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So far... The reborn Hermione befriended Harry, Luna, and the Weasleys at a much younger age and even though Voldemort died early, she has formed the Cathesis League to fight corruption, elevate justice, and ultimately seek cooperation between Muggles and Magical societies. Hermione has now met Remus but was upset to hear Luna and Ginny will be going to Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts. Now read on...
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Chapter 29
Hits For A Miss
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The Tutomees
An icy rain was falling on the hill below the Lovegood home as Hermione dashed up from the Knight Bus to behold a curious chase taking place in the downpour. A huge watering can was flying through the garden shrubbery, occasionally pausing for a few seconds to spray its contents onto the nearest plant. The tiny figure of Luna, hair sopping and sticking down her back, could be seen running after the can, calling it back. Ginny was trying to head it off without success.
"You're very naughty to be out in the rain!" shouted Luna – rather bravely, thought Hermione, for the mischievous metal can was almost big enough to swallow the little girl whole and swerving heavily with its burden of rainwater.
It settled down amongst the hydrangeas once Hermione Confunded it, and the two girls looked round in surprise. "Hermione!"
They came running to greet her, clothes clinging wetly.
"One of your Mum's spells?" asked Hermione, wryly.
Luna nodded unashamedly, even eagerly. "Isn't it good! But she had to leave it half-finished while she works on her main spell. Come on!"
They heaved over the watering can to empty it, then Luna and Ginny carried it between them. It was just a little too big to lower into the rainwater barrel that stood beside the house so they stood it against the wall to drink from a roof trickle. Luna tied a length of rope to its handle so it couldn't stray far, then off they dashed to get out of the rain.
Mrs Lovegood shook her head and drew her wand when the three girls entered the house, but they were soon drying from her cosy warming charm, and after a few moments, their hair fluffed up like startled Pygmy Puffs: one red, one blonde, one brown. Harry and Ron were at the kitchen table, laughing at the sight.
Once the water was out of her ears, Hermione could hear a heavy rattling sound from above.
"Back to your places, girls, and carry on. I need to have a word with Xeno..."
She ran halfway up the spiral stair until her uptilted face was out of sight. The children could hear quite a few choice words exchanged. Clearly, the next Quibbler was being printed.
There was only a small reduction in the noise and Mrs Lovegood began to descend with a frown. "He's only wedged it with his socks."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances. "Why?" said Harry.
"Because he's lost his woolly hat again."
"I have NOT lost my hat!" Xeno called down the stair. "It flew away."
Pandora rolled her eyes and reached back to close the big round trapdoor.
"BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME?" came her husband's muffled shout.
"Thanks, yes, that's PERFECT!" his wife shouted back up at him. But the moment she was downstairs she cast a moderate muffling spell up at the ceiling for good measure. She glanced around at the youngsters and muttered to herself, "How were children supposed to learn with that racket...?"
Luna didn't seem to notice. She was still the same dreamy girl, but as she chatted animatedly with Ginny, Ron, and Harry around the Lovegoods' kitchen table, Hermione could see changes in the girl from her previous life. I don't think she had any close friends at all. Yes, she'd enjoyed associating with some of us in Dumbledore's Army, but that only made her realise what she'd missed.
Hermione realised she herself had been guilty of keeping Luna at a distance in that former lifetime at Hogwarts. There'd been no 'best friend' for the quirky girl even when cruel fate took her life so violently three years later. Oh, Luna...! sighed Hermione. I was selfishly preoccupied with my feelings for Ron ... Neville was soon only with Hannah ... Ginny married Harry. You were left with no one but our... noble – no, dutiful – visits where we were politely good-natured but never really embraced – no, LOVED – you for what you were! It took me a long lifetime of missing you to appreciate the quality of your character. Do I, even now?
YES! How wonderful in the present to see Luna so happy! Harry was fond of the girl too, and Hermione smiled as Ron laughed with her instead of at her. What is wrong with me! Can't I just let go of her to enjoy life how she wants without having any obligation to my grandiose plans of friend-saving!
