Because she and Harry work at the Ministry, the Floo at Grimmauld Place had direct access to the Atrium at the Ministry of Magic. As Hermione appeared standing in the Floo, she stepped out and checked the large entrance hall. It was in the middle of the night so she hadn´t expected many people or beings occupying the hall. Luckily, it was as deserted as she had expected. In advance she conjured her Patronus is in hushed tones muttered: "Harry, I'm on my way to your office. It is an emergency. Remus is hurt." The Otter sprang up and took a deep dive before disappearing into the direction of Harry's office in high speed. She quickly followed it towards the lifts. Impatiently she kept pushing the button. The delay forced her to turn to her thoughts. In brisk tempo the night passed through her head in images, feelings, and sounds. The image of Remus in obviously quite a state. The feelings both Remus and Moony made her feel, the worry, fear, and the thrill. The sounds of Remus' sighs and groans. The sounds of the sensual tones as he had murmured in her ear and lastly the stab of agony the howl/whine had pierced through her heart. She had left him alone; she had left her friend alone in a time of need. Steadying herself against the banister in the lift as it dashed along the Ministry's internal magical tracks. It soon came to a standstill and the familiar ding was heard before the doors opened to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She counted her lucky stars as a pacing Harry came into view. Harry first noticed her appearance. Her curls wild, her face red and tear strained, her body scarcely covered in her pyjama shorts and matching top, and her feet bare. "Mione! Are you okay?! What happened?"
Harry's questions triggered another wave of tears and her lip trembled uncontrollably. Harry opened his arms for her, and she quickly stepped into them. As she laid her head on his shoulder, he softly patted her back. "Its okay, take your time. Let's get you a cup of tea." Harry tried to usher her away from the general lift area, but Hermione quickly shot out of his arms.
"No! We must help Remus! I just left him, Harry. I didn't-" Hermione was quickly interrupted by Harry. "What happened then, what does he need help with?" He asked in hushed tones.
Hermione quickly scanned the hallway before casting a weak wandless Imperturbable Charm around them to ensure some privacy. Not before berating herself for not doing it sooner. Out of earshot of anybody that could stumble upon them, she reiterated that night's events to Harry.
"God 'Mione, are you okay?" He quickly pulled her closer by her shoulders and inspecting her head to toe. "Yes, yes, Harry! It's Remus that needs help, Moony is hurting him!" Hermione shook Harry's grip off of her.
Harry scratched the back of his head in contemplation. "What do you want us to do, 'Mione? Do you want us to arrest him for sexually transgressive behaviour?"
Hermione let out an exasperated. "Harry, I do not want to press charges. I want, no we must go help him. He took my wand. What if Moony really hurts him, you didn't see him last full moon. He took a real beating. I almost Flooed Poppy."
"'Mione, it is nowhere near the full moon. I understand that I wasn't there but are you sure it was Moony? He didn't transform."
"For God's sake, Harry! Are you hearing yourself? Remus is our friend, our roommate, father of your Godson; we'd know Moony when we see him." Hermione shot Harry a sharp look.
"I understand Hermione, but you came to my work. I was barely able to secure your Patronus as it so happened, I wasn't alone. As an Auror I am expected to de-escalate and enquire. Look at you, forgive me, but you look hysterical." Harry hissed.
Hermione took a step back and just stared at him. She just looked at him in disbelief. As a new flood of tears found their way to her tear ducts, she buried her head in her hands. Pacing she tried to gather her thoughts. She knew he was right, she still found him to be a gigantic asshole as well. She smoothed her hair back and stepped back up to Harry. With a terse intake of breath and a soft snivel she steadied her voice. "Well, what do you suggest, Auror Potter?"
Harry knew from her tone she wasn't happy, to say the least. He sighed and took off his glasses to rub the skin between his eyes and eyebrows. "I am hearing what you're saying, I am, but I have an obligation. We're not children anymore. There is no more playing oblivious to bend the rules. I mean, not when half the Aurors currently on duty were present when I got your Patronus."
"I am not asking you to risk your job, Harry. But there must be a way, without endangering Remus. We can not let Moony ruin Remus' good name."
"I know, 'Mione. I know. Let me think." Both resulted in pacing the hallway, still under the charm. Harry dressed in complete Auror robes and Hermione in her pyjama's. It had to look insane. Harry came to an abrupt standstill which caused Hermione to bump into his back. Harry turned around whilst taking off his outer robes. "Take this. Go to Tonks. Wait for me there. I am taking this to Kingsley. The only way forward, without alerting any unwanted attention, is the Order."
