20: Searching for RAB

Chapter 20: Searching for RAB

The rest of the evening at the Weasleys' after the revelation that Hermione had a soul mate was awkward. Ron came in only a few minutes behind Hermione and sat by the twins on the opposite side of the living room. Though she was acutely aware of him in the room, and she knew he was of her as well, they mostly ignored each other, which she figured was better than the alternative. Hermione saw Ginny slip outside, then Harry followed several minutes later. No one commented that they were missing for some time. She hoped they were behaving themselves, more or less. Ginny was still the better part of a year away from being of age.

When Ginny and Harry returned some time later, they both looked a bit mussed. Hermione made a mental note to speak with her friend that night before he went in to bed.

The Aurors on duty in Little Whinging that night included Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt, so before Harry and Hermione prepared to Floo to Mrs. Figg's house, Mr. Weasley sent the Aurors a message by Patronus to be ready on the other side.

Excusing herself to use the loo, Hermione took a moment to cast a spell she had been researching. It would encompass the house and grounds, and everyone inside them. Hopefully it would be enough for damage control. She really couldn't let word of her soul mate get out of the house.

When Hermione stepped out of the fireplace ten minutes later, she found Tonks smiling at her, her hair a sunny yellow this time.

"Wotcher, Hermione. Have a good time at the Weasleys'?"

Barring hurt feelings and secrets disclosed. "Yeah, it was nice. It's not often we get to see everyone together like that."

Kingsley winked at her from where he was speaking with Harry on the other side of the room, and Hermione smiled back, then greeted Mrs. Figg. After a few minutes they headed for the front door where the Aurors paused to Disillusion the teens. Hermione considered telling them she was able to cast the spell, but decided it would be better to keep some secrets to herself.

Halfway to the Dursleys' Harry asked, "So who tipped off the Aurors about the Death Eater attack on the Muggle football game? Do you know?"

Hermione couldn't see anyone else, as all of them were Disillusioned, though she could see a ripple in the air here and there if she looked hard enough. Kingsley's voice answered, his voice low. "It was an anonymous tip, but it sure saved a lot of people. Hope whoever it was sees fit to help us out again."

Hermione heard Tonks clear her throat; the female Auror was walking beside her, one hand on Hermione's elbow so they didn't get separated since they couldn't see each other. "Good thing someone has contacts on their side. Though it sounds like a dangerous business, and I hope our informant takes care. These are dangerous times."

The ominous words were clearly a warning for Hermione. Hermione responded by reaching over and giving the Auror's wrist a squeeze. She didn't want any trouble for herself or Severus either.

The conversation turned and soon the four of them were at the door of the tent. "Pretty good warding you've got up here, Hermione. Not bad work." Kingsley's praise warmed Hermione.

"Thanks. Is there anything else I should add? I warded my parents' place too, but I'm worried it isn't advanced enough, that there won't be enough time to get help if there's trouble for some reason."

Tonks removed the Disillusionment Charm on Hermione and nodded. "I'll be happy to swing by there and check out your wards in the morning before I return to headquarters. Then we can see if we need to add another layer or two.'

Hermione smiled gratefully in the direction Tonks' voice came from. The two Aurors would stay Disillusioned until they left the vicinity. A few moments later, the Aurors returned to their duty station, wherever that was, and Harry and Hermione disappeared into the tent.

"Interesting dinner, Hermione." Harry fell back into a worn green overstuffed sofa that was covered in doilies.

"Yeah." Hermione took the matching chair nearby.

"You're one for secrets, that's for sure. How come you never told us?"

How to explain that? The Headmaster told us to be discreet? That'd go over just great. How would I explain why Dumbledore was involved in the first place, and it wasn't as though the old man hadn't told Harry to share his secret with me. So why would Harry accept mine has to be a secret? There was no easy way to explain. "Secrecy was required, still is required for various reasons. I would have told you but I couldn't."

"You mean wouldn't." His eyes grew a bit flinty.

