Hacking and Tracking
After a substantial amount of meeting, greeting, handshaking, back patting and the like Harry and Hermione finally managed to break away from the mob of students and teachers. They had managed to make their away into an empty classroom, listening intently for the sounds of anyone possibly following them.
"Going to Hogsmead for a couple Butterbeers might not be the best idea." Hermione said lightly, not daring to take her eyes off Harry. How he had changed, the scrawny little boy had become a man, his face, his arms, his body and she was sure that other things were quiet as exceptional. He had replaced his glasses with contacts that seemed to give his eyes a sort of new gleam, whether it was contacts or not she really didn't care.
Harry was having some very similar thoughts, thoughts that threatened to overtake his imagination and then make themselves known. He was a guy who loved the girl in front of him, the said girl happened to be perfect. Literally, perfect, and so naturally his brain started imagining what lay beneath all those layers of cloths.
Thankfully for both of them neither noticed the others look.
"Any ideas on where we could go?" Harry finally asked.
"Not anywhere comfortable." Hermione said looking around.
"Wait!" Harry had a look of realization on his face, as if he had found the answer to the meaning of life. "Take your robes off."
"…Harry!?" A smile played at the corner of her lips.
It took him a second to realize what he had said. "No no." He laughed awkwardly, to which her mischievous smile faded. "Take of your Hogwarts stuff, we'll get a coffee in London or something, go away muggle style."
"Oh ok." Hermione replied in realization. She took off her robes, and gingerly took off her sweater that revealed a white shirt, which she unbuttoned a bit from the top, and patted down the usual Hogwarts skirt, she wanted to look presentable in public.
"There we go. That look good?" She asked.
Harry just stood there for a few seconds, his mouth opening and closing like fish out of water. "Good." He managed through a tense gulp and painfully tore his eyes away from her.
They had used every secret shortcut imaginable to get to Harry's new room. Upon arrival Harry opened a closet that was magical connected to another one in a muggle apartment.
They took their time strolling the streets of London, barely taking their eyes of each other. As they walked they would `accidentally' bump or touch the other's hand. At some coffee shop, neither cared to notice the name, Harry opened every door, paid for everything, tucked in her chair, and effectively fussed around her.
The shop's owner, a plump elderly woman shook her head at the two. Poor boy had put salt in coffee and the girl did so as well, at least they didn't notice. When Harry came to pay for the drinks she told him that he had already paid. At the confused look on his face she laughed and sent him on his way. Young love, so carefree.
Harry and Hermione lounged around at a local park; Harry instinctively wrapped his arms around Hermione as the sun went down and it grew a little chilly. And Hermione snuggled in closer.
"Guess we should get back, it's getting pretty late." Hermione said looking at her watch.
"Okay, but I'm hungry." Harry's stomach growled.
Laughing Hermione mocked. "Awe hungry Harry."
"Well its all the muscle that's need food you know?" Harry reasoned jokingly.
"Oh really, and what muscle might that be?"
"Well this muscle."
"I don't see anything, sure it feels like you `might' have something."
"Well that's because I've got some cloths on."
"Well maybe you should take some off."
"Well maybe I will."
"Okay then you will."
"But not right now, I'm hungry." And Harry started off towards a nearby Subway.
"Men." Hermione muttered, following him.
"Can't believe that you of all people don't know what makes men happy. With all the books you read you'd think that at least one of them would mention men plus food equals happy." Harry said in mock shame.
"I'm wearing a thong. Does that make you happy?" Under normal circumstances she wouldn't have said that, but damn it, it was time that she be happy, and her needs and wants be looked after. Harry had been gone for eight years with the alibi of being dead, which alone had nearly killed her. With Harry's supposed death Voldemort had gone on a rampage and everything literally went to hell rather quickly. Basically eight years of her life been miserable, and now it had all changed. Harry was back. And if he felt the same way that she did, which she was pretty sure he did then why not jump in and finally have some fun?
"Oh but it does my dear Hermione it does. However unlike food I can't really do anything about your thong, it's just there and my imagination runs wild. However with food I am about to order a delicious sub sandwich, which after satisfying my body's need for nourishment will then be able to completely and utterly focus on your thong." Harry said in a very professor like tone.
