Seven

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to JK Rowling. I write to learn. No money is being made.

Chapter 7

Shortly after the plane took off, Shaul left Claire and Hermione in the cabin and went to the cockpit. Claire watched Hermione intently as she stared out of the window.

"What's the matter with you?" Claire asked finally.

Hermione barely registered that she'd spoken. Then Claire grabbed her arm and shook her roughly. Hermione jerked away from Claire, glaring at her. "Bugger off."

Claire's eyes widened. "What's got your knickers in a twist?"

"I don't take kindly to being kidnapped," she said icily. She was angry...that was good. Maybe she'd get around to denial if she got out of her situation. Anger would help her far more than denial.

"Do you have a tracking device on you?" Claire asked. She scoffed before Hermione had a chance to answer. "Of course you do. Clint didn't trust anyone."

Hermione flinched at the mention of Severus's alias but kept her expression empty. She had no intention of speaking to Claire more than was strictly necessary, though she was ridiculously curious about what Claire was doing and why she had double-crossed the people who had hired her and Severus.

More than that, however, Hermione knew she needed to push her thoughts of Severus away for the time being and focus on getting herself out of the mess in which she'd landed. She couldn't Apparate off the plane...too much could go wrong. She would have to wait until the plane landed, and then ... she would Disapparate as soon she could, though to where she didn't know. Wizarding Rome, so she could send a letter to Ginny and Luna.

Only ... that wouldn't get her completely out of the situation; according to Severus and Claire, she would still be hunted by various terrorist agencies. The last thing Hermione wanted was to live the rest of her life in constant fear. She would get away from Claire, make sure the real Rebecca Hammond was safe, and then figure out what to do.

"So. Where is it?" Claire asked.

Hermione looked at her blankly.

Claire's look became nasty. "Want me to dig around for it? I've got a knife or two on me somewhere."

"Fine," Hermione snapped and cautiously reached up to remove the earrings, which contained the tracking device Severus had planted on her. She'd been amazed that an advanced, technological device could be so small: the earrings were simple pearl studs.

"Thank you. At least there won't be any unnecessary injuries ... yet." She chuckled slightly to herself.

Hermione just glared at her. At least that charade had appeared to work.

Claire smirked at Hermione. "So ... Rebecca, if that's even your real name."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Of course it is; what are you on about?"

"Thing is," said Claire, now grinning smugly. "No one's record is that clean. I'm amazed Clint was so taken in, but then that must be part of your ... charms."

"What record?" Hermione gasped.

"Yours! I checked up on you ... rather, on Rebecca Hammond. I did my homework more thoroughly than most, because I saw your face when you claimed that you hadn't had so much as a parking ticket in your life."

Hermione frowned.

"You said you were a teacher. I found the school where you supposedly taught. I hadn't really expected to find anything, so you can imagine my surprise when I asked for you and was told to wait. Then, someone claiming to be Rebecca Hammond answered the phone, just sweet as she could be."

Hermione's eyes widened in horror. "Is she ... all right?"

Claire laughed. "Yes, yes. I didn't bother with her. I imagine her name isn't really Rebecca Hammond, that she is merely paid to say it is."

Hermione made a mental note to change her alias as soon as she returned to England. She would also need to create an alias for Rebecca and have her relocated.

"Tell me," said Claire. "Who are you really?"

Hermione defiantly met her expectant and probing gaze. "No one of consequence."

"Ha! You expect me to believe that? I've already told you that I discovered your alibi was false. Which means you are much, much more than you claim not to be. How can someone with such a seemingly airtight alibi...the woman claims to be the same person as you!...be anything other than someone with something to hide?"

Hermione shrugged, thinking quickly. No one in her own line of work would ever have cause to investigate the nature of her alias, but in this situation, she needed a plausible explanation.

"Well ..." Hermione began as if she were about to tell a very juicy secret. "I have to admit I'm rather curious about you as well. Why don't we try to work out an exchange of our own?"

Claire's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"You want information, as do I. And since we have nothing better to do for a while than sit in each other's company, why not make the experience mutually beneficial?"

"What do you want to know?"

Hermione shrugged, as though what she wanted wasn't all that much. "I want to know what happened today, why you double-crossed Clint ... is he really dead, as Shaul said?"

