Agent Granger, CIA

CHAPTER IV

"Casualty, Part I"

Jordan sighed as he checked his digital for the tenth time that morning. 7:30 AM, Hermione was late, as usual. Mr. Harrison would be coming to pick up the file report in five minutes...and if Hermione wasn't here by then...both of their hinds would be on the line. He considered apparating to her apartment, but decided against it since she probably just overslept after a long night's work.

7:23 AM...where is she, Jordan thought nervously, now wiping his sweaty palms against his blue cotton shirt. Then footsteps finally greeted his ears, but these weren't the fast-paced clicking sounds that Hermione generated, they were more like thud, thud, thud, which only a fat CEO could produce.

"Fuck!" Jordan whispered loudly as his fate flashed before his pale blue eyes.

Next came the death knock. "Com-Come in," Jordan called hoarsely.

"Good Morning Jordan!" Mr. Harrison greeted merrily, waddling through the door.

"Morning sir..." he replied, running a shaky hand through his neatly combed black hair.

"I'll be needing that report I assigned you two yesterday," his boss said, never ceasing to smile.

"Oh, uh, that...right...I have it," Jordan lied, nodding his sweaty forehead convincingly.

"Yes, I know you have it Alex, you and Agent Granger have always been my best agents, but the problem is, I need to see it..." Mr. Harrison laughed.

"Um...sure...wait...just...one second." He held up an index finger and turned around; if he had a mirror, he was sure his face was turning all shades of green right now. He loosened the red tie that seemed to be choking him at the moment and unbuttoned his collar. Okay, he thought to himself, there's a first for everything. Might as well tell him it's going to be late...

"Mr. Harrison," he began, clearing his throat. "Hermione--"

The mustached man turned his head as the office door opened. "Ms. Granger! How nice of you to join us!"

Jordan let out a relieved sigh then directed murderous expressions towards Hermione.

"Hi boss!" she chirped happily. "I just dropped the file off in your office."

Harrison's eyes pleasantly widened and he grinned. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Why didn't you tell me Hermione was going to deliver it, Jordan?" he said, patting the pale agent on the back.

Jordan smiled feebly and shrugged. "Slipped my mind," he muttered.

"Well, I expect there will be no problems with this report, as usual. So I'll be off."

Mr. Harrison left with a wave and wink to Hermione.

"Hermione Granger..." Jordan started quietly. "If you ever...EVER...scare me like that again...you're going to have to find yourself a new partner, while I lie peacefully in my grave."

Hermione burst out laughing and began to tear up. "Calm down Jordan, my gosh. You worry too much. Plus, even if we do turn an assignment in late once, he's not going to fire us. We know he can't afford to lose us."

Jordan's chest continued to fling up and down like a vibrating rubber band. "You know I hate being late Granger. Try putting an effort on being efficient next time." He stormed out the door with a slam.

"I swear...he PMSes more than I do," Hermione mumbled under her breath. After sitting down and staring idly and pointlessly at her blank monitor for five minutes or so, she decided that now would be a good time to search for Ron. Returning to her apartment, she found the letter Ginny gave her yesterday and sat down to read it.

She didn't get much out of Ron's correspondence except a confirmation that he was indeed a werewolf, or stricken by some perilous disease; both of which weren't good news. She knew she shouldn't feel differently about him, but now that his conditions were for sure, she felt all hope of them returning to the way things were had been crushed. But she still had to find him...had to see him again. And as of right now, there was only one way to do that: Malfoy.

**

The Malfoy Mansion had become a dusty old haunted house after Lucius died and Draco moved away. Every footstep echoed into the next, creating a never ending sound of thumping. No sunlight was allowed inside, making the temperature extremely low. Hermione shivered as she inspected the dark, deserted manor. Huge portraits of Lucius were hung in the entrance hall. The grand chandelier above the welcoming rug had become a dull collection of cobwebs.

Daring to go further, she took a right and bumped into something broad and firm. It seemed to be moving...she stepped back and took a surprised gasp as a pair of empty gray eyes stared into her own.

