Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter, in fact, I own nothing but the plot
A/N: I'm soooo sorry! I will admit, finally, to having a massive WB. Absolutely nasty thing there. There is also that, I've gotten lazy, even though everything is readily planned out, in one way or another, I just couldn't get around to writing it. So I'm really sorry for that! I'm now in a boarding school...and only supposedly...a couple of hours away from the great author of Harry Potter!
Spy
Four stood in Dumbledore's small yet seemingly spacious office. They gathered around a tin soup can that was incredibly out of place in the ever magical room. Portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses stared down at the live occupants of the room; and Hermione and Neville shamelessly stared back.
It had never ceased to amaze her that every time she entered this room, the decorations and objects seemed to be different. She found an addition of Scholastic Books that was worn by years of age she'd not seen in her previous visits; and a mirror-like shield that sat delicately above the book shelf. The only thing that had seemed to remain the same was Fawkes who sat forever faithful in Dumbledore's study.
"So, everything is all set?" Neville's wondering voice snapped Hermione back to the meeting.
"Yes." She confirmed with him as she slipped her hand into her pocket to make sure the cork of the vial inside, was secured. Hermione withdrew her hand and with a spell, sealed the opening to prevent wandering hands, or spells, finding it.
Another bubbling concoction was presented before her. "Here, take this."
She took the glass from Severus. "A distraction potion." She stated. "How long?"
"Five hours."
"Okay."
She raised the cup to her lips but was stopped with a wave of Dumbledore's hand. She lowered her hand again and met the gaze of the Headmaster. The Professor looked grimly back at her.
"This is a dangerous mission." He stated. "But Hermione, you're not to, under any circumstances, reveal yourself during this. Listen to all you can and record it in a pensive when you come back."
"But…Professor…" Hermione trailed off weakly then nodded. As much as she hated to say it, her loss or capture would be a tremendous blow to the Order; more so than Neville's. She eyed Neville who gazed firmly back at her, silently agreeing with Dumbledore.
"You're the only one who knows the plan. So it's based on trust. You trust me, right?" Neville said. Hermione nodded. "So I leave the rest to you and do my part. He can't torture anything out of me then."
She once again nodded, then she brought the cup to her mouth and drank the potion. She felt herself lightened, and seemed to discolor, as the potion took its effect. Within moments, the eyes of the three remaining occupants could not seem to focus in her general direction. Hermione reached out for the tin can and felt the distinctively uncomfortable pull coming from her navel. She closed her eyes against the feeling and when she opened them again, she found herself in a room above the Leaky Cauldron, where many of the wizarding folk had taken to- to drown the effects of the war in their cups or shots- in the mornings and nights
She opened the door and closed it behind her before she descended to the pub. The room was smoldered in smoke and the strong smell of alcoholic drinks. She took in the scene impassively. She'd been appalled years ago to see so many people drowning themselves, but now, she'd learnt that it was the only way to cope. Hermione went to the counter, where a more than withered Tom was serving industriously.
Tom had a pot dumped onto the table, sloshing half of its content onto the counter, and turned back to another order, Hermione picked up a tray and took the drink to its designated. She weaved through the busy bodies and found the customer who ordered the tea.
It was Blaise Zabini.
She stopped for a bit, before proceeding to him. Neville had yet to arrive; and their 'informant' was already here. She took another quick scan around the room, looking for any suspicious drinkers. She found no known Death Eaters aside from the man before her. She started to reformulate her plan. She'd been planning to serve the drinks to them after Neville has approached Zabini. Now, she probably had a better chance and seemed less suspicious way to intoxicate him.
She served the half full pot to him and earned a distracted nod of gratitude from the Death Eater. She watched in admiration as Zabini tapped his tea with his wand to check for any abnormalities, namely poison. A truly vigilant man. Alastor Moody would have been proud of him (though he'd been more proud if Zabini had brought his own drink).
Hermione returned to the counter and helped a clueless Tom to serve his customers. She kept a close eye on Zabini though. She observed in satisfaction as he quickly finished his pot of tea and Neville sauntered down the stairs. She went to take Neville's order. Frowning at his order for a Fire Whisky; she gave his order to Tom. She took Neville's drink, with the Weasley Twin's modified, infamous Extendable Ears attached discreetly at the base of the cup, to him. He should also have noticed the arrival of the 'informant'; Zabini raised his hand for, hopefully, a refill.
