A/N: Thank you for all the reviews.
I didn't notice until a reviewer mentioned it that Ambrosia has a meaning behind it….food of the Gods. And while it makes no sense in the story (at least not now, not sure if it ever will), I don't think it should be a problem.
Hermione woke following morning to the sharp pain of a golden coin. Simply judging by the state of sunlight entering her room she could judge that she was very well late for her meeting. Hermione scrambled out of the bed pulling on a loose shirt and pants.
Hermione clamped her teeth down on the necklace that she needed to gain access to the secret location and in one hand carried a pair the pair of battered tennis shoes by their shoe strings. She turned off the lights and straightened up a bit before she journeyed down the stairs.
"And where are you off to?" asked Lily.
She too was silent as she sipped her tea in the dark. Hermione slowly turned around cursing herself for being caught, but willing to acknowledge each others presence. Hermione glanced at the clock wondering if she could possibly make it in time.
"I'll be back in time for dinner."
"After doing what exactly?" asked Lily.
The red haired woman's green eyes flew to the black bag that Hermione held next to her. Hermione's grip tightened on the strap and on her boots. Plans were running through her head at the moment, and she needed to jot them down with the secretary before she lost the idea. But Lily made her realize that what she was about to do was not necessarily legitimate.
"I'll be back, Lily," she sighed.
Hermione crossed the entrance and quickly exited the door as if she had never been seen. Lily remained drinking her tea as she stared into the fireplace. Hermione's departure had saddened her deeply. Perhaps Hermione had not implied that she had left the family business, but it seemed like the only way that she would get out of the trouble that she was in.
I'll talk to her later, decided Lily.
Hermione descended into the evergreens of the woods. She sniffed in nature and at once felt in a familiar location. she had escaped the artificial yellow that had dominated the guest room. This was an emergency obviously, but in a way her therapy.
There was no time to bask in this however, because she was late.
Hermione took off at a good pace running through the woods her boots tied on a string around her right hand. She ran for what seemed like forever until she finally saw it. It was a modest house, quite similar to the cottage that Lily lived in.
It was a lot bigger though and appeared dilapidated. Smack dab in the middle of the forest especially with the appearance of structural instability warded off all visitors. Hermione had meticulously laid a covering of moss that enhanced this view.
She dallied no longer making great stride once inside the house towards her base of operations, her office. People acknowledged her presence rightfully so, but continued their job. Whether they trained in defense or where assisting in mapping out all the future endeavors already in progress.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.
This had all been her doing.
"Follow me," she beckoned.
Hermione caught the attention of the two stragglers who walked with her on her way to her office. She walked in silence as she developed the questions that she wished answers to. It had been a while since any departure had been talked about, and three days was more than her fill.
With a wave of her wand the door closed and all the candles in the room flickered into a spark. It flowed the room in a warm glow. Hermione directed her attention at the two men that stood before her.
"How have things been?" she asked.
"Alright, I suppose."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at his answer and looked towards the other one.
"I don't like it. Any other opinions?"
"Perhaps they could have worked a bit harder. Things have gone down quite a bit since you've left."
Hermione sat down on her desk looking at the two men.
"That could be a serious problem, and I suggest it be corrected before
I have to do it myself. I would hate for names to pop up before the Ministry. Or perhaps I'll save them the trouble and deliver the bodies to the doors of Azkaban myself."
"We apologize," the first pleaded.
"I don't want apologies," she shouted. "I want progress. My father prided our abilities to advance in every combat tactic known to man, wizarding and otherwise. Skiving off is not an option. When I duel a man I should be equally matched. Every soul who ventures through this cottage should know from Archery to Legilemency. And if you have conquered that go and find another skill."
Hermione's temper raged on. She could hear the delicate objects, figurines that adorned her office and glass mirrors seemed to shatter. The house seemed to stand still as she continued to berate them.
"Can I ask a question?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. At times she could laugh and joke with them, but she found that time coming far and few in between the fights she had with these men. Men, the ones here she found vulgar. It made her appreciate Harry more and more.
"Is it true? Are you married to Harry Potter?"