"What are you doing here at eight in the morning?" Draco drawled with mild curiosity.

"Like you said, it was the only way of us contacting each other," she replied smoothly. "And it's rather disturbing to me that you're already watching me..."

"I'm always watching you Granger," he whispered seductively.

Hermione brushed away the feeling that just shot through her stomach and unconsciously crossed her arms. "Where's Ron?"

Draco laughed. "If that's what you came here for, you might as well turn and leave. I'm not going to tell you where he is!"

Hermione rushed at him with her arm and skillfully grabbed the striped green tie that was neatly tucked under his robes. "Draco," she said softly, pulling him flirtatiously towards her face. "Will you please help me find Ron?"

Draco could feel her warm breath on his lips, he smiled at her feeble attempts to sway him. "No."

Hermione groaned and shoved him away. "I'm serious Malfoy. I need to see him."

"Why?" Draco replied doubtfully, rubbing his chest.

"Because...Ginny gave me a reply to one of his letters and she wants me to hand it to him personally," she lied.

Draco buried his eyes. "Ginny?" he repeated quietly, his voice not quite normal.

"Yes, Ginny Weasley; his sister if you had forgotten. I went to see her the other day. She told me all about Ron's letters, and she said she's been wanting to reply to him for a while, but never had the courage."

"Don't lie to me Granger," Draco hissed angrily. "I know Ginny better than you think. She didn't write any letters for Ron...she never even reads his letters."

Hermione knew that she had hit a nerve in his cold veins. "Why do I have a feeling that you and Ginny had something going on?" she asked tauntingly.

Draco scowled, "Nothing went on between us..."

Hermione scoffed. "Then why are you suddenly so uptight?" she continued.

Draco clenched his jaws and sneered. "I'm warning you Granger. Stay away from Ron. And don't visit Gin ever again." He disapparated without another word.

"Gin eh," Hermione whispered softly. She then pulled out a black cubic electronic from under her coat and grinned as a little flashing red dot appeared on its screen. "Gotcha," she grinned.

**

Being in the CIA wasn't that bad after all. The tracking device she had placed on Draco's tie had surprisingly worked. Using headquarters' materials, she located his coordinates which revealed that he and Ron were actually living in America too, not England. Seems like Ginny and the twins were the only ones who stayed after the war. They were hidden in southern Colorado, extremely close, if not somewhere in, the Rocky Mountains.

Hermione packed a bag, wrote a note for Jordan, then apparated to the unknown destination.

**

Draco grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the island in the far corner of his room. He poured himself a glass to calm his anger. Staring out his bedroom window at the beautiful snow covered mountains across from the mansion, he took small sips and savored the taste in his mouth.

I blew it, he thought sadly to himself. I was so close to gaining Hermione's trust, and I threw it all away today. Not only that, but she is starting to learn more than she should. He couldn't control her as easily as everyone else; Ron was right, he shouldn't have taken the risk of manipulating her.

He sighed as he walked away from the balcony door. His bed had already been made by the house elves, so he didn't want to mess it up. He looked to the left where his clothes drawer and mirror were. Memories of Ginny flashed quickly in his mind. She was playing with his hair, making it spike up in all directions. Her laughter rang in his ears and he shut his eyes to the point that it hurt.

"Don't think about her," he repeatedly demanded aloud. His mind deliberately disobeyed and continued feeding him images and memories of her flamboyant red hair, the touch of her skin, the taste of her lips. He growled and pitched the liquor glass at the mirror, shattering both. Panting, he scrubbed his pale face and collapsed onto the hard wooden floor. "Don't think about her," he begged himself one last time, before surrendering himself to tears.

**

As expected, the house wasn't visible to the naked eye when she appeared on site, but after casting the revealing spell, it revealed itself to her. It was a gorgeous Victorian model home, white from head to toe. It faced the Rocky Mountains and had a balcony jutting out above the front door; held up by four skinny colonnades, two on each side. So this is where Ron was living.

