Author Note: Two apologies for this one, firstly, sorry for how long it took, secondly, sorry because it's shorter than usual, I like to post at about 4.5k words and this is only about 3.5k. I'll be blaming a combination of sickness and being busy over the holidays for these. Also a large number of my muses were fried by the bug zapper.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy. Credit for the ending goes to MyUsedRomance on Portkey, if you don't know why search the reviews. Thanks to my betas Sweet_Mione, JediYoda and Michelle_Moonshine.
Edit: Two rather large errors slipped through on this chapter, for the first I blame my brain turning off, I had Bellatrix calling her husband brother for some reason. For the second I say my brain jumped out the window, Harry is of course sitting near his godfather's killer, not his godfather's father. I have a tendency to write the same word twice rather than two different ones if I'm tying too fast, this one wasn't pointed out by spell check because it wasn't double usage. Thank you to dudette3993 and my Anon poster for smacking me upside the head with the error.
Another soft crack and they both appeared in the small space between the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley. Harry stepped forward and opened the door that led into the bar; he motioned for Hermione to enter first. She smiled gratefully and stepped inside, they headed through the bar and to the stairs, nodding at Tom as they climbed the stairs.
They quickly entered their room and closed the door, Hermione waving her wand for a wordless silencing spell. The room wasn't very large; there was enough room for a table and two chairs, a sofa looking at a small television, a radio and a double poster bed. On one wall there was a large closet, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. There was a door, which probably led to the bathroom.
Harry opened up the closet and took note of the silver suitcases from the twins, the box of potion vials and their suitcases. He pulled them all out and moved the box and silver suitcases under the bed. He took his wand and vanished to make sure the maid didn't find anything. The closet would be used if they needed to send anything to the Aurors discreetly so it was best to keep it clear. He glanced towards the door where Hermione hadn't moved yet.
"Something wrong Suze?" Harry queried, when she didn't respond he gave her a nudge, "Mione?"
"Oh!" she returned from her dream world and looked at Harry, "Sorry, it's just the bed, it's a double, not two singles."
"Yes?" Harry asked, "We are lovers you know."
"We're not!"
"Fine, ruin the fantasy!" Harry pretended to sulk then winked, "Paul and Suzette are lovers, and therefore they would rent a room with a double bed. The cover needs to be airtight. In any case, at night, I'll sleep on the couch and if we're interrupted early you can just say we got in a fight and I was sent to sleep there."
"Sorry, it just caught me unaware, I thought there would be separate rooms or something."
"This is the Leaky Cauldron on a ministry worker's salary, not the penthouse of the Ritz," Harry chuckled, "And you need to learn to be brought out of your daydreams by me calling Suze or Suzette, I can't go calling you Mione in the middle of Knockturn Alley."
"Sorry, I'll keep my head in the game." She promised.
"Good," Harry smiled. "Now we haven't got much to do until our meeting at eleven, so I'm going to unpack and see what they gave us."
Hermione went to check the bathroom while Harry opened his suitcase and started moving his clothing into the bottom two drawers. He only hung his long dress robes in the wardrobe to give Hermione plenty of space.
"Merlin knows why they thought we'd need dress robes on a short mission." Harry sighed.
"In case we're invited to one of the higher class restaurants by Yaxley or anyone else. You know the Aurors practice Constant Vigilance, it might happen, so be prepared." Hermione called from the bathroom.
"I was hoping it would be stalking through dark alleys and midnight meetings, not dining in snobbish restaurants," Harry muttered.
"Stop complaining Harry," Hermione stepped from the bathroom, wearing a little makeup and her hair in a bun.
"Didn't know Suze wore her hair up," Harry commented.
"She doesn't, but I'm not used to long flowing hair so I'm tying it up out of the way when I'm not out."
"Just don't give me any sharp thin lipped looks, you remind me of McGonagall like that." Harry grinned.
"Perhaps that will help me keep you under control." She teased.
"Unlikely, did I ever pay attention to McGonagall?"
"Point."
"If you weren't paying attention earlier, I slid our kits and bits under the bed and vanished them. Your suitcase is by the window if you want to unpack, I've already stolen the bottom two drawers so you can't have them."
"I'll assume they've just copied Suzette's wardrobe for me," Hermione commented, taking her wand and flicking it at the case, Harry watched bemused as the clothes flew out into the wardrobe and drawers.
"Ever think magic spoils us?" he commented casually.
"Of course, but it's a burden as well, else we wouldn't be in the situation either." She replied.
"Too true," Harry sighed, "Want to play some muggle cards? Not much to do until eleven."
"Muggle cards? Perhaps. You sure it's not a deck of exploding snap?" she queried.
