Hellfire in New York

Hellfire in New York

Chapter 10: Hermione Granger Does Some Damage

"How do I get myself into these things?" asked Hermione plaintively. Ron chuckled and put a long arm around her.

"Comes of hanging about with us, love!"

"So true!" Hermione sighed, nestling into him. "The good outweighs the bad by about seventeen stone of prime British manhood!"

The couple kissed lovingly. Ginny murmured to Harry, "Eeeww! That's my brother she's snogging!"

Harry grinned at her. "Shut up, you! Ron never moans when I kiss you!"

"I know, he used to complain like Hell when it was other boyfriends! Wonder why he stopped?"

"Maybe he thought the others weren't good enough for you?" Leaving her to ponder on that, Harry turned to Hermione, who had come up for air. "I should give over bellyaching, Hermione, this was your idea after all!"

"I know," she sighed. "I just didn't realise that we'd be the ones to end up doing it!"

The four were seated comfortably in the back of Xavier's Rolls Royce, which was threading the evening traffic of New York. Now Sirius, who was riding in front with their 'chauffeur', turned around and said, "It does make perfect sense, though. We're the only ones that stand a chance of getting into the Hellfire Club unrecognised.

"Emma was very clear on that, remember. She's the only member of the Inner Circle to have seen Harry up close. Shaw might recognise Hermione, but no one else, just as Leland would be the only one to have really seen Ron. From what she said, Pierce wouldn't know any of you, and of course, none of them would know Ginny or me from Adam, or Eve for that matter!"

"It sounds good, I know," said Hermione, "but can we really trust Emma Frost?"

"Yes," said Harry without hesitation. "She's not the same woman we fought last year."

His mind went back to his confrontation with the former White Queen, the evening before last. The four young wizards had just finished lunch that day when Remus had appeared and promptly dragged them off to assist in setting up the magical defences around the school. Bill had Apparated back to Diagon Alley and returned laden with paraphernalia. Harry and his friends had spent the afternoon flying round the perimeter of the grounds on their brooms, fitting Sneakoscopes in tandem with the high-tech security cameras already in position at strategic points.

"At least," Hermione had said, "it's getting me used to this broom! I've never had one of my own before."

The broom had been an engagement present from the Weasley family, and had been the subject of much careful thought. Hermione was a competent but nervous flier; she didn't have the dash that characterised the other three. Arthur Weasley, a former Quidditch player himself, had decided that a sports broom such as the Nimbus 2001 models Ginny and Ron used would only make his future daughter-in-law more nervous. The same argument applied in spades to a Firebolt like Harry's. So, in the end, they went for the latest model in the Nimbus range, the SkyMaster. It was a sturdy, comfortable broom, fast and responsive, but without the fierce acceleration and tiny turning circle of the sports models. Hermione loved it.

After dinner that day, Harry had been summoned to Professor Xavier's study, finding the Professor and Lilandra there. He had been given a chair, and Lilandra had brought him tea, then the Professor had said, "Harry, I have something to ask of you, and I must emphasise that this is a request, in no way an order. What I am asking will not be easy on any level, and you are absolutely entitled to refuse.

"I want you to use your telepathic abilities to examine Dr. Frost. I have scanned her, and can find nothing amiss. As far as I can tell, she is sincere in her rejection of her previous affiliation. But there may be other factors, magical factors, which through lack of knowledge or talent, I am unable to detect.

"You, however, are both a skilled wizard and something of a telepath. If there is anything magical in her mind that prevents me from detecting subterfuge, I believe you are better equipped than anyone to find it for us."

Harry frowned. "I'm willing to have a go, Professor, but is Dr Frost willing to let me?"

"Completely." It was Lilandra who spoke. "We have talked, Emma and I. She feels bad about her attempts to hurt you before, Harry. She is most anxious to make things right with you, if she can."

Harry squared his shoulders. "Well, in that case, you'd better wheel her in!"

"Don't you want time to prepare yourself?" Xavier asked anxiously.

"Gods, no!" Harry shook his head. "All I'd do is work myself into what Hermione calls a 'tizz', then I'd be no good to you or to her!"

"Very well," the Professor said. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and said, "She's on her way."

Shortly after that, Emma Frost came into the room. To Harry's surprise, Remus Lupin followed her in. Emma explained, "I asked Remus to come, Harry, because he's someone we both trust. He can watch over both of us while we're doing this." She swallowed hard and said, "So, how do we do it?"

