Over the next few weeks Hermione continued to think about that voice. It had said it needed her. How did it need her? What was she meant to do?
"Mia! Duck!"
Reacting on instinct, Hermione ducked and rolled to the side just as Kira took a swipe at her with her large tail, clearly annoyed at being ignored.
Hermione stood and laughed at the pouty dragon in front of her. Nodding to Charlie to indicate that she was ok and thank him for the heads up, she moved toward Kira, speaking softly but firmly with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Now Kira. Is that the way to treat a friend? If you want to get my attention, how about instead you just nudge me, ok? I promise I will always respond to that." She stroked Kira's snout lovingly and nuzzled her with her cheek. Kira practically cooed at this, and then flopped onto her side hoping Hermione would scratch her underside, much like an expectant puppy.
Charlie rolled his eyes and called out, "I swear Mia. You somehow manage to get these beasties to like you more than me. That's an impressive feat considering I have always been the favorite around here," he said smiling down at her where she crouched scratching Kira, who at this point was twitching her hind leg in pure bliss, Hermione having, as always, found the perfect spot to scratch.
"Well. Maybe it shows that I'm the better tamer, Weasley. Nervous that I'll show you up?"
"Oi! You stop that thought right there. No way you'll ever show me up. I am the Hercules of tamers, or haven't you heard?" With this statement he winked, clarifying his jesting.
Hermione hopped up, and gathering her gear, began to clean up the pen so they could head on to check on their next charge.
Just then, Gil entered the pen with none other than the British Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"Kingsley! What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, and just then a wave of fear washed over her. Running at him she practically yelled, "Oh God's the boys! Or Ginny! Who's hurt?! What happened? It's Arthur isn't it! Merlin man, don't try to spare my feelings. Tell me what happened!"
Chuckling at her outburst, Kingsley kindly grasped her hands, pulling them from the front of his robes, "Hermione. It's lovely to see you too. I hope you are well."
Seeing the friendly taunting in his eyes, she calmed slightly, pointing out, "You still haven't answered my questions, Minister," she said, emphasizing the last word.
"The boys are fine, although I'm pretty sure they have the head of the auror department pulling his hair out for the amount of times they break ranks and go rogue… even if they are successful every time. Ginny, to my knowledge is fine and from what I hear not only loving her time in the pitch but is also bringing quite a few wins home for the Harpies. Arthur and the rest of the Weasleys are also just fine. In fact, Arthur and Molly had me over for supper just last week, and let me tell you, they are just bursting at the seams with pride over being grandparents."
Breathing with the relief of hearing the news, Charlie shook Kingsley's hand and pulled Hermione off of the minister completely. Though he had not shown his worry in a fit of panic, he too had been filled with worry the instant he saw Kingsley enter their workspace, fearing the worst back home.
"So Kingsley, Gil, what's going on. Do you need our help?" Charlie asked looking at Hermione and then back at the two newcomers.
"Glad you ask, Charlie lad. Yes, actually, I do need your help. As you are aware, over the past couple of years this reserve has sent out multiple exploration teams, searching for intel on the dragons in the wild hills around Romania."
Charlie nodded, and a brief memory of her talk with Charlie a few weeks ago flitted across her mind.
Kingsley continued. "Well, since the Romanian Reserve is an outpost of our Ministry, we have been receiving these reports over the years. There have been recent discoveries that lead us to believe the possible presence of the rare Baklunawa dragon. Hoping for further information on this breed, we wish to send a small and trusted recon team (he emphasized this last bit looking into Hermione and Charlie's eyes directly).
"Minister. If you don't mind me asking, why now? There have been findings before, like 6 years ago when we found the scales, but what is prompting this search now?" Charlie asked, trying to be respectful but also feeling concern welling up within him.
"Tracks have been seen." Kingsley looked into Charlie's face, as comprehension dawned within him.
"So… that means they are near and that it has been recent." Hermione said putting the pieces together.
"Precisely! So. I decided to come myself and request of our Reserve Head, Gil here, for you two to specifically be put in charge of this team."
At this comment, Gil plastered a fake, political smile, far too wide to be real joy as if he could tell his hand was being forced and was not altogether pleased with the decision. Hermione & Charlie briefly caught eachothers eyes, sharing a quick telepathic thought. Their suspicion of their Reserve head had yet again been peaked.
Deciding to keep this feeling to themselves for right now, they agreed to the minister's request.
"Wonderful!" Kingsley said, clapping his hands together. "Well, I would recommend you gather a team and head out within the next three days or so. Right. If you should need assistance from my office, you have only to ask," he said, looking to Hermione & Charlie first shaking their hands, and then nodding farewell to Gil, he was off.
"Well," Gil turned to Hermione and Charlie, speaking low in a slimy yet icy growl, with a voice that bordered on squeaky while still greasy enough to fit his general appearance. He was not a man who seemed to have taken care of himself, with a gut beginning to form, and a noticeable combover covering his largely balding crown. Yet his eyes seemed to harbor a hidden depth blocked to the viewer, hinting at secrets unshared. He was rather ominous. "It looks as if the dynamic duo has another call to answer. Off you go. You have an immensely important task to begin." As Hermione passed by him he hissed under his breath, "One might say that Ms. Granger was not satisfied as a third of the Golden Trio and perhaps needs further validation in her life to compensate for her own apparent shortcomings."
Hermione froze, shocked at the blatant insult that her boss had just thrown at her. Unbennounced to him, though, Charlie heard the jab directed at his partner. Perhaps he had assumed Charlie to be an oblivious tamer, all brawn and no brain… how wrong he was.
Turning on his heel, Charlie whipped around and without a second thought took a swing, at Gil, who ducked with unexpected aggility.
Seeing the huge problems that would inevitably crop up if this situation escalated, Hermione grabbed Charlie's arm, placing herself between the two men, hands on Charlie's chest steadying him, eyes locked on his face, begging him to look at her.
"Charlie. Charlie! Look at me. Let it go. It's not worth it. Don't do this. That's what he wants. He's looking for a way to mess this up for us. Breathe Charlie! Look at me. PLEASE Char!"
With this last petition, Charlie, breathing heavy, looked down and locked eyes with Hermione. She watched as his eyes turned from menacingly dark and stormy, to ice blue, still seething, but at least regaining control.
"Ok Mia. Let's go. You're right, this slime is not worth it."
Gil watched them leave realizing that his attempt at sabotaging this mission had not worked. Damn! He was going to need something more involved than just goading. He had played too easy of a hand, honestly thinking that this would have worked. He guessed he had underestimated the depth of the bond between these two. Looked like he was going to have to look for a different route to intervene.