Let her and Ginny sail away unconcerned, with owls, diaries, and mirrors the only link back to us. I've succeeded in releasing her from... dependence on friends, yes, so now fly free Luna! Live your life more fully!
Here she was, cheerfully trying out a few phrases in French. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle Weasley, comment allez-vous?"
"Uuh... I'm tress been, thanks," replied Ginny, half cribbing from an enchanted book with one eye.
Both girls squealed with laughter; Ron and Harry joined in the gaiety, though neither of them understood a word.
Mrs Lovegood smiled at Hermione and shook her head. "I've given them a primer," she murmured to Hermione. "The book will correct her – so long as she's willing to pay it attention."
Hermione nodded as she listened to the book patiently speak the correct pronunciation, then she turned again to Luna's mother. "Show me what you've prepared so far for your History help."
While the old printer continued to faintly rumble overhead, Pandora opened another book to its first page then slid it across the table to her. "This approximates the first term at Hogwarts so it's British-biased. I'm preparing a different one for Luna and Ginny."
It was no surprise to Hermione that the pages were blank except for a few paragraphs. "So, I...?"
"Read and follow the instructions, then the book will adjust itself to you," explained Pandora.
"By the end of the seventeenth century, witches and wizards were increasingly persecuted by the Muggle population. The Statute of Secrecy was signed in 1689 and enforced by the Ministry of Magic from 1692 so that..." Hermione continued reading until she reached an instruction: "Please give reasons why the Statute of Secrecy was established and when."
Hermione took up her quill and wrote her answer. More paragraphs formed below it with more directions. "This is wonderful. What if I got it wrong? What if I forgot it later? What is the teacher's role?"
"The magic is no more than an enchanted textbook; I call them Tutomees. The teacher monitors, guides, and can even add to and modify the Tutomee. If the pupil writes an answer less than ideal then the book will patiently reveal where the student has gone wrong and the student has to relearn it. Revision is not crammed in solely before tests and exams – refreshing takes place continuously during learning. If a child needs to revise everything later then they've not really learnt, have they?"
"What about creating Potions?"
"The Tutomee will give detailed instructions to be followed by the student who writes what they are doing step by step. If an error is detected then the book will say so. I'm considering drawing an illustration of a teaching assistant to watch over critical stages, but the real teacher will be much more important with such practical lessons."
Hermione sighed. "It will be an uphill struggle to get Hogwarts to accept this modern approach; the establishment is quite conservative. I've spent some time with Professor Gossard – she's one of the more enlightened members of the Board of Governors, one of the few who've actually taught students. There is a rigid rule that each teacher may define their own methods within certain parameters, and most of them are set in their ways. Imagine Professor Binns having an argument with a black and white illustration of a teaching assistant!"
They both laughed and the others looked up from their practice. Ron said, "Fred and George finish their Christmas break day after tomorrow, I bet they could smuggle in a couple of copies to try out. Binns doesn't even need to know."
"That's a great idea, Ron!" cried Hermione. "The twins could report back what works well and what doesn't in a real class situation."
Ron beamed. Then his head tilted on one side, listening. Silence. Upstairs, the printing press had finally stopped, and the trapdoor opened.
"Anyone expecting an owl?" Mr Lovegood called down, his voice somewhat muffled by the charm.
He must have opened a window because a dark tawny came flapping down and, after swooping once around the kitchen, settled on the table before Hermione. While Harry gave the bird a piece of bacon rind to fortify itself, she took its message and read it to herself.
"It's from Remus confirming he can meet Adam tomorrow morning early. I spoke to Dad and it's been arranged. I think Remus wants a potion for a friend."
Harry gave her such a funny look that Hermione realised at once he must have been told his uncle was a werewolf, but simply never discussed it with her. Likely he'd been told to keep it quiet. But he'd have assumed she'd know – he thought she knew everything. She gave him a little nod but whether he understood or not Hermione could not tell.
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The Contract
At the hour of seven the next morning, Adam Brown shrugged off the cold night air and entered the Leaky Cauldron, steamy and smoke-filled with the dregs and remnants of the previous evening's regulars. He saw Remus immediately at a corner table but let his eyes sweep over him without recognition. Only when he could see no others matching his description did he make eye contact. The question in Lupin's eye drew Brown forward.