Claire's jaw tightened, but Hermione could see she was considering the offer. "Then you'll tell me about yourself?"

"Sure," said Hermione, hoping she would be able to drag Claire's story out long enough to avoid having to explain anything about herself; though she had an idea or two.

It was obvious that Claire was very hesitant, but she seemed to decide that hearing Hermione's story was more important the giving up hers. Or she simply decided she would kill Hermione, and no harm could come from telling her the truth. Hermione tried not to think about that option too hard.

"First," began Claire, settling comfortably into her seat. "Why did I double-cross Clint? Easy. I was presented with a better offer. It was nothing personal against Clint, I just couldn't have any leftover witnesses. After what happened during the botched exchange, with Clint possibly getting a good look at Shaul, I really couldn't have him reporting that information back to the people who had hired us."

Hermione's eyes widened. "So you killed him?"

Claire shrugged. "Originally, I'd wanted Clint to join me, but ... my superior was convinced he would not accept the offer. Shaul arranged the actual deed; I don't have the details. But like I said, it was nothing personal."

"The café," Hermione breathed, her heart pounding. "After I left!"

Claire looked at her suspiciously and with something else in her eyes ... triumph? "You're quick...and observant. Yes, once you were safely tucked into that black car, Clint met his demise."

Hermione fought against the panic that threatened to overwhelm her. Claire was so nonchalant about the death of her former colleague that Hermione was disheartened at the reminder that there were such hard, calloused people in the world.

"Did you know him a long time, then?" Claire asked, almost kindly

Hermione knew her face must have betrayed a portion of the inner turmoil she was doing her bet to ignore. "A bit, yes."

"Were you in love with him? When he was your teacher, perhaps?"

"No," Hermione answered. "He ... he was a really good person," --she chuckled-- "but he didn't want anyone to know it."

Claire nodded, as though she knew what Hermione meant. "He was different than anyone I've met in this business. There were some things about Clint that I found very puzzling, one thing that stood out was his innate goodness. It's hard to reconcile that with what he did, because he was very good at what he does. As for your other question, about what happened today, that, too, is easy. Shaul was with me from the beginning. We met with my contact, and I convinced him that Shaul's presence was completely legitimate. Once he communicated with your contact that the deal had been carried off successfully, Shaul killed him, and we waited for you to show."

"So ..." Hermione said, frowning. "The others ... from Red Fox ... weren't in on it at all?"

"No. They were ... unfortunate but necessary casualties. I now have the diamonds and the device...an item highly sought after. We'll have no trouble finding a new buyer."

A small bubble of panic welled through the torrent of fear already filling Hermione: soon she would be required to answer Claire's questions, and she hadn't decided what she would say.

"Nice plan," she said appreciatively. "It seems to have gone off without a hitch."

Claire smirked. "I've got something of a knack for planning."

"I've gathered," Hermione muttered, looking out the window. "Where are we going?"

"Not so fast," Claire answered with a chuckle. "I haven't had my turn for twenty questions yet."

Hermione nodded, her stomach churning out of nervousness. "I work for my government." Claire stiffened across the small cabin, and Hermione felt her own small thrill of victory, if only for a moment. She glanced at the other woman. "Nothing to worry yourself over, I'm not in the international policing business. I don't even know your name. I was on vacation when I saw Clint and therefore have none of my usual resources available." She laughed. "Not that they would help at all. What I do is ... sensitive. Have you ever seen or heard of the old television show 'The X-Files'?"

Claire nodded, skeptical.

"That's basically what I do. I'm Dana Scully. Just without the really handsome partner with a mysterious past." She would apologize to Blaise later for lying about him.

It was clear that Claire wasn't ready to buy the story. "Why do you need Rebecca Hammond?"

"Everyone in the Department has someone similar. In the exceptionally rare instance that we come across something truly worth our efforts, it's good to have an alias that is normal, uninteresting, to fall back on."

"A little too uninteresting. That in and of itself is interesting," Claire responded, still frowning. She was silent for a few minutes while she considered Hermione's story. "You might want to think about revising your story. Not that I'm saying I buy it. There are still things that don't add up."