Harry looked at her. The last time he'd been face-to-face with Emma Frost, she had been clad in the swirling white cloak and rather revealing costume of the White Queen. Yet for all that, she had seemed aloof and cold - untouchable. Now he saw a slender, pretty woman in T-shirt and jeans. Instead of seeming tall and steely, she looked small and vulnerable. He went over to her and held out his hands; she put hers into them. Their eyes locked, emerald on sapphire, and Harry said, "Show me."

As she had done once before, Emma opened a channel between her mind and Harry's. As before, she felt him take control of that channel and move into her mind. At once, she sensed the change in him; if the teenage Harry had been a formidable personality, the power of the young man he'd become was terrifying!

For both of them, it was a scary, exhilarating moment, far more intimate than mere sex, and yet lacking that essential physical warmth and comfort. It was over in a second, a second in which they knew each other completely, for if Harry had taken everything of her, he had also held back nothing of himself. It was not a bargain, but a gift that Emma would always treasure.

Then they were back in Xavier's study. Harry squeezed Emma's hands gently and then, to her surprise, leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead, the way her father never had. Then he released her and turned to Xavier to say simply, "It's all right, Professor. She's one of us, now."

Emma Frost turned and flung herself into Remus Lupin's arms, burying her face in his shoulder and weeping tears of relief and joy that would not stop.

Harry was brought back to the present by the voice of their driver, Alex Summers - Havok - who was saying, "The comlink is set up, people. Hank, Sean, Remus and Emma are in the van about four blocks from the Club. They can't get any closer without being detected."

The five were using modified mobile phones, rather than the hands-free communicators. It was all part of the plan Hermione had come up with the previous afternoon. She had suggested that they infiltrate the Hellfire Club itself, undercover, and attempt to find out anything they could. Xavier had contacted a former student, Warren Worthington, who had told him that the Club was holding its annual "Young People's" dance the following evening. As a member of the legitimate Club, Warren had been able to obtain invitations for the four younger wizards, as well as a 'chaperone' ticket for Sirius. Worthington himself was to be a chaperone, and had promised to keep an eye out, just in case.

Ginny was examining herself critically in a hand-mirror. "I never thought I'd end up going to one of these! How do I look, sweetie?"

"Stunning," Harry replied without hesitation, then as Ginny preened, smoothing her elegant green evening gown, he asked, "One of what? A dance?"

Ginny shook her head. "A cattle market, more like! This is one of those things where young rich people go to meet the right kind of partner, so their parents can start negotiations. A lot of Pureblood families hold dances like these during the summer, don't they, Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Mum and Dad don't want any part of it, for all we're a Pureblood family. It's about keeping the bloodlines 'undiluted', and we think it's all nonsense! Mind, this Muggle evening gear suits me a lot better than dress robes ever did, don't you think, 'Mione pet?"

"You look gorgeous, darling. Very James Bond!" Hermione told him proudly. Ron's husky frame filled the white evening jacket and pristine shirt he wore to perfection. Hermione herself was in shimmering blue, while Harry wore a black evening suit. What was oddest about it all, of course, was that these clothes were their X-Men uniforms, temporarily transfigured under the direction of Emma Frost, who knew what was required for these events.

"Here we are!" Alex announced. "Be careful in there, OK? I'll be near, ready to blow the wall out if you need an emergency exit."

He pulled up in front of the Club's imposing exterior, got out of the car to open the doors, and watched as Sirius shepherded his four 'charges' up the steps. A few moments later, they disappeared inside. Havok sighed with relief; the invitations had worked. He got back in the car and drove away.

Inside the Club, there was music and a swirl of conversation and dance. The four young wizards joined in for a while, taking the measure of the place, then went into a quiet huddle in a corner.

"Right!" said Harry. "Time to go to work! According to Emma, there's stuff upstairs and downstairs that has to do with the Hellfire Club's real agenda, so let's split up and see what we can find. Ron, stay away from the buffet. Ginny, stay away from the bar, and Hermione, don't go into the library unless you absolutely have to!"

They all grinned at his half-serious warnings, and Ginny responded with, "And you, Harry Potter, can keep your eyes and hands off the girls!"

"Yes, dear," he replied. "Now be careful, all of you, and remember, nobody gets left behind! I don't want to have to take this place apart brick by brick to find any of you."

