It's What's Inside That Counts
Please allow me to say something before you read this chapter: If at the end of this chapter you feel like you want to kick my ass, keep in mind that angsty drama is an important part of a good story just as much the romance, humor and action. No relationship is perfect, and until we humans learn to purge ourselves of anger & jealousy, there will continue to be scenes like the one you're about to read. If you feel the need to throw rotten veggies, no bell peppers please, I'm allergic...
Chapter 19
Friday September 19th
At 4:30 p.m. Aurors Ballantine and Miller gave envelopes to the trainees after the last class had come to a close.
"These are your first tests, your tasks are inside. Have a good evening." The Aurors left a classroom of confused trainees.
"Well, let's get to it then," Harry said and opened his envelope. He read the paper and stood quickly. "Gotta go," he said and ran from the classroom.
"What in the world?" Hermione asked and read her task.
For: Auror Trainee Granger
Mission: Surveillance of a residence
Date of Mission: Friday September 19th
You will locate the residence of Auror Ballantine on the evening of September 19th and give a detailed description of the residence, occupants and the activities occurring within at the time of viewing. You must submit your report by 11 p.m. to the secure drop box at the Auror entry point at the Ministry of Magic. You must tell no one of this mission and accomplish it undetected.
She frowned and flipped the letter to make sure noting else was written on it.
First problem, I have no idea where Auror Ballantine lives. Second problem..hey, I get it. As an Auror, I'm supposed to find a way.
By the way Harry tore from the classroom, there was no telling what task he received. She looked at her watch. Shite, only 7 hours to do this task and she had no idea where to begin.
Severus sat up looked at the clock again. He sighed and flopped back down. It's almost midnight, where the devil is Hermione? he wondered.
He heard the floo activate and Hannah bark. Severus rose and went to the den. Hermione was there, setting her duffle on the floor and petting Hannah. She smiled at Severus when he walked through the door. Hermione took in the scent of chocolate cake. He remembered! Hannah ran to the den to greet Hermione.
"Hey! How's my favorite pup in the whole wide world?" she gushed and lavished attention on the pretty Irish Setter.
"Late evening?" he asked.
She nodded and yawned. "You didn't have to wait up. I'll be in bed soon."
"I was worried," he said. "What happened to your neck?"
She rubbed the bruise on her neck. "Nothing important." She rose and went to him. "I'm sorry love, we had something important to do, I didn't have a lot of time to let you know." She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Coming?" she asked, nodding to the direction of the bedroom and left the den.
His keen nose picked up the faint scent of cologne, men's cologne from her. He clenched his fists and quipped, "I'll be along shortly."
MISSION FLASHBACK
It wasn't easy finding out Auror Ballantine's address and it was harder to actually find the home itself. Upon arrival, she tripped on a exposed tree root and fell hard against an old cast-iron fence, hurting her neck. Hours later, she took the 22 pages of surveillance notes and hurried to the Ministry, running to the drop box with only 12 minutes left.
"How'd it go Granger?" the Auror at the drop box asked. "What happened to your neck?"
"Mission accomplished," she said and slipped the envelope in the drop box.
"Hmm...we'll see," he said and marked her name off a list.
Outside the Ministry, she took her cellphone from her duffle to let Severus know she was on her way home, but the battery was dead. She was suddenly bumped from behind, knocking the phone from her hand and felt arms gripping her shoulders. Reaching for her wand, she shrugged the hands off and faced whoever was accosting her. She took in the sight of a disheveled, drunk wizard swaying on his feet. He fell forward on her and she felt and smelled his hot fire-whiskey laden breath on her neck and the most god-awful cologne she had ever had the displeasure of smelling. She pushed him off, suddenly feeling very dirty. She really didn't need this: all she wanted was a hot shower and to crawl into her nice, warm bed with her nice, warm Severus.
"Sir, please be about your way, and I'll be about mine," Hermione warned and pointed her wand at him.
