London, Ministry for Magic, September 15th, 1999, 18.17 hours

"That was good work, everyone. While we didn't find the half-breed yet, we're on the right track. Sooner or later, the Fanatics will make a mistake, and we'll find their hideout."

Hermione didn't quite cheer at the words from Draco. She knew that the Minister's son was severely underestimating the danger he was risking.

"And as a thank you to you all, I'm inviting you to dinner." Draco flashed a smile at the group of witches.

Hermione's first impulse was to cite a prior engagement, and beg out, then she reconsidered. Refusing the invitation would be a snub, under the circumstances. It wasn't as if he had invited just her, after all. And the presence of the other witches should keep him from being too forward.

"Where will we be eating?" Jane asked. She sounded somewhat tense, as far as Hermione could tell - she was probably already planning the security measures.

"At my home," Draco said.

Hermione saw Jane nod, and relax a bit. Security would already be in place, after all. The Wand-Leader was grateful she hadn't turned the invitation down - she'd be able to find out more about the security measures protecting the Malfoys' home. Just in case.

"I'll just call Antoine and tell him he doesn't have to wait with dinner," Hermione said. She shook her head when she spotted Cleo grin, and nudge Teresa.

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Draco's parents were not at home, as he told them when they stepped out of the Floo connection a bit later. Jane entered with the air of long familiarity, as did Jasmine and Laura, but the rest of them looked around with open curiosity. Draco grinned, and led them on a short tour through the house.

"It's just a temporary home, of course, until the manor is rebuilt, so I'll ask you to excuse the cramped accommodations," he said while showing them the entrance hall, which was probably greater than the entire Leaky Cauldron. And Draco seemed to be serious even.

Hermione used the opportunity to peer out of the windows, and find out where the home was located. They were in Diagon Alley, to her surprise. And judging by the neighbouring buildings, the Minister's temporary home looked far less impressive from the outside, she thought as she noted where the guards were placed. And winced when she saw Sally-Anne was one of the guards. Half the Corps would have heard about Draco's 'new harem' by tomorrow.

"And here's my room. It's quite modest, but everyone has to make some sacrifices until we've finally dealt with those criminals." Draco smiled and looked directly at Hermione while he opened the door to an opulent room with a bed that could comfortably fit four people.

Everyone but Jane made the impressed sounds Draco would expect, though Hermione thought that at least Cleo wasn't actually impressed. She couldn't tell what Jane was thinking, but she had to be completely loyal to the Minister to have been trusted with the Malfoys' security.

On the way to the dining room - Jasmine and Laura were almost giddy at the thought of eating where the Malfoys usually ate - they passed the rooms of the Minister and his wife. Draco didn't show those, but Hermione made a mental note of their location. She planned to hand the memory of the visit over to Ron, but it didn't hurt to keep track of those things.

"Dobby!" Draco said, once all were seated - with Hermione to his right, an honour she could have done without, especially given the glances from Jasmine and Laura. The house elf that had survived the collapse of the Malfoy Manor appeared and started to serve the entrées.

"Dobby's been in our family for decades, and he cooks very well," Draco explained. "You've had already had the pleasure to enjoy his cooking, Hermione."

She smiled, despite the fact that the memory of that lunch date didn't fill her with joy, but apprehension. "Yes. He is very skilled." Poisoning the family would be out then, house elves were notoriously hard to bypass.

Cleo came to her rescue before Draco could really start with his flirting. "What does your boyfriend think of Britain's cuisine, by the way?"

"Oh, he said it's taking a bit to get used to." Hermione grinned. "I'm certain he'll learn to appreciate it though.

"He has fought our target before, right?" Teresa asked. "When the Lovegoods were attacked."

"Well, we exchanged a few spells, but quickly retreated since we were outnumbered," Hermione tried to downplay the battle. A glance told her that Draco was frowning. Hopefully he'd not try to match spells with the Dark Lord himself in an attempt to outdo Ron.

Jane must have had the same thought, since she said: "Once we've found the enemy, the Corps will take all of them out."

Hermione nodded. "Indeed. That'll be a mere formality. Finding them is the real challenge," she lied. She felt relief when Draco perked up and smiled.