Remus rose as Adam approached. "Are you Adam Brown?"
Adam nodded. They shook hands and sat down. Remus drained the last drops of his Firewhisky and signalled to the barkeeper who came right over.
"Same again, Tom."
"I'll have a hot Butterbeer," said Adam.
Remus raised an eyebrow but said nothing; not many adults drank the soft beverage. They waited until Tom came back with the refreshments and had left them alone.
Adam said. "Hermione's message was rather confused. Seems to think you needed a potion for a vampire but I assume he's a werewolf?" He reached into a pocket of his robe.
"Not a potion, no..." began Remus, then broke off as Adam took out a third-pint flask. "You've brought Wolfsbane? You made that yourself? I already have... heard he has a supply."
"Not as potent as this brew," said Adam, holding up the bottle so its smoky blue contents glinted in the light from the nearest lantern. "Tell him to give it a try. He'll still feel rather low in spirits once a month but at least he won't transform."
"Impossible! The current supplier is a Potions Master – none better. He assures m– my friend that the most that can be done is to keep human control."
"I've specialised in exotic potions for years, and I tell you the correct dosage of my recipe prevents the transformation process completely." He placed the bottle before Remus and waited.
"How much?"
"Consider this a trial offer. If acceptable, whatever you're paying now plus I'll knock off ten percent."
The werewolf took the flask and slipped it inside his robes, still looking dubious.
"Make sure you read the label carefully. That bottle contains over ten doses."
"What!"
"I told you it was extremely potent. Only a tablespoonful is needed. Any more would be unpleasant and make things worse. Any less and you'll transform with varying degrees of control, much like your current inferior brew."
Remus frowned. "My friend's brew, you mean."
Adam smiled. "I'm guessing you're the one who needs it, Lupin – from your mannerisms for one thing, and the wear and tear shown in your face too, not to mention the hungry way you looked at that potion."
"You've known werewolves then? Hermione said you were a tracker."
"Not entirely, but yes." Adam hesitated. "I see I've misunderstood – you're not here for the potion at all, are you?"
Remus shook his head then took a gulp of his Firewhisky before answering. "I want you to hunt someone down and kill them."
Adam blinked. "Just like that?" He took a deep swig of Butterbeer, belched loudly, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, trying to look as manly as possible. "Who is it?" He knew the answer even before Remus answered.
"Fenrir Greyback."
Adam shook his head. "He's been on the run from the Ministry since the last war. No one knows where he is."
"I do," Lupin said softly. "For years I've watched and waited and listened for any clue. A few months ago, I learned that he and many of his fellows dwell in a heavily fortified compound concealed by Muggle repellents in the thickest area of the forest of Kielder. This filthy tribe strengthen their numbers by biting and contaminating young children then raising them to hate wizards."
Adam looked thoughtful, trying to recollect what he'd learned so long ago. "That forest is a large area to search, nearly two-hundred square miles of woodland, mostly conifers so even in winter some locations are quite dense and–"
"You know it?" Remus's eyes widened a little.
"Oh, only from what I've read in books."
Remus laughed a little too loudly and an old crone pulling on a long clay pipe two tables away scowled and coughed out a lungful of grey smoke. Lupin turned back to Adam. "Sorry, but you sounded just like Hermione Granger when you said that!"
Startled, Adam hesitated then tried to deepen his voice. "Edward's daughter? Do I? Strange girl. It was obvious she was magical, but I soon saw she was just a Niffler of useless information. She'll never amount to much other than a plume-pusher or a library assistant."
Lupin frowned and looked away. "Perhaps you're right – I don't know her that well yet, but she did strike me as quite smart for her age."
They sipped their drinks for a while until Remus continued, "I've scouted through Kielder many times without success. I'm sure Greyback will have scouts out among the trees but, like myself, they must have been using No-smell because I never caught so much as a whiff."
"Could you Apparate me there?" said Adam, draining his glass. "It wouldn't hurt to take a quick look around."
