2/12/04:  All right, let no one ever accuse me of not crumbling to criticism.  Due to feedback, I've decided to stretch out the end of the last chapter.  I wrote this up this morning, so excuse any grammar issues.  I'm still not going to have Harry and Hermione discuss their issues though; I explain why at the end.  Let's pick up the story after breakfast ended…

20. Later On… (aka, the Morning After Part II)

Harry Potter was bored.  Bored, bored, bored.  For the past five hours, straight through lunch, Harry had been sitting in the back of a theatre-like conference room at the Bureau of Magical Investigations (BMI) building, listening to reports about Malvagita, his suspected past operations, suspected dark wizards, suspected hideouts, suspected this, suspected that.  It was like a double History of Magic lesson all over again, but with free snacks.  Speaking of which…

"Again?" Robert whispered impatiently.  Harry shrugged lamely as he scooted past Robert and into the aisle.  He walked up to the exit and into the hallway, towards the bathroom.  The one bad thing about free drinks is that Harry felt compelled to take advantage of them.  He mused that perhaps it was because he was kept from so much with the Dursleys that he was making up for it now.

Besides, it wasn't like he was missing anything.  He basically learned everything he wanted to know last night at the first briefing.  But several additional agents had been brought onto the case, and Perkins felt the need to subject everyone to an even more thorough briefing with even less facts.  Harry wondered what the point of it all was, since everything was suspected, nothing confirmed.  As he walked back towards the briefing, Harry idly wondered where Tonks was.  She had come to America with a trunk full of parchments and a wide assortment of magical doodads.   Whatever she was doing, it was bound to be more interesting and productive then what Harry was suffering through.

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

"Wasn't that absolutely fascinating?" Hermione asked as she dug her fork into the pile of noodles on her plate.

"Yes, fascinating," said Harry, with much less excitement.  They were eating dinner at a Muggle restaurant that one of the Agents recommended, opting for a night alone together rather than joining the others.  The restaurant was located in one of the many malls that seemed to litter the street that they were on, called the "Magnificent Mile" by the Agent.  Harry wasn't sure how magnificent it was, but it was definitely a touristy spot.  It was an interesting restaurant, specializing in many different Asian cuisines all at once, from Thai to Japanese.  Hermione had ordered a Thai dish, while Harry had ordered sushi.  Raw fish was something he never imagined he would enjoy, but he found that he liked it years ago after succumbing to Hermione's constant prodding (usually mocking his lack of Gryffindor spirit).

Hermione didn't seem to notice his dearth of enthusiasm.  "It's so interesting when you compare how the Dark Lords of this century have operated.  When you compare Grindelwald's activities with those of Voldemort's and now Malvagita, it creates a pattern that, when you take the time to examine it, truly reflects society and how the wizarding community – Harry!  Are you listening to me?"

Harry snapped his head up from his sushi.  "Hm?  What?  Of course I'm listening to you!" he said, trying to sound offended and not embarrassed.

"Oh really," she said skeptically.  "Then what was I just saying?"

Harry scoffed, buying a few precious seconds to remember.  "You know, Grindelwald, Voldemort, Malvagita…stuff like that."

"Uh huh…and what about Grindelwald, Voldemort, and Malvagita?"

"That…that they're very interesting."

"Riiight," Hermione drawled.  "Were you paying attention at all during the briefing, between your frequent bathroom breaks?" she asked.  "Honestly," she said, without waiting for an answer, "this is very important information.  You need to know this if you want to stop Malvagita!"

Harry shrugged.  "But it's sooooo booring!" he whined.  Then, he took hold of one her hands on the table and flashed her his best smile.  "Besides, it's not my fault that I couldn't pay attention.  I was too distracted by you."

Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes, but he could tell that she was restraining a smile.  "Whatever."

Harry grinned, pleased that he had successfully avoided a lecture.  "Let's not talk about work, okay?  Tell me about some of the places you want to see in America?"  Hermione smiled and began describing some of the places she wanted to visit, that is, if they had time after the case ended.  They talked pleasantly for the remainder of dinner, avoiding subjects from the past and keeping their discussion firmly rooted on the present.  After dinner, they decided to walk for a bit.

The shops and stores on the street were all closed by the time they finished dinner, but Harry was surprised to find that there were still a great many people out and about.  Hermione held his arm and leaned comfortably into him as they walked down the street, gazing through the windows at the items being sold.  It was a pleasant night, and Harry was content.  After about half an hour, Harry caught Hermione stifling a yawn.  "Ready to go back?" he asked.

