Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Chapter 14 - Surveillance

Harry and the rest of the team had just dived into a memory of Sam's and were about to go on a tour of the Underground Society's base. Sam would be taking the majority around, identifying people and showing them how attacks are organised amongst the group. Harry and Neville were given a different task.

It was there job to sneak around, not that sneaking is necessary in a memory, and take in all they can of the headquarters. Making sure they can map it out accurately, reporting on any additional escape routes and chambers that could be of interest.

The memory began in China Town, Birmingham. The Sam in the memory was standing outside an old warehouse that was now being used as a carpark. The alley they were standing in was unkept and led to a busy dual carriageway.

Harry and Neville entered the carpark before memory Sam moved and started sweeping the area. There was nothing out of the ordinary as far as Harry could tell. There were empty syringes across the floor and around three homeless people who had taken refuge by the looks of the sleeping bags spread around.

On the rear wall of the car park was a large piece of graffiti which was mural of a snow-white wolf whose chin was dripping with the blood from the carcass at its feet. Memory Sam tapped his wand on the tip of the wolf's tail and muttered 'wolfblood' as a password.

Harry was sure there must be an anti-muggle ward on the opening because none of the muggles in the car par seemed to notice the wolf lower itself to the ground, turn its head towards them and open its mouth in what would have been a wide yawn.

They walked straight into the wolf's mouth and entered an entrance chamber. The ceiling was just above their heads, the walls were black with spattering of red. I wonder if that's real blood or just for show. Harry shuddered at the thought. There was a torch bracket on the wall which provided the only light.

The room was small , circular, and there was a staircase in the middle which led downwards. Sam from the memory picked up the torch, which was automatically replaced, and proceeded down the stairs with Harry and Neville quick on his heels. The staircase wound downwards in a spiral for about thirty feet before it levelled out.

They entered a square room which was dimly lit in a greenish glow. There were eleven men and women spread across the room. Some were lying down on makeshift camp beds whilst a couple of them sat on battered old sofas. Each of them was tattily dressed, with holes in many of their garments.

Two of them bore scars on their faces like Sam did. Harry assumed these were the ones that fought with him against Younis Priory. Remembering that it was his job to scout the place rather than the people, Harry started looking around. There were two corridors on either side of the room. He motioned to Neville to take one while he took the other.

The walls and ceiling were painted similarly to that of the entrance hall, Harry was glad to note that the red streaks had been replaced by spider webs. Ron would absolutely hate this place. Mould had also taken refuge here and whilst Harry couldn't sense anything other than what he saw, he got an overwhelming sense of decay.

Harry came across a door on his righthand side, he tested the handle and it opened for him. Sam must have been in here. He entered what could only be described as a small office and took a look around. There was a large Oak desk in the middle which was the most impressive piece of furniture in the place.

On the wall there was a map of Europe, it seemed to mark all of the main Wizarding locations across the continent. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley had been circled along with Casta El Griff, Cape Drogna, Boulevard de Magik and other magical hotspots. To Harry this confirmed that this was a bigger operation than just Britain.

He walked over to the desk and tried to look through the draws. He wasn't surprised when they didn't open. He knew Sam wouldn't have ever had access to these, so he would need to get into the office to have a proper look around. Harry felt the familiar rise in curiosity like an itch he couldn't scratch.

He left the office and carried on down the corridor. At the end of the passageway he was greeted by a large metal door with wolf heads for handles. It was silver in colour and there were inscriptions on it that he couldn't read. He didn't think it was Latin, but he assumed they could be any other kind of Rune or Language.

He tried the handle expecting it open and was more than a little peeved when it didn't. What could be going on in there then. If only certain people were allowed inside it must be important and Harry had to resist the urge to infiltrate the place in his invisibility cloak immediately. He hated not knowing what was going on and this memory held a lot of questions.