Hermione held back a huff of irritation. "No, I couldn't. I was sworn to secrecy. It was necessary for me to keep it to myself. I have to keep it a secret now more than ever. In fact, letting word get out could cause serious complications."

"For you or for . . . " He seemed to struggle a bit, then looked at her in surprise. "How come I can't say anything direct about it?"

With a long puff of air, Hermione cast another spell that increased the boundaries of the one she set at the Weasleys' to include the tent. "Try again."

"Your soul mate. That was better, what did you do?"

"Before we left I cast a charm that made it so no one who was there except me could discuss the incident in question unless they were in the Wealsey home. I just opened it to include the tent. It would be dangerous for both him and me if word got back to the wrong people. Secrecy is absolutely vital."

"Vital?" Doubt all but dripped from his voice.

"Yes, you prat. Vital. Unless you want me dead."

"Telling me is going to cause your death?" He was clearly offended that she didn't believe he could keep her secret.

Very possibly, yes. But then again, not telling you could cause my death indirectly, as well. Lose-lose in this case. "Please, just trust me."

There was a long pause while he studied her. "OK, but know you can come to me if you need to talk."

"Thanks, I appreciate it. Now, how about your long walk with Ginny? Didn't look to me like you were working on staying just pals." She allowed a smirk and managed not to laugh when he blushed.

"I didn't mean, I hadn't planned . . . . It just kind of happened. I mean, nothing much happened," he backpedaled in case she got the wrong idea. "Just, when she was standing there in front of me I couldn't help myself. I just felt, I was so wrapped up in her. Man, I sound like an idiot." He scrubbed his hands over his face.

"No, you sound like a man in love. One twisted and distracted and worried." She hesitated, but decided after that evening's conversation, she best own up what she'd figured out. "Harry, fight it all you like, she's your soul mate. You can't stay apart from her. She's vital to your emotional well being, and you to hers. I imagine you're feeling a lot more focused right now than you were this afternoon when we were working on your Occlumency."

"Yeah, well..."

"And you can feel her presence near you long before you actually see her. You can sense her emotions, her needs and fear and happiness."

"Yeah, but..."

Hermione didn't let him finish his thought. "And when you touch her, everything seems to fit into place."

He blew out a long breath. "Yeah."

"She's your soul mate. Your one and only. You have to face that, have to accept that she's part of you, regardless of how you might worry about her safety if you stay together. You'll both go a bit mad if you don't spend time together once in a while. Keep it clean definitely, as she's still not of age and Molly Weasley will have your head if you take things too far. But don't punish the both of you because of the desire to protect her."

"Is that how you feel about, er, what's his name?"

"Yeah. It started out as infatuation...that's all a love potion can procure, after all...but things have grown. But instead of getting simpler, easier, the past few weeks have only made things harder. I have to see him sometimes, Harry, so try to understand when I have to pop out for the evening. And try to understand that I really can't tell you who he is."

He nodded, then pursed his lips. "Ginny's my soul mate." He paused as though testing the thought, serious and pensive. "It feels right, but it terrifies me. I might not make it out of this alive, Hermione. I'm going to do everything I can, but I might not. Someone's got to watch out for her if I don't make it."

"You have to make it. Life won't be worth living for her if you aren't here...literally. And you have to protect your knowledge of your link to her at all costs. Now, since you're feeling a bit calmer, do you feel up to another Occlumency session?"

Harry groaned, but sat up and closed his eyes, clearing his mind. Hermione smiled, proud of his determination to succeed.

*****

Ron returned to the tent at the Dursleys' the next day with a container of fresh eggs for their breakfasts. He found Harry still asleep on the sofa, where he had crashed the previous night while Hermione studied the illicit potions manual again. Though Ron and Hermione pussy footed around each other awkwardly, there were no blow ups as they both tried to find a way back to their friendship.

