A/n:Hi guys, it's been a while I think I caught Covid end of March and I was fine for ages. However, I went down hill due to damage to my cartilage around my rib cage. in out of A&E. I'm fine now but just wanted to let you all know this is why I've been off. I hope you are all okay and keeping safe. I'm back at work finally!

So i'm dusting down my keyboard, and getting back to writing. Obviously, I'm working full time now, so will write when I have the time. Plea\se bear with me I have every intention of finishing this story.

PLEASE READ: This chapter contains drug use please read responsible. This chapter is hard hitting, regardless of what Hermione does please read through to the end. This chapter contains violence against a prostitute, read with caution. Also like to say I do not condone drugs and have never done drugs in my life. Please skip this chapter if you feel uncomfortable.

Warning: Prostitution, drugs misuse, death etc.

CHAPTER Warning: violence, drug misuse.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters and no money has been made from this.

Enjoy...

Part Eleven

Trapped

"imagine being someplace you know

so well but are lost and don't have any idea

how to get out"

― Kenyatta Rogers

Jerkily he tucks himself back in, hands shaking, breathing hard. Liquor clings to his lips a poisonous touch. His body feels clammy, his erection straining against his trousers, he failed to come. His money still lines the whores hands, her smirk as she counts the coins. Her ring glints with the marking of the religion Cabedoism. Down a dirty alley he had taken her hard against the wall, straining to come even as he pumped into her, he gave up in the end.

She lights a cigarette, puffing the filthy addiction blowing smoke in his face. He wafts it away, avoiding her judging gaze. The smell of smoke reminding him too much of that night, a night he wishes he could forget.

"What's with you," She teases taking a drag.

"None of you business," He snaps, brushing himself down.

"Need a bit foreplay? Want me to fondle your balls?"

"Give it a rest," He rasps the rain slowly drenching his robes.

"Not my fault you can't get off."

"Maybe I need something younger." He replies.

Slap, he stumbles from the blow, she blows air from her nostrils like a raging bull. Pushing her skirt down as she jabs a finger into his chest. As he cradles his cheek.

"Fuck you," She shouts too loudly for her his liking. "What use is a sweet cunt when you can't even get it up. Your waste of space."

His punch lands on her nose, she falls against the wall, stunned. He hits again, again and again. Ignoring her cries of pain, he follows her to the ground. His hands tighten around her neck strangling, smoke it clings to him. Haunting eyes they watch from the shadows a voice calling to him for help. It's his face that reflects at him he tightens the hold on the firm neck.

Two hands grab his shoulders shoving him away, he lands in the puddle, hands bleeding, panting. Tears staining his cheek, he pushes to his feet as two hands shove him against the wall. A smack to the face snapping him from his trance.

"RAB!" His brother shouts at him, holding him by the lapels of his robes, shaking him. "The fuck is wrong with you."

He struggles for words turning to the beaten prostitute on the ground. Her bloody face, he heaves chucking up his tea. His brother muttering under his breath returning to aid the prostitute applying first aid.

"She's… She's alive right?" He mumbles, clutching his stomach. "Rod, she's alive?"

"Yes, fuck, what's wrong with you!"

"I'm sorry, so sorry. I don't know what came over me. Shit, shit. Fuck Rod, what have I done?"

"Shut up, Rab shut up." Rod orders storming over to Rab. "Listen to me. You went home, stomach bug, you weren't here. Got me?"

"But, what about…"

Smack, another hit to his head, something they've done since their kids. He holds his head, clutching his wand uselessly as the prostitute struggles for breath.

"Get home, clean up." Rod orders removing any trace of Rabastian from the scene he summons the money. "Did you cum?"

"What?"

"Did you cum?"

"No, no."

"Good, get out of here, a robbery went wrong, I'll modify her memories."

"Rod, I…"

"Get your head in order Rab. Now get out of here. GET!"

Stumbling away, he clutches his bag of gold, his wand as he apparates away disappearing from the crime scene. He appears in his street, stumbling to his house through his front door. The elves quick to assist him, cleaning his wounds. He clutches his stomach falling on to his sofa, reaching for his bottle. He drinks.

"No fires!" He shouts as the elves light them. "No fires! Not the smoke."