They faded off to the periphery of the ballroom. Sirius, catching Harry's signal, made to move off, when a hand caught his arm. He turned to find himself facing a tall, wide-shouldered blond man about the same age as Scott Summers.

"Mr Black? Sirius Black?" the young man asked.

Sirius looked him up and down, and replied, "Depends who's asking."

The young man grinned infectiously, released Sirius' arm, and put out a hand. "I'm Warren...Warren Worthington III, to be precise. When I was an X-Man, they called me Angel. I recognised you from the photo Professor X emailed me."

Sirius accepted the handclasp and smiled back. "I know. I saw your photo, too, but I wanted to be sure. Looks like the kids have started, so what do we do?"

"Well, the boys seem to be heading in one direction and the girls in the other, so if you follow the fellows, I'll keep an eye on the ladies!"

"Fair enough. See you later."

*****

Hermione and Ginny had managed to make their way unnoticed to the level below the penthouse.

"According to Emma," Hermione whispered, "all the action takes place up on the next floor, but you need a special key card to get in there. Emma's will have been cancelled, so we need to either magic the lock or-"

"Shh!" hissed Ginny. "The lift's coming!"

The two women retransfigured their clothing and melted into the shadows of the dimly lit corridor. The lift door opened, and a massive figure emerged. In the light from the lift, they saw a round face with protuberant blue eyes and gingery hair and beard. Hermione grabbed Ginny's arm and whispered in her ear, "That's the Black Bishop!"

It quickly became apparent that Henry Leland was more than a little drunk. He was swaying and singing softly to himself. He turned and fumbled at the security panel, clumsily swiping a key card through the slot to close the lift. He turned, belched genteelly and muttered "Oh, excushe me!" Then he shoved the card roughly into his trouser pocket, and made off along the corridor. What he hadn't noticed was that he had failed to put the card away securely, and it now lay on the corridor carpet.

"Yes!" Hermione was about to dart forward and pick it up when Ginny caught her arm.

"Someone's coming!" Ginny cautioned. "Accio card!"

The card slithered across the floor to Ginny's feet, and the girls shrank back into the shadows. A moment later, a security guard in Regency costume went past them. It was clearly a routine patrol, and the man was obviously bored out of his skull. Hermione hardly needed the Disillusionment Charm she had quickly cast to hide them.

When the guard was gone, Hermione picked up the card and examined it. "Hmm. Henry Leland, maximum access. It seems the gods are smiling, Gin! Let's go."

They slipped across the corridor and into the lift. "Up or down?" asked Ginny.

"Up, I think," Hermione replied. "The stuff downstairs should be straightforward enough for the lads, but it'll need our brains to sort out what's going on upstairs!"

Ginny had never seen anything like this penthouse level. The rooms were dimly lit, but wherever the girls went, the lighting automatically brightened as sensors responded to their movements. At first, they were cautious, afraid of tripping alarms, but it soon became clear that Leland's card had deactivated the systems. They looked around for a while, then Hermione said, "This is just the area where ordinary club members do their deals. We need the Restricted Area; it should be just down here."

Leland's key card once again opened the door. Inside was a relatively small area, surrounded by computer monitors and keyboards. The computers were password protected, but Hermione had discovered some time ago that by tapping Legis Arcanum in with her wand she could effectively circumvent any password.

"How'd you find that out?" Ginny wanted to know.

Hermione gave a shamefaced chuckle. "When we were on the exchange, I went and forgot my password to the classroom computers. I daren't tell Hank, so I just mucked around until I found a way to magic myself in!"

Ginny laughed. "Hermione, that is so Ron! He's corrupting you, I swear!"

"I know, and it's wonderful," replied Hermione reflectively. "You have no idea how lonely it is to be the brainy one who never has any fun, Ginny! When I first met Ron-"

"You hated his guts," Ginny pointed out.

"No! Well, yes. But how else does an eleven-year-old react when she realises she's fallen hopelessly in love with somebody who's the exact opposite of everything she admires and wants to be? That day the troll attacked, he'd called me a 'nightmare'. I'd been called worse things, but it went through me like a knife, Ginny! I couldn't stop crying, so I ran and hid in the girl's loo, as you do. Then suddenly there's a troll in there; then next thing, there's Ron!"

"And Harry."