"And so another piece of the male psyche unravels itself." They looked at each other for a second and burst out laughing. Under the laughter there was a gentle and quiet obvious want that both picked up but did not admit to the other and show any sign that they did.
"You wanna take these to go?" Hermione asked as they ordered their food. "The apartment is just around the corner."
"Sure thing."
Unfortunately the apartment was not around the corner, but around the other side of town. Harry had only been in London for a mere few weeks and so wasn't much better off then Hermione. After an hour and a half of walking around they finally agreed to take a taxi, why they hadn't done that in the first place is something no one can really understand. It was midnight by the time they had arrived at Hogwarts and everyone was asleep. As if by some sort of instinct they both made their way up to the Gryffindor common room, and shared the last half a sandwich and coke. With the fire crackling merrily, themselves tired from all the walking, talking and playing around with each other … but not in that sort of way, not yet anyway, the couch simply offered a very nice place to fall asleep at. Hermione had subconsciously transfigured a blanket for herself and had fallen asleep on Harry who didn't mind at all and fell asleep seconds after her with a big smile on his. That is how they were found the next day.
A sixth year girl flew into Professor McGonagall office and rapped on the door.
"Yes what is Miss. Floran?" Professor McGonagall asked, a stack of parchment in her hands.
"There is someone in the common room sleeping with Miss Granger and we don't know what to do! They could be you know…"
Immediately she stormed up to the tower, the small stack of parchment clasped in her hand. She would have thought that at least one of the two would have had some sense left, and really in Gryffindor tower of all places with students around! Sure they were a little quick at it, but that wasn't entirely unexpected, but in such a public place, had they lost all dignity!
The students in the common room were deathly quiet, that's why when Hermione blissfully woke up she didn't hear a thing. She knew where she was, and she knew whose arms were rapped around her, and it was the best feeling ever.
Harry had never been happier, the women of his dreams was lying next to him in a very confined space, her smell was intoxicating, the feeling like a drug.
"POTTER! GRANGER!" A very angry voice yelled.
Both pairs of eyes flew open in shock and saw the large gathering of students and a very angry Professor. Hermione instantly flew off of Harry as they both began their excuses.
"Its not what it looks like Professor." Hermione said taking the blanket off and showing that she was fully clothed, although a few buttons on her shirt had undone themselves and a black bra hinted at its presence. Harry's shirt had somehow come off during the night, his hair was messy, as was Hermione's. Basically it looked like a lot more then a simple nap.
"Miss Granger button up your shirt immediately, and Potter put a shirt on." McGonagall commanded.
"I uh…Oh…oops." Hermione blushed and did as instructed, sneaking a glance over at Harry.
Harry had a gotten a rather generous view from his angle, a fact that was noted by the Professor. "Potter! Eyes off Granger and put your shirt on. That goes for you two Missy."
The Professor really was furious with them. "Come with me." She ordered once they were more or less presentable. They followed without a word like two scared first years, glancing at each other and trying to think of a way out of their situation.
Instead of leading them to her office or Dumbledore's she instead led them in another direction, to a large meeting room full of people.
"Found them." Professor McGonagall announced as she burst through the door to a large assembled group of people. Harry and Hermione followed after her and took the last two seats left.
Through the silence Harry noted that it seemed like anyone who was anyone was here, it was the meeting that they were supposed to have in order to discuss further plans.
"Didn't waste anytime did ya?" Said Jason much too loudly for the silent room.
"We didn't and look whose talking." Harry retorted.
"Damn it." Jason swore and tossed some money to the Weasley twins.
"We win."
"Once again as always." They sang.
"Ehem." Dumbledore cleared his throat. "We will assume that Mr. Potter and Miss Granger are late simply because they are tired."
"Anyone would be if they had to make up for eight years of bed tumbling fun." Joked George.
"Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore scolded. Dumbledore began once again. "Now then we have finally been able to track down the Deatheater responsible for the staging of muggle world operations. Unfortunately we have only been able to find out his apartment, past that we haven't been able to successfully track him as our muggle tracking capabilities are limited in London without him know that we were onto him."