"Now?" cried Remus in a kind of stifled croak. "It won't be daybreak yet that far north, and we need to discuss, plan a strategy–"
"I only want to see the lie of the land for a few minutes, get to know the area so I can Apparate there myself if necessary and, who knows, maybe the trip will give me a few ideas before we start planning."
"So you'll take the job?" said Remus hopefully.
"Perhaps," said Adam.
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The Land of Fairytales
Night, still clinging to the northern forest, was relieved only by a bland grey radiance in the east where silent tree-shapes peeped darkly through the mist. Frost creaked and cracked underfoot as it took the sudden weight of the two wizards who appeared out of nowhere. Remus found the nearest pine trunk and leaned against it, panting steam into the chilly air.
"Alright?" asked Adam.
Lupin had only needed a few seconds to recover from the trip. "Fine." He straightened up. The big man he'd hefted along had fatigued his magic more than expected. He watched him now, already taking bearings, orienting himself.
"What trail is this?" Adam asked, gesturing at the rough track that swept before them in the gloom.
"One of many that circle around for backpackers and suchlike; this is a popular tourist site. We won't be using it but, see that stone tower?" He pointed. "Sight yourself on it as the nearest feature west of the trail; it's as good a start point as any, I've found."
Adam did so, then turned in the opposite direction. "And you've already investigated all the least popular areas east of here?"
"All of the most likely–" Remus stopped himself, and Adam saw the faint eastern glow light up his eyes as he resumed, "Or rather, the ones I was made to think most likely! By Merlin! Why didn't I see that before."
"Enchantments?"
"Yes, probably Notice-me-not charms." He fumbled in his robes for a piece of parchment, found a copy of yesterday's Daily Prophet, and began scratching away with a tiny quill on a small blank area below the Stop Press on the back page.
"Here's the trail ... that's a long brook heading up there ... low hills ..." He paused then began line-shading. "This is where I've focused before..."
Adam finished for him. "Which leaves this huge stretch to the north unchecked?"
Remus nodded. "Even now I feel a reluctance to bother with it."
"Any trails through there?"
"Nothing of consequence."
"The enchantment is still affecting you. What is there of no consequence?"
Remus stared in realisation at the big man. "You're right. There are what I thought were deer tracks pushing diagonally from here..." He marked it on the newspaper. It probably used to stretch right to the village on the other side. I guess these days the Muggles all have cars and have never noticed anything unusual about their new unwillingness to walk miles through the Forest."
"Poor old Granny," murmured Adam.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just an old fairytale about a big bad wolf."
They stood for a while gazing north into the blackness, as if waiting for the sun to rise and uncover the mystery – but there'd be no time for that.
Adam glanced at his watch. "I've things to do over the next few weeks. Let's think about it some more and we'll meet up to discuss the best way to dispose of him, once and for all."
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Hit List
During the remainder of the week, Hermione busied herself fitting out the Muggle laboratory that Mike Worthing Enterprises had acquired. When working with the staff – whether Muggle or Magical – she always appeared as Adam Brown, for these were professionals and would never have taken serious instruction from a child. As it was, they had trouble following her methodology which was not only years in advance of their own approach, but much of it was individual to herself, particularly the magical support.
"Yes, it's still Muggle science," she would explain, "but the indexing charm almost eliminates some of the lengthy sorting processes. Don't waste time doing it manually."
"And what exactly are we looking for?"
"The closest matches to the tables that I'm compiling. There is just this one table so far, but I'll provide the others by March."
At least the research proper could begin, with Adam supervising the initial stages, gathering tissue samples and data before tests could begin. It was tiring work and during this period, Hermione saw less of Luna and Ginny which hindered Hermione's efforts at bonding. In addition, Harry was visiting the Weasleys much more often in an attempt to see as much of them as he could before they departed for France. Hermione prayed that would be enough to maintain the link. She couldn't lose them completely, she just couldn't!
Coaxed by Bartemius and Jop, Madam Bones had found a better admin post for Paul Ingleton, reorganising the archive records in Magical Law Enforcement. It was a modest occupation but a step in the right direction should other Ministry opportunities arise, and he was grateful to them all.
