of focus I could see him approaching slowly. His hand once again flipped upwards into the sky. I screamed out into the night. But this time I felt strung up by my ankles and bound in the air. My face was at his level as he approached closer and closer until we were a mere foot apart. That's when I saw it. It can't be.

"Hagrid?" I croaked painfully.

"Almost." His eyes were filled with an insane glimmer as his mad chuckle rippled out of his mouth. "What a twist of events" his eye twitched as the stern passionate words sent a quiver down my spine. This wasn't the Hagrid I knew. Tears welled up in my faltered vision as I now dazed in and out of consciousness.

"H-

"NO!" he bellowed furiously and clenched both his giant fists. I was suddenly unable to speak. Not a word. "Shush shush shush little miss Granger now, hush hush." I could feel my head swaying and my eyes drooping. "na ah ah, not yet we're still waiting for our other guest." I let out a would be blood curdling scream if he hadn't of silenced me. A gash almost blade like sliced into my stomach and I crashed into the floor head first into a slump. Blood gushed from my head into my mouth as I started choking. Yet I found it harder and harder to breath. My hands were now soaked in a puddle of blood soaking the concrete from my stomach. I couldn't move. This was it. My eyes drifted shut as I could feel myself slipping.

Until recently the silent dragon gave a shrieking wail and spread its giant wings the full span bringing my consciousness back just a little. My vision almost failing completely watching the him pacing unfamiliarly in front of his beast and came to a sudden halt and once again expanded his own arms to the full length outawrds. My vivison failed completely. All noises muffled into barley a sound. My eyes shut. I felt myself slipping back into the void.

"Silas Lynch!"

"My my my, Dear Draco Malfoy- you're late."