He rocks on the sofa, clutching his ears. Can still hear the fire roaring around his ears the cries of pain. No fires…

~~~~~ Curfew ~~~~~

It's annoyingly loud, the ground vibrates she can feel it through the soles of her boots. So jarring, she struggles to concentrate can barely hear herself think. All around them bodies grind, hot sweaty and pissed out of their heads. Hands thrown in the air, moving to a pounding beat, is this what she missed? She's glad, almost makes her wish for her mothers terrifyingly boring parties, anything compared to this noise. Pure noise.

A bottle of beer pressed into her hand, it's warm, not cold and she wonders if there's any point drinking it. Turning, Bella glares at the happy witch leaning against the bar next to her. Stupid paint on her face, glow in the dark some, she looks like a rejected Indian queen with A feather in her hair.

It's just Bella who thinks this as everyone is eyeing up the witch next to her. She knocks knuckles with some a strange custom for muggleborns. What happened to handshakes? Bopping her head to the beat, Granger throws a wave to someone in the crowd lifting her drink into the air.

"Drink up!" Granger shouts over the music, nudging Bella.

"I'm on duty," Bella hisses in the witches ear.

"Not in that form you're not." Granger cracks with a smirk.

Glowering, Bella did not expect to find Granger sat in her basement with a potion promising to get Bella access to the Exited Apple. Only catch she would have to follow Granger's lead and pretend to be someone else entirely. Granger promised a potion, she did not promise a Polyjuice potion she could have done that herself.

"I could have done this myself," Bella complains sipping the muggle drink.

"Ha, you wouldn't have got through the door, we can smell pigs."

Pigs? Bella will need to get a muggle dictionary at this rate. She did not expect to transform into an underweight muggle with a skin condition. Let alone a stupid haircut, did muggles have no style? Dressed in some very tight-fitting jeans and denim jacket she feels out of place.

"Better than this," Bella grumbles, yelping as Granger steps on her foot.

"You're impersonating a good friend of mine, mind your tone or I'll throw you to the wolves."

"Regardless, your friend needs to gain some weight."

"She's a drug addict, there's a reason you're impersonating her."

Downing her drink, Granger orders another, nudging Bella to continue to drink her. Sighing, Bella takes a swig of her Cider? Shrugging, she supposes it doesn't take that bad. When were they going to take a break? What were they waiting for, she eyes Granger suspiciously wondering if perhaps this was some trap?

"Here we go," Granger mutters as a large man moves through the crowd towards them.

"Sixty-nine?" He demands, eyes hidden behind dark glasses.

"My favourite position," Granger grins.

"This way."

"Take me to your leader."

Groaning, Bella follows behind Granger, ignoring the fact Granger is dancing through the crowd. Swinging to the annoying beat as the bouncer leads them downwards towards the cellar, lights flashing VIP lounge.

Where were they going? She needs to have a serious conversation with Granger after this about communication, better than following blindly. Were they going into the dragon's den? Were they here to get pissed or was something of fruition going to come from this?

"Enjoy," the bouncer orders opening the door for the witch to pass through.

Bella feels a charm rush over her, as she enters the VIP room, surprised to see witches and wizards partying beneath the muggles. She spots a few wanted but chooses to ignore them for the time being. The music no less deafening but it's something she at least recognises. A flash of colour as some rushes to hug Granger.

"Fuck me," The witch shouts grinning. "Never thought I'd see you again."

"What can I say, even hell don't want me." Granger jokes swigging her drink.

"Drinks on me," The witch promise turning to Bella with a grin. "Are you her friend?"

"Cousin thought I'd show the magical world, shh."

"Mums the word." The witch winks shouting to the bar owner the next drinks are on her tab.

Kissing one another cheeks they part ways Bella following Granger through the pub towards the back of the room. Accepting the drinks graciously, they sit on some uncomfortable seats called bean bags. Bella struggles to stay as she swigs from her drink applying some of her potions to keep up her appearance. Tries to ignore the drugs being passed around, is this where Clearwater came?

"There," Granger whispers leaning against Bella's shoulder. "See that girl at the bar standing between the brutes?"

"Yeah," Bella nods ignoring Granger as she plats Bella's hair. "What are you doing?"

