Will You Ever Return to Me?

Chapter 23.

"What happened?" Hemmings demanded.
"We thought San Francisco would be the only riot, right? That's the only place the messages mentioned."
"It wasn't?"
"New York. Philadelphia. Chicago--again. Dallas. Phoenix. Denver. Seattle. Los Angeles. And those are the big ones."
"Shit," Stone said. "I better talk to the MLEA. We need the details--as much as we can get." He Disapparated.
"I don't like this," Hemmings said.
"How--"
"We saw what we wanted to see," Lydia said. "They obviously knew that we knew about their server."
"How?"
"I don't know. Maybe if we get at that server--"
Hemmings nodded and looked at Hermione and Padma. "Get to Phoenix and seize the computer."
"How--"
"Break in and steal. We'll deal with legalities later."
"Right," Padma said. Hermione picked up a coffee cup from the table. "Portus," she said. "Once we find it, we'll simply teleport it here," she said. "If we have to run from their security--"
"Not likely, considering all the people they pulled to deal with the riots," Lydia said. "But it's probably a good idea. Good luck."
Hermione and Padma Apparated back to the Portkey station. Hermione showed her MLEA ID she had used on undercover missions. "Have you people gone crazy?" the operator asked them. "This--"
"The world's gone crazy, not us," Hermione said.
"Sorry--where to?"
"Phoenix," Padma said. "A two-way one."
"Coming right up, ma'am." The wizard handed her a black baton. "Good luck--you're liable to need it."
"Thank you," Hermione said as she activated the Portkey.
They appeared in yet another station. "Have they had the same person design all of them? One can get confused," Padma said.
"Probably," Hermione answered. "Well, we now need to get to the sixth floor down.
"Good thing it's the same building," Padma said.
"Yeah--although, the riot should have subsided by now. I think we got hit with the worst of it in San Francisco."
"We don't know how bad it was here," Padma countered. "But there's one good thing about it--we're not likely to be seen by many people. Either they're sleeping at home, like all normal people at this time do, or they've been called out into the field."
Hermione nodded. "After what we've been through, I don't mind an easy--"
"Well, this is a surprise," a familiar voice said. Hermione turned and saw Joseph Stone.
"What're you doing here?" Padma asked.
"I wanted to get some info on the riot from people I know here. Hund's bound to have lieutenants, and I want to know if they recognized anyone in particular. I wouldn't expect something like this to happen in Phoenix, and whoever planned it knows the city well. What about you?"
"You heard Lydia," Hermione said. "We're here to get the computer."
"Good luck," Stone said. "You know where it is?"
Hermione took out a map Lydia provided them. "Around here," she said.
"I'm not going to hold you up, then," Stone said. "I need to see a couple more people."
"Thanks," Padma said.
"Right here." Hermione pointed to a door with a large number 6068 on it. "If the map Lydia put together entirely from network data is correct, that is."
"What, you don't trust Lydia?"
"It's not that, it's--"
"The door is locked. Alohomora!"
"In a building full of wizards, using such a lock is stupid," Hermione commented.
"Oh yeah?" Padma asked. "What about the second door?"
This door was very different from the first. It was made of metal, and had no keyhole--only a small number pad. "Great," Hermione said. "We'll need the code--"
"Lydia did that," Padma replied. She turned the map over and pointed to four handwritten numbers on it. 4863. "There you go," she said, and punched in the numbers. The door opened.
It was certainly not the sort of room one would expect to find in a building operated by a magical government. It was well-lit, almost empty, and smelled strongly of electricity. The entire back wall was covered with what looked like stacks of black boxes with blinking lights. "There it is," Hermione said. "Now all we need--"

"That's the computer?" Padma asked. "It--"

"It's a big server machine," Hermione explained. "It's more powerful, and can store a lot more." She took out the Portkey they carried and attached it to one of the front panels. "Unplug it, Padma."

"Padma did so, and the blinking lights went out. Hermione activated the Portkey and the entire complex vanished.

"Well, that's it," she said. "Let's--"

"Hey, what're you--"

"Stupefy!" Padma fired a spell through the doorway. "You were saying?"

"Hold on!" Hermione took out the Portkey they got at Las Vegas and activated it. It took them away just as she spotted someone else running towards them, wand raised.

As soon as they landed at the Portkey station, they both Apparated back to Area 51. "I hope that'll be the last of it for--" The office they usually used was much emptier than usual.

"Where's everyone?" Hermione wondered.

