Mr. & Mrs. Evans

i found nemo

Rating: R
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 22/08/2007
Last Updated: 07/10/2010
Status: in_progress

brandSPANKINGnewchapter~AU!~They lead an exciting and suspenceful career by day and by night come home to their quiet domestic life as a married couple, neither having the faintest clue that their significant other is magical and that their work is a bit more extreme then they let on. But Harry and Hermione Evans' seperate lives are about to collide when their next target is their own spouse.H/HR-D/G~romance/action/angst/drama/humour all combined into a great piece of work!R&R

Chapters

1. The Prologue

2. Deep Thinking

3. Deep Thinking II

4. Thoughts on an Affair

5. Go Back to Chapter 4

6. The Kiss

7. BUZZZ

8. His Meeting and Her Proposal

9. Caught

10. His Breakdown and Her Avoidance

11. Goodbye Harry

12. A Strong Heart

13. Confrontations and Tito

14. One Year Later Part I

15. One Year Later Part II

16. Persons of Interest

17. The Beaumont Part I

18. The Beaumont Part II

19. Multiplying Questions and a Four Letter Verb

20. A Moment’s Bliss

21. Exploited

22. Crashing Down

23. Crushed

24. Revealed

25. The Showdown Part I

26. The Showdown Part II

27. The Showdown Part III

28. The Chapter of the Great Hot Sex.

29. Fishy

30. Facing Facts

31. Family’s Stick Together

1. The Prologue

Disclaimer: Don’t own.

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

The Prologue

…

"Okay, I'll go first," offered Harry Evans, sitting relaxed in a dark leather seat, complete with his Armani pinstriped blazer over a plain white button down and black slacks, one leg thrown carelessly over the other, "Let me just say that we really don't need to be here." The therapist across from him cocked his head in bewilderment. "See, we've been married five years-"

"-six."

Hermione Jane Evans was sitting in another dark leather chair next to her husband. Her soft lips were formed into a faux smile of welcoming, one long slim leg folded lady like over the other, fingers threaded through each other and one perfectly shaped eyebrow raised at his false introduction.

"Five, six years," continued Harry ignoring her, "and, this is like a check up for us." The therapist, Dr. Kindleman, across from them continued to look confused. Harry ran a hand through his hair in frustration, knowing he wasn't getting through with the daft muggle. "Um, you know a chance to poke around the bush... maybe trim some leaves... replace a tree or two."

Hermione threw a heated glance at her husband, motioning for him to stop with his muggle terminology.

"Very well then, let's harvest some crops." replied Dr. Kindleman with a smirk. Both Harry and Hermione smiled innocently at him. "Now, on a scale from one to ten, how happy are you as a couple?"

"Eight." came the automatic response from Hermione, giving him a confident nod.

"Wait, ten being perfectly happy, and one being totally miserable? Or-" Hermione sighed to relax herself as Harry went on to stutter and shake his head completely baffled. Dr. Kindleman again looked puzzled between the two.

"Just respond instinctively."

"Okay," Harry caught Hermione's eye and nodded, "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Eight."

The therapist began scribbling something down on a piece of paper. Once he finished he looked up and smiled, "Okay, how often do you engage in sex?" Harry choked on the sip of water he was drinking and thumped his fist on his chest.

Hermione, ignoring her husband's struggle twiddled her thumbs obsessively in her lap, "I don't understand the question."

"Yeah, I'm lost, is this a one-to-ten thing?" asked Harry again brushing his hand through his mop of messy black hair.

"Like is one very little or is one something because... I mean tech-technically speaking the... zero... zero would be nothing." Hermione's thumbs were going haywire on her lap.

"That's right. And if we don't know what one is- what's ten?" he replied cheekily with an uneasy laugh, tapping a hand to his thigh to pass over the awkwardness.

"Yes, because ten, you know," Hermione started gesturing with her hands as she continued to look completely perturbed by the question, "You know constant-"

"Unrelenting-"

"N-not stopping for like, I mean... just-"

"No food-"

"Right, no showering... I mean, that-that's not healthy hygiene-"

"Sort of like Sirius for example," finished Harry giving Hermione his award winning lopsided grin.

Dr. Kindleman cleared his throat professionally, "It's not a one-to-ten scenario, it's just a basic question; How often do you have sex?"

Neither answered. Hermione only exhaled and continued to sit in her seat with her hands clamped tightly together and her eyebrows furrowed at the man in front of her.

After a long pause with both completely silent the doctor took a deep breath, "Okay, how about this week?" Hermione showed her anxiety at the question by twirling her emerald cut diamond wedding ring hastily around her finger.

"Including the weekend?" asked Harry meekly.

"How many times have you had sex in the past seven days?"

"Nosey little bugger, aren't ya?" Harry was rapidly growing frustrated at the man in his lush comfortable arm chair. Hermione sent him a side look, which seemed to calm him down... a bit.

"Okay, let's move on," said Dr. Kindleman realising that they weren't about to answer the sex question anytime soon, "Describe how you first met."

"It was in France," replied Hermione liking a question that she could answer quickly.

"Nice, five years ago," nodded Harry a relaxed smile forming on his features.

"Six." Harry's smile dropped. He sent an annoyed glance at Hermione sitting harmlessly in her chair, looking absolutely gorgeous as she continued to look at Dr. Kindleman.

"Right, five, six years ago."

…

Alright well that’s the start. Originally I had this done as a L/J story (which did get a great response), but I kind of liked the H/HR version more… and now instead of creating new characters I get to put JKR’s in roles that follows this plot line.

Please leave a review on your way out. This is one of like four more pending stories I have and I really appreciate the criticism you have for me.

Ooh, and anyone up to beta? I have like three more chapters written and I might need some help once the story progresses…

Thanks again!

IMPORTANT AUTHOR’S NOTE

Hi,

Sorry this is just an author’s note. I just wanted to clear some stuff up for the few of you out their that left your concerns in your reviews that this will be exactly like M&MS.

I’m sorry to scare you but it won’t be- honestly the prologue is the only part that I think is pretty identical. Of course, it’s going to follow the same plot line; and a lot of the major events will be the same but there’s no denying that there will be changes.

The parts that I really wanted to capture though is the fact that they are having marriage problems, that they are getting a bit bored with each other in their domesticated life because really they’re top assassins (not even really; they don’t kill all the time), also the fact that they have been set up to kill each other, and then of course they get together.

So I’m sorry to scare a few of you- and the few of you that were kind of counting on it to be the same you can leave a review telling me a certain scene that you would like to see written since this is written for you.

Thanks again,

Oliver

2. Deep Thinking

Disclaimer: Do not own the rights to Harry Potter or Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 1: Deep Thinking

…

"So how did you like Dr. Kindleman?" asked Hermione as she began to unbutton her blouse in her organized walk-in closet.

"Ehh," sounded Harry sceptically from the bathroom. "Waste of time wasn't it? We don't need a marriage counsellor for us to talk about how we met, do we? Plus that Kindleman bloke looked like he was eyeing you up the entire time," he finished returning his tooth brush to his mouth as his wife walked out in a skimpy silk night gown. His eyes roamed up her smooth long legs all the way up to her pert and adequate chest. The one thing Harry always appreciated about his wife of about five or six years was that she had an incredible body, something that was amazing to him seeing that she spent most of her time behind a posh desk in her fancy office or in styled meeting rooms giving instructions to people. He was never aware of her going to the gym or anywhere that would render her exercising.

Harry was about to take his tooth brush out and comment on her appearance when she continued with the conversation, "Don't be silly, he's a marriage counsellor, he's paid to sit there and listen to our problems."

"He wasn't exactly asking us about our problems today, now was he? I'm not paying £150 an hour for the great lump to have us talk and pretend to listen while he's checking you out."

"Well, I thought it was a great session today." said Hermione throwing some water over her face, as if that comment alone would end the disagreement.

"Whatever makes you happy then sweetheart," Harry responded fitting a string of floss tightly between his fingers.

"That's right, our next appointment is two weeks from Wednesday," Hermione said before giving Harry a chaste kiss on the cheek and walking down the short hall to their awaiting king sized bed.

Hermione snuggled into the heavenly warm comforter, closing her eyes and mind preparing for sleep to come. She thought back to the days previous therapy session. She sighed. Six years ago it would have never crossed her mind that her and her husband would end up with such a loveless and plain marriage that they would be forced to seek professional guidance. Actually, if she was being completely honest with herself, she never even would have suspected that her marriage to Harry would last this long. 'Under the circumstances...' she thought to herself nestling deeper into the blankets.

She thought back to that fateful afternoon in Nice six and a half years ago...

It was her first mission out of the academy. There she was, Hermione Jane Granger, top of her class in all seven years at Beauxbatons, a now fully trained auror, on her first assignment as Hermione Troy (the cover name the ministry had provided for her), out to prove herself that she could do this. But of course, as fate would have it, she was about to be caught by French authorities who were no doubt under the command of the dark wizard Gaspard Michel, who she was supposed to be patrolling undercover. She didn't know how they could know who she really was because she hadn't thought she did anything wrong so far. Just a few questions and a little subtle prying that Monsieur Michel didn't seem to care about at all.

She took a deep breath, telling herself to stay calm and collected, as she walked into the lobby of a random hotel pretending that she was there to check in. She heard yells in French coming from behind her. She turned around to see about seven bulky men dressed in black body suits with small artillary guns glued to their hands running in her direction. She quickly ducked out of line and made a bee-line for the bar off to the right of the entrance. She approached the counter and fingered her wand that was quietly laying in her wrist holster underneath her long sleeved jumper. She didn't know what was going to happen but she did know that as soon as those men had her outside the hotel and away from the muggles' innocent eyes she wouldn't hesitate to use magic.

"Madmoiselle!" a deep French voice shouted in her direction.

She took a deep breath before turning around, "Yes?" she asked hoping to throw them off with her English.

"Are you travelling alone?" another hostile voice asked back in English, still with a heavy accent.

She looked at the two different guards, gripping her wand nervously. "I-"

"There you are honey, I've been looking everywhere for you." sounded a different male voice. Hermione turned to see a tall, lean but muscled man with wild raven hair and the most gorgeous green eyes she had ever seen. He came up to her wearing a crooked grin and slipped an arm around her waist while kissing her forehead, "Where have you been?"

"I, um," the guards continued to eye her suspiciously, "I was shopping in the square."

"God, I hope you didn't max out my credit card," the man laughed easily before turning to the seven guards all wearing scowls on there faces, "Can I help you gentlemen?"

"Non monsieur," said the first guard, eyeing Hermione one last time before turning on his heel and signaling for his men to follow.

Hermione exhaled, allowing her mind to comprehend what just happened, honestly not believing her luck. She planned on just turning around, thanking the man, and then going back to her own hotel where an owl definitely would be waiting for her to scold her on what she did wrong. But when she turned she was met with an overwhelming feeling as she stared into pools of emerald green.

"Close call, huh?" he asked staring at her with a smile on his face.

"Um, yeah... thanks."

"No problem. Can I get you a drink?" he asked jerking his head toward the bar where bottles of expensive liquor stood proudly on their shelves, all the while continuing to smile and look into her eyes.

'God, this man is gorgeous... one drink wouldn't hurt...' "Yeah sure," she replied also smiling back and not breaking contact.

"I'm Harry," he said holding a hand out for her to shake.

"Hermione," said Hermione placing a delicate hand in his, their eyes never leaving each others'.

"Very nice to meet you, Hermione." She loved the way her name sounded off his lips. They continued to stare into each other, her hand still in his as his thumb stroked over the backside of it, small smiles lingering on each others' faces.

"Likewise," she said softly ignoring the two shots of tequilla that were just placed in front of them.

Hermione smiled to herself as she played over the events of that day. A small blush crept onto her cheeks as she remembered what happened that night, which despite the amount of liquor consumed by both her and Harry, was still quite an exhilerating expirience for her that she remembered quite well.

After hours of salsa dancing in one of Nice's little outdoor discos they had made there way back to Harry's hotel room, soaking wet from the sudden storm clouds that showered over them without guilt, an almost empty bottle of tequilla grasped in Harry's hand and Hermione's small purse in one of hers. As soon as the door thudded close Harry led Hermione over to a small table in the corner of the room next to his large un-made bed. Without thinking Harry threw his room key onto the floor, away from them, and sat down in the single chair next to the table with Hermione standing in front of him. He brought the bottle of tequilla to his lips to take a quick drink as his hungry eyes wondered up Hermione's wet form. The thin white sundress she was wearing now clung to every curve of her soaking body, leaving him little to imagine but still wanting more. His eyes danced up to her chest and he could tell she wasn't wearing a bra because he could see her nipples erect from the cold under the forsaken cloth. His eyes finally went to her face drinking in her delicate features; her creamy skin, her chocolate brown orbs, and finally those full pink lips that were so desperately waiting to be kissed.

She smiled, knowing that he was taking her in and liking what he seen. She gave him a chesire grin before taking a step closer and lowering herself onto his lap so that she was straddling him. He smirked at her and looked into her eyes not wanting to ever look away. Her hand started at the nape of his neck and traveled down his arm to finally meet the hand that was holding the remains of the tequilla. She pried it from his grasp and brought it to her lips. Still looking at him she tilted her head back to allow the strong liquid to flow down her mouth and throughout her body, burning every inch on the way.

He grinned at her as she finished, his hands starting to roam their way under her dress and up her firm thighs, peeling the annoying cloth away from her skin as he went. With one hand perched on her hip he started to pull her in so her mouth was hovering over his. He brought his other hand up from under her dress to cup her face.

There was a slight surge as Harry brushed his lips over hers. She leaned back to look him in the eye before Harry again pulled her in. When their lips met again Harry wasted no time in tracing her lips with his tongue, already hungry for more.

The bottle in Hermione's hand dropped and shattered as their tongues met stroking against each others feverishly. Hermione moaned deep in her throat when Harry pulled her closer to him, making her aware of just how affected he was already.

Her hands made quick work of removing his damp button up shirt, throwing it haphazardly on the floor. Now her hands and fingers had free roam of his broad muscled chest that tightened under her grazing touch.

She gasped suddenly as Harry's thumb pressed into her clit. Her head lolled back, all rational thinking now way, way out the window. Harry took advantage of the new stretch of flesh now available for his enjoyment. He glued his lips to her neck sucking and nipping slightly with every pleasured moan she made.

"Bed," she whispered before tangling her fingers in his wet hair and bringing his lips back to hers. He tightened his grip on her before lifting them both from the chair. Taking two long, well-aimed strides he landed them on the bed with him covering her up with his aching body.

He lifted her up slightly so he could slither his hand underneath her to reach the zip of her dress. He grinned in her mouth when his fingers finally landed over the small strip of metal and started pulling it down at a torturously slow pace. She groaned as the tips of his fingers brushed over her back. She could feel a rock hard member pressing into her stomach. She didn't mind in the least.

After what seemed like forever her dress was unzipped and the hem was pushed up around her waist as Harry's hands continued to explore over her wet heat, often pressing at her most intimate spots.

Hermione, feeling impatient, quickly threw the wet material off herself and brought Harry's attention back to their now joined mouths. His calloused hands softly skimmed over both her breasts, their size fitting perfectly in the palm of Harry's now squeezing hands.

"Ohh, fuck Harry," moaned Hermione as her eyelids snapped shut so she could just live in the feel of him carressing her.

"What's that Hermione?" he asked with a wolfish smile.

"Why do you insist on torturing me?" she asked lowly. His thumbs were now running underneath the waisteband of her knickers.

"Because you taste to good to speed through," he whispered in her ear before kissing her hard on the mouth and slipping her knickers off. His fingers were quick to begin stroking the inside of her thighs, then her hot folds. Hermione was squirming underneath him and he broke this kiss to look into her eyes with their noses touching. He slowly let one finger sink into her sex.

"Ohh," she gasped as again her eyelids snapped shut in pleasure. He brushed a kiss to her lips and pushed in another finger and started pumping in and out. With waves of pleasure building up in her she didn't notice Harry slip down her body until he withdrew his fingers.

She lifted her head up from the bed just about to sound protest when she seen him place a soft kiss on the inside of her thigh, and then another, all moving closer to her throbbing mound.

"Harry... please..." she breathed out with clenched hands.

Harry smiled and placed a kiss right on the uppermost part of her thigh, "You want me to 'Mione?"

"Yes." Harry smiled again, reaching a hand up to be placed over Hermione's fist. He bent his head down again and placed a small kiss on her clit. Another farther down her folds, before finally plunging his tongue into her essence. His tongue stroked over her as she began to cry his name. He grinned to himself, this was more pleasurable then he ever thought.

Sensing Hermione's release was coming he lifted his head back up and moved up her body, placing two kisses on both breasts, before reaching her opened mouth and delving his tongue into her again. She responded immideately with just as much vigor if not more. An eager hand moved down his back waiting to be met with the leather of his belt she knew he was wearing. However meeting no such belt, or any fabric once so ever, she broke the kiss and looked at him.

"Your pan-"

"Off," he said jerking his head toward the floor opposite the bed. 'That's strange... I don't remember him taking his trousers off.' thought Hermione as Harry's mouth continued to smother her neck in damp kisses. 'Doesn't matter really... it's not like Harry could banish his pants off or anything.' She smiled to herself and then thought of an idea.

Hermione's hand moved swiftly down the length of Harry's body to his aching member poking into her thigh. He groaned her name as her delicate hand palmed his length, her thumb occasionally brushing over his tip and rubbing in the pre cum she found there. Right when Hermione was working up a nice rhythm Harry stopped her.

"I want you now," he growled in her ear huskily as he got in a better position between her legs and she complied by placing both legs on either side of him.

She could feel his tip pressuring her entrance and she only hoped that this wouldn't hurt as much as she'd heard it would. Wrapping one arm around his shoulder and her other gripping his bicep, she readied herself for the pain she knew would come.

Harry began to breath harder as he nuzzled his head into her shoulder with one hand clutching her waist to him and the other supporting his weight so he wouldn't crush her. He was about to thrust into her when something stopped him about an inch in. He looked up thoroughly confused searching for her eyes. He seen tears collecting in the corner of her eyes as they looked at each other.

"Sorry," she whispered, wondering if he was going to stop now that he realised she had never done this before. He merely shook his head and kissed her tenderly.

When they parted for air he whispered back in her ear, "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

She nodded wondering how he was going to keep that promise. Her eyes closed again waiting for him to continue. As he looked at her laying there breathing with her eyes closed he couldn't help but feel something that he knew was different than lust or desire. Smiling to himself he placed a hand to her stomach and squeezed lightly.

Hermione felt a sudden warmth fill her body completely. She opened her eyes to find Harry staring at her with a small smile. He came over her and kissed her before burrying his head back into the crook of her neck. Biting on her shoulder lightly he pushed into her quickly. She let out a muffled moan, before letting out a few short raged breaths. Harry started kissing the side of her neck to take her mind of the pain as he started to move in her.

She could feel the pain ebbing away and was replaced by intense pleasure she had never felt before as Harry rocked back and forth in her. His head was still burried into her neck and she could tell it was getting hard for him to control himself.

She squeezed the hand that was grasping at her waist tightly to get his attention.

He looked up at her with dark forest green eyes. She smiled at him softly, telling him it was okay for him to move faster. He leaned his head down to capture her lips in another heated kiss.

His thrusts became faster and deeper, burrowing away in Hermione's hot shelter. Each cry and whimper Hermione emitted was building up, he himself couldn't stop a few groans of her name from escaping him. She felt amazing underneath him, and to be moving inside her, to be the first to claim her prize was making him breath harder and harder and move at a more frantic pace. Before long Hermione was clutching at Harry's shoulders, her nails carving little crescent shapes into his skin. Her breaths became short and raged, each containing it's own whimper of bliss.

Harry couldn't hold out much longer, and he was determined to send Hermione into pleasure induced stasis.

"Come for me, 'Mione," he rasped out before kissing her fully on the lips.

She let out a cry as she was driven over the edge. Her walls clenching around his shaft had an instant effect on him and he was soon pumping in and out of her quickly, having her milk him of what he's worth.

She remembered how sweet Harry had been to her afterwards. Just laying in bed, holding onto her, with her head nestled into his chest. When the morning rays woke her from her slumber she remembered Harry leaning against the door frame that led onto the balcony, in the same attire from the previous night, and holding a simple white Lily in his hand. He was just looking at her with those peircing green eyes, a smile on his lips like he was looking into heaven itself.

That look still made her blush when thinking about it...

"Hermione!" said Harry in a tone louder than needed.

"What?" she asked quickly sitting up and looking at him standing next to the door.

"Did you remember to water the grass like I asked you too?"

Hermione sighed, "No. Sorry, I'll do it in the morning."

"No, I'll go do it now," he said pulling on his bath robe and walking out of their room.

She sighed again laying back heavily against the matress.

'What happened to the passion between us?'

…

Thanks a lot for all the great reviews… that was like one of the best responses I’ve ever had to a first chapter. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter, you can leave your comments on the way out. I’m going to be really busy working on a project for the next four months, (my company has really rocketed off and we’re being booked all the way into April), but I’ve decided to update all my fics every Sunday, working a little here and there when I can.

Thanks again for reading!

3. Deep Thinking II

Mr. and Mrs. Evans

Chapter 2: Deep Thinking II

Disclaimer: Don’t own the rights to HP or M&MS.

[A/N:] Sorry I haven’t been around lately (I’m still working on the after math of Septembers VMA’s) and then sorry again because this chapter is short and mainly a filler.

…

Harry James Potter stood outside in the dark, wearing his thick forest green bath robe and a pair of old slippers he'd never worn before, firmly holding onto the nozzle head of the hose allowing it to spray water over the grass.

He kind of felt bad for making a big deal about watering the grass in front of Hermione. But he knew she hadn't done it and he felt like being alone. He liked nights like these, where he could just stand outside and ponder on things like life in general.

In his short 26 years of life he had gone from being the Boy-Who-Lived, to the Boy-Who-Conquered- which was he was all okay with. Dumbledore had entrusted him a job to do which led to the ultimate demise of one of the greatest dark lords in history and he was more than happy to get rid of the giant sod that had murdered his parents when he was only a year old. Plus having a reputation like that led to many attractive women openly throwing themselves at him which he was kind of shy about until after Voldemort. When he left Hogwarts he was offered many jobs, quidditch, auror, model, more ministry positions, you name it. But what really caught his eye was an agency to track and obtain dark wizards that his godfather Sirius Black was starting along with other members of the Order of the Phoenix. This job trained him to be better than any auror, quicker than any quidditch seeker, and smarter than any ministry researcher. The positives where that he got to do what he loved without being a poster boy for the ministry and he got to be close to the people he loved. It didn't pay bad either but he really didn't need the money.

The one thing that had shocked him most in his life and something that he thought would never happen was that he met a girl and fell in love and then by the age of 20 was happily married.

For about six months.

After that it just seemed like they were tolerating each other. Harry didn't want to get a divorce with Hermione, and he knew she was trying with the whole marriage counselling, but sometimes it just seems like there's no more of that old flame they used to have. Everything seemed so routine. Now, somewhere deep down he knew he still loved Hermione. She always stood out from the other women. She was amazingly beautiful, brilliant, and mainly she wasn't just interested in the Boy-Who-Conquered... hell she didn't even know who the Boy-Who-Conquered was.

That's right, Harry James Potter, saviour of the wizarding world had settled down with a muggle by the name of Hermione Jane Troy. He had been married to Hermione for about five, six years and she never knew the side of him who had worn glasses and had a lightening bolt shaped scar on his forehead, who could wave a stick of wood to make a pineapple tap dance across the table. Nor that it was him against Lord Voldemort and he had succeeded with barely an inch of his life. No… his Hermione only knew him as Harry James Evans, president of JRB Contracting.

Harry sighed. When his marriage life was confusing the hell out of him he'd like to fall back on his job and think that over. Of course, Hermione thought he was a contractor working out of London. She didn't know he was an elite agent that worked to help obtain and sometimes even kill dark wizards. Harry didn't enjoy killing people, but it helped to know that these people were much better off dead then killing hordes of innocent muggles or plotting to be the next Lord Voldemort. 'Definitely don't need one of those again,' thought Harry bitterly. He smiled to himself for a second, remembering that his partake in the death of a wizard had initially led him to meet Hermione.

He smiled fondly as he remembered the first time they met in Nice. He had just finished a particularly nasty job with a French wizard by the name of Gaspard Michel. Things got out of hand to quickly which led to Monsieur Michel's immediate death and his security guard's memory not being altered so they knew he had been alone with a tourist a short time before his death.

After taking a few side streets away from Monsieur Michel's chateau he had resumed his path to his hotel. As he stepped into the lobby he could see a group of authoritive figures in black outfits headed towards the bar. He was just about to turn on his heel and get to his room by climbing through a window outside when he seen the person the bulky men were questioning. She had soft brown hair flowing down her back in light tendrils and smooth creamy skin that adjourned a gorgeous face. He smiled, continuing to look at the girl before shaking his head. This girl was probably about to be arrested because of him.

He walked through the line of people checking in and walked straight up to her.

"There you are honey, I've been looking everywhere for you." he said walking past the men surrounding her with a crooked grin. He walked up right next to her and slid an arm around her waist while pressing a kiss to her forehead. 'Smells nice too...'

"Where have you been?" he asked with a concerned tone.

She spared a glance at the guards, "I, um... I was shopping in the square."

Harry laughed liking that she was playing along with him, "God, I hope you didn't max out my credit card." Harry turned to give the guards a questioning glance, "Can I help you gentleman?"

"Non monsieur," said the man closest to the woman. The man gave her a look before turning around and motioning for his troops to follow him.

Harry smiled and looked down at the woman who was watching the men leave. She finally turned to look him in the eye and he was pleasantly surprised with the beautiful orbs he was now staring into.

"Close call, huh?"

"Um, yeah... thanks."

"No problem. Can I get you a drink?" He jerked his head toward the bar which was the bartender's cue to give him two shots.

"Yeah sure," she said smiling back at him.

"I'm Harry," he held out a hand.

"Hermione," she replied placing a gentle hand in his, still staring into his eyes like he was doing with hers.

"Very nice to meet you, Hermione." Hermione, Hermione... he was liking the name more and more by the minute.

"Likewise."

"HARRY!" Harry jerked his mind from the blissful memories and looked up to the voice screaming at him from across the street.

He sighed, "Hi Bob."

"Hey mate! Whacha doing? Watering the lawn? That's great! It's not like your lawn needs it though, you have the greenest one in the whole neighbourhood!" Bob gave a hearty laugh and continued, "Hey whacha doin' after you water your lawn. Wanna play some poker mate?! Do ya?! I can get Debbie to make some cookies! Maybe a casserole?"

"Uh, no Bob, I was going to go to bed after this," he said politely. Bob Finkle was the nightmare neighbour from hell. He put Colin Creevey to shame the way he put Harry on such a high pedestal. The Finkle’s were constantly trying to get Harry and Hermione Evans over for one of their garden parties. For the men it usually consisted of smoking a cigar and talking about football, golf, lawn keeping, and the art of barbequing, and then football again, and golf again... It worked in a nice cycle. The woman would be cramped up inside their small sitting area and talk about the 'fundamentals of breastfeeding' or so Hermione called it. Hermione hated those parties just as much as Harry did.

"Oh right, right. Yeah I guess its night, isn't it?"

Harry tried to muster a polite smile but failed, "That it is, Bob."

"Right, well I won't keep you from Hermione any longer. Me and Debbie are just gonna go in... maybe watch a film... and then you know once the kids are asleep-"

"Alright, night Bob!" Harry yelled, trying to escape back into the safety of his home.

"Oh, wait! Harry! HARRY!"

Harry turned around in his doorway. He had almost escaped, "Yeah Bob?"

"Debbie and I are holding another garden party tomorrow night; you think you and your wife will be able to make this one?"

"Uh, no Bob, actually Hermione's aunt called a few days ago asking if we could pick up her cat from the vet... tomorrow night... so uh, we'll take a rain check!" Harry finished quickly stepping through the door way and shutting the door with an effective slam.

Harry sighed again before slipping out of his slippers and walking quietly up the wooden steps to his and Hermione's master bedroom. He walked through the open door and closed it gently behind him. He threw his bath robe in the general direction of his side of the closet and walked over to his side of the bed not noticing Hermione awake and looking at him.

"Why'd you slam the door?" she asked quietly as Harry slid under the covers.

"Uh, Bob. Sorry to wake you."

"Oh, what'd Bob want?"

"Just another garden party."

"Hmm," Hermione was looking at Harry from her side. She never noticed how much space was left between them when the slept. This was their marital bed for Merlin's sake.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" he said looking at her with sleepy eyes.

"Uh, just wanted to say night." she finished quickly, again looking down to the huge gap between them. It's like they were purposefully as far away from each other as possible and it just seemed natural for them to get in bed that way...

"Right, night Hermione." Harry didn’t say anything as he watched Hermione scoot towards him a little. He watched her for a few moments as she snuggled up to the comforter before turning towards her and navigating more to the centre of the bed as well.

See... he could try and make this marriage better.

…

Thank you to everyone for the reviews. I know I haven’t updated in a while like I said I would but I have been working on it and I’m nearly finished. I’ve also been working on two (YES, two! One of the will even be a sequel fic!) other fics that are about ¼ of the way through.

Anyway, with that said, please leave me some feed back to thrive off of.

<3Oli

4. Thoughts on an Affair

Disclaimer: JKR owns; FOX owns.

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 3: Thoughts on an Affair

[A/N]: A few quick words before you start. I noticed some mistakes in the previous chapter that I had to correct. First one was Draco being mentioned in the prologue. That was wrong and it should’ve been Sirius. Second thing was I forgot to mention the code name Hermione was going under in chapter one which is Hermione Jane Troy. (Troy? Conceited? I think not!). It’s very important to remember that Harry met her under the pretences that she was Hermione Troy and he was Harry Evans. Oh, and if I haven’t made it clear already (its late here so I’m not going to check), the agency Harry works for is called the Order of the Phoenix. Someone slap me for being unoriginal.

Okay I think that’s it. I’m so sorry I slipped up on that *smacks self over the head repeatedly*

Please, enjoy.

…

Overall, you could say Harry and Hermione Evans led a pretty happy, calm, muggle existence. In a pretty happy, calm, muggle neighbourhood. Harry would go out in the morning clad in his forest green bath robe to pick up the muggle paper while Hermione was in the kitchen preparing them a cup of coffee and healthy breakfast while listening to the telly report the morning news. They would shower separately, dress for work, and brush their teeth all the while not having any sort of conversation that a normal husband and wife would share during their morning rituals. Maybe a casual "Hmm, the underground has a new ticket taking system." and as a response, "Oh, that sounds nice."

They would both walk down the stairs at the same time; reach for their respective car keys on their respective hangers at the same time... Sometimes if things got interesting they would have to weave in between each other to get to their briefcases or coats. But that was only on rare occasions.

Marriage counselling was supposed to fix all this.

...

"Mr. Evans, it's good of you to come back. I want to assure you that you're getting quality care for your money," said the kind voice of Dr. Kindleman as he sat down in the chair in front of Harry.

Harry wanted to roll his eyes at the bloke, but let himself nod curtly instead.

"If I may ask Mr. Evans, where is that charming wife of yours?"

Harry looked up sharply, "Work. I wanted to come alone this time."

"Are there things you want to tell me without divulging them to your wife?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and steepling his fingers in front of him.

Harry looked taken aback, "No. I just thought I'd come and get some personal advice-"

"What type of personal advice, Mr. Evans?"

"I- I just... look, I love my wife. And I want her to be happy because she deserves that-"

"Mr. Evans are you honest with your wife?"

Harry looked at him sceptically. He was beginning to think it was a mistake coming here, "Pretty honest. I mean, everyone deserves to keep some things private-"

"Now, Mr. Evans do you think your wife is honest with you?"

Harry furrowed his eyebrows, "What do you mean? Why wouldn't she be?"

"Harry- can I call you Harry?" asked Dr. Kindleman not bothering to look up from his clip board for a response, "Harry from evaluating your marriage life for these past two sessions I can honestly guarantee that you are not doing anything wrong here." he finished with what was supposed to be a comforting smile.

Harry leaned back in his chair, clearly confused.

"Let me make this clear Harry," he said throwing aside his clip board and moving to sit on the edge of his seat so he could look into Harry's eyes better and started slowly, "Woman only act this way when they're feeling an emotion caused by unsatisfied needs from their husband." He finished gesturing his hands at him.

"What are you talking about? I'm sure-"

"Who's the guy she's boning?" asked Dr. Kindleman quickly.

"What?! She's not boning-"

"I can guarantee it to you Mr. Evans... the signs are clear. You're wife is having an affair-"

"The signs are clear? You've only met my wife once!"

"Please Mr. Evans, Harry, I am not the one you should be taking your anger out on. Your wife-"

"My wife is NOT having an affair!"

"Are you sure about that."

"YES." Harry said confidently, his arms crossing over his chest in his seat.

"How sure?"

"Is this another one-to-ten scenario-"

"Look you probably think you're the only couple going through this but I'll tell you... there are millions..."

"Uh-huh." sounded Harry clicking his tongue impatiently. 'This bloke is a total waste of time. What was Hermione thinking?'

"Harry if you're feeling this upset about it I can provide a variety of services to you. Such as more counselling, uh perhaps a grieving session, if you find out where the bloke she's banging lives I have a crew that'll go and beat the bloody hell out of him with a crow bar and if not then-"

"Look, my wife's not having an affair. And I don't think either of us will be needing your services again." said Harry standing up and grabbing for his coat.

Dr. Kindleman stood and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I understand this is hard Harry. My ex-wife... she was the bloody whore of Babylon but that didn't stop me from trying to see some good in her and I only got hurt. I think, in your case, divorce is inevitable." Harry's eyes were fixed on Dr. Kindleman's in a blank furry, "And um, when you do divorce Hermione, do you think you can give her my number?"

That was it, Harry turned and punched Dr. Kindleman straight in the nose, sending him reeling across the room. Harry took a few calming breaths while staring at the man on the floor holding his now bleeding nose.

"Thank you for your time, Doc." he finished leaving through the door as his secretary came running in.

...

"Where've you been?" asked Hermione as Harry walked in the door soaking wet from the rain.

"What's that love?" he asked slipping his coat off and hanging it on the rack. He grabbed the pile of post on the counter and walked into the kitchen where Hermione was waiting holding a glass of wine.

"It's 7:30, dinner's at 7. You're late where have you been?" She took a sip from her glass as Harry eyed her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know I was running late." he told her switching a few letters back and forth.

Hermione narrowed her eyes as she seen Harry's right hand, "Harry why are your knuckles swollen?"

"Huh?" he asked looking up at her.

"Your hand," she said pointing towards his bruised fist with her glass.

"Oh, it's nothing, love." He made a mental note to soak his hand in essence of murtlap later.

"Harry-"

"I'm starving, I could really do with some of your cooking right now." he said throwing the post down on a spot on the counter and coming over to kiss her on the cheek.

"It's still warm," she said. Harry didn't have to know that she placed a re-heating charm on it.

"Yeah looks great," he said giving her a smile from the table.

...

"Hermione, will you come in here darling?" shouted Harry from the bedroom.

"What?" asked Hermione coming in with two large leather bound books, her reading glasses placed neatly on her nose.

"What happened to the bed comforter?" asked Harry.

Hermione beamed at him, "You noticed! I just had them put on before you got home. I seen it at the department store and I just had to buy them, it's a lovely colour, don't you think?"

Harry pursed his lips and looked at her trying not to show emotion to Hermione's happy face, "What was wrong with the old one?"

"It's spring Harry, the dark blue was out of season." she said obviously.

"But I liked it."

"And you don't like this?" asked Hermione, her face falling.

"Well," Harry started about to tell her exactly what he thought of the light sea foam colour up until he seen her crest fallen expression, "Oh no, this is nice too."

She smiled again at him.

Glad that he was back on her well wishes he continued, "But, uh, we'll have to re-paint the walls, get new lampshades, maybe a new rug. I know how you like to remodel."

"Excellent. We can do it together next weekend maybe?" she asked coming up to him to kiss him on the cheek.

"Yeah, sure-" he was interrupted by the sudden ringing coming from Hermione's office.

"Ooh, I have to get that," she said dropping the books on the vomit green comforter and sprinting from the room into her downstairs office.

Harry came downstairs a few minutes later and seen Hermione through her glass office still talking on the phone. She paused for a moment, listening to the other line, and then started laughing. Harry felt his stomach drop. God, how he loved her laugh, and whoever was on the opposite line was obviously doing a fine job of it. 'Could Kindleman be right? Could Hermione be seeing another bloke?'

He shook his head disgusted for even thinking so 'No... Not my Hermione... she doesn't have the heart to do that to someone she loves.' He felt his stomach drop again, 'Does she even love me anymore?'

"Harry, are you alright?" asked Hermione gently, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"You're looking a little pale, maybe you should go take a kip." she said feeling his forehead and looking at him with concerned eyes.

"Um, no, we promised the Finkle’s tonight, remember?" said Harry.

"I remember." she said as she turned around and grabbed a long black coat from the hall closet.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Sienna's having bloke troubles again. Looks like I'm going to have to go over there and knock some sense into her to pull her out of her silly depression," she finished walking over to Harry and grabbing her car keys that were on the counter next to him.

"What's the blokes name this time? Brandon?" Harry asked half amusedly.

"Michael. I guess he wanted to get serious so she broke it off and now she's regretting it."

"Will you be back in time?" Harry asked over his shoulder as she started off for the back door.

"Yeah, this shouldn't take long. It's just a quickie." She turned to leave again when Harry called out her name and walked up to her.

He pressed his lips firmly against hers lingering a while before pulling away, "I love you."

She smiled timidly, "Love you too."

He closed the door behind her and watched her climb into her black car and pull out of the driveway through the curtained window. He sighed, resting his head on the door for a few moments before figuring now was as good a time as ever to dash over to Grimmauld Place for the debriefing Sirius said he had to give.

He grabbed his own heavy black coat, pulling the top over his head to keep from getting wet, and walked out the back door, not bothering to lock it behind him. He walked through the back garden until he reached the shed. Once he was inside the shed he closed his eyes and focused on number 12 Grimmauld Place. After being squeezed through what's like a butterbeer bottle Harry appeared out front of his Godfather's house and headquarters with a soft crack.

He hurried up the steps wanting to get inside as soon as possible to dry off. "Sirius, you here?" he yelled from the entrance hall.

"Harry?" Sirius popped his head out through the kitchen doors, "I'm glad you're here, we're one man short for a mission tonight."

Harry looked down at the watch Hermione gave him last Christmas, "I have to be back for a dinner party in like an hour..."

"Alright then, we'll hurry," he said leading him back to the kitchen where Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy were sitting in the kitchen.

"Hey mate," Harry said shaking both their hands and sitting down next to Ron.

"How's the-" Ron asked taking a sip of Butterbeer.

"Good," Harry said instantly. He knew Ron was referring to Hermione since he was one of three who knew he had a wife. Ron, Sirius, and Remus all knew about his alter ego- all being present at his wedding and Ron being his best man. Hermione found all of them quite charming but she was quite fond of Sirius in particular. Harry's Godfather always knew the right things to say to his wife.

Draco on the other hand was one of the members of the Order that had been left out of secret. During the war, Draco had proved to which side his loyalties truly lay, and was a great contributor to ultimate demise of Voldemort. Whether he came to the light to spite his father or because he truly believed in their cause remains a mystery. Harry considered him a good friend- but there were differences between friends you consider your brothers and friends who you get along with you and have a good time with.

And one thing was for sure, Draco Malfoy could never be Harry Potter’s (much less Evans’ ) brother.

"Alright boys, let's get to business. Tonight, we're gonna keep it quick and simple. As you all know, Paul Reeves is in town tonight, visiting his five star hotel to make sure everything’s living up to standards. We've received information that he'll be taking a trip down into his security vault to get a white laptop computer-

"What's so important about a muggle computer?" asked Draco, in a bored voice.

"We don't know, and it's not our job to find out. All we do is get in there- take it- get out. This is a mission given to his by our friends at SOCA-"

Ron laughed, "Those bloody idiots can't solve anything for themselves..."

Sirius smirked along with Harry and Draco, "Like I was saying, all we're doing is getting the computer and turning it in to them. And as reward we're getting a handsome prize."

Draco, Ron, and Harry's grins grew larger as Sirius revealed to them their salary for the job.

"Okay, this will be a two man mission, with the other and I sitting in a cafe across the street for back up and the get away. We have no knowledge of Reeves being in any contact of wizards or witches so let's keep the magic to a minimum. First, Reeves likes to eat dinner at the hotel restaurant and will then have a cigar out on the terrace with a few of his close associates. From there..."

Harry continued to nod his head absently at what Sirius was saying. He made a grab for Reeves file and started thumbing through pictures of him, his cronies, his muggle bank records... and anything else you could possibly imagine that the Order had dug up on him. He sighed, not wanting to think about power hungry wizards and what kind of havoc they were creating with their stupid computers.

Instead his mind wandered back to Hermione and what she was doing right now. Was she really at Sienna's flat, trying to fix her friend’s abysmal love life? Or was she somewhere else... with someone else?

...

Thank you all for the supportive reviews!

I think I’m getting into a nice habit of updating something every Tuesday.

Here’s a few important things:

- When I’m switching Hermione and Harry back between their home lives and their work lives their last name will change. Harry is still Harry Potter to Sirius, Ron, and the rest of the order and Hermione is still Hermione Granger to all her friends from her agency. Only a few close people know that either of them are married.

-SOCA is an agency in England similar to the FBI or CIA or whatever the big intelligence agency is in the states.

Things definitely start to heat up after this chapter, and a more exciting bit is that it gets ORIGINAL!!!

Please, if you have any doubts about me going at it straight from the movie- just keep reading; it’ll get more interesting I promise, and it won‘t be a carbon copy from the film. I do have a few more tricks up my sleeve ;]

Oh, and another thing… REVIEW!

5. Go Back to Chapter 4

Hi,

Go back to chapter four and read it. It’s the new chapter. I deleted the previous author’s note and I guess that kind of screwed up the chapters…

Anyway; chapter 4, brand new, read, review, I love you.

-Oliver

6. The Kiss

Disclaimer: JKR owns; FOX owns.

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 4: The Kiss

[An] Remember, Hermione’s agency knows her as Hermione Granger. When she goes undercover it’s usually Hermione Troy. This is also what Harry thinks her maiden name is. Harry’s friends know him as Harry Potter, but Hermione and while undercover to the muggle world he’s Harry Evans.

I know it’s confusing as hell, but it’s important. If there are any questions leave them in a review and I’ll get back to you.

…

"Sienna? Will you hurry your arse up? The guys will be coming soon!" Hermione said in a hurried whisper as she rushed into the ladies loo at the Covington Resort's restaurant called Le Deux. She came in and found her life long friend from Beauxbatons, Sienna Cosveaux perched in front of the mirror, reapplying her lipstick for about the seventh time that night. Spotting Hermione in the corner of the mirror, she stood up and put the lid on her lipstick.

"You know," she started twirling a strand of deep auburn hair in her hand, "These hair colours really don't suit us."

"Tell me about it," Hermione countered, coming up to the mirror to look at herself. She was sporting platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She had cast a charm to pale her skin a bit so her natural olive complexion wasn't present. Also, she was a few inches taller, now that she was wearing high black stilettos and skimpy black cocktail dress that she thought was too revealing but Sienna insisted it showed off her best attributes. The smoky black eye make up was another thing she thought was a bit too over the top, but again Sienna over ruled her. And in the end she begrudgingly agreed. The swankier she looked the sooner the job would start and the sooner she could go home.

Sienna giggled, "I never thought I'd see the day were Hermione Granger turned into a blonde. I wonder what you're dear husband Harry would think of this-"

Hermione instantly turned and clapped a hand over Sienna's mouth. She quickly scanned under the loo stalls and around the rest of the bathroom to see if anyone was in there. Finally letting go of Sienna, she shot her a dangerous glare. Sienna very well knew they weren't supposed to talk about any part of their personal lives while on a mission- on tiny slipped detail falling onto the wrong ears could ruin the whole thing.

"Sorry," Sienna whispered sheepishly, before looking back into the mirror and saying in a huff, "Oh great, I have to do my lipstick again!"

A few minutes later, Hermione had finally had enough and practically drug Sienna out of the bathroom. Quickly scanning the floor of the restaurant, she couldn't see any familiar faces from the photos they had received.

"Reeves, 10 o'clock," Sienna muttered inconspicuously out of the corner of her mouth. Hermione used her peripherals to watch as Reeves, a man with spiked blonde hair and a pointed rat face, shook hands with a few of his colleagues.

Hermione and Sienna made their way up to the bar and were immediately served an apple martini and a glass of scotch because of their hot looks. They turned back around, subtly sipping their drinks, while keeping a close eye on Reeves who was still standing in the same spot and talking with his cohorts.

Reeves and his group of followers suddenly started walking in the bars direction.

"I'll get the best mate on the side you go for Reeves?" Sienna checked as they got closer.

"Yep," Hermione verified, nudging her to signal for them to start walking toward Reeves who was still moving in their direction.

When they were a few steps away from each other Sienna pretended to stumble, sending her apple martini flying all over Reeves mate's trousers.

"Fucking hell!" the man next to Reeves shouted, throwing his arms up as he looked down at the considerable sized stain on his pants.

"Oh my god, I'm sooo sorry," Sienna slurred slightly, quickly grabbing a napkin off the counter and rubbing it on his crouch, "Soo sorry," she said again looking up into his eyes with a small inebriated grin.

The man didn't say anything but didn't push her away, seemingly liking the way this sexy girl was so willingly rubbing his pants.

Hermione took that as her cue to step forward and grab Sienna's arm, "I'm sorry. My friend here's a huge klutz," she paused as she noticed Reeves appreciatively eyeing her up and down, "Plus she's been drinking on an empty stomach."

She grabbed both of Sienna's hands about to start moving away from them when Reeves called out to her. She smiled smugly and turned around slowly, "Yes?"

"Well you say you're friends been drinking on an empty stomach. We're about to eat, why don't you join us? We'd be eating out on the terrace." He finished with a slimy smile that Hermione found hard not to cringe at.

"Out on the terrace?" she asked curiously, mustering an interested look, "Won't we get in trouble for that?"

Reeves smirked again, "No, not since I own this place."

'Great, the bugger's opening up quicker than I thought,' Hermione reflected, sending him a coy smile, "Well then, my name's Michelle. This is Jennifer."

"Pleasure to meet you, Michelle," Reeves said coming forward and bowing while taking her hand and kissing it.

...

"Do you think they're drunk enough?" Sienna asked as they approached a golden fountain in the lobby that Reeves had asked them to wait at while he had a quick word with his chef. They knew it was legit since the vault they were supposed to be breaking into was only accessible down a single elevator shaft off in the corner of the lobby that was different from the main guest elevators.

"Reeves and his best mate David are, that's all that matters. Is Alyssa taking care of the security tapes like we asked her to?" Hermione questioned back, her eyes scanning around the hotel lobby for any suspicious behaviour.

"Yes, she's already replaced the tapes from tonight with the ones from yesterday which just shows a blank vault. And she's tapped into the main electrical unit of the building, so if anything goes wrong you can legilimens her a message and she'll disconnect the circuits leaving everything dark," Sienna finished, referring to the open mind channels that Hermione had discovered through her work in occlumency. It took her about six hard months of research before she discovered that with thinking 'legilimens' and the person who's brain you're trying to reach, you can create an open mind channel that provides a very convenient way of quick communicating without making eye contact.

"Good, let's run through the plan one more time."

Sienna let out a breath, "We get Reeves to open the elevator with his access card then once we're down in the hall of the vault we stupefy them, take the card, get the computer, replace it with a fake, apparate back to the agency, and then collect our pay check."

Hermione smirked at her friend, "Always worried about the pay check, aren't you?"

"Of course, there's a new line of Chanel products coming out next month but with a little bribe money I can get all of it within the next two days. It's a win-win situation."

"Of course," she said, smiling at her friend. She stopped when her eyes fell upon the four men that had been escorting them that night, "Here they come."

"Ladies," Paul said, coming up to Hermione and taking her hand again. "Would you mind if we made a quick stop to the basement before heading up to my private pent house?" He asked, continuing to eye Hermione up. She was sure of what Paul thought he was getting tonight, but he was in for a rude awakening in about five minutes time.

"Not at all," she responded slyly, giving him a mock secretive grin.

"Great then, Tom, if you'll lead the way," he said motioning to the buff guard from earlier. Tom nodded and took off in the direction of the secret elevator.

...

"There he is," Harry muttered, once again shaking the shaggy blonde hair that he had charmed on out of his eyes.

The man hunched over in a wheel chair next to Harry looked up casually, "Who're the girls?" Ron asked under his disguise.

"Dunno, probably some hookers he picked up at dinner," Harry replied, starting to walk forward in the direction Reeves was heading in.

"Looks like they're getting V.I.P. passes down into the vault with Reeves," Ron commented, rolling along besides Harry. "The blonde has a nice arse, I must say."

Harry rolled his eyes at Ron's added comment but couldn't stop himself from also looking down to the blonde's bum. Ron was right, she had a nice arse.

"You remember the plan?" Harry asked with his game face on.

"Yes, mother, I remember the fucking plan. We only went over it twelve times before now..."

Ron got quiet since now they were close behind Reeves and his posse. They stopped and Reeves walked forward to the elevator doors. He took something out from his pocket but Harry couldn't make out what he was doing beyond that.

"Get ready..." Harry whispered out of the corner of his mouth to Ron.

...

"I call this my 'open sesame' pass ladies," Reeves said egotistically, holding out a golden card with the initials CR on the front. Sienna and Hermione passed over a light giggle at his horrible attempt to make them laugh.

He turned back around and slid his card through a little black object hanging on the side of the door. A little light on the side of it turned green and the elevator doors slid open with an elegant 'ding'.

Right as they were all about to take a step into the elevator they heard an ungodly scream.

...

Harry and Ron waited patiently in their disguises a few steps back from the group. Once the elevator doors had slid open, Harry sent Ron a sharp look. Ron rolled the chair forward so he was directly behind the group, looking as if he was going to continue his way down the hall when he suddenly let out a rasped scream and tumbled out of the wheel chair.

Harry noticed Reeves group turn immediately at the sound.

Ron started grabbing at his chest and yelling, "My heart! I can't breath! My 'eart!"

Harry took his cue, "Oh my god! Is anyone a doctor?! Someone help!"

Harry knew that Reeves best mate, David Wright, was in fact a doctor, and sure enough he stepped forward a few seconds later to attend Ron's convulsing body.

...

Hermione and Sienna turned sharply and found themselves looking at a tall, greying old man laying sprawled out on the floor, clutching his chest. He had seemingly just fallen out of his wheel chair since it was turned over on its side next to him. Hermione bit her lip nervously, 'Great this is just what we needed...'

"My heart! I can't breath! My 'eart!" yelled the man painfully. Hermione looked over at Sienna and they shared a worried look. The elevator to the vault was just open and waiting behind them, but now it looked as if their trip would be put on hold.

"Oh my god! Is anyone a doctor?! Someone help!" shouted another voice. A man with shaggy blonde hair was standing to the side of the old man, looking like he didn't want to touch him because he was afraid of hurting him.

David shared the same sort of look with Reeves before walking forward to the man who was now having a seizure on the ground.

"It's alright, I'm a doctor," he said to the blonde bloke while struggling to keep the old man still. "Bloody hell, come help me hold him!" he shouted back to Reeves and the two guards. Hermione and Sienna continued to stand there blindly, not knowing if they should move or take advantage of the open vault. This guy having a heart attack in front of them was really starting to get on Hermione and Sienna's nerves.

The two guards, Reeves, the blonde bloke, and David where now all crowded around the man who was gasping for breath.

"Paul, pull both his hands back!" David shouted as he was trying to keep the mans head still long enough to inspect his eyes. Reeves followed David's instructions, placed the vault card into the front pocket of his suit, and then clasped both his hands around the guys wrists.

...

Harry listened in as David told Reeves to hold Ron's hands down. He excitedly watched as the card he was holding was placed in the breast pocket of his suit before returning his hands to Ron. Harry made to move over next to Reeves.

"Is he going to be okay?" Harry asked in a worried voice as he pulled on Reeves' shoulder with one hand so that his eyes were focused on Harry's charmed brown ones. He then evasively slipped another hand around him and grabbed at the card that was about to fall out.

"I don't know! I'm too drunk for this right now!" Reeves replied in a strained voice before looking back to Ron, not even realising that Harry had just taken something from him.

Once the card was in Harry's hands he triumphantly got up and started for the elevator.

...

Hermione and Sienna were still waiting helplessly by the elevator. They didn't want to move in case it some way jeopardized the mission.

Hermione watched the blonde man move towards Reeves and pull on his shoulder to look at him. Her eyes widened as she caught the blonde man stealthily move his right hand forward and the pull it back with the golden vault card tight in his grip. Hermione nudged Sienna and nodded forward.

"He has the card," she muttered as the blonde man began to stand up.

"Shit." Sienna, not knowing what else to think, moved back into the still open elevator and pulled her wand from her thigh holster.

Hermione's brain was in over drive from thinking of quick actions to take with the least consequential out come. With a wave of her wand all of these idiots could be knocked out cold but Father had been very clear when saying that he wanted no signs of magic open to the public eye. She knew that who ever this blonde guy was, he was the enemy and he was trying to get into Reeves' vault for himself. She quickly started to understand that the man in the wheel chair was a set up. 'Smart muggles.... but not smart enough...'

"Is he going to be okay?" she asked the man in a worried voice, running up to him as he approached and placing both hands on his chest.

"Yeah," the man muttered irritably, pushing past Hermione and headed for the vault that she knew Sienna was covering in.

"Wait!" she called right before the man took the final step into the vault.

He turned around, looking like he was about to tell her off when Hermione ran up to him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and then leaned up to crush her lips against his.

...

HAHA CLIFFY!

AN: I’m sorry for the late update, and the cliffy. No worries though, it won’t be that long until I update again. Thank you to everyone who reviewed; seriously I know it’s terribly cliché for an author to get all ‘they’re what keep me going’ on you but that’s really how I feel. I take my time to write this all for the readers who enjoy it so please, if you are one of those readers-- REVIEW! I’m sick of getting thousands of hits every chapter but only labout ten reviews. I know more than 10 of you like what I’m writing. So all I’m asking is that once you’re finished, take ten seconds to right ten or eleven little words telling me how I’m doing. I will never be the type of author that sabotages my readers to get them to review, or in other words I’ll never say ‘I’ll update again when I get this many reviews…’

In conclusion I know you guys hate getting harped about reviewing but with only ten reviews per chapter, it makes me really sit down and wonder if I should continue writing this.

*Also, I could get chapters up a lot quicker if someone offered to become my BETA!*

7. BUZZZ

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 5: BUZZZ

[AN]: Here’s chapter five which sums up the rest of the mission and night for Harry and Hermione. There’s a bit more conflict but then a nice little (short-lived) treat for you at the end. I hope it stays interesting to you guys- enjoy!

…

Harry had just gotten the card and was striding towards the elevator with a quick pace.

"Is he going to be okay?" asked a worried voice, as the girl with the nice arse from before ran up to him and put her hands on his chest.

"Yeah," he muttered, annoyingly walking past her toward the elevator.

"Wait!" she called out again.

'Oh, bloody hell, enough with this bimbo...' Harry thought angrily, about to scream at her to fuck off.

He couldn't even blink before the girl ran up to him and gave him a bruising kiss.

...

'ALYSSA! CUT OUT THE LIGHTS NOW!' Hermione screamed in her mind as she continued to kiss the man. Her whole heart and body felt so ashamed of what she was doing. All she could think about was the raven haired man that was her husband. This was the first time she ever had to go to this extent on a mission before. Other than that she had never been unfaithful to him. Never.

Not even a second later the power went down, leaving the whole room black. Hermione's hand discretely moved down the blokes arm before quickly snatching the card out of his hand. She broke the kiss immediately afterward, moving around him and into the elevator.

'I'm in the elevator, let's go!' she sent out to Sienna quickly. With a waver of her wand the elevator's doors slammed shut.

...

It was a good thing Harry was standing in the dark, otherwise people might begin to ask about the completely dumbfounded expression on his face.

'What the hell just happened?' Harry asked himself repeatedly over the shouts of other strained voices.

Not only was it that that blonde girl had stolen the card from him but she had kissed him as well!

The sudden sound of Ron's emergency apparation jerked him from his thoughts. Clearing his head of all rampant thoughts and figuring there wasn't much else he could do here, he too apparated to their safe meeting point.

"What the hell was that?" Ron asked, already morphing back into his original appearance.

"We weren't the only ones that were looking to get into the vault Ron..." he said, still in a bit of a daze. This was the first failed mission for Harry, and yet he couldn't help but be worried more about the kiss that girl gave him. His jumbled mind immediately turned to Hermione and he was suddenly stricken with an immense sense of guilt.

"Hello, Harry!" Ron yelled waving his hand in front of his face.

"Huh?"

"I asked who else would be after the card?"

"Those two girls... I don't know who they were but they weren't innocent by any standards. The blonde one grabbed the card from my hand and that's when all the lights went out."

"Fuck!" Ron shouted, kicking an abandoned rubbish bin that was in the alley they'd apparated to.

"Look, let's calm down and get back to Sirius and Malfoy. We'll try and explain then..."

...

"Did you get it?" Sienna asked hastily as she lit up the compartment with a lumos.

"Yes," she breathlessly, wasting no time in swiping the card through the little black object on the inside of the elevator.

The little light turned green once more and at once the elevator started off, quickly descending the shaft.

"Who the bloody hell do you think that guy was? Do you think he was a muggle?"

"He had to be," Hermione answered with a slight shake of her head, "He seemed too naive to be a wizard. Probably just some enemy of Reeves trying to steal money from his vault."

Sienna nodded, "Who cares though? At least we got the card and we won't be leaving here empty handed tonight."

Hermione wanted to smile triumphantly but she felt terrible for doing what she did with that bloke. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and waited for the elevator to stop moving and the doors to open before walking briskly out of it and approaching the thick titanium door.

"There it is again," Sienna commented, pointing toward the little black box again. Hermione swiped the card, and the light turned green. She shared a look with Sienna before pulling the heavy door open. When they stepped inside the room, all they could see were rows of steel filing cabinets lining the walls.

Sienna lay her wand in the palm of her hand, "Point me."

Her wand spun around a full circle before landing on a cabinet right to her left. Hermione walked forward and opened it, surprised that there were no further locks on it.

"There it is," Sienna said in achievement. Hermione let herself smile as she pulled out the white lap top that her agency had been looking for. This computer held all of contacts of Anthony Ribone, a figure head in the muggle black market, and a man who also happened to be Paul Reeves' uncle.

"Jack pot," Sienna said again with a wide grin. "Do you know what this means, Hermione?" she asked in an excited whisper.

Hermione nodded, "That we now know the secrets to hundreds of impromptu muggle con artist around all of Western Europe. They're going to be so easy to track down if we ever need to find them..."

"Yeah, but this also means that we are going to get so fucking rewarded for this! I mean, Father should buy us an island for doing this for him!" she finished smiling and clapping her hands together in triumph.

Hermione smiled back, "Alright get the replica."

"Oh yeah." Sienna started searching through out her small hand bag that she had been carrying around all evening. She finally pulled out what looked to be a miniature white box. Tapping it with her wand, the box reformed to its full shape as a lap top computer.

"It's nice to know we're not stealing... we're just sort of trading," Sienna said lightly, shrinking the lap top in Hermione's hands, putting an unbreakable charm on it, and putting it in the safety of her hand bag.

Hermione smirked, “Would you honestly care either way?”

Sienna looked up at her as if she was extremely offended. Hermione matched her look with a challenging smile. Sienna finally relented, “You’re right, I don’t give a shite either way. Excuse me for trying to be a little moral.”

Hermione smiled. Sienna and Hermione may have been the two most opposite people on earth, but that didn‘t stop Hermione from appreciating Sienna‘s honesty that she was a selfish twit. "So everything's set?"

"Yep, we're good to go."

"Alrig- oh bloody hell," Hermione muttered looking at the silver wrist watch that Harry had gotten her for last Christmas.

"What?"

"The Finkle's. Harry and I promised them tonight..." Hermione looked back up into her best friend's eyes pleadingly.

Sienna sighed and groaned out, "Fine, go. I'll take care of your paper work tonight, but you owe me!"

Hermione smiled and kissed her on the cheek, "Thanks Si. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, yeah- go home to your bloody husband."

Hermione was about to apparate when Sienna called her name.

"What?"

"You might want to change back... I don't know if Harry will react well to some blonde bimbo walking through his house acting like she owns it..."

"Oh right," Hermione said sheepishly. She tapped her wand against her head and muttered the counter charm. Once she was back to her original self and in the same clothes she left with, she gave her friend one last smile before apparating.

She appeared a short second later in the parking lot of a neighbourhood park. Peeking around, to make sure no one had seen her, she climbed back into her car gracefully, and then sped off to her home that was only a couple minutes away.

...

"Sirius, for the last time, I'm sorry. But there was nothing else we could do without resorting to magic, and you said that was prohibited!"

Sirius stopped pacing in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place and looked at his tired godson. He sighed, "I know Harry... I'm sorry. I just thought we had this one! I thought it'd be easy as hell! I want to know who the bloody hell else was in on this deal!"

"As do I..." Harry trailed off, laying his head in his hands.

"What if SOCA did it? What if they set us up?" Draco asked with his arms folded across his chest.

Sirius shook his head, "That doesn't make any sense though... why would they send two different groups in on the same op?"

Draco just shrugged and lowered his gaze to the ground.

"You've been pretty intent on someone setting us up lately, Draco." Ron commented from the kitchen table, behind a plate of a half eaten turkey sandwich.

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked irritably.

Ron shrugged, "I'm just saying, that seems to be your fall back for a lot of things lately."

"He's just paranoid," Harry defended him, "Everybody goes through it in the type of business we're in."

Sirius sighed again, "Speaking of SOCA we're going to have to have a meeting with them tonight about what happened-"

"Oh shit!" Harry exclaimed, looking at his watch.

"What?" Ron asked, his mouth full of food.

Harry looked up at Sirius, "The Finkle's..."

Sirius nodded, "Go, we'll take care of it. Send Hermione my love..."

"See you guys later," he said hurriedly before apparating away to a dark corner of his shed. Creaking the door open slightly to see if anyone was around, he left the shed in a hurry, quickly running up the path of the side garden and onto the back porch of his house.

He opened the back door cautiously as he walked in, taking off his coat and throwing it carelessly at the coat rack. He walked to the stair case and rushed up them to get to his room quickly. As soon as he entered it, he started pulling his shirt off.

"Oh, I didn't think you were home! I was just about to ring you," said a voice coming from the closet. Hermione emerged in a simple light pink dress that looked great with her figure. Harry quickly had to clear the guilty feeling of another woman's lips pressed against his as Hermione continued to approach him.

"Are you feeling any better?" she asked with a concerned voice when he didn't make any movement to respond to her.

"Err, yeah, I, um... I was in the shed having a chat with Sirius... over the phone..." he said continuing to look at her body.

"Oh and how is he?" she smiled genuinely at the mention of him. Sirius insisted that she refer to him as her father-in-law since he had been the closest thing to a father Harry had.

"Doing well. The market is being good to him. He sends his love," he finished giving her a soft smile.

"You should invite him over for dinner one of these nights. And you better get ready, we have to go in about five minutes," she said walking past him to go out into the hallway, with Harry starring after her.

...

"So we'll stay for ten minutes?" Harry asked hopefully as he and Hermione walked out of their house to the Finkle's, carrying a bottle of champagne.

"Forty, Harry."

"Fifteen?"

"At least a half hour, we haven't been to one of these things in two months. We have to at least be polite," she reprimanded again.

"Fine," Harry said grudgingly. "So how's Sienna?"

Hermione nodded, "Better. I took her out for a drink and already blokes are asking her out. She has a dinner date tomorrow."

"That girl will never settle down," Harry said amusedly.

"She'll never settle down with just one bloke," Hermione corrected with a smile, "What about Sirius. How's he doing?"

"You know Sirius, still slaying his way through women as if he were 21 again," he smiled over at Hermione who had her eyebrows raised at him with a smile playing on her lips.

"What?" he asked as they walked up the stairs of the Finkle's home.

"Your tie's on wrong," she laughed as she moved over to re-tie it.

"Hell, I can never get this one right..."

"But you still wear it," commented Hermione with a grin.

"It's my favourite. It accentuates my neck," he said playfully.

Hermione laughed and looked up as she finished tying it. She stopped and her smile drooped a little. "What's that on your face?"

"What?" Harry asked putting a hand on his cheek.

Hermione paused and blinked a few times before she spoke again, "Is that lip gloss?"

'Oh shit...' Harry could feel his heart drop. He hadn't even thought about that girl leaving a mark on him, he was just too dazed by it to think clearly. The look on Hermione's face didn't help matters either. Right now he wanted to burry himself six feet under.

"What are you talking about?"

Hermione pointed to the corner of his mouth.

Harry touched it with his hand, "Oh... no. My- my lips were chapped so I used some of your lip balm stuff..." 'What the hell kind of excuse is that, Potter?!'

Hermione stared at him for a few more seconds, obviously not believing what he had just said. Usually she wouldn't hesitate to call him out on a lie, but right now she just felt numb.

She nodded shortly and turned back around to face the Finkle's door.

"Hermione, I swear-"

"Welcome neighbours!" shouted Bob and Debbie Finkle as they opened the door before Hermione could even knock.

Harry and Hermione both flinched at the sudden greeting before quickly recovering, "Hey Bob. Debbie," Harry nodded at them both with a faux smile as Hermione exchanged pleasantries with Debbie.

"What a wonderful party," Hermione said forcefully, looking around the house full of more middle aged people, all conversing and laughing.

"Why thank you! Bob wanted to put the refreshment table in the living room but I..." Harry gave his wife a forlonging look as Debbie dragged her off deeper into the house, no doubt headed for the sitting room were all the women were.

"Come on Harry, let's go see the boys!" Bob said, throwing an arm around him.

...

"Hermione, can I get you a drink?" Debbie asked as she sat Hermione down between two older women who Hermione recognized as neighbours from down the street.

"Scotch?" she asked hopefully. She was by far in no mood to hearthese women give repeated stories about breast feeding and birth and how to 'spice up' their sex lives with their balding husbands. She didn't need them to make her feel uncomfortable and make her realise over and over again that she's not the maternal sort. So to hear these stories at least while she was a bit pissed would take the edge away.

Might even take away the memory of seeing a little glimmer of lip gloss in the corner of Harry's mouth as well…

She couldn't believe that Harry would just go carelessly cheat on her with another woman. Harry wasn't that type of bloke.

At least she thought he wasn't. It's very possible that Hermione didn't even know the real Harry anymore... after all they had been distant for longer than just a few months and their sex lives weren't that great. Pretty much nonexistent really... It wasn't their fault though, they just never had any time.

'No... Harry wouldn't do that to me... he loves me and I love him despite how we've acted lately...'

'Really, Hermione? You love him enough to kiss another bloke just an hour ago?'

'No, that was for work! I would never be unfaithful to Harry. That was for the sake of the mission!'

'Maybe he feels the same way... for the sake of his sanity he has to go out and be with other women...'

'Shut it, this was the first time I've seen lip gloss on him. And he even said that he put my lip balm on himself!'

'Yeah... he's a horrible liar, isn’t he?'

'Fuck off!'

"Hermione, darling?" Debbie asked, holding her cup of scotch up to her face.

"Oh, thank you," she said, snapping out of her internal feud.

"Well, who's up for baby stories?" started the woman next to Hermione, "I tried to wing Jacob off my breast a few weeks ago and he's still constantly grabbing at me! I mean I can't go out in public without him pawing at me, wanting more milk!"

Hermione sank back into the uncomfortable sofa with a sad look on her face as the woman around her started to break out into giggle fits.

...

"So Evans, that unsuspecting turn in the market must've really taken a stride on your company, eh?" asked an annoying, balding man by the name of Pete Winkski. Pete really just didn't know how to shut up and take the hint that Harry didn't want to talk to him.

But of course, Pete didn’t hinder. He insisted on making incompetent jabs about Harry and his life, "Why would you say that, Pete?" He really wasn't interested in whatever he had to say. His mind was a little preoccupied with his wife and what she must be thinking of him right now. He knew she was too brainy to believe Harry's idiotic excuse, plus she knew Harry well enough to know that he would never use a feminine product like that. 'Idiot Harry, idiot...'

"-with the beating that all contracting companies are making this quarter. I'm just saying that with the property values going up, no one can afford to by land to build on anymore!"

Harry wished Pete would stop talking to him like he was better than him. Harry smirked, deciding not to let the opportunity past, "Actually Pete, my firm just landed two 1.5 million pound lots that should be under construction in about six months."

The men looked at Harry as he took a sip from his water, "With what money?" asked Perry, the man across from him, in shock.

"Oh, you know money, grows on trees with the recent unsuspecting turn in the market," Harry finished off, sending a smug grin to Pete standing sheepishly in the corner.