"Coming on to you," Granger chuckles. "Acting the part, shut up. She's Clearwater's friend."

"Let's go talk to her," Bella states rising to her feet only to be pulled back down.

"Ah, ah no. Her parents own this establishment and you do not piss of Kane, do you understand? We need to get permission to talk to them."

"You think they'll give it to us."

"Kane likes me, we'll see, cool your head. Bigger fish at play than you think."

"All I want is Clearwater's murderer."

"All I want is to rid myself of a life sentence, can't have it both ways." Granger snaps.

You are. Bella wants to argue, to snap at Granger, they don't have time to play the long game. Any retort is stolen as a shadow engulfs them, a giant of a wizard with more scars than hair glares down at them. A nod of his head ordering them to follow him as he leads to the back room.

Following the bobbing feather, Bella resists the urge to pull a warrant card out. Order everyone on the ground, Granger's right she cannot go storming through. She needs to have some faith, if not she can come back tomorrow with the Auror's office at the finish the job.

For now, she must appease this Kane whoever he is, see what he wants. She can already imagine a smug, slimy bastard in an expensive suit, smirking at them. Demanding what they want with his daughter. Will Granger's plan work? Are they out of their depth?

"Enter," A deep voice booms.

Here we go, Bella thinks rolling her eyes she's dealt with enough cronies to know what she's against. Thrown enough of them in jail over the years, the room is bright. Ornaments decorate the wall, brooms damaged and restored mounted on the wall. Hawklike eyes stare at them from the table. Arms crossed, leg folded over the other, a short dress stopping at the thigh and suit jacket done up. Grey hair spiked; an eyebrow raised the witch watches their every move as they enter the nicely decorated room.

"Hermione," The witch greets with a predatory smile.

"Kane," Granger acknowledges.

"Please, Rolanda for you, Mike says you want to speak to my daughter."

The brute by the door grunts in acknowledgement of the name. Swallowing, Bella cannot help but stare in slight awe, she had not expected Rolanda Hooch to be the business owner, last Bella heard she worked for the Ministry. Was she the leak, no she couldn't be she worked for Department of magical games she had no ties to the Auror unit?

"It's regarding Clearwater," Hermione states taking a seat on a chair.

"What's it got to do with you?" Hooch asks, moving to take the opposite seat never taking her eyes of Bella.

"Ignore her, she's my cousin."

"No, she's not…" Hooch drawls pulling out a cigarette.

Tensing, Bella glances to Granger wondering if she needs her wand yet, however, Granger is only smiling. Not concerned about the tension in the room.

"You sly thing," Hooch quips leaning back in her chair. "New bit of stuff?"

"She's got an amazing tongue," Granger replies, making Bella blush. "Though I'd show off part of the magical world, while I pay you a visit."

"Hmm, dangerous."

"Hard to pull in the wizarding world these days," Granger says pointing to the Azkaban mark.

"I can only imagine. So why you want my daughter."

"Please, she's too young for me," Granger jokes. "You know I've been chasing this fucker for years. The first time I might have someone I can trust."

"Can I trust you?" Hooch replies. "She could be an Auror."

"I'd be in Azkaban, again." Granger chuckles darkly. "Trust me, she's no pig."

"Prove it," Hooch orders clicking her fingers.

This is it; Bella thinks forcing herself to sit next to Granger. They're going to call her out on Polyjuice potion this is going to be a bloody mess. Bella knows she can take everyone in this room how she explains it to the Ministry is another task entirely.

No wands are pulled instead one of the brutes unrolls a parchment, placing a white powder down. Shit. Taking a breath, Bella's hands tighten automatically, no fucking way is she doing drugs. No fucking way.

"Take a hit." Hooch orders Bella.

"Fuck of," Granger retorts pulling the parchment towards herself. "She's already high as shit, look at her eyes."

"Your turning down my generosity?" Hooch asks turning a manicured hand into a soft knuckle.

"Hey, never passing up on free shit," Granger grins. "I'm just not sharing."

It happens in a blink, Granger separating the powder and sniffing it. The hit instant, her eyes dilate as she lounges carefree on to the chair. Granger's a junkie? The thought doesn't sit well with Bella, she tries not to react as Hooch takes a hit herself.

"Damn, that's some good shit," Granger mumbles rubbing her face.

"I know right," Hooch grins, wiping her nose. "Cost an arm and a leg."

"Take some to go."

"Always, I'll pack you some up."

