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Chapter 2: A Venomously Sweet Smile

Hermione stared at him in great incredulity and awe. How could he be in Covert Operations when she herself worked behind all of it without her knowing? She was in information retrieval, and knew about all operations that were in process. She wrote down reports and received messages from the head of each division so that she could file it to the Chief… So how was it that he slipped by her and how come she never seen his name on any of the reports if he was Head of Covert Operations?

She shifted her jaw from side to side and noticed that Harry was watching her avidly as though he were waiting for permission to speak. She sat stiffly in her chair, crossed both her arms and legs and glared at him unflinchingly, like a mother would do to a teenager who she'd just found trying to sneak out.

"Okay, if you're the Head of Covert Operations, then how come I've never seen your name on any of the reports?"

It seemed to take a moment before Harry straightened up and answered with a smirk,

"Do you think you'd willingly let me go on any of those 'Capture and Retrieve' operations that the Chief assigned to us not two years ago if you knew I was assigned to it?" he stared at her in return and she pondered that a moment before shaking her head reluctantly,

"No." she muttered.

"Right, well, that's what I was afraid of." he muttered rather apologetically. "You know how those kind of operations are like; they're dangerous. Knowing you, I requested for my reports to be sent straight to the Chief so that you wouldn't know because I knew that if you found out, you'd want to help somehow." he looked at her unflinchingly and then continued after clearing his throat in a professional way, "Not to mention, personal connections between anyone that would jeopardize the state of any operation is forbidden. You know that." he said as if he were her parent. This, more than anything, got under her skin in a way that was indescribable. She had always been quite pleased with the fact that she could stand on her own two feet without help and being treated this way, especially by one of her best friends, angered her to a great extent.

"Don't try to pull rank on what I'd do if you or Ron, or anyone for that matter, were in trouble!" she said, "You know that if any of you needed my help, I'd gladly come to your aid."

"Isn't that just what I said!" Harry got up from his chair and stood over her, "It's not that I wouldn't like your help, but that's the problem if it's something I have to do! Do you realize that if anyone were to find out that we were more than just working partners that they could use that against us?" he sighed and sat back in his chair and rubbed the space between his brows.

"I understand but-"

"I'm not saying that you don't, but if anything were to happen to you or anyone else…" he stopped and he seemed to try to calm a bit and she bit her lip as she took everything in. Sure, she had known these sort of things that came with the job, but hearing it from Harry made the prospect all more real. She opened her mouth to respond, but the door creaked open and Luna's head peered over the frame.

"Sorry- I heard yelling and I just thought-"

"It's fine now, Luna. I was just about to leave…" Hermione put on a false smile. Luna toggled gazes on the two of them and eventually closed the door. She heard Ron and Luna whispering on the other side of the door. She took one last look at the door and got up,

"I appreciate you looking out for us, but we're adults now… Maybe someone should look after you now and then." she said before saying good-night.

"You know…" Harry whispered hoarsely and Hermione stopped without turning to listen to him, "I've been looked after all my life, and for once, I wish that I were treated like an adult when I needed it most." she would have said something in return, but she thought better of it. She couldn't really argue that point with him, but she guessed that he had already become a adult before any of them. He had seen and achieved things that many people only read about. Everyone tried to protect him because he was always in 'danger'. She guessed that he was right.

Now that Hermione knew the truth about Harry's profession, the problem now was to keep it from the others which was easier said than done with Ron's constant questions about it since it had been brought up the morning Harry returned. It calmed her a bit to know what he was doing every time he left for 'work', but now she worried more than ever. He was right, though, she hated to admit it.

Their line of work was very dangerous, and to make it worse they were friends, which made both of them targets if anyone found out. Even so, she tried to avoid that uneasy feeling in her stomach that because they were friends, they were in danger. This was hard though, because Ron, who knew something had happened after she checked on Harry, would relentlessly ask her about why they had been yelling. He would pop questions about it slyly into idle conversation when he thought she would least expect it, which she did. It sort of reminded her of their fourth year at Hogwarts during the Yule Ball when Ron tried to find out who she was going with.

Luna, from what Hermione could tell, knew something was up, but wasn't as bothersome with it as Ron. Hermione had an inkling suspicion that she and Ron were putting their heads together to crack the situation. Hermione had no idea whether Elle, who had been gone for a few weeks due to a problem with a wedding dated in June, knew of anything at all

Nonetheless, daily lives went on a-day-at-a-time basis and Luna was especially ecstatic because Elle was coming home today. Elle, from the first day that Hermione worked with her, had been as outgoing and as fun as Luna was and they both got along like sisters.

Harry awoke with a start by a inexorable knocking on his bedroom door that became louder as he tried to ignore it by rolling over.