Not thinking, Hermione took a careless step on the first stair leading to the door and triggered the security. A rope sprung down from the balcony and magically bound her while two vines from the earth locked around her ankles.

Draco jumped up, alarmed that someone had found their hiding place, and ran out onto the balcony. He grimaced as he watched a bushy haired woman tried to undo the traps restricting her. He apparated downstairs and cupped her mouth tightly with his hand.

"Would you be quiet Mudblood?" he hissed. "Ron's still sleeping."

Hermione threw him a nasty glare and calmed down. Draco pulled out his wand and disarmed the vines and rope. "How'd you follow me here?" he questioned as he picked up the rope.

"Check your tie."

Draco looked uncertainly up at her then took it off. There was a little black device stuck on the back of it. "Clever," he admitted. "But you're not going another step closer to that house."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Draco!" she began, ready to give him the longest bitching he's ever had. But then she noticed something wasn't quite right about the albino-like man. "Have you been crying?!" she said incredulously.

Draco's ears burned a dark crimson and he looked away. "No," he mumbled as he wiped his nose. "Allergies."

Hermione stifled a laugh then sighed. "You must have been kicking yourself for being so mean to me this morning," she explained playfully.

"You wish."

"Sure. You know, you can say and try to convince yourself that you're only being nice to me because of Ron, but we both know that that's not true."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, really. I think you like me Malfoy."

Draco laughed loudly then muted himself as he glanced nervously back towards the mansion. "Look Granger, there's no way I'd ever fall for you. But you on the other hand...I know how you react every time I touch you and get close to you. If anyone's crushing on anybody right now, it'd be you on me."

Hermione snorted and put her hands on her hip. "Well, just so you know, I'm not into you. Or are you so dumb that you never got that message?"

"Hmm, must have slip by me along with all those love letters you wrote me at Hogwarts."

Hermione made a psh sound and shook her head. "Alright then, I challenge you."

"Challenge me?" Draco echoed with delight.

"Yeah. I want you to treat me like you used to, just be you."

"I don't give a damn what you want Mudblood. And don't talk to me like we're friends. You are inferior to me, act like it." Draco paused and looked up thoughtfully. "Is that what you want?"

Hermione's jaw dropped. He was like a freaking machine! One second he can be a complete jerk, the next he could be the charming knight in shining armor. So her suspicions were right, he was just trying to play with her. She clamped her mouth shut and shook her head.

"I want you to do it under a truth spell," she replied.

"A truth spell?"

"Yeah, it makes you act like yourself, nothing fake, just what you feel."

Draco raised an interested eyebrow. Maybe this could benefit him too, he himself wasn't sure what was going on between Hermione and him. "Alright, but only for an hour."

"One hour?!" Hermione exclaimed. "Fine. One hour."

"But in return, I want you to do the same for me." He grinned mischievously and took her hand, apparating them away from the mansion.

**

He took them to a public park somewhere, Hermione concluded that it was the Colorado Resting Place from the sign bending off the ground. She sat down on one of the dirty benches provided while Draco stood tall to the side.

Great, Hermione thought sarcastically to herself. He did it again. He took control of my game and managed to get me out of Ron's reach. Dang he's good.

"Alright, I let you set the basic rules, but now I'm going to set the detailed rules," he declared, not giving her a chance to argue. "One, you cannot, I repeat, will not, go back to the mansion with me under this spell. Two, you will follow the deal through and cast the spell on yourself after me. Three, we get to keep our memories after the spell. Okay?"

Hermione sighed. "Fine. But then I get to add the truth spell to this..." She withdrew her wand and gently tapped Draco's head. "Esse te veritis," she spoke clearly. Draco blinked.

"Did it work?" he asked confusedly, sitting down next to her.

"Should have," Hermione replied, blowing warm air into her hands then rubbing them together.

"Weird. I don't feel different," he reported, scratching his head.

"Let's give this a test.--Did you and Ginny have a fling?"

Draco's eyes flashed and he looked at her, filled with anguish. "Y-yes," he involuntarily responded.

