Disclaimer:  Everything Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, the genius.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 4:  To The Rescue ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione joined the others downstairs in the parlor room.  It looked like a full house, everyone crowded around chairs, sofas and chaises.  It must be an important meeting, she thought to herself as she made her way over to a sofa by the large fireplace.  She sat down and stared into the warm fire but her concentration was broken by a presence sitting next to her.

"Are you alright?" Ginny asked.

"I'm fine.  Do you know what's going on?" she answered.

"No.  Neville and I got the message just as we were sitting down for dinner."

"Oh that's right.  How was the first date?"

Neville after all these years had finally mustered enough courage to ask Ginny out for a date.  It was all very sweet.  He had asked Hermione for help in setting up this date.  She felt bad for him that it was abruptly cut short.

"Well so far so good.  I just think it was very sweet that he had asked in the first place." Ginny smiled.

"So true.  And about time, too." Hermione grinned back.

"Well, what about you?  When are you going to get your feet wet in the dating pool again?"

"I am a little busy if you hadn't noticed."

"That's not an excuse, and you know it.  You've got quite a list of potential suitors, why don't you give one a chance?"

Hermione was about to reply, but Sabian had walked into the room demanding everyone's attention.  He was second in command to Viktor who was the leader of the Underground.  Viktor had started this group the year Hermione graduated, and around the time the Muggleborn Protection Act came into effect.  He never really was the same after the Tri-wizard Tournament, and never really spoke to Hermione about it either.  He was deeply disgusted by the way muggleborns were being treated, being targeted by the ministry and Voldemort.  The helplessness of the aurors had compounded the issue and it seemed as if no one would take a stand against this.  He had started this group, slowly recruiting others who shared his similar distaste for this injustice.  But until he recruited Hermione, the group was merely one of a handful of small rally groups. 

Hermione had been unable to find a job after graduation because of her status as a muggleborn, regardless of her stellar grades at Hogwarts.  She had even been at the top of her class, Head Girl, but like a lot of her fellow classmates, the job market was not a friendly one for muggleborns.  Frustrated and angry she was about to leave the wizarding world forever until Viktor found her.  In this group she had found purpose.  She could wage her own private war against Voldemort and his Death Eaters to avenge her parent's death.  Someone had to stand up to him.  She could also wreck havoc on the ministry for allowing this bigotry and feelings of helplessness take place.  She rallied other wizards to join their cause. 

Sabian Poliakoff had been with Viktor since nearly the conception of the group.  He was a fellow Durmstrang student, one year below Viktor.  He too had been Head Boy, excelling in the Dark Arts, and had even been one of the few students who went to Hogwarts to try their luck at the tournament.  The three of them together recruited wizards and witches of all status, trained them in both the Dark Arts and defense against it, potions and combat.  They quickly dominated and absorbed other rebel groups and soon had their own little army.  They offered protection to those who needed it in exchange for loyalty and secrecy.  They provided jobs to muggleborns with cooperating businesses in the wizard world, forging documents and expediting registrations through their "friends" in the ministry.  That is how they survived.  They had spies everywhere, friends in important places that provided valuable information and services.  They had an intricate network of information that hardly anything the ministry or the Death Eaters were up to did not go unnoticed by this group.  So the news that Sabian brought to the group, surprised all of them.

"It has been confirmed by our spies in the ministry that Krum has in fact been captured, being held at the ministry for a trial set for tomorrow."  Sabian announced.   Gasps and confusion abruptly followed.

But Hermione commanded attention, "So when are we going to get him?"

"Ve aren't."

"We aren't? What do you mean we aren't?  He's our leader!" Ginny said in a shocked voice.

"I'm in charge right now, and I say ve vait." Sabian commanded.

"Wait?  Wait for what?  They're going to hang him!" Hermione's voice was rising.

"Until ve get vord from him on vhat to do, ve are going to vait."

"What if he can't get word, I doubt they're holding him in a minimum security cell, Sabian."

"Look, he must haff gotten himself caught for a reason.  He's vas trying to break into the ministry for something.  He must haff something planned, so ve vait.  He'll get vord to us somehow."