"That's brilliant, Harry!" Harry met her eyes with a small smile. "That's Auror Potter." Hermione knew it was meant as an apology. In return she gave him a quick peck on the cheek before cancelling the charm. There wasn't any time to waste further, they quickly parted ways. Hermione headed deeper into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and Harry stepped into the lift in search of Kingsley.
As Harry promised it didn't take very long before he appeared in the Floo, soon followed by Kingsley. Both Hermione and Tonks sprung up from the comfortable lounge shoved in the corner of her office. Though Tonks quietly stumbled on her landing no harm was done. "Tonks, Hermione." Kingsley greeted as Harry dashed straight out of the office again. "The Order is alerted. I've sent most Aurors home and Harry is preparing conference room 7 as war room. Tonks, the Order is to come through your Floo. Please close it after precisely 15 minutes. Hermione, lets walk and talk." As Kingsley made his war out of the small office, Tonks softly squeezed Hermione's hand in encouragement. Hermione returned it before following the Minister of Magic. Kingsley waited on her around the corner of the hallway. As soon as she joined him Kingsley cast a silent, wandless, and strong Imperturbable Charm. All surrounding noises died down. Hermione carefully looked up and found Kingsley peering down at her. His expression softened. "Hermione, I've come to understand that tonight's occurrence has left you rather startled."
"Yes, Minister, it did." She answered truthfully.
"I find it of grave importance to emphasize that this is not an either or neither situation. We will do everything within our power to help Remus. If you so choose to press charges, you have our full support."
"I understand, Minister. I meant what I said to Harry. I really do not want to press charges. At least not until we have him secured and are informed of all the facts. That wasn't Remus, and at present I am convinced Moony did not set out to hurt me. Something is amiss, I am certain of it." Hermione said convicted.
"Be that as it may, Hermione. I want you to know that you can come to me at any moment of time if you would wish to press any charges. And I will promise that both of you will be treated with the utmost regard to ensure justice to be served." Kingsley affirmed.
"Thank you, Kingsley." Hermione said softly.
Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt then straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. "Let's find the man." He cancelled the charm and voices could be heard around the corner from inside Tonks' office.
Within the next ten minutes conference room 7 was occupied with some of the best, smartest and strongest British witches and wizards currently alive. As Kingsley and Hermione stepped into the room most seats had been taken. Hermione greeted them all with a silent nod and took a seat as Kingsley made his way to the front of the room. In front of him sat Harry Potter, Nymphadora Tonks, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Bill and Charlie Weasley. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice." Kingsley effortlessly commanded the room. "As of now, this mission is on a need-to-know basis. Adjective of this mission is to safeguard Remus Lupin. His whereabouts, as well as his state of mind is unclear. For safety reasons, he is to be regarded as a highly volatile target." Kingsley stepped forward and placed both hands on the table before continuing. "The moment that I ascertain that any one of you is a liability due to conflict of interest I will not hesitate to Oblivate and Confundo tonight's information and involvement from your mind." Nobody dared to comment. Kingsley seemed content with the leaden silence and slowly took a seat before turning to Tonks and Harry. Both quickly stood. As Tonks took the lead and moved forward to address the group, Harry turned to the wall and charmed it to show detailed maps of Grimmauld Place, Tonks' house, Andromeda Tonks' house and the Forbidden Forrest. Tonks started: "Person of interest is last seen tonight at Nr. 12 Grimmauld Place, London. This was around 02:15 am. Last to have seen him is Hermione.". Molly quickly whipped her head around to Hermione. Her eyes sending comfort. Would she have been seated next to her Hermione is certain she'd held her hand in hers. "Witness has stated that the person of interest seemed rattled, disorientated and highly emotional. First point of recon will be Grimmauld Place. The aim of this operation is too secure person of interest, if present, retrieve witness' wand and secure location." As Tonks rattled off the plan of action, Harry charmed each aim next to the map of Grimmauld Place up on the wall. "Molly and Hermione, as of right now you are to occupy the war room and manage all communications between regiments. Kingsley, Harry, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, and I are to apprehend person of interest. From there Kingsley is to retrieve witness' wand and return to the war room. If apprehended Harry, Charlie, and I will relocate the person of interest to a safehouse. Bill will safeguard Grimmauld Place by securing the wards and close off any entrance point for person of interest for the time being. Is that clear?" Tonks asked the room. As she was answered with a different type of agreement she turned to Harry. Harry's charm kept adding different types of information in real time to the wall. Harry then spoke up: "If person of interest is not still occupying Grimmauld, our next best guess is the Forbidden Forrest. Minerva has Hagrid sent out to convey the basic circumstances and description of person of interest to the creatures that are allies residing in the Forrest. She has reported that Neville has round up off duty professors to recon the Hogwarts grounds with Hagrid. As Minerva returns shortly, she will be your go between for communicating with the Hogwarts regiment. Fleur and Ron are keeping tags of any activity pertaining the vicinity of Hogsmeade from Wizarding Wheezes. Ron is our contact. And last but not least, our air born regiment consists of George and Ginny. They are our back-up as well as our eyes in the sky. They are to be contacted separately but at once. Finally, we are not expecting person of interest to show up at either Tonks' residences but concerning safety measurements our most competent Aurors have been sent out to strengthen the wards and stake out at any entrance points to the properties. They are under no exception to be contacted. They are not aware of our mission and have been sent under strict orders of a routine exercise. Tonks will be their contact point." Harry looked at Molly and Hermione. "Are we ready?" Harry asked the room.
