Susannah01
Black Heart
Chapter 2. Ward of the Ministry
The previous evening:
The Grangers were at home packing for their upcoming holiday with their daughter Hermione. She was due home from her boarding school tomorrow and they were due to leave on their trip the day after. They are both looking forward to spending some time with their daughter. They miss her very much when she is away at school and this past year had not even managed to see her during the Christmas or Easter breaks.
"I hope Hermione likes all the new clothes I have bought for her" Mrs Grangers chews her bottom lip worriedly looking over at her husband. (it is easy to see where Hermione picked that habit up from).
"Of course she will you know Hermione, she is always delighted with anything you get for her, and you both do have very similar taste". Mr Granger finished doing up the zip in his large suitcase and attempted to lift it off the bed onto the bedroom floor.
"Dear God how on earth the plane is supposed to take of with hundreds of these aboard is beyond me", "
Don't start Richard, everything that I have packed will be needed, anything else Hermione might need will just have to be bought in Italy once we are there".
Her husband turned to leave the room rolling his eyes at his wife, "I'm sure you two will manage to shop no matter what anyways". "I'm going downstairs to put the kettle on love, do you want a cuppa?"
"Mmm yes please, if you're making one" Jane Granger turned towards her daughter's room. On entering she looked over at Hermione' bed which was covered in the new summer clothes she had purchased for her. "I suppose it is quite a lot when you think about it" she thought to herself as her eyes skirted over the numerous, pairs of shorts, linen trousers, skirts, dresses and vests in every colour, there was even half dozen brightly coloured new bikinis and several new matching sets of underwear. "Still she deserves it".
Turning to leave Hermione's room she is startled by a thump from downstairs. "What was that noise Richard?" she calls to her husband. Getting no answer she shakes her head and starts downstairs towards the kitchen. "I bet he has dropped my teapot again, honestly the dents in that teapot are getting ridiculous" she continues to murmur to herself as she walks towards the kitchen door.
" Didn't you hear me calling down Rich...... ?" His name died on her lips at the sight that greeted her in their kitchen. 6 people in long black cloaks, wearing hideous white masks were all standing pointing their wands at her. Her husband was lying unconscious on the floor in front of her.
"Welcome Mrs Granger" one of them stepped forward speaking to her. "Glad you could make our little gathering here".
"What the hell is this? Who are you people? What have you done to my husband?" her voice was barely a whisper.
"All in good time Mrs Granger, all in good time" the man spoke to her again. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to lead us to more comfortable surroundings? So we can have a little chat"
His cool, calm silky voice sent chills down her spine. She found herself unable to move or take her eyes of the man who had stepped forward to speak to her. Grabbing the top of her arm the man spun her round to lead her back out of the kitchen door, "Shall we my dear" he hissed at her and he forced her out the kitchen and towards the sitting room. Stopping to turn to his comrades he commanded; "bring him also" nodding his head toward Richard Granger still lying unconscious on the kitchen floor.
The group made their way into the sitting room; the leader pushed Jane Granger towards one of the armchairs. As she sat in it, he flicked his wand towards her and she felt herself being held in the armchair by invisible ties. Richard had been flung unceremoniously onto the sitting room floor still unconscious. The leader sat in the armchair opposite her and made himself comfortable. The other five came into the room standing in a semi circle behind their leader. "Okay is everyone comfortable, lets begin". He flicked his wand towards Richard lying on the floor.
Richard Granger started to feel himself come round. His head felt fuzzy as if he had been in a deep sleep, suddenly he remembered the six cloaked and masked figures who had appeared out of nowhere in his kitchen, his eyes flew open as this memory brought him completely awake. He sat up straight and looked at his wife who was sitting in one of the armchairs in their sitting room, she looked petrified.
"What the hell happened Jane" he started to question, but was cut off by a chilling voice from behind him.
"Ah Mr Granger, glad you could join us again". Turning round his breath caught in his throat as his eyes took in the six cloaked and masked figures once more.
"To avoid any further confusion Mr & Mrs Granger, lets set up the ground rules now, I ask the questions, you answer them"
"Get the hell out of my house" Mr Granger shouted as he started to stand up off the floor".