"No, no.  He would never do something stupid like this and keep it from one of us."

"He doesn't tell you everything." Sabian was beginning to lose his patience.

"I think we should go after him.  Tonight.  If we know, then Voldemort knows.  Viktor is in danger.  You know that." Hermione was shouting now.

"No ve don't know that.  But neither you nor any other member of this group is going after him.  Did I make myself clear?" Sabian yelled back.

"But-"

"That is an order Granger!"

Hermione stormed out of the room, Ginny and Neville ran out after her.  They were outside on the balcony consoling her as she ranted and raved. 

"You're going after him aren't you?  Regardless of what Sabian says." Neville asked her.

"Of course I am, what do you think?" her reply was short.

"Well, you're going to need help.  What do you think Neville?" Ginny asked him.

"Seamus and Dean have been scouting out the ministry the past few days, they probably know a way in."

"Right, and Smith is guarding the prisoners tonight.  His shift starts around 3am, that will be our best approach.  Send word out to him right away." Hermione's plan was forming in her head. 

"I'll get on that.  We're also going to need some lookouts and a few extra hands in case we run into any trouble down there."  Ginny added.

"I'll find some.  We shouldn't have too much trouble, hardly any aurors will be there.  They're probably called in for tomorrow morning for his trial.  Right then, we do this tonight." Hermione finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ron couldn't sleep, he was tossing and turning all night.  Giving up, he got up to get a drink of water.  The kitchen light was on as he approached it with caution.  It was Harry.  Ron couldn't get used to the fact that his friend was indeed back.  He kept waiting for someone to tell him it wasn't real, that this was all just a dream. 

"Couldn't sleep too, huh?" Harry asked his friend.

"No, something just doesn't add up.  We've been trying to catch him for years and suddenly he turns up?" Ron was just as bothered.

"He couldn't have pulled that statue stunt alone.  We know he didn't, we saw Hermione in the picture."

"He's probably not talking."

Harry seemed deep in thought, arms crossed as he started pacing the kitchen.

"He's a member of the Underground, right?  A wanted member." Harry spoke up.

"Yeah, one of the big three." Ron didn't dare tell him about who else had that privilege.

"So there probably was a reward, a substantial one, especially after the statue stunt."

"Yes." Ron wasn't following Harry's train of thought.

"What are the odds that the Underground knows about this?"

"Pretty darn good if you ask me."

"What are the chances that the Death Eaters know about this?"

"Harry?" Ron said warningly.  He was finally catching on.

"Come on, grab your cloak.  We're going to get him out of there."  Harry tapped himself on the head, changing into Jameson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The emergency lights inside the underground drainage pipes gave very little light to the group huddled ankle deep in water around a small hole.  It was dark, smelly and wet, draining the water from the streets above from tonight's storm.  Blue sparks flew out of the air vent Hermione's rescue squad was surrounding.

"That's the signal.  Now remember, the surveillance orbs are on loop tape for only five minutes." Seamus cautioned.

"Okay, that air vent up ahead, is one that leads into the holding cells.  It's narrow so you'll have to go through single file."  Dean Thomas was giving Hermione, Ginny and Neville instructions.

"Okay, you guys stay here.  Send the signal if you see any trouble." Hermione nodded to Dean and Seamus.

"Let me go first, Hermione.  Just to make sure its all clear." Neville volunteered.

"Right then.  Ginny you follow me."

Neville tucked his wand away, climbed into the air vent, and crawled toward the light at the end.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial.  He opened it, poured some of the powder inside onto his palm, and then quietly blew it toward the vent.  Nothing happened.

"Smith actually got something right and turned off the alarm charms." Neville quietly chuckled to the others. 

He pulled his wand out, muttered a small charm, and unscrewed the vent.  He floated it safely to the ground, then quietly lowered himself to the floor.  He surveyed the room, it was a long hallway, with prison cells on each side.  He helped Hermione to the floor, Ginny lowered the invisibility cloak to Hermione, then stayed behind to watch the vent.  Hermione put on the cloak then stepped into direct view of the holding cells.  Her step was cautious and quiet not to disturb the other prisoners' slumber.  Three minutes.  Viktor's cell was the fifth one down on the right, and as planned Smith had unlocked his cell.

