* * * Starring * * *
Emma Watson
"Hermione Granger"
Evanna Lynch
"Luna Lovegood"
Can't Fight the Moonlight
"The Calm Before the Storm" Copyright © 2008
Episode Eight
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created originally by Rupert and are copyrighted to him, any reposting or archiving without written permission is an infringement on the copyright of this series. So in other words You damn well better ask before you steal it.
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Summary: None
Original Airdate: November 11, 2008 @ 9:00 p.m.
(following an ALL NEW 'Bad Girl')
Story Codes: no sex
”That is what we’re up against. And we’re gonna bring them down.” Hermione summarized. “Now, are you all still in on this?” She asked and looked around the room.
It was mid afternoon by now. Hermione had spent the day researching and preparing with Luna helping out. All those invited had just arrived and listened to Hermione’s summarization of the situation.
Ernie and Padma were sitting next to each other. They looked at each other and then they both nodded.
“I wouldn’t have chosen to become an auror if I wasn’t ready for this kind of thing.” Ernie declared.
“I have already told you that I’m in on this.” Viktor said.
“I don’t understand why you need me for this, but I’m in. Of course.” Neville said.
“We choose you Neville, because we trust you and we know what you can do.” Hermione explained.
“Ok, let’s do this. What is the next step?” Ernie asked.
“I’ve got us all rooms at a Hotel that is opposite to the company. We’re going to go down there and do some surveillance and recognisance. We check out their security measures, both magical and non-magical. And then when we’re ready we go in and obliviate them all.”
“And when will we go?” Viktor asked.
“We do it now. I hope all is up to speed on their apparition.”
Everyone in the room nodded and then Hermione went on.
“First we need someone to go up to Hogwarts and get Harry’s cloak. Then go down to Cape Town and secure a location which we can apparate to.”
“I’ll do it.” Neville announced.
Hermione simply nodded and just like that Neville was gone. There was some anxious waiting, but not very much later Neville returned.
“Did it all work?” Hermione asked.
“Yes, there is a construction site which we can use. Seems like they don’t work there today.”
“Ok, you go first and we’ll come right after.”
Again Neville disappeared.
“Now, think Neville and think Cape Town and all this should work out.” Hermione instructed.
Viktor was the first to go. Then Padma grabbed Ernie and they too were gone.
“Just the two of us now, are you ready to go?” Hermione asked.
“I believe I am.” Luna said and grabbed hold of Hermione.
Hermione was a little surprised, but pleasantly so. It really felt good that Luna trusted her. The apparition was done and the two girls landed in a pile of dust. The son was shining brightly and all the others were gathered around.
“Everyone alright? No splinching?” Hermione asked.
“We’re all fine.” Padma answered and then did a quick spell to clean up the dust that covered them all.
They walked out of the construction site and Hermione quickly found a street sign to establish their position. She looked at her map and started to lead them towards the hotel. Luna of course, walked at Hermione’s side.
“Are you ready for this?” Hermione asked.
“I certainly am. Some times you actually get to choose the battle and that is a rather good advantage.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Hermione answered thoughtfully.
As they neared the hotel Hermione turned to the group.
“We will soon reach the hotel, which mean we will also reach Miller and Post. It is a modern looking glass building and you will find it on your left. Don’t be obvious, but try to check it out.”
They turned the last corner and saw both their hotel and the evil company. Hermione felt a shiver go down her spine. Here it was, a modern and luxurious building in the middle of bustling city, but it contained evil of a kind that she had not been able to imagine before Luna told her about it. And all those people walking by on the street had no idea. The sextet entered the hotel and Hermione checked in under a false identity, just to be on the safe side. It was just one single bed room, but since they hadn’t planned on doing any actual sleeping it was enough.
As they entered the room Hermione quickly took out six pairs of binoculars and handed them out to the group. She then directed them at the company building. The room they had was in a high building so they could actually look down on the company building which was only a few stories high.
