Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway own the wonderful world of Harry Potter, or Charmed. I am just dabbling in the world they left for us.
(please read the A/N at the bottom of the chapter. There is important information. Thanks!)
Chapter 50
Give Me A Sign
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Last time:
"Hermione are you okay? I have never seen you so…frazzled before."
Hermione gave a sigh, "Harry, I need a favor…"
And now, onto the story...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You know, I can't believe how fast you were able to rebuild." Lupin said, as he led Tonks out through the Weasley's front door. "How did you guys… and girls, forgive me Molly, pull it off?"
The two, Weasley's just looked at elder the one time Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and smiled. "We just happen to be friends with a very nice Handyman." Molly said with a slight smirk.
"Well whoever it is, can you give me their number; I just wanted to know spruce up Headquarters a bit." Lupin replied with a chuckle, but when he saw the couple glance at each other with the same expression on their faces he continued quickly, "Of course I would check with Harry first, seeing as it is his house and everything."
Arthur Weasley gave a heavy sigh, "Remus, we are not questioning your motives, in fact I know that ever since our Ron's fifth year, Molly has wanted to do more than give it a little sprucing. But that aside, it is not really our call as to whether or not we give out that information. Call it a favor to the man who fixed our house."
"There is no need to explain," Remus said, shaking his head, "I totally understand. I was half joking anyway. I honestly haven't been able to bring myself to even step foot inside the house except for the occasional Order meeting. How is Harry doing by the way? How is he holding up?"
Again Molly and Arthur shared a look, something which made Remus Lupin somewhat uncomfortable." "He is okay, isn't he?" Lupin asked with concern.
"Oh yes dear, Harry is doing just fine. In fact, I think this is going to be his best year yet." Molly said beaming.
"Really, what makes you say that?" Tonks asked, joining the conversation. She, like Remus, was also worried about Harry. Last year had not ended on a good note for him, or her for that matter, and she was curious as to how he had bounced back so fast.
"What Molly means is that Harry seems to be finally coming into his own; you do know that Ginny and he are together now don't you? That has made Molly very happy."
"Really now, when did this happen?" Lupin asked with a far off look in his eyes.
"Just before the Christmas break I believe." Mrs. Weasley beamed. "I always knew they were going to get together."
"It was bound to happen sooner or later Molly. I mean, for the last………..oh wow, I don't know how many generations, Potter men have always married a red-head."
Molly Weasley had been about to comment on Lupin's admission, but Arthur beat her to it. "Remus, have you spoken to Harry since that night?"
Remus hung his head and gave a sigh, "I cannot tell you how many times I had to stop myself from Flooing or Apparating to his Aunt and Uncles house just to see him and talk with him. And when Albus told us he was missing……I thought I was going to go spare...I had just lost Sirius and now here I was, losing Harry. Even after he showed up at Hogwarts after the summer I just could not bring myself to go and see him. He must hate me…"
Tonks gripped his shoulder, tears shining in her eyes, while Molly Weasley shed a few silent tears for the young man, her friend. Arthur looked on silently, taking in everyone's actions. He might not have been the brightest Wizard in school and he certainly didn't have the best job, but he did have six boys and one girl and he knew how to talk to and listen to them. He was the buffer between them and his wife. So if he knew anything, he knew how to be compassionate.
"He doesn't hate you son, if anything he misses you. I cannot tell you how many conversations I have had with that boy about the same thing you are going through now. He had a lot happen to him last year, not to mention this last summer. But believe me when I say that if you simply sit down with him and listen to him, his heart and what he has recently gone through, then you will know that your uncertainty and self doubt are sorely misplaced."
Remus just looked at the Weasley Elder as he spoke and then something in his mind seemed to click. "You know what happened to him over the summer. You know where it is he was?!" Remus exclaimed with almost certainty. "Why have you not told Albus of this? Surely he would want to know."
"Remus," Molly began softly, "Albus is a great Wizard, I will not deny that, but Arthur and I have begun to question his intentions. While they might be for the greater good, he does not seem to care about Harry's or even our children's well being. If you knew even half of the things we now know…"
"Come now Molly," Tonks cut in, "The Headmaster may be a bit eccentric at times, but he has the best of intentions when it comes to the students of Hogwarts."
"Sit down with him Remus and once you hear what he has to say, what they all have to say, you will know that we are right. And maybe, he might just let you in on a little bit of what he has been doing."
"What could he possibly be doing? Other than taking on an alias and going to help out in battles under the very nose of the Headmaster." Remus cut in, finally sharing the information that he had found out the night of the attack on the Burrow. He may only turn into a wolf once a month, but some of the "wolf" attributes spilled out into his human half. Like that of an Animagus' abilities. His wolfs sense of smell had alerted him to the fact that Harry Potter was there that night. And while he did not approach him directly, he sent him a quick look that was quickly returned with a small nod.
Molly Weasley gasped while her husband just stood there. Harry had sent his dad and Arthur a letter after that battle to explain what had gone down, and the fact that he thought that Remus had worked out that he was Caedmon. "We have known about Harry taking up that alias, Caedmon, since the Holidays and what he has been planning to do. He told us and a few others, but that is it. He was tired of living under Albus' thumb." Arthur explained.
"We may not like it, but he is old enough now that we are going to trust his judgment. No matter how much we fear for their lives." Molly interjected.
Remus continued to look at the Weasley's, going over their body language and listening to the tone of their voices. Something inside of him, 'the wolf more than likely?' he thought to himself, told him that Arthur and Molly were not lying to him and his girlfriend and that he should hear them out.
At seeing the pause in his wolfish friend, Arthur continued, "There is so much more to Harry Potter than you could ever imagine Remus and once you sit down with him, and talk, you will have no idea what hit you."
Remus nodded, still deep in thought. It was only when he felt a cool hand touch his face that he was brought out of his silent reverie. "It is getting late, and I think we should really be getting back." The sweet, quiet voice called to him.
Nodding in agreement, though with his mind still on Harry, he and Tonks bade the Weasley's a good night and headed off down the winding lane towards the small town that was not too far from the house they had just left.
"Do you mind if we have a short walk through the town Dora? I really want to stretch my legs a bit? Molly's cooking is great, but it sure made me full." Remus asked, getting lost in his girlfriends' sweet gaze.
"I don't mind at all. It will give us some more time together and besides, I like walking with you."
*----*----*----*
"Harry, I changed my mind, I think we should leave. I'll think of something else for you to do as a favor for me." Hermione whispered as they crept through the quiet house, their footsteps echoing off the wood floor.
Harry sighed, "Hermione, you're my friend, practically my sister, and this is bothering you. So I'm going to do anything that I can to help."
"But couldn't you just, I don't know, tell me who you think...."
"No," Harry interrupted, "We are going to do this."
He turned the handle of the door, leading into the attic, as quietly as he could. Unfortunately, it seemed that fate had other ideas. The creak that the attic door made was so loud that it would surely wake the occupants of the manor. They listened for a moment, but heard only silence.
"I thought dad was going to fix that." Harry said to himself as he ushered his bushy haired friend in behind him.
"What did you say?" Hermione asked as she watched him shut the door.
"Nothing," Harry said, still whispering. Then after a wave of his hand, he looked at Hermione and said, in a normal tone, "Okay, I put up a silencing charm and a notice-me-not spell so that we won't be bothered."
"Look, Harry, you're already doing too much. I think we should just forget about it."
"There's the book." Harry said, choosing to ignore his friend's plea and walk closer to the famed Book of Shadows. As Harry began to flip through the pages, Hermione came to stand next to him. She jumped slightly when he gave a quiet, but triumphant laugh. "Ha! I found it."
"What, you didn't think you would?" Hermione asked, looking at the page he was pointing to.