Hermione shrugged.  "I suppose.  We do have to get up early tomorrow," she said, regretfully.  Harry nodded, more so at what she was feeling then at what she said.  He could tell that, like him, she wanted to savor every newfound moment together. 

Walking a little further, he pulled her along a side street and into an entranceway to a shop.  "Shall I apparate us, then?" he offered.  Hermione nodded, so Harry took her hands and apparated them to the hotel.

They appeared in the lobby of the hotel, in a special spot reserved for apparating guests (and away from Muggle eyes).  Everything was fine until they got to their floor, and Harry suddenly became nervous.  What should he do?  Should he ask her in?  Would she ask him?  He knew that he wanted to be with her tonight, if nothing else than to wake up next to her.  But he was still afraid (damn that fear!) of her reaction should he suggest a nightcap.

"So, um…do you, er…I mean, if you want…" Harry stammered when they reached the doors to their rooms.

Hermione giggled.  "You are so cute sometimes!  Yes Harry, I'd like to come in for awhile."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, and then realized he probably wasn't looking very suave at the moment.  He straightened and nodded a manly nod, eliciting another round of giggles.  Harry gave up and simply opened the door for Hermione, letting her go ahead before closing the door behind him.

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

The morning brought good news for the assembled Agents and Aurors: they had a lead.  Tonks and the American surveillance experts, working all night (and making Harry feel a twinge of guilt for his relaxing night), had finally traced Tway's last owl to an address in Chicago.  The owl had arrived at a rented apartment south of the downtown area, leased to a Patrick Simon.  Patrick Simon, alias Simon Allen, was known to the BMI; he was a suspected Dark Arts Practitioner (DAP, as the Americans called them), though sufficient proof for an arrest had never been collected.  He was also relatively low on the food chain of evil, so they knew he was merely a go-between.  A team of agents and a surveillance van was dispatched to keep an eye on him.  About two hours later, the agents following Simon reported that he had met up with another suspected DAP.  This required another team to follow the second DAP, and Harry and Robert finally had something to do.

An hour later, Harry and Robert found themselves seated at a table in a pub in the north part of Chicago.  Their DAP, Andy Connor, was seated about twenty feet away at another table with some people, periodically yelling at a television.

"I still don't see why they make such a big deal about football," groused Robert as he regarded television with skepticism.

Harry shook his head.  "It's not football, it's baseball.  They don't like football over here.  And they call it soccer anyways."

"Well, at least the Americans have that going for them.  Anyways, I still don't see what all the fuss is about."  A loud cry of disappointment filled the bar as one of the teams scored.  "I mean, seriously, all that running around, using your legs, and there's only one ball!"

"Shhh!" Harry said, noticing the curious looks they were receiving from the table closest to them.  Harry pulled his baseball cap further down on his head, making sure his scar was hidden.  "You're such a tourist, in more ways then one.  I think you'd probably like football, it seems more your style."

"You know I don't like football."

"Oops, I mean American football, not soccer."

"Huh?  You mean there's a difference between American football and European football?  And what's soccer?"

"Er, don't worry about that.  The point is I think you'd like it.  It's more violent - people tackling other people and such.  It's a little bit rugby."

"Rugby?"

Harry grinned, stifling a laugh.  "Right, just like how baseball is similar to cricket."

"Oh, now I know you're being an arse…how in the world can this" – Robert waved at the television – "be similar to an insect?"

Harry couldn't help it; he burst into laughter.  Robert just grumbled something about the indignity of being forced to grow up with Muggles.

Harry and Robert followed Connor the rest of the day, watching as he got drunk at one bar after another.  "Doesn't this guy have a job?" Robert muttered after they left their third bar and were entering their fourth.

Harry shook his head.  "This is a waste of time.  He's too drunk to do anything evil tonight."  Robert agreed, but they both knew that they would keep tabs on him the rest of the night regardless.

9pm found Harry sitting alone in the surveillance van while two American agents were watching the DAP (Connor might notice if Robert and Harry followed him all night, though in his current inebriated state it was doubtful).  Robert had left the van for a quick break, and Harry didn't bother looking up when the door opened.

"Hi!"

Harry looked up from the viewing crystal.  "Hermione?  What are you doing here?"

