AN3: Here's the third installment. Enjoy and leave some cheers or jeers if the urge overcomes you to do so.

Disclaimer: I don't own HP. It belongs to JKR. No cent is being made from this exercise.

Dark Hunters: Return of the Dark Mark

Chapter 3 – Meeting in Motion

Hermione walked up to Draco who was busy shuffling through papers on his desk. "Still sukling?"

Draco made a noise. "He's on about that everyday, you know? Doesn't miss an opportunity to get on my case, does he?"

"Well, you ought to curb some of your more… louder… activities with magic use anyway. Remember that there were Muggles lurking about last night too, Draco."

Draco grunted. "What good is magic if you can't use it as you please?"

Hermione cocked an eyebrow. "Keep talking like that and you might end up like a hunted."

"Keep talking like that and I might start to think you actually cared about my well being."

"Hey!" Ron called out to them from the conference room. "Neville's all set up in here. We can have the briefing now. I've already told Commander Vodim and Moody!"

"We'll be there in a moment, Ron," Hermione said. She turned to Draco again. "Get a move on and bring those files with you. You don't want Moody badgering you again, do you?"

"All right, all right," said the blond agent as he stood up. "Sometimes I think you're worse than my mother with pestering me."

Hermione frowned as she followed after Draco. "You know I could do worse."

-■-■-■-■-

"Last night's wizard, despite of the trouble he caused, was just a Class A," explained Neville to the Aurors seated on the rectangular table before him. He waved his hand over his Viewing Pane and the screen to his back changed to show a profile picture of last night's target wizard. "Peter Henchley doesn't even come close to Class B classifications, yet he was able to make use of considerable amounts of powerful magic. Forensic investigation revealed that this was caused by an unusual drug present in his system."

Hermione made a sound. "Drug? Are you saying he ingested a magic amplifier?'

Neville shook his head. "Not ingested. Injected. The Magical Examiner informed me of some faint puncture wounds found behind Henchley's neck. Closer examination revealed it as the point of likeliest origin for drug traces."

Alastor Moody spoke up. "We need to have a sample sent off to Severus Snape then."

"Already ahead of you. As soon as a substantial sample was acquired, it was immediately sent off to Severus Snape," said Neville. "I received a message by Floo that he will have content results by tomorrow at the earliest."

"How does this affect our operations until we get results?" asked Draco.

"It doesn't," said Leo who sat at the head of the table. "For now, we operate as have been doing. Regardless of that drug's effects, we still have the use of Orb magic."

"Commander," said Luna, "I just came back from the operations facility by Surrey last night. Intelligence indicates that our primary target will be in London tonight."

Leo faced her. "Yes, I saw the data this morning and I gave Granger a small briefing about it." He took out several blank parchments and started handing them out to the Aurors. As soon as they touched the parchments, operation data appeared before them. "We're going to the West India Docks tonight."

Dean looked the parchment over. "The warehouses?"

"Three warehouses, to be exact," said Leo. "And considering the revelations from our operation last night, we will be welcomed by drug-amplified Death Soldiers."

Ron turned to Neville. "Neville, do you have some idea of how powerful that drug can make them? I'm guessing you did your own preliminary testing on some of the sample?"

"I can only guess that it amplifies their magic at least three times. Hermione told me last night that she fired three before she completely subdued Henchley."

The ramifications of the estimate were not lost on the people in the room.

"I was the only one who was authorized to equip the Ferrium wand last night," Hermione said after several minutes. "We got lucky then."

"If that was the case… If it amplifies their magic at least three times, would we have enough Orbos to take them down?" asked Draco. "We would also need to get equipped with the Ferrium wands."

"We just received a fresh supply of Orbos from the North this past weekend," said Leo. "I've already instructed Severus to synthesize the potions for absorption into the wands. All of you will be working with a Ferrium wand tonight. Keep in mind, however, that the casting of the Luciferum will be limited to a maximum of five. The wands still aren't stable enough to hold more than that. "

"So three warehouses, huh? How long has our mole been working there?" asked Ron. "What other information do we have?"

"He was working there long enough." Neville waved his hand over his Viewing Pane again. A map of the warehouse district showed up behind him on the main viewing screen. Neville then tapped his screen three times at which several areas became distinct and highlighted. "This area you see here has three warehouses listed under the name of Lawrence Wickstrom. Further investigation has revealed that no such person exists. Also, it was indicated on shipping and lease reports that these warehouses were being used to house raw materials for construction projects. The DMLE agent found out, however, that there have been neither actual deliveries nor pickups taking place in these warehouses."

