Chapter Seven- A dangerous mission
"I should get going," Lavender muttered as she ran into Ron's bedroom, and a loud bang told Harry that Lavender had disapparated.
Harry stared at Ron, who seemed to have a loss for words. "I'm just going to ask you something," Harry said, trying to control his temper. "Since when…?"
"Three months ago," Ron sighed as he sat down in his couch. "But Harry, it's not what you think…"
"Don't give that explanation to me," Harry snapped. "You owe it to Hermione."
Ron buried his face in his hands and shook his head. "You can't tell her, Harry, you just can't!"
"Why shouldn't I? You are cheating on her!" Harry barked.
"But I love her, Harry!" Ron said. "I want to marry her! She's the love of my life!"
"That's why you are sleeping around with Lavender?" Harry snorted. "If Hermione was my girlfriend…"
"If Hermione was your girlfriend, you would do the same!" Ron spat. "I mean it! I had never been so happy, but at the same time I had never been so miserable!"
"I wouldn't cheat on her, that's low, Ron!" Harry retorted.
"She's in love with someone else, Harry, and I just can't take it!" Ron said angrily.
Harry felt his heart skip several beats and said nothing. Ron stared at the ceiling, breathing shallowly.
"That cannot be possible," Harry said hoarsely.
"I know it's true," Ron said. "It's obvious. I'm not saying that she doesn't love me but… it's obvious her heart is with someone else."
"Any idea of who it might be?" Harry asked nervously.
"Krum seems like a possible choice," Ron said thoughtfully. "But he got married last summer, and I don't think that Hermione has a thing for married men. But if I ever know who it is, Harry, I'll kill him."
Harry said nothing and stared intently at the floor. "You should tell Hermione about Lavender," he finally said.
"I guess so," Ron said. "But don't tell her. She should hear it from me."
Harry nodded, his heart sinking at the thought of lying to Hermione. Oh, if Ron knew… Hermione was cheating in some way, but Harry had never slept with her… Harry felt very confused and dizzy and sat down.
"Anyway," Harry said. "I came to tell you to take care of Hermione. There is this crazy wacko looking for her, and he is capable or murder, we just found out."
"Are you joking?" Ron blurted. "Who would want to kill Hermione?"
"Details are confidential," Harry said dryly. "But this man is dangerous, and I have already sent extra protection to Hermione, but some help from you wouldn't hurt."
There was a soft tap at the window and Harry saw a tawny owl carrying a envelope. Harry ran to open the window and opened the envelope quickly.
Knockturn Alley, 9 pm, in the corner opposite to Borgin and Burkes. Try to hide your stupid scar or we will be caught.
Malfoy
Harry folded the letter carefully and saw the owl fly away. He gulped nervously and knew that there was no way back. He had to go, and capture Remarque. Or Hermione could… He didn't want to think about it.
"I have to go," Harry said to Ron, who was frowning at him.
"Don't tell her," Ron warned.
Harry shook his head and felt a burden in his chest as he disapparated.
Later, at the Auror Headquarters"I wanted to look different, but not that much." Harry was looking at his reflection in the mirror, and saw Neville Longbottom looking back at him.
"Well, Neville is quite invisible to the normal eye," Luna said cheerfully and Neville stiffened. "Just kidding."
"We added a Extendable Potion to the Polyjuice Potion so you can have it for three hours," Neville said, trying hard not to look at Harry. "It shouldn't wear off after that."
"You're Neville's perfect twin," Luna chuckled. "Anyone that saw you would never guess that you are Harry Potter."
In that moment Hermione entered the office, followed by Kat. "Neville, where's Harry…?" Hermione said to Harry and then looked at the real Neville and gasped.
"What's going on in here?" Kat asked curiously.
"I'm going with Malfoy to a SDTMB meeting," Harry said. "I need to go unnoticed, and a big scar might attract some attention, don't you think?"
"I guess you found the most disgusting outfit in the whole wizarding world," Kat smirked and then looked at Neville. "Just kidding, Neville."
"Why do you people always pick on me?" Neville asked miserably.
"Kat, I want you to come with me and Malfoy," Harry said. "Don't worry, you don't have to talk with him."
"What about your girlfr- I mean, Hermione," Kat asked in a mocking innocent tone.
"We'll take care of her," Luna said happily. "Now, you must go, or the potion will wear off before you can capture Remarque."
Harry wanted to say Hermione that he loved her. If something went wrong with the mission, he could never forgive himself for not saying a proper goodbye to her. Harry walked over to her and give her a soft kiss on her lips.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped, glancing around.
"Don't forget that I'm Neville," Harry mocked. "And that I used to have a crush on you at Hogwarts."
"Harry!" Luna protested, and Harry and Kat disapparated.
Knockturn Alley, 9 pmMalfoy was waiting for them, looking impatiently at his watch. "Why did you bring her, Potter?" Malfoy hissed. "This is dangerous."
"I heard that," Kat snapped. "That I'm a woman doesn't mean that I'm unable of facing danger."
"Whatever," Malfoy snapped back. "They should be here in any minute."
