Author's Notes: I don't own anything having to deal with the Harry Potter franchise.
Chapter Nine: Revenge
The cool breeze that blew through the open balcony doors stirred Hermione from her wondrous sleep. The warm sheets on Harry's bed slid across her bare skin as she slowly sat up, holding the sheet to her body. Harry was not in the room. After carefully wrapping the sheet around her body, Hermione proceeded to get up and head downstairs. Once she reached the landing on the second floor of the apartment, a wonderful aroma greeted her.
Harry was standing over the oven when Hermione entered the kitchen, making pancakes and bacon.
"Good morning," Hermione said, smiling. Harry had slipped on a pair of boxers and a shirt.
Harry looked surprised when he saw her. "Good morning. You ruined my surprise," Harry whispered as he pulled Hermione into his arms, almost causing her to drop the sheet.
"Did I?" she asked as she kissed him.
"Yes," Harry replied in between kisses, "you did."
"I'm so sorry. What can I do to make up for it?" she asked with a grin.
Harry laughed. "There are many ways that you can make up for it later, after we're done eating. Upstairs, of course.:
Hermione's face flushed red before she carefully sat down at the table, making sure the sheet stayed on. Harry brought her a plate of pancakes, and the two began to eat, enjoying each others company and playing footsie underneath the table. Hermione giggled softly when Harry ran his foot up her leg, rubbing her thigh. Then soon they were done eating, and were once again back up in Harry's bedroom, enjoying the several new aspects of their relationship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The inside of the Malfoy mansion was beautifully ordained with the best decorations and items of the highest quality. Draco was sprawled out on a black, leather couch in the middle of the living room, watching a movie on the large flat screen television hanging on the wall when the door to the mansion suddenly burst open. Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, quickly entered before stalking off down the hallway. "Dad!" Draco called after him as he got up from the couch and hurried down the hall after him.
Lucius stopped before reaching his home office, turning towards Draco with a cold, emotionless face. "What is it, son?"
At seeing the lack of emotion upon his father's face, Draco quickly backed off. He knew that when you could not read any emotion on his father's face, that was when Lucius Malfoy was extremely angry. "Nothing, sir," he replied. He began to walk down the hallway, away from the office until his father securely shut the door. Draco quietly stood outside of it, his ear to the door. Inside, he could hear his father talking angrily with someone on the phone.
"No, sir, I could not find it. I searched the alleyway several times over and I just could not find it."
Draco adjusted his position as his father paused in the conversation. "We would know if the disc had been taken off of the body, because the officials would have been knocking on our doors with arrest warrants by now."
Draco's eyebrows raised lightly in confusion. Why was his father talking about a body and a disk? He stopped thinking when the conversation continued. Draco could hear a loud, angry voice on the other end of the phone, even through the door.
"Alright, alright!" Lucius roared. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."
Draco barely heard the phone slam down on to the receiver before the door suddenly opened. He was luckily able to quickly hide in the nearby bathroom before his father came out of his office. Lucius Malfoy stormed back down the hallway and exited the mansion through the front door. Draco ran to the bay windows at the front of the mansion and watched a black limo pull up. His father quickly slid into it before the limo pulled away and drove down the driveway. It was soon out of eyesight. Curiosity swam through Draco's mind, but quickly dried out as another car came up the driveway minutes after the limo disappeared. Draco smiled to himself as the car stopped in the turn around. Cho had come back for more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few hours later, after Harry and Hermione had spent almost all of their energy on each other, the two somehow made it into the bathroom so that they could shower. It took a large amount of control for the two to keep their hands off of each other, but they managed. Having nothing to actually wear except for her black dress, Hermione put on an old, smaller pair of Harry's jeans, a small tee-shirt of hers that she had left at his place before, and an old pair of Harry's sneakers, not to mention a pair of his boxers as well.
"You look goofy," Harry said with a laugh as he pulled on a shirt.
"Well, it will have to do until I can get home to put on some of my own clothes," Hermione replied.
"Or until I get you back out of them again."
