His Dark Arts RedShadow43
Chapter Twenty-six: Azkaban
"And we have your word, Minister, that we'll be pardoned of all crimes involving the Dark Lord?" asked Thorfinn Rowle in a wheedling tone as he steepled his hands together and looked at Lucius Malfoy speculatively.
"You do," Kingsley agreed, watching as the man's eyes traveled from Lucius to the woman he had seated near his side but slightly hidden by his shoulder. "As long as I have your word that you and your men will not pursue any of the aims once sought by Lord Voldemort prior to his demise."
"Is that why you've brought the little Mudblood along, Minister?" he asked with a smirk. "You're not going to make us perform an unbreakable oath, I trust?"
"That's not a bad idea," Kingsley said with a glance in Hermione's direction.
"Don't even think it," said Lucius coldly as he glared at the Minister and moved so that Hermione was even better hidden than before.
Dolohov laughed shrewdly and said, "I see now why your loyalties have changed so drastically, Malfoy. I can't say I blame you."
"I'll thank you to keep your dirty mind off of my fiancée, Antonin," Lucius said. "I brought her along to keep her safe from snakes, and as I have always considered you to be one, I'll be keeping you off of her as well."
Sneering at these words, Dolohov leant back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly choosing to keep his thoughts to himself lest he not be included with the others. Lucius was quite certain the man would need careful watching once matters were successfully concluded.
Ten others, including the senior editions of Crabbe and Goyle, Nott and Rookwood among others, all agreed to play their part in the capture and disposal the basilisks. These men sat listening as Kingsley explained.
"For any of you who might be less informed in such matters, it is imperative that you do not look a basilisk directly in its eyes. Even at a younger age as we believe these basilisks to be, they are still capable of rendering serious injury to anyone foolish enough to do so. The result could be fatal, or you might be turned to stone if you're lucky enough to survive. Miss Hermione Granger, here, was lucky enough to be revived through the use of mandrake, but there are very few fully mature mandrake plants currently available. They would have to be grown especially should the need arise."
"And how likely would it be that they'd be grown to save us as quickly and readily as they were grown for her?" Dolohov wanted to know. "You're not going to leave anyone so unfortunate in their petrified state, I trust?"
"Yes, your word that we're not being led to the slaughter would be good," Thorfinn agreed.
"All persons who are petrified will be freed as soon as possible," Kingsley said. "Unless any of you break any more laws, you will be entering society again with a clean slate. Think of it as a fresh start, and use it wisely."
"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" said Dolohov as enthusiastically as possible. "I'm game."
"One can only hope," Lucius commented dryly, and Hermione tried to suppress a chuckle.
"Yes, time is of the essence," Kingsley agreed. "We'll just need to stop off for a few supplies along the way."
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"Kingsley, this is no time for a circus attraction," Lucius complained when he saw where they had gone after Disapparating from Azkaban. The rows of striped tents were long-since abandoned, and overgrown weeds made it difficult to walk.
"Yes, Minister, why are we here?" Thorfinn wanted to know.
"This was the first place I could think of where we might find lots of mirrors," Kingsley explained. "We must gather as many as possible, and anything else you see that could help dispatch a few baby basilisks, please feel free to grab that as well."
"Aren't you afraid we're going to disappear now that we're not in the prison anymore?" asked Dolohov snidely.
"I'd love it if you did, Dolohov," Lucius told him. "Any excuse to kill you works for me."
"You're just jealous because Hermione and I share a history," Dolohov said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?" Lucius growled.
"Well, I broke her battle cherry, didn't I?" Dolohov explained with a grin. "Bet she'll never forget how neatly my spell sliced her open."
"Kingsley, must we bring along this odious creature?" Lucius inquired.
"We need every wizard we can get right now, Lucius," Kingsley reminded him sternly.
"First chance I get, you're going to regret those words, Antonin," Lucius informed him. "I'm sure we could use a sacrificial lamb in this troupe"
"I'll keep that in mind," he sneered, and then turned to Kingsley to ask, "When do we get our wands back?"
"Not until we're in the dungeon," Kingsley said. "No sense in tempting fate. Now, get a mirror and join the others—unless you'd rather return to Azkaban as Lucius suggests?"
Dolohov turned away and did as he was told.
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