I wake up with a jolt. He is shouting my name.
I hear him thundering up the stairs.
A second is all I need. I take my wand; I jump out of bed and I'm ready. I'm always ready. My job thought me that. It's already three years that I left my law enforcement position but there are things that, once learned, you don't forget. I do a brief assessment of my enemy (because right now he is my enemy); he is stronger and fitter than me, he is skilled with magic, he has an Auror training, but his mind is obfuscated, he is not completely himself. He is probably going to rely only on his strength. I need to show him that I'm stronger than him. I need to treat him like a wild animal. And they smell fear.
He is banging to the door violently 'HERMIONE LET ME IN, I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE! LET ME IN!' he yells.
I try to decide what is best to do but it's no easy while, by the noise, he is kicking and ramming into it.
'Go away!' I shout shrilly, fear pushing it out of me despite my effort to remain calm.
'IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS DOOR, I'LL BRING IT DOWN'.
He is totally capable of it.
I'm just considering my options when the ramming ceases, instead, after a couple of seconds, a weary knocking takes its place.
'Hermione' he says almost in a wail, almost in a sob 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry to have shouted but you must open the door. You are my best friend after all. I only want to talk'
Oh God, what should I do? I'm still close to the bed, my heart pushing me with an unsuspected strength to the door, my brain ordering to stay put. All my body tingles with this internal scuffle.
'Hermione, please, I need your help…'
Those words proclaimed a sure winner between the colliding parties. I dart to the door, my heart exploding with love, ready to give him all the help he needs.
But just as my hand is on the handle there is a bang that makes the whole door tremble and me jump.
'HERMIONE, OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!'
I lunge myself far regaining my wits quickly, hoping to have learned a precious lesson for the future, and just as I'm casting a protego spell, the door slams open; he managed to unhinge it by dint of kicks and shouldering.
He charges me straight away; the strength of the spell propels him backward. Not expecting it, he loses his balance but nimbly, with a flip, he is on his feet again. He is not an Auror for nothing.
I keep my wand steady. He looks at me ominously albeit studiously. He is probably doing the same assessment I've done. We received the same training.
I can almost hear a growl coming from him reminding me of a tiger ready to sprint on his prey.
'What did you do with my potions?' his voice low and gravelly.
'You are not going to take them anymore'
'I want you out of here'
'I'm staying'
'I SAID I WANT YOU OUT OF HERE' he shouts.
'Harry, you can shout as much as you like. I'm not going anywhere, and I won't allow you to take those potions anymore.' I reply keeping my voice down and staring intently at him. I endeavour in not lowering my gaze. I must stand up to him.
'And if you try to attack me, I'll fight back. You worked with me long enough to know what I'm capable of.'
He does know it. And I can see my words sinking in, his eyes become two slits full of hatred.
'Go to hell' he just barks as he leaves the room.
I fall limply on the bed taking big breaths. I won. I showed him I'm made of a tougher fibre than he thought but I cannot lower my guard on any account. I won a battle not the war.
From his room I hear drawers being opened and closed and I understand he means to go out. I must follow him. I'm sure I'm about to discover where he gets them from.
I get dressed quickly and when he leaves, I'm out a second later swiftly. Thankfully he didn't disapparate, it would have been impossible to follow otherwise.
He is wearing cap and sunglass probably to avoid been recognised. Totally useless under my point of view; he is unmistakable. But perhaps only for me because I know him so well.
As we take the St. Mungo's direction, I know my hunch was right. I follow like a shadow being very careful in maintaining some distance. Although, he is so concentrated in not being recognised that I could stroll by his side nonchalantly and he wouldn't even notice.
He takes the stairs and stops at the third floor. Treatment for Potions and plant poisoning. Let's see.
I hid behind a trolley as I see him peering in every room. Finally, he seems to have found what he is looking for beckoning to somebody inside to follow him.
A woman appears from it. A nurse. Of course. How could I not figure it out?! So simple.
