CHAPTER 12 "They Have More Than Chemistry They Have History!"

"Now explain to me exactly why Hermione is at the Canons' grounds and what the hell she is doing there?" Ron asked as they Apparated in front of the locked gates.

"I don't know mate, all I know is that her Bill and Charlie went to see some double agent because Hermione needed info on our dark arts groups. From what Bill told me she probably went to the Canons' grounds because she was told that was where one of the groups were meeting tonight. You know how Hermione is. She never asks for help", Harry replied.

"Yeah I do, it drove me mad in school. Well she can be very stubborn and it seems just like her to go off to this meeting without telling us. I mean you", Ron corrected himself as he took a key out of his cloak pocket and opened the lock.

"So that's why I need your help. Hermione is somewhere in these grounds and since you work here I could only turn to you. Plus I know you won't leak it to the press", Harry said as they walked through and headed towards some of the outer buildings.

"So how exactly do you know she's in trouble?" Ron asked as they entered a store house where all the equipment and old brooms were held. ""Luminis!" Ron cried and the warehouse lit up as torches all around the walls lit up.

"Ah now that's a good idea", Harry laughed and started looking.

"Hey Harry are we the only two that are going to go rescue Hermione, because I don't think its such a good idea to face a large group of dark arts wizards all on our own", Ron called out.

"You didn't really think I'd go in on my own did you?" Harry asked as he appeared behind a large wooden crate. "My team is coming in a few minutes, I just went ahead".

"Oh right", Ron replied feeling extremely stupid. Suddenly a large crowd of Aurors came into the warehouse type building and Harry walked towards them.

"Ah took you a while", Harry commented.

"Sorry Harry", a man replied. "Got a bit held up".

"Right I want you to split up into three teams and search everywhere. Now remember these wizards all are trained in duelling, very clever and they have both Hermione and the book. Remember that. Go for stun instead of kill and I want as many captured as possible. Ok Roberts you're in charge of the first team, Mc Donald you take the second group and Kaylee you can take the third group. I want you to stay in contact all the time and sent up your usual red sparks when you found them", Harry commanded and the respective groups split up and started leaving the warehouse, expect for Kaylee.

"Harry who are you going to be with?" she asked concerned.

"Don't worry Kaylee I can take care of myself", Harry grinned and she smiled back.

"Ok then Boss", she giggled and led her team out of the warehouse. Harry watched her go, smiling to himself.

"Ok you can stop grinning like an idiot", Ron chuckled. "What is it with her. I haven't seen you look so dopey since Ginny", Ron said laughing to himself.

"She's nice", Harry replied.

"So you going to ask her out?" Ron asked.

"I just might", Harry replied turning around to face Ron and grinned. "She's really nice!"

"Come on idiot, lets go find Hermione". The two walked out of the warehouse and made their way to the pitch.

"It must be fun playing Quidditch for a team and do what you always wanted to do", Harry mused as he looked up at the two goalposts many metres above him.

"Yeah its fun, ever since fifth year I've just really wanted to play Quidditch. Mum went mental when I told her. You know what she's like. Had me all set for the Ministry to take over what Dad is doing but when I told her Fred and George done what they wanted to do and were really successful, she calmed down a bit", Ron replied.

"I remember she was all cold with me for about two weeks because she thought it was me who put that idea in your head", Harry grinned.

"I'm surprised you didn't take it up after school. You have so much talent and you love Quidditch", Ron said.

"Yeah well after the final battle with Voldemort, I felt it was my duty to protect everyone from the next dark lord. You know with the prophecy and all", Harry replied.

"I understand", Ron said sensing that a change in conversation was due, so he asked, "So how exactly did you know Hermione was in trouble?"

"She used her armband to called for help. You know how Hermione had invented those coins if fifth year for the DA meetings, well she based the armbands on them and made these armbands for all Aurors so in case they were ever in trouble they just used the armbands to call for help", Harry replied. "We didn't know where she was but I soon learnt that from Bill".

"Well that's Hermione for you", Ron grinned and they left the pitch, when they concluded that the dark arts wizards were not there. "How about we check the changing rooms", Ron asked.

"Changing rooms. I've never heard of dark arts wizards going there", Harry said sceptically. "Well there's a stairway that leads to some old caves under the grounds. Seems like a good place to go", Ron said and made his way to the changing rooms. When they reached the changing rooms, Ron led the way down the stairway, down the three hundred steps, until they reached the dark corridor.

"Lumos", Harry whispered and his wand lit up. They made their way down the dark corridor, until they reached the opening of the cave. "Ok stay here I'm going to call on the team". Harry walked back towards the corridor and touched his armband, whispered, "Help needed down the stairway by the changing rooms". Harry made his way back to Ron, and watched the group. Hermione was no-where to be seen, and all they could make out was that they were standing around a bonfire in a circle

A few minutes later, Kaylee and her team came and soon after so did the other two teams.