He asked politely for some water for his tea and Hermione nodded at his order, knowing that he wouldn't really know who she was due to the effect of the potion she'd taken. She left for the hot water and unsealed her pocket. She timed her arrival with Neville.
Neville, who was already on another shot of drink, moved leisurely over and started his conversation with an uncharacteristic drawl. Hermione quickly decided that it was the effect of the alcohol but she trusted Neville to know what he was doing. She quickly poured a few drops of the potion into Zabini's cup as his attention was focused on Neville's conversation. She poured the ordered water into the pot, left quietly.
Hermione observed as Zabini once again checked the content in the pot. He was alert, she decided, but not enough. She attached the other end of the Extendable Ear to her ear and listend.
Maneuvering her way into a corner with a cup of water, she sat down in a seat where she could see what was going on in the buzzing room.
"So," an unfamiliar voice spoke through the earpiece, "You came back."
"Yeah."Neville's voice came. "My Gran died. Decided it was time to come back."
She listened, quite fascinating as their conversation ranged from school days to where Neville had stayed during his absence and then to Quidditch. She was wondering when Neville will bring up the conversation, when suddenly, supposedly still on the topic of Quidditch teams, Neville's voice asked:
"So, Zabini, ever thought of switching sides?"
From her slightly slouching position, Hermione shot up and listened more intently than before.
"Yes. I have." Zabini's voice came through to her, controlled and dull, clearly under the effect of the serum she put into his drink as it forced the answer from the Death Eater. There was a pause.
"Whose side would you choose Dumbledore's or the other?"
"Dumbledore's."the subdued answer came.
"You know what the other side's up to?"
"He's trying to resurrect something or create something. I've been ordered to collect something today."
"I see. I suppose you'd be coming here weekly?"
Hermione could barely hear the answer due to the thumping of her heart in her ears but saw the affirmative nod. This was definitely going to be a break through in their stalemate, although it was somewhat too good to be true, a voice reminded her in her head. They had Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini, both from the inner circle of the Dark side.
The conversation returned to Quidditch again, and it was as if the previous conversation never occurred.
She sat there, paying occasional attention to the two men's chitchat, and waited for this meeting to end. When finally, both men stood and left the pub, did she followed. She made sure Neville had separated himself from the 'informant' and flooed to The Three Broomstick before apparating away herself.
She apparated into the Dark Forest, where Dumbledore had specially made for her in this mission, and entered the castle from there. She went straight to her room and saw the pensive prepared for her. She withdrew the information from her brain in the silver thread and put it in the bowl of swirling liquid. Hermione then, using as many secret passage as she could remember, she went to the Headmaster's office.
She entered the room, finding Neville had already arrived, drinking the sobering potion under the tight scrutiny of Severus. Professor Dumbledore sat across them and another seat prepared for her. She sat down in it, plotting her bowl on the table and picked up another cup. She drank the content and found the gaze of the three men fell upon her as if she'd materialized into the couch.
"Welcome back, Hermione." Dumbledore said in his mysteriously cheerful tone.
"We did it." Neville said, taking a rest from the nasty concoction and grimaced before continued drinking it.
"Great acting back there." Hermione complimented.
"At the cost of drinking up half of the stock of sobering potion." Severus sarcastic tone sounded.
"Now, come on, Severus." Chastised Dumbledore. "As long as the mission was a success. Correct, Hermione?"
Hermione nodded and handed the bowl of Pensive to him. The two men who did not take part in the mission delved in. Within moments, they were back out, both with a thoughtful look plastered on their face.
"What do you think of this, Hermione?" Dumbledore turned to her.
"I would really like to believe it…but unless an Unbreakable Vow is made between him and the Order, like Severus'," Hermione nodded in the direction of the dark haired man opposite her, "we can't trust him."
Snape nodded in agreement. "It is still possible for deception, unless there's the Vow."
"We shall bring it up in the next meeting." Professor decided. "Meanwhile, Neville, if you don't mind, will you keep in contact with Mr. Zabini?"
Hermione watched Neville nod when the door to the Headmaster's study slammed open.
"Professor!" Madam Promfry ran into Dumbledore's office. "He's awake! Draco Malfoy's awake."
Hermione's head snapped around.
A/N: Well...not as uneventful, I hope. Next chapter will be done in a POV that I'm sure a lot of you are waiting for -drum rolls- Draco's! Please Read and Review...and don't flame me (I'm in a very tender situation here...flaming will cause another massive WB)