Author Note - I still live, but two of my computers don't. About 2 months ago the family computer's PSU died on us and thanks to a selection of unexpected bills fixing it has been put off repeatedly. As you might guess there is a 3rd pc which is the ancient fossil brought out just for internet access. When the family pc died it held about 75% of this chapter pre-written, and I expected a swift recovery so wasn't too worried. Each time it looked like it was going to be fixed it got delayed a little more, and each time I put off re-writing because with most of the work already done it didn't seem worth it.
The result a very long wait for anyone who's actually still wants to read more of this story and I am very sorry for that. I'm already started on chapter 17 and have 2 pages written already when I got this back from the beta. Now I considered waiting and posting a bunch all together so you wouldn't have such a long wait between chapters and this is open to a vote on the reviews, should I finish the story then post it all rather than the random posting or would you rather read as it's done?
Anyways, thanks to anyone who sticks with me and I hope you enjoy 8D
Hermione landed in the small area between the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, and started to panic. She slipped inside and ran past Tom who looked up at her arrival. She needed urgent contact with Kingsley and knew that the pre-arranged signals wouldn't do. She practically flew up the stairs and into her room, casting a selection of spells upon the door. Once assured she was secure she grabbed her silver mirror and called to Shacklebolt.
"Granger? I was not expecting communication so quickly. Is there a problem?" Kingsley asked as his face appeared in the mirror.
"Bellatrix has Harry! She's trying to seduce him!" she replied quickly in a shrilly voice.
"What! How did she … she's what?" Kingsley's expression shifted from confusion to shock and anger then to bewilderment in an instant.
"She wants him! She's been flirting with him all day and now she's got him all alone!" she blurted out, panic starting to creep in.
"Granger, calm yourself, then organise your thoughts and repeat them in a manner that actually makes sense, please." Kingsley replied in his deep calming voice.
Hermione paused and stopped for a few deep breaths. While that was the main source of her current panic, it was not technically relevant to why she had contacted him. She just burst out the first thing that was on her mind and now she was beginning to regret it. With her thoughts organised, she looked back to the mirror.
"As you know we extracted Snape and escaped back to the Death Eater base. He has already been relocated to a hidden site to work on the potion. Harry and I have been assigned to guard duty at the new site. It's under a Fidelius charm with Rabastan as secret keeper."
"Rabastan gave Harry the address to show it to me. We still have it so we can raid the hidden site," Hermione reported with all the coolness she could muster but her voice showed signs of breaking as she continued, "As we were leaving, Bellatrix caught up with us and insisted that Harry stay as her guest. I returned immediately to report in while he is still there. We believe that Bellatrix has a romantic or at least lust fuelled interest in Paul. Ironically, it was triggered by the hatred, Harry has for her, being portrayed in his eyes."
"I think the interest she had in Potter could prove troublesome and without you, things could go for the worse. I'll put the entry cells on high alert again just in case Potter looses his control and starts arresting everyone." Kingsley muttered, "You're going to have to come in so we can see the note to prepare for any raids. I'll send a runner for Ron to meet up with us in the briefing room."
"We aren't going to do anything about Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"There is very little we can do Granger, he is within a Fidelius bound mansion and the only one who can breach it can't enter without raising too much suspicion." Shacklebolt replied, "I trust Potter to extract himself safely if required. It is why I picked him for this mission in the first place. We however must focus on how to proceed next."
"And if he can't extract himself safely Sir!" Hermione asked, her voice still squeaking on occasion as she spoke.
"Stop wandering down paths of what ifs and transport yourself here! I'll meet you in the strategy room with Ron and a few others in ten minutes Auror Granger," Shacklebolt ordered before his image vanished.
Hermione shrieked in frustration and threw her mirror away. With her foresight and intelligence she ensured she threw it at the bed so it wouldn't break. She drew in long deep breaths, trying to calm herself but it wasn't working very well. It was torture knowing Harry was alone with Bellatrix, she was jealous of all things. It was stupid. She knew she should be afraid that Harry would try and kill her or that he would be discovered, but of all the emotions coursing through her veins, jealously was the worst.