Hermione looked over the information in the Viewing Pane in front of her. "What do you suspect these structures are being used for then?"

Leo spoke up before Neville could respond. "We'll be using the Pensieve for this." He palmed his hand over the left side of his Viewing Pane. Immediately, the center section of the rectangular table recessed to a hole approximately two feet wide. A few seconds later, an ivory-cast Pensieve rose, surrounded by faintly wisps of smoke.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "We acquired memory surveillance?"

"Correct. This was just received last night," said Leo. He took out his wand and touched the tip to his forehead. As he drew it away, a silver, wispy strand came out. He then directed the strand into the Pensieve. The rest of the Aurors took the opportunity to palm their right hands over the left side of their respective Viewing Panes.

Soon, the Aurors found their current surroundings disappearing and then they were standing inside a warehouse, milling with activity. Wooden crates were piled into one side of the structure. Near the center, several tables overcome with vials, potions, and cylinders. People who wore dark robes and masks over their faces huddled in one section and watched another as he mixed contents in another cylinder. After that, the man walked on over to an immense cauldron and slowly poured in the contents of the cylinder. Vaporous green smoke wafted from the mouth of the cauldron as the liquid bubbled more violently.

"Hurry up with that batch and take it to the condenser!" someone barked. "We have to three more cauldrons to go through!"

The Aurors turned to face the source and found themselves looking at Anton Doholov, their target. Doholov walked over to a corner where bags containing powdery white material were piled high. One by one, they were being carted off into the crates and then sealed off.

"That's a lot…" Ron managed weakly at the sight. Without warning, the Aurors found themselves pulled back and standing once again inside the conference room. The memory surveillance was suddenly cut short. "Bloody hell! That was quick!"

Neville struck some keys on his keyboard as the rest of the Aurors retook their seats. "The footage was taken last night just as you were busy with your operation to capture Henchley. As you can see, the insides have been transformed into factories of some sort, developing what we suspect to be the enhancing drug."

"Whose memory is this?" inquired Dean.

"The same DMLE agent mentioned earlier," replied Leo. "He secured the memory and forwarded it to DMLE who then forwarded it to me this morning."

"Should I ask what has happened to him since then?" asked Hermione.

Leo stood up. "Our mole, unfortunately, was compromised and captured by Doholov's men soon after this. DMLE has tried to retrieve him several times but with no luck. They have since informed me that they now presume the agent to be dead."

"When do you want us to move?" asked Hermione.

"Just after nightfall." Leo swept his gaze across the table. "I want this operation to go off without a hitch. If Voldermort is indeed amassing vast amounts of the amplifying drug, this can mean bad news for the Magical World. Capture Doholov tonight, and if we're lucky, he might get us one step closer to finally getting Voldermort. I know that this is such short notice after operation last night but time is not on our side."

"Ron, get together with Dean and decide on how to setup the barriers for tonight. We're going to need big ones for this. Draco, meet me and Luna in the War Room so we can prepare the Orb Flasks and Ferrium wands. Neville, can you have the comlinks ready and re-adjusted in cloaking frequency? I have a feeling they'd have scrambler wards around the place," outlined Hermione. She turned to Leo. "Will we have backup?"

Leo shook his head. "Unfortunately, other divisions are spread thin and have their own operations to deal with. I'm still waiting for your new partner to arrive today. Once I get a chance to brief him, he'll be joining you."

Ron shot Hermione a confused look. "New partner?"

"We can talk about it later," said Leo. "He's someone from the international division and quite experienced. For now, concentrate on preparations for tonight's work."

-■-■-■-■-

One Hour Later…

Harry set his drink down and promptly got up. He walked himself toward the forgotten piano at the corner of the dim lit café. Tentatively, he brushed his fingertips across the white and black ivory keys, pleased at the smooth texture. He looked up to Sirius when he came into the bar.

"Still raining hard outside, huh?" Harry asked.

Sirius removed his cloak and went behind the bar. "Unfortunately. You were lucky that you came in when you did. Had yourself a bite to eat?"

"Yeah, hope you won't mind missing that sandwich from the fridge."

"Nah. So do you want me to go with you to Grimmauld? I think I heard that Leo's expecting you."

"I will later and you don't have to come with me," said Harry. "I'm not a kid anymore, Sirius."

Sirius grinned. "You're still my godson."