"Is there a problem here?" a stern voice said from behind her.
Hermione turned and saw the uniform of a Hit Wizard behind the voice.
"No sir, I was just leaving," Hermione said, facing the Hit Wizard. He glanced at her Auror uniform and relaxed. This one could take care of herself.
END OF FLASHBACK
Earlier that day during a class break:
"So, what are you doing for your birthday?" Harry asked as they returned their books to the Auror library.
Hermione stopped and looked at him curiously. "Huh? Oh yeah..." she said and rolled her eyes.
"You forgot your birthday again, didn't you?" he asked. "For Pete's sake Hermione, it's five o'clock on a Friday on your birthday. All work and no play makes a dull Granger," he teased.
"Well...I've been busy," she said primly.
"News flash love, we've all been busy, but I still take time out for life outside this," Harry said, tugging on the neck of his uniform.
"All right, all right, you're right. I promise to go out and do something tonight," she said. "Sev might have something planned."
"I certainly hope he does," Harry said. "If I forgot Gin's birthday..."
"The claws would come out," Hermione finished.
"I wondered when you would arrive," Severus said from the doorway.
"Sorry love. Harry interrogated me about my birthday," she said and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Is that chocolate cake I smell?"
"Is that cologne I smell?" he asked.
She sniffed herself. "Oh that- Harry gave me a birthday a hug before we left." Some drunk on thr street wasn't important.
"I see," he said.
Hermione stood under the hot stream of water, washing away the frustration of her first mission. When she finished, she donned her house robe and went to the kitchen where cake and gifts were on the table.
"They arrived throughout the day," Severus said.
She picked up the gift from Minerva. "That was nice of her."
The telephone rang from the bedroom. "Allow me," he said.
"Okay," she said and picked over the other gifts.
A minute later, Severus appeared in he kitchen. "It's Potter."
"Be right back," she said and left the kitchen.
A couple of minutes later, Severus approached the bedroom and listened to Hermione's end of the conversation from the door.
"No, I already told you."
"I am, okay?"
"Well, that's what the book said."
"Fine, see you later, love you," she said and hung up.
"Who will you be seeing later, hmm? Potter?" he asked lightly.
Hermione turned around startled, then grinned at him. "Oh no, I'm not going anywhere. Don't you want to lavish attention on the birthday girl?" she asked coquettishly.
"It sounds as if someone else wants that honor," he drawled sarcastically.
She looked at him curiously. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean that you spend an inordinate time away from here, with him," he said.
"Him who?" Hermione asked. She was perplexed at his behavior.
"Don't be daft my dear, it's unbecoming," Severus said and stalked from the bedroom to the kitchen.
"Daft? About what?" she demanded, following close behind. "Severus, what are you talking about?"
"Very well, if you insist on playing the innocent maiden, I will enlighten you," he said. "The him I refer to is Potter."
"Oh Severus, he's my training partner, of course we spend a lot of time together," she said in exasperation.
"Training is it? What of that mark on your neck? I can imagine the training you two take part in," he said evenly.
"Severus, that's absurd, the bruise is from-" she said but was interrupted.
"And what of that wretched cologne you were bathed in tonight? It certainly is none of mine," he hissed.
"This is ridiculous! That happened when-" she started but was again stopped.
"Now, you plan to see him later, and what else? Oh yes, I love you," he sneered.
"I say that to Harry all the time! I say it to all my close friends!" she said. What had brought all this on? Bruise on neck, cologne, phone conversation..
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you think so little of me that I would...with Harry? That's preposterous! I love you, you great prat! I'm not doing anything with anyone! I'm with you!" she shrieked.
"As I said before, don't be daft my dear, it's unbecoming," he quipped. "As is thinking that I would be taken by the wiles of a..."
Now she was livid. "A what? Go ahead, you've had no problem saying what's on your mind so far!" she shouted.
"...a shameless, unfaithful whore," he sneered.
