Okey dokey. Hippiechick was last chapter's super-quick reviewer. I'm glad you like the direction of this story!

Hand3, Lily, and Draccy were my only other reviewers (how sad is that?). Thanks, guys.

Hand3: I know Hermione's a bit out of character, but as you said, it's kind of a requirement for this story. You'll see a bit more of the Hermione you're familiar with later, but she'll stay more or less as she is for the entire story.

Draccy: I'm glad you're enjoying my madness… Yes, you know who Silas Zilner is, and you know he's dead. You'll actually learn a teensy bit more about why Hermione was so damn eager to kill him in a couple of chapters.

I'm quite grateful for my four reviews!

Also, Deus-ex-maria: you questioned me about polyjuice after the first chapter. I was going back and re-reading this chapter and realized that when I responded, this was the chapter I had in mind. So I went back and re-read the first chapter aaaannnndddd…yeah, I actually assumed they'd keep working on it for a few weeks with the same partners and then add the hairs when they needed to finalize it. As for Neville's accident…well, he just really is that talented/clumsy.

--Aimes

Eugenia Granger, age eight, gagged on the Veritaserum. She was a small girl for her age, with spindly arms and legs and brown hair cut in a pageboy style. Her mother had apparently learned from her elder daughter's unfortunate hair and not made the same mistake twice. The overall effect was pixie-ish and rather sweet.

"Who is your sister?" Eugenia was upset and confused by the cold looking man and his relentless questions.

"Mymie? Hermione? What about her?"

"What other names does she go by?"

"'Mione. Herms. I don't know."

"Smoke?"

"No."

The cold man nodded.

"We are going to leave you here, Eugenia, until you become more useful. Soon."

"Okay." The little girl shivered on the small cot he'd left her on and resisted the urge to yank on the chain that currently bound her wrist to the wall. The man had not appreciated her energetic and violent attempts to free herself when she'd regained consciousness several hours earlier, and she had no desire to make him angry again.

"Bonne nuit, Eugenie," he murmured, caressing her cheek. He gave her a long, intense look before leaving and locking the door behind him

Eugenia Granger tried to be brave like her big sister…then broke down and began to cry.

As he walked down the hall, Cayne smiled.

Hermione struggled into a sitting position on the squishy couch. "If the damage is limited, I'll go back to work when this is over. Genes…she's my priority. I have to find her, to save her. Or to shoot myself if I don't."

Snape grabbed her by the shoulders in an iron grip. "Do not ever say anything like that again," he hissed, locking eyes with her.

Hermione began to tremble slightly but squelched the emotion instantly. There's time for that later. Now you've gotta finish the job you started.

"Will you help me?"

"Yes, of course we will," Remus said gently, glaring at Snape.

"No. You will go back to Hogwarts and we'll take care of it." Snape's flinty gaze locked on her once more.

"The hell I will," she raged. "She's my sister, this was my op, and I'm sure as hell going to litter the good earth with some bodies before it's over. Besides, I've been betrayed. Until I know who it was and kill them, I'll never be safe and neither will anyone who has ever known me. Not you two, not me, not Harry or Ron or Ginny or even Albus Dumbledore. And you've seen some of these people at work, Remus, they're as good as it gets." She glared impressively at the pair, despite her disheveled appearance. Or perhaps because of it.

Remus hesitated for a moment but gave up and nodded.

"I shall notify Dumbleore that…a situation has arisen." Snape rose silently. "Lupin, take her to a room and finish applying this potion to her wounds." Remus obediently lifted Hermione and carried her to a bedroom. He set her down gently on the bed and she slumped slightly.

"I've gotta help her, MS," she murmured.

"That is hands down the worst nickname ever. Roll onto your stomach. As soon as I'm done applying these potions I'll give you something to energize and ease the pain. Then we'll save your sister and go back to Hogwarts." Hermione obeyed with a soft grunt. Sounds like a plan.

Snape entered. "Remus, another situation has arisen that calls for my immediate attention." Lupin nodded.

"I can handle this," Hermione said from the bed. "Don't worry, professor. Do what you have to do."

"WE can handle this," Remus countered. "But she's right. We'll be fine on our own, don't worry about it." Snape nodded and handed him two more bottles of swirling liquid before leaving.

"Just the two of us, then," Hermione sighed. "Good enough for me." She sat up as he finished and stretched, flinching slightly. "Are you ready to go?"

"Where do you propose we go? Do you have any idea where he's taken her?" Remus asked coolly, choosing not to comment on the fact that her clothes barely covered her and she rather resembled a rabid squirrel.