Rising to her feet, Bella reaches for the powder only for Granger to grab her hand guiding her away telling her she's already had enough. Bella plays her part tries to act the junkie being refused a fix.

"I'll give you some at home, I promise just enjoy the night, yeah," Granger promises.

She fishes for the money Bella had lent her the night before handing it to one of the brutes who gives her a small fake snitch. A trinket usually given as a present slipped into a little brown bag. No one would be any of the wiser.

Pocketing the bag, Granger turns expectantly to Hooch who is whispering to one of her brutes.

"You've got five minutes," Hooch replies. "I want this bastard of the street, his ruining business."

"Course." Hermione acknowledges.

Leaving the bright room is disorientating as they travel to the outside to muggy weather. The bouncers fetch them more drinks while they wait for Hooch's daughter to show up.

"What the fuck was that?" Bella demands Granger.

"Shut up," Granger hisses. "We're not alone."

"I swear…"

The door opens as Hooch's daughter joins them looking anxious as one of the brutes stands out of earshot but still imposing. He holds his hand up reminding them they have five minutes. Digging into her pockets Granger offers the young girl a cigarette instantly putting her at ease. Pulling out a lighter, she lights two cigarettes before offering one to Bella. Knowing it to be unusual not to smoke as a druggy, Bella dutifully accepts the disgusting stick, trying not to cough as she inhales. She hates smoke, used to steal her father cigars when she was younger but only to impress her sisters.

"What do you want?" The girl asks wrapping her arms around herself.

"Chloe isn't it?" Granger asks kindly, earning a nod. "You know who I am?"

"Hard not to," Chloe retorts.

"I'm friends with your mother."

"She's never mentioned you."

"Not many people do," Hermione shrugs taking a drag of her cigarette. "This is about Corrina."

"I don't know shit about that," Chloe states moving to leave.

"Ah, we're not done." Granger interrupts pulling the girl back.

"I ain't got shit to say."

"You stay or I tell your mum your hooked up with a twenty-something."

Trembling, Chloe glares at Hermione, angry she visibly shakes. Clutching at her jacket Chloe puffs quietly on her cigarette allowing Granger to speak.

"Listen, I know you were friends with Corrina, just tell us what happened."

"What's it to you?" Chloe demands.

"The bastard killed my sister," Bella interrupts earning a look from both witches, they need to earn this witches trust and quick. "I want him found. The pigs ain't doing shit so I am. Tell me."

Bella ignores the ugly look Granger sends her, probably annoyed to have lost her spotlight. But Bella needs answers before the brute shuts them down.

"We weren't friends," Chloe mutters. "I mean we were she stole from me. After she got kicked out of Hogwarts, I said I'd put her up. You know, what friends do. Her addiction was out of control, she was out of control. She said she'd tell my mum about Derick if I didn't pay her. I said I'd tell her parents where they could find her if she didn't leave my place."

"Her parents?" Bella asks.

"Yeah, they were threatening to take her St Mungo's I mean everyone knows that place is tapped."

"Tapped?" Bella asks quizzically.

"Strange," Granger adds helpfully. "Most rather go Azkaban than St Mungo's."

"Especially with the new preacher, his creepy." Bella makes a mental note to go to St Mungo's. "Anyway, she left, stole some jewellery and shit. I sent a howler, but Owl couldn't find her. She's banned from here stealing drugs. A few weeks before she was murdered, I bumped into her in Diagon Alley, she apologised you know. For how she behaved, said she pays me back. Told I didn't want anything to do with her."

"How was she going to pay you back?" Granger asks stealing the question from Bella's mouth.

"Prostituting was how she funded her habit, how she escaped St Mungo's. Although she said at the time, she found gold. Said she was blackmailing someone, that was the last I heard."

"She didn't say who?" Bella asks.

"No, just said I wouldn't believe who it was. I should have helped, why didn't I help her?" Chloe cries.

"They need to want help first," Granger soothes pulling the girl into a hug.

"It's all her parents' fault," Chloe mutters. "If they didn't send her to St Mungo's this wouldn't have happened."

"When was this?"

"Her third year," Chloe says recapping. "She got injured at Hogwarts she went into the forbidden forest. There was a big blow-up about it. Went to St Mungo's, she never was the same when she came back. She had back injury, it caused her a lot of pain, she kept taking potions to relieve the symptoms. Started falling behind all started there really. The drugs helped her forget the pain."

