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HG's POV

"Wakey, wakey my love."

Hermione's head was heavy like a rock, yet she managed to lift her head and open her eyes. She was tied to a chair, legs bound so tightly that she could not make a move. The room was so spacious and cold that her breath could echo and her breath became mist, dissolving in mid-air. As she tilted her head to the left, she saw a lady lying on the floor, curled, with her hands tied at the back. She frowned and squinted her eyes, trying to recognise who this lady was. But it was too dark for her to see clearly, she looked around and curtains were drawn, covering up all light source.

"Tali?"

The lady turned her head and Hermione was shocked. Why would Tali be here, tied and looked tortured?

"Uh-uh, look at me, my dear. You have to focus."

Hermione looked up and saw Phelps smirking, his devilish grin glowed in the dark, making Hermione shiver.

"Adrian, what are you doing here?"

Phelps darkly chuckled and began,

"My, my, where has that bright mind gone, Hermione? Have you lost your mind?"

"You lost your mind," snapped Hermione. "Untie me!"

"I don't remember taking orders from you is part of my duty, Mrs. Malfoy," replied Phelps.

While Hermione kept struggling, Phelps continued,

"I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed. You remember this, don't you?"

"From Iago, Act I, Scene I, Othello."

"Good," said Phelps. "Then you must remember 'Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago. In following him, I follow but myself.'."

Hermione could not believe what she had just heard.

"No, you wouldn't. Queen Tania-"

"Tania!" exclaimed Phelps. "Such a luscious body, it's a pity that Nikoloz never likes it."

"I don't seem to understand what you mean," said Hermione, confused.

"Then don't bother understand," said a cold woman voice.

Hermione turned her head and she saw the door opened, lady in tight blood red evening gown came in, walking towards them. She was Tania.

"Tania! What are you doing here?"

"Is that not clear enough?" asked Tania coldly. "My, my, how blinded...And here we thought the brightest wtich had everything in her mind."

"You!" yelled Hermione. "And Adrian-"

"Mr. Phelps has been very helpful," said Tania. "Especially when you all are occupied by my...scheme."

She stood before Tali, who was still wriggling on the floor, and kicked her in the waist. Tali groaned in pain.

"And this strumpet here has been plotting against me with outsiders!" snapped Tania, knelt down and cupped her face.

Tali was shivering madly, Hermione wanted to help but the rope restrained her from all movements, everytime she wriggled, her skin could feel the rope slowly cutting deeper and deeper. Because of that, Hermione decided that it would be best to talk Tania out, despite knowing that she would be easily moved by her words.

"What did Tali ever do to you?"

Tania's grin faded and her fingers gnawled deeper to Tali's cheek.

"What did she do? Tali, you tell her what did you do to me?"

Tania kicked her again and began,

"I should have done this years ago, never have I imagined that you would be so audacious. So audacious that you dare to flirt with my husband!"

Hermione was shocked and said,

"What?"

"Oh?" said Tania, sounded amused. "You keep your little secret well, don't you Tali?"

Tali started wriggling away but Phelps kicked her back to Tania's feet. She knelt down and said,

"It's fortunate that we have never not alone."

"We?" asked Hermione, not understanding what she meant.

"Still haven't realised who make you fall for the plot?" asked Tania. "Think, Mrs. Malfoy, think. Sometimes your closest friend, your trusted companion is your greatest enemy."

Hermione closed her eyes, trying to comprehend her message. Her closest friend would be Draco, whom she knew he would never betray her. Harry and Ron were close, but they would never be the possible suspect, the whole Auror Office did not seem to have any connections with Tania. Who was she referring to?

"Bring them in," ordered Tania. "Apparently the brightest witch is not so bright after all."

Phelps nodded and left the room, soon he came back. As the door swung open, two people with their hands tied came in. With his kick, they knelt on the floor, shrieked. Hermione stared at the two shivering people on the floor, they did not raise their heads, as though they were scared of her.

"Your two little assistants have acted well, haven't they?"

Morgan and Turner did not look up, they stayed still, lowering their heads. Hermione had never imagined colleagues like them would be the traitors, they had always been helpful, always voicing out useful suggestions and never backing away, what part of them made them traitors?

"Cassy, Marcus," whispered Hermione, disappointed.

"No use crying over spilt milk, Mrs. Malfoy," snapped Tania and began her explanation. "These two henchmen of mine had always been under my control."

Hermione's mind was stung by the phrase "henchmen of mine". She tried to recall Morgan and Turner's behaviour, they had never been suspicious, except for the time when she and Draco apparated into their dark hotel room. Back then, she had not thought much and merely reckoned that they were trying to calm down, just as what they claimed.

"Why had you not question their behaviours?" asked Tania in her utmost superior tone. "Keeping your wands due to 'safety measures' and 'accidentally' twisted her ankle. And you still think they are all normal?"

Hermione did not answer.

"Of course, Adrian has always been successful in seducing young hopeless women like you, desperate for romance that partners could never give," continued Tania. "He tried to get you into believing that he was that Muggle boy in your childhood, and you never realise that. Then he lured you into that German castle, hoping you will be one step closer to our trap."

"What trap?" asked Hermione, frustrated.

"Don't you remember the mysterious voice?"

Hermione searched her mind, and the voice rang.

Heir of Georgia, as foretold,

The time has already come.

Long have two eyes, one light and one dark,

Equally powerful granted by one.

The eye will strike when time comes.

Beware, the heir of Georgia.

"I was brother of Nikoloz," said Phelps in a serious manner. "But I was born out of wedlock, I was the dark eye."

"Huh?"

"Apparently you neglected it, so we have to come up with another plan," added Tania. "And that's when we went to New York."

"Wait," said Hermione. "But Draco...Morgan and Turner told them?"

"We ordered them to do so," answered Tania. "And they, if you could still remember the night, were those two elderly on the floor, under disguise."

All the events started to link together, and Hermione felt stupid for not realising she was part of the plan.

"My dear Adrian, please get that for me."

Adrian nodded and he went out, then came back, with a crown in his hands. Tania's fingers reached it and rubbed against the gleaming surface.

"It won't surrender until the owner is overthrown," said Tania.

"You...Nikoloz..." gasped Hermione, alarmed. If Tania could plot against everyone in such a detailed way, the part of killing Nikoloz would also have been planned by now.

Tali was wriggling and screaming, but immediately Phelps drew his wand and with his wand aimed at her, he whispered,

"Silencio."

Despite of her great struggle, no sound was made. Tania grinned and the moment when she drew her wand, she yelled,

"Crucio!"

Tali twisted and turned on the floor and Hermione could not bear the sight. Then Tania said,

"Take her out, I do not want our child to witness violence."

Immediately, Tali was dragged away and followed by the slam of the door. Hermione was too overwhelmed, so much information just flashed before her eyes and she could hardly organise them all, making her unable to interpret Tania's words.

"Our?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, our," replied Tania. As Phelps came back, he was welcomed by Tania's embrace and her kiss on the lips. Hermione took a deep breath and said,

"You and Phelps..."

"Yes, the child is ours."

"But Nikoloz-" began Hermione but Phelps quickly interrupted.

"The crown can only be placed on one person, and that person is me."