Chapter 8: The Mission Intensifies

Date: 14th May 2010

Hermione woke up at the stroke of dawn and went over to her daughter's crib. She looked at her sleeping daughter for a long time. Her lovely daughter, Erwina Helen Cissy Malfoy, was blinking and rubbing her eyes. She was always an early riser.

"Hello Mommy, Good Morning."

Hermione smiled, "Good morning, precious darling."

"You sad, Mommy?"

As always, Hermione was stunned by the perceptiveness in her children.

"Yes, my precious. I am a little sad because of something your brother did. All said and done, it shows that we adults are not perfect and can at times slip off in fulfilling a relationship. You want some waffles, dear?"

Erwina smiled, "Yes! Hot ones with Belgian chocolate."

Her daughter's smile cut through her somber mood and she once again felt her daughter's childlike enthusiasm overwhelm her. They were just finishing the unexpected morning treat when Draco joined them in the dining table. It was still far too early for others to wake up.

He took Erwina from Hermione and bounced her much to her giggling delight. Just as with Aurelian, Draco spoiled Erwina whereas Hermione was the disciplinarian. Hermione and Draco shared a quick kiss as Erwina was busy with her toys. Looking at Hermione's gloomy stature, Draco stood up.

"Hey you all, let us go to the beach. I will carry Erwina. Come on Hermione, you will feel better."

They apparated to the still sleepy village of Clacton-on-Sea. As they lapped up the cool waves of the English Channel under their toes, Hermione finally felt the tensions of the last night ebb from her body. The sparking waves as it touched the shore and the sound they made refreshed her. The breeze made her new. She entwined her either palm with Erwina and Draco and she vowed to remain strong for Erwina. After returning to the Manor, she looked at Draco as Erwina was playing in the corner.

"Thanks Draco. I really needed this fresh air. You have an amazing insight."

Draco smiled, "I know. You are not the only one who is greatly disturbed by last night's events but you show your emotions openly. A piece of me kind of died when I heard someone aim a killing curse at Aurey. Both our children are precious and I am truly glad to have you here with me in our difficult time."

Ginny walked in, "You also have us, you know. Never ever consider yourself alone. All of us here in this manor are with you till the very end."

Tears escaped Hermione's eyes as she tightly hugged Ginny in a gesture of thanks. As she looked up, she noticed that she was facing all her guests including the children. All were seeking out for her.

"Good Morning, everyone. Pernie, Kreachera! (As the elves appeared, she instructed the menu for breakfast) After you are done with breakfast, please prepare for travel. We have 2 destinations to visit today. Luna, please get ready. We will visit Dudley first and then we proceed to meet Harry. Neville, please train Ron and Draco thoroughly on the force field charms. Pansy, I have signed the Magical Archives access. You now have access to magical history since 1st Century AD. Discuss your analysis only with me. Ginny and Molly, please take care of the children again. You can take them to Quidditch Training. You both have been an unspeakable help to me. Fred and George, please get started on Russia. Arthur, kindly assist Pansy in her research. Rest of the Weaselys, do your normal office work but never go out alone. Katie and Zabini, kindly research potential Death Eater strikes across the magical world in the past 6 months. You are my primary source of information on this front since Harry left. If you need to investigate in field, always take 3 members of the Z Aurors Group to protect you. All in all, everyone please stay safe. I have one more important thing to do before I leave this place. After breakfast, please refrain from using the living room for 15 odd minutes till I exclusively signal you to enter."

After breakfast, as others dispersed for their respective activities, Hermione sighed and asked her invisible security force to appear in front of her in the privacy of the living room.

Hermione smiled as they appeared, 10 men and 5 women, all in their 20s. She nodded at the Head Security Officer, "Good Morning Malcom. There is a reason I have asked you to appear here. A series of disturbing events have taken place over the past few days which have shaken me to the core. You are not inanimate objects that are protecting me. You all are living human beings and you have every right to know everything about my life. That is why I have decided to break protocol and tell you everything."

Without delving into intricate specifics, she shared everything from her caution about Slovenia to Athena's story right up to the attack on Aurelian.

"From now on the story would only get darker and the danger would increase. If any of you value your family, you should quit now. Mine was almost lost yesterday. I value my family too much and so must you folks. I could completely empathize if you want to leave me now. If not, you can henceforth listen to all my conversations and planning, unless I specifically indicate to the contrary. All of you must also have unique identifiers visa vise me should Lucas possess me."