Harry redoubled his efforts at Occlumency, with Ginny's protection in mind, and seemed to improve by leaps and bounds. Much to Hermione's great satisfaction. Telling him the truth seemed to be exactly the motivation he needed. Ron still struggled, but made some improvement too, and Hermione devoured every bit of information she could find on her potion project.

*****

The next afternoon Hermione went out to the nearby grocery store for a few items, grateful for a break away. She knew she shouldn't be walking alone, but it was broad daylight and she had to get out of the tent for a bit. They worked on their daily Charms study earlier that morning, and Ron and Harry were enjoying a game of chess while she shopped. She didn't mind handling the task while they relaxed as it gave her time alone to think. Even with all of the other students surrounding her at school, Hermione had more privacy and room to breathe at Hogwarts than she had since moving into the tent.

She was nearly back to the Dursleys' when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned, fingers on her wand tip, when she looked in the face of someone near her own age. He was built like a mountain, with a broad, somewhat vacant face and his resemblance to Vernon Dursley told her right away who he must be.

"Hey there, Chickie, I don't think I've seen you around before. Did you move here lately?"

Keeping a wary eye on him and considering her options, Hermione stood still, looking him over with a cold eye. He reminded her a bit of Gregory Goyle, to be honest, both in build and in the intelligence...or lack thereof...that she saw in his face. The thought that he would turn and run when he realized who, or rather, what she was, made her smile. "Just visiting in the area for a while. You?"

"My name's Dudley, but my friends call me Big D." He ran a meaty hand down her arm in a way that was just a little too friendly for Hermione's taste.

"Big D, huh? I understand you've been away at school this year."

His grin widened. "Yeah, I'm the boxing champion of the school." He moved in closer...definitely closer than was strictly polite. "You free tonight?"

Arrogant prat. "Sorry, but I'm not free any night. I'm taken."

He fingered her rioting curls and leaned in a little more. "A pretty girl like you is bound to draw attention, but you're far too young to settle. What did you say your name was?"

"Hermione Granger, perhaps you've heard of me, I'm a great friend of your cousin's. Harry and I met six years ago on the train to school, in fact." She took great pleasure in seeing him drop his hand from her hair and step back in horror.

"You're one of them? Stay away from me, you freak."

With an eye roll, Hermione turned back to the Dursley home, heading to the tent again. "I'm not the one who started the conversation, Big D. And if you stay out of our way, I'll stay out of yours."

He hurried after her. "I should have known you were different when I first saw you." He kept his voice low, nearly to a hiss.

"I don't know why: I grew up in a quiet Muggle neighborhood too. Went to primary school like everyone else you know. My parents are both dentists. I tend to blend in easily enough."

She was surprised when his hand wrapped around her upper arm and he turned her to face him. "You're awfully pretty for a freak. Maybe I'll let you come around anyway."

"In your dreams." She held her head high, but she was uncomfortable about the way he looked at her with an unholy gleam in his eye. "I told you I'm involved with someone."

"Don't be like that. What has he got that I don't?"

Besides a brain? "A wand and a very nasty temperament. Then again, those are traits I share with him." She brought the tip of her wand out of her shirt sleeve and poked it in his side.

He flinched, but his hold on her arm tightened. "You don't scare me. I know you can't use that outside of your freak school."

"You're right about the use of underage magic, but I've been of age for nearly a year now, Big D. I've learned some wicked hexes that would make that tail you sprouted some years back seem tame. I wouldn't push my luck, if I were you." Just for good measure she gave him a very small stinging spell.

He dropped her arm and backed away. "They'll chuck you out for that. You'll never go back now."

"Hadn't planned on it anyway. Get lost, Dudley, before I start to get inventive. You should see what I did to Ron's brothers when they crossed me. And I actually like them."

Dudley's eyes widened and he turned, all but running away from her.

Letting out a sigh of disgust and relief, Hermione continued around the side of the house and into the tent.

*****

After their encounter, Dudley went out of his way to avoid the three friends...a fact for which Hermione was grateful.