Hermione's face tinged a shade of red before she glanced at his computer on the desk next to her. "What were you working on?" she asked as Harry strolled over towards her.
"Me? I wasn't working on anything, actually."
"Well, this disk folder is open," Hermione replied as she pointed to the computer screen.
"Oh yeah," Harry exclaimed, remembering. "I found this yellow disk in the box that contained that book I ordered, so I decided to see what was on it. I was getting ready to do that when you came by the other day. Let's play with it and find out what's on it."
Harry sat down at the desk and opened up the only folder on the disk. It was titled "R Inc." Once opened, two more files appeared. Harry's eyes widened when he read over the titles. One was labeled "The Potters" while the other was labeled "The Longbottoms."
"Oh my god," Hermione whispered lightly as Harry opened up each folder. Inside of the folders, multiple screens of information on both families began to pop up, as well as newspaper articles about his parents, as well as Neville's. Harry and Hermione carefully glanced over some of the articles before coming across a profile page of Harry, his mother Lily, and his father James. Curiosity cut its way through Harry like a knife until he came across one last document inside of the "Potter's" file. It was labeled "Contract Information."
"Harry, maybe we shouldn't be looking at this. What we should do is take this to the police," Hermione interjected was she reached out her hand towards the disc eject button.
"No!" he exclaimed as he stopped her hand by grabbing it with his own. "I want to see what this is about."
Slowly, Harry pushed the mouse across the screen and double clicked. An e-mail attachment came up, explaining almost everything to Harry and Hermione.
"Riddle," he softly whispered.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Riddle. Riddle Inc. These files came from that law firm, Riddle Incorporated. My parents used to win a lot of cases against them. Tom Riddle heads up the company, and Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, works for him. There's always been rumors that the law firm had a dark side...and now we have proof."
"Harry," Hermione whispered.
"Don't you understand? They arranged for someone to try and kill my parents. The same person that they used to kill the Longbottoms."
"We don't know if they were behind the Longbottom murders."
Harry took a second to open the contract information under the Longbottom folder, which confirmed it once open.
"Harry, if you're right about this, we have to take this to the authorities. They can handle things better than we can," Hermione explained. Hatred seethed through Harry as he took out the disc.
"We have to do something else first," he said calmly as he got up from the chair.
"What is that?"
"We have to find Neville. He deserves to see this and know the truth before the police do. And he deserves to come with us when we give it to them."
Hermione nodded her head in agreement as she grabbed one of Harry's jackets, making her look like an even bigger tomboy.
"Why don't we stop by your place first so you can change clothes?" Harry suggested.
"Good plan," Hermione replied as she squirmed lightly in his jeans.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The doorbell at his grandparent's home surprised Neville when it rang. He wasn't accustomed to having visitors, since he didn't have too many friends. What surprised him even more was when he answered the door and Harry and Hermione stood in the doorway.
"Hey guys," Neville said. Seeing some familiar faces really brightened his mood. He didn't know Hermione very well though, since he had only met her once when he ran into her at a clothing store.
"Neville, there's something we need to tell you," Harry quickly said as she and Hermione pushed their way in.
And they told him, and even had to show him before Neville would completely believe them and go with them to the police.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Almost an hour later, Lucius Malfoy and Tom Riddle slowly exited the law firm offices of Riddle Incorporated, heading down towards the long, black limo that was parked out front. Both men quickly got in and waited for the door to shut before they began to talk again.
"Are you sure it wasn't in the archives?" Riddle asked.
"I am positive, sir. I searched through the archives three times, and I still could not find it."
Riddle sighed angrily. "We need to find that disc, and we need to find it soon."
The car began to drive. "Do you think, sir, that there is any possibility that young Potter or Longbottom have it?"
"No. That's a preposterous idea. If one of them had it, they would have taken it to the authorities already. I believe that there are only three options left."
"What might those be, sir?" Lucius Malfoy asked.
"First, the disc was lost down the sewers, or it was destroyed. The second, the hitman we hired may have still had it, and either he disposed of it or he hid it away," Riddle explained.
