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Be Careful in the Dark	By : SilentCall Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 40145 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 42
- 43
- 44
Chapter 43: [Mostly done, just a few details missing]
Hermione struggled free of Harry’s arms and slid to the floor. She wanted to pound her fists into the floor in frustration but everything hurt too much to move.
“Severus…” She croaked.
Harry ran a blood stained hand through his hair making it stand up on end. “He’s fine, I think. I knocked him out as soon as he told me where to find you. He said he’ll meet up with us when he can.”
Harry moved forward to help her up from the floor and Hermione hissed at him. She had to get herself under control. For the moment, she needed the pain.
“Bellatrix…kill her.” Hermione wrapper her arms around her body and pressed them against the bruises. A rib shifted under the pressure and she swallowed convulsively. Do not vomit.
“I know I should have killed her but there was no time. And I don’t get to run around AKing people whenever I want.” Harry’s tone was sharp though his eyes were empty.
“Where…” Hermione managed, finally noticing the small, sparsely furnished room they were in.
“Auror safe house. It was the only place I could come up on short notice that I knew was safe. Now will you stop playing hero and let me help you?” Harry’s voice cracked on the word hero.
Hermione nodded. There was nothing she could do now. Severus would probably live. Bellatrix definitely would. Their mission was totally fucked. Now it was time to take a healing potion and go to sleep.
Harry squatted next to her and held out a small vial filled with a deep green liquid.
“You know the drill… Shadow.”
Hermione stared at him and decided to ignore the pause. That was a conversation for later. Without hesitation she downed the healing potion. Blackness slid up around her and the last thing she saw was Harry dropping his head into his hands.
-------
“How is she?” Snape’s voice came from the other room. Hermione blinked and tried to force the room to come into focus. All she accomplished was giving herself a headache so she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“She seems to be healing normally.” Harry replied softly.
There was a silence that sounded awkward even from where Hermione was. Severus cleared his throat before he spoke again.
“Have you…” Snape’s voice trailed off and Harry let out a low bark of laughter.
“When the hell would I have done that?” Harry sounded bitter.
“Yes. I see your point.”
A long, uncomfortable silence stretched out between them and Hermione sighed. This was really going to be difficult.
“I will return shortly with supplies.” Severus’ voice ended the silence for a moment. The sound of apparating was the only sound.
Hermione slowly brought herself up to a sitting position. The pain was gone and she was mainly feeling groggy. She reached out and grabbed the glass of water from the nightstand, draining it as quickly as she could. She carefully edged her feet towards the floor, slowly making her way to her feet. The world blurred around her briefly and then her sense of balance began to return. Harry must have dosed her with a hell of a healing potion. She poked her ribs experimentally and found everything to be back in its proper place.
She eased her way slowly across the floor to the pink, terry cloth robe sitting on the chair by the door. It would be better to talk to Harry while she was still weak. He’d respond better to her vulnerability. She stopped, putting one hand on her head and did not bother to control the shiver that ran through her. Merlin, can you stop plotting for thirty seconds and get your ass out there to repair one of your closest friendships?
She eased her way out the bedroom and paused. Harry was sitting at a small, wooden table with his head in his hands. Hermione felt a tug in her chest at his slumped position.
“How long was I out?” Her voice floated into the room and bounced against the silence. Harry looked up with empty eyes.
"A day and a half.” Hermione nodded and the silence between the stretched out again, the pressure almost sticky.
“What happened?” Her memory was still full of holes. Harry sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair.
“How much do you remember?”
“I remember arriving in Cairo, for the conference. You were accompanying me for “fun” and Severus as an official participant in the conference on rare magical items and ingredients. Severus and I had a rather heated, nasty exchange and I flounced off with you in tow. We met up…” Her voice trailed off. This is where it started to get spotty.
“We met at the pre-arranged location, out in the dessert. They were waiting for us, dozens of Death-Eaters. They hit you and Severus with what I am guessing was a memory cum knockout spell. The two of you went down. I barely dodged out of the way and apparated. I couldn’t fight off that many and I was pretty sure I could locate the two of you.”
“Pretty sure?” Hermione had to grin at the arrogance.
“If I’d known it was you, I would have known for sure.” He narrowed his eyes in anger as he said and Hermione pushed down the urge to squirm.
“Harry, I couldn’t…” She trailed off, at a loss for words. What do I tell him? The truth can’t fix this.
“How long?” His voice grated out of his mouth and he stood, shoving the chair back angrily. It felt with a small, sad creak of wood and Hermione stared at it blankly. The silence flowed around her. “I’ve been working with you as Shadow for [some amount of time] How long has she existed? How long?” He stepped forward as he spoke and, though his voice was calm, his control was clearly slipping. His pale skin was flushed in anger and the veins in his neck stood out, cables over strained muscles.