"You have to be investing in something..." John trailed off from next to him.

Harry shrugged, "A little bit of this and that."

Bob laughed and clapped Harry on the shoulder, "That's my mate Harry! Right sly bastard, he is!"

"Right," Harry muttered, taking another drink.

He starting glancing around the rest of the house, wondering where Hermione was at that moment.

...

"What are you looking at?" Hermione muttered at a 18 month old baby, perched on a girls lap who was sitting on the arm rest next to Hermione. The baby gurgled some bubbles and as an answer Hermione finished off the last of her third cup of scotch.

"Oh, she likes you!" said a smiling Debbie who must have seen the baby cooing at Hermione. "When do you think you and Harry will get around to having children?"

"Um, we haven't really talked about it-"

"Well why not? You've been married for like 5 years-" said the woman with the baby.

"Six." she finished sending an indignant glare her.

"Well don't you think you two are ready for some commitment?" she asked again in a practical sneer.

'Why is this whiny skank trying to tell me what to do?' Hermione wondered to herself with a hint of bitterness. "We had a cat for three years." she finished, standing up in a huff and heading towards the bar.

She poured herself another scotch, albeit a small one, and promised herself after this one she would go home and get in bed.

...

Harry spotted Hermione from across rooms. She walked up to the bar and poured herself a glass of scotch and took a sip immediately. Harry sighed. He hoped she wasn't drinking because of what had happened earlier.

"Well boys, it's been good talking with you. I've got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow so I'm going to head on home."

"Alright Harry, hey maybe we can get together for a barbeque this weekend, eh? That'd be fun! Or we could break away from the wives and go hit a few golf balls-"

"Hermione and I are remodelling this weekend. Maybe another time Bob," he said as he threw his water bottle in a nearby rubbish bin, shook hands with the remaining group and then started off across the hall for his wife.

"Oh, anytime Harry. You can call anytime!" Bob finished with an excited smile.

Harry swallowed hard as he approached Hermione. Deciding to keep it simple he touched the small of her back, "Are you about ready to get home?"

Hermione didn't look at him but nodded and set her glass down. Gathering up her purse in one hand, she turned to send a polite smile at Debbie who waved in return.

As they were walking across the lawn of the Finkle's, Harry chose to test the waters a bit, and was pleasantly surprised when Hermione allowed him to hold her hand.

It was short lived though, as soon as they were in the front door Hermione had shrugged her light jacket off and threw it at the coat rack. She immediately started for the stairs with Harry sighing in her wake and then following her like a lost puppy.

"I liked your dress tonight," Harry tried shyly as he stood in their closet pulling off his shirt, trying to get ready for bed, "That colour suits you well." He looked back to Hermione who had stopped buttoning up the top to her pyjamas.

"Thanks," she said timidly.

"Hermione," he tried again as they both went into their connected bedroom and pulled back the comforter of their bed, "about earlier-"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Harry watched dismayed as Hermione got into bed and lay so that she was on the edge of the bed and her back was facing him.

"Okay," he consented also getting into bed, "I just wanted you to know that I would never do that to you."

He could see Hermione nod briefly against her pillow. He swallowed again, deciding to go out on a limb. He scooted forward and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into him.

"And whether you believe me or not, its true."

"I believe you," Hermione breathed out a few moments later.

"Then why won't you look at me?"

Hermione shrugged but didn't make an effort to move. Harry gingerly tugged on her shoulder to get her to roll over to face him.

When her eyes still didn't meet his he hooked a finger under her chin and lifted it up.

"I love you," he whispered, centimetres away from her lips.

Hermione nodded as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I believe you."

Harry leant forward and sealed their words with a lingering kiss. When Hermione didn't pull away he took the opportunity to gently pry her mouth open with his tongue. Hermione accepted him just as tenderly and didn't object when Harry started to move on top of her.

Hermione was starting to boldly run her hands underneath Harry's night shirt when an annoying sound vibrated on Harry's bedside table.

Harry groaned and looked over to his phone. He knew he was required to answer his work phone whenever someone called- but he couldn't help but want to tear the phone to shreds right now.

"Ignore it," Hermione said breathlessly, grabbing his chin and redirecting his lips to hers. The phone continued to buzz but the two effectively ignored it as they kissed and groped at each other.

Finally, by the time Harry had unbuttoned Hermione's night shirt and started untying her bottoms it stopped. Hermione moaned loudly as Harry's mouth trailed down her chest and stopped at her knickers where he devilishly looked up at her with a smug smile.

"Don't you dare tease me, Harry James Evans," she scolded giving him a firm glare.

"Whatever you say love," he took her knickers off in one swipe and then spared himself of his own clothes. He climbed back up Hermione's body and kissed her deeply. She could feel his growing erection harden against her stomach and it about drover her over the edge. It had been so long...

"Harry," she panted as they broke apart.

"Ready?"

"Yea-"

BUZZZ

Harry groaned in aggravation as Hermione turned her head to find her own mobile vibrating on her bedside table.

"Forget about it, Mione," Harry tried, starting to kiss her neck but Hermione's eyes were still glued on the lighted and vibrating object.

"Umm-"

BUZZZ

Harry couldn't believe his luck. About two seconds ago he was about to make sweet, passionate love to his wife (which hadn't happened in quite some time) and their bloody mobile phones were ringing off the hook. He looked back to his own phone and couldn't help but feel a twinge a curiosity even in his current situation.

Whoever was calling him must be from the Order and if they're continuing to call then it must be important...

"Um, let's just...-" Hermione sounded uncomfortably, pushing Harry off her gently so she could grab her phone. Harry knew she was going to answer it so he moved over to his table and grabbed his as well.

Looking at the phone, Harry could see that it was Sirius ringing. Harry spared a glance over to Hermione who had already answered her phone.

He sighed and flipped the phone open, bringing to his ear, "Hello?"

"Harry, I've been trying to reach you..."

"Yeah well, its night time Sirius and its usually the time where you and your wife..." he trailed off with an annoyed voice knowing Sirius would understand.

"Oh... sorry Harry, but this is important."

...

"I know Hermione, and I'm sorry but you know I wouldn't have interrupted unless it was important..." apologized Sienna over the phone.

Hermione sighed, "Alright, well what is it? Is everything okay?"

"Not exactly, Father wants to see us at headquarters tomorrow. He's not releasing any more information to us than that, so it makes me think it had something to do with tonight."

"You got... it... back right?" Hermione asked hesitantly, covering up so Harry wouldn't hear anything he wasn't supposed to.

"Yes! Everything went perfectly, I even did your paperwork!" she defended herself quickly, not wanting Hermione to think that she couldn't take care of something important.

"I know Si, I trust you did everything fine. Um, so should I come there tomorrow?"

"Yeah, apparate over to the London penthouse tomorrow morning. Father's having someone set up a portkey for you that leaves at 4:30 in the morning-"

"Oh, lovely," Hermione commented dryly, thinking of what she now wouldn't get to do with Harry.

"Yeah, and pack a bag because you might not be home for a few days," Sienna finished off. The two girls quickly said their goodbyes and Hermione lay her phone back on the night stand.

She hadn't realised that Harry had left the room so she was a bit surprised when she seen him walk in a few minutes later wearing his boxers and holding his mobile by his side.

"Sorry..." Harry muttered as he set his phone down and climbed back into bed.

"Um... no it’s fine," Hermione lied, flipping the lamp light off again.

"So," Harry started, sitting up to look over her.

"I, um, I have an early flight tomorrow," Hermione spoke with a bated breath.

Harry shoulder's dropped, "To France?"

"Yep."

"What for?"

Hermione thought quickly, "The French editors wanted to have a meeting with me about re-imaging the magazine." she said quickly, referring to the magazine company Harry thought she was the editor-in-chief of.

"Oh... will you be gone long?"

"Probably a few days, it really depends if they give me trouble about it- which they better not."

Harry smirked, "Don't go firing anyone who just pisses you off, Hermione. Remember, they might have a poor family to feed." He knew all about his wife's feisty temper, having been on the receiving end of it quite a few times.

Hermione smiled back at him, "I'll keep that in mind."

Harry's smile slowly slipped from his face as he lay down and moved closer to her face, "So..."

"Um, Harry my plane leaves at 4:30 tomorrow. I have to get up really early to pack and it's already 11:45..."

Harry sighed and rolled over on his back so Hermione wouldn't see his downcast expression, "Okay."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine, let's just... go to sleep I guess."

"Night Harry," Hermione whispered, hoping that he wouldn't be bitter over this in the morning.

"Good night."

...

Sorry for the late update. To amend my apologies I didn’t give you a cliffy like I had planned and it’s much MUCH longer. That also has to do with the unbelievably AMAZING REVIEWS I got for last chapter! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU so bloody much. Honestly, I didn’t think I would get that much of a response from you but I’m so appreciative of everyone of them.

So maybe if you keep giving me nearly 30 reviews per update I can keep up with these thirteen pages for each chapter.

Muwahaha- blackmail!

Also, I wanted to let you guys know that it is kind of confusing to remember everything that revolves around the characters so in upcoming chapters (like if I get last names wrong, blah blah blah) just let me know that I’m an idiot and I’ll fix it.

If you have any questions- by all means, leave a review and I’ll answer!

8. His Meeting and Her Proposal

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 6: His Meeting and Her Proposal

[AN]: And here’s the next instalment. This chapter you’ll get to see a little more angst than action and you’ll also finally get to see Ginny and more of Hermione’s work environment.

This chapter marks the first rising action and next chapter we’ll see the climax of it, so without further ado:

...

"Alright, well I guess I'll see you tomorrow evening?" Harry asked Hermione as they made their way towards her car.

"Yes, that's the plan at least. If I have to stay longer than that I'll call you, okay?"

"Okay, be safe," he finished walking up to her and leaning in. He must of caught Hermione by surprise because she jerked her head back, but quickly leaned back in to press her lips lightly to his. She at least owed him that much after last night…

"You too. I know how dangerous you and Sirius can be when you two get together to go golfing," she finished with a smirk as she opened her car door and got inside. Smiling back, Harry closed the door for her and waved after her as she ignited the engine and sped off down the driveway way.

As she disappeared from sight, he turned on his heel and took off towards the house. Last night was going perfectly until Sirius had interrupted them, and now they couldn't pick back up until Hermione got home, which wouldn't be for a few more days. He thought he might be going spare with all the sexual frustration he was feeling. For Merlin's sake, all he wanted to do was make love to his wife, but could Harry Potter be allowed to pleasure? Hell no, and people like Sirius sodding Black made sure of that.

Thinking of Sirius, Harry remembered the phone call from last night. He had said that he had big news, but wasn't about to go into it over the mobile. It was actually pretty convenient that Hermione was going out of town today since now he didn't have to make up an excuse to leave given that it was a Saturday morning and he didn't work Saturday's.

Figuring that he'd get Sirius back by waking him up early, he quickly washed up and changed into a fresh set of clothes. Within another ten minutes, he made his way out of his house and into his back shed, apparating to Grimmauld Place.

"OI! Hello, anyone alive in here?!" Harry bellowed at the top of his lungs while making his way into the kitchen.

"Christ Harry, it's five o'clock in the bloody morning and you come in screeching like the bloody world's about to end," muttered a moody voice from the corner of the kitchen.

"Ginny, what're you doing here so early? Does Sirius know?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What, do I need you're permission to stay here? Last I checked you didn't own the house Harry..." she said again in an angry tone, avoiding his questions entirely.

"What‘s up your arse?" He asked coming forward and grabbing a coffee mug from the cabinet.

Ginny sighed and placed a hand to her forehead as Harry filled his mug with coffee, "I'm sorry Harry, it's just... a lot's been going on lately..."

"Well, I think we've got a while until Sirius wakes up," he said sympathetically, moving over to the table and motioning for her to come over. As she shuffled over and plopped down next to him he patted her back soothingly, "Start from the beginning."

"Well, you know how Jason's been pressuring me to move in with him?" She asked, referring to the bloke she's been dating for the past six months. Harry frowned at his name and nodded for her to continue, "Yeah, I don't know if Ron told you or not, but I finally decided to move in just to get him to shut up about it. Sure enough, just like I’d predicted, we've been fighting more and more lately because he's a little nancy boy and gets mad when I don't put his face moisturizer back in the right spot," Harry coughed up his coffee, trying to hide a fit of laughter, "and how I need to water the plants lightly every eight hours. It's like, I'm not going to get up every eight hours to water your stupid potted ficus plant, you know?" she asked, looking at Harry for support.

"Yeah, that could turn into a real hassle," Harry said precariously, trying not to laugh in fear of adding to Ginny's temper.

"Exactly, so I finally told him where he could shove his stupid ficus and he didn't take it to well. Finally, I got out of there after throwing a plate at his head..."

Harry grimaced, "Christ Ginny."

Ginny nodded solemnly, “And I probably shouldn’t have shouted for him to go fuck himself either…”

“You live up to the whole ‘red-head’ reputation well, you know that?” Harry asked in amusement whilst taking a sip of his coffee. Harry was definitely thankful that Ginny was a lot more subdued when her and Harry broke things off back in school.

Ginny shrugged, "I need to start my period soon, I've just been enraged at every little thing these past few days."

Harry again coughed out his coffee and shook his head vigorously.

Ginny smiled, "Oh right, you don't want to hear about women's menstrual cycle... that happens once a month... the thing that makes us bleed from our-"

"Ginny!"

Smirking, "Okay, okay. So what about you? What are you doing here so early?"

A dark look passed over Harry's face, "Got a call late last night."

Ginny raised an eyebrow, "And I take it by the death look on your face that you weren't too pleased to be receiving a call at that time?"

"No, not at all actually."

Ginny smirked again, "I know you too well Harry Potter. So who is she?"

Harry sniffed dismissively and took a sip of his coffee, "I've no idea what you're on about."

"Sure you don't."

"And you? Why are you here?"

"I told you, I had a fight with Jason in which I insulted his plants, threw a china dish at his head, and screamed at the top of my lungs out in the hall for him to go fuck himself."

"Does Jason know not to get on your bad side?" Harry asked seriously.

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

Harry smirked, “Shit happens, right?”

Ginny smiled back cheerfully, “And that’s just life.”

Harry laughed, “I meant why’d you come here of all places?”

"I got a call too last night, and I didn't want to go to the Burrow or a friend’s because I didn't want any questions about me and Jason."

Harry nodded. "Understandable. So are you going to break things off with him?"

Ginny scoffed like it was the most obvious answer in the world, "I told him to go fuck himself. Usually that translates into if you ever try and talk to me again I'll use a precise severing charm on your bits and pieces... Plus I've kind of got my eye on another bloke."

"Oh?"

Ginny sighed, “Can we get off the topic of my love life? It’s too bloody early…”

Harry chuckled, "That's right Gin. I knew he didn't mean that much to you anyways..."

"None of them ever have Harry," she said quietly, looking Harry in the eyes.

"Right well," Harry said uncomfortably, wanting to avoid the little trip down memory lane where they dated for a few months back at Hogwarts, "Maybe I should go wake up Sirius?"

"No need Harry, your charming godfather is present and accounted for," Sirius said brightly, coming into the kitchen and head towards the coffee pot.

"Finally old man, we've only been waiting for nearly a half hour," Harry lied with an impatient snort.

"Really, I thought you called out if anyone was alive only five minutes ago?"

Harry blushed lightly as Ginny laughed.

"Ginny love, how did the guest bedroom work out for you?" Sirius asked while taking a sip of the hot liquid.

Ginny shrugged, "Better than sleeping next to some stupid prat that goes by the name of Jason."

"Glad to know I helped."

"So Sirius what's so important that you had to call me at nearly midnight last night?" Harry asked.

"We should wait until the rest get here," Sirius answered him vaguely, going over and sitting at the head of the table.

"Who's the rest?"

"I called Remus, Ron, Draco, and Fred and George for today, but as the plan progresses we might need to call in more."

Ginny sighed, "Well if Ron's supposed to come then we can expect to be waiting for a while."

---

"Ms. Troy?" asked a woman in a French accent as Hermione entered into a very elegant looking lobby.

Hermione turned to see a short brunette dressed very stylishly, "Yes?"

"I'm Rebecca, I'll be showing you in today."

Hermione frowned, "I thought Sienna was supposed to be here?"

"Ah, Miss Cosveaux is already awaiting your arrival in the office," Rebecca answered as she led Hermione over to an elevator that was very familiar to Hermione.

"Oh, then do you know why I've been called in so unsuspectedly?"

"I haven't been given any information on that, I was just sent down to retrieve you."

Hermione frowned to herself and let her mind wander as the doors to the lift opened and the entered without any hesitation.

As they both waited in the elevator silently, Hermione noticed Rebecca glancing at her every few seconds.

"Yes?" she asked a bit peeved as Rebecca shot her another look.

"Oh, I- I just wanted to congratulate you on your success last night. It was a very admirable performance," she finished hurriedly before training her eyes forward again.

Hermione smirked, "Oh, what stories has Sienna been telling you now?"

It was no secret that Hermione and Sienna were the top agents and Sienna was definitely the opposite of modest. She liked to brag and boast to the younger and more inexperienced agents, and more often than not were the stories exaggerated.

Rebecca gave her a confused look while the elevator doors shot open and Hermione exited the lift, walking forward to poke her wand into the centre piece on a titanium door, similar to the one at the vault last night.

"Access granted to Hermione Jane Troy," spoke a cool monotonous voice through the door. It swung open and emitted Hermione, leaving Rebecca out there to also poke her wand into the pad.

"You're two minutes late, Troy," said Sienna good-naturedly, walking up next to her to hand her a paper as Hermione walked out of the hallway and into the spacious and posh office which had a magnificent view of the Parisian skyline.

"You're two minutes early, Cosveaux," Hermione shot back with a grin. "Now what's this?"

"That is our congratulatory letter from Father saying what a beautiful job we did last night," Sienna boasted loudly so other people at their cubicles would hear.

"And do you have any idea why I'm here? I mean usually it's him that contacts me when there's another mission..." Hermione trailed off as the two friends walked over to their secluded office. They each sat down at their respected desks and Hermione automatically powered on her computer. Something that Hermione appreciated about the agency she worked for was that they weren't ignorant to the common technology that muggles made.

"I haven't a clue, Father contacted me last night as I was heading home and just told me to get a hold of you and tell you to come- are you getting this?" Sienna finished eyeing the instant message that had just popped across her screen.

"Gather in meeting room two," Hermione read off.

"Well I guess he's not wasting anytime then, is he?" Sienna asked more to herself as she got up from her chair, followed by Hermione and left for the meeting room, awaiting their debriefing.

---

Sirius looked around his kitchen and smiled, "Great, now that we're all here-"

"And have stopped stuffing their bloody face with every food imaginable," Ginny added darkly shooting a look at her youngest brother.

"-we can begin. I know how much you all enjoy getting calls around midnight, but this job came to me pretty late last night, but just in the nick of time. Any of you heard of Claude Donavinci?"

The Weasleys, Draco, and Harry all shared baffled looks with each other before unanimously shaking their heads.

"Good," Remus started, coming in from the hall with folders, "You're not supposed to have heard about him before today. Mr. Donavinci is by no means a criminal, and he is not a money hungry tyrant. He's a businessman, a businessman that made a very beneficial instrument."

"Mr. Donavinci was born forty years ago and raised on the outskirts of Rome. Any guess to who this man's grandfather was?"

Again, the group at the table shook their heads and continued looked on interestedly, "Try Dragomir Gregorovich, the Bulgarian wand maker."

"What?" Harry asked, "Gregorovich had kids?"

Sirius nodded as Remus began to hand out the folders, "He had a daughter with a woman who died during labour. Afterwards he sent her to live with his second cousin in Rome so he could focus more on his work."

"Such a caring father," muttered Fred and George sarcastically.

"Anyway, his daughter eventually grew older and married a muggle merchant by the name of Pierre Donavinci, and they had a single son, Claude. Claude grew up with similar characteristics of his grandfather and soon enough graduated from Durmstrang and was on his way into the wand making business." Harry started thumbing through the packet once Remus laid it before him and found various certificates, photos, and other papers related to Donavinci.

"This is lovely and everything," Draco started, looking down to his expensive wrist watch, "but can we get this show on the road? I've got an appointment soon."

Ginny snorted in disgust, "Keep your kit on Malfoy."

Draco smiled at her, "Or I could take it off and you can join me upstairs later-"

"Enough," Ron said quickly not wanting to here any more of Malfoy's pick up lines at his sister. If they were back in school and Ron would of heard something like this directed at his sister, he wouldn't hesitate to pound Malfoy's face and give him a good hex or two.

"Right," Sirius said, shooting Draco a look telling him to relax. "As I was getting to, Donavinci soon started experimenting with tools and other magical instruments in the after hours of his mediocre wand shop and eventually formulated a blue print of what our mission today is based off of."

"Take a look at the blue print in the folder," Remus pointed towards their cream coloured folders and watched as everyone took out the sheet, "This invention was not intentional, but could be used as a very powerful... not weapon exactly... but a source of knowledge that could have a positive or negative effect." He paused and let everyone absorb the information, "What you do is put the wand in question, any wand from anywhere, into the case. Once the case is closed it will start processing the full history of the wand. After it's done, the case will open, and the history will present itself in a documented format."

Draco raised his eyebrows, "That is quite the invention... and he's selling it because?"

"That's not important to us, we can only speculate it's to prevent run-in from the Italian law. They're very uptight about inventions that could be used to invade someone's privacy or it could simply be to keep his name out of the spot light. He'd be a common name to wizarding criminals if they got wind of him and his special invention. Remember, Donavinci is by no means a criminal and we don't reckon he's too keen on becoming one."

"Well, just think if the Italian Ministry got a hold of this, it'd be a hell of a lot easier to pin point a criminal due to their wand records. Why isn't he selling it to them?" Ginny interrupted, again looking at the blue print.

"Again, that's not our concern. What is our concern though is that something like this could be very beneficial to us."

"So we're going to buy it? That's what this meeting is about?" Draco scoffed, folding his arms over his chest.

"No, we're not going to buy it," Sirius sneered back. Over the years he'd come to common grounds with his third cousin, but there were times when he couldn't stand the little prick, "We're going to steal it from the bastard who thinks he will be buying it."

"And who is that?" Fred and George asked with smiles.

"Remember Jordan Pinns from a year ago?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.

Fred and George laughed, "Oh the little bugger's out of Scotland Yard already?" Jordan Pinns was an accomplice to a crime that the Order was investigating a year ago. After busting up the wizarding group Pinns was associated with they realized that Pinns was but a mere squib, carrying around an actual stick pretending it was a wand. To make a long story short, Jordan Pinns became the laughing stock of the Order and the morning after the bust woke up in Scotland Yard, not being able to remember the past week, missing a testicle and a rainbow tattooed on his chest.

"Yes he is, and we can only guess that he'll be wanting to get back in the circuit of wizards."

"Even with his play stick?" Fred cracked making the rest laugh.

"Word is that he's joined up with an old Slytherin who's trying to gain some credit on the streets," Sirius said. "They're probably treating the poor bloke worse than we did."

As the rest of the table laughed, no one seemed to notice Harry frowning in the corner, "This doesn't make sense."

The table looked at him with confused expressions, "What are you on about mate?" Ron asked.

"I mean... he didn't want word to get out to the public that he was in possession of this, but then how did a ex-con know it was being put up for auction?”

"Again, we can only speculate," Remus shrugged. Harry didn't like 'only speculating' and he had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that, like last night's mission, this wouldn't turn according to plan.

"-but Pinns won't be the only one there looking to buy it. There's also a couple from," Remus checked back to the folder, "Wales that is interested in buying it. Supposedly Donavinci and this couple, the Haines, have never met so it'll be easy to manipulate their personas."

"Who'll be going in for the Haines?" Draco asked, clearly interested. Obviously since Ginny was the only girl she'd have a part and Draco wasn't hesitant on spending some quality time as a 'couple' with her, even if it was pretend.

Sirius and Remus shared a look before turning back to the group, "Ginny, Harry? You up to it?"

Ginny and Harry shared a look and smiled, "Definitely."

"Great," Sirius continued, ignoring the pointed glares of Draco, "Alright, well Donavinci will be arriving today at..."

---

"Do you all understand your roles?" asked the sombre voice of Father over the intercom.

The four individuals gathered around the long meeting table voiced their consent and started to gather up the papers and folders that contained the research for their next mission.

"Good. Miss Troy, I trust everything will run smoothly under your eye?"

Hermione was a bit surprised at the direct question, "Um, yes Father. I can assure you everything will go according to plan. If there are any surprises they will be handled and immediately put under control.”

"Music to my ears, Miss Troy. Do me a favour will you?"

Sienna and the other two agents in the room stopped to stare at Hermione, but Hermione looked just as confused, “Yes sir?"

"There's a portkey waiting for you on your desk. I think it's time you and I had a little chat face to face."

Hermione's jaw dropped. She shared a wide eyed look with Sienna before turning back to the intercom and taking a deep breath, "Yes sir, I'll be there shortly."

"Very good," Father finished before the line over the intercom went dead.

"Holy hell Troy!" exclaimed one of the men that had been on the team for a few years, "He's never invited anyone to see him!"

"Really, what did you do that was deemed so special?" asked the other man rather snobbishly.

Hermione shook her head, speechless. She couldn't help but wonder if this invitation was a good thing or a bad thing. What if she had made a mistake? Or mistakes? What if Father thought it was time to sack her?

Raising her eyes, she saw Sienna who looked just as baffled, but she managed to muster a comforting smile, "Well go! And you better tell me everything when you get back."

Hermione nodded her head and took a shaky breath, "Alright, relax," she muttered to herself as she walked out of the meeting room and into her shared office with Sienna. Sure enough a golden feather was lying on top of her desk.

After throwing her folder down, straightening her skirt, and then checking her hair in desk side mirror she was ready to grab the golden feather. She felt the normal hook behind her navel as she was propelled forward into a hurricane of emptiness.

Landing gracefully, as she always did, she again straightened out her skirt and took a look at her surroundings. An eyebrow quirked upwards on Hermione's face as she got a glimpse outside a large window... that faced out towards the building she just came from.

Walking closer, she realized that she could see silhouettes moving through the darkened window on the top floor- the floor that she and the rest of the agents worked on.

"Tell me, do you like the view?" asked an aged British voice with a light chuckle.

Hermione quickly spun around and clasped her hands behind her back to appear professional. Her eyes quickly scanned the remaining space and finally found a large leather chair behind a classic mahogany desk where she could spy a tuft of white hair poking out from the top.

"It's very clever of you sir," Hermione spoke in a calm professional tone.

Father chuckled again from behind his desk, "That it is. You can't expect me to keep a good eye over my children if I am thousands of miles away in a foreign country- perhaps laying on a beach and enjoying a nice cup of brandy, can you Miss Granger- or do you prefer Mrs. Evans?"

Hermione looked taken aback since usually he called her ‘Miss Troy‘ , "Whatever you prefer, sir."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Evans, knowledge of your marital status will not be going beyond these walls."

"Thank you sir," she said, not expecting much less. Surely Father knew what a compromising situation the whole agency could be put in if word got out that she was married to some muggle Brit.

"Now, Mrs. Evans, have you any idea why I brought you here?"

"I'm guessing it's something of importance since no one's ever been invited into your presence sir," Hermione replied, getting a bit more comfortable with the environment.

Father chuckled and started to spin around in his chair. Hermione held her breath as for the first time in her life, her eyes laid upon her boss and mentor of nearly the past seven years.

He smiled kindly at her, "You are much more beautiful in person."

Hermione blushed as she continued to gaze at Father's warm wrinkled face and his welcoming hazel eyes.

"Thank you sir."

Father nodded and motioned for her to sit down in the seat in front of his desk. With a smile, he continued, "And you've made me extremely proud of what you've accomplished here, especially considering that you were barely out of your teens when we discovered you."

Hermione couldn't stop the smile from developing on her face, "Thank you."

"You know... I see a lot of myself in you, Mrs. Evans." At the confused look on Hermione's face he continued, "In the sense that we were both young when we started our careers. Both ambitious and successful- you're who I imagine taking over for me when I retire."

Hermione's mouth fell slightly. Was he implying what she thought he was implying?

"Sir?"

"Mrs. Evans, my health isn't what it once was. I'm finding it more and more difficult to even wake in the mornings, let alone get out of my bed."

Hermione stared at the man in front of her, wondering how this could be happening. Her, and all of the agents working for him, saw Father as invincible. As if he would always be the sole director of the business.

"H-have you seen a doctor sir? Maybe they could give you a little more insight on what's going on- they could help you," she suggested quickly.

Father chuckled again, "I'm not a young sprog anymore, these new healers wouldn't do me any good. I know what's killing me and it's not any medical condition..."

Hermione didn't know what to say. This man had been a constant for her whole career and now it was as if he was just... giving up...

"Sir-" she tried, shaking her head to clear away her thoughts.

Father held up a hand, "Mrs. Evans there's no cure for age. I've lived my life to the fullest and I have a thriving business to thank for that." There were a few moments where Father just nodded to himself, "My decision to retire is final."

Hermione took a breath and looked into Father's eyes, "But that's not all, is it?"

Father chuckled, "Quite the inquisitive one, but you are correct, that's not all. Like I've said before, you are an amazing and tenacious agent and you represent the reputation I've always wanted for this company."

"And?" Hermione said, not wanting him to know how affected she was by his praises.

"And when you're a successful practitioner in this business for as long as you have been, things start to change, opposing forces start to catch on, they start to predict your next moves. Mrs. Evans, you've been a high ranking agent here for a while now... and I think it's time for you to move on."

Hermione sat back in the chair with a baffled look. What the hell was he trying to say?

"Sir?" she asked, prompting him to elaborate.

"You know how I'm always open to expanding my empire. I've decided to open a new office in Los Angeles. Do you think you're up to running it?" he finished with a smile.

Hermione's eyes widened, "Me? Out of all your employees, you want me?"

Father chuckled, "I think I've made myself clear that I wish for you to take over once I pass. I don't feel strongly for blindly throwing you into the job, so you can run the L.A. office, and when I die, if the job's still appealing, you'll take over my entire realm."

Hermione looked down into her lap, her mind doing some quick thinking over Father's proposal. "This isn't just because I'm a good agent to you though. Like you've said, other organizations are starting to recognize my techniques, aren't they?"

Father looked over to her, studying her expression. Hermione didn't cower under his gaze, but matched it perfectly.

"I don't know that for sure, but there have been a few close calls and we can't afford any mistakes. Last night was a perfect example."

"So... this is your way of getting rid of me?" Hermione asked with a little more determination in her voice. “To not let me work the field anymore?”

"I'm not getting rid of you by any means. I'm promoting you. If you decide to take this position in America, then you'll be in constant contact with me- I'd be available whenever you needed me and you‘d also get to work the missions."

"But ultimately... you're trying to tell me that my career as an agent here is through," she said morosely, her eyes focused on the hands clasped in her lap.

"You're too good of an agent to have to rebuild yourself, only for the sake of staying in the same location," Father said in a comforting tone, not wanting her to think she wasn't wanted there. "Surely you know that. If you continue to work here, other agencies will start to follow your strategies, and it can only end in you or your team members being hurt."

Hermione nodded. She couldn't argue with that. He was right- last night was a perfect example, and really, her and Sienna were lucky they weren't wizards and that they didn't know who she and Sienna were.

She sighed and looked back at Father, "So, you're saying if I want to stay with this agency, the only way for me to do that is to move to the Los Angeles firm?"

Father nodded with a comforting smile. She looked away again before speaking, "So what's the catch?"

"How do you know there is one?" laughed Father.

Hermione smiled, "There's always a catch."

"You're right... there is a small catch that would be vital."

"Not so small then?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Father chuckled, "It entails somewhat of a new identity..."

Hermione frowned instantly, "But what about my husband-"

"What husband? If you move on to the new office you will once again be Miss Hermione Granger."

Hermione’s froze. She hadn’t been seen as Hermione Granger in the public eye since she left the French embassy, from there on civilians referred to her as Hermione Troy- her cover name, or back home as Hermione Evans- Harry Evans’ wife.

There were a few more seconds of silence before Hermione started shakily.

"S-so… you want me to get a divorce?"

…

Thank you’s to my two wonderful beta’s Cosmo and Ahsun.

Okay, so now with the paranoia:

1. Father calls Hermione ’Miss Troy’ in front of the other agents because the other agents don’t know Hermione as ’Granger’ or that she’s married. The only ones that do are Sienna and Father- that’s why they choose to call her that when they are in private.

2. I know. Okay, I know that ’Father’ is extremely cliché but, as I explained to my beta, the film Charlie’s Angels was the first I ever worked on when I moved to the States so I couldn’t resist. I hope it doesn’t disgust many of you and I also hope all of you are picturing Anthony Hopkins as him, and if you aren’t- shame on you.

3. With Jordan Pinns and the rainbow tattoo-- there’s actually a very funny story with that, concerning my mate and my daughter when she was about three. And if you review I’ll tell you about it…

MUWAHAHA, BLACKMAIL AGAIN!

4. Some of you will ask about Ginny… and I answer with a ‘no comment’ until next chapter ;] If you want to hear my version of her and Harry’s back story then I’ll answer that but otherwise you’ll get a huge slap to the face.

Again, it’s a good theory to get you to come back for more :]

And you guys, the reviews were OUTSTANDING. This again just proves to me how AMAZING my readers are and I hope you really understand how much I appreciate every single one of them and how they all put a huge grin on my face. All in all, I LOVE YOU! And keep it up. (Again, notice how I’m starting to become consistent with updates and longer chapters ;] If you make the effort, then I will too!)

Now, REVIEW! Get me over 150!

9. Caught

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS
Mr. & Mrs. Evans
Chapter 7: Caught

[AN]: A bit of a shorter chapter today but still an important one. Next week will be a much longer one, you can count on it.

Thank you to Cosmo and Ahsun for the beta.

...

All other thoughts seemed distant and unimportant at the mention of Hermione divorcing Harry. She had shared a life with him for six years- it wouldn't be normal unless she was with him.

"It's your choice Mrs. Evans," he started with a sympathetic look, "It's easy to say though that your life as an agent in Europe is over."

Hermione struggled to swallow, "So it's my husband or my job..."

"You were aware of the risks of having a spouse when you entered this business." Father tried in a comforting tone but also wanting her to see things his way.

"Sir, I was already engaged when you recruited me!" she said back, trying to remain respectable. If it had been anyone else trying to patronize her that way she would have gave them a right deserving earful.

"Of course," he said sincerely, "And again, the decision is yours. But you must ask yourself what you want more- a man to sleep next to every night or the ability to save innocent lives from rising terrors."

"Sir-" she started heatedly but was cut off,

"That'll be all for today Miss Granger," he said, purposefully using her maiden name while giving a quick glance to his watch, "I expect you'll get back to me when the time is suitable. Also, might I stress the importance of keeping my roguish good looks to yourself? I don't think your fellow colleagues could handle my description," he finished good-naturedly, giving her a charming grin.

Hermione sighed in defeat and offered a weak smile, "Of course, Father."

...

Ginny took a deep breath as they stood in the alley next to the restaurant they were meeting Donavinci in. It was a posh looking place called Pescatori's- perfect for the Italian man who they were supposed to be meeting with.

She looked over to Harry who was standing next to her and smiled at him, "Ready Mr. Haines?"

Harry smirked, "Ready, Mrs. Haines. You remember everything?"
"Yep. Innocent chit chat for the first part before declining it and getting up to leave. Then I spill something on Pinns’ crotch, to make sure he gets up and goes to the bathroom," Ginny recited quickly, grabbing Harry's hand and leading him out onto the side walk leading to the restaurant.

"Right," Harry muttered as the walked into the restaurant and approached the hostess, "Hello, we're supposed to be meeting Mr. D-"

"Are you the Haines?" asked the hostess in a sweet voice.

Ginny smiled, "Yes we are."

"You're the second of your party to arrive, Mr. Italy is right this way." She turned and led Harry and Ginny through the restaurant and sat them down at a table that was occupied by a short, balding man with light brown hair and a crooked moustache.

Ginny and Harry had to bite down on their bottom lips to keep from laughing at his appearance.

"Mr. and Mrs. Haines I presume?" he asked in a heavy accent as the hostess left.

"Aye, call me Chris, and this is my lovely wife Patricia," Harry said sitting down after he pulled out the seat for Ginny.

"Lovely to meet you," Ginny greeted politely.

"Likewise," Donavinci said uncomittedly.

"I have to ask, what's with the disguise?" Harry asked cheerfully, grabbing a breadstick a ripping a piece off in his mouth.

Donavinci flinched as Harry chewed with his mouth open, "The discretion of my identity is the utmost importance to me. I'll have you know that this is not my true appearance as well."

Harry laughed and pointed at Donavinci's face, "I was gonna say mate, that moustache is all out of proportion!"

Donavinci scowled as Ginny patted Harry's thigh, "Sweetheart, don't embarrass our future business partner."

Harry looked over at Ginny and smiled sweetly at her, "Right love. Anyway, where is the little gadget? I would have thought it'd be with you so we could play with it a bit?"

Donavinci cringed at the volume of Harry‘s voice, "No, Mr. Haines. The device is safely locked up back in Italy. If everything works out then I have a portkey here with me that will transport us back to my warehouse where you can claim it."

"Smart move by the I-talian," Harry said again with a mouth full of food.

"Right," Donavinci drawled, casting a disapproving glance at him before turning to look at his wrist watch.

"So what are we waiting for then?" Ginny asked, reaching for Harry's hand on the table.

"I also extended an invitation to another man who should be here shortly," Donavinci told them, barely able to contain his disgust for Harry.

"Well bloody hell, does that bloke know how to tell time? I won't be waiting forever and a fortnight for the wanker so you better hope he gets here soon, the bloody git," Harry added before biting into another bread stick. Ginny took a sip from the water before her to keep from laughing as Donavinci continued to look at him in severe abhorrence.

...

Sienna looked up as she heard the office door open and emit her best mate.

“Hermione! You're back! My god, that took forever!" Sienna practically shouted, immediately hanging up the phone she was talking on and standing up to rush over to her, "So?" she asked excitedly.

"So, what?" asked Hermione turning back to her desk and grabbing for Donavinci‘s file. Hopefully the impending mission tonight would take her mind off Father’s proposal for at least a little while.

"Hermione!" Sienna quickly scolded, moving in front of her so she would stop, "What happened? What'd he want to talk with you about? Did you see him? What'd he look like? Is he hot?"

"Sienna!" Hermione said wanting to laugh at her friends eagerness, but instead shook her head, "I'm not supposed to say what he looks like- it'd be compromising his identity, you know that."

Sienna rolled her eyes, "Okay then, can you tell me what he wanted to talk to you about?"

Hermione looked around her and motioned for the door to their private office, "Close the door."

Sienna obliged and when she came back Hermione started telling her the whole story about Father wanting her to run her own office in Los Angeles.

Sienna looked on intently as Hermione finished her story, "Wow... you're so lucky..."
"Easy for you to say," Hermione muttered, shoving a blue print back into the folder she was searching through.

"What are you on about?" Sienna asked baffled as she went back to her desk, "You're the only person who's ever seen him and really know who he is and he chose you to take over the whole company. It's horrible that you can't stay here, but still, you should be on cloud nine right now!"

Hermione shook her head, "It's not that easy. He wants me to go to Los Angeles as Hermione Granger- not Evans."

Sienna looked up at her, "So... you'd have to leave Harry?" she asked already knowing the answer.

Hermione nodded solemnly.

"Well are you going to do it?" Sienna asked, tucking a strand of perfect blonde hair behind her ear.

Hermione shrugged, not meeting her eyes, "I don't know if it would be worth leaving my husband of six years for a job..."

"But Hermione, this isn't just a job, this is your career! Practically your life! And I thought you and Harry haven't been doing so well lately?" she finished on a gentler tone, not wanting to cause any tension for her best mate.

"We could be better," she admitted ruefully, "But we're trying- we both are."

Sienna smiled at Hermione softly and reached for her hand giving it a squeeze, "Well for the record, I'll miss you terribly if you do go."

Hermione smiled, "You'd get in way too much trouble without me around."

"Hermione Granger, you've saved my French arse more times then I'd like to count," grinned Sienna.

"It's been that way since we were eleven," Hermione replied wistfully, thinking back to the first time her and Sienna had met. They were first years at Beauxbatons, and Hermione was getting teased by an older girl about her bushy hair and buck teeth and Sienna boldly stood up to the snobbish girl- telling her that her style of hair was so last spring.

Hermione was quiet for a few minutes as Sienna continued to examine her. Finally, she broke her stillness and started to shake her head.

"'Mi?" Sienna asked uncertainly.

"I can't leave," she said in a near whisper, her eyes trained on the floor.

Sienna sighed, "For him?"

"Things are starting to look up..." Hermione started quietly, disregarding the smudge of lip gloss she discovered on Harry's lips last night, "I-I can't just leave when there's still hope. I can't do that to him- or me."

Sienna nodded and again squeezed Hermione's hand, "You know I'll support you either way. I just don't want you to have regrets, you know?"

Hermione nodded and smiled at her.

"When did life get so complicated?" she asked more to herself than to Sienna.

Sienna shrugged but then smiled, "Come on," she said getting up, "I know exactly what'll make you feel better right now."

"A nice library?" she asked humorously.

Sienna rolled her eyes, "Gross. No, a bottle of Cristal and those crab cakes you enjoy so much."

Hermione grinned, "Pescatori’s- Sienna you are too good to me."

Sienna nodded smugly, "You're damn right, I am. So what do you say?"

Hermione looked to her watch and smiled, “We have a half hour before we have to be back here to depart for Italy with the team.”

“You wouldn’t have been able to say no anyway,” Sienna joked as she gathered up her belongings and followed Hermione out of the office.

They walked into the apparation portal and disapparated to the London office.

"You know, if he wants to let you run an office so bad then why doesn't he let you run this one? Why ask you to move a billion kilometres away to America?" Sienna asked as they walked out into the cloudy London streets.

Hermione shrugged, "Hardly anyone's ever there- everyone works from the French office. Honestly, I think the only reason he has that bloody thing is for check points and direct floo spots to France," she finished in a quieter tone as they started to walk amongst muggles.

"Who do you think he'll get to move to America now that you've decided not to take it?" Sienna asked interestedly, "There's really no one capable to do it besides you."

Hermione smirked, "Stop fishing for compliments, you know you're right up there with me in terms of skill. I don't know why he didn't call you in over me."

Sienna tried to cover the grin on her face as both the girls checked for cars before crossing the street, "Maybe because you're the boring old wife and I'm still the outgoing club rat?"

"I'm not boring," scoffed Hermione as the approached the restaurant.

"Oh please, I keep you young and you know it."

Hermione smirked again, "Coming from the woman who's almost a year older than me. I'll be the one keeping you young before long. Just think when you turn 30-"

"Oh shut it, I'm only ten months older than you!" Sienna shot back heatedly as they enter the restaurant.

...

"Mr. Italy, the last of your party has arrived," came the voice of the hostess as she approached with Pinns’ familiar frame.

"Mr. Pinns," Donavinci greeted in a kinder tone, seemingly relieved that he was now there so he wouldn't have to deal with this dysfunctional couple by himself.

"Hello," Pinns greeted back, offering his hand to Donavinci to shake. He looked over to the other two occupants and frowned at the half eaten breadstick hanging out of Harry's mouth, "Hello."

"'Bout bloody time 'ou got 'ere," Harry said while trying to swallow the bread down.
Ginny giggled at Harry, "Love, be nice!"

Harry mumbled something in reply before looking back to Donavinci, "So can we start now that our boy Pinns is here?"

"Of course-"

"Splendid," Harry replied sending a cheeky look back to Pinns.

Pinns tilted his head and looked more intently at Harry, "Are you-"

"Are who?" interrupted Harry with an impatient look.

"You look like-"

"Like who?"

"Like Harry Potter," Pinns finished quickly before Harry could interrupt again.

There was a mere moment when Harry froze but quickly recovered by laughing, "Bloody hell, I wish!"

"As do I, I here he's a devil in the sack," Ginny said with a giggle.

"Oi," commented Harry, pinching Ginny's sides playfully before looking back at Pinns, "Do you really think I look like the great Harry Potter?"

"That's absurd," Ginny said, lifting a finger to point at Harry's face, "One, there's no glasses, two, no scar, and three, no dreamy green eyes." she finished, pointing out Harry's newly charmed brown eyes.

"Oi, what's wrong with my brown eyes?!"

"Nothing love," she amended leaning in to kiss Harry's cheek.

"Too right," he replied with a flirtatious smile.

"Mr. Donavinci," interrupted Pinns immediately, tearing his eyes away from the happy couple, "Let me just inform you that my people are willing to pay any amount for this amazing device of yours. It's very important to my employer that he has this-"

"'Ey, stop tryin' to get on his sweet side!" Harry interrupted them, pointing an accusing finger at Pinns. He sneered back at Harry,

"I'm not trying to get on his sweet side-"

"Are too." Harry said back.

Pinns scowled, "No I'm not-"

"Yes you are."

"No-"

"Yes!"

Pinns huffed at Harry and turned back to Donavinci who gave him a look like he was sharing his pain.

"Oh love, stop it! This is a business meeting!" Ginny admonished but with an adoring smile.

"Sorry baby, but you know I didn't want to stop shagging to come to this meeting. You know how I get if I don't get my five shags a day," he said seriously, internally smirking at the expressions on both the men’s faces.

"Oh stop, we can continue when we get home," Ginny said, leaning in to nuzzle his neck.

Harry grinned at the two gentlemen, "Let's get this going then, eh? How much you payin' Binns?"

"It's Pinns," he corrected.

Harry smirked, "I bet it's really Binns."

"No, it's Pinns," he said, clearly frustrated.

"I bet you just tell people that," Harry challenged again.

"Why would I tell people my name is Pinns over Binns?"

"Don't ask me, I'm not the one who does it, am I?" Harry finished with an incredulous look at Pinns.

"But I haven't done it-"

"You just did it," Harry smirked, almost unable to contain his glee at the aspect that he was so easily getting under the wanker's skin.

Pinns shook his head and turned back to Donavinci, "So did you have a general price in mind?"

"2 million galleons," he replied immediately, looking very pleased with himself.

Harry however, banged his hands on the table, "Bloody hell! You tryin' to run me out of house an' home?! You're worse when I leave this lil' vixen alone with my Gringotts key!" he finished, affectionately tugging on Ginny's ear lobe.

"Christopher," she giggled, swatting his arm away playfully.

"No denyin' you're goin' for the whopper on this deal, aren't ya?" Harry asked, again stuffing another breadstick in his mouth.

"Do you think that price is out of your range, Mr. Haines?" Donavinci asked, steepling his fingers in front of him and levelling a look at Harry past his crooked moustache.

Ginny looked over at Harry and spoke, "Actually Mr. Haines, it is."

"Yep," Harry added after belching, "If only we hadn’t given that 2 million galleons away to those poor infant... elephants..." he said, thinking of the first thing that came to mind.

"Yeah, if only." Ginny stood up walked into the isle of tables without spilling her drink on Pinns like planned. Harry quickly looked up at her and gave her an alarmed expression but she didn't seem to notice anything.

Harry stood up next to Ginny and with some quick thinking took her hand, "Well yeah, it's been nice knowin' ya boys but I gotta get this bird home before I ravage her right here on the table." he finished sending a wink at Ginny.

...

"We have a table available now, Mrs. Evans if you'll just follow me," said the hostess coming back over to where Sienna and Hermione were standing.

"Oh great," she replied pulling Sienna along behind her. They had been waiting a good five minutes for their table and both were eager to sit down and eat.

"Hermione," Sienna said with a frown, looking ahead a few tables, "Isn't that..."

...

If this had been any other woman here on the mission with him, he definitely wouldn't have done what he was leaning in to do. But he had known Ginny since she was ten, and they had always been friends albeit the first year when she was being possessed by Tom Riddle and the years after that she had a crush on him that rendered her speechless around him... and that time in sixth year when they dated for a few months...

He didn't have any more time to think about it before he captured her lips hungrily, effectively pushing her back against the table and tipping Pinns' water glass over the edge and all over his lap.

...

Sienna clamped a hand over her mouth as both girls saw Harry dive in for the red head. She looked back to Hermione who was standing there, watching helplessly as her husband of six years cheated on her right in front of her.

...

"Fucking hell!" shouted Pinns, quickly scooting back from the table.

Ginny was to shocked to kiss Harry back and was somewhat relieved but saddened at the same time when he pulled away.

He took a deep dramatic breath, "Well," he started with a grin, happy that his plan ultimately worked. He was looking back up to send a insincere apology to Pinns when two familiar faces caught his eye, making his grin disappear.

His heart stopped at the look on his wife's face.

...

"That bastard," Sienna whispered furiously, to shocked to say it any louder. She was fully intended on going over there and slapping the dazed look off Harry and that slag's face but the look on Hermione's face stopped her.

Hermione's mouth fell open like she didn't know whether to scream or start bawling.

She knew it was Harry- if it wasn't the caught expression on his face that gave it away, then it was the fact that he was wearing the same outfit she had left him in earlier that day.

"Hermione," Sienna voiced gently. She could see that her and Harry were staring at each other, and she didn't like the pain this man was inflicting on her best friend at that moment at all. She had never seen the great Hermione Granger reduced to this ever before, and the look on her face scared her more than she liked to admit.

...

Not a rational thought had entered Harry's mind. Instead, he stood there, still holding on to Ginny, looking guiltily back at Hermione.

He was stuck.

If he left Ginny and went to Hermione that could jeopardize the mission and he knew that after last night, the Order couldn't afford another mishap.

But he also knew that as the seconds ticked away where he just stood there, his marriage was basically disintegrating away before his very eyes.

He barely noticed as Pinns jumped up and with a quick excuse to Donavinci, left for the loo to pat off his trousers.

Ginny also noticed Harry's stiff form and glanced up to see him staring at someone over her head. She swivelled her head to the side and seen him locking gazes with a pretty brunette that was standing there looking like someone had just died.

Ginny frowned, "Love, who is that?" She asked, catching herself before speaking out Harry's name since Donavinci was still sitting at the table.

Harry tried to say something but the words were choked in his throat. There weren't enough words to describe who Hermione was to him and instead of answering, he watched helplessly as Hermione turned and walked quickly out of the restaurant.
...

Again- sorry for the shorter chapter. Next weeks update will be much longer, guaranteed.

A reviewer asked me if Hermione even knows who Harry Potter is and now I think is a good spot to explain that:

While yes, Hermione and Sienna and everyone else has heard about Harry Potter and his part in the war with Voldemort- they don’t know elaborate details. For instance, they don’t know what he looks like, how old he is, that he’s in close relations with the Weasleys etc.

Basically (since in my story the war didn’t really expand outside of Britain) they were just educated briefly on the fact that there was a war in Britain and the wizard responsible for vanquishing Voldemort was Harry Potter.

Now that that’s been cleared up, I would again like to thank the amazing reviewers for inserting their input and address those who haven’t reviewed that it takes 15 seconds and you’ll have a higher spot in fan fiction heaven if you do ;]

So thank you and…

/REVIEW\

10. His Breakdown and Her Avoidance

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 8: His Breakdown and Her Avoidance

[AN] In case you guys were wondering; the Order’s plan was for Pinns to wind up in the bathroom so that one of the twins could stun him and then the other could get some hair for a polyjuice potion. From there one would go out as Pinns, holding a fake suitcase and accept Donavinci’s offer…

Now, I’ve got a long chapter for you guys to make up for last week’s short one- but sorry, no H/Hr interaction.

Thank you to Cosmo and Ahsun for the beta!

...

As soon as that woman turned around, Hermione knew.

It was all a lie.

Last night, everything he said about never doing that to her, was a lie.

It shocked her to know how easily Harry said it too. He had looked her straight in the eyes and told her that he would never cheat on her, that he loved her.

God, she wanted to be sick.

She wondered how long this affair had been going on, but it was evident for quite a while when that... woman... asked, "Love, who is that?" Obviously they had been seeing each other long enough to call one another by pet names.

Hermione didn't see Harry open his mouth to try and reply because before he had a chance to she had turned on her heel and had started walking as fast as she could from the restaurant, desperately trying to keep in the tears that were pooling in her eyes. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction to see her running away from him with tears streaming down her face.

Sienna gave him one last glare before deciding to go after her friend instead of pummelling Harry and his little girlfriend.

...

"Hermione," he uttered helplessly, staring after the spot where his wife had just been.

"Well, it's been lovely talking with you," Ginny said quickly to Donavinci since Harry was still staring like a lunatic after the woman who had just left.

She didn't wait for a reply from Donavinci, but instead grabbed Harry's hand and started leading him out of the restaurant.

When they were both approaching the door, it seemed as if Harry had been jolted awake and started walking faster, nearly running out of the door and quickly looking around for a glimpse of Hermione or Sienna.

"Harry, do you mind telling me who that woman was?" Ginny asked frantically as she followed Harry up the street a bit. She had never seen him behave like this before and frankly it was worrying her.

"They had to have gotten a cab," he said in defeat, again turning 360 degrees, desperate for any sign of her.

"Who Harry?" Ginny asked, grabbing his arm to make him stop.

Harry just shook his head as his eyes started shining over with tears.

Ginny huffed and started to drag him into the alley where they had apparated and disapparated them both back to Grimmauld's kitchen.

"Harry, talk to me!" she demanded, throwing him down into one of the kitchen chairs. As she finally saw up close the distraught look on his face and tears nearly spilling over she softened, "Are you crying?"

Harry just continued to shake his head, too scared of what he might sound like if he spoke.

Ginny stood there and put a supportive hand on his shoulder.

"I have to go home," he finally said, quickly standing and moving past Ginny out of the kitchen.

"I'll go with you!" Ginny offered running after him. She wanted to talk to him about that kiss and she knew too well that if she let Harry go then it might never come up again.

"No," Harry said immediately shaking his head.

Ginny sighed, “Harry wait, you can't just leave- we're supposed to wait here and see if they need extra help on the mission."

"FUCK THE MISSION!" Harry finally shouted followed by a loud crack.

...

Hermione sat down deafly in one of the comfortable chairs at the London office. Her fury was starting to set in after they left the restaurant. Before she could go charging back in there, demanding answers and hexing Harry into oblivion, Sienna grabbed her arm and side-apparated them here.

Now, she was absently sitting in the room with Sienna by her side in an eerie silence.

"Hermione," Sienna tried, but Hermione cut her off by a slight shake of her head. After fifteen years of friendship, she knew that giving Hermione her condolences wouldn't be the best idea right now.

"Fine, I know you want to be alone right now, but I'm not leaving you to tear apart the office."

"Sienna," she started, ready to tell her friend off but thought better of it by looking down to her watch, “You know we should really get back to head quarters. We need to leave for the mission in about ten minutes.”

Sienna sighed, “Hermione, you can’t just avoid your pr-”

“There are more important things we need to be dealing with right now,” Hermione said tightly, leaving no room for argument.

Sienna rolled her eyes, “Fine. Let’s go- but you’re going to have to deal with this sooner or later…”

Hermione snorted moodily before standing up and apparating back to Paris.

...

"Hermione!" Harry shouted as he ran into his home.

No answer.

"Hermione?!" he shouted again, now running up the stairs to search for her.

Again, no answer.

He ran into their bedroom with hot tears stinging his eyes. Everything seemed just the way he had left it this morning. Moving to her closet, he saw with great relief that all her clothes were still there.

"Hermione?!" he called out again, this time breezing down the stairs and into her study. Everything was still there. If one thing was for sure, Hermione definitely wouldn't leave him without first coming to get the books from her study. Hermione always needed her books…

Harry walked absently to Hermione's big comfy chair behind her desk and sat down in it. Spotting a picture of the two of them on their wedding day sitting proudly on her desk, he couldn't help it anymore. He leaned down, laying his head in his hands and let the tears finally spill over.

...

“Alright, let’s recap,” Hermione said as she stalked into the meeting room where four other agents were already sitting in, “What do you we know and what is our plan? Marcus?”

The agent named Marcus jerked his head to Hermione, obviously surprised to be spoken to directly, “Uh, we wait outside Donavinci’s workshop until he comes to pick up the wand-detector with the buyer. From there I sneak in under an invisibility cloak and summon the device right out from under them. No attacks- we just get in and out.”

Hermione nodded briskly, “Try to not bugger tonight up, got it?” she asked with raised eyebrows staring at the four agents in front of her.

They flinched at her sharp tone and nodded while Sienna tried to resist rolling her eyes again. Instead, she looked to her watch and announced, “It’s time. Let’s go.”

Five minutes later Hermione, Sienna, and the four agents were standing disguised outside Donavinci’s workshop.

As planned, one agent was stationed inside one of the abandoned cars on the street, while another two were under invisibility cloaks at the entrance to the shop. Marcus was waiting nearby, also under a cloak, waiting for Donavinci and the buyer so he could slip inside with them.

They heard two loud cracks from the alley next to the shop and watched as two dark figures walked out and approached the doors of the shop.

…

Fred was feeling extremely uncomfortable in Pinns’s skin. He felt like he had no upper body strength and like he was missing a little something down stairs. ‘So that’s what one testicle feels like…’

“It’s right this way,” Donavinci said, pointing to the mouth of the alley.

Fred grunted in reply and clutched the suit case he was carrying as he took off after Donavinci. He truly had no idea what he was getting himself into tonight…

…

Marcus watched excitedly as Donavinci did a complicated set of spells that left the door opened afterwards. He followed the other man and slipped in closely behind him, not taking notice to the fox and dove who also followed him.

…

Donavinci closed the door tight after Fred came through.

“Set up the money there,” he said pointing to a counter, “And I’ll go get the device.”

Fred again grunted in reply as he set the suitcase filled with fake money on the counter. He opened it, taking from it his wand and holding it loosely by his side.

Now all that was left was for Donavinci to come out so Fred could give him the fake money and then he’d be on his way, back to Grimmauld Place with the wand-detector.

…

The small fox trotted silently behind Donavinci and behind where Marcus should be walking. All she was there to do was make sure that Marcus did everything according to plan.

…

Marcus watched as Donavinci approached a lock box and did another complicated set of spells to unlock it. He raised his wand ready to summon it right out of the box.

…

They weren’t expecting it to be in a locked box. However it did make sense for Donavinci to do that… it just made there mission a bit more complicated. The fox could tell that Marcus was getting ready to cast a summoning charm on the box.

That wasn’t the wisest of decisions being that Donavinci was still right there- all eyes glued to the wand-detector.

Sighing to herself, she knew that she had to distract them both somehow.

The fox bolted forward to a supply cabinet and rammed into it, making a few boxes full of papers fall off the top.

…

Marcus was just about ready to whisper the spell when there was a loud crash and two boxes spilled to the ground close to him.

He cursed at himself, hoping to god that his cover wasn’t blown. Donavinci had spun around with his wand drawn and was staring around with wild eyes. To Marcus’s luck, Donavinci’s eyes passed right over him.

Instead the man took a few steps to the right and started peering into the darkness of the shop.

Marcus took the opportunity, and again raised his wand in the direction of the lock box and whispered the summoning spell.

…

Donavinci could have sworn he heard a voice. He turned his wand back to the safe and summoned the wand-detector from inside, not noticing that it was already floating out. The majestic mahogany box flew straight into his hands and he was delighted to see that it was in the same condition that he had left it in.

All that was left was to collect the two million galleons from the half-wit out side and then he’d disappear for a few years… Maybe buy and island or something…

Donavinci never took notice of the small animal who was leering over the spilled documents on the floor or the invisible figure who was cursing himself rather heavily under his breath.

…

Marcus wanted to hit something. Out of all the agents this could happen to, it happened to him. On his very first mainstream mission no less!

He growled to himself one last time before following behind Donavinci as he left the back shop- trying to figure out a way he could get the box.

…

The fox continued to stare over the papers that littered the ground. This was unbelievable…

Morphing back to her human form, Hermione collected the pages on the ground and brought them closer for better inspection.

She couldn’t believe her luck. Of all the papers that could have fallen out of those boxes it was these- the instructions on creating Donavinci’s wand-detector.

They looked like they were once bounded together in a journal of sorts but had been ripped out just recently.

‘Donavinci must have been getting ready to destroy these,’ Hermione mused to herself with a small grin, ‘Father’s going to be really happy…’

Her head jerked up as she heard a crash from outside followed by shouts.

‘Spoke too soon,’ she thought grimly before stuffing the papers in to her jumper and taking out her wand.

…

Fred watched through Pinns’s eyes as Donavinci came back through the back door.

“It’s all here, I presume?” Donavinci asked as he approached him.

Fred nodded and then jerked his head towards the box in Donavinci’s hands, “That it?”

“Yes, you may test it if you like,” he replied, setting the box on the counter- his eyes never leaving the fake gold in Fred’s suit case.

“No, that’s quite alright,” Fred replied with a smile coming forward to grab the box.

Donavinci narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him before lifting a galleon up for closer inspection.

Fred seen this and almost laughed. ‘Of course the smarmy git would check if it’s real. Oh well… makes it more fun for me…’

Before Donavinci could voice concerns against the authenticity of the gold Fred raised his wand and shouted a stunning spell right at the man’s chest. He watched Donavinci catapult backwards.

What Fred wasn’t expecting was to see him collide with an invisible something. The invisible something was also knocked to the floor with a gasp.

Fred’s eyes widened as he seen a blonde head appear on the floor next to Donavinci. The man’s eyes also widened when he seen Fred looking right back at him.

…

Marcus couldn’t believe this. All he was going to do was try and summon the box again before the other man scooped it up while Donavinci went to inspect a case of galleons.

He was thinking of a way to get the wand-detector back but before he knew it, Donavinci was being stunned and careening back towards himself. The wind was knocked out of him as Donavinci’s body hit him.

He gasped before looking up to the man again. The man was staring right back at him, making Marcus realise that the invisibility cloak was pulled off him slightly, revealing his head.

Without thinking, he made a quick move for his wand, but the other man was quicker, “STU- ah!”

…

There was a sound of flapping wings and then Fred could feel something clawing at his face. He lowered his wand, but made sure to keep his strong hold on the box in his arms.

The bird- or whatever it was- was still attacking his face, pecking and clawing, making Fred unaware of the fact that the blonde man had recovered his wand and was getting up from underneath Donavinci’s body.

…

Hermione burst back into the main shop with her wand drawn and ready. She saw Marcus getting up from the ground where an unconscious Donavinci lay and beginning to point his wand at the buyer who was struggling with Sienna attacking his face in her animagus form.

She watched Marcus raise his wand and begin to say a stunning spell, “STUPE-”

“ABORT!” Hermione shouted, “Abort the mission!”

…

Marcus looked back to where his leader was standing with her wand drawn.

He was about to question her sanity when again she shouted, “Abort!”

Marcus made a noise between a growl and sigh before he grabbed up the invisibility cloak and ran for the exit.

…

Fred didn’t know what to think. Here he was, thinking that Italy had just some plain crazy arse doves when he heard a feminine voice shouting out to “Abort.”

‘How is this possible?!’ he thought wildly to himself. He felt a rustle past his shoulder and luckily the demented dove relented with its attacks and flew out the open door.

Clearing the rivers of blood away from his eyes, he was just in time to catch someone finish morphing into a small brown animal.

He aimed his wand and shot off another stunner which barely missed the animal’s tail as it scurried between his legs and out of the shop.

…

Hermione wasted no time running as far away from the workshop as possible before morphing back and apparating to Paris. As soon as she was in the portal she was met with an onslaught of questions.

“Hermione, what the bloody hell was that about?!” shrieked Sienna coming at her immediately.

Hermione shook her head and immediately reached for the journal pages stuffed in her jumper.

“I thought the buyer was supposed to be a squib,” said Marcus flatly, clearly disappointed in himself for not completing the mission like planned.

“He was. That man wasn’t the real buyer. Someone else was in on this,” Hermione said as she made her way from the apparation portal and back to the meeting room.

“Who?” asked another agent curiously.

“Do I look like a bloody psychic?” Hermione asked sharply as she slammed the papers down on the desk.

“What are those?” Sienna asked, nodding towards the stack.

Hermione let out a deep breath, not realising how tired the day had made her, “These are Donavinci’s documents…”

“So?”

“His documents on how to make the wand-detector,” she finished with a small satisfied grin.

“Bloody hell, Hermione…” spoke Sienna in awe as the other agents looked on with wide eyes, “Are you sure?”

Hermione sent an irritated look at her, “Of course I’m sure. Take a look.”

She slid the papers over to Sienna, who took them in her hands gently and began looking over them. Sure enough, the papers were full of detailed summaries and pictures on creating and assembling the charmed device that had been the focus of their mission.

“We should get this to the tech squad immediately,” Sienna said as she finished reading.

Hermione nodded in agreement, “First we should get some copies made and have them presented to Father.”

“So, he won’t be pissed that we didn’t actually retrieve the detector?” asked the agent who was staked out in the abandoned car.

Hermione shook her head. “Of course not. This is much better,” she finished with a confident nod.

“Yeah, but that bloke still got away with Donavinci’s copy,” Marcus said solemnly.

“Let’s not worry about that,” Sienna said before Hermione could say anything else. “Right now let’s worry about doing the paper work and presenting the mission’s success to Father.”

“Let me worry about that,” Hermione said, gathering the papers up again. Sienna sent her a quizzical look to which Hermione shrugged, “I have to talk to him about something else anyway.”

“Alright,” Sienna said sceptically, still worried about how Hermione was going to deal with what they saw earlier. She knew her friend loved Evans more than she would ever let on. Her only hope was that Hermione would let her in instead of pushing her away by telling her that she was “fine”.

Sienna sent another look at Hermione as she stiffly walked out of the office, heading off to talk to Father.

‘Yeah right… Hermione won’t be fine for a long, long time…’

…

-Back at Grimmauld Place-

"Alright, everything's gone according to plan. Fred or George should be back with it in about fifteen minutes time," Sirius said happily coming into the kitchen followed by Ron, Remus, and Draco.

"Gin, where's Harry?" Ron asked walking over to the ice box, not noticing the down cast expression on his sister's face, "We wanted to congratulate you two on that conversation. It was wicked hilarious- Sirius and I could hardly sit in our seats it was so funny."

"Weaslette, you alright?" Draco asked without his usual sneer. When he asked that, the other occupants of the room looked over to see Ginny's appearance for the first time.

Ron looked back around the kitchen, "Gin, where's Harry?" he asked again.

"Sirius, can I talk to you?" Ginny asked looking up at the older man.

Sirius nodded, "Of course."

Ginny got up and led Sirius through the kitchen door and into the sitting room, "What's the problem Ginny? Is Harry alright?"

"I don't know," she said honestly.

"Why don't you tell me what happened," Sirius said comfortingly but also with determination. He didn't like when things went wrong concerning his godson.

Ginny went through the story, informing Sirius of how she forgot to spill the drink so Harry kissed her in order to do it and then the woman and the look on Harry's face.

"And then when she was leaving he muttered something, it sounded like 'Her my knee'," Ginny finished.

Sirius sat back on the sofa and scrubbed a hand over his face, "Oh no..."

"Why does everyone besides me seem to know who this woman is?" asked Ginny in exasperation.

Sirius sighed, "Look Ginny, you didn't do anything wrong, okay?"

"I know that," Ginny defended in a huff.

"That w- Ginny look at me. What I'm about to say can not leave this room, do you understand?"

"I understand," she said quietly with a frown. What was so important about that woman?

"That woman's name is Hermione Evans."

Ginny raised her eyebrows, "Like Harry's mum?"

"Yes, but she's more like Harry's wife."

Ginny's mouth fell open, "WHAT?!"

"Shh!" Sirius said, clapping a hand to her mouth.

"'Arryasahwimfe?" Ginny asked through Sirius's hand.

"Yes, they've been married for about six years," Sirius said quietly, taking his hand away.

"Six years?" she whispered loudly.

"Yes, to make a long story short- he met her when he was on a mission as Harry Evans, they married under the pretences that he was a muggle named Harry Evans, meaning he had no glasses or scar.”

Ginny was quiet, looking disbelievingly at Sirius, "How come he kept her a secret from all of us?"

"For safety reasons. She wasn't a secret from all of us- Ron, Remus and me went to the wedding. I walked her down the isle myself," Sirius finished on a proud note.

Ginny paled. That kiss earlier had made her have some feelings spring back up for Harry that she hadn't felt in a long time. She hadn't had the chance to really discover what they meant yet- but knowing that things with Jason and her were over and that supposedly Harry wasn't seeing anyone, she had thought that they might still have a bit of a chance.

Whenever she imagined herself settling down and having a family she always pictured that Harry was the man she'd do it with, but never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that Harry had already taken that step.

Harry was considered one of her greatest friends, and she didn't want him to suffer, but obviously by the look on his face, that's what he must be feeling right now.

"I feel terrible,” she muttered, leaning back into the sofa. “Can you imagine what Harry's going through right now?"

Sirius patted her knee, "I'm going to go check up on him. You should wait here for your brothers to get back."

Ginny nodded weakly as they both raised from the couch and walked over to the kitchen door. When Ginny tried to swing it open, it hit something solid, "What the?"