She really could do without their new leader deciding to attack the Dark Lord with just this group.

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London, Diagon Alley, September 15th, 1999, 19.46 hours

Ron Weasley finished his meal and looked at Dean, who was sitting across from him. "Do you eat take-out every meal?" he asked, mostly to break the silence they had spent the last twenty minutes in.

"Not every evening," Dean said.

"Ah," Ron said. He didn't really like the Wand, but he knew they both cared for Hermione. And the silence felt awkward indeed.

"So, Draco's inviting his new all-female team to his home, which is considered a great honour in the Corps since that has never happened before. To a Wand at least."

Dean nodded. "Didn't she tell you that already?"

"She did, though not in that many details. She was rather short when she informed me she couldn't eat with me today." Ron didn't hide his frown. "I guess that's why you decided to keep me company."

"Yes."

"You know she won't really like it if she thinks we're keeping something from her."

"Yes."

Ron sighed. "So, why did you come? To tell me once more you'll hurt me if I hurt her?" The protective brother routine was getting old. Ron and his own brothers hadn't been that bad when Harry had started dating Ginny.

"No." Dean sighed. "I'm mostly here because you're the only one apart from her who knows about Malfoy."

Ron understood. "And you don't like passing time with the rest of the Wands, who don't know the truth."

"Yes," Dean said. "It's even worse now, with Hermione in that other team."

Ron nodded. "So, what exactly does the Corps think about that?"

Dean frowned. "Someone nicknamed the team 'Draco's Harem'."

Ron grind his teeth.

"Word from the security details is that this was the Minister's idea, and that his wife doesn't like it," Dean said.

"What's her problem with it? Does she hate her son sleeping with muggleborns?"

Dean shrugged. "That, or she thinks it's too dangerous. Or both."

Ron nodded. Narcissa likely knew about the Dark Lord. "And what do they think about Draco?"

Dean shrugged. "He's his father's son, but he's not his father."

"Fortunately not!" Ron said. "He'd have half the witches in the Corps trying to get in his pants otherwise."

Dean snorted. "More than half, trust me. And a part of the wizards too."

"Did the Minister ever take advantage of that?" Ron made a vague gesture with his hand.

"No. He doesn't cheat on his wife. Which is part of the reason that makes him so popular in the Corps." Dean sighed and leaned back. "He was our father. Still is."

"That's why he did it. To get a loyal force of soldiers. Expendable soldiers," Ron said.

"Yes," Dean spat out. "And that's why he'll die."

"Easier said than done." For Dean and 'Antoine', at least. Dumbledore sounded as if the Minister was living on borrowed time.

"We'll find a way." Dean grabbed another butterbeer from the basket he had brought.

"Did you ever think about just leaving? Moving to another country?"

"And leave my friends following a man who had their families killed?" Dean scoffed.

"And if the alternative is death?"

"We'll find a way. I trust Hermione," Dean added, with a slight sneer.

Ron frowned at the implied barb that he wouldn't trust Hermione. "Maybe the half-naga will kill the Minister."

Dean narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, Ron thought he had made a mistake. The Wand was a member of the Investigative Branch, after all. Did he deduce that it was actually the Dark Lord?

"That would mean a number of Wands would have been killed as well."

"Right. But you already lost a lot of Wands fighting that monster."

"Even with the Minister dead we'll fight to protect Britain."

And that was the problem, Ron thought. As long as the exiles were seen as Britain's enemies, at least.

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London, Diagon Alley, September 15th, 1999, 22.31 hours

Wand-Leader Hermione pulled the memory out of her temple, and guided the silvery ribbon towards the vial Ron was holding.

"That's the memory of my visit to the Malfoy's new home."

"Great!" Ron said, then winced. "I mean… it's not great you had to visit, but it'll help us."

"Planning their assassination, you mean," she said.

He nodded. "I reckon so, yes. We're getting close to killing the Dark Lord, and we need to be ready."

"I wish we could tell the Wands the truth," Hermione said. "There has to be a way."

"If you can think of one, I'm certain Dumbledore will listen," Ron said. "But I can't think of a way that won't endanger everyone."