Through the previous year, Jop had also strengthened his contacts with the dissatisfied portion of the higher echelons of Ministerial management and the Wizengamot, but the remainder were the entrenched extremists and blood-supremacists – he could do nothing about those until Hermione delivered on her promise to have them winkled out.
For her part, Hermione first needed information against the corrupt officials and Council members, and was now too busy to carry out random investigations herself.
"We are still laying the groundwork," said Vera at the end-of-February's meeting of the League, "but the time will come when we can do no more by legal means. As we've known from the start, we cannot increase the representation of our views on the Wizengamot and in the Ministry generally, until some of the most corrupt influences are removed."
"Jop, you said you'd begun compiling a list?" said Rosemary.
"Barty's working on it now."
Mr Crouch nodded, dug out a sheaf of papers from his briefcase, and began to read:
"Albert Runcorn has been progressing his Ministry career for some years using shady methods such as bribery and low-level hints of exposing misdemeanour. Some of the promotions he has received do not make practical sense but he's a bad influence we'd rather not have advancing in power. Do you have any information against him, Rosemary?"
She shook her head. "In my time he became a dreadful persecutor of Muggle-borns. Later information revealed he had occasionally supplied information to Death Eaters, and at least two Ministry personnel subsequently died from mysterious accidents. But I don't remember the period – it may well have been in the mid-nineties. I'd love to interrogate him under Veritaserum but we can't be certain of uncovering any major crimes yet. I propose we continue to keep watch on his activities and consider him later."
"Very well." Mr Crouch wrote swiftly on the entry, then continued, "Pius Thicknesse is a pure-blood sympathiser who has opposed us in the past on different issues. A difficult man to deal with."
"Although a believer in pure-blood superiority, Thicknesse is essentially opposed to suppression and dark magic. He refused to respond to entreaties from Malfoy and Yaxley then struggled hard to resist a powerful Imperius curse cast by Yaxley but was eventually overwhelmed and used by them. If you can find a way, then I recommend that he not be antagonised but shown respect in order to–"
"Respect! I can never agree with his views!" cried Jop.
"You don't need to agree with everything he believes but if your people form a casually-accepted acquaintance with the man then you may influence him for the better. In time, cautions could be fed to him that dark supporters might sway, blackmail, or force him in some way to help their causes. Put him on his guard."
Mr Crouch nodded and scribbled some more. "Walden Macnair is high on the Committee for Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, but we suspect non-humans are not all he dispatches."
"You'd be right," said Rosemary, "He's a violent, bloody sociopath and I have no doubt he has already committed murder – he used to be married, you know."
"No, he's never been married," frowned Crouch, looking at his notes.
"You mean, there is no record of it. He confessed to me that when he was a young man, he battered his wife to death with a large cauldron then boiled her bones in it."
Vera stood up and went to the window which she flung open and took large gulps of cold air.
Rosemary paused for a minute until the Muggle woman began to recover, then continued, "However, we cannot have a stream of Ministry officials disappearing too closely together. Mr Crouch, you are an adept with the Imperious Curse yourself, I propose you form a plan for him to quietly resign and apparently leave the country on some pretext."
"And...?"
"We need a real place for him and other accused to go so we can take them away for questioning unobserved. Somewhere difficult for anyone to follow or detect any pattern."
Crouch nodded. "I'd say, let him declare some false one-way journey then, instead, Apparate to a landmark he'd know but where he'd be unlikely to be recognised. Then, we need a safe house near enough from there for him to walk to. I shall give it some thought. To the rest of the world he will simply have moved away."
"Aren't you forgetting something?" said Vera. "What if we find him not guilty?"
"Then we release him, of course," said Rosemary. "I'll never incarcerate anyone without proof."
"But our ruse will then be uncovered!" cried Mr Crouch.
"Curse him without being observed and keep out of his line of sight during the interrogation both of you. There is no risk to either of you if you take care."
"And you? You'll take Adam's form?"
"No, I'll be myself. As I am. Rosemary Brown."
"But he'll find out who you are!"
