Disclaimer:

All characters in the story are the property of J. K. Rowling and Bloomsbury Books, with the exception of Eleanora Sterling and a few supporting characters, who are my own creations. This story is created purely for the entertainment of myself and other like-minded readers and no copyright infringement is intended.

By mentioning J.K. Rowling in this story I do not intend to present her as a fictional character or to imply that the Harry Potter books are not her own 100% original works.

Any opinions, political or otherwise, on world events, personages or governments expressed in these pages, are the opinions of the characters speaking them and not necessarily those of the author.

Chapter 15: Meeting Ms. Granger

It had been a while since Lupin had been back to the Magical dimension. His main mission today was to contact Hermione Granger. She was working at the Ministry of Magic offices as a researcher and Lupin was required to check in periodically to maintain contact between the dimensions. Once at the Ministry he had sent her a brief message requesting that she meet him outside The Leaky Cauldron at six p.m. It was now five minutes to the hour and he spotted her coming from the passage where the portal to Diagon Alley lay.

There might be too many curious eyes and ears inside the tavern, so he chose a Muggle café a couple of blocks away. Although he might have felt more secure taking her to the Mundane dimension for their meeting, she was, as far as he knew, not yet aware of its existence. Whether he would have to inform her of that or not, he did not know. Although he trusted the young lady implicitly, for the time being the less she knew the better.

Hermione greeted her former teacher warmly and once they were seated regarded him with curiosity. Normally when contacted to do covert work for Dumbledore she had been owled privately at her own rooms. It was not usual for Dumbledore to send another wizard to contact her at the Ministry offices. However, Lupin had met with her on one other occasion several weeks back, to receive her report on Welkin and Weatherby. At that meeting he had appeared in disguise, and she had needed a password to identify him. Evidently such subterfuge was no longer necessary.

Lupin ordered and paid for two cups of coffee at the counter and brought them back to their table. He hated lying to her, but contrary to what he had told Snape, to assure her silence it would be necessary to avoid arousing her suspicions.

This was to be a personal favour, he explained, and although his request had to do with a project that was known to Dumbledore, they could not risk using any of their usual methods of passing messages in case they were intercepted. Therefore, no communication was to be made to Hogwarts and she was to report directly to him. Hermione quietly agreed.

"I need for you to look into the Ministry records to see if you can locate a couple of Wizards for me. They are Rakesh Devani and Vladimir Plotkin."

Hermione committed the names to memory, though they meant nothing to her.

"Devani is thought to be in London, but I need to confirm that. Plotkin may in hiding so you might not be able to find him, but his last known whereabouts were Armenia. Naturally I have no access to Ministry records, but you do. We need your full co-operation and your utmost discretion on this."

"What have they done?" she asked with concern.

"Nothing at all, that we are aware of. I just need to get in touch with them on a sensitive matter."

"All right, I'll do my best," she promised earnestly. "How will I contact you when I've found anything?"

"Meet me here again in two days, at the same time. Can you manage that?"

"Yes, of course, I have no other plans. Hopefully I'll be able to find something by then."

"If you can't, then I'll have to go through other channels."

"I can ask around if you'd like," she offered.

"No, that won't be necessary. I'd just like you to stick to the records."

"Understood," she agreed. Business concluded, she asked him how he was doing and how things were at Hogwarts. 

"Fine, last I was there. I'm actually out in the field now so I haven't been back for a few weeks."

"Ah, I see."

"And how are you doing? Enjoying your job at the Ministry?"

"It's all right," she said, fidgeting with her spoon. "It's a bit boring, really. And I never thought I'd say that about a job where I get to look things up in books all day long…" Remus smiled, recalling how many extra-curricular hours she had willingly spent in Hogwarts' library. "But really, Professor… I mean, Mr. Lupin… I'm beginning to think I'd rather be out in the field myself. I'm sure this might lead to a promotion some day, but I'm actually starting to find it all a bit dry. Maybe my future isn't with the Ministry after all."

"Hmm. Does Mr. Fudge know how you feel?" he teased.

"Oh, gosh no!" she exclaimed. "I hope he never finds out. But I must say that if it weren't for these occasional 'extra assignments' I get from Professor Dumbledore, I'd go quite mad."

He chuckled then, and smiled warmly at her. "Well, it's quite possible we will be involving you in some further intrigue, if that would suit you."

"Oh, yes!! And what sort of intrigue are you currently involved in?" she asked eagerly.

"Now, now, Miss Granger, you know I can't discuss that."

"Well, um… how is Professor Snape?" she asked in a whisper, leaning forward slightly.

"What do you know about Professor Snape?" he asked cautiously.

"Ron – er - Weasley told me... in strictest confidence of course… that he was in trouble with You-Know-Who and that he's gone into hiding. I know you know something about it, but you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."

"Well, naturally I cannot tell you anything, as in fact officially I know nothing. But I will allow, as it's you, that he is alive and well, and quite safe from harm, for the moment." As long as he stays where he ought to be, he added to himself. "But you never heard that from me," he added sternly.

"Oh. That's good, then," she added, chewing her lip. "As long as he's safe. Actually, we were all a bit worried."

"I'm sure Professor Snape would be touched by your concern," Lupin said dryly. "But in order for him to remain safe, you must promise not to repeat anything we discussed today. Not even that last bit, and not even to Ron." He had heard rumours that she and Ron Weasley were romantically linked and this sort of confirmed it.

"Of course!" she quickly replied. "Not a word. You can rely on me."

* * *

Vera called him later that evening. "I have a meeting set up for you. Can you make to our offices at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon?"

"Terrific! Let's see what they can cook up, then. I have the go-ahead to look into it from my associate abroad. And he's promised to come up with the financial backing."

"Good. But we really shouldn't be discussing this on the phone," she added sotto vocce.

"Why not?"

"Ahem, suppose your phone line were tapped?"

"By whom?"

"By Interpol, love," she whispered. "They might think you're a terrorist or something."

"Oh." He had been so concerned about detection by their enemies that the thought of police or government interest hadn't occurred to him.

"All right, then, I'll be there at 1:30 tomorrow. Will I see you?"

"Not at the meeting, leastways. Not my department. But I'll be around," she added in a sultry voice.

"Right, well, perhaps I'll see you afterwards. Unless... well, erm, what are you doing later tonight?"

"Seeing you, since you asked. I'll be at your place say, around ten?"

"I'll see you then…"

NEXT: The Goodge Street Irregulars

A/N

Sorry, sorry, sorry... falling behind... too much to do... didn't mean to make you wait! I hpe you enjoy this in spite of the delay.

Shadowycat: Snape may have second thoughts about trusting Sirius. Old habits die hard. Then again, how desperate will he get? At least Lupin trusts Hermione!

-Grey Lady