Romance Americana

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June 5

Hermione was running down the hall. She was running late for her last final. And if she missed it, it would basically blow her entire school career. There was no point in going to Americana with a tarnished record, so it was understandable when she ran into Malfoy in the hall that she was really rather pissy.

"Where are you going, Granger?"

"To my last exam."

"I assume you have a dress picked out for Grad Night."

"Yes, I do," she turned abruptly and looked at Malfoy, who had been following her down the hall, badgering her with questions. "What the fuck do you want, Malfoy?"

"I was wondering if you could talk to..."

She cut him off. "Never mind, I get it. You want me to talk to Ron and his family so when they show up with the rest of our parents tomorrow, they don't kick your ass, right? Well, forget it, Malfoy; I'd gladly help them in making you bloody."

"So Saint Granger has stopped helping those in need?"

Hermione scoffed. "You, Malfoy? In need of anything other than common sense? Sorry, but no."

"Fine, you little mudblood bitch..."

Just then, Lauren rounded the corner they were approaching. Draco sighed and muttered under his breath.

"Just fucking perfect."

"Watch your mouth, Draco. You'll be in enough trouble when Ginny's family shows up tomorrow, won't you? I mean, she's already showing, isn't she?"

"Lauren..."

"What, Draco?"

"Listen to your better, Lauren. I know shit that would make your hair curl."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "That's fucking typical. I guess in this society being male and an asshole makes you worthy of our time. Go find a rock to crawl under. C'mon, Hermione, we're gonna be late for our Arithmacy exam if we put up with any more of his shit."

When they were out of ear shot, Hermione whispered to Lauren, "He's you're cousin."

"You're a quick one."

"Why'd you snap at him then?"

"Hermione, in case you forgot, he's gonna be the one who gives us the shaft if we don't get this done, and done right. We only know what's happening tonight, and tonight, family or not, Draco is the enemy. I love him, he's my cousin, but he fucked up when he agreed to go along with his father and Voldemort. That's that."

Lauren sped up down the hall, leaving Hermione to think.

'How bad does it have to be, when you turn your back on family?'

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"Kate!!!"

"What?! What is it, Benny?"

"There's no food in here!"

Kate came peeling out of the bathroom she and the rest of the Gryffindor girls shared to see Benny, bent over and staring into the mini bar she had put in there with the use of magic. She wrapped her robe around her tighter, and got in Benny's face.

"I just finished my goddamn finals, I want to take a bath and unwind, and YOU call me out of it because we don't have any goddamn food?!?!?! What the FUCK is wrong with you? Get your lazy ass down to the kitchens and ask the house elves. They'd be more than happy to get you something to eat."

"Yeah, I know, but that would kind of defeat the point of having a mini bar in your room, wouldn't it?"

"Fuck you, Benny."

"Ooo, is that an offer?"

"Put your dick away, Ben."

"Awww..."

Kate flicked him off and headed back to her bath. She barely had time to register the warmth of her bath water when Benny called her again. This time, she hauled her soapy ass out of the tub, dried off, taking her time, and put her robe back on.

"What is it now?"

"I was researching some stuff... you know, for tomorrow night? Well, I just received an owl from the HQ with all of the information I asked for. We're supposed to be a fucking military organization. You'd think I'd have gotten this about three weeks ago."

"There's a surprise, the postal service being slow. What you find, Benny?"

"Well, you know that guy, "Killer" McKinney? Does that last name sound familiar to you?"

"It does, kinda, why?"

"Well guess where he went to school?"

"Just tell me, Ben."

"He was a fellow War Hawk. Not only that, but it seems Killer was also a graduate of the program."

"Holy shit. Nice work, Benny, what else have you found?"

"What makes you think I got better than that?"

"Spill, Benny."

"He was also involved with a certain boss of ours."

Kate's eyes went round. "Victoria???"

"The one and only."

"Benny, I could kiss you right about now."

"Baby, you know what I like... but it gets better."

"You're shitting me."

"Nope. Not only was McKinney involved in our program and our boss's panties, he was part of a secret sector that they developed and shut down before out time. It was called La Fuente de los Jovenes. Now, I'm an Italian student, but 10 to 1 I could tell you what that means..."