Frustrated he turned on his heel and walked back to the main room where they had entered from the chamber. More people had arrived, some of them wearing masks which he assumed were the Death Eaters that had been recruited. Stood in the corner of the room talking to some people on the sofas was a large man with glistening black eyes.

He stood tall, at least 6'3", was well built, and wore expensive looking blood red robes. His jet-black hair was carefully styled into a large quiff. That must be Younis then. He looks nothing like any other werewolf I know. He's definitely getting paid well.

Harry Spotted Neville walking back into the chamber and made his way over to him. 'You find anything interesting?' he asked.

'There was only a couple of dormitories and one other room down there, I'm guessing it's where the vampire stays.'

'What makes you say that?'

'The coffin.'

'Ah.'

'What about you?'

'I found what I reckon is Younis Priory's office and a rather spooky looking Metal door which wouldn't open. It had some weird inscriptions on it though, come with me and I'll show you.' Harry led Neville to the door and he looked at it interestingly.

'I don't think this is a language, although, it's definitely not your normal kind of Rune.' Harry shot him a bemused look. 'I helped Luna with her homework last year, I picked it up quite well. I doubt anyone here would know what to make of these.'

Harry ran his hand through his hair processing what he was being told. I reckon I know someone who could find out for us.

'Why is it a problem anyway?' Asked Neville. 'Why would you want to know? It's just a door.'

'Look around Neville, this whole place is not decorated at all. The closest they get to a feature on a wall is a cobweb. This door though, they went to the trouble of inscribing it. That to me says that it's important.'

'Maybe' said Neville not sounding convinced 'Come on I think we're done here.'

They pulled out of the memory and waited patiently for the others to arrive. Once they were back they each went through what they saw. They agreed to start the surveillance the following Monday, this was when the members of the society should start arriving in preparation for the next full moon.

For the rest of the week they each took a look at the door, no one seemed as interested in it as Harry, nor could anyone make any more sense of it. That didn't mean Harry could let it go. He realised that not even Neville knew fully how much he needed to satisfy his curiosity.

They also surveyed different memories of the society planning missions, Harry felt a jolt of grief when he saw Remus in a memory. He was so overwhelmed by it that he had to leave and calm himself down. He wasn't prepared to see his old friend. Once he had calmed down though he watched Remus work, he felt a surge of pride when he snuck wolfsbane potion to people who didn't want to take part in the missions.

It proved to him that Remus and Dumbledore were already onto this group, he just wished they had mentioned it. Then again what would have been the use, he wouldn't have been able to do anything with Voldemort looming and Remus probably expected to survive, hell they all did. He couldn't blame them for not leaving any breadcrumbs to this when Britain was being actively taken over by evil.

The following Monday evening saw Harry and O'Manda taking up their first surveillance watch. They had been split into both day and night teams. Harry, Sam, Trott and O'Manda were on nights while Neville, Trista, Dundagan and Owens were working during the day.

Currently Harry and O'Manda were on Monday-Thursday although Harry knew this would switch around to give everyone a weekend off. He wasn't worried about it, he would have volunteered for weekend work straight away if he didn't have the chance to see Ginny in Hogsmeade coming up.

Harry was in the carpark entrance to the headquarters hidden under his invisibility cloak. While he waited for witches and wizards to start turning up, he couldn't help notice the plight of the homeless around him. He never thought he would be grateful to the Dursleys for treating him the way they did, however, he was becoming grudgingly grateful they put a roof over his head.

Particularly when he was younger, before he knew he was a wizard, he had fantasised about running away. Now he saw what could have lain in store he was glad he didn't. The muggles around him were all freezing cold, hungry and seemed to turn to drugs as the answer.

He felt physically sick when he watched a disabled man on a wheelchair, with a missing leg, inject some substance into his stump. He then went off for hours on some euphoric high before the inevitable come down which left the man begging for more whilst crying into a sleeping bag.