She again tried to push through the door again and found Malfoy rubbing his head on the other side.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"The opposite side of a door is a great place to stand," Ginny scoffed moodily, taking a seat at the table.

Remus looked up to give a questioning look to Sirius.

"I'm going to go check on Harry," Sirius told him.

"Is he alright?" Ron asked with a chicken wing sticking out of his mouth.

"Yeah, he just wasn't feeling well so he went home for some potions."

With that, Sirius left the kitchen and apparated to the back of Harry's shed, wondering what he was about to walk in on.

Knowing his daughter in law, it was either one of two things:

A. Harry was dead, or B. Harry was severely injured and would continue to be tortured until death.

When he walked up the steps of the back porch he noticed that there wasn't a sound coming from the house. He pried the back door open, "Hello? Anyone home? It's your favourite godfather!"

With no answer, Sirius walked deeper into the house. He was about to walk up the stairs when he heard noises from Hermione's study.

…

George had just gotten back from setting up Pinns’s body. Everything had gone to plan and he was counting on walking back up the steps to Grimmauld Place and waiting for his brother to get back.

When he entered the kitchen, he was met with a tense atmosphere. Ginny and Malfoy were glaring at each other, Ron was eating some chicken wings (big surprise), and Remus was sitting in the corner reading the prophet.

“Where’s Sirius and Harry?”

“Oh no, don’t mention Potter’s name!” Draco started sarcastically, “It’ll send your sister off into another mood swing.”

“Go fuck yourself, Malfoy,” Ginny growled at him.

Draco smirked, “Or if you wanted to-”

Ginny scoffed, “You’re such a pig!”

“Better a pig then a love sick puppy,” he shot back referring to the sullen mood she was in ever since Sirius had left after Harry. Ron, George, and Remus watched on as Ginny and Draco threw back insults.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“Really? So you’re not in a love sick mood over Potter?”

“I am NOT love sick!”

“Oh yeah? Could have fooled me.”

Ginny pushed her seat back and stood up, “Fuck you, Malfoy,” she said before stalking out of the kitchen. Her heavy steps could be heard going up the long flight of stairs followed by a slammed door a few moments later.

George and Ron looked back to Draco, “You’re either really brave or really stupid…”

Draco snorted and rolled his eyes before also getting up and heading towards the stairs.

“Malfoy, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” George warned him as he got closer to the stairs.

“Yeah mate, Ginny has her wand on her and probably wouldn’t hesitate to give you a right nasty hex if you went up there alone.”

Draco didn’t answer but only continued his way up the stairs.

“Fine,” Ron muttered, “I’m not going to hate saying ‘I told you so’ when you come back spitting bat bogeys out of your mouth…”

Draco was on the second flight of stairs when he pulled out his wand and said a ‘point me’ spell. His wand swivelled to the corridor in front of him and spun directly to the door on the right.

He took a deep breath as he stood outside the door, bracing himself for what he was about to do. He’d been chasing Ginny Weasley around for too long and it was high time he did something about his feelings for the youngest Weasley.

Oh, if only his father could see him now…

…

Harry was trying desperately to control his breathing and calm himself down when he heard Sirius call out from inside the house. He didn't want anyone to see him like this. Besides, the only person he really wanted to see right now was Hermione.

There was a soft knock from the study wall and he looked up to see Sirius standing there.

"Hiya mate," he said gently.

Harry looked back down, "I've really fucked up good, haven't I?"

"I wouldn't go that far, Harry-"

"No, I have. Last night, one of the other women going after the vault came up and kissed me and when I came home Hermione noticed lip gloss on my face," he choked out, running a hand through his hair before continuing. "She looked so heart broken, but I told her that I would never do that to her-"

"And you wouldn't, Harry. She has to believe you."

Harry let out a bitter laugh, "Does she? I told her that and not even twenty-four hours later she found me kissing Ginny. What do you think that looks like to her?"

"Maybe if you just explain things-"

"Explain what? That I was on a mission for the agency I work for? That I'm not really a contractor, but a wizard, a famous one none the less, and that my real last name is Harry Potter? How the hell am I supposed to explain that?" Harry asked in frustration, getting louder with each question.

Sirius was quiet before speaking carefully, "Is she worth fighting for?"

Harry looked up at him, "Yes."

"Than you'll find a way to make amends. You'll find a way to prove to her that you do love her and that she's the only woman you want to be with."

Harry nodded, hoping that it would be that easy with Hermione.

...

“Alohomora,” Draco muttered, watching as the door to the room Ginny was hiding in clicked open. He held his wand loosely by his side so it didn’t seem threatening. Pushing the door open fully, he stepped in side and closed it behind him.

Ginny was sitting on the edge of an old bed when he entered.

She sighed impatiently, “What the hell do you want? Haven’t you tormented me enough today?”

Draco shook his head, “No.”

“Then what?” she asked standing up and getting closer to him making a streak of heat flash through his groin, “What more could you possibly want with me?”

“To put you in your place,” he said daringly, watching as the angry glint in her eyes turned to one of fury.

“Excuse me?”

Draco smirked, “You heard me.”

Ginny’s face reddened in anger and she reached for her wand, “You slimy bastard-”

“Expelliarmus,” Draco said, flicking his wand at Ginny and watching her wand scatter to the opposite side of the room.

“How dare you!” she shouted, glaring daggers at him.

Draco shrugged and threw his wand to the opposite side of the room as well.

Ginny scoffed, “What are you playing at?”

Draco again shrugged and moved closer, “Quite honestly, I’d much rather be playing with you.”

Ginny scowled before raising her hand to strike Draco, but he caught it centimetres away from his face. She struggled to pull her hand free from Draco’s grip, but he didn’t let go.

“Let me go,” Ginny growled, tugging again at her arm.

“No,” he told her quietly.

Ginny tried to slap him with her free hand, but again Draco caught it and pulled her closer.

Ginny sighed impatiently, “What do you want?”

Draco didn’t even try to hide the lustful look on his face, wanting her to know how seductive he thought their current situation was, “You.”

The red head frowned, “What?”

Was she hearing him right? Did he just say he wanted her? Ginny’s mind was a jumble of thoughts, but she couldn’t pretend she didn’t know what the shiver going up her spine and heat pooling in her stomach meant.

She felt herself being pulled towards his enticing grey eyes and before she knew it, his lips were on hers.

…

Ohohoho… do you guys still hate Ginny?

You know, I wasn’t even thinking about putting them together in this fic. It was all thanks to a reviewer who asked, “Why doesn’t Ginny just go shag Draco already,” and I thought, “Hey, that’s not a bad idea!”

Anyway, I hope the small action did it’s justice. Trust me, soon enough there will be lots of big BOOMS, you can count on that.

Thank YOU! For all the reviews- you guys continue to amaze me!

So give me some more feed back for this chapter!

Is Ginny bearable now that she knows Draco has a ‘thing’ for her?

Did you like Hermione and Sienna being animagi’s?

Are you all ready to kill me because of Harry and Hermione’s crumbling marriage?!

AHH! Go REVIEW!!!

11. Goodbye Harry

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 9: Goodbye Harry

[AN] Thank you for all the reviews! I get nearly 5,000 hits per chapter and only about 27 amazing people review.

I know you all are desperate for some H/Hr, and you probably don’t want to start of the chapter with a D/G scene… so sorry about that. Trust me, you’ll get some H/Hr interaction soon that you‘ll definitely like.

At last, thank you to Cosmo and Ahsun for the beta!

…

Draco had let go of Ginny’s arms so that she could wrap them around his neck. He walked them back to the wall and pressed her back against it fully, all the while attacking her mouth.

Ginny had never experienced a kiss like this before. Thrills were shooting throughout her entire body and all ending up in her lower region.

She couldn’t think about whether kissing Draco Malfoy was right or wrong- right now her only concern was how good the things he was doing to her made her feel.

He moaned and pressed his mouth harder to hers while running his hands up her sides. Ginny gasped into his mouth as his hands ran over her breasts.

Draco moved his mouth down to suck on her neck while Ginny threw her head back in pleasure. She tried to regain some sense of composure in her mind but currently it was only telling her one thing.

“B-bed,” she stuttered breathlessly, nodding in the direction of the old bed.

Draco wrapped his arms around her waist and started moving them towards the bed. He was about to throw her down and crawl on top of her when they heard a voice call out, “GIN, MALFOY! Get down here now!”

Draco growled, “Fucking hell…”

Ginny felt the exact same way. A large part of her wanted to ignore her brothers call, but something told her it was important, “We should go.”

Draco looked up at her like he wanted to protest. After all, he had been waiting for that moment for a long, long time…

“Fine,” he said shortly, letting go of her and straightening out his clothes.

Ginny wanted to say something, but hadn’t the faintest idea what she should say. The past five minutes had taken her by such a surprise.

“Let’s go,” he muttered, leading the way out of the room and down the stairs.

As the two approached the kitchen they could here muffled gasps. Ginny quickened her step, recognizing her brother Fred’s voice.

“What happened?” she gasped as they entered the kitchen to see Fred sitting in a chair with Remus hanging over him. He had blood stains on his clothes and was flinching every time Remus touched his face.

Ron looked at her, “He was attacked.”

“By who?”

George smirked, “A pigeon was it, dear brother?”

Fred muffled something and flipped him a rude gesture.

“He’s fine Ginny, just a bit scratched up,” Remus told her as he dabbed some ointment to Fred’s face.

“There was a bloke unda’ an invisibil’ty cloak,” Fred said underneath Remus.

“Did you at least get the wand-detector?” Draco asked tightly.

“’Course I got it, you forget who you’re talking to Malfoy,” he said cheekily as Remus finished attending to his face.

George smirked, “A bloke who was almost killed by a bird?”

Fred scowled, “It was a dove and it was demented.”

“It was probably an animagus you dolt,” Draco said.

“I never thought about that,” Fred replied with a thoughtful frown.

“Well if there were other wizards there then that makes sense,” Ginny said, moving closer to Draco.

“I never thought I’d see the day where you would take up after Malfoy over your own brother,” Ron teased her.

Ginny shrugged and looked down as a small blush crept on her face, “I’m just saying it makes sense.”

“Alright Fred, you should go put your memories of tonight in a pensieve. Sirius and I will want to take a look at who this wizard was.”

“Do you think another group of criminal wizards was behind it?” Ron asked.

Remus nodded, “Probably, but let’s not worry about it- we got Donavinci’s device and that’s what counts.”

...

"I need to get access to the penthouse suite," Hermione said to the French woman behind the desk of a posh building.

The woman looked confused for a moment before replying heavily in a French accent, "I can not auth'orize that, mademoiselle."

Hermione leaned in closer to the woman, "You'll authorize it right now."

The French woman gulped before sliding a card key to her. Hermione took it immediately and without saying a thank you stalked off towards the elevator.

When the elevator finally dinged open to reveal the front door of Father's suite, Hermione stepped out and ringed the door bell.

She waited for a few seconds before the door clicked open and Hermione strolled inside.

"What a lovely surprise," spoke the familiar aged voice of Father from behind his desk.

"I'm sorry to barge in on you sir," Hermione said tightly, not truly sorry at all, "But you did say I needed to get back to you with my decision soon."

Father nodded gently and motioned for her to take a seat, "And your decision is?"

Hermione looked straight into her mentor's eyes, "I'll do it."

Father grinned, "Music to my ears."

Hermione nodded, "I'll leave as soon as you need me to, but I have a few requests first," she said boldly, as if daring Father to argue.

Father smiled. He knew he always liked Hermione for a reason, "Shoot."

"I'm going to need a crew over to my house in London to help me pack, a divorce lawyer, and I want to take Sienna with me as my partner."

"Miss Cosveaux? That's quite a mighty demand Mrs. Evans."

"Call me Hermione, and it's non-negotiable," Hermione said unwavering in her position. She knew she was going out on a limb here throwing Sienna's name out like that, but she had a pretty good feeling that Sienna wouldn't pass up a partnership like this. They had been partners for practically fifteen years and Hermione didn't want to start fresh without her.

"If I can't have Sienna then I won't go," she said, speaking the magical words. She wasn't bragging, but she could tell having herself take over for him was too important to Father for him to bugger it up just by saying her friend couldn't go.

A few seconds later, Father acquiesced just like Hermione predicted, "Fine. You drive a hard bargain Hermione, but that's why you're so successful in this business. That's why I want you to be my successor."

Hermione nodded stiffly, not letting any emotion show, "Right, so has the office already been arranged?"

"The finishing touches were put on last week," Father affirmed.

"Good, and do I need to find my own place to stay?"

"I've already arranged something for you," he again said smiling at her.

Hermione scoffed, letting her frustrations get the best of her, "You're always one step ahead, aren't you?"

Father laughed, "Of course Hermione, but soon you will be too."

Hermione paused at his last words. Suddenly, the reality of the day started to crash down around her. In less than twenty-four hours her husband lied to her, she met her boss for the first time, he offered her a job in a different country, she thought she was going to have to quit, then she caught Harry and that tacky red-haired slag, she went on a mission that didn’t go as planned, and now- here she was, accepting an offer to move across the ocean, to a foreign land, to have control over her own office. She let out a deep breath and sat back in the chair.

"Hermione," Father said softly after a few moments. Hermione looked up to see him giving her a very caring look, "I have no doubts that you'll be anything, but excellent at this."

Hermione nodded, trying to let herself believe that, "Thank you sir."

“A team will be ready for you tomorrow morning to go collect your things. Also I have a close friend who is a solicitor, he’ll be happy to draw up some divorce papers for you.”

Hermione nodded, barely believing that this was all really happening.

“Now, what do you have to tell me about today’s mission?”

Hermione handed him the folder with the copied documents she found in Donavinci’s workshop and started explaining the day’s events to Father.

...

“Hermione! Where the hell have you been?” yelled Sienna, rushing in to the sitting room of her flat. They had agreed that Hermione would stay at Sienna’s tonight before going back to her house to get her possessions. Sienna was expecting Hermione home hours ago since all she said she had to do was finish some paper work.

Hermione smiled sheepishly, "Sorry Si, I went to go see Father and then I had to sign some papers with his attorney."

Sienna frowned, "Why?"

Hermione looked up to Sienna, “They were papers filing for divorce.”

“Divorce, huh?” Sienna asked leaning against the door frame.

Hermione shrugged, “Yeah, I mean why wait? It had to happen sooner or later.”

“You’re not even going to give Harry the chance to explain himself?”

Hermione looked up at her friend sharply, “Are you defending him?”

Sienna shook her head, “Of course not. I’m just saying… all this is happening kind of fast.”

Hermione nodded and kicked off her heels, “Tell me about it. We have another busy day tomorrow, too.”

“Did Father tell you that?” Sienna asked in interest.

“Yeah, early tomorrow morning he’s ordering a team to go clear my stuff out of my house,” Hermione said more quietly at the mention of her having to pack her things up from the home she had shared with Harry for the past six years.

“You’re letting Harry keep the house?” Sienna asked with a frown.

“It wouldn’t be much good to me if I kept it.”

Sienna looked at her, “What do you mean?”

"I'm taking the job in Los Angeles," she replied sitting down on Sienna’s sofa.

Sienna stared at her friend's emotionless face and sighed, "'Mi, moving away isn't going to solve anything with Harry."

Hermione flinched at the mention of Harry's name and shrugged, "I know that, that’s what a divorce is good for."

Sienna continued to look at her friend. Normally she wouldn't object to Hermione breaking free from her marriage, but she also knew that what Harry did hurt her a lot more than she was letting on, "Okay then. So when do you leave?"

"We leave as soon as we're all packed up and ready," Hermione said with a small grin.

Sienna's head shot up, "We?"

"Yep."

"As in, we are both moving to America?"

"Yep."

Sienna lost the excited expression on her face and suddenly frowned.

"What?" Hermione asked confused. She thought her friend would be happy that she went out of her way to get Father into letting her have a partner.

"Am I going to be your employee?" she asked with an appalled look.

Hermione laughed, "No. Try partner."

Sienna gasped, "So- so I'm running this shit too!"

"Yes, I told him I wouldn't go without you."

"And he agreed?!"

"Yes," Hermione said smiling at Sienna's excitement.

"Oh. My. God. We're moving to America!"

Hermione laughed again, "Yep."

“When do we leave?!”

“I told you,” Hermione said, amused at her friend’s excitement, “When we’re all packed up and ready.”

“I can be ready in twenty minutes,” Sienna said with determination, starting off for her bedroom.

“Well we have to wait for my lawyer to get the papers ready,” Hermione returned, the small amused smile disappearing from her face.

“Oh- so tomorrow then?”

“Tomorrow,” Hermione nodded.

Sienna let out and excited breath and dropped herself next to Hermione on the sofa, “This is so exciting. This time tomorrow we’ll be living a completely new life!”

“Yep,” Hermione said absently, looking more forward to leaving then she thought she could ever be.

“Do I get to meet Father too?” Sienna asked in a hushed voice.

Hermione grinned, “I imagine, since he has to go over our new identities and priorities with us.”

Sienna clapped her hands together childishly, “Ooh, what’s it like to be in the same room with him?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Hermione said evasively.

Sienna swatted her leg, “Spoil sport.”

Hermione giggled and then her and Sienna sat in a comfortable silence, both theorizing how tomorrow would go.

“This is going to be so amazing,” Sienna said a few minutes later.

“How can you be so sure?” Hermione asked softly, not ready to admit all of her insecurities on the matter.

“I can just feel it,” Sienna replied optimistically. “Think about it- we’re two hot powerful women moving to a new country. Los Angeles is going to love us.”

“You maybe,” Hermione muttered.

“No, us. Hermione, you’re going to have sexy men fawning all over you and then, when you’re bored with them, you can just kick ‘em to the curb and go look for fresh meat!”

Hermione let out a laugh, knowing all to well that was exactly what Sienna liked to do with the men in her life. Truth be told though, Hermione only wanted one man fawning all over her…

But Harry had made his decision, and however much that hurt her, she had to deal with it.

…

“What do we do if he’s home?” Sienna asked as she followed Hermione up the front steps of her lawn.

“Donnie’s going around back to see,” Hermione replied back quietly. She had been feeling ill that morning, and now being back in front of the house that held so many memories of her and Harry being together wasn’t helping.

“And if he is?”

Hermione lifted up the sleeve of her jumper, discretely showing Sienna her wand holster.

Sienna however smirked, "Revenge. I like it."

"No Sienna, if he's there we'll knock him out, get my things, and when he wakes up we'll be gone."

Sienna nodded, "Never to come back?" she asked as they and three other agents climbed onto the porch.

"Never to come back."

...

Harry was currently in the kitchen, nursing another glass of whiskey. He had stayed up all night to wait for Hermione, but she had never came home. Being alone in the big house all night left him time to evaluate his whole relationship with Hermione.

And simply, it came down to one fact:

He loved her.

He still loved his wife and he would take Sirius's advice and do whatever necessary to get her to listen. Even if that meant telling her about magic. He knew at a time like this, revealing that he was a wizard would probably scare her off more but he had to do whatever it took.

His head jerked up as he heard keys rattling in the front door. He quickly ran a hand through his hair while leaving the kitchen and moving out into the front foyer.

He couldn't help the smile that came to his lips as Hermione opened the door and stepped inside.

"'Mione," he started shakily. Now that she was here he was having trouble remembering the speech he had planned out in his mind. As his eyes took her in, he was a little confused to see her emotionless face. He predicted she'd either be furious with him or be crying her eyes out but one look at her and he could tell that she hadn't done any crying at all.

Hermione dropped her purse wordlessly on the ground and walked inside further.

He was about to go to her when he saw Sienna step in followed by three handsome men.

He frowned, "What-" he was starting to talk when he felt something tap him on the top of the head, and then the world went dark.

Hermione watched stiffly as her soon to be ex-husband crumpled to the floor.

"Stupid muggle," sneered the French man named Donnie behind him, his wand stowed by his side. Hermione looked back up to Donnie.

"I need you to take the memory of him leaving the kitchen away and then put a sleeping charm on him. Make it last for a good six hours."

He nodded and levitated Harry back into the kitchen before performing the other charms. Hermione turned back to Sienna and the other men.

"Boys, you can start with my study," she said motioning her head to the left, "Take everything but the furniture and pictures. Sienna, me and you will get started on my room."

"I can't wait to find out where we'll be living in L.A.! I hope it's some huge penthouse with a Jacuzzi!" Sienna gushed as they climbed their way up the stairs. She still hadn't been able to get her mind off the fact that they were both moving to America.

Hermione gave a small smile, "Yeah."

Sienna looked over at Hermione after she gave her unenthusiastic response. She could tell that being back here was getting to her, "Don't let him bother you Hermione. Just like you said, it's better this way."

"Nothing's bothering me," she huffed quickly as they entered her room and walked down the hall to her closet.

Sienna didn't argue with her and followed her into the closet. Hermione already had her wand out, a box conjured and clothes floating into it.

"Will you go get my bath things in the wash room?" she asked Sienna without looking at her.

"Yeah," Sienna replied, knowing that Hermione actually wanted to be alone right now.

Hermione heard Sienna walk out and into the wash room. She looked down at a framed photo of her and Harry, taken when they were in Nice, and quietly slipped it into the box followed by more clothes.

...

"Everything's set Miss Troy," said one of the blokes as Hermione and Sienna entered the foyer with two large boxes floating behind them.

"Good, now take these back to headquarters and then you can go home," Hermione said dismissively.

"It's been good working with you- both of you," Jacques Delacroix said coming forward to shake both the girls' hands.

Hermione and Sienna both offered smiles as they shook the rest of their colleagues hands before they apparated away with the shrunken boxes.

Hermione turned back to Sienna, "You can go too. I just have to leave the papers and then I'm out of here."

Sienna looked like she wanted to protest but nodded and apparated as well.

Hermione sighed and walked into the kitchen were the agent had planted Harry. Since he was drinking before they made it look like he had passed out on the floor with the bottle in his hand. She took a few seconds to look down at Harry and take in his handsome face for the last time.

If anything, she was disappointed in herself that her marriage had failed. Obviously, she wasn't making Harry happy enough- that's why he turned to other women.

She took another deep breath before pulling out the envelope that Father had sent over with one of the agents. He already got a judge to sign off the divorce papers, and if everything went as planned, Hermione wouldn't have to come back for a follow up appointment.

Conjuring a pen out of mid-air, she neatly signed her name next to the line entitled spouse.

With a final deep breath, she took the two rings that adorned her left hand ring finger and set them gently on the counter.

"Goodbye Harry."

...

Hope you liked the chapter! I mean, I know you are all ready to tear me to shreds since their marriage is almost officially over.

And I know you don’t want to hear right now that I’m thinking about taking a brief hiatus from this fic. So much is going on that I hadn’t initially planned on so I need time to revaluate the plot.

But, of course, I can be swayed into updating on time next week if you all decide to REVIEW!

12. A Strong Heart

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 10: A Strong Heart

I kind of got reamed by you guys about me taking a BRIEF hiatus. When I said brief I meant by maybe prolong updating by a few days to get my bearings for this story. Anyway, I felt kind of bad for leaving with the chapter I did so here is the next post. Warning though, this is more or less a filler chapter.

Thank you to Ahsun and Lana for continuously putting up with me :]]

…

Harry woke up and groaned at the sharp pain in his head. He moved his hand to clutch at his forehead when he realised he had an empty whiskey bottle secured in his fist.

‘How’d that get there?’ he thought groggily as he pulled himself up from the floor, using the counter for support. Looking out the window, he could see that it was already well into the afternoon.

‘Hmm… must have dozed off…’ he figured, walking towards the rubbish bin and throwing the empty bottle in. He turned back around and froze after seeing something sitting on the counter top.

Harry’s mouth fell open as he limply picked up Hermione’s engagement and wedding rings off the envelope they were laying on. His breathing turned ragged as he continued to stare at the two rings that used to mean so much to Hermione.

Still clutching the rings in his hand, he turned his attention to the envelope underneath. He ripped it open, dreading what he was about to find inside.

Hermione Jane Evans is petitioning for divorce from Harry James Evans…

The papers fell from Harry’s trembling hands. Without another thought he ran from the kitchen, up the stairs and into their bedroom, heading for Hermione’s closet.

He made a strange noise in the back of his throat when he was met with a bare room.

How could this really be happening? She wasn’t even going to give him the chance to explain!

A wave of anger came over him at his wife’s stubbornness. He knew one thing for sure, he wasn’t just about to let her walk out of his life and away from their marriage, however weak it may have been at the moment.

Doing some quick thinking, he walked out of Hermione’s closet and ran downstairs into the kitchen where he had left his mobile the morning before.

Luckily for him it was still there. He picked it up and scanned through his contacts for Sienna’s number.

Breathing a sigh of relief when he found it, he pressed the call button and held the phone to his ear, praying to any god that could hear him that she would answer.

---

“Alright, alright, how does my hair look?” Sienna asked breathlessly for the twelfth time, as she and Hermione waited in the lift that was taking them to see Father.

“Si, relax- he’s not going to fire you if one strand is out of place,” Hermione said back.

“Where?!” Sienna gasped, raising both hands to pat her hair.

Hermione snorted, “I was joking. Calm down…”

“You don’t joke with hair, Hermione,” Sienna said back, sighing a breath of relief.

“Of course not, my deepest apologies,” Hermione returned dryly. Sienna was about to retort when one of the mobiles in her purse mobile’s rang.

“Si, I thought I told you to shut those off,” Hermione said to her as the doors to the lift pinged, opening to reveal the door to Father’s penthouse.

“I thought I had,” she replied as she searched through her purse for the phone. Sienna paused as she grasped the phone and read the caller ID on front.

“Is it Pete?” Hermione asked, referring to one of Sienna‘s latest flames.

Sienna shook her head and then looked up at Hermione with a blank look.

Hermione frowned in confusion at her friend’s expression, “Who is it then?”

“It’s Harry,” she said lowly, holding out the phone so Hermione could see the name, ‘Hermione’s Hubby’.

Hermione stared at the mobile in Sienna’s hand as it continued to light up with every ring.

“Hermione- are you going to answer it?”

She didn’t answer, but continued to look at it with a distant look in her eyes. If she answered it, she knew that hearing Harry’s voice would only make her not think straight. Who knows what he would be able to convince her of…

“Hermione-”

“Father’s expecting us,” she finally said, walking out of the elevator and ringing the door bell.

Sienna sighed and turned the mobile off before stashing it away in her purse and followed Hermione to the door.

---

Harry ran a hand through his hair as Sienna’s voicemail came over the line. He wasn’t about to give up this easily, that was for sure.

He had to make Hermione listen. He needed her back.

---

“Ah, Miss Granger, Miss Cosveaux, please take a seat.”

Hermione sat down in the chair across from Father’s desk and then folded her leg over the other in a business like manor. Sienna however, remained standing and staring at Father like he was Jesus himself.

“Sienna,” Hermione hissed at her. They had talked about her not doing that when she first saw him…

“Sir, it is an honour to like, be in your presence,” she said shakily, trembling from excitement and awe.

Father chuckled, “The pleasure is all mine Miss Cosveaux. Please, have a seat.”

“Okay,” she squeaked out before nearly falling down into the chair.

Hermione shot her a warning look before turning back to Father, “Everything’s on track sir- both houses have been packed up and are awaiting the move.”

“Fantastic,” Father said jovially, “I suppose we should get down to the business of what this job exactly entails.”

“Yeah, that’d be nice,” said Sienna, trying to stay in the conversation with Father. Hermione shot her an annoyed look while Father smiled charmingly.

“As you know, you’ll be heading to an office located in Los Angeles, California,” he started off, snapping his fingers so that two folders appeared in front of Sienna and Hermione. They both opened the cream coloured folders to find a picture of a luxurious building on top of other papers.

“Granger/Monroe Financial Group?” Sienna read aloud.

Hermione looked up sharply, “Granger sir? I won’t be going as Hermione Troy?”

Father grinned and slid two passports to the girls, “Hermione Granger, meet Sienna Monroe.”

“Sweet,” Sienna said wearing a large grin on her face, looking as if she was just given a pass to raid a Marc Jacobs warehouse.

“Indeed, Miss Cosveaux. From here on out you will both take on the identities of your counterparts,” Father continued on his spiel as Hermione read through the papers in the folder. According to it, they had both grown up in Cambridge and graduated from the University of Bristol. Afterwards they partnered up, working in various banks across England before starting their company in L.A.

“Also in your folders is a list of old friends of mine. I’m sure they’d be able to point you in the right direction of a few choice agents for the firm.”

“So we’ll be doing our own hiring and finding our own case investigations?” Hermione asked in her infamous professional tone while Sienna continued to stare at the papers in the folder like a kid in a candy shop.

“Ooh! Hermione we share a house in West Hollywood! Look!” Sienna said excitedly as she shoved a picture of a house in front of Hermione’s face.

Hermione pulled the picture back to get a good look at their new home. It was a beautiful three story that had a clear view over the rest of Hollywood and L.A.

“I would have arranged two separate homes, but Miss Granger here only sprung her desire for you to tag along yesterday,” Father said gracefully. “And to answer your previous question Miss Granger, you will be doing your own hiring yes, but the cases will come through here before being dispatched to your firm. After you become reputable enough you will start to initiate your own cases.”

Hermione nodded, controlling her excitement as opposed to Sienna who was bouncing in her seat eagerly.

“When do we get to leave?” she asked keenly, wanting to get up and leave for their new life that instant.

Father chuckled, “Not quite yet, Miss Cosveaux. Here,” he said, holding out to them two identical mobiles, “Are your mobiles used for office work only. Those are how I will get in touch with you to do your weekly reports.”

Hermione and Sienna accepted the new state of the line mobile phones as Father continued, “These are your keys. The brass ones are for the office and the silver ones are for the house. The other is for your autos, which are in the name of Granger and Monroe. You already have your American driver’s licenses and citizenship papers. You have another card in there which is your bank cards, one for each of you and one for the office in which you will make divisions for all your employees. The way you pay out your agents is up to you- I recommend the higher the risk of the mission the higher the cheque…”

Father continued off on his monologue, telling them tips on how to find those to hire and contracts over which they must sign. Hermione felt fairly confident- she had always been a naturally bossy person so being an actual boss of people wouldn’t be too difficult.

It was, however, overwhelming her how quickly this was all coming together. Just a few days ago she was happily coexisting in peace with her husband and now she was divorcing him and moving to a country where he would never be able to find her again.

In the span of seven years she had gone from being Hermione Granger to Hermione Troy to Hermione Evans and now again Hermione Granger.

Hermione sighed, ‘Christ, I need a vodka…’

“Hermione?”

“Huh?” she asked jerking her head up.

“I asked if you were ready to go?” Sienna asked impatiently.

“Oh, yeah, is everything set?” she asked looking back up to Father.

Father nodded and gave her a comforting smile, “Everything’s good to go, Miss Granger.”

“It’s so not fair you still get to be Hermione Granger,” Sienna said as they got up.

Hermione rolled her eyes, “Sienna, the public hasn’t really known me as Hermione Granger since Beauxbatons.”

“Yeah, I guess. Plus Sienna Monroe has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Whatever you say,” Hermione responded half-heartedly as they approached the door of the penthouse.

Father chuckled from behind them, “I’ll definitely miss having you two around.”

Sienna turned and beamed at him while Hermione lifted the corner of her lips. Father studied her for a minute, “I have no doubt you two will be extremely successful in Los Angeles.”

Sienna looked like she had one the lottery and thanked him profusely while Hermione nodded her head, reassuring herself that this was definitely what she wanted and needed. However, there was a small nibbling in the back of her mind that was telling her that this job might not turn out as successful as Father wanted it to be…

“Well, au revoir Sienna Cosveaux and Hermione Granger.”

Sienna held out her hand to shake Father’s, “It’s been a pleasure, sir.”

“I assure you, it was all mine,” Father replied back before holding his other hand out to Hermione.

“A strong heart will get you everywhere in life Miss Granger,” he finished quietly, looking eerily into her eyes.

Hermione frowned, wondering why Father was telling her that. Regardless, however, she nodded, “Yes sir.”

He smiled at her a final time before Sienna and Hermione walking out the door and into the open elevator. Hermione looked up at him one last time before the elevator doors closed and caught him giving her a proud wink.

Hermione felt herself smile and straightened out her shoulders. She could feel a new aura of confidence about her at the thought of someone as regal as Father having so much faith and trust in her. That thought alone made her feel like she could take on the world… and definitely get over her soon-to-be ex-husband with her head held high.

---

As Father watched the elevator doors closed, he let out a deep breath of accomplishment. It was quite a win-win situation for him; now Hermione would be his successor and she would be moving far away without her husband.

‘Harry Potter didn’t deserve her anyway…’

---

So I gave you a bit of something to chew on. You may think what you want of it, just know that it’s one of the many tricks I now have up my sleeve concerning this story.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You guys really did show me you cared last chapter :]

13. Confrontations and Tito

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 11: Confrontations and Tito

[AN] Last gloomy chapter before things start to look up!

Thanks to Ahsun and Cosmo for the beta.

---

Harry and Hermione sat on the bench in the empty park, watching the sun set over the French sky.

Harry turned his head to watch Hermione’s face snuggled up in the crook of his neck. He smiled and looked back to the coloured horizon.

“What are you smiling about?” Hermione murmured from his neck.

“How beautiful you look,” Harry replied with a sly grin.

“Sweet talker,” she said with a small smile.

“You like it.”

“I like you,” corrected Hermione. She had never been able to enjoy mindless yet lovable banter between a person before. Just another reason why Harry was so wonderful…

“I love you,” he said back cheekily, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Hermione smiled and leaned her head up to kiss him fully on the lips.

“I bet you couldn’t go ten minutes without kissing me,” Hermione said competitively when they pulled apart.

“Wasn’t it you that just nearly snogged me to death?”

Hermione shrugged smiling, “No matter, I still think you couldn’t.”

Harry scoffed, “Could too.”

“Wanna bet?” she asked with a raised eyebrow and a wry grin.

“Name your terms,” he said back playfully.

“Okay if you loose you owe me all the money in your pockets, if I loose…” she stopped and bit her lip, thinking of a justifiable punishment.

“You’ll be my slave for a whole day,” Harry said.

“A whole day?” Hermione asked with a crinkled brow, “That’s hardly fair…”

“You’re the one so sure that you’ll win,” Harry replied cheekily.

Hermione scoffed, “Fine. You’re on.”

Harry smiled as they both settled back into their peaceful serenity. Not even ten seconds later, Harry’s lips were back on Hermione’s.

Hermione laughed triumphantly, “See, told you!”

“I guess you’re just too irresistible,” Harry said smoothly.

“Guess so,” she said with a smile before poking him in the side, “Pay up Evans!”

Harry dramatically winced, “Easy their Troy…”

Hermione giggled, something she had been doing more and more of these past few months as Harry shoved a hand in his left trouser pocket.

“Let’s see… nothing in there,” he said as he pulled an empty hand from the pocket.

Hermione huffed, “You better have something for me, even if it isn’t money.”

Harry smirked at her cluelessness, “Hmm, nothing in that one,” he said wryly, pulling another empty hand from his bum pocket. He quickly checked his other two pockets, extracting nothing from either of them.

Harry shrugged innocently, “Sorry love. I got nothing.”

Hermione frowned. Harry thought she looked positively adorable when she was about to go into one of her lectures, “That’s not fair. You said pockets- you never said just your trouser pockets!”

“So?” he asked smiling.

“Evans, you better empty your coat pockets now before I throw you on the ground and frisk you,” she threatened with raised eyebrows.

Harry shrugged, “That doesn’t sound too bad-”

“Harry…”

“Alright, alright,” he removed the arm that was wrapped around her shoulders and moved it towards the left breast pocket of his blazer. “Nothing,” he said with another grin, about to go into hysterics at the look on his girlfriend’s face.

“The other,” she said lowly, motioning towards the other pocket.

“Alright,” Harry dove his hand inside his pocket and shuffled around. Just as Hermione thought he was again going to come out empty handed, he smiled and pulled out a clenched fist.

Hermione smirked arrogantly, “That’s right, give it up.”

“Alright, you won it fair and square,” he said, dropping the object into her open palm.

Her victorious look faltered as she closed her hand around the mysterious object in her hand. It felt like a…

“Harry?” she whispered, looking down to the breathtaking diamond ring in her palm.

“Do you like it?”

“I-I… is this what I think it is?”

Harry grinned, “Depends what you think it is…”

“Harry,” she started softly, not knowing what else to say.

Harry squeezed the hand he was holding and looked her in the eyes, “Do you want to get married?”

Hermione started sputtering when Harry cut her off, “Sorry, let me rephrase that- Hermione Troy,” he said, moving off the bench to kneel in front of her, “I love you. Will you marry me?”

“Really?” she squeaked. The intensity of his eyes were making her want to melt on the spot.

Harry smiled adoringly at her, “Yeah, really.”

Hermione started sputtering again, “Uh- I mean… we’ve only been seeing each other for four months…”

That wasn’t the answer Harry wanted to hear, but he recovered smoothly, “I know when I want to spend the rest of my life with someone. What’s it matter we’ve only known each other four months?”

Hermione swallowed nervously and looked down to the magnificent ring in her hand, “Harry… marriage is forever you know? I‘ll be your wife for the rest of your life…”

Harry nodded, “I know. And honestly, I can’t think of any better thing then to call you Hermione- Evans… for the rest of our lives,” he finished, catching himself before he said Hermione Potter. That would take a lot of explaining…

Hermione was silent for a few moments before she smiled shyly at him, “You know, I’ve never met a man quite like you before Harry Evans.”

Harry grinned, “Well I guess that’s a good thing or you might’ve left me for that bloke…”

Hermione let out a laugh before gazing back at the ring.

“Forever,” she told him again, staring back into his green orbs.

Harry nodded, “And ever and ever.”

Hermione beamed at him before leaning forward to kiss him heavily. Harry snogged her back with equal force, prying the ring out of her palm and slipping it on her left hand ring finger.

A car honked loudly, causing Harry to jump back suddenly. The driver of the car flipped him a rude gesture before speeding off. Harry glared after the wanker who had caused him to break out of his memories.

He scoffed at his wife’s words in the memory, “Forever my arse…”

Harry drudged up the steps of Grimmauld Place as the rain continued to pour down on him. ‘This just hasn’t been my day,’ he though grudgingly as he opened the door of the secret house.

Once inside he cast a quick drying charm over himself and called out for his godfather.

“In the kitchen, Harry!” Sirius called back.

Harry walked into the kitchen silently where Sirius and Remus were looking over some papers and dropped down into the nearest seat.

One glance at Harry and Sirius knew that he wasn’t in the cheeriest of moods.

“Can I get you a drink, mate?” he asked in a voice like he was testing the waters.

“Whiskey,” Harry muttered.

“How about a coffee?” Remus interjected waving his wand so that the coffee pot along with a cup would float over to Harry.

“Thanks,” he said, again in the same tone. After a few sips of the hot liquid, Harry looked over to the papers and asked, “What are you two doing?”

“There was another group of wizards in on the mission last night,” Remus told him.

Harry looked at him sharply, “And I’m just being told this now?”

“Well, with all do respect Harry- your mind wasn’t really worried about the mission last night, now was it?”

Harry grumbled something and then continued, “Was anyone hurt?”

“Well… Fred was attacked by a “bloody demented pigeon”, or so he described it, but other than that no.”

“Did we get-”

“Yes, we got Donavinci’s device.”

“Oh, good,” Harry nodded, happy to know at least his professional life wasn’t falling apart.

“So…” Sirius started lowly, not sure if now was the right time to bring it up or not, “Last night-”

“She didn’t come home. But she did sometime this morning to clear out all her stuff,” Harry said calmly, not looking either of the older men in the eyes.

“Well didn’t you stop her-”

“Apparently I passed out. I just woke up a few hours ago to find this,” he said, pulling the divorce papers out from his pocket and enlarging them.

Remus and Sirius peered down at the file of papers. “Wow, she sure does work fast,” Sirius said after reading them over.

“I’m sorry, Harry,” Remus told him, trying the more sympathetic role.

“You haven’t even talked to her yet. Don’t you think she’s being a little extreme?” Sirius asked rhetorically with a frown.

Harry shook his head with a scoff, “Extreme? I think extreme is resigning from your job and paying your colleagues to tell me that they’ve never heard of a Hermione Evans so they can’t give me the whereabouts of her…”

“What?” Sirius and Remus asked together.

Harry nodded sullenly, “When I woke up I tried calling Sienna but got her voicemail. So then I called her office building and asked for her but they said I had the wrong number. So when I went down to the building and asked for her office the receptionist told me that she’s never heard of her…”

Remus and Sirius sent each other strange looks, “That’s a bit odd, Harry.”

Harry shrugged, “I know Hermione did it. I expected for her to come try and get her things but not for her to go this far…”

“Well, maybe you should give her a little time to cool off Harry,” Remus tried gently.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea. You know Hermione’s as stubborn as they come. Give her some space to think rationally,” Sirius agreed.

“Space and time I can give her- but I’m sure as hell not giving her a divorce,” Harry said heatedly.

“What do you mean, Harry?”

“I mean, it takes two signatures to make a divorce final. She’ll have to come back sooner or later to try and get me to sign them!” he finished, anger for his obstinate wife starting to ebb away at his sadness. ‘Honestly, how could she think I could do something like that to her anyway? She should be wanting an explanation from me right now so where the hell is she?!’

Remus sighed, “Look Harry, Hermione’s a sensible woman. She’ll come around eventually.”

Harry relented, knowing he shouldn’t be taking his frustrations out on them, “Yeah, I know. I just miss her already. I can’t stand to think of what she must be thinking of me right now…”

Sirius and Remus were about to reply when Ginny and Draco came through the door- both wearing smiles.

Sirius smirked, “Well well, what do we have here?”

Ginny had the decency to blush while Draco continued to smile smugly.

“So, um, what are you guys talking about?” Ginny asked heading for the refrigerator to get a water bottle.

“Oh no, you’re not going to change the subject Miss Weasley,” Sirius said with a taunting grin, “Now, answer honestly. Did you two just christen one of my bedrooms?”

“Let’s just say life’s pretty good right now,” Draco answered evasively coming over to sit beside Harry. “What about you Potter, how’s life treating you?”

Harry looked up to him with furrowed eyebrows. ’No… it was just an innocent question… he doesn’t know anything about Hermione.’

“Alright,” he chose to answer instead.

Draco grinned, seemingly oblivious to Harry’s mood or simply not caring, and got up from the table, “Well, I have to be going. I have an appointment to get to…”

“When will you be back?” Ginny asked him.

“Later,” he said vaguely. He waved goodbye to Sirius, Harry, and Remus and kissed Ginny on the cheek before apparating away.

Ginny turned back to the group to find Sirius giving her a chesire grin, “Ginny and Draco, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…” he sang gleefully causing Remus to chuckle.

“Oh shut up Sirius,” Ginny scoffed at him, trying to save of her giggles.

Harry however didn’t find the situation amusing. It only made him miss his absent wife more…

---

“Bloody. Fucking. Hell,” Sienna spoke out with a dropped jaw and wide eyes. She and Hermione had just flooed in to the sitting room of their new home. Immediately, the two were met with a beautiful view of the city through the large glass windows on the opposite side of the room.

Hermione, who was just as fascinated, looked to Sienna and said, “You know Sienna, you have the mouth of a bloody dock worker.”

Sienna, obviously not paying attention, squealed and ran forward to the door that opened up to a balcony, “Look how amazing this is! I can see into the neighbours bathroom!” She finished in an excited whisper.

Hermione let a small smile form on her face as she looked around the rest of the room. There were already soft cream coloured sofas placed about the room, sitting over Mabel wood floors. Along with the sofas there were black pieces of table furniture throughout the room, some holding potted plants, others below vibrant canvases hanging on the wall.

Hermione walked to the opposite side of the room to find a very posh looking kitchen, with steel appliances and granite counter tops.

She sighed after absorbing the house for a few more seconds, ‘This is nothing like home…’

‘But it is. This is your home now,’ she reminded herself with a slight shake of her head. This was her new beginning. From this point on, no more thoughts of-

“Hermione!” Sienna said from the balcony, knocking on the glass to get her attention, “Hermione, our new neighbour has a tattoo right on his bum! These people are so strange!”

Hermione sighed again and looked at Sienna in a scolding manner, “Sienna, stop spying into our neighbour’s house.”

“You know, beside that barbaric tattoo, he does have a pretty nice body…” she continued, looking back over the railing.

Hermione wanted to laugh at Sienna’s bluntness of trying to get another look at their naked neighbour. She was about to call her in when suddenly Sienna crouched down below the railing and clapped a hand to her mouth.

“I think he seen me,” she whispered while crawling back to the door and coming inside.

Hermione smirked, “Well that’s what you get for staring into other people’s loos.”

Sienna shrugged, “The blokes back home didn’t mind when I did it.”

Hermione shook her head bemusedly, “You, my friend, are hopeless.”

“Hey, let’s go see our bedrooms!” Sienna said with renewed brightness.

Hermione nodded in agreement and Sienna wasted no time with grabbing her arm and leading her over to the staircase in an excited hurry.

When they got up to the top floor they saw a loft that also had a clear glass window on it’s right side, looking over L.A. There was flat screen telly surrounded with bookshelves full of books that lay opposite of a few comfortable looking sofa chairs and a shag rug.

Hermione, wanting to stay and examine the many books, was still being dragged forward down the hall that led to two doors.

“I call this one!” Sienna announced, pushing through the door that conveniently faced the tattooed bum guy’s house.

Hermione was left to enter her own bedroom. Opening the door, she was delighted to find that it was a large, very warm looking room, similar to the one she had back at Beauxbatons in her final year when she was student president. Their was a king sized bed against one wall and a large bookcase with a fireplace against another.

‘Father must’ve known I’d get this room… or rather that Sienna would choose the room looking over the neighbour’s house…’

Hermione walked over to the sophisticated bed and lay down on the white satin comforter. It was comfortable… her old bed was more comfortable, but none the less, it would suffice.

“Hermione!” Sienna yelled running into her room with a ecstatic smile, “Ooh, your room’s nice too! Too many books, but I guess you like that… hey, what’s your window look in to?” she finished running over and throwing the curtain back. Sienna looked deflated, “Oh- just trees and stuff… Guess what? My room is like, perfectly aligned with tattooed-bum-guy’s room! Isn’t that bizarre?”

Hermione smirked, “Bizarre or fate?”

Sienna looked thoughtful, “Hmm- good question.” Her face lit up as another idea came to her, “Hey let’s go check out our cars!”

Hermione smiled, her friend’s exuberance starting to rub off on her, “Okay.” She got up and they both together hurried out of the room and down both flights of stairs.

---

A few hours later, Sienna let out an exhausted breath as she dropped down on one of the couches in the sitting room.

“I’m knackered,” she groaned, throwing both arms over her head.

Hermione looked up at her from the kitchen where she was putting some dishes away, “You can go to bed, I’ll finish up in here.”

“Really?” she asked, opening an eye to look at her. The I’m-so-tired-can’t-lift-another-plate card hardly ever worked on Hermione…

Hermione nodded, “Yeah, I’m almost done anyway. We can finish up the study tomorrow.”

“Okay, see you in the morning,” Sienna responded, rolling off the couch and padding over to the staircase.

She heard Hermione respond with “Night” before she started her ascent up the stairs. It seemed as though Hermione was doing okay for being a recent divorcee and moving to another continent. Sienna hoped her friend’s optimism improved over the next few weeks.

Because she certainly was! Sienna’s was extremely excited to get out to the clubs and start broadening her social sphere in L.A. Maybe even get more acquainted with tattooed-bum-guy then she already was.

As she entered her room, there was a small beeping noise coming from her purse that she had thrown on the corner table. Walking over to it, she searched through until she found her small compact mobile which read ‘1 New Voicemail’.

Sienna frowned and brought the phone to her ear as the voicemail started to play;

“Hey Sienna, it’s Harry. This message is for Hermione. I’m pretty sure she’s been with you because I haven’t been able to get a hold of her. Look, can you just… tell her that what she- well, the both of you saw wasn’t what it seemed. And I know that that’s a terribly clichéd thing to say, but it’s the truth. You know I love her so much and I wouldn’t fuck up our relationship like that unless it was something… important…” Harry’s voice sighed like he was trying not to reveal too much while still trying to convey that he was innocent. The notion that he was still keeping things secret made Sienna want to strangle him. ’Can you please just tell Hermione that I love her and I miss her and I’d like to talk and explain things to her… please Sienna. Just do that one thing for me…’ The line clicked dead and Sienna dropped the mobile from her ear.

She was terribly conflicted. Should she tell Hermione about Harry’s call or act like it never happened? Hermione had seemed to be getting along so well that day- when they were moving their things into the house, she acted happy and not like living here would be her death sentence.

If she told her that Harry had left that message then it might just get her thinking about him again… she might start to regret the move…

‘No… I can’t let her listen to Harry’s shite rubbish. I have to protect her. Plus it’s my mobile and I get to say who and who doesn’t get to listen to messages left on it,’ Sienna added in a cheerful tone with a refreshed smile.

Nope, Harry Evans had caused her friend so much hurt in the past few days, whether Hermione actually admitted it or not. And now, it was Sienna’s job to bring that old spark back to Hermione’s eyes. Harry Evans be damned!

“Ooh,” Sienna sounded as a lighted room out her window caught her interest. She looked downcast a few moments later, “Aww… he’s wearing clothes…”

---

“Hermione, I’m home!” called out Sienna as she walked in the front door laden with large shopping bags on either arm.

“I’m in the sitting room!” Hermione replied from the second floor where she was perched on the couch, flipping through a thick folder.

Sienna trotted up the stairs as fast as she could considering the weights on both sides of her. When she finally made it to the sitting room she dumped the bags down and fell onto the sofa adjacent to Hermione.

Hermione smirked but didn’t look away from her papers, “Familiarizing yourself with Rodeo Drive yet again Si?”

Sienna scoffed, trying to be convincing, “No.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow at her.

It seemed you couldn’t lie with her eyebrows, “Okay, but just for a little bit.” She finished pinching together two fingers.

Hermione let out a laugh, “And I believe that. You’ve only been gone since before I woke up…”

Sienna shrugged as she grabbed a magazine off the coffee table, “I got my shopping done in a jiffy. I went to a bloody bookstore- that’s what took so long.”

Hermione closed the folder in her lap and sat up to give Sienna her scary inquisitive look, “Bookstore? Why the hell were you in a bookstore? Last time I even mentioned going to a bookstore I had to threaten you with telling Todd about Brandon. And in the end, the only book you decided to look through was the Kama Sutra.”

Sienna grinned midway through Hermione’s rant, “That book is better than the Bible…”

“-And did you just say jiffy? Who says jiffy?”

Sienna got an excited look on her face as she threw the magazine down and starting digging through the shopping bags, “Look what I found in the stupid bookstore!” She pulled out a rather large book and held it out for Hermione to read.

Hermione, however, groaned, “The American Slang Dictionary?”

Sienna didn’t take notice to the despondent tone in Hermione’s voice, “Uhuh, remember a few days ago when you told me that you needed to get a new dictionary for the library upstairs?”

Hermione lifted a hand up to soothingly rub at her temple, “Actually I was telling myself that- I thought you were sleeping.”

Sienna rolled her eyes, “Okay, whatever. But out of the goodness of my heart, I went out of my way to go to the bookstore and get you one!” She finished triumphantly wiggling the book in front of her.

Hermione grabbed it and set it on the coffee table, “That’s lovely Si, but I meant a real dictionary.”

“That is a real dictionary. It says so right on the cover.”

Hermione raised her eyebrows and smiled, clearly unconvinced.

“Okay… maybe it’s a little different than those fancy ones, but this one is of the heezy!”

“Heezy?” Hermione choked out, about to roll over and laugh but trying to save face in front of Sienna who thought she had done something nice for her.

Sienna nodded with enthusiasm, “Yeah, that’s a part of Snoopy Dog Dog’s chapter. There’s a whole section in there about how he’s modernized the English language and what not.”

“Uh, Sienna- I’m no expert on this matter, but I’m pretty sure it’s just Snoop Dog…”

“That’s what I said,” Sienna amended, moving over to Hermione’s couch and taking the book from her hands. “This book is loaded with good stuff- look, there’s even a chapter with American pick-up lines.”

“’Am I dead, angel? Because being here with you is heaven’…” Hermione read over Sienna’s shoulder, again trying to save of her laughter.

Sienna simply shrugged and remained optimistic, “I guess American’s like lines like that. I wonder if tattooed-bum-guy would like them?”

“I dunno, but you should go over and try ‘There’s a party in my pants and you have a V.I.P. invitation’.”

Sienna looked thoughtful, “You think?”

“No,” Hermione responded concisely, snapping the book shut.

“Fine, grouch.”

Hermione sighed and rubbed another hand at her temple, “Sorry, it’s just… it’s been a long day. I’ve been looking through all these potential employees and…” she stopped shaking her head, not wanting to repeat what she had heard earlier that day.

“And?” Sienna probed.

“My lawyer called. Apparently, he can’t file the papers because Harry hasn’t signed them,” she said lowly, looking away from Sienna’s shocked face.

“It’s been like two weeks though! He still hasn’t signed them?”

Hermione scoffed bitterly, “It’s just like him to do this…”

Sienna was quiet, thinking back at the message Harry left on her mobile the day they first moved in. “Well what’s the lawyer going to do?”

“He’s arranging a meeting later today with Harry to get him to sign the papers. If Harry doesn’t or doesn’t show then there’s another process where the lawyer will have to go through the courts and get a judge to terminate it.”

Sienna’s mouth had fallen open, “And you have to go too?”

“According to the lawyer, both parties must be present and accounted for. But that’s codswallop to me!” Hermione started off heatedly, “I’ve already signed them, I don’t see why I have to go do it again! It’s a waste of my time!”

Sienna was quiet as Hermione ranted over the unfortunate turn of events. She was unsure if she wanted Hermione to go or not. After all, it was just supposedly a harmless meeting where they would get Harry to sign the papers…

But Sienna knew better than that. She knew why her mate was battling so hard and it wasn’t because of the inconvenience of it all.

“So, do you not want to go because you have other things to do or because you don’t want to see Harry?” Sienna finally asked cautiously.

Hermione’s betrayed eyes shot up to Sienna, “I have other things I n-”

“Be honest, Hermione.”

Hermione scoffed, “I was before I was rudely interrupted. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been doing research on all the impending agents. Someone has to continue this, it won’t just do itself!”

Sienna shrugged, “I’ll do it.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, clearly agitated, “Please, if I left this to you we’d have a crew of Chippendale dancers instead of qualified agents.”

Sienna pressed on, “You know what I think? I think you don’t want to go back to London because you loved that git Evans more than you cared to admit and seeing him again will only rub in your face that he’s not yours anymore. Am I right?”

Hermione hated how Sienna could be so intellectual when she wanted to be. Of course she was bloody right! But she wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. Instead, Hermione folded her arms and looked away from Sienna like a five year old would.

Sienna sighed, “Look, I don’t want you near the prat anymore than you want to go near him. I just think you need to go and get the closure you deserve.”

Hermione and Sienna got into a stubborn staring contest before Hermione huffed and stood up from the couch.

“I don’t like you sometimes,” she said, making her way over to the staircase where she could descend into the garage which was their apparation range.

“Love you too BFF!” Sienna called out merrily, loving the way she could be so influential.

“BF- what?” Hermione asked, stopping a few steps down. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Best friend forever… duh…” Sienna chided like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Hermione shook her head dully and Sienna then held up the American Slang Dictionary.

Hermione rolled her eyes, “I’m burning that when I get back.”

---

Harry clicked off the phone and set it back in it’s charging dock. Finally, Hermione and her daft lawyer were getting the message that he wasn’t going to sign those cursed papers until elephants walked the moon.

“’Oo was that?” Ron asked from his pantry, biscuit crumbs spilling from his mouth.

“Hermione’s lawyer,” Harry said.

Ron stopped from feeding himself another biscuit to stare at his mate, “What’d he want?”

“A meeting. With me, him, and Hermione.” He said her name softly, hoping beyond hope this would be the day he would convince her to come home.

“Why’s he want a meeting?”

“Probably to persuade me to sign the papers. But there’s not a chance in hell…”

Ron nodded knowingly. He understood how much his relationship with Hermione meant to him. “So when is it?”

“I’ve got to be down town in about twenty minutes,” Harry replied looking at the wrist watch that Hermione had got him for their first Christmas together. He smiled at the fond memory.

“Best of luck, mate,” Ron said, coming forward to clap Harry’s hand. He knew that Harry probably wanted to be alone until he had to leave- Harry Potter needed his brooding time just about as much as any normal human needed sleep.

“Thanks Ron. Say hi to your mum and dad.”

“Will do. I’m just gonna borrow these,” he finished holding up the bag of biscuits.

“You know that’s the seventh bag you’ve “borrowed” this month,” Harry informed him with a comical grin.

“Yeah- good thing Hermione doesn’t live here anymore or she’d wring my neck for it,” Ron responded, beginning to laugh at his own joke before suddenly realizing what he just said.

“Sorry Har-”

“Is sticking your foot in your mouth your favourite past time?” Harry asked him levelly.

Ron didn’t know whether to laugh or tell him that honestly eating was his favourite past time, and that sticking his foot in his mouth was just something given to him at birth when he was actually born with his foot trying to shove itself in his face.

“I’m just gonna go now…”

“Bye Ron.” Harry said, scrubbing a hand over his face. The nerves of seeing Hermione again was starting to set in on him. He wondered how’d she look. Since he hadn’t seen her since the accident, as he was calling it, he hadn’t had the chance to see if she was a crying mess or not.

Honestly, he hoped she was. It would make him feel better about his own blubbering self. Just last night he slept on her side of the bed, tearing like a little girl about how they were supposed to have remodelled their room that day.

Looking back down to his watch, he observed that only a few minutes had passed. But, he though, Getting there a little early couldn’t hurt. Maybe I’d get a chance to see Hermione before hand…

He went into the foyer and grabbed his blazer off the coat rack, feeling more optimistic about the upcoming event. Deciding it was safe to do so since he was home alone, he apparated from the foyer to a hidden place close to where the meeting was being hosted.

---

“Ah, Miss Troy! I’m glad you could make it!” greeted the tall imposing figure of Raoul Gatineau as Hermione walked into the London offices that Father was letting them meet at.

Hermione mustered a smile for the lawyer, “Hello Raoul.”

“I trust it wasn’t too much of a bother to come today?”

“Well, you did catch me in the middle of something important. Are you sure it’s necessary for me to be here?” she asked, hoping that he would feel a little remorseful for bringing her here and let her go. She was relieved that Harry had yet to arrive- that still gave her a chance to weasel out of this.

“Blast, well I do need for you to at least sign these new documents,” Raoul said grabbing a few papers off the desk behind him.

“New documents?” Hermione asked, beginning to skim over them.

“Yes, these ones state that if Mr. Evans doesn’t comply to sign them then the judge will be able to forcefully exonerate the marriage.”

Hermione nodded, “So he really doesn’t have a choice does he? The divorce will happen anyway?”

“Exactly right,” Raoul assured her with a wry grin, holding out a pen for her to sign her name with.

Hermione thanked him and scrawled her name neatly over the paper, catching herself before she began the start of a ‘G’ and replaced it with a ‘T’.

“Now, I wanted to go over the-” Raoul was cut off as a door opened and closed behind them.

“Mr. Evans I presume?”

“Yes,” Harry replied, his eyes immediately going to Hermione standing next to the man. She was turned away from him so he couldn’t see her face.

“Please have a seat Mr. Evans, I just telling Miss Troy about splitting up your assets. Will your lawyer be coming as well?”

Harry shook his head, “Don’t need one.”

Raoul hesitated at Harry’s crisp tone, “A-Alright, then we might as well begin. Please,” he said again, motioning for him to come sit opposite of him and Hermione, who had yet to look at him.

Hermione was struggling with herself, trying to remain calm and collected so this could go as smoothly as possible. The easier this is the faster I can get out of here, for good this time.

Finally she turned and sat in the chair next to where Raoul had just plopped down and raised her eyes to meet Harry’s.

His full attention was focused on her, staring at her like his life depended on it. Hermione didn’t want to notice that Harry looked gaunter then last time she had seen him. His hair was more scraggly then usual and his face had worried lines all over. What bugged Hermione the most was the small pang of guilt she felt while examining him. That was the last thing she should be feeling regarding Harry, she heard Sienna’s voice tell her.

Serves him right, it’s his bloody fault we’re even in this position.

“I trust you understand why you’re here Mr. Evans-”

“No I can’t fathom why,” Harry replied, glaring at the man and causing Hermione to scoff. Well what did she expect? For him to be nice to the man that was overseeing their divorce that shouldn’t even be happening?

Raoul looked confused, “Well, your wife is petitioning for a div-”

“Over something she doesn’t understand.”

Hermione had had enough, “Oh please, you snogging some girl in broad daylight- what’s not to understand?”

“You’re overreacting. If you’d just let me explain-”

Hermione chortled sarcastically, “What, were you wiping something off her face with your tongue?”

Harry sighed impatiently and turned to Raoul, “Can you give us a minute? I’d like to talk to my wife alone-”

“Ex-wife.”

“We’re not divorced!” he shot back at Hermione.

“Yet,” Hermione persisted darkly.

Harry gave her an annoyed look before looking back to Raoul, “A minute please?”

Raoul shared a look with Hermione who nodded once before getting up and walking just outside the office door.

“What else could you possibly have to say to me?” Hermione bit out, forcing to keep her icy demeanour.

“To explain! For fuck sake’s you just left, leaving me with your rings and bloody divorce papers!”

“Well what did you want me to do?” Hermione fired back, “Give you a lolly pop and a pat on the head for cheating on me?”

Harry faltered at her hard words, “I didn’t cheat on you…”

“Oh right, right. You love me and would never do anything to hurt me,” she said bitterly, not missing the hurt look in his eyes. “Yeah, I remember you telling me that the night before. Remember that night? That same night you were playing around with someone’s lip gloss?”

Harry glared at her, “That’s not fair.”

“Of course it isn’t. Poor Harry, his wife’s not going to let him walk all over her any more…”

Harry was beginning to get increasingly angry, “Oh please, like your so bloody perfect!”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, genuinely missing his meaning.

“What about all those calls you got at odd hours? Hmm?” he persisted as she looked away, trying to avoid answering.

“They were calls from work,” she said flatly, showing no emotion otherwise. The important topic at hand had clearly been forgotten.

Harry scoffed, his irritation getting the better of him, “Yeah and you were always rushing out to do you “job” weren’t you? You never once chose to stay home and spend time with me over doing your supposed work!”

“You’re forgetting the fact that you were the one caught! You never caught me snogging strange blokes in restaurants.”

“Just because I hadn’t caught you didn’t mean I never had reasons to believe!”

Hermione jerked back like a wounded animal. Had he really had superstitions about her being unfaithful? But Hermione would have never done that! She cherished her marriage to Harry too much… she would have never done something to endanger what they had. Well, except for that one night- but that kiss was for the sake of the mission!

Harry knew he shouldn’t have said that by the hurt look that flitted over her face. She tugged her eyes away from his just as he started to apologize, “God Hermione, I’m sorry.” He got up and moved around the table to kneel beside her, grabbing the legs of her chair to turn her towards him.

“I shouldn’t have said that. Of course I know you were really doing work. I’m just so angry at myself! And you know me… I have to take it out on someone…”

Hermione snorted in response, having had many first hand accounts of Harry’s broody nature. Funny thing was, she was usually the only one to cheer him up. Now she was the target of his rage.

Harry waited for her to say anything else before he added softly, “I know you wouldn’t lie to me.”

Hermione bit her lip and turned her head from his gaze. Truly, he had no idea how much she had lied to him ever since they first met. But those lies couldn’t be helped- he’d probably jump out a window if she told him who she really was… what she really was…

Harry took her silence for her starting to give in, “’Mione, I still love you. I’ll always love you… we can work this out. There’s no need to get a divorce.” He started rubbing his hands over Hermione’s legs, trying to comfort any last doubts she still had.

“That’s perfectly dandy Harry, but you still haven’t explained why you did what you did. If you did it once you could do it again…”

Harry sighed. There was no other way- he had to tell her his biggest secret. “Alright, I’m going to tell you something, but you have to promise not to-” he was cut off by Hermione shaking her head.

“That’s just it Harry, I-I don’t care to know anymore,” she finished quietly, her words slicing daggers through her heart. Her mind was telling her that it was no longer important to know but her heart was screaming for her to listen.

Even if she wanted to listen to him, and take him back, she had already made her decision. She couldn’t take him back now. Her future was now promised to Father and the agency. Her life was in Los Angeles now.

Harry stared at her with furrowed eyebrows. “What?”

“It’s just… It’s over. What’s done is done and I just- we need to move on from it.”

A flicker of a smile began to spread across Harry’s face before Hermione shook her head solemnly, “I mean separately.”

Harry’s face dropped and shoulder’s sagged. All this and he still hadn’t gotten through to her…

“That’s it? You just want to give up five years of marriage for one mistake?”

“Six, Harry. I’m giving up six years of marriage.”

Harry rolled his eyes, “That makes it loads better.”

Hermione didn’t reply to that, just said quietly, “We should have never been married.”

Harry’s glowing eyes shot up to hers, “You don’t mean that.”

Hermione shrugged, “We were too young-”

“We were 20!” Harry scoffed.

“We were 19, and had only known each other for four months!” Hermione fired back inexorably.

“That’s rubbish, we loved each other! Even you can’t argue that!”

Hermione didn’t answer him but instead averted her eyes back to papers on the desk. This needed to be over with- she couldn’t stand to sit there and have him look at her with those intense, beautiful eyes of his anymore. Pulling the papers forward, she began in a subdued tone, “Harry-”

“Hermione, please just give us a chance! Give me the chance and I’ll make everything right, I promise!”

She began to shake her head but before she could say anything Harry grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into a mind numbing kiss, trying to remind her of what they had and what she was willingly giving up.

“I love you,” he said when they finally parted for air. He was still nose to nose with her as he continued, “And I don’t care what you saw two weeks ago, I’ll never be able to want anyone more than I want and need you!”

Just when Harry thought she was starting to concede, she pushed a sheet of paper into his chest, “It’s too little too late.”

She got up from the chair and grabbed for her purse on the table, avoiding Harry’s helpless expression.

“Just sign the papers, Harry,” she said, gesturing to the paper she had pushed into his chest, “Please.” Without another word or glance to him, she walked towards the door to the office and quickly made her exit.

“Is everything okay Miss Troy?” Raoul asked kindly from outside the office as Hermione leaned herself against the door.

Hermione nodded, her face not deceiving her mood, “Yes Raoul. He should be signing the papers- he can have the house and everything. I just want the divorce finalized.”

Raoul nodded, “Of course Miss Troy. I will contact you once everything has been settled with the courts.”

“Thank you,” she choked out, before walking down the hall quickly, wanting to get home as soon as possible. It had taken all her self control and then some she didn’t even know she had to remain collected and not give in to Harry and run back up there into his arms. The rotten bugger could be convincing as hell when he wanted to be. Blast that gentle tone and his stupid beautiful eyes!

He still doesn’t deserve you, a voice started in her head, he still cheated on you. He took advantage of you- who’s to tell that he’d do it again? You have to be strong, this is for the best.

Hermione frowned at the voice. She knew it was right, she just didn’t like to be reminded of Harry’s betrayal like that.

Taking a deep breath she made a split second decision that from this moment on, she would apparate back to L.A. and no longer have any lingering thoughts about Harry Evans and what he did to them.

Hermione disapparated seconds later.

---

Harry scrubbed both hands over his face and through his hair as Hermione’s lawyer came back into the room.

“Shall we get started with the signing Mr. Evans?”

Harry didn’t answer but did lift himself up into the chair his wife had just been sitting in.

Raoul looked hesitant before pressing on, “Miss Troy has given you full possession of all your marital assets.”

Harry looked up at the pesky lawyer, “She doesn’t want anything?”

Raoul shook his head and sorted the few papers on the table before setting a pen on top of them.

“Do you know where she’ll be staying?” Harry asked again after a few moments of silence.

“I know that she has already moved into a new home but I do not know where,” Raoul said, finally providing an answer.

Harry looked at him severely, arguing with himself whether or not to occlumens the ponce to see if he was lying or not. He knew he wouldn’t be able to march over their again and demand for her to take him back but he did want to know where she would be. Who knew? Maybe Hermione just needed a little more time to clear her head about the whole situation…

“I’ll just need you to sign here and here,” Raoul told him, pointing to two different spots on two separate papers. He held the pen out for Harry to take.

But Harry only stared at him with moody eyes, wishing he could hex this bastard into next week for his help in ruining Harry’s marriage. Instead, he grabbed the pen out of his hand and threw it to the opposite side of the room.

“You can shove them up your arse,” he muttered before leaving the room, not sparing the frazzled man a loud slam of the door.

---

Hermione walked up the two flights of stairs, wanting to go straight to her room so she could crawl in bed and not come out for another week. Sienna was no where in sight so Hermione figured she had already turned in for the night.