Hermione gave a silent cheer. She had nearly told Claire the full truth, just without the details of her existence as a witch, and Claire didn't believe her. That would mean Claire would still find her interesting and continue to want her alive. "What things?"

"Did Clint know the truth? Had he asked you to meet him in Florence?"

"No, he ... he was nearly as surprised to see me there as I was to see him. As for the truth, he knew ... nearly as much as I've told you."

"You should know I don't really believe you."

Hermione let out an exasperated huff. "What do you think? That I'm a spy, like you?"

Claire spread her hands out, as if apologizing, and Hermione kept her eyes trained warily on the gun in Claire's left. "This is all I know. It would make sense for me to see spies where there are none. It's better for my survival rate than the alternative."

Hermione nodded, understanding. "So what does that mean?"

"It means I'm going to find out the truth about you, one way or another."

"What different ways are there?" Hermione asked warily.

Claire smiled knowingly. "Many, Rebecca, whoever you are. The human mind is capable of vast creativity, and in the arena of information extraction, the possibilities are endless."

Hermione felt the color drain from her face and automatically shrank away from Claire. "T-torture?" she whispered, her mind conjuring, unbidden, flashes of scenes from the few hours she had spent in Malfoy Manor during the last stages of the war.

Claire shook her head and regarded her with interest. "So quick! And not new to the experience of colorful persuasion. You still expect me to believe you aren't a player in my world?"

Shaul entered the cabin then. "We're here."

"Good. Have you met our guest, Shaul?"

He gave a half-smile, half-sneer, and sat beside Claire. "Briefly. Charmed, I'm sure."

Hermione said nothing, just watched as the ground rose to meet her, feeling that with every inch the plane dropped, her time was nearing its end. As the plane landed, she scanned the runway through her window for ... exactly what, she wasn't sure.

When the plane came to a stop, Claire stood. "Let's go," she said after releasing Hermione's seatbelt.

"Coming," Hermione said grumpily.

Shaul laughed and grabbed her arm painfully, pushing her toward the door. Hermione took a deep breath and stepped through. The brightness immediately hurt her eyes after being inside, and she squinted. He nudged her, and Hermione cautiously stepped out of the plane and down the steps to the tarmac.

Her hopes of an inexplicable and unwitnessed escape were dashed when she saw the man in a black suit, crisp, white shirt and sunglasses standing at the foot of the steps, his arms crossed over his chest. It was Cole. He stood beside a black limousine with very dark, almost opaque tint on the windows.

"Claire, Shaul," he said, opening the door.

"Cole," Claire acknowledged and then turned to Hermione. "In."

Hermione complied. Claire, Shaul and Cole climbed in behind her, Shaul sitting beside her and Claire and Cole across from them. Cole tapped the window separating them from the driver, and the car started moving. Hermione glanced out the window and saw the signs they passed were in Italian. She wondered where they were for a moment and then saw a sign that read, "Venezia, 10km."

Venice. At least she had been there already on her trip with Ginny and Luna; she would know her way around when she finally made her escape.

"So, Rebecca," said Claire, emphasizing the name. "You remember Cole."

Hermione glanced warily at Cole's extended hand and then his face, his eyes still hidden behind sunglasses. Instead of shaking hands, she merely nodded. "Isn't he your boss?" Hermione asked Claire, ignoring Cole.

"He was," she answered. "Now we're equals. He's been working on his own exit strategy. The three of us work together now." She smiled smugly at Cole, who smirked, and then yawned. She turned back to Hermione. "That's what I would like to talk to you about."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Hermione after Claire remained silent for a few moments.

"Joining us."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "Join you? You've got to be kidding! I told you before, I'm not a spy! I meant it!"

Claire smiled condescendingly. "Even if that's true ..." She glanced at Cole. "We are willing to train you."

Hermione shook her head, incredulous. "Why?"

"Your creation of the Rebecca Hammond alias showed creativity and ingenuity ... I think you've got potential," Claire responded, suddenly almost ... friendly.

"I think you're wrong."

"I've never been wrong before."

Hermione tilted her head slightly. "And if I say no?"

Claire looked at her smugly. "I'm confident you won't."