Surveillance for the week was slow, there were small comings and goings of witches and wizards but nothing that seemed to be out of the ordinary. They hoped that things would busy up as they drew closer to the full moon. Trott was hoping to raid the place before then and hopefully catch Younis Priory and some of his supporters inside.

The last thing they wanted was to only catch some of the people who were being used by the society. The ones who on their own carried very little threat to life as they themselves were being forced into participating. That's why they were waiting.

Harry wanted to sneak down in his invisibility cloak and try to find out what was going on. Unfortunately, when the entrance is opened it alerts those below so no one can sneak in. Harry was going to have to wait until someone went inside and follow them. He also needed to speak to Trott for permission which he knew he wasn't going to be able to do until the Monday when they were having a catchup meeting.

On Saturday morning though all thoughts of the mission had mysteriously left Harry's mind, he was stood on the edge of Hogsmeade looking up the path that led to Hogwarts expectantly. He was stood in companionable silence with Ron, who was stood with a greedy expression on his face.

Not even the dull, wet and windy weather was enough to keep the two men away from Hogsmeade today. They watched as a steady stream of Hogwarts students passed by, saying brief hellos to some of the ones they knew.

About ten minutes later Harry saw the glimpse of red he had been looking for. She was walking with a group of friends when she looked up and locked eyes with him. Stopping mid-sentence she stood still, with her mouth half open and the others walked forwards another couple of yards before realising she wasn't with them.

When they stopped to ask her what was wrong she simply ran past them full pelt, her red flying in her wake. Without breaking step she launched herself at Harry wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, he placed his hands on her waste he lifted her up and swirled her around, laughing as he did so.

When he put her back down she kissed him fully, he was only too happy to respond. The kiss warmed him in ways that not even Firewhiskey could and he felt happiness creep back into his being. What could he say? He really missed her.

They broke apart smiling, 'Hi' Said Ginny breathlessly 'you miss me?'

'Like you wouldn't believe.' He replied heartily and kissed her again. She ran her hands through his hair as he rested one hand on the small of her back and stroked her hair with the other. They didn't notice the jealous glances they were being shot or the giggling of some of the younger students as they passed.

They only broke apart when they were ever so rudely interrupted 'Are you two coming or what? I'm starving.' Shouted Ron. He had a look of disgust on his face having just seen the rather exuberant reunion between his sister and best friend. Not that he hadn't just greeted Hermione in kind, however that doesn't count.

Ginny gave him the one finger salute, then laughed, taking Harry's hand as they started to walk towards the Three Broomsticks. 'So how have you been Harry, I mean really been?'

'I've been fine.' She shot him a look daring him to stand by that.

'Harry.' She warned when he didn't look like he was going to come forward.

'I've just really missed you' he squeezed her hand tighter 'the nightmares have started coming back.'

'Why didn't you tell me?'

'I didn't want you to worry and there was nothing you could have done.'

'You could have talked about them it might of helped.' She said stopping him. 'You don't have to suffer alone, not anymore.' She whispered.

'I know.' he rested his forehead on hers 'How have you been?'

'Better than last year, it was hard the first time I visited the place where Fred' She paused struggling with the thought 'where it happened.' Harry wrapped his arms round her. 'I also went into the forest, to the clearing where, where you met Voldemort.'

'Why did you go there for? How did you even know where it was?'

'I asked Hagrid to show me. I don't know why I went. I just felt drawn to the place, I suppose I wanted to see the place where you were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.' She returned his hug and rested her head on his chest.

'There has been some good to come out of you not being at Hogwarts this year though.' She continued hiding her smile in his chest.

'Oh yeah?'

'My grades have skyrocketed without you to distract me.' They both started laughing. 'Although I would rather have the distraction.' Ginny said saucily.

'I'll have to do my best to make today memorable then.' He replied huskily.

She looked up into his eyes before whispering 'You already are' and kissed him again.

'Come on you two or we'll order without you!'