"See? It's working. So what happened?" Hermione continued, more interested in Draco's personal life than she should be. Draco glared at her, but his mouth began to move without his consent.

"It started after Hogwarts..."

Ron was at the Burrow for his last time. Arthur, Molly, Ginny, Fred, George, and I were all there for his goodbye party; well, only I knew it was a goodbye party, everyone else thought it was a graduating party.

He told them that he was going to move in with me for a while. They thought he was joking, but sadly, no. Ginny knew he had befriended me in seventh year, so the news didn't hit her as hard as the others, who didn't understand at all. Fred got so mad he ripped Ron's spoon off of the Weasley Family Clock and used it to beat him. George satisfied himself with beating me.

Arthur gave a feeble attempt to make sense out of it, but since Ron wouldn't tell them that he was--that he had changed--he just nodded his head and let him go. Molly reduced herself to uncontrollable tears. I couldn't understand why they thought this was such a tragedy, but then again, it's probably because I don't see myself as an evil fiend.

Two years later, I ran into Ginny while doing some chores. She made a visible effort to act civil in front of me, and I took that chance to pull her aside and talk to her...I felt that Ron was lying to them, and at least one should know the truth.

I told her everything; the cold, hard truth. She stared at me blankly and laughed at first, but quickly melted into tears. I took her in my arms and told her that everything was going to be alright; I was going to take care of Ron, and she had nothing to worry about.

Then, she kissed me.

That was the first time a girl ever actually kissed me. It was real, not like the gold diggers I commonly associated myself with. We started going out after that, keeping it mum from everyone else. Things went smoothly for one year...then there was the accident.

She lost a large portion of her memory, the events that had happened recently to her...which included me. All she could remember was her life up until Ron announcing that he was going to leave them. Her anger for me was...she hated me. So she left and said she never wanted to see me again.

"Did you love her?" Hermione asked, on the verge of tears.

Draco narrowed his brows and released a heavy sigh. "I..I don't know. I liked her, but I pitied her more. I thought I loved her..."

Hermione sighed. "Guys are so useless," she sniffed. "Well, at least we know the truth part of the spell is working."

Draco nodded quietly, then suddenly shouted, "Don't EVER ask me personal questions again, Mudblood. I don't need you crying about my life. Unbelievable that I even told you..."

Hermione's jaw slacked in shock. "EXCUSE me!" she yelled back equal in volume. "But I wasn't the one who lied to the person I loved and then vented on the person who helped you realize that it was just a fling."

Draco scowled. "Don't talk to me."

"Fine," Hermione huffed, turning her back. The silent winter morning filled the air and Hermione shivered. "You could have picked indoors for this little experiment you know."

"I like it cold and numb," Draco drawled. "But if you're too wimpy for it, we can go somewhere else."

"I'm fine," Hermione replied, whipping her head the other direction. Draco snorted and took off his coat. He wrapped it neatly over hers and then sat back.

"What'd you do that for?" she asked suspiciously.

"It's obvious that you're about to freeze your tail off," Draco said, not looking at her.

"I know. But aren't I a Mudblood? It doesn't make sense for you to--"

Draco cut her off, "Listen okay? I just thought that maybe you were cold and wanted something to cover you. Sorry it became a freaking world crisis." He tore his jacket off of her and stood up.

Hermione scoffed and chased after him. "Where are you going?"

"As far away from you as possible."

"Draco, come back here," she demanded. He stopped walking, to her surprise. He turned around and gave her a funny look.

"What'd you just call me?"

"Draco..." Hermione replied, she knew she always called him Malfoy, but she has called him Draco once before...

Draco walked back towards her. "Why'd you use my first name?"

"I don't know..."

Draco squinted his eyes and then nodded. "How much longer before the spell wears off?"

Hermione checked her watch. "20 minutes, why?"

"Nothing." Silence fell on them again, five minutes passed until Hermione broke the ice.

"You know, we've been dodging the whole point of this spell..." she said, unsure if she should continue.

"Go ahead," he replied, now looking her in her eyes. "Ask me how I feel about you."