Opening the door to her room, she threw her purse down on the night stand and flung herself down on her bed, not even bothering to take off her flats.

Sleep had almost succumbed her when she felt an odd movement next to her head and then something wet touch her ear.

Hermione shot up and snapped her fingers so the lights in the room would turn on. What she saw curled up in her bed made her jump off and scream bloody murder.

“SIENNA!!!” she screamed again, moving as far away from the large blonde rat as possible.

“What?!” Sienna asked, coming into the room. She looked over to where Hermione was pointing at the thing yapping and wiggling its tail on her bed.

“W-What the hell is that?!” Hermione asked her, clearly scared out of her wits.

“Oh,” Sienna started like it wasn’t that big of a deal, “That’s Tito.” Tito started yapping again and Sienna gave him an adoring smile, “Yeah, the little tyke needed a kip and your bed was empty so…”

“Little tyke?” Hermione asked incredulously, finally standing from the ground, “Sienna what is it exactly?”

“A Chihuahua.”

Hermione had to control herself from throttling Sienna with her lackadaisical tone, “And where did it come from?”

“Tito is a he, not an it, and has feelings just like the rest of us,” Sienna scolded gently making Hermione’s cheeks flush with anger. Obviously Sienna hadn’t seen what the big deal was.

“Answer the question.”

“Well, I went out shopping again after you left and fate just sort of brought us together,” she finished lovingly looking back at the dog who was wagging it’s tail happily at it’s mistress.

“Oh, so you bought a dog.”

“Mhmm.”

“Without consulting me first?”

“Well you were at a meeting with your husband…”

“Ex-husband and that’s not the point. What if I just went out and bought a cat all the sudden?! How would that make you feel?” She knew that should hit home with Sienna. She would head for the hills every time her old cat, Crookshanks, entered the room.

Alas, Sienna only frowned, “Why would you want a bloody cat when you can have Tito!” she finished fondly at the dog. Tito whined and tilted his head to the side, giving Hermione his best puppy-eyed look.

Hermione sighed and looked away. She was knackered and had just had one hell of a day; the last thing she wanted to do was deal with some small blonde rat wearing a pink collar with diamonds on it.

“Get him out of here,” she told Sienna with a tired look saying they would discuss this in the morning.

“Okay, I’m going to go conjure one of your books into a mattress for him,” she said brightly, scooping Tito up into her arms.

“No don’t-”

“Say goodnight Tito!”

Tito barked and Sienna imitated him, giving Hermione a happy wave before closing the door.

Hermione sighed and slapped a hand to her face, letting it slowly drag downwards.

I go from married life to living with an overly optimistic party hound and her pet rat. Brilliant.

---

So, this chapter was originally much shorter. Lucky you, I decided to add the fun bits so this chapter wasn’t just a filler. Look, I’ve never been divorced so I have no clue how it goes about. Sorry if it seems unrealistic.

Thank you all for the reviews! They’re brilliant!

14. One Year Later Part I

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 12: One Year Later Part I

[AN] Long time no see, huh? Good thing I can explain- on New Year’s I got in a bad accident in Leeds, rendering me all hopped up on meds and unable to move my fingers to type anything out, much less clear my head around writing. Fortunately, earlier today I was able to get in a decent writing session. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s too good because again, I’m having trouble focusing.

More bad news; I don’t know when I’ll be able to get in another chapter for this or start the sequel to LFL. I’m sorry, but it’ll most likely be a while.

Alas, it’s not all that depressing- my doctor is so bloody hot. She’s making my stay a little less painful :]

I think I’m forgetting something-- oh, fuck it I can’t remember.

Please enjoy…

---

1 Year Later

---

Hermione grunted as she landed on the dusty floor, having just dove out from behind a pillar to take refuge behind a moth eaten couch.

‘Sienna, where are the bloody wards?’ Hermione asked as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. A few voices started shouting again, making Hermione duck lower to avoid the multitude of spells being shot at her.

‘I’m working on it,’ came back Sienna’s calm voice. Currently, she was placing small boxes at certain points around the apartment building. Each one she would have to do a complicated set of spells before it would start to hum and glow purple. The purpose of these boxes was to suck the magic from everyone and everything inside the perimeter.

‘Hurry, I think Maggie’s been hit,’ she told her, glancing over to a corner of the room where two red booted legs were sticking out of a rubble of wood that used to be a dinning table. Hermione sighed, sending out a silent prayer that the girl would be okay.

There was a sudden shout and jet of green came bolting past Hermione’s left ear. The impact of the curse caused for a significant whole in the wall that made bits of rubble come flying out.

“Come on out slut!” shouted a greasy voice from across the room. Hermione really hated when she had to pose as a prostitute on missions. The verbal abuse could sometimes be too much- but then again it made her angrier and that was good.

Hermione huffed and took a nearby piece of wood and threw it in one direction to distract the men before jumping up and pointing her wand furiously at them.

“Stupefy!” One of the heavily tattooed men flew back into a window, making it shatter.

Hermione then pointed her wand up at the ceiling above the men, “Confringo!”

There was a deafening crack that started splitting down the ceiling, and soon down the walls. The men started jumping and running out of the way before chunks of the roof started crashing down in the apartment.

While the other men were looking for pieces of furniture and anything else to hide behind, Hermione jumped over the kitchen counter for safety.

“Incarcerous! Expelliarmus!” she shouted, flinging her wand arm in the direction where the men were scattering.

‘Sienna?’ her mind asked frantically. There was still about seven of the crooks in the other room and Hermione was growing exhausted.

‘Almost done, ‘Mi.’

‘I need back up-’ she got out before flinching away from the stove that just burst into flames. She extinguished the flame and then heard a door shatter from out in the main room.

“Stupefy! Protego! Inflingo sicco!” a familiar voice screamed. There was a tussle of noise before a body flung itself over the kitchen counter, landing next to Hermione.

“Hey Hermione.”

“Hi, Jeremy,” she greeted back to the tall brunette bloke.

“Quite the quarrel going on in here,” he motioned his around the ruined apartment.

Hermione nodded, “Yeah, you could say that.”

“Wh-”

‘Alright Hermione, the wards are up! No more magic!’

“Wards are up,” Hermione recited immediately to Jeremy who nodded and stowed his wand back in his trouser pocket.

“Ready?” he asked as Hermione did the same with her wand.

“Yep.”

Together the two stood up casually from their hiding spot, searching the room for the other men. These said men looked like they had an early Christmas as the two agents stood up defencelessly. One by one, they started shouting off the killing curse at Hermione and Jeremy.

As nothing happened, they looked down to their wands with fearful looks. Hermione and Jeremy shared a look before pulling out two chrome guns from their back and started firing them at the seven powerless criminals.

When the loud shots of the guns ceased, Hermione and Jeremy looked over the fallen men with relieved grins coming over their faces.

A few moments later Jeremy looked Hermione up and down and with a wink said, “You know, fishnets really do work for you.”

“I’m your boss, stop sexually harassing me,” she said firmly, putting the guns down and walking over to Maggie.

Jeremy followed her and helped lift the mangled pieces of wood and furniture off her. When she was cleared, Hermione could see a trail of blood leaking down her forehead and her arm bent in an odd position.

“Her arm’s probably broken,” Jeremy said from over her shoulder.

“Can you take care of her while I tie them up?” she asked nodding over to the men littering the ground.

“Sure,” Jeremy nodded, stepping forward to tend to Maggie.

Hermione started over to the eight men who had been a huge pain in her arse for the past three months.

She bent down and started plucking the silver darts sticking out from the men’s bodies. These darts ensured their captives would stay unconscious long enough for Hermione and her crew to get them back to headquarters, contact the local ministry (who had been unsuccessful in locating these blokes for the past year), and then get transported to Alcatraz- the underground sister prison of Azkaban, off the coast of California.

Years ago, the top level of Alcatraz was a prison for the high ranking muggle criminals. They would be sent there and then most likely go insane from the taunts of the wizard prisoners who lived beneath them. Eventually, the muggle side was converted into a tourist spot- but to this day, the underground still remained in use.

“Oh, I can see you guys have been having a nice little party in here,” commented Sienna as she strode into the room followed by a buff black guy they referred to as Bear.

Hermione looked up to her, “Very funny. Did you deactivate the wards?”

“Jude is doing it,” Sienna replied and then looked over to Jeremy holding a knocked out Maggie, “What happened to her?”

“Son of a bitch exploded a table on her,” Hermione responded bitterly before shaking her head despondently, “There was only supposed to be two more here. We weren’t expecting so many…”

Earlier that night, she and Maggie were stationed near an alley on Melrose Avenue. There was a tattoo parlour there that their targets frequented, so they decided to make their move. The two head buffoons of the little gang, who had for the past year and a half been stealing magical artefacts and then selling them to muggle drug lords and criminals under the impression that they were a sort of ultimate weapon, approached them and within seconds of conversing, invited them back to their apartment for “drinks”.

“Hey,” Bear said in his deep southern accented voice, “it’s okay bossy. Everything turned out fine,” he finished patting her softly on the head.

Hermione couldn’t help but grin at Bear. Even though he was a large intimidating person, he had the heart of a teddy bear- hence his name.

“Thanks Bear,” Hermione thanked genuinely.

Footsteps could be heard skipping up the stairs and a few seconds later a handsome man with styled dirty blonde hair and silver-blue eyes came in.

“Wards have been disarmed and a van’s waiting downstairs to taken them back to headquarters,” he said, walking closer to stand next to Hermione.

Hermione smiled at him, “Thanks Jude.”

“No problem,” he said grinning back, “So what’s next boss?”

Hermione bit her lip and looked around the thrashed room, “Well, we need to clean up in here, take those blokes down to the van, stabilize Maggie…” Hermione listed, “Oh and track down the weapons. They should be stored nearby so someone needs to scout the boundaries of the property or see if we can find anything inside that‘ll lead us to a new location.”

“Hey ‘Mi,” Sienna voiced by where the blokes where laying. Hermione, Jude, and Bear looked over to see her looking straight up to where she had blasted the roof in the scuffle.

“What is it?”

“I think I found their hiding spot,” she announced, motioning for the group to come over.

Sure enough it seemed like Hermione’s spell shot through a wooden crate that was holding the said weapons they had been searching for. As far as Hermione could tell, there looked like there was some common dark crafts that could be purchased at any shady store. Borgin and Bourkes came to mind.

“Alright, let’s get those down carefully,” she ordered, taking out her wand.

“They’re probably deactivated,” Jude commented as everyone, except Jeremy who was still taking care of Maggie, took out their wands and helped Hermione summon the box down.

Once it was settled on the ground, Hermione used her wand to search through the contents of the box. She recognized some bright silver gloves that were used to send electric like pulses through it’s victims, some necklaces that were probably bewitched, and various other weapons, ranging in severity, that these lowlifes had been gaining a profit over.

Hermione looked back up to the ruined ceiling, “This can’t be all of them. Jude, why don’t you start taking down portions of the rest of the ceiling to see if there’s any left. Bear, you can get started on getting those blokes down to the van. And Jeremy, take Maggie down and get her situated.”

The group nodded and started on their various tasks.

Sienna turned to help Jude while Hermione started cleaning up the ransacked apartment.

Nearly a half hour later, the had left the restored flat and arrived back at headquarters with four more crates worth of weapons shrunken down to fit into a controlled case.

A small team of rookies gathered in the front lobby to help with the haul.

“Alright, listen up everyone,” Hermione started, addressing the group, “Perry, I need Maggie taken to the infirmary immediately. Jeremy go with him and see if the nurse needs assistance.” Jeremy and a tall blonde bloke nodded and left with a semi-conscious Maggie.

“Matthews, Colgan, Kolmar- help Bear and Jude take the suspects to the containment room. Put it on lockdown until Sienna or I tell you otherwise. And Lopez, I need you to contact the ministry and tell them to get their asses here immediately with our pension.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lopez said before taking off into the hall that led to the centre of operations.

Hermione let out a worn-out breath while Sienna smirked, “It‘s scary how easy it is for you to reign over people.”

“I know,” Hermione replied with a small smirk of her own.

“Like you could start a cult worshiping vegetables, and people would obey your every command…” Sienna trailed on with a slight shake of her head.

Hermione snorted, “You got the case right?”

“Yeah, I’ll drop it off in the evidence room.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you back in our office,” Hermione said as Sienna turned to go down one hall and Hermione turned for the elevator. Even though their building had enough room for both Sienna and Hermione to have their own spacious offices, they still chose to partner up since they had been doing so since they were eleven. Even though Hermione still complained a lot about Sienna’s short attention span, not sharing the same workplace would seem odd.

Plus, their office was like a mega-office, with all the accessories one could ever dream of. It took up an entire floor and was furnished with a miniature library, plush furniture, mahogany desks, top of the line muggle and magical technology, and Sienna’s Jacuzzi deluxe hot tub with ten turbo jets.

Hermione hadn’t caught her yet, but she was convinced that Sienna had snuck one or two handsome looking interns in there when she wasn’t around.

After a few moments of waiting in the elevator, the doors opened on the top floor and Hermione walked out, heading straight for her side of the room.

She was at her desk rubbing her temples for only a few minutes when there was a soft ding of the elevator, signalling that someone other than Sienna was wanting permission to enter the office.

Hermione looked up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before calling out.

“Come in!”

Automatically, the doors opened and Jude stepped out wearing a gentle smile.

Hermione released a breath and slouched back into her chair, “Oh, hey Jude.”

“Tough day, eh?” he asked with an easy going grin.

“You have no idea…”

“Funny,” he said as he walked behind Hermione’s desk and sat on the edge close to her, “I never took you for the fishnet stocking and red lipstick sort of girl,” he finished pointing down to her decorated legs that emerged from the skimpy skirt she was wearing.

“I was undercover!” she told him defiantly. However, she pulled out her wand and quickly cleaned her face from the offending make up and banished the stockings. She swished her wand over her outfit and changed it into a white button up blouse and charcoal pencil skirt.

She turned back to Jude, “Happy?”

“That’s much better,” he told her with an amused face.

She scoffed and swatted his leg when a ringing sound went off on her desk. Hermione reached for the phone and picked it up, “Yeah?”

“Ms. Granger,” a young female voice said over the line, “inspector Cage and Gatsby are here from the ministry. Ms. Monroe has already escorted them to the briefing room across from the containment area where the suspects are.”

“Okay, I’ll be right down,” Hermione finished hanging up the phone and looking back to Jude.

“Wanna tag along?”

Jude raised his eyebrows, “You’re asking me to come with you?”

“Yes,” Hermione said getting up from her seat, “So?”

“I’d be honoured,” he finished standing up and holding his arm out, “May I?”

He winked at her as Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile on her face and looped her arm through his.

Jude led them to the elevator in silence, all the while keeping a fond eye on his boss.

Hermione could tell he was still glancing at her but ignored him all the same. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Hermione to attract the attention of many blokes ever since they had moved to California, but Jude was the only one of her employees that dared do it this often. Jeremy would sometimes play with her but the look in Jude’s eyes was different. Not totally foreign since she had seen that type of look before directed at her- but the last time she encouraged that look and it didn’t turn out to well for her or him. Plus, Jude worked for her. She was his boss- accepting and returning his feelings wouldn’t be ethical.

Not to mention the kind of field day Sienna would have if they became more than friends.

Neither talked as they the elevator shot down to the second floor, but Jude retained his soft grip on Hermione.

A minute later, Jude held the door open for her as they entered the briefing room.

“Inspector Cage, Inspector Gatsby,” she greeted, shaking both their hands, “Thank you for coming on such short notice. This is Jude Osborne, one of our most diligent agents.”

Jude also shook the gentleman’s hands and Sienna wiggled her eyebrows teasingly at Hermione as he pulled out a seat for her.

“So,” Cage started stoically, “I understand there’s some good news?”

Hermione and Sienna proceeded to tell them about their successful mission and evidence they took into custody at the criminals apartment earlier that night while Jude and the inspectors listened in fascination.

“This is brilliant!” Gatsby grinned at the women, “On behalf of the Ministry of Magic, I’d like to say we are sincerely grateful for your services to the community.”

Cage also mumbled his appreciation, though, obviously annoyed that two women could successfully track down this gang faster then he could.

Hermione and Sienna nodded curtly, “So if you’ll show us the cheque, we’ll be happy to hand over the weapons and get a team to help you transfer the delinquents to Alcatraz.”

Gatsby nodded and took out an envelope from inside his pockets, “Here you are. Two million dollars, paid in full.”

Hermione took the muggle cheque and ran her wand over it to make sure it was legitimate. It took a while to get used to the fact that American wizards operated with muggle money but hey- money is money.

“Wonderful. Jude, why don’t you get a few interns together to facilitate the inspectors,” Hermione told him after handing the cheque to Sienna.

“Of course, gentlemen,” he nodded to them as he exited the room.

“Well inspectors, it was a pleasure as always,” Hermione standing from her chair and reaching to again shake their hands.

“Ladies, our highest compliments to you and the agency.”

Hermione and Sienna shared a grin as the men walked out of the room.

Sienna fanned herself with the cheque, “Damn, Cage is kind of hot.”

“Really?” Hermione asked looking after them, “I thought he had a pole shoved up his ass. Did you notice the look on his face? His muscles didn’t move once!”

Sienna shrugged, “Maybe he get’s Botox.”

Hermione’s eyebrows rose, “Yeah, Sienna I don’t think you should go for blokes that get whale blubber injected into their face…”

Sienna scoffed, “Botox is not whale blubber, Hermione!”

“That’s what they tell you, but if you research where they get it from- it comes down to whale blubber,” Hermione replied in a innocent I-hate-to-be-the-one-to-break-it-to-you voice.

Sienna sighed, “Bloody hell, you’re probably right.”

Hermione grinned and led the way out of the briefing room and past a row of cubicles, headed towards the elevator, “I’m always right. I don’t even know why you bother to argue,” she said smugly.

Sienna was about to open her mouth to respond when a young bloke coming out of the elevator addressed them. The women immediately recognized him as Connor, one of the receptionist in the lobby. Hermione and Sienna had signed him into the agency a few months ago and so far he had been trying to get their attention over every little matter.

It was obvious he wanted to be promoted to a higher position.

“Hi Connor,” Hermione greeted with a tired breath.

“Hello Miss,” he replied smiling nervously at both of them, “Um, there was a call to the lobby asking for you two. He said he was from the French ministry,” he said a bit unsurely, hoping that either Sienna or Hermione would know what that meant, “Anyway, he said he’s been trying to get a hold of you so I transferred the call to your office.”

Hermione and Sienna shared a look before nodding, “Thank you Connor.”

Quickly, the friends headed for the elevator and only spoke until they were inside its closed confines.

“Father?” Sienna asked.

“I don’t know, who else would be calling from the French ministry…” Hermione said biting her lip.

The elevator zipped up to their floor in no time and immediately Hermione went for her phone and pressed the speaker button.

“Granger and Monroe speaking,” Hermione spoke, as they both huddled around her desk.

“Hello girls,” responded the wise infamous voice of their superior, “You’re doing well I hope?”

“Yes sir,” Sienna said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t get to your calls, we were in a meeting-”

“No need to apologize,” he quickly affirmed, “Though, I’m calling regarding something very crucial. About ten minutes ago I was contacted by a very important Bulgarian official concerning a mission in Los Angeles. Now, I need you to listen carefully…”

---

Next chapter we’ll see what Harry’s been up to. I’m going to try and work on pieces at least for a little bit every day.

15. One Year Later Part II

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 13: One Year Later Part II

[AN] Long wait- I know, I know…

---

“I spy, with my little eye something… grey!”

“My socks.”

“Damn- that’s eleven times in a row! This isn‘t even fair anymore…”

Harry let out a bored breath as he and Ron sat under the invisibility cloak on a cold, hard bench sitting across the street from the house they were watching.

They had been waiting for well over two hours for Carter Horne, the muggle bloke they were targeting, and Harry was starting to get angry.

Ron had suggested to pass the time that they should play the game “I spy”. And of course, Ron being the daft bloke he is chose to pick all of the colours on Harry‘s outfit. His socks were the last article left.

“This is getting ridiculous,” Harry muttered bitterly, “How many more petty muggle missions do we have to do before we get one concerning our world?”

For about the past nine months, the only missions the Order was getting was from their muggle contacts. And frankly, he was sick of getting stuck with missions that a trainee at the local police academy should be dealing with. Within a few months, Harry became fed up with the tedious work, but out of respect for Sirius and the agency he stayed on- hoping and praying that something thrilling would come along. Even now, they were on a mission concerning this Horne bloke stealing secret incriminating files from the British Prime Minister’s office. Harry could really care less about the muggle government and it’s lies and secrets but hey- he needed the paycheque.

Ron shrugged basely, “I don’t know, but we need to start getting more jobs or my mum’s going to make me get a real one.”

Harry snorted at Ron‘s attitude, “Don’t you think it’s time to move out of the Burrow, Ron? I mean, your 28 years old…”

The red head scowled, “Why would I ever want to move out? I get home cooked food whenever I want,” he finished, as if that was the most important thing in the whole world.

“How does Luna put up with you?” asked Harry, shaking his head in bemusement. If one thing was true, he was glad that he had Ron to accompany him on these sorts of missions. He always had a way to take Harry’s mind off his looming temper.

“I don’t know man, but she hasn’t complained yet about my lifestyle, so don’t say anything that might make her start questioning my maturity. Okay?”

Harry smirked, “I have a feeling you’re taking advantage of Luna’s blithe and airy personality.”

“She’s my Loony for a reason, mate. She’s the only girl that doesn’t mind shagging on my twin bed. I’m telling you- you can only get so far with other chicks. You gotta find the one who loves you for you…”

Harry stiffened at Ron‘s choice of words, “Right.”

Ron cringed and glanced at Harry nervously when he realised the context of what he said, “Mate, I didn’t mean it like that-”

Harry shrugged, “Whatever.”

“Harry-”

“Look, it’s him,” Harry said in a rushed whisper, his eyes focusing on a man walking up the front path to the house.

Ron followed his gaze to the bloke who had stopped at the front door to pull a set of keys out of his pocket.

“About bloody time he gets home…”

“Come on,” Harry said, grabbing on to the cloak and getting off the bench. As they crossed the street and approached the front door they could hear the beeps of the alarm system being disabled by Horne.

Harry tugged the invisibility cloak off them both as they stepped onto the porch and stared at Horne through the door he left open.

“You Carter Horne?”

Horne looked up startled, “Um, yeah. Who’re you?”

Harry glared at him like he was an idiot while Ron rolled his eyes in an uninterested fashion.

“Batman and fucking Robin,” he said sarcastically, taking a step inside before Carter could throw the door close.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, you tossers?” Carter asked aggressively, not moving back as Harry and Ron got closer.

The two wizards shared an annoyed look before pulling identical guns from their back pockets.

Clearly that seemed to have the desired effect.

Carter‘s eyes widened and he held both hands up as he took a few steps back, “Whoa, mates- look, I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m sure we can work out some sort of deal-”

“No, we can’t make a fucking deal,” Harry snapped rudely, “I’ve been waiting outside for your dumb ass to get home for two fucking hours!” Carter squirmed as Harry gestured wildly with the gun, “My ass hurts, I’m dead fucking tired, and I intend on doing what I’m being paid to do!”

Carter swallowed, “What’s that?”

Ron smirked, “The Minister‘s files.”

“I don’t-” he tried to say anxiously before Harry cut him off.

“Don’t try and fucking deny it, or I swear to fucking god I will shoot you in the foot,” Harry pointed the gun threateningly at Carter’s foot.

He stumbled backwards frantically, “No, no, no!”

“Alright, as you can see my friend is in quite the mood- he hasn’t had a decent shag in ages-” Ron muttered as an after thought.

“Ron,” hissed Harry, now pointing the gun at his friend while Carter watched helplessly from against the wall.

“Anyways, if you could just give us the files please, then we’ll be on our way,” Ron finished politely, looking expectantly at the cowering man.

“You don’t understand, I don’t-”

“Okay, I’ll give you some options: option one, you can either go fetch the files and let this process go smoothly, or option two, I can tear your house apart bit by bit and find them myself. Have no doubt that I will find them though,” he added thoughtfully.

Harry sighed impatiently, wishing that the bloke would just cooperate so he could go home already.

Carter started stuttering again, “But I-I, it- see-”

“Also if you choose option two then Harry gets to shoot you.”

“NO!” Carter shouted automatically, pressing himself farther against the wall. He held up his hands as if about to reason with them, “Look, if the wrong people found out that I have these papers, then I’d be in a lot of trouble…”

Harry scoffed, “Are you daft? The wrong people already bloody know! That’s why were fucking here!”

“Mate, I’m getting a lot of money for them, a-and I’ll be willing to split it three ways,” Carter attempted again, “The minister’s reputation has already gone to the dogs, okay? Releasing these documents-”

“Violates national laws,” Harry said with irritation, cocking the gun back menacingly.

“You should get them now,” Ron advised with an amused look.

Carter sat against the wall sweating profusely and breathing heavily. If Harry didn’t know any better, he would have thought he was about to have a panic attack.

Finally he gulped and nodded feebly before standing slowly, “I’ll go get them.”

“I’ll come with you,” Harry answered, motioning with the gun for Carter to lead off down the hall.

“Great,“ Ron said happily, scratching the side of his head with the gun, “Hey mate, do you have any cookies or anything?” he called after them after he caught a glimpse of the kitchen. Harry shot him a dirty look from down the hall but Ron merely shrugged and walked towards Carter’s refrigerator.

A few moments later, Ron came out of the kitchen with a mouthful of biscuits as Harry and Carter walked back from down the hall. Carter was holding a few folders of papers in his hands.

Begrudgingly, he handed them to Harry.

“I trust you didn’t make any copies?” Harry inquired stonily.

“I didn’t have the time,” he replied, watching with disgust as bits of cookies dribbled from Ron’s mouth.

“Mmm, these are good,” Ron muttered, wiping his mouth.

“Is that all?” he asked stupidly, acting like a child who was just put through a scolding. It was clear that Carter wanted the two strangers out of his home as soon as possible.

“Oh, and now we have to take you to jail,” Ron said in an innocent voice like it must’ve slipped his mind.

Carter looked outraged, “What?! You said-”

“Yeah, we lied,” Ron told him with a shrug.

“No, I can’t go to fucking jail!” Carter shouted, searching for a way of escape.

Harry noticing his looks grabbed his arm and stared him straight in the eye, “Look, why don’t you just go to sleep?”

“What?” he asked vulnerably, entranced by Harry’s gaze.

“Go to sleep,” Harry said more sternly.

A second later, Carter Horne’s eyes drifted shut and he started falling back.

Ron caught him easily and looked up to Harry, “That was very Dumbledore-ish of you.”

Harry snorted and stowed the gun in the back of his trousers, “Let’s get going.”

“Okay, but you have to apparate the prat- I hate side along apparation…”

“I can’t,” Harry said.

“Why not?”

Harry held up the papers, “Because I’m holding the V.I.P.’s.”

“Well, why can’t I hold the very important papers?”

Harry raised his eyebrows, “Remember what happened last time you held the papers?”

Ron scowled, “Oh come on, that was one time and I had to go to the bathroom really bad!”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.”

“Harry-”

“See ya,” Harry smirked, apparating away to the location they were to meet with the Minister’s agents.

“Wanker,” Ron muttered, pulling the sleeping bloke closer to his chest before apparating after his mate.

---

Harry let out an exhausted breath as he dropped down on his couch with an ice cold beer in his hand. After taking a swig, he flipped on the telly and settled into watching the evening news report.

Nothing much had changed over the past year- he still lived in the home he and Hermione had shared, was still irritated to no end by Bob Finkle, and still enjoyed coming home after work and having a quiet night.

A few months ago the Weasleys had started requesting that he come to dinner at least once a week. Harry had obliged since they were his adopted family and since Mrs. Weasley’s cooking was so good. Though, it seemed like Molly had an ulterior motive since every time Harry did come, she would make it a habit to practically sing Ginny’s praises to him.

It was a lot of mumbo jumbo about Harry needing a good wife to finally settle down with and Ginny being the perfect one for him. After a lot of blushing and uncomfortable moments, Ginny finally spoke up and told her mum that she was already dating someone. Of course, she avoided divulging that her new boyfriend was Draco Malfoy- that bit would have probably sent both her parents into cardiac arrest.

Since then though, Mrs. Weasley had taken up inviting near strangers over to the house to meet Harry. Molly would pass the strange women off as friends she new when usually the girls where something like second cousins twice removed of the grocer down the street. Harry figured they were pretty enough and didn’t condemn Mrs. Weasley for doing it since he knew she was doing it for Fred and George as well, since they too were still bachelors. It made him feel nice that she regarded him like as much of a son as the others that needed to get pawned off and hitched.

Though, he knew that however much he flirted with the women for Molly’s sake (they were usually just stoked that they were talking to the Harry Potter), he really wasn’t ready for the responsibility of a relationship.

Harry sighed again and sank down deeper into the sofa, trying to find a comfortable position. Within a matter of minutes, he drifted off into a light slumber.

---

Harry’s eyes snapped open at a loud thump from the second floor. Before he could even register the crash of something breaking, he was standing with his wand in hand and creeping towards the staircase. His heart was pounding in his chest as he edged his way up the stairs and peered out into the hallway, looking for any signs of movement.

He registered the sound of muttered cursing and shuffling feet from inside the loo. Quietly tiptoeing over, he waited a few seconds before kicking the door open and blinding the person with a beam a white light.

“For fucksake!” shouted a familiar handsome voice. Harry lowered his wand just enough to get a glimpse of the person holding two hands in front of his eyes.

“Sirius?”

“Uh yeah, do you mind lowering the bloody searchlight? My nose is already sunburned…”

Harry quickly pocketed his wand and stepped aside so Sirius could come out of the bathroom.

“Sorry, Harry- I apparated a little off target,” his godfather grinned at him as he walked out. By the grin and the way he was strutting, Harry could tell that Sirius had had a few drinks.

Harry gave him a strange look, “Sirius, what the hell are you doing here- and more importantly, why aren’t you wearing pants?”

Sirius stopped and looked down at himself, clad in only his white briefs, “Oh, well the situation in Cancun got a little out of hand.”

“And what, you had to sacrifice your pants in a vicious battle?”

Sirius thought over Harry‘s sarcastic statement and then nodded, “Something like that, yes…”

“I thought you were going to meet with a client?” said Harry with an eye roll as he led the way back down the stairs and into his kitchen.

“I did. Her name was Maria and she barely spoke English,” Sirius replied with a smug grin as Harry handed him a beer from the fridge.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Harry scoffed.

“What? The woman was practically groping me as a hello, what was I supposed to say? Please stop? Let’s be professional? Do you think I’m an idiot, Harry?”

Harry rolled his eyes and smirked as he brought his own beer to his lips, “So what happened? She wanted to keep your pants as some sort of trophy?”

“Uh no,” Sirius started with a light laugh, “Actually Maria’s husband came home a little early and I think my trousers hand been thrown over the bed canopy…”

“Unbelievable,” Harry muttered scrubbing a hand over his tired eyes. Sirius was the closest thing to a father Harry had, and even considered him one of his best mates, but Harry sometimes got sick of his godfather’s immature ways. And lately, his frustration was getting the best of him.

“I know,” Sirius continued, oblivious to Harry’s irritation, “Those two story houses can be a bitch to make a quick getaway out of. But, it was a life or death situation and I chose to flee trouser-less with my life.”

“So you didn’t take care of any business down there at all?” Harry asked with a slight edge to his tone.

Sirius tilted his head to the side, “I think Maria would tell you otherwise…”

Harry finally snapped and slammed his hand down on the counter, “This is getting ridiculous!”

“What are you on about?”

“I mean I’m sick of doing muggles’ bitch work while your off having a jolly good time bedding some big titted slag in Central America! Now, I know that magical crime hasn’t just ceased to exist! For some reason we aren’t getting brought in on the missions anymore. Am I the only one who fucking sees that?” Harry ended in a shout.

“Can you stop whining so I can talk?” Sirius asked immaturely as Harry started pacing back in forth.

“What?”

“I came back early for a reason you know-”

“You came back early because you were about to be obliterated by some large angry Mexican‘s fist.”

“Well there was that and,” Sirius paused for a dramatic effect which only annoyed Harry further, “because of the little thing I’d like to call a new mission.”

Harry looked at him, “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” he mimicked, reaching inside his blazer and pulling out a small tan square. He waved his hand over it, making the folder return to it’s original size before sliding it over to Harry. “Now can we end this tea party and get down to business?”

Harry shot him a glare before reaching for the folder, “When did you get this?”

“Remus got an urgent owl and then apparated over to my hotel before I left for Maria’s.”

Harry frowned as he opened the folder and was met with a picture of a familiar face.

“Viktor Krum?”

“Yep,” Sirius grinned, taking a drink from his beer.

Harry looked at him with a probing gaze, “I swear if you’re telling me we’re going on a mission to stop some crazy fan girl from trying to rape him I’ll be pissed.”

“Well I guess you can sit this one out then,” Sirius replied with a shrug.

Harry’s hands tightened as Sirius held his hands up defensively.

“Relax, it was a joke. Christ, since when did you get so hormonal?”

Harry sent another burning glare at Sirius before looking back down into Krum’s folder, a familiar sense of thrill and adrenaline starting to creep up his spine.

---

All this chapter was meant for was to give you guys a sense to what Harry’s been up to (or really what he hasn’t been up to) and the introduction to the fact that him and Hermione will be starting the same case. Hopefully you got a few giggles out of the relatively light heartedness.

Next chapter we’re back to Hermione and what this new mission’s really about. It should be up fairly shortly; maybe even tomorrow if enough of you are interested 8]

*PS- To show me that you’re interested, you could leave a review telling me so ; )

16. Persons of Interest

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 14: Persons of Interest

---

Thanks to everyone who’s stuck with this fic. All the reviews mean a lot to me.

---

Hermione and Sienna quickly stepped out of the elevator as the metal doors pinged open.

“Hey boss,” Jeremy called out to the two, jogging to catch up with them as they made their way across the office floor, “Maggie seems to be fine, she’s just sleeping it off in the infirmary. But if that’s all for today I was going to see if I could skip out of here early? You know, beat the traffic home-”

“Sanders, is this your way of asking to skip out on your share of the paper work?” Hermione asked, continuing forward.

Jeremy let out a laugh and looked between Sienna and Hermione, “No! No of cour-”

“Good, then you won’t have a problem going to fetch Matthews, Colgan, Bear, and Jude for us, will you?” Sienna asked, turning around with a grin that dared him to argue.

Jeremy smiled tightly, “No, I’ll get right on it.”

“Hey, did someone need me?” Jude asked coming up to Hermione and Sienna just as they turned around to continue on to the meeting room.

“Yeah, we’re holding a briefing in a few minutes,” Hermione informed him.

“Is everything alright?” Jude asked, concerned that there was a mishap with the mission they just got back from.

“Nothing’s wrong- we just got a new job,” Sienna replied, “A big one so it’s important we get started now.”

Jude turned back to look at Hermione, “New mission, huh? Don’t you ever just want to take a break?”

“Are you implying that you don’t want in on this?” Hermione asked him teasingly.

“No,” he returned with a smile as he held the door open to the room for the girls to pass, “I’m just saying, it seems like you don’t know how to relax.”

“And what, is that something you think you can help me with?” she asked again, making copies of the folder in her hand with a flick of her wand and with another swish sending them to five seats surrounding the head of the table.

“I’d be up for the challenge any day,” Jude whispered back in her ear as he was leaning in to sit at the table.

Hermione’s cheeks immediately blushed pink. She quickly glanced at him to find his eyes focused intimately on hers.

There was a humorous snort a few feet away, “I’m sensing a very sexual vibe in here, and it’s not coming from my side of the room.”

“Sienna,” Hermione warned, not wanting her to start this in front of Jude.

“So,” he cut in as Sienna was preparing to say something smart, “When do we officially start on this one?”

“There’s a formal ball that we need to be in attendance to tomorrow night.”

---

“… So we leave tomorrow,” Sirius finished up, watching as his godson did another flip through the file. “And I know you don’t like that fact that you won’t be able to do as much background work as you normally like, but when Remus got this he decided to accept immediately. You said so yourself, you were sick of muggle jobs.”

Harry shook his head as he closed the folder, “How exactly is this going to happen?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about fourth year, Tri-Wizard tournament- Krum will recognize me and any one of the Weasley’s in an instant.”

“Not exactly…”

---

“Viktor Krum?” Jeremy asked as a life-sized picture of the Bulgarian was projected into the air behind Sienna and Hermione. “Isn’t he some quidditch star?”

“Ex-quidditch star,” Hermione answered, “He was forced into retirement due to a previous assassination attempt during one of his games. He was knocked off his broom and fell nearly a hundred feet to the ground leaving him with a concussion, memory loss, and four fractured vertebrate’s. And that was what the spells and potions couldn’t mend.”

“Blimey…” Jeremy noted in awe looking down at the photos in the folder of a bruised and battered Krum in a hospital bed.

Sienna nodded as the rest of the agents started turning idly through the folders, “Yeah, it was covered up as an accident and wasn’t portrayed as serious as his injuries truly were in the media. Everyone was led to believe it was just a bit of rough playing gone unfortunately awry.“

“Right, up until recently when stadium security footage revealed that there was more to it than that. There’s evidence supporting that Boris Krastevich had tampered with the bludger moments before it crashed into the back of Krum’s head.”

“Boris Krastevich? Never heard of him…” Jude said, looking up to Hermione questionably.

“He did three years in Azkaban for dangerous practices against humanity. More importantly though, he used to be an apprentice under Krum’s dad and partner. Which leads us to why people are out to kill Viktor…”

---

“Stefan Krum and Nikolay Aleksandar were two of the most brightest and intelligible doctors in Europe back in their day.,” Sirius started, uncapping his second beer, “They cured various outbreaks of disease in Eastern European countries and made modern advancements in surgical procedures still in use today. They operated a few clinics around Bulgaria and bordering areas and taught a select few aspiring students their ways.”

“Sounds promising…” Harry muttered insincerely.

Sirius nodded, “But, there were a few controversies in the dream duo that were Stefan and Nikolay.”

“Being?”

“Stefan and Nikolay were the last remaining sons of the Luchezar crime family. Stefan was set on inheriting his father’s position as boss of the mafia as soon as he turned twenty one. This decision, made unanimously by both Nikolay’s and Stefan’s father, upset Nikolay immensely.”

“And that was the start of a long burning jealousy between the two?” Harry guessed.

Sirius again nodded, “Alas, as Krum‘s dad remained to be in good health once he turned of age and since Stefan had his own desires to pursue an education in medicine, they decided it be best to leave things as they were, having Stefan take over when Krum senior or Aleksandar senior could no longer hold the position.”

Harry was silent for a few moments, taking in all the information before chuckling lightly, “Viktor Krum is the descendant of a mafia boss. I would have never guessed…”

“Yeah well, it was a few years later when Stefan and Nikolay‘s friendship started disintegrating. Seems Stefan had one idea of helping humanity with there medical knowledge and Nikolay had another.”

---

“Dr. Aleksandar had been performing experimental surgeries with the help of his assistants without Dr. Krum’s knowledge,” Hermione explained to the group as they sat, listening attentively, “He would lure poor, sick civilians in to his institutions under false pretences that he would give them a check up. Then, he and his apprentices would proceed to bind them down onto a bed and perform inhumane and utterly cruel surgeries on them. Adding gills to their necks, reversing there knee and elbow joints and other things of that nature…”

“That’s terrible,” Bear said with a sad face.

“Anyway, this continued on for months- during which both Krum and Aleksandar seniors’ health was failing. By the end of 1959, Mr. Krum had passed away, leaving Mr. Aleksandar to hand over the head position to Stefan.”

“This completely outraged Nikolay, even though it had already been decided that Stefan would get it. The next day, after Stefan’s initiation, Aleksandar senior was found inside his bed chambers- his head completely severed from his neck.”

Sienna scrunched her nose as she picked up after Hermione, “Dr. Krum went searching for Nikolay to inform him of his father’s murder. Stefan didn’t find Nikolay but he did find his father’s head in a box in one of Nikolay’s storage cupboards.”

---

Harry grimaced, “Bloody Bulgarians…”

“Yeah,” Sirius agreed with a grim nod, “This bloke was completely off his rocker. So Krum went back to his head quarters and sent out a few guys to hunt Nikolay down. The men found him and Nikolay was executed by Stefan the next day. I do believe that’s tradition in Bulgarian families,” Sirius added thoughtfully.

“What, behead your father and later have your own arse ripped to shreds?” Harry asked with feign interest.

“Yeah, basically.”

---

“So where’s that leave us with Viktor?” Jude asked, glancing up from the folder to Hermione.

“Well Stefan and Nikolay’s supporters were split in two- with the mafia siding with Krum and with the psycho-surgeons with Nik,” Hermione explained to him.

Sienna nodded, “Right, and one thing Dr. Krum didn’t know about his best friend was that he had conceived an illegitimate love child with Krum’s then girlfriend and future wife- Viktor’s mother.”

“Oh, how scandalous!” Jeremy said dramatically.

However, Sienna totally bought into it, “I know right? But somehow, Krum’s mother kept it a complete secret from Stefan. Now after this point, the details are fuzzy but we think she went away to stay with some extended family in Italy for the duration of her pregnancy. And then after the baby was born, gave it up for adoption with a local agency.”

“Boy or girl?” asked Matthews.

“Boy,” Hermione confirmed, “If it was a girl we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“I totally agree to that,” Sienna nodded, “Boys suck.”

---

Harry swallowed another gulp of beer, “So Krum’s evil step-brother grows up shunned from his birth mother, having to have to watch her and his father’s killer in the media as they travelled around with there beloved son, Viktor- who just so happened to be a child quidditch prodigy.”

“Yup.”

“Well, I suppose that’s reason enough to want to murder him…”

Sirius snickered at his godson‘s rationale, “A five year old trying to strangle his father by shooting spaghetti out of his fingers would be reason enough for you. Just as long as you get to go back out there and use your wand again…”

“You can hate me all you want for being happy about someone trying to kill Krum. It won’t make me any less excited for this!”

---

“So Krum will be at this ball tomorrow in regards to meeting with a few businessmen about purchasing the L.A. Flyers,” Jude recited, “And we’re going to be there, on the look out for some crazy Eastern Europeans trying to make a move against him.”

Hermione nodded along to him and then added, “That’s where this gets a bit tricky. Really, we have no other information on who’s after him. We don’t have names, pictures or anything concrete to go off of. All we know is that someone is looking to murder him. Technically, we‘re his security for the event. If someone does present themselves in a dangerous matter against him, then from there we‘ll look into taking offence and eliminating the threat.”

“Easiest case scenario, we go to this ball, have a few cocktails, make sure nothing too fishy happens and then Krum leaves the next morning with his heart still beating, hopefully the owner of a new quidditch team,” Sienna finished simply.

“I think we can handle that bossy,” Bear said with a polite smile.

“Great!“ exclaimed Jeremy eagerly, “Now who’s assigned to what?”

---

“You should get some rest. We got an early day ahead of us tomorrow,” Sirius said, standing up from the kitchen bar stool and waving a hand over his empty beer bottle, banishing it to the rubbish bin.

“Where you going?” Harry asked.

“I’m going to head back to Grimmauld Place- see if Moony needs any help finishing up with Ron, Ginny, and Malfoy.”

Harry scrunched up his face, “You sure we need that many?”

“Since we don’t know how many assassins could potentially be there, the more the merrier,” Sirius replied.

“I guess…”

Sirius gave his godson a knowing look, “Don’t tell me you want this one all for yourself, you selfish git. Remember, sharing is caring Harry.”

Harry rolled his eyes, “Right, right.”

“You should be a bit more ecstatic too.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because we’re going to Hollywood. Have you seen the women from Hollywood?”

“No…”

“Tattoos right on there bums!” Sirius said excitedly, throwing his arms out wildly, “Now that oughtta give you a hint to how wild they are in the bedroom, am I right? Am I right!?”

“Get out of here,” Harry said emotionlessly.

“Alright…” Sirius whined, heading out of the kitchen with his head hung low.

“And Sirius?” Harry called a few seconds later.

Sirius‘s head shot back into the kitchen, wearing a smug grin, “Yeah kid?”

“Put some fucking pants on!”

“I feel that with this shirt and blazer combo, pants are no longer needed to compliment my outfit.”

Harry flicked his wand at Sirius, causing the older man to groan as a perfectly fitted pair of grey trousers blossomed over his legs.

“I promised myself I would never bail you out of jail for public indecency again- save us both the trouble.”

---

I’ll just say that I’m really looking forward to the next chapter- and I know you will be too ;]

17. The Beaumont Part I

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 15: The Beaumont Part I

[AN] It’s important to remember that in this chapter, a lot of the dialogue isn’t actually spoken but thoughts sent out through occlumency.

Or something like that…

Also, this wasn’t beta’d by anyone so all mistakes are mine. I figured I should just get it out instead of waiting another week to make sure all my there/their/they’re‘s are correct : ]]]

---

Harry impatiently looked down to his watch, “Great. Our first major mission in months and we’re going to be fucking late for our check in…”

“Relax mate,” said Ron, shoving another piece of toast in his mouth, “No one’s going to die if we don’t check in by nine.”

Remus looked up at the red head from a sofa chair in the Black’s sitting room, “Did you listen to anything I told you last night, Ron?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you caught the part where I said that literally Krum‘s life could be at stake, as soon as he showed up at the resort for his check in at nine?”

“Yeah…”

Harry gave Ron a look like he was the stupidest person in the world.

“Stop looking at me like that, Harry- my mum looks at me like that…”

Remus snorted in bemusement before turning back to his morning paper while Harry let two hands slide down his face in an irritated manner.

“Where the hell is Malfoy?” he then muttered aloud, folding his arms tightly over his chest.

Ron and Lupin didn’t answer, and right when Harry was looking down to his watch for the thousandth time, there was a crack of apparation coming from the foyer and a dazzle of green flames that flashed through the fireplace, leaving a dusty Ginny in it’s wake.

“Well?” Harry asked her, perking up immediately.

“He’s not at home, nor has he been back since he left this morning,” Ginny answered, flicking her wand over herself so her outfit automatically became clean again.

Harry groaned in frustration as footsteps were heard walking down the hall and into the room.

“Ah, Ginny,” Sirius addressed, “Any luck?”

“Nope, you?”

Sirius shook his head in confusion, “I asked around at a few pubs and in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, but no one’s seen him.”

Ginny’s eyebrows furrowed and a troubled look came over her face, “I’m starting to get worried. I mean, what if something’s happened?”

“Should I got tell Phinneaus to go search through Malfoy Manor?” Sirius asked looking to Lupin.

“Don’t bother,” Ginny interrupted, “he wouldn’t be there. Draco hasn’t stepped foot in that house since he was 17.”

“How would you know?” Ron asked.

Ginny spared her brother an annoyed glance, “Normally when you’re in a relationship with someone, you get to learn little things like that about them.”

Ron stuck his tongue out at her at the use of her bitter tone and in return Ginny sent and old folded up copy of the Quibbler whizzing towards his head.

“Isn’t it a bit strange that he would disappear on us before a mission like this?” Harry queried, looking between Sirius and Ginny.

“He didn’t disappear- he left a note saying he would be back soon,” corrected Ginny.

“The note didn’t say where he was going?” Lupin questioned.

“Nope.”

“Yeah, but why wouldn’t he just wake you and tell you himself? Why leave some discrete note?” Harry asked her again.

Ginny shrugged, “Dunno, he probably figured I needed the rest after what happened last night.”

Ron gave her and odd look, “What happened last night?”

Ginny cocked her head to the side and gave her brother a teasing look, “Are you sure you want the answer to that question, Ronnie?”

Ron blushed and looked away from her, “Merlin, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Oh grow up Ron,” scoffed Ginny.

“Ease up, Gin. He has a right to be a little sensitive- I mean it couldn’t be easy to walk in on your sister and childhood nemesis shagging like rabbits,” Sirius said mischievously with a devilish grin.

Ginny rolled her eyes as Ron‘s whole body grimaced, “That was once, and he only walked in on the foreplay…”

Ron choked on his bite of toast, “That was foreplay?!”

“Enough. Look if he doesn’t show up in two minutes, we’re leaving,” Lupin mediated, noticing that Harry’s patience with the two siblings was beginning to wane.

“Who will play as the couple then?” Ron asked. Draco and Ginny were supposed to be playing a married couple staying at the Beaumont Resort for business related matters. It was important that their team had a certain amount of people for their mission to go safely as planned. Malfoy missing in action kind of threw the whole strategy for a loop.

Lupin turned to Harry, “Harry will go as Ginny’s husband in place of Draco.”

Ginny and Harry shared a look. The last time the two were portrayed to be in a relationship was a year ago, when Hermione had caught them snogging like animals in front of Donavinci. Ginny was aware of the pain that that incident had caused him, and always held some sense of responsibility for Harry’s secret marriage ending over her and Harry‘s fake kiss.

Harry could see the guilt in her eyes. He shook his head slightly before looking back to Lupin.

“That’ll be fine.”

---

“Everyone here?” Sienna and Hermione asked, walking into the meeting room at head quarters. The five agents sitting around the table all perked up as their bosses entered.

“Present and accounted for,” Jeremy affirmed.

“Okay, let’s run through this one more time before we go,” Hermione replied professionally, “Jude?”

“Bear will be stationed at the valet stand, on the look out for any signs of suspicious activity and Krum’s arrival. Jeremy will be with the bellboys looking out for the same. I’m to go to the security’s office to gain access to their security tape feed. Once I get that, Matthews and Colgan will start to set up the equipment in our hotel rooms so we can stream the feed through our base. You will be at the check in desk, checking into our suite and Sienna… well actually I forgot what you’ll be contributing.”

“I’ll be at the resort’s spa getting my nails done,” Sienna told him brightly, not noticing his sarcasm.

Hermione shot her a contemptuous look.

“And looking for Krum too…” she added dourly with a half shrug half shake of her head.

“Right. Anyway, once Krum’s there, Jeremy and Bear will follow him at a safe distance to make sure nothing happens. Matthews and Colgan will be watching the security feeds, making sure there’s no suspicious activity from anyone, and I will be joining my fiancé at the café for nice hearty brunch,” he finished, shooting Hermione a bright smile.

Hermione blushed and nodded, “Okay, simple enough- let’s make sure it stays that way.”

---

“This feels weird…”

Harry looked back at Ginny and then down to their conjoined hands. He started to pull his hand away.

“Sorry.”

“No, I mean it feels weird that Draco’s not here.”

“Have you guys been having problems?” he asked her quietly as the stood in line at the check in counter.

“No, everything’s great,” Ginny said with a smile before it dropped, “It’s just that today is the anniversary of his mother’s death.”

“What?” Harry asked with a shocked expression, “Really?”

“Yeah, remember she died at the Ministry battle.”

Harry remembered the battle at the ministry well. He had just turned seventeen and was going to get his apparation license when Death Eaters attacked. Many ministry employees and visitors had lost their lives that day, but Draco had never revealed that his mother was one of those people.

“Did he say anything to you about maybe going to visit her grave or anything like that?”

“No, he never indicated in any way that he even remembered. I only know because there was a small tribute in the Prophet about it.”

Harry bit the inside of his lip while thinking something over. Finally he turned to Ginny and wrapped and arm around her waist, pulling her in close so he could whisper in her ear, “Do me a favour and go tell Sirius about this. He might be able to do something.”

Ginny nodded and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek so it looked like they were a couple saying a brief goodbye while Harry continued on to the receptionist beckoning him forward. He walked past a brown haired woman (‘with a nice bum’, he noticed) and an older gentleman to the woman dressed in a Beaumont Resort uniform on the far right.

“Evans checking in.”

---

“What time were your reservations Miss Granger?”

“Nine a.m.,” Hermione replied, her eyes not on the receptionist but on the small diamond ring on her left hand ring finger. She hadn’t wore a ring on that finger for a year (honestly, she never expected to wear one on that finger for the rest of her life) and having one on it now gave her an extremely anxious feeling- that, and she felt as if her finger was going numb since the ring was about two sizes too small. She had planned on just conjuring one, but Jude had surprised her with a Tiffany’s bag before they left that morning. Deciding to remain polite- but professional- she accepted it without any argument.

The receptionist nodded, “Okay, and will you be needing two card keys?”

“Yes,” said Hermione, wiggling her finger around to try and get rid of the numbness.

The receptionist gave her a strange look before handing over two plastic cards, “Here you go Miss Granger. Have a pleasant stay at the Beaumont.”

“Thanks,” Hermione muttered absently, taking the key and pocketing them. She walked off to the side of the line a bit and started searching through her purse as a distraction before pulling her wand from her wrist holster and resizing the blasted ring with a flick of her wrist.

“Alright Hermione, Krum has just entered the lobby. He’s in a black suit,” Jeremy’s voice floated through her head.

“There’s lots of black suited men in here, Jeremy,” she thought back, her eyes starting to scan through the crowd of people.

“He’s on the left side of the building, near the luggage carts.”

“Any suspicious people around him or making their way towards him?”

“No, but I don’t think anyone else has seen him yet…”

---

“Sirius?” Ginny asked, her eyes locked on a woman standing in the lobby. She had just finished telling Sirius about his cousins death anniversary like Harry asked. They had then agreed that Lupin would go back to Malfoy Manor (since it was supposedly empty) to look for the absent Draco. Sirius was just about to leave to get security feeds when the young red head stopped him.

“Yeah?” he asked, turning to look at her.

Ginny pointed to a brunette woman in the crowd, “Is that…”

“There’s Krum,” Ron interrupted, coming up between them and nodding off to the opposite side of the building.

“Alright,” Sirius said, becoming professional, “Station the perimeter.”

---

“Harry, Krum’s here,” said Ron’s voice.

Harry could feel the hair‘s on the back of his head stand on end as his body was spiked with adrenaline.

“Where?”

“Over by the- wait no I lost him.”

Harry‘s jaw tightened as he thought back in the angriest voice possible, “Bloody hell, Ron- is he or is he not here?”

“He is! He’s- there, I see him!”

“Where?”

“Mr. Evans,” the receptionist said after she had returned from fiddling with her computer.

“Yes?” he asked in the politest voice possible.

“There are actually some problem’s with the residential suite, but we could upgrade you to the honeymoon suite free of charge?”

‘Fan-fucking-tastic, that’s all I need is to shack up with Ginny in a bloody honeymoon suite. As if this wasn’t awkward enough…’, “Um, yes that will be fine.”

“Harry, he’s over by the luggage carts. He’s dressed in black and standing with a few Bulgarian blokes. Big noses…” Ron’s voice again floated through his head.

Harry nodded to himself, “Keep an eye on him.”

Ron continued to watch Krum from his post. He frowned after a few seconds, ‘Did his head always look so egg shaped? Mmm eggs… that sounds good. I might be able to knick some from that café nearby. I don’t think the muggles would noticed if I summoned some-’

“Ron!” Ginny’s voice hissed suddenly in his head.

“What?” he asked out loud, causing a few passer-by’s to give him odd looks.

“Ron, you have a man on your left dressed in a bellboy’s uniform, who hasn’t taken his eyes of Krum the entire time he’s been here…”

---

“Looks like the two big blokes are his too,” Jeremy informed Hermione from the front of the lobby.

Hermione nodded, “Perform some charms on them to make sure they are who they say they are. Just keep it simple though- maybe a dark artefact detection spell and a ‘revealio’ . There are two many muggles around so don‘t make a spectacle.”

“I have to get closer…” Jeremy muttered in his head, before obscurely slipping out his wand from his wrist holster and heading off to where Krum was standing waiting for the elevator.

---

Harry sighed to himself as he waited in line for the woman to complete his room upgrade.

“Harry, looks like we got company.”

Harry‘s head jerked up and looked back, “Where? Does he pose an immediate threat.”

“Potentially- oh shit Harry, he has a wand,” Ron muttered.

“Where is he?” Harry asked, automatically heading in Krum’s direction. If someone was there with a wand that meant that the assassins where there already and looking for Krum’s blood.

“Uh, left,” Ron replied.

“My left or your left?”

“Is there a difference?”

“Ron!”

“Okay your left!”

Harry quickly turned left and started pushing his was through the crowd, his eyes scanning around for a man with a wand-

“Wait no, my left!”

“Bloody hell- oof!”

Harry’s wand was flung out of his hand as he was knocked backwards to the floor.

“Sorry,” replied a woman’s voice instantly.

Harry shook the dizziness out of his head and looked up in search for the woman belonging to that voice. All he could see was her fading back as she made her way through the throng of people.

Harry shook his head again, clearing his mind of his rampant thoughts. He immediately started looking around for his missing wand and found it laying a few feet away from where he had fell.

---

Hermione made sure her wand was hidden away and her purse was secured on her shoulder before she started walking towards the resort’s restaurant.

“Miss Granger?“ addressed Colgan’s feminine voice, “there’s a man making his way in Krum’s direction quite hastily.”

“Is he heading for Krum?” Hermione questioned, stopping in her tracks.

“I think someone might be trying to guide him towards Krum- he’s reaching into his jacket…okay he just pulled out a wand.”

“Where is he?” Hermione asked, again pulling out her own wand and starting off towards where Krum was.

“He’s heading left, now he’s turning-”

“Oof!”

A body collided into Hermione’s right shoulder, making her loose her grip on her wand.

“Sorry,” she muttered, not taking her eyes of Krum who was just ahead of her. Using her peripherals she could detect her wand right next to her foot and bent to pick it up before continuing in Krum’s direction.

“Okay, Krum’s cronies are clean,” spoke Jeremy’s voice all of a sudden, “I put a simple skin barrier around Krum also, it should divert any harmful moves to touch him physically or with a spell for at least a few hours. I‘m heading out to the parking lot now to meet up with Bear. See you soon.”

Hermione nodded to herself at Jeremy‘s sign off and returned her attention back to the man with the wand, “Colgan, where is this guy?”

“Hold on, we lost the feed.”

“Damn it…” Hermione muttered in frustration.

---

“Alright, Harry that bloke is heading out of the building now,” Ron thought in relief.

“Did he curse Krum?” Harry asked, still all jazzed up.

“He got awfully close to him, but I didn’t see any sort of spell fire. I don’t know maybe it wasn’t a wand afterall…”

Harry sighed, discretely putting his wand back inside his jacket pocket before turning to head back to the receptionist to complete his check in.

“Ginny’s going to go bump into Krum just to make sure everything’s okay,” Ron added, watching his only sister make her way across the floor.

---

“Boss, the feeds are back up but I don’t see our mystery dude anywhere. But a woman has just walked up to Krum,” Colgan sent out to Hermione quickly.

“Does she pose a threat?” Hermione’s asked as her eyes glanced over to Krum. She could see a red head woman talking to him and Krum almost foaming at the mouth, but could see her face.

“No, it just looks like she’s introducing herself,” Colgan answered a second later.

“I’ll go check it out…”

“Don’t bother, she’s walking away now and Krum and his guards just got into the elevator. Maybe she had the wrong person.”

Hermione wasn’t totally comfortable with that suggestion but kept her mind closed as Jude walked up to her, “Everything alright?”

Hermione frowned and shrugged, “Well he isn’t dead.”

Jude gave her a comforting smile and reached down for her left hand, “Ready for brunch?”

---

“Excuse me, are you Silas Ezekiel? The owner of the resort?”

Krum looked down at the petite red head in front of him and with a lustrous grin said, “No, I am avraid not.”

“Oh I’m sorry to disturb you then,” Ginny said quickly with a fake sincerity before walking away from the Bulgarians.

Krum looked like he was about to say something else to keep her talking but Ginny didn’t spare him a second glance as she walking off in the direction of the check in counter.

“I’m back darling. The resort grounds are absolutely lovely,” Ginny gushed smiling at the receptionist as she wrapped and arm around Harry‘s.

Harry smiled at her and made sure the woman behind the counter went back to her work before asking, “Did he seem normal?”

“He seemed like an arrogant pig headed man who was about to try and pick up on me- so yes, he was normal,” Ginny said indifferently.

Harry chuckled before leaning in to kiss her forehead.

“Here you two are, and please enjoy your stay at the Beaumont,” said the woman, handing over two key cards and giving them one last bright smile.

Harry and Ginny smiled back, “We definitely will.”

---

Now we didn’t get to see all that I intended for this chapter, but it’ll all be in Part II, which should be out later this week.

*Also, see that box down there (VVV) ? Write some bullshit and then click review! :]]

18. The Beaumont Part II

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 16: The Beaumont Part II

---

I wanted to originally title this chapter “Fuck” because there are a lot of F-bombs but I thought that might have been a tad inappropriate.

Also might I add that you’re all going to want to hunt me down with pitchforks when this is through? With that in mind, please enjoy :]

---

“Alright, Krum has just entered the ballroom,” spoke Ron’s voice into Harry’s head.

Harry squeezed Ginny’s hand, “Ready?”

Ginny had hoped that Draco would have shown up by now and the fact that he was still M.I.A was really starting to worry her. Even so, she straightened her back and took a deep breath, “Ready.”

Together, they stepped forward to a man standing in front of two golden coloured doors, dressed in an uniform tuxedo and holding a clipboard.

“Good evening, sir. Names please?”

“Harry and Ginny Evans,” Harry replied smoothly.

The man looked down at the clipboard scanning for the two names that were yet to be put on there.

“I’m sorry sir, it doesn’t seem-”

“I’m sure we’re on there,” interrupted Ginny, “We should be the last names on there.” Ginny finished flashing him a smile.

The man looked back down to the end of the list and blinked. He looked back up to Harry and Ginny who were wearing identical coy grins.

“My apologies, Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Have a pleasant night,” he added, opening the two doors. Harry and Ginny stepped forward as the man whispered into another similarly dressed man’s ear.

The man cleared his throat and stepped forward to the centre of the grand staircase that ascended down into the main ballroom that was crowded with people.

“Announcing Mr. and Mrs. Harry Evans.”

Harry and Ginny didn’t waste any time walking down the staircase and joining the crowd, passing up the photographer at the end who was supposed to be snapping pictures of the guests.

---

Sienna froze, her lips barely touching the rim of her dry apple martini and her eyes staring widely into the hot blonde 18 year old wannabe actor she had been flirting with for the past ten minutes.

Had she just heard what she think she just heard?

“Betty?” the guy asked as she turned her head to look at the couple walking down the grand staircase, hand in hand.

“Oh fuck me,” Sienna whispered, staring unbelievingly at the man with untidy black hair looking around the left side of the room.

Her eyes then passed over the woman- no slag- standing next to Harry.

“Fuck me…” she said again, this time more bolder as she glared with her mouth agape at the familiar red headed woman.

“Uh, okay. Do you want to go back to my place?”

“What?” she asked distractedly looking back to the blonde bloke in front of her.

“You just said-”

“Sorry, Bryan I have to go,” she interrupted him quickly, glancing back again at the two people who she had defined as bastards for the past year.

“It’s Brock…” he muttered to Sienna as she set her drink down at the bar and started walking away. Pulling a strand of her newly manufactured curly brunette hair behind her ear, she wove her way around couples and friends to get to the exit.

As soon as she was out of sight and safely behind the double doors, her eyes scanned the narrow hallway leading to the hotel’s main lobby. Seeing that no one was around to watch her, she apparated up to the women’s restroom, which she knew was right by the entrance to the ballroom.

A woman with puffy blonde hair and bright red lipstick squeaked as Sienna violently swung the bathroom stall open and walked out with a blatant eye roll to the unattractive lady.

Finally she was standing in the entrance hall where a few couples were still lined up, waiting to be announced. Sighing in relief, she found Jude and Hermione dressed in their ballroom best standing off to the side of the line and chatting lightly.

Sienna quickly approached the two and tapped Hermione urgently on the shoulder.

Hermione turned with a pleasant smile on her face, it dropping slightly as she seen a brunette Sienna behind her.

“Err, can I help you?” she asked awkwardly while Sienna gazed back at her with a concerned look.

“Hermione-”

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Hermione asked a little harshly, giving Sienna a look telling her not to dare go any further with that. Jude looked over the two women and around to the other people in earshot, making sure none were listening too closely.

Sienna tensed at her friend’s tone. She knew that she was operating under the name Betty Bloome, a gold digger from Pasadena and a frequent guest at this hotel while Hermione was herself- or at least the covert self that had been placed in Los Angeles a year ago; Hermione Granger, CEO of a financial group. And then Jude was just there as Hermione’s random fiancé- nothing to worry too much about. But to the people of tonight’s gathering, these two women have never met and do not know each other in the least.

Sienna also understood that the three of them standing together was a bit risky, so after making sure they were still going unnoticed by the other occupants of the foyer and shooting Jude a quick look, she grabbed Hermione’s hand and pulled her off into a nearby corner hidden by a large, potted plastic plant.

Jude glanced back at them uncomfortably before facing forward as if nothing were wrong and began surveying the room nonchalantly.

“What the hell is the matter with you?” glared Hermione, wrenching her hand back from Sienna.

“Look, I’m sorry but I really think you need to go back up to the room,” Sienna whispered to her in a rush, looking at her with pleading eyes. She knew this would be extremely difficult to get Hermione to cooperate without her revealing the truth to Hermione. But Sienna just didn’t want to risk putting her friend into an angry emotional state while her ex and his lover were in the same room. That wouldn’t be good for anyone.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Hermione whispered back angrily, “If you think someone needs to go up there then you go!”

“No, Hermione it needs to be you. Just trust me on this-”

“Sienna, this has been my project from the start! Now I’ve worked my ass of for this and I’m not about to give it up because you pettily think it just needs to be done,” she replied, saying the last part sardonically.

“It’s not petty, it’s serious!” Sienna argued back, “Your identity could be compromised! I’ll explain later, but for now you need to get the hell out of this ballroom!”

“Explain what?! And how is my identity at…” Hermione stopped staring past Sienna and through the double doors that had just opened to admit an older couple. She stared down into the crowd of people with an empty, emotionless look on her face.

‘Oh fuck,’ Sienna thought to herself as Hermione’s brows furrowed into a hard look. ‘Please don’t let her be seeing them…’

…

“So should we go up and introduce ourselves?” Ginny asked Harry, with an impassive smile planted on her face.

Harry made a pessimistic sound in the back of his throat as he turned in to her, his eyes roaming the crowd over her head, “No, let’s give him a bit to settle in. You just keep an eye on him.”

“Alright, sweetheart,” Ginny answered in her perfected silky voice, noticing that she was attracting the attention from a couple young men a few feet away.

Harry supplied an unmeaning smile for her as he continued to skim the crowd for anyone or anything suspicious. His face fell as he passed over a man stalking towards them.

“Shit, Ginny,” he said to her, squeezing her hand and then nodding up to the bloke that was now standing in front of them looking a little frazzled.

Ginny gasped, “Draco!”

Harry immediately coughed loudly to cover up his name from others and then shot Ginny a glare.

Ginny looked at him apologetically before turning back to Draco, her eyes full of concern.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine,” he answered gruffly, his face pinched into a sour look. He gave Harry a demeaning glance, “I’ve got this now Potter-”

Again, Harry cleared his throat loudly giving Draco a murderous look.

“Oh will you just piss off? I’ve cast an muffliato bubble around us, no one knows what the hell we’re talking about!”

Ginny wrinkled her nose slightly at the pungent smell coming from Draco‘s mouth.

“Draco, have you been drinking?” she asked lowly, not wanting to even suggest it in the first place.

“Shut up, Ginny! What do you care if I’ve had a drink or two?”

“I’m just worried about you!” she responded back, getting a bit angry and frustrated herself.

“You’re not my mother! In case you forgot she died ten years ago,” he finished bitterly, staring Harry straight in the eye. Harry didn’t waver under his hard look but had a newfound understanding about his behaviour.

“Look Malfoy, why don’t you just go back home and take a kip,” Harry tried to say consolingly.

“What Potter, would it damage your fragile little ego that much to have me take over the mission I was assigned in the first place?”

“No,” Harry replied, dropping the careful tone in his voice, “It’s not my fault you didn’t show up when you were fucking supposed to! Now Ginny and I are already caught up in the middle of this. You can’t just suddenly take my place when we’ve already been announced together.”

Draco took a threatening step towards Harry but Ginny stepped in, placing a hand gently on his chest. He shot her an incredulous look to which in return she looked back a bit guiltily.

“Draco, he’s right. Maybe you should just go home, and I’ll come find you when we’re done tonight.”

His incredulous look turned into one the Ginny recognized as jealousy. Draco grabbed her wrist and threw it off his chest as if it were diseased.

“Don’t bother,” he said lowly, turning from the two and half stalking, half stumbling his way out of the crowded floor.

Ginny stared after him with a hurt look.

“You okay?” Harry whispered to her.

Ginny nodded and straightened her back as Harry pulled her slightly to the left, preparing to walk up to the bar and get them both a drink. He stopped though, as he noticed out of the corner of his eye Draco pausing and turning to look to his right. Harry could have sworn he then seen Malfoy nod before disappearing through the exit.

“Harry?” Ginny asked, observing his blank look, “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Harry replied after a second, tearing his eyes away from the exit, “Let’s get back on Krum.”