"Twenty-five year old godson," Harry emphasized. "Anyway, mind if I play? I haven't touched a piano in months and this instrument you got here is begging to be played."

Sirius nodded his accord. "Feel free. No one's really touched it in months."

Harry sat down and pushed back the cover. He caressed the ivory keys as he set his hands, then finally he started on a tune.

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganin.

-■-■-■-■-

As soon as Hermione entered the café, she heard the somber, yet beautiful sound coming from the rarely touched piano. She walked into the bar and was mildly surprised to see a dark-haired man bent over, skillfully using the instrument at the dark corner.

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganin, she recognized.

"I wasn't expecting to see you tonight." Sirius's remarked from the bar.

Hermione noted that the man at that piano didn't even pause to recognize her presence. She turned and faced Sirius. "I'm surprised that you actually have a customer."

Sirius shifted his eyes to Harry, then back to Hermione. "What brings you here tonight?"

Hermione took a seat at the corner of the bar. "A quick drink."

Sirius reached for a glass underneath the counter. "That's all?" His voice dropped. "Another late night then, I assume?" He filled the glass with some tonic and slid it down the counter to Hermione.

"Very." Hermione took a sip. "Look, Leo mentioned that there's someone coming from Hogwarts. Know anything about that?"

Sirius fought off the urge to look at Harry, who has now moved on to another classical tune. "Hm… What of it?"

Hermione lowered her voice to a whisper, wary of the customer by the piano. "Harry Potter. Heard of him?"

Sirius' lips thinned.

"Quite skilled from the manifest I read," Hermione started, not waiting for Sirius to reply. "I've heard of his name from several high profile cases. But for some reason, up until today, he's never really worked in London. Vodim's tagging him now as Connor's replacement."

Sirius grabbed rag and wiped the counter. "Your new partner then, huh?"

"Right. Well, if I really had any say in it, I'd rather have none. I've been fine without one for six months." Hermione finished her drink. "It wasn't an issue during that time and I've still got my team to rely on."

"Trust issues?"

Hermione gave Sirius a sharp look. "I'm fine without a partner. Connor's actions have nothing to do with this."

Sirius reached for Hermione's glass. "Leo doesn't seem to think so. Besides, give him a chance. You might enjoy working with a partner again. Merlin knows that you and Connor where quite a tea—"

"Stop. Don't go there," Hermione cut him off. "He betrayed me, betrayed the DMLE. Traitors don't deserve to be remembered like that."

"Touché." Sirius tipped her glass. "Another one?"

Hermione shook her head and got up. "No. I just needed a quick talk with you to see if you had information. Here's for the drink." She took out some money. "And here's some extra for your music man. He plays good. You'd do well here if you hire him to play full-time. Merlin knows how drab it is in here with just you to listen to."

Sirius's fought off a grin. "I seriously doubt he'd have the chance to work here much but I'll take your suggestion into consideration." He regarded Harry again. "Good luck tonight, Hermione."

"Thanks, Sirius. I'll see you tomorrow night." Hermione glanced at the piano man one more time and then she left.

Sirius realized that Harry stopped playing the moment the door swung closed. "You heard, didn't you?"

Harry looked up with unreadable eyes. "That's Granger, isn't it?"

Sirius crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, your new partner. You two are quite alike. You both have trust issues with partners."

The raven-haired man gave Sirius a blank look. "I have no such issues. Dumbledore sent me here because he thought they needed my help."

"Well, considering all the activity in London as of late, they would definitely need more of it. Not that I think Hermione's team is weak," Sirius paused. "It's more like the closer we get to Voldermort, the more they'll have on their plate."

Harry looked outside. "Connor Dolan. Her former partner… and I'm guessing not just on the professional level?"

"He had us all fooled. Her most of all," Sirius sighed. "Don't let her issues get to you, Harry. She's a good partner to work with."

"Sounds like you've worked with her for awhile now," Harry remarked. "Insider info?"

"Here and there, just some… Enough, if you know what I mean?" said Sirius.

"And here I thought you'd retired completely," Harry joked. "Can't get it out form your blood completely, can you?"

"Well, I don't have the stamina for it anymore but my network is still intact."

"Old habits die hard."

"Point taken," Sirius said. "Anyhow, will you be going to meet with Leo now? They're preparing an operation tonight against Doholov by the West India Docks. They're going to need help."

Harry stared off in space for a moment. "Let me go talk to Dumbledore first. There's something I need to check on. After that, I'll go to Grimmauld."

-■-■-TBC-■-■-

UL: 12/06/2005