"Ok you know the deal", Harry whispered, "They have a hostage and I want her back alive. Ok? Lets go". Harry, Ron and the rest of the team ran into the cave, spread out and started shooting stunning spells all around the cave. Harry was wrestling with a rather large and burly dark arts wizard who kept on throwing back onto the ground, Kaylee was deftly stunning dark arts wizards as they ran towards her, her movements elegant and smooth. The rest of the team were working their way to the leader, but were soon overpowered, as Harry's team were only twenty and there were over thirty dark arts wizards. Ron, made a beeline for the bonfire and went in search of Hermione, dodging by stunning spells and running out of the way of wizards running at him. Ron reached the bonfire and saw Hermione on the ground, cords around her body and she seemed to be screaming but no noise came out of her mouth. A man was standing over her, his mask concealing his identity and was holding the book in one hand and his wand in the other. Ron pulled out his wand, and they sent curses. Ron jumped out of the way just in time and rolled away, as the man sent another curse at him. Ron dodged this one again and sprang up and sent a stunning spell at him. The man keeled over and Ron ran to Hermione. She was still screaming at him, but nothing came from her mouth.

"Sonorus!" Ron said pointing his wand at Hermione and she screamed. She quickly shut her mouth.

"Get the book Ron!"

"What?" Ron asked confused.

"The bloody book now!" Hermione shouted at him and Ron turned around and took the book the man was holding. He went back to Hermione and undid the cords that were bound around her body. When she was free, he helped her up and Hermione quickly took the book from him. She stood there haughtily looking at him, when Ron spotted a dark arts wizard coming up behind her, his wand pointing at her. Ron quickly pushed out of the way as he jumped out of the path of the curse, rolled over on the ground and shot a curse back at the wizard. Ron jumped out of the way of another curse and sent another curse at him, which hit him in the stomach and he fell down. Hermione ran to the unconscious Malfoy hidden behind his mask and pulled her wand from his pocket. She turned to face the next wizard running at her, when Ron pushed her out of the way of a curse heading straight for her. She fell over, dropped the book and snapped her wand in two by accident. Loud cracking noises could be heard all across the cave as the dark arts wizards Disapparated one after the other, some carrying unconscious members. Lastly Malfoy Disapparated with the book in his arms.

"Shit!" Hermione swore as she got up and looked at her wand snapped in two, in her palm. "Why did you have to knock me over?" Hermione cried turning on Ron.

"Because a curse was aimed at you. It was Avada Kedarva so you could at least be thankful!" Ron replied getting annoyed.

"Well did you have to push me out of the way so roughly?" Hermione cried. "Look my wand is broken now!" She held out her hand so he could see the broken wand.

"I've had that wand since I was eleven and you broke it!"

"I didn't break it", Ron shouted back, "And you can get a new wand, I mean its not that hard!"

"That's not the point and I really liked that wand!" Hermione shouted back.

"I just saved your life, rescued you and made sure you weren't cursed and this is the thanks I get?" Ron roared at her.

"Rescued?" Hermione replied shrilly. "Yeah right like you so rescued me! I'm not some damsel in distress Ronald Weasley, I can take care of myself!"

"Well obviously not that well then. I found you lying on the ground, tied up and with a silencing charm placed on you. I'm sure you could have gotten out of that just fine!"

"I didn't want you to free me!" Hermione roared back. "Why do you always have to be so arrogant?"

"Arrogant me?" Ron shouted, "I'm not arrogant and stop changing the subject. I saved your life, rescued you and you can't even thank me!"

"Well I would thank you if you weren't always so arrogant!"

"I AM NOT ARROGANT!"

"YES YOU ARE!"

"YOU INFURIATE ME SO MUCH! I JUST CAME HERE BECAUSE HARRY NEEDED MY HELP AND BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU GET HURT AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET?"

"WELL YOU PISS ME OFF SO MUCH. I CAN'T STAND IT!" Hermione roared back.

While that fight was happening, Harry was standing a few metres away watching the spectacle with amusement on his face.

Kaylee came up to him and looked from him to Ron and Hermione shouting and asked puzzled, "What is so funny?"

"Those two. They used to go out for about three years and this is the second time they have seen each other in three years. They used to always fight so much, just like this", Harry said smiling to himself. "Its just like the days back at school".

"They do seem to have chemistry", Kaylee replied.

"They have more than chemistry, they have history that goes back about eleven years", Harry said smiling.

"Explain to me then why they aren't together", Kaylee asked.

"I have no idea why, but I do know it's a very big mistake both of them made", Harry replied. "Now lets see if we cant get those two back together again", Harry chuckled as he walked up to the rowing couple.