'Your brother really knows how to ruin the mood.' Sighed Harry.

'Hey, he's your best friend.'

The four of them grabbed a table near the rear of the Three Broomsticks and waited for their food to arrive. Hermione and Ginny told them how school was and how the Slytherins were rather subdued, particularly the ones who had been working for the Carrow's.

'I'm surprised you haven't had any run ins with them after last year.' Said Harry. Ginny and Hermione shared an uneasy look. 'What is it?' he asked with his heart in his stomach.

'You're going to have to tell him.' Said Hermione.

Ginny bit her lip. 'Ginny? What happened?' Asked Harry urgently.

'It's nothing forget about it.' Harry didn't look happy with the answer and in truth he wasn't. Hermione tried to object 'Just drop it Hermione.' Seethed Ginny.

'But Ginny' Hermione tried again, the red headed girl let out a cry of frustration and left the pub heading down the road back to the castle. Harry went sprinting after her.

'Ginny!' he called.

'Go away Harry!' She shouted back and broke into a run herself. He carried on after her and caught her arm just before the school gates. She half-heartedly fought him off before melting into his tight embrace.

'I'm not leaving you like this.' He whispered in her ear. 'Please Ginny. Tell me what's happened.' He begged.

She tried to brush it off 'It's nothing.'

'No Gin it's not.' Something in his voice broke her resolve, there was a gentleness to it that she hadn't heard before. It was a sound of safety and shelter that not even her parents could match. 'You don't have to suffer alone either.' He told her gently.

'Can we go somewhere private?' She asked shakily.

Harry didn't respond and apparated them outside his flat. She was wide-eyed when she realised where he had taken her but didn't argue as he led her up the stairs. They walked inside and Harry lay down on the sofa pulling Ginny on top of him. She lay face up with her head just below his chin.

She didn't care about the number of school rules she had just broken, for the first time in weeks she felt truly safe. They sat in silence with Harry waiting for her to start, he was just going to prompt her, when she abruptly started talking.

'It happened about three weeks after getting back. We were constantly targeted with sly remarks and small threats, I didn't really think anything of it. It was nothing worse than what you had endured and to be honest I'd had my fair share being on the Quidditch team. I thought it was just a few of the older Slytherins trying to look tougher than they actually were.'

Harry gently played with her hair as she spoke 'I was walking to breakfast on my own one morning, for some reason I had overslept and everyone else had gone on without me. I really didn't think anything of it, it turns out though this was what the Slytherins were waiting for.

'Four of them jumped me and shoved me into an empty classroom. They tried to bind me and without everything the DA taught me they would have done. When I was thrown into the classroom I managed to get my wand out. I blocked their spells and before they knew it I had one of them stunned.' Despite the situation, Harry felt a certain amount of pride for his girlfriend.

'I dodged their next attacks and bound two of them in ropes. The fourth one then hit me with a bludgeoning curse, which broke my wand arm.' Harry winced. 'I dropped my wand and went flying into the wall. I was a bit dazed and that's when Travers picked me up by the throat. I thought he was going to kill me, so I kicked him in the bollocks.

'He dropped me, and I managed to pick up my wand and stun him. I then sent a bludgeoning curse at the place I just kicked him and left for the hospital wing.'

'Well he definitely deserved it.' Said Harry appreciatively 'What happened next.'

'McGonagall expelled them. That seemed to stop people from wanting to start a fight, they are still trying to bait us though.'

He gently laid a kiss on the top of her head. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

'I didn't want you to think you had to come riding in on a crimson dragon to rescue me. I can look after myself.' She added the last part with a bite of fierce pride in her voice.

'I take it that's why you've only given me one name then?'

'Exactly.'

'Look I know you can look after yourself Gin. I really do. I still need to know when things like this happen though. I'm not going to stop worrying about you, you know that right?'

'I know, I thought you were better off not knowing.' She said sheepishly.

