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The Master of Assassins	By : fantasyra Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 10267 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I dont own anything Harry Potter, just the story idea and plot.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Ye Old Disclaimer: Harry Potter and associated milieu,
characters, and situations are owned by J.K. Rowling and her licensees. This is
a work of fan fiction, produced solely for enjoyment. No infringement of rights
is intended. J.K. Rowling owns it all, I am just playing with the Story. No
money is being made by me in any way shape or form.

Chapter 8

�� Are you
sure the tip is good Mad-Eye? It could be a trap, wouldn�t be the first time it
happened.� Said Tonks while sipping from her tea in the kitchen of Grimmauld
Place. Moody frowned in response. I had been several days since the Order met
and she knew Moody had been assigned to look into it.

�� I was
hunting down Dark Wizards before you got your Hogwarts Letter, girl. If I say
it�s a good, then it is.� He gruffly stated.

�� Tonks
raised an eyebrow and smirked. �Just checking. I�ve never been in that
particular club but I have heard its great. Who�s coming with me?� Everybody
knew that no one, especially during these dark times, ever went anywhere
without backup.

�� I wanted
you to take Lupin�� started Moody, at which Tonks frowned and scrunched up her
nose. She liked Remus fine, a nice enough bloke, but he wasn't exactly what
could pass as a club goer. �However he declined, saying he would stand out too
much because of his age. So, Hestia Jones will be going with you.� finished the
elder ex-Auror.

�� Tonks
leaned back in her chair. Hestia was only a few years older than her and a
fellow Auror, which meant she kept in shape. With the right clothes, they could
pull off the cover of a couple girls out partying. Maybe do the twin thing.
Twins always got through the door. She nodded smiling. This was looking to be
one of the more enjoyable jobs she has had to do.

�� What exactly
are you wanting us to do once we get in?�

�� Your
orders from the Minister are for you and Hestia to find this Cloud and hire
him. He�s bowing from the pressure in the war. Find out what it'd take for him
to join in and arrange a meeting with Kingsley for the details in tracking down
and taking out Death Eaters. Here�� Moody slid a packet of papers� with the Ministers personal seal on it.
�...is everything you need to know. Kingsley will be his handler, he�d be on a
tight leash but there is some room for negotiation.�

�� How am I
suppose to recognize him, Mad-Eye? No one knows what he looks like.�

�� Start by
scouting the place. If you don�t get any leads, try and get to him through
Logan.�

�� She was
scanning and shuffling through papers, nodding her head. Looking up she noticed
the sour look on his face. �You don�t approve of this, I assume?�

�� No, I
don�t, Tonks. He�s dark and I think we are just trading one Dark Wizard for
another. Just don�t mention myself or Dumbledore if you meet him. The Minister
thinks we might be sour subjects and he wants this one on his side. Personally,
I think this is a massive mistake, but its not my call. The Minister wants him,
so you're going to get him.�

�� And the
Order? What are they going to do about this?�

�� Mad-Eye
gave her a smirk when she asked. �We�ll be feeding the Ministry the information
they want, about where the targets are. The Minister wants his killer, and we
are going to see that he gets the impossible assignments. If we�re lucky, he�ll
get himself killed during one of these runs, taking a few Death Eaters with
him.�

xxxxxx

�� Three women
stood around a large muggle map of the isles spread out on a table. Each girls
had their brows furled in concentration, occasionally going over one or two of
the sheaves of parchments scattered about.

�� They could
have gone anywhere. How are we going to find them, if magical methods keep
turning up nothing? Its like they simply disappeared off the face of the
world!� Hannah said.

�� Luna looked
up from notes she had been collecting over the last day. �I am not sure. We
have tried owls, but they always return after a day so. Obviously, that�s out.
Scrying has resulted in zero as well. I know of other methods, but none of us
have the magical skill or power to try them. We could ask the muggles that
lived nearby and see if anyone knows anything.�

�� Susan shook
her head. �How are we going to explain that we are looking for them? I,
personally, don�t have a lot of experience with Muggles and I don�t think any
of you have. It could possibly be dangerous. If we ask the wrong question,
there is no telling what could happen.�

�� The others
nodded and went back to their studying. Harry and Hedwig had been gone for most
of the day and they� decided to do their
planning during these frequent breaks. However, they all knew that Luna�s plan
was even more difficult than it sounded as every method of finding their quarry
had resulted in negative results.