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she raised her wand, but did not aim it directly at him. She had a few good ideas of what she wanted to do him. She pointed towards her door and mouthed for them to leave her sight. It held no relevance to the topic at hand.
Not long after they had left she found herself a place behind her desk fisting her hands through her hair. She wondered how they had found out about her marriage. Her object was to keep in the dark about certain aspects of her life.
The men lived in the house for the most part and never left except for those that she occasionally left to infiltrate the Ministry. It was good to have eyes and ears in every direction, and even better when she had those in high up positions.
The pile of information had grown on her desk. Most of them had been reports on what had been going on. At times she neglected them to train the rookies herself, but they obviously needed attention. However now was not the time in which she could do that. With the recent events she was out to punish someone.
How dare they undermine her authority? Did they not realize that she held their lives in her hands. They had nowhere else to go, and if she wanted to she could make their lives a living hell.
The idea clicked into her head instantly. With a wicked smile Hermione decided that she would call a training session. Perhaps she would not break her promise to Lily and meet her in time for dinner. But form now until that time she intended to work them the hardest they had ever worked.
She would be the one to let them know, not to mess with a Granger.
**
Lily Potter was not in the office at the time. That was the only reason why Bertram Baddock, who was directly under his mother in power decided to annoy him. It was no secret within the offices that Baddock hated Harry Potter. Some chalked it up to the fame, but not Harry. He knew there had to be some reason for it.
"Potter, did you hear the latest news? Dirk Cresswell is dead."
Harry raked his brain for a moment. He had work that needed to be done before he headed off to the training facilities. Today they had assigned him to work with the trainees. He personally hated them all: they were immature. They gawked at his scar and questioned him about his personal life.
"Dirk Cresswell? The name doesn't ring a bell. If he's a friend of yours I give my condolences, but I really do believe that I have work to attend to."
Baddock delivered a scathing look, but appeared to be having great joy with the information that he withheld. It was more than a mystery to Harry what was going on.
"Dirk Cresswell is...well was the Head of the Magical Being division of the Department for the Control and Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. His death was mysterious enough, but was passed as 'normal' by the investigating Aurors. I however disagree with that."
Fear coursed through Harry's blood, but he didn't let it show.
"Then I invite you to take the matter up with the Head of the
Department whenever she arrives. Until then I don't see how dictating the situation is of any help. After all I am below you in ranking."
"I'd have thought you smarter, Potter," he spat. "This is all your wife's doing. She has a liking for those creatures. Even you can't deny the doom that Ambrosia has cast over the Ministry. As Aurors it is our job to stop this madness, and not to aid and abet. We're all in fear that we may be next, except for you and your mother of course."
"And what proof do you have of these accusations, Baddock?"
"I wrote those files," he yelled. "I was the one who documented every deed Ambrosia has ever attempted. From the beginning and updated every mysterious death that has occurred in the Ministry. I know exactly what has happened, and no one can tell me any different."
"And where is that file?" asked Harry.
He couldn't help the smile that slid so easily upon his features. Baddock had never been his favorite person and he could feel lthe tension rising in the room. Harry's words angered the man further. The file in question was a source of anger between the two men.
Bertram's jaw clamped tighter.
"You're all corrupted, I swear."
And with that Bertram Baddock left his office. Harry did not know how to react to this bit of news. He was taken aback by the accusation, but with time he realized that it was most likely true. Hermione Granger had not made secret her ambition for the freedom of House Elves.
This was well represented with her self-proclaimed organization, S.P.E.W. Cresswell was on the other side of the fence with this matter. So if anyone was to be Hermione's enemy it had to be Bertram.
Hermione popped into the Godric's Hollow cottage worn with sleep. More than anything she wanted to collapse in the bed and not wake up, but she had promised Lily that she would attend this dinner. She quickly made her way upstairs so she could change out of the dirty clothing and was properly.
She stretched the tank top over her shoulder and pulled it down wincing in pain as she touched a sore area. Perhaps later she would figure out the treatment that was needed for it. Down the stairs she went in perfect timing as she watched Lily.
