Chapter 39: An Illusive Collar
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
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{"You're easy on the eyes...Hard on the heart...You look so good...But the way things look...Ain't the way they are...Better say goodbye...Before this goes too far...'Cause now I realize...You're easy on the eyes...Hard on the heart..."}Terri Clark, You're Easy On The Eyes
Unknown Location Unknown World...
Hermione Granger found herself unable to concentrate for very long as her mind traveled back to her modest flat where her only daughter and the man whom had been responsible for her existence had been. Harry seemed flustered about their lack of progress as he missed his family and wished to go home as soon as possible. Being an Auror was something Hermione had not planned for as a child, but her experience and reputation during the second wizarding war against the despot Voldemort proved that she was capable of quite a bit with her skills set and intellect. At the moment she and Harry had been on the trail of fugitive and were none too keen on being away from home in a bid to capture them. He'd been spotted in various Muggle cities and responsible for quite a number of deaths as of late. The Ministry Of Magic tasked them with locating this criminal before anymore lives had been lost in the process. Ron had declined being an Auror when he'd been asked and opted for running the Weasley Joke shop with George after Fred's passing during the war. He had seen a life time of death and criminals during the war and wanted nothing more to do with it. Harry had always chosen this path and had no problem accepting when asked. The Golden Trio was reduced to a Duo for most of their adventures but it was pleasing to be in good company. Years of trust and near death experiences bonded them like no other partners out into the thick of it. Hermione continued to fidget as Harry peer through a looking glass from the balcony of their cover hotel. It was a far cry from having to stalk through the woods as kids and semi decent accommodations, although Harry much preferred Hermione's careful planning as opposed to Ministry cover zones.
"See anything?" she asked wanting something to get her mind off home.
"Not yet." replied Harry. "He hasn't come out yet."
Hermione sighed and turned her attention to the book she'd been attempting to read for the past three hours.
"Are you sure we haven't been given the slip?" she asked with an arched brow.
"I'm sure." grunted Harry attempting to focus.
Several minutes of silence went by before Harry became bored and a question came to mind that he'd been dragging his heels on asking.
"Why Snape?" he asked intent on getting an answer.
"Because he was the only one available remember?" replied Hermione casually.
"Not for babysitting." replied Harry inquisitive. "Why did you shag Snape of all people, I've told you time and time again that he was in love with my mother and he was our teacher for Merlin's sake and not a very pleasant man to begin with."
Hermione dreaded this conversation. She had not been much in the mindset of discussing her unseemly attraction to her former Potions Professor nor was she in the mood to do so at the moment. It was none of Harry's business nor anyone's at this point and what was done couldn't be undone trying to dissect it now would only lead to further anguish on her part.
"To put it plainly Harry, I was in love with him." she replied. "He'd been much too deeply buried in his self loathing and it pained me to see it."
Harry didn't understand it.
"But there were other blokes, even once our own age." he said attempting to get a straight answer.
"And they were not him." replied Hermione not at all liking this discussion. "As I've said, I was in love with him."
"And now?" asked Harry taking his eyes off the prize for only a moment.
"Now you are letting our catch of the day get away." replied Hermione after taking notice of Harry's lack of attention on the spy glass.
Harry scrambled to get a glimpse of their target while Hermione took it upon herself to throw caution to the wind and trail after him. As suspected, the culprit had been an ex-death eater and very resourceful. Hermione seemed to recognize him from their time at the Ministry Of Magic Offices, Artifact room. He was an old ragged man with matted grey hair and wild dark eyes. His skin was pale and sickly and his body was covered in tattered clothes that seemed to have seen their fair share of battle. Even his boots were worn and his temperament seemed quite severe as he moved about annoyed at the casual passing of Muggles going about their merry way while he moved among them.
"Rookwood." she said analyzing her memory of him. "Augustus Rookwood."
Harry trailed behind her after coming to the same conclusion as they realized why they couldn't out right find the dark wizard and why he had so many resources.
"Wasn't Rookwood a former Unspeakable?" asked Harry catching up to Hermione as they each trailed the ragged old man with their wands drawn.
"Yes." replied Hermione a bit unnerved, but she was determined to see this case through.
The ragged old man known as Rookwood seemed to know someone had been following him as he began to pick up the pace. His steps were long brisk strides as he made his way through alley way after alley way in a bid to give chase to those trailing him. This prompted both Hermione and Harry to run after him not knowing which direction he'd lead them next.
Rookwood proved to be quite adept at evading as he lost them in a dead end alley way before making his escape and leaving not a trace of his whereabouts behind. Both Harry and Hermione found themselves flustered beyond belief as they would have no choice but to pack it in and start again from the drawing board.
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The Cover Hotel, Unknown Location, Unknown World...
Hermione had been exhausted by the time she and Harry arrived at the hotel. Unable to help herself, her mind had once more wandered back to her flat where her daughter and Severus Snape were and the many questions about what they had been up to plagued her. Harry seemed to take note of this and like any good friend instructed her to phone home if it made her feel better. Hermione had been severely attached to her daughter and never left her side if she could help it let alone over night.
The phone rang for a moment before Severus Snape answered it.
{"I was wondering when you'd call."} he said evenly. {"Ellie was just finishing up her lunch and would be delighted to hear from you."}
Hermione was pleased that he knew exactly why she called and heard her daughter shuffling to the phone.
{"Hi Mommy."} she said happily. {"Daddy makes good sandwiches."}
Hermione smiled pleased that her daughter was having such a good time with her father. She had to admit she had not expected to her their child had been so pleased in the company of a man that use to make children feel less than inferior when prowling the vast corridors of Hogwarts Castle. He lacked sentiment then, but it appeared he'd changed since the second wizarding war had run it's course.
"It sound's like you and your father are having a wonderful time." said Hermione pleased. "I take it you aren't giving him any trouble?"
{"Mommy, Daddy doesn't like rule breakers or dunderheads."} said Ellie with a bit of a giggle. {"I like Daddy so I don't want to be any of those."}
"Well that's good to hear." replied Hermione surprised. "Mind you to recall that whenever your Uncle Harry comes to visit."
Ellie giggled over the phone again and took off, her attention span at that age not much for counting the minutes. Snape took up the phone once more after Ellie zipped back through the sitting room.
{"It appears she's off again."} said Snape unsure of what to say in that moment. {"I'd better go see to her not setting the house ablaze while she thinks she has leeway."}
"Well it appears you have everything well in hand." said Hermione.
Snape seemed to take note of the tone in her voice.
{"Something is upsetting you."} he said observing her mood over the phone.
Hermione was a bit shocked that he could tell.
"It's just work Severus, Harry and I hit a bit of a snag while trying to catch our collar." she said unsure why she was divulging semi-classified information to him.
{"Rookwood...that lazy swine was always one for a laugh especially when he implemented his so called counter measures."} said Snape in a snide tone. {"Always one for hiding out in the hallows of trees, if he gives you the slip just check the forbidden forest or any forest for that matter bloke always did think of himself as an escape artist."}
Hermione seemed to perk up after hearing this. While she had not known how he knew that it was Rookwood she was after, but she was more than glad she knew how to catch him.
{"Well, I have to see to Ellie, good hunting Hermione."} said Snape casually before hanging up.
Hermione sighed and before she could hang up the receiver her mind began to run a mile a minute when it came to coming up with a new plan to bag this particularly illusive collar.