"Well, I knew it was in here, but I just didn't know where. But there it is," He said, still pointing, "the spell that Aunt Phoebe wrote for mom." Harry then pulled a pad of paper and a pen from one of his pockets and began to write the spell down.
"Harry, you said that you came across this spell over the summer and asked your Aunt...Paige was it...Anyway, what did she say happened once it had been cast by your other Aunt?"
Harry, having finished writing the spell down looked at his friend, "Well, she didn't say much. Only that it helped mom out somehow. She was a bit vague about it though."
"Then are you sure this is the right thing to be doing? Maybe we should ask one of your Aunts, or even your mom..."
Harry just shook his head. "Mione, like I said, we, or rather you, are going to do this. But right now, we really need to be going." With a wave of his hand he canceled the spells he had placed. And before she could even protest, Harry grabbed her arm and in a mass of blue, shimmering lights, orbed out of the Manor and back to Hogwarts.
When they appeared in the sanctuary, they were met by two annoyed red heads.
"Where have you been?" Ginny glared at Harry.
"Yeah," Ron said, "and why didn't you take us?" Ginny jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, "I mean, you could've at least told us you were going," he corrected, "We were sitting down to breakfast and you never showed."
"I…" Hermione protested, but Harry cut her off.
"I wanted to go home to fetch some things I'd forgotten, but I didn't want to disturb my parents so I decided to go when I knew they'd be asleep. Hermione thought I oughtn't to go alone. Since she insisted on coming it took me longer than I had planned, so now here we are. Didn't find what I was looking for actually, I suspect it's in my trunk after all."
"Alright," Ginny said, clearly not convinced, "But no more running off."
Harry nodded and embraced, then pulled away so he could kiss her cheek.
Hermione walked toward Ron, who gave her a sideways hug and kept his arm around her neck as they walked away from the sappy couple. Ron was muttering something.
"What did you say?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, nothing," he took his arm off her shoulders, folded both arms across his chest, and looked at her. "Glad you're alright," he said.
"Were you concerned about me?" she asked. Her intensity made him step back a bit.
"Well, yeah, you and Harry both. Gives me a fright nowadays when I don't know where my best friends are."
"Oh. Yes, well, I'm fine, thanks for caring," she replied and left the sanctuary just as Ginny was coming toward her. The redhead rolled her eyes and left as well.
"Oy, mate," Ron said, "what was that all about?"
"Don't know," Harry said and turned away so his best friend wouldn't see the mischievous grin on his face.
- - - -
"Awww!!!" Ginny and Hermione sighed. A particularly plain and serious seventh year girl shushed them from the next table in the library.
"So, Hermione," Ginny grinned, "Who will you be with at the banquet tomorrow?"
It had been about an hour since Harry and Hermione had returned from San Francisco. Ginny had poked and prodded her to say what she and Harry had really been doing that morning, and she'd finally broken down and revealed that they had acquired a spell that Harry was going to cast to pay off his debt to her. When they arrived at the library for study hour and met up with Luna, the subject had quickly gotten past charms and potions to the annual Valentine's Day banquet that was to be held the next evening. Ginny began by describing what she thought Harry would say when he saw her new dress robes, and Luna said she was almost sure Neville had captured a fairy to give her for their first Valentine's. Hermione, however, dreaded this subject for the same reason she needed Harry's spell.
"Well, there is someone…" she said cryptically.
"Ron, of course," Luna said bluntly.
Hermione had to blink for a second before continuing. "As a matter of fact, I…"
"Hullo Hermione!" a voice cut her off.
She looked up and saw the blue eyes that had been making her dreams rather dizzy for the past few weeks. Happily, she found that they also tended to do so in person. The perfect smile, spikey gold-blond hair, and the trim but tough build didn't help either. She had to blink again.
"Oh," she breathed, and failed at sounding cool, "Tibbs, how are you feeling today?"
"Well, enough to work up a particularly tough Ancient Runes project for your next tutorial, my dear student," the Ravenclaw seventh year looked around the table, "Hello, ladies."
"Ginny, Luna, you remember Tibbs," Hermione said.
"Calvin Tiberius Pritchard at your service, and please do call me Tibbs. And how is it that you all know me when I haven't yet had the pleasure?"
"Oh, we're in the same house," Luna said nonchalantly, "but I'm not at all surprised you don't know me. I try my best to blend in."
Ginny kicked Hermione under the table before answering, "As for me, when you were in the hospital wing after the battle in Diagon Alley with the Knights, we were all very concerned for you. Hermione most of all, seeing as you were her partner and then you saved her life when you jumped in front of that stunning jinx. Ow!"
This time it was Hermione who kicked Ginny, and hard.
Tibbs just grinned even wider. "Well, I'm glad to be able to put that worry to rest. Thanks to Madame Promfrey I'm fit as a fiddle and ready for action. Hermione, just let me know if you need any help with last week's work. I don't just help win battles you know. Until later, ladies!" And, with a gallant bow and a light kiss of Hermione's hand, he was gone.
Hermione held her hand close to her cheek and watched him go, then attempted to shake the hormonal haze from her head before looking back at Ginny and Luna.
"So who was it you liked besides Ron?" Luna asked.
"Thick!" Ginny said, smacking the back of Luna's head lightly with a notebook, then turned back to Hermione, "So, what are you going to do? I know you like Ron, too. Has either of them asked you for Valentine's yet?"
"Neither," Hermione pouted, then perked up, "But I won't have to wonder for much longer because…"
The three girls put their heads together and chatted low, with girly giggles all around.
- - - -
Hermione stood outside Myrtle's bathroom on Valentine's morning, tapping her foot. She looked at her wristwatch again and sighed. Why couldn't he be early like a normal, person?
Harry walked around the corner and grinned at her at precisely 7:30am. Ginny waved and winked as she walked down to the Great Hall to save their seats for breakfast. Hermione did not bother to greet Harry, but simply nodded at him as they walked back toward the sinks that were the old entrance to what used to be the Chamber of Secrets. Hermione hoped the universe would stop keeping so many secrets today.
"Are you ready?" Harry asked as he sat down on the cold floor and pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket along with some dried rose petals.
"For heaven's sake, Harry, let's just get on with it, I've got History of Magic in less than an hour and we still haven't eaten. Besides, I hate this day, especially with this in front of me. The sooner I know the better."
Harry clicked his tongue, but gave no reproach as he spread the paper out on the floor.
"Now," he said, "I had to modify it from what we originally saw in the book. You are practically my sister, but this brand of magic gets kind of specific, so we won't leave room for mistakes."
Hermione nodded solemnly and closed her eyes.
Harry held the dried rose petals above the paper and shook them out over its surface as he read the spell aloud:
I beseech all powers above
Send a sign to free my friend's heart
One that will lead her to her love
Hermione opened her eyes when the last syllable of the spell echoed off the last stall. She heard Myrtle give a gurgled giggle before diving back down the toilet. Other than that…
"Was that it? I don't feel any different."
"You don't have to; you just have to keep your eyes open." Harry picked up the piece of paper and kicked away the dead flowers at his feet.
As they were walking out, Hermione stopped him. "Wait, I remember your aunts saying something about the fact that you're not allowed to use this kind of magic for personal gain. How does this spell not constitute personal gain?"
"Well, I didn't cast it for me, did I?" Harry laughed, but then turned serious, "Honestly, I don't know. But Aunt Paige would have told me if it was something that would bring on consequences."
"Huh," was all Hermione said before they entered the halls and the spell that kept his summer in San Francisco a secret took hold again.