Hermione frowned. She hated to admit it, but she couldn't think of a safe way to convince the Corps. And she had spent all her free time thinking about this lately.

"Well, Dumbledore will visit us here tomorrow evening. I'll get the cabinet tomorrow." Ron grinned. "Ginny wanted to come as well, but everyone stood their ground. Even Harry. So, you'll have to wait a bit longer until you can meet my little sister."

Hermione nodded. She wasn't that eager to meet all of Ron's family, if she was honest. She still felt a bit jealous at him having so many siblings, while she was an orphan. The Wands were supposed to be her family, her siblings, she knew, but keeping secrets such as hers made her feel more distant. As did the prospect of Ron and his family fighting them.

She still didn't know what she'd do. She didn't want to fight her fellow Wands, but to let them hurt Ron… She ground her teeth.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked, sitting down next to her.

She shook her head. "I'm just frustrated with the whole situation."

"Ah… things will get better, trust me. You won't have to suffer Draco for much longer."

She didn't correct his assumptions, even if it made her feel a bit more guilty. She was keeping far too many secrets lately, from everyone.

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London, Diagon Alley, September 16th, 1999, 21.17 hours

"Thank you, Miss Hermione. That should greatly help our cause."

Albus Dumbledore pocketed the vial of memories he had been given and smiled. It felt good to be back in Diagon Alley, in the Leaky Cauldron even. The memories those walls held… maybe it was a good thing that Mister Weasley had chosen a room that opened to the muggle street, and not the alley itself.

"I hope so, sir. And may I ask what you are planning to do with them?"

The young witch calmly looked at him, and Albus lost his smile. "Indeed, if anyone has the right, it's you." He sat down at the table. "As you might already know, we are, as the saying goes, closing in on the Dark Lord. I do not think I am overly optimistic when I say that his unnatural life will soon be cut short." He noticed Harry nodding in grim agreement, and as often, felt a pang of guilt at subjecting the boy to such a burden. But fate didn't want to bend to the will of an old man. "But I have come to the conclusion that the Minister and his likely successors have to be dealt with before that."

'Dealt with'. A nice turn of phrase. Gellert would have mocked him for being squeamish with words, but not deeds.

"Killed, you mean."

Albus nodded at the young Wand. "That is correct, Miss Hermione." The thought of kidnapping Draco and Narcissa had entered his mind more than once, but it was simply not practical. He was not about to risk his allies' lives to save those two, nor was he willing to risk another war should they escape and press their suit with support from the population later. Although that could be avoided by various, if often unsavory means.

She nodded. "I guess I'll be tasked with killing Draco."

"Only as a last resort. If things go according to plan, then the Minister will be killed at a time when his family is at home. Though your assistance in entering said home would be appreciated," Albus said.

"Ron and his brothers will be attacking the Malfoys then."

There was the slightest hint of accusation in her gaze, though whether it was aimed at his ploy to secure her help by putting young Mister Weasley in danger, or the likelihood of them fighting the Wands guarding the Malfoys, Albus couldn't tell.

"It will not be just them. A number of others with ties to Britain will be joining us." Nymphadora was still being treated, but her safe houses would be able to house Kingsley and the others. He smiled. "They will be joining us, and hopefully the Wands, in fighting the Dark Lord." That should help smooth the takeover of the Ministry later.

"That means they cannot be seen attacking the Malfoys. Or rather, that there cannot be any witnesses."

The girl had a talent for spotting the problems of his plan. He nodded. "Correct. I hope we can accomplish our task without killing anyone other than the Malfoys."

"But you don't expect things to go that smoothly."

He shook his head. "No, I do not." There was a way that would all but ensure it, Nicolas had had the marvelous idea of adapting Augustus's work with Basilisk poison to the Draught of Living Death, but using it on this mission would likely preclude its use on the Ministry, should that become needed later. And as much as Albus hated it, he'd rather see a few Wands killed defending the Malfoys, than far more die in a pitched battle for the Ministry.

"Plans rarely go as planned," Harry cut in, grinning, "But we usually make them work anyway." The young man grew more serious again, and looked at Albus. "I'll be there as well, of course."

