Disclaimer: Me? Own Harry Potter? No..I don't.*sigh*
AN: Hi everyone! Here's the next chappie! I hope you all like it. Please I beg of you, no flames.
* * * Healing Stones
Chapter 2
The second Harry stepped into work he knew something was amiss. Cornelius Fudge, the Head of the Ministry of magic and Harry's boss was flitting around Harry's office. He glanced at a photo on Harry's desk of Ron and Hermoine during their Hogwarts days. They smiled brightly waving at Fudge, Ron in his Quiddich robes (he became a Beater in his fifth year) and Hermoine in her Gryffindor jumper.
Harry cleared his throat loudly, startling the preoccupied Minister out of his wits. He allowed time for his boss to straighten his robes, eagerly awaiting an assignment. Hopefully something relatively dull and unexciting. He had seen enough of exciting during the seven years he spent at Hogwarts. It was true that Voldemort was once again in a recession, but Harry was none too eager to go into battle again with the heartless and terrifying dark wizard that had been the bane of his existence since his first birthday.
"Well.er..good morning Harry." Fudge faltered. Why, after seeing him so many times, was his boss so apprehensive around him?
"Good morning, sir. Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?" Harry asked. The man seemed to require a bit of leading.
"Oh, yes, well I have a job for you Harry, although it will take you out of England. The Ruby of Angor has been stolen from a muggle museum in Ireland. The guard who was on duty that night was attached by an unknown assailant who happened to carry a foot-long stick, a wand Harry. The man was subjected to the Cruciatus. The muggle police and the museum coordinator don't believe a word of it. We have no record of why a wizard would want the Ruby, but we believe that it has magical properties that we are unaware of. I put the report on your desk with the details, you'll be apparating at precisely ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Good luck and good day."
With this said and done, Fudge strode swiftly from Harry's office.
"The Cruciatus curse, eh? Why can't I get a dull job? I wish they had an equivalent to parking tickets in the wizarding world. Well, off to business. First to find out more about this Ruby." Harry flipped through the file Fudge had left on his desk. Nothing too useful there, they knew as much as he did. And where do you go when you need research?
"Hermoine.."
Harry apparated to her office, he might as well give her a scare while he was at it.
* * * Hermoine had been deciphering, or at least attempting to decipher an overly encoded manuscript from the sixteenth century for two hours now. She hadn't made it past the first line. She started rubbing her tired and aching eyes desperately trying to keep awake. She removed her hands and when she opened her eyes, Harry's face was about an inch away from her nose.
"Hey Hermoine. Working hard, like usual?" He said, noting the startled look on her face at his sudden appearance.
"Merlin Harry, must you do that this early in the morning?" Hermoine asked, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Harry straightened himself, rubbing his chin pretending to ponder over her question. Coming to a conclusion he replied, "Yes, yes I do."
The edges of her lips twitched upwards, then finally settled into a full blown smile when her best friend put his arm out, placing his finger on the tip of her nose, holding it there. She crossed her eyes examining his finger. They both had a hearty chuckle (AN: those are the best chuckles).
"C'mon Harry, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Hermoine asked, her fervent curiosity shining through even in her adulthood. Other than that and her ever-present love for books, nothing about her had stayed the same. The battles with Voldemort during their final school year had ended Hermoine's objections about breaking rules. They needed to enjoy life now, at any time it could be taken away. Voldemort was still a threat to all of them. It puts a damper on a war when your enemy is immune to the killing curse.
"Harry? Harry, are you alright?" She looked worried now. He smiled trying to make her do the same.
"I'm fine Hermoine, sorry, I sorta spaced out for a second there. Anyway, Fudge saddled me with a case. It seems that a Deatheater has stolen a ruby from a muggle museum in Ireland. It might have magical properties. I have to leave tomorrow morning. Do you think you could do some research for me?" He gave her the puppy dog eyes.
She couldn't resist the puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, alright. Just stop doing that," she said trying not to giggle. "Does this ruby have a name?"
"Yeah.the Ruby of Angor. Ring a bell?"
"Actually no, it doesn't but I'll look through some of my books on magical artifacts. If I don't have anything before you leave, I'll owl it to you." Hermoine said as she wrote down the name of the jewel. "Is there anything else?"
"No. Thanks 'Moine, you're the greatest." He pulled her over the desk and into a friendly embrace, and kissed her cheek. "Bye!" His words were cut off as he apparated back to his office.
"Has that man never heard of stairs?" She smiled to herself. She wouldn't trade her best friends for anything. That got her thinking of Ron, off on Ministry business somewhere in Russia. His location and the strict confidentiality of the case prohibited him to contact both Harry and her. She was worried about his welfare, but she also missed his humor. He could always make her smile.