"The Fountain of the Young... like the fountain of youth???"

"Sounds like it."

Kate sighed, and sat back; she hadn't even realized that she had been leaning over Benny's shoulder. "Benny, what did they do in that section? And why did they shut it down?"

"Well, it was very aptly named. They were trying to find a way to prolong magical people's lives further. But McKinney became a bit obsessed with the idea. He was on the fast track, heading up. He started as someone they experimented on, and then moved his way up to being a lab technician, how that happened boggles my mind, but it did. When the upper brass ruled the experiments too dangerous, McKinney used himself as a lab rat. Then he discovered the drawbacks. While it does give you an extended period of youth, it also makes a person more aggressive. And, if I'm right, with the amounts McKinney was taking, he was a walking time bomb for whoever pissed him off. And that was probably the reason Victoria dumped him. They probably had a fight and he wanted to gut her for it."

Kate grabbed the picture of McKinney that Benny had dug up. He looked young, somewhere around early to mid-twenties. Then she grabbed the file that one of Americana's birds had flown over.

"Benny, wait a minute. It says here that he was born on October 12, 1965. Last year was 2004. That means he was 39 when he died, but, Benny, he barely looks 22 in this picture. When was this taken?"

Benny sighed. "This is where it gets really unbelievable. That's his passport picture; the one he had to take right before coming to England last year."

Kate's eyebrows shot up. "What???"

"He was 39 when he was murdered," Benny answered, then scrunched up his face in thought. "That would mean he was around 23 when he convinced whoever the Potter's Secret Keeper was to rat them out."

"When did the project terminate?"

"That same year."

"So he's been planning this since, like, 1987??? Why the fuck are we only finding out about it now?"

"Probably because he went to Voldemort's side and wasn't stupid enough to think that Victoria would protect him after it all went to hell. Or maybe all the conspiracy theorists are right, that there is a shadow government. All I know is that this dead man looks 20 when he was actually, for all intensive purposes, like 40. And, the fact that he was probably making the potion for Voldemort as well as help him. I mean, this guy went bad, in a serious way. No wonder Victoria dumped his ass." Benny gave a small laugh. Kate had to agree.

"But think about it, Benny. How sad is it? He could have been so normal. I mean, this guy could have had the life we want, but will never have. I feel bad, but I'm pissed at him too."

Benny shrugged. "I guess. Go take your bath. When you get out, we'll all iron out the plans for tomorrow night. Harry showed you where the glen was, right?"

"Yeah, he did."

"Good. Go on then, I'll see you later."

Kate turned to go, and then looked back. "Benny, how hard do you think this will be?"

"It's gonna be a bitch. But he's still just a man. And a man can be beaten. This stuff can't make you invincible, I mean, look at what happened to McKinney. He was taking this shit for years, and he died from what was essentially a dog bite. A few well placed curses and all eleven of us attacking him at once should do the old "Dark Lord" in. We'll be okay. We were before, and we will be now."

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June 6

6:30 pm

"C'mon, let's go! Dani, get out of the bathroom! We have half an hour before we're expected downstairs to greet people for dinner and cocktails, let's go!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Nikola looked up. "Funny, that's what I heard through the bedroom wall last time Benny slept over. Now get your ass out here right now!" She started to pound on the bathroom door. Some one was PMSing.

Kate nearly started to laugh. I mean, who wouldn't, watching one of their best friends slam on a bathroom door while dressed up in what looked like a light blue water nymph's outfit while screaming swears at the top of her lungs. Shannon soon realized that if no one stopped Nikola, she would soon break her hand.

"Nikola, give it up. Dani, get out, now! Kate, stop laughing, or you'll wreak your make up."

Just then Dani came out of the bathroom breathless. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go."