"What of the third possibility?"
"The third is that the Longbottoms might have done something with it."
"Shouldn't we keep the possibility open that the Potters have it?"
Riddle opened his mouth to reply, but the partition between the back of the limo and the front slowly slid down. "What is it?" Riddle sneered.
"I'm so sorry, sir," the driver squealed, "but a patrol car is signaling us to pull us over."
Both Riddle and Malfoy spun around and looked out the back window. A police officer was indeed flashing its lights. "Dammit, Jefferson! Were you speeding?"
"No sir!"
Riddle looked out the back window once again. Now there were five patrol cars behind them. "They know. They have the disc," he growled, turning toward the driver. "Floor it, and push the red button on the steering wheel."
Not wanting to make Riddle even more furious, the driver did as he was told. The limo lurched forward as it swerved through the traffic. The police easily kept up.
After the red button was pushed, Riddle bent over and opened a small, secret compartment, pulling out two revolvers with extra ammo.
"You can't be serious," Malfoy hissed.
"You bet your stupid ass that I am serious. I will not go to jail!" With that, Riddle turned and smashed out the back window, squeezing off two shots at the police car that was closest. Lucius Malfoy followed suit, shooting out of the back window.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Shots fired! Shots have been fried from the limo that's in pursuit!" the police officer roared over the radio. "Those guys are serious. Let's get someone to take out the tires, while trying not to cause any major wrecks."
Harry, Hermione, and Neville sat down in the police station with Officer Lupin, listening in on the operation that was taking place. The three had brought the disc straight to him, confident that he would be able to handle the situation. After reviewing over the information on the disc, Lupin briefed the whole precinct, and then they planned out the operation to bring Tom Riddle and Lucius Malfoy to justice.
Hermione began to look extremely worried when they heard the call saying that shots were fired. Lupin saw the look on her face and quickly tried to calm her. "Don't worry. We have the best officers in New York working on this." Hermione was slightly comforted, but not enough. When Harry grasped her hand in his, though, she became calm.
"Rudlaff! Are you getting into position yet?" the radio blared again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More bullets flew out from within the limo as the chase continued. Two cars back, the officer known as Rudlaff was in position to take a shot. Rudlaff was the precincts sharpshooter who had excellent aim. She had finally lined up a shot when the first cop car suddenly exploded into a ball of fire, frying the officers inside. Rudlaff almost fell out of the police car she was riding in when the driver swerved to avoid the flaming wreckage. After regaining her balance, Rudlaff sat back on the edge of the window, held on, and began to aim. She then fired two perfect shots in rapid succession.
The first shot hit the back left tire, causing the limo driver to lose control of the vehicle. The second shot was time perfectly. Rudlaff had fired it so that when the car lost control and spun sideways, which it had begun to do, the second shot would enter the back seat through a side window and disable one or both of the shooters. Luckily for Rudlaff, the bullet went clean through Lucius Malfoy's right shoulder, causing him to drop his revolver, and then into Tom Riddle's left shoulder. The limo suddenly flipped on to its side and came to a screeching halt after sliding down the street for almost one hundred yards.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's over," Lupin said after receiving a call. He had turned off the radio for he worried that it was bothering Harry, Hermione, and Neville. "Both men are arrested and are on their way to be treated at the closest hospital for injuries. Once they are patched up, they will be going straight to jail."
The anger that had been in Neville now appeared to be gone. He now looked calm, almost as if he were at peace. In a way, the revenge that both Harry and Neville felt, even in the smallest amounts, was carried out.
"I want to thank you three from the bottom of my heart," Lupin said as he sat down across from them. "If it weren't for you, we would have never been able to bring those fuckers down. Excuse my language. I was uh...good friends with your parents, Neville. Now that we have the men responsible for their deaths, as well as Harry's mothers, I can sleep a little easier at nights, knowing that no one else will die because of them."
"Officer Lupin, what's going to happen to them, and the company?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
"Well, after they are patched up, they'll be put in prison after being brought here for detailed questioning. As for Riddle's law firm company, it will be closed down. An investigation will also take place there. I wouldn't be surprised if we find more information there. I almost hope that we don't."