�� Luna tilted
her head to the side and spoke slowly as she reasoned out what�s she was trying
to say, �Muggles really are not all that much different than us. If we dress
appropriately, I think we will be fine muddling around the Muggles. We will
just have to be careful not to mention anything about our world. Besides, we
can always tell Harry that we wanted to see the Muggle sites. He�s been really
busy lately and as long as we are back by the time he goes to the dance hall, I
think we can make it.�

�� Not really
seeing any alternative, the other two nodded and started making preparations on
shopping for more conservative Muggle wear.

xxxxxx

�� Sweet
mother of Merlin, what kind of Death Eater are you?!� Harry yelled at the
blubbering man he had just strapped to the table. It was all very annoying: the
crying, pleading, and bawling. He turned to look at the Potions ex-professor
who was sneering from his cage, looking on with disgust at the winning man.
�Did he act like this while he tortured the Cadwell family back in 79�, or the
Kinnins, three months ago?�

�� The
imprisoned man slid his eyes from the pathetic man to look into the polished
mask of his jailor. If one thing his imprisonment had taught him, it was the
necessity of cooperation. They both knew that Draco, and his own life by
extension; hung each time a question was sent his way. �No. If anything, he was
exactly the opposite of this.�

�� Harry
grunted as he looked down at him. He caught the sadist a few weeks ago, but
with everything he had going on was only just now getting around to him.
�Bleeding twat. If you have the stones to murder, rape, and torture, you should
be able to handle this with a bit more grace. What kind of maniac are you?�
Harry grabbed the gag and stuffed it roughly into the man's mouth, strapping it
tight. It, thankfully, muffled his winning. �Bet if I had Bellatrix strapped to
the table�� he grumbled while tightening the leather strap, causing the man to
choke a bit from the pressure.

�� I tell you
Severus, if this is the kind of psychopath Riddle has at his disposal, I am
seriously wondering how in the hell they managed everything they have. As far
as I can tell, Bellatrix, you, and Malfoy are the only ones worth a damn in the
whole bunch. This is just pathetic.� He didn�t even notice Snape�s grudging nod
at his statement.

�� Now that
his sacrifice was ready, he started walking around table checking the runes.
With Draco as leverage, he decided to keep the two around for a bit longer.
Snape had too much knowledge to just let go of for now, and therefore Draco
lived. Both knew they owed their lives only to his need of them and they had
both done what they where told to ensure his good graces.

�� The Cage he
kept them in allowed them some limited freedom of movement, being that it was
contained in the six feet tall by ten foot cage. Their mattresses where real
ones too, and not the straw flooring his other prisoners had. Not to mention
that he actually fed them on a regular basis. The man on the table showed
extensive signs of near starvation. Harry finished his inspection and nodded,
looking at the empty cage where he kept him before, and most of the others. He
really needed to remember to feed the prisoners once in a while. They lasted
longer. He lost two of them just the other day.

�� Not that it
mattered much. They where the culls of Voldemort�s ranks, newbies, or the weak.
He wasn't really all that lucky in capturing them as they where just that easy
to get his hands on. Since they didn�t know anything useful either, he kept
them around just to build up his golem forces. With this one, his golems now
numbered to six. Robert had promised that he would get his shipment for them
sometime in the next week, which meant he was almost ready. Not to mention that
his Magic Core was getting stronger with each fragment he added to it. The way
he understood it, he would be back to his old level with this addition, maybe
even a hair over. That's assuming he didn�t burn out the man's core because he
was too pissed to do the job right.

�� He blew out
his breath and picked up his knife making for the peddled grinder. At least it
was quiet now, allowing him to concentrate on not over grinding the
blade. The Rituals always went better when he took the effort to hone the edge.
Considering this was the last of his prisoners, he needed to get it right.
There was no telling when he might get more.

�� He breathed
slowly as he let the feel of stone on steel calm him, like it always did. He
really should have waited until tomorrow to work on this one, but he was not
sure he would last that long. Harry let out a purging breath, already feeling
his nerves finally� calming and his
muscles relax. Thankfully, the man's blubbering was silenced for the most part
and the only sounds echoing around was the grinding of the stone.

�� He had had
another nightmare about losing Hermione last night. Those nightmares where
starting to become more frequent. He paused to inspect the blade and test the
edge. He wondered for a moment what his life might have been like if only
things had turned out differently.

xxxxxx

�� Severus
Snape sat leaning against the wall of his cell, deep in thought. Unlike his
pathetic god-son, he was not bothered by the ritual Potter used on Jackson. He
had seen the Dark Lord do far worse in his attempts to gain power or to conjure
old magic�s for his bidding. No, the ritual had not bothered him, his capture
did.

