Power and Persecution: Part Three
`The names Weasley… Ronald Weasley'
Hermione smiled at him, she couldn't help but trust this man, and added to this the fact that he knew magic like Harry, she couldn't help but smile at this change in events.
`You can call me Ron though' he said grinning `but perhaps we can save that till a bit later?'
`What does that mean?' Hermione asked curiously.
`We're in the middle of a Slytherin building, and it probably isn't the safest place for us' Ron started.
`Why do the Slytherins want you?' she asked a little worried, she didn't like the idea of Ron being here in danger.
`Me?' Ron said laughing `I guess I'm not on their list of guests, but it's not me they'd be interested in, your much more valuable to them'
`Why?' she asked suspecting she knew the answer to this one already.
`Because of Harry, you're his friend' Ron said with a consoling little smile, he obviously thought the news would upset her but Hermione was way too use to Harry bringing trouble to be shocked much.
`So…' Hermione said shrugging of the idea `Are we going to apparate?'
`You know about apparition?' Ron said eyes wide in complete awe.
`Yeah, well Harry does it sometimes' Hermione said kindly.
`I can't do it' Ron said honestly `and you'll be hard pressed to find a wizard who can, except your Harry of course'
`Your not missing much, it's horrible' Hermione said remembering the squeezing sensation that apparition brought with it.
`You've actually apparated?' Ron said, Hermione felt a little worried as he seemed to be entering information override at the moment `Are you a witch'
`Even if I could do magic I wouldn't call myself a witch' she joked making Ron laugh a little `so how are we going to get out of here?'
`Our leader has set up a portkey…' he said as he fished around in his pockets before he drew out a matchbox `here it is, just touch it and it'll transport us there'
`Ok' Hermione said not liking the idea, Harry had explained to her that the Ford Anglia used the principals of a portkey for travel but in that she was inside a car and now she didn't like the idea of doing it with just her clothes for protection.
`It's perfectly safe, I promise you' Ron said leaning forward towards her slightly so she could take hold of it.
She put a finger out nervously and touched it while she looked up at Ron who was staring amazed at her. She couldn't help but blush a little as she noticed that Ron wasn't only looking at her face, but before she could notice anymore she felt what appeared to be hook grab her and pull her wildly forward, spinning the world around crazily, and just as like the Ford Anglia it stopped suddenly and sent her falling straight to the floor.
`Ron who is that!' she heard a man shout as she tried to stand up but fell over again a little dizzy. She didn't think she'd ever find a magical way of travelling that she would like.
`This is Hermione Granger' Ron said from above her, obviously he hadn't fallen over, and embarrassedly she stood up and looked around at the room.
The room was about the size of a normal school hall and had over a dozen people inside it, as well as various boxes and machines that seemed to be similar to the many she had found in the Ford Anglia. All the men were wearing those strange long trench coat like robes, and all were staring intently at her.
`Ron, why have you brought someone here!' a worn-out looking man said, he was tall and middle aged who seemed to be a little too skinny `She could be anyone!'
`Now Remus, let the young man be' an elderly wizard said walking up. He had a long silver beard and was wearing half moon glasses, his nose looked like a boxers, broken a few too many times for an ordinary man `Hello, Hermione Granger, my names Albus Dumbledore'
`Hi Albus' she said a little nervously, every person was still staring at her and many had hold of their wands.
`She's friends with Harry' Ron said walking up next to her. Everyone started to whisper too each other at this information and Hermione felt even more nervous.
`Now now Ron, there's plenty of time for that' Albus said kindly, but his eyes were sparkling letting Hermione know that he was very interested in Harry `Is there anything you would like?'
`Albus, how can you be sure she's telling the truth?' Remus said worried.
`It comes down to trust' Albus said looking at Remus knowingly.
`That's what Harry says' Hermione said before she could stop herself.
`Sounds like a clever man, a very…' Albus stopped mid sentence and looked at the wall opposite.
In the same moment every voice had died, and silence filled the air as all eyes gravitated towards the side of the room that had grabbed Albus' attention, and even the people who had been standing there had run too the other side, most cowering slightly behind them. Hermione looked at Ron who seemed to be steadying himself for a fight as he raised his wand, while Remus seemed to be worried but ready. Albus though watched the wall with a delighted but interested look on his face and a small smile playing on his lips.