"Come on, Harry!" Hermione's demanding voice came with a muffle, "Elle should be here any moment and she'd want to see everyone!" he glanced at the clock on his bed table; 6:54 a.m. He threw his face into the pillow and growled curses into it as he heard Hermione try to use the locked door with no success. "Quit being so stubborn!" He heard her stamp her foot onto the hard floor and stifle her own curses as she had hurt her heel. He could almost see her expression; her hands on her hips and her jaw shifting from side to side as she pounded the door again. "HARRY! Wake up n-"

"ALRIGHT! I get it!" Harry had lifted his head tiredly from the folds of the pillow, "Keep you knickers-"

"Oh, never mind!" she spat through the door, "She's already here you inconsiderate, selfish git who only…" her voice began to trail off generously as she descended down the hall and stairs to the kitchen no doubt, but he heard her mention "men" several times.

He dressed hastily but nicely since he was due to his office in exactly an hour and didn't think he'd have time to get dressed after breakfast. He made his way down the steps not five minutes later and heard voices in the kitchen.

"I don't think this woman knew who she was marrying the way she ran around!" That was Elle's silky voice and Harry knew it. He'd never forget it… "First, she wanted a traditional setting, but then she got some wacky idea that she'd want a tropical setting of some sort that had a fruit table. I reluctantly went with it until I had put in the order and she 'realized' that mangos make her break out into a rash! I was ready to strangle the little tart!" By now, Harry had reached the kitchen and was standing in the doorway rather groggily, "Hey, Harry… Long time no see?" she smiled; her white and perfect teeth showing.

"Yeah, well… right." he didn't think this was the right response a moment too late as everyone in the room, including Luna, stared at him oddly. "Well, what I meant-"

"Don't worry about it… I understand." she said with her hand nodding dismissively. Hermione toggled odd glances between them and a look of dawning slowly cast on her features. "It's nice to have me back, right?" Her eyes were a intriguing aquamarine that resembled so much of frozen tea leaves, and they scanned the room for the nods of agreement which she was willingly given.. She had that way with people, which, in itself was creepy, but attractive to say the least. "I say we have a party to celebrate everyone being here? Later tonight maybe?"

Luna and Ron gave a wide and mischievous grin that automatically triggered trouble and also got Hermione's attention. She in turn gave a disapproving frown. No doubt, she was thinking of the last party they had at the house. Harry made a daring step forward.

"I think it's a good idea… Hermione?" he suddenly threw her into the spot light and everyone was giving her looks of pleading. She gave Harry a venomously sweet smile that looked to everyone a disguisable and agreeable smile, but Harry knew all too well that he was in for it for doing so. He was surprised that Ron hadn't noticed it, but cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Sure… Yeah…" she nodded at each of her words without severing her gaze on Harry. Elle gave a cheerful clap and giggle as if she was given permission to go out somewhere and her parents, Harry and Hermione, had not come with a conclusion together and therefore would battle it out while she was gone. It was a odd picture to say the least. Harry smiled slightly at her happiness and Hermione watched her plan come to life before her mind's eye. He was in for it later…

Elle, that night, along with a jubilant Ron and Luna, went out to collect things for the "party of togetherness," as Luna had so appropriately called it. Ron, she knew, was going to get anything and everything necessary to get himself wasted the quickest.

Hermione, who had tried to get her mind off the potential chaos, sat in the kitchen, reading a article in the Quibbler Luna had wrote about Kirley Duke. Luna had told her that it was a miracle that she got the article into this edition, and had ran out to buy it the day of it's sale; that morning. She got half through it and placed it aside with a frown. She was Luna's friend, and supported her in anything she wanted, but that didn't mean she always had to agree or think what she wrote about was right.

Harry came into the kitchen and almost high-tailed it the other direction of the sight of her. He still hadn't forgotten that look she gave him. He tried to act as if he didn't know a thing about it in a attempt, she guessed, for her to forget about it. But she didn't.

She straightened up and smiled at him, scratching the end of her nose distractively. He avoided her eye contact and she grinned pleasingly at how her simple gaze effected him so. She would play it stupid, then lure him in blindly so that he didn't know what hit him.

"Hey…"

"Hey?" he tried to keep conversation as short as possible so that he wouldn't bring anything up. He was going to only give yes and no answers and keep his eyes away… Just like he did policemen if need be. He slipped up. "What're you doing?" she saw him press his lips together as he realized what he had drawn himself into but she acted as if she didn't see it.

"Oh, nothing…How was the office? Busy?" she asked innocently. He watched her as if he thought she was going to lead into something else and she could almost see his thoughts on whether to continue or just say no, for it wasn't busy at all that day. She smiled innocently as he sat down beside her,

"Well, the 'catch and retrieve' operations are over. We finally caught Emma Wolfe."

Emma Wolfe had escaped from Azkaban, along with many other Death Eaters and law breakers after the dementors had joined Voldemort again. The dementors were no longer used in Azkaban all the time but rather when needed. Albert Huckaby, James Miller, Michelle Tanner, Warrington Parker, and many others that had been caught and sent down to a chamber where they could never escape again. This area was only used when needed when Azkaban couldn't take them, which was rare.