Ron sat next to Hermione at breakfast as usual and, to Hermione's dismay, breakfast itself was not out of the ordinary in any way. She tried to keep her eyes open, but even with one of the men in question only half a foot away, she didn't feel like anything was significant, or that she was receiving any "signs from above." She was just about to ask Harry to step out in the hall when it happened.
Owls came soaring in through the windows, one of which dropped a rather large package right above Hermione's head. She ducked, and Harry caught it with a levitating charm just before it hit her porridge. She breathed her thanks, and Harry brought it down so he could read the address.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, "Who's it from?"
"It's from Pritchard Books of Ottery St. Catchpole."
"Oh no."
Hermione reached out for the large, brown package, and Harry handed it over. She pulled back the parcel paper to find a large, red book inside titled: Signs from Above: Mathematical messages in astral phenomenon.
"What?" Ron asked, leaning forward to get a better look.
Hermione pulled the book away from his line of vision. "Nothing, nothing, just some supplemental reading for arithmancy. Boring stuff."
"But who's…" Ron started.
"Just never you mind," Hermione snapped.
Ginny coughed, took a drink from her water, then got up and fixed her gaze on her brother. "Let's go," she said commandingly. Ron did not protest but got up and dutifully walked his sister to class.
Once they were out of earshot, Hermione groaned and put her head down on her arms. Harry looked down at her.
"Is it a sign, Mione?"
"Yes," Hermione murmured into her sleeve, "But there's one for Tibbs – he's got the same last name as the bookshop, and then for Ron – that'd be Ottery St. Catchpole, the village near The Burrow. What am I supposed to do if I'm getting signs for both of them?" Turning her face up off her arms and opening her eyes, she saw that most of the Great Hall was empty.
"Oh no, Harry, we've got to hurry to class!"
They grabbed their books and raced along the corridors. Hermione ducked into History of Magic, took her usual seat beside Tibbs, and waited for the next sign.
*----*----*----*
"Get up you stupid mutt." A forceful voice exclaimed as he kicked the sleeping form of Remus Lupin.
Remus felt the impact of his captors' foot connect with his rib cage. He winced as he felt several of them break with a sharp 'Crack', 'They will heal' Lupin thought to himself. Even though the wolf plagued him once a month, he was still grateful for the quick healing magic that the magical creature provided him.
Not wanting to spend his nights, or whatever time it was when they would finally leave him alone, healing his broken cuts, bruises and breaks, he lifted himself into a sitting position on the stone floor. "What can I do for you this fine morning, or is it night now? You know you lose all sense of time when you're a captive like I am now."
A loud 'Slap' echoed off of the stone walls of his cells. Remus brought his hand up to his face to massage his, now very sore, jaw "Talking too much again was I? Well, you know how we prisoners can be…"
Just as the unknown man reared back his hand to strike Lupin again, a hand with a vice-like grip grabbed it and brought it back down to his side, "We do not want him to pass out on us again, so I would suggest keeping the beating to a minimum." A newcomer to the cell said as he went over to Remus, bent down and helped him come to a standing position.
"You dare question me!?" The first man challenged.
"I do, we have our orders and you had best follow them."
The first figure glared at his partner, gave a 'Huff' and went to stand in the shadows, 'Probably to sulk' Remus thought with a smirk.
The second man, having seen the smirk, gave Remus one of his own. "Make no mistake wolf, he will be allowed to continue. In due time that is. However, right now, I would like you to answer a question or two for me."
Remus just stared at the figure in front of him and when he couldn't contain it anymore, he let out a bark-like laugh. "You threaten me with more beatings and you expect me to answer the questions you have…you must be completely moronic!" He paused for the briefest of moments and smiled ever so slightly to himself at the Muggle phrase that his 'Nymphadora' was so fond of. "Nothing you can do or say to me will make me talk."
The figure helping Lupin stay upright let go of him and backed away slowly with an evil-looking smirk making its way across his ragged features that sent chills down the half-wolfs spine. "Oh I'm sure that we can think of something. My friend here," The second, unknown man said, gesturing to the figure in the shadows, "Just loves to torture as you have experienced first hand. So what would you say if I suggested to him that he go and find your Valentine and give her the same gift that he has so graciously given you?"
Remus Lupin paled, he had been here for Merlin knows how long, and it seemed that any hope for a rescue was squashed. "Have your attention now do I? Good. Maybe once we come back you will be willing to talk." Then, turning to the first figure, the second man said, "We have a meeting to get to and it is best that we not be late."
The first figure nodded in understanding, but instead of leaving the cell, he strode up to Remus and acted like he was going to hit him again. Remus blinked and yawned. These actions caused the man to growl in frustration and throw a punch towards Lupin's stomach. His fist never connected. The second figure had stepped in once again and stopped the punch just inches from its intended target.
"Later" He said, pulling the fist away. The first man gave an audible 'Humpff' and followed the second figure out of the cell, leaving Lupin still standing against the wall. Once the cell door had been closed with an echoing bang and Remus was sure that his captors were nowhere near him, he lost all of the strength in his legs and fell to the floor.
"Oh Merlin," Lupin called out softly, tears falling from his eyes, "Please help me. Someone, please help me."
*----*----*----*
History of magic insisted upon being ordinary, right up to the week's assigned essays. Hermione walked out of the classroom with her assignment scroll in her hand to see Harry waiting for her.
"Anything?"
"Not a one. Could you open this and tell me what is says? I need to put my books in my bag before we head down the hall, but I'm dying to know what subject I can count on distracting me from the banquet tonight."
She handed the assignment scroll to Harry who broke the seal, then fumbled it and it fell to the floor. He stepped back against the wall and slid down to a crouch taking deep breaths, his hand on his chest.
"Harry?" Hermione turned and bent to him. "What's wrong?"
Harry shook his head, "I don't know, it felt like…like getting kicked in the stomach, only not physically painful but… something else." With Hermione's help he stood, then bent to pick up the scroll.
Hermione hoisted her bag, still eyeing Harry as they walked down the hall. She had made up her mind to ask him what he thought that was all about. She opened her mouth at the same time that Harry spoke.
"Covington Estate."
"What?" Hermione blinked, then noticed that Harry was reading from her assignment scroll.
"You're to write as essay over Covington Estate this week. Isn't that a haunted manor?"
Hermione shook her head, "Yes, by several spirits of historical significance. And," she lifted her finger, smiling in triumph, "Covington is Tibbs' muggle grandmother's maiden name. That's one singular clue and a score of 2 – 1."
"The day's not over yet… Wait." Harry stopped walking, and then laughed. "You looked up his family records?"
"What else would I do? I was curious." Hermione retorted, glad to see the light fully returned to his eyes. She wondered one last time what had happened, but pushed it away with delight. The spell was finally getting to a point.
Harry made fun of Hermione's genealogical studies the rest of the way to Transfiguration.
Neville met Harry and Hermione at the door. Most of the class was already seated and still talking. The three rushed into to take their seats.
"Professor McGonagall was looking for you two a moment ago, said she needed to speak with you," Neville said as they settled in.
Hermione nodded. "We'll be sure to stay after class. Thanks, Neville."
For the first time in her life, Hermione found the Transfiguration lesson dull. Turning a raven into a writing desk seemed rather trivial compared to the powers that now conspired to reveal her true love. She had been kidding when she'd asked Harry if there was a way his new powers could help her make this choice. It seemed impossible that any spell, no matter what brand of magic it utilized, could reveal to her the man who would make her truly and eternally happy. Her mind wandered, trying to construct theories about the differences between the Halliwell's magic and that of the Wizarding world at large.
Before long she was standing with Harry before McGonagall.
"Thank you both for staying behind for a moment." The Professor's voice shook with sorrow. The sound snapped Hermione back to reality.
Harry had not missed it either. "Of course, Professor. Is everything alright?"