"I need to know my options," Hermione explained coolly. "I prefer to have as many facts as possible before making decisions. Considering what you are asking, it seems only fair."

Claire glanced at Cole who merely nodded, appearing bored.

"I would hate for Shaul to hurt you," Claire said threateningly, turning back to Hermione. "But he will do what needs to be done."

Hermione nodded. "I thought as much. Join, or die."

"You know too much," Claire snapped.

"Excellent incentive," Hermione said sourly. "I fail to understand why you want me."

"We're here," said Cole casually, as though he was breaking the silence instead of interrupting a heated conversation.

Hermione looked out the window; they were surrounded by buses. The car stopped in front of a curb. Between a building on the left and construction, Hermione saw Venice. They were at the southern most Vaporetta station on the Grand Canal. She doubted, however, that they would be boarding the very public, very crowded boat that served as Venice's mass transit system.

Cole led the way up the waterside walkway to a small, fast-looking boat. Shaul held Hermione's arm so tightly she expected to have marks...and she had no chance of getting away in order to Apparate.

They boarded the boat, and without a word the captain, a petite woman dressed all in black, steered the vehicle away from the bank. Hermione glanced at the driver again and saw that she had bright blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail underneath her black cap.

Hermione thought of Luna. Twelve days ... no, seventeen days ago, she, Ginny and Luna had taken the Vaporetta on a scenic ride down the full length of the Grand Canal. It had been sunset, and the light on the buildings had been beautiful.

The boat went much faster than the Vaporetta, and soon it had turned down a side canal, coming to a stop beside a set of rotting steps, which led to the door of an old, run down building. Half of the lowest floor was under water. Shaul prodded her onto the steps.

"You don't say much, do you?" Hermione muttered to her captor. He only squeezed her arm harder, causing her to suck in her breath so she wouldn't cry out.

Hermione was led into a very old, cold and wet building. The hallway was dark, only a few dirty windows letting in light through the grime. She paid careful attention to where they were going, in case she needed to run. The door at the end of the hall led into a room with very high ceilings and a cold, stone floor. It was empty save for three chairs. There were two doors on opposite walls and windows on one. The door to Hermione's back was the one through which they had entered.

Mentally shaking herself, she had to think fast. She didn't think anyone outside the room would hear a machine gun, much less a scream. She needed her wand, but she would wait for the best moment.

"What is your decision?" Claire asked, sitting in the chair opposite Hermione.

Cole sat between them, and Shaul remained like a sentinel by the nearest door. Hermione glared at Claire, drawing on the growing sense of hate she felt for the woman who was, in large part, responsible for Severus's death. Hermione glanced from Claire to Cole and back to Claire. She would go for her first. Cole may or may not be bluffing in his tired/bored act; she would take the chance that he wasn't. Hermione knew that Claire was alert and ready for anything. Shaul would have to cross half the room before he could do anything to stop her, and in the time it took for him to pull his gun out, Hermione would be able to Stun him.

"Well?" said Claire impatiently.

Cole chuckled and reached his hand to his face to wipe the hair out of his eyes. Hermione took advantage of his impaired view of the room.

Hermione casually reached a hand to her head and rubbed, as though she had a headache. As soon as her skin brushed a certain strand of hair, however, it was Transfigured to its original form: her wand.

She whipped her hand around to Claire, wand pointed. "Stupefy!"

The force of the spell sent the woman's chair tumbling and Claire sprawling, out cold as she hit her head hard on the floor.

Shaul moved as Hermione whirled to face Cole, who was out of his seat already and retreating. "Stupefy! " she called, and Cole went flying as well.

Hermione had misjudged Shaul's speed; before she faced him, he grabbed her wrist, squeezing hard enough that she dropped her wand. When he tightened his grip further, the bones in her wrist shifted, and she cried out.

"Little bi..." Shaul sneered, pulling Hermione roughly against him. His eyes flashed with anger and he kept an impossible grip on her injured wrist.

At that moment, the door behind Shaul burst open, slamming hard against the wall. Shaul whirled, crushing Hermione to his chest and pulling his gun in one swift movement. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes: Ginny stood in the door, dressed all in black, her hair...blonde; she'd been the boat captain!...pulled into a tight ponytail, holding a gun pointed at Shaul's head.