"Honest, I learned to play a few games from one of my Muggleborn partners. It was a good way to pass the time on stakeouts, I know all sorts of games." Harry smiled and took out his box. He opened it up and took out a deck of cards and started to shuffle. He sat at the table and dealt out and then he proceeded to spend the next half hour teaching Hermione how to play cards.
"We should get downstairs, it's almost eleven." Hermione commented.
Harry nodded and put the cards away, and then they each took a vial of polyjuice potion and drank it. They headed for the dining area, and just as Hermione opened the door, Harry swiftly reached over and pulled the scrunchy from her hair, letting it fall down her back. She looked over her shoulder and smiled gratefully. They pick a four-person table in the corner and sat opposite each other, ordering a light lunch when the waitress came over. They didn't have to wait long, for as soon as their drinks arrived they hear a loud, clear voice calling.
"Suze!"
"Isa?" Hermione replied, looking across the bar to the scout who began heading over to them.
"It's been ages, hun, where have you been hiding? Scoot up dear, oh, who is your friend? Is this why you've been avoiding me?" Isabelle slipped onto the chair that Hermione shifted from.
"Oh, it hasn't been that long, this is Paul, he's from the states." Hermione replied, "Met him on a train I was taking a while ago, he got me out of a tight situation not long after and haven't been able to get rid of him since. Not that I'd want to, he's a rather useful fellow to have around."
"I can imagine," Isabelle grinned and winked.
"Oh stop it, Isa," Hermione giggled, "Where's that boy of yours hiding then?"
"Oh Merlin knows, the moment I mention shopping for clothes he scarpers, Brian says he was hovering in the poisonous candle shop, browsing I hope," Isabelle replied without a break in her expression.
"Oh really?" Hermione asked, "I was going to show Paul around that area, for some reason he's curious. I'm going to make sure that curiosity doesn't kill the cat."
Both females shared a giggle and Harry rolled his eyes. He glanced away from the pair in mock exasperation but used the chance to see if anyone was watching them. The coast was clear as expected, but it was a good practice to get into the habit of.
"I should get going, hun," Isabelle smiled, "Lots to do today, are you staying here a while?"
"Possibly, I'm using up this years holiday, we're going to bounce around a little, see where the mood takes us," Hermione replied with a wistful smile.
"You do that, hopefully I'll run into you again if you're in the area." She stood and gave a discreet thumb up at Hermione before leaving the pair.
"We should go too," Harry commented.
"Agreed."
The pair quickly finished their lunches and entered Diagon Alley through the back door. They strolled past the shops and tried to act normal as they slipped off into Knockturn Alley. Knowing that they would be meeting Yaxley at his restaurant meeting later they just aimed to be spotted.
Antony Yaxley was sighted shortly, browsing the window of the Giant Spiders shop. He was of medium height and was wearing a very expensive looking robe, walking with bone cane. His silver hair was short and slicked back and his eyes were a cold shade of blue. He gave an impression of sharpness and swiftness, from his expression to his movements. He never lingered for long and moved at a brisk pace.
His hair and the sound of his cane on the cobbles were quite distinctive. This allowed Harry and Hermione to cross paths with him in their own browsing. They were forced to make numerous bathroom breaks to maintain their polyjuice. Entering Borgin and Burkes they spotted Yaxley near the back, looking at a book on a very high shelf.
Hermione went over to the book section and started browsing quickly, eventually "spotting" the book that Yaxley was looking at. She called over Harry and got him to bring it down, his new height letting him reach easily. The action was not missed and as he went to put it back the hook of Yaxley's cane, which caught on his shoulder.
"May I see that before you return it?" he asked, his voice sharp but polite.
Harry handed over the book carefully, the tome quite old and fragile. Antony flipped through the pages quickly then nodded to Harry and offered his thanks. He then took the book to the front and bought it before leaving. Harry cast a glance at Hermione and she gave him a half shrug. The book hadn't been anything unusual, just a tome of magic theory.
"What was Yaxley's speciality again?" Harry asked quietly.
"He's supposed to be a potions expert, really good, but not amazing." Hermione replied under her breath, searching through the shelves.
"A replacement for Snape?" Harry mused.
"Possibly."
"He'll recognise us at dinner now."
"That was the point wasn't it?"
"Indeed."
They browsed through Knockturn for the rest of the afternoon, only noticing Yaxley twice, once in another store and when they returned to the Leaky Cauldron they saw him entering Gringotts. Back in their room they changed into more discreet clothing, darker casual robes. They opted not to wear their hooded cloaks so as not to arouse suspicion.
Harry pulled out the twins' kits and opened them up, sliding a few decoys into his pockets, followed by a remote ear kit. Hermione did the same and took the All-Seeing-Eye glasses and handed them to Harry.
"In case you can't make eye contact directly, it should work through these." She commented.
