As his Daughter and her mother slept, James spent the entire evening pouring over Hermione's vast array of textbooks. It had been years since he had read any school books of his own, and he felt almost childish tearing through these tomes.

And that was the correct word to use… tomes. Books that described magical history, culture, and application. Bond barely bothered with the history… he was more interested in the practical use of magic. He read up on wands, on herbology, on potion making, it was all very well explained and clear cut. Bond was quick to surmise that Hermione, upon reading these, would instantly believe that magic was real. She had always had a terrible habit of believing everything she read.

It was then that he discovers Hogwarts: A History. It was a massive, thousand page time that he could see outlined the supposed history of the school. He looked at it expecting to learn more about Albus Dumbledore, but was shocked to discover that the stated history of Hogwarts went back over a thousand years.

He called Moneypenny and requested the entire book be copied for future reference, and within fifteen minutes a man came by and took it, promising that it would be copied and brought back before the morning. It was not long after that, perhaps a couple of hours, when M called.

"I've been perusing that book, 007." She said. "It seems that Dumbledore has fabricated an entire false history."

"You don't believe in magic, M?"

"We would know about it if it did." M said dryly. "By the looks of things, Dumbledore has acquired a castle somewhere in the country and is claiming it has a long history of training wizards. I doubt this Bathilda Bagshot is a real person… it is likely these books were printed to give credence to the idea."

"Much like Scientology."

"Indeed." M said primly. "There are other books?"

"Not much of interest. They're textbooks meant to instruct on the use of magic."

"Has Hermione demonstrated any ability to do so?"

"No. She says she is not allowed outside of school."

M let out a deep breath.

"It sounds like we have stumbled into a den of vipers, 007. Your daughter truly believe that she is a witch."

…

"Is there anything worrying you about school?"

Hermione had told Harry and Ron that she would ask her parents about Nicholas Flamel, but now that she has the opportunity she found herself thinking that it was probably for the best that she stay silent. Her father seemed, despite his claims, to be very much concerned for her personal safety. She supposed there was good reason for that, but she found herself not wanting to admit anything aloud to

Him.

"No, nothing."

"You've been talking about school too much." Jean cut in, looking between the two of them. "Let's talk about something else."

…

Over the winter break, James got about as much out of Hermione as he possibly could. Every night he snuck out a copy of one of her books to be taken in for examination, and the very day that she was sent back to school he found himself in M's office, combing over their findings.

"First things first, 007." M said. "I have been having a look at your daughter's personal records… I daresay I know quite a bit more about her now than you do."

"Try me."

"Hermione Jean Granger was born to Jean Granger, a French dentist… and James Bond, a philandering spy. As a child she bounced between private schools in both France and England. Her teachers thought her an exceptionally bright girl, but her home life left her left her unable to stay in one place long enough to make any real friends."

"Her father sounds like a charming fellow."

"I'm sure her Mother would disagree." M said dryly. "The official records in England say that she decided to permanently settle in England, with her Father… but I've just contacted our French counterparts and confirmed that they believe the exact opposite. The girl has simply dropped out of the system, without a trace."

"I just saw her this holiday."

"Indeed." M said gravely. "And a good thing you did. If you hadn't I would be even more concerned than I already am."

"Is there any suggestion in her records to indicate that she was targeted by Hogwarts?"

"None." M replied. "She had her name down for the best schools in both England and France… you yourself have told me that she was leaning towards staying in France before receiving her invitation to Hogwarts. Before that letter arrived, she had every intention of attending the school her Mother had selected for her."

"What about her friends?" Bond inquired. "Any information on them?"

"For Ron Weasley, nothing." M answered. "We received no hits at all… For Harry Potter, however…"

She procured a file and handed it to him. Bond frowned as he took a look at it. An image of a rather ill looking little boy in broken glasses was staring at him.

"Harry James Potter, age eleven." M said. "From the age of one he was taken in by his aunt and uncle under unusual circumstances. Throughout his primary school years he was a troublemaker and a target for bullying, mostly at the hands of his cousin."

"What happened to the parents?"

"We don't know." M answered. "The Mother, Lily, was his aunt's sister. They had been estranged since they were children, and upon looking into it… she too seems to have disappeared from the public record."

Bond looked up.

"You think his Mother was also taken into Hogwarts?" He said sharply.

"That's where the facts seem to point, 007." M said, her voice grave. "This school seems to have been in operation for quite some time."

"A thousand years, if that history book is to be believed."

"Yes…" M was frowning. "I've been having our people look into that."

"Any leads?"

"None. There is no record of such a castle anywhere."

"And?"

"The book is too elaborate." M said. "It's hard to imagine that this book was written to be a religious text for a cult. There is no discussion of morality or philosophy. Rather the cold hard facts of the castle… or so it seems."

Bond gave her a look.

"You think the castle itself must exist, then."

"Of course." M said. "Your daughter has to be going to school somewhere."