Viktor was surprised when his door opened by itself, and instinctively reached for his wand that Smith had returned to him earlier.  He nearly yelped with surprise when a disembodied head appeared in front of him.  Hermione quickly clapped her hand over his mouth.

"Shhh.  We've come to get you out of here." she whispered, taking her hand off his mouth.

"I vas vondering vhat took you so long." he whispered back, grinning.

She threw the cloak around him as they huddled together, trying to keep limbs out of sight.  One minute.  Neville motioned them to hurry as they took the cloak off at the vent.  Viktor helped Hermione into the vent before he climbed in, followed by Neville who quickly levitated the vent back into place. 

"Took you long enough." Dean scolded teasingly as they climbed out.

"Ha ha.  Very funny." said Hermione sarcastically.

"Shhh!  Someone's out there." Viktor commanded as he pulled out his wand.  The others followed, listening intently.  Moments passed.  "I don't hear it anymore.  Come on, quietly now, and keep an eye out."

As they reached a large chamber, a sudden explosion and blast of wind knocked everyone off their feet, a shower of water and stone pelted them.  Hermione coughed out the dust filling her lungs as she lifted herself off the ground.  She looked around her, everyone was coming to, coughing and unburying themselves from the rubble.  Thankfully no one was seriously hurt, only a few scrapes and bloody cuts.

"What was that?" Ginny asked, dusting herself off.

"I don't know.  Is everyone alright?" Hermione asked.

"Well, well, well.  I guess we'll just have to crash this party." A voice from the corner of the chamber spoke.

Through the cloud of dust and debris, stepped a tall wizard in a Death Eater cloak, hood left down to reveal his face.  It was Marcus Flint.

"Well, I thank you for saving me the trouble of having to break into the ministry myself." He laughed. "Now, hand over Krum."

"Not without a fight." Hermione's rescue group surrounded Krum, wands drawn.

"Have it your way then." he sneered.  Behind Marcus, from the cloud of debris, emerged over twenty Death Eaters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry and Ron climbed down the ladder from the manhole opening, a few blocks from the Ministry. 

"Kind of reminds you of the Chamber of Secrets?" Ron said wryly.

Harry gave him a look.

"Sorry." Ron muttered.  "How do you know that no one else has gotten to him?"

"I don't know.  I'm hoping against that."

They continued walking through the tunnels, following the current to the main chamber.  It was dark, damp and dingy.  Ron had an uneasy feeling, first day back with Harry and he was off on other adventure.  He was out of practice, although it did break the monotony.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw something move and made a near fatal mistake of looking to see what it was.  It was a huge (okay, not really, but in his mind, gigantic) spider crawling down the side of the tunnel.  He let out a very audible gasp.

Harry spun around and clapped his hand over Ron's mouth, and turned back in the direction of the chamber, wand held up in front of him. 

"Shhh!  Someone's out there." He heard someone say.  Harry didn't move a muscle, thankfully Ron didn't either.

"I don't hear it anymore.  Come on, quietly now, and keep an eye out." He heard the voice say.

Harry dropped his hand from Ron's mouth and gave him a reprimanding look.  Ron mouthed a sorry.  Harry shook his head and turned back to the chamber.  He was just about to take a step, when a loud blast was heard, and Ron and he dropped to the floor, covering their heads.

"What the hell was that?" Ron whispered to Harry once the dust settled.

Harry and Ron slowly removed the debris off them and dusted themselves off.  The blast had sent some large pieces of debris their way, partially blocking their path.

"Oh this is great.  This is just bloody fantastic." Harry ranted.

"Let's just blast our way through this" Ron said as he raised his wand.

"Wait!  Listen!" Harry had grabbed Ron's wand arm.

Voices could be heard on the other side.  Confused and angry voices muffled by the fallen stones in their path.  Suddenly, smaller explosions could be heard, followed by shouting. 

"Alright, now!" Harry shouted.