They shut themselves in one of the rooms. I need to find a way to hear them, I need to get inside in there without being seen. Easy. I whisper my spell to stop time around me. I practice it much and now I can work it quite easily. It's a very useful spell and I'm glad I took the trouble to learn it despite it has been hard indeed.
I know it worked because I can see people froze in their step in the corridor. It doesn't work on the whole hospital though. Probably it doesn't go further than this corridor and I haven't got much time.
I slip inside silently. She is sitting on the table and fawns all over him. I should like very much to slap her. Shall I allow myself this little pleasure? She won't know, she'll just feel a little itch when the time will start again. But no, despite temptation is strong I'm not going to take that risk.
I hid myself behind a bed and let the time start again.
'I need some more of those potions'
'I gave you plenty! What did you do with them?'
'I need some more; I cannot sleep without.' He takes her hand and starts kissing her wrist.
'What are you going to do in exchange?' she asks flirty. Trollop.
'What do you want me to do?' he answers playfully.
'Tonight, there is an important gala evening at the Minister's villa, very elegant with the best people around. I know the Minister invited you but didn't receive an answer. It was on the newspaper. I want you to take me there as your partner'
I see him freeze 'I can't, love. You know I can't. There are gonna be journalists, they are going to take pictures'
'But that's the whole point, silly. I want people to see me with you.' She coos coquettish.
How dare you use him for your paltry interest! You horrible woman! Use his weakness just to be on a newspaper! You'll pay this!
'Be reasonable, hon… I can do plenty of other stuff for you' he says thrusting himself between her legs, pulling her against him.
She simpers leaning back 'You will do for me many things including taking me out for dinner'
He withdraws from her in visible distress 'I can't. I just can't! The scandal is gonna be huge. Have you got any idea what it means for me?! It will be on every newspaper; my sons are going to see it!' he gabbles in panic 'All my wife's relatives! Do you realise what are you asking from me?!'
'I know, poor thing…' she says relishing visibly in the power she is exercising over him 'But you see, I take many risks in smuggling potions, it seems only fair for me to have some rewards...'
'I could pay you!' he offers eagerly 'Name your price, money is not a problem'
'I don't care about money. They'll arrive anyway in due course. I want to be famous, recognised, and you can provide that well enough.'
I see him about to retort but she precedes him slipping from the table and going to caress his face
'You need those potions, don't you? It's such a small price to pay to sleep well. It's only a dinner against hours and hours of thought-free sleep. I know how they work. They don't allow anything to get through, don't they?'
I see him shaking his head feebly with such a pitiful air that I want to strangle her. She definitely deserved that slap and more. Thankfully I followed him. She is a trollop but what worse she is a dangerous trollop. Harry is too distressed to read between the lines, but I can. You don't take any woman to such an evening. She is simply trying to step in Ginny's shoes for the sake of being famous. Perhaps even planning to make him marry her.
'Ok all right. You won.' He mutters defeated 'When and where?'
'Let's meet at the Leaky Cauldron at six. We can have a walk in Diagon Alley first. We can go to my place afterward or even better to yours'
He wears back his sunglasses 'Ok whatever. Bring as much as you can' he says hastily leaving the room.
The woman lingers beside the table with a victorious smile. I'm going to swipe it away pretty soon.
I count to three and I stand up. She startles seeing me appearing from nowhere and I read on her face all the alarm I want her to feel.
'Who are you?' she asks suspiciously, in her eyes a seed of recognition. I had my share on newspaper being Harry's friend. So much the better.
And, savouring already my answer, I smile. How sweet this moment is?!
'Hermione Granger. Former Head of the law Enforcement department, present private advisor for the Minister as political mediator between Romanian and England. I need to ask you a few questions'
Never and ever and ever I gained so much satisfaction in pronouncing this sentence.
And never and ever and ever I rejoiced so much in seeing a face growing as white as her spotless uniform. I can almost hear the blood leaving her body in small rivulets. The sound of pay back.
'How many years in Azkaban do you think a nurse can get to smuggle potions and subminister them to a private citizen without a written healer's permission?' I let out my subtle menace with an unreadable expression while inside I'm jumping up and down with wild, malignant joy.