A/N: I expect that this chapter could be a bit morbid.
I know that I have gotten many flames about the story. I welcome criticism and accept that not everyone will love this story. Yes, Hermione is a bit OOC …for now. The story is a work in progress and most of what is criticized will be changed in the coming chapters.
Events will be explained through the story.
Happy Mother's Day !!
Chapter 4:
There were stares as usual as he entered the office, but seemed as if it was more than usual. Perhaps it was because he was late once again to the office. Harry however though it could be that they had found out about his latest confrontation with Bertram Baddock.
"Follow me," sighed Lily.
Her voice had lost the compassion it held the night before; it was all business in the office. Harry followed behind his mother wondering what this could possibly be about. The conference that had occurred yesterday had gone off without a hitch. And he knew not of a reason to call a meeting at this time.
"Sit," commanded Lily.
"What is this about?"
"It's about Hermione, Harry."
Harry sighed, leaning back in his chair, wondering what else she could possibly have to say. He loved his mother, but she had overstepped her boundaries a bit the night before. It made him uncomfortable that she wished to get so involved in his personal life.
Lily sent her son a withering glare resembling a scowl.
"Hermione is a part of our family and as much as I want to make exceptions for her, I simply can't avoid this. The public has taken a stance and so has the Minister. We can't be strict on others and lenient on Ambrosia. It makes us look bad Harry."
"I never asked you to, mum."
"It's been implied," she retorted.
There was a brief pause in which both reigned in on their tempers. Lily shuffled the papers around on her desk.
"Hermione doesn't know it yet, but they've located an insider in Ambrosia. He's been talking as of late and has volunteered himself so that the Aurors can bring them down. They're scheduled to go in today. He seems to be a bit questionable, but seems to know Hermione well."
Lily slid a paper across her desk. He peered down at it recognizing only numbers on the sheet of paper.
"It's up to you, Harry," sighed Lily. "Those are the coordinates to the location of Ambrosia. It's hidden somewhere in the forests, a very secluded area. I understand that there is a great risk involved, but I think that it'd be well worth it. If you choose to go I'll cover for you, but make her understand that this is the last time."
"I don't know, mum."
His eyes stared down at the numbers as they burned into his brain. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea that he would have to botch an Auror mission for his own purposes. If he got caught for any reasons he would be in trouble. That would definitely skip the case and cart him straight off to Azkaban.
"Harry," sighed Lily. "I believe that you do know."
**
Hermione sat in her office peering at the Daily Prophet. She read its overly dramatic account of the events that had lead to Dirk Cresswell's demise. The man sitting before her could not see the look on her face as she grimaced with each passing word.
If he had looked he'd be afraid.
The paper stood on its own, but she pretended to grasp it as she used her other hand to grasp the knife that she had dropped in poison previously. Without another thought Hermione moved quickly plunging it in his general direction.
He collided to the ground, only a muffled groan escaping his throat. She smirked in success knowing that she had struck him, but he only appeared to have the initial symptoms.
"I know that it was you that ordered his death. And while I congratulate you, it was not your place. I think it'll set a good enough example for everyone else. Don't you?"
Hermione stared down at the man. She had trusted him. Rocco, she had called him. Hermione bent down twisting the knife until he screamed in pain.
In agony.
She wanted an answer, but he refused her one.
"I bet you never taught that to the trainees."
"Not to worry," he rasped.
Hermione knew he had no weapons, but she was shocked when she spied a miniature microphone. Not only had he ended their trust, but he had gone to the Ministry. She was beyond disgusted. The little bit of guilt she felt for placing the knife in his chest vanished. Hermione backed away cursing herself.
"We trusted you. I don't like betrayal."
"Ah, but I've never trusted you. Women have no place running this kind of operation. You don't have the strength or the drive to do what needs to be done. I don't believe that you have the power that your father had, or the ability to control people."
Hermione vaguely listened to his words. Indeed it had caused a rise in her. A strange want to shut him up for good ignited in her, but she was too focused. Too much drive by adrenaline to care about the man. After all he was dying.
Her hands fumbled collecting incriminating documents.
Her eyes piled papers together, but simultaneously scanned the corner of the room where the siren stood ready to come on if danger approached.
As she had suspected the squealing started and the light began to flash red. It was evident to her in that moment that her doom was drawing that much closer. She could feel it. She threw all the documents into one file and shrunk it fitting it into her bra.
She exited the office successfully, turning towards her secretary. Hermione perhaps should have taken more time to train her in the event of an emergency, but she believed that the brunette was responsible and could handle what she would ask.
"I want all rookies out of here and assuming civilian positions. Load a few of them down with files by priority. All senior leaders remain. We have a situation that needs to be dealt with."
"What about pending missions?"
"I've got them covered. Just go and handle this for me."