A noise momentarily broke the silence, a sound Hermione instantly recognized. It was the sound the Ford Anglia made as they travelled somewhere. She looked everywhere as the sound stopped, hoping to see Harry any moment now. And then it happened. The blue door appeared in the middle of the air, floating like it wasn't part of something bigger, and as it opened her friend stepped out. Her Harry.
`Hermione' Harry said a little sternly as he looked at her `Come here, please'
She didn't need telling twice and the moment the words had finished she had started to sprint towards him, instantly jumping into his arms, throwing her head into his chest as his arms enveloped him in a hug. She had only seen him about 24 hours ago, but it had felt like an eternity to her. As she broke the hug she looked at him and he was wearing his characteristic smile. She had so many things to tell him and didn't know where to start, so she picked one randomly and said it.
`Did you know I could hear the Ford Anglia from here when you were coming' Hermione said.
`Really?' Harry said with his mouth agape a little in amazement `that would answer a lot of questions I've been having!'
`Like in china when that man was waiting for us with spears when we appeared' Hermione said rolling her eyes as it all slotted into place.
`Exactly!' Harry said delightedly `I always just thought I had the worse luck when really…'
`Excuse me' Ron said interrupting Harry, his voice held annoyance.
`Have I interrupted you once since I've been here?' Harry said angrily as he raised his voice, looking at Ron who seemed to be refusing to cower but decided against speaking again `where was I, oh yeah! The noise thing! I'm going to have to try and sort that out, any ideas my genius little friend?'
`I'll let you know I'm not that little, but I liked the genius comment so I'll let you off this time' Hermione said teasingly `how about some sort of muffler? Like on actual Ford Anglia's?'
`I'm not sure if that'd quite work…' Harry said thinking hard as he looked off slightly. Hermione felt so much better that Harry was here again she couldn't stop the smile that was stuck on her face. Harry shook his head and looked at the group of wizards who had been watching them `ok, now you guys can speak'
`Thank you' Ron said a little sarcastically but Harry didn't seem to notice, or care.
`You must be Harry Potter' Albus said kindly as he walked over to Harry and held out a hand as an offering.
`I already know my own name, thank you' Harry said happily as he looked at the aged man, refusing to shake his hand. Albus seemed to have noticed this and withdrew his hand and smiled `What I want to know is how, out of 6 billion people, you have managed to take Hermione Granger to where ever the hell we are?'
`My associate, Ronald Wealsey here' Albus said indicating Ron `found her as she was about to be attacked, and brought her here for her own safety'
`And give me one reason why I should trust you' Harry said stepping up even closer to the man confrontationally. Hermione stepped up next to him and put a hand on his arm in the hope of calming him down slightly.
`Surely we must have some of your confidence already, as you came without your wand raised' Albus said kindly.
`Your mistaken on that one' Harry said happily `it's purely… and I mean one hundred percent here… confidence in my own ability'
`Well then we must work to gain your trust' Albus said, his eyes flashing as he smiled once more `Ask Hermione, the delightful girl, if we have hurt her in any way, emotionally or physically'
Harry looked at her with searching eyes for a moment as she shook her head.
`They've been nothing but nice' Hermione said.
`They could have obliviated you' Harry said looking into her eyes.
`Don't give me that one!' Hermione said slightly indignantly.
`True, none of them seem to be at all beaten up, which surely would of happened if they had tried' Harry said grinning at her `But they could of just been faking it'
`Harry, trust me' Hermione said desperately, she knew these people were good, and they needed Harry's help. He looked at her and smiled.
`Ok, so I trust them' he said in an air of giving up before turning to the group and asking `what I know want to know was who you saved Hermione from, so I can pay them a visit'
`What I want to know is how did you get here?' Ron said suddenly, not trying to hide the suspicion in his voice.
`Car' Harry said simply looking at Ron like he was a fool. Hermione gave him a slight dig in the ribs as she knew he was being rude to prove a point.
`What my young and rash friend was trying to say, I'm sure, was that we have set up a lot of precautions not to be found and he must have been intrigued as to how you managed to break these safe guards' Albus said stepping beside Ron, Hermione wasn't sure if this was used to back up Ron or to show that he had control over him, but either way it seemed to work as Harry looked at him for a few moments.
`You haven't told me your name' Harry said finally as he held out a hand to Albus suddenly, who seemed slightly taken aback by Harry's change but recovered quickly and shook his hand.
`The names Albus Dumbledore' he said happily, his eyes still examining Harry like they were actually an x-ray machine.