"This is all bloody Harry's fault," She thought while she kept trying to breath, "Why did he have to bloody kiss me and open all these old wounds. No! This is Shacklebolt's fault. Why did he have to partner us together?! Harry's fault! He wants me as bad as I want him and it's distracting me! Why the bloody hell didn't he do something about it in Hogwarts!"
She eventually grabbed her Portkey and returned to the briefing room at the ministry to find Kingsley, Ron, Drew, Russell and Orion waiting. Drew Woodside was a petite half blood witch with short cut blond hair, she was the captain of Tactical Squad D. Next to her was muggle-born Russell Green, captain of Squad E. He wore a cheeky smile and his brown hair down to his neck. Lastly was pure-blooded Orion Gamp whose pale skin and long silver hair suited his stern appearance. He was closing in on Moody's record of longest serving Tactical Auror.
The Tactical Squads were used for raids and hosted the best combat wizards and witches. Each squad contained a captain and four Aurors usually, the squads were kept small for stealth but worked together when numbers were needed. There were a total of eight squads available at emergency call but usually only the first four were ever active and waiting. During the warehouse raids both squads A and B were crippled so they had been de-activated from active duty until they recovered.
"Hey Hermione," Ron smiled as she entered.
"Ah Granger, you know everyone I assume?" Shacklebolt asked as he looked up from his papers.
"I don't think I've met Orion in person, known only by reputation," She replied.
"Aye, the same," he replied in a hoarse, harsh voice.
"He's the captain of Tactical Squad C, our best active squad at the moment. Both Ron's and Sid's teams are out of action until we promote some field Aurors or they get their injured back swiftly," Kingsley informed her.
"Actually I've got both of mine back from St Mungo's now Sir," Ron added, "Sid's last will be released by next week. As you know we lost Samantha from his team so they're down to three, I'll need one more to replace Megan to be back to strength."
"Duly noted. We've got some trainees doing final examinations in two weeks. If any pass to full Auror we'll move a few to the tactical squads. Since your squad is out of action for the rest of the week, run tactical tests and decide who we're moving." Kingsley ordered, "But we need to focus on the reason for this meeting for a moment."
"Potter and Granger have secured for us the location of Snape's facility. You are all now authorized to know he's been planted within the Death Eater ranks as a spy for us." Kingsley stated.
"Once a Death Eatah always a Death Eatah," sneered Orion, "Moody nevah trusted tha slimy git and I be agreeing with that."
"How do we know he isn't using the opportunity to double cross us Sir?" Drew inquired.
"We don't. We're putting a lot of trust in him," Kingsley replied.
"Dumbledore be doin that too, look what be happening ta him," spat Orion.
"This time we aren't going blindly on Dumbledore's word. We're going on Harry's." Hermione interrupted, "Snape has given proof he killed Dumbledore on his orders. His aid was crucial to Voldemort's downfall and he's letting himself be thrown to the wolves. It's a known fact that Bellatrix hates the man, even if she trusts him."
"His allegiance is vouched for by Potter, but he'll be arrested like the others when we raid. You'll be able to curse him if he tries to resist more than necessary. Nothing lethal, do try to keep him alive, it is possible he's working for us." Orion sneered again at Kingsley's orders but nodded, "He needs to be arrested or escape as his cover is important. This raid is probably going to blow the cover of Potter and Granger, so we need to properly disable the Death Eaters or we've lost this chance forever."
"Ideally we're looking for the capture or termination of the following first priority targets," Kingsley waved his wand at the wall and faces shimmered into a line up.
Bordered by red were Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Antonin Dolohov and Walden Macnair. Beneath them were a few lesser death eaters that had been identified in previous raids and intelligence. Hermione extracted a few memories from her time in the mansion and provided a few more faces to the wall.