"Yes. Belgium. That's where he's from, that's where he'd go, right? Nutter wizards go to their ancestral chateaus when they've kidnapped someone, it's some sort of rule."

He gave her a tight smile. "They do that because their ancestral homes are so well warded."

"And yet we always manage to break in and steal our people back."

"Let us hope, Hermione. In any case, you need to eat something before you are strong enough to face Cayne. He is not a force to be trifled with."

"We should leave as soon as possible!"

"You're useless to her if you get slaughtered. You should know better."

"I know that every moment is precious. If Cayne is anything like Zilner, he doesn't waste time. He'll rape her, torture her, and murder her," Hermione spat.

"Right before he kills her in front of you after you've been caught," Lupin growled. At the moment, she was as far from soothing as was humanly possible. Granger, when did you start arguing with your allies? Especially when you only have one.

Hermione opened her mouth to respond and fell silent. "Damn."

"Exactly. Eat something, take an Invigorating Draught and then we'll plan our attack so to speak. I estimate that we still have at least forty-eight hours before all hope is lost. And you may want to transfigure some clothes."

"Not bad, actually," she noted. "As deadlines go, I mean."

Hermione followed Remus into the kitchen, pulling out her cell phone and checking her messages. She nodded to herself as she deleted the few new voicemails.

Lupin set about preparing sandwiches while Hermione put away her phone and set about repairing her clothes with simple transfiguration spells. He had assured her no magical activity could be detected within the Headquarters by the Ministry. The pants were repaired in short order, as was the shirt. The jacket, however, was a complete write-off, and she tossed it in the trash bin without a second thought. A moment later, her blue wig and contact lenses followed it. Doesn't matter if anyone sees what I actually look like since I've already been sold out. Her eye makeup had smeared slightly, giving her a smouldering look that many women worked for hours to achieve (when all they had to do was sleep in their makeup). Her hair was still in the tight French braid she'd pinned beneath the wig. A couple of quick movements and the braid hung loose down her back to the bottom of her shoulder blades. Damn, strapless corset is not my ideal ass-kicking outfit. Should've worn a t-shirt. She considered transfiguring it but didn't bother in the end, choosing to save her energy for more important things. She sat at the table as Lupin set a sandwich in front of her.

"All I rate are sandwiches?" Hermione joked. He made a face at her. Shut up and put up, Granger. Get the job done then focus on damage control. And be prepared for the idea that Genes may already be lost to you.

She focused on the far wall above Lupin's head and let her mind begin to shift gears.

Incursion. Will have to be magically based. Muggle tactics won't work. Most likely point of entry…air. His wards can't extend to an air-based breach with the right kind of precautions. Guns blazing? No, can't risk him offing Genes in the eventuality. Probable scenario: he's using her for information on me. Unlikely that he's achieving positive results. That substantially reduces the time we have available to us. Can we espionage our way in? Possibly, but again, unlikely. Remus is a well-known war hero and Deatheater hunter. Does that make him a liability?

"I'm not a liability, Hermione," came the calm voice. She looked at him, startled.

"How did you--?"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you're running the scenario right now. If you want this to work, you're going to have to communicate with me, you know."

"Right. Communication. Sorry. Here we go then." Hermione took a bite of the turkey sandwich Remus had prepared. "Are you a liability? Perhaps. Risk analysis: even. You're a stronger wizard than I am and are probably as experienced at espionage at this point. A formidable force to be reckoned with. Best estimates predict you will be more help than hindrance. Possibility of betrayal: low to medium. You've no reason to sell me out, the financial incentive is peanuts. Power incentive is minimal—you're stronger and more skilled than Cayne and, incidentally, myself. Allowing for a potential deep-seated hatred or natural sadism, you are unlikely to betray me. Other risk factors? None immediately recognizable." She returned her attention to her sandwich, looking up briefly to ask, "How do you propose we breach the estate?" This is surreal. I'm planning the rescue of my sister with a former professor and werewolf. Then again I bet this isn't how he intended to spend Monday night either.

"I believe invisibility and flight combined should be effective enough, along with polyjuice from the hairs I took from Bellemorte and Zilner. The wards should be keyed for them."

"You thought ahead," she noted, surprised. "It sounds solid enough. I suggest we apparate to the closest city."

"Probably a wise idea. I have the potion, Severus gave me some. We just have to add the hairs."

"The potion doesn't lose potency over time?" she queried in typical Hermione fashion. Ugh, I'm twelve again. When will I learn?

"Severus corrected for the issue."

"Naturally," she said wryly. "Let's go."

He nodded and led the way out.