“Air ducts in the roof, that is very convenient. We can gain entry through those.” Padma observed.
“Yes, we’ll see.”
“One armed guard at the front entrance and another one at the side entrance. Muggles without a doubt.” Hermione noted.
“Are they in on this as well?” Padma asked.
“Yes, very much so according to the woman in Luna’s ring. Apparently they do the dirty work of actually shooting those innocent people. At the very moment of death, Mr Post performs his spell and thus creates a gemstone out of that person’s soul.” Hermione explained.
No one said anything; it seemed that no words would be enough to describe how they felt.
“Anyway, this all takes place in the cellar where Mr Post has his work area. Getting Post is our number one priority when we go in there. I’ve had a friend find me the personal acts of all those who work there and he is the only wizard. If we take him out we stop company. Still, all those muggles working there are part of the operation as well and they could possibly find another wizard if we let them get away. We need to obliviate them all.”
“I’d like to kill them all.” Viktor muttered, anger seeping through his words.
“I can understand that, but we can’t do that. Oblivion is the only way. That will render them incapacitated to do any more harm.” Hermione said firmly.
Viktor grumbled something inaudible, sounding like acceptance. Hermione took down her binoculars and turned to the group.
“Ok, when darkness comes in an hour or so we will be able to see in through the windows. That will give us some help. But before that we need to do some close up scouting. I’m going to go in there, pretending to be interested in buying a ring and I will try to see as much as I can. Two pair of eyes is always better than one of course, so I think you should come with me Padma.”
“Ok, whatever you think is best.”
“Of course, we do want to keep a low profile so we’ll go in there polyjuiced..” Hermione said.
With that Hermione produced two bottles of polyjuice potion from her bag. Without waiting for Padma she drank the potion and slowly transformed to a pale and thin black haired woman with a pointy nose.
“It is one of the long since dead Black family members. Turns out Kreacher and his forefathers had a habit of collecting hair from his masters.”
“Disgusting.” Viktor snorted.
“Maybe so, but it is very useful now, isn’t it? This woman died more than hundred years ago, so using her appearance is perfect.” Hermione answered in an irritated voice.
Meanwhile Padma had drunk her potion and she now looked quite similar to Hermione.
“You must be sisters.” Ernie commented.
“Anyway, while we are gone you can spend your time studying these plans for the building. Use the spell to remember it all perfectly, you all know it right?”
“Yes, of course. Even though I’ve never had to use it.” Ernie boasted.
Everyone in the room sighed collectively at Ernie’s boastfulness, but Padma actually seemed impressed. Guess she likes a confident man, Hermione remarked to herself as she left the room with Padma in tow. As they walked down the corridor Padma spoke.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you about me and Ernie, before. You know they don’t let aurors date each other and I didn’t want to burden you with responsibility of knowing something that could get us fired. I haven’t even told Parvati yet. If I did, the entire wizarding world would know within five minutes.” Padma said and ended with a giggle.
“Why is that?” Hermione asked thoughtfully
“What, that Parvati likes to gossip?”
“No, that aurors can’t date each other.”
“It has always been believed that love is a distraction in battle.”
“Do you believe that too?”
“No, love is what gives us the strength to fight. What about you?”
Hermione had no problems doing several things at once, but she strongly felt that a conversation like this had to be done standing still. So she stopped.
“If I believed that, I wouldn’t be here.” Hermione answered thinking about Luna.
“Of course, you’re right. You haven’t told her how you feel yet, have you?”
“No, that will have to be dealt with when all this is over. Time to go.” Hermione said and lead the way through the lobby.
Hermione silently put the spell on herself and on Padma and then they crossed the street. They walked into the store and were almost blinded. There must have been hundreds of stones glimmering with the presence of a soul. Hermione had expected something like this, but Padma was shocked. She gasped and covered her mouth.
“Are you alright? I told you that you shouldn’t have eaten from that shrimp buffet.” Hermione quickly covered.