"We are hoping that we can catch them off guard and thus unmasked," Kingsley commented.
"Sir, from what we saw in there, all members are masked at all time except recruits and those higher members I just showed you." Hermione corrected, "It's to provoke fearful loyalty in the recruits. They know who you are, but you don't know them. It also means that spies can't give away too much. So apart from the guards on duty at the site and the really arrogant ones like Bellatrix, they'll all be masked."
"Speaking of spies, one of their new recruits is Francis from over in Magical Law Enforcement. He could be how they discovered warehouse sites." Hermione added quickly.
Kingsley raised a brow and sent off a patronus quickly before returning to the meeting.
"Based on current information what do you suggest Weasley?" Shacklebolt asked the large red head.
"Well, the guard at the last location was six and that was torn apart by Harry alone so they'll be boosting it. Most definitely eight, likely ten to twelve I suspect. We'll be able to confirm this right before kick off hopefully." Ron looked over to Hermione who nodded.
"I'll make sure me or Harry send a message once we arrive and have scouted a little." She replied.
"We'll have the advantage that three people there are working for us. Images of Icewell and Earning will be shown right before we start in case of leaks. This means that we'll be facing maybe ten with our numbers plus two. They shouldn't be expecting us so I'm hoping a quick strike will overcome the entry team." Ron theorized, "Drew's team will be the initial attack."
"With Hermione or Harry's lead they'll make quick work of the remaining guard. Relying on stealth to overcome the odds, but hopefully word will get through of the attack. In the event it doesn't, Hermione can send word. The smaller squad should provoke a counter attack in fast order. Once the entry point is clear we'll bring in Orion's and Russell's teams to ambush whoever comes."
"At least one, maybe two, of the main five should respond to the attack. I can't see them risking everything by bringing everyone. This will be a crippling move, but it's not going to eliminate the lot." Ron finished with a small sigh.
"We don't need the lot, but we do need these three." Hermione commented as she directed her wand to shrink and move Rodolphus and Rabastan aside, "Bellatrix is their leader with Macnair and Dolohov the most enthusiastic followers. We need to take them to destroy them. The brothers are a big risk but I don't think they'll continue without Bellatrix or Voldemort unlike the other two."
"Myself and Harry will have no influence over who comes unfortunately and either of the brothers are the most likely candidates." Hermione added.
"This attack will compromise Granger and Potter in all likelihood, is it worth it?" Shacklebolt asked Hermione.
"We can't continue the undercover part under these circumstances. It is one thing to pretend to be a Death Eater and go attacking our fellow Aurors." Hermione explained, keeping a passive mask up at all times as fresh memories tormented her, "But we're being asked to stand and watch while muggles and witches are tortured to death. I can't take it again, I'm sorry Sir."
"Perfectly understandable, Granger. We're going ahead, Weasley, make sure the Aurors are ready first thing tomorrow." Kingsley ordered, "Are there any questions of comments?"
"Well, Harry is still undercover, if he is compromised this whole plan will be compromised. We're going to have to send confirmation once he leaves to confirm it is still possible to go ahead." Hermione added.
"Harry is alone in the Death Eater stronghold? Why? How?" Ron asked, alarm obvious in his expression.
"As we were leaving Bellatrix caught up with us and insisted Harry stay, she has developed … a romantic interest in Paul, Harry's cover. She has been flirting heavily with him most of the morning." Hermione explained with a grimace.
"So this whole operation is based on Harry keeping his cool while alone with Bellatrix … why are we sitting around planning? If Harry hasn't already blown up the base from his rage I'll skip lunch for a week." Ron commented dryly.
"Looks like you're going hungry then Ron," Hermione replied, having quickly flipped her watch open to the clock feature.