"As a matter of fact, Potter, no."
The word floated for a moment before shattering to the floor. McGonagall took a deep breath and spoke again. "Two weeks ago, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks left the Burrow after dinner, presumably to head home. A few hours later, Nymphadora was found lying in the streets of Ottery St. Catchpole by muggle law enforcement. She had a nasty bump on her head and no idea what had happened. The only thing she could say for sure was that Remus had been taken, and indeed he was nowhere to be found."
"But now you've got him back," Harry said.
"I'm sorry, Potter, but no. The Order has searched everywhere, tried everything. It's as though he simply vanished. I'm afraid we're at the end of our capabilities. We wanted to let you know as soon as possible before we start making… arrangements."
Hermione thought she saw a vain pulsing in Harry's neck. She cringed and tried to will him not to lose control. He took a deep breath. No shaking ensued. "Professor, forgive me, but why are you just now telling me? I could have been helping for the past two weeks, and now you want to write him off!"
"I'm sorry, Potter, but you know the Headmaster would not have you running off on rescue missions. He nearly lost his sanity this summer when we nearly gave you up for lost. He won't have it again."
Harry gritted his teeth. Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder. She could feel small shudders building in his muscles. He looked over at her, and the briefest flame flickered in his widening eyes. She needed to get them out of there. "Thank you for letting us know. We'll visit Tonks, soon, won't we Harry? Good afternoon, Professor."
She shuffled a seething Harry out of the classroom, down the corridor, and into a nearby restroom. She stopped at a sink, ran some quick, icy water. "There, now, wash your face and take a deep breath."
Harry, shaking a little less now, cupped his hand under the tap and then stuck his face inside. He sputtered for a moment, and plopped down in a puddle on the stone floor. The fire was out.
"There now, that's much better," Hermione said, crouching down to him. She took a few deep breaths to fight her own tears. "Oh I'm so sorry, Harry."
- - - -
Lunch with Ginny and Ron had been upsetting. Harry had been able to control himself completely as he recounted the conversation with McGonagall, which was fortunate considering the number of people in the Great Hall. But seeing the shock on her friend's faces seemed to rip Hermione's wound wider. On top of her deep loneliness came a deep fear. She was beyond grateful for study hour. Just the smell of the books when she and Harry walked into the library seemed to fill some of the gaping space in her heart.
Luna sat at their usual table, her nose in the newest issue of the Quibbler. Hermione glanced quickly at the headline which read Quibbler Quidditch: superstitious sports-fans reveal their secrets to success. Luna looked up when Harry scooted his chair out to sit down.
"Oh, hello Harry. You look awful. Would learning something fascinating about a Quidditch player help you?"
"As a matter of fact, I could use some distraction Luna. Let's hear it," he said, leaning back in the chair.
Luna took a deep breath and read, "As most quidditch fans know, Viktor Krum moved to Britain last summer and began training with an exclusive mystery coach. It has been rumored that several British teams are contending to sign the legend-turned-free-agent. While confirming those rumors, sources tell the Quibbler that the Bulgarian beater has his own methods of deciding for whom he will play. A Krum gal-pal tells the Quibbler a hypothetical, 'If he finds a chicken bone in a tree stump the day he's being courted by the Chudley Cannons, it's a sign about who he should choose.'"
Harry started a coughing fit when Luna read the last phrase, and Hermione sat bolt upright. "Luna, is that really what it says?"
Luna blinked, then handed the Quibbler to her. "Oh my, I didn't think about your situation at all, Hermione. Does this mean something to you?"
Hermione glanced over the page. Luna had read it word perfect. "Yes, Luna, I think it's another sign for Ron.
"How wonderful. Well, I should meet Neville and help him with his Charms essay."
Luna wandered away, leaving Hermione with the Quibbler. She stuffed it in her bag and took out her History of Magic essay scroll. Not only was she distraught over legitimate circumstances, now the signs had her frustrated. At that moment, she wanted to research haunted manors more than anything else, mostly because anything else might make her cry. She left for the reference section while Harry stared unseeing at his Transfiguration text.
Before long, Hermione returned triumphant and in better spirits with several books trailing behind her. She stacked them atop the table and went to work. The third book claimed to contain a detailed map of the area surrounding Covington
Estate. The table of contents led her to the correct page.
To her surprise, Covington Estate was located in Ottery St. Catchpole.
On a street called Cannons.
"Oh!"
Hermione stood up, rocking the table as she moved. Several students shushed her. Harry continued to read as he asked "What's up, Mione?"
"Look at this, Harry. Does anything look… familiar to you?" she picked up the large book, still open to the map, and dropped it on top of his text book. He leaned over the pages, then, after a moment, jumped up as well.
"You don't think…" he began.
"That's exactly what I think."
"But how?"
"Well, think about it. What did you actually ask for in that spell? You wanted to free your friend's heart. Couldn't that also mean… "
"Yes, but… it was supposed to lead you to your love."
"And perhaps it still will. But we can't ignore this. We still need a house number Harry; otherwise we could be wandering for miles. Or perhaps we'll know it when we see it…"
Something lit behind Harry's eyes, a controlled flame that would only burn those who had taken Remus Lupin.
"Sanctuary in 10 minutes."
*----*----*----*
"YOU DID WHAT!!!"
"Well to be fair sir, it really wasn't our fault…"
"I don't care whose fault it is, I want to know how you could have let this happen." A frustrated man exclaimed.
"With all do respect sir…I was not the only one there, you could ask the same question of…."
"But I'm not asking him am I? No, I happen to be asking you, Rune, how could you have let this happen!" Janus exclaimed.
"We are not babysitters sir, we are powerful people apart of a very ancient line and you are wasting our time with menial tasks such as watching two people when you could be utilizing us and our abilities."
"You were assigned to watch him, just the one, not two…"
"Fine, one then," Rune interrupted, "But whether it is one or one-hundred, you know as well as I do that what you have us doing is degrading and downplaying mine and Spore's talent."
Janus, not wanting to pull out this particular card, rose to his full height and said, "You would do well to remember to whom you are speaking. I am your superior and the one who brought you into this program and believe me when I say that even though I brought you in, I will take you out is that understood?"
A low mumble came from the right of Spore, "I said, is that understood!" Janus demanded. He really didn't like having to pull the power card. Yes, Janus was Runes' superior, and yes, the Youngman in front of him made him want to wring his neck sometimes, but he also looked at the two standing in front of him now as though they were his sons. Janus didn't have any kids of his own, not yet at any rate, but one day, he hoped that when he did, that they would turn out like the two young men in front of him now. Strong, courageous, steadfast in their beliefs and never willing to back down from a fight, yes, this is what he hoped for.
"It is understood sir." Rune answered through clenched teeth.
"Good," Janus replied, "Now I want you to go wait outside in the courtyard for your partner, I need to speak with him."
Without a word Rune got up and left the room, shutting the door with more force than was necessary. Janus sighed and began to rub his forehead, "What am I going to do with him?" He said looking to Runes partner, who continued to just sit there staring at his boss.
"You must have some sort of comment you are dying to make Spore, so spit it out." Janus prompted.
With a nod, Spore sat up a bit straighter, if that was even possible, and said "You know sir, he's not wrong. We were both there when the attack happened and there was really nothing we could have done. And I happen to agree with him about the assignment."
"Care to elaborate a bit more…" Janus asked.
"No sir, I think that Rune pretty much covered how we both felt and still feel about being used as babysitters." Spore responded matter-of-factly.
"I meant about the mission and how it went wrong, not how you feel about being used as babysitters."