“Sometime during our seventh year.” The words were out in a whisper before she could edit herself. He’ll never forgive me. A bleak, sullen feeling spread through her chest.
“You have been lying to me for [time]!” Harry shouted at her. A vein in his temple started to throb. That was always a bad sign. “When the hell did you get so cold!”
Suddenly, Hermione was sick of lying and pretending everything was fine.
“Right around the time I spent six months being tortured and raped by Draco Malfoy.” She hissed back.
Harry flinched and blood drained out of his face so fast she thought he might pass out.
“You didn’t have to…We would have…I would have done anything to stop that.”
“No…you couldn’t have stopped it. Don’t you understand? I could see all the possibilities in front of me and none of them were any good. You would have gone haring off and killed him, or gotten in a huge argument and Ron would have ended up arrested and at least expelled. I had to wait. I had to plan. Don’t you see?” Hermione knew she sounded plaintive and couldn’t seem to keep it out of her voice. Was she really the only one who thought like this? What was wrong with her?
“No, he can’t.” The icy voice of Severus Snape floated from the doorway. Hermione flinched. She’d been dreading this moment with him even more than she had with Harry. “He doesn’t understand how someone could think like that. He never will.” His voice sounded exhausted and somehow that was worse than anger.
“I know. I just hoped…” She let her voice trail off and for the first time in years she thought she might cry. She looked into Severus’ dark eyes and knew he understood this most basic part of herself. It was a basic part of him too.
“No you don’t. Do not stand there looking at each other like I’m not in the bloody room! Explain.” Harry was snarling again.
“I don’t know if I have the words.” She stopped and thought about it, never taking her eyes off Severus. His expression didn’t change at all and there was comfort in that. Finally, she turned back to Harry. “Part of me is always watching.”
“That’s it? That’s the whole explanation?” Harry rubbed his hands over his face. “I need more than that Hermione. I mean, I don’t even know who you are!”
“You know me. Both parts of me. And even I am not sure how they fit together. I’ve never really tried.”
“Let’s get back to this watching thing.” Harry was calming down but it was clearly a strain.
Hermione blew air through her lips.
“Tell me, Mr. Potter, do you ever feel as if you’re watching yourself do something but you can’t stop yourself?” Snape asked, moving further into the room.
“Yeah, of course.” Harry shot back, irritated at Snape’s intrusion.
“I always have that feeling, Harry. Always. And most of the time, I can stop myself.” Hermione whispered, grateful for Severus’ words.
Harry blinked. “And I supposed you have this magical watching thing too, Snape.” He bit out the name.
“No. I trained myself to think everything through and had to learn very painfully when I erred.” Again, his voice was so smooth, so icy. It gave her the chills. “I thought Shadow…” At this emotion flickered across his face as he paused, “…had learned the same way. It would seem I was mistaken.”
“Oh no,” Hermione rasped out, “I broke myself learning to use this. And predicting other people’s behavior, that has never been easy. None of it has ever been easy.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.” Severus replied and the tiny softening around his eyes showed his concern. She nodded in response. She knew what he meant. She had always felt like she was watching from inside her own head. It was part of the appeal of books. They never had expectations about how you were supposed to act.
They had to focus. There was too much at stake. Severus, she knew, would be all business. It was Harry who had to get a grip on his emotions.
"Harry, you are a fully trained auror and a damn good one at that. Get a grip on your emotions. We have things to finish and I am not sure I will ever be able to explain this the way you want me to.” As she said it, she pulled herself together as well.
The hurt in her chest expanded a little as she watched Harry’s face close up. Part of her prayed they could find a way to continue being friends. He was an important part of her and one she was loath to do without.
“I just need you to answer a question.” Harry sounded almost normal. “Did you kill Draco?”
“I must admit, I would like to know the answer to this question as well. Among others.” That last bland sentence made it clear Severus, at least, was not going to let the matter drop.
Hermione swallowed dryly and nodded.
“How?” They asked in unison and then glared at each other. Hermione gave a half smile.
“I poisoned him.”
“I examined Draco myself. There was no poison,” Severus frowned at her as he said it.
“I know. I, kind of… made it just for him…” She trailed off and dropped her eyes.
“You made… you…” Severus gaped at her and she took a moment to enjoy his facial expression through lowered lashes.
A flash of those feelings that had driven her those six months rushed through her and she raised her head and glared at both of them.
“I hated him. I mean, I really HATED him.” As quickly as it had come, the emotions faded away to the back of her mind.