The compass needle for Harry was spinning wildly which Hermione assumed was related to the Fidileus charm. However the status clock had Harry pointed at Work, which was a relief. The status had eight directions, including Work, Home, Travel, Vacation, Mortal Peril and because of their particular occupations, Hostage, Fighting, Deceased.
"What is that Granger?" Shacklebolt inquired, a curious look in his eyes as he leaned over for a better look.
"A gift from the twins, they've experimental and not completed, but because of the mission they gave them to us early. They're currently working on four models for me, Harry, Ron and Neville. Once they are finished they'll offer the contract to the Ministry."
"Could be useful for the tactical squads and partners certainly." Kingsley commented.
"They have more features, including one panel that works like our mirrors, emergency portkey feature, lie detector and a one time disillusion spell." Hermione explained, "But this one is a combination tracking spell, focused on the watch and a status clock like Mrs Weasley has. It shows that Harry is working and not in a life or death battle."
"I trust you will not object however if I have the security cells on alert?" Kingsley asked as he sent off another patronus, "After the meeting go collect yours Weasley, we can use them as secure means of communication, I believe they will be safer for our uncover operatives."
"Most certainly, though it might be hard to explain why we are talking to our watches if discovered." Hermione replied, her voice threatened to squeak as Ron had reminded her about Harry's position.
"What be the command order?" Orion interrupted.
"Use the usual ranking practice, with Weasley taking control of the operation. Granger and Potter have command after him on site as they will possess the most knowledge." Kingsley replied.
Orion scowled but nodded in acceptance. The elderly Auror disliked being ordered by children which he considered the trio to be, despite Harry, Hermione and Ron were all at least twenty four. In a few short years Orion Gamp was going to be one of a mere handful of people who spent their whole career in the Aurors and survived to retirement. He, like Alastor Moody and the trio, had been fast tracked into the Aurors and was close to the longest service record, currently held by Moody himself.
There were usually only three options for Aurors as they started to slow with age. They were promoted out of combat, transferred to other departments or they ended up in the morgue. Only the very best were able to retire as active Aurors and Orion had every intention of having his name added to that list.
Orion was further frustrated by being delegated to squad C when he felt he deserved to be on squad A. There were many factors that went into deciding the order of the squads. The top eight Aurors were placed in charge of the squads and were assigned a group of four Aurors based on skills and abilities to keep the teams balanced. Orion had been in charge of squad A until a few years ago, Kingsley had promoted both Ron and Sid above him.
Power and experience had been the leading factors of which Gamp was leagues ahead, but Kingsley had introduced other factions into the equation. Tactics and strategy were now held in high esteem and even diplomacy was considered now. Orion was more direct and preferred to blast everything until it stopped moving and then ask a question or two. That is the reason Ron and Sid had been promoted over him. But even Kingsley couldn't argue with Gamp's record and kept him near the top.
The meeting was dismissed and Hermione was sent back to wait in the Leaky Cauldron. Kingsley was caught by a magical law officer and motioned for Gamp to wait a moment. He was informed that Francis was not at home and not due to work until Tuesday.
"Have his house monitored and send a message down to the flu department. Make sure they keep their eyes open for him. Permission is granted to arrest on sight but make sure the officers are subtle, he shouldn't suspect he's compromised until tomorrow." Kingsley ordered then went over to Orion.
"This is the first large scale assignment I've had you since Weasley took over Tactical command, isn't it Gamp?" Kingsley commented as the two men walked back to the main area.
"Aye, that be true,"
"This is going to be a problem for you,"
"Cannae deny it won't be hard, I donnae like takin orders from the young'ens in the field, nevah have, nevah will. But I be havin no intentions of makin it a problem for ye." Orion replied.
"I'm used to problems from my Aurors. If there is a morning I have walked into the office, and not found at least five problems that need to be sorted, then I know that Potter has been sick. Problems for me aren't the issue, its problems for Weasley and Granger in the field tomorrow that concern me."
"Ye put Potter ahead of me too." Gamp added with a slight tone of accusation.