�� He made no
attempt in the last few years to hide his distaste for the son of the woman he
loved. The son that could have been his, had he made different choices in his
life. He looked exactly like his father and when Lilies eyes looked at him, he
felt the need to commit murder. He was a constant living reminder of what could
have been. He would challenge any man to live with it the way he was expected
to and NOT react the way he had. Now though, he was forcing himself to
reevaluate everything he knew about the boy... no. The man who currently
held his life in his hand.

�� When the
Headmaster had revealed his plan to punish the brat for his behavior in
foolishly rushing to the Ministry, he had privately rejoiced. It was about time
that the old fool took the boy in hand for his reckless ways. It rankled him
greatly that the future of the world rested in the hands of that boy and he
thought the Headmaster's lesson was true justice. Such a belief he held until
he found himself trapped in his dungeon at Potter's mercies. It was here he saw
a side of Potter he would never had expected.

�� Before his
eyes, he witnessed him take the lives, magic, and souls of five of his former
allies. Allies that had been missing for some time. He was methodical, proficient,
and though he lacked the educated touch of someone well studied, he made up for
it in thoroughness. More so, he was ruthless. He would never have imagined the
son of Saint James Potter taking lives in such fashions. No, Harry Potter had
problems and sought the remedies to them in efficient manners. Granted they
were in ways he himself would never have condoned but no the less effective.

�� He knew of
Potter's Magic Core problems. Dumbledore was actually quite pleased with the
damage it had sustained as it made a great many of his plans easier. What those
plans where he did not know but the old man had hinted at them a few times.
Snape had not cared one way or the other as he always had thought of Potter as
less than average in magical ability anyhow. Of course, even that had changed
now. Potter had a tendency to mumble when he was working, either at the
grindstone or while on a body. He heard him grumbling once or twice that his
core was almost back where it was. The fact it took all of these people to do
it had brought home just how he had misjudged the man.

�� True to his
word, he had left Draco alone after he became cooperative. As long as he
answered his questions truthfully, they had a good chance of getting out of
this alive, or at least last long enough for rescue. He was too valuable to
Dumbledore for the man to not seek him out. They just had to hold on until
then. Potter wanted to know where Death Eaters where being held or where they
had safe houses. He was getting the impression he was going to go forward with
it and stand against the Dark Lord. As his eyes looked around the room, the
stench of blood and body waste assailed him. He would not be surprised if he
made a credible stand. He only hoped that his involvement in everything was not
made known.

�� He was
snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of glass clinking. To say he was
surprised when Potter sat next to his cell would have been an understatement of
massive proportions. He watched from his place, frowning, while Potter took off
his mask and poured two glasses of Firewhiskey. His surprise was doubled when
the boy held up one for him.

�� He never
said anything. Just held the glass in his mailed hands. Not knowing what the
hell was going on, he moved forward and cautiously took the glass and adjusted
his seating so he could see his face. He watched Potter reach down for his own
and throw it back with little fuss. Snape had to raised an eyebrow, seeing how
well practiced at drinking it he seemed.

�� How�d you
do it?� His voice was soft, almost broken. Snape frowned again. He looked into
his eye, or what he could see of it from this angle and was slightly stunned by
the pain he saw there.

�� Do what
Potter?� He took a sip of the whiskey and knew almost immediately that it was
one of the better brands. It was harsh like it was suppose to be, but lacked
that acid bite in lesser ones he normally bought. He felt his muscles relax
almost immediately.

�� How�d you
get over causing Mums death.�

�� The ex
Professor showed no emotion on his face at the question but felt his insides
quake. He took a deep breath and swallowed the remainder of his drink. He was
mildly surprised that Potter held the bottle to refill it when he was done.

�� Who told
you?�

He watched the son of his rival
fill his own glass just to empty it in one go.

�� Remus. He was trying to mend fences
with us last year and thought that me knowing why you hate me so much would
help the situation. He told me you fell in love with Mum, but that she chose
dad. The memory of you and Dad at odds showed me of your rivalry. Dumbledore
spoke of someone listening in to the Prophecy being spoke and that person told
Voldemort. You flipped not long after. I just put two and two together. Didn�t
help any, though. We were too far gone by then, more even so now.�

�� Internally,
the Potion Master was cursing the werewolf and Dumbledore. Snidely, he hissed
at the boy, �What does it matter now Potter?�

�� Harry
shrugged his blood splattered bare shoulder. �Just�needed to know. You are the
only person who knows what its like� Losing the one you love, the one who had
your heart. The one you couldn�t have. You lost mum, I lost� her...�

�� He watched
Harry tilt his head back so it rested on the wall next to his cell.