"I convinced them they needed sleep," Lydia said. "We can't do anything until we have the information, either from Stone's contacts or from--" She pointed at the black machine, and started opening one of the panels with a screwdriver.

"By the way, we ran into Stone in Phoenix," Hermione said.

Lydia looked up. "Did you, now? What did he say he was doing?"

"Trying to figure out who exactly orchestrated that riot," Padma said. "Why? You don't--"

"You two need sleep as well," Lydia interrupted her.

"And you don't?" Padma demanded.

"I'm needed right now. You aren't. I'll be done and get sleep faster if you don't stand around me and nag." She glared at them.

Hermione shrugged. "All right," she said.

"Good luck," Padma said, and left with Hermione.

"Ron's got to be worried sick by now. I'll see you tomorrow, Padma." She Apparated home.

Dawn was approaching. The first day of the new year... Hermione's stomach rumbled. "Well, I haven't eaten since last year," she told herself, and headed for the fridge.

"Hermione?" Ron asked, coming from upstairs.

XXX

Harry came into senses feeling warm and comfortable. He yawned and opened his eyes. A cozy room came into focus, with a fireplace, several plush chairs, and a small glass table. His wand lay on it. Harry picked it up and put it away.

A door opened and a tall man entered. Harry's wand was out and aimed at him before he could think. "You--" And then he froze, since the man in front of him, while he resembled Hund, had blond rather than brown hair and bright blue eyes. "You're--"

"We haven't met, Mr. Potter," the man said, and Harry shook. The voice rasped more than Hund's, but the man spoke in a very similar manner. "Although, judging by your reaction, I see you have made acquaintance of my brother."

"Brother?" Harry asked.

"I should introduce myself," the man said and extended his hand. "Samuel. Samuel Hund."

"Harry Potter." Harry shook the hand.

Samuel Hund sat down in a chair across for him. "I think it's time we get to business. Mr. Potter, do you know what Polyjuice Potion is?"

"Of course," Harry replied. "I've used it."

"I'd suggest you think about what it does before you take any rash actions," he said. Before Harry could think about that, Samuel Hund took out something Harry didn't recognize, and spoke into it, "Come in."

Through the door walked... Ginny. Harry immediately reached for his wand. "I'll--"

"Remember what I told you, Mr. Potter?" Samuel Hund boomed.

Polyjuice Potion. "That... that wasn't Ginny?" He sank back into his chair.

"Took you long enough," Ginny said, taking her own seat. "How could you believe that of me, Harry? How--"

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Harry admitted. "And face it, after that letter you gave me--"

"Yes, Miss Weasley told me. The letter was a trap from my brother, correct?"

Harry nodded. Something came to him. "Where are we?"

"Cincinnati Magical Academy," Samuel Hund said.

"Cincinnati-- Ginny, weren't you supposed to--"

"I did exactly what I was supposed to. I'm still doing it--although I'm doing a few other things... like getting you out of prison, and nearly getting killed for the trouble."

"I'm sorry... I thought--"

"I know what you thought, you told me. I don't--"

"You will settle this later," Samuel Hund said. "There's something else you ought to know--there was a staff party last night, and Miss Weasley was there. The party lasted till half past three. At least twenty people will confirm that Miss Weasley had not left for any significant time."

"What--" And then Harry realized what Hund was talking about. The time difference between Cincinnati and San Francisco was three hours. And that meant..."

"How did she know I taught you Levicorpus?" Harry asked.

"Hund--Alan Hund, that is--used Legilimency on me several times," Ginny said. "I don't know how much he knows--I resisted, and I could throw him out--but that's not exactly an important secret, is it?"

"Merlin," Harry said. "I've screwed up--"

"My brother has a poor sense of timing," Samuel Hund said. "Does this look familiar?" He handed Harry a folder. Opening it, Harry saw photos of him, Hund, and Ginny--or Ginny look-alike--in that office in Chicago where his first conversation with Hund took place.

"Where did--"

"Principal Wilson got them the next day. I think Hund--Aland Hund--didn't want me to work here," Ginny said.

"With good reason," Samuel Hund replied. "Although, he probably doesn't suspect just how good."

"Wait--Ginny, you still lied to me. You told me you never worked for Hund--"

"I said I never worked for Alan Hund--unless you count inadvertently giving you that letter."

Samuel Hund nodded. "Unfortunately for my brother, the photos have a time stamp on them. And Principal Wilson remembered that at the time represented by these photos, Miss Weasley was with him."