"I know, but I only really saw Ron at the time. He was so scared, and so brave, and he'd come for me! We were friends after that, even if we had our rows, but I didn't dare dream- Bingo! Got something!"

"Oh!" Ginny squinted at her screen. "Me, too!"

"Hmm...." Hermione pursed her lips. "It seems as if the Inner Circle is preparing for a siege. They've been buying and stockpiling all kinds of stuff: gold coins and bullion, tinned and dried food, fuel oil, drinking water, weapons and ammunition. All the things you'd need if, say, the world were attacked by demons and everything broke down. What have you got, Ginny?"

"The Mutant Social Register, they call it. It's a list of wealthy, powerful people who are either Mutants themselves, or have children who are. Not all of them have been contacted yet, looks like. Maybe Shaw's plans are on hold while the Black Queen's in charge. I'm making a copy. Professor Xavier needs to see this!"

"Good. While you do that, I'm going to scout our escape route."

Just as Ginny finished, Hermione returned, looking anxious. "I think we've been less lucky than we thought. I've just checked the lift, and it's sealed - even Leland's card won't open it!"

"So how do we get out?"

Hermione frowned. "We should try to get to the roof, then we can call for help and Banshee can come and get us."

"Right, let's get going then. I hope there's some guards; I fancy a punch-up!"

Hermione gave a sigh of mock exasperation. "Now who's doing a Ron?"

"Runs in the fam-" Ginny had been coming across the room as she spoke. By chance, neither of the girls had actually crossed the middle of the circular Restricted Area. Now Ginny had stepped onto the pattern set into the floor - and vanished!

As Hermione stared, a brawny arm circled her neck, and a hand plucked her wand away, tossing it across the room. "Nice 'n easy, honey," a rough voice said. "You're too pretty for me to want to hurt you!"

Hermione stamped down hard on the man's instep, jabbed him in the gut with her elbow, and finished him with a back-fist to the face. Then she spun. There were six men facing her, all in the blue garb of Inner Circle mercenaries. One of the mercs chuckled nastily. "Sorry, toots. You got past the alarms, but we been watchin' you on CCTV the whole time. Now you took Joey down, but he's too soft on the ladies. Somehow, I don't think you got what it takes to clobber all of us!"

"Don't bet on it!" snarled Hermione, as she darted abruptly off to one side.

"You won't find a way out over there!" the merc shouted, running after her.

But Hermione wasn't looking for a way out. She had spotted a cleaner's cart in one corner, and now she reached it, caught up a sweeping brush, spun, and jabbed the handle hard into the pursuing merc's solar plexus. The man folded over with a wheeze and stayed down. Hermione leaped over his inert form and charged the others.

The men were not expecting to be attacked by such a small, fragile-looking woman, and Hermione took ruthless advantage of their surprise. The brush was not as well balanced as the bo staff Wolverine had trained her with, but it was stout and did the job well enough. Three more mercs went down before it snapped.

One of the remaining two grabbed for Hermione, and she caught his hand, twisting his wrist hard enough to immobilise him, then kicking him in the gut and face. The last man swung at her and, without thinking, Hermione gracefully backflipped away from him to end up with her back to the wall. The merc gave a grim laugh. "Not so clever as you think, lady! You've trapped yourself!"

As he bore down on her, Hermione caught a glimpse of red from the corner of her eye. Again, without stopping to think, she half-turned, wrenched the fire extinguisher from the wall and, with an unladylike grunt, swung the heavy cylinder round. Its arc stopped halfway when it crashed into the side of the merc's head. He went down as if he'd been pole-axed. Hermione dropped the extinguisher, stepped over the fallen merc, and went to pick up her wand. Then she scanned the room. All the mercs were down, but there was no sign of Ginny.

She was about to go back to the Restricted Area when she saw the man who had attacked her first was on his knees, staring at her. Hermione went towards him, wand extended, and he promptly scrambled away from her, his face full of fear. "Stay away from me, you crazy bitch!" he babbled hoarsely. "Just go! I don't want no part of you!"

Feeling just a little malicious, Hermione cast a Jellylegs jinx on the man to prevent him chasing her before she looked for a way out. There was a door marked "Roof - Helipad Access" which was standing ajar. It must have been the route the mercs had taken to get in here - she would have heard the lift. There might be more guards up there, but now that Hermione had her wand, she wasn't worried about them. She should get up there, call for help, and get Emma to do a telepathic search for Ginny.

