Wand-Leader & The Spy

19- The Department Of Mysteries

London, September 9th, 1999, 20.05 hours

"So, Hermione, we finally meet face to face!"

"Good evening, Tonks." Wand-Leader Hermione nodded at the witch after entering the Weasley's safe house in London.

Tonks turned to glare at Ron. "You told her about me!"

"Of course I did," the wizard answered. "I'd rather not have a misunderstanding."

"Hmph." Hermione noticed that the metamorphmagus slightly changed her lips when she pouted. "Anyway, I've been dying to meet the witch who managed to seduce our master spy!"

"It wasn't like that!" Ron cut in.

"Oh, so it was you who did the seducing, James Bond style?" Tonks wriggled her eyebrows at the wizard.

"The details of our relationship are private," Hermione said. Ron had said Tonks was much more professional in the field than she acted 'back at the base', which didn't seem that hard given what she had seen so far. The muggleborn witch was not amused at the metamorphmagus joking about her relationship.

"Wow. You sound like Percy!" Tonks frowned at Ron. "You made her sound much friendlier."

"I've recently found out that I've been lied to by the Minister all my life, and that my parents were murdered on his orders. Please forgive me for not joking around," Hermione said in the coldest tone she could muster. Ron wrapped his arm around her waist in support.

"I'm sorry." The metamorphmagus had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm just the last of our group to meet you, so I got a bit…" she trailed off, shrugging.

A slightly awkward pause followed.

Ron broke it. "Actually, Harry's the last one of our group whom she hasn't met yet."

Hermione could see Tonks wanted to make a joke, but restrained herself. The Wand-Leader felt no small amount of satisfaction at seeing that. She also felt more than a bit petty, but she wasn't in the mood for jokes and horsing around.

"So… what's up today? The message said we'd be taking part in a meeting?"

"Dumbledore said 'Operation Deep Penetration' is a go for tomorrow night," Tonks said.

"I'm certain he didn't call it that!" Ron said through clenched teeth.

Hermione didn't quite roll her eyes when Tonks smirked. Apparently, making jokes about something other than the Wand-Leader's life and love life was alright in the metamorphmagus's opinion.

"It's a fitting name for a James Bond mission!" the other witch insisted.

"You plan to infiltrate the Ministry then. The Department of Mysteries, to be precise," Hermione said.

Tonks looked surprised. Before she could say anything, Ron cut in: "And that's why we don't let you name things. Code names shouldn't be that obvious."

"Without knowing what your brother has been doing, I wouldn't have come to the conclusion as quickly," Hermione said.

"But you would have, right?" Ron grinned.

"I might have considered the Minister as a target too."

Tonks grumbled: "Well, it is the DoM. We're going to enter the most secure place in Britain outside Gringotts."

"I can get you inside the Ministry," Hermione said, adding 'with some effort' to herself, "but the Department of Mysteries is off-limits even to Wands."

"Don't worry, the Professor has a cunning plan."

Ron snorted. Hermione frowned. "Do you think his plan will need to be improved?" It did seem rather hasty, seeing as she was not brought into this conspiracy until a few days ago.