Harry whistled. “Remind me never to piss you off, Herm.”
Severus just looked at her. They would be talking about this more as well. Great.
“Well,” Hermione began, needing to break the awkward silence, “I think we can assume my cover is blown.”
“Not quite.” Severus replied, stepping closer to the pair. “Bellatrix and Voldemort surely know that Shadow and Hermione are the same but there has been no general announcement.”
“Why not?” Harry asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. Severus hesitated in his reply and his eyes flicked to Hermione once. Merlin, he must be really upset about something.
“Bellatrix said she had requested me from Voldemort.” A slight tightening in Severus’ mouth gave his anger away. “She’s got plans for me, hasn’t she?”
Severus gave a tiny nod. Fear was fluttering low in her belly. Bellatrix Lestrange having plans for her was bad. Very very bad.
“Are they planning on going after my family?” She kept her voice cool and even though she was sure they could both hear the worry underneath.
“Not…yet.” The pause was small and was layered with meaning. Going after her family had been discussed. There were so many wards and protections layered over her parents that it was possible Death Eaters would fry on contact. Regardless, she would call her parents and give them the pre-arranged signal to be on their guard. If necessary, she would move them.
“Ok. Ok.” It was not ok but they had a mission to complete.
“What’s the situation with our target site?” Harry asked, keeping his eyes away from Hermione.
Hermione turned and brought up a three dimensional map of the desert terrain with a snap of her wand. Severus stepped forward, folding his arms across his chest as he frowned at the map.
“I wasn’t included in the meeting that discussed the details but I was able to gather some information. They have at least three units, here…here…and here.” He pointed to three separate locations around the suspected location of the cave they were seeking. Red x’s popped onto the map. “They’ve also laid a magic-detection shield from here…to here.” A green grid appeared on the map, covering an expanse of territory around their goal. “They don’t know for sure where we are headed. They also don’t seem to know what it is we are after.”
All three of them stared at the map, trying to come up with solutions.
___
Hermione sighed. “I don’t have the answer, but I know how we can find one.”
Both men stared at her.
She rolled her eyes. [Asks for arithmancy materials, chalk, a clear surface.] “Severus, clear a surface for me. I don’t really want to bend all that much at the moment.”
Severus gave her a long look and then did as she asked.
Hermione sat down, sketching the runes out, struggling to make each line crisp and clear.
“This one is incorrect.” Severus said, pointing with one long finger.
Hermione glared at him. “No, it isn’t.”
Severus raised an eyebrow. “It most assuredly is. If you leave this rune here, we’ll have muggles in the middle of everything.”
“I know. That’s the plan.” Hermione replied.
Severus folded his arms and glared at her. “Muggles? That’s your solution? Why not hand the the prize over to He Who Must Not be Named and The Reaper and be done with it?”
“You’re such an elitist, Severus. How do you think Shadow learned as much as she did? From a book? I got a muggle to teach me most of that stuff. Not the magic, but the rest of it.”
Harry broke in, eyes narrow. “Are you telling me you learned Auror-type stuff… from a muggle?”
“Ooo-hoo-hoo, is the Boy Who Lived a snob as well?” Hermione lifted an eyebrow at Harry, who glared back at her. “Muggles have very skilled espionage experts. I’ve been kicking ass often enough to prove that. Muggles will help us solve this puzzle. Now shut up and let me work.”
After a few minutes, Harry wandered away, sitting down in a chair and flipping through an decade old Wizarding magazine. Severus remained, hovering over her shoulder. Hermione considered sending him away, but decided his interest might mean she could repair her relationship with him. Or, really, have a relationship, a real one.
As she stared at one formula, trying to figure out how to adjust it, Severus said, “when all this is over, you have a stellar academic paper in all of this.”
Hermione blinked as her train of thought derailed. “Academic… what? What are you talking about?”
“What you’re doing here, I don’t think arithmancer has done it before.” Severus let one fingertip hover over a series of runes designed to pull the muggle world into possible solutions.
“That’s not possible! It’s not like I invented a rune or anything.” Hermione replied.
Severus shrugged. “Not all intellectual leaps forward are the result of new creation. You are actively using the muggle world to solve a Wizarding problem. Arithmancers don’t do that. All of these runes were originally designed to insure muggles remained unaware and uninvolved in whatever the formula is doing. Talk to [hogwart’s prof of arithmancy], ask him to edit your work. You’ll have a publication that will set the arithmantic world on its ear.”
Hermione turned around and stared at Severus. He had just complimented her, extensively, and about her intellectual merit. She wanted to ask him if he’d hit his head, but kept her mouth closed.