"Why did she got to Forbidden forest."

"Some stupid detention, I remember her talking about it. Her parents wanted to sue; you know the costs of St Mungo's even if your rich it hurts. I mean she was paralysed she spent the rest of the year there and the summer. Had to do stuff…"

"Physio?" Granger asks.

"Yeah, her parents didn't sue because Hogwarts fronted the bill of the treatment." Chloe shrugs. "I just hate it; I should have done more. When they found her overdosed, they took to St Mungo's, Hogwarts expelled her. I visited and she looked like shit, said the pastor was a creep, kept preaching some stupid religion said she wanted to get out. Next thing you know she's on my doorstep."

"I was under the impression her parents disowned her?" Bella asks.

"They did, didn't mean they wouldn't pay for her treatment. They believe in the pastor, his methods."

"Time." The brute interrupts.

"What was his name?" Granger asks.

"Come on girl, time ups. Granger, you're done here."

"The name?" Bella demands from the girl being guided away.

Shaking, the young girl allows herself to be dragged away pausing on the brink of entering the pub. Turning to regard the two witches.

"Chloe please," Bella calls to the young witch. "A name?"

"Time's up Granger, take your friend and get lost."

"Chloe," Granger says softly. "His name, please."

"Quirinus Quirrell," Chloe mutters before darting into the club.

Making a mental note, Bella plans on visiting the pastor as soon as possible. She cannot shake the feeling that Chloe is lying holding something back. She knows more than she's letting on, too jumpy not to know what's happening.

A nudge from Granger as she leads them away from the club towards a brick wall, watches Granger tap the bricks allowing them to exit from the club. The hair on her neck prickling, Bella regards the club before following Granger through the exit.

The cool air greets them, the exit dispersing them into a back of a dark alley, the thumping music round the front of the building. Not here forgotten amongst the rubbish and bins.

"She's lying about something," Bella says once she casts a few charms preventing anyone from eavesdropping.

Groaning, Granger bends over, eyes squinted shut. Bella can imagine the drugs running rampage through the girl's body, especially how malnourished she is. Surprised the substance didn't send the witch into a coma. Just what I need, a junkie, great.

"Obviously," Granger drawls. "Where the fuck do you get off on lying to her?"

"Excuse me?"

"You lied to the poor girl."

"She needed to trust us."

"You said your sister was killed,"

"Says the junkie, you didn't think to mention that before we came here. I didn't agree to this to feed your habit." Bella replies angrily.

"I'm not the junkie."

"You sure as hell knew what you were doing."

"You wouldn't get it."

"Oh, I think I would," Bella snaps. "You ain't getting shit of me again."

A rustling of fabric makes Bella pause her tyranny, as figure darts from the exit. Hood raised; the figure rushes to Hermione hugging the witch tightly whispering in her ear. Stepping back her hood falls away partially revealing Hooch.

"Did she help at all?" Hooch whispers.

"Yes," Granger answers.

"Good, take that," Hooch orders Bella only noticing the potion in Granger's hand. "It will help."

"Row, please be careful."

"What choice do I have?" Hooch asks.

"I'll help any way I can," Hermione promises to squeeze the witches' hand.

"I'm sending Chloe off, away."

"She's got a boyfriend."

"I know, he's going to run away with her to America, I'm not going to stop them. They leave tomorrow. I have to go; they'll realise I'm missing."

In a blink the witch is returning to the club, disappearing. As though she was never there only proof the potion Granger is currently drinking. Confused, Bella stares at the club turning back to Granger.

"What?"

"Ugh, tastes like piss," Granger grumbles rubbing her mouth. "Get's the stuff out of my system."

"Granger, what?"

"Not here," Granger orders dragging Bella away from the club.

They walk until Bella loses patience and apparates them away into another part of London. Granger vanishing into a muggle takeaway reappearing minutes later with chips and something dripping in grease.

"What is that?" Bella demands as they take a seat in a park, obscured from view.

"Kebab, want some?"

"No, no I do not," Bella replies helping herself to the chips technically she did pay for them. "What just happened?"

"Where do I start?" Granger wonders aloud, using a wooden spork to eat her disgusting food.

"Hooch."