It seemed that Dumbledore had already told everyone all about Harry and what had happened. The Daily Prophet on the table was partly proof of that. An old picture of Harry dominated the front page with the title "A Phoenix Reborn." He didn't have a chance to read much else as Dumbledore addressed Jason and himself.
"Don't look at me, I taught him and he improved on it, I'm just the councilor now." Jason said.
"Address?" Harry asked getting down to business.
"257 Oxford. Looks to be the fifth floor."
"When does he usually arrive?"
"At around twelve thirty or so."
"He'll be dead by one. I just need something from you guys. Is there any way that you can block apparating?" Harry asked. This was the one thing that was crucial, he could simple blow him away, or he could talk to him, gain some information and then blow him away. It all depended on whether or not it was possible to stop him from apparating.
"Ah right there is." The twins exclaimed.
"Dumbledore mentioned your request a few months ago."
"Without telling us it was you."
"But now we know better."
"Naturally."
"So anyway we've got it, although it has limitations."
They pulled out two wooden blocks from a bag beside their chairs. The bigger one was simple faded green about the size of a regular brick. The other was pitch black and a quarter the size.
"This big one will cut off all apparating within a kilometer's radius and the small one tells you how many charges you have left."
"To turn the block on just tap it with this rhythm." They showed the simple tapping rhythm.
"Once on it will stop about five apparating attempts."
"The small block will glow with a number on how many attempts are left."
"Simple as that." The twins beamed proudly.
They tossed the blocks over to Harry. "Okay then, we'll see you all in two hours." Harry said giving Hermione's hand a soft squeeze and a nod to Ron as he and Jason left the meeting room before anyone could say anything.
"This brings back memories." Jason said as they made their way up to a special room that held all of their toys. "Hey you go get changed, I'll get your stuff, I want to give you something special for this one." Jason said with a grin.
The room was lined with all sorts of weapons, from small pistols to mini guns that could easy chew through a tank, and then there were the Sniper rifles. One of them was in a special black brief case. "You served me well." He said admiringly.
Harry was back fifteen minutes later, refreshed and ready to go. He walked into the room to find Jason handling a sniper rifle. "Is that the one you used with Pamela Landy?"
"Yep, same one. Might as well make a tradition out of it." Jason said putting the rifle back into the case.
"Damn. I can only imagine what went on in that room. I bet you half the people in there shit themselves."
"Wouldn't be surprised."
"Okay so this is the address where the guy is supposed to come from." Harry scanned a digital map of London. "And this is our apartment. Well that just a few blocks away."
"Have fun." Jason called as Harry walked through a closet at the far end of the room.
Vander Valentine. Voldemort's right hand man on muggle affairs, he controlled everything and simply reported to Voldemort. Valentine was in an elite group of Deatheaters, one of the top three including Malfoy and Wormtail. Valentine was attractive and smart, and he knew it. A womanizer and a drug addict, he lived the high life ruthlessly killing anyone and anything for the slightest of transgression. A financial firm was his cover through which he owned a few docks and trafficked cocaine from South America, a business that was very much aided through the use of magic. It was because of him that drug use reached epidemic proportions in London, it was he who caused government revolutions and it was he was about to become the prime minister of England and then naturally its Dictator. Voldemort wanted to control the world, but he didn't want to be involved in controlling the muggle world directly, Valentine wanted to control the world from the muggle or magical. This suited him perfectly and assured Voldemort that he would never under any circumstances turn, so far he had never been punished.
He had just come back from a meeting with a very agitated Voldemort. Potter was back. Since they didn't know where Potter was hiding out exactly the fact that he would be in muggle disguise was a probable one by all accounts. Voldemort had personally instructed him to find Potter and spare no expense, no creature. Valentine was delighted with the new challenge and had asked Voldemort if he would come and inspect some things that he was working on, his subordinates were already in the boardroom getting things ready.
Not far down the street a black BMW M5 parked on the shoulder. There was nothing special about the car on the outside except nice performance tires and exhaust, but inside the car everything was a whole lot different. The duel turbo engine pumped out a staggering seven hundred horsepower to a modified six speed transmission. A role cage was in place to provide rigidity and liquid nitrous lay under the seats that had the potential to add another three hundred fifty horsepower. A computer, GPS system, and some weapons were also in place. But on the outside it was nothing special, as even the engine could be tuned up and down within a second so that not even the sound of the car gave it away.
