Disclaimer: the characters belong to J.K.Rowling.

The translator bracelet is an adaptation of an idea from "Any Means Necessary".

Chapter IV – Disappearing Acts

"You're not that boring"

Her clumsy attempt of an insult actually touched Oliver. He always had an incipient complex if inferiority in front of her. The people from Morgana had offered her a scholarship and future access to all the secrets of the firm, but they only gave him a job based on his good looks. They made him responsible for public relations. He was just a part of the Institute's scheme to improve their image. Everyone always saw him as a pretty face, nothing more.

"Where were you, anyway?" he adopted his patronising attitude again.

"I had… dinner with someone"

"A date? On your first day?! You move fast!"

"Don't jump to conclusions, Mr. Wood. I met Bill Weasley for dinner. I didn't know he was teaching here"

"Hmm… yes, he does" Oliver's tone was intriguing.

"Is there a problem?" she pressed him.

"Don't you think you should get dressed?"

Oliver said that as sourly as possible, trying to hide that he found her arousing. Hermione was flustered for a bit, but didn't give up the argument.

"It's rather late and I want to sleep. There's no reason for me to get dressed. Good night!" she climbed in the bed, pulling the sheets up to her chin.

He threw a small box on the bed. Hermione opened it and her face brightened.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed at the sight of an exquisite silver necklace, sprinkled with diamonds. "Thank you!"

"It's not a gift" he barked irritated. "It helps you to read Arabic and other ancient languages"

"Oh, that..." she remembered being slightly annoyed because of it earlier that day.

"I told them to send you the glasses, but they said this gives you more insight in the Egyptian way of thinking"

"I'm quite cute with glasses actually" she tried to piss him off again.

She wasn't really good at it. Oliver only said:

"Take care with Bill Weasley. Things aren't always what they seem"

"What do you mean by that?"

But she only spoke to the air. Oliver Wood had disaparated.

Hermione sighed, relieved and upset at the same time. She reached for Madeleine's letter on the night table.

"Dear Hermione,

Happy to know you'd like to come and visit. The offer doesn't expire in a week thank you very much! I'm bound by contract to stay here in Gizeh at least three more months. Although I'd love to see you as soon as possible, I'm afraid I have to ask you not to pop in around here in the next couple of weeks. I'll be away on business. (That sounds cool, doesn't it?)

Best of luck in school! I heard wonderful things about the University. I just know you'll rock the place!

Madeleine"

It was just like Madeleine to run away again. She was not ready to meet her. Hermione was rather hurt. She needed to talk to her for several reasons. When Madeleine left Hogwarts, she had let quite a lot of loose ends. Hermione felt responsible for her. They just had to talk. The girl was a firm believer in saving a friend, even from themselves.

"What are friends for?"

**********

In his London apartment, Oliver was thinking about his reactions while casting the protective spells. He put up the regular defences around his pad quite mechanically.

Why did he stay and wait for her more than two hours? He could have contacted her in the morning before classes.

Aside from his uncharacteristic behaviour, two things really bothered him.

One was Bill Weasley's presence. Bill had always been too far from the Ministry's observant eye. He was not to be trusted. He had spent enough time in Egypt to shift his loyalties from the British wizarding community to the African Med-jai. He had to make some inquiries, but his instinct was warning him Bill was a liability for their project. His instinct might have meant a danger for his projects about Hermione, but Oliver was not aware of any such plans.

He was resolute to enlighten Hermione on this matter.

The other problem was the letter she had received. He instantly recognised the Bricassart seal. Alphonse and Calypso were active collaborators of the Morgana. They were the best scouts the Institute ever had.

He had of course probed the letter, without leaving any traces. The content was innocent enough, but it gave him a clue about the location of the lost Bricassart offspring. And it was bad news. She worked in Gizeh, for the Med-jai.

*************

In doctor McNaulty's office, Oliver expressed his worries. The old wizard tried to put his mid at rest.

"Don't worry about Madeleine. She's just like her father. Alphonse went to Durmstrang, graduated with honours, is a powerful wizard, but when the push came to shove he was a faithful ally of the Ministry. Calypso and him are some of the most trust worthy people I know"

"But do you know their daughter?"

"I met her when she was about ten"

"She works for the Med-jai now"

"And we work with them. If we don't trust our partners, who can we trust?"

"Ourselves"

Oliver's youth made him so bold, so incorruptible. McNaulty smiled in his bushy white beard. The boy was turning into a man under his eyes. No more thoughts of Quidditch on his mind. He became a part of the intricate web of Morgana people. He put the good of the Institute in the top of his priorities. The Contract's effect was very strong.

McNaulty could remember the day May Thorsen came in his office with the final draft of the Contract. Everyone agreed it was a splendid piece of witchcraft. *Whatever happened to her? I think she went to teach at Hogwarts*. The Contract linking people to the Morgana Institute was the creation of one of the most gifted witches he had ever met. It worked smoothly, persuading the person who had signed to be more and more happy with the decision taken. The previous version of the Contract accentuated the punishments following any breach of the agreement. Thorsen was a great believer in spelling the mind rather than frightening the soul! *The good old times!*.

Oliver watched Miles McNaulty slide on the memory lane. He had a lot of respect for his boss, but he couldn't help thinking he was a little antiquated for the demands of his position. But Oliver didn't know just how appropriate the good old witch doctor really was, nor he knew just how hard the new management of the Institute tried to shake exactly the harsh manner of work he believed suitable.

"I know the Med-jai are our partners, but I also know that if the books are discovered they will not just give us all the information. Granger is one of the pawns the Institute is using to make them feel that we're breathing down their neck. I still don't understand how can you entrust something like that to a child!"

"She was highly recommended. You wouldn't believe who pleaded her case most vehemently… Your Potions Master! Professor Snape seems to have every confidence in her. And we have reason to trust his judgement"

"He works for you?"

"The Institute has a long term co-operation with him. He's very good in reading people. Actually one of your recommendations came from him. He's also a head hunter for the Morgana"

"A man of many talents" Oliver hissed annoyed.

"You don't owe him anything, don't worry! It's part of his job to spot talents"

"I'm going to look for information about the Bricassart" he said *And about Bill Weasley* he added to himself.

************

The information about Madeleine de Bricassart was scarce, but very interesting. She attended Hogwarts for one year, she was twenty at that moment and she had been sorted in Slytherin.

*It figures*

The rest of her life was pretty much covered in silence. Apparently she had travelled with her parents everywhere in the world. But she was not a Morgana affiliated herself.

*What could she be doing in Gizeh?* he wondered.

The ancient Egyptian order of the Med-jai did not give jobs to Europeans out of the blue. And not something connected with their blasted pyramids. They were absolutely paranoid about them. Of course, he had no way to find very much about the situation, since most African countries had an obstructive attitude about the exchange of information with Europe. Even the extensive resources of the Institute could help him. He just had to do some fieldwork.

*************

Hermione's day went great. She enjoyed studying and she was very good at it. By the end of the week everything became a routine. Even the every day dinners and stimulating conversations with Bill turned into a habit. She felt cheated by the lack of challenge.

Every time she came home her heart would pound heavily, in the expectance of Oliver Wood. When the lights were on she had to tell herself that she had no reason to be upset. He was only her supervisor, there was no reason for him to visit her every day. She found herself longing for Saturday to come.

~~~~~~~~~

Thanks again for the reviews!

I wouldn't mind suggestions as well. I have a clear idea about the ending and about the Egyptian secrets, but I can't really get to that part yet. I hope the story won't get boring till I set the stage for the final destination.