"Oh, well in that case, I have to say pretty much the same thing that Rune did….that we had no real control over it. They just showed up and ambushed the two. They took the male and left the female in the street, she had been knocked out. The male, Remus Lupin I think you called him, well, I think that he saw the two men appear so he knocked her out of the way to keep her safe. When we got to her she had a small bump on her head and other than being unconscious she was fine. We did however make sure that the muggle authorities found her"
Janus just sat there, staring blankly, trying to process all that he had been told. He was brought out of his stupor when Spore spoke up. "Sir, could I ask you a question?" When Janus nodded, Spore took to moment to choose his words very carefully. "If you do not mind me asking, why was it so important that we follow him? I mean, other than being apart of the Order and a link to…"
"What you have to understand Spore," Janus began delicately, "Is that regardless of how you may feel, everything happens for a reason, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time. And just so we're clear, there was a reason I had you tailing him…"
"And am I allowed to know this reason sir?" Spore interrupted.
Janus just looked at his protégé. In the beginning, Spore had had no idea why he, out of the many others, had been chosen, but it was all explained to him and once he was introduced to his partner and came to the realization that this was the way it was forever going to be, he began to come into his own. A Leader, and if Janus had taught him anything, it was that a good leader was never afraid to ask a question.
"The reason why I had you and your partner following Lupin was…..."
*----*----*----*
"So, what's the score?"
Hermione started and turned, throwing a shoe through the doorway. Ginny ducked. "What? For goodness sake, Gin, don't sneak up on me like that."
Ginny, in her party dress, came in and handed Hermione the shoe. She continued to rush around, trying to find the sweater, coat, hat, and gloves she needed.
"What's all this?" Ginny asked, looking at all the clothes strewn on the bed.
Hermione paused, unsure of what to say. Her silence gave her away.
"You're leaving to find Lupin, aren't you?"
Hermione kept moving while she spoke. "We found out in the library that the signs have been pointing us to Lupin. I'm supposed to meet Harry in the Sanctuary. And yes, we're going to rescue him if we can."
Ginny stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her. Hermione found her hat and gloves in the pocket of her coat. She bundled up with them and a blue and white striped scarf. She was just about to use her ring to enter the Sanctuary when Ginny came back through the door, bundled up like Hermione.
"Oh no you don't. Ron will kill me, not to mention Harry."
"If you make me stay here and you do come back alive, I'll kill you."
Hermione had to laugh. "Fair enough. Shut the door, we're headed down."
Moments later, they appeared in the Sanctuary. A bundled Ron and a not-quite-as-bundled Harry met them near the fireplace in the main room. Harry brought Ron and Ginny up to speed on the location of Covington Estate. No mention of signs was made in front of Ron, and Hermione relaxed just a bit.
"If I'd known you were looking for that creepy old place, I could have told you where it was," was all Ron said.
"Do you have the house number? Do you know where on the street we're to look?" Hermione handed him the map.
"Well, that is…" he said squinting at the map, then handed it back, "Not exactly. You see, I've only been there once myself."
"Honestly, Ron, sometimes you're no help at all." She saw his face fall as she folded the map and put it in her back pocket. Something inside her broke. "Thanks for trying," she added.
Harry squared his shoulders, "We'll find it by our eyes, then. Can't very well miss a huge manor house, can we? Now, link up everyone." He took Ginny's left hand in his. Hermione took Harry's other hand.
Hermione gasped when Ron's warm hand took hers. The way his thumb trailed along hers sucked the breath from her lungs. Her cheeks went hot.
"Ready?" Harry asked. "Yes!" chorused the Weasleys. Hermione could only nod. Ron squeezed her hand, and the familiar blue lights ghosted them all away.
The four orbed onto the road leading into Ottery St. Catchpole from the Burrow. They made their way down the lane, wands out. Hermione took point with the map while Harry and Ginny, hand in hand, kept defensive positions on the flanks. Ron followed behind, swift and wary.
After crossing the river, the glowing lights of the pub and a few houses greeted them. Snow crunched thicker and thicker under their feet as they took a right turn to head northeast and out of town. It ended abruptly, however, at well swept street on either side of which sat large, majestic homes as far as the eye could see. A street sign announced that this was the long-sought Cannon Street.
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered.
"There's nothing for it. We'll just have to look at them all and hope we notice something. Ron up front with me, Hermione and Ginny in the back, eyes peeled."
"Americanisms, Harry," Ginny scolded.
The girls trailed behind the men as they shuffled along the red cobblestones.
"You never did answer my question." Ginny said.
"Hmm?"
"You know, about the score."
"Oh, it's been maddening really. The first was both Tibbs and Ron with Pritchard Books and Ottery St. Catchpole. But then the 2nd was Tibbs along with his family connection to Covington Estates, so two to one in Tibbs's favor. But then this last Cannons clue for Ron changed that."
"So the signs are two to two then."
"I suppose so, yes," Hermione glanced down at the map, and the back up the nearest street sign. They were coming up on the 220 block of Cannon. They'd have to turn around in a quarter of a mile or so. She looked up at the home on her right, and nearly slipped on her rear in the snow.
"Ginny," Hermione said, motioning her back. The boys turned and ran back toward them.
"Yes Mione?"
"What did you just say to me a moment ago?"
"I said the signs are two to two. Why?"
"Signs of what?" Ron came up behind them, followed by Harry.
Hermione glanced at the map, "According to the map, this is the 220 block of Cannon St. Do you see the house number?"
"Signs of what?" Ron asked again.
"Two twenty two," Ginny replied.
"Yes, number two-two-two."
"We've found it, then?" Harry stepped back to take a look, as did the girls.
"Signs of WHAT?" Ron remained where he stood.
No one answered. Instead, they pondered the wrought iron gate emblazoned with an eagle of twisted iron-work. Two pairs of small eagles stood on gray stone pillars on either side. A gray stone wall ran down the property from each pillar. The walls permitted no entrance other than the front gate. Covington Estate.
They all jumped when a gruff voice spoke behind them.
"Hey you lot, what you doin' here?"
"We were…we were just…"
"Wanting to be careful; this is private property young lady so I suggest you tread lightly and leave before you get yourself into trouble." The man said with a slight smirk.
Not wanting to show the man who had interrupted her that she was scared, Hermione took a step away from the group and closer to the stranger. "Sir, we have reason to believe that a very good friend of ours is inside that house and we came to get him, so if you wouldn't mind…" She said somewhat shakily.
"I really hate to be the bearer of bad news sweetheart," The man said in an Irish accent, "But you see, wolf man in there is here to stay and there is nothing you can do to can change that."
"We could always take him by force." Ron called out somewhat bravely.
"Oh, so you brought some friends…well, I have friends too you see and I am most sure that they would love to meet you…"
"Hermione we need to go." Harry whispered, coming to stand behind Hermione.
"Harry no, we came this far and I am not about to leave Professor Lupin here, the least of all with him."
"We need reinforcements Hermione; we cannot do this by ourselves."
"Care to let me in on the conversation?" The man asked, smirking evilly.
"Not really." Hermione heard Harry mumble.
"If you are going to be witty, then it is best to let the whole class here it. Now, what is it you said?"
Hermione's eyes were fixed on Harry as he stood there silently, as though trying to decided if he should reply to the man or not. Then from Harry, she turned her gaze to the man who was looking Harry up and down as though sizing him up. This unnerved her. She looked back to Harry and noticed his mouth opening, about to give the man his answer, but the man beat him to it. "You seem somewhat familiar, have I met you before?"
"I make it a point to avoid familiarity with kidnappers." Then, turning to Hermione, Harry said, "We really need to be going."
Hermione just stared at Harry, turned to look at the house and then back to face her friend and give a slight nod. "I wish I could say that it has been a pleasure sir, but you are currently holding a friend of mine hostage and you should know that we will be coming back to get him. And next time there will be more of us."