One of the masked figures stepped forward "Crucio" a high pitched voice screamed, Richard Granger fell to the floor, writhing in agony and screaming out against the pain inflicted upon him.
Sirius Black strides quickly along the corridor leading from his office to the Auror meeting room where he had been summoned. On entering he nodded his head in greeting to the others in the room sitting on seats arranged in front of Chief Auror Alastor Moody's desk. Moody turned his head to see who had entered the room, "Ah good Black take a seat, I will make this quick". Sirius sat down next to Tonks and looked up at Moody expectantly.
"There has been another attack on Muggles". Moody stood up and moved in front of his desk leaning against it he continued. "This time there are no survivors, our rapid response team have already sent this information back to me". He lifted a parchment from his desk and read. "Two victims, both mid 40's found dead, confirmed killing curse used, both probably tortured before death, the woman most probably raped, more than once. The dark mark was set over the house it has now been removed and the site has been secured".
A low murmur of shocked disapproval could be heard rumbling through the Aurors in the room. Moody stood up straighter and addressed the group. "Okay people you know what to do, the bodies will have been removed by now, go to the house and see if you can find anything, anything at all to help us trace these bastards. As the group stood up to leave, Moody barked "Tonks, Black" a word please.
Sirius and his cousin Tonks turned back into the room. "Sit down again for a minute will you?" requested Moody. Sirius and Tonks looked at each other Sirius raised his eyebrows in question at Tonks who in turned just shrugged and sat back down to face Moody.
Moody sighed and moved over to pull out a chair and sat facing them. "The muggles killed today they were Hermione Granger's parents". Tonks hands flew up to her face to cover her mouth in shock. Sirius took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.
"They were targeted because of Hermione?" Sirius questioned.
Moody nodded in agreement "Oh yes they seemed to be looking for very particular documentation. The office of the house has been ransacked the safe emptied. Nothing else has been touched"
"What the hell were they looking for?" Sirius stood up quickly running his hand through his hair in exacerbation.
"Sit down and I will tell you" Moody huffed. Sirius remained standing, but Moody continued anyway.
"Muggles have a strange procedure they follow involving their children and their heirs. Hermione Granger is an only child with no known living relatives. She is her parent's sole heir and I believe they have left her quite a rich young woman. They had until recently had a muggle lawyer appointed to take over as Hermione's guardian should anything happen to them, but because of the war in our world, they took advice from Dumbledore regarding Hermione's well being and inheritance. They removed their business from the muggle lawyer and put copies of their will and Hermione's inheritance into Dumbledore hands; I believe a copy of these papers is also kept at Hermione's vault at Gringots as well as the originals kept in their own office safe at home including documents that muggles use for recording births and marriages. Things are afoot at the ministry of magic and I believe the death eaters have a particular interest in our Miss Granger".
"What kind of interest, I don't understand what you are getting at" Tonks spoke for the first time. "Are we to believe that they killed Hermione's parents so they could get their hands on her inheritance, it doesn't make sense, most of the death eaters come from wealthy families already given that they're mostly made up of old pure blood families".
"No, not just for her money Tonks, think about it she has no living relatives, so who becomes her legal guardians, who gets to rule every aspect of her life".
Comprehension dawned on the faces of Tonks and Sirius
"Fuck me, she will become a ward of the ministry" Sirius sat down heavily on his chair
"That's right" growled Moody and as we know more and more the ministry is being taken over by them. They have control to some degree in most departments apart from our own.
"The Hogwarts train is due to arrive in a few hours at King's Cross. I want you two to meet the train along with the Weasley's, I have asked Bill & Charlie to accompany their parents to meet the train also, I want you all to go direct to headquarters, I will arrange cars for transportation. "Once safely at Grimmauld Place we will break the news to Hermione, and not before. It is imperative that the young ones are met from the train and moved swiftly to the cars awaiting you".
Sirius and Tonks nodded their head in understanding, slowly they stood up to take their leave from the meeting room, turning back to look at Moody, Sirius spoke;
"Hermione can live with Harry and me at Grimmauld place for as long as she wishes".
"Thank you Black, but you know that is not possible, the ministry will want to inspect her living arrangements as her legal guardians", holding a hand up to stop Sirius's protest he continued "but nothing is decided for definite yet, I sure this chapter in our Miss Granger's life is only just beginning".