"She should be here by now."
Harry looked at her watch, worried. Twelve thirty. Hermione was late. Hermione was never late.
Harry and Sirius were at the Louvre, seated at a small cafe opposite the palatial building. It offered a perfect view of the new glass pyramid at the front of the museum, and Hermione was nowhere to be found.
"She'll be here," she said, less confident than she sounded. She'd been on edge all day - her other body hadn't woken up yet, after Flamel knocked him out. After all the effort it took to discover his location, it would be a disaster if he was moved.
"I'll go check it out," said Sirius, getting up to leave.
"No," interrupted Harry, grabbing his arm. "She doesn't know you. I'll go."
She got up and crossed the square, weaving between packs of Muggle tourists. It was strange, she thought, watching normal people with their normal lives, giggling and enjoying their holiday. They had no idea of the world around them, or the dangers it contained. And yet, Harry knew she wouldn't choose to change places with them. The truth was better than lies.
"Ginny? What're you doing here?"
Hermione!
Harry spun around, and there she was, wearing a Muggle summer dress. The south of France had treated her well: she had a healthy glow to her skin, and her hair had lightened - though it remained as bushy as ever.
"Hermione! It's so good to see you!" she said, grinning. Things are looking up. Hermione had always been involved in Harry's adventures. All they needed now was Ron and they could take on anything.
Hermione's hand drifted to her long, thin bag, and Harry guessed that her wand was inside.
"Ginny?" she said again, suspicious. "What's going on? Where's Harry?"
Harry glanced around, aware that they were completely in the open. She felt very exposed.
"Not here," she said, "come with me."
Still looking sceptical, Hermione followed her back to the cafe.
"I was beginning to worry you wouldn't come," said Harry as they walked. "You're normally on time."
Hermione huffed.
"I wasn't late," she said. "I was hiding, waiting for Harry. As soon as I saw you, I knew something was wrong."
"Well, you got that right. Harry's been captured."
Hermione looked at Harry, worry on her face.
"Captured? By whom? And how do you-" she stopped speaking, her eyes wide, when she saw who was waiting for them at the cafe. Sirius was leaning back in his chair, his feet up. Hermione's hand dove into her bag.
"Sirius Black!" she cried, and brought her wand up. The Muggles around them stirred and began to point. Sirius looked around nervously - the Muggles had been showing him on their news.
"It's okay, Hermione," said Harry, pushing the wand to point at the ground. Aware that Hermione would be looking for them, they'd used a weak Suspicion Suspension Charm. It would only go so far. "He's with me."
"It is not okay," hissed Hermione, but she at least put the wand away. "He's a murderer! Explain. Now."
"Sit down, girl," said Sirius. Harry frowned. That wasn't helping.
"Harry's been captured," Harry said again, pulling a seat out for Hermione, before sitting down herself. "Sirius is helping me rescue him."
They sat in silence for a moment, both Harry and Sirius watching Hermione carefully. She appeared to be thinking.
"Don't think that I trust you, Mr. Black," she said, at length. "And Ginny, you being here is... strange. You're going to have to explain that sooner or later. But Harry's more important. So tell me everything: where is he? Who has him? Why haven't you called the-" she paused for a moment, glancing at Sirius. "-no, of course you haven't called the Aurors."
Sirius gestured grandly at Harry. "The floor's yours," he said, and he gave Hermione a wink. "I'm just the muscle, you see."
Hermione gave Sirius a withering glare, and turned to Ginny.
"Well?" she said.
"Harry's being held in the house of Jean-Francois Flamel, the French Chief Auror," she said, watching Hermione's eyes light up with recognition at Flamel's name. "Flamel was one of the people who killed Dumbledore - along with Duke Reya of Castille, Mikel Edwards, and Hans Schiller - the guy on trial. He's not nearly as locked up as reported. Flamel's doing, I guess. And there's one other guy - I don't know who yet."
"Okay," said Hermione, nodding. "So we can't get the help of the Aurors because they're part of it. What about the British Aurors? Surely we could get in contact with them, somehow?" She looked around their table pointedly. "I don't want to sound negative, but two students and a convict are-"
"Ex-convict," interrupted Sirius, holding up a finger. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"As I was saying: two students and an ex-convict aren't going to cut it. I've never heard of Edwards or Flamel, but I've read about Schiller. There's a reason why he was one of Grindelwald's top men: he's an expert with Transmogrification. We can't just attack the house and hope for the best."
"Don't underestimate me," Sirius said, "or Harry. We have an advantage there - they don't know about Harry."
Hermione looked confused.
"They don't know what, exactly?" She looked at Harry. "There's something you're not telling me."
Harry paused, indecisive. She hadn't thought about how much she would tell Hermione. She'd kept it a secret at the end of term, and had planned to keep it that way. She'd planned to never tell anyone. But Hermione was already suspicious, and they couldn't afford any kind of doubt. They had to work together. They had to trust each other.
She had no choice, really.
"Ginny never survived the Chamber of Secrets, Hermione," she said quietly, looking into Hermione's eyes, willing her to understand.
"But..." Hermione frowned, before her eyes widened and she goggled at Harry, covering her mouth with both hands. "Harry?" she whispered.