Hermione climbed into the van and kissed him lightly on the lips before sitting next to Harry.  "And a hello to you to," she said dryly.  "I decided to give Robert the night off.  Besides, I didn't like the idea of my man spending all night with another man."

Harry grinned.  "Oh, the jealous type, are we?"

Hermione nodded.  "Insanely jealous."

"In that case, I'll have to prove that Robert means nothing to me, won't I?" Harry asked, leaning forward.

"Yes, I do believe that you will, and I'll need a lot of convincing," she said suggestively.  Harry leaned forward some more, intending on kissing her, when she placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back into his chair.  "But not now.  We have a job to do," she said, and then turned to look at the viewing crystal where she could see Connor laughing at some joke.

Harry stared at her for moment, before sighing and turning his attention to the crystal.  "Tease!" he muttered.

Hermione's laughter filled the van.

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

Harry walked into the BMI conference room the next afternoon feeling ill-tempered, passing a grumpy-looking Price and a bleary-eyed Clarke.  Price and Clarke had taken the third shift as Harry and Hermione retired to the hotel.  Though Harry was excused from stake-out duty for the morning and early afternoon, he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.  Though stake-outs were incredibly boring (at least, when Hermione wasn't there), it was better than what he had to endure that day – a publicity tour.  In order to ease suspicions about Harry's sudden appearance in America, he had been scheduled to appear at a variety of places throughout the country, traveling by floo'port to various cities around America to meet with self-important wizards and witches and wave to fans.  Though he was irritable, he couldn't help but feel a little better when he spotted Hermione walking over to him, her eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and sympathy.

Harry was helping himself to cup of coffee when an Agent burst into the room and began a discussion with Perkins.  Harry made eye contact with Hermione, and both could tell that something important had just occurred.  "Any idea what that's all about?" she asked, looking at the two Agents in deep conversation.

Harry shook his head.  "No idea."  After another minute, Perkins and the other agent left the room, to the disappointment of everyone who noticed their intense conversation. 

About an hour later, Perkins returned and called all the assembled Agents to gather around the table in the center of the room.  As Harry and Hermione found spots by the table, the Agent who had ran in earlier waved his wand over the length of the table, and a three-dimensional map of Chicago appeared.  "All right, listen up," Perkins said.  "At approximately 4:38pm, Agent Hogan and his team followed DAP Allen to this location here."  Perkins pointed at a spot on the map, which cut away from the rest of the map and enlarged.   "From his vehicle, Perkins watched as DAP Allen entered this field and suddenly disappeared from view.  Naturally curious, the surveillance team determined that the field was unplottable and protected by a variety of wards.  Based on this information, we believe that this location is at least a safehouse for Malvagita and his DAPs.  We set our intelligence department on it and should know more soon."

Three hours later, they had their answers.  Once again, Harry was impressed with how the Americans embraced Muggles.  Harry found that the BMI had made their own contribution to the many satellites that the Muggles sent into space.  Hidden from Muggle eyes, advanced viewing crystals had been attached to almost every satellite that went into space, giving the BMI the ability to spy on almost every square inch of America, and many places abroad.  Harry shivered slightly when he realized that some of those satellites must be over England.  Regardless, Harry was amazed at the pictures they were now viewing, that showed a de-cloaked compound.  It was very large.  An outer wall protected the large grounds of the compound, while various small structures dotted the grounds – barracks or storage sheds, perhaps – until they reached an inner wall.  Behind the inner wall were four courtyards at each point of the compass.  From the courtyard were the entrances into the main building, which could not be penetrated by the spy crystals.  But though the crystals could not penetrate the solid structures, they were able to pick up the magical resonance signatures from the compound.  Some of the signatures were easy to pick out – heating charms, cooling charms, water charms (for the grounds), etc.  One grouping of charms just past the courtyard on the east side of the compound, however, was unidentifiable by everyone, except for Hermione.

Harry felt Hermione grab his arm.  He turned to look at her.  "What is it?"

"That's where they make MSARS," she whispered excitedly.

"How can you tell?"

"Those resonance signatures…those are quarantine charms, protective charms, and disinfection charms."

"Are you sure?"

Hermione gave him a look.  "Of course I'm sure!  I work with those charms every day!"

"All right, all right."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"What are we going to do about it?  If I could get in there, I can find a cure!"

Harry shushed her.  "Let's see what Perkins has in mind."  Before Harry could ask, another Agent echoed his thoughts aloud.

"What do we do now, sir?"