They dated during their sixth year of Hogwarts, but it had not lasted very long. They liked each other, but Hermoine's "know-it-all" stature and Ron's temper seemed to be their undoing. Also, they thought of each other more like siblings but hadn't realized it yet. She shook her head. Kissing your brother-figure was definitely too weird.
She walked out of her office to the grand, dust filled library. Her library. She was offered almost any position in the Ministry after graduation, and 'researcher' just seemed to fit her perfectly. And to be all around these books.
She smiled. "Accio Book of Magical Artifacts." The book flew from the shelves and fell into her hand. "Angor..the Ruby of Angor.."
* * *
"For Merlin's sake Aylerton, if you melt one more cauldron I will personally have you removed from Hogwarts!"
Severus Snape was not happy. But, when was he ever? These brats were going to be the death of him, or at least the first class ticket to Saint Mungo's psychiatric ward.
The student's face paled with the knowledge of upcoming doom as he avoided his teacher's glare. Moving quickly, he cleaned up his cauldron and the spilt potion, which was slowly eating its way through his desk.
Snape sighed inwardly, rubbing his temples. He usually scared his pupils using a smooth, silky, and threatening voice but today he was losing his control. He scratched his left forearm, absently showing his apprehension.
'I haven't been called for such a long time. It's coming soon,' he thought nervously. The wait was the worst part about the Death Eater gatherings. Every time he apparated the overwhelming fear of being found out rose in him, making him want to retch. The feeling stayed with him through the murders and the tortures, although he rarely participated with fervor.
By now the meetings had become routine. An opening speech by Lord Bastard, a muggle or two tortured, then the torture spread to the Death Eaters as Voldemort turned his wand to each of them. He didn't know if he could handle another Unforgivable curse. Gods help him.
'Quit complaining. You deserve it. Some things can never be forgiven.'
The bell rang, interrupting his bout of self-loathing. The children scurried through the doors, hurrying into the dungeon hallways. No one really wanted to stay down here anyway. Except him.
He sat down at his sturdy oak desk, preparing to grade the little ingrates essays defining the many uses for Gillyweed. Unfortunately, halfway through the first paper his arm burned with a fiery intensity.
AN: That's it for chapter 2! Thanks so much for the reviews!!
Mmrosalez: All will be shown in time. I want to be sort of original, at least in my mind about how Hermoine gets back to Hogwarts. Eternal Queen: I'm glad you like it!
AN: Hi everyone! Here's the next chappie! I hope you all like it. Please I beg of you, no flames.
* * * Healing Stones
Chapter 2
The second Harry stepped into work he knew something was amiss. Cornelius Fudge, the Head of the Ministry of magic and Harry's boss was flitting around Harry's office. He glanced at a photo on Harry's desk of Ron and Hermoine during their Hogwarts days. They smiled brightly waving at Fudge, Ron in his Quiddich robes (he became a Beater in his fifth year) and Hermoine in her Gryffindor jumper.
Harry cleared his throat loudly, startling the preoccupied Minister out of his wits. He allowed time for his boss to straighten his robes, eagerly awaiting an assignment. Hopefully something relatively dull and unexciting. He had seen enough of exciting during the seven years he spent at Hogwarts. It was true that Voldemort was once again in a recession, but Harry was none too eager to go into battle again with the heartless and terrifying dark wizard that had been the bane of his existence since his first birthday.
"Well.er..good morning Harry." Fudge faltered. Why, after seeing him so many times, was his boss so apprehensive around him?
"Good morning, sir. Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?" Harry asked. The man seemed to require a bit of leading.
"Oh, yes, well I have a job for you Harry, although it will take you out of England. The Ruby of Angor has been stolen from a muggle museum in Ireland. The guard who was on duty that night was attached by an unknown assailant who happened to carry a foot-long stick, a wand Harry. The man was subjected to the Cruciatus. The muggle police and the museum coordinator don't believe a word of it. We have no record of why a wizard would want the Ruby, but we believe that it has magical properties that we are unaware of. I put the report on your desk with the details, you'll be apparating at precisely ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Good luck and good day."
With this said and done, Fudge strode swiftly from Harry's office.
"The Cruciatus curse, eh? Why can't I get a dull job? I wish they had an equivalent to parking tickets in the wizarding world. Well, off to business. First to find out more about this Ruby." Harry flipped through the file Fudge had left on his desk. Nothing too useful there, they knew as much as he did. And where do you go when you need research?
"Hermoine.."
Harry apparated to her office, he might as well give her a scare while he was at it.
* * * Hermoine had been deciphering, or at least attempting to decipher an overly encoded manuscript from the sixteenth century for two hours now. She hadn't made it past the first line. She started rubbing her tired and aching eyes desperately trying to keep awake. She removed her hands and when she opened her eyes, Harry's face was about an inch away from her nose.