“Stop staring, Ms. Granger and get back to work.” Severus lifted his lip as he said, as if unimpressed with her work ethic. What a liar.
“Whatever you say, Professor Snape.” Hermione said sweetly. She caught just a flicker of his eyelids and smirked. He had not liked that, not at all.
She ran formula after formula, narrowing down the information she needed. When she finished, she cracked her neck and stretched out her arms. “I think I’ve got it.” She paused, trying to figure out a way to ask what she needed to ask.
“What, Hermione. What’s the solution?” Harry was up, pacing around the room.
Hermione bit her lip. “Severus, do you know what parachuting is?” Hermione asked, knowing he likely didn’t.
Harry’s mouth dropped and then he stared giggling.
“It sounds hideous already.” Severus’ mouth puckered up into a thin, disapproving line.
Harry’s giggle turned into outright laughter.
“You’re going to hate it.” Hermione couldn’t help grinning as she said it. She knew it would aggravate him, but the mental image was too much.
“We might want to consider Severus remaining behind.” Harry finally managed to say around his laughter. He even managed to meet her eyes as he spoke though his eyes flicked away quickly.
Severus’ face immediately clouded over with irritation and he opened his mouth… probably to say something vicious to Harry.
“Dumbledore was clear. All three of us need to be there. He wasn’t sure why, but all the Arithmancy formulas were very clear that it’s our best chance of success.” Hermione interjected before Severus could speak.
“All right.” Harry shrugged, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. Then he grinned. “You are going to hate it you know.”
Severus glared his response. “What is para… parachuting?” Severus asked, arms folded over his chest.
“Well,” Hermione began. Harry started to giggle again. Hermione doggedly continued, “basically you put this,” she waived her hand and produced a mock parachute on the floor in front of Snape, “on your back. Then you jump out of a plane. Then you pull this little cord and a large cloth emerges, fills with air, and allows you to float safely to the ground.” Hermione had to speak louder and louder as Harry rocked in laughter.
“You jest.” Snape said flatly, staring at the mock parachute in front of her as if it would bite him.
Harry was no help. He was doubled over in the corner, wheezing in laughter that sounded almost hysterical.
“Yes.” Hermione replied. “There is no other way.”
“And how will we manage this… exactly?” Snape asked, eyes still narrowed in horror at the parachute in front of him.
“Well, you and… Harry probably… are going to have to jump tandem... I mean, together. I’m not pushing you out of a plane with no training.”
Severus cut nasty eyes at the younger man who was giggling like a loon. “I meant, how will we arrange this… this… whatever this is quickly enough to be useful.”
“Oh. I’m going to make a call… and hope my formulas are right.” She stood up and then sat down again. "Harry, go get me a cell phone."
Harry looked at Hermione for a long moment and then made a chopping motion in the air. There was a popping sound and then a small black hole opened up. Reaching one arm in, Harry pulled out a small black phone like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
"Cool trick," Hermione said as she turned the phone on and dialed the number from the formula. After two rings, a man with a deep, raspy voice answered.
“Rudi, darling! How are you?” Hermione’s voice was suddenly perky and upbeat and both men stared at her with blank eyes. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Oh, me? I was just calling because I need a delivery. Yes, yes… of course. Three boxes. Oh, let me see…” She glanced at both Harry and Severus. “One heavy, one medium, and one light. And a combo with the medium and the heavy. Yes, I’ll meet you there. You are too good to me. Kisses!”
“Hermione, that was just creepy.” Harry said softly. Hermione gave him a small one-shoulder shrug and a tiny smile.
“Who did you contact?” Severus asked a moment later.
“No idea.” Hermione shot a challenging look at Harry.
Harry pursed his lips. “So how do you know what you just did?”
Hermione shrugged. “Well, the formula gave me the information I needed and, well, Shadow dabbles a little bit in muggle affairs.”
“What do you mean by dabbling, Sh…Hermione?” Harry asked.
She shook her head. “No reason you would’ve heard of anything Shadow’s done.”
“Jesus Christ! What…” Harry trailed off and then stopped. “Do you always talk about yourself in the third person?”
“About 70% of the time.” Hermione grinned as she said it though she wasn’t joking.
Harry just shook his head in response and didn’t smile.
“Fascinating.” Severus said flatly. “Now, back to this parachuting business.”
“We’re picking up coordinates at a bar in Cairo. Then we’ll meet up with the plane outside of the city. They’ll fly low. We’ll jump. Nobody will ask any questions.” Hermione shrugged.
“When?” Severus.
“Three hours.” Hermione replied.
Harry and Severus shared a look. That was a bad sign… they never agreed.
“You have not recovered.”
- 42
- 43
- 44
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Be Careful in the Dark