It has been said, that in the final minutes, the world stood still. That when Harry Potter finally fell to Lord Voldemort, Mother Earth's last great hero died.
Hermione picked the Daily Prophet of the dirty café table, folded it gently, and put it back in her bag. She wrapped her cold hands around her coffee cup and took one last drink. She couldn't stay long; there could be a Death Eater raid at any moment. Paying the bill, Hermione quietly stole out onto the empty London street.
As she walked at a brisk pace, the fate of her world unfolded before her. The streets were dark and dim with life. The air was damp and carried a smell of death with it. She looked up into the sky and tried to picture it bright, with a full sun shining through. A tear involuntarily slid down her cheek, but she brushed it away quickly. Hermione knew better than anyone the risk of remembering, the risk of caring and wanting. Those things did not belong in this new, dismal world.
Turning the corner, Hermione entered the train station. She did not have a plan in her mind; she just paid for her ticket and boarded a night train. This was her life, had been for nearly a year. Right after Voldemort's victory, no one associated with muggles, like herself, were safe. She ran away immediately to the Weasley's but her safety there only lasted a few days. Then she disguised herself and set out on the road, boarding various trains and buses, sometimes walking aimlessly for days. She lived off a small amount of money and stole when she had to. Something told her she had to survive, if only for a little longer. It was like, if she let herself die, he had really won.
Tired, Hermione leaned her head against the grimy window, and fell asleep to the sound of the train running over the tracks.
Across the country, in a small village of Toole, Draco Malfoy road in the back of a dark carriage. He carried in his lap a stack of letters. His hand fidgeted nervously on the door's handle as the carriage drove up the crooked driveway of one Lord Grey.
Draco stepped down in to a muddy puddle as he made his way furiously up to the manor's door, the stack of letters clutched in his pale hand. He didn't knock or wait to be invited in; he just burst through the door and shouted,
"Grey! Grey I know you're in here!" Draco tore through the house, until he came upon a dining room where a family was eating. They looked up at him startled. Draco paid no mind, "Grey," he said pointing to the man at the head of the table, "A word?" He sneered the last part, and then turned on his heel and walked into the hall.
"Mr. Malfoy, I'm sure this is not an urgent business, for the assembly would have alerted me first." The man said, holding his head high. Draco barked out a cold laugh.
"Just because you provide the funds, doesn't mean you have authority over more loyal members," Draco retorted, pulling up his sleeve to show his snake tattoo, a sign of Death Eater loyalty. Grey stepped back in disgust.
"What is it you want boy?" Grey asked with annoyance.
"I've come to understand that you run the Mugblood hunting team…"
"Yes, what about it?" Grey responded.
"There is a mugblood, a girl I am looking for." Grey laughed and rubbed his face.
"I can't help you there. My team is the best, and if they haven't found her yet, they won't. She's probably dead or something. What's it matter anyway? It's just one mugblood." Draco clenched his fist.
"She's not just a mugblood. The girl I am looking for is Hermione Granger." Grey looked Draco over.
"You're serious about this?" He asked. Draco knotted his head impatiently. "All right…come with me."
Grey led Draco down the hall. The thick carpet below them swallowed their steps as they made their way towards a grand staircase. But instead of going up them, Grey led Draco to a small door under the stairs. It creaked loudly when it opened, and dust flew up into their faces.
"Take out your wand and illuminate it." Grey instructed Draco. As he did the same, they began their descent below the stairs. At the end there was a blank wall covered in an elaborate rug. Grey whispered a spell under his breath and the wall began to slide away into a side wall.
"Right this way Mr. Malfoy," Grey said, bewitching the wall to close behind them. Then he set about lighting various candles in the room. As light was brought to the room Draco saw it was like a secret study with a large wooden desk and a book shelf full of books.
Grey sat down at the desk and motioned for Draco to sit opposite him in a plush, green velvet chair.
"Alright boy let me get this right. You are looking for Hermione Granger?" Grey asked.
"Are you deaf? I believe I have already said that." Draco retorted rudely.
"Very well. But why? She is possibly the most wanted witch, and of all the wanted people you pick her?"
"Exactly. Finding a criminal like that is just what my family name needs. After the recent…disappointments, the Malloy's are regrettably doubted. Capturing Granger will destroy any rumors that filth our name."
"What's in it for me?" Grey asked, coming closer.
"Well..money." Draco said, looking thoughtfully at Grey. The light flickered and shadows danced across his face as he leaned closer to Grey. "But you don't need any more of that, do you? No what you need, is to be taught a lesson. Now from what I understand, no one quite likes you Grey, including myself. You are a lousy, disgusting man. Of course we need you for your money, but there is something far greater than money. Do you know what that is Grey? Clean blood. Yes, clean blood is more valuable than all the money in the world. One whisper about, that your blood is muddy…and I do believe you are done. It wouldn't take much to start the rumor…" Draco leaned back satisfied in his chair, with a smirk, watching Grey's horrified face.
"Look, this girl," Grey began carefully, "Is presumed dead. It's been almost a year and there have been no leads, nothing at all."
"Not exactly," Draco cut in. He took the letters out of his cloak and handed them across the desk to Grey. "These letters are accounts of people who have claimed to have seen Granger." Grey flipped through the letters nonchalantly.
"Mr. Malfoy we get letters like this all the time. People make this stuff up, they just want money," Grey said setting the letters down.
"Well it's a start. Granger had too many friends. She was too emotional to not leave something behind. It is impossible that not one person has seen her," Draco said.
"Not if she's dead."
"Well, if she is, we have nothing to lose then." Draco responded, getting up from his chair. "I want Granger by the end of the month. Dead or alive, but don't kill her if you do find her alive. I would like that honor." Grey glared at Draco.
"You are ruthless," he said shaking his head.
"Well, I won't stop until I see the light leave that filthy girl's eyes." With that Draco left the room and the manor and rode off into the night.