"It's about fucking time," Kate muttered, walking down the hall after Dani. They were dressed to contrast, as were Benny and Matt. Kate and Matt would be wearing white with black trim, while Benny and Dani were almost identical in black cocktail wear with white trim. Nikola was flying solo in her light blue nymph dress, Shannon in (what else) purple, although it was a pretty, pretty shade of lavender, if you wanted to be specific. Ron met her at the bottom of the stairs, looking dashing in his tux, with lavender cummerbund to match Shannon's dress. Just when Ron and Shannon exchanged corsages, Kate caught site of Matt, Jarrod, Benny, and Lauren coming up from the dungeons. She ran as fast as she could in heels and threw herself at her boyfriend, Dani not far behind. That set of greetings finished, they turned their eyes to Jarrod and Lauren, who were going to Grad Night together, though just as friends. Jarrod looked good in the standard tux, while Lauren had on an interesting number. It was a halter type of dress, black with a velvety feel, with some of the stomach exposed, but that was unremarkable to say the least. What was cool about it, was the fact that the pattern holding the two halves of the dress together was a spider web, complete with arachnid over her belly button. Ron seemed nervous about it.

"Ron, the spider isn't real."

"I know that, but still..."

Shannon rolled her eyes. "I can't take you anywhere, can I, Ron?"

"We've been saying that for the past seven years."

They all turned around at the sound of a new voice. It was Harry and Hermione coming down the Main Stairs. They had opted for traditional wizards robes, instead of prom wear. Both looked stunning, Harry in his deep maroon, and Hermione in a blue so light, it was almost white, with her hair pulled up so loose curls could hang down. Harry thought she was a vision; he was broadcasting that to the world from the dopey look on his face. He was hopelessly in love. It would have been cute, but the Americans realized how harder their job had just become. They knew how badly it would suck if any of them died, but they knew it was a risk. These three didn't seem to take any of that into account. They didn't seem to acknowledge that their risky actions would lead to death. And while it helped them to lead happy, and apparently happier lives, it would completely destroy them if one was killed. They had a lot to learn when they got to Americana.

Kate cleared her throat, took Matt's arm, and they lead the way into the Grand Hall.

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Jimmy, "Copa Cabana," in Miami, Little Havana

Ahi.. Latin Quarters, la Gran Manzana

We're gonna party hasta por la mañana

Ahi.. Santo Domingo - tomando Mama Guana

Gozando en Colombia, Venezuela y la Bahamas

Ahi.. Costa Rica, Peru y Tijuana

Ven conmigo mami, porque esto nadie lo para

Ahi...

It was after dinner, after Harry and Hermione were introduced, Dumbledore said his piece, and the coffee and tea was served with the scones and other pastries. The students were dancing while the parents gossiped and reminisced about their own days at Hogwarts. The more conservative dancers danced nearer to the adults, the least conservative closer to Jon and his turntables. Three lucky guesses as to where the Americana students were dancing. The merengue had come on, and Kate and Dani had started clapping their hands and acting up. Hermione suspected that they hadn't been drinking 100% pumpkin juice, but they were entertaining to watch either way. They had danced in circle around each other, goofing off until Matt and Benny arrived o the scene. Then they were really flying, and it almost looked rehearsed. The two dancing couples whizzed by each other, missing by a hair's breadth.

Draco was sulking in a corner, watching his cousin and the rest of the school dancing and having fun. Ginny had refused to go to Grad Night as his date, to prevent any adverse reaction her family might have. Not that it had helped. The twins had promised him a beating when they cornered him in the entrance hall, and Ron kept looking over Shannon's shoulder, giving him a death stare. Shit. It was time to get out of here. Draco snuck out of the Hall and headed upstairs. He would collect Ginny and his things, and they would be off before anyone was the wiser.

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Le pido al cielo solo un deseo

Que en tus ojos yo pueda vivir

He recorrido ya el mundo entero

Y una cosa te vengo a decir

Fui de Bahrein hasta Beirut

Fui desde el Norte hasta el polo sur

Y no encontré ojos así

Como los que tienes tú

Rabboussamai fikarrajaii

Fi ainaiha aralhayati

Ati ilaika min hatha lkaaoun

Arjouka labbi labbi nidai

Viaje de Bahrein hasta Beirut

Fui desde el Norte hasta el polo sur

Y no encontré ojos así

Como los que tienes tú

Partners had switched. Kate danced with Chris upon his request, Matt had taken charge of Chris' date, and Benny and Dani could be found kissing in a corner. All was right with the world. The song was fast, something Latin, Shakira probably, and hips were all over the place. It was no wonder Matt kept a close eye on his girlfriend; he loved and trusted her, but she wasn't known for her monogamy, to say the least. She had a good heart and a good head, but she was flighty, her emotions were sometimes thrown to the clouds with a laugh and a smile, and her running off to try and follow them.