"Are we able to leave yet?" Neville asked slowly. "My grandma doesn't know I'm here. She'll want to know what's happened."
"You are free to go, Neville. I called your grandmother, actually, and explained the situation to her. She should actually be here to pick you up soon," Lupin explained. He was going to say more, but he thought better of it as Harry and Hermione began to stand up.
"Wait, Harry. I actually need to talk with you and Hermione. For the record, I need on tape your explanation on how you came across this yellow disc."
So Harry told him everything. He told Lupin how he had opened up the box for his book while outside on the street, and how he later found the disc in the box. That lead to Harry speaking about how he was going to investigate what was on the disc, but he was stopped by Hermione coming to see him and then the trip to the hospital to see his father. Officer Lupin listened with great interest until Harry was done telling him how they discovered the disc's contents this very morning.
"Well, thank you, Harry," Lupin said as he shut off the tape, stopping it from recording. "You two can go now. Run along and go out together. Try to get your mind off of things."
"Thanks, Officer Lupin," Harry said as he stood back up. "We plan to."
Hermione linked arms with him as they stepped out of the office, and she gasped as soon as the door shut behind them. Just across the way was a very angry, battered up, and handcuffed Lucius Malfoy. Apparently, it didn't take long for him and Mr. Riddle to get patched up. And ever so slowly, Lucius Malfoy's head turned and laid eyes upon them. Hatred and malice burned in his eyes.
"Let's get out of here," Harry quickly said.
Officer Lupin watched them leave the station from his office window. He turned back to his desk when his door opened. A friend of Lupin's, Lieutenant Black, came in.
"Ah, Sirius. What can I do for you?" Lupin asked.
"Well, Remus, I was wondering if we should send a few officers after them, for safety reasons."
"What for?" Lupin asked.
"Those two are the reason that Riddle's law firm is going to go under. It could be dangerous for them if any employees or hired assassins like that Snape guy decide to get revenge," Black explained.
"The reason why his law firm is going under is because his people can't file things correctly, or keep track of their discs, for that matter. Anyways, take these to Pettigrew and Rudlaff. They'll keep track of Potter for a few days," Lupin explained has he handed two papers to Sirius.
"Pettigrew, sir?" Sirius asked.
"Problem, Lieutenant?" Lupin asked formally.
"No, sir. It's just that I thought Pettigrew was an old friend of Lucius Malfoy's."
"Keyword being was, Sirius. Now go give them those assignment slips. I don't want those two getting to far away before Pettigrew and Rudlaff start to keep an eye on them."
"Yes, sir."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draco had just finished fucking Cho when he got the call from his father. After finding out everything, about Harry Potter being the one who turned him in, something snapped inside of Draco. When he returned to his bedroom minutes later, Cho knew something was wrong as he dressed in silence. She could see the anger in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she finished dressing as well.
"My life is over," Draco muttered as he told her what had happened. However, he conveniently left out the part about Riddle and his father being responsible for the death of Neville's parents and Harry's mother.
"I'm sorry, Draco," Cho replied, struggling to say it.
"Do you understand this situation completely, Cho? My family name is tarnished. My father has been arrested for murder and resistance against arrest. My mother doesn't work, and it will probably cost us a fortune to pay for his defense in court. My life is ruined."
"Draco, don't get upset about this and try to blame yourself for this. It's your father's fault."
Draco shook his head angrily. "No, it's not his fault."
"Then whose fault would it be?"
"Potter's." Draco left his room, heading towards his father's office. Inside the desk drawer, he removed a small pistol. Draco was loading it as Cho came in.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I feel like repaying Harry for ruining my life."
"You can't be serious, Draco. Please, I won't let you harm anyone."
Draco sneered. "You think that you can stop me?" he asked as he slipped the pistol into his waistband.
Cho remained silent, but when Draco moved to exit the room, she barred his way in the door. "Move," he hissed.
"No."