`Well, Albus, surely you must know that all magic leaves signs, some large some small, all visible if you know what to look for' Harry said brightly.
`Ahhh…' Albus said tilting his head upwards slightly in understanding `You picked up on the leftover portkey trail and followed it… that is brilliant'
`Please don't give him too big a head' Hermione said groaning making Harry laugh.
`Such a kind hearted girl, she always fears for me!' Harry said pretending to brush a tear from his eye.
`But I, as secret keeper of this base, made the portkey, how did you break the fidelius charm I had put on this place?' Albus asked curiously, like they were friends just discussing ideas.
`You could say I invented the Fidelius charm' Harry said shrugging `in fact, between you and me, I actually did'
`But…' Albus started and stopped as he looked upwards in comprehension `Of course, I understand'
`Well I don't!' Ron said angrily taking a step forward.
`The clever boy broke the charm!' Harry said in a mockingly dumb voice angering Ron even more.
`Leave it out' Hermione whispered to Harry who just shrugged.
`That doesn't make any difference Ron, Remus said stepping forward `all that matters is if Harry will help us'
At these words the room went deadly silent as all eyes stared at Harry, who just looked a little confused.
`With what?' he said slightly confused.
`Surely you must know what has been happening?' Albus said
`Of course, it's just a favourite past time of mine is pretending to be dumb' Harry said sarcastically as he started to walk around the room `Hermione, you seem to have a reasonable grasp of the obvious, can you tell me what's going on?'
`Well' Hermione said, happy that Harry had asked her instead of all these other wizards and witches `6 months ago…'
`Just after we left?' Harry said turning quickly back to her in interest.
`Pretty much to the day' Hermione answered as Harry nodded to this news `The Slytherins won an election, and their a group of evil wizards and have chosen now to pretty much enslave the human race'
`How are they enslaving them?' Harry said quickly `your mother didn't seem to be under any control'
`Well they haven't exactly enslaved them completely' Remus said speaking up `Their using a placing of rations to lower peoples resistance, and after only a month every member of the populace loves the idea of being controlled by a central government, whatever their restricting laws are'
`Ingenius!' Harry said smiling and laughing `pure inspiration! If you take away someone's ability to think then they lose usefulness, but with it they are likely to revolt…a potion to wipe out the humanities instinct of resistance against what they know to be wrong would make the best of both worlds…I'm liking these guys style already!'
`Anyway…' Hermione spoke up `they seem to be very interested in you, as you saw with the newspaper about you being a terrorist…I found a room with loads of boxes, and a penseive that had you in it, but you were younger…'
`That was the memory that they…' Ron started to speak but Harry interrupted him excitedly as he walked straight up to him.
`Stop right there!' he said grinning wildly `you said something about a memory, tell me about that'
`Well we don't know too much about that' Albus said `We only know the Slytherins found a memory consisting of you, and ever since they've been obsessed with it'
`So that's how they got around my charms!' Harry said punching the air `I knew it had to be a wizard of some sort, but they used a memory of before the charm to break it…I should have seen that one coming a mile off!'
`Don't be too hard on yourself, they would have found it out sooner or later' Albus said kindly.
`Why?' Harry said confused.
`Because both side have been searching for you for years now' Albus said simply.
`Pray, tell what you mean by that' Harry said interestedly.
`The Plactofrese that you encountered 6 months ago, we were preparing to battle, a year before that with the oxbarian flu…we've seen tell tale signs of you for years but could never get your name' Albus explained `we knew you must have had it charmed someway, both sides were desperate to break it'
`But why so much interest in me?' Harry said `or is it as simple as I fear it to be?'
`Yes, it is as simple as that' Albus said lowering his head slightly `We wished to learn from you, they wish to use you…arguments broke out between us, they went their way six months ago, and we went ours'
`And your way worked, didn't it?' Harry said grinning `you have me here'
`I'm afraid that it seems to be more like you have us here' Albus said honestly with a smile, making Harry laugh.
`And you want my help to bring down the Slytherins, save humanity from slavery and re-dress the whole balance between humanity and magic?' Harry said incredulously `Do you really believe that I can do that?'
`Yes…' Albus said simply `I do'
`That's all that I needed' Harry said grinning wickedly as he started to walk around the room `I'm going to need some things, some information'
`Anything we can do we will' Remus said.
`Within reason' Ron added hotly.
`I'm going to need a full set of the rations, find out how to combat the control' Harry said.