Lily too spotted Hermione as she set the table switching out the place mats and placing a center piece in the middle. Hermione noticed that there were three places set, not two. Who was the guest that would be joining them?
"How was work?" asked Hermione.
"It wasn't too bad. And how was your day?" asked Lily.
"Busy," responded Hermione.
She knew that her answer was evasive, but it was better that way. Lily nodded at her response not pressing the matter further, but instead instructed her to take a seat. Meanwhile she went into the kitchen to get the rest of the food.
Hermione stared at the table that seemed to stretch on forever and wondered why they couldn't have served the mean in the kitchen. The kitchen was a suitable size for three people.
The door swung open, interrupting Hermione in her thoughts. She realized instantly that the wide expanse of the dining room table would not be far enough.
The guest was Harry.
Harry carried two more dishes piled high with food while Lily carried a pitcher of water. They had obviously been sharing a joke in the kitchen, but as soon as he spotted her his demeanor changed. He obviously had been aware of her presence, but not ready to see her.
Lily did not force him to talk to her as she had predicted. Lily and Harry simply took their seats and began passing the food around to everyone. Soon enough forks and spoons clicked and clanged along the plates as they ate in silence.
Hermione locked a hand in her tresses twirling a stray strand as she ate with the other hand. Harry on the other hand was still stirring from the conversation that had taken place in his office. She didn't know it, but he was watching her.
He pondered how she could do what she did and still sit at a table and eat dinner as if nothing had occurred.
He waited until his mother left to get dessert.
"Dirk Cresswell. Tell me that you didn't kill him."
"I don't see how it would be any of your business. Dirk Cresswell got exactly what he deserved."
"What you did was wrong, Hermione?"
"And what he did was right? Cresswell had this sick belief that every other being should bow before wizards. That we as a magical people had the right to dictate and restrict, and take away the land of other creatures. No, I didn't kill the man, but he deserved to drop dead. "
Harry surveyed her and instantly knew that she herself had not done it, but there was a look of uncertainty that crossed her face. That look worried him.
"Do you know someone that could have done this?" he asked.
Hermione shook her head.
"Harry, you obviously don't understand how we run things. In Ambrosia there
are no names. There are two, perhaps three people besides me that are identified and besides that they are just a sea of people. Someone could in theory slip past my orders and I wouldn't know it."
Harry had a sinking feeling in his stomach. This whole operation had been put together by her father, and it had worked for a long time. That was how they were able to escape Ministry knowledge. He saw the cunning in the plan, but he also saw the flaws.
The danger.
For the first time Harry saw a glimpse of what she was going through. Both in her words and on her face. And then only the first was apparent. She had once again put up the mask. He wanted to reach out to her, but she was making it so hard.
"If you tell me what's going on, then perhaps we can help you."
Hermione's eyes narrowed as her stare was level with his own.
"I only want one thing from you, and that doesn't concern Ambrosia. I can deal with the situation myself."
Hermione paused briefly in order to create a distance between them.
"Tell Lily that I wasn't in the mood for dessert."
Before he could form a coherent thought, she had fled the room. Harry winced as he heard her door closing.
There were so many things that he wanted to tell her. A quick glance at her plate told him that number one on his agenda, would be her eating habits. It was evident that no more than two forkfuls had passed her lips, and that worried him.
She had always been a little too light for his taste.
A simple flick of his wand and Harry sent the dishes levitating towards the kitchen. By the time he arrived they were washing themselves in the sink. His mother sat there two pieces of chocolate cake placed on the smaller table.
"I don't really want to talk about it," he sighed. "At least I don't want to talk about her. Not anymore."
Lily gave her son a sharp look.
"You're childhood perhaps has never been normal, without your father around to help you understand you're potential role in a family. And I have never done little to shed light on the subject."
Lily leaned across the table and laid a hand across Harry's cheek, so that he looked at her as she spoke.
"Harry, you're married now. And to top it off the two of you are fighting. It is your job to be the bigger person in the relationship and fix this situation. I love you both but Hermione can't hide out here forever."
"Thanks mum," sighed Harry. "Do me a favor and make sure she eats something."
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