Will You Ever Return to Me?

Chapter 20.

Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I don't feel like celebrating," Ron said.

"Oh, Ron." Hermione sat down and took his hands. "I miss him too. I miss..."

"I know." He looked at her. "Remember how close we all were? All my family, you, Harry... Now... Bill and Fleur are on the other side of the world, Harry is God knows were, Ginny..."

"I know, Ron. What can you do? Harry refused to leave us any contact--he told me he's afraid Hund will find it." And I can't blame him. Not after I've seen firsthand was Hund is like.

"Hermione, don't you think that's taking things a bit too far?"
"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I don't think Harry has been the same--"

"Of course he hasn't! You've been around Dementors, you know what they do. Imagine being around them for months... and Harry has experienced things we haven't."

"That's what I mean. How much of what he fears is justified, and how much is in his head?"

"I don't think he knows. I don't think anyone knows. But it's definitely not entirely paranoia."

"I just wish Ginny hadn't--"

"Ron, you shouldn't think sad thoughts today."

"Why not?"

"It's New Year's. You start sad, you're going to be sad all year."

"That's nonsense."

"Not really. It's not superstition; it's your own attitude. And that's vital. And Harry can take care of himself."

"Judging by what happened--"

"That was Hund's doing, Ron. Just like--" Hermione stopped herself, fearing she already said too much.

And she was right. "Just like what?"

Hermione said nothing. Damn, damn...

"Just like what, Hermione? What else did Hund do, and why don't I--"

"Ron, I--"

"Your work, isn't it?" He guessed. "You're doing something against Hund."

Hermione was still reeling. She didn't want to lie to Ron, and she couldn't tell him the truth.

"Am I right, Hermione?"

"Ron," she said, "sit down and listen. Please."

To her surprise, he did so. Hermione started to speak when the telephone rang.

Thankful for the distraction, Hermione seized it. "Hello?" she said.

"Hermione," Joseph Stone spoke on the other end, "we need you to come in."

"What? Why?"

"Can't say, not on this line. It's important."

"But it's New Year's--"

"I know. I'm sorry, but that's precisely what he counts on. We--"

"I'll come," she said briskly. "You don't need to worry."

"Thank you, Hermione," Stone said, and hung up.

"Damn," Hermione swore.

"Hermione?" Ron looked up. "What do you mean, you'll come--"

"They need me at work," she said.

"They can't do that! It's--"

"They can, and they did," she replied. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well..."

"Look, I was wrong that time--nothing important was really happening. If it turns out something similar this time, I'll storm out of there faster than you can say my name, and I'll be royally mad. But... I think it's serious."

"What's serious? You still haven't--"

"Ron, listen. I can't tell you what I'm working on. If I so much as give a hint, I can be thrown in prison for endangering the national security of the United States. So..."

"So what?" he asked.

"So... you understand that?"

"Yeah... hey, we could run away."

"Yeah, but, Ron, is that the life you want for Caroline? Running away, constantly moving around the world?"

"It was a joke, Hermione. I know we couldn't do that now. One year was enough for a lifetime."

"Ron, you do not mention this to anyone. Anyone, do you understand? If someone starts asking, you say you know nothing about what I do. If someone mentions Hund in connection with me, you tell them he's read too much of the Quibbler--or whatever the American equivalent is. Our success depends on being secret."

However, at the same time, Hermione took a piece of paper and scribbled in capital letters, YES. Then she added underneath, Burn this after I leave, Ron. She smiled to herself. If this ever came up, a good barrister could confuse the issue sufficiently to get her off.

She gave the paper to Ron, who nodded. "I love you, Ron. Kiss Caroline for me." She grinned. "I'll see you next year."

"I love you," he said. "Good luck." Hermione Disapparated. An enormous weight just came off her shoulders. With that, she practically waltzed into the office where the Hund Hunters, as her group called themselves (though never outside) worked.

"Well, well," Lydia greeted her. "Lookie what we have here."

"Hi, Lydia, " she said. "Hello, Mr. Stone. Good afternoon, Colonel."

"If it was, none of us would be here," Hemmings retorted.

"Oh, I don't know," Padma said, coming in. "Lydia seems to live here."

"What am I going to do if I go home?" Lydia asked.

"You can't find something to do... in Las Vegas?" Captain Sherman joined in the conversation. "Why do I have trouble believing it?"
"All right," Hemmings said. "Settle down."

Once everyone did, she nodded at Lydia. "If you recall, sometime ago, I discovered an email server from which Hund ordered the Chicago riot. Well, we've detected more messages going through it. They're planning another riot. A bigger one this time. And I also think I can physically locate that server with this new traffic. Then we can seize the computer and see what else is there."

"The data will probably be encrypted," Hermione said.

Lydia gave her an angry look. "Hermione, why don't you deal with the magic and leave computer issues to me," she said.

"Sorry," Hermione said.

"We've alerted the MLEA, and we're going to be there ourselves," Hemmings said. "Maybe we'll get one of the ringleaders of the riot to interrogate--or even Hund himself."

"Don't get your hopes up," Stone said. "Hund may not even be there."

Hemmings shrugged. "Jones will be staying here and try to find that computer. The rest of us are going there. This may need force." She paused and turned to Hermione and Padma. "Do you want guns?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know much about them." Padma nodded in agreement.

"Hermione, you should learn to shoot. Guns can be more useful than wands... in some cases," Stone said. "I've got my own, and I'm taking them."

"I don't have time to do that today, do I?"

"No," Hemmings said. "Unfortunately, you don't."

"Just where is this riot supposed to take place?" Hermione asked.

Hemmings looked the group over. "The least likely place you could think of," she said. "San Francisco."