"You know you two fighting reminds me of school and how you used to always argue about every little thing because you couldn't even face up to the fact that you fancied each other", Harry chuckled.

Ron and Hermione momentarily stopped fighting, both turned on Harry looking furious and replied, "KEEP OUT OF THIS HARRY!"

Harry shook his head and walked away as both Ron and Hermione started shouting at each other again.

"They are hopeless", Harry sighed as he stood beside Kaylee again.

"What on earth is going on here?" a woman asked as she walked up to Harry. Her long blond hair was tied elegantly in a plait and she wore the trademark purple robes of an Auror undercover.

"Oh who are you?" Harry asked turning around to face her.

"Krista Speketer, undercover Auror working on this case of the Blood Kindred. And what on earth are you doing here interrupting. Where is the group?" she asked irritated.

"We were rescuing a colleague who was captured by the this group", Harry replied.

"Well why on earth wasn't I informed on this? Ron?" she asked turning around, having just spotted him still shouting at Hermione.

"Well why on earth don't you just leave?" Hermione shouted at him.

"Fine then I will! Good day to you Hermione and I hope I never see you again!" Ron shouted back and walked towards Harry, when he spotted Krista. "Hello Krista, what are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing", Krista replied looking at Ron, and when she spotted that Ron was bleeding on his arm, she cried, "Oh god Ron what happened to you?"

"Harry and me were rescuing Hermione, but obviously she's an obnoxious bitch who doesn't want to be helped", Ron replied still agitated as Krista pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and cleaned Ron's wound. "Why are you here Krista?"

"I'm in charge of this undercover mission, to get the Blood Kindred, but Harry interrupted and now the group has fled. We just lost our dark arts group", Krista replied irritated.

"I'm sorry honey", Ron replied, "Harry just wanted to help a friend".

"Well now we have to clear up this mess. There is nothing more I can do here, Harry I will need a report of what you have been doing here for tomorrow, you will have a lot of explaining to do", Krista said.

"Oh come on Krista, don't put the blame on Harry. He was only helping a friend out", Ron said.

"Yes, he was only saving a friend", Hermione said as she came up to them and stood beside Harry, not looking at Ron.

"I'm sorry but my seniors will need to know what happened here. I'm sorry Harry, but there is nothing I can do about it", Krista replied.

"Its ok, it was my fault. I should have informed whoever was in charge of watching this group", Harry said heavily.

"Hey Harry, cheer up, I'll help you with the report and if you get into trouble I'll help you out if you get in trouble with the head", Hermione said smiling at Harry.

"Thank you", Harry replied and smiled back at her. Ron continued to look away from Hermione, his face turning surlier by the minute.

"Well if you have nothing else to say", Ron said taking Krista's hand, while Hermione looked away and added, "Lets go home and we can ditch that movie we were watching", Ron said winking at Krista. She smiled.

"Well there is nothing here for me to do", Krista said, "Goodbye Harry, Hermione".

"Bye", Harry added and Ron nodded his head at Harry, but refused to look at Hermione. She, had her back turned to them, and was watching some Aurors from Harry's team investigate the cave. She turned around as Ron and Krista crossed the cave and left by the dark passageway, they had entered.

"We are going to be in so much trouble tomorrow", Harry laughed as he rounded up his team.

"Ah don't worry it wasn't done in vain. You rescued me. They could have killed me", Hermione said.

"Well we didn't get the book", Harry sighed.

"True we didn't but we learnt one important thing", Hermione said smiling cheekily.

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"We know who the upcoming dark lord is, who is trying to rally all dark arts groups together".

"Who is it?"

"Malfoy", Hermione replied simply.

"What Draco Malfoy out of Slytherin!" Harry cried not quite believing his ears.

"The very same", Hermione replied smiling.

"Well I never! Malfoy? But I suppose it doesn't really surprise me, I mean we all expected Malfoy to turn to the dark side, but to be the next dark lord. It seems I underestimated him in school", Harry said astonished.

"I suppose we all underestimated him, but it does give us one advantage, that and the fact we now which group to deal with", Hermione replied.

"How is that?"

"We can track down Malfoy because we know who he is now, and I've read a lot on the old Blood Kindred. Sure Dumbledore defeated their last dark lord, Grindelwald. We can research them better and find out about their habits. No Harry I think coming here was a very good idea, even if we didn't manage to retrieve the book", Hermione said feeling far happier at the prospect of doing more research.

"Yeah not only did we not get the book back, you were almost killed, we scared off the group and now we're going to get in trouble because of it but I also put my whole team at risk", Harry sighed.

"Sounds like a normal day's work to me", Hermione replied happily and led Harry out of the cave with the team to start on the report that was due. "Just an ordinary day in the life of Harry Potter", Hermione joked as they Apparated away.