Fully kitted up, they set off for the Pickled Troll, arriving at about six thirty. The bar was dark and gloomy. They set to memorizing the layout, choosing to sit in a dark booth in the corner. A waitress spotted them and moved over swiftly.
"I'm sorry, you can't sit here, this booth is reserved for seven." She apologised and they agreed to
move.
"Any other places reserved?" Harry asked.
"No, everywhere else is fine, this is just the favoured table of our regulars." She replied.
"Okay, we'll sit elsewhere." Hermione smiled slightly at the waitress who took their orders. While Harry delayed for time, musing over his drink, Hermione slid a remote ear under the table and stuck it to the underside. When she left, Harry stuck the remote eyes onto the wall behind the seats so he could watch those who sat at the table.
Moving to a table nearby Harry sat down looking at the reserved booth as the waitress arrived with their drinks. After some persuasion, they agreed to some dinner as well. The plates appeared magically moments later and they began to eat. Harry kept glancing to his watch discreetly, waiting for the hour to arrive at seven.
Yaxley arrived dead on the hour, sitting down in the dark booth on the back seat. The waitress moved over swiftly and took his order. Harry glanced to Hermione and she nodded that she could hear perfectly. Harry finished his plate and started sipping his drink as Yaxley's guests arrived.
Two cloaked figures sat with Yaxley, their hoods pulled up to cover their faces. Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the special glasses, sliding them on. Harry's hand clenched tightly and Hermione reached over to hold it, giving it a squeeze.
"Paul, what's wrong?" she asked, she didn't need to wait for an answer as she heard Yaxley's
voice through the remote ear.
"Bellatrix, Rodolphus, it is good to see you both again, I trust you have been keeping well?" Hermione's eyes went wide as the conversation started.
"Well enough Yaxley, the service to restore our master we undertake is never ending." Bellatrix replied with a sneer, "Those who are still faithful will be rewarded, those who oppose will be crushed."
"By a master who might be dead and gone for good?" Yaxley inquired, Bellatrix's eyes flared, "Calm yourself Bellatrix, you are aware I believe the Dark Lord gone for good, I will accept any punishment he bestows should I be wrong, I will still be loyal."
"You are aware of this or else why would you be here in person for this meeting." Yaxley continued, "Now, I assume there is a reason you have come yourself, as I am sure there is a reason for this meeting, what the reason is, I am not sure."
"Always to the point Antony," Rodolphus replied, "Quite simply, we have need of your talent again."
"What of Severus? His skills always outstripped my own." Yaxley replied, sipping from his cup.
"He is currently incarcerated, Potter got him." Rodolphus scowled.
"Ah, well. what do you have in mind? A potion to resurrect the Dark Lord perhaps?" Antony inquired.
"Perhaps soon, but for now we are focusing on the ministry, I'm sure you are aware it is being led by a Blood Traitor." distain dripped from Bellatrix's voice, "Traitors and Muggleborns do not deserve the magic they have. So we are going to take it away."
"Interesting, how do you propose to do so?" Antony inquired.
"We have discovered our masters notes, it was once a consideration of his, a way of ensuring blood would reign over the unworthy." Rodolphus explained, "A potion which when brewed correctly enhances the magic of the drink tenfold, brewed incorrectly creates a concoction which permanently removes the magic from the drinker."
"Of course to brew something incorrectly is easy, however anything but tiny mistakes makes it poison, not something we would object to, but should someone die from drinking it, no one else will drink it," Rodolphus continued, "However, should it work, we could let dozens drink it, hundreds, say perhaps, the guests of the Ministry's Winter Ball?"
"Winter? That's months away," Antony asked, "Does this potion take long to brew?"
"The notes seem to imply it will take many months, the Winter Ball would be the first opportunity."
"Where will I be working?" Antony inquired, Rodolphus handed him a note.
"Memorize that, we have Fidelius Charm in operation," Harry looked over Yaxley's shoulder and
quickly memorized the note before Antony vaporized it.
"Very well, when shall I arrive?"
"Tomorrow if possible, as soon as you can, we wish to get started immediately, we have the ingredients to start but we have no knowledge of where to find some of them, for that we need your expertise." Bellatrix said, "This project has our highest priority, so any resources you need, you'll get."
"Good, if you'll excuse me a moment I need to use the facilities." Yaxley stood and walked off past Harry and Hermione's table, headed for the toilets.
"Looks like we know what the Death Eaters are up to, we'll have to make contact quickly, did you see the note?" Hermione whispered.
"Yeah, but if it is under a secret keeper charm, I can't tell you or anyone else about it." Harry commented quietly, "Means we can't raid their hideout, perhaps we should call for backup and take down these three now?"
"There are too many free death eaters to let the chance slip to catch them all, we'll just have to break their Fidelius Charm later." Hermione hissed, "Remember, we are not to break character for a chance to get Bellatrix!"