Malcom gave an emotion filled smile after looking at the others, "Madam Hermione, you have just vindicated why we feel special serving you. In none of my previous professional assignments have I felt the personal pride I feel at this moment. Our profession is meant to be one of sacrifice and danger but we greatly appreciate your concern for us from the bottom of our hearts. We would indeed hear your plans unless you forbid us yourself and that too after we verify that it is indeed you we are serving and not him. As for the attack, we think that Lucas is trying to distract you and Harry to get to Athena. Aurelian and talk of a blast during Slovenia game is just a bait. Still we play the game his way and see how things pan out. We will execute our own security plans which is a secret for you till you need active involvement. Madam Hermione, I would break the professional protocol for a moment just to say that you are the best boss we ever had."

Hermione quietly acknowledged all her security staff with her kindest smile before sending them away. All the people gathered once more in the living room to go over their plans before Hermione bid them farewell alongside Luna, Kreachera and Pernie. Hermione cast an invisible spell on Pernie and sent Kreachera to inform Harry on their impending visit in 30 minutes.

They apparated to 4, Privet Drive and knocked on the oak door. They faced Dr. Celia.

"Good Morning, Hermione and Luna. Please come in and make yourself at home." Harry had sent them the muggle version of high definition photographs of all the active mission members and their relatives and family once he reached the Airport.

A sweet smell of freshly baked cream cookies filled Hermione and Luna with childish pleasure because both were too preoccupied to enjoy breakfast earlier. A tall thin man in a sharp sports build greeted them, tagging his wife along.

"To what event do we have the honor of receiving your accomplished presence in our meagre quarters?"

"Please Dudley, you don't need to be formal. I am also a muggle born. By extending help to Harry, your family and you are with us at a peer level. I came in here precisely because as the other wing in this mission, you ought to know of crucial developments and we grant you Z Level protection. After we are done talking, we would like to magically secure your home with the finest global property spells since 36 AD. They will protect you from magical harm. This mission is unique because it actively involves a muggle initiative. Harry and I had to take express permission of the Ministry to include you both."

"You are the expert, Hermione. (Hermione smiled at the first name informality) Harry told me all about your property warding skills especially in the last war. I or my loved ones have no iota of doubt that all you want is to protect us and we completely trust you. You have a free hand in all matters magical. Is there something else Luna and you would like to discuss?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes! They made their first move yesterday night."

After they heard the previous night's events, Dudley nodded, "I agree with Malcom's assessment: It is to scatter and distract you all and attack Athena, who is the soul of this Mission. We are taking the muggle end of protection very seriously. Even possessed Muggles will not be able to harm the loved ones of you and Harry. Sarah is an extremely sweet person and the biggest blessing of this mission was our friendship with your parents and cousins. It was Sarah's father in law who confirmed that Celia and I are now expecting our first bundle of joy."

Hermione and Luna smiled and warmly congratulated the couple.

Hermione looked at Luna, "Well Luna, our plan needs to be shredded." Luna nodded.

Dudley spoke, "What plan, Hermione?"

"Before we arrived here, Luna and I had thought of a masterstroke to use muggle baits to finish off Lucas's inner circle. Celia's motherhood changes it all. Seeing the overwhelming female presence in this mission, we were planning to bait her as a vulnerable foolish target."

"How were you planning to do that?" asked Dudley.

Hermione told them and they looked at her with awe.

Dudley continued, "It is brilliant, Hermione. However you don't need to scrap it. I can be the foolish vulnerable target. Foolishness also comes rather naturally to me with all those years of practice prior to Celia."

Everyone in the room had a hearty laugh at that. Hermione smiled and shook her head, "At this point in her life, Celia needs you more than ever. We are tough but we are not selfish to snatch you away from her at this crucial juncture. This mission is fraught with danger."

Dudley smiled, "You underestimate her. It was she who gave me the final go ahead for this mission. We all know that any mission is risky and can involve sacrifice. When we agreed to help Harry, we were full in including facing the risk of death. Celia told me that this was the only way I could in some manner make it up to Harry. Had it not been for her pregnancy, I would have gladly sent her with you even though I would have been mad with worry till her safe return. As regards me, I have no fear whatsoever of my own life. Celia has given me the best years of my life and she has also given me my greatest gift of fatherhood. I do not need anything else. Should I not make it back, at least Celia can tell our little baby that I was a brave man."

Tears flashed out of her eyes as Celia said, "I was only the motivator but he was the agent of change. What a remarkable transformation in a man. From a person who could not give others a morsel of food from his gigantic plate, he is today ready to die for his brother. If a lightning were to strike him down right this moment, I can confidently tell my baby that he was a hero just for thinking the way he does right now. Please use him for any plan you may have, Hermione. I can take excellent care of myself and with my parents, Dudley's' and yours at this time, I have everyone around to take care of me. Sarah would also help me."