Hermione took in a deep breath and swallowed after the air dried out her mouth. "Alright then. How do you, Draco Malfoy, feel about me?"

Draco smiled. Hermione waited for response, but he just kept smiling. "Draco, smiling is not a respo--"

He shut her up with a pleasant and unexpected kiss. His hands cupped her face gently as he kissed her over and over again on the lips. Hermione pulled away after a minute or so and bit her bottom lip. What just happened?

"I don't love you, if that's what you're wondering," he told her blatantly, reading her mind. "I'm a guy Hermione, what'd you expect? You are a very attractive young lady that I wouldn't mind getting in the pants of. And you're also my best friend's lover, which makes you unattainable...and I only want what I can't have. So the truth is--"

This time, Hermione cut him off, slapping him with all her might across his face. He laughed in pain and put his left hand over his right cheek.

"You know, that hurts," he complained half heartedly. "But that also means I hurt you. So tell me Granger, do you like me?"

"No," Hermione spat, not blinking or hesitating.

"Well, we'll find out in a couple minutes won't we?"

Hermione sighed as she remembered the deal. She was positive she didn't like him, especially after what he just said, so she didn't have anything to worry about right?

Draco wetted his lips and looked down at Hermione, who was back on the bench. "Granger, what I said a second ago, it was a bit vulgar."

"A bit?!" Hermione repeated in disbelief.

"Alright, I was a complete jerk. I deserved that slap. But just so you know...I wanted you to hear this before the spell wears off. I don't really care that you're a Mudblood."

"What?!" she exclaimed, confused. She looked at her watch. Five minutes. Good thing he brought it up, she thought to herself. "Malfoy, was what the Masochist said the other day true? You helped Harry kill Lord Voldemort?"

Draco remained silent, then only because he had to, he replied, "Yes."

Hermione felt something warm fill her heart and she smiled. "Why?"

"Because I hate the Dark Lord and what he did to my family. I hated my father for letting him. You know, as you grow up, you realize a couple things your parents taught you wrong. The things I realized were that pureblood and Mudblood were all the same in the end, and that people like the Dark Lord only do things to benefit themselves...time?"

Hermione looked at her watch again. "About time," she replied with a grin. "Finite Incantatem!"

Draco shook off the effects of the spell and rubbed his eyes.

"That was too much information for you missy," he scolded as he forcefully took her wand from her. "Now my turn."

He cast the spell on Hermione and they sat down as it came into effect.

"Alright, go," she murmured gloomily.

Draco grinned slyly. "Have you ever had sex?"

Hermione gasped as "No" escaped her lips. Draco's jaw dropped in amazement and he began howling like a dog high on sugar while Hermione's face melted the snow around their bench.

"Shut up Malfoy!" she cried, burying her head in her hands. Draco calmed himself, though his shoulders were still fidgeting with joy. He cleared his throat and smiled again.

"Do you want--"

"MALFOY!" Hermione screamed. "That's enough. Stop being such an immature git."

Draco stifled another laugh and then wiped the grin off his face. "Alright. That was a bit unfair. But honestly Granger, you're what, 25? And you're still a virgin! Sheesh, how do you live?!"

"Malfoy..." she warned through clenched teeth.

Draco put up his hands in surrender and chuckled. "Okay. Ready for the first real question?"

"Just get on with it," Hermione muttered as she kicked the defenseless snow by her feet.

Draco nodded childishly. "Is Jordan your boyfriend?"

"What?!"

"Ah, ah. Answer it," he said, shaking his index finger.

"No."

"Do you like him as more than a friend?" Draco asked, just making sure.

"NO!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Do you like me?"

"N--maybe," she replied, unexpectedly. Her face flushed a light shade of pink.

"Really?!"

"Malfoy, shut up and get on with it."

"Okay, anything for you, my secret admirer," he taunted.