The Auror protection Mr. Weasley had indicated was around had stayed invisible so far, and all but undetectable. Hermione only saw minor indications of their existence from time to time. One day she found a note from Tonks at the opening of her tent when she got up in the morning. True to her word, the female Auror had added another couple wards to the Granger home...to Hermione's relief. Apparently they were keeping a close watch on her shelter.

There was only the slightest thread of annoyance that they felt her incapable of taking care of herself running through the huge wash of comfort. Getting away undetected, if she needed to, wasn't any real trouble. Between her Animagus form and her ability to Disillusion herself, she knew it would be possible, even if they were watching closely. Since her wards on the tent allowed her to Apparate in and out of it, no one need know she'd left.

The three teens were in the midst of their afternoon silent spell practice a couple days after her run in with Dudley when Hermione felt an urgency in her chest. It was followed shortly by a warning ward from her diary saying that there was something new written in it. She called a ten-minute break, then returned to her room while the boys sunk down on the sofas. She pulled the diary from her pocket and returned it to normal size, flipping it to the latest page.

The Creeveys have been chosen as examples. Get them out of their home right away.

It took no more than that to react. Hermione called to the living room that she was going to pick up some milk at the store, the first things she could think of, then Disapparated to the clearing near headquarters. She all but ran across the street, anxious to get to Remus before too much time had passed.

When she hurried into the home, breathless, she found Tonks sitting in the library. "Is Remus here?"

"No, he's with the other werewolves this week. What's going on?" Tonks looked tired, and as she had been working the night shift lately, Hermione didn't blame her.

"You've got to get word to someone. The Creevey home is going to be attacked any minute now. You have to get everyone out of there...the parents are Muggles. I know Colin said they live just outside Surrey."

Tonks took only a couple seconds to throw her a speculative glance, then tossed a pinch of powder in the fireplace and relayed the message to Auror headquarters. By the time she pulled her head back out, Hermione had collapsed in the nearby chair, her heart still pounding from her adrenalin rush.

"Care to share how you're getting your information? I know you've done this a couple times before." The ever affable Tonks stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes focused and her expression stony. Hermione had never seen her look so serious before, and for the first time, she could see there was something Aurorish under the ever-changing façade.

"I'd like to, but can't. It's good enough the information is valid, isn't it?"

"Is it? What have you got yourself mixed up in, Hermione? I know you've got a..." Her throat moved as she tried to speak it.

"You can't speak of it anywhere but the Weasley home. It's dangerous for word to get out, even among friends."

Tonk's hot pink eyebrows lifted. "OK. He's not mixed up with the Death Eaters, is he? No. School kids aren't recruited to that, except Malfoy. At least, that was the only one Snape mentioned." This last was spoken to herself as she wandered across the room.

She continued, "So far Remus and I've been keeping our mouths shut about where the information's coming from, but there's been more than a little pressure on Remus to tell who his contact is. I'd feel better about this if I knew who you were in touch with, Hermione."

Hermione bit her lip. She wanted to tell, wanted desperately to talk to someone about her situation. Wanted to share her confusion and worry, constant fear for his safety. She touched her thumb to her ring for reassurance. Knowing she couldn't afford to tell, and that knowing the truth wouldn't reassure Tonks, she shook her head. "I can't. Not yet. When or if it becomes feasible, I will. I want to, you have to understand. I'm unable to tell you, it could ruin everything. It's really too dangerous."

"Hermione, the Order can help protect him, whomever he is." Tonks voice was wheedling.

"Strangely, that's what Ron said."

"And what did you tell him?"

Looking the older woman in the eye, Hermione sighed. "The Order can't protect everyone. And Tonks, if he's in a position to give us this kind of information, trying to protect him could be fatal...to both of us. I can't tell you. Please be happy with whatever information you can gather. I'll do my best to continue providing what I can glean. Know that I'm not in any more danger at the moment than anyone else. I've not put myself at risk. Not any more than I would have been already."