�You know, I always loved her but I
never knew it. It was just this� weird feeling at first. This need to protect
her, to be near her. To hear her voice, to see her smile and hear her laugh.
Sometimes to just smell her scent. It was�maddening. By the time I started to
figure it out, it was too late. Ron was already making inroads and she was
showing interest.

�� I backed
off. If it made her happy, and it did seem to, I would not gainsay her. It made
her smile, made her laugh. It was enough. Then�she was gone. Dolohov cast the
curse that killed her, but I was the one who took her there. I may as well as
have killed her myself. So, I just wanted to know from someone who has been
here, how did you do it?�

�� He sighed.
The boy was insane. Most likely just as insane as the Dark Lord. He sat there,
covered in blood, taking shots with one of his prisoners who, for the last six
years, had shown nothing but hate to him, asking personal questions. Right
after ritualistically murdering and enslaving the soul of a man. Snape leaned
his head back and sighed again.

�� I didn�t.�
Later he would not know why he started talking or said these things but he
would know he did. �I closed myself off from everyone. Vengeance was all I had
afterward. Vengeance against the Dark Lord, vengeance against Dumbledore.�

�� You�ve been
playing both sides against each other then?�

�� Snape
nodded. �Dumbledore allowed it to happen, the Dark Lord did it. I just wanted
them all to burn.� He vaguely noted his voice was as hallow as Potters.

�� His eyes
refocused as he noticed him nod his head before throwing the last shot back.
�And burn they will. Burn they will�� his voice barely a whisper. Even with the
burning of the strong drink in him, he felt a cold chill sweep through his
bones. Snape's eyes trailed over to the still corpse of his latest victim,
dagger sticking out of his forehead, the black jewel reflecting bits of light
from the only torched in the room.

xxxxxx

�� The hot
water had just been turned off and he stood for a moment rolling his head on
his shoulders. He had not felt his magic be this right since before he was
thrown in Azkaban. The only hitch with it was that it still felt slightly
disconnected, but that was due to the receptacles he had to use. He knew that
as long as he was careful with it, and used it only when he really needed it,
he would be fine. Going spell crazy now that he had his magic back would only
make him endure another long period of recharging and feeling weak again. That
would be fixed soon enough when he'd get more cores. If he had to, he could
rotate sets of them to keep him at optimum levels, assuming he managed to get
his claws on a few more of Voldemort�s forces.

�� He stepped
out of the stall and started toweling himself off before he took in his
appearance in the full length Mirror. He sighed at what he was seeing.

�� It�s
happening too fast�� He ran his hand over his hairless chest frowning. The hair
on his body had started falling out a few days after the first Ritual.
Fortunately, the hair on his head had not started yet. The degeneration of his
body had started happening quicker with each added receptacle. After the first
couple of additions, he started noticing his body mass dropping as well. He was
never big, being more on the lean and wiry side but now it was different. He
could see his ribs clearly and not an ounce of body fat. His muscles, instead
of bulking in a healthy manner, had shrunken in, becoming more along the lines
of steal cords over his bones. His body was starting to remind him of
Voldemort�s body just after he was resurrected. His skin tone was paler than
normal and looking a bit pasty. To keep the girls from asking too many
questions he had started using a magical tanning potion to color his skin,
which he started applying now.

�� He was
brought out of his depressing thoughts when Hedwig moved into his sight behind
him and finished applying the potion. He leaned his head back and enjoyed the
feeling of her hands running along him. She knew, of course, about what was
happening to him. At least she knew his body was being altered and he was not
happy about it. She was supportive of him though, constantly telling him she
would always be here for him. He did not know what he would do if he did not
have her. He opened his eyes again taking in the sight through the mirror. At
least, his eyes where still green and he still had his nose. Still, the changes
where happening too fast. If it kept up its progression he would not be able to
show his face in public in a couple of months.

�� Hedwig�s
fingers slick with the potion began traveling more sensually along him, paying
a great amount of attention to his nether regions. He leaned into her and felt
his hips buck slightly as a low moan escaped his mouth. He felt her nibble on
his neck.