The clerk was a thin woman in her fifties with sharp features. She now addressed her customers.
“What can I do for you ladies?” she asked.
“We are just looking. These are some marvellous rings.” Hermione said.
“Yes, and it is all thanks to our excellent jeweller Mr Post. He is quite famous for his work.” The woman boasted.
“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about him. It would be such an honour to meet such a talented artist.” Hermione answered.
“I’m afraid that Mr. Post is a very busy man, but if you book an appointment he can make something in accordance with your wishes.”
“Really? That sounds marvellous, doesn’t it?” Hermione asked Padma.
“Yes, quite marvellous.” Padma agreed.
“Would it be possible to get a meeting later tonight? You see we will go north for a safari early tomorrow and we will be up in Kruger for a week or so before coming back here.”
“I’m sure it will. Mr Post often works very late. Let my just look.”
The woman looked through some papers and then turned to her customers.
“And what are your names?” She asked.
“Adams. My name is Jenny and this is my sister, Cecilia.”
“Very well, I will book you a meeting for tonight at 9 pm. Is that good?”
“Yes, quite. Thank you so much for your kindness. I think we have to leave now, but I do look forward to meeting him. Good bye”
“Good bye.” The woman said.
“Why did you do that?” Padma asked when they were out of the store.
“I need to meet him. And what better way to do that than to arrange a meeting?”
“And why exactly do you need to meet him?”
“To obliviate him of course. Don’t worry about that, I will meet him alone and the rest of you will have other things to do.”
“Why do you have to meet him alone? I could easily come with.”
“No need for that, I can handle it. You just do what you are told.”
“Ohh. Sorry.”
“I didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh, but I’m leading this operation and you just have to trust me.”
“You know I do, Hermione.”
“Good.”
They walked in silence back to the room.
“How did it go?” Neville asked.
“We’re on for 9 tonight. I have a meeting arranged with Mr Post. The rest of you will have to make sure that we are not disturbed, and to deal with the muggles of course. Obliviate them all.”
“How do we deal with all that muggle technology?” Neville asked.
“You will have to set off an electromagnetic explosion before you go in. It will take out pretty much everything they have.”
“I know a good spell that takes out all the muggle technology in the vicinity.” Ernie boasted.
“Yes, I think we are talking about the same thing. I just read up on the science behind it.” Hermione answered.
The sun was setting by now and that had made it easier to see into the lit up windows. Neville was sitting by the window looking in is pair of binoculars.
“I can see Miller now.” He announced.
Hermione walked over to the window and looked for herself.
“Yes, there he is. Top floor, left corner. He’s just as responsible Post. Make sure you get him.”
“I will take care of him.” Ernie said.
“Sounds good. I was thinking you, and Neville would enter through the roof. Apparate over there and then get in to the building. Take him first.”
“Ok.” Neville said and nodded.”
“Luna and Padma, you enter the front entrance together with me. You will hide under the cloak. When it is time you will work your way up through the floors.”
“And what should I do?” Viktor asked
“I You will come to the meeting with me. Polyjuiced of course.”
“What are the two of you going to do?” Ernie asked.
“That is very complicated and I will inform Viktor on that later.”
Hermione made her best resolve face, making it very clear that this was how it was going to work. Just as she had hoped no one dared challenge her.
“Very, well. Now as I said, on to the details.”
As she pointed on the building plans and explained the details, she noticed that Luna looked at her with a knowing look. Did Luna know what she and Viktor was going to do? If she did, she didn’t say anything. Hermione just hoped that Luna would be able to trust and like her in the future as well. Even after she and Viktor had killed Mr. Post.
Written by
Rupert
Tuesday Night on...
(Fall 2008)
* * 8:00 * *
My First Time
* * 8:30 * *
Bad Girl
* * 9:00 * *
Can't Fight the Moonlight
* * 9:30 * *
When Cyber Meets
Real Life