…

“Hermione-”

“Krum, I found him,” Hermione started morosely, her eyes not moving from the spot on the bottom level where Krum was standing with a martini glass in his hand, flanked on both sides with his two large cronies.

“Wha-” Sienna started capriciously, forgetting about the crisis at hand.

“Hermione,” a voice she recognized as Colgan’s floated through her head, “Krum is down on the main floor, in between the bar and high tables. We’ve got his two identified guards with him, along with Yaxley Armstrong from the L.A. Flyers. No suspicious activity to report as of yet.”

Hermione thanked them in her head, her heart beating faster with the familiar rush of adrenaline she always got on missions.

“Sienna,” Hermione started levelling her friend with a no-nonsense look, “we are too close to go changing plans now. Whatever you think is so serious that requires for me to get out- we’re going to have to work around it because I’m going.”

With one last look, Hermione left the secluded corner and headed for Jude who seemed rather bored with himself, looking about the room. Sienna briefly closed her eyes and looked away, slowly shaking her head.

“Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you…” she muttered before following after her.

…

“Ready to go?” Hermione asked, linking an arm through Jude’s and kissing him innocently on the cheek.

He smiled, “Are you?”

“Of course,” she returned, tugging his arm to lead them off to the man holding the list at the front.

“Good evening,” greeted the door man, “Names please?”

“I am Jude Stewart and this is my fiancé, Hermione Granger,” answered Jude politely.

“Of course,” the man replied after catching their names high on the list, “Have a lovely evening.”

“Thank you, we will.”

The man opened the doors for them and a few seconds later a second man announced their names to the ballroom as they descended the grand staircase, arm in arm.

…

“Hey you two,” said a smooth voice from behind Ginny and Harry.

“Hello Jack,” Ginny responded to Sirius, who was dressed handsomely in an expensive muggle suit.

Sirius frowned, only hearing a faint buzzing. Ginny and Harry both gave him a baffled look at his expression, so he tapped his ear to make them aware of the dilemma.

“Oh,” Harry voiced, realizing that the spell Draco had cast was still in tact over Ginny and himself. He gripped his wand, placed hidden in the holster on his left wrist and muttered, “Finite.”

“Better?” Harry asked, expecting Sirius to nod.

However his godfather only quirked an eyebrow and shook his head. This time Harry frowned, his face contorting into a somewhat shocked look.

Before Harry could think any further on the matter, Sirius had glanced around and reached into his coat pocket, no doubt grabbing hold of his own wand and performing the same counter spell that Harry had failed at.

“That was weird…” Harry trailed off as Sirius stepped closer to kiss the back of Ginny’s hand.

“Yeah, a little strange,” he agreed while shaking Harry’s hand as well, “So what was up with that guy, eh?” referring to Draco.

Harry glanced around, making sure they weren’t drawing any attention and then looked in Krum’s direction one more time before answering Sirius’s nonchalant question honestly, “He came in thinking he could take over. Ginny and I both agreed that that wouldn’t be the best idea so he got angry and left.”

“Did he go up to his room?” asked Sirius, wondering if he had joined Fred, George, Ron, and Remus in the room were they had set up their base of operations.

“I’m not sure, we suggested that he just head back home for the night,” Harry responded with a cool and uncaring tone.

Sirius frowned at Harry’s attitude and turned to Ginny for answers.

“He had a bit too much to drink,” she explained to him, “Due to today’s significance.”

“Still, he knew we would be busy tonight,” Harry inserted tartly. Of course Harry understood Draco’s anger today. His mother had been the only one that cared for him and she was so carelessly killed in the battle at the Ministry- but that factor couldn’t pardon Draco’s blatant rudeness.

The trio could make out the sound of the double doors opening once more to admit another invitee to the ball.

“His absence is excusable. The night’s running smoothly anyway…”

Harry shook his head, not wanting Malfoy to get off the hook so easily. He started speaking just as another loud voice spoke over the crowd.

“I think at the next meeting we need to have a talk with him-”

“Announcing Mr. Jude Stewart, and the future Mrs. Hermione Stewart.”

“Everyone has their bad days but what if something went…” Harry paused with his annoyed frown still on his face. After a moment of staring, his head jerking back almost defensively.

“Harry?” Ginny asked apprehensively at his blank look.

His face had twisted into a strange look, “Did you just- I swear I just…”

Harry didn’t finish his sentence and instead stared up towards the staircase, trying to get a glimpse of the named persons over the group of tall business men blocking his view.

“Harry, what’s up?” Sirius questioned this time.

“I swear I just heard Hermione,” he said distractedly, still trying to find a free space to see.

“What are you on about Harry?” Sirius asked again, this time more resolutely.

“They just announced the name Hermione!” Harry answered back tersely.

Ginny and Sirius shared a nervous look before Ginny spoke gently, “Harry, I’m sure she’s not the only woman named Hermione…”

Harry turned back to her with an almost vulnerable expression. Hearing Hermione’s name or anything else that immediately slapped him in the face like that often did that to him.

“Yeah,” he mumbled, glancing one more time back at the staircase that was still blocked from his sight, “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry about that guys.”

Sirius smiled and clapped him on the shoulder, “Perfectly okay!” he said trying to brighten the mood, “Now let’s get back to worrying about money bags.” Sirius finished cheekily, using his nickname that he used on all of their targets that paid off lots of money.

“Yeah,” Harry replied again turning to the left where he had last seen Krum and his group next to the bar. The American had ambled away, but the other three were still there conversing casually- probably in Bulgarian. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but Harry knew he needed to get his head back into place. He couldn’t afford to slip up while he was on the job, and that was that.

…

“Okay, I’m going to go up and introduce myself. You just hang back for a bit. If I need you I’ll send you a signal,” Hermione said calmly, even though she was staring eagerly over in Krum’s direction. From the time they had entered the ballroom to now the quidditch fellow had left, and Krum, along with the other two Bulgarians, were sill in the same spot, staring hungrily at some of the women.

Jude sent her a wary look, “You don’t need help?”

Hermione looked at him stubbornly, “No. I can handle it.”

“What did Sienna say to you? Why was she so worked up?” Jude asked interestedly. Sienna could be an air head when she wanted to be but that couldn’t replace the fact that she was a good agent and that she did have a good sense of potentially dangerous situations.

“Nothing important,” Hermione assured him confidently, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek for show. “Why don’t you go wait at the bar. If I need anything I’ll tuck my hair behind my ear, okay?”

Jude nodded, looking at her carefully.

“Be careful, Hermione,” he said softly before leaning in and brushing his lips against hers.

It was a chaste kiss- but still their first. Jude had never taken it that far before so Hermione was a bit shocked at the feeling of another mans lips against hers.

“Err, okay then,” she said a little uncomfortable, quickly looking away from his brilliant blue eyes and walking off towards Krum. Half of her wished he hadn’t done that because she needed to be totally focused on her plan tonight- but then another part of her, part of her that hadn’t had sex in over a year, was somewhat pleased he had.

“Oh what the fuck am I thinking?” she asked to herself quickly shaking that feeling off, “You don’t like Jude, you just miss… no you’re just randy.”

She nodded to herself and took a calming breath before taking the final step to stand into Krum’s circle.

“Hello. I’m sorry, I seen you earlier this morning while you were checking in and it looked like you weren’t from around here. I figured I’d come by and introduce myself. Hermione Granger,” she finished extending her hand to be shaken.

Krum and his friends instantly looked Hermione up and down, dressed in her tight black dress, cut mid thigh, and all grew audacious grins.

“Why hello, my name is Viktor Krum. I hope that isn’t a Mrs. Granger, is it?” he asked wickedly smooth in his Eastern European accent, flashing her a flirtatious grin.

“No, it’s still Miss, but for not much longer,” she replied, showing him the ring Jude had gotten for her.

“Ah, that is a shame. But as it is, you are right. I and my two associates are from Bulgaria,” he returned, not dropping his flirtatious expression and also failing to introduce his two body guards who didn’t looked too pleased to be ignored like that.

“Bulgaria? I’ve heard it’s beautiful there.”

“Very much so,” he nodded. “And you my dear? Is that accent British?”

Hermione grinned coyly, “Yes, I’m just out of London actually. I only moved to the States a year ago and so far it’s been pleasant. Are you here on vacation?”

“Business,” Krum answered, moving in front of the smaller of his guards to stand closer to her, “I’m thinking about buying into a promising company to help expand my empire.”

“Well Mr. Krum you sound very intelligent. I’m sure your business move will turn into a lucrative one.”

“I’m sure it will-”

“Ah Viktor Krum, is it?” asked a crisp voice across form them. A tall and thin man with an already tanned complexion to match his black hair and black eyes, entered their circle dressed in a shiny black suit. Hermione instantly recognized him as Silas Ezekiel, the new owner of the Beaumont.

He reached out to grab Viktor’s un-offered hand and shook it for a solid two seconds before letting go.

“My father was great friends with yours. They knew each other for years. I’m sorry to hear about Stefan’s passing,” he said, not sounding sorry at all.

Viktor stiffened and Hermione internally frowned. ‘Stefan Krum is dead?’

“Yes,” Krum began impassively, though staring at the man strangely, “with my unfortunate accident a few years back, I did not get to remember him as much as I’d like to have.”

“Well,” Silas started, almost tightly, “He certainly was a great man.”

Hermione reached out to squeeze Viktor’s arm, “I’m sorry about your loss.”

Viktor began to nod, obviously about to take advantage of her sympathy, “It has been quite hard on me and my family.”

“I’m sure it has been difficult,” Hermione responded, with another squeeze, really wanting to roll her eyes at his change in attitude.

“Hello,” Silas greeted her with an eerie smile, “I must say, I feel rather humiliated not to know the name of such an intriguingly beautiful woman as yourself. Please forgive me…”

Hermione chuckled politely, instantly not liking Ezekiel. Viktor too, evidently didn‘t want the attention to be taken away from him by the way his eyes narrowed at him.

“I’m Hermione Granger.”

“Oh Miss Granger, of course!” he started, seemingly showing true emotion for the first time, “I told my legal team to invite you for tonight after they got in touch with your firm about refinancing the Beaumont. So what do you say? Do you think you can take us on as your next client?”

“We are very busy at the moment with the current turn of the economic market. We wouldn’t be able to say for sure for at least a few more weeks.”

“Ah well, it would be a very wise decision on your part if you do decide to take us on,” he finished, the tight tone back in his voice.

Hermione smiled forcefully, “I’m sure.”

…

A few minutes later, Ginny and Harry where now at the bar, sipping idly at their muggle drinks. Sirius had left after they found Krum again to go chat up a leggy blonde on the dance floor.

“How is he?” asked Ginny, sitting so she was facing Harry who was standing so he could look over to where Krum was standing.

Harry looked up in a cavalier fashion, “He’s still-”

He froze dead on, his words dying in his throat and his mouth falling open, causing him to look vulnerable once again.

Ginny gave him a probing look, before cautiously turning to see what, or more accurately who, had Harry going pale.

And then, Ginny seen her.

‘Oh no,’ she panicked in her head before sharply looking back to Harry.

“Harry, please don’t go-”

But he wasn’t listening, for he had already started walking towards Krum and his court, his eyes trained on the smiling face of his ex-wife.

---

Yeah, I told you guys. I’m putting off their meeting for another chapter but I promise this time it really will be next chapter!

Please review!

19. Multiplying Questions and a Four Letter Verb

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 17: Multiplying Questions and a Four Letter Verb

---

A few things about this chapter:

-Hermione knows Sirius as Sirius Black. I figured she was in France when he was all over the muggle and wizarding media about being a murder so she wouldn’t have heard about him. And remember, I’ve previously said that Britain’s wizarding news doesn’t cross paths with France’s (it pretty much has to be that way for this story). So as a teen when Sirius was “at large” she wouldn’t have heard about him, and afterwards everyone believed him dead. So that’s that.

-Alcohol+ Pent up emotions + Stubbornness = Huge crazy fight with lots of insults

-I’m not relaxing on other things ( e.g. Draco and Ginny). More things are going on than just Harry and Hermione.

-This is the longest bloody chapter I’ve ever written.

-And again, you’re going to want to kill me.

---

Hermione laughed gracefully at the totally lacklustre joke Krum had made. Though inside she was cringing because she knew if she had to fake another laugh she was going to have to murder the Bulgarian herself.

She was about to comment on the joke when she heard a voice behind her- a charming, smooth, handsome voice that she hadn’t heard in a year.

Her heart stopped.

“Silas Ezekiel?” Harry asked, standing less than a foot behind his ex-wife’s right shoulder but addressing the resort owner across from her.

Silas quirked an eyebrow at Harry, tempted to smirk, “Hello. And you are?”

“Harry Evans,” Harry announced, his eyes flicking to Hermione’s stiff back before he reached a hand out for Silas to shake.

“Mr. Evans,” Silas greeted, he too taking a glance at Hermione’s frozen pale face, “This is Viktor Krum, a businessman from Bulgaria.”

“Much ado Mr. Evans,” Krum greeted also shaking his hand, “And this is my friend, Hermione-”

“Yeah, Hermione. I do believe we’ve met,” Harry stepped forward to complete the circle while his eyes looked down to Hermione’s, begging for contact.

“Oh? How is it you know each other?” Viktor asked a bit obnoxiously.

Harry‘s mouth turned into a lopsided grin at the question, “Hermione?”

“Business,” she said quickly, “It’s not really important, Viktor.”

“Oh well, what brings you here Mr. Evans?”

“I’m a contractor. It was brought to my firm’s attention by Mr. Ezekiel’s Chief of Development that they were interested in possibly adding on to the resort,” Harry said proficiently, noticing that Hermione’s head was looking straight forward but her eyes were inconspicuously glued to him.

“I’m glad you could make it Mr. Evans. I’m sure Mr. Bode will get in touch with you soon since you so graciously made the long journey out here,” Silas answered in a bored tone.

“Not a problem,” Harry said with a shake of his head, “I mean, at first I was a bit heckled I had to come all the way out here but as it is, tonight’s turning out to be a little more eventful than I had imagined.” As he finished, his gaze landed once again on Hermione who instantly tore her eyes away from him as he did so.

Silas smiled darkly, “Is that so?”

“Quite,” Harry returned not taking his eyes from her.

Hermione cleared her throat and looked up calmly, “So 25 years this hotel has been thriving. That is a fine accomplishment, Mr. Ezekiel. I’m sure you and you’re family are very proud.”

Silas looked up and around the ceiling for a moment, thinking over Hermione’s sentence before his eyes came back down to stall on Viktor, “Yes, I’m sure they would be…”

Both Harry and Hermione turned to look at Silas with furrowed expressions. What was that supposed to mean?

Krum pursed his lips as Silas finally glanced away again, staring up towards the ceiling, “So how long have you been in the chief’s position for the hotel, Mr. Ezekiel?”

“About a year.”

Hermione looked at him more observantly. Lifting her chin, she began to talk, “And you just now decided to remodel? Wouldn’t it have been more wise for you to do it immediately? And not in the summer months where the resort would be the busiest?” she asked, trying to keep her tone from sounding goading.

Silas tilted his head, “I didn’t think it that important in the beginning. But after a bit of thought, I found it a creative way to… get all my ducks in a row…”

Hermione raised an eyebrow, ‘Get all his ducks in a row? What the hell?’

Something wasn’t right about this man. Hermione made a mental note to instruct her team to get some thorough information on the suspicious owner.

With all her internal thought, she failed to notice the inquisitive look on Harry’s face as well.

Krum scoffed, trying to share a condescending look with Hermione, “I’m sure.”

Silas merely shrugged with a light smile playing at his lips.

Hermione glanced up, about to spark a conversation with the man, but noticed Harry staring at her again, with those same piercing eyes that had flustered her so deeply back in Nice seven years ago.

She bit her lip gently as she turned her eyes down to the clutch in her hand while also tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“Mr. Ezekiel, you-”

“Excuse me, I must go speak to one of my advisors,” Silas cut in before Hermione could get another word out, “I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening.” His eyes lingered on Krum with his hard look before he let it turn into discrete smirk as he passed over Harry and Hermione.

As he turned and walked away, both Harry and Hermione’s gaze trained after him, Viktor began to speak, his flirtatious tone back in his accent.

“Well Hermione, since the night is somewhat coming to a close- perhaps you and I could go back to my suite? Continue our earlier discussions?”

Hermione’s eyes automatically shot up to Harry’s to see his reaction. As she predicted, Harry was giving Viktor a stone cold glare with a muscle in his jaw pulsing out to show that he was clenching down rather hard.

At first she didn’t notice Harry turn to her with that same hard gaze, but when she did she lost the simple fabricated reply dancing at her lips.

“Err, Viktor I-”

“Ah, there you are babe!” said Jude’s voice jovially, suddenly grabbing Hermione’s waist and planting a kiss on her cheek from behind. Krum, and Harry especially, shot the unidentified bloke fiery glares.

“Hermione, you hear this? This is our song! Remember?!” Jude asked her, not dropping his cheerful tone.

Hermione looked at him unsurely and a bit dazed, “Um- yeah, yeah I do.”

“And you would be?” Krum asked as Harry was about to open his mouth to give Jude a much nastier greeting.

Jude stepped forward from behind Hermione and gave Viktor a cheeky grin. Harry didn‘t miss how the annoying man was resting his hand directly on Hermione‘s bum.

Hermione tried not to look uncomfortable but wanted nothing more then to step out of Jude’s hold and run out of the ballroom as fast and far as her high heeled feet could take her.

“Ah, well,” Jude started, glancing down to Hermione before looking back at Krum, “I would be the criminal that took this lovely woman off the market. Name’s Jude.”

Jude held out his hand and Krum briefly shook it, not wanting to be outwardly rude in front of Hermione.

The smile on Jude’s face turned into a crooked one as he nodded at Krum’s guards and then to Harry, who he again held out his hand for.

“Hello! And you are?” he asked Harry cordially.

Harry was in a limbo between wanting to laugh at Jude for even speaking to him and from wanting to punch him. But instead he looked down at Hermione with an indignant expression.

“Who am I?” he asked sardonically staring at her. Hermione finally lifted her head to look at him, shame hidden in the depths of her chocolate eyes. She gave the slightest shake of her head, knowing what he wanted to say.

Harry, however, ignored it. “Well, I am Herm-”

“-Jude, this is our song,” she cut in, shooting Harry a bitter look, “Let’s go dance.”

“Yeah, sure,” Jude agreed, then saying a short farewell to the other men.

He stepped back a bit defensively when he met Harry’s eyes, surprised that this man was staring at him like he wanted to rip the life from him.

Krum reached for Hermione‘s hand and placed a long, soft kiss on the back of it. “Well it certainly was a pleasure, Hermione Granger.”

Harry could physically feel his heart wrench. His stomach dropped as he watched Hermione nod politely and step back to grab the Jude bloke’s hand.

She was married. She had moved on. Already…

He was suddenly hit with a wave of anger. He had spent a bloody year mourning over their divorce and wishing that she was there with him while she was off shagging and getting married to some daft American! He was such a fool!

He couldn’t even watch as Jude walked away with his wife.

…

Hermione let her eyes fall shut, her mind mixed with all sorts of emotions. She and Jude had arrived out on the dance floor and had been slowly moving back and forth for the past minute or so.

She knew she needed to close her mind off and focus on her op, she was still plagued with visions of Harry. The look on his face as Jude introduced himself just short of actually saying he was her husband kept flashing through her mind.

‘Why? Why did Harry have to show up the one night she was here for Krum?’

She glanced over to where her ex-husband was, sitting in a booth over on the side of the ballroom adjacent to the bar. Her eyes had automatically followed him as he excused himself from Krum’s company, spoke to a waiter, and then headed for his private abode. The waiter had brought over the bottle of alcohol and medium size glass, the latter which he was now practically taking shots from.

She could tell by just the look of him that he was in so much pain from seeing her. And a part of her wanted so badly for him to know that she was in pain too.

But the other part of her - the all business Hermione- forced her eyes away from him to look at the fabric on Jude‘s shoulder, telling herself that there was nothing she could do about it now.

…

“Harry? You okay?” Ginny asked hesitantly, approaching Harry at his booth.

Harry finished off his glass full of hazel liquid, “Fine.”

“If you’re so fine, then what’s up with the bottle of whiskey?”

“Nothing, Ginny. I just need to be alone for a few minutes.”

Ginny sighed relenting, “Okay, I think I’ll go to the bathroom to touch up my makeup. But when I get back we’ll mingle, yeah?”

Harry nodded, “Yeah.”

Ginny looked at Harry sympathetically. She’d hate to be in the shoes he’s in. Even though she and Draco were on thin ice, she knew it’d be nothing like seeing someone she loves with another person.

“Hey,” Harry called out to her before she could leave.

“What?”

Harry waved his hand for her to come closer. Ginny obliged, moving in to sit next to him on the booth.

“Will you tell your brother to watch out for Silas Ezekiel?”

Ginny frowned, “Why?”

“I just think there might be more to him then we originally thought…” he slurred a bit, pouring another glass.

She gave Harry a grim smile, patting him on the back consolingly before heading off for the women’s loo.

…

“Hermione? You okay?”

Hermione finally opened her eyes to look at Jude who was staring down at her expectantly. For the last few minutes she had been dancing with him absently, letting him lead her back and forth smoothly as she followed him with her eyes closed.

She simply nodded, Jude noting that he had obviously just broken her out of deep thought.

“So…” he started, a bit perturbed by the lack of conversation and feeling like he needed to make some, “who was the black haired dude?”

Hermione shrugged, staring into his shoulder, “Um, just some contractor guy…”

“Oh. He sounded like he was from England…”

Again, Hermione shrugged, “Yeah, I dunno.”

“Hermione-”

“Uh, look I need to use the loo real quick,” she told him, avoiding eye contact completely, and keeping her gaze locked on his shoulder. She felt too vulnerable right now to be looking into anyone’s eyes.

“Sure,” Jude said gently, “I guess I’ll check in with Sienna and see how everyone’s doing?” he asked, wanting to assure her that he wouldn’t push her to talk.

“Yeah, remember she was supposed to follow that Yaxley guy out, and I think he’s left by now so…”

“I know, Hermione.”

“Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.”

…

As Hermione broke through the doors to the bathroom, she immediately pushed her way into an empty stall, not even looking out for other occupants.

“Pull it together,” she whispered to herself taking a deep breath, “Pull it together! There’s more important things happening…”

She drug her hands up her face, clutching at the top of her hair.

“You can handle this… it’s just one night and you’ll never have to see him again. It’s been a year Hermione. And you’ve both moved on and he’s just being an ass…”

‘Who the fuck are you kidding? You won’t be able to ignore him! You can barely ignore him when he’s nearly 6,000 miles away- how are you supposed ignore him when he’s in the same room?!’

“Shut up. You’ve been trained for this. Just get the job done,” she muttered to herself quietly, now leaning her forehead up against the wall.

With another deep breath and a promise that she’d be more focused, she straightened up, flattened down her dress and left the stall, making a quick exit from the bathroom.

…

An exact minute of silence and stillness swept through the bathroom before there was a clicking sound and the furthest stall from entrance cracked open hesitantly.

Ginny poked her head out slowly, making sure she was alone.

When she saw the empty room, she exited with a calming breath and a frown firmly planted on her lips. She quietly made her way to the loo that was just used and carefully pushed the door open in search of anything mysterious.

Her frown intensified and the many questions floating around her mind increased. The stall was clean, but still- the things she had heard said were irking.

She had panicked when she seen the familiar face of Harry’s ex-wife enter the bathroom soon after her. Luckily, Hermione headed straight for a stall, not noticing Ginny leaning over a sink applying some lip gloss.

She could make out the sound of Hermione’s ragged breathing and her telling herself to ‘Pull it together’, but that wasn’t what had confused the redhead.

It was the ‘You’ve been trained for this. Just get the job done’ right after the context in which she was clearly speaking of Harry that had.

…

Exiting the bathroom, she frowned for the thousandth time that night catching someone peering secretively through a potted tree out into the populated ballroom.

Her first thought was that this someone was a person looking for the whereabouts of Krum, but that theory quickly changed as she seen the shade of the tall, thin man’s hair.

“Draco?”

The man’s back went rigid and he began to turn slowly, revealing the face of her boyfriend.

“Hey Red…” Draco greeted her quietly, sounding much different then he had earlier that night.

Ginny glanced around to make sure no one was there before stepping further behind the tree and closer to Draco.

“What are you doing here?” she whispered.

“I… I just- I wanted to come find you so I could apologize for my behaviour earlier tonight.”

“Really?” she asked sceptically, “Then why do you look so surprised to see me?”

“Because I didn’t know you’d pop up behind me!” he snapped, making her jump.

He took a deep breath and jutted out his jaw- something he did when he was trying to calm himself down.

“Look baby, I’m sorry. Just… I’m just really not myself today.”

“I know Draco and you know how much I wish I was with you all of today to help you through it, but you shouldn’t take your anger out on me,” she told him calmly.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she responded, absently taking his hand and squeezing it.

“I missed you so much today,” he said quietly, using her hand to tug her in closer. Ginny didn’t object.

“I missed you too. Where did you go today? I mean, if you were back on time we could have at least spent the mission together.”

“Well we’re together now,” he replied slyly, ignoring her question and bending his head to place a kiss underneath her ear.

“Draco…” she whispered reluctantly.

“Hmm?” he mumbled as he ran his mouth across her cheek, finally catching her lips.

His kiss was heated and urgent, so she gave in for a few moments before regaining her senses and pulling away.

“I can’t do this now- if someone sees…”

“Let them see. Who cares?” he asked carelessly as he leaned in to kiss her again.

But Ginny backed away, “I do, and you should. You know we’re in the middle-”

“Yeah, yeah, the bloody mission. How could I ever forget?”

“Look, I know you need this and I want it as much as you, but do you think we could wait just a few more hours? I promise it’ll be worth it.”

“It better be,” Draco sighed, letting his hand fall from her waist.

“Good boy.” Ginny said with an impish grin, poking him in the stomach.

Draco smirked and leaned in to steal one last kiss from her.

“I’ll see you later then?”

“Definitely,” she grinned, before backing away and turning to head back into the ballroom.

Draco let out a relieved sigh, before turning to look back through the tree.

…

“Serving the pity table, party of one,” an annoyingly enticing voice floated into Harry’s ears.

Sirius was staring down at his godson who had his head down with his arms folded over him. He had intercepted the waiter heading towards Harry’s booth with a new bottle of Jack and brought it over himself so he could have a little chat with him.

Harry looked up to give Sirius an irritated glare as he slammed the bottle down loudly on the table.

Sirius raised a challenging eyebrow at him before he turned to check that no one was watching. After he knew no one was listening in, he sat down across from Harry, continuing to look at him with daring eyes.

“What was the whole speech you just gave me about Draco- that he shouldn’t come drunk to the job. Isn’t that in the same category as ‘don’t get pissed while on the job’?”

Harry let out a burp, “No, it’s completely different.”

“Why’s it so different? It has the same affect,” Sirius said in a no-nonsense tone that he hardly ever used, let alone used it on Harry.

Harry was quiet for a moment, “She’s married already.”

Sirius again raised his eyebrows, “So you’re ex-wife is seeing another bloke. You either do something about it or use it to move on, you don’t sit in a corner by yourself and drink your sorrows away.”

Harry groaned and slapped a hand to his forehead, dragging it down his face as he muttered, “Go away, Jack.”

“No, I’m not going to go away, you are. You’re putting Krum and your own team at risk,” he said, saying the sentence lowly, “You’re either in this 110% sober or you’re not in this at all.”

“Fine,” Harry gave in gruffly, standing up from his seat surprisingly stable, “But I’m taking this.” He grabbed the bottle of alcohol that had been in the middle of the table and then started walking towards the exit.

Sirius rolled his eyes, “We’ll talk about this later.”

…

Hermione was at the bar, waiting for the bartender to take her order. Apparently in the span of the last three minutes, half of the attendants decided that they wanted a drink too.

She felt a presence close behind her causing her back to go rigid.

Her shoulders fell though as she heard a familiar handsome voice call out to her.

“Is that Hermione Evans I see?”

‘I should have expected this…’ she thought with a wry smile.

“It’s not Evans anymore Sirius- you should know that.”

Hermione turned around to look into the attractive smiling face of Sirius Black.

“And I’m not so serious anymore,” he told her with a wink, trying to find the smoothest way to cover up her use of his real name.

“You never were serious,” Hermione grinned.

Sirius quirked one eyebrow, “Exactly love.” He motioned his head towards the dance floor suggestively, “So I know I’ve already buggered up my opening line but care to grant an old man a wish and give him a dance?”

Hermione shrugged and rolled her eyes good naturedly, “Well… you’re lucky you look so good in that suit.”

“Are you sure it’s the suit or the man in the suit?” he asked coyly, holding out his hand to her.

Hermione grabbed it and wrinkled her nose, pretending to think it over, “Mmm, definitely the suit.”

“Feisty!” Sirius called out playfully, leading them both onto the dance floor and beginning to dance, “You know I always liked that about you. Reminds me of someone I used to know very well…”

“Some poor soul that used to date you?”

“Very cheeky ‘Mi,” he returned cocking his head and winking at her, “But no. She was married to my best mate.”

Hermione gave Sirius a genuine soft smile, realising who they were talking about. She always felt very proud and special to be allied with Harry’s mother.

“Well thank you.”

Sirius shrugged it off and continued in his cheerful tone, “So you ever think about coming back to London?”

“No.”

“Not even for a visit?” he asked, cocking his head again in a persuasive manner.

Hermione stared at him impassively for a moment, “No.”

“Blast. Well don’t say I didn’t try. Now I’ll just have to come to you,” he replied, knowing that’d rile her up.

“Only if you call a year in advance,” she said seriously. Sirius let out a bark of a laugh as he twirled her expertly. Her eyes caught on to Krum chatting up a new blonde woman as Sirius brought her back in.

“So you got a new bloke, huh?”

Hermione just shrugged, knowing if she opened her mouth to deny or affirm it he’d see right through her words. ‘He must of seen Jude and I walk in together…’

“Does he treat you right?” Sirius asked.

Hermione gave him a tight smile, “I can take care of myself Sirius.”

“Just making sure. You deserve the best…”

The two stood there dancing for a few silent moments. Hermione heard Sirius take a breath.

“He misses you,” he in a casual undertone.

“Sirius…”

“I’m just saying,” Sirius returned quickly in a defensive manner, “It’s been a year and he’s still moping around, all depressed like. All he ever does is work then go home.”

Hermione looked away from his eyes, “He’s not my problem anymore.”

“Was he really ever a problem to you?”

Hermione kept quiet, continuing not to meet Sirius’s warm grey eyes.

“Look, I’m not telling you to give him a second chance. All I’m asking is that you’ll talk to him- give him a chance to explain himself.”

Hermione suddenly jerked her head back to look brazenly at Sirius, “I refuse to be the bad guy in this. If he’s so heartbroken, then maybe he should have kept his trousers on and his tongue in his own mouth!”

“Babe, you know me and you know Harry. Now I’m the type of bloke that has walked all over women for many years. Harry-”

Hermione scoffed, “What, are you saying he learned this from you?” She could see a look of hurt flash through his eyes but it disappeared before she could make anything of it.

“No, I’m just saying if you do talk to him you know you’ll both get the closure you deserve. That’s all I’m trying to say,” he finished gently with a subtle shrug.

Hermione looked away from Sirius’s gaze, right into the blue eyes of Jude standing under the awning of the bar.

“Sirius,” Hermione started quietly, almost sadly, “I have to go. It- it was good seeing you again.”

“Alright,” Sirius said, letting go of her waist but bringing the hand he was holding up to kiss it, “Don’t be a stranger kid. You can look me up anytime.”

Hermione smiled sincerely, humbled that this man would still care so much for her after all that she and his godson had been through. She nodded and kissed his cheek before turning.

“Hey!” Sirius shouted to her after she got a few feet away. Hermione turned and gave him a questioning look.

“Think about what we talked about.”

“Take care Sirius,” Hermione finally responded.

…

“Hey,” Hermione said as she approached Jude, “What’s up?”

Jude tore his eyes away from the older gentleman Hermione had been dancing with who was now speaking with a pretty red head.

“Krum left a few minutes ago with a woman and his two guards. Colgan and Matthews have tracked him up to his suite and are now watching infrared scans of their movements.”

Hermione nodded, “Did Jeremy get that security lining around Krum’s door like I asked him to?” she asked referring to the new lining’s she had helped create that would detect the brief structure of somebody’s magical signature. There was no way for a witch or wizard to hide their magical signatures, so the invention was ingenious in that aspect.

“Yep, it came out clean. The woman really is a muggle.”

“Good,” Hermione replied turning to look around the now half full ballroom and then back to Jude with a small shrug, “So, I guess we can get out of here then.”

“Yeah. Did you, um…” Jude began uneasily not meeting Hermione’s eyes. They had began to walk towards the exit and were just now breaking free of the noise and smoke hazed ballroom.

“What is it?”

“Did you maybe want to go up to your private room first so we could maybe talk?” he asked shyly, scratching at the back of his head. He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask her regarding the night…

“Uh,” she voiced hesitantly, “what did you want to talk about?”

“You know… tonight.”

“Well, if it’s about tonight,” she pressed the button for the elevator, “I think we should get back to the operations room so we can discuss it with everyone.”

“I was talking about the kiss,” Jude finally got out with a small blush.

“Oh… oh!” she ended with a gasp, staring unnervingly into the elevator that had just opened it’s doors.

“What- oh, you,” Jude said, trying to mask the upset tone in his voice as he looked down to the raven haired contractor that had been chatting with Ezekiel and Krum earlier. He never did catch his name…

Harry had been bent over next to the level keys, his nose about an inch away, trying to figure out which one to press when the silver doors opened showing him the two people who had him absolutely livid. He straightened up, putting a maddened look on his face and stared Jude challengingly in the eyes.

Jude was obviously taken aback by Harry’s demeanour because he grabbed Hermione’s hand to try to get her to step back with him.

This only incensed Harry more as his eyes moved down to their joined hands, and then up into Hermione‘s wide eyed face.

Hermione bit her lip nervously, doing some quick thinking. “Um, Jude I’m not feeling up for drinks tonight. Will you ring Sienna and let her know?” she asked, turning to look at him innocently.

“Hermione, I think I should stay with you,” he responded lowly taking a questioning look at Harry.

“Jude,” Hermione said, this time more sombrely, “It’s okay. I know him, I’ll be fine. Just… go talk to Sienna okay? She’ll explain.”

“Are you sure?” he asked sparing another untrusting glance to Harry.

Hermione nodded, giving him a brief smile before letting go of his hand and stepping into the elevator with Harry- who still had his eyes trained on Jude.

Hermione pressed one of the level buttons next to Harry. Another couple ran up to also enter the lift. As they pressed their floor and smiled to Harry and Hermione, the doors slid close with a curt ding.

A second later the couple in front of them began chatting loudly, leaving Harry and Hermione in silence.

With her eyes shut, she took a deep breath and whispered, “What are you doing here Harry?”

“What are you doing here, Hermione Granger?”

Hermione rolled her eyes but didn’t answer.

“So you got married? That didn’t take too long.”

“I’m not married.”

“Judging by the pathetic ring on your finger,” Harry said lifting up her left hand, “And the new last name- I’d say you’re pretty well hitched.”

“What do you care anyway?” she asked, jerking her hand back and quickly taking off the ring, throwing it into her clutch.

“Oh I care, all right. And that was your biggest mistake, thinking that I never did!”

The couple turned back to look at them oddly as another faint ding sounded, opening the door to reveal their level. Luckily there was no one on the outside waiting to get in.

As the man and woman left, Hermione stepped away a bit to get some distance from Harry.

“If you always cared, you have a right twisted way of showing it,” she told him, registering the sealing of the elevator and the feeling of it sliding upwards to a new destination.

“Don’t bring that up,” he hissed, taking a step closer to her, “Don’t forget that it was me always having to make the first move! It was like you were always too scared to tell me you loved me first!”

Hermione‘s face turned red, “Oh so it’s my fault right?! You ran off and did god knows with god knows how many women, all because I never said I love you first?!”

Another ding and the elevator began to open again.

Hermione glared at him, “That’s a pretty piss poor excuse, Harry.”

“It’s not a fucking excuse and I told you not to bring that up! You didn’t understand it then, and you clearly don’t understand it now. If you would have just got off your bloody high horse and let me explain things to you at that meeting we wouldn’t be in this situation now. But as usual you got scared and ran away before anything could get justified!”

“Um, I’ll take the next one…” muttered a voice from the hall. Harry turned to see a pithy man standing cautiously outside the elevator. Harry didn’t apologize, just punched the button pad so the doors would close.

“I wasn’t scared and I didn’t run!”

“You fled like a dog with it’s tail tucked between it’s legs,” Harry provoked, taking another step towards her.

“You’re a bastard,” Hermione muttered, folding her arms and looking away.

“And you always were scared, too. You couldn’t be spontaneous to save your life! Everything had to be planned and booked!” Harry finished, also turning red in the face. He had been waiting to get all this off his chest for a long time now- and the fact that (at this point) he wasn’t afraid to hurt her feelings was making it even easier.

Hell, he wanted to hurt her feelings.

“I was to spontaneous! What do you call jumping in bed with you the first night we met?!”

“Drunken desire,” Harry sneered, “Nothing like that ever happened for the other five years we were married.”

“SIX!”

“Whatever. The point is you couldn’t do something unpredictable. It’d chafe your knickers too much.”

“What are you even trying to get at!” Hermione yelled, throwing her hands up in frustration- clearly having had enough, “None of this fucking conversation matters anyway! Our problems didn’t stem from me keeping a schedule, it was from you being unfaithful!”

“That-”

“What? Are you seriously going to try and deny it again? Harry, I caught you with my own fucking eyes. And even if you want to say I was imagining- Sienna was right there seeing it too! We could have been having some common marital issues, but I didn‘t try and get over it by seeing someone else!”

Harry leaned back against the titanium wall in an offended matter, as the elevator opened to admit another group.

“I always loved you. And I made a point to tell you whenever I could,” Hermione went on quietly.

Harry rolled his eyes somewhat disappointedly. Maybe she thought she had, but she hadn‘t. Was it his fault for never telling her it wasn‘t enough?

“You didn’t make it a point to show it,” he chose instead as the elevator again came to a halt.

“That’s not true-”

“Prove it.”

As Harry stepped forward again, close enough to where his lips were an inch from hers, the elevator opened it’s doors. Hermione looked out to see her level number glowing from the button pad.

“See Harry, that’s where you’re mad. I don’t have anything to prove to you. Not anymore.”

Harry’s implacable expression fell and he blinked as Hermione tore away from him and the group in front of them, leaving the elevator and him behind.

…

Hermione threw the door closed to her suite and fell against it. She slid to the ground with her eyes shut, wondering how her life could get so buggered up in one night.

Something buzzed inside her clutch that she had abandoned next to her room key at the side of her leg.

Blindly reaching in the small carrier, she pulled out her phone and flipped it open.

“Hermione?” Sienna’s voice asked.

“Yeah?”

“You okay?”

Hermione sighed. Was she? “Yeah, I-I- yeah.”

“’Mi-”

“What’s the 411 on Krum?” Hermione asked, crispier than she intended. She had let her personal life interfere to much with her work tonight. She felt like a failure for being so distracted.

“He’s fine,” Sienna said uncaringly, “Taking a post shag nap in his suite. I don‘t know why thought, he only lasted like two minutes…”

Hermione snorted, “Okay, keep 24 hour surveillance on him.”

“Colgan and Matthews are on it. You know Hermione if you wanted to go home for the night, we could just meet up in the morning…”

“No Sienna-”

“Hermione, I’m your partner- not you’re employee,” she stated using a tone she hardly ever did with Hermione, “Plus, you know we have more than enough people here. It seems like we’re pretty much out of the woods with Krum anyway.”

“Thanks, Si. I appreciate it,” Hermione finished with a small smile, “And I’m sorry about earlier…”

“Don’t get mushy on me,” Sienna continued in her stern voice, causing a laugh from Hermione, “So we’ll talk later, yeah?”

“Yeah. Meet you at the room tomorrow morning?”

“See you then.”

Hermione shut her phone and sighed. At least she didn’t have to worry about anything else tonight. She could crawl into her bed and not leave it until she would be forced to tomorrow morning.

Hermione emitted an audible groan at the aspect of everything she’d have to deal with the next day. Sienna would want to know what happened with Harry, they’d have to follow Krum until they were sure he was safely back in Bulgaria, she’d have to talk to Jude…

That was not a conversation she was looking forward to. Of course she knew Jude had feelings for her and she also knew that the kiss a few hours ago wasn’t strictly a disguise for the mission.

But besides the fact that Hermione didn’t harbour any feelings for him, there could never be anything more than a professional relationship between them. In their line of work there wasn’t room for serious romantic relationships and she had to learn that the hard way.

“I should give him that ring back,” she mumbled to herself, reaching for her clutch again and beginning to riffle through it.

She tossed aside some of the larger things like her wand and a bottle of perfume absently as her eyes scanned the bottom.

“What the hell,” she said in confusion after not finding the ring anywhere in the clutch. She checked her hands and then growled, her head hitting back against the door.

She must of dropped it in the elevator.

“Great, just fantastic,” she got up and opened the door, heading out into the hallway with her phone and card key in her hand. She hoped the ring would be in there because she didn’t want to explain to Jude that she didn’t have feelings for him and she couldn’t give him the no doubt expensive ring back. That wouldn’t go over well.

As she finally reached the double silver doors, she pressed the down button hoping for the elevator to come along quickly. A few moments later the lift still hadn’t arrived so she pressed the button again.

She waited three minutes this time before cursing and pressing the button more angrily.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered with a shake of her head. Not willing to wait any longer, she flipped open the phone and dialled the room number in which her team was gathered.

“Hello?” a voice she recognized as Jeremy’s answered a ring later.

“Jeremy it‘s Hermione,” she said, glancing up and down the hall to make sure no one was coming, “I need you get to the controls of the north elevator and get it to come to my floor. It’s not working or something.”

“Oh, sure thing boss. That all?”

“Yes-” ding.

Hermione smirked, “Thank you Jeremy.”

She ended the call and waited for the door to open, her eyes on the ground.

She heard them open and looked up, her stomach dropping for the umpteenth time that night.

Harry was sitting in the corner with his legs splayed out in front of him. He had a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey perched in his lap and was looking at something cupped in his hand.

Hermione let out a ragged breath, her eyes skipping from the bottle, to Harry’s face, to the ring Jude gave her nestled in his palm. Harry looked different then he had earlier, no doubt a little drunker, but it was like he had an aura of defeat around him. That was something she’d definitely never seen before.

She bit her lips and looked back to the liquor, “Where’d that come from?”

Harry winced then shrugged.

Hermione sighed and glanced away back down the hall. “I need that,” she told him indifferently nodding at the ring.

Harry stared up at her for a few solid moments before holding it out. He dropped it in Hermione’s hand and then looked to the wall close to his face, raising the alcohol to his lips once more.

Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. She never liked the sight of Harry drinking or unhappy, so the two put together was almost nerve-wracking.

She wanted to walk away from him. She wanted to walk away so bad. Her legs even turned her, preparing themselves to walk back down the hall. But she couldn’t.

“Damn it Harry!” she shouted suddenly taking a step into the elevator, “You’re not supposed to be like this! You were supposed to have moved on by now! Gotten over me!”

“It’s hard,” Harry only said.

“Well stop making it hard! Just accept it! We’re divorced, there’s nothing left for us!”

He looked up to her, “You really believe that?”

Hermione let out an uneven breath, “Yes.”

Harry nodded as he looked down into his lap and began tapping his fingers on the neck of the bottle. Hermione didn‘t no what else to say to him. She started to spin around to leave when he spoke again.

“What was so shitty about me?”

She knew she could say something to really hurt him but he was a man who looked like he had just lost everything- why hurt him more?

She shook her head softly, “Nothing, Harry. You’re not a shitty person.”

“Then why don’t you want me anymore?”

She gave him an are-you-serious look, “You were the one that obviously didn’t want me!”

At her raised tone, Harry threw the bottle against the opposite wall causing it to shatter, “Oh don’t play innocent Hermione!” He stood up and stepped closer to her, pointing a finger in her face, “You lost interest a long time ago! Those late nights at the office, the trips, all those private phone calls! You’re telling me you didn’t have something going on the side!”

“Don’t you dare turn this on me!” Hermione screamed totally incensed. Her blood was boiling now and she was no longer unwilling to say something that might hurt him. Clearly he wasn’t as weak as he previously looked.

“You know what Harry? You’re a bastard- a complete fucking git! You’re only like this because you lost the glory of getting something you can’t have. I’m sure after tonight, you’ll return to London and get right back into your new lifestyle; shagging any girl that gives you an opening. And honestly you think you’d like it more now that you don’t have to worry about hiding it from a wife!”

Hermione spun on her heel and stormed out of the open doors. She was seeing red and she knew if she had to stay another minute with that insufferable man she’d rip his bloody head off.

“Fuck you!” Harry yelled harshly, following after her since he didn’t want her to get the last say, “Bloody hell, I can’t believe I was stupid enough to still have feelings for a crazy bint like you!”

“And I can‘t believe I didn‘t divorce your lying ass years ago!” she screamed back with tears of anger rimming her eyes. By now, Hermione had reached her own room and was standing just in front of the door. But she couldn’t make herself go in yet. She needed to hurt him like he had hurt her.

“I should have known the day I met you all you’d do was hurt me! I was so naive to think you‘d every really want someone like me. You belong with someone as spiteful and disgusting as you are.”

Harry’s indomitable attitude diminished and he looked at Hermione with regret filled eyes. Is that what she really though? Or was she just trying to hurt him like he was trying to hurt her? Though he knew he shouldn’t be; she didn’t deserve to be hurt after the unforgivable thing he’d done in front of her, even if it wasn’t what she thought. Yes, he was angered and hurt that she apparently was with someone. But could he really blame her for that? Afterall he would have tried to move on from a cheating spouse by now too.

It was time for the truth and she needed to know that his feelings have never been anything but genuine for her.

“I wanted you. I still want you- I always want you…” he sputtered, not looking away from her eyes.

In an attempt to stay strong, she scoffed and began to turn away so she could open the door to her suite.

Before she could even reach to put the key in the door slot, Harry turned her around and did something he’d been dying to do since he was told to sign the divorce papers a year ago.

He kissed her.

---

:]

So just a kiss or are they gonna get their freak on?

Review p-p-please?

-Also, thanks to Hana-XOXO and Cosmo for their input. Even though I really didn’t get to it yet…

20. A Moment’s Bliss

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 18: A Moment’s Bliss

---

Before she could even reach to put the key in the door slot, Harry turned her around and did something he’d been dying to do since he was told to sign the divorce papers a year ago.

He kissed her.

…

The thing that surprised Harry most, wasn’t the fact that he had acted on impulse and kissed Hermione, but was the fact that Hermione was kissing him back.

…

Not even a minute had gone by before they were both inside Hermione’s room, with her pinned up against the door kissing Harry furiously.

Hermione let out a fast moan as Harry ran his hands up her legs and pressed his pelvis into hers at the same time. She felt him finally reach the barrier of her knickers and hook his thumbs underneath its sides before gliding over her wet heat. She let out another high pitched sound as he drug his thumb over her clit.

Harry released the sensitive part of her neck from his mouth and stepped back slightly. Hermione’s legs fell enough so Harry could tear the garment out of the way and then reach for his own belt buckle. As he was working it free, Hermione’s hands infused with his to help. She pulled down his zipper and teased the outline of his hardened manhood with her fingertips.

Harry groaned and quickly finished his belt and button with shaky fingers. Finally Hermione pushed his pants and boxers down, his freed erection now pressing into her stomach.

With another second, Harry reached down to hoist her onto his waist, once more leaning her forcefully onto the rigid door. He grabbed her left hand and pinned it above their heads, their fingers lacing together as she traced over his cheek and lips with her other one.

They shared an intense look before Harry pushed into her core slowly. Hermione’s eye lids fell along with her mouth as she emitted a low moan and lolled her head back. Harry could almost shudder with the immediate pleasure he felt upon entering her. He felt like he was supposed to; he felt home.

He plunged into her again, this time quickly before pulling back and repeating his movement. Hermione gripped Harry’s hand in hers as he drove into her steadily.

Her mind was foggy and only aware of the sounds she was making in tune to Harry’s constant thrusts and the wet kisses he was planting underneath her earlobe. She could already feel herself beginning to tighten up and could tell that Harry was getting close too by the way his free arm was wound tightly around her waist and his head was now buried in her collar.

She wrestled her pinned arm free from Harry’s grip and moved both hands to tangle in his hair. Her breathing was quickening now, almost to the point where she was panting. She let her head drop down so it was bowed next to Harry’s.

“Oh, Harry…”

Her moan caused butterflies to erupt in Harry’s stomach, eventually settling down to his aching hardness. Her voice also spurred him to move faster, more frantically.

She was begging for her release and he wanted to give it to her.

Hermione could sense the change in him as he pounded into her, and she wanted to show her appreciation. She pivoted her head closer to him and let her tongue lick up his throat, sending goose bumps up both their spines.

Harry hissed before turning to her pressing his mouth to hers in a bruising, somewhat desperate, kiss. Their tongues ran against each other as Harry relentlessly continued to slide into her.

Hermione gasped into Harry’s mouth as he hit her sensitive spot, her pleasure now beginning to intensify frighteningly fast.

“Harry,” she bit out, clenching down on her lip and slamming her head back against the door. Harry’s mouth fell open a little as he felt the pleasure pooling in his stomach begin to spark and flow down further south. He leaned his head forward against her shoulder, his hot breath sticking to her skin.

It only took two more hard thrusts for Hermione to be pushed over the edge. Her legs tightened up around his waist and her hands fisted his hair as waves of ecstasy crashed down on her.

The sight of Hermione in such bliss and the feeling of her liquid heat drove Harry over as well. He buried his forehead back into the crook of her neck and continued to move in her as he came with short hard pushes.

When it was over, they both leaned back, panting and completely spent. The only interruption of the total silence, besides the breathing, was the voices in their own heads relaying what had just happened.

‘Bloody hell I’ve missed her…’

‘How the hell did I go a year without him?’

‘This has to mean she still has feelings for me too…’

‘Harry just shagged me against a wall. Harry. As in ex-husband Harry… Oh. My. God. What have I done?’

Hermione slowly dropped her legs from Harry’s waist. With her feet now supporting her she bent to grab her black knickers before turning to walk down the hall for the loo, avoiding Harry‘s eyes the entire way.

“Hermione?” he called out in confusion a second before he heard the door to the loo close softly.

…

Harry knocked gently on the bathroom door, “Hermione?”

No answer.

“Hermione?” he voiced again to the door.

She didn’t answer him again. Harry sighed and leaned against the wall, staring at the door.

He had already waited a few minutes from when she initially went in, thinking that perhaps she had to use it. But with the laboured breathing coming from inside the loo, he could tell she was using the room to hide out instead.

“Hermione, will you please come out?” he asked again patiently.

“Just please leave, Harry,” a small voice said a minute later.

Harry wanted to scoff and tell her that she was bonkers if she thought he would simply leave after what just took place.

He shook his head and continued to stare at the white door. He thought he understood Hermione like no one else did, but right now he was having doubts. Whatever he did she went off and reacted in a way Harry never would have seen coming. And now, he wanted answers.

“Fine,” he replied eventually, starting to walk off towards the door to leave.

When he reached it, he opened it, waited a few seconds, and then closed it again.

…

Hermione could register the sound of the door closing out in the main room. She lifted her head from her hands and wiped the smeared make up from her eyes.

It was better that he just go. Then there wouldn’t be any uncomfortable looks or awkward pauses.

She can’t believe she just let her body take over like that without thinking of the consequences…

Standing up from the toilet, she flattened down her dress and unlocked the door.

…

Just like Harry thought, Hermione walked out of the bathroom a minute later.

When she stepped into the main room she gasped at Harry sitting on one of the posh couches.

“Do you regret it?” he asked her instantly.

“Bloody hell,” Hermione muttered, not meeting Harry’s look, “I should have known you wouldn’t have gone.”

“Do you?” he ignored her and asked again.

She looked at him, trying to cover up her vulnerable posture.

“Yeah,” she replied back meagrely. Harry’s face dropped, not thinking she would be so blunt.

“I mean,” Hermione rectified quickly, “I regret the way it happened. What’d it prove? We’re right back where we started.”

Harry disagreed with her. He had put his heart on his sleeve by saying that he still wanted her and still she hadn’t told him what she wanted.

“What are we going to do about us?”

Hermione shook her head slightly, “There is no us, Harry.”

Harry stood up from the couch, now an angry look covering his face, “So you lead me on and sleep with me only to tell me later that there is no us? What, am I supposed to forget about this?” he finished, now an inch away from her.

“That’d be for the best. This was a mistake anyway. I shouldn’t have given in…” she rambled off in self disappointment.

“Well you gave in pretty easily,” Harry said indignantly, “that obviously means there is an us or you want there to be an us.”

“Yeah?” Hermione asked him rhetorically, starting to get irritated, “Or maybe it means that I was just randy? Plain and simple.”

He smirked at her, “Randy for me…”

She fought it and turned her face, but failed as a small grin spread over her lips. As it is, he was right- and the little devil knew it.

“You know we’re going to have to talk,” he said in all seriousness, “You can’t just keep avoiding any conversation with me.”

Hermione scoffed and did her best to lie, “I’m not avoiding anything.”

“Then why are you trying to get me to leave?” he questioned her knowingly.

“Because I need to get some sleep. I have some business to take care of in the morning,” she returned thinking quickly.

Harry persisted, “Then let me stay.”

“What?” she asked incredulously.

“So I guess you were trying to get me to go so you could avoid me,” he shrugged.

Hermione rolled her eyes. One thing Hermione admired about Harry was his knack of pushing any and every button possible to get what he wanted.

“You can stay here if you want,” she said indifferently, “I don’t care. Nothing’s going to happen though. I have a meeting early in the morning.”

“With who?” Harry he asked with a grin, happy that she was giving in.

“None of your business,” Hermione answered walking past Harry and towards the closet where she had a suit case with a few outfits in it for show.

Harry’s eyes travelled down Hermione’s curves and stopped to admire her bum as she walked.

“Stop starring at my bum,” Hermione called out in a huff, knowing that Harry would be looking.

Harry let out a laugh and walked over to the bed so he could have a better view of Hermione in the closet. “So I guess you’re little husband or whatever isn’t coming back tonight?”

“He’s not my husband,” she replied evasively.

“That’s where my confusion kicks in,” Harry responded, slipping off his shoes and sitting on the bed to face her, “You have a ring. And you have a different name. Not to mention that nancy boy was all over you. So something’s clearly changed.”

Hermione too unhooked her heels and put them in her suitcase, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well, when will you?”

“I don’t know,” she answered, starting to regret her decision to let him stay, “Tomorrow…”

Harry looked up anxiously, “You’ll tell me tomorrow. Swear?”

Hermione sighed and turned to face Harry, “If you tell me the truth about that woman a year ago, than I’ll explain to you about Jude.”

He nodded, “Okay, but…” looking away from her, he tried to think of the least mysterious way to tell her that she may think he‘s nutters.

“You have to promise to actually listen to me and trust that I’m telling the truth,” he said evenly, staring back into her eyes.

Hermione nodded, “Fine, but same goes for you. Tomorrow it is.”

Harry gave her a soft smile in which Hermione returned before turning around and reaching around in her suitcase.

Harry loosened his tie and threw off his jacket before he grinned whimsically.

“Jude’s a real queer name…”

“Oh shut up, Harry!” Hermione said, sending a heel whizzing past his head.

---

And yes, they’re happy now, but we’re nowhere near the end. There are at least 10 chapters left. Probably more like 15.…

Please leave a review and thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter!

21. Exploited

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 19: Exploited

---

“It’s today.”

“What?”

Silas Ezekiel let a disturbing smile flicker over his face as his eyes trailed off into the open, “Today’s the day I’ve been waiting for since I was a young boy…”

The other voice scoffed, “Don’t be brash Ezekiel. It’s much to soon. It’d be wiser if we wait.”

“We?” He sneered back, “Tell me, since when do you call the shots?”

“Since I’ve pulled the resources to create this ambush for that stupid half brother of your’s in the first place. You can’t be trusted to make these decisions on your own!”

Silas chuckled to himself as he gazed over the throng of guests enjoying their mid morning breakfasts from the balcony above, “Ah Mr. Bordeaux, you couldn‘t be more wrong.”

He dropped the phone from his ear but never took his eyes from the back of Viktor Krum’s head.

…

“Hey, babe wake up,” a soft voice floated through Hermione’s ears. She felt a large hand rubbing at her hip and two damp lips press against her neck. It felt heavenly, therefore she kept her eyes closed and buried her head further into the comfy pillow.

“Hermione,” Harry said this time with a light laugh.

“Hmm?” she grunted childishly.

“I’m sorry to wake you, but I wanted to tell you I was leaving,” he said still rubbing his thumb over her hip.

Hermione’s eyes opened and looked at Harry kneeling next to the bed, “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah, I promised Sirius I’d go with him this morning to meet some executives here about the remodel.”

Hermione sat up, shyly grasping the sheets around her naked chest and not looking into his eyes anymore, “Um, okay.”

“Will you still be here when I get back?” Harry asked gently, coming up to sit next to her on the bed. He could tell that logical Hermione was regaining her senses and he only hoped that she wouldn’t view last night’s events as a mistake.

She shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Harry sighed, “Hermione, we promised to talk,” he said firmly.

“I know we did,” she replied almost defensively. And she did know they had to. After last night she couldn’t deny anymore that she still had the same feelings for him.

Harry gave her a pushy look that made her look away and scratch the back of her head, “Um, do you want to meet at the café downstairs for brunch?”

“Sure, my meeting shouldn’t take longer than an hour. I’m only going to tell Sirius that I’m pulling out of the deal.”

Hermione frowned and turned to him again, “Why are you doing that?”

Harry shrugged, “It’d be a very time consuming project. And I’d rather be spending all that time with someone more important than business associates,” he finished grabbing one of her hands and lacing his fingers through it.

Hermione bit her lip, trying to hide her humbled grin, “You don’t have to do this for me, Harry.”

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in to kiss her cheek, “I’m doing this for us.”

Hermione blushed, “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive,” he reassured her without a moment’s hesitation. He was sick of letting business get in the way of what he now realised made him truly happy.

Hermione smiled at him, despite what her head was telling her. Yes, everything he was saying sounded lovely, but it was all more complicated then that. She still wanted him, but could she really just give up her solid life and career to go back to a man that she couldn’t be certain if their love would last? Would the risk be worth it?

Last night she would have said definitely not, that all she needed to be happy was her work and her friends. But now, after experiencing again the way Harry made her feel- she couldn’t be so sure.

Harry smiled back and stood up, “So brunch? Say around 10?”

“Yes. I think I’m going to head out too. I promised Sienna I’d meet with her this morning,” Hermione responded distractedly as Harry attempted to tie his black tie hanging around his collar. She stood up with a sweet smirk and began to fix it with the sheets wrapped around her clamped under her arms.

“Alright,” he said a bit apprehensively. He couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t a bit worried that Sienna might try and talk Hermione out of whatever he and her were getting into.

“Are you going to tell her about us?”

Hermione shrugged and continued on with Harry’s tie, “Yeah, I think I should. Aren’t you going to tell Sirius?”

“Yes,” Harry nodded. He grinned as Hermione finished his tie perfectly and smoothed down his blazer, “Thanks.”

She returned his grin and they stared at each other for a few moments before Harry leaned in. Hermione didn’t shy away from him and instead slid her arms up around his neck and kissed him back with equal force.

When they broke apart they were both in a daze and breathing heavier than normal. “Alright then,” Harry broke the silence with a light laugh, “Smell ya later, love.” He finished relaying their old joke and chuffing her chin.

Hermione smiled as he turned and started for the door. She had just fallen back on the bed when she remembered something.

“Hey!” she called out to Harry as he reached for the door handle.

“What?”

“Will you tell Sirius that I listened?” she asked him.

He gave her a questioning look, “What are you on about?”

She smiled at the cute look on his face, “Just tell him!”

“Alright, alright! Don’t get your bloody knickers in a twist,” he said as he opened the door and then turned back with a cheeky grin, “Oh I forgot, you aren’t wearing any…”

“Shut up Harry!” Hermione cried with a blush growing on her cheeks.

“See you in an hour, Hermione,” he said slyly, giving her one last lopsided smile before closing the door after him.

Once the door was closed Hermione fell back onto the bed and turned on her stomach with her hands folded over her head.

She missed this. She missed waking up every morning to see Harry. She missed the witty banter they had. She missed the looks she caught him giving her when he didn’t think she was watching.

Hermione knew that she, nor Harry, could really guarantee that they’d be together forever. But neither could she say for sure that nothing would effect her secure job and lifestyle in L.A.

If she and Harry were to give things a second try, then she wouldn’t want anything standing in her way. She wouldn’t want a job to cover up who she really was. A big part of their silence when they were married was due to the fact that she couldn’t be honest with Harry. He didn’t even know who she really was…

But if she did tell him the truth, would he still want her after that?

Or what about when he explains to her why he cheated- could she really handle his honesty?

Hermione groaned as she rolled over. “This is all fucking bullocks,” she muttered to herself.

If anything was true, she knew one thing for sure; whether it be her job or her love, she had to sacrifice something.

…

Harry walked towards the elevator with a smile on his face. He hadn’t thought the morning would turn out so well, but was very grateful that it had.

He had woken up early that morning with Hermione in his arms and had just laid there admiring her for what had seemed like hours before he was interrupted by his mobile.

It was a message from Ron saying that the Order was having a meeting in room 208. At first Harry had determined he wouldn’t go. How would it look if Hermione had woken up to find Harry missing after everything that had happened the previous night?

But after a few minutes of rational thinking, he decided to go. But not to check if the target was okay or see if the mission had been a complete success, but to tell his godfather something he should have told him the minute he knew he was getting married. He had to clarify to Sirius where his priorities truly lay.

…

Jude closed the door behind him and walked into the hotel room where the team’s night patrol had been stationed at. He spotted Colgan and Matthews at the desk watching over the security feeds with about twenty empty cups of coffee surrounding them.

The door open and closed behind him and Jude turned, hoping to find Hermione. He hadn’t heard from her after they parted last night and was getting increasingly worried.

Alas, it was only Jeremy throwing his bellman’s cap and vest into the corner.

“Oh, hey Jude…” Jeremy spoke when he seen his friend.

“Hey.”

“So, uh… what did you and the boss get up to last night?” he asked, with a suggestive tone in his voice. With Jeremy being Jude’s best friend, he knew just what kind of feelings Jude had for their boss.

Jude shook his head, “Absolutely nothing.”

Jeremy gave him an apologetic look, “Sorry man. Maybe it’s for the best-”

He was cut off by the door opening and closing once more. The two men turned to see Sienna immaculately dressed in a turquoise sundress with matching heels.

Jude frowned, “Hermione’s not with you?”

Sienna gave him a put out look, “I was hoping she’d be here with you.”

“No, she ditched me at the elevators last night for some contractor guy she said she knew,” he returned despondently.

“She left with him?” Sienna asked him in shock.

Jude looked at her in concern. He was praying to god he hadn‘t let Hermione go off with someone dangerous, “She said she knew him and that she’d be okay.”

“Bloody fucking hell…” the blonde muttered through clenched teeth. She had thought Hermione would have ran home and cried herself to sleep last night if she seen Harry. But since she didn’t show up at their house and supposedly none of the other agents had seen her, there was only one person she could be with.

“Sienna,” Jude asked, trying to keep his anxiety under control, “who was that guy?”

Sienna grabbed at her forehead and dragged her hand down her face before wearily turning back to Jude.

“Tall, toned, has annoyingly untidy black hair?”

“Yes.”

“His name’s Harry Evans,” Sienna told him nodding, “He’s a contractor from London.”

“Okay- so how do he and Hermione know each other?”

Sienna gave him a solid look, knowing that this was going to be a harsh blow for Jude.

“He’s Hermione’s ex-husband.”

Both Jude and Jeremy’s mouths fell open.

“Pardon?” Jude asked.

Sienna only nodded her head, “Yeah.”

“You’re being serious?” Jude asked again.

“No, I’m making a fucking joke.”

Jeremy looked to Jude before glancing back to Sienna with a confused look, “Was that joke?”

“Sanders, go make some tea.”

“But-”

“Go,” Sienna repeated.

She looked back to Jude who looked like he had been punched in the gut.

“Ex-husband, right?”

Sienna nodded causing Jude to shake his head and frown.

“Well why’d they split up?”

Sienna shrugged thinking of the easiest way to elucidate the situation. She knew Hermione would be uncomfortable with her telling Jude that her husband had cheated all over her, “Her personal life got in the way of her professional one. I guess it‘s just too hard to live a lie like that.”

Jude gapped at her for a few moments. “What’s he even doing here?” he finally got out, more calmly then he felt.

“The remodelling committee here must have got in touch with his firm,” Sienna replied after a few seconds. That was the only conclusion she could think of to explain this ungodly coincidence.

“Do you think they…” he trailed off quietly, looking to Sienna for answers.

She shook her head, “I don’t know, but I do know that Harry never wanted her to leave. And if he got her by herself he probably used every minute to praise his innocence and undying love for her.”

Jude nodded to himself, “Do you think she still loves him?”

Sienna sighed and looked forlornly at the man in front of her, “Jude, Hermione’s been my best friend since we were eleven. She changed when she met Harry and she changed when she left him.”

A few distressing moments passed before he let out a deep breath and glanced back up into her eyes, “I guess I never really had a chance then, huh?”

Sienna smiled and patted his shoulder, “Look, if it helps, I don’t want her to love him either.”

…

“I got you that dress.”

“No you didn’t,” Hermione scoffed as she struggled to tug the zipper down her back.

“Yes I did,” Harry said placidly, standing from the bed and walking towards her in the closet, “You can’t ever get that zipper down by yourself.”

His hands worked over hers as he gently pried the zipper free, “So why’d you keep it?”

Hermione closed her eyes and bit her lip. The way his breath was hitting her back sent goose bumps flaming up her spine, “I liked the style. That‘s all.”

Harry smirked internally, knowing that she would have rather said anything than to just admit that she kept it for the sentimental purpose.

Without thinking, he dipped his head and placed a light kiss on her shoulder blade.

Hermione let out a pristine breath as Harry moved his hands up her arms and down her back, pushing the dress off. She turned around to let him get a look at her. He stared at her, and the naked flesh he hadn’t seen in so long, while she stared at him observing his expression.

When he finally looked back into her eyes, a moment passed before he pulled her in and kissed her while she started unbuttoning his white shirt.

Hermione felt herself flush as she picked up the dress from the floor. She had just gotten out of the shower and slipped into a light dress robe when she seen it wrinkled on the ground.

The dress already had many memories instilled in it, and now it had last night’s to add as well. That was part of the real reason Hermione had kept it.

She folded it gently and put it back in her suit case before taking out a fresh outfit and putting it on. Her stomach was twisting into knots, knowing she’d have to see Sienna soon. Hermione wondered what she would have to say about this. It was no secret that Sienna wanted to hunt Harry down and hang him from his pecker after what happened a year ago, therefore Hermione knew it wouldn’t be easy getting her to understand what was going through her head and her muddled feelings for her ex.

She finished getting ready in silence, trying to figure out how to explain her feelings to her best friend and hoping that it wouldn‘t backfire in her face.

…

Harry knocked twice on Room 208’s door before it opened to reveal his best mate on the other side.

“Well, well, look who it is,” Ron said teasingly as Harry walked past him with a smile.

“Good morning Ronniekins,” Harry replied.

“Oh Merlin,” Ron returned, cocking his head, “Someone’s awfully smug for a bloke who was supposed to walk in here with a raging hangover.”

“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” Harry grinned.

Ron opened his mouth to ask about Harry’s night when Sirius, Fred, and George walked in from the other room.

“Oh, morning sunshine,” Sirius started pleasantly, “I’m glad you could grace us with your presence. And don’t worry, I already have a hangover potion ready for you,” he motioned over towards the mini-bar in the corner of the room before raising his eyebrows, “You’re welcome.”

Harry wrinkled his nose and shook his head good-naturedly, “Ah, no thanks Sirius. I feel fine.”

Sirius raised another eyebrow suspiciously, “Fine?”

Harry smiled, “Fantastic actually.”

“Uh-oh…” his godfather voiced with a frozen expression on his face, “Harry, perhaps you and I should go on the balcony and have a little chit chat, eh?”

Harry let out a laugh at Sirius’s funny face and lead the way towards the open balcony. Sirius dropped the stack of papers he was holding on the table before following Harry outside.

Harry watched his godfather close the door and cast a muffliato over it before he cleared his throat and started to talk with a smile planted on his lips.

“Hermione said to tell you she listened, whatever that means.”

The look of surprise on Sirius’s face quickly turned to one of comprehension. He smirked, “Ah, so that’s what this is about.”