Draco gave off the impression that he was disappointed in her, like he was going to give up, until he suddenly pulled the pistol out and whipped her upside the head. The blow caused Cho to stumble and fall back on to the floor, moaning in pain. Draco stepped over her and proceeded down the hall towards the front door. He stopped to grab his jacket, and found Cho to be in his way once again when he turned toward the door. In her right hand was a butcher's knife that she had retrieved from his kitchen.
"I won't let you harm him, or anyone else."
"Why do you care for him? He dumped you for Hermione."
"I don't care about that."
Draco smirked. He stepped forward, and she swung the blade at him. Draco caught her wrist with his right hand and used his left to turn the blade.
"I'm sorry, Cho," he said before shoving her hands and the blade down. The knife sank into Cho's abdomen, since he had turned the blade towards her.
Cho grunted in pain as Draco let her fall down to the floor. Blood began to blossom around the edges of the wound as she slowly pulled the knife out. With a crazy and twisted smile, Draco looked down upon her one last time. As Cho lay dying, Draco left. By the time he drove away, down the driveway, Cho was dead.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James' condition hadn't changed much. He was still unconscious in a coma, but was greatly improving. All they had to wait for now was for him to wake up.
Harry and Hermione had stopped by to check on James after leaving the police station. They sat there for almost an hour before deciding that they should go out to eat, so Harry decided to take her to her favorite restaurant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was strange to see a Hacienda restaurant in downtown New York City. Draco had heard of the place from Hermione once. He knew that she was familiar with it because it was a popular restaurant in Northern Indiana, where her aunt and uncle live.
It almost seemed like fate when he slowly drove past and saw Harry and Hermione in the waiting line to eat. He could do it right at that very moment. However, Harry and Hermione were allowed in as he pulled up to the curb. Draco sighed angrily. He would have to wait.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I can't believe that they built one of these places here," Hermione said as she dipped a chip into the little bowl of salsa. "I thought that this restaurant chain only existed in Northern Indiana."
"Well, I heard about this place about a week or two ago, so I decided to bring you here sometime," Harry replied.
"I feel a little bad though."
"Why?" Harry asked, slightly confused.
"Because your 'bodyguards' are stuck sitting out in their patrol car on this cold evening instead of being inside this warm restaurant."
Harry laughed. "I'm sure they're fine. According to Pettigrew, Rudlaff is an excellent sharpshooter, and that the precinct is very lucky to have her."
"But what about Pettigrew?"
"He told me he was happy to take this job. Something about being glad that he could watch over the two that brought that bastard down."
"Which bastard, though?" Hermione asked, smirking.
"Both."
Hermione laughed lightly, but then sighed shortly afterward when she went to grab another chip.
"What's wrong? Harry asked.
"I'm just a little worried...about Draco."
"Why?"
"When he's angry, harry, he can be pretty violent. Something like this might drive him crazy."
"Don't worry about it, Hermione. I won't let him hurt you," Harry whispered as he grabbed her hands.
"I'm worried about what he'll do to you," Hermione replied.
"He won't hurt me either, Hermione. I promise."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Draco had to wait for nearly an hour before he saw Harry and Hermione exit the Mexican food restaurant. By then he had smoked four cigarettes, masturbated once to pass the time, and listened to a radio news brief concerning the finding of a young girl's body in the Malfoy mansion, as well as the arrest of his father and Tom Riddle.
He watched intently as Harry and Hermione slowly began to walk away from the restaurant until Harry suddenly turned back and went into the restaurant. He had obviously forgotten something. Draco smiled wickedly as he got out of the car. Hermione was by herself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Shit, I left my house keys on the table. I'll be right back, so just wait right here," Harry said before quickly pecking Hermione on the cheek and running back into the restaurant.
Hermione inhaled the cool night air as she slipped Harry's jacket on to her shoulders. She went to glance at her watch, but someone suddenly grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her into the side alley between Hacienda and a small clothing department store.