�� No matter
how much you change, Master, I will still mate with you. You saw past what I
was born as to who I am. I see only you, no matter what others may see with
blind eyes.�

�� Thank you
Hedwig. Other than�her�you�re the only one who has ever cared.� He was still
not able to say her name. He reasoned he might not ever be able to. Her lose
was simply too much for him to handle. Shaking from these thoughts, the turned
toward Hedwig. �You know, we got about an hour before the club really starts
going�� Her naughty smile was all he needed to know before he captured her lips
in his pushing her against the bathroom wall.

xxxxxx

��

Harry walked out of his room and
waited on Hedwig to finish getting ready. His time with her was just what he
needed after the long day he had. Now it was time to top it off with some
dancing, good music, and maybe some cards. Hell, he might even win a hand this
time. Most likely not, but hey, it could happen.

�� As he was
finishing up tying his shoes, he looked at Luna as she walked out of the room
the girls where sharing. �You girls gonna head over?�

�� He frowned
a bit when she jumped at the sound of his voice. Apparently she did not know he
was home. The silencing charms he placed over his room seemed to be working
perfectly. The tray she was holding almost fell before she could regain her balance
from the scare he just had given her. He waited a moment while she brought her
ethereal eyes to his. �Yes, I think we will. Give us an hour?�

�� Harry
nodded. �Sure, we�re going over now. You know where to find us.�

Luna nodded back and put the tray
in the sink. Harry shrugged. Luna kept the other two out of his way and stopped
them from asking too many questions. So far, their arrangement was fine. He
really had no idea how they passed the time while he was working but as long as
it did not interfere with his plans, he did not really care much. Hedwig
mentioned they mostly just sit around talking, though not really to her. She
didn�t care about that either since they were treating her well, so no problems
on that front.

As Luna was walking back Harry
spoke up. �Hey, Luna?�

He waited while she stopped turning
slowly to look at him. �Yes Harry?�

Harry flicked a bit of fluff from
his shirt while he talked. �If you guys are getting bored of sitting around
here and decided to go out into Muggle London, take a couple of Bob's guys with
you.� He turned from his shirt to look her in the eyes. �I am not your keeper
and you don�t have to sit here all the time waiting for me. Take a couple of
bodyguards though, just in case. If something happened, I wouldn�t hear about
it in time and there is no guarantee I could do anything. Just to be on the
safe side, you know?�

Luna blinked a few times at him and
took a moment to speak. �Thank you Harry, we will do that. We were getting a
little bored, though we have our school studies to get us by. Do you have any
recommendations on where to go? None of us know a lot about the muggle side.�

Hedwig walked out at that point and
Harry held his arm out to her. She was dressed in her club best, a short black
skirt that revealed long, well muscled legs and a sleeveless gold top. Harry
smiled appreciatively. She wasn�t wearing a bra. �Not really Luna. Sight seeing
is not my thing. Talk to some of Bob�s guys. They know where all the tourism
stuff is.�

xxxxxx

�� I really
hate you right now Tonks.� the metamorphagus heard from her �twin�. Both of
them were dressed identically. Tonks had put a lot of thought into this one.
Both wore white dresses with a wild print. The back had a wild colored peacock
feather kind of design, in a slight circle. It was the plunging neckline that
Hestia was complaining about. It started just along their collarbones and
plunged down to their bellybutton. Half of their chests where revealed and
Tonks had to admit, Hestia had quite the rack. Said rack was easily displayed
for all to see thanks to the neckline and the fact the outfit was designed to
be worn without bra�s. Both of them wore a necklace of silver that flowed along
the neckline and was attached to what appeared to be a belly button ring. No piercing
needed when you have magic! As they walked around the corner to the club, in
their stiletto high heals and the chains of their necklace waiving back and
forth along their breasts, Tonks chuckled.

�� The print
on their dresses was full of color as well. Yellow, white, green, black,
fuchsia, purple, blue, grey, red, peach, silver, and teal made up their color
scheme. Tonks doubted there would be a single male in the club able to keep
their eyes of their chests. She was willing to bet they would also be looking
at how their short skirts hugged their bums. Which was tightly. They where
sinfully perfect dresses and guaranteed to get them into the club, which was
half the point of the whole thing. If they could not get inside, the entire
idea was worthless. However, there was no way that any bouncer worth his willy
was going to let two blond haired, big breasted, barely clad bombshell beauties
dressed for sin to be turned away at the door.�
Unless he was gay.

�� You look
great Hestia. With breasts like yours, I wonder why you're not flaunting them
as they deserve.� She replied playfully.

�� You have
us, and by us I mean me, twice, dressed like whores. I swear that if
anyone recognizes m,e I am going to kill you.� Hestia groused.