Harry nodded as he leaned against the rail, waiting for Sirius to go on.

“I knew she would,” Sirius told him self-righteously, “Smart girl, that Hermione…”

“Yeah, she is,” he agreed easily.

“So are you going to make me beg or are you going to be nice and tell me what the hell happened last night?”

“What do you think happened, Sirius?” Harry asked coyly.

“Well I have a pretty good idea but I can’t make up my mind on how it happened. Did you get her drunk or did you tell her you love her?”

Harry shook his head and shrugged, “Neither, really. I told her that I still want her and that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her for a year.”

“And that did the trick, did it?”

“More or less. It was a bit more passionate then me simply telling her that.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, “Did she get everything off her chest too?”

“Not everything,” Harry answered.

“Right, well I imagine you were a bit too busy to talk about everything,” Sirius returned with a wink.

Harry grinned shyly, not being the type of bloke to boast about his sex life, “We’re meeting up later to talk about everything we didn‘t get to last night.”

Sirius gave Harry a genuine smile, “I’m glad you got to her Harry. The both of you deserve to be happy.”

“Thanks Sirius, but that brings me to my next issue.”

“Sit,” he told him, dropping down into one of the patio chairs with a sigh.

Harry did as he was told and then looked at Sirius intently, “You know working along side you with these past few years have been a blast. I’m so grateful that you and I got to do this together, but I think… it’s just…” Harry paused to regain his bearings. He had come here with a set speech he was going to give to Sirius, but now everything was getting jumbled, “Look, I’ve been doing some really serious thinking- no pun intended- and I think that… that this might have to be my last mission with the Order,” he finished, looking solemnly into his godfather’s eyes.

Sirius sat back in his chair, “How’d that conclusion get in your head?”

“I can’t have this life as a secret agent and a wife at the same time.”

“Where you going with this Harry?” Sirius asked even though he had a pretty good idea.

“I had to do something like you said,” Harry revised quickly, “I‘ve already decided that I‘m going to tell her about me but I have a feeling she‘ll make me choose between her and my secret life, which got us into this whole mess in the first place, and I‘m going to choose her.”

“Well of course you are.”

Harry‘s eyebrows creased at Sirius‘s response, “Are you angry?”

“No way,” he said way too jovially, “I’ve been looking for an excuse to boot you out for months. You’re not that great of an agent anyways…”

Harry rolled his eyes at his sarcasm, “Whatever you say old man, but next time you’re counting through all your cash, you remember who made you all that. I don‘t just sit down and look good, that‘s for damn sure.”

The two men shared a laugh and sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“Harry,” Sirius spoke earnestly causing Harry to listen to him attentively, “I’ve had to live a secret life for almost 15 years now. And one thing I know is that what happiness really comes down to is- you can love your job all you want but who you have to go home to at the end of the night is what really makes the difference.”

Harry smiled faintly, “Yeah, I thought so too.”

“And so did your father,” Sirius said in a lower tone.

Harry turned to him sharply, “Really?”

“Nothing was getting in his way from being with your mum. And it was the right decision because now we have you. I know if they were here today they’d support you 100%- just like I’m going to do.”

“Thank you, Sirius.”

He reached out and patted the younger man on the shoulder, “I’m very proud of kid. And I’m sure James and Lily are too. Who knows, maybe this time next year we’ll have a Harry Jr. to play around with, eh?”

“Yeah, that wouldn’t be so bad,” Harry decided optimistically, hoping that he and Hermione would be able to make their relationship work.

Sirius grinned at his godson, “Go get your girl, Harry. That’s my final order.”

…

Harry was whistling to himself, waiting for the elevator to arrive on the second floor. After a few more moments, it dinged and it’s doors slid opened.

“Ginny!” Harry said, “What’s going on?”

Ginny raised an eyebrow, a little taken aback by Harry’s tone, “Uh, nothing. Just heading for 208...”

“Yeah, I just got out,” Harry replied.

“Oh is it over?” Ginny asked downcast. She knew she was late but she had been preoccupied this morning.

“Oh no, I’m just left early. Is your blonde friend with you?” Harry asked about Malfoy, still a bit cross with him.

“No, I thought he’d be here already,” Ginny responded with a frown.

Harry shook his head, “He wasn’t in the room.”

“Are you fucking joking,” Ginny asked more to herself and glancing down the hall. She turned back to Harry and explained, “He left before I woke up again.”

“Where would he be?”

“I have no idea but I’m starting to get sick of this,” she muttered angrily.

Harry looked down to his watch, “Well I have to go, but maybe send Ron or Sirius to look for him? I’ll keep an eye out as well.”

Ginny nodded, “Thanks Harry.”

He smiled and stepped into the lift, poking the button for the ground floor.

…

Hermione slid her key card into the slot on the handle of her team’s operation room. She took one final tentative breath before she opened the door and entered.

All eyes turned to her as she closed the door and stood there glancing around shyly. It seemed as if everyone knew what she had been up to last night and she was doing the ‘walk of shame’ back to work.

Her eyes found Sienna standing in the corner next to Jeremy who was trying to offer her a cup of tea.

Hermione started for her friend and then turned around glaring at everyone else in the room, “Don‘t you all have things you need to be doing?”

Quickly, everyone returned to their various tasks and left Hermione to continue towards Sienna and Jeremy. The blonde looked up and caught Hermione’s eyes, the look in her own glaring somewhat.

“Si-” she paused when she reached her, trying to think of the lines she had rehearsed that morning, “I’m sorry I didn’t come in last night.”

Sienna rolled her eyes, “Yeah, you should be. Father’s called at least four times this morning wondering where you were.”

“I’ll call him in a bit, but Sienna can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?” she asked, giving Jeremy a swaying look.

“I’ll just go make some more tea,” mumbled Jeremy, quickly leaving the two women alone.

Hermione lead Sienna into the master bedroom, ringing her hands together as she went.

Once they were both behind the closed doors of the room, Sienna gave Hermione a probing look, “So how’s Harry.”

“He’s,” Hermione looked up to Sienna wondering how she knew but then thinking that was a silly question. Of course Sienna would know…, “He’s good. Or at least he’s better now.”

“Ew,” Sienna muttered, not showing any signs that she was just teasing.

Hermione let out an uneasy laugh before looking at Sienna sincerely, “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. You were right though, my identity could have easily been compromised with him there.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t use the opportunity to make some big scene out of seeing you again,” Sienna told her honestly.

Hermione shrugged, “I think he was about to when we were in front of Krum. But then Jude came and we left. He spent the rest of the event drinking and sulking at a booth.”

“So you were watching him?” the blonde asked knowingly.

Hermione gave her friend a look, “Don’t judge me for being interested after not seeing him for a year.”

“I’m not judging you, I just guess I was wrong. I thought you wouldn’t give a shit if you seen him ever again. Actually, I think you were pretty set on hating him and never wanting to see him again after all that scumbag’s done,” Sienna finished, testing the water’s with Harry’s insult.

“Harry’s not a scumbag, Sienna!” Hermione returned immediately, “And I can’t keep blaming him for our marriage’s failure. I made mistakes too!”

“But where you ever with another man?” Sienna asked calmly.

Hermione felt as if she‘d been slapped, “I haven’t forgotten about that. And part of me thinks I’m somewhat at fault for not letting him explain himself.”

“Hermione, this isn’t your fault at all. He deserves to be miserable for what he’s done!”

“And he has been! With everything both he and Sirius told me and after what I’ve seen for myself, a-and after everything else he said to me last night-”

“What if they were all just words?” Sienna asked cutting off Hermione’s rant.

Hermione bit her lip, “He’s different, I can tell. He-he really wants me back and…”

Sienna closed her eyes, knowing what was about to come, “And what, Hermione?”

“I want him back too,” she ended quietly. “The past 12 hours made me feel like I used to, and I can‘t just be stubborn and ignore that.”

Sienna gave her a hard look, “So your taking him back after all you went through to get away from him?”

“I don’t really know yet,” Hermione answered honestly.

“Do you want to be with him?” Sienna questioned.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Don’t you think that might be part of the problem? Your judgement is so clouded just because you want him- he could be telling you anything…”

“I like to believe I’m not that much of a bint, thanks,” Hermione shot back impatiently, “You more than anyone knows how logical and rational I am.”

“So where was all your logic and rationality last night when you and your ex-husband where shagging?”

Hermione gave Sienna a despondent look, “You’re not helping.”

The smirk fell from Sienna’s lips, “How do you know he won’t do it again?”

She shrugged after a few seconds, “I don’t know that. But we promised to have a real talk, and put everything on the table so… I’m going to tell him. About me. And if he stays and hears me out then I know he really does love me and it’d be worth it. I mean, if I haven’t been able to get over him in a year’s time do you think I’ll ever be able to?”

“He’s the first guy you ever loved…” Sienna commented futilely.

Hermione nodded, “I’m pretty sure he’ll be the only.”

“Look, I know you think you still love him, and maybe you really do,” Sienna rectified quickly before Hermione could object, “But I just- Harry better love you just as much. Because if this falls through, it’ll tear you apart and… shit, Hermione I won’t be able to deal with you being some mopey little workaholic for the rest of our lives!” she finished light-heartedly, wanting to get off the serious topic. There was more she wanted to tell Hermione, but honestly she looked so hopeful that Evans was being genuine and Sienna didn’t want to be the bearer of negativity for her best friend, even though that‘s what she felt.

Hermione laughed, “You’re such a selfish cow.”

“I know that. And the next time I see Harry, I’m still going to punch him- like right in the ear.”

She nodded consentingly, “I won’t stop you.”

There was a knock on the door that interrupted the two friends. A second later Jude popped his head through the door.

“I’m sorry but I thought you two might like to know that Krum just left for the resort’s café with his two guards.”

“Thanks Jude,” Sienna replied, “I think I’ll go grab myself some tea and take a look to see if the girl he picked up last night got back to her room without any interruptions.”

As Sienna walked past Jude, Hermione too stood up to face him. She mustered a feeble smile, “Um, Jude-”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me. I know our relationship can only be a professional one and I’m truly sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable last night,” he finished genuinely, sending her a small smile.

Hermione smiled back, “Thank you. That makes this a lot easier.”

Jude began to turn to follow after Sienna before he spun around again, “Hermione, you should hear him out. It’s obvious he’s still in love with you…”

Hermione look confused for a moment before she furrowed her eyebrows at Jude.

He let out an uneasy laugh before she could begin scolding him, “I wasn’t eavesdropping- at least I was trying not to.”

“Jude-”

“I just wanted to make sure you were alright. But the truth is that you’re amazing Hermione, and you’d be a really hard loss to any guy. If you do take this husband of yours back, make sure he knows that.” Hermione gave him a timid smile before as Jude took a deep breath.

“So, I’m gonna start drinking now. I hope it’s okay with you because I might not show up until tomorrow morning,” he finished teasingly and giving her a hopeful look.

Hermione laughed, “That’s fine by me. But maybe on your way to the bar you could stop by the café and make sure Krum’s getting on alright?”

“Sure boss,” Jude replied, turning again to leave.

“Oh, and Jude!” Hermione called, coming after him, “This is yours.”

She pulled out something from her pocket and dropped the diamond ring into his hand, “That’ll make some woman really happy someday.”

Jude stared at her for a second before shaking himself out of thought, “Thanks. I’m gonna go now.”

“Okay,” she said, watching him go.

Hermione sighed. She was thankful that Jude had finally realised on his own that they could never be and had bowed out gracefully. The last thing she needed was some match off between Harry and Jude over her.

She turned towards the desk that had Sienna’s mobile on it, deciding that she would make her call to Father before leaving to meet with Harry.

Hermione was knocked from her thoughts as Jeremy bumped into her, sending the pot of tea flying all over his shirt.

“Shit!” Jeremy cursed, dropping the pot and immediately fanning out his shirt from the hot liquid.

“Here let me,” Hermione told him, grabbing her wand from the inside pocket of her jacket and pointing it at him, “Scourgify.”

A thick, purple beam of light illuminated from Hermione’s wand and shot at Jeremy’s chest, flinging him across the room. Jeremy smashed into the wall and slid down in a heap on the ground.

Quickly, Colgan and Matthews ran up and tried to help him as Hermione stood there, wide eyed, and gaping at what she had just done.

“Hermione what the hell?” called Sienna who was also helping Jeremy.

“I-I-” she stuttered, completely bewildered at the strange surge of power from her wand. She glanced down and her stomach turned.

“What the hell…”

“Hermione?!” Sienna called again, still waiting for an answer.

“This- this isn’t my wand!”

---

Sorry you guys didn’t get to see what you really wanted to but I promise all the action is in next chapter. And with any luck (and time on my part) it’ll be up by tomorrow!

Thank you for the reviews and please keep it up!

22. Crashing Down

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 20: Crashing Down

---

“What are you talking about, Hermione?”

“This- this…” her mind was reeling, wondering how the darker and slightly longer wand had come into her possession and just where exactly was her wand? Was this a joke, or something more serious?

“No way…” Hermione muttered to herself. It would make sense. She knew she had her own wand earlier yesterday afternoon and she hadn’t used it since she thought that someone was moving towards Krum. Then she bumped into someone and dropped her wand… could it be?

‘No, no, no. He wasn’t even in the lobby when I was checking in.’

Hermione snapped her head up from the strange wand, “Hoffman, I need the WDD. Apparate to headquarters and bring it back immediately.”

She nodded and then disappeared a second later. Sienna turned to Hermione with an irritated look, “Hermione, what’s going on?”

“This isn’t my wand,” Hermione told her, holding it out in her palm for her to observe.

Sienna’s mouth fell open as she studied the more masculine wand. She started to shake her head, “Who else’s could it be?”

Hermione bit her lip and opened her mouth about to speak, when Hoffman cracked back into the room.

“I have it,” she said setting the wand detector device that their team had built using Donavinci’s instructions down on the table.

Hermione walked forward slowly, her eyes glued to the wand, wondering what the majestic box would divulge about it. She was eager to find out but strangely hesitant as well. Almost as if she knew she wasn’t going to like what she found.

Tapping the top of the box with the wand, the lid flew open to reveal a long cylindrical spindle floating in the middle. Hermione placed the wand in the crevice of the spindle, shared a tentative look with Sienna, and then closed the lid.

Everyone hovered around the table, waiting in silence as the box gradually began to hum louder and louder to the point where it was vibrating.

Without notice, the noise stopped and the box became still. Sienna sent another cautious look to Hermione but she was still staring at the box like her life depended on it.

The lid cracked open to signal that it’s task was complete. Hermione steadily lifted it open until the group could see the yellowish colour of parchment wound around the spindle.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as she grabbed the edge of the parchment and began to pull it towards her, reading over it piece by piece.

“Oh my god,” she muttered, staring down at the picture of the wand’s owner.

…

“Hello,” greeted the female voice of the hostess at the resort’s café, “Table for one?”

“For two actually. My wife will be joining me shortly,” replied Harry with a smile. It felt right to be referring Hermione as his wife again.

The hostess nodded politely, “Of course,” she said scribbling something down on the clipboard in front of her before looking up and past Harry, “How about you sir?”

Harry turned to glance at the person behind him and really wished he hadn’t when his eyes came in contact with the bloke that had been escorting Hermione around last night. The bloke he had interpreted as Hermione’s new husband.

“Will you be expecting company?”

“Err, no,” Jude answered her awkwardly, tearing his eyes away from Harry’s, “I’d just like a seat at the bar.”

An apologetic look came over the girl’s face, “I’m sorry sir, but the bar doesn’t open until noon.”

“Of course it doesn’t,” Jude mumbled despairingly, “Well thank you anyways.”

“But, if you’d like I could give you a table in the restaurant and you could order drinks from there,” she offered, “We already have some Europeans in there who like fine vodka with there pancakes.”

Jude let out a laugh and scratched the back of his head, still avoiding Harry’s look, “Um, okay.”

“Great, you two can go ahead and take a seat while I go prepare your tables,” she finished motioning towards the cushioned benches lining the walls, “I’ll be back shortly.”

“Thank you,” Harry and Jude said at the same time. They looked at each other, aversion in both their eyes.

Jude was the first to look away, not wanting to make anything of the situation. Harry, on the other hand, couldn’t help himself.

“Are you Jude Granger?” he asked trying to keep the bitterness from his tone.

Jude exhaled deeply, “No. I’m Jude Stewart.”

Harry nodded to show his comprehension. In reality, that only opened up more questions for him. Why was Hermione now Hermione Granger if she wasn’t married?

“I’m Harry-”

“Yeah, I know who you are,” Jude put in, still not meeting his eyes.

Harry frowned at the other man’s inflexibility. He must have been set on not wanting to pay Harry any attention.

“How do you know Hermione?” Harry persisted. He had a right to know who this man was and how he played a role in Hermione’s life… and just how important that role was.

Jude sighed again, “We work together.”

“Do you take your colleagues to balls often?” Harry inquired giving Jude a hard look.

Jude sent a sideways glance at Harry and shrugged, “We’re friends. She was invited to the ball and, as a friend, I offered to go with her.”

“Friends?”

“Yep.”

“Then explain to me why she was wearing a ring? And why you said you were the bloke that took her off the market? That’s a bit much for just friends, wouldn’t you say?”

Jude swallowed. He had never been intimidated by another man before, but then again he had never been interrogated by the ex of a woman he was in love with.

“It was just a joke. We were doing it for fun.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you grabbing her arse throughout the night was just for fun,” Harry replied.

“Look man, you can believe what you want but Hermione and I are not together-”

“That doesn’t mean you don’t want to be. I know what a man in love with Hermione looks like…” Harry trailed off, starting to get heated.

“Yeah well,” Jude responded looking down into his lap, “I’m not going to compete with someone she used to be married to. Just,” he finally faced Harry and looked him in the eyes, “speaking as someone who never had a shot with her, you’re lucky enough to have a second chance, so don’t screw it up.”

Harry stared back unwavering, “I’m not going to.”

Jude stood up, “Alright then. I’m just gonna go.” He began walking in the opposite direction back towards the elevators when he stopped and turned back to Harry, “Look, you’re then one that makes her happy… and I’m not going to come between that. I hope it works out for you two.”

Harry didn’t know how to respond to his sincerity. Finally he nodded, “Thanks.”

Jude didn’t say anything else and just continued walking towards the lifts.

‘I guess he’s not such a bad bloke,’ Harry thought to himself as he leaned back against the bench feeling much more tranquil, ‘I can’t really blame him for being in love with Hermione…’

The bench Harry was sitting on began vibrating slightly, making Harry sit up more alert. He looked around and up, seeing that the chandelier was trembling as well. It felt like a charge of some sort was pulsing through the building.

Harry had felt a charge like this before, but that was nearly ten years ago when Voldemort was exploding the Great Hall of Hogwarts…

Harry’s eyes widened and his head jerked to the half crowded restaurant, particularly to where Viktor Krum was seated.

“GET DOWN!” was all Harry could shout before there was a ear-splitting boom. Moments went by in which all Harry could hear was the deafening ringing in his ears. It was another few seconds before Harry could start to register people’s screams.

He looked up from his crouched position only to see smoke hazing his view. Immediately, his hand reached for his wand in his wrist holster and brandished it at his side, ready to perform a spell at any time.

Harry was just about to turn and run into the restaurant for Krum when the smoke began to dissipate a few feet in front of him, enough for him to see the form of a man squirming on the ground. It was obvious he was hurt by the way he was moving.

Harry ran forward and grabbed the man under the arms and pulled him out of the open lobby and behind the bench.

His stomach wrenched when he seen the bloody and ashen face of Jude.

…

Hermione, Sienna, and Jeremy entered the elevator and pressed the button for the main floor.

“Hermione-”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” Hermione said quickly to her friend. She was in no state to have a conversation about anything having to do with him.

“We’ll be right behind you boss,” Jeremy said this time, squeezing Hermione’s shoulder, “If he does anything remotely suspicious, we’ll be there.”

Hermione closed her eyes and nodded. She felt sick. Like she wanted vomit away everything she just discovered about the man she had been married to for six years. The man she had just slept with less than 12 hours ago. The man she wanted to share a life with again.

She felt the gun holstered in the back of her jeans dig into her flesh.

“Oh my god,” she muttered, staring down at the picture of the wand’s owner.

Sienna did a double take at the picture, “Holy shit, Hermione! That- that’s-”

“Harry,” Hermione said, her face instantly paling. Only this man wasn’t her Harry, not the Harry Evans she knew. This Harry was wearing wire framed glasses and had a lightening bolt shaped scar over his right eye.

“Harry Potter?” Jeremy asked reading the name on the parchment, “He was the guy that defeated that dark wizard over in Britain right? How’d you get Harry Potter’s wand?”

Sienna looked guardedly into Hermione’s face, “Hermione…”

“You four,” she pointed to Jeremy, Matthews, Colgan, and Hoffman, “I want you back at headquarters now to find me everything on Harry Potter. You‘ve got three minutes.”

The four agents apparated away instantaneously, leaving Hermione and Sienna alone.

“Herm-”

“I swear I never knew.”

“I know you didn’t, Hermione… what are you going to do?”

Sienna seen the answer in Hermione’s helpless brown eyes and didn’t say anything further on the matter.

The four agents were back in less then two and a half minutes, and immediately began relating everything they found while passing Hermione a folder.

“Harry James Potter, born July 31st, 1981 to Lily Evans Potter and James Potter,” started off Matthews. Hermione shut her eyes, trying to fight her tears back. Her Harry was Harry James Evans born July 31st, 1981. She couldn’t just write that off as a coincidence.

Sienna watched Hermione as she bowed her head and contorted her face. She looked back up to the agents, “Please go wait on the balcony, we’ll call you when we’re ready to take action.”

“Hermione,” Sienna said quietly after the others had left, “I need to know if you can do this.”

Hermione cleared her head and opened her eyes, wanting to slap herself for being so weak, “I can handle it.”

“Are you sure-”

“I said I can handle it!” she repeated, pulling the folder towards her and opening it. Inside there where various newspaper articles, pages scanned from books, and moving pictures.

Hermione’s breath caught in her throat when she seen a picture of a young, skinny dark haired boy and a lanky redhead with freckles standing next to a lake, grinning innocently at her.

“Hey, wasn’t that Harry’s best man at your wedding?” Sienna asked, “Ron or something? You guy‘s got him an entire cake for himself…”

Hermione just nodded her head, setting the pictures down and beginning to sort through the articles. There was one in there about the night Harry’s parents died, and then another about Harry having to do with the Sorcerer’s Stone when he was a first year.

Hermione stopped when the title of a front page caught her eye.

‘Sirius Black Escapes From Azkaban’ read the page followed by a picture of a man that was covered in dirt and grime, with his cheeks sunken in and his hair a greasy mess. But underneath the filth, Hermione could detect the faint signs of the handsome face of the Sirius she knew and loved.

“Mass murderer and faithful servant to the Dark Lord, Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban after being held there for 12 years. Sirius Black was imprisoned for murdering the Potter’s best friend, Peter Pettigrew. He was also known to betray the Potter’s hideout to the Dark Lord, resulting in the murder of James and Lily Potter.” Sienna finished morosely.

She glanced up to Hermione who was staring at the picture shaking her head, “This can’t be. I know Sirius and he’s not a murder. He’s never been to prison. For Pete’s sake, Harry looks at him like a father!”

“Mi-”

Hermione continued to shake her head, “No! I just- I can’t believe this!”

Sienna made her friend face her, “Hermione, you have to admit, it’s a bit odd. We’re here to protect Krum because another group of wizards are out to kill him. And look,” Sienna pointed down to one of the newspaper pages showing a picture of the four Triwizard Champions, “Harry obviously knows Krum. What if…”

“Harry’s not a killer,” Hermione said defiantly.

“The Harry you know doesn’t exist,” Sienna said more firmly.

Hermione just stared at her silently, a pleading look in her eyes. Finally, something clicked in her head that made her snap out of her trance. She straightened her back and lifted her chin, “What do you want me to do?”

The elevator began to quiver slightly, and the above lights flicked out a few times.

“What’s going on?” Jeremy asked, grabbing onto the side railing.

“I have no idea,” Sienna said, pulling out her wand, “Is it an earthquake?”

There was a thunderous noise and the elevator jolted, throwing Sienna, Hermione, and Jeremy to the ground. The lights died a second later, leaving the three in darkness.

“What the hell was that?” Sienna asked again.

“We need to get down to the ground floor now,” Hermione said quickly, standing up from the floor.

“What’s the rush?” questioned Jeremy.

“Krum is having breakfast in the restaurant right now. Is it just me or did that noise sound a little to much like an explosion?”

“Fuck,” Jeremy said, jumping up as well.

“Apparate now!”

…

The three reappeared on the ground floor by the elevators. Their visions where clouded by a thick fog of smoke and ash, making it difficult to evaluate the room.

“I’m going for Krum!” Sienna said taking off in the direction where she knew the restaurant was.

Hermione turned to Jeremy who was shooting an extinguisher spell at the corner of the room which had caught fire, “Just keep a look out okay? I’m going to help.”

“Shouldn’t I stick with you?” Jeremy asked, knowing that Hermione only had Harry’s wand and a muggle gun.

“I’ll be fine!” Hermione turned around and noticed that the smoke had began to clear, letting her see into the lobby. She ran forward a bit, wanting to make sure that no muggles were hurt and that they were making their way for an exit.

She saw the form of two people; one sprawled on the ground and another hovering over him. The closer she got, the more clearly she could see that the man on the ground was shaking and covered in blood while the other was waving a stick at him.

She ran forward some more and then suddenly stopped, staring wide eyed at the two people.

It was Jude covered in blood, and it was Harry waving a wand at him.

Hermione began to tremble, realising that Harry was cursing Jude. Harry lifted his head and stopped what he was doing when he seen her.

“Hermione!”

…

“Stop moving!” Harry shouted at Jude again. He kept trying to lift his hand into his coat pocket but Harry would push his hand down every time.

“Subsisto Cruor!” Harry tried again, waving his wand over Jude’s chest. Again, the wand did nothing except spit out a few sparks. “Dammit!” Harry yelled. Why wasn’t his wand working? Jude would surely die soon if he couldn’t do something to stop the bleeding.

“Subsisto Cruor, Subsito Cruor, Subsisto Cruor!”

Again, nothing happened so Harry looked up, hoping to find an easy way out to where he could apparate Jude to Sirius or someone who could help.

He was just turning to look for the lobby doors when he thought he seen someone. Jerking his head back, he paled when he seen Hermione standing in the middle of the lobby, staring down at Jude.

Harry was just about to call for her to get out of here when he seen a bloke running up behind her. He positive that the man had a wand in his hand.

“Hermione-” he screamed before the man shot a bolt of orange light shooting at him.

…

“FLATUS ABSENTIS!” shouted Jeremy next to Hermione, aiming at the man cursing Jude.

The raven haired wizard flew back and slammed into the opposite wall, leaving a human sized dent before he fell back down to the ground.

Hermione wanted to scream out for Harry, but stopped herself and instead followed Jeremy to Jude.

“I need to get him back to headquarters!” Jeremy said, looking desperately at Hermione. She wasn’t watching Jeremy though, she was gazing down into Jude’s wounded face. His eyes were barely open but staring into hers avidly. Her body was filled with guilt as he grabbed onto her hand and gave it a faint squeeze.

“Hermione!”

She turned back to Jeremy, “Get him out of here!”

Jeremy and Jude vanished an instant later, and Hermione stood looking around to get a grip on her surroundings.

More wizards had piled into the would-be lobby and were flinging spells in every direction. She could see a few of her own (Matthews, Colgan, Bear, Hoffman) out in the fight, doing their best to hold their own.

“AVADA KEDAVRA!” a voice shouted coming from the restaurant. On instinct, Hermione ducked and pulled out the muggle gun before moving as fast as she could towards the restaurant. Not only was Krum in there but Sienna was as well, and Hermione had a horrible feeling that that killing curse had just ended someone’s life.

---

23. Crushed

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 21: Crushed

---

[a/n] 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

---

“AVADA KEDAVRA!” a voice shouted coming from the restaurant. On instinct, Hermione ducked and pulled out the muggle gun before moving as fast as she could towards the restaurant. Not only was Krum in there but Sienna was as well, and Hermione had a horrible feeling that that killing curse had just ended someone’s life.

---

“SIENNA!?” Hermione shouted, half crawling, half running through the wreckage in search for her best friend.

“I’m here!” Sienna answered her, crouching behind an overturned table, grasping on to the shaking form of someone.

“Ezkiel’s dead,” she told Hermione as she made her way over, “I’ve got Krum, but we’ve got to get out now. Hermione…” Sienna trailed off looking seriously into her eyes, “Ezekiel was about to murder Krum. Someone gave him an AK in the back before he could finish his own curse.”

“What?” Hermione asked incredulously, looking over to the dead body in front of them, “That’s…”

She was on the verge of saying that it was impossible that Ezekiel was a wizard. But with his odd behaviour last night to her, and Krum especially, it was actually highly possible. Although, why would Silas have such an interest in Viktor? Unless…

“It all makes sense- Ezekiel is the evil step brother! ‘Ducks in a row’- why didn’t I see it before?” Hermione asked, wanting to kick herself.

Krum had lifted his trembling, ghost white face from his hands and was staring wildly at Sienna and Hermione, “Who are you people?!”

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked to Sienna, “We need to get him out of here. It’s a mess out there and Jeremy and Jude have already gone-”

“What happened?” Sienna asked in a panic.

“Jude- Jude’s…” Hermione began strongly before shaking her head, “Start heading for the atrium. I’ll head into the lobby and help the others-”

“Hermione, you don’t even have a wand! You take Krum and I’ll go after everyone else,” Sienna argued rationally, giving Hermione an irrefutable look.

“I can handle it!” Hermione returned, not wanting to admit that she wanted to stay particularly to watch over Harry.

“This isn’t up for dispute, Hermione! Seriously, just get back to headquarters and make sure Jude’s okay.”

Hermione knew she was right and that it’d be extremely unwise for her to throw herself in a situation where she couldn’t fully protect herself, much less her team.

“Fine, come on,” she relented, grabbing one of Viktor’s arms and helping Sienna hoist him up onto his feet.

“W-Where are you taking me?” he asked as they began to lead him forward.

“We’re taking you to a safe place until we can turn you over to your own authorities-” Sienna was finishing her sentence when a stack of plates crashed to the floor a few feet in front of them. Hermione didn’t hesitate firing a shot in the direction of the shattered dishes, convinced that she saw a lone foot, up to the ankle, walking on the ground before something veiled over it, causing it to vanish.

The bullet didn’t hit the wall, but did hit something that emitted a low, pained gasp. Pieces of glass and wood on the ground cracked as the invisible something stepped on it, obviously trying to make a quick escape.

Hermione and Sienna tugged Krum back behind the overturned table and began shooting at the object- jinx and curses for Sienna and bullets for Hermione.

More cracking footsteps could be heard, alerting Hermione and Sienna that the wizard was heading for the double kitchen doors as they swung open and close.

Sienna stood, readying herself to go after it when Hermione grabbed onto her arm tightly, “Forget it, we don’t have time.”

She nodded in agreement before both women and Krum took off as stealthy and guardedly as they could towards the exit of the restaurant.

…

“HARRY! HARRY!”

The raven haired wizard lolled his head to the side, “Hermione…” he moaned, reaching out blindly.

“Shit Harry, snap out of it!” spoke Sirius’s voice in a rush.

“Sirius? Bloody hell,” he grunted, grabbing at the back of his head and finally taking a look around, “Where’s Hermione? And what happened to that bloke? Fuck Sirius, my magic wasn’t working!”

Sirius looked at him worriedly, “I haven’t seen Hermione, and I don’t know what bloke you’re talking about, but look Harry- we’ve been ambushed,” as he said that another booming sound exploded by the reception area, blowing the fancy granite and gold trimmed counters to smithereens, “I need to find a clear spot where I can concentrate to get some anti-apparition wards up. Are you alright to cover for me?”

Harry nodded without a thought, “Yeah yeah, go…”

“Don’t do anything stupid!” he yelled as he was taking off for the corridor that lead to the ballroom.

“STUPEFY! BOMBARDA!” Harry could hear the fierce yells of Ginny coming from a few feet away. She was being backed into a corner by two muscled wizards who had both easily deflected her spells with a flick of their wrist.

The man on the left then raised his wand, aiming it at Ginny’s throat while the one on the right started reaching a hand out to grab her.

Harry could see Ron, George, Fred, Remus and the rest of the order that had come to help all dealing with their own duels. Quickly he grabbed for his malfunctioning wand, and ran towards Ginny and the two Bulgarians.

“Expelliarmus!” he shouted towards the one on the left as he was approaching them. To no surprise, the wand only spat out a few sparks.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered as the two men turned, realising they were about to be attacked. The man on the right extended his wand arm, preparing to fire a curse at Harry. Doing some quick thinking, Harry yanked the man forward by his wand hand and punched him square in the throat. Ginny followed his lead by taking the opportunity to curse the other man while his back was turned.

“Stupefy Maximos!” she shouted before a bolt of deep red energy blasted the other wizard across the room.

“Are you alright?” Harry asked, clutching onto her shoulders for balance.

“I’m fine- why didn’t your spell work?” she questioned perplexedly.

“I have no fucking clue! It went all wonky when this started up,” he finished motioning around to the fighting and destruction.

“Where did all these wizards come from?” she asked somewhat frantically, having just pulled Harry and herself into a crouching position after a spell flew an inch over both their heads. When they looked up they caught even more people spilling into the entrance hall; all with wands in their hands.

“I don’t know, but we won’t be able to take all of them like this,” he returned hurriedly, “We need to get out of here and regroup!”

“Where’s Krum?”

“I don’t know- he was supposedly in the restaurant…” Harry said, glancing at the café across the room. After seeing the annihilated entrance, it seemed impossible that anyone could be alive inside.

“Harry we have to go see…” she trailed off as more spells and crashes could be heard nearby.

Harry nodded knowingly. Afterall it was the whole reason they were in this sodding town in the first place. This would all have been for not it they left without Krum.

“Alright, we’ll check for Krum and then we’re gone,” he told her, making sure the coast was clear before he grabbed her hand and pulled her up with him, the both of them hurrying towards the café. ‘And get Hermione also…’ he added to himself, praying to the gods that his wife was okay.

…

“Sienna, we need a distraction. We can’t just go walking out into the middle of a battle with him,” Hermione said sensibly, nodding curtly in Krum’s direction.

“Uh,” Sienna voiced, looking out into the hazed filled lobby for ideas. Beyond the smoke and spell-fire she caught the sparkle of the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

“I got it,” she muttered, pointing her wand towards the chandelier and concentrating hard on what she was about to do.

“Fragoraux!” she screamed in French. Hermione and Krum watched as the beam of steal blue light sped towards the ceiling piece and circled it.

Not a moment went by before the chains began to snap and the chandelier’s support became weaker and weaker.

“When it falls, cast a shield for us to apparate,” Hermione instructed Sienna and Krum, grasping the gun tighter in her hand.

Finally, the fifth and final chain broke, sending the chandelier catapulting towards the ground.

…

Their was a rumbling crack coming from above them, and Harry looked upwards to see the resort’s expensive chandelier hanging limply from one of it’s five chains.

He didn’t have time to warn Ginny as the last chain broke, but instead grabbed her waist and spun the both of them around so his back was facing the impending danger.

As the chandelier shattered against the tile floor, Harry could feel pieces of the crystal and glass cutting into his legs and back. He gritted his teeth and waited until the ringing in his ears was over before he let go of Ginny.

“Harry?” she asked, her voice muffled.

Realising that they had fallen forward and that he was on top of her, Harry rolled to the side, careful of his torn up back, “Sorry.”

“Shit Harry,” Ginny muttered lowly, taking in the state of his bloody back, “Come on, we need to get out of here.”

Ginny helped him stand, holding her arms gently around his middle as he threw an arm over her shoulders.

Harry glanced up in order to see where he was walking but stopped short when he seen the figures of three people, a man in the middle of two women, staring straight at him from a few feet away.

…

Hermione looked into the eyes of Harry, standing extremely close to a woman with a wand pointing up towards Harry’s chin. Her mind immediately went to the fear that he had been captured and was about to be hurt by this woman. But with another, more close look, all of her naïve fears vanished and were replaced with fury.

The look of shock on her face fell into a frown as her eyes darted to the stupid, whorish, redhead’s arms wrapped around Harry and the wand also grasped there.

Harry followed her vision and glanced down before he jerked his head up again, already knowing what she was thinking, “No, no, no- Hermione, it’s not what it looks like!”

Sienna could feel the aura around Hermione intensified and for a brief second felt sorry for Potter.

Hermione was glowering obstinately at Harry who was beginning to turn into a blubbering fool. All of the functional magic left within her began to fire up and race throughout her.

Harry had now broken away from Ginny‘s hold and was pointing at his back, “I’m bleeding! See, blood-” before he could utter another suppliant word, the café’s cushioned bench tore away from it’s built in position against the wall and flew at Ginny and Harry.

They tried to duck as fast as they could but were still waylaid by the flying furniture. By the force of the hit they were pushed back a few feet with the wind completely knocked out of them.

“Can we go now?” Hermione asked brusquely, impatience and irritation obvious in her tone.

“Contego ex vulnero,” Sienna spoke, swishing her wand and ending with a jab. A light yellow vapour accumulated around the three of them that would protect them from outside dangers and break free from wards if any had been set up.

‘Everyone, back to headquarters!’ Hermione ordered in her head, hoping that her team would be able to hear her given all of their distractions.

“Ready?” Sienna asked, getting a firm grip on Krum.

Hermione couldn’t help but glance back to see if Harry was up. He was staggering up from the couch and looked up, catching her eye. How could she have been so stupid to actually think that he was being honest when he said he wanted her back?

Before she could think or feel anything else, she nodded to Sienna and apparated back to the safety of headquarters.

…

“She-She just- did she? Wha?” Harry spun around wildly to Ginny with a crazy look in his eyes.

“Oh god…” Ginny mumbled bleakly staring at the spot where Harry’s ex just performed magic.

“Did you see that too?!”

“She just apparated… with Krum… She’s a-”

“That BITCH!” Harry roared in outrage. If they weren’t in the middle of a battle, Ginny might of found Harry comical by the way he so violently changed behaviours.

“Harry-”

“After years of me feeling guilty for not telling her I’m a wizard-”

“Harry!”

“-She’s been keeping just as many secrets as me. If not more!”

“HARYY WATCH OUT!” Ginny pushed Harry gown just in time to miss the bolt of green aimed at him.

“Look Harry, we can figure out what’s going on with her later- right now we need to worry about getting out alive. Since we know Krum’s not here…”

Harry scoffed and shook his head furiously.

“We need to signal the retreat.”

They shared a look before he nodded and stood up, thrusting his flat hand in the air.

“Prendre la Fuite!”

A beautiful misty blue phoenix burst into flight from Harry’s hand and flew throughout the battle gracefully. It weaved it’s way throughout the wizards before flying out the shattered doors into the midday sky.

Harry turned back to Ginny with a sour look evident on his face, “Alright, let’s go.”

Together, the two ran off in search for Sirius and a safe exit.

…

Sienna and Hermione walked back into the apparition room after putting Krum in a room and casting a strong sleeping charm on him.

Thankfully, most of the agents had already returned, and more where still arriving.

“Listen up!” Hermione yelled over them, “We need two to go back and sweep our hotel room.”

“We’ll do it,” offered Matthews for him and Colgan. Hermione ordered them off and they disappeared with two cracks a second later.

“Now, if you’re hurt in anyway get down to the infirmary for care. I want the rest of you finding out who the hell everyone else was in that lobby!”

The agents all started heading off in two directions, either to their desk or the medical wing to get their fixes.

Hermione and Sienna where turning back to each other when the door burst open down the hall and Jeremy stormed through, his eyes trained on the floor and his hands curled into fists.

“What’s the matter?” Sienna asked.

Jeremy only shook his head and continued past them.

“I’m gonna kill him, I’m gonna fucking kill that guy,” they could hear him muttering under his breath.

Sienna frowned and quickly followed him, “Kill who? Jeremy? Jeremy stop!”

He had turned the corner and reached the weapons ward where the teams artillery where kept. Jeremy was punching in the pass code when Sienna swiftly grabbed his arm and spun him around.

“Sanders answer me!”

“No I-I’m…”

“Jeremy, where’s Jude?” Hermione asked quietly from behind Sienna.

Jeremy stopped spluttering and stared at Hermione over Sienna’s shoulder. His chin was wobbling but his mouth was still firmly shut.

“He’s dead.”

The room became deadly silent as Sienna took a trembling step back and Hermione stared helplessly at Jeremy.

“We couldn’t stop the bleeding...” he carried on, his hands shaking.

Hermione fell against the wall and slid to the floor with her head in her hands.

Harry had killed him… Harry had murdered Jude.

…

Hermione was in her office, her fingers steepled underneath her chin, and her eyes glaring at the handsome and familiar face of Harry Potter. After Matthews and Colgan had gotten back from clearing out their suite, Hermione had snuck away with Harry’s file and his wand. She needed some time to wrap her head around all the betrayal, fury, and guilt she was dealing with.

She knew she should have gone down to pay her respects to Jude’s body but she felt much too culpable. She felt undeserving.

There was a knock at the door and Sienna entered their joint office.

“I have Jude’s parents address… The story is that he was in a car accident early this morning,” she said numbly, gripping the folder in her hands.

Hermione nodded shortly, abhorring the fact that she’d have to lie to Jude’s mother and father. They’d be devastated enough and lying to them wouldn’t exactly be respecting Jude’s memory.

“Do you want me to-”

“I’ll do it.”

A few moments of quiet went by before Sienna felt secure enough to speak, “Hermione, what are you going to do about him?”

She again looked down to the photograph of Harry, giving her a cheeky lopsided smile. She didn’t hesitate for a moment before tearing the picture right down the middle and throwing it in the rubbish bin.

She turned back to Sienna with a hard look in her eye.

“It’s for the best ‘Mi,” Sienna said gently.

Hermione stared at her friend intensely before looking down to her desk, her eyebrows furrowed. Finally, all of the emotions she was feeling where fighting to the surface but she refused to the let them show.

Taking a deep breath, she looked back at Sienna about to speak.

“I-”

She was cut off by obnoxious ringing coming from the office phone on her desk.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Hermione, I was hoping you’d be there,” spoke the old aged voice of Father.

“Yes sir,” Hermione replied, “We have Krum in a room downstairs. Silas Ezekiel was the half-brother, but he was murdered by a third party. And Jude… Jude Stewart was killed in combat. We aborted before anyone else could get hurt.”

“I’ll make the Stewart’s will be taken care of. But the important thing is that the mission was successful.”

Hermione felt a pinch of anger at Father’s statement. It almost sounded… cruel. But alas, that’s how it was in this business. Your mission ranks higher than your life.

“Sir, I’m sorry about this morning. I-I-”

“Hermione, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I once thought I was in love as well. Our loved ones have a special way of manipulating us, wouldn’t you say?”

Hermione frowned into the phone. She wasn’t referring to that and she really hadn’t expected him to say anything about that at all. It made her feel even more stupid that Father somehow knew about what she and Harry had done.

“Sir, I never knew that he-”

“I have to admit to you that I have had my reservations on your ex-husband for quite some time now, and they were confirmed about a year ago when I seen him dealing weapons to bosses of the wizarding underworld. And then I knew for sure when I sent people to follow him at dinners with Silas Ezekiel. They’ve been plotting this for quite some time, Hermione. I had a suspicion that he would try to lure you into bed, attempting to lower your inhibitions, and then do something to hurt you.”

Hermione remained on the phone, her head swimming and mouth gapping.

“Just know, that I understand if you do not want to go forth on this mission because he is your ex-husband. From the extent of damage he did this morning, I think it’d be safe to say he could trick you again. I already have a team in waiting to take over for you. Perhaps it’s best if you go on sabbatical for a few months-”

“NO,” Hermione finally cut in, just short form screaming at Father for basically accusing her of being weak. He may not have known it, but Hermione was extremely insulted. Did Father really think she was just some silly little bint that would fall apart at any sign of Harry?

“Sir, your team won’t be necessary. Sienna and I are capable of handling this.”

She could hear Father sigh, “Well, if you’re sure. But Hermione, don’t get in over your head. Harry Potter is a powerful wizard and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Hermione bit her lip and took a calming breath, “I’ll have Harry Potter either tied up at your feet or dead by the end of the week. We’ll report back to you with details once we get sorted.”

She hung up the phone without her usual polite goodbye and looked up to Sienna with determination outlined in her face.

“I need a new wand.”

…

Father leaned back in his old leather chair, smiling to himself jovially. So far the day had been a little out of order, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He didn’t need that young immature brat Ezekiel telling him what to do. It was easier that he be dead.

He hadn’t intended that Harry Potter still be living by the day’s end… but with a little pushing and prying, he expected that Hermione would soon take care of him.

---

REVIEW!

24. Revealed

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 24: Revealed

---

[A/N]: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I know it’s been forever and I won’t bore you with excuses, but just know that I’ve been working on finishing this and Safe Harbor. Thanks to all the reviewers and everyone who’s still interested!

---

“Sirius!” Harry yelled, rounding the corner with Ginny and finally seeing his godfather.

Sirius’s concentrated look broke and he jerked his head up, “What?”

“Stop, we need to apparate out. I’ve already sent the phoenix out to let everyone know.”

“Do we have Krum?”

“Krum’s gone. We’ll explain back at head quarters,” Harry finished, grabbing on to Ginny’s arm so she could apparate them. The pain in his back was making his head spin in circles, and all he wanted to do was get back to Grimmauld Place.

“Sirius,” Ginny voiced just as he was about to protest. She nodded down to the blood soaking through Harry’s shirt.

Sirius’s eyes darted back to the lobby where he could tell the Order was getting tired and overwhelmed. He looked back to Harry and Ginny and nodded, “Fine, let’s go.”

---

The three appeared simultaneously in the sitting room at Grimmauld Place.

“Now will you tell me what happened with Krum?” Sirius asked more sternly.

Harry grabbed on to one of cabinet stands for support, “He was taken.”

“By who?” Sirius asked again, the alarm evident in his voice. Ginny shot a nervous glance at Harry.

Harry opened his mouth to answer when a series of cracks were heard a few feet away.

“Who the bloody hell were all those wizards?” asked Fred immediately, out of breath and with blood flowing from his nose.

“Who got Krum?” Charlie questioned next, easing Ernie Macmillan onto the sofa.

“He was taken before we could get to him,” Ginny answered for Harry coming over to help.

“What do you mean he was taken?!” asked Ron this time who had just apparated in with George and Lupin.

Ginny paused from cleaning up Fred’s face and looked back to Harry, “Tell them.”

“Tell us what? Who took Krum, Harry?” Remus asked.

Taking a look at him, Sirius knew Harry wasn‘t going to talk with the crowd of people around him, “Everyone who’s hurt, head into the kitchen so you can get some potions. We‘ll regroup in thirty,” Sirius ordered.

The group of about thirty-five started to shift and limp out of the sitting room. Ron instantly approached Harry, “What the hell’s going on?”

“I’d like to know as well Harry, where‘s Krum?” Sirius asked, staring hard at his godson.

“He- he…” Harry was so frustrated. How could they expect him to relate what he had just seen? Even the mental image of her was making his anger swell.

“Hermione took him.”

The group was silent for a moment. Sirius, Remus, and Ron looked completely dumbfounded.

“What?!”

“Hermione and Sienna grabbed Krum and apparated him in the middle of the lobby,” Harry answered flatly. Truth was he was feeling the same confusion and outrage himself.

“Harry, that’s impossible. Think about what you’re saying,” Sirius said after a second.

“I seen her too,” Ginny told them, “And that wasn’t all. Right before she apparated she levitated a couch right at our heads.”

“Brilliant,” Ron scoffed, “You’ve been living with a double crossing bitch-”

“Enough Ron. This is worse enough without you rubbing it in his face,” Remus interjected, holding up a wise hand.

Ron stopped talking but Harry was already shaking his head in disbelief. More so, he was disappointed and pissed at himself that he didn‘t pick up on it before now. He was Harry Bloody Potter- wasn‘t that what he was good at?

“I can’t believe her… I can‘t believe I fell for this.”

“You thought you were in love,” Remus tried consoling before Harry looked up and glared at him.

“We were in love.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to believe she didn’t try to kill you before now,” Ron shot in, not being able to help himself.

Sirius sighed and turned to Harry. After a few moments of thought, he hadn‘t been able to get around the inevitable, “Harry… I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Ron’s right. Do you really think she didn’t know who you really were right from the start?”

Harry glared at Sirius, like he was betraying him for even thinking it, “You think this was some master plan of hers?”

“You don’t? You’re her enemy- it’d be pretty beneficial for her to be constantly around you for 6 years to learn your habits and weaknesses-”

“I never showed any type of magic around her and I don’t have weaknesses!” Harry corrected him quickly.

Sirius didn‘t condemn him for his naïveté, “You obviously do…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Harry questioned him with the betrayed tone back in his voice. Is that what they all thought of him? A man of weaknesses? No, he’d done things that proved what strength and amplitude he has as an agent. How could they even question that?

Sirius didn’t relent under his godson’s hard look, “She is your weakness, Harry.”

Harry jerked his head back. That definitely wasn’t what he expected and irritated him ever more that he said so. “No, she isn’t…”

“Weaknesses aren’t just physical. You’re telling us you’d be able to hunt her down and kill her for what she’s done?” asked Remus this time.

Harry remained silent, thinking over what his father’s friends were trying to tell him. He’d never ever thought that he’d be put in the situation where Hermione was a potential suspect…

“Exactly,” Sirius nodded, thinking they had got his answer.

Harry shook his head in denial, and after a moment decided, “It’s not a weakness… I just need more proof.”

“What more proof do you need?” Ron asked, not being able to stay quiet anymore. This was the perfect opportunity for Harry to get reprisal for moping over Hermione for a year. Ron wanted so badly for him to take advantage of that and use it against her, but Harry couldn’t even seem to fully accept it yet. “She’s a murderer working with more criminals, Harry! She’s probably worse than a death eater!”

“You don’t know her like I do!” Harry cried back with the first thing that came to mind.

“Harry, you don’t know her! The Hermione Evans you know does not exist! She’s a

fabrication…”

“Listen to yourself Harry,” Ginny interjected calmly, “She’s the enemy and you’re sitting here defending her.”

“I’m not defending her, we just don’t have the whole story so ethically we shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions,” Harry returned instantly.

He was embarrassed and disappointed with himself enough as it was, so he wanted to return the focus to Hermione being a possible threat and not his estranged wife. Yes, they were married but that didn’t mean he couldn’t handle this business like a professional. He wasn’t a child anymore who let his heart and impulses lead him into disastrous situations. Even if they were dealing with a woman he was in love with. Angrily in love with.

‘Well you won’t be in love with her after you find out her record…’ Harry convinced himself with a shake of his head.

“Krum was with her when they apparated. She should be are starting point for finding him,” Ginny said sensibly, looking around for everyone‘s agreement.

“What’s the use? They weren’t after him to keep him as their pet, their goal was to kill him,” Ron muttered pessimistically.

“These people ambushed us and could have possibly done deathly harm to us. Whether it was to get Krum back or not I think we need to take action. And Ginny‘s right, that starts with Hermione,” Sirius agreed, stating it like he wasn’t about to sit back and let this other organization cut down at the Order’s reputation.

“What if she did something to you last night that affected your magic?” Ginny asked, reverting the conversation back to Harry.

“There wasn’t exactly time for that- and if she did I’m pretty sure I would have noticed,” he answered, his cheeks tingeing a bit.

“Oh nice Harry…” Ron smirked.

Remus wasn‘t phased, “What’s wrong with your magic?”

“Every time I tried a spell it didn’t work right,” Harry answered, somewhat demoralized.

“It didn’t react to the curse or it didn’t function properly?” continued Remus, his voice mixed with concern and intrigue.

Harry shook his head and reached in his pocket to pull out his wand, “It acted like it didn’t recognize me…” as he was glancing down at his wand he noticed something that made his heart wrench.

“What’s wrong?”

“Bloody hell…” he muttered, still looking at the shorter and lighter wand.

Sirius too was staring at the wand, “Harry, is that you’re wand?”

“No,” he looked up to his godfather, “It’s not.”

“I’ll be back,” Remus said, mysteriously excusing himself from the room and heading up the stairs.

“Unbelievable, it’s her wand isn’t it?” Ron questioned to Harry who made no response. “I mean, I know I’m pretty daft sometimes, but that’s-”

“Ron, shut it!” Ginny told him, giving him a warning glare.

But Ron was right. How could he not notice this before?

Footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, and a second later Remus entered with a mottled old box in his hands.

“Give it to me,” Remus told him, setting the box down and holding his hand out for the wand.

Harry handed him the wand and instantly knew what Remus was putting it in. His heart started pounding- if this was Hermione’s wand, then he’d get the verification he was looking for.

“Bet you 10 galleons it’s Hermione’s,” Ron whispered to Ginny, who promptly elbowed him in the ribs.

They all watched as Remus tapped the lid of the box with the strange wand and then placed it inside the floating tube. After closing the lid and waiting a few moments, it finally began to hum.

It wasn’t long before the noise suddenly stopped and the box became silent once more. The lid cracked open and Harry paused for a moment, feeling as if his heart could beat right out of his chest.

“Harry,” Sirius said, motioning for him to open it and take the parchment.

Harry let out a quick breath before reaching for it and pulling it out of the spindle. Instantly, his eyes were met the picture of his wife’s face.

---

Hermione stepped off the porch of the Stewart home feeling as if no weight at all had been taken off her shoulders. Telling Jude’s parents was even harder then she thought it would be, and lying to them about the circumstances made it even worse.

“How’d it go?” Sienna asked Hermione as she opened the door to her car and got in.

Hermione just shrugged and put on her seat belt.

“How’d they handle it?” she asked her friend again, even though it was a pretty silly question.

“As well as could be expected,” Hermione answered stiffly.

Sienna nodded and started the engine, sensing that Hermione obviously wasn’t up for small talk.

“Jeremy called earlier,” Sienna said after they were about a mile down the road. Hermione was replaying the memory of telling the Stewart’s, but looked to Sienna when she spoke.

“He said that him and Maggie already dropped off Jude at the morgue and that Maggie would be stationed there until further notice to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Hermione nodded, “Okay.”

“So…” Sienna trailed off, feeling Hermione’s hesitance on the next matter, “Where do we go from here?”

“I have to wait for Quentin to get back with the wand specialist,” Hermione answered quietly, her mind on other matters. After Hermione had hung up with Father, she instructed one of the more brighter interns, one who they could expense at the current moment, to bring her a wand maker with some wands fitting her prototype. She only told him the stats of her wand, and didn’t give him any further details like who to bring or where to go so she hoped he was doing okay.

Sienna nodded automatically, already knowing this. It seemed it was going to be harder to get her to talk then she thought.

“Hermione, how are we going to handle Potter?”

Hermione’s first instinct was to send a glare at Sienna for her even mentioning the one person she was trying not to think about. “I haven’t decided what would be the wisest strategy yet.”

“You don’t think he’s back in London with his people planning an attack to get Krum back and destroy us along the way?”

“Do we know for a fact that he has people?” voiced Hermione, asking the question they really weren’t sure on, “What if he’s independent in all this?”

“Wasn’t his godfather there? And that woman from a year ago… I think it’s safe to say he’s apart of a group. More or less, the fact is that he was working with Ezekiel to apprehend Krum. We can‘t just let that slide.”

“I know that, Sienna. And yes, he probably is everything you‘re thinking he is,” she admitted, hoping that this knowledge would persist in her head. She was only having doubts because of the nature of their personal closeness. But the facts where facts, Harry Potter wasn’t her husband and she had to keep telling herself that.

“Another surprise attack would be devastating to our firm. And most likely, it would kill more than just one. If you don’t want Father to take this case from us, then we need to be the first out of the gate,” Sienna continued, trying to put the harsh reality as gently as possible.

Hermione sighed, her eyes closed and pinching the bridge of her nose, “What do you suggest?”

“We expose their members and hit them where it would hurt the most.”

Hermione looked at her with an impassive face, “You want to kill Harry?”

“Hermione, if you can’t do it-”

Her look and voice turned cold, “Do me a favor and don’t ever question my ability to do my job. I’d told Father I’d do it so I will.”

“He’s a bad person, ‘Mi,” Sienna told her convincingly. “And if we don’t end it, he’ll only continue hurting people. Do this for Jude,” she finished sensitively. She hated herself for playing at her friend’s insecurities but she truly felt that Hermione would need to be told these things repeatedly if she wanted to make it through the next few days without going off her rocker.

Hermione let out a breath and nodded submissively, even though she didn’t feel ready for what she was getting into at all.

---

“Well, there you have it kid. You still think you can do it?” Sirius tossed the paper in front of Harry who were now both sitting in his office on the second floor. After everyone had gotten their fare share of Hermione’s file (despite Harry’s protest that it was none of their business) Remus had announced that they would go check on everyone in the kitchen and leave Harry and Sirius to talk.

“This is just basic information on her. None of this is solid evidence,” Harry tried. And it was true, the details provided were basic. All they found was that her birth name was really Hermione Granger, and that she went to Beauxbatons for her magical education and was one of the most intelligent pupils ever admitted there. After graduating she had a brief stint with the French Ministry as an auror, but quit for unknown reasons. She hadn’t been identified in France since (even though Harry knew that she had been there because her supposed editor job was centralized in Paris). Sienna was still the same old Sienna Cosveaux he’d always known, and was Hermione‘s best friend at school.

Everything in her file hit so close to home. If Sirius’s suspicions were right, and she only married him because she knew his true name, then why wouldn’t she protect her identity more? Why would she openly invite her friends into their joint life? Harry didn’t know who she was, that was his excuse for doing it. But what was hers?

“This is too evidence, Harry. When are you going to stop with the idea that she’s an innocent magazine editor from Oxford? Face it, you don‘t know this woman and we definitely don‘t know what she‘s capable of.”

Harry stayed quiet, not having a good enough response. He knew that Sirius was right.

“I’m sorry, but how do you expect me to let you take this dangerous job when you’re so emotionally attached to the person of interest?” he went on, becoming less and less sure he was making the right decision.

“I’m not-”

“Stop bullshitting yourself, Harry! You’re denial is pointless.”

Harry stared straight into his godfather‘s eyes, “Sirius, give me the time I need so I can find out for sure.”

“And if you don’t like what you find out?”

Harry shrugged, not relenting, “Then we do what we have to do.”

“Harry, I know you. You wouldn’t be able to…” Sirius trailed off shaking his head. He knew that Harry had qualms about doing death onto any person; and if it came down to him and Hermione, Sirius feared he’d be too torn to finish it.

Harry frowned, knowing what Sirius was thinking, “When did you stop trusting me?”

“I do trust you.” Sirius answered honestly.

“Then trust that I’ll do the right thing,” Harry finished firmly. He hoped that he sounded persuasive enough.

“This is bigger than just you Harry. She could really hurt people.”

Harry gave Sirius a narrowed look, “If you’re trying to get me motivated then stop- I’m already aggravated enough.”

“We’ll give it a shot, but Harry?”

“Yeah?”

Sirius gave him the most authoritive look he could manage, “Going into this, you’ll follow everything I say. If I think it’s best for you to not be apart of this then you will leave. Do we agree?”

It took a few moments of staring each other down before Harry finally opened his mouth to answer.

“Yes.”

As Harry got up and left the office, Sirius was left to pray that his godson’s lie wouldn’t be the death of him.

---

Harry was on his way out the front door when he seen Ginny coming back from the kitchen.

“Hey, everything okay?” she asked, somewhat in a hurry.

“Yeah. I’m going to nip over to Ollivander’s real quick to see if he can do anything about a wand for me,” Harry told her, rubbing his hands over his back and doing some quick soothing charms.

Ginny noticed, “Can’t you just use your wandless magic?”

“I don’t really like relying on it you know… it never works the way it’s supposed to.”

“I’ve heard,” Ginny muttered in agreement before she looked at Harry pointedly, “Hey, did you by chance see Draco at all this morning at the Beaumont?”

Harry frowned and shook his head, “No… why what’s wrong?”

“I just realized I haven’t seen him all day,” Ginny replied with an anxious voice.

“Seriously?” asked Harry, his mind clouding with suspicions.

“Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on with him but I’m really starting to worry.”

“Do you think he’s involved in anything dangerous?” Harry asked hoping for some details.

Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head, “He’d have to talk to me for me to know that. And lately he’s just been sulking around all the bloody time.”

“Maybe it’s because of his mum,” Harry shrugged as he pulled on a hooded jacket.

Ginny sighed, “Yeah, well… I’m going to go home and check. See you back here later?”

“Yeah, see ya.”

---

Harry had disapparated to Diagon Alley and was heading down the street to Ollivander’s with his hood pulled far over his eyebrows. He hadn’t made any public appearances in magical London (except for the occasional quidditch match) in years so he didn’t fancy being followed at the moment by any onlookers. It was night now in London, so luckily not too many people were still shopping.

As he approached the door to Ollivander’s shop he noticed the presence of another person in there speaking with the old man. He passed his hand over the windowed door so he could hear what was going on.

“…any other vine wood’s with dragon string core in your inventory?”

Harry was immediately alerted to this bloke because Hermione’s stats came back that her wand was a vine wood with dragon string core as well. And he had an American accent.

“Look at my shop,” Ollivander said gesturing around to the mess of wand boxes littered throughout the store, “I don’t exactly have it all organized lad. If you could bring her in then I’ll have something to work with-”

The dark haired man shook his head and stuffed a hand in his pocket, “Actually you’ll be coming back with me.”

Ollivander raised a daring eyebrow, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand?”

“I’ll be escorting you back so you can properly evaluate a wand for my boss,” the faceless man said again.

“Absolutely not,” he replied firmly, shaking his head, “You’ll have to bring her in.”

“If you won’t come willingly…” Harry seen him begin pulling out a wand from his pocket. Acting on instincts, Harry threw the door open to the shop and ran inside. He grabbed the wooden chair next to the bloke and just as he was turning around with a surprised look, Harry smacked the chair across his face. The man fell to the ground out cold.

Ollivander quickly cast a binding charm and then looked up to Harry who’s face was still hooded.

“Very cavalier of you Mr. Potter. Nevertheless, I thank you.”

Harry grinned and took of his hood, “Any time. Who is he?”

“I haven’t a name, but he’s here on orders from his boss. A woman if I’m not mistaken,” he answered with a knowing look.

It was a good thing that his stares didn’t make Harry feel as uncomfortable anymore, “And she wanted a vine wood with dragon string?”

“Correct. Are you familiar with this wand?”

“Unfortunately,” Harry mumbled in response, “I’m-”

“Your wand was unique Mr. Potter. I don’t think I could find a replacement as remotely effective,” Ollivander told him without further explanation.

“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. Well…” Harry trailed off glancing down to the man, starting to stir from the ground.

“You don’t mind if I get rid of him for you, right?”

The wand maker smiled a toothy yellow smile, “I trust you wouldn’t do anything too drastic.”

“Of course not sir. Have a pleasant night.” With a final wave of farewell, Harry grabbed the man tightly and disapparated.

“Insolent boy… breaks my bloody wards every bloody time…” Ollivander scoffed quietly to himself with a roll of his eyes.

---

The next moment, Harry was standing inside his homely tool shed. Gripping the mysterious man tighter, he drug him out and across his back lawn until they finally got into his house. He quickly sent an invisible spell to alert him if anyone was in the house that wasn’t supposed to be. Luckily, nothing came back.

Harry threw the man into the chair in Hermione’s old office.

“Since I don’t have a lot of time to waste, and I don’t think you would simply tell me the truth- we’re going to have to do this the easy way,” he told him, right as he was beginning to stir from his unconsciousness. The dark haired bloke’s glossy eyes glanced over to Harry rifling through a desk drawer and widened, instantly knowing who he was.

Harry pressed down on a secret compartment inside the drawer and opened it to reveal a few vials of clear liquid. He grabbed one and walked back over to the man.

“Open your mouth please,” Harry commanded politely, unscrewing the cap. The man closed his mouth tighter and shook his head.

Harry sighed and lifted his fist. A moment later the man’s mouth flew open wide. Harry quickly poured half of the vial down his throat.

“What is your name?” Harry began, grabbing a chair and sitting opposite him.

“Quentin Santos,” he answered without a struggle.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Harry Potter.”

Harry nodded, “Who do you work for?”

“Hermione Granger and Sienna Monroe.”

Harry frowned in confusion. Why was Hermione going under her real name and Sienna a fake? “What do you do?”

“I’m an intern, training to be a secret agent.”

“An assassin?” Harry asked, forcing himself to stay calm.

Quentin nodded, “Yes.”

“Where’s your headquarters?” Harry asked, his stomach now turning.

“Granger and Monroe Financial Group in Los Angeles.”

Harry bit his lip, “Is it secretly plotted?”

“No,” replied Quentin simply.

“How do you get into this place?”

“The front door.”

Harry rolled his eyes at his smart ass tone, “In what way are you screened before you’re allowed entrance?”

“Retina scan, voice analysis, touch pad, and antechamber probes for detection of

poly juice potion, invisible persons or any other alarming suspicions.”

Harry clicked his tongue, “Any other entrances?”

“I’ve heard of one, but since I’m not an agent yet I haven’t been fully disclosed the

information…” he trailed off unsurely.

“Well?”

“There’s an alley entrance that takes you into the infirmary. It’s incase an agent is

hurt in combat and doesn’t have time to go through the regular procedures,” Quentin revealed, squinting his eyes as if searching himself for the details.

“How do you get in?”

“Blood.” Harry frowned. What sort of sick organization was Hermione apart of? He had only known an entrance requiring blood once before, and that was a situation related to Voldemort.

“An agent just presses a bloody injury against the wall, and they get in,” Quentin finished.

‘Oh, that makes more sense…’ Harry looked back at him with a small smile, “Hermione has my wand, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Where would it be?”

“Sealed inside the evidence lab,” he said with a slight shake of his head. It looked like the veritaserum was starting to wear off.

“How do I get into the evidence lab?” Harry asked more abruptly.

“Pass code and wand identification.”

“What’s the code?”

Quentin gave him an odd look but a moment later relented, “919.”

Harry grinned to himself and patted his knees, “I guess I’m going to be needing to borrow your wand, then.”

---

“Ms. Granger, Ms. Monroe,” called out a first level intern by the name of Natalie rushing up to them right as they passed through the screenings to get in.

“Yes?”

“I just received a call from Father and he said to tell you that he’d be sending an emissary to escort Viktor Krum back to Sofia. He said he’s already set it up with the Ministry agents there who will be ready to take him in,” Natalie told them, almost out of breath.

Sienna and Hermione shared a baffled look. “What? Why would he go out of the way to send some random person to do this high security drop? Besides, this can’t be handled with one person...” Hermione thought out loud with furrowed eyebrows.

“Or why wouldn’t he call us personally? I had my mobile, didn’t you?” Hermione nodded her answer and they both turned back to their intern.

Natalie shook her head answer-less, “He didn’t say anything else on the matter, just that his agent would be arriving shortly and would be automated in.”

The two women shot each other wary looks before Hermione turned back to Natalie, “Okay, thank you. We’ll handle it from here.”

Natalie smiled and totted off to her desk while Sienna began the questioning, “WTF?”

“Huh?” Hermione voiced unaware of what the hell Sienna was on about.

“Pseudonym for what the fuck?” she explained in the same tone.

“Oh, well yeah… I agree. Does he think we couldn’t pull this off or something?”

Sienna scoffed, “That’s rubbish. And I’d like to see the hotshot git that comes in for him. Probably thinks he’s so cool…”

“That’s cute,” drawled a silky voice from behind the two. Alarmed, Sienna and Hermione spun around to see a tall blonde man, staring down at them with a pair of cold, steely gray eyes. Hermione frowned, thinking she’d seen those eyes somewhere before.

“My name’s Draco, I work at the Paris head quarters. I was sent to pick up Krum.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow, “You work at the Paris branch? For how long?”

“I don’t think that’s really any of your business,” Draco replied snidely. He really hoped they would just let him do his job so he could go home. His stomach was killing him…

“Actually it is,” she corrected him quickly, sharing another look with Hermione, “As you should know we’re the head of this division, therefore we have rank over field agents anywhere. You should show some respect.”

Draco smirked at them, “That’s endearing but I’m not a field agent. I’m just doing this one favor for Father.”

“So why are you so important that he’d trust you to do this alone?” Sienna questioned Draco, folding her arms and giving him a penetrating look.

Draco sneered at the woman. Usually he wouldn’t have felt obligated to say anything but in the present situation, he felt he needed to prove his status.

“I’m Father’s grandson. I think he trusts me enough.”

---

Another update is coming soon but only if you REVIEW!

25. The Showdown Part I

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 25: The Showdown Part I

---

Draco sneered at the woman. Usually he wouldn’t have felt obligated to say anything but in the present situation, he felt he needed to prove his status.

“I’m Father’s grandson. I think he trusts me enough.”

---

“What?” Hermione asked astonished.

