Chapter 31

“Emergency broadcast!“

“We’ve just received confirmation that the SS Alert Level has been activated. This station must immediately evacuate. All members of the Order of the Phoenix are to follow SS-level protocol at once. I repeat, SS-level alert has been activated.”

Bzzzz,

Only static filled the air.

“Harry! Give me your Invisibility Cloak!” Hermione’s voice trembled as she suddenly spoke.

“What?” Harry blinked, startled.

“I said, give it to me! Now! Right now!” Hermione snapped, her voice rising sharply as she stood.

Both Harry and Ron froze. Something in her tone made it clear, if they didn’t comply, she’d hex them herself.

“O-okay! Okay!” Harry fumbled in his pocket, pulling out the folded Cloak. Hermione snatched it, wand already drawn, and strode toward the tent’s exit.

“Hermione! Where are you going?” Ron shouted, running after her.

“London!” she threw over her shoulder without slowing.

“What? Are you insane?” Ron’s voice cracked as he lunged forward and grabbed her arm, only for her wand to jab hard against his throat.

“Hermione! Stop! SS-level alert, we know what it means just as well as you do!” Harry said loudly, stepping forward. “But going to London right now, it’s suicide!”

Sparks spat from Hermione’s wand tip, red-hot and furious. A few landed on Ron’s jacket, burning tiny holes into the fabric, but he refused to let go.

“You don’t understand!” Hermione shouted, eyes burning red. “You don’t understand at all!”

“We do!” Ron shouted back, just as loudly. “And we also know that if something’s happened to Anne, you’re not the only one who’s terrified! Her aunt and uncle are in London, they’ll be the first to know!”

“He’s right!” Harry added, his own voice echoing. “Anne would never want you to run into danger like this. The first thing we have to do is protect ourselves and move, now!”

“Yes! We have to relocate immediately!” Ron insisted, meeting Hermione’s gaze head-on, ignoring the wand still pressed against his jaw. The skin on his neck was already red and blistered from the heat.

“And Hermione,” Harry pressed, thinking quickly, “you still have your phone! Once we’ve Apparated to another town, you can call them! Call Anne, or her uncle! He’s the Deputy Head of the Order!”

Hermione stared at Harry for a long moment. Her wand slowly lowered.

“If… if I can’t reach them,” she said quietly, turning her face away, “then I’m going to London.”

“Fine,” Ron said firmly. “If it comes to that, I’m going with you.”
He shot Harry a quick look, Hermione’s bag was still inside the tent.

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They Apparated to Mowville, a small town on the banks of the River Severn. The moment they appeared, Hermione pulled out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. In front of them stood a small detached house with a garden.

“The number you’ve dialed is powered off.”

Hermione’s brow furrowed. She tried again, this time dialing Aaron Hall.

Harry and Ron said nothing, setting up protective wards around the area as she waited.

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In London, Aaron had just arrived home via Floo Network when his phone began to vibrate. On his way to meet Diana, he frowned and checked the caller ID.

Hermione Granger.

Of course. Anne had helped him and Diana add her number to their contacts. If anyone was as frantic as they were right now, it would be Anne’s girlfriend.

“Hello? This is Greyworm,” Aaron said in code.

He immediately sensed Hermione relax slightly on the other end.

“Mr. Greyworm,” she replied in French, “once again, Pandora’s box has been opened.”

A verification phrase, identity confirmed.

“Miss Granger,” Aaron responded in the same language, loosening his tie slightly. “I’m in the middle of an investigation. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

“Is—is Little Fox safe?” Hermione’s voice broke despite her effort to control it.

“I don’t know,” Aaron said quietly. “I’m on my way somewhere now. I’ll contact you the moment I have news. Keep yourselves safe.”

“All right.” Hermione hung up.

“How was it?” Ron asked immediately.

She said nothing, just shook her head and walked into the house.

Harry and Ron exchanged a look, then followed her in. Once the tent was set up, Hermione disappeared straight into the bedroom.

Harry sank onto the sofa, still holding the small wooden badge, its orange SS-level warning pulsing faintly in the dim light. Ron sat beside him with a weary sigh.

“You know,” Ron said quietly, staring at the badge, “I just remembered something Anne said once. Feels like it fits perfectly right now.”

“What’s that?” Harry asked.

“‘No news,'” Ron murmured, “is the best kind of news.”

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Inside the bedroom, Hermione lay sprawled on the bed, staring up at the chandelier. Weak daylight filtered through the tent windows, just enough to cast faint shadows across the room.

She reached up and drew out the necklace around her neck, her thumb absently rubbing the teardrop-shaped crystal pendant. On the other hand, she gripped her phone tightly.

Time slipped by in silence.

By noon, Harry and Ron were sitting in the kitchen, each holding a bowl of instant noodles.

“Should we—” Ron started, then stopped himself. “Forget it. She won’t have an appetite right now. What she needs most is quiet… and a sign that Anne’s all right.”

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The complete release can be accessed through[P]atreon.[c]om/Crimson_Lore [remove brackets]