"Let her go," said Ginny. "And you'll walk out without any serious injuries."

Shaul scoffed. "You're in no position to offer conditions. I have her; what do you have?"

"Me." A voice spoke from directly behind Shaul, a fraction of a second before Shaul crumpled into a pile on the floor.

Hermione knew that voice. She turned, scared to trust the flare of hope, to find Severus standing there, perfectly unharmed. Hermione's heart leapt, and without thinking what his reaction might be, without a fraction of a thought to what her friend might think, she flung her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

Hermione was sobbing now, the events of the day...of the last five days...finally catching up to her. The reality of what she'd been through washed over in waves. Severus held onto her tightly, murmuring encouraging words into her hair.

She could hear nothing but the steady pounding of his heart. She knew she was nowhere near finished crying, but she didn't want to stand in the cold room any longer. She willed herself to gain some control. "I ... I thought ... you ... were dead," she gasped out when the sobs finally slowed.

"You thought a Muggle could kill me?" he said and then asked urgently, "Are you okay?"

"Yes. Except my wrist."

Severus lightly pushed her away and gently examined her now swollen and bruised wrist between his large, warm hands. Hermione winced when he pinched the sides. "Broken," he said and placed the point of his wand on the injured area. He muttered a spell, and Hermione's bones slid around, finally clicking into place with a sharp shot of pain.

"Better?" he asked.

Tentatively, she tried to bend her wrist. It was stiff, but it no longer throbbed with pain. "Yes. Thank you."

"Is it safe?"

Hermione's eyes widened as she recognized the voice and turned her head to see Ron and Luna coming through the door where Ginny had entered shortly before.

She gasped. "Ron! What are you doing here?"

He grinned. "Oh, you know. Saving the day, defeating the bad guys. The usual."

"Where's Harry?" Ginny asked suddenly, looking around. She spotted Cole's body and rushed to him. "Is he okay? Just Stunned?"

Hermione looked from Ginny's expectant eyes to Cole's still body. "Er ... Ginny? That's not Harry ..."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Ennervate."

"What are you doing?" Hermione gasped.

Cole sat up groggily, rubbing the back of his head where he'd hit the ground. When his eyes landed on Hermione, he scowled; then he grinned at Ginny and leaned forward to kiss her.

"Ew, Harry, no!" Ginny cried. "I refuse to kiss you when you look like that!"

"Polyjuice," said Ron when he saw Hermione's incredulous expression.

"Of course," said Hermione, feeling somewhat faint. The room started to get blurry on the edges of her vision.

"Merlin, Hermione!" said Harry, standing now with Ginny's help. "A little warning would have been nice!"

"I had no way of knowing it was you!" she exclaimed. "Besides, you had a few seconds after I Stunned Claire."

"I was surprised you could move that fast," he said, shrugging. "I was terrified the whole time Shaul had you. I was here to help you!"

"I didn't know it was you!" she exclaimed. "You could have said something, done something..."

"I went for Shaul!" Harry cried.

"I...I thought..."

"It doesn't matter, Potter," Severus said with finality.

"Speaking of them," said Ron, making a face in first Claire's, then Shaul's, direction. "What do we do with them?"

"Prison isn't good enough," muttered Hermione.

"They'll need their memories modified." Severus bent down to disarm Shaul. He thought about hexing him with the most painful curse he could think of that was also legal, but decided against it; he had work to do.

"Harry, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, rounding on them. "What are you doing here? And ... how did you find me? Or rather, why did you impersonate Cole? And..."

Severus chuckled deeply behind her.

Ginny laughed. "Hermione, calm down! We'll explain everything. We want to hear your story as well." Her gaze flicked to Snape as she said this.

"I ..." Hermione was suddenly more tired than she had been since the final year of the war.

"Need to rest!" said Luna brightly.

"Excellent idea," said Severus. "You rest. I will deal with Claire and Shaul."

Hermione nodded, moisture clinging to the edges of her eyes. Better to rest now and talk later when she could think clearly.

ooo

End Notes: Thank you for reading!

Beta Credits: I cannot thank my betas enough for their help on this story! Thank you Bambu and Shug!