Sienna‘s face twisted into an unpleasant look, “Father’s procreated? Weird…”

Again, Draco rolled his eyes, “Whatever, if you can just show me where Krum is. I’m actually in quite a hurry.”

“Look,” Hermione started glancing back at Sienna for support, “I don’t exactly know why Father’s sent you, but we’ve been through enough with this bloke this morning to know that it’ll take more than just one to safely get him back to Bulgaria. Actually, before Father called Sienna was just about to put together a team to make the trip back with him. I assure you, we’ll get him there much more safely than you alone would.”

Hermione finished and leveled Draco with her most fierce and unrelenting look. Obviously, the blonde man didn‘t know how to handle it because he glanced unsurely between the women.

“Was that a joke?”

“Of course not,” Hermione told him.

“I can’t go back to Father empty handed,” he said through a clenched jaw, “He sent me on a job, and I intend to do it.”

“And we intend to finish the mission we were entrusted with. This is our jurisdiction and I’m not allowing you to leave the premises with our bloke,” Hermione continued, not about to let the snake-ish bloke undermine her, “Now if you want to go back with Sienna to make sure we do the job, that’s fine. But you’re not taking him alone.”

Draco let out a snide laugh and gave her the coldest glare ever, “You know you’re going to have hell to pay for this?”

“Why would I?” Hermione jested, “I’m only doing my job the way Father taught me how.”

“Yeah but-” Draco let out a breath in order to try and calm down. Women. He hated them sometimes, “Fine. Suit yourselves.”

“Thanks we will,” Sienna replied with a cheery smile.

Draco rolled his eyes and sneered one last time before turning and stalking back the way he came.

“Natalie,” Sienna called out.

The intern rushed back to her bosses, “Yes?”

“Make sure the slime ball gets out.”

---

Ron apparated into the shed of Harry’s backyard. Harry had been missing for quite a while now, so Ron figured he should come over to check on him.

Not phased in the slightest, Ron walked up the steps of the back porch and let himself in through the slider door.

“Harry- what the hell?” Ron asked, stopping in his path as he just rounded the corner and found the office door open. The open door revealed Quentin, unconscious and wearing only his socks and his boxers.

“Ron?” asked Harry’s voice from the upstairs bedroom.

“Uh, yeah?” he called back, still staring at the captured bloke. ‘Harry’s really going off his rocker if this is what I think it is…’

“What’s your patronus?” Harry called out, just to double check. For all he knew, this could be one of Hermione’s clever tricks. That prospect explained why he had quickly grabbed the gun he was packing up when he heard the slider open.

“A dog…” Ron answered with a weird look still on his face as he began making his way upstairs. Harry sighed and set the gun back on his bed before stepping out of the his room, trying to close the door behind him. He didn’t want Ron seeing or smelling the poly juice he had just poured into a cup.

“Mate, what are you doing?” he asked somewhat cautiously, preparing for Harry’s answer regarding the half naked bloke in his home.

“Huh? Oh, I- I’m just-” he mumbled, moving back in front of his door. Ron, however, caught his attempt at trying to block his view of Harry’s room. Suspicious and concerned, he pushed Harry aside a little before stepping into it.

Immediately, he smelt the draft of poly juice potion sitting on his night stand. Also on Harry’s bed was what seemed to be the man’s clothes from downstairs, a small vial of dark liquid, a wand box, and a gun.

Ron frowned, “You’re going to see her aren’t you?”

“Look, if you’re going to try and talk me out of this, don’t bother. I’m going,” Harry said rather defiantly, folding his arms across his chest.

“Alone? That’s definitely a bright idea,” Ron replied sarcastically.

“Well I didn’t want anyone to feel suspicious with what I was doing.”

Ron nodded and continued with the same tone, “Yeah because sneaking around certainly isn’t suspicious.”

“What do you want from me Ron? Haven’t you had enough of rubbing this in my face?” Harry asked in frustration, heading over to the potion and adding in a strand of Quentin’s hair.

Ron rolled his eyes, but didn‘t back down, “I’m not trying to rub it in your face mate, I just want you to accept that the woman you’re in love with isn’t coming back. If you keep throwing yourself head first into these situations, it’s only going to end worse and worse each time,” he finished on a wise note. He noticed Harry’s back stiffen and he waited for his response. In all truth, Ron just wanted his friend to go back to the way he was before he had ever seen Hermione Granger.

Harry gave his friend a blazed look, “Ron, no piece of parchment will convince me that she’s evil. I have to see it with my own eyes- I have to hear it from her.”

“How did I know that was coming?” Ron muttered to himself whimsically before looking back to Harry, “Right, well shouldn’t we get going? Are we gonna surprise attack her while she’s getting ready for bed?”

Harry grinned and shook his head, “No it’s still day over there, Ron. Remember, time zones? I think we‘ve discussed this before…”

“Look, my brain’s far exceeded its limit for today and I could really go for some coco pops right now,” he finished putting a hand to his stomach and giving Harry an intent look.

“I guess we better get moving then.”

---

After their heart to heart, Harry and Ron had quickly sprung into action and finished up getting ready. Now, Ron was parked in a van, across the street from Granger/Monroe Financial and Harry was walking down the side alley just like Quentin had said.

Harry was feeling very uncomfortable in Quentin’s body. It had been a while since he’d had to resort to poly juice and had become more accustomed to the few glamour’s and disguising charms he used. Double-checking, Harry felt for the gun braced in the back of his trousers and squeezed the wand box in his hand.

“Oi, can you hear me good?” Harry heard Ron ask in his head.

Harry chewed on the piece of gum serving as their communication purpose, “Yeah.”

“Alright, be cold and cruel Harry. You can do this, you’re a beast, you’re-”

“Ron, shut up,” Harry muttered as he stopped in front of his entrance.

“I meant, cruel to everyone else- not to me,” he heard Ron reply in a whiny voice.

“If you don’t shut up, I’m going to hit you in the bullocks when I get back. Remember, I talk to you and only if it‘s an emergency.”

Inside the van, Ron placed a protective hand over his trousers. “Fine then, do it your way.”

Harry rolled his eyes while taking out the vile of Quentin’s blood. He poured a bit of it onto his finger, and then wiped it on the concrete surface. A few seconds later, the wall turned into a push door. Harry glanced back and forth around the alley to make sure no one was watching before he quietly entered.

The hallway was dark, and Harry could tell he was walking on a slight incline. He turned a corner and was suddenly met with a brightly lit room with people bustling around it. Instantly, he was on alert and his hand grazed over the handle of the gun in his back.

Luckily, no one paid him any mind and Harry silently walked through the small hospital, aiming for the door on the opposite side. His eyes were trained on the exit, therefore he didn’t see the corner of a bed obstructing his path.

He bumped into it and automatically glanced down to see what it was. On the top of the bed was a cream coloured folder. Harry’s stomach dropped as he read the title of the folder: ‘Jude Stewart- Expired’.

An odd sense of guilt overcame him, but he quickly shook it off and headed on towards the doors. He left the infirmary without interruption, and instantly followed Quentin’s instructions towards the evidence lab.

He punched in the code and taped the tip of Quentin’s wand against the pad and was instantly granted access. The door slide open, and Harry paused when he seen a man wearing glasses, inside typing something into a computer.

The man looked up and nodded at Harry, “Hey Quentin, what’s up?”

Harry cleared his throat, “I need Harry Potter’s wand. The boss wants to do some more analysis on it.”

The man ripped off his glasses and gave Harry an incredulous look. Harry didn’t break the man’s eye contact but reached back for the gun. ‘Shit, this is already going downhill.’

“Are you for real?”

Harry was confused with the man‘s response, “Yes.”

“Come on,” he groaned, pushing his glasses back up his nose, “she always does this.”

“Uh, what are you on about?” Harry asked him as he started meddling with the glass cabinet behind him.

“Every time I finish with a sample, it’s like Ms. Granger has to come back and double check on something or another. I swear man, sometimes I think she’s just doing it to test my patience. You know?”

Harry smirked discretely, “Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about.”

After pushing a few select buttons on the cabinet’s door, it opened and spiralled through the contents until a bag with Harry’s wand was brought to the front.

“Here you go. Good luck bro,” the guy joked as he handed over the bag.

Harry grinned, “Thanks.”

…

Harry walked through the halls of his enemies headquarters rather easily and much more comfortably with his wand safely returned to his wrist holster. All the agents and interns were either working at their desks furiously or buzzing around, and sharing information from cubicle to cubicle. He had to give it to Hermione; she certainly knew how to run a tight ship.

Remembering Quentin‘s directions perfectly, Harry walked into the elevator at the beginning of the offices and pressed the button for Hermione‘s floor.

Within seconds, the lift had stopped and Hermione‘s voice floated through the metal doors.

“Yes?”

Ignoring the slight fluttering he got from her voice, he cleared his throat, “It’s Quentin. I’m back with what you asked for.”

“Oh great, come on in.”

The metal compartment opened and Harry looked up to see a wide office space, full of bookshelves and neat looking furniture. Instantly, his eyes sought out Hermione standing from her desk.

Hermione stood with a light smile on her face, but it fell when she realized Quentin was alone and was only holding one thin box in his hands.

“Hey… where’s the specialist?”

“He was able to find an exact match, so I figured that would do,” Harry said with a smile, his eyes not leaving hers.

Hermione took the box and gave him a sceptical look, “An exact match?”

“Yep.”

She frowned internally. Something was off, and she wasn‘t liking Quentin‘s pithy tone. She ignored it, and opened the box anyway. Her mouth fell when she seen the wand that was identical to hers laying in the box, snapped in half.

“Is this a joke?”

“Of course not babe. You know, the first rule in the book is to not send amateurs to do your dirty work. But then again, I guess the apple doesn‘t fall far from the tree.”

Harry finished with an uncharacteristic smirk. As Hermione had began to open the box, he could feel himself bubbling under the skin of a different man. It felt uncomfortable and for a quick second really painful, before he felt himself calm and became aware that he was back to his original self.

Hermione looked up and saw her ex-husband and the man she was hunting for, smugly sitting in the chair opposite her desk. “Harry.”

He slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose, “Sorry… I know how you never like me interrupting your work but,” Harry held up his wand, “I had to come back for what was mine.”

Hermione kept collected under his dark look. She wanted to ask him if he had others in her building or if he stupidly came here alone but didn‘t want to show that she was panicked, “You’re too late. Krum’s gone.”

Harry shrugged, figuring so, “That’s okay, I have more pressing matters at the moment.”

Hermione set her broken wand down and eased herself into her seat, “Oh? Like?”

“Like the talk you promised to have with me,” he replied, staring intently into her eyes.

She shook her head and stared back, “We have nothing to talk about.”

“We do actually, we have a lot to talk about.” His eyes didn’t move from hers as he continued, “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

Hermione scoffed, “If you had any brains in that thick skull of yours then you would know that you probably should kill me right now.”

“Don’t push me,” Harry told her, letting his hand wand lay loosely by his side.

Hermione followed him through her peripherals. Slowly, she moved her hand over to the side drawer and began pulling it open quietly. She shrugged, deterring him from her movements, “Who’s pushing? It’d be a benefit to have me gone; I’m just saying that if I were you…”

“Expelliarmus!”

Hermione shot back and rammed into the bookshelf behind her as her silver gun flew out of her hand, straight into Harry’s. He unloaded it before disassembling it and throwing it off into the room.

A moment passed while he observed her standing from the chair and pushing a few locks of hair behind her ear. Finally, he smiled in a somewhat teasing manner, “So you really that good?”

Hermione gave him a hard look, the humiliation still evident on her face, “The best. You?”

Harry gave her an arrogant smirk just to piss her off, “Well, I’m sure you’ve done your research.”

“I sure have,” she replied like it was nothing at all, “So? What‘s stopping you? We are alone.”

Harry avoided her enquiry, “One last question.”

“What?” she asked with a frown.

“Do you get comfort in killing people for money?” he asked her, looking deep into her eyes. This was the question he needed an answer to. This alone would depend how difficult his mission would be.

Hermione didn‘t falter under his intense look, “You tell me.”

Harry wanted to roll his eyes. These curve balls were so unlike her- ’The Hermione you know, that is…’

“Well from my own experience I think it depends on the person.”

“Charming,” she muttered disdainfully. His arrogance was irritating her to no end. And to think, this was a man she had lived with for over six years.

Again, he smirked, “I know I am. Now don’t you think you owe me an apology for lying all these years?”

“I don’t owe you anything,” she said coldly, her anger rising at the look of him. He must of thought so fucking highly of himself for being able to get her alone like this.

“Actually, you do Hermione… that is your real name isn’t it?”

“I’m not telling you,” she said shaking her head and lifting her chin, “Though I have to say Harry James Evans- that wasn’t much of an effort was it?”

“It worked on you for 5 years,” Harry replied with a chuckle.

She glared, “6 and I‘m not sorry for anything.”

“You know I used to think you were worth fighting for,” Harry told her after a few seconds of being glared at. He didn’t want to turn their conversation into a sombre one, but he felt that he needed to deal with the tirade of emotions running through his mind. He knew he was supposed to stay calm and cold, but damn it, he did deserve an explanation from her!

“Please,” she sneered carelessly, “the sappy puppy dog spiel isn’t going to work on me. You can‘t expect to get away with the things you‘ve done.”

Harry cocked his head to the side, taken aback by her words. “So this is the real you huh?”

“I guess you’ll never know.”

Harry looked straight into her eyes, all the arrogance and bitterness gone, “I’m not so sure I want to.”

Hermione was surprised by Harry‘s tone. He didn‘t even say it in a cruel way…

more like disappointed and for some reason that‘s what hurt the most. Hermione

took a deep breathe and put on a new air of confidence.

“And like always, you’re turning this into poor little you.”

Harry shook his head, “That’s not fair Hermione. I know this is about the both of us.”

“In what ways, do you think?” Hermione asked him suddenly. Of course, it was rhetoric, but it was only a method to distract him.

“Well, this is about us being enemies, isn’t it?” Harry answered her simply, undeterred.

Hermione quirked an eyebrow just as her hand grasped onto a particular book behind her, “Or, this is about me seeing if you can keep up.”

Before Hermione could register the baffled look she knew Harry would be giving her, she grasped the large tomb and trusted it downward. A massive force sparked inside the room, and nearly instantly Harry and everything in front of her was thrown backwards by the powerful energy.

This was one of Hermione’s escape methods she had installed a year ago. It provided a temporary apparation field from her office into a small room on the main floor. From there, she could signal a mass alert.

She only spared a second glancing across the room at Harry who was buried under her desk with hundreds of books on top of him before she apparated down the to particular room. The room, or rather the four by six compartment had only one button next to the door. She pressed it, and ran out yelling for everyone to shut down their work and abort.

Agents and interns started running around, stuffing paperwork into explosive cabinets, shutting down the computers, and crashing their servers. The evidence lab began rattling loudly and the inside seen through the glass doors began spinning before it disappeared to its designated storage unit in Paris.

Hermione’s head was spinning watching her office virtually being destroyed. She shouted one last order to leave immediately before she and others disapparated.

…

Harry coughed and grabbed at his ribs after he blasted the desk off him with his wand. He began pushing books off his dust ridden body when he heard Ron.

“Harry? Are you alright? Harry?!”

“Yeah,” he muttered, propping himself up to stand, “Yeah I’m fine.”

“You need to get out of there in case she has other bombs rigged in there…”

Though, Ron’s warning went unheard to Harry who was leaning against the cracked wall and staring off into the wrecked room.

A hint of a smirk was playing on his lips.

‘Was this all she’s got? Well then… she’s in for a few surprises.’

Harry was sick of being seen as the fool where Hermione was concerned. Without a moment’s thought, he decided that he was going to give her a taste of her own medicine.

----

26. The Showdown Part II

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 26: The Showdown Part II

---

[AN] My gift to you. Happy holidays everyone!

---

“Alright Harry, are you sure you want to do this?” Ron asked, giving Harry a dubious look.

“Stop asking me that,” Harry told him as he finished strapping on his counteractive vest from his kitchen table. If he was hit with anything- spell or bullet- he wouldn’t be harmed.

“Alright, how about a different question?” Ron asked and then continued before Harry could answer, “Why are we doing this?”

“You think Hermione is my weakness, and I’m pretty sure she thinks so too. I have to show her that I’m not weak. Plus, I want to know more.”

Ron drew a hand over his face as he leaned back against the counter, “She tried to kill you yesterday-”

“She tried. And today, she’ll find out that she can’t. I’m stronger than she is,” he added the last part as if it was a reassurance for himself. He put on a plain grey shirt over the vest. After, he slipped a blue zip up jacket over his shoulders and put a Dodgers hat over his head. Today would require him to look every bit muggle.

With a brief deep breath, he looked up to Ron, “You ready? It‘s about noon there.”

Ron shrugged, grabbing a biscuit from the open tin, “I guess. Nothing crazy today, right?”

Harry smirked, “Just giving her a taste.” That could or could not have been a lie. His objective was to try and get Hermione alone with him again. What happens then is up to how she behaves. She could be going home with a bruise or in a plastic bag.

‘She’s a murderer,’ Harry reminded himself for the thousandth time.

Ron sighed, and gave his friend a meaningful look. “You really think you’re going to be the one to finish it, don’t you?”

“I will be. Simple as that,” he said it as if he was talking about the weather.

“Hope so,” Ron mumbled under his breath. No matter what kind of grudge he had against Harry‘s ex, he couldn‘t deny that she was one powerful broad. Harry glared at him after his comment.

Quickly, Ron changed the subject, “Look mate, I’m really not sure if we should be doing this behind Sirius and Remus’ backs-”

“This is my problem,” Harry contested. “You can either help me with it or not. I’m going though, no matter what.”

“Fine, let’s get this over with.” There was a growing feeling in Ron’s stomach, that maybe everything wasn’t going to be alright for his best mate. But then, his stomach growled and he figured he was just still hungry.

Harry nodded and walked out of the kitchen, heading into the living room. Ron and he would not be the only ones on today’s mission. Harry had made the decision to tell Fred and George the complete story about him, and the woman they were currently hunting. To say that they were surprised when they found out that Harry had been married was an understatement. But still, they had agreed to come along and help Harry out, and for that he was grateful.

“Fred, George, we’re leaving,” he announced as he came into the office where Quentin was still tied up. Though, when he caught sight of Hermione’s intern, he had to laugh. It wasn’t Quentin tied up in the chair anymore, but a life sized Easter bunny. Part of the perk for the twins was that Harry had allowed for them to test a few new products on his captive.

“It works perfectly,” George said.

Fred nodded his head in agreement, “We need to market this and have it on sale in time for the holidays. Kids are going to go ape-shit over this…”

“After we’re finished handling Harry’s wifey we’ll get started. Agreed?”

Fred smirked, “Agreed.”

Harry rolled his eyes at them, “Put on your badge and jackets. You’re going to have to walk to the ambulance from our apparition point.”

“Aww, but I thought we got to drive it?” the two men groaned together.

“Only if there’s an emergency,” Harry teased, turning and walking back from the room. Really, it wasn’t a joking matter. Things could very easily get out of hand today. Harry didn’t want to keep lying to himself. He knew how he should handle Hermione, and how he wanted to handle her- but also, he knew that the mere sound of her voice made him act a certain way. It was all very unpredictable.

…

“You want another cup of coffee, boss?” the deep, soothing voice of Bear asked. Hermione looked up from staring at her left ring finger. Dark circles shaded beneath her eyes.

“I’m fine,” she replied.

After yesterday’s events, Sienna had taken initiative and gathered a small team to take back to their house. Currently her, Jeremy, Matthews, Colgan, Lopez, and Komar were running over both defensive and offensive strategies in the kitchen. Krum had been taken away with the rest of the agency, into the most trusted and unimaginable place possible. Getting him back to Bulgaria was another thing on their list of priorities.

Here, they were on high alert. The planning was so urgent because they were expecting backlash from what had happened yesterday. Or from what had been done to whom, more specifically. They all figured it was only a matter of time.

Hermione had spent nearly 24 hours wondering if she had really killed Harry. Could he had really been that fragile? She didn’t think so, but kept remembering seeing his feet poking out of a pile of rubble, wood, and books. She didn’t stick around long enough to see if he would get up.

Jeremy blew the building two minutes after it had been completely evacuated. It was procedure, after all. The explosion was set up to be explained as an electrical fire to the muggle firemen.

And though, she knew that having Harry gone was the wisest thing, Hermione couldn’t get over the immense sense of cowardice she felt. Even though he had killed Jude, he didn’t deserve the end he got.

“Hermione…” it was obvious whose voice it was this time. Her and Sienna really hadn’t had much time to talk after the evacuation, except for Hermione briefly telling Sienna that Harry had been inside.

“Yeah?”

“Look-”

“I know Sienna, you don’t have to tell me.” Hermione didn’t want to keep hearing that ‘it was all for the best’.

Sienna sighed and sat down next to Hermione on the sofa, “We could really use you in there,” she spoke, nodding off to the kitchen.

“I’m not sure I’d be any help right now. I can’t even think straight. Everything we’ve worked for in the past year is…” Hermione shook her head, leaving out the dead ex-husband part, “It’s a pile of ashes now.”

“’Mi, we can always rebuild and you know that,” Sienna replied, giving her friend an imploring look. In between plotting and scheming with the rest of the team, she had been doing some thinking about Hermione. Over the past few days, she had been hurt worse than ever. Thanks to Hermione, their main enemy was gone, but their agency would still have numerous battles to overcome before they would be able to relax again.

Hermione was not herself, to put it lightly. And with all the chaos happening around them, Sienna didn’t see her jumping back into old ways any time soon. The last thing she wanted was for Hermione to be exploited. Right now, what she needed most, was an escape.

“Promise you’ll hear me out, okay?”

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at Sienna, totally confused, “What-”

“Just promise,” Sienna persisted.

“Um, okay…”

Sienna took a deep breath, “Look, I know… I know you’re depressed right now-”

“What?! I am not!” Hermione exclaimed immediately. She wasn’t! Right?

Sienna nearly rolled her eyes at her denial, “Well you’re still not yourself. You’ve had to take on and handle so much over the last two days and… and-”

“Spit it out, Sienna.”

“I think maybe it’d be best if you went away for a little bit. Until all this blows over…” Sienna finished in a subdued tone, mentally preparing herself for the onslaught that was about to rip from Hermione’s mouth.

Surprisingly, Hermione only scoffed, “Don’t be ridiculous, Sienna. I can’t leave. I won’t leave. I’m not just going to run away… I won’t be a coward…”

Sienna was taken aback by Hermione’s rambling. Who said anything about being a coward? Hermione must have been having a tougher time than she thought. “Hermione, think of this ethically. You were so close to the head of their organization, and now that he’s dead-”

Hermione sneered at her friend and jerked her head away.

Sienna wasn’t hindered. For once, she needed to get her point across, “Maybe you should go visit your mum and dad for a while.”

“Not a chance in hell,” Hermione rejected stubbornly. That was the LAST thing she needed. Going back to London and getting a big ‘I told you so’ by her parents. There was a reason she hadn’t spoken to them since she left school…

Sienna sighed once more. The conversation was over for now, but she wasn’t going to drop the topic. If push came to shove, and Hermione still wasn’t herself, then Sienna would make her disappear for a few months.

“Fine. It was only an idea.”

“A stupid one,” Hermione muttered, still angry. Who did Sienna think she was? Trying to override her right to be a part of the team? They were equals in this agency, and last time Hermione checked, that status hadn’t changed.

Sienna stared at her for a long moment, “Don’t hate me for trying to protect you.”

Hermione shrugged, recognizing that Sienna was going all loving best friend on her, “I just need a kip or something. I’ll be fine after I rest for a bit.”

“Alright, go to bed then. I can keep everything locked down here.”

After a few seconds, Hermione nodded and got up from the couch. She didn’t even know if she’d be able to sleep, but she cherished the possibility of alone time.

She was heading over to the stairs when a shrill ringing sounded from the kitchen. There was a scrambling and some muttering, before the only sound was that of the ringing mobile. Hermione walked back into the kitchen, curiosity evident in her eyes.

“Whose phone?”

“It’s yours,” Sienna answered, Hermione’s small silver flip phone in the palm of her hand. It looked like the entire group was crowded around Sienna, staring down at the mobile.

“Well who’s calling?” Hermione asked.

“Quentin.”

Instinctively, Hermione held her hand out for the phone, “Give it to me.”

“Are you going to answer it?” Jeremy asked this time, his look intense.

There were three possibilities of who could be on the other end of the line. One, someone from Harry’s agency was contacting them, making the first move; two, Quentin somehow got free and was ringing them to let him know where he was; or three…

Hermione’s heart jolted at the thought of the third possibility. She didn’t have time to think on it, because before another moment had passed she was twirling her finger in the air, signaling for the group to stand by, and flipping the phone open.

The line was silent for three seconds, “H-”

“We have a problem Hermione,” his smooth, deadly voice made Hermione’s heart drop into her stomach. She felt like huffing as a flame of annoyance coursed through her.

“You obviously want me dead, and I’m becoming less and less concerned about your well being. So, what do we do?” Harry asked, not sounding concerned in the least. He knew the answer, and yet he was provoking her.

“What have you done with them?” It was the first question to jump out of her mouth. With it, Sienna and Jeremy became more suspicious.

Harry let out a laugh, “Avoiding the question like usual?”

“Tell me,” she demanded.

On the other line, Harry was smirking, “Who? Ollivander or that kid with a loose tongue?”

“Quit being so conceited and answer the question,” Hermione nearly screamed through clenched teeth. Sienna snapped her fingers, giving her a warning to get her emotions in check. Hermione never used to be such a spark-plug like this.

“Well Ollivander is in safe keeping. No use spoiling that by telling you. And your little pet provided a lot more useful information than I thought he would, so I decided to keep him.” Smugness was dripping from his tone, and Hermione felt oddly glad that she never got to know this side of Harry. If he kept up this attitude then the situation would be easier to handle.

Hermione took a deep, collecting breath, “I bet you enjoy playing the sinister puppet master, but it’s time to get down to business. Where are you?”

“Closer than you think.”

Hermione jerked her head up and twirled her finger again at the other seven occupants in the room. Instantly, they got the message and began looking out of the windows that revealed their backyard and the stream of shops on the street below.

“You know all that fame that circles you really is a load of codswallop,” Hermione said, also starting to look outside the window. She had spent the past twenty four hours regretting his death, when really the bastard was still alive and dandy. It was her turn to goad him.

A moment passed before Harry answered, “What do you mean?”

“I’m just saying… you’re a lot stupider than I thought the Boy-Who-Lived would be,” Hermione answered, shrugging lightly. It was true- to a point.

Another moment passed on the other end, “Careful Hermione. My patience is already wearing thin…”

Hermione scoffed and smirked, “I’d consider that a threat if I knew you weren’t bluffing.”

“You think I’m bluffing?” Harry asked incredulously.

Jeremy waved his hand, trying to grab her attention. He was leaning to the side of the window farthest left. He looked strangely excited, and was nodding his head towards the glass. Hermione braced herself on the window next to his and peered out to see where he was motioning to.

Hermione bit her lip. That head of hair could be recognized anywhere, even if it was disguised under a baseball cap. Harry was sitting at an outside table at the corner café. The hat was pulled low over his face and he had one hand holding the mobile to his ear, while his other rested underneath a magazine, flipped over on the table. It wasn’t hard to guess what he was concealing.

Hermione took a deep breath and glanced back towards Jeremy. He was staring hard at her with his wand gripped tightly in his hand, as he whispered, “I’m taking it.”

Hermione vehemently shook her head and mouthed, ‘Not yet.’

“Babe, I know you’re bluffing,” she continued with Harry.

Down at the café, Harry was shaking his head, “You said yourself that you‘ve done some research on me. You have to know what I’m capable of.”

Hermione prepared herself for her cold front, “All I’ve read about is some pampered prince who loves taking the spotlight for terrible things that happen around him. You‘re a murderer.”

As soon as she finished her last sentence, the windows they were all looking out of shattered into tiny, sharp pieces. Hermione jumped and threw herself behind the wall. Her breathing had escalated as she looked around to make sure everyone was alright.

“Then you don’t know anything,” Harry’s calm and quiet voice carried on.

Hermione didn‘t try to summon the corrosiveness back in her tone, “So you’re going to deny what you did yesterday?”

“Are you gonna deny what we did the night before?”

Hermione was silent for a few seconds. She fought the memories, but they flooded through her anyway. She grudgingly admitted that the other night had been a dream. But nothing but that. That night was not their reality. So much had changed since then.

“Yes,” she finally answered harshly, “I have nothing left to say to you.”

“Wrong again,” Harry shot down, “I’m just getting started with you.”

Sienna again snapped at her and nodded off into Harry’s direction. It was clear that she wanted to know if Jeremy could take the shot.

“Hermione…”

Hermione didn‘t answer, and turned her back on her best friend. She knew they had to get a move on, but she was finding it extremely hard to string together another sentence.

Finally, gripping the mobile so tight that her knuckles were turning white, she took a deep breath.

“Goodbye Harry-”

“PECTUS PECTORIS TENTATIO!” a voice yelled the second Hermione hung up the

phone.

“Wait!” Hermione tried, twirling around in time to see a jet of lime green leaving Jeremy’s wand. Screams of passerby’s could be heard before Hermione even reached the window and looked out.

Once she finally did, she saw a few chairs and tables knocked over on the café’s little porch, and a growing crowd of people, all circled around a fallen someone.

Hermione couldn’t breath. Without properly thinking, she apparated across the street from the café- breaking through all her home’s wards and not giving a flying fuck if anyone had seen her.

Pectus Pectoris Tentatio… otherwise known as the Heart Attacker. It was the deadliest spell behind the Avada Kedavra. Harry Potter or not, he couldn’t have survived it.

The screams and shocked voices were growing louder, as was the new sound of an ambulance, already alerted about the incident. Three words was all it took… one moment she was talking to him, and the next he was gone.

She was about to walk across the street to see him, to see if he had died with a face of pain, but was stopped when a warm hand clamped down on her shoulder. Sienna turned her around and pulled Hermione into her, before leading the way back up the alley to where they could safely disapparate. Hermione didn’t fight her, but continued to shoot glances over her shoulder. The ambulance blare was pounding in her head. She would never forget its sound…

…

Harry pulled the sheet over his face and sat up on the gurney. The ambulance was speeding down the street, probably towards a safe place where George, Fred, Ron, and himself could apparate home.

He felt constricted and quickly threw off his shirt and ripped off the counteractive vest. His breathing was still shallow.

She had really done it. How could he have any doubts over her anymore? She had just attempted to kill him. Obviously, their marriage was a set up on her part…

“Tough luck, Harry…” Ron said, patting him on the back. Harry sent a glare at him, still breathing heavily. Ron shrugged, “Now you know. Just be thankful you decided to wear the vest.”

Harry placed his head in his hands. So this is really what it had to come to.

…

Later that day, Hermione had suggested that she and Bear take Krum back to the Bulgarian ministry. Sienna was more than reluctant to let her go, but Hermione had to keep reminding her that she had no authority to pull rank over her. Begrudgingly, Sienna had to admit she was right. Her only hope was that Hermione was as ‘okay’ as she said she was. Honestly though, the woman wasn’t fooling anyone.

After contacting Connor, the agent primarily in charge of Krum and the rest of the agents, Hermione and Bear left for their location. It was a place south of L.A., and high up in the mountains. When they arrived and were greeted with the welcome sign, Bear had to giggle at the town’s name- ‘Big Bear’.

Krum was still a little loopy after being put under the sleeping spell over and over again, so getting him to agree to apparate from city to city, until they reached the Atlantic coast was easy. The sensation from flooing from Charlotte to Sofia was painful as hell, but Hermione wasn’t bothered by it. After today, she didn’t think she’d feel anything but numbness.

The Bulgarian Ministry was so relieved to have Krum back safe and sound, that they didn’t ask any immediate questions. They left with a promise from one of the auror’s that they’d be in contact soon.

After they were lead back to the apparition chamber, Hermione rounded on Bear. She told him that he was to go back to her house and tell Sienna that she had followed her advice and that she would be in Wales for the next few weeks. At first, Bear was adamantly against the idea, but after Hermione threatened to pull her wand on him, he became more understanding. After a farewell ‘I’ll miss you’ and a bone crushing hug, Bear disapparated all the way back to Los Angeles.

Finally Hermione was free to go to the place she really wanted to be. It would be painful being there, but her mind was set.

…

The rain started to fall more heavily at St. James Park. Hermione sat quietly on the park bench, overlooking the London eye and other historic towers of London.

It had been so long since she’d been to this park, but she could still remember her and Harry joking back and forth on this very bench, as if it were only yesterday. Closing her eyes, she could remember the exact shape and sparkle of her engagement ring. She had to push back the desire to have that ring back on her finger. That was the whole purpose of coming here. For closure. She had to accept that she would never see Harry again. And she had to acknowledge that as a good thing.

It was easier said than done, and for the longest time Hermione sat there in the pouring rain with her eyes clamped shut, trying to forget the memories.

Minutes passed before Hermione recognized that the rain had stopped splashing against her head and blouse. Her eyes snapped open curiously, but her back stiffened when she realized that the weather had not changed around her. Rain was still pouring harder than ever.

Hermione let out an disbelieving laugh, instantly knowing who the presence was behind her. She would know that smell anywhere. Un-fucking-believable…

“Was it you?” his suave voice asked.

Hermione rolled her eyes and folded her arms. ‘How many bloody times were we going to go through this routine? Alright, I get it! Harry Potter‘s bloody invincible to near death experiences.’

“If it was me you’d be dead,” she still said, as rudely and confidently as possible.

Harry laughed bitterly, “May I sit?”

“No,” Hermione answered matter-of-factly.

Rain splattered on her hair again as Harry walked around and took his seat next to Hermione on the bench. He placed the umbrella back over them, “So are you taking a personal day? Trying to remember times when you were actually happy?”

Hermione‘s eyes narrowed into slits. “Actually I was thinking about how glad I am that I’m no longer married to you,” she lied.

“Seven years ago, what made you say yes?”

Hermione’s breath hitched but she stealthily covered it. Why now, of all moments, would he decide to get right the number of years they had been together? She stayed quiet, afraid that if she opened her mouth she would seem weak or vulnerable.

“Or was it that you were forced to?” Harry asked again, in an emotionless tone.

Hermione took a deep breath. She wasn‘t about to let him expose her in any way. She had to be cold, “You’re finally catching on.”

Harry swallowed and then nodded, “So that’s it, huh? I was all part of the job?”

“I did what I was told, when I was told to do it.”

Harry wanted to scream at her. Ask her how she could look herself in the mirror or

even sleep at night. But then again, after getting past all the anger there was still a

part of him that thought she was lying. They were in love, that’s why she said yes.

“I think you owe me a dance,” Harry said suddenly, looking over to where a few couples were dancing under a lighted canopy.

“I don’t owe you-”

Harry threw the umbrella down and yanked her forward before she could finish her sentence. His grip on her hand was iron hard, and she had to struggle to keep up with him. Harry drug her in the direction of the couples slow dancing to the soft music. When they were finally under the tent, Harry spun her into him roughly.

“So I suppose a few nights ago was all part of the job, too?” he muttered audaciously into her ear.

Hermione rolled her eyes, “No actually, I was just bored.”

“More like lonely,” Harry scoffed insolently, “Face it sweetheart, you’ll never be as happy as you were with me.”

“I was miserable with you,” Hermione snarled. She could tell he thought he was easily going to win this, and right now she’d do anything to kick him off his high horse. Even if that meant being a huge bitch.

Harry didn’t take kindly to her insult, and slammed her into the back of the canopy pole. Hermione let out a hiss of pain.

“You’re lying,” Harry muttered evenly, covering up the true disdain her last statement caused. Lucky for him, his pain quickly converted into more anger.

“What’s wrong Potter, can’t handle rejection?” Hermione mocked him.

“About as well as you can,” Harry said back.

Hermione huffed and shook her head in an irritated fashion, “Okay then Mr. Self-righteous, why did you even ask me to marry you in the first place?”

Harry stopped dancing and for a solid few moments, they both stood there wrapped in each other’s arms, not saying anything to interrupt whatever was happening. He finally broke the silence, and looked down into Hermione‘s eyes, “Because… I thought you were the greatest gift I’d ever been given, and I didn’t want to settle for something great when I could have had something amazing.”

Hermione stiffened, her arm sliding off of Harry’s shoulder. She felt a prickling at the back of her eyes and prayed that they weren’t tears forming. Harry still kept one hand around her waist, and the other holding hers against his chest as he continued.

“I wanted to have children with you, and grow old with you- but now, I can’t understand why anyone in their right mind would ever want to be close to you.”

Hermione let out one shattered breath before pushing hard against his chest. She didn‘t spare him another look as she turned from the dance floor and sprinted off into the wet park.

Harry looked on as she ran towards the parking lot, happy that for once she ran off hurt while he looked on triumphantly. He didn’t have much time to relish the moment, because a few seconds later an older gentleman tapped him on the shoulder.

“Excuse me sir, but I think you’re glowing,” he said to Harry, pointing down towards the faint orange glow being emitted from Harry’s pocket.

A quick second passed before Harry jolted into action, and scrambled to take off his blazer. Moving as fast as possible, he balled up his coat and threw it hard, away from the canopy, hoping to make it into the park’s pond.

Harry didn’t wait to see, and turned around to shout at the couples, “Get back, get back!”

BOOM!

Harry bent over with his hands on his ears. Looking up, he saw water shooting about a hundred feet in the air. He jumped again, startled when a small, wadded, wet mass landed before him. The remnants of his favourite blazer.

“Oh…” Harry muttered with a wild look in his eyes. He was trembling as his hands clenched into fist, “No she fucking didn’t…”

Without thinking, he started running in the direction he had watched Hermione take. Anger didn’t begin to describe how Harry felt over Hermione. How in fuck’s sake could she have the last say again?!

When he reached the parking lot, he found it void of any signs of Hermione. Livid, Harry ripped Quentin’s phone from his trouser pocket and speed-dialed her number.

“Hello?” she asked brightly.

“That’s the second time in 24 hours that you’ve tried to have me killed.” Harry could barely get words through his clenched teeth.

“Cry me a river, you poor baby,” Hermione jeered, not the least bit phased.

“You can’t hide from me,” Harry continued, now looking around the park for her, “We have important business to finish.”

“I guess I’ll see you at home then,” Hermione answered brazenly.

The line clicked dead just as Harry let out a frustrated howl.

‘Damn this bloody woman!’ was his last thought before he apparated to his Kensington home.

---

The chapter we’ve all been waiting for is coming up soon… please review!

27. The Showdown Part III

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 27: The Showdown Part III

---

[AN] I’m sorry before hand.

---

The sun had now vanished underneath the horizon. Harry guessed this gave people more of an incentive to come to the park, because he found it difficult as hell to run through the hordes of people walking down the paths and over the lawns. Even though he impatiently pushed his way through most of the passer-by’s, it still took about ten minutes to get to the secluded spot where he had initially apparated to. When he finally did, Harry was in too much of an angry frenzy to even bother to stop and think about what he was about to apparate in to. With his teeth still gritted together from his favourite blazer being destroyed, Harry disapparated to the shed in his back yard.

… …

Hermione glared after the once strong bolt of yellow that had just fizzled off into a smoke like wisp. So much for all the focus concentrated on her anti-apparition wards. Someone had just apparated onto the premises she was trying to cover.

Narrowing her eyes, she had no trouble guessing who the intruder could be. She let out a ladylike growl before immediately abandoning her defensive attempts, and stalking over to the bed that she used to share with Harry. The semi-automatic assault rifle she had found in her old office was laying on top of the bed, sided with two additional rounds of ammunition. Because of stupid fucking Harry Potter, she had no wand to use. She would have to solely rely on what bit of wandless magic she could perform, and then the two other guns and a few large kitchen knives she had found lying around the house.

But Hermione wasn’t scared in the least. Rather she felt eager to show Harry that she could kick his bloody ass, even without magic. She grinned in anticipation as she watched a shadow hurry across the backyard and up onto the porch.

… …

Crouching down slightly, Harry ran from the back of the shed, across the lawn, and onto the back porch of his house. His wand was gripped tightly in his hand, prepared for anything that Hermione might’ve had planned.

He reached his hand out for the doorknob, his eyes already scanning through the living room and beyond.

As soon as his fingertips grazed the brass knob, he felt an electrocuting jolt. With a gasp he ripped his hand away.

“Oh…” he muttered, staring angrily at his raw red hand. Oh she had…

Harry let out a snarl through his clenched teeth as he quickly took off towards the side of the porch and hoped over the railing, falling into the bushes. Swatting in an irritated manner at some of the leaves and twigs the poked into his legs and waist, he hurriedly made his way over to the window that used to be Hermione’s office.

He elbowed the glass hard, effectively shattering it, and then ducked down in case he had triggered any more of Hermione’s juvenile tricks.

After a few seconds, he figured he was clear, and he reached in to unlatch the window. He gasped at the pain in his hand as he lifted himself up and through the open window, but as soon as he was completely inside the darkened house he got quiet. His eyes roamed the room (thankfully the twins had taken that Quentin fellow out of there earlier that day) and immediately noticed his rifle missing from the corner, by the lamp.

His eyes narrowed, “Damn her…”

He reached over and opened the bottom drawer of the desk. Again he let out a frustrated sound, noticing his two other hand guns were gone.

Moving on, he slid cautiously by the wall until he reached the doorway. First, he pointed his wand around the corner, before he covertly peeked out as well. The second story of the house was completely dark. From where he was positioned, Harry could only make out his bedroom door, opened the slightest bit.

With his wand raised, he stepped out, about to start walking up the stairs.

Before Harry could even put his foot down, there was a familiar clicking sound. ‘Oh shit’, didn’t even make it across his mind before Harry’s semi-automatic rifle emitted a loud boom. The bullet hit right where Harry’s foot would have stepped.

Harry dove back in time to miss the second and third bullet Hermione shot at him. The glass panelling to Hermione’s old office doors shattered, and Harry covered his head with both arms to keep from being sliced to pieces. The ringing echo caused by the gun shots still rung loudly in his ears.

Hermione waited at her hiding spot, perched behind the split in their bedroom door. She waited until the sonic echo cleared off and the house became quiet again until she poked her head out, trying to get a decent look down by her old office.

“Whoops,” she called out, noticing the broken glass, “You still alive baby?”

Harry made a few exaggerated grunting sounds, before dropping his wand an inch from the ground.

The sound of clattering wood, was enough for Hermione to knit her eyebrows together. After the past few days, she literally couldn’t believe that he would be done in so easily. She started to get up from her squatted position, the heavy gun still in her hands. With her foot, she pried the door open a little more.

… … …

Downstairs Harry had already picked his wand back up, and cast a nonverbal ‘silencio’ over the glass strewn around him. He sat up in a crouching position, his eyes trained on the kitchen only a few strides away from him.

He rolled his eyes at Hermione’s mocking call, but then was instantly alerted of her movements when the door creaked upstairs.

He gripped his wand more tightly in his hand, and ran over a series of curses and jinxes in his head.

… … …

Hermione, too, had a white knuckle grip on her weapon. She was just putting her finger over the trigger, about to step completely out of the room, when an annoying head of messy black hair flashed in the hall below her.

“REDUCTO!” Harry’s voice shouted.

Hermione rolled down the first landing of stairs as the ominous blue bolt crushed through half of their bedroom wall. She started firing shots in Harry’s direction as soon as she had the rifle propped back up on her knee.

Harry cast a ricochet-shield over himself as he began running down the hallway, away from Hermione‘s line of fire. Three of the bullets boomeranged off the invisible cover and sped back towards Hermione. She rolled down the second set of steps to avoid them as they pierced through the wooden stairs and railing.

Hermione quickly scurried over to one of the pillars that bordered the living room, and threw herself behind it so she could reload. She popped the empty clip out and refilled it with a full one before taking a deep breath.

Unbeknownst to her, Harry was hiding behind the couch on the opposite side of the room, waiting for her to come out.

Both spell-fire and gun shots rang out together as Harry jumped up from behind the couch, and Hermione dashed towards the adjacent hallway.

Once she had disappeared, Harry cantered back towards the kitchen. Just as he was going into a crouch behind the island, he felt his shoulder knock into something. He cursed himself, knowing that the consequences of whatever he had bumped into would not be good.

Sure enough, something made of glass crashed to the floor. Harry braced his hands over his ears, preparing for the mind numbing booming to start. Surprisingly, Harry waited like that for more than a few seconds, and no such sound ever happened.

He pulled back his hands and looked around cautiously. Nothing peculiar was in his line of sight, so he scooted over to get a look around the kitchen’s island. Again, nothing out of the ordinary met his eyes.

Where the hell is she? he wondered to himself, as he cautiously stood up from his crouch, still in a defensive pose.

Hermione smirked, watching Harry’s stiff back rise into a standing position.

“Gotcha,” she muttered, before cocking the gun. Harry spun around just in time before Hermione started firing. Doing the first thing that came to mind, he ducked while grabbing the refrigerator handle and swinging its door out to cover him. Just as the titanium door covered the last of his body, her first bullet struck through a jar of mustard.

Hermione kept firing until she heard Harry shout. For a brief second, she thought he had been hit, before a bolt of green came shooting from around the side of the fridge door. She dove out of the way, but the spell grazed over the side of her thigh before she was completely down.

A searing pain ripped through her leg. Glancing down, Hermione saw blood already pouring from the wound. Clenching down hard on her teeth, she drug herself out of the kitchen doorway before Harry could notice she’d been hit.

Harry held his breath, noticing that the shooting had stopped. He heard movement, but it sounded like it was moving away. His heart almost leaped up into his chest. He glanced around for a second, his mind going wild. His eyes settled on the stove and he grinned. There was definitely one quick way to find out if she really was down or not, and all it required was a few choice words and a quiet severing charm to the gas pipe, connected to the stove.

… … …

Now in the hallway slumped against the wall, Hermione took in a deep, hissing breath. Her hand was pressed over her blood drenched thigh. Even though she wanted to, she knew she couldn’t waste any of her energy on healing it wandlessly. Harry, the rotten prat, was proving to be more difficult and annoying to take out than she’d originally thought. Right now, she’d just have to live through the pain.

As she was picking herself up, she heard a coy, taunting voice call out to her, “Don’t tell me you’re all worn out, babe. I’ve barely broken a sweat.”

If looks could kill, Hermione’s eyes would have been like the plague. She shifted the rifle over to her left arm while her other hand reached towards her waist. Stealthily, she pulled out the large kitchen knife she had stowed there, and waited with her eyes trained on the entrance to the kitchen.

Still inside the kitchen, Harry cast a quick protective charm over himself before he decided to peek out into the hall. Silence completely engulfed the kitchen as Harry slowly inched his head out of the doorway.

He suddenly jerked himself backwards as a flying object was sent straight at his forehead. With a twang, the knife wedged its way deep into the wall.

Harry lost his footing, tripping over a beer bottle that had somehow fallen from the refrigerator unharmed. He careened backwards, both hands flailing out open palmed. Harry’s heart skipped a beat as his wand scattered off into the kitchen. Before he could move to grab it, he glanced up at some sudden movement.

… … …

Hermione spun into the kitchen again, her rifle perfectly in position. Instinctively, she open fired. One bullet, and the friction it caused was all it took for the gas to ignite into flames.

She dove into the hallway again, feeling the heat from the flames all over her back. She started to lift herself up with one hand, the other still holding the gun, while looking back into the flame-retreating doorway. Before the fire became too subtle, a body jumped out of it.

Harry pulled Hermione up by her shirt and slammed her back into the wall. Hermione let out a groan as her head knocked against the hard surface. She barely noticed Harry rip the gun from her hands and throw it down the hall.

He grabbed her by the neck and crushed her back into the wall again, this time dragging her down it, towards the living room. The pictures on the wall all shattered and fell as Harry slammed Hermione’s body repeatedly into them. Once the hallway ended, Harry threw her down on the floor.

He was about to stomp down on her chest when she rolled to the right. Harry’s foot collided with the hard floor right before Hermione got up on her knees and swung her elbow into his stomach.

Harry doubled over with a groan as Hermione reached into her boot and extracted the second knife she had stored there. With a grunt, she jabbed it towards Harry.

He noticed just in time and dodged it. Harry grabbed her wrist as it flew past him and pulled her hard into the opposite wall where a side table stood. It broke to pieces as she crushed into it, the knife still clutched in her hand. Harry came up from behind and grabbed her, forcing her harder against the wall.

He wrapped one arm around her arm and waist, while the other gripped the same wrist still holding the knife. Hermione struggled and squirmed against him as Harry slammed her hand into the wall, trying to break her grip on the knife. After three blows, it worked, and Hermione dropped the weapon with a scream.

Now that her hand was free, Harry fought against her to encircle his other arm around her waist, effectively pinning both her arms. Because of her constant wiggling, Harry had to push her back up against the wall, his own cheek pressed flat against her hair.

Hermione snarled in frustration, still squirming like hell. Finally, she felt she had enough room to lift up one of her feet. She did so with her good leg, and stomped as hard as she could on Harry’s foot.

Harry let out a howl of pain, instantly releasing her and hobbling back on one foot. Breathing hard, Hermione sauntered further into the living room and grabbed an antique vase, sitting on top of the fireplace mantle. With a swift turn, she smashed it over Harry’s head.

The blow wasn’t enough for Harry to fall over, which only incensed her more. Before she could swing on him, he grabbed her wrist again and threw her down beneath him. She landed hard on the coffee table, and immediately afterwards her mouth flew open in pain and her back arched.

Harry stumbled over her and reached out to grab her shirt again. He was just about to lift her off the table and throw her over the couch when she thrusted her knee forward.

Harry groaned, but retained his tight grip on her as they both fell over, onto the couch. Most of their weight was centered on the top part of the sofa, and a second later it toppled over due to the force. They wrestled and grovelled on the ground for a few moments. Hermione managed to elbow Harry in the back of the head a few times while Harry got a good grip on one of the broken legs to the hall stand. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he clocked Hermione right in the side of the head with it.

Hermione scooted backwards towards the wall, blood now streaming from her forehead. Panting, Harry got to his feet and followed her.

With one hand gripping her shoulder, and another held firmly to her neck, Harry drug Hermione up the wall to a standing position. As soon as he let go of her neck to curl his hand into a fist, she slid back down the wall. Harry yelled in pain as his fist punched a hole in the wall.

Below him, Hermione was getting to her feet, her eyes focused on the knife that was mixed in with the crumbled stand.

Just as she was reaching her hand out for it, Harry grabbed her by the waist. Together, they stumbled backwards and tripped over the upturned couch.

Hermione didn’t even notice Harry fall next to her. She was in the middle of taking a few deep, much needed, breaths when she heard a grunt and felt an elbow slam into her ribs. Hermione yelped in pain and felt all the air rush from her lungs.

“Bitch…” Harry muttered, before focusing on himself and his own pain.

Glancing over with a renewed glare, Hermione seen Harry starting to stumble sideways in an attempt to get up. Trying to take a deep breath and ignoring the new throbbing pain, she swung out her fist and hit Harry hard in the side of the head.

Harry groaned loudly and fell over, one hand clutching at his right ear. Hermione wasted no time, struggling up enough so that she could swing one leg over Harry’s chest, her knees now pinning down his shoulders. One of her hands wrapped itself around Harry’s throat while the other curled into a fist.

“Don’t call me that,” she muttered while slamming her fist into his cheek.

“Bitch-” he choked out, his face turning redder and redder.

Hermione snarled, digging her fingernails into his neck and starting to slap and hit every inch of face in a furious vigour.

“Give me your stupid glasses,” she muttered, after they cut the top of her knuckle. Harry’s vision was instantly blurred as Hermione yanked the wire frames from his face and threw it off into the destroyed room.

“Ha ha!” Hermione voiced obnoxiously, now placing both hands around his neck.

Harry was able to wiggle his arm free enough so that he could punch her again on her already bruised ribs.

“Ah!” Hermione retracted one hand from Harry’s neck and hunched over to her right. Harry took advantage of her momentary lapse, and instantly ripped her hand off his throat, before pushing her, by the face, off him.

Hermione fell backwards, but then hurried to get up. Harry beat her to it, and in one swift move, kicked her again in the ribs.

Still glaring at her, he flung his open palm out and silently summoned his glasses to him. They flew out of one of the potted plants and zoomed straight at him. Harry shot Hermione, still writhing on the floor in pain, a smug look.

“Ha ha,” he mocked, holding out his palm again, this time for his wand. As he waited, he put the frames back on his nose.

His arrogant smile instantly fell as he peered through the shattered lens.

“Damn it!” he yelled, tearing the ruined glasses from his face. He was just contemplating over whether he should kick Hermione again and then fix his glasses, or the other way around, when he saw something move.

Harry’s mouth made the shape of an ‘o’ and he took a step back. The moving object had found its target. His hands dropped his glasses, and immediately went to cup his crotch as he emitted a whispered howl of pain. A second later, his wand finally flew into the room and ticked off his forehead.

With a sardonic grin, Hermione grabbed his wand and tossed it away from him. She started moving back in the direction of the knife when she felt a hand clasp onto the hem of her shirt. She hear a rip and her blood boiled.

She turned in Harry’s grip and grabbed both his cheeks. For a brief instant, Harry thought she might try to kiss him as a distraction, but a second later Hermione’s forehead smacked against his.

His knees nearly gave way, but he was able to recover quickly. He hauled Hermione off her feet, trying to position her over his shoulder. Hermione wouldn’t have it though, and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, her arms also winding themselves around his neck.

Harry spun around, sputtering and choking for air as Hermione concentrated on clenching him tighter. She yelped as Harry rammed her back into a glass cabinet. It was enough of a surprise for Harry to punch Hermione in the weak side once more.

Again, Hermione screamed out. Just as Harry was panting, trying to catch his breath, Hermione kicked her foot out of no where and hit Harry square in the chest. He flew back, falling into one of Hermione’s old potted tree plants.

As Harry struggled to untangle himself from the plant and get up, Hermione slid off the sharp surface and stiffly landed on her feet. With one hand wrapped securely around her ribs, and the other held out for balance, Hermione slowly made her way towards Harry, trying to think of her next move.

Harry coughed and groaned a few times as he got to his feet. When he finally did he held his fists out in front of him and shook his head a few times. Hermione finally got a good look at the blood leaking from a cut above his eye and the fat lip she had proudly given him.

They stared at each other with dangerous, exhausted looks for what seemed like forever. Finally, Harry broke it, when his eyes mistakenly gave something away.

Hermione followed his glance and noticed the rifle, collided against a pillar only a few feet away from Harry.

Hermione and Harry glared back at each other, daring the other to make the first move. Both of their heavy breathing seemed to slow as the seconds ticked past. Their eyes gave absolutely nothing away.

Hermione knew she wouldn’t be able to get to the gun first. She had to come up with a different strategy. The corner of her eyes crinkled, showing her hidden smile.

Suddenly, Hermione flung her arm out to the side. Harry bolted for the gun, just as Hermione backtracked to the fireplace. Harry reached out for the strap of the rifle right as Hermione pushed a fake log out of the way, and grabbed the hand gun hidden below.

Simultaneously, their guns cocked into readiness and turned on each other. Hermione stared down the barrel of the rifle she had used, while Harry glared at his hand gun in her offensive grip.

Their breathing practically halted as they continued to stare at one another. Who would it be to make the first move? Who would shoot first?

Harry was the first to show some signs of change. His nostrils stopped flaring and relaxed, a sure sign that his jaw had released its death clench. Next, his stiff posture seemed to falter slightly.

Hermione didn’t know what to take this as, so she held on to her gun more tightly. She was too tense; she needed oxygen. Hermione’s mouth fell open and she took in a big gulp of air, ignoring the stinging and throbbing coming from her right side.

Harry’s eyes darted down to her right side and then up again, a new shade taking over his orbs. Had she mistakenly winced or something?

She noticed his jaw clench again before his eyes flittered close. Hermione narrowed her eyes in confusion. What the hell is he doing?

When Harry opened his eyes again, he looked up to her. Not glared, but looked. He shook his head.

“I can’t.”

“Don’t! Come on!” Hermione shouted through gritted teeth. She focused on keeping her hands from shaking.

Harry lowered the gun to his side and shrugged. He continued to stare at her with the same look.

“Stop fucking with my head, Potter!” Hermione demanded in a weak shout. He was playing with her head; he had to be. He had been doing the same thing all week- what could’ve possibly changed?

Again Harry shrugged, only this time he dropped the gun on the floor, “I’m not, ‘Mione.”

“Don’t call me that,” she said, as dangerously as possible.

Harry didn’t apologize or take it back. All he did was take a step forward so that he was standing squarely in front of Hermione.

“I’m right here, about to kill you and you don’t even want to try and defend yourself?” she asked, half incredulous, half furious. Who did he think he was?

“I want to say something. If you decide to kill me after, then fine.”

Hermione glared at him, convinced that this was another one of his games, “What could you possible have to say to me?”

“You know I didn’t kill that bloke,” Harry answered, a tone above whispering.

Hermione knitted her eyebrows together but continued to point her gun at him, “Does it even matter now?”

“Yes, because even if I had- and you had the proof, and you were furious with me, you still couldn’t do it. You still wouldn’t be able to kill me…” he finished, giving her an intense look.

Hermione scoffed, “What makes you think I can’t kill you? I’ve tried before, haven’t I?”

Harry ignored her last jab, “For the same reason I couldn’t do it to you. Because you still love me…”

Hermione’s breathing hitched. That, she hadn’t been expecting…

Harry took a step forward but Hermione didn’t let down her gun, “We can’t let go of each other, ‘Mione. No matter how much other people tell us we have to.”

Harry took another step forward. Hermione started breathing unevenly, her mouth still open slightly. How could he be saying this to her now? He was only saying this because it was a life or death situation for him. He was tricking her… conning her… he’d surely kill her as soon as she put down her gun. Why hadn’t he summoned his wand yet?

Harry took another stride towards her. The gun was now an inch away from his nose, but he didn’t hinder. He stared at her harder than ever.

Hermione finally recognized the new shade she’d noticed in his eyes. It wasn’t necessarily new; she’d seen it countless times before. Most recently at the Beaumont a few days ago…

Truth was, no matter how hard Hermione tried to repeat that this was all a game, she didn’t want to believe it. Her heart wasn’t letting her. Harry was right. Leaving him wasn’t her idea in the first place. She never wanted to have her heart ripped from her chest, and for the past year she had been trying to put it back together, piece by piece. But Harry was her ultimate band-aid; the only man to find a home in her heart. And if she had a second chance to make them finally right, why the hell would she even gamble with it?

“I-” she squeaked, before Harry swatted the gun out of her hands and brought her lips to his.

---

I know, I know- you’re mad about the lack of great hot sex in this chapter. I PROMISE, there’s no getting around it next time. The follow up to this will be a pure fluff chapter, and it’ll be out soon :]

In the meantime, please review!

This’ll be my first fic to hit 1,000 reviews :]]

28. The Chapter of the Great Hot Sex.

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 28: The Chapter of the Great Hot Sex.

---

[AN] You heard.

---

As soon as their lips touched, Hermione felt her resolve vaporize. There was nothing left to say or do that would convince her not to immediately tangle her hands into Harry’s messy hair. Her façade of trying to be the cold, insensitive ex-wife was over. She officially couldn’t do it anymore.

Upon her accepting response, Harry pushed her back into the hall wall and pinned her there with his hips. His hands raked eagerly up and down her sides, while she continued to pull his mouth deeper into their kiss. Their tongues were invading each other’s mouths and fighting for dominance. Thus far, their embrace was ruthless, yet both were growing impatient.

Harry’s hands stopped on her hips and gripped them tightly before spinning them around, and slamming Hermione into the opposite wall. Her back crushed the broken picture frame hanging there, causing Hermione to let out a sudden groan. Too caught up in the moment to focus on her pain, Harry once again grabbed hold of her waist and lifted her up onto the side table. As he did, his hands excitedly moved up Hermione’s legs, only stopping once they reached the button of her pants. He let out a frustrated groan as his fingers unsuccessfully tried to free the button.

Hermione was so turned on by his impatience, but the feeling was mutual. Her legs wrapped around his waist as she started tugging at his own belt buckle. Harry felt his body grow even harder at the idea of Hermione’s hands being so close to his manhood. That thought was what probably made him subconsciously start pushing his hips into her.

Hermione let out a relieved gasp as she was finally able to strip Harry’s belt from his pants. As soon as she had, her fingers eagerly started fumbling with his zipper and button.

Still though, Harry hadn’t had any luck with Hermione’s pants. Her hands were working in a frenzy right above his crotch, so the idea that he had yet to make any progress was extremely frustrating. Finally having enough, Harry grabbed hold of Hermione’s hips and brought her with him as he moved from the side table back to the wall.

Once her feet touched the ground, Hermione instantly broke their relentless kiss and started helping Harry with her jeans. In one quick movement, she undid them and started pushing them past her hips, along with Harry’s keen hands. As she kicked her shoes off, followed by her pants, she felt Harry’s fingers slip under the hem of her knickers.

She couldn’t help but grin mischievously as his lips crashed back to hers. Before his fingers could seek out her hot centre, she pushed him back hard into the adjacent wall. A bewildered look flashed across his features, but quickly relaxed as Hermione sauntered towards him, breathing heavily.

His lips sought out hers once more before she fervently ripped his shirt over his head. With a moan from each of them, their lips came together once more. Harry pulled her into him so that her body was practically flat against him. Hermione’s heart skipped a beat, like it always did, when she felt Harry’s erection poke into her navel.

Still fighting with Hermione’s tongue, Harry’s hands began to graze down her still clothed back. He met a brief gap of skin before he felt his fingers touch the fabric of her knickers. Slowly, he let his fingers trace underneath them, over her bum, before he started pushing the silk down. They easily slid down Hermione’s legs and pooled around her ankles. Before she could move to step out of them, Harry picked her up, and hitched her around his waist once more.

Both were getting to that place of severe impatience. So when Harry took a few steps forward to brace them against the opposite wall, Hermione’s feet nimbly pushed Harry’s pants down until she felt his freed erection brush against her heaving core. Harry only had to slightly adjust the position of her hips, before he eagerly sunk into her.

Their simultaneous groans forced them to break their heated kiss. Hermione’s head lolled back as Harry continued to push into her. The sounds she was making at his every thrust only made him lean further into her. His mouth started to suck and lick over the sensitive spots on Hermione’s throat and neck. As Hermione’s moans grew louder, so did Harry’s desire.

Hermione felt air on her back and felt as if she was floating for a few moments as Harry moved them over to the burnt entrance of the kitchen. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he walked them into the kitchen and over to the island. Hermione felt Harry set her down and start pushing away at the broken glass and material that littered the countertop. She was just about to bring her lips back to his before he started pushing her shoulders back.

Obediently, Hermione laid down, her eyes wandering up towards the ceiling. Harry started driving into her again in a renewed vigour, thankful for their secure position. He liked being able to look down at Hermione’s face and body as he made her feel the intense pleasure of his love.

With his eyes glued to her face, Harry started tracing his hands back down her legs, which were wrapped tightly around his hips. He was getting to the bottom of her thighs when he saw Hermione’s face contort and heard her let out a sudden hiss of pain. He glanced back and noticed the gash he had inflicted on her left thigh. A pang of guilt hit him, and without saying anything, he gently rested his hand over her bleeding wound.

At Harry’s touch, Hermione felt her leg turn from pain to a faint tickling sensation. While Harry’s hands drifted back up her body, she lifted herself up on her elbows enough to see that the ghastly cut had virtually disappeared. Harry had healed her.

Hermione’s eyes glanced back up to Harry’s. When their eyes locked, a new spark of passion was lit within both of them. Hermione didn’t think twice as she threw herself forward and crushed her lips back against his.

As her hands tangled into his messy hair, Harry’s hands instantly moved to the collar of her blouse. Not caring that there was a much simpler way to take it off, Harry started ripping at the material. The buttons shot off of her ruined blouse, but Hermione was just as eager to get it off.

Finally, Harry tossed the torn blouse off into a corner of their destroyed kitchen. His hands weren’t free for very long though, because immediately he started working on her bra. The ruddy garment was never something Harry had been able to suavely take off, so saving himself the frustration, he ripped it right in half.

Hermione didn’t seem to mind though, and emitted a groan in the back of her throat as Harry pulled her now naked body further into his embrace.

Harry was growing tired of their current position, and now that he had her in nothing but her beautiful, creamy skin, he wanted to continue exploring the rest of her body. Hermione let out a confused moan as Harry suddenly pulled out of her and picked her up, off the island.

Harry set her down, but didn’t release his grip on her. He turned her, and started walking them back through the kitchen, not stopping, or breaking their kiss until they met the wall leading into the dining room. Once he had her caught in the middle, Harry flipped Hermione around and pressed her into the wall.

He grabbed her right hand, and gently brought her arm up to rest above her head. As Harry pushed into her once more, Hermione’s other hand reached out to clutch onto the edge of the entryway. Harry’s free hand traced down her bare arm until he got to her other hand. Resting on top of it, Harry entwined his fingers with hers.

Hermione had to release the desperate moan building up as Harry continued to thrust into her. Every time he pushed into her, Hermione came closer to toppling over the edge of her ecstasy.

She could tell that Harry was getting close to his climax as well by the shaky breaths he was exhaling over her bare back. He had kept his mouth open, tracing over her naked flesh and every once in a while stopping to drop a kiss over her shoulder blade. What particularly drove Hermione crazy was when he would dip his tongue down, and taste her neck or shoulders- all moist with sweat, thanks to him.

Hermione let out a whimper as she started to feel her knees go weak. Harry was growing more fervent with his ministrations by the second, and Hermione was finding it hard to avoid that inevitable bliss for much longer.

Acting on the impulse that Harry wanted to see her face when she finally came, he suddenly pulled out and turned her around once more. Hermione’s brow crinkled in confusion, but was quickly replaced with a surprised look as Harry hoisted her up around his hips once more.

Fusing their lips back together, Harry started walking them into the dining room. He set her down on the table, pushing one of the chairs out of his way as he hurriedly plunged back into her. Hermione’s moan was stifled against Harry’s lips. She barely had enough strength to wrap her legs around his waist as continued pounding the sanity from her mind.

They both were starting to breathe extra heavy. Hermione actually had to break the kiss so that she could take in a gulp of oxygen. Harry didn’t look away from her face though, as he let one of his hands trail up her body and stop to tease her breast. He could feel himself edging towards his brink, but tried to hold off for a little bit longer.

However, that was nearly impossible with the sounds Hermione was making. Gasps were mixed in with her quick panting, and with a few more thrusts, he knew he’d make her come. Harry gave her one last bruising kiss. He rested his forehead against hers and stared directly into her eyes. Just a little bit more…

Hermione’s breathing suddenly hitched and she lolled her head back from Harry. Her mouth had taken on the shape of an ‘o’, and for a brief few seconds as Harry continued to drive into her, it seemed like she had stopped breathing. Eventually though, she gave way to the moan wracking up inside her as her ecstasy washed over her and her walls clenched around Harry’s cock.

As Harry watched the look of pleasure take over her features, he couldn’t resist anymore. Desperately, he pushed into her a few more times before he felt his release pang in his stomach. With a low groan of his own, he spilled his seed inside of her.

Both of their eyes had flittered closed as they took in the aftermath of their orgasms. Harry wasn’t satisfied by their distance, so with a few more evening breaths, he bent over Hermione and gently picked her up. He sat them down in the closest dining room chair. It creaked at their weight, but Harry ignored it and rested his head in the crook of Hermione’s neck.

Hermione too leaned forward into Harry’s embrace. Her mind was still fogged from a minute ago, but she had enough sanity left to feel completely shocked that this was where the night had led them. A few hours ago, she had figured that one of them would be dead by now.

Harry felt Hermione’s lips press against his neck. With a smile, he leaned back with the intentions of seeking out her lips. However, as soon as he had leant back to a certain point, the chair creaked once more. Before he knew it, he and Hermione were toppling backwards.

They both landed on the ground with an ‘oof’. From their position on the ground, Harry on his back and Hermione on her side a couple inches away, they had the opportunity to observe the damage they had done earlier for the first time. The wreckage really wasn’t amusing, but after a few moments, Harry and Hermione shared a look and burst out into laughter.

Obviously, the chair they had been sitting in had been a victim of one of Hermione’s bullets.

Harry was still chuckling when Hermione sent him a feisty smirk. Before he could question her, her hand shot out of nowhere and slapped him over the face. Harry’s head twisted to the side from the force of her blow, but when he turned back to her, he had a smirk of his own.

Putting his fast reflexes to work, he reached forward and grabbed hold of Hermione’s arm. With a quick tug, he pulled her on top of him and fastened his lips roughly to hers. Hermione didn’t fight him as his arms wound tightly around her waist. Being with Harry, in this way, was something she never wanted to fight against ever again.

… …

Harry awoke in his bed a couple hours later. After working their way through each destroyed room, Harry and Hermione had decided to take it upstairs into their bedroom, which had a nice boulder sized hole through the wall.