"You two may not know, but I know for certain that he is guilty and he'll not walk free again, so there's no risk."
"And suppose, just suppose, we find him or others guilty of a lesser crime?"
"The minimum sentence will be a few months, loss of magic and complete Obliviation of anything to do with it, then placement into some far-off Muggle society – a fitting punishment for those who despise Muggles will be for them to become one, don't you think? Such people do not deserve the privilege of being magically endowed." She turned to Mike Worthing who had remained silent through this discussion. "You're not saying much, Mike. What do you think?"
"I've said before, I want no part of this rough justice vigilantism."
"It's less rough than current Ministry justice and the stakes are very high. Have you forgotten the consequences of doing nothing that you saw in the Pensieve? The world – including Kent – in ruins?"
Mike looked uncomfortable but had no answer.
Crouch pressed on. "Rosemary, you mentioned Yaxley – he's already on my list. He holds a high position in Law Enforcement and wields a lot of influence there. Madam Bones currently keeps him in check but if anything happened to her..."
"He committed crimes in the first war but claimed to be forced by Voldemort's Imperious curse, yet he willingly continued the fight in the second war in my lifetime. He must be removed but he might not be easy to subdue with an Imperious Curse. Find another way for him to resign without arousing suspicion – perhaps a long illness?"
"I'd rather we deal with someone like Lucius Malfoy first," said Jop. "He has far more influence and power at the Ministry."
Crouch said, "We can't yet. He is too prominent a figure to simply fade from public view without speculation and probably even investigation. Once there is even a slight suspicion that dark supporters are being covertly removed then our work becomes far harder and perhaps impossible."
"What about Nott and Rosier?" said Rosemary.
"Old Rosier? In the Wizengamot Admin? Surely not? New recruits are heavily vetted by him, and he's been working there for years."
"He's an ex-Death Eater and should be investigated – particularly since his sister Druella married a Black and is the mother of Bellatrix."
Crouch grimaced. "Not all Blacks are Arcanists – but I'll look into it."
"Same with Nott. While at Hogwarts, he was a grovelling, sycophantic schoolfriend of Voldemort – Tom Riddle as he was then known – and one of his earliest followers."
"I've heard the name of Nott but cannot place him..."
"He's a grunt in Obliviator Headquarters. He's particularly skilled at wiping memories so the department use his like to wipe the memories of Muggles when secrecy is breached. Be very careful when dealing with him."
Crouch nodded.
"Now, what about the Wizengamot itself?"
While Crouch retrieved another list from his bag, Jop said, "So many are pure-blood obsessives but respectable on the outside. They will be the main obstacle to our securing positions on the Council."
Hermione took the list off Crouch and made a copy. "I'll look into it myself when I can."
"You're driving yourself too hard!" said Vera. "You may have the memories and magic of an adult, Rosemary, but your mind and body are still those of a little girl."
"I'll pace myself. We have enough to be going on with."
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—oOo—
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Author's Notes
In the last chapter's reviews, HPHGfanforever raised a good point about Ron's flaws, and Harry and Hermione too. Yes, definitely! Both Ron and Harry shirked their schoolwork. So did I and probably most of the kids in my class. And yes, Harry and Hermione disliked each other at the start of Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone - it wasn't just Ron. Conflict is fairly normal for us humans, sadly, and stories aren't believable without it. Interestingly, I'm in the middle of reading another story this week and it's the first time I felt sorry for Ron – in fact, I choked up a bit. But that's later in the story – you won't much like him at the start. If interested, read Hearts Over Dracontias by Isis and Neit. It's a Charlie/Luna post-Hogwarts story and is very well written.
Jhotenko raised a question about Wolfsbane. I've assumed it existed at this time, and also implied for my story that Snape was making it for Remus earlier because Sirius being free meant Remus was more in touch with society. The reason I did this was because I wanted to underline that Hermione has been practising potions far longer than Snape and knows things that have not yet even been discovered in this timeline.
Thanks to everyone for comments and reviews. These are most welcome and very encouraging. Let me know of any weaknesses or faults – I'm always trying to improve my writing so feedback is really useful. :)
– Hippothestrowl
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