Hermione wadded up a snowball and chunked it mercilessly at his face. In return, he gleefully smashed a block of lightly packed ice on her head. They kept pelting things at each other until the both of them were agreeably exhausted and worn out on the snow. The sun's warm rays finally reached the ground; Draco closed his snow gray eyes and gratefully took in a breath of cool air, then letting it materialize as he breathed out.

"Draco?" Hermione said, looking up at his pale and well shaven chin.

"Hmm?" he responded lazily, still looking at the clouds as they crawled across the sky.

"You know this doesn't change anything between us right?"

Draco blinked and sat up, carefully removing Hermione's head off his chest. "Of course," he replied casually, looking down at her. "Nothing will ever change between us."

Hermione smiled. "Take the spell off of me."

Draco did as she requested and their eyes locked, each trying to decipher the secret code within. Hermione blushed and looked away after she realized what she was doing.

"I'm going to go..." she told him quietly, standing up.

"Back to Jordan?" Draco whispered, catching her by the wrist. Hermione nodded then confirmed,

"Back to Jordan."

**

"Hermione! Finally, we have to go," Jordan hurried as she appeared in her office. "Why are you all wet?!"

"Don't ask," Hermione replied, taking off her long, wet coat. "Where do we have to go?"

"Washington DC. We've been alerted of a conspiracy against the President. They already have SWAT teams set up there for protection. If the person shows up, we're going to be the lucky compromisers."

"How about we just kill the damn bastard?"

"Hermione!"

"Alright, so I should bring a gun?"

"Yeah, and your vest. I'll get the other equipment."

**

"Mr. President, I am Agent Alex Jordan of the CIA, and this is my partner, Agent Hermione Granger. We will be assuring that no violence will go on today, okay?"

The quivering Muggle leader nodded his head as he shook hands with Jordan.

"Alright, did you bring your wand?" Jordan whispered as they walked away from the crowd.

"Jordan, even if I did, I can't use it in front of all these news reporters and cameras..."

"We need to check the area for any explosives; the terrorist might not even show up."

"What are we basing this threat on again?"

"An untraceable fax came through this morning reading, 'Call it off today, or I'll do it for you'. They didn't tell us what the note was talking about, but that doesn't seem important right now."

"Untraceable fax? Interesting way to get the President's attention."

Jordan stifled a laugh. "Alright, we'll do this the old fashioned way then." He opened the suitcase that he was carrying with him and pulled out his laptop. "This might take a while."

**

Things were considerably calm for the first hour. Jordan confirmed that the terrorist would not be using explosives. Police groups did their best to push the nosy cameras and reporters out of the area, but some were stupid and stubborn and snuck back in.

"You know, Jordan, I don't think the person is thick enough to come today..." Hermione commented as she slurped on her can of Coke.

"Huh," Jordan scoffed. "I agree, but just in case."

They were stationed in the same room as the President and the heaviest artillery; no one was allowed to leave or enter unless if permission was granted by the scary looking Head of Security (HoS).

Another thirty minutes passed, then there was a knock on the door. "State your business," hollered the HoS.

"Sir, it's the President's daughter. She said she wants to talk to her father."

"This isn't exactly the time..." the angry man hissed. "She's supposed to be in the other room! Tell her she can talk to him all she wants after we guarantee his safety."

"DADDY!" the girl began to shout. "I want my dad! Why does he have to go through this?! I want to see him!"

"Young lady, calm down," the HoS commanded through the door.

"NO! I want to see my father! I don't care if he's the President of the United States, he's still my father and I have the right!" she whined loudly.

The President got up from his chair for the first time since Hermione and Jordan arrived. "It's alright, let her in," he said.

"Mr. President, I strongly discourage opening these doors..."

"I said, let her in," he repeated firmly. The body guard resigned and signaled the soldiers stationed at the door to open it.

The doors opened just wide enough for the little girl to strut inside victoriously.

"Jordan," Hermione whispered as she suspiciously eyed the little creature. "Do you notice anything weird about that girl?"

Jordan studied the lass that came in and almost swore aloud. He stood up and walked in between the girl and the President. "Sir, I have reason to suspect this girl," he told the man in low tones.

