Chapter 30: Ander MIller

Malfoy Manor, 3rd December 2010, 2000 GMT

Hermione cried out, "Expelliarmus!"

Draco's wand flew out of his hand in the dueling room, even as Hermione pounded her feet in frustration.

The boys were having a tough time that night. Neville, Zabini, Harry, Ron, George and Bill had already gotten an earful from Hermione. Now Draco awaited his grilling with trepidation.

Hermione was seething, "What was that, Draco? One simple spell of mine and you are unable to dodge it. How are you supposed to duel with the cream of the Dark World with these rusty skills? We have so many things to practice and so less time. If we falter on the basics, how do we move into advanced spells that only Athena, Adena and myself can teach you?"

Draco quietly hung his head, but Harry came to his aid. "Err Hermione, can I speak?"

Hermione gave Harry a curt nod. Harry smiled in thanks and said, "Hermione, what we are doing here may seem simple to you but he is coming home after a full day of his normal duty. Adena, Athena, You and Celia have 4 different sets of practice. We know that you also have enormous workload and are still finding the time to up-skill us. We as a group are extremely grateful but kindly cut some slack. I thought the Auror boot-camp was the toughest, physically and mentally. Looking back from today, that seems to be merely boy-scouts. I have never had a single bit of hesitation, acknowledging your intellectual mastery. Today, I can proudly say that even in physical and warfare space, you are one of the best in our Magical Universe. We are your core team, by position as well as by emotional bond. If we fail, the pressure quadruples on you. Please show some patience, Hermione. We will give day and night to get up to speed."

Hermione smiled not just at Draco but to all who got a taste of her fiery ire, earlier that evening. "Boys, you do realize that I am not taking out my pressure on you. I genuinely want the Order of Phoenix members to be the best of the best in Magical Dueling, irrespective of War or Peace. Perfection is an inner drive, not something that is molded as per the external environment. As for my ire, it is equally directed at anybody who fails. Merely because Draco belongs to the Core Team does not mean I will be easy on him or conversely, extra hard on him. If you have observed me in the past 7 months, you will know that I have been Universally fair."

At this statement, every member of the Order agreed with one voice, supported by Adena, Athena, Veena, Celia, Dudley and Natalie.

Her clarification did not reduce her fire though. When Veena made a slight mistake in the Stupefy spell, Hermione cornered her as well. She only stopped when she noticed drops of tears from the eyes of Veena.

Hermione took her arms and asked in her kindest voice, "Have I said things too harshly? It is just that I have a foreboding feeling that the Dark Side is planning a major move and we have to be at our best."

Veena dried her tears, "Actually, as an Agent, I am exposed to far tougher training situations, physically and mentally. It is even more intensive than Aurors. It is just that when you scolded me, you reminded me so much of my first mentor, who happened to be India's first Female Head of Magical Intelligence. She was my idol growing up, just as you are now. Both of you have a fierce fire within you that inspire people to give their best."

Hermione embraced Veena.

After a very tiring session, all of them had just finished dinner and had decided to crash at Malfoy Manor with Magically Enhanced rooms accommodating all Order of Phoenix members. Fred and George did their bit and their jokes prior to dinner lightened the mood and post a delicious feast by Patrick, Pernie and Kreachera, all of them were feeling decidedly better.

Suddenly there was a loud buzz and Malcom, Hermione's security head wanted immediate attendance. Hermione granted it.

For the first time in her life, Hermione saw that Malcom could be nervous. Even in past war like situations, Malcom had Zen like calmness but today he was trembling and sweating.

Hermione looked at him with concern, "Malcom, is your health OK?"

Malcom barely nodded, "I am barely fine but if I take more stress, I might not be. For the first time in my life, I admit to my boss that I am scared. Ander Miller has escaped Azkaban prison and he has sent you a direct voice message. We checked it for all known harming spells and it is safe."

Hermione turned around and saw utter shock reflected in the faces of Arthur, Adena and Athena. All 3 had stood up in shock and sank back to their cushions with a low thud. From their expression, Hermione deduced that this was someone important. She turned to Adena, who gave her a look of utter fear.

"Adena, you keep tabs on the most dangerous prisoners. Let us first hear this message and then we will hear from you. Malcom, please open the voice envelope."

A silvery image of a force field began to speak out words, "Greetings to Hermione and her group. Finally, I am free after 1977 years. Hermione Malfoy Granger, if you do not know my History, you have a highly qualified set of Order and Middle World members to tell you about Me. I would just like to congratulate you. You are the finest and worthiest adversary to the Dark World in more than 12500 years. All these years in Azkaban, I was creating my legion of soldiers, keeping them safe from Dementors. There will be many who will update you about my glorious legends. The point is, I found no one worth engaging my mental skills against inferior opponents. Those enemies including Albus Dumbledore were handled by my foot soldiers. It did not help that some of my foot soldiers, like Bellatrix, were like Dementors themselves. I could escape anytime but what was the point? My victory was assured. With you, the case is different. Not even Dumbledore had the courage to openly challenge the Dark World. The Whole of the Dark World now considers you a worthy legend. It would be my greatest pleasure to match my wits and centuries of experience against yours. You are like the flame who keeps attracting the Dark Creatures. Lucas was drawn in and now I am too. There is something extremely pleasurable when engaging with a worthy opponent of your stature. It is purely to do with your personal qualities and not your official position. No other Minister of Magic in the past was worth my time, but you are. Come what may, your intelligence, courage, kindness and inner beauty are now the stuff of legends across the Magical Universe and I am not talking of merely Earth. Now you will face me in the greatest battle of wits and the World will finally see if the Dark Side can be the deserving rulers of the Magical World. That comes later but today, from the core of my Heart, I congratulate you, because your Intelligence and Leadership make you worthy of this battle and many more to come. Good night Hermione, in a short span of time, you will see the impact of my first set of moves."