"Harry, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Too bad I'm not Harry." Draco came into view and he was only the second thing that Hermione saw. The first was the gun in his hand. Hermione opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out in time. Draco had quickly moved and grabbed her from behind, one arm wrapped with his hand over her mouth, the other pointing the gun at her head.
"No screaming, Hermione. If you even think of trying it again I will blow your fucking brains out. Now I'm going to take my hand away from your mouth," Draco explained. Slowly, he did, and Hermione didn't scream.
"See? It isn't that hard."
"What do you want?" Hermione asked angrily, flinching when Draco pressed the gun against her cheek.
"Come now, Hermione. Why don't you use that big brain of yours to figure out the answer," Draco growled into her ear.
"Leave Harry alone."
"I'm afraid that I can't do that. You see, because of your damn boyfriend, my family name is as dirty as the mud on the street. He tarnished it, and I'm awfully sure that you helped him. Therefore, I get to shoot loverboy's brains out. Put up a fight, and I'll do the same to you."
Hermione tried to struggle to get out of Draco's hold, but failed. "And what are you going to do with me?" Hermione asked weakly, tears sliding down her cheek.
"I think I will take you with me, where I can fuck you until you can't be fucked anymore, just like that stupid whore Cho. Yes, she was a good lay, but she whined so much and started to get to clingy. I really enjoyed cutting that whiny brat up," Draco snarled.
"You killed her?"
"Oh yes. She wasn't too happy when she found out that I wanted to kill her ex. She even tried to stop me, which was humorous. Unfortunately, Cho didn't expect her knife to turn on her. That job is going to be a pain in the ass for whoever has to clean it up."
"You're sick," Hermione whispered.
Draco laughed coldly into her ear as he pressed the gun against her cheek harder.
"Hermione?" Harry called at the front of the alley.
Even though she knew that pain would come from it, Hermione weakly screamed. Draco didn't hesitate to hit her with the butt of the pistol on the side of the head. Hermione groaned in pain and slumped against Draco's left arm. She hadn't been knocked unconscious, but the hit had dazed her greatly.
Harry came into the alley and stopped at a distance of twenty feet from Draco ad Hermione when Draco pointed the pistol at him. "Stop right there, Potter."
"Let her go, Draco. If you want me, then let her go. Hermione doesn't have to be involved."
"Oh, but she does. She was your accomplice in ruining my life and tarnishing my family name."
"We didn't ruin your life, Draco. Your father is responsible for that."
"You shut the hell up about my father!" Draco yelled, Hermione flinching in his arms. "You turned him in with some disc. You have ruined my life! My family name means nothing now, all because of you Potter."
"Freeze, dammit!" a loud voice yelled at the end of the alley. The two bodyguard/police officers came running up and stopped a few feet behind Harry. "Draco Malfoy, we have an arrest warrant to bring you in for the murder of Cho Chang." Only Officer Rudlaff had her gun leveled on Draco.
"She won't be the only one who will die tonight," Draco replied.
"Please don't," Hermione whimpered.
"It looks like I'm going to have to miss out on all of the fun we had planned, Hermione. But then again, you'll miss out on any fun that you could have had with Harry," Draco whispered.
"No!" she screamed as Draco pulled the trigger. Harry was struck in the chest by the bullet, causing him to fall backward on to the gravel.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks. Another shot rang out in the alley, and Hermione was suddenly released from Draco's arms when he let go. She didn't care about anything else but getting to Harry. Hermione ran and dropped down next to him.
"Harry, oh god," Hermione cried. Her hand suddenly held on to his. Blood was flowing steadily from where he was shot.
"We need an ambulance!" Pettigrew screamed into his radio.
"Hermione," Harry whispered, looking up at her.
"Please don't die, Harry. Please. You can't," Hermione managed to say through her sobs. Tears slipped down her face.
"Hermione," he said again.
"What, Harry?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Miss, if you want him to live, then you'll have to move," Rudlaff said as the ambulance arrived. They quickly and carefully loaded Harry into the back of the ambulance, and drove off to the hospital once Hermione got in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments: The last Chapter will be up shortly. Please review.