They waited for five whole minutes and Malfoy seemed to get nervous. "I don't like this… I really don't…Wait, there they are!"
A party of five walked over to them, everyone wearing black cloaks and muttering to each other.
"Erick, these are Emily Navitek and Neville Longbottom," Malfoy said in a low whisper. "He is Erick Remarque."
"Navitek? Any relation to Stephanie?" Erick asked in a harsh voice.
"Er, yeah, third cousin," Kat lied.
"Funny, I had never heard of you," Erick said as he looked closely at Kat.
Malfoy cleared his throat and Erick looked back at him. "So, where's the meeting?" Malfoy asked nervously.
"No need to sound like that, Malfoy boy," a voice said behind them. Harry turned and saw Kropp Remarque sneering at them.
"Kropp," Malfoy breathed.
"I see that you brought two friends," Remarque said harshly.
"Neville Longbottom and Emily Navitek," Malfoy said hastily.
"Haven't I seen you before?" Remarque asked Kat, who went very pale.
Harry's heart clenched; Kat had been the one that had chased Remarque with him. "She's Stephanie Navitek's third cousin," Malfoy said quickly. "She kind of looks like her."
Remarque seemed satisfied with Malfoy's explanation and conducted them into a grubby looking shop. They all entered and Harry saw that the room had been expanded to be a great auditorium. Malfoy, Kat and Harry sat in the front rows, Harry clutching his wand, ready to attack.
"Now that we are seated," Remarque said loudly. "I have to discuss something with all of you. It seems that the Ministry knows about us, and Harry Potter is behind this."
The whole group gasped and protested. "Settle down," Remarque said in a cold voice. "I thought that with eliminating Himmeltoff the leak of information would be over. I was wrong. The world has to get rid of these obsolete creatures and Potter is complicating things. I fear that he would send a spy between us."
Harry glanced at Malfoy, who seemed unperturbed by this comment. "Now, I wonder what is Miss Katherine Muller doing between us," Remarque said, pointing his wand at Kat, who stiffened in her seat.
A spell shot from Remarque's wand, and Kat floated in the air, her face terrified as she floated closer and closer to Remarque.
"Surely you thought you could fool Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Longbottom into believing that you were Stephanie Navitek's cousin?" Remarque sneered. "You are very wrong, and you will have to say goodbye."
Kat's eyes widened with horror, and Harry drew out his wand, but Malfoy stood up and pointed his wand at Remarque.
"Put her down!" Malfoy barked.
Remarque smirked and drew his wand away. Kat fell hard to the floor, lying unconscious in the floor. Malfoy ran over to her and Remarque laughed.
"You really thought you could fool me?" Remarque said as he now pointed his wand at Harry, who felt nothing but pain running through his body and he felt something burning in his forehead, and he knew that he was Harry Potter again.
Malfoy helped Kat get up, Kat putting her hand in her forehead and moaning. "Potter, you have been nothing but a menace since that night at the bar," Remarque said angrily. "Since I was attacked in my young age by a unicorn, I don't have the ability to apparate, and it was really complicated for me to escape from you."
Harry glared at him and said nothing. "And now I know that you want to capture me…" Remarque said mockingly. "I'm shocked, shocked."
Harry drew out his wand and pointed it at Remarque. "You have no right to say that magical creatures are useless, Remarque," Harry said. "And you have no right to murder the people who protect them."
"And you have no right to tell me that," Remarque mocked. "Cruciatus!"
"Protego!" Harry bellowed and the spell bounced off. Kat drew out her wand and she stood by Harry's side.
"We have to get out from here, Potter," Kat said through gritted teeth as all the SDTMB walked over to them.
"I agree with Muller," Malfoy muttered.
Kat glanced at Malfoy and smirked. "You can leave in a body bag."
Malfoy stared at her and went red. "After what I just did for you?"
"Save your bickering for later," Harry said as Remarque pointed his wand at them.
"I'll count to three, and you will be out of my sight," Remarque snarled. "One…"
"Wands ready…" Harry muttered.
"Potter, you are mental," Malfoy said and ran away. Harry looked after him and grunted.
"Two…"
"Harry, I never thought I would say this, but…" Kat mumbled. "I agree with Malfoy." Kat also ran away and Harry cursed them under his breath.
"Three."
"Damn it," Harry said as he ran after Malfoy and Kat, shooting spells at every person he could reach.
Harry tripped and fell hard on the floor, and Kat and Malfoy ran back at him, helping him get up.
"We have to deal with them," Harry gasped as he ducked and a spell soared next to him. "We have to capture Remarque."
They got out of the store and Harry turned to face the building. Kat stood next to him, and grasped Harry's arm. Malfoy stood next to Kat and pointed his wand at the door.
"Ready?" Harry asked as the door opened. "Go!"
"Reducto!" Malfoy bellowed as he pointed to the building and it came down to pieces.
A spell hit Harry on the chest and he was blasted from his feet. He hit a wall and he felt his head crack open. He fell to the ground, seeing nothing but the starry sky. He couldn't move, and he felt very dizzy.
He heard Kat screaming and everything went black.