"Fine, but if we can't get anything to work with before they leave I'm taking Bellatrix down!" Harry growled.
"You can't, not without exposing us, in any case, we have enough to work with already. Perhaps Snape can be useful again?" she tried to continue but was interrupted.
"So, our plan will be successful now?" Bellatrix's voice came through the ears again.
"Yaxley can do the job Bella, most of our trouble is getting the ingredients now." Rodolphus replied, "This potion was to be created after the Dark Lord conquered the world and had all the resources to hand, not before. The Ministry is the only known holder of some parts and most of the others are illegal or impossibly rare."
"Well, we'll have to raid a few places, we've been quiet long enough. The Aurors are getting complacent, we'll catch them unaware." Bellatrix shot back.
"Potter is still an issue, he hasn't grown complacent and he won't as long as we are free and you know it."
"I know, and I'll deal with the brat soon enough, perhaps we can provide some distractions for The Chosen On," She sneered, "Is his girlfriend still working at St. Mungo's? We'll hit that tomorrow while we send the others to raid that warehouse in Little Thirkleby."
Harry's anger doubled as he realised they were planning to attack a hospital just to distract him and the other Aurors.
"Paul? What's in Little Thirkleby?" Hermione asked very quietly, "Paul?"
"Oh, err, not much." Harry thought quickly, "It's just a storage facility for the Aurors? You should know."
"I do, I wanted to distract you, you're loosing control," Hermione hissed.
"Oh … Thanks, what is in the warehouse then?" he asked back.
"Mostly evidence for upcoming trials, nothing above Class C, but that will include a lot of illegal herbs and potion components. I don't think we have more than a dozen guards on site; most of its security lies in the fact that its location is top secret. How did they find out about it?"
"Coincidence or we have a leak in the Aurors, troubling information in any case, we'll have to alert an immediate meeting." Harry muttered.
Harry tried to suppress the rage building within him, his Godfather's killer sitting a few feet away. Hermione's eyes went wide as she looked at him, he felt her foot kick against his shin hard and she mouthed "Polyjuice". Harry blinked then looked at his hand; ripples were starting to bubble over his skin. He thought fast, he had been so distracted by the conversation he hadn't refreshed his potion in over ninety minutes.
He stood calmly and started walking for the bathroom, trying to remain calm and not attract attention. Hermione also stood and followed him, stepping between the tables through the fastest route. She heard Bellatrix's voice through her earpiece.
"I need to use the little girl's room, order me another drink, will you dear," Bella stood and started to walk towards the bathrooms as well.
Harry paused and grabbed his stomach then kept walking, the potion wearing off, he quickly pulled forth his Metamorphmagus ability and kept his appearance like Paul's, his short hair becoming a problem, as he felt the lightning bolt scar cutting across his forehead. They had moved into the entrance, there was a corridor heading to the bathrooms, which were on the upper floor with a small alcove to one side where cloaks and coats could be hung.
He was almost at the restrooms when he saw Yaxley's feet on the stairs coming down. He stopped instantly and quickly spun, almost walking into Hermione who shook her head, and hissed.
"Bellatrix is coming!" Harry froze solid, the sound of Yaxley's cane behind him and Bellatrix about to turn the corner, his scar obvious to anyone who caught a glance. Thinking quickly he grabbed Hermione a bit rougher than he intended and pushed her into the cloak alcove. He leant in and kissed her hard, holding her head with one hand and her waist with the other.
The simple movement blocked any view of his scar and merely looked like two lovers making out. Hermione froze at the start but caught onto what he was trying to do before freaking out. She quickly moved her arms to hold him and tried to look like she was enjoying herself. She found that easy, as Harry was actually a very good kisser.
Harry listened for the sound of Yaxley's cane passing and then the clicks of Bellatrix's high-heeled boots before breaking the kiss, breathing heavily. He looked to Hermione and blushed slightly.
"Err … sorry, didn't know what else to do." He whispered. She rolled her eyes in response.
"Don't worry about it, but next time, don't get us into these situations," Hermione gave a small smile, "I'll go check if it's safe for you to get to the bathroom."
Harry breathed deeply as she slipped past him and went for the stairs, he peeked up the corridor and when she beckoned for him he moved swiftly into the men's toilets and locked himself in a stall. He pulled out a vial of Polyjuice and downed it quickly, shuddering as the effects took hold. He went back out to the bathroom and checked in the mirror that his scar had vanished once more.
He breathed deeply and looked at himself hard. Less than a hundred feet away was a pair of his worst enemies plotting to kill his fiancée. They had a recipe for a potion to eliminate magic in wizards and witches. And he just kissed his partner. What was worse was that he had enjoyed it. Oh boy, this mission was going to be hard.