�� They had
just gotten close to the line when she felt Hestia grab her arm nodding her
head to the side. �Hey. That looks like Amelia�s niece, Susan.� Tonks looked
over and noticed three girls walking over to the bouncer at the door. They
moved a bit closer to see if they could get a better look but she was pretty
sure it was.

�� The bouncer
smiled when he saw them already working to drop the rope that blocked the door.
�Hey Kynthia, Chloe, Isis, you
guys look good tonight!�

�� The blond
in front, that she thought was possibly Lovegood, smiled and blushed a bit.
�Thank you Dean. You are as handsome as always.� They were dressed a lot more
conservatively than they were, their skirts where still short and tops mildly
revealing. But, once again, nowhere near as scandalously as they were. It was
also very obvious that they where well below the age normally allowed for this
type of establishment.

�See? You don't need to be dressed
like a slag to get in or out of here!� Hestia hissed at her. Tonk�s chuckled a
bit as they kept moving forward listening.

�� Leontes
and Ishtar came in about an hour ago, better hurry up or he�ll lose all his
money before you can get your drinks.� Joked the bouncer.

�� The brown
haired girl standing slightly behind Lovegood laughed. �I am sure that he�ll
spare a few coins for our drinks Dean.� They watched as the three girls giggled
and joked a bit before they walked in.

�� The twin
spy team stood to the side while the bouncer reattached for the rope and turned
a few people away, saying the place was full. Hestia turned to Tonks.

�That was Susan, I would recognize
her anywhere. I am willing to bet that the other two were Lovegood and Abbot.
If they are here, then Mad-Eye may have gotten a golden lead after all. How
much do you want to bet that this Cloud is Leontes, and Ishtar is his white
dressed companion?�

�� Tonks
smiled. �No bets. It is curious that they seemed so comfortable dressed that
way and in this place. Not to mention that even with different names, they seem
well known. Oh well, we�ll figure that out later. Come on, let�s put this rack
of yours to work so we can get in and have some fun.�

Hestia scowled at her as they
walked, hips swaying in harmony, up to the bouncer.

�� It turned
out that getting past the bouncer was even easier than they thought it would
be. He was, thankfully, not gay and very much appreciative of their dresses,
letting them in with little more than a playful slap to their bums in passing.
Hestia blushed bright red but Tonks laughed playfully about it and went as far
as winking at him. She paid similar prices in other clubs, it was nothing new.
Once inside, they went about taking a turn or two on the dance floor together
and had a few drinks, getting a read on the crowd and club. They found out
quite a few things.

�� While they
waited for their drinks, they learned that the third floor of the club was for
V.I.P�s only. Friends of the club owner only and the very well to-do types got
served up there. The dance floor and the second floor areas were for everyone
else. After a full hour, they had to see any sign of Susan, Lovegood, or Abbot
yet. They assumed they where up on the third floor, where they could not go.
Yet. Tonks was a bit disappointed when they were turned away when she tried
flirting her way up. She would have tried using Leontes' name to get in but
when they tried asking about him, the few times they did the employee�s became
tight lipped, only saying that he might be around, or might not be. No one
below the third floor really knew him, even if they all knew of
him.� Tonks got the impression that they
were instructed to not say anything, which let her know their hunch he might be
Cloud was holding up.

�� Both her
and Hestia spent plenty of time amongst Muggles and quickly learned the
difference between the harmless types and the professional deadly types. The
club was mostly filled with the harmless variety but the employee�s, waitress
aside, where all professional. Each of them carried well-concealed muggle
weapons and even if they would laugh, joke, or dance, they kept their eyes
looking about for trouble. The files they were given on the Club activities
told all about the seedier side of the place. The evidences were all around
them.

�� The most
they where able to find out about Cloud was that he danced, some times, played
cards and liked strong drinks. Dancing aside, he never left the third floor.
However, these things they learned were not from using their talents, skills,
or looks but from overheard conversations from some of the workingmen about the
place. It was more than they had before, but after 4 hours, that's still all
they had. They where about to call it a night and try again the next night when
they where approached by one of the large bouncer types.

�� Ladies,
Mr. Logan would like the pleasure of your company. Please follow me.�

�� Hestia
raised an eyebrow giving her a side glace. �Why would he want to see us?�

�� Mr. Logan
owns Club Three ma�am. Mr. Logan said to come down here and bring you to him.
He didn�t tell me why, nor did I ask. This way please.� The large man held his
hand out toward the stairway.

�� A bit
reluctantly, they rose from their chairs and followed the bouncer. He led them
up to the forbidden floor using back ways and plain black hallways to a simple
door. He stopped by the door he opened, holding his hand out, inviting them in,
though he did not enter himself. The man they assumed to be Logan surprised
them both by his completely average appearance. They had expected�well,
something more. He smiled from the rim of his glass at their reactions.