As Hermione made for the door, she heard the merc saying, "Rodriguez, you hear me? Seems like Wolverine's got hisself a girlfriend, and she's headin' your way! Watch your ass, man. She's one mean X-witch!"

Wolverine's girlfriend? Is that an insult or a compliment? wondered Hermione as she darted up the stairs. Well, boyfriend or not, she owed the craggy Canadian some serious hugs after this evening! As she approached the top of the stairs, she slowed, listening. The door above was also ajar, and she could hear the sounds of a fight from outside. She tiptoed up and peered round the door.

There were more mercs, half a dozen or so, but they had their hands full. A tall, powerful-looking blond man in evening dress was wreaking havoc among them, dealing out hefty punches and kicks. Hermione didn't know the man, but she recognised the fighting style; this fellow had done X-Man training! She dashed out at once and pitched in, wand flicking, until she and the mystery man were the only ones standing.

The man turned to her and extended his hand with a wide smile. "Hi! You're Charm, aren't you? I'm Angel, but you can call me Warren."

Angel? Well, he's handsome enough for one! Hermione was, in fact, a little dazzled as she shook his hand. "Hermione," she managed, then got a grip on herself. "D'you know where the others are?"

Angel shook his head. "I followed you and Firebird as far as the elevator, then came up here via the fire escape. When I saw half the guards go sneaking off down those stairs, I figured there was trouble, but the professor told me you guys could handle yourselves. Then, when the rest of 'em scrambled out to watch the door, I guessed you two were coming up, so I thought I'd get a head start. What happened to Firebird?"

"I'm not sure," said Hermione in a worried tone. "I think she must have stood on some kind of magical trap, a Disapparation Rune or a hidden Portkey, because she just vanished. I was going to see if Emma Frost could locate her telepathically, so-"

Hermione could never quite get used to telepathic contact, even from Xavier, so Emma's mental touch made her jump a little.

It's OK, Charm. Firebird is safe, and in good hands. She'll meet you in the alley beside the building in a short while.

Hermione thanked Emma mentally, then passed the message to Warren. "I suppose," she said, "we'd better make a start on that fire-escape. Which way?"

"Never mind," Warren told her. "We can do it quicker than that!" He took off his jacket and tie, and then began to unbutton his shirt.

"Whoa!" Hermione protested. "Don't think I'm not grateful for your help, Warren, but chocolates and flowers first would be nice!"

He stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Don't worry!" he said between chuckles. "I'm not after your virtue, Charm! Anyway, I've seen photos of your boyfriend - I don't wanna get twisted into a pretzel by Hunter! No, it's just that these clothes don't have slits in them."

He dropped his shirt, then stretched as a man might after removing some tight and uncomfortable clothing. As Hermione stared, a pair of magnificent white wings unfolded from his shoulders.

So that was why they called him Angel! "Wow!" she gasped. "Doesn't it hurt to keep them cramped up under your clothes?"

"You get used to it," he told her. "The wings fold naturally anyway. It's just like wearing a corset or something. I only have to hide them in public; the clothes I wear at home are specially adapted - advantages of being filthy rich!"

He held out his arms to her. "Trust me?" he asked with a grin.

"Do I have a choice?" Hermione asked. "Just mind the hands, mate, or Hunter will probably rip them off!"

She stepped up to him, and he lifted her easily. Hermione looped her arms round his neck, then gripped tightly. With two powerful downbeats of his wings, Angel lifted them both off the roof.

"I won't get too far if you strangle me," Warren remarked.

"Sorry!" Hermione apologised, loosening her hold. "Nervous flier."

Angel flew off the edge of the roof to descend gently into the alley. Hermione made the mistake of looking down once, then kept her eyelids firmly shut until she felt Angel touch down. As Warren set her on her feet, he glanced upwards, then said "Heads up!"

Hermione followed his pointing finger and saw an odd-looking shape scurrying down the opposite wall. It appeared to be a hunchbacked creature with two heads! A demon? she thought, gripping her wand. But the figure leapt lightly from the wall to land just in front of them, and resolved itself into something quite different.

It was a young man, shorter than Harry but just as wiry, clad in a skin-tight outfit of blue and red, which included a mask that completely covered his face. What Hermione had taken for a hump on his back was actually a smaller person riding pick-a-back. The face that now grinned at her over the man's shoulder, bright-eyed and flushed with exhilaration, was Ginny's.