"Why isn't he here?" Harry asked.

"He is," Samuel Hund said. "You see, I am Principal Wilson."

"What?!"

"That's what Miss Weasley said when I told her. It's quite simple--all it takes is a potion my brother and I invented. It's very similar to Polyjuice, but it doesn't require the person looking like the one you're changing into to really exist."

"Invented by--you and your brother--"

"A long, long time ago," Samuel Hund said. "Before... before everything."

"Hund--your brother doesn't know?"

"My brother thinks I'm dead. I'm sorry to say, he uses me as an excuse for some of his actions."

"I don't--"

"Mr. Potter, what have you learned about Alan from my esteemed colleague at Salem? About him, I mean--not what he can do."

"Clarence? Well... not much. We did focus mostly on, as you said, what he can do."

"What she taught him," Samuel Hund said. "I see. So Diana is still in the dark... and that means everyone else is, as well."

"What? I still don't--"

"Diana can be too curious for her own good. My brother, of course, told her what he knew about my fate... but once he revealed himself, I think she felt guilty. She decided to bring him down, and since she thought everything he told her was a lie--including the story of my supposed death--that's where she started. She tried to find me. She got awfully close."

Harry opened him mouth. Diana Clarence never told him about that--she never even mentioned that Hund had a brother. At least now, her sudden acceptance of him made sense.

Harry noticed that Ginny was as surprised as he was, which meant this was something she hasn't heard before. It made him curious, although he still shuddered every time he looked at her. Megan...

"We--the Hunds, that is--were a rather traditional family," Hund began. "Almost all of us stayed among wizards all their lives. The Hunds weren't quite the pureblood fanatics you know, but they came close. Then, my father fell in love and married a Muggle-born woman.

"Alan and I did not grow up, like many wizards do, ignorant of the Muggle world. We knew it very well, and, if the accounts I've heard about my brother are correct, still do."

Harry already knew that Hund--the other Hund, he reminded himself--was familiar with technology. "I know--"

"My brother, though, was fascinated by Dark magic. Oh, we both experimented as teenagers--but Alan did more of it. He also spent a lot of time with Uncle Mark, who did necromantic research for a living. Alan was sixteen when Uncle Mark died. I don't think he ever recovered from that.

"Now, while I am certain you haven't, I still must ask: have you heard of something called Unit 215?"
"No," Harry said. Ginny also shook her head.

"It was an experimental attempt to bring our worlds closer together. You can judge its success by the current state of things, although it was a rather small effort. The U.S. Muggle government asked the Department of Magic to form a volunteer unit that would use magic to assist the U.S. military. It would be kept secret at first, of course." Hund laughed. "Well, it never got past the 'at first'.

"I found out about it because my mother worked in the Office of Political Muggle Relations," Samuel Hund said. "I just turned eighteen, I didn't really have plans, I knew I didn't want to work in the Department of Magic, or enter an apprenticeship. So... I volunteered."

"What happened?"

"Well... it was 1965," Hund said. "What do you think happened? We got sent to Vietnam."

XXX

"Good morning, Ron," she said. "Is Caroline--"

"She's asleep," Ron said. "Are you--"

"Ron, I don't need--"

"I was worried, Hermione. With all those riots--"

Hermione stopped and looked at him... and immediately regretted it. She already gave away too much. Ron wasn't stupid, he'd figure--

And he did. His eyebrows rose. "You haven't... you didn't... you weren't--"

Hermione stood silently. Ron strode over. "Where?" he asked hoarsely.

"San Francisco," she said, feeling numb.

"The worst one." And then, he put his harms around her. "Oh, Hermione."

She looked up and kissed him. "Ron, I'm starving," she said. "Can you let me go so I can--"

"I'll fix you something, Ron said. "Just... take it easy."

"Thanks, Ron." She sat down. "I--never mind."

"Don't you think we'll ever get a quiet life?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, Ron. I just don't know. It isn't happening now, that's for sure."

"Ron put the food on a plate and walked over. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be, once I eat and get some sleep," she lied. She couldn't tell him about the two dead soldiers--he'd freak out even more than he already was. Instead, she kissed him again. "I love you."

"I know that. Why--"

"Just making sure you do. You are a forgetful prat, after all."

"I am not! You--"

Hermione kissed him again. "I'm kidding... I'd rather not think about what's going on at work now."

Thankfully, Ron simply nodded and didn't ask her why not. She wouldn't be able to answer him.