Hermione glanced around the room as she thought of anything that she might need to carry along with her.
Hermione brushed past the woman who was frantically pulling together a mountain of papers as she passed them off frantically to unsuspecting passerbys warning them of the impending danger. Hermione did the same occasionally passing off a file to vaguely familiar faces.
They would get the job done.
Hermione pushed through the frantic crowd. Numerous objects had disappeared and the crowd had thinned a bit. The blaring only seemed to get louder and she knew they were fast approaching. She shrunk the papers stuffing them into her pocket for safe keeping.
She quickly joined the ranks of the rest. Word obviously traveled fast. Hermione had raised her wand just in time. A loud crash could be heard as the front door blew off its hinges splintering in all directions.
This was her ancestral home and the doors breaking had angered her slightly, but she knew there was more to worry about.
Aurors began to swarm the area.
And though Rocco could have provided them with thorough information as to the running of Ambrosia, Hermione understood that she had the upper hand. She knew the layout of the house well, and so did her people.
She ducked behind a spare piece of furniture wondering how long it would be before it too shattered to pieces. It did buy her time to think. As she sat her heart heaving in her chest she looked down the hallway.
Hermione needed to get out of here.
She was her only concern, and had not begun to worry about anyone else. The Aurors were only truly looking for her. And if she was found they would simply see her workers as icing on the cake.
"Ms. Granger, you must go," her secretary urged.
Hermione knew that the woman spoke sense, but she didn't have the nerve to do as she commnded. This was her ancestral home that they were messing with. And if they destroyed it she would feel terribly indeed.
"I cannot," sighed Hermione. "I must remain here and fight."
"Ms. Granger, do you not understand how foolish you are being? Your instruction will lead us to our success. We can take care of the situation very well. And even if we fail you cannot be here to fall with the rest of us. Ambrosia would not be Ambrosia if there is not a member of the family line to continue it."
Hermione smiled. The woman understood.
And so while a few minutes ago she had been apprehensive about trusting anyone she would trust her for a while to get her out of this situation.
"Come with me," commanded Hermione.
The secretary was shocked by her request. In fact she sought the invitation as an offer. With shaky hands she extended the necklace around her own neck and onto Hermione's also. And with a simple snap of her fingers Hermione and the secretary were apparated away from the situation.
To where Hermione did not know, but she could have sworn that on her departure she saw Harry. In fact she was certain that she had seen him walking down the hallway and running towards her direction.
Hermione landed unceremoniously in the alleyway. She landed on her feet, but could not help, but be disgusted with the rats that scurried around her searching for food. Hermione once gathering her surroundings was taking in the presence of her secretary.
She fiddled nervously wondering what was proper to say in this situation.
"I don't think that anyone has ever understood what Ambrosia is. And I appreciate you so much for that because we are the only two in the entire wizarding community who will. The Ministry has to pay for what it's done to my family."
"My name is Juliet, Ms. Granger. I am your secretary, but understand that there are some things that lay more important than revenge for your family. This was generations ago and I don't think you will ever understand what your family has lost. And I don't think the Ministry is the cause of that."
Hermione's facial features went from uncertainty to that of anger. Juliet knew that she was treading in dangerous waters and yet she continued to speak as she wished.
"I ask that you not appreciate my efforts. There are better ways to go about what you wish to accomplish. After today I do not wish to be a part of this any longer. I want out of Ambrosia, Ms. Granger."
"Ambrosia is not something that you can turn a cheek from. Ambrosia is a way of life that you follow until the day that you die. It's either that you are killed that you wish to die, but there is no way to escape it."
Hermione said this bitterly. It was her own mantra, repeated with almost every breath she took. It made her sick inside, and it was no surprised that it brought anger to Juliet. The woman that stood before Hermione, no doubt near her own age, lost her cool.
"Ms. Granger, you are a bitter, bitter woman," she yelled. "I would relish the opportunity to be free of living in this situation, but you embrace it. Do you not know that they talk in the halls? There is not a soul in the world who does not know of your marriage. Everyone knows that you walked away from a happy life with a man that most women envy you for. I think that I'd rather die…I would rather kill myself than remain on this Earth dealing with the misery that is Ambrosia."
"I don't care if you make the decision to take the coward's way out."
Juliet raised her wand to her own temple as if daring Hermione. The secretary stared her in the eye and Hermione knew that she would indeed do it.
"This all needs to end, Ms. Granger. I think you must ask yourself just when the Ministry will have satisfied its past follies."
And with that Juliet slumped to the ground. Her head hit the brick wall and Hermione's body fell with her. Hermione did not truly believe that she would have done the deed. But it was evident that she was gone.
Hermione even pressed two fingers to her pulse point.
Nothing.
When would she be satisfied?
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