"Yes, but I don't foresee you having any trouble with his policy of spell first, spell second, use a few more spells then when everyone is unconscious or dead drag them in for questioning." Kingsley replied.
"He be soundin like my kind of kid." Orion smirked.
"Yes, well these days we find information more useful than bodies Gamp."
"A corpse ain't gonna be usin an unforgivable on one of my lads either."
"True enough, which is why I don't complain too much when you don't bring anyone in. I'll take five dead death eaters over a dead Auror any day of the week and twice on Sundays. But I do like it to be a life or death situation Gamp, I hope you've understood me and heard the orders even if you have no intention of following them."
"If you don't think I'll obey, why haven't you suspended me?" Orion inquired as the reached the main hall.
"Because you get results Gamp, you are still one of the best Auror's we've got or have ever had." Kingsley replied as he walked into his office, ending the conversation and leaving Orion smirking, but also slightly confused.
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After the meeting Ron had headed immediately to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes to meet his brothers. He was wary of the trip as he was still a main target of their pranks, his immense size and lack of grace making him an easy target. He hopped on the lift and went to the wrong floor twice before arriving on the staff level. He flashed his badge at the receptionist and she waved him through with a kind smile.
"Little brother, to what do we owe this unexpected visit?" Fred inquired, George not visible in the room immediately.
"Shacklebolt sent me, I've asked to collect my watch to help in the operation tomorrow." Ron replied, his hand edged towards his wand and his eyes scanned the room. He subconsciously started to move into a combat stance as if he expected to be attacked, which was technically true.
"What watch?" Fred asked innocently.
"No time for jokes bro, Hermione came in, we've got a serious raid tomorrow, we need the watch to organise, safer for them considering the circumstances." Ron replied sharply.
"Okay then," Fred seemed disappointed at the lack of opportunity to tease his little brother but realised the urgency involved, "We best go see Andy and Daz then."
"Oh Merlin, not them nutters, they came up with it?" Ron replied.
"Andy and Daz are our best staff members, you know that Ronnikins. It's almost as if we were Quadruplets. Harry trusts them." Fred grinned as he led Ron back to the elevator.
"But Harry is as mental as you lot are, so that doesn't count as an endorsement. Hermione knew who made them and still put the bloody thing on? Mental, bloody mental." He muttered, "What am I saying? I'm about to do it as well, I must have finally gone loopy."
Fred laughed as they climbed into the escalator and went to meet Andrew and Darren. The doors opened on the research floor and they were suddenly met by a storm of feathers. High pitched tweeting and squawks filled the corridor as a flock of birds flew around in a flurry of activity.
"The Bloody Hell?!" Ron yelled, ducking as low as he could as Fred hit the floor.
"Andy and Daz have been experimenting with that spell of Hermione's. They admired it very much when she used it on me and George the other day. We've been treated to random flocks of birds ever since." Fred explained as he tried to wave away a rather persistent woodpecker.
Suddenly the birds vanished into small puffs of green smoke and the corridor was clear once again. After looking up and around first Ron slowly rose to his feet and stepped out of the elevator allowing it to close. His hand hovered near his wand the whole time he followed Fred over to the other twin's room.
"Ron? Don't see you here often," Andy remarked as they entered the room.
"Not often seen here for sure," Daz added without looking up from his work.
"I wonder why," Ron replied dryly.
"We wonder too."
"Much wondering is done."
"Indeed, wondering why he is here now."
"Certainly there has been a shift of wondering to that puzzlement."
"I'm here for the bloody watch, now cut that crap and hand it over. I want to return to pretending you don't exist so I can happily think that there isn't a cruel and sadistic god above us. What other reason could there be for four of you." Ron shouted.
Three sets of eyes blinked at him for a few moments then three sets of lips curled into smirks. All three of them suddenly burst into laughter soon joined by George and Lee who had been attracted by Ron's ranting. Both Andy and Darren struggled over to the vault, their fits of laughter not preventing them completing the complex unlocking charm simultaneously. Darren reached inside and collected the box for Ron.