Harry nodded slowly, holding her breath. What would Hermione think? Would she judge her? Would she make her tell everyone? Would she tell Ron?
"Oh, Harry!" she said, and suddenly Hermione's arms were around her. "Are you okay?"
A feeling grew in Harry's chest then, a great upwelling of emotion that moved to her throat. It was like a great weight had been lifted: she'd told Hermione, and everything was okay. She swallowed, and blinked back a tear.
"I'm okay," she said, her voice wobbling strangely. "Unconscious, at the moment. Failed escape attempt."
Sirius coughed, and Hermione jumped back. The ex-convict was smiling, however.
"It's good to know Harry has loyal friends," he said, looking at Hermione with new respect. Hermione gave him a weak smile - she still didn't look at all comfortable with Sirius' presence.
"So, the issue of Mr. Black aside, why haven't you called the British Aurors for help?" Hermione asked. "You know they're looking for you, Harry."
"I doubt they'd believe an 11 year old girl," said Sirius. "Especially one who ran away from home recently. Especially one who has no explanation or proof for her information."
"But an anonymous tip, maybe..." said Hermione, thinking out loud.
"There's another problem," said Harry, seeing where Hermione was going. "We still don't know who the fifth man was, but I think... I think that it's a Brit." Harry paused, and then something occurred to her. "Of course!" she said, thinking aloud. "At the gala, Narcissa Malfoy: she told me all this was going to happen. She was gloating all about Voldemort. It's so obvious, now! She knew from the start!"
"But Harry, you just said the fifth person was a man," said Hermione. "It can't be Narcissa Malfoy... but it does sound like she's part of it all."
"I'm not surprised," muttered Sirius. "Dear cousin Narcissa was never too loyal. I can definitely see her helping the French, if it meant more power for her."
An image of Fleur came unbidden to Harry's mind.
"Hey, the French aren't all bad," she said, wondering where Fleur was now. I hope she didn't get in too much trouble.
Hermione looked at Harry proudly.
"Of course we can't blame the whole of France for the actions of a few men!" she said, giving Sirius a disapproving look. "Really! How childish!"
For his part, Sirius just looked amused.
"You'll see," he said.
Hermione looked ready to argue the point. Harry intervened.
"Okay, so, we're all agreed then: we have to do this ourselves. We're not going to be getting any help."
Hermione sighed.
"I suppose. But I think we should warn someone, just in case. Maybe... Professor McGonagall. She was always close to Professor Dumbledore, wasn't she? If anything - well, happens to us, someone should know what really happened."
Harry clenched her fists.
"Nothing is going to happen to any of us," she said. She wouldn't let it.
"No, it's a good idea," said Sirius, placing a calming hand on Harry's shoulder. "It's best to be prepared. And Minnie's a good choice. I'd send it to Mad-Eye Moody too, though."
"Minnie?" said Hermione.
Harry smiled at her. "Alright, we can use Hedwig," she said. She was actually somewhat relieved to put Hedwig out of harm's way. Hermione pulled out some Muggle paper and a pen.
"What're you doing?" said Sirius.
"Writing the letter," said Hermione - never the type to leave something for later.
"Make sure to make it anonymous," said Harry. "None of our names. Just the information."
"I can try," said Hermione. "But she'll recognise my writing from class."
"I can sort that out," said Sirius. "Obscuring charms are something of a speciality. I remember this one time, James and I cast a great one on Benny Fenwick's-"
Hermione cleared her throat, her face red, and Sirius seemed to remember who he was talking to.
"-yes, well, needless to say, his reaction was hilarious."
Harry grinned. She still didn't completely trust him, but the way Sirius casually mentioned her father peaked her interest. He could tell her so much.
"But that reminds me," Sirius continued. "If we're going to do this, we can't be sharing wands. I'll need one for myself."
Harry hesitated.
"Do you think you'd be able to, er, you know... steal one?"
Sirius laughed a happy laugh. "Ha! We'll make a Marauder of you yet, boy! Er, I mean, girl."
Hermione looked like she wanted to say something, but simply shook her head before busying herself with the letter.
"Yeah, I reckon it shouldn't be too hard to grab one from someone's pocket. But it might take time. A crime of opportunity, you know. You have to wait for the right moment."
"Okay, well, I guess that isn't too bad," said Harry, thinking. "I'm not awake yet. We need to know that I'm in the same place before doing anything. So we have time to prepare - we have to do this right. So far Flamel has been prepared for everything. We're only going to get one chance to surprise him."
"We need to figure out how we're going to get in and out," said Hermione without looking up. "While Mr. Black is 'finding' a wand, we should get a look at the house. Maybe we'll see something."
"Sounds like a plan," said Sirius, standing up. "I'll come and meet you there, after I've got a wand. Don't get too close, though. Who knows what spells he's got on that place."
"It's right next to the Eiffel Tower - I'm sure there'll be tourists everywhere."
"Right you are," said Sirius. "If you don't hear from me in eight hours, assume I'm dead." He winked at Hermione. "Do try to contain your sorrow, Miss Granger."
And, with no care for the Muggles around them, he transformed into a dog before trotting off into the square. Hermione gasped.
"An animagus!" she said.
Harry nodded, following Sirius with his eyes. It was, without a doubt, a useful ability.
"We have to learn how to do that."