Chapter 8

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Ocean blue eyes reflected the rising sun as they watched a pitch black eagle-owl fly off above the tree tops, a letter fluttering behind it as it flew.

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He ran a hand down the silver-black handle of his broom. It hummed in anticipation.

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There was a presence behind him, a deep voice spoke, "Ready?" Dark brown eyes held a fire within.

"Ready" he replied, his soft, ocean blue eyes hardening.

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Unrestrained power crackled in the air, now was the time to attack and hold nothing back. They sped through the skies, raw magic humming around them.

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An alleyway lay innocently in the midst of the German city. Perched on the rooftops they waited.

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A hooded figure exited a nearby tavern. Unaware he strode right into the trap not noticing the two wizards descending from the rooftops.

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The hooded figure spun, dodging the curse just before it hit him. His eyes widened as he came face to face with the one who had haunted his dreams.

The youth smirked at the obvious discomfort of his quarry, "My dear Rosier, I do hope we're not interrupting"

Rosier glanced behind him, realising the youth was not alone, "What are you!"

A satisfied grin twisted across the youth's lips. So he still didn't know. Good.

Distracted by the taller figure approaching him from behind, Rosier didn't see the flash of white light headed his way until it was too late. That was the last he remembered of the mysterious youth and his accomplice.

***

Hermione blinked.

"Blaise Zabini?" She still didn't quite believe her eyes.

The Slytherin smirked, "Hermione Granger."

"How did you find out?" Hermione questioned, on her guard. She could feel Arielle tensing beside her.

Blaise, utilizing his werewolf abilities, sniffed the air while listening carefully to their surroundings. Secure that they were alone he answered, "My father is the Crimson Knight."

Hermione's eyes widened. The Zabinis had always been known as neutrals in the war against Voldemort. In other words, no one knew which side they were fighting on. Now Hermione knew why; they were part of the Unknown League.

Not just part of it, but at the top of it. The Crimson Knight was the leader of Great Britain's Unknown League. Hermione had not known before that the Crimson Knight was Blaise's father. The identity of their leaders was hidden, even between Leagues of different countries.

No one outside the Unknown League knew anything the Unknowables didn't want them to know; they were a stricter and far more secretive version of the Unspeakables that worked at the Ministry.

This was the world Hermione had been born into.

"Have you always known?" she asked, wondering just how long the Slytherin had been aware of her real identity.

Blaise shook his head, "Father only saw fit to tell me at the beginning of the year, when we received word of your friends arriving," he nodded to Arielle and Edouard, "before that, he didn't want to risk jeopardising your mission."

Hermione raised her eyebrows; the Zabinis as the Good Guys? This was going to take some getting used to.

"Are you an Unknowable as well?" she asked. Blaise nodded. Hermione let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding and relaxed slightly. If Blaise was an Unknowable too, she could be secure in the knowledge that he would protect her secret, just as she now, would protect his. It was an unspoken law within the League.

"Are you also undercover?" she inquired.

"In a manner of speaking," Blaise replied, leaning in closer to Hermione, "My job parallels yours. While you work directly to protect Potter when threats come to him, I work to prevent threats getting to him. That's where being in Slytherin comes in handy; the children of the Death Eaters talk, see, and I listen."

At this, Hermione had to laugh, "Honestly, Blaise Zabini, protecting Harry Potter. Who'd have thought?"

Blaise sneered elegantly. "Watch your tongue Granger," he warned, "I have a reputation to protect" he held his head high, nose in the air, instantly becoming the superior Slytherin she had known for all these years.

Hermione grinned, "And I wouldn't be cursed on the spot if anyone saw me right now?" she asked.

Blaise raised his eyebrows, dropping his Slytherin-royalty persona. He grinned when he saw her point; she was casually hanging out with three Slytherins.

"True," he agreed, "that Weasel of yours would probably be the first to bite your head off"

"Urgh," Hermione groaned, "don't get me started on dear Ronald"

Blaise snorted. The secret life of Hermione Granger... Who knew? This, he was sure, was just the tip of the ice-berg.

"We'd better head back" Arielle reminded them quietly, "I for one am in need of a hot shower and a serious dose of Pep-Up."

Now that she mentioned it, Arielle did look a little worse for wear. Hermione didn't feel half as tired as Arielle looked.