"Is that so, sweetheart?" The man asked Hermione. "Because the way I see it, you won't be coming back at all…"
"And what makes you so sure we won't?"
"Oh, Hermione you should not have said that." Harry whispered so that only his friend could hear.
"You found your way here and if it is one thing we cannot have…it is you going back and telling your other friends where we are. So I am afraid….well actually I'm not…afraid that is, it is you who should be afraid."
"Why?" Hermione asked her voice shaky.
"Because my friends have not seen some good action in quite some time and are just itching for some fun."
And just as the man was raising his hand, she heard Harry take in a breath and at the same time say, "I have a bad feeling about this…" And just as the last word left his mouth, the man 'snapped' his fingers and three more men appeared out of nowhere in the blink of an eye.
"Oh this is not good" Hermione said just seconds before the men opposite her and her friends sprang into action.
'Hermione, Ginny, Ron; each of you need to get down and stay out of the way.'
'But Harry…' Hermione questioned through their rings link.
'Hermione you are the one who wanted the favor and this is where it has brought us.' Harry reprimanded. 'But if there is even the slightest chance that we can get Lupin out of there then I have to do this alone.'
She nodded and started to pull Ginny and Ron back, closer to the wrought-iron gate away from where Harry was. "Hermione, we have to help him." Ron and Ginny exclaimed at the same time.
Hermione just shook her head, "No, he knows what he is doing and if one of us were to go out there then, it would be distracting for him and we need him focused."
"Hermione, you asked him to do this for you and so help me if he gets hurt…"
"Then you can blame me for it Ginny, but you know as well as I that we would not be helping him if we were out there, especially if it were you the one out there."
"What are you two blathering on about?" Ron asked in confusion.
"Nothing," Hermione said quickly before turning back to watch Harry go at it with the three new men while the first man just stood there watching.
She watched as Harry dodged energy ball's, fire balls, and 'did that one just throw a lightning bolt from his hand?!' Hermione thought to herself.
"Oh come on now, you call that a lightning bolt?" She heard Harry taunt as he raised his hand and gestured to the man he was fighting. Instead of freezing the man in place, like she had seen him do to the Headmaster and the other professors in the corridor, she stood in awe as a thick, blue bolt of lightning shot out of his hand and slam into the man with such force that it knocked him to the ground screaming in agony.
She smiled as he repeated the same action with the remaining two men; the first man, still standing out of harm's way, his anger growing as Harry picked off each of his compatriots one by one. While she had been watching this, she had failed to notice the two Weasley's sneaking off, attempting to get closer to Harry. When she finally did notice that she was standing where she was alone, she began to search for them. It was difficult to see in the poor lighting, but when she found them they were about ten feet ahead of her, just to the left of Harry and the first man, who looked as though he were ready to kill Harry for what he had done to his friends.
The man had started to yell at Harry, anger rolling off the man in waves. Not able to fully make out what the man was saying, Hermione cast a quick charm that would allow her to pick up what was being said.
"…think you're all that because you managed to kill off my team? Let's just see how you fair against me." The man said as he raised both hands, a fireball in one and an energy ball in the other.
Hermione blanched, 'I thought Harry said that that was impossible for Demons to do?!' and by the look she saw on her friends face, he was just as surprised.
"Nice trick, who'd you steal that power from?"
"That is none of your concern, what should be your concern is me tearing you and then your friends up."
"You're not the only one with a unique ability." She heard Harry say as he conjured up a white fireball.
"You're a FIRESTARTER!!" The man yelled in anger and shock.
Hermione's hands flew to her ears; the man's yell had been too loud for her. The spell that she had cast was used for long distances, making it seem as though whomever the spell was directed at was right next to the person who had cast it. Not wanting that to happen, Hermione adjusted the spell and continued to listen to the banter that was being thrown back and forth.
"Surprised? Good. That will make this even more fun." Harry said with a smirk.
"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself boy, I will get the better of you and when I do…I know, as I'm sure you do too, what I am going to do to you once I beat you."
Hermione was confused, but what she heard Harry say next cleared up some of that confusion. "If you mean that whole, "Being Coveted" thing, then I am sorry to disappoint you because you are going to have a hell of a time catching me…"
"I won't need to catch you, I can just take one of your friends as hostage or possibly kill them and you will sacrifice yourself to save them. Such is the nature of good."
"My friends are well away from you so I think that you had better come up with something better than threatening them."
"Ah, you see that is where you are wrong."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Your friends are not out of harm's way, there is one standing not too far behind you and two more standing just to our left. So if I were to attack all of them at the same time, which of the three would you save?" The man asked, smirking evilly.
Hermione watched as the comprehension dawned on the two Weasley's faces at their decision to leave Hermione and go to where they were now. She saw Ron look at her in horror, Ginny staring at Harry with the same expression on her face that Ron had on his. She then turned her gaze to Harry, who, was in the middle of it all, staring at all of his friends and at the man who had already begun to attack
Hermione stood as stone. The balls of energy and flame raced from the man's hand, one toward Ginny, the other toward her. In a fraction of a second she glanced around, but the eyes she wanted eluded her.
Where's Ron?
She could feel the electricity sparking from the ball of lightning coming toward her. Hermione saw Harry turn toward Ginny, and the flamed haired girl orbed away just as the fire consumed where she had stood. A blur from Hermione's left caught her eye. Ron leapt between her and the menacing missile. The ball of light cracked against the shield charmed he conjured, and then he too vanished in a swirl of blue. Now it was only Hermione, Harry, and the first man alone on the dirt lane.
*----*----*----*
"Wait a second, run that by me again." Rune said somewhat shocked.
"It is like I told you; he is a brother, a comrade in arms, one of us, the last one of us, by blood anyway and Janus…or rather his boss wanted us to make sure no harm came to him."
"You see Spore; this is exactly what I'm talking about. They have us do all of these things and…and when we ask to know why, we don't get to know until after the person we were tailing was kidnapped. Do you see the irony here?" Rune exclaimed.
"I know, and I told Janus as much, but who are we to question things. We were brought in and we can be kicked out, just like Janus said." Spore replied.
"They can't kick us out…we are destined to be apart of this, it is our birthright, not to mention blood-rite." Rune said as he began to pace back and forth in front of Spore, who was sitting on one of the benches on the courtyard. After his meeting with Janus, he came out here to tell Rune what he had learned, with Janus' permission of course.
"They might be hard pressed to, but I would not put it passed them to try."
"They might try yes, but I can bet you all of my gold in Gringotts that they would not dare go up against him." Rune said with a smirk. "He's older than even them; they would not dare mess with that."
"You're right about that." Spore agreed as he stood up. This got the attention of his pacing partner.
"Are you going somewhere?" Rune asked curiously.
"Yup," Spore answered, "I have to go clean up our mess, Janus' orders."
"Oh, fun..." Rune said sarcastically.
"Janus did say that you needed to get back, before you are missed." Spore said with a knowing look.
"Yea, yea, I know, I'm going." Rune said as he prepared to disapparate. Then turning back to face his partner he asked, "Why is it that you always get the fun cases when I'm not around?"
Spore shrugged, "Just lucky I guess."
"Let me know when you get back." Rune called out to his friends retreating back.
"Will do" Spore called back.
And with a resounding 'Crack' the two friends left the courtyard.
*----*----*----*
Hermione woke up with a headache. She opened her eyes, thankfully no bright light sought to make the pain worse. But the pounding on what must have been the ceiling above her, matched the rhythm of the pounding of her skull. She sat up slowly and saw a shape moving in the black shadows.
"Harry?"
"He's been doing that since he woke up."