"Mec..." Mister Weasley started, but Harry cut him off.

"Forget it. I'm not going to let you risk your life without me."

"Good," Miss Hermione said, with a glance at Albus.

"I will, of course, join this undertaking as well," Albus said. And not just to protect Harry, even if Miss Hermione's comment might hint at that. It wasn't as if he would be planning anything else for the day the Malfoys would meet their fate.

The two young men grinned, but Miss Hermione didn't look that convinced. Albus should have expected that - young people rarely adjusted quickly, or well, to having their most trusted authority figures being revealed as frauds.

He feared that Wizarding Britain would be in a similar state, after this war was over.

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London, Ministry of Magic, September 18th, 1999, 16.25 hours

"Wands!" Draco Malfoy stood up, discarding a paper aeroplane. "I've just received a notice! The Obliviators have detected another apparition in that forest we visited earlier this week! Everyone up, we'll move at once! This time we'll catch the culprit!"

The son of the Minister was brimming with excitement. Wand-Leader Hermione, temporarily attached to this task force had to admit that she didn't know anyone in the task force who was that enthusiastic or motivated about apparating into forests anymore. Not when they hadn't caught anyone all week, apart from a couple meeting in a 'romantic muggle forest' for a tryst. In every other case the mysterious apparating wizards had left already when the team had arrived. They simply couldn't react fast enough to catch anyone who did not linger.

"Come on!" He clapped Hermione on the shoulder as he moved towards the Apparition area in the Ministry.

She winced behind his back. Draco had been touching her more and more lately. He had stayed within the boundaries of proper manners, so far. Mostly pats on the shoulder like the one she had just received, but she really didn't like where this seemed to be going. His flirting was bad enough. At least he would be busy staring at trees for the next half an hour, instead of staring at her. She still didn't know why he was fixated on her.

Cleo shook her head at her, smiling wryly. "You'll be able to meet your boyfriend after this. The boyfriend you still haven't me introduced to," she whispered, grinning.

"Sorry," Hermione said in a low voice, speeding up a bit to keep pace, "we tend to get, ah…"

"Frisky?" Cleo grinned.

Hermione nodded. It wasn't entirely wrong, but she still felt bad for lying to Cleo, who had quickly become a friend.

They passed a team of Wands, Combat Branch, guarding the Apparition area. There were traps ready as well, Hermione knew. Runes inlaid in the floor, wards ready to be deployed. Intruders would have a very hard time entering through that area. It could be circumvented, though.

Hermione had a feeling she might be called on to do that, sooner rather than later. She hoped she would be doing the right thing then.

They arrived at the edge of another forest in Kent. Teresa and Mabel immediately split off and entered the forest. Jane, Laura and Jasmine surrounded Draco, then followed them a few yards into the forest. Cleo and Hermione exchanged glances, and followed their example, checking the area with their wands for magical residue. As expected, they found nothing but their own.

"Pretty dense foliage," Cleo commented.

She was right. The underbrush seemed denser than normal, for the area - after half a dozen such trips, Hermione was now somewhat knowledgeable of the local plant life. "Yes…" She couldn't hear any animals either. Or any Wand.

"Ambush!" Jane shouted. "Apparition-Jinxed!"

Hermione dropped to the ground at once. A second later, a tree detonated near Draco's position. She cast a Shield Charm, followed by a Human-presence-revealing Spell. Cleo joined her on the ground, panting and covered by a Shield Charm herself. More explosions followed. Further away though… and her spell didn't reveal anyone hidden nearby. With the underbrush and trees limiting line of sight, why didn't the ambushers move in, press their advantage? Her instructors would have failed her, had she done the same. Then she blinked. Had that bush just moved?

"Merlin! It's a trap!" Cleo shouted. "The plants are moving!"

Tentacles shot out of the densest bush, towards Hermione. The witch rolled to the side, but one of them clipped her shoulder, adhering to her robe.

"Evanesco!"

She vanished the tentacle with part of her robe, and moved towards the edge of the forest. Cleo was there already, but stopped near a tree. Hermione reached her side. The field looked clear, but...