And Matt didn't like how close their hips were getting... and joy, here comes the rest of them. It was time for the oh-so-famous-and-necessary, circle-up-and-dance-like-bitches-in-heat-until-we-screw-the-wrong-preson... but that was a past issue.

Matt looked at the clock. It was half past 11 now. They weren't supposed to leave for another fifteen minutes, but he figured Kate would want to leave early. He politely excused himself from Jenny, Chris's date, grabbed Kate's arm, whispered to her, and they left. They didn't even hear the music change as they left.

Regardless of warnings

The future doesn't scare me at all...

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"Harry, where are Kate and Matt?"

"I dunno. You haven't seen them?"

"Would I be asking if I had?" Hermione tapped her foot on the marble of the entrance hall. It was fifteen minutes 'till show time, and two of the leads were no where to be found. Just then, Shannon and Ron came running down the stairs. They had been sent up to Gryffindor Tower to see if they were there; Jarrod and Lauren had gone to check out the Ravenclaw dungeons.

"Their wands and cloaks are gone; and we found this..."

Shannon pulled a small piece of stationary parchment out of her clutch. It was a note.

Shannon, Ron, Benny, Dani, and the rest-

If you're reading this, we're probably gone. I know, I know, how Hollywood can I get, right? Matt and I took off, chances are, only a few minutes ago. If we planned this right, we should take him out and be back for the graduation ceremony in the morning. If not... well, I'd rather not thin about "if not". I know that this is pointless to say, but don't come. Don't. That's a direct order from your superior. If you do follow us (and I'm figuring that you will) Harry knows where to go. I love you all. And if we don't make it back, send our diplomas and rings to our parents and tell them we love them. Victoria knows what to do after that. I love you all. Stay safe.

AML

Kate

Hermione looked at Shannon. "I suppose you've read this already?" Shannon nodded. "Then explain it. What does she mean, "Victoria knows what to do after that?""

"Victoria has all of our wills filled at HQ. She takes care of everything, final arrangements and such, when an agent dies..."

"So, your idiot friend and brother just went off on their own, and chances are that they'll be killed. That's just fucking brilliant of them, isn't it?"

Shannon got pissed. "You little bitch! I swear to God, I'll rip..."

"Shannon, love, as angry as you are, maybe going and helping them would be the better idea. Unless you'd prefer them dead; then I'd say let's go back to drinking and dancing." Shannon shot him a look too. "Or maybe fetching our wands and going after them would be a better idea. You do remember where that glen is, don't you, Potter?"

Harry cleared his throat. "Yes, yes, I remember where we're going."

"Then we're off."

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It was eerily quite outside. There was a full moon out, leaving soft patches of its light on the floor of the Forbidden Forest. Nothing made a sound as Harry led the way to the glen. He stopped just short of it and turned back to the others.

"We're here. Wands out."

When they reached the very edge of the clearing, they could finally hear what was going on. But there were more than just the three voices they expected. Hermione could hear Kate's angry, too proud, refuse-to-be-moved voice emanating through the trees, punctuated by Matt's own angry retorts. Then there were the voices who sounded amused. And one of them sounded like...

"Ginny!" Ron was the first to recognize his sister's voice. "That's Ginny, I know it. But I never saw her leave the castle... why is she in the woods?"

Just then, they heard a familiar voice followed by a chilling and terrifying laugh. Harry swallowed heavily.

"Three lucky guesses, Ron. Come on, let's get closer." They crept closer, until they were in the glen. If they stood up, they would be seen; but they could see everything from where they were. Kate and Matt stood opposite Draco and Ginny; they seemed to have caught them right before they left the country. Their bags were lying all over the glen; Ron realized why he hadn't seen or heard from his sister earlier. She had been packing. Harry hissed to be quite, and they listened.