"Pep-Up?" Blaise inquired,

"Yes, it's a new version of the pepper-up potion," Hermione told him, "invented by The Half-Blood Prince"

Blaise smirked, "Yes, I know about him too. You're not the only student he's been... tutoring."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. An Unknowable's training never ceased. There was always plenty to learn, and their fast-tracked education meant the Hogwarts curriculum was hardly challenging. However, Hermione's training could not afford to cease when she got to Hogwarts, and, as a result, the only undercover Professor had been required to tutor her.

"That certainly explains why he was always so strict about punctuality." Hermione reflected on the many times she had been reprimanded for being a mere minute or so late.

Blaise nodded, "Didn't want us running into each other on the way to see him."

"Well I must admit," Hermione smiled, "He was very successful."

"That he was," Blaise agreed, "It seems as if we have more in common than I ever thought possible."

He was smiling, really smiling. Perhaps he too was feeling the relief that someone else knew his biggest secret, and that he finally had people he could rely on. Perhaps he was still feeling the rush of last night if his windswept appearance was any indication. In any case, Hermione thought, he looked nice; he seemed really pleasant and relaxed, and barely resembled the haughty and uptight Slytherin he usually was.

They had rounded the Greenhouses now and the sun was shining above the horizon. They automatically kept to the shadows. It was a side effect of their training; were anyone to see them from the castle they would be hard pressed to determine their identities.

"So," Hermione began cautiously, "How long have you been a werewolf?"

"Hmm," Blaise looked thoughtful, "Going on sixteen years"

"Sixteen years!" Hermione exclaimed, "When were you bitten?"

"Must have been about two months old," Blaise admitted, "See, Voldemort left it to Fenir to persuade my father to join the Death Eaters," He shrugged, "Father's great, but even he couldn't single-handedly keep a pack of angry werewolves at bay."

Hermione frowned, "I'm sorry Blaise."

Blaise shook his head, "Don't be. I don't see it as a curse Hermione. My werewolf is as much a part of me as your animagus is part of you," at that he smirked, the sneaky-Slytherin look coming back into his eyes, "In fact, my werewolf is my animagus."

Hermione blinked, "I don't understand,"

"Well, Father's still not quite sure how it works, but perhaps because I received the werewolf bite at such a young age I'm able to transform into a werewolf at will. The only time I can't control it is during the full moon."

Hermione was shocked; Blaise was the first person she had heard of who could turn into a werewolf outside the full moon, "Do you take the wolfsbane potion?"

"I used to, when I was younger, but it hasn't been necessary since I came to Hogwarts. My werewolf and I get along quite well" Blaise told her, as if it were completely normal

"You're telling me that a werewolf, who hasn't been under the influence of wolfsbane, has been running around the castle since I arrived?"

Blaise grinned, "Yup"

Hermione shook her head, quickly getting over her indignity, "That's incredible Blaise."

"I know," he answered, nose in the air.

"Don't you go getting a big head now!" Hermione warned

"Ha, it's too late for that Hermione" Blaise reminded her, "I'm a Slytherin, remember? Ego and charm, it's all we've got."

Hermione rolled her eyes, she wouldn't justify that with an answer. Blaise smirked, knowing he'd won. "So what's Edouard's story," he nodded to Arielle and Edouard walking ahead of them, "he knew I was a werewolf the moment he saw me."

Hermione shrugged, "Edouard's father was a werewolf. There must be some genetic qualities that are passed down."

Blaise frowned, "Greyback's not exactly a common name Hermione,"

Hermione nodded, she knew what he was asking, "Fenir is Edouard's uncle."

"Fenir has a sibling?" Blaise sounded slightly worried,

"He had a younger brother, who was also a werewolf, but he killed him. You know it's not common for werewolves to be able to settle down and have a family. Apparently Fenir was jealous of his brother's family, so, in true Fenir fashion, he killed him and his wife. Edouard and his sister, Leigh, were rescued by some of the German Unknowns and taken to live with them."

"Hmm," was all Blaise managed to say, "That's a cheerful story."

"It involves Fenir," Hermione pointed out, "What did you expect?"

"Good point." They were standing outside the entrance to the school now. "Well I wish you luck on getting though what I'm sure will be yet another long and torturously boring day," Blaise grinned, "Hopefully tonight will be better."

"Tonight?" Hermione asked, bewildered.

Blaise looked at her as if she were missing the most obvious thing in the world, "We have astronomy!"

"You're doing astronomy?" Hermione asked, yet again surprised, "You're just full of surprises aren't you?"

"I aim to please." His big, wolfish grin was the last she saw of him as he disappeared into the castle behind Edouard and Arielle.

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