"Who captured her? Which division? I bet they were given a generous reward?"

"Division 4" he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Robin's division? She must be strutting around… You know she was all over that operation from the moment the Chief laid it out on the table and now that she caught Wolfe, she must be proud?"

"She's a nice person, you just don't like her because she beat you to the chase on Tanner."

"You know about that?" she looked at him almost bashfully.

"Hermione, I'm Head of Covert Operations… I'm not completely daft." she bit the side of her mouth and stared at him as if she wanted to agree but didn't. She had reeled him in.

"You and Elle had a thing, didn't you?" she asked simply and watched as the question made expressions play on his face. He looked as if he were about to answer, but made a second glance at her to make sure he heard right. She grinned in a satisfied way, "I knew it! But why didn't you say anything? I thought we agreed no more lies?"

"Technically, I didn't lie about anything because no one asked and it was the past. We don't have any feelings anymore."

"Liar… You have feelings for her because I noticed the way you acted around her this morning. Why didn't you date?" she questioned in great fervor and she guessed she sounded a lot like Luna. He seemed to contemplate the answer to this and when he did, he gave a defeated sigh.

"We did date and for quite a while; almost a month."

"That's not that long, but I'll take it. Why did you call it quits if you still have feelings for her?"

"We broke up because we just didn't see each other as really being a couple. I just think it had something to do with me." he joked as if he were talking to Ron about a girl he liked in school.

"Why? What's wrong with you? You still haven't answered my question: Do you still have feelings for her?"

"I was only joking… No," he answered with a surrendering frown, "I don't. But I still wonder- You know? What it'd be like if we still were together I guess." she could tell that this subject was uncomfortable to him. He didn't even like to talk about Cho Chang even though they were "together" at Hogwarts. She let the subject drop as Ron, Luna and Elle walked through the front door with all of their hands laden with bags. Hermione gave a slight frown of the near future events that would take place as Harry put a hand on her shoulder before going over to Elle and Luna to help with the bags.

The rest of the night was more than just fun for Harry, but it severed his mind about a lot of things, with or without the use of alcohol. He wasn't a drunk, and he didn't drink enough to begin with, but he let himself have fun for the first time in a good while. Hermione, more than once, had told him the consequences of drinking, and Harry would nod absent mindedly as Ron and Luna made show of themselves. Hermione eventually gave up and she, too, went ahead and had a drink. Harry was able to hold his liquor but Hermione and Luna were a totally different story. Luna hadn't even had enough to quench a thirst before she began to act funny and loopy and Hermione had put the glass down as if she were scared of it. Ron began to tell a story of some team practice as he slurred his words and Luna laughed menacingly as if she had already heard the story. Elle was enjoying herself as well, it seemed, and she got up and left without a word about three hours into the beginning. Harry, who was sitting next to her, leaned over without breaking eye contact with Ron and whispered,

"It wouldn't hurt to have a bit of fun, would it?" she pursed her lips and gave him a furtive sideways glance,

"Don't start with me, Harry," she whispered back, "because you're the reason this is going on. Not to mention, I don't need to have a drink to have fun." Luna began to laugh so hard (even though Ron still hadn't finished), she was crying and her laughs were silent as she gripped at her sides. Hermione gave a sigh through her nose and pulled a face on that portrayed that she was enjoying herself without a doubtful thought, but Harry knew all too well that she didn't mean it. Eventually, her shoulders became less tense and her frown disappeared along a truthful smile.

Harry and the others enjoyed the rest of the night until about 3:45 a.m. when even Luna and Ron said they were tucking in. Harry made his way upstairs to his own bedroom and almost reached it until Elle bumped into him and made a slight yelp of surprise.

"Oh, sorry, Harry… I was just heading out from the study. I was doing a bit of work." He looked at her with a cocked brow. She had been the one to suggest the party and yet, Harry only saw her down a little bit throughout the time. He gave it a mental shrug and bid her goodnight as Hermione also came up to sleep. Elle gave a flip of her black hair and continued through the hall to her room. Her room was just down the hall from his and Elle and Luna's just a bit farther as well around a corner. They said goodnight and he noticed Hermione also give Elle a furtive glance in a odd way before entering her room.

A/N: I know this chapter took longer than I thought, even though it's not much. I have been so busy and I've been combing through everything to make sure that everything is okay. Anyways I just wanted to clarify anything that may be of question: Covert Operations. I was asked what that was and simply, it's like a Spy type thing. Covert (which means not intended to be known, seen, or found out. (Definition thanks to:

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)) Covert Operations sounded just so much better than spy to me… Anyway, I made up the "catch and retrieve" operations. All they are are operations that consist of people going into suspected hide outs to retrieve escaped prisoners. Thus the name "catch and retrieve."

Anyway, thanks for your reviews again and keep sending them in! Hugs

XHermione's Ink StainX

(Courtney)