"Very good, Morgan. You figured it out."

"Give me three reasons why I shouldn't kill you, Malfoy."

"Because you wouldn't have anything to live for tomorrow?"

"Malfoy, what the fuck are you doing? Do you really think that Voldemort will let you take over?"

A cold breeze lifted the hem on Hermione's dress robes, raising the hairs on the back of her neck at the same time. She tugged on Harry's sleeve. "Harry, something's..."

"Children, children, please, stop fighting. Draco, you will receive my domain... as for you, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Quinnlin, I hope you've said your good byes."

The tape screeched to a halt. Kate rolled her eyes. "Where the hell have you been for the past year? Writing all of the bad scripts I've turned down?! Jesus Christ! I wanna save the world from a homicidal maniac, not a crappy script writer."

Benny rolled his eyes in turn and muttered. "Fucking typical. She always has to have the last word. Learn when to shut your mouth, Kate." He turned to Harry. "Potter, go around back... I'll give you ten minutes, then we move." Harry gave him a dirty look.

"How much do you know about him, Benny? I've faced the bastard year after year..."

"Shut up. Look, Potter, I know you've met up with him more than we have. But you don't know shit when it comes to dealing with Kate, and whatever crazy plan she thinks she can pull off. Normally, it goes well, but when it doesn't, shit gets sour real fast. Now shut up, and do what I ask."

Harry just went. He didn't like being told what to do by Benny, but he didn't want to attract Voldemort's attention either. He crept through the tall grass with Ron and Hermione close behind him, trying to get behind Voldemort. When he got there, he looked for Benny through the grass; Benny nodded, mouthing "One... Two... Three..."

On three he sprang, wand at the ready. No way in hell was Voldemort walking away this time. The five were startled to find themselves surrounded.

"Fucking great. You guys really don't know how to read, do you?"

"Kate, fuck off. You know you need us here. Quit your bitching and let's get this done."

Kate and Matt steadied their wands; fight or flight time. Matt looked at Benny around Voldemort.

"Benny, you do know what you're doing, right? I mean, I'm NOT going to end up in pieces all over the English country side, or sent back home in a box?"

"Only if I have my way." Draco just couldn't keep his mouth shut. Voldemort shot him a look that would have withered a more intelligent man; Harry just figured that Draco was too stupid to know that running would have been a good idea. Voldemort spoke.

"Draco, do be a good boy, and LEARN TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH! There is time for Potter and friends to kill you, and make no mistake, I will permit it. Now, who shall be the first to die?" He gazed around the circle, his eyes finally settling of Matt and Kate, standing directly in front of him. "I do believe I've found my victims. AVADA KEDAVRA!" But Voldemort's voice was not the only one to ring out through the glen; just before she lost consciousness, Kate picked out Benny's voice, along with Shannon's, and Ron's, and the rest of them. At least she knew she had won; Voldemort would be dead. She registered the green flash of light, and Matt collapsing beside her before the world went black.

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Harry's eyes snapped open. Hermione was standing over him, telling him that they needed to catch their flight to Chicago; he could see Benny standing in the boarding line, pulling out his passport to show the flight attendant. It had been one week ago. One week ago, they had been in the glen, and Kate and Matt had disappeared. The only body that had been found was Voldemort's; Draco, Ginny, Kate, and Matt were no where to be found.

Harry wiped a hand through his eyes and rose from his seat. After seven years, all it had taken was a few well put curses and attacking as a whole; it was almost laughable. But there was a new problem to confront. He and his friends had to find Kate and Matt. As long as the bodies were missing, the H.C. wouldn't give up on finding them alive; and Benny and Shannon giving up seemed out of the question. Harry sighed, and took one last look out of the terminal window at the United Airlines 987 that would be taking him to America; to new leadership and authority.

Oh goody.

Harry boarded the plane, stowed his luggage, and fastened his seatbelt. He gave Hermione a peck on the cheek, and prepared to fall asleep. With any luck, he'd awake to a new world.

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