�� I get that
a lot. Please, have a seat. Tea, drink, coffee, anything?�

They took seats suspiciously but
declined any drinks.

Tonks leaned forward a bit and
asked, �Something we can do to help you Mr. Logan?�

�� The man
before them smiled again. �I have gotten the impression the reverse is true.�
He lowered his glass and leveled a direct gaze into their eyes. Tonks was
impressed with him so far. His eyes had never strayed down her cleavage. He was
all business.

�What can I do for you, Auror Tonks
and Auror Jones?�

Tonks sat back and nodded. He was
well informed too.

�� We were
told this was a place to hire an assassin named Cloud.� She said, deciding to
just get to the point. Her impression of Logan so far told her this was the
best course of actions.

�� She watched
as the man nodded, unsurprised. �I have heard of him. Dangerous man, that one.
What makes you think he's for hire?�

�� Hestia
snorted unladylike. �Please, Mr. Logan. You strike me as a man who likes to get
right down to business, bringing us here and all that. We are fully aware he is
in your employ, or that he, at least, often does jobs for you.� Tonks watched a
slight smile work its way onto his face.

�� Very well,
Miss Jones. You�re half right. He worked for me in the past, but I have found
Cloud to be his own man. He does the jobs he wants to, and no others. If you
want him to work for you, you must have something he wants, badly. I know
enough of him to assure you he will never work for Dumbledore and that his
faith in the Order of the Phoenix was destroyed when Mad-Eye betrayed him.�

�� What makes
you so sure of all this, Mr. Logan?� Tonks asked. He was more than just well
informed. He was devilishly informed. The Order was a secret organization, or
was suppose to be. She wondered where the leak was, or if he was just that
perceptive. It was possible that someone in the Order itself was feeding him
information. It definitely explained how the Assassin knew so much about them.

�� Spend
enough time around the crazy bastard and you learn a few things.� At the raised
eyebrows they gave him, he chuckled.

�� We are not
here on behalf of neither Dumbledore or the Order. We are actually here
representing the Minister at his personal request.� Hestia told him.

�� Logan
nodded his head after a moment. �And what is it the Minister wants from Cloud?�

�� The
Minister will provide Cloud with the locations and identities of known Death
Eaters. Cloud�s job will be the apprehension of said persons and deliver them
to Auror Shacklebolt who would be his contact with the Ministry.� Hestia
informed him.

�� Logan
looked at her, his face still expressionless. �He only has to deal with
Shacklebolt?� Hestia nodded. He turned to Tonks when she started speaking.

�� The
Minister is willing to authorize Cloud with a literal license to kill. He'd
have authorization for use of all three unforgivables, no holds in the ways he
choose to interrogate his captives for more information�s. But only on
those on the list he will be provided. However, under no conditions will
collateral damage be excused.�

�� In other
words, he has free reign to do as he will with recognized Death Eaters but if
anyone other than those you send him for dies or are hurt, the deal is off?�
Tonks nodded. �What does he get out of this deal?�

�� All
charges from previous crimes, including those that would lead to a life with
Azkaban's Guards, will be dropped.�

�� They where
both surprised when Logan started laughing at them. If not for the fact that he
was laughing at them, they would have joined him as his laugh was the
infectious kind. He calmed down a bit, after a few moments, wiping a tear from
one of his eyes. �Sorry, sorry.� He said through his after chuckles. �Didn�t
expect you to really say that. You haven�t been able to catch him since he
appeared and you expect him to work for that? You honestly think he cares?�

�� Yes, we
do, as a matter of fact.� Hestia huffed. �What more could he want? Gold?�

�� I think
that might entice him a bit, for starters . Cloud is fond of getting paid for
his jobs. I have never been stupid enough to burn him, but I heard that a few
tried. It wasn�t pretty.�

�� What do
you suggest then, Mr. Logan?� Tonks asked.