Looking at the couple with their eyes locked to each other, Hermione recollected her own Love story with Draco even as Luna impatiently smiled.

"Your brave decision helps us immensely, Dudley. Luna will take the responsibility of physically training you, 3 hours daily before and after work. She knows all the regimes. Pansy and Ginny will work on your mental training every weekend. You have 4 months to get ready. Now that you are ready, I will have to convince Harry and Athena and also the rest of our Order. With 25-30 best wizards of our country around Dudley, I am tempted to say he would be safe but in an active warfront, we can give no guarantee. Under such circumstances, Celia is showing an unlimited display of kindness and selflessness." Thus saying, Hermione tightly embraced Celia again, tears grazing her own cheek.

Hermione continued, "We are done here for now. Luna will inform you about the next moves and when Dudley can start the training. Thank you both from the bottom of our hearts. We owe you big time."

Feeling light, she and Luna did enjoy the proffered cookies and then they set about securing the house with property wards. With a combination of 70 different spells in complex permutations, she ensured that apart from herself, even the most intelligent wizards and witches across the planet would take at least 40 minutes to break these spells. She also added 3 complex monitoring spells.

Satisfied with their work and after acknowledging the thanks given by Dudley, Celia and Petunia, they apparated straight to O Connor street Dublin where Harry and Athena were putting up in Dudley's ultra-luxury resort. Pernie announced ahead the arrival of Hermione and Luna. Following Kreachera's intimation earlier, Harry had arranged with Dudley to exclusively reserve the Presidential dining room and had it swept for bugs.

Hermione and Luna embraced Athena and Harry as soon as they saw each other. Harry might be gone for just a few days but with the intensity of this situation, every minute felt like years.

Hermione spoke, "We all missed you so much Harry. I did not wish to interrupt your mission so early but things happened yesterday that I simply could not ignore. I had to update you myself."

Harry looked concerned, "You look pale Hermione. Tell us what happened?"

Hermione nodded miserably, "Aurelian was attacked." She then poured out the entire sequence of events including her talk with Dudley and Celia and Malcom's warning.

Athena and Harry gulped in shock and then comforted Hermione. Harry put a strong arm around Hermione's frail shoulders, "I am a parent myself and I feel for you and Draco. If something like this happened to James, I would not be able to keep a straight head. Kudos to you for planning ahead given your current mindset."

Athena nodded, "I anticipated something like this to happen. Always the weakest member is attacked first by an intelligent enemy to demoralize opposition ranks. Our enemy is intelligent to the power of infinity. He would get us where we least expect. Henceforth, all the vulnerable members ought to be guarded either by the Order or by the Z group. Things will get even nastier. I have a suspicion that he is playing with all of us. He already knows we are tailing him."

Hermione asked, "What happened here? Did your lead come through?"

Harry shook his head, "Hermione, our deal with our lead was 10% payment for each information about Lucas' inner circle members. We located the first member but midway through us tailing him in a West Coast forest, he shifted track and situated himself bang opposite our room. I think Lucas has found out about us and sent him to tail us. Right now we are playing a game of cat and mouse."

Athena continued, "We realize the danger we are in but we can't quit. Don't worry about me. I already knew that this was not a simple mission. We are dealing with a person who Tom idolized. He is some work of art. Yesterday's events only confirms what I have suspected all along. Danger to me or anyone else can't disrupt our mission. Your plan seems OK to me. Go ahead, Hermione, and tell the other members of the Order."

Hermione nodded. "We are all with you, Harry and Athena. My new plan is just to expose our enemy. If we are right about Lucas, his inner circle has members who are better than Voldemort and they keep a cool head. This plan would just give a glimpse at the capacity of our enemy power. Even I am not naïve enough to believe that Lucas and all his inner circle members will come. However, it will tell us of their group functioning mechanism, their mindset and morale."

Harry spoke, "Athena, I believe we should halt our mission here before the Slovenia England Quidditch friendly and go back home in case the threat they gave Aurelian is true. Hermione needs our combined intelligence to prevent any mishap there. Besides, Ginny would also be there as coach and Teddy as player. I am so proud of Teddy. He is awesome." Hermione and Luna nodded.

"I agree, Harry. We will follow only this man and try to take the maximum out of this situation. We will leave Ireland 2 days before the match and return 2 days after the match."

Athena smiled, "The road ahead is bumpy but with our combined intelligence and bravery, the magical world will be able to breathe freely for a long time to come. Lucas may not be the only recruiter but his capture will strike fear into others who are emulating Lucas."

Thus saying, Luna, Athena, Hermione and Harry tightly embraced each other once again before Hermione and Luna went back to the Manor.