Disclaimer-Any and all recognized names, characters, and places, with the exception of the name Nemesis, are property of JK Rowling and Associates. Or, if you recognize it, it ain't mine.
Author's Notes - Thankyou for the reviews, everyone! I feel so loved! Sorry for taking so long to get this out, but I've had a few family problems that resulted in being placed under house arrest by my mother, so the computer has been off limits. By the way, anything in italics are thoughts. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding!
Anyways, on with chapter two...

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By lunch the next day, Hermione was bogged down in preliminary research upon her newest target. She had also bogged herself down into the headache of the century, as well. Apparently, some information sources in his group had reported him starting to deal in some of the most horrendous substances in the wizarding world.

Wizarding drugs.

Oh, the Muggle ones were bad enough, even by magical standards. But wizarding drugs, or WD, as they were known, took being a user to the next level. They caused hallucinations that more often than not caused the user to harm whatever they could find. Usually themselves. Many old-blood families had contacts in the underground world of druggies, but the Malfoy family was by far the worst.

I get the feeling there is something very wrong with this case...

At least she had information.

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While Hermione was battling classified information folders and a migraine, Severus Snape was battling the continuing incompetence of his students.

Will the wizarding world ever produce a scion with brains? I for one am beginning to doubt it...

He nearly groaned aloud when Marie Longbottom's third cauldron turned into a liquidy puddle of pewter. By the end of October in Ms. Longbottom's first year, she was already threatening to outdo both her elder cousin's reputation to melt cauldrons and to recieve the majority of the Potion Master's sarcasm.

Then again, has there ever been a smart Longbottom since Frank died eighteen years ago?

Apparently not.

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It was fully eight o'clock before Severus was able to retire to his rooms. In fact, he was barely through the door before he saw a vision showing a young witch with brown hair and a dark cloak near an abandoned warehouse in Wizarding London.

Experience had taught him never to ignore these dire warnings, so he quickly donned his 'uniform'. It was completely black, the way all of his clothes were, but it also included a black mask and gloves. Rushing through the secret passageway attached to his apartment, he quickly hid his wand up his sleeve, prepared to do battle.

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Hermione approached the warehouse with caution, not wanting to meet any hidden surprises. Carefully, she checked around corners and behind crates, looking for any suspicious activity. Just as she was about to move out into the open, an unseen hand grabbed her sleeve. Hermione tried to tug it free, but who or whatever held it apparently had no desire to give it back. She leaned back slightly, ready to use her wand, but a mysterious voice whispered in her ear, "I don't think you should go much farther. Run, quickly. It's dangerous here right now."

"I think I can judge that for myself, tha-" Hermione didn't even get to finish her sentence. A deafening roar came from inside the warehouse, and she felt flames lick her cheek. The dilapidated building exploded in a fireball of heat and flame. She felt herself being shielded by the stranger, but she couldn't see him for the flashing lights going off behind her eyes. Not that she'd see him anyway.

"Muggle C-4. Works faster than magic and impossible to trace. I'd say someone didn't want you to find out what was in that building, Ms. Granger."

"I guess not. Apparently someone doesn't want me investigating the case, either. At least this proves my theory."

"What theory?"

"That there had to be something in there that I wasn't supposed to see. Probably something illegal, by the looks of it."

"Ms. Granger, I'm warning you. This case will only get worse. I'm advising you to get off of it. Immediately."

"NO! Why should I take your word for it? You can't even show yourself to me! Besides, I don't want any innocents to be hurt. It's not their fight."

"If you want to see me, then fine." Suddenly, a shadow rippled and a man walked out from behind her. A very well-built man if his body showed anything. He was tall, but his features were obscured by a mask, and his hands were gloved. "Now, I'm ordering you to go to Bill Weasley and tell him that you've had second thoughts about this case. Tomorrow." With that, his outline blurred and he became a shadow again.

"Don't I get to know your name?" she called out. The sinking feeling in her stomache told her answer before the voice in her ears did.

"Nemesis..."

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So, what do you think? The warehouse thing had to happen for this fic to move along. Review or send me an e-mail with any comments.
Until we meet again,
TwiStED aNgEL