Hermione jumped and gave a little squeak. When she turned around to face the source of the voice she gasped. "Professor Lupin, you're here, you're okay." She moved quickly, though too quickly for him to warn her to stop. He hissed in pain as she pulled him into the biggest hug she could manage.
"I'm not quite okay yet, but I will get there soon enough." He said, putting a hand to his ribs in effort to ease the pain.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know…"
Remus smiled as much as he could, "It's okay, they're healing, though, I could do with a pain relieving potion."
"We didn't bring any professor, I'm sorry."
"You didn't know what condition I was in, don't worry."
"But that's just it; we didn't know…we should have thought to bring at least something with us."
"Which brings me to why it is you two and not the Order that is doing the rescuing?" Not that I'm not grateful or anything…"
"No, you're fine and in fact it should have been the Order and not us that came for you. She agreed.
"Then why…"
Hermione sighed, "Professor McGonagall only told us today that you had missing for two weeks and that the Headmaster didn't want to continue to waste the Order's already diminishing resources…"
"Albus said that?" Remus interrupted
Giving her head a shake Hermione continued, "She didn't outright say that that is what the Headmaster said, but that is what I inferred."
"So naturally, Harry took it upon himself to rescue me and bring you with him."
"Well Ron and Ginny were here too."
"Harry let Ginny come?" Remus asked, shocked that Harry would risk Ginny's life like that.
"She didn't give him, or me for that matter, much choice." Hermione replied with a light chuckle, "But as soon as there was trouble he got both of them out of there as fast as he could."
"But he didn't get you out of there."
"Oh I tried; believe me I tried, but I just couldn't get to her fast enough." Harry said as he joined the two on the dirt floor.
"Fast enough?"
"We were ambushed at the gate. Harry took care of three of the guys, but their leader overpowered us." Hermione explained.
"That will never happen again." Harry said darkly.
Noticing that her friend was in a mood, Hermione touched his shoulder and asked "Are you okay?"
"Yea, I'm fine, but i just thgouht that you should know that we are stuck here."
"What do you mean?"
"We don't have our wands and that means we cannot use magic to escape."
"Well can't you…you know?" Hermione prompted, giving her friend a knowing look.
"Usually I could," Harry replied, picking up on what she had meant, "But someone put up some heavy-duty wards and thanks to this fancy little wristband, all of my magic seems to be suppressed. You have one too, look."
She hadn't noticed before, but once he had told her to look and she saw the thick, silver-looking bracelet on her wrist, she felt the weight of it and what it meant. "How do we take them off?" She asked sadly.
"With magic…"
Hermione sighed, her gaze falling on each of their wristbands and noticed how they seemed to shine, even in the darkness that surrounded them. The only wrists that didn't shine were Remus Lupin's, "Professor, where's your bracelet?"
Lupin didn't respond, instead he hung his head, lifted a hand and pulled back the collar of his tattered robes to reveal his magical suppressor. "Oh Professor…" Hermione gasped in horror.
The ex-professor released his collar and just stared at the floor in silence, unmoving. Hermione wasn't sure of what to say, but thankfully she didn't have to because Harry had placed a hand on Remus' shoulder and said, "Trust me Moony, they will pay." And as soon as the words left his mouth an explosion shook their cell.
"What was that!?" Hermione exclaimed.
"It sounded like a gas line or something of the like blew up."
"We are in a cave Harry; there are no gas lines here." Remus said surely.
Hermione just stared at Remus and then shared a look with Harry. "How did you get here professor?"
"I don't know, Dora and I were attacked and the next thing I knew I was waking up here."
"Well that explains it." Harry said.
Hermione, seeing that Remus was confused said, "Professor, we are in a cave that is under a house and that house just happens to reside in Ottery St. Catchpole."
Remus was shocked to say the least, or that is how Hermione interpreted the look she saw on his face. "You mean to tell me that I have been here for two weeks, mere miles from the Burrow!?"
Hermione just stared sadly at the shocked Professor and was about to respond, but Harry beat her to it. "Do you hear that? It sounds like whatever was going on up there has stopped…"
"What do you think the fighting was about?" Hermione asked.
"There is always some kind of infighting amongst their kind, so there really is no telling." Harry said, moving into a standing position, Hermione and Lupin following suit. Remus was about to make a comment, but stopped suddenly and yelled "Look Out!" and then pushed the two teens to the ground. Not a moment after they hit the ground, the cell door flew off of its hinges and hit the wall close to where they had just been standing.
"What was that?!" Hermione exclaimed, looking frazzled.
"That was a very strong, if not too strong, Bombarda spell. I apologize." A figure said, walking into the cell calmly.
Hermione just stared at him in awe. The figure that strode into their cell seemed to have an aura that screamed that he was a powerful person and not to be trifled with. "Who…who…" she stammered.
"I was sent to rescue Lupin here, but never would I have imagined that I would find you two here. I must admit that I am not surprised to find you here."
"So you're here to rescue us?" Remus asked, "Did the Order send you?"
The figure gave a dark chuckle, "I was not sent by the Order you know, but I was sent by an Order."
"How do we know that we can trust you?" Harry asked.
"Ah, the Twice-Blessed speaks" The figure taunted, "As much as I would love to answer whatever questions you might have, however we don't have too long before the ones that I incapacitated wake up and find the nasty surprise I left for them and then come after us. So we really need to go now. I trust that you can orb us out of here?"
Hermione was caught off guard when she heard the figure make this comment. "How do you know about that?"
"Oh you would be surprised what one could find if they really took the time. Is that not right Chosen-One?"
Hermione had no idea what to say, and it appeared that neither did Harry.
"Can you do it or not?" The figured asked again, irritation evident in his voice.
Harry nodded solemnly and said, "Everybody needs to be holding onto me or touching someone that is touching me for this to work."
Harry, I'm not going anywhere until you explain who this is and what is going on…"
"Professor we really don't have time for you to get explanations so please just take hold of Harry." The figure said in a rush.
"You will keep your mouth shut…" Remus warned.
"Moony, please just take Hermione's hand and I will explain everything. Please!"
Hermione watched the aged man as he went deep into thought. "No!" Remus finally answered, "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what I want to know."
"Moony, there are things that will have to be explained, but now is not the time…"
"I am not moving from this spot," Remus said, pointing to the ground, "Until I get answers."
"I am sorry that I have to do this." Hermione watched as Harry knelt to the ground and swung his leg in a circle, catching Remus' legs, sweeping them out from under him.
Remus fell to the ground and hit his head so hard when he landed that it knocked him out. "Harry, what did you do that for!?"
"Harry did what he needed to do." The figure said nodding to the raven- haired boy.
"You," Harry began, rounding on the newcomer, "You show up here to supposedly rescue Moony, and by proxy Hermione and me, now you will tell me who you are or I am not going anywhere."
The figure sighed, "If my name is what you wish to know then all you had to do was ask."
"Then out with it."
"My name is Spore, now can we please go?"
"Spore, what kind of a name is that?"
"Obviously that is not my real name, but it is not time for you to know me yet and as such I would really appreciate it if you could orb us out of here."
"He can't, we have these wrist-bands and there are wards up that will not allow us to leave by magical means." Hermione explained.
"I have taken down the wards, so those no longer pose a problem to us, though, as for your wrist-bands….let me see them."
The two teens extended their arms showing the still shining bracelets. Hermione watched in fascination as Spore leaned over them and mumbled something that she could not make out and with a soft 'chink' the bracelets opened into their palms. "Now Professor Lupin" Hermione prompted, pulling back his collar. Spore sighed and then did to the collar what he did to the bracelets. "Okay, it's done, can we go now; I wasn't joking when I said I left a present for them…"
Hermione nodded at Harry, who nodded back and grabbed Remus' hand. Once he had checked that they each had a hold of him he orbed out of the cave, moving into the direction of the iron gates where they had been caught by surprise only hours ago. And just as a mass of blue orbs rose from the ground, the house that stood over the cave where they had been held captive exploded into a mass of red and yellow flames, with some of the wood that made up the house flying in all directions.