The President laughed aloud and shook his head at Jordan. "Did you say you were CIA?" he chuckled. "She's my daughter, and if you're crazy enough to think that a ten year old is dangerous to her own father, I think I should have a talk with Mr. Harrison about who he hires."

"Sir, for your own safety, I suggest you send your daughter back to the safe room where we're keeping the rest of your family."

"Agent Jordan, I think it's about time you stepped aside," the President replied seriously, walking around Jordan. "Now, sweetie. What do you need?" he asked his daughter.

The little girl's smile didn't reach her blank eyes. She rigidly held out her arms for her father, and he picked her up. "I'm scared, daddy," she whispered into his ear.

"It's going to be okay, baby," he replied soothingly, bouncing her.

"Hermione, we have to do something," Jordan hissed urgently. "Someone's using the Imperius Curse on her!"

"I know, I know. I'm thinking..."

She tried finishing the spell with her wand under her jacket, but as expected, nothing happened. She eyed Jordan. "As long as if the men are in here, nothing's going to happen," she said hopefully.

"Daddy, why are all these men here? And why do they have guns?"

Hermione groaned.

"Honey," the President cooed. "They're here to protect daddy from bad people in the world."

"They're scaring me, daddy!"

The President looked around with uncertainty in his eyes. Jordan shook his head at him. The President put his daughter down. "Baby, everything's going to be okay. Go back to mommy now, okay?"

"No, daddy! NO!" The annoying brat stomped her feet on the ground and began wailing. "They have guns in there too!"

"Will you guys go outside for a second?" the conflicted father requested.

"MR.PRESIDENT!" Jordan hollered. "DO YOU NOT SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"

The security guards frowned and walked towards Jordan. "Sir, I think it would be best if you leave now." Jordan scowled as he was escorted outside along with half the security. Hermione managed to keep her existence minimal and stayed inside.

The little girl wasn't going to do anything; she was just a distraction. Hermione looked around in search of the person controlling the President's daughter. The room they were in was sealed tight, no windows, and only one door. All the men in there were holding guns, not wands. Unless...she walked around slowly, discreetly inspecting the vents in the room.

Outside, Jordan thought of the same idea and at once apparated himself into the ventilation system. Climbing through those tunnels was not as exciting as it looked in Muggle movies; it was hard to breathe and extremely cramped. Plus, there was a constant fear that he might suddenly fall through.

Jordan sneered as the criminal came into view. He was dressed in complete black, whether he was wearing robes or Muggle clothes, it was hard to tell. Pulling out his wand, he cast the disarming charm, but nothing happened! He climbed closer and decided to punch the man. His fist flew right through the hologram.

"Oh shit," Jordan said, aware of what was going to happen next. He turned around and faced the real mastermind.

His face was hidden under a hood, but that didn't quiet the evil laugh as he hissed, "Crucio!"

Jordan howled in pain and squirmed inside the vents.

The Muggles beneath them looked up in confusion as pounding and muffled howling came from above. The chief took his gun out and fired into the ceiling. The suspect lifted his wand and relieved Jordan of the curse. Still trembling, Jordan tackled the terrorist, and as he feared before, they crashed through the thin ceiling and into the room.

"YOU!" the HoS screamed as Jordan stood up. He pointed his gun at Jordan, who froze in response.

Hermione, panicked, disarmed the HoS with her wand. The men looked at her in surreal shock. Jordan's eyes widened as he caught his breath. All guns were then pointed towards Hermione, who kept looking down to make sure the unconscious wizard didn't wake up again.

"Put down your weapon, witch," one of the soldiers demanded.

"You don't understand, that man is the bad guy here," she tried to reason.

"He's out. You're the threat now. Put down your weapon!"

Hermione glanced at Jordan for help, but his wand had been lost in the fight above.

"Lady, we're giving you three seconds. Three. Two..."

Hermione began to speak, then it happened.

Some coward in the line opened fire.

She heard Jordan scream 'no', but that was all.

She faded into a calming oblivion.

**