They were to pull out in 15 minutes. At the back of the room stood Tonks, Minerva, and Arthur distributing any- and everything they could possibly need whilst out on mission. Tonks handed out the standard Auror gear containing of a fully equipped potions belt, accelerated broom, and magically reinforced wand harness for on the wrist. Minerva added to it with an Order only body harness containing extra healing, calming, and strengthening potions, courtesy of Poppy. Arthur had moved up in the Ministry since the war and was now Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. In his down time, he still loved to tinker with the twins on Muggle objects. With the input of Harry, they had created magic watches that communicated in coordinates and codes by tapping it with your wand. Arthur loathed the circumstances but secretly couldn't wait to reconvene with George to discuss the results of their newest invention. In the front of the room Molly stood unpacking a familiar battle rucksack. A clock containing the status of the currently involved Order Members already stood next the charts, maps, and other information against the wall. With the help of Arthur, with a combination of Transfiguration and Charms she had been able to spell a variant of the Weasley Family clock. The portraits of the Order Members seemed to swivel between activity and colour coded states of wellbeing. Hermione couldn't help but snigger as George's portrait stood firmly on travelling but his colours kept swivelling from Fine to In Danger. He had always taken the most risks out of the twins and that is saying a lot. As Harry stepped next to her to watch the wall and Molly, they both snickered as the could hear Molly murmur a: "For Merlin's sake, George."
"Look at his status, Harry, Hidden and Hurt. What could be the matter with him?" Hermione asked biting her lip. Harry sighed. "Let's find him first, we'll deal with that later."
Minerva approached the duo. "Potter, the best of luck. Hermione, I'll be off. I'll send word as soon as I am in position."
"Thank you, Headmistress, you as well." Harry said as he laid his hand against Minerva's upper arm. "Good luck, Minerva." Hermione added. With that Minerva made her way out of conference room 7 back to Hogwarts. "We're going to go as well. We'll keep in touch." Harry pressed a soft kiss to her temple before following his team out the door.
"Hermione, Minerva and Tonks are in position." Molly said as her watch dinged. With a soft tap she sent back the code that let them know all is well and for them to proceed. "Okay, we are on schedule for the time being. My numbers aren't predicting anything abnormal for the time being. It still says a 30% chance that he is still there. I didn't have the time to get it more precise." Hermione answered glancing at her Arithmancy calculations once more before focussing her attention on the information on the wall.
"That's good, dear." Molly said. Molly turned towards her rucksack and flicked her wand. Out of the folds came rushing a thermos of tea, two cups and a plate of small sandwiches cut with the crusts off. Hermione watched it happen, amazed.
"Best be prepared, and all that." Molly offered whilst shrugging. "Eat up, dear. I'm afraid this is going to be a long night." Hermione couldn't help but smile at the witch and took a sip of tea.
Preview of next chapter:
From the depths within the bricks, his front steps and door appeared. He quickly took two steps at a time and got in position. Tonks and Bill took either side of the door beside him. As Harry keyed his wand to the magical lock, it moved to open on a crack. He returned to his defensive stance. From behind him Kingsley casted Homenum Revelio. It didn't reveal the presence of a wizard. This still meant nothing as they didn't know who they were dealing with, Remus or Moony. Harry nodded towards Tonks. With great force she kicked the door open. Harry advanced, his wand at the ready with Tonks and Bill on his tail.