"So you say. I suppose you gave the boys some made-up excuse for running out?"

"Yes, I really better get to the store and get that milk before they start to wonder what happened to me." She stood and prepared to walk to the door.

"Be careful. You tread on dangerous ground."

"I will."

*****

"So R.A.B could be Regulus Black." Hermione all but slapped her forehead in disgust. How did she not realize that sooner?

"That means it could be at headquarters. I wonder if we saw it when we were cleaning out all that junk a couple summers back." Harry tapped his fingers on the tabletop and exchanged glances with Ron.

"How do we go out there and start searching without drawing attention to ourselves?" Ron asked.

"There's no way. But maybe if we just split up and each take a room, we could say there's something of Sirius's we're looking for. Or maybe we're doing an inventory before Mundungus is allowed back in," Hermione suggested.

"That's actually not a bad idea. It would help if he knew we had catalogued everything." Harry's look was black.

"Yeah, but once we find the locket, how do we denature it? I've been through scads of books. Even searched the library at Headquarters and came up with nothing." Hermione rubbed at the tension in the back of her neck.

"How do you kill a soul? It's not like we can just go up to someone and ask, though, is it?"

Severus might know or be able to find out. Too bad I can't bring him into this. "Í'll keep looking. We have to find the objects first."

"But I don't figure on hanging onto the Horcruxes for months until we find a solution, so let's try and get something worked out soon, OK? I'd hate to find one of them only to have someone take it away from us."

Hermione nodded, agreeing with Harry. It was paramount that they find a way to denature the objects. If Dumbledore all but lost a hand in the process, it couldn't be easy. Again, she wondered if Severus knew. He had helped the Headmaster stay alive during the past year after the wasting disease started. She turned her head back to the conversation in front of her. Ron and Harry were just agreeing to Floo over to Headquarters to check things out.

*****

The day's search was fruitless.

They checked the entire main floor: Every cupboard, every drawer and behind every piece of furniture. Ron even wondered if it might be in Kreacher's cupboard, but as it had never belonged to his mistress or the Black family, it hadn't seemed likely. Wherever the locket might be, it wasn't in any of the rooms they'd checked. Of course, there were still two more floors to cover, but as an Order meeting was about to begin, the trio decided to put off the rest of the search until the next day.

"I don't know where you get your information, Tonks, but you were right." It was Mr. Weasley's voice echoing up the stairs from the hallway. "They caught the Death Eaters red handed at the Creeveys'; any longer and the whole family would have been killed."

"He doesn't mean Colin Creevey, does he?" Ron asked no one in particular as they hung over the railing to listen in.

"I think so." I mean, I know so, since I'm the one who indirectly sent the Aurors over. Hermione had been wondering about the confrontation all afternoon; her mind kept wandering back to it when she was searching the library. Though their search hadn't turned up the locket, she did find a couple books she hadn't seen before which seemed promising.

She was starting to feel overwhelmed with the responsibility placed on her shoulders. Between researching the objects and a way to removed the soul, training Harry and Ron for battle, searching for ways for Harry to do the deed when they did finally meet up with Voldemort, and passing information from Severus, she was beginning to feel worn down. Then there was the question of her special potion, for which she still hadn't found a brewing location. Worrying constantly about Severus wasn't helping in the least.

"Kingsley said they got the whole family out, shaken, but with only moderate wounds. They'll go into hiding for a while until a more secure arrangement can be made for them," Arthur continued.

Hermione started down the stairs and entered the kitchen right behind Tonks and Arthur. "Hey, I couldn't help but overhear the conversation out there," she started.

"Right, especially since you were all but hanging over the railing," Tonks said. She lifted an eyebrow at Hermione, who felt herself color slightly, but didn't bother to deny it.

"The Creeveys were attacked? Do you think other Muggle families might be attacked as well? I mean, if my parents are at risk, I'd like to be able to protect them a bit better. Maybe my wards aren't enough."