All of them were silent for a while. Hermione gave a dry smile. She was the flame attracting the creatures of the night but no one dare come close to the flame. She then turned to Adena, "I think we all need to know a few details about our new Adversary. Since he is from the Dark World, no one knows him better than you."

Adena gulped as she nodded, "Sometimes, knowing too much is a curse, because a free bag of fear accompanies that knowledge. Believe me, as Operating Head of the Middle World, I know everything and sundry about him. To appreciate the full scope of the challenge that awaits us, we must delve into his history. He was born in Modern Spain in 10020 BC and during that time, Europe was merely a nomadic land. He had an enormous thirst for knowledge and forged alliances with traders, who told him about the glories of Atlanta and India. Her first visited India from 10 years to 13 years and took in the entire gamut of Spiritual Wisdom. Then after his 13th birthday, he traveled to Atlantis. In that phase, it was at the peak of it's powers with glorious technologies such as crystal based energy. Women ruled then and his attractiveness made him a magnet for women. He charmed his way into the inner circle of the Empress and was almost successful in usurping the throne when the Queen deduced his true motives and almost finished him but took pity because he was a mere boy. He was 17 and was expelled from the palace but he was smart on his own accord and regularly absorbed all sources of knowledge. He knew that the men who administered the subjects under the Queen's rule were abusing power in multiple ways and turning Atlantis into a wasteland. He was defeated by a Woman but he was taken in by her intelligence and grace. After a lot of skepticism, the Queen heeded to his warnings. Making matters even more complex, the Queen was just 3 years older to him. He struggled not to fall in love with her. The Queen took bold steps but it was too late to save Atlantis. The abuse of 7000 years had to face the wrath of Mother Nature and the Queen as well as Ander escaped the Tsunami by the skin of their teeth. After his escape, he and the Queen took refuge in South America with the Shamans and absorbed in every field of knowledge that the Muggles of today are aware of. The Queen convinced the Shamans that he was worthy of the Philosopher's Stone and Elixir of Immortality. Ander kissed the same and that same night as he was going with her to a feast in their golden carriage, the Brother of a corrupt Atlantis Official (who was beheaded with 60 others, 2 months before the Tsunami) shot dead the Queen with an arrow and grazed Ander's ribs. Ander survived but he was depressed for a full year. After he recovered, his sadness transformed into a dark rage. The Shamans reminded him that equanimity and overall responsibility for Humanity Well-being were his responsibilities but he brushed them away. Ander told them that in the Corrupt World, Fear was the only language that was effective and Power was the only currency that worked in the Elite. Morality counted for nothing. He left the Shamans and in 16 years, he created the Greatest Dark Empire in our History. He not only avenged the Queen but wiped out every family root connected with the conspirators, even babies who had no awareness of any crime. The Shamans were heart-broken and have since resolved that no Shaman in North or South America would issue any more Philosopher's Stones. They have not changed this stance even after multiple requests we have made to them in the subsequent years. Ander is the only Dark Wizard with the immortality boon but he was not Dark when he got the boon and will be for ever a 21 year old Man with infinite wisdom and power. Grief and rage made him the Greatest Dark Wizard. Just like Natalie, he is convinced that Fear is the lone currency that powers the Elite World but both are still inspired by you, their Nemesis in the Good World.

In the next 10,000 years, his empire became global and all of the Muggle empires paid him handsomely to earn his protection. His Secret Service watched over Ashoka in India, in gratitude to his spiritual roots. They even watched over Christ but could not anticipate the move by Judas. The execution of Christ in AD 33 deranged his mind. He was now convinced that there was no place for goodness in this insane world. He eliminated the entire family tree of Judas and had him invalidated with sickness, paralyzed and helpless. Then he proceeded to provoke the Roman Empire towards their own doom by carrying out Anti Christian crusades. At the same time, he carried out propaganda that made the Jewish look like the filthiest race in the world, deserving hatred or all time to come. All of this, he accomplished in just 4 months after Jesus died. The Good World leader was the Ancestor of Albus Dumbledore. He sent several warnings to Ander to mend his ways but Ander brushed them all away. He was planning a major mass casualty event in the Roman Colosseum but unfortunately, his inner team had a mole from the Good World. He was personally arrested and dumped into Azkaban with a sentence for life. He was quiet and saw no need to defend himself. Since then, he has used his Manna and Magnetism to attract and mentor women, who satiated his physical needs and in turn they gained mental and spiritual nourishment from him. Men were victims of his sadistic masochism but they in turn got the keys for retaining mental sanity among Dementors. He has been building his soldiers and his aide was Voldemort's chief trainer who was arrested in 1960. Now that Ander has been stimulated by Hermione's intelligence and bravery, other dark world ruts may similarly flex their muscles against her. Ander lost to a woman but gained his greatest and only love. Winning against Hermione would set his only imperfect record straight and be his own way to honor the Empress. That is why he was so respectful to Hermione, giving her the honor of being his greatest Adversary after 12,500 years."

All of them were silent as they absorbed this story. History was good in that it provided a context but a great mind has multiple new ways of adopting to the changing times. The Good and Middle World had a task at hand.

Hermione wished all of them a good night's rest, as she stepped out into the cold night to analyze her thoughts.

A/N: We have one more character here who will play a pivotal role in the rest of this story. Hermione needs an equal challenger to bring out the best in herself. Lucas was one but he was also taken in by her and became her ally. Ander is now her true Opponent.