Harry was very proficient at orbing, Hermione knew this, but when she landed on the ground in heap so turned to her friend and gave him a glare, "I thought that with orbing you would always land on your feet…" she said in a huff.
"I'm sorry, but that explosion shot me off course." Harry apologized. "How's Moony?"
She bent down and checked for a pulse, "He's okay, his pulse is rapid and other than the injury's that he had before he is fine."
"That's good." Harry replied looking more than a bit mad as he turned around and made his way to Spore, who was also in the process of getting up from the spill he took.
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Hermione ran forward and grabbed Harrys' arm, "Harry no, this is not his fault!"
"Oh, really…then how do you explain the burning house behind you Hermione? He said that he left them a gift…I will give you one guess as to what that gift was."
"I get that, but he helped get us out of there and he…" But she was cut off. Harry had yanked his arm away from here and crossed the distance between him and this unknown person named Spore. When he got there, Harry reached out and grabbed Spore forcefully and spun him around so that he could look into the eyes of the figure that had seemed to have caused more problems than solved. It was in mid spin that Harry and Hermione both noticed that Spores' hood, as a result of being thrown to the ground, had fallen back to reveal his true identity.
"Neville!?" Hermione exclaimed in shock. It appeared that Harry too was in shock for he had a blank look on his face and had dropped the handful of robes that he grabbed when about to pummel Spore/…Neville.
"Crap!" Spore/ Neville said softly as he backed away from Harry and Hermione. "Look, I didn't want you guys to find out this way, but now that you have there is no going back. Harry," Neville said, drawing his dorm-mates gaze, "Someone will be in contact with you. Someone who can answer some of the questions you may have."
"Neville…" Hermione said, but she was not quick enough because as soon as she had started to form her words, Neville vanished without a sound, in the blink of an eye.
Silence reigned over the dirt road for an unknown amount of time, Hermione and Harry both trying to process what they had just learned about someone they thought was a friend. Hermione made the first move, "Harry," She began, "We need to get off the road before a team of Aurors show up." When he didn't make any movements she tried again. "Harry we need to go." This time she gave him a slight nudge, hoping that would draw him out of whatever place he had just gone to.
"What Hermione!"
Hermione made a face at the tone he had taken with her, 'no, there are more important things to do than correct Harry and his attitude' she said to herself. "We need to get out of here." She answered aloud as she looked away from him, heading back to where Remus Lupin lay.
"Right, sorry." Harry said as he followed her to the still unconscious Marauder.
"What are we going to do with him?" Hermione questioned, kneeling down.
"I think I have an idea." Harry said.
"What?"
"Dad!" Harry called out to the night.
They didn't have to wait long before there was a mass of blue and white orbs descending around them, taking the shape of a man. "Harry, Hermione what are you two doing out here?"
"It is a long story…" Harry began.
"Harry…." Hermione warned. She had seen the look that passed across Leo's face and she did not want one of her best friends to get into trouble.
"Okay, fine, we ran into some trouble, but we got out of it in the end so there is no need to tell mom…right…"
"That depends…"
"On what?" Harry asked.
"As to whether the "trouble" has been dealt with."
"Oh it has been, dealt with that is…It was no big deal, the trouble is over."
Hermione had to stifle a laugh as she listened to her friend ramble and repeat himself.
"Good, now then, you called?" Leo said with a smirk.
"Ah, yes, I was hoping that you could take Moon here back to the Manor and heal him…" Harry said hopefully.
Hermione watched as Harry's dad looked down to the prone form of Remus Lupin and then back up to his son. "And what do I tell your mother when I show up with a stranger…not to mention what do I tell him when he wakes up?"
"He has some serious injuries sir, and will more than likely be out for some time." Hermione put in.
"And then, if you wouldn't mind that is, telling him everything…" Harry said meekly.
"Oh no, this is your problem, you are going to be doing the explaining, to both him and your mother."
"But you just said…"
"Harry I wouldn't argue with him."
"Fine," Harry said in a huff, "But it will have to wait, Hermione and I are expected back at school sp I will come over as soon as I get the chance, deal?"
Leo gave his son a once over and then looked at Hermione, "We have a deal. Hermione would you please make sure Harry comes over tomorrow?"
"Yes sir." Hermione replied as she saw Harry roll his eyes.
"Okay, I will come over tomorrow, but now Hermione and I need to go, so I love you dad and I will see you later."
Hermione was about to say goodbye as well but Harry had been too quick for here and just as she had been about to speak, he grabbed her arm and whisked her away in a swirl of blue orbs.
They reappeared in the Sanctuary moments later not too surprised to find Ron and Ginny still up and waiting for them on one of the couches. When the two siblings saw their friends appear they stood up and made their way over to them. "Why did you send us away and not Hermione? We could have helped! Do you know how long you have been gone? We were so worried."
Hermione smirked when she saw Harry take a step back, "Ginny we're fine, and Harry was about to send me away, but the leader got the jump on him before he could. And you can see that we are both fine, so no harm done." Hermione said as she looked to Harry, who mouthed a quick 'thank you'.
"Is this true Potter?" Ginny asked in a demanding tone as she placed her hands on her hips.
Harry nodded fervently "Yes Gin, it is. I am fine, a bit hungry, but fine. Ron what do you say we go to the kitchen? I am sure the elves have some sort of left-over's from the feast…"
Nodding Ron said, "You don't have to ask me twice." And then began to follow Harry away from the two girls.
Ginny gave a huff and then turned back to face her bushy-haired friend, "Is everything really okay, he's not just trying to put me off is he?"
Hermione shook her head, "Everything is fine Ginny, besides the only thing he didn't tell you, was that we were successful in rescuing Professor Lupin."
"I knew it," Ginny exclaimed, "He is trying to protect me even though he knows…..wait, did you say you rescued Lupin?"
Hermione just shook her head and smiled at her friend, "We did, and now he is with Harry's family being well cared for."
"Well that's good."
"Yea, it is." Hermione agreed
"So...other than the clues that led us to Lupin, what was the outcome of the spell Harry cast for you, Tibbs or Ron?"
Hermione was about to respond when a yell sounded from the end of the Sanctuary's hallway, "Oy, you two, are you going to join us or what?" Turning her gaze from Ginny, she looked down the hall to see Harry and Ron staring at them expectantly.
"Well..." Ginny prompted.
Hermione looked at her friend, smiled and then turned to look at the red-head who was at the end of the hallway smiling at her, "I never needed a sign to tell me where my heart lies."
A/N: Thank you so much for waiting patiently as I got this entire chapter worked out. As you can see, a lot of work went into it and is now the longest chapter to date. Big thanks go out to RozeMarieLynn who was kind enough to co-write this chapter with me. Now as I said above, there is some important information that is going to be at the end here. A list of all of Harry's powers;
(Note, I will only list the ones that are currently already in previous chapters…)
Create and control fire
Astral Projection
Orbing
Levitation
Very mild premonitions
Wandless magic, -
He has more powers and I am sure that as of right now I am forgetting some, but this is what I can remember off of the top of my head. Have no fear, he has a lot more power, and several more abilities that he will get later.
The next chapter has already been started, oh and before I forget, you can now follow me on twitter for chapter updates and more... Just enter my username, Mudbloodpotter, into the search bar.
Thank you all for reading, and I would be grateful if you could press that little button that says review and tell me what you thought of this chapter and who Spore really is.
Thanks again!
Mudbloodpotter.