"You don't mean that," she whispered with hurt, wide eyes.
"Have you ever heard me say anything I don't mean?" he asked.
She looked at him with tears falling down her cheeks.
"Severus, I love you. How can you think this of me, say something like that to me?" she asked quietly.
"Years of experience has taught me well. I thought, mistakenly perhaps, that you were a different kind of witch," he said. "What a gullible fool I've been. I'll not that mistake again."
"What we have is not a mistake," she pleaded. "Don't do this."
"Correction: what we had. I will be gone within the hour. Have a nice life with Potter," he sneered and left the kitchen.
Speechless at what just happened, she looked at the cake and gifts on the table. Happy Birthday indeed, she thought sadly. What just happened?
Twenty minutes later, she heard the sharp crack of apparition. She hurried to the bedroom. Severus was not there and all his belongings were gone as well. She numbly sat on the bed and was overcome with sadness.
"I've lost him," she wailed, clutching his pillow, permeated with his scent.
The following Monday morning, Hermione was absent from the Ministry.
"Potter, any idea where Granger might be?" Ballantine asked.
"No Madame," Harry answered.
The class murmured at why she would be absent. Hermione would be the very last person to miss a day of training.
"I hope nothing bad happened," Ernie said to his partner.
"I agree, McMillan. Potter, come with me," Miller said and left the room.
"Sir, she's my best friend, I've known her since we were eleven. She wouldn't purposely miss any training," Harry said.
"I'm aware of that," Miller said and turned into the Auror administration office. "Which is why you're going to establish her whereabouts to ensure that no harm has come to her."
He came to a cubicle. "Hankins, accompany young Potter this morning to determine the whereabouts of his partner, standard sweep."
"Standard sweep, got it boss," Hankins said, eying the boy-who-lived. Everyone was right- you could feel the power radiating from him.
The Auror extended his hand. "Nathan Hankins, come on, let's find your partner. What's the first step of a standard sweep?"
"The home," Harry said. Duh! he thought.
"Do you know where she lives?" Hankins asked.
"Sure."
"Good, then lead the way," Hankins said.
Ten minutes later, they were carefully walking the length of the driveway.
"Keep a sharp eye out, we don't know what we might find," the Auror said.
Harry nodded and they jogged to the front porch. They nodded to each other and apparated into the parlor, wands outstretched.
"It's quiet, Hannah usually barks when someone arrives," Harry said.
"Hannah?" Hankins asked.
"Her dog."
"Okay, sweep of the house," Hankins said.
They peeked around corners as they left the parlor. Harry gasped when he saw the den. Books were strewn all over the room, a window was broken and a coffee table was overturned.
"What the hell?" he heard from the kitchen.
Harry joined the Auror in the kitchen. "What the hell?" he too said.
The dining table was overturned, broken dishes lying everywhere, another window broken. The remains of a birthday cake were on the floor and wall. Hermione's wand was on the floor. A short bark was heard from the back yard. They looked out the window to see Hannah lying by Hermione, who was lying on the ground in the pen that held the lambs and chickens.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted and ran for the back door. He ran toward the pen, jumped the fence and stopped at the sight.
"Hermione, what have you done to yourself?" he whispered.
She was asleep with 2 empty vodka bottles on the ground beside her. There was dried vomit on her shirt and a broken glass in her hand. Some of the broken glass had cut her hand, leaving a puddle of under her hand. Lambs and chickens milled around her sleeping form and Hannah whimpered and laid her head on Hermione's thigh. Harry knelt beside and patted the dog.
"It'll be all right, you're a good girl to stay with her," Harry said sadly.
"She doesn't look good. We need to get her to St. Mungo's," Hankins said from behind her.
I promise you these things:
Our favorite witch will be all right.
Our favorite wizard will realize his mistake.
If you've read any of my other stories, you know how much I like happy, gooey, fluffy endings. This story will be no exception, so hang in there.