'How would you feel if I didn't tell you about a mission or how it went? Would you rather know or not know?'

'I'd rather know, obviously, but this isn't the same. It was just some stupid fight at school.'

'It's exactly the same. When someone's attacked you and had you by the throat I want to know about it.'

'I told you I can look after myself.' She repeated angrily.

'I know, how would you have felt if I didn't tell you I was in St Mungos?'

'I would have been angry with you. If you hadn't told me I wouldn't have known how bad it was and after I found out I would then be – oh.' She seemed to realise something.

Harry smiled 'Go on.'

'I would be constantly worried about what you weren't telling me. I would be thinking you were spending most of your time in hospital.' She rolled over to face him.

'Now do you know why I have to know?'

'You don't have to look so smug about it.' She pouted.

'Sorry, I reckon it's going to be rare I win an argument with you.'

'Well I have no plans of letting it happen again.' She said playfully.

Harry chuckled and cupped her cheek 'Now how about some lunch?' Ginny's stomach answered for her, she gave him a guilty look. Laughing Harry got up and headed to the kitchen. Ginny went to the breakfast bar to watch him work.

A few hours later Harry took Ginny back to Hogsmeade and walked her up to the gate. When they got there Ginny wrapped her arms around him tightly 'Thanks Harry.'

'Are you going to be OK?'

'Yeah I'll be fine.' They clung to each other for another ten minutes. When Ginny chuckled 'This is silly. I can talk to you during the week.' She still didn't let go though.

'I know, it's just not the same.' Said Harry smiling sadly. 'I should be able to make the game next week though so I'll be able to see you after.'

Ginny's face brightened 'You're coming? That's great!'

'Yeah I'm coming.' He stalled delaying the inevitable. 'I suppose I'd best let you go.' He said reluctantly.

Her face fell. 'Yeah I suppose.'

'I love you.'

'I love you too.' They kissed goodbye and Ginny left for the castle, Harry stood there watching until she was out of sight.

'I don't like it Harry, why do you want to go in early?' Asked Trott during the team meeting. She wasn't very happy with Harry's suggestion to go in under the invisibility cloak.

'I think we need to know what's going on behind that door. There might be another way in and even more people in there.'

'I really don't think there is Harry. I know it's hush hush, but I've never seen anyone come out of there that hadn't entered.' Said Sam, he did have the good grace to look apologetic about disagreeing though.

'Also, I'm worried about you getting stuck inside. From what you say Sam, the alarm goes off when you leave as well as when someone comes in and we already know that the people in there won't leave anytime soon. That leaves you reliant on being in the right place when someone goes in.' Said Trott.

'I could take supplies in with me.' Countered Harry.

'Even if you did, if the werewolves didn't pick up on you the Vampire definitely would. I think we stay as we are and get ready to hit them hard. That leaves me to my next point. The full moon is almost two weeks away. I think we wait it out for the remainder of the week then, have the weekend off to rest and go in hard on the Monday night.'

'Who are we pulling in to help?' Asked O'Manda.

'Everyone. I've made arrangements for the majority of Aurors to have the weekend off ready. Even some of the foreign aid workers are coming with us. That's what me, Sam, Nancy and Billy will be working on while the rest of you continue surveillance. We'll be briefing them all on the setup and assigning them to teams.'

'What are the teams and our roles?' asked Owens.

'There will be three teams, led by myself, Manny and Dave. I will lead a team towards Priory's office and we will take a look behind that door you are so interested Harry.'

'Can't wait.' Replied the young Auror.

Trott smiled 'Manny you will keep your team in the square chamber and hold it so that we have somewhere to send wounded as we advance.' The old Auror nodded his head 'Dave you will take the majority of people to the dorms.'

'Aye.'

'You lot will be split as follows and there will be others added to the teams as I see fit this week. Harry and Sam are with me, Nancy is with Manny and Neville and Billy are with Dave.'