They blasted the rock out of their way, then ran to the chamber.  Harry's jaw dropped at the sight.  It was a seemingly unfair fight of six against twenty.  Harry scanned the room quickly, he couldn't believe it, Death Eaters.  A whole new generation from what it looked, that definitely didn't fight the way the old ones did.  They were nastier, meaner and much deadlier, using an arsenal of hand to hand combat, Dark spells, and weapons.  Harry looked at Ron who had his jaw hanging open.

"Who are these guys?" Ron asked bewildered.  Then he squinted into the fray. "Ginny?!"

Harry and Ron joined the fray, blocking spells, disarming and throwing punches.  It was loud, confusing and full of chaos.  Harry hid behind a pillar to take a breath, then moved back into the fray only to behold a sight he hadn't seen in years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione was doing well on her own.  A group of Death Eaters had come rushing at her, but she had clotheslined one, roundhouse kicked another, then finished of the third with a stunning spell.  Ginny, who was around her hadn't fared so well, as Hermione saw her sail through the air, and land hard on the ground, knocked out by a stunning spell.  The Death Eater who stunned her was hit from behind, and Hermione wasted no time in rushing to Ginny's side.  However, someone got there first.

"Expelliarmus!" Ron heard a voice shout.

His wand flew out of his hand and into the hands of…

"Hermione." Ron failed to hide the shock in his voice.

She failed, too at hiding the shocked look on her face, but she held her wand at him ready to strike.  Ron couldn't move, he was powerless.  He swallowed nervously, as he and Hermione stared at each other. 

"DUCK!" she suddenly shouted.

He did as he was told and Hermione struck down a Death Eater who had come up behind Ron.  He looked back at the fallen Death Eater, then slowly faced Hermione as he got back up.  She flung his wand back at him and he promptly caught it.

"Take Ginny, and get out of here.  Call the aurors." She said then promptly turned and gasped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He had locked gazes with her.  It felt as if the battle raging all around them never existed, they could only see each other.  Emotions that he thought were bottled up and under control betrayed him.  Emotions of love, hate, anger, betrayal, lust and sadness overwhelmed him.  Hermione couldn't take her eyes off him.  Aside from being extremely handsome, there was something about him that she couldn't explain.  Something about him was drawing her to him, awakening feelings within her that were long dormant.  They never took their eyes off each other as they made their way toward on another, fighting off Death Eaters that got in their way.  They met face to face in the middle of the chamber.

"A newbie, aren't you?" she bantered playfully with a dangerous undertone.

Harry shook his head, then remembered he was in disguise.

"Only to London." He grinned back.

Hermione had to tear her eyes from his lips to meet his gaze again.

"Well then, allow me to introduce myself." A devilish smile formed on her lips as she raised her wand to strike.

"NO!" a voice shouted out as a hand grabbed her wand arm.

"Viktor?!  What are you doing?" Hermione asked confused.

Viktor had no time to answer because a metal ball rolled at their feet.

"Get down!" Harry shouted as he dove behind a large chunk of rock.

A loud blast followed, showering more debris.  He crawled out when the smoke cleared and found Viktor coughing on the ground.  He helped him to his feet.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked him.  Another blast sent them to the ground.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine.  Everybody get out now!  Go!" he ordered the Underground members who were left.

A small groan could be heard in front of Harry and Viktor.  Viktor looked at Harry.

"Herm-me-oh-nee."

Dust cleared and they could see her lying about ten feet away.  Marcus Flint spotter her too and made his way toward her with much difficulty.  Harry crawled toward her, but before he could reach her a figure swooped down at her side. 

"NO!"  Marcus and Harry called out, as the man threw down a vial that exploded into smoke, then threw his cloak around the both of them, as the smoke blocked their vision.

When the smoke cleared seconds later, they were gone.

"Hermione!"  Harry yelled.

"Come on!  Let's go, ve haff got to get out of here." Viktor ordered, dragging a reluctant Harry into a tunnel, the loud crack of aurors apparating could be heard.

Harry and Viktor ran through the tunnel, but Harry's mind was still on the scene played just moments ago.  He was sure he saw, what he saw.  Just before the smoke blocked his vision, he saw flash of blond from the man's hair, and a glint of silver from his eyes.