`Ok' Remus said as he walked over to the corner and brought back a big box and gave it to Harry. Hermione watched as Harry whipped his wand over it a few times `we've been trying for 6 months and still haven't been able to find out how they are…'
`Done' Harry said interrupting Remus `it's a basic sedative mixed with veritaserum, combats rebelliousness by calming and breaking the ability to lie and conceal, very clever'
Everyone was looking at Harry mightily impressed at his ability, but Hermione already knew Harry was brilliant so she just smiled as she enjoyed watching him in saving the day mode.
`It's being given through the tea, as people start and finish the day with it its perfect for maximum efficiency' Harry said before adding `your mother must be up to the eye balls in this!'
`Haha' Hermione said as she thought the same thing, hardly a memory she had didn't have her mother drinking tea.
`So you want us to believe you've solved a problem we haven't been able to in a wave of you wand' Ron said looking at him suspiciously.
`I don't really care what you believe' Harry said shrugging `next information… is there anyone called Tom Marvolo Riddle?' Harry said casually as he walked around the room examining things in boxes.
`Should I know some one by that name?' Albus said with a smile.
`No, you shouldn't' Harry said shrugging `how about some sort of wacky anagram of that name? Lord something or other? King so and so? Complete git whatever?'
`Not that I know of' Albus said looking intently at Harry as if he saw something none of them could. Hermione had only ever seen this weird knowing look in one other, and that was Harry, who was now looking straight into Albus' face before a huge, truly happy grin broke onto his face.
`Fantastic!' he smirked `Truly fantastic!'
`What else do you need?' Albus asked.
`A day' Harry said.
`That one is easy' Remus remarked.
`And I need Hermione to wait here with you' Harry said.
`Not again!' hermiione shrieked out as eh walked over to him.
`Hermione' Harry started.
`No, you listen' she said hotly `I need you, last time I ended up cleaning all morning, nearly being attacked and then saved my wizards'
`Hermione we both know that you wouldn't of gone cleaning if you hadn't wanted to' Harry said with a smile `and as for being attacked, I would bet on you anyday, and thus the saving thing doesn't count'
`But still!' Hermione said annoyed `Why do I have to stay here'
`Can't you just do as I say without questioning it for once?' Harry said dropping his shoulders slightly.
`No' Hermione said flat out refusing
`Fine, the reason is, and I don't mean to insult anyone here' Harry said turning to everyone and shooting them and apologetic smile `is I trust you an awful lot more than anyone here, and I cant just leave all these people alone for 24 hours and expect everything to be ok when I get back'
`No offence taken' Albus said holding his hands up acceptingly `and we'll do all we can to appease Miss. Granger'
`Harry' Hermione said pleadingly.
`Hermione, do you want your mum, your friends, your whole world controlled by these Slytherins?' Harry asked seriously.
`No…' Hermione said softly.
`I'm the only one who can stand in front of them' Harry put a hand on her shoulder and smiled `me and you are the only people who can stop them'
`And what are we? Your audience?' Ron said hotly.
`Hermione, can you please help me save the world?' Harry said ignoring Ron's comment.
Hermione looked at him uncertainly for a while, she was use to following Harry and now he was asking her to actually help him. She couldn't lie to herself in saying that she was very nervous at this idea.
`What do you want me to do?' she asked determinedly.
`I need to find out what their doing, what magic their using, and if you can how to beat them, and especially to work with them and work out an antidote for the tea control, that ones very important' Harry said putting his other hand on her shoulder.
`How do you expect me to do that?' Hermione asked nervously.
`Question them, check what information they have' Harry started then laughed `Do whatever your brilliant mind can come up with!'
`Ok' Hermione said, feeling more confident as Harry had more trust in him `And what are you going to do?'
He looked at her for a while and smiled.
`I'll do what I'll always do…' Harry said `I'll save the world'
Hermione's heart was beating fast, she didn't want to be parted from Harry again but she knew she had to. There was no other way around it, Harry was doing it for a reason and she had to trust him. He smiled at her for a moment before turning around and walking straight to the Ford Anglia and opening the door and stepping inside instantly, without a look or word to anyone else before he left. The noise started again and the door disappeared and with the silence that soon came she k new Harry was gone.
And now she had to do her part, she had a job to do, she had to save the world.
*
Hope you enjoyed that and that its not all too confusing for you! I'm trying to make it all make sense for you, but I can't say, like usual, too much…
Jms Granger.
-->