…

Hermione wasn't due back from school until around Easter. James had spent his free time preparing for her inevitable return… preparing interrogation techniques, having long talks with Q about the best tracking devices to use on her, and looking into the existence of Platform 9 ¾… which he and M knew couldn't possibly exist, but Jean and Hermione swore it did.

After all that work, he found himself a little taken aback when Jean informed him that Hermione would be spending the Easter holidays at school.

"She's concerned about her exams." She said snappishly, when he brought up her concerns with her. "If you knew your own daughter, you wouldn't be surprised."

M wasn't happy with this development either. The planned interrogation had to wait for another three months, until Hermione returned. He spent his time looking into the Dursley's, Harry Potter's family, and found them to be a rather boring group of people. The only reason they were of any interest at all was due to their relationship with Harry Potter. They had sent agents to the area to investigate, and their report was that their story that Harry Potter had been sent to an institution called St. Brutus's School for Incurably Delinquent Boys… An obvious lie, but one that Moneypenny had taken quite a shine to.

"It sounds like a place you could have gone to school to, James."

The actual names of Hogwarts and Albus Dumbledore were never mentioned in the household. But it was apparent that Harry Potter would be returning there over the summer, and Bond decided that he would pay the family a visit around that time. Even if the Dursleys knew nothing about Hogwarts, Harry Potter certainly would.

…

He and Jean arrived at King's Cross. James had been hoping to get onto Platform 9 ¾ today, but was disappointed to see that Hermione was already waiting out on the platform. With her was the two boys she was friends with… one of them being Harry Potter himself.

"Oh!" She turned to meet them, smiled, and waved. Bond approached them first, smiling widely.

"Hello there." He said brightly. "Happy to be out of school?"

Hermione's face fell, and her friends laughed. Before Bond could speak to them thoroughly, a red haired man came up to him.

"Ah, but you're the muggles!" He said brightly, as he reached out a hand. "Arthur Weasley. A pleasure to meet you."

He had honestly not expected to meet the Weasley's here, after not finding a single scrap of information on them for months. He took his and shook it.

"Bond. James Bond."

"You must tell me Mr. Bond." Weasley said. "How exactly-"

"Arthur." His wife said.

"Errr, perhaps another time, then?" He said, a little bit sheepishly, and let out a little laugh. "I daresay we'll be seeing a lot of each other over the next few years."

"Perhaps." Bond was busy eyeing his daughter, who was in the middle of saying her goodbye to her friends. After a moment's appraisal, however, he decided it would be better for him to speak Arthur Weasley, father to father.

'Sometimes I worry that this school is not the right fit for her."

"James…" Jean hissed. "Now isn't the time…"

"Oh, don't think that." Arthur said, alarmed. "No, Hogwarts is the best place for a young witch to-"

"Not in public, Arthur." His wife hissed, glancing around the platform.

"Err, but we shouldn't talk about this openly." Arthur said, again sounding a little awkward. "Perhaps next time."

"Ready, boy?"

James turned. A large, unpleasant looking man he recognized instantly as Vernon Dursley, accompanied by his wife and son, was beckoning to Harry Potter. Hermione looked rather scandalized, and James could hardly blame you.

"My aunt and uncle." Harry told her quietly, under his breath. "See you…"

Before he could make his way over, however, Bond approached them.

"Ah, you must be Vernon Dursley." He said, beaming, as he held out his hand. "Bond, James Bond. Your nephew goes to school with my daughter."

Vernon gave him a once over, and for a moment Bond felt that he was about to be reprimanded, but instead Vernon smiled.

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bond." He said, his voice unusually light and friendly as he held out his hand. Doubtless he felt that Bond was one of those people that he couldn't get away with mistreating Harry in front of.

"And I'm Arthur Weasley." Arthur interjected, smiling widely, as he came up to them. He held out his hand as well, and Vernon stared at it, as if repulsed. Bond took in his expression, and then glanced at Mr. Weasley. Unlike himself, who was dressed immaculately in a suit and tie, Weasley was dressed rather shabbiliy. Doubtless the upper middle class Dursley didn't take too kindly to this man, who was dressed in rags.

Dursley cast one look at Bond, however, and took Weasley's hand. Clearly, he was concerned about being judged. He was a man obsessed with social status, clearly.

"I must say, Mr. Dursley." Weasley said. "My son was wondering if Harry could perhaps come over for the summer… "

Dursley seemed to be struggling to find the words to respond.

"We already have plans." He said at last. "Thank you, though."

He turned to Harry, as if anxious to be on his way.

"Come on, then. "He said to Harry, and the Dursley family made their way up to the gate.

"Why, I never." Weasley said, once the group was out of earshot. "What an unpleasant man."

James was inclined to agree, and so, apparently, did Jean. She was speaking rather angrily with Mrs. Weasley in hushed tones as they watched the family leave their line of sight.

"You know." Bond said. "I hope that Harry does spend the summer with you this year."

Weasley shot him a smile. For the first time since Bond had started this investigation, he felt as if he had finally found his first contact.

…