It was something Hermione had been considering all afternoon. She had all kinds of wards on their house to protect them and alert the Aurors if anyone attacked, but a very accomplished wizard could get through. Malfoy Junior might have trouble, but Severus would probably find and release every ward before she had an inkling he was there. After all, Hermione might have been the smartest witch of her age, but she was still only seventeen, and still had to take her N.E.W.T.s.

"That's a good question; I'll have to see what other methods can be taken to protect Muggle-born families. And the wards I added to yours are quite difficult to remove without tripping them. Anyone magical but not related to you will set them off." Tonks gave her a shrewd look, then turned back to the group for the meeting.

Hermione felt a bit better, but still worried.

"You kids go on upstairs. I think Ginny should be here any moment with Molly."

"She's here now," Harry muttered under his breath. And though they hadn't heard their arrival at the front door, when the trio walked into the entrance again, Molly and Ginny were just taking off their rain gear.

"How'd you know that, mate?" Ron asked in surprise.

Harry shrugged, then took Ginny's hand in his. Hermione held back a grin.

*****

Over the next two days, the trio scoured the rest of the house, but it wasn't until they decided to investigate the attic room where Buckbeak had stayed that they found the treasure tucked in a corner with a pile of old Hogwarts yearbooks.

Seeing the dates on the covers coincided with Severus's years at school, Hermione was tempted to sit down and look them over. Harry looked a bit longingly at the books as well, but set them aside to check out the locket instead.

The front was just right with the intertwined snakes in the shape of an S, and the locket wouldn't open. There was no reason to know whether that was because the soul was contained in it, or because it was just unopened so long, but none of them felt like trying their luck.

Hermione was so excited, turning the locket over several times to see this piece of history. "You'll have to keep it in your pocket, Harry, until we find a way to destroy the soul in it."

"Great, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear." His response was more than a bit sarcastic.

"Unless you want Dung to get a hold of it..." Hermione held the locket out to Harry, who slid it into his pocket.

"I'd rather not have to search for it again, thanks."

As they walked back down the stairs, they heard Remus come in the front door.

"Hello, Love," Tonks greeted him.

"Hey, hon. Anything interesting come up while I was out of touch?" Remus sounded tired, and as Hermione reached the bottom of the stairs, she could see he looked in a bad way.

"Well, Hermione...is standing behind you with Ron and Harry. They've been searching the house for something. Don't know what, they wouldn't say." She leveled a gaze at them, with special emphasis on Hermione. It was clear to the younger woman that Tonks had planned a different comment all together. Before she saw the boys.

"Well, we've scoured the place now, so I guess we'll be on our way," Harry said, hurrying toward the door.

"Not so fast." Remus's hand shot out and grabbed Harry by the neck of his jumper. "What's going on, Harry, Ron, Hermione?" His eyes moved from one to the next, then back again.

"It's my house; I just wanted to see what was here, you know? Besides doxy droppings and dead spiders, that is."

Ron shivered at the word 'spiders', and Remus's mouth twitched.

"You're a very bad liar, Harry. But you have a point: it is your house. Just remember there are plenty of Order members who want to help you out with your mission, whatever it may be. We're here to see Dumbledore's work through, and I hope you'd avail yourself of our assistance, if you need it."

Harry shifted on his feet, then looked Remus in the eye. "If we really can't handle it, I'll ask for help. But if we can take care of this ourselves, that's my job. It's what Dumbledore wanted me to do."

"Fair enough. Now, if you don't mind, I could use a hot bath, a good meal and about a week's worth of sleep." Remus wiped a hand over his eyes and Tonks patted his shoulder.

Hermione figured the young Auror would make sure Remus got all of those things in short order. "We'll be going. Talk to you when there's anything to report."

She figured he would understand the double message.

_______________

AN A big thanks to my reviewers, and an extra big one to RobisonRocket for fixing all my punctuation errors.