�� The
businessman leaned back in his chair and seemed to be thinking for a bit,� chuckling off an on. �For one thousand
galleons a head, he would provide all information he learns from those he
captures. Inner Circle members would be five thousand. A printed contract
stating that the Ministry hired him as a Hit Wizard so he can make appearances
for supplies, and complete amnesty in all action he takes. He has his own list
of people he wants information on as well.�

�� Tonks
leaned forward. �Five hundred for marked ones and two thousand for Inner
Circle.�

�� Logan
opened his mouth to say something but no sound came out. Both women narrowed
their eyes watching him as he slowly closed it and appeared to be thinking.
After a moment he spoke. �The print and his list?�

�� Frowning,
Hestia leaned forward herself. �I think the Minister might be willing to
mention something about it in the papers. Especially since no one can pin
Cloud� �The Assassin� for previous
murders. No one was ever really able to confirm the blames on� him other than in general terms. Besides,
there was evidence that turned up later that showed the one�s he murdered to be
fairly dark in their own ways, which can be published if we need to convince
the public. What is with this list of his?�

�� People he
wants for his own reasons. What those reasons are, I don�t know nor will he
tell you. They are people he wants to do with as he pleases, free and clear, no
questions asked.�

�� Depends on
who they are.� Tonks replied. �Anything else?�

�� Logan
nodded again thinking. �Does the Minister particularly care in what condition
they are turned over in?�

�� Tonk�s
frown deepened. �Alive and able to stand trial.�

�� You're not
giving him much incentive to leave them alive to be trialed, you know.�

�� Its non
negotiable. The Minister wants to put them on trial so that we have something
to show the public. If he kills everyone or tortures them so bad they are
feeble minded, it defeats the purpose. We also wants to put them all under
Veritaserum to validate the process and get information.�

�� Logan
leaned forward narrowing his eyes for a few moments before he sighed. �Very
well. Cloud will meet your man Shacklebolt at midnight tomorrow, at these
Portkey coordinates.�

Logan pulled out a muggle pen and
wrote them down. Before he handed it over, he looked them both in the eye for a
moment. �Alone. If anyone other than Shacklebolt shows up, the deal is off. He
has ways of knowing if anyone is disillusioned or under cloaks, so I would
suggest doing it this way.�

�� They both
stood up with Hestia taking the note. �How do we know he will agree to this?�

�� Logan
didn�t say anything as the door opened and they where escorted out of the room
and into the empty hallway. They where both staring at the door slightly fuming
that their question was not answered. They turned around and jumped at what
they saw.

�� A man they
both recognized from the last time they saw him when they tried to capture him
stood there. He looked the same as he did then, but being so much closer to
them caused both their hearts to race.

�� Tonks was
unaware of backing up until her back pressed against the door. His polished mask
showed a perfect refection of her face, which was slightly contorted in fear.
Her breathing was fast as he inched forward to her. He was well within her
personal space with his mask less than an inch from her face. His body almost
pressing against hers. He reached up and she cringed when his clawed hand was
lightly placed to the side of her face. She could smell old blood reeking from
it. It made her stomach turn slightly when she noted through the refection that
the blood was less than a day old.

�� Her body
was shaking now and she couldn�t control her breathing with him so close to
her. His metal-clawed hand on her skin sent chills down her spine. His presence
was almost Dementor like.

�� She heard
him take a long breath through his nose and heard a whimper coming from Hestia
next to her. �Pretty�� His voice was just as gravely as the last time she heard
it. The sinking dark feeling from him seemed to increase.

�� She opened
her mouth to say something, but stopped dead as she felt his clawed thumb lower
and slightly touch her lips. She almost gagged in her revulsion.

�� If I am
betrayed, Nymphadora� I will lay to waste everything you have ever loved. I
will start with the Order and work my way through the Ministry. Only when I am
done with them will I continue my work on Voldemort. Make no mistakes, as I am
more than willing to hunt down Death Eaters. Betray me once more and I will
hunt you all and laugh wile you burn. I know you were part of those
hired to trap me the last time�Betray me and I will begin my vengeance with
you��

�� N�No�no�its�legit�order�from�Minister��
Tonks stuttered.

�� The
faceless man standing an inch from her nodded slowly. She felt his fingertips'
razors trace her cheek, almost drawing blood. �I am glad we�understand each
other� It will be your job to make sure that nothing goes... wrong then.�

��

The dark figure whispering to her
so close it caused a whimper to escape her unwillingly. He slowly let go of her
face, backing down a bit before he turned away, now facing the dark wall away
from them.

He paused a moment while both women
could only stare at him with wide eyes. When he voice rose again, it was
different, almost kind, and so soft they barely heard him. As much as the
threats scared her, his last words sent a chill all the way to her toes.

�You were always good to me in the
past Tonks. Please don�t force me to make good my promise.�

'Sweet Mother� It CAN�T be him�'
Tonks thought before he was swallowed by the shadows and was gone. Hestia
threw her a� sideways look, suspicious.

��

��
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The Master of Assassins