"You been taking ranting lessons from Harry again little bro?" Fred asked after gaining some breath back.
Ron's face had slowly been turning red from embarrassment at his own outburst, but now his skin started to glow more brightly than his hair. He grabbed the box and muttered a thank you under his breath and swept out of the room. As the elevator doors were closing Lee Jordan hopped in at the last moment. He went to press the button for the staff floor but realised Ron had already done that in error.
"Thought someone ought to explain how the watches work," Lee grinned at the large Auror, "And for some reason I got the impression you didn't want to spend more time with the Quads at this moment."
"What gave you that impression?" Ron replied.
"Well I wasn't just hired for my stunning looks you know," Lee replied, "Now about the watch, it's designed to be opened eight directions. They only open when you are wearing it and only when you press your thumb over the middle ridge of that side. Pressing the ridges on either side and avoiding the middle one will lock the watch in case you're captured."
"That's a new feature, so Harry and Hermione's watches don't do that yet, we'll install that at the first chance. Once you flip it down you'll have a miniature status clock, like the one you have at home. It only has hands for you, Harry, Hermione and Neville, we can't add too many considering the size. But for Auror partners and trainees it will work fine. On the other half is a compass which will point at any partner watches. Note, it works on the watch, not the person."
Ron opened his watch as instructed and checked Harry was still aimed at 'Work' and his needle was spinning wildly. He showed it to Lee who looked a little puzzled.
"We suspect Harry is in a Fidelius charm at the moment," Ron commented which cleared some of the confusion from Lee's eyes.
"Ah, we weren't entirely sure what that result would be, makes sense I suppose. I wonder what happens to the clock though, does it just freeze on the last known location or does it still work?" Lee mused almost to himself.
Ron however went wide eyed at the thought. His first thought was to contact Hermione but that would just cause her to panic without any solid reason. Instead he drew his Auror mirror and called to Kingsley.
"Weasley? Is there a problem?" Shacklebolt inquired in his usual deep, calm voice.
"I need to know if there has been any activity in the holding cells." Ron replied quickly.
"None, what's going on?"
"Nothing yet, I'm at the twin's shop. Speaking to Lee at the moment and he wasn't sure how the status clock would react under Fidelius so I had to check."
"A worrying development but not one we can do anything about, I'll keep you informed if anything happens here. The guards are on alert but Potter wouldn't have any special cuffs on him, the pre-caution was taken in case he has time to create any."
Ron nodded, remembering like Kingsley, that on a few previous raids Harry had transfigured objects into the specially designed Auror Cuffs. His mind was drawn to his first memory of Harry doing such. Ron's team had responded to an emergency call from Harry's then current partner.
Ron had arrived to find Harry battling against a group of thugs. The fight had dissolved into more of a brawl with physical and magical fighting. Harry was in the middle punching and casting away. As Ron and his team arrived one of the men behind Harry had his wand raised and was casting a Stupefy spell. Almost instinctively Harry spun around and grabbed the man's arm with his left hand. Pulling him forward he moved him so the spell struck an opponent.
At the same time his sudden movement had ripped the sleeve of the man's robes. Harry quickly brought his right elbow into the man's gut and ripped the other sleeve and spun him. Grabbing the gathered material of the sleeves behind the man's back he transfigured it into the portkey cuffs and transported him away.
Afterwards Harry told Ron that he had only managed it because of the additional distraction from the team's arrival. But the large redhead hadn't been convinced and since then Harry had repeated the feat a few more times when he simply ran out cuffs.
With the memory fading he nodded to his boss and cut off the mirror. He turned back to a rather confused Lee Jordan and listened as he explained the other features of the watch. However Ron was still rather distracted thinking about how Harry was doing in the clutches of the Death Eaters.