Disclaimer: Yesterday I went rampaging, today I went raiding and tomorrow I will go pillaging. Why? Because I'm a pirate and not JKR, silly.
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Slumping wearily in the chair, Professor McGonagall asked what seemed to be the millionth question of the day. "How are the Council's member's identity protected?"
Hermione was resting on the table, head down and eyes closed. "A powerful charm similar to that in the Fidelius in construction but with far more devastating consequences if – i-" here she broke off into a great yawn. They had been going at it all day, seeing if she truly remembered. Normally she would enjoy this sort of quiz, but after six hours of it, the novelty was wearing thin.
"If?" Professor McGonagall prompted, rubbing her eyes.
"If broken," she finished, shaking out her mess of hair.
"And who are the members of the Council?"
"Augusta, you, Mr. Chang, Tonks and Remus," Hermione replied automatically. She paused, trying to recall what she had just said. "Tonks and Remus?" she said again, looking hopefully up at her Professor.
Professor McGonagall gave a small smile. "What is Tonks' favourite ice-cream flavour?"
Hermione wrinkled her nose, before lowering her head once again. "Radish and Strawberry swirl,"
"What is Demetrius' favourite flavour?" she asked shrewdly.
"Chocolate cookie crumble," said her mouth, the words tumbling out fluidly.
Professor McGonagall suddenly sat up a little straighter, unbeknownst to Hermione, still facing down.
"In which place is Demetrius' biggest scar placed?"
"On his lower left back,"
"What shape does it resemble?"
"A crescent,"
There was a pause as Professor McGonagall considered her next question.
"You gave Demetrius a present on your fifteenth birthday. What was it?"
"I don't recall ever seeing him after I left,"
"Do you know who Demetrius really is?"
Hermione was confused as to the meaning of the question, and told Professor McGonagall just that.
"When…Gred," Professor McGonagall frowned. She had never liked that code name, even more ludicrous than J'Adore. "When Gred came through the door at lunchtime, you immediately knew who he was,"
"Oh, you mean his identity like how Gred is Ge-"
The Professor shushed her violently.
Hermione flushed. Underlying principle of every secret organisation: never speak of the code, as eyes and ears could be everywhere. "Ah…no, Gred seems to be the only one I remember,"
There was a short knock on the door, and then the brown haired Smith poked in. "Tea's ready," he announced, before disappearing out.
Hermione looked to Professor McGonagall. "I think that I have done all that I need," the Professor told her, swishing out of the room. "Come, I am feeling rather in need of nourishment,"
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Dinner was a fanciful affair.
Everyone had returned from their secret squirrel business, and was seated around the table, eagerly awaiting the meal.
Warm currents flowed from the open plan kitchen, where a stocky Chinese man stood with his back to them, sleeves rolled up, arms flying to control the wok, chop ingredients and add condiments at the same time. These currents moistened the air, bringing with them an excited atmosphere and tantalising smells.
Hermione was seated between Tonks and Artemis.
"When you're in the Order, do you pretend to be so clumsy to disguise your inner grace and distract them from your real identity?" Hermione asked the currently red headed Tonks.
Tonks let out a shriek of laughter, simultaneously throwing back her leg and slapping her thigh.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I really am this clumsy!"
Remus playfully ruffled her hair. "I'm quite amazed at her chopstick skills though – with knives and forks, she's bound to drop at least one, but no such worry with these fiddly little sticks!"
At the head of the table sat Augusta, deeply in conversation with Minerva McGonagall, former Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts school, current Headmistress with Dumbledore's death.
"Yes," she was saying, nodding her head, "its better to keep the school open, better to watch over the remaining children and save as many as we can,"
Minerva pursed her lips. "I simply can't believe that Albus died. He was a great mystery to all of us, we never found out which side he was on, or whether he had a side at all,"
Augusta smiled, and patted her hand. "Let the dead rest and be only brought back for happy memories,"
Hermione happily noted that Chrys wasn't sending her the usual death glares. Instead she was quite preoccupied, talking animatedly to her two friends. The one sitting in the middle seemed to be the ringleader, flowing blond hair draped over dark blue robe. She spoke with a distinctly American accent, and Hermione remembered her name as being Morticia. The other girl had elegant brown hair pulled into a knot, wearing the silks of the Beaubaxton's uniform. Her eyes were a surprising blue, and she was tall and slim like the other two. Catching Hermione's eye, she gave her a small smile before resuming their discussion.
"That's Patience," Art said, leaning over.
She smiled gratefully at him.
"Do you know who I really am yet?" he teased.
Leaning back, she studied his features. His warm brown eyes, slightly tousled brown hair, reminded her of someone, but then again looked complete unlike anyone she had ever met.
She sighed. This game was beginning to tire her.
His eyes danced as he watched her, starting to get irritated. "I'll give you a clue," he said, smiling. "I have been in Hogwarts. I'm not saying when and if I graduated, or if I was a student or a teacher, and I'm not saying if I knew you or not…but I have been to Hogwarts sometime in my life,"
Hermione wondered briefly if he was a Slytherin. She never took any note of the Slytherins. He was too young to be a teacher, looked around the same age as she. Tapping her chin…she gave up.
"I'll think it over," she said. "Now, tell me, what has the Fold been doing since my departure?"
His smile grew more contemplative rather than whimsical as he though as to where to start. "Well after the battle, our focus shifted from training to knowledge. The reason they defeated us so severely was that they had all this inside information on us, they knew every attack we had, ever tactic. So then we decided to gather information on them too. We haven't actually got any information about the leader or his second in command, but all the other higher ranking member's secrets are open to us," he explained, smile turning sinister at the last few words.
"Oh…?" Hermione said, for a lack of better words. "Like what?"
"Well…apart from the leader and his second in command, there are four other major controllers. There's Peter Donne, he seems to be the one behind the whole werewolf thing…apparently the 'werewolves' have killed at least 5 of the wizarding community now. Makes it even harder for Remus to go out, Tonks in still trying to make them forget that Remus is a werewolf, it was a bad idea having his masquerade as one from the beginning. Then they have their Necromancer, Professor Sinatra, remember him from school? The other two, Drake and Serpentia, they train their new recruits in…"
The words died in his mouth and his eyes slid to the right. She followed his gaze, apprehensive as the only sound left was the steady sizzle of beef in the wok.
The door opened a crack, then flew right open as the weight of George Weasley fell on it.
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A/N All my loyal readers (yes you, I don't know who you are either), thank you for bearing with me. Thanks for everyone that's read this story, thanks for everyone that was bothered leaving a review. I love you all!
Now, this chapter thus ends the bit where the plot and characters are developing etc. From next chapter it will spring right into action and all that jazz. Also, my exams start on the 15 of November and so far I have studied diddly squat, and sadly enough, my friends are peer pressuring me into studying. The point: no idea when next update will be.