The man that got out was equally inconspicuous, a long coat and brief case, and simple yet elegant watch put him into any category between lower middle class, to higher upper class. He would look as normal walking into motel as he would into the fanciest, most expensive hotel to be found. Checking his phone he stopped at a phone booth found a number in the phone book and continued on into a lavish hotel lobby. Exactly five seconds from the attendant at the front desk he made a call through his cell phone while keeping it in his pocket.
"Could I have the number for Vander Valentine's room please?" He asked.
"Name?" The female attendant asked politely.
"Jason Bourne." Said Harry. Jason had made duplicates of his passports for Harry and had simply changed the picture as he know traveled by his official name of David Whim, although he preferred Jason Bourne because that is who he truly was, David Whim had become his cover.
"One moment please." The attendant punched in a few numbers that Harry caught and the phone from the lobby registered that no one was answering. "Would you like to leave a message?" She asked.
"No thank you." Harry replied and walked away as more customers came up behind him.
Going up the stairs he waited at the top floor overlooking room 513. Within minutes a man came out and entered one of three white Mercedes that had arrived seconds earlier.
As the three cars drove off so did Harry, following at a respectable distance, never losing sight of his target.
Half an hour later the three Mercedes dropped off Vander Valentine at a powerful looking building whose western face overlooked the Thames and had a magnificent view. Across the street was the famous clock tower that had a magnificent view of both Valentine's western face and the Thames.
Parking his car nearby the building Harry got out and made his way to the top of the clock tower, right out onto one of the four ledges extending from the corners at its very top. Once there he opened his case and with drew main portion of the sniper rifle, attached the barrel, the butt, and put a fresh clip into place. Adjusting the scope to compensate for the wind Harry put on an earpiece and had the phone dial the number that he had received moments before from the operator. He looked through the scope just as the phone began to ring and saw Valentine at a large table with others around him and … at the head was Tom Riddle.
"Hello?" Answered an agitated voice.
"Hello." Harry responded calmly, tapping a faded gray block that he had in his left pocket, the smaller cousin he set on floor in front of him.
"Who is this?" Irritated.
"You don't really need to know who I am, just answer my questions." He saw Voldemort's lips move. "If Tom is getting angry tell him its Harry, or better yet put me on speaker." He saw Valentine visibly freeze.
"Who?" He was trying to play it off but there was a trace of fear in his voice.
"Tom Riddle…Voldemort. He sitting right next to you put me on speaker so we can have a little chat." Harry stated bluntly.
With a trembling hand Valentine pressed a button on the phone's stand.
"Hi Tom. Miss me?" Harry asked as if he were talking to an old friend.
"Potter." Voldemort hissed out through gritted teeth.
Valentine along with his subordinates had visible paled and were trembling, looking out through the windows in horror, trying to find out where he was, one man even looked under the table.
"Tell me, is this Vander Valentine really in charge of all your muggle activities?" Harry asked.
"Yes he is, I do not meddle in the disgusting muggle world. Its very nature is repulsing." He said coldly.
"Well then allow me to rid you of the burden that is Valentine and any dealings you may have with muggles." As he finished the sentence Harry pulled the trigger, a bullet sliced through the air and a quarter of a second after leaving the barrel Valentines brain matter decorated the opposite wall and half of Voldemort's face. In rapid succession each one of Valentines subordinates had their skulls blown apart until there was only Voldemort, a room of dead bodies and a phone.
Looking down on the floor he saw a pure white number one on the small block at his foot. Voldemort had tried to apparate away four times. It took every ounce of strength and self discipline that Harry had to keep himself from shooting Voldemort right then and there, but he knew that if he did he could very well likely make things a whole lot worse.
"I'll be seeing you Tom." And Harry hung up.
A/N I'd like to thank Howard Adams for beta reading and all of you for just reading. Would like to thank everyone for their input, finally got some gears moving, hope you like this one.
-->