On their right side, a marker appeared - a disillusioned wizard. Or witch, seeing how it had come from the spot where Jane and the rest were. She started to run over the field. After about 10 yards, the ground erupted around her, and tendrils wrapped around an invisible figure. Then they constricted, and Hermione heard a short scream. Laura. The scream cut off, and blood covered the ground, attracting more tendrils.

"Merlin…" Cleo said. "We'll have to fly."

Hermione looked up. A dozen markers hung in the sky. Disillusioned wizards.

"We can't," she said, then yelled "Ambushers in the sky!"

"Plants getting closer!" Cleo shouted. "Fire's not working on them!"

Hermione glanced behind her. Tentacles were writhing on the ground, held at bay by Banishing Charms from Cleo. Her friend wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. And there were more spells flashing towards where Jane and the others were with Draco.

"Use Vanishing Charms on the plants!" Hermione shouted. Another tree exploded above her, and splinters pelted her shield. She ducked reflexively. How long would the enemy flyers wait for them to try to flee over the field, before attacking from above?

Fire bursting above her answered her question. A giant snake made of flames and smoke broke through the canopy, and slid down a tree trunk, setting it aflame. Fiendfyre!

"We can't stay here, and they want us to flee on the field! We need to charge ahead!" she shouted to Cleo while sprinting towards Jane's last position. More tentacles shot at her, but she managed to evade them. Judging by her cursing, Cleo did as well. Behind them the fire spread, and chased them.

"We can't go through those plants!"

They met Jane, who was kneeling next to Draco, shielding him with her own body. Jasmine was there as well, driving the plants back. Laura was shooting curses at the field. More Fiendfyre was ravaging the forest.

"We need to get through those plants in the forest!" Hermione panted. "It's the only way!" If she could transfigure a tunnel, or a breach through them… but could she do that fast enough to outrace Fiendfyre? If she closed the tunnel behind her...

"Saddle up! We'll fly - through the forest!" Draco yelled, pulling out and unshrinking his broom.

Hermione gasped. Flying through a forest? At high speed? She wasn't that good at broom riding! But the cursed fire was close, and would soon reach them. It was their only chance. She pulled out her Nimbus, and kicked off. Draco was already speeding ahead. For all his faults, the wizard could fly. For a moment, Hermione contemplated following him, but he was too fast. Instead, she followed Cleo, hoping the witch was a better flyer than herself.

She heard a scream behind her, and glanced over her shoulder, almost freezing at the sight. A hydra made of fire had broken through the canopy, and several of its heads were diving at Jasmine, who must have been slow to mount her broom. The witch and her broom disappeared in an instant, and now the fire was chasing Hermione.

She leaned forward, reducing air resistance, and shot after Cleo, who was weaving around trees. Hermione tried to copy her friend's moves, and not to think about the monster made of cursed fire chasing after her. If the ambushers had spotted them, and were racing to cut them off at the other edge of the forest…

She almost crashed into a tree Cleo narrowly avoided, and her right foot caught on a branch, wrenching her off-course. She managed to control her broom enough to follow Cleo again, but she had lost time, and to the left of her, the trees started to catch fire. Had the others set the whole forest afire?

She sped up, but had to brake again when she barely avoided flying into a tree trunk. The roar from the fire sweeping through the woods grew louder, or so she thought. She had lost sight of Cleo, Draco had disappeared long ago, and she hadn't even seen Jane since they had taken off. It was just her, the trees, and the fire.

And the fire was gaining. Or she had veered off-course without noticing. She wasn't a scout, she was in the Investigative Branch! Tears ran down her face while she weaved around a pair of tree trunks. She didn't want to die, not like this, not on a broom, burned alive.

To her right, a tree crashed to the ground, sending sparks up into the canopy. She pulled to the left again, away from those flames. Smoke started to overtake her - the wind was driving the flames towards her, she realised. She didn't dare slow down to cast a Bubble-Head Charm, and breathing grew more difficult. If the smoke started to grow any thicker, she'd not be able to spot a tree before crashing into it.

And then she was out of the forest. She bent down and accelerated as much as she could, trying to apparate, all the time expecting a curse to hit her.

Her third attempt worked.