Perkins looked at the Agents grouped around the table.  "We need to continue with our surveillance on the compound.  We'll track all the DAPs who come and go from the compound.  Hopefully we can turn one of them and get inside information, or somehow infiltrate one of our own Agents.  Once we have enough information and evidence of Dark Arts, we can stage a raid to-"

"Excuse me sir," Harry interrupted.  "But how long do you estimate it will take to gather sufficient information?"

Perkins fixed Harry with a hard look, clearly not used to being interrupted.  "Based on prior experience, somewhere in the neighborhood of three to four months."

Harry shook his head.  "I'm afraid we don't have three months."

"Oh really?" Perkins said, crossing his arms across his chest.  "And what do you recommend, Mr. Potter?"

"We need to move as soon as possible."

"And why is that?"

Harry pointed at the magical signature by the east courtyard.  "These represent various medical and scientific charms.  We have reason to believe that Malvagita is developing a biological weapon.  The sooner we can shut it down, the better."

A murmur swept through the crowd at Harry's words, but Perkins seemed unimpressed.  "A biological weapon, eh?  Would this be his so-called plan to wipe out Muggleborns?  We've heard that rumor before, Mr. Potter.  Where's your evidence."

Harry stiffened.  "I'm not at liberty to divulge that information."

"As I thought.  Well, until you are at liberty, I'm afraid we'll proceed as planned."

"I was afraid you'd say that.  May I be excused?" Harry asked.

"By all means."

Harry left the conference room, indicating to Robert that he should stay.  Hermione followed closely on his heels.  "What now?" she asked worriedly.

"Now we contact Madam Bones."

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

As soon as Harry and Hermione entered the BMI building the next morning, an Agent stopped them.  "Agent Perkins wants to see you."  Harry nodded and followed the Agent to Perkins office.  Hermione waited outside as the Agent closed the door behind him.

Perkins sat behind his desk, looking unhappy.  "Well, looks like you're getting your way Mr. Potter."

"Sir?"

"I have just received a call from the Director of the BMI, who apparently talked to the President (Magics) himself.  I have been ordered to abide by your recommendation.  We'll attack the compound immediately."

"Very good, sir."

Perkins looked at him in the eye.  "Tell me Potter, tell me this is worth it.  Tell me that the lives of my men are worth it, that the risk of losing Malvagita is worth it."

Harry did not break his gaze.  "It's worth all of it, and more."

Perkins scowled.  "It better be.  Now get out of here."

The next two days were a flurry of activity.  Given how protected the compound was, as well as the large number of DAPs suspected to be within, the BMI's special forces team was brought in, commanded by a bristly old Agent named Samson.  Units were covertly floo'ed into Chicago as to not arouse suspicion.  Planning sessions went on through the night, Perkins grumbling throughout, until a workable attack plan was devised.  They would attack that night.

A/N: Since some people liked the developing H/Hr relationship and were disappointed that I cut it short, I've decided to explain why I stopped writing the relationship – it's just too much work!  Though they're destined to be together, it won't be happily ever after once they declare their love for each other…they'll definitely have issues.  Once Harry gets over the whole 'trapped by fate' thing, he's still going to be very insecure.  Having grown up with the Dursleys and then being a celebrity since age eleven, some part of him will believe he's unworthy of love (or at least doubt that anyone could love Harry, not just the Boy-Who-Lived), and he'll need constant reassurance.  Also, he'll probably be jealous boyfriend, but he'll at least realize that it's unfounded.  As for Hermione…although there's no evidence that she's insecure about her looks, it's likely that she is, being bushy-haired, buck-teethed (until fourth year), and probably a big nerd before Hogwarts.  So, she'll probably also be very insecure about her relationship with Harry, and seeing witches throw themselves at him will make her jealous and depressed about her own looks.  Just thinking about writing about that makes me exhausted emotionally!  Frankly, it'll be best for the two of them if they ran off somewhere away from Harry's fame.

kraeg001: hopefully I haven't disappointed you by putting their relationship to bed, so to speak ;)  As for a baby?  A bit scandalous, I'd say!

Greywind: Whoa, I found that reaction to Hermione odd since I didn't really have her do much in the chapter.  Was it just the chapter, or the whole story?      

sethro72 and Akuma-sama: This one's for you!  Hope you like it, the next chapter is shorter, but it's action, and action-filled chapters are generally shorter because there's little dialogue.

And thanks to Rocky235, Facade1, and ears91 for reviewing!