"Her husband got mixed up with some thugs, a few years back. His business was going under, so he borrowed some money from some unsavoury characters. They wanted the money back he couldn't pay. So, they started laundering money through his business, he fell on to the drugs. Ended up floating in a canal. Unfortunately, it didn't wipe his debt. Row had to take up payments. Thankfully, she has a head on her shoulders, she offered away to move drugs without suspicion. She sold the shop and opened a nightclub, paid the loan off with the remainders of the money. They came back threatened her daughter; she's trapped. They launder money through her club, they sell products through snitches. She's trapped between a rock and a hard place. She's been working with the Order for years; however, she can only do so much. I visit, I buy products of her to keep her bosses happy, all the while I plan on trying to help her escape."

"Chloe was hiding…"

"The fact she's prisoner, yes." Granger nods chewing on some sort of meat, Bella fails to identify.

"Has she,"

"If you say go to Ministry don't even bother. What would she say anyway? Oh, my idiot of a dead husband owes some people money now I launder money for them? Please."

"What's the gang called?"

"The Silence."

Taking a deep breath, Bella knew of the gang, had come across some of them over the years. They were unsavoury and she can only imagine the terror Hooch must be facing. She flinches as something cold-pressed into her hand. The snitch Hooch had given Granger full of illegal substances.

"Look, I know you can't do much. I took you to the club because I thought I could help a friend and help you get answers."

"you do know this could be a possible gang slaying now. We'll have to investigate at another angle, that maybe these girls worked for the Silence."

"Why do you think I took you there," Granger remarks. "I can tell you where they get their deliveries. Where some of their labs are and I can give you names. I only ask two things."

"What's that?"

"mine and Hooch's name stay out of this…"

"And the second?"

"Give me a few more days. I need to get Hooch out."

"How do you expect to do that."

"I'm pulling some strings."

Bella stares at the snitch in her hands, she could potentially bring down one of the biggest drug rings in the wizarding community. She'd have to think of a way to reveal this information to Scrimgeour.

"For the record, I just think it's a coincidence that the Silence is involved. I think it's someone else." Granger voices her opinion.

"I think your right, however, it gives me a way to investigate the Silence without making it obvious. Won't they know you've been at the club."

Granger shakes her head revealing a tiny phial, with a clear substance. The philter of insight, Granger was never there tonight. How did Bella miss this?

"Don't worry I said I'd bring you a Polyjuice potion of sorts, they won't remember you either," Granger adds.

"Give me the names."

Granger pulls an envelope from her jacket handing it to Bella.

"It has everything you need; it's written in French and stamped from Toulouse. You intercepted the owl travelling to Knights end, where you were visiting your favourite shop. Noticed a young man, six feet tall, acting shady, he has brown hair, nose ring and a scruffy beard. Walks with a distinguished limp, he saw you ran off before you could catch him you found that on the ground. His name is Louis Segal, thirty-nine. Often frequents the dodgy Goblin, you made enquiries in the neighbourhood. He has a daughter in Guernsey, he lives at forty-eight Maple Drive. He'll lead you to one of the labs."

Staring at the envelope in her hands, Bella breaks the seal checking inside. The information is sporadic, legit it speaks in codes. Something she would never decipher attached to the back is the code cracker she needs along with names and locations.

"I don't want you to trust me," Granger says breathing in the night's air. "I don't want your thanks, but too many people are being hurt by them. The Ministry is ignoring them to focus on us, I think it's best if I at least did my part. Besides, it took me months to crack that."

"Months?"

"Nothing else to do in Azkaban. Oh, that's how the ship stuff around as well, without anyone noticing. See you again, Black."

Bella watches the witch walk away summoning a taxi using the last of the muggle notes Black gave her to take her somewhere else. Staring at the evidence in her hand, Bella wonders if she's just been handed a pandora's box. A trojan horse, was it too good to be true?

A/n: I know, I know Hermione is OC but you have to remember she has a completely differerent up bringing and these are very different times. I repeat though, I do not condone drugs, but unfortunately it is very myuc the way of the world and the world Curfew takes place in is very murky. Stay tuned next chapter isn't as hard hitting.