It was still dark out, so Harry didn’t have to squint his eyes when he finally summoned the strength to open them. Bloody hell, he’d probably have to take a week to recover from last night…

When he did open his eyes, he found the other half of the bed to be empty. A flash of panic hit him as he noticed Hermione not asleep next to him, like she should have been. He was just about to sit up and call out her name when he heard the toilet flush from deeper inside their room. He waited a few moments, and then eventually heard Hermione’s soft footfalls walking back towards their bed.

He closed his eyes, and pretended to still be sleeping as Hermione crawled back onto the bed. Even though he wanted to grin at the fact that she hadn’t left, he refrained.

A soft smile graced Hermione’s features as she took in the still sleeping form of the man she loved. She was still in disbelief over the outcome of last night. She was so blissfully grateful for Harry’s sudden confession, because she knew if he hadn’t spoke up, then she probably wouldn’t have in fear of rejection. Well, love can do strange things to you, that’s for sure.

Still wrapped up in her thoughts, Hermione scooted herself forward on the bed until she was half on top of Harry’s back. He was a stomach sleeper- something that she had always adored. Acting purely on instincts and what felt right, Hermione bent down and placed a soft kiss on Harry’s back.

Finding it hard to restrain herself, she trailed her mouth up his back, and placed another damp kiss at his shoulder blade. And then one at the base of his neck. And then another at the spot just below his ear. And then one on his cheek… Finally, Hermione’s lips reached his, where she gave him a soft kiss.

Hermione held the kiss for a few moments, and right when she was getting ready to pull back, she felt Harry’s lips press back against hers.

She smiled as she opened her eyes and found him still pretending to be asleep. She gave him a little tongue in her next kiss, “Wake up, sleepy…”

Harry only grunted, but still kissed her back.

“If you wake up, I’ll give you a present,” she whispered in his ear seductively.

Harry’s eyes instantly shot open, “What kind of present?”

Hermione grinned, “The best kind of present.”

“I’m up,” Harry announced, pushing himself up and turning in her embrace. Before she could tease him further, Harry placed a hand on her hip and pulled her towards him.

Their lips met in another sensuous kiss. Just as things were starting to get heated, the most unbelievable noise sounded in the house.

The doorbell.

Harry and Hermione broke the kiss and they gave each other concerned looks at the unexpected noise.

Upon the second chime of the doorbell, they automatically jumped up from the bed and snapped into action. As Harry summoned his wand and ran over in his head every possibility of who could be lurking outside their house right now, Hermione scurried over to the closet and pulled out one of Harry’s large shirts for herself, and some boxers for him.

“Here,” she muttered, handing him the white shorts. Harry took them gratefully, and straightened up just in time to catch his wand out of midair.

“Did anyone know you went to the park last night?” Harry asked as he started heading for the door.

“No,” Hermione answered, quietly following. Mentally, Hermione knew her people wouldn’t bother ringing the doorbell. The outsiders were just as much as a mystery to her as they were to Harry.

The two quickly tiptoed down the stairs and made their way for the front door. Harry secured Hermione behind him before glancing out of the window. A second later, he snorted.

Much to Hermione’s surprise, Harry eagerly cracked the door open, enough so that only he was shown, “Yeah?”

“Is everything okay? There was an awful ruckus a few hours ago!” sounded the anxious voice of Debbie Finkle.

A silly grin spread over Hermione’s face as Harry continued the conversation, acting completely oblivious to her accusations.

“No, everything’s fine here. Totally great.”

“So you’re fine?” asked Bob, who, bless him, had come over with one of his beloved golf clubs- just in case.

Harry shrugged, scratching the back of his head and pulling the door all the way open. The Finkle’s eyes practically popped out of their skull when they saw Hermione.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Harry repeated, placing an arm around Hermione’s shoulders and pulling her into him.

“Couldn’t be better, actually,” Hermione added with a smile.

The two muggles tried to hide their shocked faces, “Oh, wow um-”

“Looks like you’re redecorating,” Bob commented, starting to pull his wife away, back down the walkway.

“Spring cleaning, you know,” Harry nodded at their red faces.

“Oh right. We should probably start too. Well, um, lovely seeing you again Hermione! We’re glad you’re back from your trip…”

Hermione smiled, “Good to be home, Deb.” With a final wave, Harry shut the door before they could offer them over for a casserole or one of their garden parties.

As Bob and Debbie hurried back across the street, Bob shot his wife a hurtful look, “How come we don’t ever destroy the house like that when you get back from your business trips?”

“I don’t go on business trips,” Debbie reminded him crazily.

A disappointed look came over his face, “Well you should start.”

“Oh for goodness sake, they were only doing spring cleaning!”

“It’s almost autumn…” Bob whined, before his wife roughly pushed him into their own house.

---

Trust me, Harry and Hermione are officially together. No more splitting them up-- honestly, I couldn’t take it myself.

Please leave me a review and let me know if this chapter met expectations.

Thanks!

29. Fishy

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 29: Fishy

---

Harry sat on a clear stretch of tile, leaning against the wall and gazing off into the kitchen. A crooked grin etched onto his face as he continued to stare at Hermione, dressed only his ripped dress shirt from the night before. She was ambling around the kitchen, expertly avoiding the broken glass and debris littered on the ground and countertop as she fumbled with something over the stove.

Harry was just starting to bend his head to get a better angle of her bum, when an apple suddenly came soaring out of nowhere. He caught it just in time before it smacked into his head, and then, with a devilish grin, took a bite out of it. Hermione rolled her eyes at his haughty expression, but couldn’t help grin to herself as she went back to fiddling with the two slices of toast before her.

Harry was still staring in deep interest when she started for him a few minutes later, the two pieces of toast now balanced over two warm cups of tea. She didn’t break a sweat as she maneuvered around the shattered sharp objects, and handed Harry his mug before bending to sit down next to him.

Harry looked skeptically at the food before him. Gingerly, he lifted the toast from the cup and took a whiff. Hermione watched on, an incredulous look set upon her face as Harry moved on to the tea and also sniffed.

She kept quiet, silently glaring as Harry took a hesitant bite out of the jellied toast.

After a few seconds, he slowly nodded, “This is actually decent.”

Hermione raised an eyebrow, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” Harry defended himself hastily, “Just… well, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve never liked your cooking.”

To his surprise, Hermione smirked, “You’d like it even less if I actually cooked it.”

“What?” Harry asked aghast.

With a grin, Hermione shook her head, “I’ve never made a meal for you a day in my life. Abbey’s Kitchen on North Street is to blame.”

“Jeez, you must’ve really not been able to stand me if you couldn’t even cook for me,” he teased lightheartedly.

Hermione nudged him playfully, “It’s got nothing to do with love; I’m simply just a horrible cook. I’m horrible at homemaking in general, now that I think about it,” she finished, thoughtfully biting her lip.

“But you’re good at everything,” Harry argued in disbelief.

Hermione couldn’t help but smile, “I know, but I’ve accepted failure on this.”

As he shook his head, probably still in disbelief, Hermione shot him a curious look out of the corner of her eye. Now that she had revealed something, she didn’t feel impolite for asking him something.

“Did your scar just fade away, or do you conceal it?”

Harry finished swallowing his bite of toast before he let his hand brush over the corner of his forehead where he knew his scar should’ve been showing, “It’s charmed. I wish it would fade away, but I’ll have it for the rest of my life.” He didn’t sound disappointed or glum. He’d gotten used to the fact that it would never go away on its own. He’d always have the reminder of what Voldemort had done to him throughout his childhood. He thought he’d found his fix when he met Hermione, but now there really wasn’t no point in hiding it.

“How come you never told me?” Hermione asked, gently reaching up to grab his hand and lace her fingers through his.

“Told you what?”

“That you were a wizard. What made you keep it a secret?”

Harry shrugged, “I thought I was protecting you. I thought if you became Hermione Potter, my enemies would try to hurt you.”

As she took this in, she let her head fall against his shoulder. Knowing what she now knew, it all made more sense.

“So what’s your excuse?” Harry asked a few moments later.

Hermione also shrugged, “Father wouldn’t let me. And I guess I was scared. I didn’t want you to hate me for my abilities.”

Harry couldn’t help but frown as he heard her first excuse. He imagined that this ‘Father’ bloke was her leader. He didn’t like the idea that just because of his position over her, he had a right to dictate her life.

“This all could’ve been spared if we had just been honest from the start,” Harry said quietly after a few moments of silence. How different would things have been if he knew that she was magical from the beginning? Would he have been more guarded, or would he have possibly fallen even more in love with her?

“But things worked out, didn’t it?” Hermione answered with a shrug, “I mean, I never thought I’d come back here,” she finished softly, now staring out of the kitchen’s bay window that had miraculously come out of last night unharmed.

Harry glanced down to her with a smile. He kissed her forehead, silently agreeing with her former question, “I never thought you’d come back here either.”

Hermione returned his grin before going to stare back out of the rain splattered window. She couldn’t help but look on fondly, “You know everyone complains about the rain here, but I rather like it. I missed it in L.A. It never rained there.”

“One of the many reasons why you should just move back home,” Harry told her, before taking a drink out of the now lukewarm tea.

Hermione bit her lip, trying to hide her smile, “Here, with you?”

“Somewhere with me,” Harry shrugged easily.

Hermione tried her hardest to keep the excitement out of her tone. “Are you saying you want to start over?”

He nodded, “Start our marriage over, at least.”

“Like… get remarried?”

Unbeknownst to Hermione, Harry smirked. He had wondered when the right time would be to tell her this, “We never got divorced.”

Hermione frowned, sitting up so that she could look at him properly, “Did you hit your head a little too hard last night? Have you forgotten how we’ve spent the last year?”

“No, I definitely haven’t forgotten.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

Harry turned to look at her, “I never signed the papers. Legally, we’re still hitched.”

“Th-that can’t be true,” Hermione stammered, trying to remember correctly that day over a year ago, “I mean, the lawyer told me that it was final!”

“It’s called a confundus charm sweetheart,” Harry replied with a grin.

Her mouth fell open in shock, “Oh- you!”

“What?” he asked innocently, smiling at her angry expression.

“You can’t do anything you’re told, can you?” Hermione asked him in a huff.

He grinned again, “Nope. Would you love me as much if I did?”

Hermione rolled her eyes moodily, turning to look away from him. “Probably not…” she muttered a few seconds later.

“Well there you go,” he responded winningly, pulling her back into him.

Despite her irritation, she couldn’t help her curiosity, “Why didn’t you sign them?”

“Because I thought you were being an idiot,” Harry answered automatically in blunt honesty. Upon her flabbergasted look, he defended himself, “What? You were! Divorcing me like that was completely irrational.”

She glared at him for a few moments before sighing, “Well, I had a good reason at the time.”

“I know you did, but still. You should’ve let me explain then.”

“What would you have said?”

Harry turned to look at her with nothing but genuine honesty spilling through his gaze, “Everything I was going to tell you the morning at the Beaumont. I was going to tell you that I was a wizard and that the girl you saw me kissing was a fellow coworker. We were on a mission, playing a married couple. Our goal was to knock over a glass of water so that the wizard would walk into the bathroom where another one of our guys was waiting for him. She didn’t knock over the water when she was supposed to, so I did the only thing I thought wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, but would still spill it over. You have no idea how much I’ve regretted that decision since.”

Hermione didn’t blink as she stared back at him, “That’s it? She’s just a coworker?”

“Yes, I promise. She has her own boyfriend. And she’s Ron’s little sister,” Harry added, hoping that would seal the deal for her. He didn’t think mentioning that he had once dated Ron’s little sister was vital at this point.

“And what did her boyfriend think of you two kissing?”

Harry shrugged, “Dunno. He and Ginny weren’t together when it happened. You have no idea how much I wished that he was the one to be there instead of me.”

Hermione nodded, letting his words wash over her. Now she knew what she had wanted to know since the day she had witnessed their daunting mission. It was never a matter of Harry wanting to be with someone else. He had told her that before, and now, she fully believed him. Ever since last night, she didn’t have any reason not to.

“So he works for the Order, too?” Hermione inquired.

Harry nodded, glad to see that she was accepting his explanation. “Yeah. None of us ever used to get along with Malfoy, but after the war he made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with the dark side. Sirius took pity on him and inducted him in. They’re distantly related, so I guess he felt obligated… what?”

Hermione snapped out of the sharp look she was giving Harry. She glanced away for a moment, a frown still present on her lips, “Nothing. You said his name was Malfoy?” shed asked suddenly, thinking back to the man who had called himself Father’s grandson.

She and Sienna had gone back to the entrance room after he’d left and found his full name written on the report of his wand scan. ‘Draco Malfoy, 10 inch hawthorn wood, unicorn hair core’… could it be the same Malfoy?

“Yeah,” Harry nodded, “Draco Malfoy-”

“His name’s Draco Malfoy?” Hermione cut him off shrilly.

Harry nodded confusedly, “Yes… what’s wrong?”

Hermione gave him a pointed look, “Draco Malfoy works for the Order of the Phoenix? Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, I’m positive,” Harry answered, a bit peeved at her curtness, “Do you know him or something?”

“He’s my boss’s grandson, Harry.”

The confused look on his face flattened, and then turned hard, “You work for a Malfoy?” He tried his best to keep from sounding accusatory.

“I don’t know his last name. All I know is that a tall blonde bloke, by the name of Draco Malfoy, was automated into my headquarters the day of the Beaumont attacks, by my boss. He came to pick up Krum for Father, and claimed that he was his grandson.”

Harry narrowed his eyes, “He went to get Krum?”

“Yes, to take him back to the Bulgarian ministry. Sienna and I didn’t trust him, so I told him I’d do it myself.”

“So Father is the name your boss goes by?” Harry asked, trying to absorb as much of this as possible.

Hermione’s eyes flickered, and for a moment she wondered if she should be revealing all of this to Harry. Harry though, obviously recognized the look in her eyes.

“Hermione, I’m not going to use any of this against you. I’m just trying to figure out what the hell is going on with him. Malfoy always told us that he had no remaining relatives- besides distant cousins like Sirius, or the ones that were in Azkaban.”

It took a second, but Hermione eventually shook her head, “I don’t know Father’s real name. I’ve only met him face-to-face for the first time a year ago. He just sends us instructions on what to do, and leaves the heavy work to us.”

“And before a few days ago, you had never seen Malfoy before in your life?” Harry asked her again.

“Never,” Hermione told him, “But he said that he was an agent from the Paris headquarters.”

Harry turned away from her and let his head fall back against the wall, “This explains so much…”

“Like what?” Hermione asked him, she being the confused one this time.

“He’s been disappearing a lot on Ginny- going AWOL on missions, including the first night at the Beaumont. He was supposed to be there with Ginny, not me!” Harry exclaimed, frustrated that none of this was making sense. It had to be the same Malfoy- Hermione had described him well enough, and what were the odds that another Draco Malfoy would be running around with the same job description as this one? No, it had to be the same bloke. But if that was true, then where the hell had this grandfather of his come from?

“The question is,” Hermione said, bringing Harry out of his thoughts, “is he selling someone out, or playing both sides for his own benefit?”

Harry quickly shook his head, “Look, I’ve known Malfoy since first year at Hogwarts. Trust me, that bloke doesn’t do his own thinking. Claiming his stance against the death eaters was the ballsiest thing he’s ever done. He has to be answering to someone.”

“I know of no other wizarding agencies besides mine and your own. And I don’t think any ministry would be in on this…” Hermione muttered, weighing in the options left.

Harry understood where she was taking this and immediately voiced his opinion, “That means he has to be answering to someone on your side.”

“Why is my agency automatically to blame?” Hermione argued, “For all we know, it could be someone you know!”

“Think about it Hermione,” Harry said resolutely, “He’s disappearing on the Order’s missions, but suddenly showing up to do your leader’s bidding? It has to be someone on your side.”

Hermione bit her lip. He did have a point. “But who? I completely trust every single one of my agents. None of them would ever stray from the agency…”

“Maybe it wasn’t one of your agents…” Harry said, distracted in thought before snapping back into focus. He looked at her unwaveringly, “What were you even doing at the Beaumont anyway?”

“We were there to safeguard Krum. What were you guys doing there?”

“The same. I thought when you disapparated with Krum, that you were going to kill him,” Harry told her, having no problem doing so now. A few days ago, he had no trouble believing that she and her agents were the people that they were supposed to protect Krum from. But now that he knew better… what were they both doing there?

“That’s why you thought we were the murderers,” Hermione muttered to herself, also starting to understand. Then she shot Harry a puzzled look, “But we were hired by the Bulgarian ministry. Why would they hire two agencies to protect one person?”

“Sirius got the tip off from people in Krum’s circle. Supposedly they didn’t want to give Viktor extra security, but wanted people there just in case.”

Hermione nodded, “Okay, so it really was a coincidence that we were both there.”

“Hermione,” Harry said, giving her a piercing look, “do you really think this could be just a coincidence?”

“No, but what other explanation is there?” Hermione wasn’t comfortable settling on hypothetical what-if’s either, but they couldn’t very well make something of nothing, could they?

Harry stared off, a pensive look overcoming his features, “Well, maybe… maybe it was a mistake that we were both there. Not a coincidence.”

Hermione too looked off, pondering over the possibility. Suddenly, a thought hit her, and she raised her eyebrow. What if it wasn’t a mistake that Krum’s people wanted extra men to be there? “Or… maybe it was a coincidence.”

“Come on, Hermione-”

“No listen! Do you know who was trying to kill Krum?”

“His step-brother,” Harry answered with a shrug. “We figured then, that whoever the bloke was had hired you guys to take him out.”

“But we weren’t,” Hermione said, excitement dripping through her obvious statement, “Silas Ezekiel was his step-brother. He died in the restaurant that morning.”

“Died?” Harry repeated, “How?”

“AK’d.”

“Who killed him?”

“No one from my team,” Hermione insisted surely, “I think it’s safe to say though, that whoever did say the curse probably knew of Ezekiel’s relationship to Krum.”

At that, Harry frowned, “What, you think one of Krum’s friends did it?”

Hermione shook her head, “I don’t know, but that’s not the point. What if Malfoy was working with Ezekiel? To kill Krum?”

Harry looked skeptical. For whatever reason, he couldn’t seem to grasp what Hermione was trying to imply. “But why would Malfoy want to kill Krum? He didn’t even know him!”

“I don’t know…” Hermione mumbled, after a couple minutes of trying to come up with an answer for him. “It’s just, I don’t know how else he could fit into everything. I doubt he’d be conspiring with anyone on my side. But if you’re the ones he’s betraying, then…”

Harry knew that she was trying her best to come up with an answer for this. But still, theorizing wasn‘t going to get them anywhere. Gently, he squeezed her hand, causing her to turn and look at him. “Hermione, this is a serious issue. He knows very important information about our organization. Information that could ruin us, if given to the wrong people.”

Hermione nodded, understanding that that threat held true for them both, “What should we do?”

“Find him,” Harry answered stiffly after a brief pause, “Get the answers straight from him.”

“Do you think he’d be with Father?” Hermione asked, already thinking of the difficulties there’d be to get him there.

A hopeful glint suddenly appeared in Harry’s eyes.

“Or with Ginny.”

---

Please leave a review!

30. Facing Facts

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 30: Facing Facts

---

Harry set his shoulders into a stiff posture, before glancing back to the hall behind him. As it should’ve been, it appeared to be completely empty. He turned back to the look at the door in front of him. He was confident that the invisible person behind him got his message to get ready.

Harry let his fingers draw over his wand, concealed in the inside pocket of his blazer, one more time before curling his hand into a fist, and knocking heavily on the door.

He heard footsteps beyond.

“Harry!” Ginny exclaimed as soon as she caught sight of him, “What are you doing here? Sirius has been looking for you-”

“Yeah, I was just with him. Is Malfoy here?” He didn’t have time for pleasantries. Hopefully, Ginny wouldn’t think anything was out of the ordinary.

However, the redhead frowned, “Uh, yeah. Why?”

“I need to see him. It’s important.”

“Did something happen?” Ginny asked worriedly as Harry, without invite, walked past her and into the flat. He needed to distract Ginny long enough so that Hermione could slip in under the cloak.

Harry turned once he was a good distance away from the door. He shrugged innocuously, “I just need to ask him a few questions.”

“Alright…” Ginny muttered as she turned and closed the door. Harry knew that she was unsure about what to make of his sudden house call. That was what he and Hermione wanted.

He heard a rustling from another room. Reflexively, he turned to find Malfoy coming out of Ginny’s bedroom. The blonde’s shirt was unbuttoned, revealed a white square of gauze taped to his chest. Harry frowned to himself briefly. Was Malfoy injured?

Though, as a disgruntled scowl came over the other bloke’s face, Harry reminded himself that he didn’t have time to worry over him. In fact, he needed to be doing quite the opposite.

His hand inconspicuously reached inside his blazer as Draco shot Ginny a look.

“Potter, what-”

“Expelliarmus!”

“Harry!” Ginny screamed in outrage, staring across the room where Draco had been thrown back into her wall, and his wand shot out of his back pocket. As it scattered onto the ground on the opposite side of the room, Ginny looked back to Harry. A panicked expression flashed across her face.

Harry didn’t pay her any attention. He pointed his wand at Malfoy again, and shouted, “Incarcerous!”

As ropes shot from the end of Harry’s wand, he failed to notice Ginny shakily grabbing for her own.

Out of nowhere, a voice shouted, “Petrificus totalus!”

Malfoy’s eyes went wide as he watched his girlfriend slam to the floor, frozen.

“Potter what the fuck-” He froze mid-sentence as Harry went to retrieve Ginny’s wand. His blood went cold under the tight ropes as the air seemed to ripple in front of him. An invisible barrier seemed to fall to the ground, leaving an impossible intruder standing in its wake.

“You!” he screamed, glaring at Hermione, who, like Harry, had a wand gripped tightly in her hand.

She glared right back. Hermione refused to be intimidated by the captured adversary. She was at somewhat of a disadvantage with Quentin’s wand, but it was still better than nothing. A gun was holstered on her ankle just in case things got out of hand, and she always had her wandless to use if necessary.

A grin appeared on Harry’s lips, “Oh good, so you’re not going to pretend you don’t know my wife.”

“What the hell is this?” Draco spat, now glaring frantically back and forth between the two.

Hermione narrowed her eyes, annoyed by Malfoy’s tone, “You’re about to tell us.”

“Wait,” Harry interrupted, putting up and hand in front of Hermione. He turned and bent down next to Ginny who was laying face first on the ground, petrified in a very awkward position. He pushed her over so that he could look her in the eyes.

“Ginny, I’m going to unfreeze you, but if you try to release Malfoy, I’ll stun you. Alright?”

He knew Ginny wouldn’t be able to reply, so instead, he sent her a warning look before tapping her gently with his wand. The counter spell took effect instantly, causing Ginny’s body to immediately slacken.

The girl stood and dusted off her jeans impatiently. It was obvious to Harry that she was trying very hard to keep her temper under wraps for now.

“Give me back my wand,” she demanded, holding out her hand for it.

Harry tucked it up his sleeve, “We will after he tells us everything we need to know.”

“What are you talking about?!” Ginny snapped, glaring heatedly at him. She turned her angry eyes to Hermione and pointed, “More importantly, what the hell is she doing here? Have you forgotten that she almost killed us the other day?”

“Hermione’s not the enemy here. He is,” Harry said, mimicking her and pointing at the trapped Malfoy.

Draco scoffed, “Ginny, he’s insane. Get me out of here.”

Ginny frowned. She didn’t seemed convinced as she shared a long look with Malfoy, before turning back to Harry hesitantly, “What are you talking about?”

He raised an eyebrow, also turning to Malfoy, “Do you want to tell her how you two know each other, or should we?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Potter!”

“You know her?” Ginny asked, somewhat shocked.

He tried to deny it, “Ginny, don’t believe a word they say. They’re liars!”

“We have veritaserum, and it’s not like we’re saving it for a rainy day,” Hermione said impatiently, giving Malfoy a disdainful look.

Malfoy remained quiet as he locked eyes with Hermione. For the first time, he actually looked worried.

Harry noticed this, but fixed him with a firm look nevertheless, “What is your relationship with Hermione’s boss?”

“Don’t do this,” he whispered, staring back at Harry. It was obvious that he was avoiding Ginny’s eyes at all cost. Was that an admission of guilt right there?

“Just tell us what we need to know, then.”

The tension in the air was palpable as the other occupants of the room stared down at him relentlessly. After a minute, Draco closed his eyes and breathed deeply though his nose, “He’s my mum’s biological father. I only met him a year and a half ago.”

“Are you working for him?” Harry asked as Hermione shot him an ‘I-told-you-so’ look.

“He- he’s training me to replace him.”

Harry raised an eyebrow, knowing that his answers weren’t truly reliable since he was so unwilling to answer them. He was just about to say so, when Ginny cut him off.

“Yes or no, Draco,” she said quite fiercely.

Draco glanced to her and sighed, “Yes, but for personal assignments only. I’m not an actual agent, if that’s what you’re asking,” he finished, turning rigidly back to Harry.

“But you play both sides?” Hermione asked this time.

“You don’t understand. He’s my grandfather. He’s all I have left. I can’t say no to him.”

Ginny snorted, “Is this why you’ve been disappearing lately?”

Draco only turned to look at her, his gaze slightly different than when he was staring at Harry and Hermione. Harry never knew Malfoy to look this way. After a moment, he realized why his look was so peculiar. He was ashamed; ashamed to be admitting his categorical betrayal in front of Ginny.

Hermione seemed to realize his eyes soften too. For her though, his flash of weakness was close to proof of guilt.

She nudged Harry, though her eyes were still focused on Malfoy, “Give him the potion.”

At that, Draco’s face fell, “No, wait-”

His plea came too late, as by then Harry had already waved his wand at Draco’s face to pry his mouth open. Giving him the truth potion was inevitable; neither he nor Hermione had time to waste on his hesitation to give them honest answers.

Silently, Harry handed Hermione the small vile. Watching the redhead out of the corner of her eye, she approached Malfoy and uncorked the bottle. She poured the clear liquid into his open mouth.

The spell holding his mouth apart faded as soon as the liquid was all the way down his throat. He spent a few seconds coughing, before he went deadly quiet. With blank eyes, Malfoy turned to look up at Hermione.

“Did Father know that the Order of the Phoenix was going to be at the Beaumont?”

Draco didn’t even blink, “Yes.”

Hermione frowned, “But he still sent us in?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” Draco confessed with a shudder- obviously an effect of the potion. Harry and Hermione shared a sceptical look as the blonde finished, “He doesn’t tell me everything.”

Harry spoke next, “Were you at the Beaumont under Father’s orders, or under ours?”

“His.”

Harry heard a scoff from the background, but ignored it. He figured Ginny would have a difficult time of hearing that all of Malfoy’s excuses were lies.

“What did he ask you to do?”

Draco shrugged dolefully, “Watch Ezekiel. He had a feeling that Ezekiel would stray from the plan.”

“Stray from the plan? What plan?” Hermione asked sharply. The fact that Father had made plans with this bloke without letting her or Sienna in on it irked her more than she liked to admit.

“I don’t know!” Draco exclaimed, sounding like it was painful to admit so, “I was only there to make sure he didn’t kill Krum the moment he saw him. Grandfather didn’t tell me specifics.”

Harry squeezed Hermione’s hand warningly as a indignant look came over her face. “What other missions has he sent you on?” he asked calmly.

“That, and to pick up Krum.”

“Why did he send you to pick up Krum?” Hermione questioned next. That was something she’d been quite confused over even before she found out about Malfoy’s two-timing.

Malfoy seemed to sigh, “Because he knew that Potter would be coming to fetch him.”

“I don’t get it,” Harry said, shaking his head grimly, “So Father really was looking out for Krum’s best interest?”

Malfoy was silent for a minute. Harry was just about to repeat his question before he shook his head and spoke with a bated breath, “He wanted it to look like Krum was dead so that you would go looking for her, since she was the one to apparate off with him.” At ‘her’, he jerked his head over to Hermione.

“I was looking for her in the first place… why would he care about that?”

Draco let out an low groan, “I don’t know…”

“Do you have any ideas as to why he would care to have us in the same place?” Hermione asked, more quietly than Harry would’ve anticipated. He glanced over to her and found a dark frown set over her face.

Confused, he turned back to Malfoy for the answer.

“Because… because he wants Potter dead. And he wants you to do it.”

Hermione had to close her eyes for a brief moment to let the betrayal wash over her. So Harry had been right… the untrustworthy person was on her side. Her boss- the man she’d been told to trust for so many years…

“Why would he want to hurt Harry?” she heard the redhead ask.

“Revenge, probably,” Draco told her, shrugging as he answered. He then turned to Harry. Hermione didn’t miss the glare in his eyes, “You stood around saving everyone else while the ministry was crumbling. Everyone besides my mother.”

“I didn’t even know she was there! Malfoy, I’ve told you that I was sorry about that. I never wanted her to die!” Harry said exasperatedly- like he’d told the bloke a hundred times before.

“He doesn’t care,” Malfoy muttered staunchly, “Plus, you’re the competition. He said if you’re gone, the Order would disintegrate.”

Ginny looked at him fixedly, “Did your grandfather tell you to come after me, too?”

A reluctant look flashed across his face, “No.”

“He wanted me to see Harry at the Beaumont,” Hermione muttered, interrupting the other couple’s intimate look as she started to piece together the information Malfoy had unwillingly given them. “He wanted me to think he was the enemy, and fight against him.”

Malfoy nodded grudgingly, “He hasn’t told me exactly, but that’s what I’ve guessed.”

Sharply, Hermione looked to Malfoy again, “What else has he instructed you to do with relations to Harry?”

Both Harry and Hermione could tell the veritaserum was still in affect as Malfoy’s hands curled into fists and he gave an involuntary twitch, “Just… to see how he handled your divorce. To see if he had become weaker…”

Hermione let out a shaky breath, “Did he make his intentions clear form the start?”

“No. He didn’t tell me anything to begin with. Just that he wanted me to take over for him someday.”

Hermione’s eyebrows shot up at his answer, but Harry was focused on something else, “Then how do you know he wanted Hermione to kill me?”

“He told me that you were her weakness, and that she wasn’t allowed to have weaknesses. He said it was either have her get rid of you, or get rid of the both of you.”

A tense silence engulfed the group. Upon his answer, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all experienced different emotions. Hermione couldn’t believed she’d never realized this before; she couldn’t believe she’d been so foolish to believe that Father would let her have a husband, or that she’d never picked up on how eager he was to get her to L.A. Harry was a bit disturbed at the fact that a bloke he’d never met before was pining away to kill him. Though, he wasn’t as shocked as he should’ve been. After all, this wasn’t the first time someone had been out to get him.

Ginny was the most obvious with her feelings. Betrayal was etched on every part of her face as she glared down mercilessly at her confined boyfriend.

“You knew,” she whispered at him, “You knew about his plans to kill Harry, yet you let it happen?”

Malfoy was all too quick to defend himself to her, “I didn’t know he wanted Potter dead! After I came back to tell him I didn’t have Krum, that’s when he started to explain bits and pieces about the Order falling if he was killed. I haven’t gone back since. I swear Ginny; I wouldn’t want the Order targeted.”

“Is he planning more?” Harry asked, still calm.

Draco shook his head, “He doesn’t tell me everything. He doesn’t tell anyone everything.”

Hermione was the next to speak, her voice at a different tone than one relevant to their current conversation. A hint of accusation was present in her eyes as she stared down at Malfoy, “Were you at the Beaumont the morning of the attack?”

“Yes.”

She sucked in another shaky breath, “Did you kill Jude Stewart?”

“No.”

Harry squeezed Hermione’s hand again, this time in comfort as her eyes flitted away vacantly. He turned to back to Draco, “What were you there for then?”

“Ezekiel wasn’t supposed to attack like that,” he divulged, “He disobeyed Grandfather’s orders.”

Harry rolled his eyes a bit impatiently, “Get to the point Malfoy.”

Malfoy sighed, “He told me that Ezekiel was a direct threat. He told me to eliminate him.”

A gasp escaped Ginny’s lips, and again Hermione turned to him sharply, “You killed him?” she asked in shock.

Draco nodded, “Yes.”

“It was you I shot in the restaurant…”

This time, it was he who glowered at Hermione. “Yeah,” he bit out with a sneer.

Harry’s eyes glanced down to the square bandage still taped to his chest. He let out a proud laugh, “Nice…”

Both Hermione and Ginny shot him annoyed looks, though Hermione’s was a bit more gentle. She turned back to Malfoy again, all business, “Has Father told you about any plans to hurt Harry, or to hurt anyone else who knew about our marriage?”

He shook his head, “No. Like I said, I haven’t been back.”

“What, you said you were quitting?”

“No, I just haven’t been back.”

“Well that’s not going to stop him,” Hermione told him shrewdly, “You should know that if he wants to contact you, then he’s going to contact you.”

It was a strange thing, to observe Draco Malfoy looking meek. However, that’s exactly what he appeared to be as he shrugged, looking away from Hermione, “I figured he’d just take the hint since I have a different relationship with him and everything.”

Harry shook his head, “Sorry Malfoy, but it sounds like your grandfather didn’t have any intentions of keeping tight-knit with you.”

His eyes turned up to his brusquely, “I’ve realized that now.”

“You swear you no longer have any allegiance with Father or his agency?” Hermione asked him directly, though she sounded a bit exasperated herself.

Immediately, Draco nodded, “I swear.”

Harry and Hermione shared a quiet look, before Harry turned back to him and nodded, “Fine. Finite incantatum.”

The ropes dissolved and vanished around Malfoy. With a relieved breath, he tried to push himself up on the ground, but stumbled, probably still a little out of sorts due to the potion. Despite Ginny’s scowling demeanour, she came forward to help him.

Hermione noticed the look he gave her, full of apology. She knew she didn’t owe either of them anything, but she figured it would only be appropriate to forewarn them.

She cleared her throat to grab their attention, “Then you also realize he’ll come after you sooner or later. It won’t be good if he finds you with her.”

To her annoyance, Draco only glared, “I can protect Ginny just fine.”

“I can protect myself,” Ginny countered immediately, again scowling at her boyfriend.

Hermione shrugged, “Look, that may be, but I’d still recommend you two getting the hell away from here for the time being.

Ginny turned, and looked back at her a bit hesitantly. She nodded in agreement, before giving them a quizzical look, “Will you guys be doing the same?”

Harry turned to Hermione, but she answered without his consult, “No.”

“What are you going to do?” Ginny asked.

“I can’t run,” Hermione said simply, “The problem is on my side, so I’ll have to fix it. I know Father. He’ll never stop as long as Harry’s alive.”

Harry shot her a quick look, “We’ll fix it.”

“Yeah,” Hermione nodded, though her lip was bit.

After analyzing their interaction, Ginny sighed, “Well, if he’s as dangerous as you say he is-”

“Ginny, don’t bloody volunteer yourself,” Malfoy cut her off angrily.

“I’m just saying,” the redhead continued, “The Order can help you. Harry knows.”

Hermione shrugged apathetically, “I don’t want to involve anyone we don’t have to, but thanks. I think I have a few reliable agents of my own left.”

“Speaking of the Order,” Harry spoke up, levelling a look at Ginny, “Grimmauld Place is probably the best place for you two to go.”

“We’ll find somewhere else,” Malfoy said quickly, shaking his head.

Though Ginny stared at him with an appraising look, her tone was gentle, “You’ll have to tell them sooner or later, Draco.”

“She’s right,” Harry agreed, “The sooner you come clean, the better.”

“Do you know where you’re going next? In case we have to contact you?” Ginny asked.

Harry and Hermione turned to each other, both wondering what the answer to her question would be. The truth was, they didn’t know where they’d be going, but both understood that it wouldn’t be wise to leave any tracks. Harry turned back to Ginny, “We’ll be in touch with you.”

“Alright,” Ginny sighed reluctantly. “But you should make it a point to see Sirius. He’s worried.”

Harry nodded as slipped her wand from his wrist and handed it to her, “Take care, Gin.”

As she took it, she nodded, “You too. Both of you,” she added, giving Hermione a timorous look.

Hermione nodded amicably. Now that she knew the truth, she didn’t feel any hatred for the redhead anymore. But still, it would still be a while before she could consider being friendly with the girl.

Harry and Hermione spared one last look at the woefully silent Malfoy, before turning and heading towards the door. Harry stopped to pick up the cloak. He threw it over the both of them before opening the door.

It didn’t take them long to get to the bottom of Ginny’s building. Silence engulfed them on their trip down, but once they were outside Harry couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

He shot Hermione a careful look out of the corner of his eye, “So where are we going? I’m not sure if we’ll be able to go back to the house. I’m sure your people have realized that you’re missing by now.”

Hermione nodded distractedly, as they moved out of the way of an advancing mother and child. “Yeah,” she muttered, “the house is out.”

“Love, we need to go somewhere to figure things out.”

“I know that, Harry.”

Harry sighed. She’d yet to look him in the eyes, and he was starting to wonder if he was missing something. He pulled her in a bit closer, “Are you okay?”

Hermione was quiet. Harry was about to repeat himself, but then she shook her head, “No, Harry, I’m not okay. Everything I’ve worked for, everything I believed in… it’s all on the foundation of a lie.”

Harry pursed his lips. He’d couldn’t really relate to being betrayed so infinitely, but he knew it took a lot to get her so upset. “At least his plan didn’t work,” he tried to comfort.

“It almost did…”

Not knowing what else to say, Harry leaned in and kissed her cheek. If that didn’t calm her down, then he at least wanted to make it clear that she could talk to him. He’d never tried to make that clear to her in the past…

But it worked. Hermione bit her lip before she went on, “He said that the only reason he was sending me to Los Angeles was to get the training necessary so that I could take over the company for him. But really, it was just an excuse to get me away from you. He used me.”

Harry looked both ways before pulling her across the street with him. “He needs to be stopped, Hermione,” he said, as gently but as fiercely as possible.

His anger was just starting to settle in on the matter. He could still remember Malfoy’s words clearly: ‘he said it was either have her get rid of you, or get rid of the both of you’. He believed Hermione when she said that Father wouldn’t stop until he was dead. But what the old Malfoy didn’t know was that Harry wasn’t going down without a fight. The old bastard had some nerve to not only threaten the life of him, but Hermione’s as well. Harry was sure that this Father character didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Again, another villain who underestimated the power of love.

“I know,” Hermione muttered back.

“Nothing’s going to pull us apart now.”

She nodded solidly, “Absolutely nothing.”

“Why don’t we go to Sirius now-” Harry was in the middle of offering before Hermione shook her head vigorously. She’d just thought of something, and she was adamant about seeing it through.

“We’ll find him tonight,” she said quickly, “There’s someone I need to see first.”

Harry sighed, automatically guessing what her tone of excitement was about. “You’re reliable agent?” he presumed.

Hermione met his eyes and gave him a little smile, hoping that would make it easier for him. When Harry only replied with an overly dramatic wary expression, Hermione smirked, and tugged him off in the direction of a close by alleyway.

…

Sienna let out a tired yawn as she made it to the top of the stairs. The blonde hadn’t gotten any sleep the night previously, seeing as her friend had never returned from turning in Krum to the Bulgarian ministry. After the whole fiasco went down, Sienna and their remaining agents went over to their designated temporary headquarters to wait for Hermione to get back.

Though, Sienna’s nerves were getting the best of her since they hadn’t made contact with her yet. It wasn’t like her friend to just disappear like that… but she supposed she knew why. She guessed that watching the bloke she’d been married to for six years die could’ve been traumatic for Hermione. Maybe.

As she walked tiredly into the kitchen, she threw her purse onto the countertop. She was intent on letting sleep be the only thing on her mind, but she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks as she spotted something on the kitchen table. It was a half drunk cup of tea. Hermione’s favourite cup…

Hermione waited patiently on the couch, as the shocked expression on her best mate’s face turned into a confused one. After a moment, during which Sienna was still staring at the china, Hermione cleared her throat.

Sienna wildly spun to look into the sitting room. Her eyes went wide when she saw her, “Hermione?”

“It’s me,” Hermione nodded. She watched as Sienna’s hand moved around her back.

“Your animagus form?” Sienna demanded, her confused look now suspicious.

“A fox,” Hermione answered easily, “Though, I haven’t transformed in over a year. When we were getting Donavinci’s wand detector.”

Sienna nodded, trying to portray like that was the end of her questioning. However, Hermione hadn’t forgotten her friend’s previous movements. She remained quite still as Sienna suddenly pulled her wand out, “Expelliarmus!”

Hermione fell back into the couch slightly as the spell shot into her. Though, no wand flew from her possession.

“Satisfied?” she asked after taking a deep, steadying breath.

Sienna shrugged and started walking towards Hermione on the couch, “Just making sure,” she acquiesced. “I don’t know what to expect when you show up after being missing for nearly twenty-four hours...”

“Sorry,” Hermione apologized genuinely, “but it couldn’t have been avoided.”

“So… you’re okay?” Sienna asked, giving her a once over and looking for any signs of emotional instability.

However, Hermione simply smiled, “Yep.”

Sienna seemed to believe her as she nodded, “Good. Hermione, he had it coming. If Jeremy didn’t do it, then he would’ve came after, and probably killed you. It’s just best if you get over that asshole-”

“This asshole?”

Sienna’s mouth fell open as Harry pulled off the invisibility cloak and stepped out from the shadowed corner of the room. He smiled cheekily at Sienna, who was glaring in shock at him. She bristled as he came forward to perch himself on the edge of the couch.

“What the hell is this?” Sienna asked in outrage, staring back and forth between Hermione who was giving her a sheepish look, and Harry who was gloatingly waving at her. “Hermione what the- hi Harry- what the hell is he doing here?”

Harry, pleased with the acknowledgement, stopped waving in an air of triumph. He moved from the arm of the couch and scooted close next to Hermione. Knowing it would piss her off, he put his arm around Hermione as she started to explain.

“He’s here with me,” Hermione told her, trying to let her down as gently as possible.

Sienna raised an eyebrow, “And what does that mean exactly?”

Harry grinned charmingly, “We’ve worked things out. You’re stuck with me.”

“We’re working things out,” Hermione corrected him, shooting him a tolerable look before turning back to her friend, “but the point is, Harry and I are together.”

“Together?” Sienna repeated.

“Yes.”

“Are you- now, please excuse my language- but are you out of your fucking mind?”

Hermione sighed, “No, Sienna.”

“Then he’s done something to you!” Sienna shouted, totally convinced of Harry’s guilt of something, “Evans, what have you done to her?”

Harry grinned again, “It’s Potter. Harry and Hermione Potter.”

Sienna’s eyes blazed and a wild look came over her face, “Oh funny. Very, very funny. Hilarious.” She looked feral as she turned to Hermione, “I’m going to start getting sick if someone doesn’t start explaining to me how this mess came to be. Why aren’t you dead? And why did you go to find him?” she finished, pointing a shaky finger at each of them respectively.

“He found me,” Hermione explained, “And it’s not like I just instantly forgave him. I put up a fair fight.”

“Oh more than fair,” Harry added, winking at her.

Sienna watched her friend smile discretely. She couldn’t help but shake her head, thinking that this was all crazy. “But Hermione, he’s the enemy.”

At that, Hermione went solemn. She shook her head, “He’s not my enemy.”

“He’s Father’s enemy! That’s reason enough!”

“Not for me. Not anymore…”

Sienna scoffed, “So that’s it? After all he’s done to you, you’re going to pick him over your duty?”

“I’m always going to love him Sienna,” Hermione admitted softly. The last thing she wanted was for her best mate to hate her for something she had no control over. “Nothing anyone says is going to change that. And, as far as my ‘duty’ goes… I’m really starting to question it.”

“How can you say that?” Sienna shouted accusingly.

“Easy. Because Father’s been using me for the past year. Probably even longer than that,” Hermione told her levelly, not looking away from her eyes.

Sienna glanced over to Harry before turning to Hermione. She couldn’t help her curiosity, “How?”

Hermione shared a meaningful look with Harry before taking a deep breath, and turning back to Sienna. She started quietly, but got more confident as she explained to her best friend just why she couldn’t trust in the agency she worked for anymore. She told her everything that Malfoy had told her and more; revealing what wasn’t private about her and Harry’s conversation at their house earlier.

It took her about ten minutes to say everything, but once she was finished, the three of them sat in complete silence.

Sienna, who had fallen back into a loveseat mid conversation, started to shake her head slowly.

“But… if Father hates Harry, why doesn’t he just get rid of him himself? Why is he going through all this trouble to make you do it?”

Harry answered in a tone of disgust, “Your boss sees her love for me as a weakness. By killing me, the only person she had left to be loyal to was him.”

Sienna raised an eyebrow, “And you got all of this information out of your little grease-head friend?”

“Malfoy’s not my friend,” Harry corrected her tersely, “He just works for the Order.”

“I can’t understand that either,” she protested again, “Father had to know that Malfoy worked for your agency. There’s no way he would’ve continued to talk with him if he was an outside agent.”

Hermione sighed, “Yes, he would’ve, because he was manipulating all of us. He wasn’t doing this just as a job- this was some master plot of his. He wanted revenge. And he wanted to use me to get that revenge for him.”

“Maybe he was planning on telling you-”

“Telling me what?” she cut her off, starting to get edgy, “That he had intended for me to kill Harry? That this whole mess with Krum at the Beaumont was just a way for me to see him again?”

“He was in talks with Ezekiel to try and frame me, Sienna,” Harry elucidated more patiently, “He probably even had it planned out so that Hermione would see me as I was trying to heal Stewart.”

Sienna shook her head again, and Hermione could tell that they still hadn’t totally convinced her. She sighed to herself; she’d been counting on her best friend believing her. It wasn’t like she’d ever done anything to not deserve her trust…

“Si, you’ve been my best mate since we were eleven,” Hermione said, with a pleading tone to her voice, “I wouldn’t make this up.”

“Have you joined the Order too?” Sienna asked, as if she hadn’t heard her.

Hermione shook her head, “No. But I’m not committed to this agency anymore. I hope you understand why I can’t be.”

“It’s hard to,” she shrugged, “I mean, one day you love him, the next you hate him, and then suddenly you’re back in love with him-”

“We’ve always loved each other,” Harry told her firmly.

Sienna narrowed her eyes at him, “She can speak for her bloody self Harry.”

However, Hermione nodded, “He’s right, Si.”

She rolled her eyes, “Fine.”

“I know it’s been a roller coaster, but I’ve made my decision,” she said softly, in one last effort to get Sienna to believe her.

Sienna wasn’t moved. Her eyes were hard as the stared into her friend’s; she had a pleading glint of her own, “Hermione, if you go with him, you’re dead. Father will make sure of that.”

Hermione bit her lip as she looked down to her knees. Harry was slightly worried as he watched his wife remain quiet, not sticking up for herself or refuting Sienna’s claims.

A moment or two passed, and Harry was just about to call her name when she stood up. She pulled him up with her.

“He’s going to have to try his hardest. See you around Sienna. Hopefully.”

Without another word or look, Hermione, hand-in-hand with Harry, started walking out towards the stairs. Sienna didn’t try and stop them as they made their way down to the darkened garage.

Harry was unsure if Hermione was alright to talk, but he wasn’t sure where she wanted to go back to. When they arrived in L.A., they decided they would go to Grimmauld Place after talking to Sienna. Though, Harry wasn’t sure if Hermione would be up to seeing Sirius tonight.

“Back to…?”

Hermione nodded, “Yeah.”

Harry lifted her hand up to kiss it, “It was a long shot Hermione.”

Hermione nodded again, attempting to give him a shaky smile. By then they’d reached the garage where it was safe to apparate. “Let’s go,” she told him with a reluctant breath.

Harry nodded, and moved to pull her in to him so that he could apparate them to Grimmauld Place. He was just starting to count down when something metal clattered to the ground, and footsteps suddenly started pounding down the stairs.

Harry and Hermione both looked up, startled, but relaxed in happiness when a head of blonde hair flashed before them.

“WAIT! I’m coming with you!”

---

Well, I apologize for the wait, but keep in mind that it’s very hard to write when there’s so few reviews motivating you to do so. I’m not going to keep begging for them, but without that urge to come back and post, the story might get neglected while I’m working on other things.

31. Family’s Stick Together

Disclaimer: Don’t own HP or M&MS

Mr. & Mrs. Evans

Chapter 31: Family’s Stick Together

---

UPDATE: Well go on with it, finally update after a year and it seems my story’s so popular that it went on and corrupted portkey for a few days. Imagine that ;)

[AN] I know, I know, it’s been ages. My sincerest apologies to everyone that’s stuck in there with me. I hope it pleases you to know we’re not that far away from the conclusion. I hope you enjoy!

---

“I’m glad Serena proposed to stay here for the night. It’s better to get our head on straight here before heading back to Europe,” Hermione said coming in with an extra pillow. She dropped it on the bed before moving back to help Harry spread the refreshed duvet over the mattress. She had left her room a mess before leaving to take Krum back to his ministry and had insisted on cleaning things up before her and Harry laid down for the night.

“Yeah,” Harry nodded pensively as she took one side. They spread it over the length of the bed and then Harry moved to start tucking in the corners. Hermione stood back and watched him work, wondering why he was taking the time to do it by hand when he could’ve just used magic.

“You’re being awfully quiet,” she noted after a few moments.

Harry glanced up to her and shrugged, “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“What’s going to happen.”

This time it was Hermione who became quiet while Harry stared at her thoughtfully.

“If he doesn’t already know, it’s only a matter of time before your boss figures out the details.”

“I know that.”

“That doesn’t give us much time to get our heads on straight. We need to figure something out now.”

Hermione sighed and turned away from the bed. Harry walked up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Are you okay?”

She shrugged, “I’m tired. I just wanted to put this off for the morning.”

Even though he was hungry for a plan of action, the last thing he wanted was to upset her. Swallowing back his incessant lure for action, he kissed her neck sweetly, “I put some extra protections up just in case.”

A smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, “Thanks.”

Harry’s arms unwound from Hermione’s waist and started for her sides. As he was reaching to grab her hand to pull her to face him, he felt an object positioned on her finger. “Hey,” Harry exclaimed, spinning her around much less smoothly than he’d plan, “You put your rings back on!”

Startled, Hermione glanced down to her left hand, “Oh, yeah, I just found them again and… I don’t know. I put them back on. I’ve missed them.”

“I’ll go home first thing tomorrow to get mine,” Harry told her without hesitation. He felt like his stomach was doing back flips- the thought that she’d put them back on without coercion from him meant loads.

Hermione smiled, looking up at him almost like she was in a daze, “I can’t believe you never signed.”

“I can’t believe you actually thought I would.”

She smirked, “Me either.”

“Seems silly, huh?” he mumbled, leaning in to capture the corner of her lips with his.

Hermione’s lips turned upward as her eyes fell shut, “Is ‘silly’ really the word you used to describe the past year?”

“Yes,” he mumbled again, now muffled by her shoulder as he brushed kisses all down her neck.

“Such a boy…” she whispered, her voice getting lighter and lighter with every kiss Harry pressed to her.

Harry groaned as her hands skimmed over his chest. “Your boy needs attention,” he said huskily into her ear.

Hermione couldn’t help the light smile on her face as she moved her lips closer to his. Harry sealed the gap and pressed her to him tightly as his mouth played over hers gently.

Since her hands were already down in the vicinity, she pulled the ends of his shirt out of his pants before reaching back up to entwine her fingers with her hair.

Harry broke away and let out another throaty groan, “God I love it when you pull on my hair like that.”

Hermione grinned as she tightened her hold, “And more truths are revealed.”

“No point keeping secrets now, right?” Harry muttered, leaning back in.

She let him kiss her once before nodding, “Right.”

Harry was suddenly overcome with his passion for her. His eyes glazed over as he stared at her and he could no longer fight to suppress his utter desire for her. In one quick move he reached down, grabbed her by her waist and threw her onto the newly made bed.

Hermione let out a surprised giggle as she landed and Harry started to climb on top of her.

“What’d we make this bed for anyway?” Harry asked impishly as he ripped the sheets from underneath Hermione.

Hermione laughed, “Obviously we weren’t thinking.”

Once they were both backed into the head board, Hermione opened her legs so that Harry could settle in on top of her. They shared an eager, wet kiss before Harry pulled back to grab the hem of her blouse, “I can’t wait until this is all over so sex can become our main concern.”

“That sounds fantastic,” Hermione breathed as Harry removed her of her blouse and reached back for her bra. His mouth casually found her sensitive spot as he worked, making Hermione let out a soft moan. Her toes curled tighter and tighter as he kissed her more and more fervently.

The rest of the night moved in a blur as they rid themselves of their remaining clothes and Harry again took Hermione as his.

---

At about 2 a.m., Harry sat up abruptly. He looked around the dark room quickly, looking for any sign that something was out of the ordinary.

Hermione woke and looked at him groggily, “You okay?”

“Do you have a gun here?”

Hermione frowned, “A gun?”

“Accio wand!” Harry quickly caught his wand before resuming his scan of the room.

Hermione sat up, “Harry what’s going on?”

“Nothing… I just had a strange feeling…”

“Nobody from my agency should be able to enter if you put up your own protections,” Hermione gently tried to calm him, “That would confuse the office’s decoding too much.”

“I know, I just-”

And then he saw it. Harry’s eyes focused over the small pulsating red X bouncing over Hermione’s upper left breast. His eyes went wide as he saw a trail of shimmering dust slip under the door of Hermione’s room and trace up to the red X. What happened next was a blur.

Hermione’s mouth was opening, getting ready to ask Harry what he was staring at. Before she had the chance, Harry tackled her and rolled them off the bed as a blast of fiery red erupted from the shimmering trail. Instead of hitting Hermione, the curse slammed into the opposite wall, blasting a hole into the drywall.

Harry shouted a protego at the door, shielding another fire storm from entering the room. He knew that the unique curse would not stop until it had reached its target. So as quickly as he could, keeping Hermione clutched to him, he picked them up from the floor and ran over to the window. After a quick reducto, the window shattered. Harry turned back, ready to grab Hermione and climb out onto the roof. Hermione though had broken free from Harry and had crawled over to her nightstand. She was rifling through the contents of an open drawer when another blast came from the shimmering trail.

Hermione let out a cry as the flame-shot grazed her forearm. Panicked, Harry ran over and hoisted her up by the waist.

“No, let me get a gun!”

“There’s no time!” he shouted back. Without hesitating, he ran them over to the window and lifted Hermione so she could climb out. He followed her immediately after and trailed behind her as she started to wind around a corner of the house. Harry followed, figuring she was leading them to a point where they could jump down. However, when Hermione stopped in front of another window leading back into a room off the second floor, he knew that wasn’t the case.

“Hermione-”

“We can’t leave without her!”

Harry glared but lifted his wand to the glass window. The glass disappeared in its frame and Hermione jumped in. He followed immediately behind her.

“Sienna!” Hermione ran over to where the blonde was covering next to the doorway. Her door had already been blown off its hinges.

“Have you called for backup?” Sienna asked, firing a curse down the hallway before leaning back inside. It seemed like she was duelling with someone.

“You know we can’t,” Hermione told her, pulling open her friend’s dresser and pulling out her personal gun she kept confined there. She sent a look at Harry before cocking it.

“There’s at least 6 or 7 highly trained hit-wizards down there,” Sienna argued, also sending a look at Harry. Her expression was much more scathing.

“He must know by now Hermione,” Harry said, positioning himself on the opposite side of the doorway. He was throwing as many curses down the hall as possible but it all seemed useless- he couldn’t see what the hell was going on further off in the house. For all he knew they could be getting ambushed more and more by the second. They needed to leave.

“Who must know what?” Sienna asked, turning to Hermione for answers.

Hermione levelled a look at Harry before sighing, “Father. Malfoy must’ve tipped him off by now.”

“That’s impossible-”

“Accept it Sienna! Your boss isn’t who you think he is.”

“Spare me Evans,” Sienna yelled, turning to glare unforgivably at him. “The wizards down there aren’t French- they’re English! I heard them yelling about right after the first blast!”

Hermione snapped her attention to Harry as he stared back at Sienna, “English? You’re sure?”

The three of them covered their ears as something substantial exploded in Hermione’s room. “Fucking positive,” Sienna sneered through gritted teeth.

Hermione caught Harry’s eyes for only a brief moment before he turned towards the open doorway, “SIRIUS!”

There was a resounding silence before a purple streak broke through the gapping doorway. The three of them covered as close to the wall as possible as the opposite end of the room burst into flames.

Sienna quickly doused the fire with water while Hermione turned to Harry, “You’re going to have to try harder than that!”

Harry took a deep breath and filled his mind with thoughts of Hermione and the night before last. He concentrated on her expression of surrender and love as he let the magic surge within him. He lifted his wand and without saying a word, a wispy, silvery mass protruded from his wand. Without further instruction, his stag propelled itself forward into the warring hallway.

“SIRIUS IT’S ME!” Harry yelled a split second later. His heart thumped harder as he heard voices downstairs.

All three of them were relieved to hear Sirius’s smooth voice call back a moment later, “How old were you when you produced your first corporeal patronus?”

“Thirteen,” Harry called back with ease. Both Sienna and Hermione jerked their heads back to him in shock.

“Why did you produce it?”

“To save you from the dementors that were out to capture you the night Pettigrew escaped.”

“It’s him,” the three of them heard the older man say.

“Well no doubt it’s him, but who knows what kind of charms that bird has him under,” someone- probably Fred or George- replied.

Harry felt exasperated but responded nonetheless, “I’m throwing out my wand! Once you have it, I’ll come down and you can finite me so you can see for yourself.”

“We’re going to need the ladies’ wands as well Harry,” Remus replied.

Harry turned to Sienna but she shook her head vehemently, “You can go get fucked. Who knows what they’ll do to me as soon as I’m unprotected.”

“You’re with us now, the Order won’t touch you,” Harry argued.

“Bollucks-”

“Sienna trust him,” Hermione ordered sternly, sliding her gun over to Harry.

The blonde glared as Harry held out his hand for her only form of defence. Despite how much abhorrence was behind her eyes, she tossed the thin piece of wood at her friend’s ex.

Harry gave her a curt nod before taking the three weapons and tossing them down the hall. He never heard the clatter, and assumed that Sirius or Remus had already accio’d them over. Harry then stood up straight and stepped outside.

As soon as both of his feet touched down in the hallway, a purple bolt shot into him. He felt a tingling sensation run from head to toe and even though he’d never seen his older mentors use this spell before, he knew it was to check if he wasn’t cursed or acting under anyone else’s impulses.

“I’m coming out,” he called again. He raised his hands to shoulder level as he slowly continued out into the hall, or what was left of it at least. After a few steps, he began his descent down stairs.

The lamps had been turned on, shedding light across the downstairs part of the house. The living room and kitchen area were mostly untouched. Sirius, Remus, Lupin, Ron, Fred, and George were all positioned throughout the larger room, all of them with their wands drawn.

Harry gave them all a suggestive look, emphasizing his still raised hands, “You happy now?”

“Are we happy now?” Sirius repeated scathingly. He lowered his wand and squared his shoulders. Harry could tell he was about to get a telling, “Boy, have you ever heard of a bloody owl? Next time you want to go gallivanting off with your ex who, I might add, gave her best shot at murdering you the day prior, you might want to send a bloody owl!”

“I think we’re all owed an explanation Harry,” Remus spoke more serenely for the group.

“Of course, I owe you all an explanation. But first would you mind if I called Hermione and Sienna down here so we can all get the facts straight together?”

Remus nodded without checking with the others. Sirius sat back, still in the midst of his hissy fit while the three Weasley brothers shared looks with each other. Harry turned around and called for the girls to come down.

As soon as they were visible, Fred and George sent twin purple charms at them, the same that Harry had been hit with. The spell hit the two underdressed women and came up with the same effect, showing the Order that the three of them were all clean and acting under their own impulses. Harry turned back to them with a grateful look, but frowned when he saw Ron, George, and Fred with their wands still trained on Sienna and his wife.

“Mate,” Harry tried, giving his best friend an imploring look.

“She did try to kill you- and the blonde seems a bit viscous. We’ll lower our wands once we get your explanation…”

Harry sighed and looked back to Hermione and Sienna for their consent. Hermione nodded while Sienna stuck her tongue out at the men. Fred and George grinned impishly.

“Sorry about this Sirius,” Hermione said coming up next to Harry, “You’re right, Harry should’ve sent an owl.

“Oh, throw me under the bus,” he said giving her a betrayed look. Hermione smiled as Sirius chuckled.

“Should’ve figured…” he muttered under his breath.

“Alright you two. We’re listening. What’s with the sudden change of heart?”

“I was lied to Sirius,” Hermione started, giving the man a solemn look, “I was lied to from the start. My boss- we call him Father-” Harry noticed Sienna give Hermione a sharp look as she started revealing details. He knew that it must’ve been hard for the woman to suddenly have a change of loyalty; Harry just hoped she would trust in Hermione and not do anything stupid.

“He’s never revealed to me his real name, but I do have more insight into his actual identity.”

Sirius frowned, “Who is he?”

“He’s Narcissa Malfoy’s mother. Draco Malfoy’s biological, maternal grandfather.”

An uproar came from where the Weasley’s were standing. Remus turned to them and quieted them before turning back to Hermione, “Tell us more.”

“He knew that Harry was there the day Narcissa was killed. All along he’s blamed Harry for his daughter’s death. When he found out I was getting married… I dunno, I guess he looked into him. It’s all been a set up ever since I joined the agency.”

“I have no idea why he waited so long to do this, but basically what we understood was that Father was trying to set us up against each other so that I could take out Harry. I assume it’d be his ultimate form of revenge, having me who’s been like a daughter to him destroy the man who he blamed for his real daughter’s death. That, and Draco told us that he planned on easily destroying the Order after Harry’s death. He wanted to take out the competition.”

Sirius looked back and forth between the two, “How long have you known this?”

“We found out today,” Harry answered. “Hunted Malfoy down and made him tell us the truth.”

A grim look swiped over Sirius’s handsome face, “So Draco’s been betraying the Order.”

“Yes-”

“No, not necessarily.” Harry gave Hermione a sharp look to which Hermione glared back, “He wasn’t acting on the desire to betray the Order. We put him under veritaserum to make him explain honestly. He only did two missions for my agency under Father’s direct orders. He was sent to kill Ezekiel and to pick up Krum. That’s it.”

“Oh, that greasy haired bloke is who we’re talking about?” Sienna chimed in from the side. The twins shared another grin.

“What’d you do with him Harry?” Remus asked next, a hint of worry in his voice.

Harry shrugged, “Left him with Ginny. Figured she’d know best what to do with him.”

The Weasley brothers all smirked, knowing that their little sister wouldn’t left the Malfoy git off so easily.

“So now what?” Sirius asked, bringing the conversation back to a more serious point, “Where do we go from here? I assume you two have made up, meaning you’re not returning to your agency?”

Hermione nodded, “Sienna and I both have more or less resigned.”

“Does he know?”

“We’re hoping not yet, but we know it’s only a matter of time.”

Sirius nodded again before turning to look at Remus. The two old Gryffindors seemed to have a silent conversation with each other. It wasn’t until several moments later that he turned back around to Harry.

“It’s settled then; you three will come back to headquarters so we can figure out how to destroy this nutcase before he attempts to destroy us.”

Hermione shook her head, “It’s not as easy as that Sirius. Father wants Harry, meaning he’ll want me once he finds out we’re back together. Honestly, we should stay far away from each other-”

“Hermione, you’re back with my godson meaning you’re back a part of this family. Family’s stick together. We’re not letting you plan any of this out without our support. Now, your agency knows about this place I assume, and they know about your home back in London. They have no clue where the Order’s headquarters are. It’s the safest place for you now.”

Hermione sighed, touched by the man’s words. She looked around to the other members of the order, wondering if they were really willing to risk their lives just for her. With a hint of satisfaction, she noticed that the Weasley brothers had lowered their wands. They all looked equally under the impression that she should come back with them. She began to shake her head. It was all too up in the air. She shouldn’t be involving them- she shouldn’t even be involving Harry! She knew Father was after him and because of that she knew deep down what she had to do.

It was up to her; she had to be the one to kill Father.

She was just about to open her mouth and tell them all that she appreciated it dearly, but she had to go on alone, when she felt Harry’s fingers lace through hers. She looked up to him.

“They’re right Hermione. Our headquarters is the safest place I know. We need to be in a place that we can strategize with a clear head. Grimmauld Place is the best place for that.”

“Plus, our people could be coming at any moment.” Hermione turned, acknowledging Sienna who spoke, “Who knows when the next time my beautiful Hollywood home’s suddenly going to get blown apart,” she said, giving all the men a cynical look. “I don’t really fancy the idea of being here when it happens again.”

Hermione sighed. She knew she was outnumbered and the last thing she wanted was to go off on her own without her husband or her best friend. With a losing expression, she looked up at Sirius.

“There aren’t any apparition wards in the garage.”

…

Hermione rolled her neck later that morning, wincing as her bones cracked together. Her and Harry were rooming together in one of the larger rooms in the expansive Grimmauld Place. Hermione had found the home fascinating at first and even more so once Harry shared with her some of his history there.

When the group had first returned to the antique headquarters, they immediately sat down at the kitchen table to discuss what their next plan of action would be. After a bit of debating, Hermione and surprisingly enough Sienna had decided that the best idea was to send Hermione into Father’s office so that she could finish the old man off. Harry had tried the entire early morning to get the conversation around that point, but he’d failed to stop the agreements once it was brought up. Hermione figured he was still mad at her, seeing as he hadn’t been back to their room and she’d been getting ready for bed for the past ten minutes.

She knew it must’ve been hard for him to get over the idea of Hermione willingly walking into an extremely dangerous situation with her extremely deadly boss. However, they’d been through it- they had no other easy, immediate options. Of course, after the agreement to her proposal, Harry had made sure that every tool, checkpoint, and backup would be put into place to give Hermione as much support as possible.

Just as Hermione was starting to run through the plan once more in her mind, she heard the bedroom door open and close behind her. She turned and saw Harry walking towards her, his hands behind his back.

“What’ve you got there?” Hermione asked, nodding her head in his direction as she twisted her hair up into a sloppy bun.

“Something I think you’ll need for later…”

Hermione gasped as Harry pulled her thin, vinewood wand from behind his back. He held it out to her.

“You kept it…” Hermione muttered, reaching forward and delicately taking her wand from his open palm.

“Never had time to get rid of it,” Harry muttered, a cheeky twinkle playing in his eyes.

Hermione smiled, “Thank you, Harry. Thank you so much.”

“Just promise to never try and kill me with that again, will you?”

“I can’t make that promise- we have a lifetime of marriage ahead of us. There are bound to be times where I’m going to want to try and kill you.”

Harry grinned and grabbed her suddenly, squeezing her sides as his mouth short-cutted to her luscious neck. Hermione let out a delighted ‘eep’ and was just about to wrap her arms around him, wanting more, when he pulled away.

“We should probably get to bed so we can wake up in time to run plans with everyone before it’s time to go.”

Hermione frowned. That was it? No hungry kiss? No seduction? No… no plea to let him come with her?

She didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea- she didn’t want Harry to try and force his way into her mission. But she at least expected him to try. The fact that he wasn’t on his hands and knees begging to come with her was a bit surprising to say the least.

“Er, okay…” she whispered, following him over to the old bed.

He had already climbed in and was waiting for her at the centre. Hermione twirled her wand in her hands a couple times before pointing it at a window in the opposite corner of the room that was beginning to let in the early rays of the morning sun.

With a sharp swish, the window curtains closed immediately over the glass windowpane. Hermione smiled contently to herself.

“Still got it,” she muttered, before setting her wand down on the nightstand and climbing in to settle down next to Harry.

Despite the severity of the situation the couple would face the following evening, it wasn’t hard to fall asleep once Hermione was laying down next to Harry. She remembered the feel of him pressing a few kisses at the corner of her mouth before she readily slipped off into darkness.

…

The mood was tense that evening on the underground in Paris. To anyone watching, they would’ve found it odd the way a classy looking, red haired business woman was staring directly into the eyes of a tall, brown haired teenage boy. Harry and Hermione couldn’t help themselves though. Deep down, they both knew the situation they were about to enter. Neither of them wanted to dwell on it, but they both knew tonight could be the last night they would ever have eye contact like that.

A black man, standing nearby with a trumpet harnessed around his neck cleared his throat loudly as the train cart started to brake. The other order members were there too, just like the planned had called for.

Hermione’s heart started to beat louder and louder as the carriage slowed. The platform was in sight now… any second she’d have to leave him.

A second later, the carriage stopped completely. The doors opened as the conductor announced the French platform.

Hermione hesitated for a second, giving herself one last moment to say an internal goodbye to her husband. Harry stared back through eyes that weren’t his as the business woman bent down, picked up her briefcase, and walked out of the carriage, onto the platform. She didn’t turn back, and Harry understood why.

He sucked in a deep breath as more people left the carriage.

“She’s gonna be pissed at you,” the black man muttered to him lowly in English.

The brown haired teenager nodded, “I know.”

He stepped out of the carriage and started walking towards the exit of the Paris subway, following closely behind the business woman.

---

Please everyone, if you have any questions or are confused giving the huge time gap, let me know in a review!