"Hey Hermoine. Working hard, like usual?" He said, noting the startled look on her face at his sudden appearance.
"Merlin Harry, must you do that this early in the morning?" Hermoine asked, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
Harry straightened himself, rubbing his chin pretending to ponder over her question. Coming to a conclusion he replied, "Yes, yes I do."
The edges of her lips twitched upwards, then finally settled into a full blown smile when her best friend put his arm out, placing his finger on the tip of her nose, holding it there. She crossed her eyes examining his finger. They both had a hearty chuckle (AN: those are the best chuckles).
"C'mon Harry, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Hermoine asked, her fervent curiosity shining through even in her adulthood. Other than that and her ever-present love for books, nothing about her had stayed the same. The battles with Voldemort during their final school year had ended Hermoine's objections about breaking rules. They needed to enjoy life now, at any time it could be taken away. Voldemort was still a threat to all of them. It puts a damper on a war when your enemy is immune to the killing curse.
"Harry? Harry, are you alright?" She looked worried now. He smiled trying to make her do the same.
"I'm fine Hermoine, sorry, I sorta spaced out for a second there. Anyway, Fudge saddled me with a case. It seems that a Deatheater has stolen a ruby from a muggle museum in Ireland. It might have magical properties. I have to leave tomorrow morning. Do you think you could do some research for me?" He gave her the puppy dog eyes.
She couldn't resist the puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, alright. Just stop doing that," she said trying not to giggle. "Does this ruby have a name?"
"Yeah.the Ruby of Angor. Ring a bell?"
"Actually no, it doesn't but I'll look through some of my books on magical artifacts. If I don't have anything before you leave, I'll owl it to you." Hermoine said as she wrote down the name of the jewel. "Is there anything else?"
"No. Thanks 'Moine, you're the greatest." He pulled her over the desk and into a friendly embrace, and kissed her cheek. "Bye!" His words were cut off as he apparated back to his office.
"Has that man never heard of stairs?" She smiled to herself. She wouldn't trade her best friends for anything. That got her thinking of Ron, off on Ministry business somewhere in Russia. His location and the strict confidentiality of the case prohibited him to contact both Harry and her. She was worried about his welfare, but she also missed his humor. He could always make her smile.
They dated during their sixth year of Hogwarts, but it had not lasted very long. They liked each other, but Hermoine's "know-it-all" stature and Ron's temper seemed to be their undoing. Also, they thought of each other more like siblings but hadn't realized it yet. She shook her head. Kissing your brother-figure was definitely too weird.
She walked out of her office to the grand, dust filled library. Her library. She was offered almost any position in the Ministry after graduation, and 'researcher' just seemed to fit her perfectly. And to be all around these books.
She smiled. "Accio Book of Magical Artifacts." The book flew from the shelves and fell into her hand. "Angor..the Ruby of Angor.."
* * *
"For Merlin's sake Aylerton, if you melt one more cauldron I will personally have you removed from Hogwarts!"
Severus Snape was not happy. But, when was he ever? These brats were going to be the death of him, or at least the first class ticket to Saint Mungo's psychiatric ward.
The student's face paled with the knowledge of upcoming doom as he avoided his teacher's glare. Moving quickly, he cleaned up his cauldron and the spilt potion, which was slowly eating its way through his desk.
Snape sighed inwardly, rubbing his temples. He usually scared his pupils using a smooth, silky, and threatening voice but today he was losing his control. He scratched his left forearm, absently showing his apprehension.
'I haven't been called for such a long time. It's coming soon,' he thought nervously. The wait was the worst part about the Death Eater gatherings. Every time he apparated the overwhelming fear of being found out rose in him, making him want to retch. The feeling stayed with him through the murders and the tortures, although he rarely participated with fervor.
By now the meetings had become routine. An opening speech by Lord Bastard, a muggle or two tortured, then the torture spread to the Death Eaters as Voldemort turned his wand to each of them. He didn't know if he could handle another Unforgivable curse. Gods help him.
'Quit complaining. You deserve it. Some things can never be forgiven.'
The bell rang, interrupting his bout of self-loathing. The children scurried through the doors, hurrying into the dungeon hallways. No one really wanted to stay down here anyway. Except him.
He sat down at his sturdy oak desk, preparing to grade the little ingrates essays defining the many uses for Gillyweed. Unfortunately, halfway through the first paper his arm burned with a fiery intensity.
AN: That's it for chapter 2! Thanks so much for the reviews!!
Mmrosalez: All will be shown in time. I want to be sort of original, at least in my mind about how Hermoine gets back to Hogwarts. Eternal Queen: I'm glad you like it!